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Home My WebLink About2018-02-15 PACKET MISC.4e & METROPOLITAN C O U N C I L Transit police show Council's commitment to diversity Chair Tchourumoff: Our police force reflects the community. New partnerships improve water, save money Council gives companies incentives to pretreat wastewater. Preserving history, planning for a vibrant future Hastings uses 21St century tools to engage residents in planning. Livable Communities Grants THE BIG PAYOFF Total number of grants to local communities, 1996-2016: 972 52,000 jobs created or retained. fit MUM=[ no=fft *************AUTO**ALL FOR AADC 550 PLANNING COMNIISSION CHAIR CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE 12800 RAVINE PKWY COTTAGE GROVE MN 55016-3195 ufil 2,300 S368 12 P3 acres of polluted property cleaned up for redevelopment. SSS More than 22,000 Billions in additional public Total amount of grants, affordable housing units and private funds leveraged 1996-2016:$347 million created or preserved. for communities' benefit. Council awards transportation grants. In late October, the Council approved 13 federal grants totaling nearly $2.6 million for private nonprofit and government organizations to help meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. Four of the grants are for mobility management projects that help connect older adults and people with disabilities with transit options. Nine grants were for bus purchases and equipment. Affordable housing production up modestly. The Twin Cities region added 1,724 new affordable housing units in 2016, a modest increase from 1,613 new units in 2015. The number reflects only new units, and does not reflect how many affordable units may have been lost. The primary form of new affordable housing continues to be multifamily apartment buildings. Text for safety on Metro Transit. Metro Transit customers can now discreetly report suspicious or unwanted behavior through text messages. Using a "Text for Safety" feature on the Metro Transit Mobile App, customers are put in direct contact with trained Metro Transit staff who can respond by text and send Transit Police if needed. The service is being introduced so individuals can seek help even if they don't feel safe making a phone call. Planning podcasts online. Planners can sign up to hear Council podcasts on a variety of planning topics. Visit https:Hmetrocouncil.org/Handbook/ Planit/Podcasts.aspx to learn more. Metropolitan Council Chair: Alene Tchourumoff Members: Katie Rodriguez (District 1); Lona Schreiber (2); Jennifer Munt (3); Deb Barber (4); Steve Elkins (5); Gail Dorfman (6); Gary L. Cunningham (7); Cara Letofsky (8); Edward Reynoso (9); Marie McCarthy (10); Sandy Rummel (11); Harry Melander (12); Richard Kramer (13); Jon Commers (14); Steven T. Chavez (15); Wendy Wulff (16). Regional Administrator: Wes Kooistra Editor: Jeanne Landkamer General Off ices: 651-602-1000 1 (651-291-0904 TTY) 390 N. Robert St. I St. Paul, MN 55101 e-mail: public. info®metc.state. mn.us Web site: metrocouncil.org This publication is available in alternative formats upon request. Printed on paper containing 100 percent post -consumer and alternative fibers. �•�. PHINTED WITH G*F SOY INK Affordable housing helps growth, prosperity The Council awarded two rounds of Livable Communities funding in fall 2017, to support affordable housing and transit -oriented development (TOD). The affordable housing grants total $2.4 million, and will support six multifamily and four single-family developments for a total of 307 new or rehabilitated affordable housing units. "People need housing options in all life stages and all economic means, and in our region, the supply of affordable housing is not keeping up with demand," said Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff. "Failing to turn that trend around will threaten the region's ability to grow and prosper, and our ability to compete with other metro areas for jobs and residents." Communities awarded funding include Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Mounds View, Saint Paul, Waconia and a land trust collaborative that includes 12 west -metro cities. The grants will help leverage more than $32 million in private investment and nearly $41 million in other public investment to provide housing that's safe and affordable to low-income residents in the metro area. The TOD grants total nearly $4.6 million. They will support development that improves mobility and access to transit, generates economic investment and jobs, advances local efforts to ensure residents have connections to jobs and housing, and enhances the local tax base. Expected outcomes from these investments include 361 affordable homes and more than 1,300 new permanent and temporary jobs. The Council's $4.6 million investment leverages nearly $216 million in private investment and $26 million in other public investment. The four projects awarded funding support development near current or future rail stations in Eden Prairie, Minneapolis, Saint Paul, and St. Louis Park. commitment to diversity Last fall, I had the opportunity to see 13 new full-time police officers take an oath to protect and serve our transit riders. These officers come from all walks of life. Several speak more than one language, including Hmong, Laotian, Spanish, Somali, Arabic and Turkish. Metro Transit Police Chief John Alene Tchourumoff Harrington calls this "the gold FROM THE CHAIR standard of policing," a police force that reflects the community they serve—including women and people of color. The Council is committed to diversity in hiring because it's an essential part of building a more equitable region. By 2040, people of color will comprise 40% of our region's population. But currently this region has stark gaps in equity when it comes to income, education, home ownership and housing. If people of color in the metro region were on the same social and economic footing as whites, we would have 274,000 fewer residents in poverty—creating over $43 billion in personal income. The size of our talent pool would increase, drawing more employers to the region. In turn, that would generate even more wealth. The first and primary mandate the Minnesota Legislature gave to the Council was to plan for the region's future growth and development. We partner with seven counties and over 180 communities in an ongoing discussion about how the region should grow and evolve for future generations. The fact that our population is becoming more diverse makes it imperative that our own staff mirror this reality. Diversity isn't just a buzzword. Building a diverse workforce is a commitment to excellence in the way you solve problems; it is an understanding that new challenges need new ideas from a wider range of people. I'm proud of the Metro Transit Police Department, for the work they do protecting our riders every day, and for showing all of us that it's possible to build a diverse, equitable workforce. Task Force looks to improve Metro Mobility The Metro Mobility Task Force is exploring ways to improve and streamline the federally mandated transit service for certified riders with disabilities. The 2017 Minnesota Legislature created the task force to examine and report on the following items: • A current assessment of the Metro Mobility program • Options for reducing program costs and improving efficiency • Potential service level approaches for partnerships with transportation network companies (such as Lyft and Uber) and/or taxi service providers • Findings and recommendations The 18 -member task force includes representatives of counties, state agencies, groups representing people with disabilities, and transportation network/taxi companies. The group must submit a report on its work to the Legislature by Feb. 15. New partnerships improve water, save money The Metropolitan Council is moving forward on new partnerships with two local food producers, focused on how to more efficiently and sustainably treat the wastewater they produce. The Council approved financing agreements in November with Michael Foods in Chaska and Kemps dairy company in Rosemount. The agreements give both companies incentives to design, install and operate equipment at their locations that will pretreat high-strength industrial wastewater before it is released into the regional wastewater treatment system. Both parties in the agreements benefit. The company saves money through reduced wastewater charges from the Council. The Council avoids or delays the need to expand its own treatment plants to handle the increased capacity. Operational costs also go down. For all, it provides a sustainable solution. "Through innovation and partnership, we find solutions that benefit local companies, our environment, and the public," said Met Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff. "It's the kind of thing that we do behind the scenes to support the health and prosperity of the region, and ensure an economically competitive economy." The lease contracts with Michael Foods and Kemps provide low-interest financing from the Council to cover the initial capital costs of the pretreatment equipment. The companies will then make lease payments to the Council; at the end of a 10 -year lease, the companies will assume ownership of the equipment. "This system is truly unique and a win for everyone involved," said Menefee. "Through this program, we'll be able to reuse 200,000 to 300,000 gallons of water a day, putting it back into the process," said Shane Menefee, director of environmental affairs for Michael Foods. "It's an environmentally friendly solution, in that it allows us to grow our business while consuming less resources to do so." The Council will also waive up to 30 percent of the financing costs if the companies meet goals of reducing the strength of their effluent before releasing it into the regional treatment system. A third company is expected to sign a contract with the Council in the coming months. Preserving history, planning a vibrant future Hastings may be a historic city, but city officials are drawing on 21 st century techniques to engage community members in planning for its future. One is a computerized mapping tool that residents can use to comment on city locations that may warrant attention in the city's new 2040 comprehensive plan. City officials expect their efforts to yield ideas from around the community about how to maintain its historic character and capitalize on its natural beauty while it grows in population and economic strength. History and nature. Hastings is located near the conflu- ence of three rivers—the Mississippi, Vermillion, and St. Croix. Incorporated in 1857, Hastings serves as the seat of Dakota County government. The community knows and cares for its history. Hastings is nationally recognized for its well-preserved Victorian architecture - in its historic downtown and at other local sites. The city has 63 buildings built between 1859 and 1959 on the National Historic Register. Close -in natural features complement Hastings' historical character. Just a few blocks east of downtown is Lake Isabel, a popular fishing spot in the community. A newly completed 10 -mile bike and walking trail loops around the city, highlighting tourist destinations such as Hastings RiverWalk, the Rotary Pavilion, and the 35 -foot Vermillion Falls. Other nearby features include the Mississippi River Trail and 215 -acre Hastings River Flats Park. Planning for the future. Hastings is currently laying the groundwork for its 2040 long-range comprehensive plan. "Our discussions point toward increasing our focus on economic competitiveness, including boosting workforce skills and recruitment, strengthening our downtown, and attracting business to our fully serviced industrial park," said Morgan Hill, Hastings economic development director. A city steering committee is guiding a wide range of activities to draw out the thoughts, ideas and attitudes of residents. Outreach has included a website, surveys, focus group sessions and the mapping tool, among other vehicles. Visit metrocouncil.org to learn more. ...................................................... ................................ I .................. COUNCIL CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY Join Metropolitan Council Chair Alene Tchourumoff to celebrate 50 years of partnerships that built success in the metro area. The Council's 50th anniversary event will be held 2-6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, at the University of Minnesota's McNamara Alumni Center. A speech by the chair will be followed by a panel discussion with former Council chairs and a reception. RSVP to metrocouncil.org/50invite by Jan. 19. :........................................ 50 ................................: YEARS 1967-2017