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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-01-17 Special Meeting Packet (3)1 COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL January 17, 2024 12800 RAVINE PARKWAY SOUTH COTTAGE GROVE, MINNESOTA 55016 COUNCIL CHAMBER- 4:45 PM 1 Call to Order 2 Roll Call 3 Agenda Item A 2024 Legislative Agenda 4 Adjournment Legislative Agenda City of Cottage Grove, MN Solutions for a Safe, Healthy and Prosperous Community 12800 Ravine Parkway S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016 651-458-2800 | CottageGroveMN.gov 2024 Legislative Priority Priority: County 19A & 100th Street Realignment Project – Bonding Request Legislative Direction Cottage Grove fully supports any efforts to fund the future 100th Street arterial roadway. The city and Washington County request $12.5 million in state funds for design, right-of-way acquisition and construction of the arterial roadway and adjacent roadways. Legislative Priority Priority: County 19A & 100th Street Realignment Project – Bonding Request Relevant Information • In partnership with Washington County, a need was identified for a new arterial route to support 2,000 acres of planned development to help balance the regional traffic patterns to U.S. Hwy 61. • A new railway grade separation included in the project will efficiently accommodate growth in freight traffic associated with the rapidly growing industrial area. • The project will be transformative for the southeast metro as it improves safety and mobility and creates economic opportunity in the area. • Washington County is leading the preliminary design for the project and has invested $800,000+ to date. • This initiative will support the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the City of Cottage Grove. • If the state funds are not provided, Washington County may have to return awarded Federal funds and the project will be delayed. • The total estimated project cost is approximately $47 million. (County funds: $6 million, city funds: $4.9 million, State of Minnesota: $12.5 million, Federal Grants: total is $23.6 million, $7 million is already secured through PROTECT, leaving $16.6 million left to obtain). • The Cottage Grove Business Park is currently only served by one feasible interchange: Highway 61 at Jamaica Avenue, which is fully built out with a two-lane, six-leg roundabout that receives a significant amount of traffic. • Additional funding is needed to construct a direct extension of 100th Street to Highway 61. The project would also include construction of a bridge over the Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroad track. High-level cost estimates for this project are in the range of $20 million to complete. • Completing this extension in the next five years will be critical to relieving stress along Jamaica Avenue. Agenda Economic and Community Development Cottage Grove continues to experience residential, commercial and industrial growth, creating a need for legislative action regarding: • Job growth • Childcare programs • Workforce development • Business expansion • Redevelopment • Housing Transportation Due to rapid yet measured growth, Cottage Grove is focusing on the following areas: • Red Rock Corridor • Street improvement districts • Lights on Highway 61 • Municipal state aid funding Parks and Recreation Cottage Grove has the vision of giving its residents the best recreational opportunities in the state by focusing on: • Future state/county recreational trail connection • Park dedication Administration Cottage Grove is committed to excellence in the delivery of public services to community residents, businesses and property owners. The city operates with transparency and cost-efficient communication while ensuring businesses operate safely and to the highest standards: • Newspaper notification requirement • Licensure of massage therapists Agenda Revenue and Taxation Cottage Grove is committed to maximizing citizen engagement in the budgeting process, as well as maintaining transparency and responsible stewardardship of our citizens’ tax dollars by focusing on: • Office of the State Auditor (OSA) time limits • Restrictions on local government budgets • Sales tax on local government purchases Water Quality and Sustainability Cottage Grove remains committed to delivering water that meets state guidelines and producing a long-term plan to enhance resource sustainability while meeting community needs by focusing on: • Groundwater and well monitoring • Impaired water • Water conservation • Stormwater and wastewater Public Safety Cottage Grove Public Safety remains committed to protecting the city and its citizens by focusing on: • Mental Health Response Act • School resource officers • Ambulance service costs and liability • Officer wellness • K-12 threat assessments • Recruitment and retention needs • Law enforcement training funding • Fleeing vehicles • Permit to purchase fees • Paid health insurance for law enforcement retirees • Body worn camera redaction • Emergency medical services (EMS) local control • Oppose threats to building code, sprinklers and local control 6 Economic Development Job Growth Priority Cottage Grove supports economic tools that facilitate job growth without relying solely on the property tax base. The city supports the study of allowing mixed-use buildings that have commercial and residential uses to be included in a special service district (SSD). Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports a number of existing programs offered by the state, and furthermore, supports the study of allowing mixed-use buildings, that have both commercial and residential uses, included in SSD. Relevant Information Examples of valuable state programs include green job development and related innovation and development. Other examples are minority business start-ups, small business financing tools including new markets tax credit program mirroring a federal initiative, and maintaining existing municipal authority to establish SSD. Childcare Programs Priority Expand investments in affordable Childcare Programs. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports the expansion of child and dependent care tax credits and early learning scholarship programs. The city also supports the continued investment in programs that provide direct financial incentives to care providers such as peacetime emergency childcare grants, childcare stabilization grants, financial hardship grants, childcare facility revitalization grants and childcare aware regional grants. Relevant Information Many employers around the state are reporting that affordable childcare is a critical need, and the lack of affordable childcare keeps many people out the workforce. Minnesota’s market rate for infant care at a childcare center in 2021 was $16,164, which is the sixth highest in the nation. At this cost, a family making Minnesota’s median household income of $71,000 would spend more than 20% of their earnings on childcare. National guidelines suggest childcare should cost about 7% of a family’s annual income. Gretchen Larson, Economic Development Director GLarson@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2830 7 Economic Development Workforce Development Priority Expand investments in workforce development Legislative Direction The city supports expansion of career and technical education training, incentives for employers that create career pathways to upskill workers, and to community and technical colleges to encourage them to work more closely with local industries and businesses. The city also supports an increase in state funding to match federal programs such as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program, and increased investment in youth such as career programming in schools and no-cost driver license obtainment programs. Relevant Information Career and technical educational programs are a critical component in training our youth and helping them to enter the workforce. By supporting and investing in critical workforce development programs for youth, we help build career pathways to prepare students who are ready to enter a complex and dynamic world of work. Gretchen Larson, Economic Development Director GLarson@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2830 Business Expansion Priority Support new and expanding businesses, infrastructure development and public-private partnerships. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports existing and future programs to help businesses thrive and expand. Relevant Information • Continue to fund sustainable funding programs supporting job creation including Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) and Job Creation Fund (JCF) as well as grants for site cleanup and allowing opportunities for communities to develop, create infrastructure, and help businesses expand. • Support creating sustainable and dedicated funding to assist local communities and businesses to use the redevelopment grant and demolition loan program. Economic Development 8 Community Development Emily Schmitz, Community Development Director ESchmitz@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2874 Redevelopment Priority Begin implementation of redevelopment plans to reinvigorate a tax base that is not fulfilling its potential. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports the growth of current programs that help facilitate redevelopment and reinvestment in our residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Relevant Information • Given the costly barriers when seeking to re-use existing infrastructure, maintain and improve tax base, and provide housing opportunities, the city asks lawmakers to reinvigorate land remediation programs administered by the Department of Employment and Economic Development that continue to remain unfunded. • Cottage Grove supports increasing funding to the statewide redevelopment account and creation of a grant or loan program to assist in the redevelopment of aging areas of our community including contamination and brownfield remediation. • The City supports revitalization of funded programs allowing cities greater flexibility in targeting commercial development and redevelopment opportunities. 9 Community Development Emily Schmitz, Community Development Director ESchmitz@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2874 Housing Priority Diversify the city’s housing stock to ensure it is serving all demographic and socio-economic communities and recognizing certain barriers to housing disparity that impact certain members of our community. Cottage Grove supports programs that reduce barriers to fair housing and equal opportunity. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports state programs that allow municipalities to facilitate full-spectrum housing growth and rehabilitate older housing stock for residents in all stages of life. Relevant Information • Ensuring and providing funding and financial tools to cities to create a wide range of lifecycle housing options that allow seniors of all incomes to stay in their community and focus on the need to preserve federally subsidized housing and naturally occurring (unsubsidized) affordable housing. • Consider establishing a program to address immediate needs throughout the year to provide a match for new or existing city-supported affordable housing projects. (Ex. matching funds, issued on a timeline that is consistent with local budgeting processes, for local revenues allocated to a local affordable housing trust fund) • Provide stable and long-term funding, including dedicated Minnesota Housing and other affordable housing programs that support local housing efforts that encourage innovation and recognize regional markets. Allow for cities to create partnerships and leverage resources with private and public entities to support capital investment for affordable and public housing opportunities. • Expand authority for all cities to transfer unobligated pooled increment from a housing or redevelopment Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district to support a local housing trust fund for any eligible expenditure. Community Development 10 Transportation Red Rock Corridor Priority Give businesses the ability to attract talent from the surrounding community through transportation into Cottage Grove. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports implementation of the Red Rock Corridor Bus Rapid Transit. Relevant Information • The Metropolitan Council projects the southeast metro will grow by at least 100,000 people over the next 20 years while 94% of the jobs will stay in Minneapolis/St. Paul. • Cottage Grove businesses have indicated in multiple Business Retention and Expansion interviews that they are having a hard time attracting talent without a reliable transportation network into the city. • The Red Rock Corridor is a 20-mile stretch serving the southeast metro, which is part of the National Highway and National Scenic Byway systems. • Communities along the corridor have conducted a thorough investigation of transit needs and produced a phased approach with a near-term need for new local bus service and a long-term plan for bus rapid transit (including high frequency service, robust stations and enhanced parking facilities). Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director RBurfeind@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2899 11 Street Improvement Districts Priority Address the limited funding mechanisms for maintaining aging streets. Legislative Direction • Cottage Grove supports the authority of local units of government to establish street improvement districts, allowing cities in developed/developing areas to fund reconstruction and maintenance. • Cottage Grove also supports changes to special assessment laws to make assessing state-owned property a more predictable process regarding the payment of assessments. Relevant Information • Funding sources for local transportation projects are limited to the use of Municipal State Aid, property taxes and special assessments. • The street improvement district is designed to allow cities to create a district(s) where fees will be raised on all properties in the district and must be spent within specific boundaries. • The city supports the modification of state laws to clarify the definition of “benefits received” as it relates to special assessments. Transportation Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director RBurfeind@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2899 Transportation 12 Lights on Highway 61 Priority Acquire $4 million for funding corridor lighting along Highway 61 from the interchange at Washington County State Aid Highway 22 to the intersection with Trunk Highway 95. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove fully supports any efforts to fund highway lighting and increased safety on an increasingly busy stretch of highway, serving one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Relevant Information • The only interchange lighting that exists is at 80th Street South, Jamaica Avenue South and County State- Aid Highway 19 (Innovation Road South). • There is no lighting from County State-Aid Highway 19 to Trunk Highway 95 and there are several unrestricted local access intersections present. Transportation Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director RBurfeind@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2899 13 Municipal State Aid Funding Priority Cottage Grove, like many growing communities, struggles to fund major roadway projects, creating costly delays and decreased motorist safety. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove requests the Municipal State Aid (MSA) formula and funding levels be reviewed as the current system is not sufficient to keep up with growing demands for maintenance, coupled with expanding MSA roadway systems in growing communities. Relevant Information • MSA offers an advance to fund larger projects that creates delays for future MSA projects for several years. Thus, rehabilitation projects (like mill and overlay) cannot occur, reducing the useful life of a road and accelerating the cost of reconstruction projects. • The city anticipates reduced funding due to the pandemic, which will further challenge the city’s ability to maintain our aging infrastructure. Transportation Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director RBurfeind@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2899 Transportation 14 Future State/County Recreational Trail Connection Priority Secure funding for a trail connecting Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park to Point Douglas Regional Trail/Park. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports the planning, design, and future funding of a Highway 61 Trailway connection between Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park and Point Douglas Regional Trail/Park. Relevant Information A trail along Highway 61 from Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park to Point Douglas Regional Trail/Park would be a unique recreational experience for the region, state and outstate visitors. Highway 61 is both historic and scenic but has no recreational trail access. The trailway would connect Cottage Grove’s Ravine Lake to the confluence of the Mississippi and St Croix rivers as well as historic Hastings downtown via the Highway 61 arch bridge trail. Park Dedication Priority Address the need for cities to require park dedication fees and/or land without the requirement that land be subdivided. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports preserving existing city authority to require parkland dedication and park dedication fees and amend Minn. Stat. § 462.358 to allow all cities the option to require a reasonable portion of land or park dedication fee on new housing units and new commercial and industrial development without the requirement that land be subdivided. Parks and Recreation Zac Dockter, Parks & Recreation Director ZDockter@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2847 Relevant Information For decades, Minnesota cities have been permitted in Minnesota Law Chapter 462 to adopt ordinances that require a reasonable portion of land be dedicated to the public, or to impose a dedication fee on new housing units and new commercial and industrial development in a city for parks. As a result, cities across the state have been able to create parkland that provides intrinsic environmental, aesthetic, and recreation benefits to cities and their residents, which enhances property values, increases municipal revenue, and supports local economic development. 15 Newspaper Notification Requirement Priority Replace the requirement of a local newspaper notification with electronic notices on the city website and other social media platforms. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove requests the state repeal the newspaper notification requirement due to the costs for municipalities, the decline of local newspapers, and the increase and proliferation of technology information tools. Licensure of Massage Therapists Priority Seek to establish a state requirement for licensure of massage therapists. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove requests the implementation of a statewide licensing system for massage therapists, ensuring minimum competency requirements are successfully met. Administration Jennifer Levitt, City Administrator JLevitt@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2890 Administration 16 Revenue and Taxation Office of the State Auditor (OSA) Time Limits Priority A reasonable time frame for tax increment financing (TIF) non-compliance violations should be established. Legislative Direction A reasonable time frame for TIF non-compliance should be established. The legislature should reasonably restrict the OSA’s ability to issue noncompliance notices to the six-year period prior to the notice’s issuance date. The legislature should also require the OSA to conduct any audits on decertified districts within one year of decertification. Relevant Information The Office of the State Auditor (OSA) has the authority to issue noncompliance notices for every existing tax increment financing (TIF) district in the state for alleged violations of the TIF laws. This authority extends retroactively to the inception of the district. Accordingly, TIF authorities can receive noncompliance notices for alleged violations that occurred 20 or more years ago. Often, staff and record-keeping procedures have changed, and TIF authorities find it difficult to reconstruct the past to identify and remedy these situations. Similarly, the OSA claims the authority to audit TIF districts for up to 10 years after decertification, which requires cities to expend staff resources to maintain files and a working knowledge of old districts for an unreasonable period of time. Restrictions on Local Government Budgets Priority Maintain city autonomy in deciding the appropriate level of local taxation and services. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove strongly opposes levy limits, reverse referenda, super majority requirements for levy, and valuation freezes, or other restrictions on local government budgeting and taxing processes. Relevant Information These types of restrictions undermine local budgeting and taxing processes, planned growth and the relationship between locally elected officials and their residents. Brenda Malinowski, Finance Director BMalinowski@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2832 17 Sales Tax on Local Government Purchases Priority Secure sales tax exemption for purchases of goods and services made by cities. Legislative Direction The local government sales tax exemption enacted in 2013 and expanded in 2014 does not apply to all city purchases. Some purchases for municipal enterprise operations, such as golf courses, are excluded from the exemption. In addition, in order to receive the sales tax exemption on construction materials under current law, cities must bid labor and materials separately and also designate a contractor to be a purchasing agent on behalf of the city. Relevant Information The existing Department of Revenue rules (Minn. Rule 8130.1200, subp. 3) are complex and the implementation can be so complicated that it can cost cities more money to implement than they will save on the tax exemption. Finally, although cities currently do not pay the motor vehicle sales tax on marked police vehicles or firefighting vehicles, other city vehicles are not exempt from the motor vehicle sales tax. • The exemption should apply to all purchases made by local units of government. • The process to receive the exemption for construction materials used in local government projects should be simplified or added to the refund process now available for local government public safety facilities. • The exemption should be extended to all local government purchases that would otherwise be subject to the motor vehicle sales tax in Minn. Stat. ch. 297B. Revenue and Taxation Brenda Malinowski, Finance Director BMalinowski@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2832 Revenue and Taxation 18 Water Quality and Sustainability Impaired Water Priority Support continued metropolitan development while protecting all water resources. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports continued funding to improve the region’s ability to respond to developmental market demands including, but not exclusive to, surface water impairment assessments, Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development and stormwater or wastewater construction grants. Relevant Information • Cottage Grove supports and values initiatives aimed at protecting water resources at the municipal, county, state and federal levels, which includes the Clean Water Act. • Cottage Grove opposes entity-specific exemptions from fees because every type of property is required to pay stormwater fees. Groundwater and Well Monitoring Priority To support water quality and well monitoring efforts in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency Safe Drinking Water Act. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove strongly encourages continued funding of grant money through the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to assist communities in implementing their wellhead protection plans (specifically drilling additional sentinel wells to monitor aquifer levels and contamination plumes). Relevant Information • Cottage Grove supports additional funding for Perfluorochemicals (PFC) biomonitoring in the area. • The city supports working with MDH on the continuous monitoring of city groundwater and wells for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), having completed part one of our Wellhead Protection Plan in August 2015 and part two in March 2017. Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director RBurfeind@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2899 19 Water Conservation Priority Contribute to a statewide effort to promote water conservation while providing municipal autonomy relative to individual communities. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports legislation promoting aquifer recharge, change in water use practices, development of minimum irrigation standards, applying technology for smart water use, additional scientific data collection and exploring water reuse options at contaminated sites that rely on water extraction or pollution containment. Relevant Information • A single “catch-all” option should not be applied to a region or sub-region. • The city opposes funding of any implementation cost involved with the DNR North & East Metro Groundwater Management Area if it does not directly result in supplying water to the City of Cottage Grove and its residents. Water Quality and Sustainability Ryan Burfeind, Public Works Director RBurfeind@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-2899 Water Quality and Sustainability Stormwater and Wastewater Priority Ensure attempts to address water supply sustainability take all water users (and variables) into account, including municipalities, industry, private wells, agriculture and contamination containment. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports the removal of barriers to wastewater and stormwater re-use and advocates for improved interagency coordination on all levels, including on the state level. Relevant Information Water regulation is complex and compartmentalized, requiring strategies to cross agency jurisdictions through improved coordination and cooperation. 20 Public Safety School Resource Officers Priority Implement modifications to law related to school resource officers (SRO). Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports legislation to address the issues that have led to departments who have removed SRO’s. We support amending 121A.58 and 121A.582 as follows: • Minnesota Statute 121A.582, Subd. 1 (b): Subd. 1 (b) expand the definition of when “reasonable force” may be used by amending the language as follows: “to restrain a student and or prevent bodily harm or death to the student or another.” Subd. 1 (b) clarify that use of reasonable force by a school resource officer or police officer contracted with a district is regulated by Minnesota Statute 609.06. • Minnesota Statute 121A.58: Subd. 2 (a) AND Subd. 2 (b): Remove “school resource officer” and “police officer contracted with the district” from roles covered by this subdivision. Add a section that makes the exclusion of “school resource officers” and “police officers contracted with a district” from the definition of “agents” or “employees” of a school district explicit. Mental Health Response Act Priority Fund a multi-jurisdictional co-responder program. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports legislation to fund multi-jurisdictional co-responder programs or embedded social workers. Additionally, Cottage Grove supports making changes to current policy and practices to better share information amongst first responders, medical professionals and human services representatives. Relevant Information The goal is to improve the response to, and outcomes of, mental health calls with request for service. Pete Koerner, Director of Public Safety PKoerner@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-6003 21 Ambulance Service Costs and Liability Priority Require Medicare to set ambulance payment rates to cover the cost of providing services. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports federal legislation that would require Medicare to set ambulance payment rates to cover the cost of providing service for transport and non-transport care of patients, require adequate reimbursement for ambulance providers, require Medicare to reimburse 911 ambulance transports regardless of medical necessity, and make it easier for providers to file claims by eliminating Medicare’s processing system. Relevant Information The cost of providing ambulance care has increased steadily over recent years due in part to changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. The federal Balanced Budget Act of 1997 made two significant changes to ambulance billing. First, the act mandated that ambulance services cannot bill the Medicare or Medicaid patient for any unpaid balance beyond the Medicare or Medicaid assignment. Second, the act mandated a uniform fee schedule that was implemented in 2002; the new fee schedule significantly reduced reimbursement levels for many ambulance services. Officer Wellness Priority Understand and deal with the effects of common stressors facing our law enforcement professionals. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports legislation to provide a permanent funding source for the law that passed in 2023. It is critical to find a way to fund the treatment for mental health injuries as well as continuing to expand the network of providers who are training to do this vitally important work. Relevant Information This would fund support groups, mental health checks and therapy, suicide prevention, awareness and family support. Public Safety Pete Koerner, Director of Public Safety PKoerner@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-6003 Public Safety 22 Public Safety K-12 Threat Assessments Priority Support mandated K-12 threat assessments teams. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports legislation requiring school districts to establish a team of trained subject matter experts to examine and address school safety issues based on the national best practice known as behavioral threat assessment. Relevant Information • This legislation would move our state beyond physical school safety measures, such as infrastructure improvement grants, passed by the Legislature in 2018. • Threat assessment is an evidence-based way to identify, assess and manage threatening situations. • Threat assessment, when properly done, is considered a standard-of-care/best practice by numerous organizations and advocacy groups including the U.S. Department of Education, National Association of School Psychologists and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. • K-12 threat assessment teams and legislation have been officially supported by the MN Chiefs of Police Association and the MN Sheriff’s Association. Pete Koerner, Director of Public Safety PKoerner@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-6003 23 Law Enforcement Training Funding Priority Continue to fund training mandated by the MN Police Officer Standards and Training Board (MN POST Board). Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports continuing the MN POST Board training reimbursement allocation to local agencies, which began in 2018. Relevant Information The Peace Officer Training Fund is for mandated training in the areas of recognizing and valuing diversity and cultural differences, conflict management and mediation, crisis intervention and mental illness crises. Public Safety Pete Koerner, Director of Public Safety PKoerner@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-6003 Public Safety Recruitment and Retention Needs Priority Support funding for state-wide recruitment and retention efforts Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports a multi-faceted approach with recruitment and retention efforts including grants for retention bonuses and scholarship opportunities. Relevant Information Agencies across our state are having difficulty recruiting and retaining officers for a variety of reasons. The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association (MCPA) supports a multi-faceted approach to helping agencies of all sizes recruit and retain officers. This should include, but is not limited to, a grant program for bonuses, bringing back part-time officer licensure for small agencies and scholarship programs with our higher education partners. Any funding for this use should reflect different needs for small, medium and large agencies alike. 24 Permit to Purchase Fees Priority Allow agencies to charge a reasonable fee for processing a permit to purchase. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports allowing local municipal police departments to charge a reasonable fee for processing a permit to purchase application. Relevant Information Currently Minnesota Statue § 624.7131 Subd 3. states there shall be no charge for forms, reports, investigations, notifications, waivers or any other act performed, or materials provided by a government employee or agency in connection with application for or issuance of a transferee permit. The permits and their renewal shall be granted free of charge. Public Safety Pete Koerner, Director of Public Safety PKoerner@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-6003 Fleeing Vehicles Priority Increased penalties for fleeing in a motor vehicle and modification of tracking devices used on fleeing vehicles. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports legislation to stiffen penalties for fleeing in a motor vehicle and modify the law governing the use of tracking devices on fleeing vehicles. Relevant Information Fleeing is becoming a significant concern in law enforcement. The number of offenders that now flee has gone up exponentially. Offenders understand that the majority of the time police officers won’t chase them because the risk is not worth it. They also know that if officers do chase them and they are caught the consequences are non-existent compared to the risk they have exposed to our community and law enforcement officers too. Officers and organizations continue to battle the decision to pursue fleeing vehicles. Additionally, a law was passed in 2022 allowing tracking devices to be used on stolen vehicles however the law requires owner consent or a search warrant. 25 Paid Health Insurance for Law Enforcement Retirees Priority Support paid health insurance for law enforcement retirees Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports a legislative appropriation that would provide paid health care for licensed police officers who retire at 55 years old and have 10 years of consecutive service with a Minnesota city, county or tribal government. Relevant Information To help in addressing the recruitment and retention challenges, at age 55 or any time thereafter, each month the employer shall pay the full employer contribution toward health and dental insurance coverage for employees who have 10 years of service or more. It shall also cover the employee’s dependents until the employee reaches age 65. The employer shall be reimbursed from the State of Minnesota for these costs. Body Worn Camera Redaction Priority Support reducing body worn camera redaction requirements in areas visible to the public. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports changing current law to allow for greater discretion by the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) or their designee to release data without redaction in instances where any member of the public may record the same footage with their own device. Relevant Information Current law allows for CLEO’s to release data to dispel rumors or other information, but we cannot do so without complying with redaction. This will allow the public more transparency, especially in certain high-profile cases. Public Safety Pete Koerner, Director of Public Safety PKoerner@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-6003 Public Safety 26 Public Safety Oppose Threats to Building Code, Sprinklers and Local Control Priority Prevent loss of life from fire and assure Cottage Grove residents are safe in their home. Legislative Direction Cottage Grove opposes threats to building and fire codes and limiting residential sprinklers. Relevant Information One of our top priorities is to ensure residents are safe in their homes. This means that we oppose any attempts to remove or alter building codes; instead, we support a collaborative approach that engages state agency professionals and industry experts in creating, writing, and preserving codes and rules that ensure safety and security for all residents. Our preference is for proposed code changes to go through the Department of Labor’s official rulemaking process. Pete Koerner, Director of Public Safety PKoerner@CottageGroveMN.gov | 651-458-6003 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Local Control Priority Support local unit of government control of emergency medical service (EMS) Legislative Direction Cottage Grove supports the ability of local government to choose the EMS provider for their community. Relevant Information In February 2022, the Office of the Legislative Auditor (“OLA”) released a report that found serious deficiencies with both the management of the Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Regulatory Board (EMSRB) and the current ambulance service license process. During the 2023 legislative session, the Minnesota Fire Association Coalition (MNFAC) introduced legislation (HF2736/SF2691) to implement the recommendations of the OLA relating to the primary service areas. The bill received a hearing in the House. The OLA report and subsequent legislation supports MNFAC’s long-held priority of reforming the current system and allowing more local control over EMS.