5.4. SR 04-04-1994
A.( -\.(
( II
~lil River
ITEM 5.4
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Mayor and City Council
FROM:
Pat Klaers, City Administratol'
DATE:
March 31, 1994
SUBJECT: Declaration of "City Unity Day"
INTRODUCTION
The attached Action Alert from the League of Minnesota Cities is requesting
cities to recognize April 21 as "Minnesota Cities Unity Day".
See the attached Action Alert for more information on this issue.
e
COUNCIL ACTION
The attached resolution may be adopted if it is the Council's desire to declare
April 21 as "Minnesota Cities Unity Day."
e
P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
e
RESOLUTION 94-
A RESOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF ELK RIVER
A RESOLUTION DECLARING APRIL 21, 1994,
AS CITY UNITY DAY
WHEREAS, the City of Elk River is a member of the League of Minnesota
Cities; and
WHEREAS, Thursday, April 21, 1994, is Minnesota Cities Unity Day;
and
WHEREAS, cities working together have established the League of
Minnesota Cities action agenda for the 1994 session of the
legislature; and
e
WHEREAS, in the closing days of the 1994 session many of these issues
remain unresolved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Elk River, that:
1. The Legislature and Governor restore the shortfall in the
Local government Trust Fund which they created so that
there will be no cuts in government aid (LGA) and
homestead agricultural aid credit (RACA) in 1994, and
provide reliable additional funding for LGA and RACA in
future years to preserve the fiscal stability of cities.
2. Preserve and improve the ability of cities to expand their
boundaries in order to provide city services to all who
need them.
3. Remove the aid penalties in manufacturing and
redevelopment districts so that cities will not be penalized
for improving their local economies.
4. Increase funding for roads and transit.
e
5. Establish a new program to clean up landfills and
adequately fund pollution clean-up grants.
e
6: Support the other legislative initiatives of the League of
Minnesota Cities.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk River this 4th day
of April, 1994.
Henry A. Duitsman, Mayor
ATTEST:
Sandra A. Thackeray, City Clerk
e
e
MAR 3 1 1994
in .T:J
aCCCFC..= ..111 I l I
. ~~ccr= L.::1..l-L.:J
L~3gue of~1innesota Cities
3490 Lexington A venue Nor~h
SL Paul. MN 55126
io1:) .190-5630
TO:
Mayors, Managers/ Administrators/Clerks
FROM:
League of Minnesota Cities President
and Mayor of St. Cloud, Chuck Winkelman
DATE:
March 30, 1994
RE:
CITY UNITY DAY RESOLUTION AND RALLY
Thursday, April 21 will be Minnesota Cities Unity Day.
To celebrate this event, I would like you to do three things:
e
· Pass the enclosed resolution at your next council meeting and send copies to your
Legislators and the Governor;
· Send the enclosed news release to your local paper; (be sure to fill in the blanks
with your city's name and your mayor's name) and;
· Encourage one or two people from your city to attend the Cities Unity Day Rally at
the State Capitol on April 21st (see enclosed registration) CITY GOVERNMENT
MAY ONCE AGAIN BE DEALT WITH UNFAIRLY IN THE TAX BILL UNLESS
YOU COME.
We must make sure the Governor and Legislature are hearing our message: cities are not a
"special interest" lobbying on their own behalf at the Legislature; cities are a partner in the
e:overnment of Minnesota, providing city services to the over three million people who live
in cities as well as those who come to our cities to work, for entertainment, or receive an
education. Almost every person in Minne~ota. uses city services on a daily basis.
e
,
e
e
e
NEWS
For Immediate Release
For more information call Duke Addicks, Director of Intergovernmental Relations, League of
Minnesota Cities (612) 490-5600.
LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES PRESIDENT DECLARES CITY
UNITY DAY.
"Thursday, April 21st, will be the fITst City Unity Day." League of Minnesota Cities
President and Mayor of St. Cloud Chuck Winkelman declared. "The League of Cities Board
of Directors has authorized a City Unity Rally at the State Capitol to demonstrate that all city
officials throughout the state are working together to improve the delivery of city services to
the over four million people who live, work and receive an education in one of our
communities. "
The city of at its meeting on
the declaration of Cities Unity Day, according to Mayor
joined in
"Residents of Minnesota Cities appreciate the ability of cities to provide services at a
reasonable cost," League President Winkleman continued. "Drinkable water, plowed and
maintained streets, sanitary sewer systems, parks and recreation programs, police and fire
protection are all taken for granted. But city government leaders are also working to
improve the local economy, ensuring that there are decent jobs and adequate housing for
all. "
"To do this, city government needs fiscal stability," Winkelman adds, "Every city would like
to be fiscally independent from state assistance, but the local property tax base often is
inadequate to provide the financial resources to achieve this goal. The state contributes about
five percent (just over five hundred million dollars) of its annual revenues to help cities
maintain these services. This assistance to cities, in the form of homestead agricultural
credit aid and local government aid, helps us to keep property taxes down. "
"If the Legislature and the Governor would help us strengthen our own local economies we
could rely even less on state aids, and an improved property tax base would mean lower
taxes for all. "
-over-
e
e
e
"The Legislature and Governor seem reluctant 10 help cities, and the residents who use city
services daily. A modest 5 % increase in state aid payments would belpus .avoidproperty
tax increases next year. We're seeking more authority to improve our local.economies.
through the use of tax increment financing to pay .a portion of ,the cost ;ofnew manufacturing
and redevelopment, and a greater ability to manage the growth of our communities through a
more efficient boundary .adjustment process."
"By rededicating ourselves to the goals of all the .cities in Minnesota ;and working 10gether
. through the League of Minnesota Cities, 'we can send a strong message ,to 'the state: either
heJpcities maintain their viabili~yoraccept the responsibility for their decline;"
League of Minnesota Cities
3490 Iaington Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55126-8044
(612) 490-5600
CITY UNITY DAY RALLY
TIIURSDAY,APRIL21
9:00 a.m. Coffee and Rolls
9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Briefing
Then walk to the Capitol to confront our Legislators outside the Senate and House
Chambers.
Meet at the Kelly Inn near the State Capitol in St. Paul
Find out how the Legislature will affect cities in the closing days of the 1994 session. Tell
your legislators how they can help cities achieve fiscal stability and improve their local
economy. TIllS WILL BE THE CRITICAL TIME WHEN THE OMNIBUS TAX BILL
WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT DEAL ADEQUATELY wrm OUR ISSUES IS BEING
FINAliZED. Your presence will strongly influence the outcome of this legislative session.
We hope that one or two persons from every city in the state will attend.
. Return the registration below to Julie Johns, Legislative Secretary at the League.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YES! WE'RE COMING TO ST. PAUL TO TIlE LEAGUE OF MINNESOTA CITIES
CITY UNITY DAY RALLY.
City
Name
Name
Name
(please print or type)
Registration Fee $5 in advance, $5 at the door. (please make advance registration if at
all possible so we can have an adequate number of briermg papers) Make check payable
and mail to:
League of Minnesota Cities
Attn: Finance Department
3490 Lexington Avenue North
St. Paul, MN 55126
e