5.0. SR 06-27-1994
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ITEM 5.
MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL
FROM: PAT KLAERS, CITY A~~ISTRATOR
DATE: JUNE 22, 1994 ~
SUBJECT: 1994 LEGISLATIVE UPDATE BY
REPRESENTATIVE STEPHANIE
KLINZING
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State Legislator Stephanie Klinzing will be present at this City Council
meeting to provide us with an update on the highlights of the 1994
Legislative Session. Stephanie was before the City Council last year for a
similar discussion. In preparation for this discussion, all Councilmembers
are encouraged to review the League of Minnesota Cities Legislative Review
that was distributed with the May 26, 1994, Informational Memo.
In general, there was not an overwhelmingly significant impact on cities this
Legislative Session. Local Government Aid (LGA) was relatively untouched
and the City can anticipate about a 1.14% increase in its LGA allotment for
1995. This amounts to about a $2,800 increase. Additionally, the local
government trust fund will be phased out over the next few years and it
appears that there will be no cuts in the 1994 allotment of LGA that is
incorporated into our adopted 1994 budget. Other financial issues addressed
by the Legislature include a phasing out of some of the sales tax
requirements on firefighting equipment; some minor changes in the Truth in
Taxation notices that go to all property owners; no changes in the tax
classifications; and essentially no changes that would affect Elk River in the
TIF law.
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Other legislative action that does affect Elk River includes changes in the
wetlands act; the ethics/gift law; and the open meeting law. Additional topics
to discuss with Stephanie could relate to legislative financing of hockey
arenas due to women's hockey activities; legislative efforts to update the
county ditch laws; legislative efforts to change the regional library funding
formula; and legislative efforts to provide adequate highway construction
funds, especially as they relate to the Highway 101 project. Above and
beyond these topics, I am sure that Representative Klinzing will want to
update the City Council on some of the legislative efforts that she worked on
which mayor may not have a direct effect on Elk River.
P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425