Got good ideas on reforming the Met Council? The Metropolitan Governance Task Force invites you to share them at any of four public listening sessions, or at any of its regular task force meetings. The task force, on which I serve as “public member,” is charged with recommending changes in state law to reform the council.
Listening sessions will be held on:
Friday, Dec. 8, 2023, 2-4 p.m., Wilder Foundation in St. Paul
Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023, noon2:00 p.m., Lake Elmo City Center, Lake Elmo
Friday, Jan. 5, 2024, noon-2 p.m., University of Minnesota Robert J. Jones Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC), Minneapolis
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, 6-8 p.m., Scott County Government Center, Shakopee
Send an RSVP and sign up to speak at: https://www.lcc.mn.gov/mgtf/meetings.html
You may also speak — in person or remotely — during the last 15 minutes of regular task force meetings. Remaining sessions will be held on Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to noon, at the State Capitol, on Dec. 6, Dec. 13, Jan. 3, Jan. 10, Jan. 17, Jan. 24, Jan. 31. Go to this link and click “task force meetings” for more information: https://www.lcc.mn.gov/mgtf/ Since the task force is required to report to the legislature by Feb. 1, I strongly urge you to testify earlier rather than later!
It’s important for our neighborhood to be heard because the catalyst for forming the task force was the Southwest Light Rail project. Legislators of both parties were alarmed that the project exceeded its budget by a half-billion dollars, is four years behind schedule, and apparently severely damaged some of the homes of Cedar Isles Condominium residents.
Many people, including me, believe a fundamental problem is how council members are appointed. State laws has them appointed by and only accountable to the governor, whose agenda they are pledged to support. This cheats the metro area of full-throated advocacy on its own behalf, produces council members who are non-responsive to the public, and contributes to the council being staff-driven.
Please testify! The effort is worth your time!
If we don't use this opportunity to change the Met Council, it will continue as it has, in my opinion, a reckless and arrogant juggernaut.
