Title
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING ADDITONAL LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR 2018.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth supports the following regional initiatives:
• Maintaining or increasing local government aid;
• State of Minnesota reimbursement grants and/or appropriation to local units of government for firefighters on authorized military leave (SF 1120 Simonson);
• Lake Superior Zoo capital improvements to be funded through general obligation bond proceeds;
• General obligation and appropriation bonds for public housing and construction of affordable housing;
• St. Louis County’s request for funding to make improvements to the Depot building which houses the St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center and for the construction of regional behavioral health crisis centers in Northeastern Minnesota;
• Legislation to address opioid epidemic through adjusting rates of reimbursement for substance abuse treatment, sustainably funding naloxone for law enforcement and modification of waiver and variance process for current criminal background study;
• University of Minnesota’s request for funding of improvements to the buildings and grounds at Glensheen;
• Port development assistance through state general obligation bonds;
• Public facilities authority funding through matching grants for wastewater infrastructure projects via water infrastructure fund;
• Legislation to clarify tax increment financing provisions to allow for community development projects;
• Support for legislation to clarify tax increment financing provisions to allow for community development projects;
• Support for state bond proceeds for the Northern Lights Express Passenger Rail project to leverage federal railroad administration funding to complete project design engineering for service between Duluth and the Twin Cities; and
• Statewide policy requiring employers to provide safe and sick time for employees;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth opposes legislative proposals to preempt city actions relating to work place conditions or rules.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The city of Duluth strongly supports these regional legislative priorities for 2018 that enhance the quality of life for the citizens in Duluth and throughout Northeastern Minnesota. The city will provide leadership as needed or requested to these collaborative priorities and goals, regardless of whether the Duluth delegation is in a lead author position or not.