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TEMPLATE RESOLUTION: Supporting Principles for Reform of the Metropolitan Council <br /> <br />WHEREAS, regional planning and local government cooperation is vital to the continued success of the <br />Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area; and <br />WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council is, by statute, the regional planning agency for the Minneapolis-St. <br />Paul Metropolitan Area, with broad authority, including the ability to levy taxes, charge fees and set <br />regional policy; and <br />WHEREAS, cities and counties are the entities most directly affected by policies and financial decisions <br />of the Metropolitan Council, making them the primary constituents of the Metropolitan Council; and <br />WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council’s scope of authority and involvement in regional issues has <br />expanded significantly over the years; and <br />WHEREAS, a governmental entity, particularly one with taxing authorit y, to be effective, must be credible, <br />and responsive and accountable to those it represents; and <br />WHEREAS, the appointment of Metropolitan Council members resides solely with the Governor, <br />effectively making the Governor the primary constituent of the Metr opolitan Council; and <br />WHEREAS, many cities and counties believe that the Metropolitan Council lacks accountability and <br />responsiveness to them as direct constituents; and <br />WHEREAS, many cities and counties believe that the authority to impose taxes and set regional policy <br />should be the responsibility of local government elected officials; and <br />WHEREAS, reform is necessary to ensure that the Metropolitan Council is an effective, responsive, and <br />accountable partner for regional development and progress. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Metropolitan Council, due to its taxing and policy <br />authority, should be accountable to a regional constituency of those impacted by its decisions; and <br /> <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Metropolitan Council should not operate as a state agency <br />answerable to only one person, the Governor, as it does in its current form; and <br /> <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the ____________ supports reform of the Metropolitan Council that <br />adheres to the following principles: <br /> <br />I. A majority of the members of the Metropolitan Council shall be elected officials, appointed <br />from cities and counties within the region; <br />II. Metropolitan cities shall directly control the appointment process for city representatives to <br />the Metropolitan Council; <br /> <br />III. Metropolitan counties shall directly appoint their own representatives to the Metropolitan <br />Council; <br /> <br />IV. The terms of office for any Metropolitan Council members appointed by the Governor shall be <br />staggered and not coterminous with the Governor; <br /> <br />V. Membership on the Metropolitan Council shall include representation from every metropolitan <br />county government; <br /> <br />VI. The Metropolitan Council shall represent the entire region, therefore voting shall be <br />structured based on population and incorporate a system of checks and balances.