CCP 11-04-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-- - plans and the transition to more attractive and fISCally sound pension programs such as defined contribution plans. . . Fully consider public employers' financial and operational impacts in any workplace legislation such as health reform, public safety, and OSHA. SD-3. Environmental Protection Problem: State and federal environmental programs are improperly designed to meet their stated goals, and impose an undue burden on local governments because of a lack of federal or state fmancial assistance. The refusal to finance these programs by the governments which pass them has eliminated an essential restraining feature in program design and implementation. Specific problems include: . Fragmented program adoption and implementation does not ensure prioritization of environmental matters or the establishment of comprehensive environmental protection strategies. . "One size fits all" implementation programs force remedial efforts by local governments for nonexistent environmental problems. . Permit fees and other cost transfer elements of federal and state programs do not . provide an incentive for environmental agency efficiency, policy prioritizat:Gil, or risk assessment. Solutions: . Cities should not be required to comply with any unfunded mandate. . Pennit fees should he limited to fifty percent of the agency's direct operating costs, . A comprehensive effort to consolidate, reorganize, and manage state and federal environmental programs should be required. SD-4. Absentee Voting . Problem: Absentee voting is overly complicated and results in rejection of significant numbers of ballots, while adding to local administrative responsibilities. Solution: Absentee voting procedures can be streamlined and made more "user . friendly," Adopting reforms proposed in the 1993-94 legislative session wiD increase the 4 League of Minnesota Cities