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General Government <br />energyconservation, greaterenvironmentalprotection,fairertaxbases, clarification offee <br />reimbursement and fewer conflicts between townships and cities. Metro Cities also <br />supportstechnicalannexationchangesthatareagreedtobycitiesandtownships. <br />2-JStatewideFundingSourcesforLocalIssueswithRegionalImpact <br />Many issues including, but not limited to, a metropolitan area groundwater monitoring network, <br />emerald ash borer management, and the cleanup of storm-water retention ponds, come with <br />significantlocalcosts,andhaveeffectsthatreachbeyondmunicipalboundaries. <br />MetroCitiessupportstheavailabilityofstatewidefundingsourcestoaddresslocalissues <br />thathave regional orstatewidesignificanceorare caused bystateorregional actions. <br />Metro Citiesopposesany requirementtoenactordinancesmore restrictivethanstatelaw <br />inexchangeforaccess tothesefunds. <br />2-KUrbanForestManagementFunding <br />Urban forests are an essential local infrastructure component. Dutch elm disease, oak wilt <br />disease, drought, storms, and emerald ash borer threaten public investments in trees and <br />controlling these issues can be greatly consequential for city budgets. The Minnesota Department <br />of Natural Resources, through its Urban and Community Forestry program, and the Minnesota <br />Department of Agriculture, through its Shade Tree and Invasive Species program, have <br />regulatory authority to direct tree sanitation and control programs. Although these programs <br />allow for addressing some tree disease, pest, and other problems, funding has been inadequate to <br />meet theneed ofcitiesto build capacity fortreeprogramsand respond to catastrophicproblems. <br />Cities share the goal of the stateÓs Re-leaf ProgramÏpromoting and funding the inventory, <br />planning, planting, maintenance, and improvement of trees in cities throughout the state. In <br />addition, economic and environmental gains for storm water management, climate change <br />mitigation, air quality management, tourism, recreation, and other benefits must be protected <br />from treeloss.Alack oftimely investmentin urbanforestscostscitiessignificantly morein the <br />longrun. <br />Metro Cities supports funding for a state matching grant program to assist cities with <br />building and increasing capacity for urban forest management, meeting the costs of <br />preparing for, and responding to, catastrophic urban forest problems and preventing <br />further loss and increasing canopy coverage. Specifically, direct grants to cities are <br />desperatelyneeded fortheidentification,removal,replacement,andtreatment oftreesrelated to <br />management of emerald ash borer (EAB).The state should establish an ongoing grant program <br />with annual funding thatis usableforthoseactivities. <br />2022 Legislative Policies <br /> 15 <br /> <br />