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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,January 23, 2012 Page 11 making for local government simply thinking of the bottom lien for its citizens. Rep. Greiling advised that the MPCA, LMC and other agencies were supportive of organized trash collection, and Conservation Minnesota's support was pending. Rep. Greilng asked that the City look at the upcoming legislation, which she had co-authored, with Sen. Marty carrying the bill in the Senate, opining that it was a process worthy of the Roseville community and was based on accurate infor- mation, not misinformation. Sen. Marty expressed his pleasure in attending tonight's meeting, and his pleasure in working with Rep's. Scalze and Greiling. Sen. Marty briefly addressed the cur- rent budget forecasts that were better than previously anticipated, and the number of constitutional amendments that were hot issues. Beyond that, Sen. Marty ad- vised that he was not anticipating anything major, but that some session business always remained an unknown. Mayor Roe addressed two items of interest to the City of Roseville: legislation in- troduced regarding the local option sales tax and the ability of cities to enact the tax for specific purposes; and encouraged legislative support of those efforts, not- ing the unique situation of Roseville and its significant retail environment. Mayor Roe also addressed the City's interest in the market value homestead credit being not reinstated, unless with dedicated funding that would not disappear or that would successfully work for cities,unlike the old system that never was feasible. Even though the City had no bonding projects this year, City Manager Malinen offered staff's assistance as a resource to the legislative delegation at their discre- tion. Councilmember McGehee questioned the potential for the City of Roseville to get funding included in the Bonding bill for freeway overpasses to allow safe pedes- trian and bicycle traffic. Rep. Scalze advised that the current bonding bill had been pared down from $2 billion in requests, with the Governor supporting his version of the bill, and the legislative majority looking at even less funding. Rep. Scalze advised that any such project as mentioned by Councilmember McGehee would be a long-term project to get it into the works and fit it with other interested projects, noting that the Rice Street bridge project was four years in the making; and many taking up to ten years to find their way into a bonding bill if at all. Councilmember McGehee further questioned a rail line along Highway 36; with Rep. Scalze advising that there was a long-term fight to get funding for the Cen- tral Corridor Rail Line. Rep. Scalze advised that the northeast suburbs didn't ask for things often enough to initiate significant interest, with state dollars going to those suburban cities in the southwest who ask for things.