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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,February 24, 2014 <br /> Page 10 <br /> ther east to address afternoon peak traffic and increased traffic as the Wisconsin <br /> bridge was completed to avoid under-building that local infrastructure; differenc- <br /> ing in funding (e.g. General Obligations bonds for local roads and bridges versus <br /> Trunk Highway Bonds paid with other funds); concerns raised about economic <br /> boosts to the WI side of the bridge even though the State of MN will be paying <br /> for half the bridge cost the bridge in its entirety, creating additional transportation <br /> problems and major implications; and difficulties in addressing some areas during <br /> an election year such as 2014. <br /> Further discussion included potential use of the proposed vocational education <br /> legislation as a magnet to draw industry into MN by partnering with them to pro- <br /> vide trained workers specific for their business; status of MN having more For- <br /> tune 500 companies than any other state in the nation; need to reinvest in those <br /> workforce skills to retain those businesses; how to encourage international busi- <br /> nesses to locate initially in MN; ideas to encourage water conservation while be- <br /> ing able to fund water systems and retain water quality for individuals and fami- <br /> lies and incent those attempting conservation efforts. <br /> Additional discussion included potential minimum wage compromises by the <br /> House and Senate and eventual successful legislation this session, hopefully in- <br /> dexed for inflation, but recognizing some businesses that would be placed in dif- <br /> ficult positions (e.g. restaurants and businesses in border cities); and concerns in <br /> not creating a situation where additional subsidizing was needed for the work- <br /> force and/or their families to be unable to afford the basics in their lifeā€”or creat- <br /> ing unintended consequences. <br /> Legislators expressed their personal and corporate frustration of legislators in last <br /> minute deal making at the end of sessions, creating too many areas for omission, <br /> confusion or error in crafting language during those trade-offs, especially with <br /> bonding bills; <br /> Mayor Roe addressed specifics for Roseville and legislator assistance, some out- <br /> side League of MN Cities (LMC) lobbying efforts in addressing vocational and <br /> educational efforts for the current Business Retention and Economic Develop- <br /> ment efforts of the community; clarification of sales tax exemption in several are- <br /> as to define what is and is not covered for cities to address challenges being expe- <br /> rienced for Municipal Finance Directors and whether services are provided in the <br /> private sector, or Joint Powers Agreements (JPA's) and whether they are covered <br /> or not. <br /> Mayor Roe also spoke of the City's support for the legislature to update and mod- <br /> ernize legislation regarding newspaper notice requirements and processes, allow- <br /> ing jurisdictions to use other methods of notice. <br />