2005-01-27_AgendaPacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

rtes to ere v e y to i e r e' The Minnesota Environmental Initiative's Resources for Redevelop- mentprogram (R4R) has financial, technical and hands-on project man- agement resources dedicated to the redevelopment of blighted and poten- Bally contaminated properties (brownfields) for green open space reuse. R4R can help watershed districts put together projects that will transform blighted properties into sites that can protect water quality, such as rain gardens. Districts should investigate environmental conditions at properties they are considering for purchase, especially if the land was used in the past for industrial, commercial, agricul- tural or even residential purposes. Neglected or unattended properties that have been the site of unauthorized dumping should also be assessed. R4R can provide resources to perform environmental site assessments (phase I and phase II investigations), as well as greenspace design and implementa- tion at properties slated for reuse as restored habitat, natural areas, storm- water treatment sites or other open space. Good candidate properties for R4R's assistance are sites that could be connected to adjacent parcels of open space, have strong community interest and can be permanently secured as greenspace. For more information, please contact the Minnesota Environmental Initiative's Resources for Redevelopment staff Megan Dobratz Michael Welch mdobratz(~mn-ei.org mwelch a~,mn-ei.org 612-334-3388, ext. 104 612-334-3388, ext. 107 In addition, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also has similar funds available for brownfields to greenspace assessments. Please contact. Cathy O'Dell at 651-282- 2381formore information. The Minnesota Environmental Initiative is a 13-year-old nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis. MEI builds innovative partnerships to develop solutions to Minnesota's environmental problems. For more information, please visit www.mn- ei.org MEI's funding for Brownfields to Greenspace projects was recom- mended by the Legislative Commis- sion on Minnesota Resources from the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resource Trust Fund. Additional open space funding provided by the McKnight Foundation and Hennepin County Environmental Services. • e • Senator Keith Langseth Now, we will try it again. Because 2005 is a year when the Legislature must set and appropriate the budget for the biennium., the Senate plans to introduce a bonding bill EARLY in the session. Hopefully, we can pass a bill before members are too involved in the appropriations bills. We will put together a bill which is similar to this year's which received bipartisan support until the governor decided to play games. The costs for projects have risen dramatically so instead of saving money, the Republicans have wasted money. My hope is that in 2005 the games will stop and the Senate will pass a bipartisan supported bill that takes care of our infrastructure needs and creates jobs. Senator Cal Larson the end of the session. Senator Langseth's capital investment committee was given less than two hours to review and approve the package. The DFL package would have cast nearly a $100 million more over the neat five years in debt service compared to the Governor's. proposal. On the Senate floor, Senate Republicans offered a $782 million compromise proposal, which was quickly rejected by the Senate Democrats. The Senate Democrats took an "all or nothing" approach and went home with the latter. Clearly, we must Team from past mistakes in order to enact a sound 2005 bonding bill. Cooperation rather than confronta- tion is key in the Minnesota Senate. As a result of the recent House elections, cooperation will also be critical in putting together their bonding proposal. We have an opportunity in both the Senate and House to put together a bonding bill based on needs, priorities and fiscal reality rather than politics, egos and gamesmanship. The Senate Republicans are committed to putting together a sound and prudent bonding bill. I hope the Senate Democrats are likewise -success depends on it.