Metropolitan Council Governance

Purpose:  To have discussion with City Council re Metropolitan Council Governance Structure.

Background:  Recently, Anoka County and three other metropolitan counties, put together a coalition that is advocating for a change in the structure of the Metropolitan Council.  Documents explaining their position are attached for consideration.

These comments from the Metro Cities also offer guidance on the issue:

. . .  a 2011 Metro Cities Governance Task Force identified several problematic implications for this structure and did not recommend this model of metropolitan governance.  Metro Cities subsequently has not recommended this model in its positions on the governance of the Metropolitan Council.

Task force members identified several concerns, primarily related to the incompatibility of holding the offices of local official and Metropolitan Council member. Concerns centered on:
 
·         Local officials who are elected in one community and are appointed to serve other communities through Metropolitan Council membership could face actual conflicts of interest or the appearance of conflicts in determining regional investments, funding and policy.
·         Local officials would be serving and voting on two political subdivisions, generally considered to be incompatible functions.
·         The Metropolitan Council could become overly parochial and politicized, which could hamper regional planning, and service delivery effectiveness and efficiency.
·         Appointments to the Metropolitan Council could potentially be geographically imbalanced.
·         There could be an infusion of special interests and political campaigns into the selection process for Metropolitan Council members.
·         Local officials would serve as both the “regulator” and “regulated” party, which are generally considered to be incompatible roles.
·         This governance structure could result in less scope of expertise on regional issues on the Metropolitan Council.
·         A Metropolitan Council with this structure could be more resistant to legislative oversight.
 
The 2011 Task Force also identified a concern about the impracticality of having sitting city officials serve as Metropolitan Council members.   Unlike county commissioners, most city officials are not full time mayors or city council members. The Task Force concluded that the practical result could be to narrow the pool of potential candidates from which to draw future Metropolitan Council members.
 
Metro Cities’ policies do align with the counties’ proposal in support of staggered terms for Metropolitan Council members.  Staggered terms would confer significant benefits for regional governance, providing more knowledge continuity on the Council, more political and philosophical diversity, and fewer possibilities for narrow policy agendas to emerge from the Metropolitan Council. 
 
Metro Cities’ governance policies on the Metropolitan Council recognize the importance of a separate regional government, more input by local officials into the selection process for Metropolitan Council members, staggered terms, and a high and consistent level of collaboration and engagement between local governments.  Metro Cities, through its representation of metro cities’ shared interests, works to ensure that city needs are accounted for all Council functions and planning, and for local officials to have adequate input and opportunities to contribute their expertise and perspectives on regional issues. -END-

 Finally, below are some points/observations put together by staff for consideration:

• Staff supports consideration of options for a Metropolitan Council governance structure that may increase accountability and address concerns of regional stakeholders and policy makers.
   
• Staff believes that there should be opportunities for local communities to provide input on ideas before any legislative change in Metropolitan Council governance is made.
   
• Staff recognizes the support Metropolitan Council has provided for past projects in the City of Ramsey:
  • Parking Ramp
  • Sunwood Drive
  • Center Street
  • Sunwood Townhomes (TH 47)
  • Sunwood Village
  • The Draw Park and Amphitheater
  • Rail Station
     
• The Metropolitan Council has provided support for the planning and implementation of future projects:
  •    Mississippi Skyway
  •    Housing Projects in The COR
  •    Housing Projects within the community as a whole
     
• The City of Ramsey expects to continue an ongoing partnership with the Metropolitan Council, especially as we endeavor upon updating our Comprehensive Plan.
   
• Staff recognizes that the Metropolitan Council has made progress toward making the Comprehensive Plan Update and Amendment processes more user friendly within the past 12 months.
• It appears that, given the short legislative session, that this issue is not a high priority.

• Attached for Council information is the Metropolitan Council Budget - and - the recommendation of the Metro Cities Task Force on Metropolitan Council Governance.

30 minutes

City Administrator
Community Development Director
 

To receive Council feedback as it relates to the Metropolitan Council governance structure.