Legislative Update
November 4, 2011- Legislative Update #24
As we approach Veterans Day on November 11th, it is important to show gratitude for the men and women that have served and are currently serving in the military. In honor of our veterans and our country, please support our troops. For those of you that have served or are currently serving in the military, I cannot thank you enough for the work you are doing.
There will be many area Veterans Day events and I encourage you to participate. Many of our area schools will also have special programs honoring our veterans. Among the activities:
Before November 11th- AmericInn of White Bear Lake is organizing an event on Veterans Day to make packages to send to soldiers overseas or families stateside. They are looking for donations for their packages- cash to help with shipping costs or items to be put into the packages. Donations can be dropped off at any time before November 11 at AmericInn, 4675 White Bear Parkway, White Bear Lake.
November 11th- Guardian Angels Catholic Church is hosting an old fashioned potluck from 6:00 to 9:00pm in O'Neill Hall to honor our men and women who are currently serving and our veterans. Ted Bearth and Bill Rasmussen will speak about the Oakdale Veteran's Memorial, "Our Vision for Remembrance." Bring your favorite dish to share with others. All are invited.
November 12th - The Knights of Columbus Council #4374 is having a Turkey Bingo at Transfiguration Catholic Church from 5:00 to 9:00pm. Join others in the Mount Tabor Hall for family fun, food and a chance to win turkeys and cash prizes. The church is located at 6133 15th Street North in Oakdale, one block east from Century on 15th.
For more information on Veterans Day and about local groups that assist veterans and their families, read my column by linking to www.senate.mn/senatorwiger and clicking on “Press Releases.”
As always, please let me know if you have questions or comments about any issue. Following are updates on some area projects, state issues and information about local bonding requests for the next legislative session.
Sincerely,
Chuck
To view the schedule for my cable show, which plays on local channels 15 and 16, visit my website www.senate.mn/senatorwiger and click on “In Touch with Senator Wiger.”
Check out some of my recent columns by linking to www.senate.mn/senatorwiger and clicking on “Press Releases.”
Local Projects
Fish Creek Update
On October 25 the City of Maplewood celebrated another milestone for the protection of Fish Creek. The Conservation Fund closed on a 70-acre Fish Creek parcel in south Maplewood. Friends and partners joined the City at the Maplewood Community Center for refreshments, socializing, and a brief update on the project.
The Conservation Fund purchased the land, which Maplewood must reimburse them for within a period of 2 years. The site is surrounded on three sides by county open space and is a key link in the greenway. Preserving the site will protect wildlife and create opportunities for hiking and nature exploration. The Conservation Fund staff and city staff will continue to work with partners on grants, foundations, and legislative support.
For more information, link to a 2010 report by the Fish Creek Natural Area Greenway Ad‐Hoc Commission containing recommendations and opportunities: http://www.ci.maplewood.mn.us/DocumentView.aspx?DID=1444. For more information about Fish Creek contact DuWayne Konewko, Maplewood Director of Parks and Recreation, at 651-249-2330 or DuWayne.Konewko@ci.maplewood.mn.us.
Highway 36- Rice Street Construction Complete
Reconstruction of Rice Street from County Road B to County Road B-2, including replacement of the aging Rice Street bridge and construction of a new interchange, was recently completed. The reconstruction will increase safety and lessen congestion. Clean up work is currently underway and crews are removing equipment from the area. Landscaping will be completed next spring. For more information on this project visit http://www.sehinc.com/online/rice36.
Gateway Trail Bridge Grand Opening
On October 18 a ceremony was held to celebrate the grand opening of the Gateway Trail Bridge. The bridge, located just south of the intersection of Minnesota Highway 36 and Century Avenue/Highway 120 in North Saint Paul, makes the area safer for all Gateway Trail users.
In 2008 Representative Lillie and I sponsored legislation that allocated $750,000 for an at-grade crossing of the Gateway Trail at Highway 120 with a grade-separated crossing. Last year the Gateway Trail Crossing was awarded $1.3 million in stimulus funding for the design and construction of a bridge over Highway 120. No city dollars were used for the project.
For more information about the Gateway Trail Bridge contact Rachel Hintzman, DNR Parks and Trails Area Supervisor, at Rachel.L.Hintzman@state.mn.us or 651-259-5875
Oakdale Mall Redevelopment
Last June Oakdale Mall was demolished to make way for new development. The site has been completely cleared and grading work, to level the land for building and a road, is being finished this fall. Next spring construction will begin on a 900 foot road through the center of the property and a stormwater pond for overflow.
The concept plan for the site is based on the city’s comprehensive plan and may include senior housing, medical office, office showroom, retail and restaurant space. A large portion of project costs, about $15.3 million, will be funded by revenue from tax increment financing (TIF). This funding is generated by the difference in property taxes for the site before and after redevelopment.
In essence, the project will help pay for itself once it is completed. In 2009 Rep. Slawik and I had legislation passed to extend TIF financing for an additional eight years, beginning in 2017 and extending through 2024. Along with TIF funds, the project has been approved for $1.17 million through the Metropolitan Council’s Livable Communities Demonstration Grant Program. Additionally, Oakdale received a $1.38 million grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
State Initiatives
Governor Dayton Launches “Better Government for a Better Minnesota”
In a time of chronic budget deficits, rising health care costs, and increasing demand for government services, Governor Dayton has announced progress on major reforms to reduce costs and improve government service. Over the last ten months, every state agency has taken steps to improve their operations.
Commissioner Lucinda Jesson highlighted the results achieved through the Department of Human Services’ effort to reform how the state buys health care in order to get quality care at a better price. For the first time, the Department of Human Services injected competition into the bidding process for managed care plans that provide health care to Minnesotans with public health insurance, and tied contract awards to quality measures.
For far too long, uncompetitive contracts have favored managed care plans at the expense of taxpayers. Over the past ten years, health care costs have been rising at unsustainable rates, putting even greater strain on our state’s budget. Managed health care spending was forecast at $4.4 billion over the 2012-2013 biennium to cover about 600,000 Minnesotans.
Common-sense reforms like competitive bidding will allow our state to reduce those costs without reducing the level of service that Minnesotans deserve. The competitive bidding process will result in $170-180 million dollars in taxpayer savings. Along with other managed care reforms put into law, total taxpayer savings will be $242 million over the next two years.
A new website will provide a place for Minnesotans to track the progress of reforms taking place in state government. Information on both current and future reform efforts can be found at http://mn.gov/governor/initiatives/better-government.
The Governor's Job Summit
Last week, Governor Dayton concluded his economic development tour with a statewide Jobs Summit. The event was a huge success and hosted more than 800 business, academic and government leaders. During the day, discussions were held on the role of government in job creation, access to capital for small businesses and how we can continue to improve and align our state’s workforce. Governor Dayton has developed a list of next steps we need to take to approach job creation moving forward. Those steps are:
1. Improve access to capital for small businesses, and expanding medium sized businesses
2. Align our educational system – particularly higher education, technical training, and workforce retaining for displaced workers – with the jobs available now and most likely available in the future
3. Continue streamlining the permitting process and reducing permitting timetables
4. Improve both physical and communications infrastructure by increasing our investment in highways, bridge repairs and improvements, and achieving the goal of creating border to border broadband and cell phone access for all Minnesotans regardless of where they live
5. Continue reform efforts under Better Government for Better Minnesota, bringing better state services to Minnesotans at a lower cost
6. Increase exports as well as reverse investment by encouraging foreign companies to make investments here in Minnesota and expanding opportunities for Minnesota companies to export goods and services
7. Close achievement and employment gaps among both minority groups and non-minority groups in Minnesota
Bonding Bill Requests for 2012
Commonly known as “bonding,” capital investment is the process by which the state issues bonds to fund public projects that have a state or regional significance. A bonding bill is a quick way to jumpstart the economy. Shovel-ready projects that are included in the bill will help get Minnesotans back to work. I have requested and will be advocating for funding for the following projects:
Tubman Regional Safety and Health Center (SF 15/HF 291)
Maplewood is requesting $2 million in state bonds to design, renovate and equip the former St. Paul’s Monastery as a regional safety and health service center. The Center would be used for a domestic violence shelter, legal services, youth programs, mental and chemical health services, and community education.
As a best practice center, the facility will host faculty and student researchers designing the best and most cost-effective methods of service delivery. The center will likewise share its research findings, cost-saving measures and evidence-based practices with public health and safety programs across Minnesota and the nation.
Currently the building is owned and operated by Tubman, an organization with nearly 40 years of experience providing services and resources to promote safe and healthy families. The total cost of renovation is $8 million. To date, Tubman has raised $2.1 million in matching funds from the private sector and $1.1 million in public support from both the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency as well as community development block grants from Ramsey and Washington Counties.
Maplewood Fish Creek Natural Greenway Land Acquisition (SF 369/HF 596)
Maplewood is requesting $700,000 in state bonds to acquire approximately 70 acres of land along Fish Creek to be included as part of the Fish Creek Natural Greenway. Project partners-Maplewood, Ramsey County, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, The Conservation Fund and 3M- want to protect the natural resources in this area and provide public access for hiking and enjoyment of nature. The total cost of the project is $2.1 million, with funding already secured for $1.125 million of project costs.
The Fish Creek Natural Area Greenway stretches from the Mississippi River in St. Paul, through Maplewood, to Carver Park in Woodbury. The heart of the greenway is Fish Creek and Ramsey County’s 142‐acre Fish Creek Open Space. This site lies within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, The Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area, and the Metro Conservation Corridor. In 2010, project partners adopted a vision for the greenway and plans for protection, stewardship, and access to nature.
Preserving this site will protect:
Wildlife habitat including woodlands and grasslands
Fish Creek and its upland buffer
Mississippi River bluff lands
Scenic views
Preserving this site will create opportunities for hiking and nature exploration:
Public access to the bluff top and its incredible views over the Mississippi River Valley
Future hiking trail winding through the rolling hills
Access point needed to create the Fish Creek Hiking Trail, a 1‐1/2 mile trail from Point Douglas Road in St. Paul to Carver Lake Park in Woodbury
Significantly improved access to existing county lands
Connections to local and regional bike trails, including the Mississippi River Trail
Oakdale City Hall Veterans Memorial Construction (SF 808/HF 1128)
Oakdale is requesting $50,000 to construct a veteran’s memorial at Oakdale City Hall. While the Oakdale Veterans Committee has raised $10,000 from community members in addition to materials and services donated by area businesses, the committee has had a difficult time finding other donors due to the lagging economy.
The project will be constructed next year and will include a new police memorial to honor former Oakdale Officer Richard Walton, who was killed in 1982 while trying to stop a robbery. If bonding money doesn’t come through, City officials say a loan or funds from the Capital Improvement Plan budget, which the City will be funding again in 2012, may be options for additional funding for the project.
Plans for the memorial include a monument to honor each branch of the military and a separate plaque to recognize veterans from Oakdale. The existing stone pillar and flagpoles at the City Hall entrance will be moved to the new memorial site. Brick pavers purchased to honor veterans will be included in the walkway surrounding the memorial and can still be added even after construction is complete. For more information about this project go to www.ci.oakdale.mn.us/ and click on the Veteran’s Memorial link in the righthand column.
I-694 and Rice Street Interchange (SF 112/HF 118)
Ramsey County is requesting $1.25 million in state bonds for the final design and improvements to the interchange and areas adjacent to the project. This area is a major bottleneck and key interstate route. The project has letters of support from area cities and major employers along the corridor, including Land O’Lakes, Deluxe Corporation, Boston Scientific and Cummins Generator Technologies.
The average daily traffic in the I-694 corridor ranges from 90,000 to 110,000 vehicles between Rice Street and Lexington Avenue. The average daily traffic at Rice Street over I-694 is approximately 17,000 vehicles per day. Because the current bridge is a single lane in each direction, this volume of traffic causes significant backups during peak hours.
The Metropolitan Freeway System 2010 Congestion Report showed that during peak hours, congestion (which is defined as speeds less than 45 mph), occurs for up to two hours during the morning peak and for up to three hours during the afternoon peak.
Ramsey County will be reviewing this proposal in the upcoming months and may adjust the amount of funds requested depending on the availability of other state funds.
I-694 and White Bear Avenue Interchange (SF 111/HF 119)
Ramsey County is requesting $1.5 million in state bonds to complete the final design of the interchange and associated improvements to I-694 and White Bear Avenue. Ramsey County will be reviewing this proposal in upcoming months and may adjust the amount of funds requested depending on the availability of other state funds.
