HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975 01-15 Maplewood opposes greater Metropolitan Council power REVIEW p
Maplewood o poses greater
Metropoliiàn Council power
by Scott Carlson positive financial incentives to local
The Maplewood council went on record governments."
last Thursday night opposing a proposal "Negative inducements, such as fiscal
that the Metropolitan Council should be disparities and levy limitations,should be
granted more power. eliminated or altered to allow municipal
The suggestion, made by the governments to realistically benefit from
Metropolitan Council Physical development."
Development Committee in its -- —
Development Guide, would "make
municipal governments rubber stamps to
Metropolitan planning and develop-
ment," the Maplewood council states.
"The proposed extensive expansion of
the Metropolitan Council authority from a
coordinating advisory agency to an
operating agency will necessarily result
in additional costs and duplication of
effort," the councilmen stated in a two
page resolution.
"Maplewood . . . agrees that an im-
portant `quality of life' is citizen par-
ticipation in government and that . . .
individual citizen participation is difficult
at the metropolitan level, but an every
day occurrence at the municipal level,"
Maplewood notes.
The council's resolution came after
Councilman Donald Wiegert reported last
month that the Guide"scares the hell out
of me." He said it represented another
step to further erode the power of
municipal government.
The Development Guide (Framework
chapter) suggested that the Metropolitan
Council become a controlling, planning
and development agency.
But the Maplewood council indicates
that elements of the Guide seem in-
consistent such as "the distribution of
growth suggested by the Development
Framework Chapter is discouraged by
the fiscal disparities and tax limitation
acts of the State Legislature."
Maplewood also feels that no cost
estimates or revenue sources"other than
charges to financially overburdened
cities are indicated for the proposed
expansion of authority and services."
Instead, Maplewood states that:
"Actions should be taken to strengthen,
rather than weaken, municipal local
government."
"The Metro Council should remain a
coordinating planning agency with
positive tools to encourage sound plan-
ning in the Metro area."
"The proposed development
Framework Chapter should be amended
to provide for recommendations to the
state legislature which strengthen local
units of government through meaningful,