HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978 02-15 Hughes' bill asks task force REVIEW ,CC6 /s,,,, e
Hughes ' bill
asks
task
State Sen.Jerome M. Hughes (Dist. 50- mended policy; whether Metro Com;
DFL)Feb.2 introduced legislation which members should be appointed,elected
would set up a task force to examine and chosen from among locally elected
make recommendations related to the ficials; whether the Metro Area Cor
relationship of governmental units, both missions should be subordinate to ti
elected and appointed,in the metropolian Metro Council; and what the actu,
area.
authrity of the
"Over the past few years the legislature Area Comm ss ons and the localissetro Council, the ion
has found itself continually attempting to government involved should be.
deal with problems related to the func- "UNTIL WE resolve issues such a
tioning of governmental units within the these, we will see metropolitan goverr
metropolitan area,"Hughes said. "There ment operating in a manner more cor
have been —and continue to be—
very ducive to basic disputes as to the roles and Hughes saidaispute than cooperation,'
authority of the Metropolitan Council, the The senator said the 24-member task
various Metropolitan Commissions and force would include: three members
local government units within the metro appointed b
area." y the Metro Council; one
aHUGHES said the governmental units Comm ssiions; two ate senators;Metropolitan two
involved have often found themselves house members; one member each ap-.
either working at cross purposes or inby
dispute over who has final authority and City Councils; two members appointed pointed the Minneapolis and St. Paul
responsibility over a specific action. the League of iie (from by
m
"For example, there are some serious metro area cities outside Minneapolis and
g Minnesota Cities (from
questions as to what the actual role of the St.Paul); one member each appointed by
Metro Council should be," Hughes said. the Hennepin and Ramsey County
"On the one side we see the Council en- Boards; two members appointed by the
visioned as a coordinator of metro area Association of Minnesota Counties (from
planning and development, while on the metro area counties other than Hennepin
other side we see support for the Council and Ramsey);
ap-
as a major planner and Y and five members policy maker in pointed by the Governor,with no two from
matters of metropolitan impact." the same county.
Hughes said the task force he proposes "Overall, the task force will include a
would recommend specific guidelines on cross section of government officials and
such matters.
"I would ex residents," Hughes said. "I believe this
pect the ask force to cross section will produce recom-
recommend specific policies concerning mendations for balanced and effective
not only the structure of metropolitan policies related to metropolitan govern-
government, but also on the desired ment structure and operations."
relationship of all the governmental units The senators listed as co-authors on
having some degree of responsibility in Hughes' bill include Senate Majority
the metropolitan area," Hughes said. Leader Nicholas Coleman;
"Within that recommended policy, the Majority Leader Assistantde
task force would examine other, veryMinorityLeader Robert Ashbach;
Winston Borden;
specific, issues." John and
Among the issues cited for task force G vernmen althOperat ons chairmanof CohmSenate
m ttee.
consideration by Hughes were. whether Hughes'bill also defines the metro area
units other than the the Metro Council and as including
the four Metropolitan Commissioners are Hennepin,Ramsey,SScott t and Dakota,
best suited to implement the recom- Counties. and Washington