St. Paul officials hope the new year brings several items from the Legislature — legalized recreational marijuana, college savings accounts for kids, new housing funds and increased state aid.
And, St. Paul recently approved a gradual step-up to a citywide $15 minimum wage — why not make it statewide? That, and a new Third Street/Kellogg Boulevard bridge linking downtown St. Paul to the city’s East Side also are among top requests city officials are making to state lawmakers ahead of the 2019 session.
ThaoMee Xiong, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter’s chief state lobbyist and director of intergovernmental affairs, presented the city council last week with 10 pages of legislative requests.
Xiong, who works closely with fellow city lobbyist Noel Nix, called the legislative agenda “an extension of the budget priorities” that the city council passed this month. She noted the state projects a $1.5 billion budget surplus this year.
City officials are hopeful some of that surplus will go to increase aid to municipalities. Every two years, the state typically passes a bonding bill to fund major infrastructure projects. That’s not currently on schedule for 2019, but it doesn’t hurt to keep bonding requests fresh in the minds of lawmakers.
“Even though this is a non-bonding year … the number one bonding priority is the Kellogg Boulevard/Third Street bridge,” she said.
Here’s a selection of St. Paul’s requests:
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID
Local government aid — state funding for cities and towns — accounts for nearly a fourth of the city’s general fund. But LGA hasn’t grown over the years in step with inflation. Statewide, local government aid funding is capped at $534.4 million. The city is asking for the statewide cap to increase by $280.2 million.
LOCAL CONTROL
St. Paul, Minneapolis and other cities have angered Republican lawmakers by imposing paid sick leave mandates on businesses, increasing their citywide minimum wage or exploring other worker protections and benefits.
That’s inspired a robust debate at the State Capitol over why there’s a statewide minimum wage in the first place, and how far cities can go to impose regulations beyond what’s mandated by the state.
The city’s 2019 legislative agenda states: “The city of St. Paul urges the state to oppose initiatives that erode the ability of municipalities to make their own governing decisions.”
LODGING TAX
The city supports the St. Paul Visitor and Convention Bureau’s request to increase the lodging tax by 1 percent.
THIRD STREET/KELLOGG BRIDGE
Built in 1982, the city’s longest bridge connects the East Side to the Lowertown and the downtown entertainment district. In 2014, the bridge was narrowed to three center lanes as a precautionary measure after cracks were found in the cantilevers, or the support arms extending from the bridge piers. The city is seeking $48 million for structural repairs.
RIVERCENTRE RAMP AND BRIDGE
Across the street from the Xcel Energy Center, the RiverCentre Ramp has “reached the end of its useful life,” according to the city.
It’s unclear, however, what the best option would be for replacing the convention center parking structure and how much that would cost. The adjacent portion of Kellogg Boulevard is technically a bridge over the river bluff, and that too needs improvements. The city spent $2.3 million this year to shutter, repair and reopen the ramp after a piece of ceiling collapsed on a car.
HOUSING
Under the mantra of production, preservation and protection, the 2019 city budget establishes a $10 million housing trust fund to help maintain existing affordable housing while constructing new units. The city also committed to an ongoing $2 million annual investment.
Together with existing city and federal resources, that adds up to more than $71 million in housing investments over the next three years.
To that end, the city is seeking matching state money for local housing trust funds, finance rehab of older housing in low and moderate-income census tracts, establish housing targeted to the long-term homeless, build more senior housing, replace 150 beds at the Minneapolis Veterans Home, and expand low-cost financing options to improve energy efficiency of existing homes.
COMMUNITY-FIRST PUBLIC SAFETY
The city supports efforts to allow felons who have been released from incarceration but are still on probation to vote. St. Paul officials also supports efforts to install background checks on all gun sales, reducing fines and fees for low-level driving offenses, and legalizing cannabis for recreational use.
The city’s legislative requests include expunging non-violent marijuana-related drug offenses from criminal history, and dedicating new tax revenues toward education and community wealth building programs.
NEW AMERICANS
City officials support efforts to ensure all Minnesotans have access to driver’s licenses, regardless of their citizenship status.
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS/COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
City officials are asking for state funding to help cover costs associated with filling temporary gaps created by firefighters who are called to military duty for training or combat.
And, they’d like financial support from the state to invest $50 in a college savings account for every student, hand in hand with the city’s new Office of Financial Empowerment.
TRANSIT
St. Paul officials also would like a sales tax increase to fund transit across the metro; supporting “geographic balance” as new transit lines are added across the metro.
And, they’d like legislation allowing for tax increment financing to be used for “transit-oriented development,” or new real estate along transit lines, as well as parks and open space.