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CITY OF ORONO <br />RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL <br />RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PRINCIPLES <br />FOR REFORM OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL <br />WHEREAS, regional planning and local government cooperation is vital to the <br />continued success of the Minneapolis -St. Paul Metropolitan Area; and <br />WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council is, by statute, the regional planning agency for the <br />Minneapolis -St. Paul Metropolitan Area, with broad authority, including the ability to levy taxes, <br />charge fees and set regional policy; and <br />WHEREAS, cities and counties are the entities most directly affected by policies and <br />financial decisions of the Metropolitan Council, making them the primary constituents of the <br />Metropolitan Council; and <br />WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Council's scope of authority and involvement in regional <br />issues has expanded significantly over the years; and <br />WHEREAS, a governmental entity, particularly one with taxing authority, to be <br />effective, must be credible, and responsive and accountable to those it represents; and <br />WHEREAS, the appointment of Metropolitan Council members resides solely with the <br />Governor, effectively making the Governor the primary constituent of the Metropolitan Council; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, many cities and counties believe that the Metropolitan Council lacks <br />accountability and responsiveness to them as direct constituents; and <br />WHEREAS, many cities and counties believe that the authority to impose taxes and set <br />regional policy should be the responsibility of local government elected officials; and <br />WHEREAS, reform is necessary to ensure that the Metropolitan Council is an effective, <br />responsive, and accountable partner for regional development and progress. <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Metropolitan Council, due to its <br />taxing and policy authority, should be accountable to a regional constituency of those impacted <br />by its decisions; and <br />BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Metropolitan Council should not operate as a <br />state agency answerable to only one person, the Governor, as it does in its current form; and <br />