10-14-2019 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 23, 2019 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 2 of 11 Senator David Osmek provided the City Council with an overview of the 2019 legislative session. The legislature finished the session late but they did pass a tax bill that he did not vote for because it did not cut in half the two percent sick tax or provider tax, which people pay every time they visit a health clinic. Originally that was intended to be a temporary tax but is now a permanent tax at 1.8 percent. While the legislature could have budgeted for it, they chose not to do so. Osmek indicated he also did not vote for the opiate bill. While the opiate bill was a good idea fundamentally, it basically was a tax on people who obtain opiates from a physician, which are generally people who follow the rules and use what they have. The downside to the bill is that the majority of the opiates are coming in mostly from over the border, and people who are addicted or are overdosing are not going to be taxed. It will tax, however, the average person who goes to the doctor. Osmek stated he advocated for using the general fund to help offset that since all Minnesotans will benefit from it. Going to be discussed in the 2020 session is the insulin bill, which is a good idea and has the backing of insulin manufacturers. At this time he would be happy to support it unless it is modified or changed. Currently as chair of the Energy and Utilities Commission, Osmek stated he has been working with environmental lobbyists and people on the environmental side as well as the utilities to put together a clean energy bill. This bill is vastly different from the House bill, which would not have allowed for natural gas to be used as a bridge fuel when there is not enough renewable energy available. Osmek stated he went on a tour of a wind farm last week as well as two nuclear reactors, and while wind energy is becoming more and more efficient and more reliable, it only makes up a small portion of Minnesota’s energy portfolio and the state needs to have a mix of fuels. No one is against a cleaner environment, but it needs to be accomplished in a sane, rational manner and not rely solely on one type of energy. Osmek stated he also serves on the Transportation Committee and that he was recently contacted by a constituent who was questioning why he should have to pay over $600 for the tabs on his vehicle since he does not drive on the roads any more than someone who might own a 2009 Taurus. Osmek stated in his view there should be a limit on how much people pay for tabs and that his intention is to discuss that in the upcoming legislative session. The questions to be addressed are at what point is there a limit and should there be a ceiling. Mayor Walsh asked whether there is anything new with 5G technology. Osmek stated they did roll it out in Minneapolis and that they are hoping to expand the service area. Even if 5G is available in your area, that does not mean your phone will work on 5G because you will need to purchase a 5G phone. Crosby noted the tab fees are supposed to go for road maintenance and snow clearance and that he would like the legislators to balance those figures and make sure that money is not going into another department. Crosby stated he is also a major advocate for not expanding toll roads in Minnesota. Osmek noted the toll roads are tied to federal road money, but that he does not believe there will be much of an expansion in this area. There might be some addition to 35N as you go out of the Cities but they will not put a toll lane in on I-94 going up to Rogers even though that has been discussed. Crosby commented it is another revenue generator and that the money does not always go towards roads.