01-14-1985 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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LUEET-4. TµANSPORIATIUN (IS) (cont'd) 2. An adequate level of highway user funds should be waintalned so that highway maintenance and reconstruction may be continued, and adequate funds be available for the state -aid street program. The Legislature has recently taken appropriate steps in this direction by increasing license fees and the gasoline tax to maintain this fund. Efforts should he made to eliminate any inequities In motor vehicle license fee schedules and other vehicle taxes. The League not support establishing a system of direct appropriations to cities under 000. 3. The special orate bonding program should be continued to provide funds for counties, towns and municipalities for the replacement or repair of bridges. 4. Funding for at to - -he existing level of operation for mass transit should be maintained ,t.. Available funds should be used at the city's option for capital o. expenses. 5. The legisiatun. I continue the Minnesota Department cf Transportation as the rides; ... cc program coordinating agency and to provide adequate funding for its co-tin,atlon. 6. The League supports the continued dedlcatior, of the sale am on motor vehicle sales for transportation purposes, Lrl advocates the prompt transfer of the motor vehicle excise tax into the highway user au transit assistance fund. 7. The possibility and feasibility of utilizing existing railroad trackage as part of a fixed guide way and/or light rail mass transit system should be addressed. If existing railroad trackage/right-of-ways are petitioned for •-mdonment, these or portions thereof should be preserved by appropriate government agencies through alternate public use until rail systems once again become economically feasible or needed because of energv consider:v'-,a. 8. The legislature should restore the bikeway grants progrsi in order to promote safety In a growing recce anal activity. LOEET-5. ANNEXATION (B) The League supports legis'v,1on making It easier tot cities to annex urban or urbanizing land which is in , n mile fringe are• •:. o_nd the city. Public policies u :ch encr., - tar, al development In non -urban areas and which extend public services oe xi,t}tg ju:isdictions a:,d re twice areas are wasteful and counter -productive. Cities offer a variety of lifestyles that consen nergy, and they are already centers of substantial p•tblic and private Investment. Additionally, ,rtw agricultural land is a major natural and economic resource and any atse land use strategy must include as a major objective the preservation of prime !cultural land. The state should establish a policy encouraging the yta. 1stlon of prime agricultural land d••• discourages the development of such Is-d ,inside designated growth areas to at 28-