82-3020 RESOLUTION NO. 82 - 3020
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RESOLUTION SUPPORTING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT #2 AN AMENDMENT TO
THE MINNESOTA CONSTITUTION ON HIGHWAY BONDING, TO REMOVE RESTRICTIONS
ON THE INTEREST RATES FOR AND THE AMOUNT OF TRUNK HIGHWAY BONDS.
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Hopkins has
reviewed the facts concerning the need for a Minnesota Constitutional Amendment
removing Highway Bonding Restrictions in the Minnesota Constitution and
WHEREAS, finds that a 5% interest rate and $150 million maximum
borrowing amount are obsolete in current economic times, and
WHEREAS, recognizes the urgent need to provide flexibility to the state
legislature and administration to be able to adequately fund necessary Truck
• Highway and Bridge repairs and replacements, and
WHEREAS, believes that additional capability to support good highways
will also aid in improving the economic vitality of Minnesota and the City of
Hopkins by providing more jobs and transportation facilities
for the moverment of goods and materials in the state.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of
Hopkins , County of Hennepin , State of Minnesota,
that Constitutional Amendment #2, an amendment to the Minnesota Constitution
to remove restrictions on the interest rates for and the amount of Trunk Highway
Bonds, be supported, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City Council of the City of Hopkins
• urges all residents of the city voting at the November 2, 1982 election, to cast
a 'yes' vote for Constitutional Amendment #2.
PASSED THIS DAY OF , 1982.
ATTEST:
MAYOR OR COUNCIL PRESIDENT
CITY CLERK
FACT SHEET
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON HIGHWAY BONDS-AMENDMENT #2
1. The amendment does two things :
• _ removes obsolete 5% interest limit (established in 1920)
- removes $150 million cap (established in 1956)
2. Passage of the amendment will :
- immediately remove an impediment to the sale of $19 million of
previously authorized bridge replacement bonds
- provide an additional highway funding option to future legis-
latures and administrations
3. The urgent need for transportation funding continues.
- road use is increasing
- the dedicated highway fund is not sensitive to inflation. and
continually falls behind the level of need
- the current funding level , called "patch and repair level" is
really sub-marginal in meeting road user needs
- based on current funding roads are reconstructed once every
370 years
- almost 500 bridges on the Trunk Highway system are deficient
• 4 . Passage of the amendment is a small step towards improving eco-
nomic vitality of Minnesota.
- will enable improvement bridge replacements
- will provide jobs (53 jobs are created either directly or in-
directly from every one million dollars spent on highway con •
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struction)
5. The groups that have voiced support for passage are a good indi-
cation of the importance this change has for Minnesota.
- Labor
- Business
- Aar; cultn'=e
- Highway Users : Cars & Trucks
- Highway Action Groups
-- State Executives
- Legislators and Candidates
• 6. There are no known organizations in opposition.
Question to appear on November Ballot:
"Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to remove restric-
tions on the interest rates for and the amount of Trunk Highway
Bonds?"
Yes
No
• BULLETIN
association of
metropolitan
municipalities
September 3, 1982
TO: Chief Administrater Officials,
AMM Member Cities
jJ
FROM: Vein Peterson, Executive Director
There are three items 1 would like to bring to your attention:
1. CONSTITUTIONAL =MTEND:' NT #2, HIGHWAY BONDING
The AMM Transportation Committee and Board of Directors have considered the
proposed Highway Bonding Constitutional Amendment and adopted a position of
active support. The constitutional limitations on both interest rate and
dollar amounts for highway bonding are obsolete and totally out of step with
current economic conditions and highway needs.
The A'B'M Board would urge member cities and officials to take an active role in
support of amendment number two. We are providing a fact sheet and model
resolution for your consideration. It is hoped that because of the magnitude
and impact of highway needs in the Metropolitan Area, your city will support
the issue, attemot to gain publicity and support through your local news media,
and attempt on an individual basis to influence positive support from your
constituency.
This amendment was before the voters in 1980 and did receive a substantial
majority vote from those voting on the issue. However, to pass a constitutional
amendment needs a majority vote of all persons voting. Thus, those not voting
yes or no are counted as no. It is our hope that you, as local officials, will
take the initiative on this extremely important issue.
2. AMM MEMBERSHIP MEETING TO ADOPT LEGISLATIVE POLICY - NOVEMBER 18, 1982
For your advance planning, there will be a general membership meeting on
• Thursday evening, November 18, 1982. The purpose of the meeting is to adopt
Legislative Policy for the next Legislative Session beginning in January of 1983.
A meeting notice with the complete meeting details and copies of the proposed
policies will be mailed in early October, but please reserve the date now.
3. REGIONAL MEETING - LMC AND AMM CO-SPONSORED - SEPTEMBER 16, 1982 IN MAPLEWOOD -
REMINDER
Recently you should have received a notice and invitation for the Regional Meetinn
of the League of Minnesota Cities, co-sponsored by the Association of Metropolitan
Municipalities. The meeting will be held on Thursday, September 16th. at the
183 university avenue east, st. paul, minnesota 55101 (612) 227-5600
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Holiday Inn in Maplewood with both afternoon and evening sessions. To better •
meet the needs and interests of city officials in the Metropolitan Area, some
changes are being made to the evening meeting agenda. Clyde Allen, State
Commissioner of Revenue, will be present to update you on the overall state
financial picture and any bearing it may have on municipalities and future .
state aid, levy limits, etc. We are hoping that Gordon Voss, State Represent-
ative from Blaine and Chairman of the House Committee on Local and Urban Affairs,
and Chairman of the Local Policy Task Force, will also be present to brief you
on what is happening with the Local Policy Task Force. As you may know, the
Local Policy Task Force was created by an executive order of the Governor to
get a better handle on the interrelationship between the State and Local units of
government including the financial relationship. Both of these briefings should
be of interest! Reservations should be made with the City of Maplewood which is
hosting this reetir_g.Other portions of the evening program will be shortened to
accommodate those presentations so as not to add to the overall time allocated to th
evening session.
WE REQUEST THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICIAL RECEIVING THIS BULLETIN COPY OR
DISTRIBUTE THIS INFORMATION TO THE APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS IN YOUR CITY.
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