III.1. 2025 Legislative Agenda Review; Imihy
CITY OF HOPKINS
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: PeggySue Imihy, AICP, Special Projects and Initiatives Manager
Date: December 10, 2024
Subject: 2025 Legislative Agenda Review
_____________________________________________________________________
PURPOSE
To receive a preview of the upcoming 2025 legislative session and a high-level overview
of the City’s legislative agenda for the session.
INFORMATION
Each year, along with other cities and under the advisement of the League of Minnesota
Cities and other professional associations, the City of Hopkins assembles a legislative
agenda which highlights the City’s priorities for the year, to be shared with sta te elected
officials. The City of Hopkins is represented by Senator Ron Latz and Representative
Cheryl Youakim.
In 2023, the City entered into a Government Relations Contract with Lockridge, Grindel,
Nauen (LGN), who assists the City with its efforts to obtain funding through the Bonding
Bill as well as in the pursuit of other beneficial legislation. The team from LGN meets with
staff bi-weekly during the session and provides feedback on the City’s Legislative
Agenda. Tonight, staff from LGN will provide an overview of what the City should expect
this legislative session.
This year the Legislative Agenda covers a few items of importance to the City:
• The City’s Bonding Bill Requests:
Due to not passing the Bonding Bill last legislative session, it is anticipated that
both parties will seek to pass one in 2025.
o City of Hopkins Recreation and Resilience Hubs Bonding Request (2024
Bills S.F. 3707 / H.F. 3358)
▪ The City of Hopkins is requesting financial assistance to help design
and construct two community park buildings to be used for
recreational, educational and climate resilient spaces to help
residents connect, gather, learn and participate in government; and
to offer a safe shelter during times of extreme heat or other climate
events.
▪ The buildings would provide residents with much needed indoor
recreational and educational space, as well as provide needed
Administration
places for voting, community engagement and public safety events,
and free access to cool spaces during heat events.
• Local Sales Taxes: The legislature should allow for a change in law to generally
allow cities to enact a local sales tax for public improvements and capital
replacement costs without requiring a special law authorization.
• Local Control: The legislature should work to maintain local control for city planning
and zoning matters, and be mindful of the unintended consequences that may
occur through preemption of this control.
• Workforce Development: The legislature should continue to support expanded
partnerships between K-12 education, post-secondary education, the business
community and the city to address existing workforce needs and the creation of a
future pipeline.
• Redevelopment Tools: The legislature should consider the expansion of
redevelopment tools such as tax increment financing and tax abatement to help
support development in cities.
FUTURE ACTION
Staff will provide additional legislative updates as necessary.