Metro Cities is an association of more than ninety Twin Cities area municipalities which monitors the legislature and the Metropolitan Council, and advocates for legislation that will benefit cities and their stakeholders. Annually four Metro City policy committees meet to discuss and establish the recommended policy positions to be lobbied for the next year. Membership on the committees includes a mix of over 100 elected and appointed officials.

Any council member who wishes to be a part of the process to help shape the discussion on these issues can sign up for a committee/committees and participate.

The presented legislative policies have been adopted by the Metro Cities Board of Directors, of which I am a member.  

The committees review Metro Cities' positions in the following areas:

• Municipal Revenue and Taxation
• General Government
• Housing and Economic Development
• Metropolitan Agencies
• Transportation

At its annual meeting on Thursday, November 29, the draft policies will be considered for adoption. Each city is asked to designate a voting delegate. I am the designated Shakopee liaison to Metro Cities.

City councils generally vote to endorse the policies as presented. However, if disagreement exist regarding an individual policy, five cities must vote to have a discussion on the issue for it to be pulled at the meeting. Unless there is a council disagreement with a particular policy, individual concerns can be related via written correspondence. In the past, I have received correspondence from several council members and have provided that to Metro Cities for their review. The most effective way to address concerns, however, is for individuals to actively participate in the committee process.