1 Who we are The Metropolitan Council is the regional policy-making body, planning agency and provider of essential services for the Twin cities metropolitan region. The Council’s mission is to foster efficient and economic growth for a prosperous region
policy-making body, planning agency and provider …...policy-making body, planning agency and provider of essential services for the Twin cities metropolitan region. The Council’s
The Metropolitan Council is the regional policy-making body, planning agency and provider of essential services for the Twin
cities metropolitan region. The Council’s mission is to foster efficient and economic
growth for a prosperous region
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How we deliver on our mission• Create a regional planning framework• Guide effective growth of the metro area• Operate transit and wastewater services• Administer housing and other grant programs
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Presentation Notes
(9:01-9:04) Let me read this for you. The mission of the Metropolitan Council is to develop, in cooperation with local communities, a comprehensive, *regional planning framework, focusing on *transportation, wastewater, parks and aviation systems, that *guide the efficient growth of the metropolitan area. The Council *operates transit and wastewater services and *administers housing and other grant programs.” (ASK:) How many local units of government (cities, counties, towns, etc.) are part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area? (ANSWER: 186 local units of government) As the area continues to grow, services need to keep pace. Perhaps you can understand the challenge of trying to get and keep all 186 local units of government on the same page, working together cooperatively to support the region’s steady growth. In summary, the Met Council is the regional planning agency for the Minneapolis-St. Paul 7-county metropolitan area, AND the provider of essential services to the entire region. (TRANSITION) So if this is the “mission” of the Met Council, what is the “vision” of the Met Council – or what we hope to be in the future?
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• Anticipates future regional needs• Reflects our concerns and aspirations• Addresses our responsibility to future
generations• System and policy plans:
– Transportation, – Water Resources, – Regional Parks, – Housing
Council Vision:
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Presentation Notes
(9:04-9:07) Today, the Twin Cities metropolitan area—the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Council — is a thriving region of nearly three million people living in 186 communities across the seven counties. The region has emerged as a world-class metropolitan area—a great place to live, work, and do business. But what about the future? Thrive MSP 2040 provides a framework for a shared vision for the future of our region over the next 30 years. While the Council is responsible for developing Thrive and the plans for the three statutory regional systems— wastewater, transportation, and regional parks—the vision within Thrive can only succeed through partnerships with local governments, residents, businesses, philanthropy, and the nonprofit sector. As a regional plan, Thrive MSP 2040 anticipates our future needs, reflects our collective concerns and aspirations. Most importantly, it addresses our responsibility to the future generations. Thinking ahead—and working together— helps the region achieve a high quality of life, economies of scale, high-quality regional services, and a competitive edge envied by other metropolitan areas. That’s Thrive 2040! (TRANSITION) We have some goals for this plan, let’s define them.
(9:07-9:12) Thrive responds to changing demographics, changing needs. The Council forecasts more than 800,000 additional residents by 2040, and more than 500,000 new jobs in the region.The region’s population is also getting older. More than one in five residents will be age 65 and older in 2040, compared with one in nine in 2010. By 2040, 40% of the population will be people of color, compared with 24% in 2010. Thrive identifies five key outcomes for the Twin Cities metro area to strive for over the next decades: The Metropolitan Council has five desired outcomes that define our shared regional vision: Stewardship, Prosperity, Equity, Livability, and Sustainability. And they are linked: Stewardship leads to decisions that advance prosperity, equity, livability, and sustainability. And so on. What do these all mean? In a nutshell: • Stewardship: Natural and financial resources are managed wisely. • Prosperity: The region’s economic competitiveness is enhanced through investments in infrastructure and amenities. • Equity: All residents share in the benefits and challenges of growth and change. We will learn more about that next. • Livability: Our great quality of life is maintained and improved. • Sustainability: Regional vitality is protected for generations to come. And how do we get to these outcomes? Through integration, collaboration and accountability: Integration means we’ll leveraging the Council’s divisions and work with our external partners across the region. Collaboration means being open to shared strategies, supportive partnerships, and reciprocal relationships. And Accountability means adopting a data-driven approach to measure progress and providing clear, easily accessible information. (TRANSITION) As long as we’re discussing the Thrive 2040 Outcomes, let’s spotlight one.
(9:12-9:17) The difference between equality and equity is often misunderstood, but we have a great video that clearly differentials between them (Click play to start video. SHOW VIDEO.) (after video, ASK) Who can explain the difference? “Equality” refers to equal value as human beings, regardless of other differences, such as gender, age or skin color. “Equity” refers to providing everyone with the same opportunity, BECAUSE OF differences, such as gender, age or skin color. At Metropolitan Council, we work hard to make sure that Equity connects all residents to opportunity and creates viable housing, transportation and recreation options for people of all ethnicities, incomes and abilities. Do you have any questions? (TRANSITION) Let’s do an exercise about how your job links to the desired outcomes.
(9:28-9:29) (ASK) But before we begin, how much do you know about the Met Council… Or what did you learn by exploring our web site? (Take a few answers and give credit for what they already know.) (TRANSITION) Let’s move on to learn about how the Council is structured and governed.
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Scope
7 Counties
16 Districts
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Presentation Notes
(9:29-9:31) This map shows the 7 counties region served by the Met Council. The counties are: Ramsey Hennepin Scott Carver Anoka Washington Dakota The map also shows the 16 districts that make up the region. One Council member represents each region. The Met Council is a regional agency which manages planning, services, infrastructure and issues that cross local boundaries. For example: A road or a bus route starts in one town and goes through several others. Or, In terms of wastewater or water supply, rivers and streams flow through multiple cities, towns and counties. This regional form of government is unique, compared to most other metropolitan areas in the U.S. Only a couple other cities, for example, Seattle and Portland, have adopted this regional model, placing multiple services under one umbrella. (TRANSITION) So, who do you work for?
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Governance
Governor appoints
Chair and members
Chair leads the board
16 Board members, each representing a geographical
district
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Presentation Notes
(9:31-9:32) The question is often asked of Met Council employees, “Do you work for the State of Minnesota?” In terms of dollars and cents, the best answer is, “No.” While the Council Chair and sixteen Board members are each appointed by the Governor and are accountable to the Governor, Met Council employees are not on the state’s payroll. We do receive some funding from the state, as well as from the federal government, but we have our own separate payroll. You could describe us as a “regional government” appointed to provide comprehensive, integrated planning and services for the entire 7-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. So, since the Council is appointed by the Governor, we are ultimately answerable to the Governor for the planning and services we provide. But we are separate from the state government. (TRANSITION) We also have a unique organizational structure.
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Regional AdministratorWes Kooistra
Community Development Metro Transit
Metropolitan Transportation
Services
Environmental Services
Public Affairs
Government Affairs
Human Resources
Council ChairpersonAlene Tchourumoff
General Counsel
Organizational Structure
Finance and Administration
Program Evaluation & Audit
Office of Diversity & Equal Opportunity
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(9:32-9:34) This is a very general overview of the Council’s structure. 4200 employees Transit division largest – 3300 Average age 49 33.5% POC Turnover 10.7% 12 bargaining units (all but 400 employees) Our Regional Administrator, Wes Kooistra, is the top staff person at the Council. Each division head reports to him. The 4 divisions along the bottom of the diagram are the divisions that offer services to the 7-county community at large. The functions shown to the left and right of the Regional Administrator are all part of the division called Regional Administration. This division provides a wide variety of services to the other 4 divisions. (TRANSITION TO BREAK:) We are going to stop and take a break for 10 minutes.
Environmental Services
Council Overview
Metropolitan Transportation
ServicesCommunity
Development Metro TransitRegional Administration
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(9:44-9:45) Let’s get into an overview of the Council’s 5 divisions, beginning with Regional Administration. Regional Administration is known as RA and supports the other 4 divisions. We Kooistra is the Regional Administrator. Let’s hear how he describes what is done in RA. (NOTE: video will play automatically as you advance to next slide)
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Regional Administration• Two locations: Robert Street and Heywood• Handle all programs and services mandated by
state law• Eight departments• Extensive internship program
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(9:49-9:52) Regional Administration is located both at Robert Street location in downtown St. Paul, and Heywood in Minneapolis and handle all programs and services mandated by state law. There are 8 departments: Communications Government Affairs Human Resources Risk Management Finance and Operations Contracts and Procurement Information Services Office of Equal Opportunity Met Council now employs over 4,200 people – and that doesn’t include our extensive internship program which adds over 100 interns from all over the U.S. each year! (TRANSITION) Though all of our departments in Regional Administration contribute greatly to our success at Metropolitan Council, we will take a moment to focus on OEO, the Office of Equal Opportunity, next.
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• Located at Robert Street office• Regional planning for aviation, highway, and transit
systems• Provides transportation services that complement Metro
Transito Transit Link Dial-A-Rideo Metro Mobilityo Metro VanPool
Metropolitan Transportation Services
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(9:57-9:59) MTS works with numerous partners, including the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the Transportation Advisory Board, and local governments throughout the region regarding planning and programming for transportation, including aviation/airport and highway planning. In addition to planning work, MTS also offers direct transportation services that complement other transit providers. Our services include Transit Link Dial-a-Ride, Metro Mobility and Metro Vanpool. (ASK) Who knows which each of these services are? ((acknowledge responses) Transit Link helps riders who are little off the beaten path get to a regular bus or train stop, or will even take them door-to-door, if they’re beyond the reach of regular transit service. Metro Mobility provides transportation to people with disabilities. Metro VanPool offers a fee-for-service option for groups of five to fifteen commuters who live too far from existing bus, light rail or train routes. ( TRANSITION) Next we will hear from Beth Reetz from Community Development. (NOTE: video will play automatically as you advance to next slide)
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Community Development• Located at Robert Street office• Program mandated by state law• Livable Communities grants help local governments do
site cleanup, offer affordable housing and create walkable neighborhoods
• Plans and coordinates 54 regional parks and reserves• Metro HRA provides rent assistance for 6,800 low
income households
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(10:01-10:04) Community Development is located in St. Paul at Robert Street. They developed Thrive MSP 2040 and are working on translating the regional planning and regional policy into the local comprehensive planning process that local governments are required to do every 10 years. We just started our next plan this past Fall. Administer the “Livable Communities Act” that awards grants to local governments for: Affordable housing options. Polluted site clean-up and redevelopment, for example, a former gas station site into a residential site. You could call this turning “brown sites” into “green sites.” Developments that connect housing, jobs and businesses with transportation services, and provide a range of housing types and costs. Provide planning and coordination for the Regional Parks System, which includes 54 regional parks and park reserves. Operate the Metropolitan Housing and Redevelopment Authority (Metro HRA) which provides rent assistance for low income seniors, families and people with disabilities. Currently helping about 6,800 families in nearly 100 communities in the region. ( TRANSITION) Let’s hear from the largest division of the Metropolitan Council next. (NOTE: video will play automatically as you advance to next slide)
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Metro Transit• Operates out of 17 different facilities• 85.8 million rides in 2015, 82.6 million in 2016• Blue Line/Green Line Extensions in progress• Received 2016 “Outstanding” Award• Best news for you: FREE rides!
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(10:06-10:09) Metro Transit operates out of 17 separate locations, including: 5 garages, an overhaul base a police headquarters a large network of transit centers and Park & Ride facilities. Metro Transit Provided nearly 86 million rides in 2015, and nearly 83 million in 2016 – (growth 9 out of 11 years) and are working on the completion of the Green Line Extension light rail from Minneapolis to Eden Prairie (Southwest Corridor) and the Blue Line Extension light rail (Bottineau). Recently, Metro Transit received the American Public Transportation Association's (APTA) 2016 Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award. This award recognizes its record ridership and success in a range of areas, including safety, operations, maintenance and community relations. Best news for you is that you can ride for free! To use your free Metro Transit privileges, check routes and schedules at metrotransit.org (TRANSITION) You will find some interesting stats in the next video on Environmental Services, or ES as we call it.
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• Operates out of 11 different facilities• User fees pay 100% of operating costs• Reduces chemical pollution to make
our water clean and safe• Develops plans to renew and maintain
our water supply well into the future
Environmental Services
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(10:11-10:14) Environmental Services has 11 different facilities including: Shakopee Cottage Grove Farmington Fridley Hastings 3 in St Paul Newest location in East Bethel �What’s unique about this division is that they are fully funded through user fees. � They work hard to reduce chemical pollution to make our water safe and healthy, and do things such as:� Work with area dentists to prevent mercury used in dental treatments from entering the water system. Work on reducing phosphorus which comes from chemical fertilizers.� They also develop the Water Supply Master Plan which means planning for the future to maintain adequate water supplies for the long term. (NOTE: video will play automatically as you advance to next slide) (TRANSITION) If Environmental Services is the only division that is fully funded, where does the Metropolitan Council get the rest of our money from?
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• Four primary sources of revenue:oMetropolitan-wide property taxo State and federal fundsoUser feesoMVST (Minnesota Vehicle Sales Tax)
