RES 2021-09 Legislative Infrastructure Impact FeeCITY OF OTSEGO
COUNTY OF WRIGHT
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO: 2021-09
SUPPORTING INFRASTRUCTURE ACCOUNTABILITY
THROUGH ESTABLISHMENT OF STATUTORY IMPACT FEE AUTHORITY
WHEREAS, the population of Otsego and populations in Minnesota cities are growing statewide; and
WHEREAS, the development and construction associated with that growth are driving the need for road
improvements including street oversizing, street redesign, and street reconstruction; and
WHEREAS, municipal statutory authority appropriately exists for fees to support added need for parks,
sewer, and water; and
WHEREAS, this municipal authority does not exist for street infrastructure development fees; and
WHEREAS, city streets are one of the four major types of infrastructure local government is responsible
to provide to protect public safety and health, and city streets represent a separate but integral piece of
the network of roads supporting movement of people and goods; and
WHEREAS, existing funding mechanisms, such as Municipal State Aid (MSA), property taxes, and special
assessments have limited applications, leaving cities under -equipped to address growing needs; and
WHEREAS, neighborhood streets are constructed according to city standards by developers; and
WHEREAS, funding sources for larger collector and arterial streets and intersections to support new
developments have historically come from street infrastructure development fees; and
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Supreme Court found in Harstad v. City of Woodbury that no statutory
authority existed for these street infrastructure development fees; and
WHEREAS, cities should not be forced to make current residents and businesses pay for costs incurred
to accommodate new growth through local taxes but rather by those that are responsible for the
growth; and
WHEREAS, cities are finding it difficult to develop adequate funding systems to support needed
infrastructure development related to new growth while complying with existing state statutes; and
WHEREAS, cities need flexible policies and greater resources in order to meet growing demands for
street improvements.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OTSEGO THAT, the City Council
supports legislation that would authorize cities to collect infrastructure development fees to fund
municipal street, collector, and arterial street improvements as a necessary component of continued
new residential, business and industrial growth within the community.
ADOPTED by the Otsego City Council this 22nd day of February, 2021.
MOTION BY: Darkenwald
SECONDED BY: Goede
INFAVOR:Stockamp, Dahl, Darkenwald, Goede and Moores
OPPOSED: none
CITY OF OTSEGO
VJessica L. Stockamp, Mayor
ATTEST:
1.
Audra Etze[,)City Clerk
2