Legislative Breakfast Series - Regional Planning vs. Local Control: The Role of the Metropolitan Council

What’s your top issue challenging the growth and expansion of your business?  Personal Income Taxes?  Increased  Business Regulations? Health Care Costs Rising?  Transportation? Education and Skilled Workforce?
 
Your Chamber offers real-time information and resources on a number of issues important to your business through Legislative Breakfast Series.  The breakfasts are designed for business community members to hear first-hand from lawmakers and industry experts on how legislation within all levels of government affect their businesses’ bottom line, job creation, growth and expansion.  Members can also communicate their concerns, comments and questions. 

Regional Planning vs. Local Control:  The Role of the Metropolitan Council
 
Up until the last few months, you may have never heard or known much about the Metropolitan Council.  Today however, the regional policy-making body and planning agency is making media headlines.  In fact, so many questions surround the Met Council these days that the legislature has created a bi-partisan sub-committee to address accountability and transparency issues.   The Council's mission is to foster efficient and economic growth for a prosperous metropolitan region.
 
State law requires the Council to adopt a long-range plan for the seven-county Twin Cities region every 10 years. Thrive MSP 2040 is the latest vision of the Met Council for the seven-county region.  The plan sets the policy foundation for the systems and policy plans that are developed by the Council in the areas of transportation, water resources, regional parks, and housing, major issues facing each and every local community in Dakota County.
 
Join us on Thursday, April 30 for a panel discussion on the roles and responsibilities, governance, leadership and accountability of the Metropolitan Council.  Panelists include
 
Adam Duininck, Met Council Chair
Adam Duininck was appointed chair of the Metropolitan Council by Gov. Mark Dayton in January 2015. He is the 14th chair of the Council since its creation by the Legislature in

1967, and the first to serve full time.  Duininck, a native of Willmar, was first appointed to the Council in 2011.
 
Representative Laurie Halverson, District 51B, Subcommittee on Met Council Accountability and Transparency
Representative Halverson was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2012 and graduated from the College of St. Catherine, earning her B.S. in Political Science.  Prior to serving in the Minnesota Legislature, she worked for several years at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota.    
 

 Representative Linda Runbeck, District 38A, Chair, Subcommittee on Met Council Accountability and Transparency

Representative Linda Runbeck was first elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1989.  She is a graduate of Bethel University, earning her B.A. in social work.  She is currently a small business owner.

 
Commissioner Tom Egan, Dakota County, Chair
Commissioner Tom Egan currently serves as Chair of the Board of Commissioners for Dakota County.  He was first elected in 2005 and prior to that served as mayor of Eagan for nine years following his service on the city council.  

The Series offers members a total nine programs held on the first Friday of each month, October 2014 through June 2015 from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at The Commons on Marice in Eagan.  Fees are $25 per event or purchase a Series pass for $200 and save.  Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. with a breakfast buffet and the program begins promptly at 8:00 a.m. 

Thank you to our presenting sponsor: