STATE OF MINNESOTA TWENTIETH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-NINTH SESSION
TRANSPORTATION POLICY AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
MINUTES
Representative John Petersburg, Vice Chair of the Transportation Policy and Finance Committee, called the twentieth meeting to order at 12:49 p.m. on March 18, 2015, in the Basement Hearing Room of the State Office Building.
The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.
Members present:
KELLY, Tim, Chair
PETERSBURG, John, VC
ATKINS, Joe
BERNARDY, Connie
ERHARDT, Ron
HAUSMAN, Alice
HORNSTEIN, Frank
HOWE, Jeff
JOHNSON, Clark
KOZNICK, Jon
LUCERO, Eric
MASIN, Sandra
MCNAMARA, Denny
NASH, Jim
NORTON, Kim
RUNBECK, Linda
SUNDIN, Mike
UGLEM, Mark
WHELAN, Abigail
Members excused:
ANDERSON, Mark
DRAZKOWSKI, Steve
SANDERS, Tim
Vice Chair Petersburg called the meeting to order at 12:49 p.m. A quorum was present.
Representative Nash moved to approve the minutes of March 16, 2015. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1461 (Atkins): Mendota Heights; Trunk Highway 149 segment designated as Officer Scott Patrick Memorial Highway.
Representative Atkins moved to recommend HF1461 be re-referred to the General Register.
Representative Atkins moved the H1461A1 amendment. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative Atkins testified on HF1461.
Representative Hansen testified in support of HF1461.
Sure Groth, Director of Traffic Safety and Technology for the Minnesota Department of Transportation, testified on HF1461.
Representative Atkins renewed his motion to recommend HF1461, as amended, be re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1772 (Lillie): Maplewood; Trunk Highway 36 segment designated as Sergeant Joseph Bergeron Memorial Highway.
Vice Chair Petersburg moved to recommend HF1772 be re-referred to the General Register.
Representative Lillie testified on HF1772.
The following people testified in support of HF1772:
Nora Slawik, Mayor of Maplewood
Chief Snchau, Chief Police for the City of Maplewood
Vice Chair Petersburg renewed his motion to recommend HF1772 be re-referred to the General Register. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF1598 (McNamara): Right-of-way mowing restrictions modified, and criminal penalties provided.
Representative McNamara moved to recommend HF1598 be re-referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Data Practices.
Representative McNamara moved to adopt an oral amendment: Page 1, Line 11, before “the” insert “up to”, strike “eight” and insert “15”; Page 1, Line 15, after “safety” insert “,research and construction.” And strike “but may not be mowed to a height of”; Page 1, Line 16, delete “eight” and strike everything before the first period; Page 2, Line 18, strike everything before the first period. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE ORAL AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
The following people testified in support of HF1598:
Tina Markeson, Supervisor of Roadside Vegetation Management for the Minnesota Department of Transportation
Bob Welsh, Manager of the Wildlife Habitat Program for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Scott Pederson, Director of Government Affairs for the Minnesota Department of Transportation
The following people testified with concerns about HF1598:
Thom Peterson, Minnesota Farmers Union
Abbey Bryduck, Analyst for the Association of Minnesota Counties
After discussion, the oral amendment on Page 1, Line 15 was changed to say “,research or construction” and Page 2, Line 18, to keep the subsection labeled “l”. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE ORAL AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.
Representative McNamara renewed his motion to recommend HF1598, as amended, be re-referred to the Committee on Civil Law and Data Practices. THE MOTION PREVAILED.
HF631 (Runbeck): Motor vehicle registration refunds provided.
Representative Runbeck moved that HF631 come before the committee.
The following people testified on HF631:
Patricia McCormack, Director of the Department of Vehicle Services for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Thomas Henderson, Vehicle Services Program Director for the Minnesota Department of Public Safety
Vice Chair Petersburg laid over HF631 for possible inclusion in the Transportation Policy and Finance Omnibus Bill.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:57 p.m.
Representative Tim Kelly, Chair
Natalie Cecchini, Committee Legislative Assistant