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Transportation Finance and Policy Division

TWELFTH MEETING - FIELD HEARING

2019-2020 Regular Session - Friday, February 22, 2019

STATE OF MINNESOTA TWELFTH MEETING: FIELD HEARING – ST. CLOUD, MN
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NINETY FIRST SESSION

TRANSPORTATION FINANCE & POLICY DIVISION
MINUTES

Representative Hornstein, Chair of the Transportation Finance & Policy Division, called the Twelfth meeting to order at 12:15 P.M. on February 22nd, 2019 in the St Cloud City Hall Chambers.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

HORNSTEIN, Frank, Chair
TORKELSON, Paul, Lead
BERNARDY, Connie
ELKINS, Steve
HEINRICH, John
KOEGEL, Erin
MASIN, Sandra
NELSON, Michael
O’DRISCOLL, Tim
PETERSBURG, John
RUNBECK, Lisa
WEST, Nolan
WOLGAMOTT, Dan

Members excused: HAUSMAN, Alice, KOZNICK, Jon, RICHARDSON, Ruth, TABKE, Brad, YOUAKIM, Cheryl


Representative Hornstein called the meeting to order at 12:15pm. A quorum was present.

Representative Petersburg moved to approve the minutes of February 19th. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF1179 (Wolgamott, D.) Stearns County; relating to transportation; capital investment; appropriating money for Northstar Commuter Rail extension to St. Cloud; requiring a report; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

Dave Kleiss, Mayor of St. Cloud, testified in favor of HF1179.

Teresa Bohnen, President of St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce, testified in favor of HF1179.

Pastor James Alberts, President of ISAIAH and Pastor of Higher Ground Church of God in Christ, testified in favor of HF1179.

Chair Hornstein laid over HF1179 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.


HF780 (O’Driscoll, T.) Stearns County; relating to transportation; establishing a local cost-share assistance account; appropriating money for local roads and bridges; authorizing the sale and issuance of general obligation bonds.

HF781 (O’Driscoll, T.) Stearns County; relating to transportation; appropriating money for the small cities assistance program.

Representative O’Driscoll introduced his bills.

Chair Hornstein laid over HF780 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.

Chair Hornstein laid over HF781 for possible inclusion in an omnibus bill.


Tarryl Clark, Stearns County Commissioner, testified in favor of HF1179.

Patti Gartland, President of the Greater St. Cloud Development Corporation, testified in favor of HF1179.

Heidi Larson, ISAIAH leader and transit user, testified in favor of HF1179.

Charles Ferguson, ISAIAH leader and transit user, testified in favor of HF1179.

Jane Conrad, East Central Area Labor Council, testified in favor of HF1179.

Phillip Qualy, State Director, United Transportation Union – Smart Transportation Division, testified in favor of HF1179.

Rep. Theis spoke for King Banian, Dean of Public Affairs for St. Cloud State University, informed the group that SCSU supports HF1179.

Dave Brown, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, testified in favor of HF1179.

Joe Perske, Stearns County Commissioner, testified in favor of HF1179.

Brendan Klein, Student at St. John’s University, testified in favor of HF1179.

Claudia Zavala, Sauke Rapids Resident, testified in favor of HF1179.

Freda Freidman Veljkovich testified in favor of HF1179.

Steven Bot, Chair, I-94 Coalition and City Administrator for City of St. Michael, testified in favor of HF1179 and HF780.

Jodi Teich, Stearns County Engineer, testified in favor of HF780.

Steven Huser, Metro Cities, testified in favor of HF780.

Dan McGowan, Member of Laborers Local 563, testified in favor of the 20-cent gas tax.

Tony Wicken, Resident of Blaine, MN, testified in favor of the 20-cent gas tax.

Janice Lehr testified in favor of HF1179.

Monica Segura testified in favor of HF1179.

William Conrad testified in favor of HF1179.

James Robins, Small Cities Association, testified in favor of HF781.

Tim Burkhardt, Hinckley City Councilmember, testified in favor of HF781.

Randy Olmscheid, St. Martin City Councilmember, testified in favor of HF781.

Stephen Philion, Professor, St. Cloud State University, testified in support of HF1179.

Moira Walsh testified in support of HF1179.

Anne Buckvold, #FinishNorthStar Campaign Organizer, testified in support of HF1179.

Aaron Backman, Secretary/Treasurer Hwy. 23 Coalition and Executive Director for Kandiyohi County and City of Willmar Economic Development Commission, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Donna Boonstra, Chair, Hwy. 23 Coalition, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Jake Bauerly, Benton County Board Chair and Hwy. 23 Coalition, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Mel Odens, Kandiyohi County Public Works Director and City Engineer, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

David Sturrock, former Marshall City Councilmember, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Pauline Bratt testified in favor of HF1179.

Dennis McGovern testified in favor of HF1179.

John Palmer testified on HF1179.

Mike Hicks, writer for Streets.MN, testified in favor of HF1179.

Rachel Melis, College of St. Benedict’s/St. John’s University and St. Cloud State University Faculty, testified in support of HF1179.

Doug Frederickson, St. Joe Township, testified in favor of HF780.

Ryan Daniel, Director of St. Cloud Metro Bus, testified in favor of HF1179.

Lori Schultz, Director of Tri-Cap Transit Connection, testified in favor of HF1179.

LuAnn Bleiler, Paul Bunyan Transit, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Mohamed Goni, Staff Organizer, Greater MN Worker Center, testified in favor of HF1179.

Lori Vrolson, Executive Director, Central MN Council on Aging, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Larry Hanson, Egan Company, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Deb Carlson, victim’s advocate with Citizens for Safe Work Zones, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Sherry Munyon, Citizens for Safe Work Zones speaking on behalf of Andy Snopes, IBEW, testified in support of transportation need in St. Cloud and Greater MN.

Larry Logeman, Executive Express, testified in opposition to the 20 cent gas tax.

Steve Simmonds testified before the committee.




The meeting was adjourned at 3:30pm.


Representative Frank Hornstein, Chair


Claire Steven, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
Bills Added:
  • HF1179 (Wolgamott) - St. Cloud Northstar Commuter Rail extension funding provided, report required, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
  • HF781 (O'Driscoll) - Small cities assistance program funding provided, and money appropriated.
  • HF780 (O'Driscoll) - Transportation; local cost-share assistance account established, local roads and bridges funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.


FIELD HEARING

12:00 noon -- 3:00 p.m.
St. Cloud City Hall
400 2nd Street South
St. Cloud, MN 56301

All members of the community are invited to attend, and the committee welcomes public testimony.

Individuals and groups that wish to provide testimony to the committee may do so by contacting the committee administrator: John.Howe@house.mn

The hearing may be viewed here: http://govtv.stcloudcity.com/CablecastPublicSite/show/524?channel=3

Part 2 is here: http://govtv.stcloudcity.com/CablecastPublicSite/show/525?channel=3