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Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division

FORTY-SIXTH MEETING

2007-2008 Regular Session - Tuesday, February 19, 2008

STATE OF MINNESOTA FORTY-SIXTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-FIFTH SESSION

HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT POLICY AND
FINANCE DIVISION

MINUTES


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division, called the meeting to order at 12:50 P.M. on Tuesday,
February 19, 2008, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:

Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Poppe, Jeanne, Vice-Chair
Atkins, Joe
Bly, David
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Hortman, Melissa
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Moe, Frank
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Severson, Dan
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy

Members excused:

Ruth, Connie

A quorum was present.

Chair Rukavina welcomed everyone and gave an overview of the agenda. Chair Rukavina invited Terry Kuhlman, Executive Director, Public Facilities Authority to begin his presentation.

Terry Kuhlman, Executive Director, Public Facilities Authority, Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding their legislative initiatives and the Governor's bonding bill.

Discussion and questions followed.

Terry Kuhlman continued his presentation.

Further discussion and questions followed.

Chair Rukavina discussed the agenda, and added HF 1944 to the bills listed on the agenda.

Representative Gunther moved that the following bills be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill:

HF 870 (Fritz) Medford Wastewater Treatment Facility

HF 1028 (Urdahl) Darwin Wastewater Holding Ponds Design


Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 19, 2008
Page Two



HF 1944 (Anderson, B.) Clear Lake/Clearwater sewer treatment facility expansion

HF 2222 (Otremba) Central Lakes Regional Sanitary District

HF 2518 (Huntley) Duluth sanitary sewer overflow facility

HF 2519 (Doty) Garrison and Kathio Township wastewater collection system

HF 2563 (Hilty) Big Lake Area Sanitary District

HF 2564 (Hilty) Barnum supply well

HF 2566 (Hilty) Moose Lake wastewater collection

HF 2615 (Juhnke) Willmar wastewater treatment facility

HF 2654 (Rukavina) Iron Junction capital investment funding

HF 2655 (Rukavina) Aurora wastewater treatment facility

HF 2666 (Rukavina) Gilbert wastewater treatment facility

HF 2673 (Urdahl) Dassel elevated water tank

HF 2679 (Fritz) Ellendale water system

HF 2680 (Fritz) Medford wastewater and water system

HF 2688 (Westrom) Elbow Lake infrastructure funding

HF 2728 (Dill) Knife River-Larsmont sanitary district

HF 2741 (Solberg) Grand Rapids wastewater treatment facility

HF 2797 (Anzelc) Wheeler Point community sanitary sewer

HF 2798 (Anzelc) Northome sanitary sewer

HF 2799 (Anzelc) Baudette water towers

HF 2809 (Brown) Rose Creek sewer systems

HF 2817 (Morrow) Lafayette wastewater collection system

HF 2864 (Ward) Brainerd-Baxter sewage treatment plant

HF 2883 (Faust) Mora wastewater treatment infrastructure

HF 2884 (Faust) Quamba wastewater infrastructure

HF 2885 (Anzelc) Nashwauk wastewater infrastructure

HF 2886 (Anzelc) Nashwauk wastewater infrastructure

HF 2887 (Anzelc) Effie wastewater infrastructure

HF 2918 (Kalin) Shafer wastewater infrastructure

HF 2919 (Kalin) Rush City wastewater infrastructure

Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 19, 2008
Page Three



HF 2935 (Ward) Nisswa wastewater infrastructure

HF 2947 (Hilty) Moose Lake south suburban expansion project

HF 2950 (Murphy) Midway Township sewer reconstruction

HF 2953 (Urdahl) Litchfield wastewater treatment facility

HF 2962 (Olin) Greenbush water treatment facility

HF 2994 (Anzelc) Big Fork sewer project

HF 2995 (Kalin) Amador Township wastewater infrastructure

HF 3001 (Moe) Cass Lake wastewater infrastructure

THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Dan McElroy, Commissioner, Department of Employment and Economic Development, introduced himself and provided testimony on the Governor's SEED initiative.

The following bills are part of the SEED initiative:

HF 2880 (Moe) Greater Minnesota development funding

HF 2760 (Mahoney) Bioscience public infrastructure grants

HF 2879 (Brynaert) Greater Minnesota business development public infrastructure grant
program

Discussion and questions followed.

Holly Byron, Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, introduced herself and provided testimony in opposition to the public infrastructure grant program.

Further discussion and questions followed.

Bonnie Balach, Minnesota Solutions, introduced herself and provided testimony on the public infrastructure grant program.

Representative Mahoney moved that HF 2760 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Brynaert moved that HF 2879 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Bly moved that HF 2880 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Terry Kulhman provided further testimony regarding HF 2880.

HF 2938 (Mahoney)

Representative Mahoney moved that HF 2938 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill.


Minutes
Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division
February 19, 2008
Page Four



Representative Mahoney presented HF 2938, relating to economic development; appropriating money to the city of St. Paul to defease, pay, redeem, or refund city bonds.

Chris Coleman, Mayor, City of St. Paul, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2938.

Discussion and questions followed.

Kathy Lantry, Council President, St. Paul City Council, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF 2938.

Discussion and questions followed.

Matt Smith, Director of Finance, City of St. Paul, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF 2938.

Discussion and questions followed.

Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF 2938 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus capital investment bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF 2948 (Mahoney)

Representative Mahoney moved that HF 2948 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division capital investment bill.

Representative Mahoney presented HF 2948, relating to state revenue; forgiving loan repayments on a loan to the city of St. Paul to finance the St. Paul RiverCentre.

Discussion and questions followed.

Representative Mahoney renewed his motion that HF 2948 be recommended to pass and be held over for possible inclusion in the Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy and Finance Division omnibus bill. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

The Chair discussed the meeting agendas for the rest of the week's scheduled meetings.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 P.M.


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair


_______________________________________
Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..

Bills on the Public Facility Authority's priority lists; including:
HF870 (Fritz) Medford wastewater treatment facility;
HF1028 (Urdahl) Darwin wastewater holding ponds design;
HF2222 (Otremba) Central Lakes Regional Sanitary District;
HF2518 (Huntley) Duluth sanitary sewer overflow facility;
HF2519 (Doty) Garrison and Kathio Township wastewater collection system;
HF2563 (Hilty) Big Lake Area Sanitary District;
HF2564 (Hilty) Barnum supply well;
HF2566 (Hilty) Moose Lake wastewater collection;
HF2615 (Juhnke) Willmar wastewater treatment facility;
HF2654 (Rukavina) Iron Junction capital investment funding;
HF2655 (Rukavina) Aurora wastewater treatment facility;
HF2666 (Rukavina) Gilbert wastewater treatment facility;HF2673 (Urdahl) Dassel elevated water tank;
HF2679 (Fritz) Ellendale water system;
HF2680 (Fritz) Medford wastewater and water system;
HF2688 (Westrom) Elbow Lake infrastructure funding;
HF2728 (Dill) Knife River - Larsmont sanitary district;
HF2741 (Solberg) Grand Rapids wastewater treatment facility;
HF2797 (Anzelc) Wheeler Point community sanitary sewer;
HF2798 (Anzelc) Northome sanitary sewer;
HF2799 (Anzelc) Baudetter water towers;
HF2809 (Brown) Rose Creek sewer systems;
HF2817 (Morrow) Lafayette wastewater collection system;
HF2864 (Ward) Brainerd - Baxter sewage treatment plant;
HF2883 (Faust) Mora wastewater treatment infrastructure;
HF2884 (Faust) Quamba wastewater infrastructure;
HF2885/2886 (Anzelc) Nashwauk astewater infrastructure;
HF2887 (Anzelc) Effie wastewater infrastructure;
HF2918 (Kalin) Shafer wastewater infrastructure;
HF2919 (Kalin) Rush City wastewater infrastructure;
HF2935 (Ward) Nisswa wastewater infrastructure;
HF2947 (Hilty) Moose Lake south suburban expansion project;
HF2950 (Murphy) Midway Township sewer reconstruction;
HF2953 (Urdahl) Litchfield wastewater treatment facility;
HF2962 (Olin) Greenbush water treatment facility;
HF2994 (Anzelc) Big Fork sewer project;
HF2995 (Kalin) Amador Township wastewater infrastructure; and
HF3001 (Moe) Cass Lake wastewater infrastructure.

Bonding portion of Governor's SEED initiative; including:
HF2760 (Mahoney) Bioscience public infrastructure grants;
HF2879 (Brynaert) Greater Minnesota business development public infrastructure grant program; and
HF2880 (Moe) Greater Minnesota development funding.

Other bills, including:
HF2938 (Mahoney) Saint Paul bond obligation funded; and
HF2948 (Mahoney) forgiving loan repayments on a loan to the city of St. Paul to finance the St. Paul RiverCentre