Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature

Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division

THIRTEENTH MEETING

2009-2010 Regular Session - Tuesday, February 24, 2009

STATE OF MINNESOTA THIRTEENTH MEETING
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EIGHTY-SIXTH SESSION


HIGHER EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
FINANCE AND POLICY DIVISION


MINUTES


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division, called the meeting to order at 1:05 P.M. on Tuesday, February 24, 2009, in Room 5 of the State Office Building.

The Committee Legislative Assistant noted the roll.

Members present:


Rukavina, Tom, Chair
Bly, David, Vice-Chair
Anderson, S.
Atkins, Joe
Brynaert, Kathy
Clark, Karen
Dettmer, Bob
Downey, Keith
Eastlund, Rob
Gunther, Bob
Haws, Larry
Mahoney, Tim
McFarlane, Carol
Murphy, Mary
Nornes, Bud
Norton, Kim
Obermueller, Mike
Poppe, Jeanne
Reinert, Roger
Slocum, Linda
Welti, Andy

Members excused:

A quorum was present.

Chair Rukavina announced that he wouldn’t be following the order of bills to be heard as indicated on the agenda.

Chair Rukavina invited Kristi Kremers, University of Minnesota graduate student, to come forward to testify.

Kristi Kremers, University of Minnesota graduate student, introduced herself and provided information regarding the University of Minnesota rally day today at the Capitol.

Chair Rukavina invited Representative Brynaert to come forward and present HF283.

HF283 (Brynaert)

Representative Brynaert moved that HF283 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.


Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
February 24, 2009
Page Two



Representative Brynaert presented HF283, relating to capital improvements; authorizing the issuance of state bonds; appropriating money for the Southern Minnesota Women’s Hockey Exposition Center and a performing arts center.

Representative Brynaert introduced Pat Hentges, City Administrator, City of Mankato and Rick Straka, Minnesota State University Mankato and asked them to testify regarding HF283.

Pat Hentges, City Administrator, City of Mankato, provided testimony regarding HF283.

Rick Straka, Minnesota State University Mankato, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF283.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Brynaert renewed her motion that HF283 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF23 (Norton)

Representative Norton moved that HF23 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Representative Norton presented HF23, relating to capital improvements; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds; appropriating money for a new steam line from Olmsted Waste-to- Energy Facility to Rochester Community and Technical College Campus.

Paul Wilson, Olmsted County Commissioner, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF23.

John Helmers, solid Waste Manager, Olmsted County, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF23.

Questions and discussion followed.

Chair Rukavina moved to table HF23.

Representative Norton provided further testimony regarding HF23.

John Helmers provided further testimony regarding HF23.

Representative Norton renewed her motion that HF23 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Sarah Anderson assumed the chair.

HF1063 (Rukavina)

Representative Rukavina moved that HF1063 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Representative Rukavina presented HF1063, relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for capital improvements at the University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
February 24, 2009
Page Three



Kathy O’Brien, Vice President for University Services, University of Minnesota, introduced herself and provided testimony regarding HF1063.

Alan Johnson, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, introduced himself and provided testimony regarding HF1063.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Rukavina provided further comment regarding HF1063.

Representative Rukavina asked that amendments to HF1063 be discussed.

Representative Haws discussed the packet of amendments to HF1063.

Al Johnson, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, discussed amendment H1063A5 to
HF1063.

Representative Haws discussed amendment H1063A5.

Representative Haws moved to amend HF1063 with amendment H1063A5, attached.
THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Haws discussed amendment H1063A4 to HF1063.

Representative Rukavina moved to amend HF1063 with amendment H1063A4, attached.

Al Johnson, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, discussed amendment H1063A4.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Rukavina renewed his motion to amend HF1063 with amendment H1063A4, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Rukavina discussed amendment H1063A3 to HF1063.

Al Johnson, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, discussed amendment H1063A3.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Rukavina moved to amend HF1063 with amendment H1063A3, attached. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Rukavina discussed amendment H1063A6 to HF1063.

Al Johnson, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, discussed amendment H1063A6.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Rukavina provided further comments regarding amendments H1063A6 and H1036A1, suggesting that both amendments be set aside for now.

Representative Haws provided further comment regarding HF1063.

Representative Rukavina renewed his motion that HF1063 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Questions and discussion followed.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
February 24, 2009
Page Four



Representative Rukavina again renewed his motion that HF1063 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF859 (Rukavina)

Representative Rukavina moved that HF859 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Representative Rukavina presented HF859, relating to higher education; capital improvements; appropriating money for higher education asset preservation and replacement; authorizing the sale of state bonds.

Al Johnson, Minnesota State Colleges and Universities, assisted Representative Rukavina with the presentation.

Questions and discussion followed.

Kathy O’Brien, Vice President for University Services, University of Minnesota, testified regarding HF859.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Rukavina moved to amend HF859 with the attached amendment. THE MOTION PREVAILED. THE AMENDMENT WAS ADOPTED.

Representative Rukavina renewed his motion that HF859 as amended be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Rukavina resumed the chair.

Kathy O’Brien, University of Minnesota, asked Chair Rukavina if she could introduce the Regents who were present. Chair Rukavina said yes. Ms. O’Brien introduced Regent Patty Simmons, Regent Steve Hunter and Regent David Metzen.

HF191 (Anzelc)

Representative Atkins moved that HF191 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Representative Anzelc presented HF191, relating to capital improvements; appropriating money for asset preservation at Rainy River Community College; authorizing the sale and issuance of state bonds.

Representative Atkins renewed his motion that HF191 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

HF562 (Wagenius)

Representative Poppe moved that HF562 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division.

Minutes
Higher Education and Workforce Development Finance and Policy Division
February 24, 2009
Page Five



Representative Wagenius presented HF562, relating to capital investment; modifying standards for higher education asset preservation.

Questions and discussion followed.

Representative Poppe renewed her motion that HF562 be recommended to pass and be referred to the Finance Committee with a recommendation that it be re-referred to the Capital Investment Finance Division. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Representative Downey moved that the minutes of February 23, 2009 as corrected be adopted. THE MOTION PREVAILED.

Chair Rukavina provided information on the upcoming meeting agendas and noted that all members were provided with a packet of information on the Recent candidates.

The meeting was adjourned at 2:30 P.M.


Representative Tom Rukavina, Chair


Susan Scott, Committee Legislative Assistant
More Info On This Meeting..
House TV Video:
View Archive

01:08 - Gavel.
02:51 - HF283 (Brynaert) Southern Minnesota Women's Hockey Exposition Center and performing arts center funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
15:37 - HF23 (Norton) New steam line from Olmsted Waste-to-Energy Facility to Rochester Community and Technical College Campus funding provided, bonds issued and money appropriated.
23:20 - HF1063 (Rukavina) University of Minnesota and the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
1:05:30 - HF859 (Rukavina) Higher education asset preservation and replacement funding provided, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
1:18:30 - HF191 (Anzelc) Rainy River Community College asset preservation funding provided for tuck-pointing on the gymnasium building, bonds issued, and money appropriated.
1:19:40 - HF562 (Wagenius) Higher education asset preservation standards modified.
Runs 1 hour, 26 minutes.


Higher education capital project presentation and bills:
HF23 (Norton) Rochester Community Technical College steam line
HF191 (Anzelc) Rainy River Community College
HF283 (Brynaert) Southern MN women's hockey
HF859 (Rukavina) HEAPR projects
HFxxx (Rukavina) Higher education capital projects
HF562 (Wagenius) Higher education asset preservation standards modified