3/24/06
House File 3300 and Senate File 2932 will weaken township and community rights. These bills will make it more difficult for local governments to protect the community from unanticipated, harmful development (see details below). The authors of HF 3300 and SF 2932 understand the Land Stewardship Project’s concerns and are working with us. However, there is still the danger that another legislator could amend identical or similar language to another bill. That is why when you contact your legislators it is critical to tell them that interim ordinances are working well in their current form. They are an important part of strong local control and should not be weakened.

Contact your legislators and tell them to oppose HF 3300 and SF 2932 and any changes to state law that weakens or makes it more difficult for counties and townships to enact emergency moratoriums (interim ordinances) on major development. For the name and number of your state Senator call 888-234-1112 or 651-296-0504. For your Representative call 800-657-3550 or 651-296-2146. On-line contact information is at: www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/Districtfinder.asp.

How these bills weaken local democracy
House File 3300 (Rep. Neil Peterson, Rep. Mary Liz Holberg) and Senate File 2932 (Sen. David Tomasssoni) weaken the power of local governments to enact interim ordinances. Interim ordinances allow local governments to put a temporary moratorium on major development. This right is critical when an unanticipated large development—like a factory style farm, racetrack or subdivision—is suddenly proposed that local ordinances do not address. In effect, an interim ordinance calls a "time out" so the community can take stock and assess what, if any, local controls are needed to protect the quality of life of the community.

The bills:

1. Require a four-fifths vote (a super majority) to enact an interim ordinance. Currently an interim ordinance can be enacted by a simple majority—that's how democratic rights should work.

2. Limit the effectiveness of interim ordinances. Merely applying for a permit would exempt a proposed development from an interim ordinance enacted after the application was made. Very often neighbors do not get any information about a project until AFTER the permit has been applied for. When that happens an interim ordinance may be needed to create time to assess the situation. If this bill passes, a community will have very limited rights when they are caught off guard by unanticipated and potentially harmful large development.

3. Reduce the time an interim ordinance can be in place on the county level from two years to only one.

Other news on LSP's state policy work
• The Dairy Investment Tax Credit passed the House Agriculture Committee with pasture development and on-farm processing added. House File 2879 would allow dairy farmers to take a 10 percent state tax credit on up to $500,000 of improvements. The bill as introduced did not include expenditures on pasture development and on-farm processing as eligible for the tax credit. Both of these are important tools for sustainable family farm dairy operations, and dairy farmers who graze and do on-farm processing should get equal treatment. Rep. Greg Davids offered the amendment to include these important provisions in the bill. When you talk to your legislators, let them know that pasture development and on-farm processing need to remain a part of the Dairy Investment Tax Credit (HF 2879/ SF 2862).

For more details, see www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/06/newsr_060316.htm. To see the bill, see www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=H2879.1.html&session=ls84.

• LSP Family Farm Breakfast and Day at the Capitol on Wed., April 19. LSP members and legislators will gather at Christ Lutheran Church (across from the Capitol at 105 University Ave. West) from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. for a breakfast of locally raised food from family farms. Plan to attend and invite your legislators to meet you there for breakfast. Afterwards, we will head over to the Capitol to talk more with legislators and work for state policy that promotes family farms and strong local democracy. The cost for the breakfast is $8. RSVP now by contacting Bobby King at 612-722-6377 or bking@landstewardshipproject.org.

• Bills to help beginning farmers get access to land will get a hearing in the Senate Ag Committee on Mon., March 27, and the House Ag Committee on Tues., March 28. Senate File 3437 (Senators Gary Kubly, Jim Vickerman, David Senjem) and House File 3843 (Representatives Lyle Koenen, Greg Davids, Aaron Peterson, Bud Heidgerken, Mary Ellen Otremba, Frank Moe) provide a state tax credit to landowners who sell or rent land to a beginning farmer. This will help beginning farmers compete with real estate investors who are driving up the cost of land. Nebraska has a similar law that is working well.

Call members of the Senate and House Ag Committee and encourage them to support these bills.

For the Senate Ag Committee, see: www.senate.leg.state.mn.us/committees/committee_bio.php?cmte_id=1001#members

For the House Ag Committee, see: www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/committeemembers.asp?comm=1

For the bills, see: www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/bin/bldbill.php?bill=S3437.0.html&session=ls84

For more information, contact the Land Stewardship Project’s Bobby King at 612-722-6377 or bking@landstewardshipproject.org.