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 By Jon Tatting
jon.tatting@ecm-inc.com
The Cambridge City Council on Oct. 19 received a legislative update from state Rep. Rob Eastlund and Sen. Rick Olseen.
Olseen noted Governor Tim Pawlenty’s unallotment has made it difficult for legislators to provide likely forecasts to constituents during legislative tours across communities statewide.
Pictured: Cub Scouts from Pack 235, led by Steve Grandgenett, assisted with the Pledge of Allegiance at the Oct. 19 Cambridge City Council meeting. Afterward, the Scouts shared different handshakes with Rep. Rob Eastlund and Sen. Rick Olseen. The Scouts are working on their citizenship badge. (Photo by Jon Tatting)
Going into this year’s legislative session, lawmakers knew they were dealing with a big deficit — yet 4,000 bills were introduced with an elephant in the room, said the Dist. 17 senator of Harris, noting people were “skirting” the issue.
The Legislature and the governor had some ideas to balance the budget through $6.4 billion worth of savings via stimulus funds, K-12 education shifts, tax increases as well as cuts, Olseen said.
“There was a balanced budget presented to the governor, but he vetoed it,” he explained. “The governor left the Legislature dangling with unallotment. There was pandemonium on the floor.
“It’s not looking good for you (cities), schools and nursing homes,” concluded Olseen, estimating budgeting remedies will be sought in the 2010 legislative session.
Representing Dist. 17A in the House, Rep. Eastlund also experienced a “challenging” ‘09 session. He noted people are going to have to accept lower revenues in the following years.
“Everyone is impacted,” he said, emphasizing the economic piece in light of jobs. “While government is limited in what it can do, we hope to address this in the Legislature next year.”
 Rep. Eastlund
“Families are living on flatter incomes,” added Eastlund, noting government needs to work on living within its means, too.
In light of future thinking regarding the local government aid (LGA) dilemma, Eastlund encouraged the city of Cambridge to consider what the city of Isanti is doing. Isanti has made a decision to take LGA out of its annual budget, said Eastlund, so such funds can only be considered a bonus.
Addressing the legislators, City Administrator Lynda Woulfe advocated to get the 2nd Avenue bridge reconstruction project in the next bonding cycle. The historic bridge is in need of repair and upgrades since it serves as a main access to city park land and the community college, as well as a regional attraction, she explained.
Added Mayor Marlys Palmer, the city hopes the bridge project takes priority soon, since it will generate increased traffic when the nearby Hwy. 95 bridge undergoes improvement, slated for 2013.
Palmer acknowledged federal transportation funding, as requested of Congressman Jim Oberstar, has been sought.
Honoring manufacturers
Following the state’s lead, Mayor Palmer proclaimed Oct. 26-30 as Manufacturers Week in Cambridge.
The council-approved action recognizes that Cambridge manufacturers and wholesale/distributors are critical to the local economy. According to the proclamation:
• Manufacturing companies employ almost one out of every seven workers, over 345,000 people, in Minnesota.
• Manufacturing employees in Minnesota earn about 21 percent more income than other Minnesota private sector employees.
• It has the largest total payroll of any business sector in Minnesota — 17.9 percent of the overall wages paid are in the manufacturing industry.
• MN produces $34.1 billion worth of manufactured goods for Minnesota’s economy, the third largest share (16 percent) of gross state product.
• Manufactured exports brought over $15.2 billion into the MN economy in 2006.
• MN exports gain $1 billion or grew 6.2 percent between 2007 and 2008.
• MN ranked 20th largest in value among all states.
• Manufacturing technology provides high skill, high wage jobs that contribute to Minnesota’s high standard of living and economic vitality.
In other action, the council...
• approved a conditional use permit for outdoor display/sales at FleetGo, 1515 1st Ave. East, east of downtown on Hwy. 95.
• Delayed, for two weeks, action on considering an appeal from Paul Henly, 311 6th Ave. SW, who argues he should not have been cited twice for parking cars on his short driveway, where recently placed sidewalk on city right-of-way prohibits parking. While the garage contains two parking stalls and an outdoor slide slab, Henly noted his upholstery business—since 2001—takes up the majority of his garage. Yet a 2003 city ordinance says a home occupation cannot exceed 25 percent of a dwelling. Until the next council meeting where action is expected, the city will not enforce additional citations and will view the property for possible remedies.
• Delayed action on a request from resident Bonnie Boese for the city to place either special road striping or signage in protecting pedestrian walking space on the narrow Second Avenue bridge at the city park. In the meantime, the city plans on talking to its attorney and MnDOT about such remedies to keep pedestrians safe on the bridge, where motorists commonly do not stop or resume speeds when walkers are present.
• approved an easement deed with East Central Energy regarding property located at the Senior Activity Center, 332 3rd Ave. NW, which is owned by the city. The project takes existing overhead electrical lines and buries them underground. Several other residential areas within the city will be affected in the future.
• approved a request by the Cambridge Isanti Competitive Baseball Association to construct a 26-by-30 storage facility, east of Naples Street on the north side of the baseball complex, at Sandquist Park.
• Agreed to continue discussion on how the city enforces code violations—in light of resident concerns over fairness and if the city should use a systematic approach as opposed to its existing complaint-driven approach—at its first Monday meeting in November.
• Closed session to discuss acquisition/purchase of property.
• Closed session to discuss potential litigation (city of Cambridge versus Larson Properties).
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