Brooklyn Park Approves 2020 Legislative Priorities
The Brooklyn Park City Council approved a list of state legislative priorities Monday night for the upcoming session. The vote will help council members and staff designate which projects they can lobby on behalf of the city for.
Among the priorities listed in Brooklyn Park City Council documents, there are five areas of particular focus. They are listed as follows:
- Conversion of Highway 252 into a freeway: Currently, construction isn’t expected to start until 2023. The city believes this project will improve safety and reduce congestion.
- The Metro Blue Line Light Rail Transit Extension project: This project is currently stalled over disagreement between the Metropolitan Council and BNSF Railway over sharing the railway’s property for passenger rail.
- Redevelopment of the former Coon Rapids Dam Park: The city has partnered with the Three Rivers Park District to turn the park, now called the Mississippi Gateway Regional Park, into a regional destination.
- Secure bonding money for regional arts center: The Minnesota State higher education system is requesting $6.6 million to help North Hennepin Community College’s proposal for a regional arts center. The project is called the Center for Innovation and the Arts.
- Dissolve pension fund for paid-on-call firefighters: Brooklyn Park needs legislative approval to dissolve the pension fund for paid-on-call firefighters. It’s the result of the city moving toward a full-time department.
The Minnesota State Legislature reconvenes Tuesday, Feb. 11.
