LOCAL GOVERNMENT/SHARED POWER CONSENSUS
The League of Women Voters – South Tonka understands that the cities of Deephaven, Excelsior, Greenwood, Shorewood, Tonka Bay and Woodland already depend on each other to varying degrees, which makes total independence unlikely. Where there would be a monetary savings, or more efficient or better service, the LWV encourages extensive cooperation of these municipalities in providing public service.
Because of the irregular boundaries and local topography, the League believes that land use planning should be done with consideration of surrounding or adjacent property.
Given the joint interdependence and current high level of cooperation among the South Shore cities, the League of Women Voters - South Tonka supports the establishment of a study committee to examine the costs and benefits of political merger of two or more of the cities.
Background:
In 1976, the Excelsior-Deephaven League of Women Voters adopted as their local study “The inter-relationships of the south shore Lake Minnetonka communities in land-use planning and municipal services, including an update and re-evaluation of our position on merger.” The adoption of this study stemmed from member concern over the recent financial dissatisfaction resulting from the joint powers agreement for the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department. Other factors influencing this adoption were the discussion at the state legislature on a possible bill requiring cities with populations under 5000 to consolidate with an adjoining community, and a local effort to arrange joint Planning Commission meetings. The result of that study was a consensus encouraging extensive cooperation for providing public services and a joint planning committee for long range planning. The consensus also contained the following statement concerning merger: “The League believes that the long range benefits for the total area would outweigh any disadvantages of political merger, and that the “small town” characteristics of these cities should and would still be maintained if merger should occur.”
An update in 1993 resulted in a consensus encouraging extensive cooperation in providing public services. The statement addressing joint land-use planning was omitted because of the role of the Metropolitan Council in land-use planning. There was no statement concerning merger in the 1993 consensus.
The 2006 update was chaired by Sue Dunn, with committee members Sue Dodson, Ruth Fuller, Jean Ice, Chris Lizee, Liz Rosenberg, Jane Stein, Kay Thompson & Jean Wagy. The committee formulated a questionnaire to be used for interviews with city managers/public works directors, and a slightly different questionnaire to be used for interviews with the mayors. Teams of two committee members interviewed the city managers and mayors. The information was presented by a panel of committee members at a public meeting and consensus was taken at a later meeting.
At its Annual Meeting, LWV South Tonka voted to retain this position in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
Because of the irregular boundaries and local topography, the League believes that land use planning should be done with consideration of surrounding or adjacent property.
Given the joint interdependence and current high level of cooperation among the South Shore cities, the League of Women Voters - South Tonka supports the establishment of a study committee to examine the costs and benefits of political merger of two or more of the cities.
Background:
In 1976, the Excelsior-Deephaven League of Women Voters adopted as their local study “The inter-relationships of the south shore Lake Minnetonka communities in land-use planning and municipal services, including an update and re-evaluation of our position on merger.” The adoption of this study stemmed from member concern over the recent financial dissatisfaction resulting from the joint powers agreement for the South Lake Minnetonka Public Safety Department. Other factors influencing this adoption were the discussion at the state legislature on a possible bill requiring cities with populations under 5000 to consolidate with an adjoining community, and a local effort to arrange joint Planning Commission meetings. The result of that study was a consensus encouraging extensive cooperation for providing public services and a joint planning committee for long range planning. The consensus also contained the following statement concerning merger: “The League believes that the long range benefits for the total area would outweigh any disadvantages of political merger, and that the “small town” characteristics of these cities should and would still be maintained if merger should occur.”
An update in 1993 resulted in a consensus encouraging extensive cooperation in providing public services. The statement addressing joint land-use planning was omitted because of the role of the Metropolitan Council in land-use planning. There was no statement concerning merger in the 1993 consensus.
The 2006 update was chaired by Sue Dunn, with committee members Sue Dodson, Ruth Fuller, Jean Ice, Chris Lizee, Liz Rosenberg, Jane Stein, Kay Thompson & Jean Wagy. The committee formulated a questionnaire to be used for interviews with city managers/public works directors, and a slightly different questionnaire to be used for interviews with the mayors. Teams of two committee members interviewed the city managers and mayors. The information was presented by a panel of committee members at a public meeting and consensus was taken at a later meeting.
At its Annual Meeting, LWV South Tonka voted to retain this position in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
