Minnesota 2025-2026 Regular Session

Minnesota Senate Bill SF3219 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1.1 A bill for an act
2	2	1.2 relating to economic development; establishing the Rondo Restorative Development
3	3	1.3 Authority for the operations of a land bridge in the Rondo neighborhood of St.
4	4	1.4 Paul; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 116J.
5	5	1.5BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
6	6	1.6 Section 1. PURPOSE.
7	7	1.7 (a) The purpose of this act is to provide for the transfer of state real estate interests,
8	8	1.8including right-of-way air rights, construction, development, financing, community
9	9	1.9ownership, formation of and ownership of private development entities, transfer of
10	10	1.10developments, and long-term operations of the land bridge in the Rondo neighborhood of
11	11	1.11the city of St. Paul.
12	12	1.12 (b) The legislature finds and declares that the establishment of the authority and the
13	13	1.13expenditure of public money for this purpose are necessary and serve a public purpose and
14	14	1.14that property acquired by the authority for the construction and development of the land
15	15	1.15bridge is acquired for a public use or public purpose under Minnesota Statutes, chapter 117.
16	16	1.16 (c) The legislature further finds and declares that government assistance to facilitate the
17	17	1.17land bridge provides to the state, its citizens, and the citizens of the Rondo community
18	18	1.18highly valued intangible benefits that help address historic racial inequities that led to the
19	19	1.19destruction of the Rondo neighborhood by the routing of an interstate highway through the
20	20	1.20neighborhood in the 1950s, causing the loss of approximately 700 homes and 300 businesses
21	21	1.21with inadequate compensation and leading to significant loss of generational wealth.
22	22	1Section 1.
23	23	25-05055 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/EN
24	24	SENATE
25	25	STATE OF MINNESOTA
26	26	S.F. No. 3219NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
27	27	(SENATE AUTHORS: PAPPAS)
28	28	OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
29	29	Introduction and first reading04/02/2025
30	30	Referred to Jobs and Economic Development 2.1 Sec. 2. [116J.382] DEFINITIONS.
31	31	2.2 Subdivision 1.Definitions.As used in sections 116J.382 to 116J.384, the terms in this
32	32	2.3section have the meanings given.
33	33	2.4 Subd. 2.Authority."Authority" means the Rondo Restorative Development Authority.
34	34	2.5 Subd. 3.City."City" means the city of St. Paul.
35	35	2.6 Subd. 4.Land bridge."Land bridge" means one or more projects of the authority
36	36	2.7undertaken in accordance with this chapter within the Rondo community land bridge area.
37	37	2.8 Subd. 5.Rondo community land bridge area."Rondo community land bridge area"
38	38	2.9means the freeway right-of-way over marked Interstate Highway 94 in a portion of the
39	39	2.10segment from Lexington Avenue to Rice Street in the city.
40	40	2.11 Sec. 3. [116J.383] RONDO RESTORATIVE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY.
41	41	2.12 Subdivision 1.Establishment.(a) The Rondo Restorative Development Authority is
42	42	2.13established as a public body, corporate and politic, and political subdivision of the state.
43	43	2.14The authority is not a joint powers entity or an agency or instrumentality of the city. The
44	44	2.15powers conveyed to the authority apply within the Rondo community land bridge area.
45	45	2.16 (b) The authority is authorized to fund infrastructure improvements and acquire real
46	46	2.17property outside of the Rondo community land bridge area that serves the purposes of
47	47	2.18sections 116J.382 to 116J.384.
48	48	2.19 Subd. 2.Membership.(a) The authority shall be managed by a 17-member board of
49	49	2.20commissioners who may name a chair or co-chairs from among the commissioners.
50	50	2.21 (b) The commissioners shall be appointed to four-year terms, beginning January 1, 2026,
51	51	2.22as follows:
52	52	2.23 (1) five representatives appointed by ReConnect Rondo or its successor in interest;
53	53	2.24 (2) four representatives appointed by Rondo Roundtable or its successor in interest;
54	54	2.25 (3) two representatives appointed by the mayor of the city of St. Paul;
55	55	2.26 (4) one representative appointed by Saint Paul Public Schools;
56	56	2.27 (5) one representative appointed by the governor;
57	57	2.28 (6) one representative appointed by the Metropolitan Council from the Metropolitan
58	58	2.29Council district in which the Rondo community land bridge area is located;
59	59	2Sec. 3.
60	60	25-05055 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/EN 3.1 (7) one representative appointed by Ramsey County from the county commissioner
61	61	3.2district in which the Rondo community land bridge area is located;
62	62	3.3 (8) one representative appointed by the senate from the senate district in which the Rondo
63	63	3.4community land bridge area is located; and
64	64	3.5 (9) one representative appointed by the house of representatives from the house district
65	65	3.6in which the Rondo community land bridge area is located.
66	66	3.7Each commissioner serves until a successor is appointed and takes office. Commissioners
67	67	3.8of the authority are public officials under chapter 10A and subject to all applicable
68	68	3.9requirements of chapter 10A.
69	69	3.10 Subd. 3.Compensation.The authority may compensate its members, other than the
70	70	3.11chair, as provided in section 15.0575, subdivision 3. The chair shall receive, unless otherwise
71	71	3.12provided by other law, a salary in an amount fixed by the authority and shall be reimbursed
72	72	3.13for reasonable expenses to the same extent as a member.
73	73	3.14 Subd. 4.Chair.The chair presides at all meetings of the authority, if present, and
74	74	3.15performs all other assigned duties and functions. The authority may appoint from among
75	75	3.16its members a vice-chair to act for the chair during the temporary absence or disability of
76	76	3.17the chair and any other officers the authority determines are necessary or convenient.
77	77	3.18 Subd. 5.Removal.A commissioner may be removed by the respective appointing
78	78	3.19authority only for misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance in office upon written charges
79	79	3.20and after an opportunity to be heard in defense of the charges.
80	80	3.21 Subd. 6.Bylaws.The authority shall adopt bylaws to establish rules of procedure, the
81	81	3.22powers and duties of its officers, and other matters relating to the governance of the authority
82	82	3.23and the exercise of its powers.
83	83	3.24 Subd. 7.Audit.The legislative auditor shall audit the books and accounts of the authority
84	84	3.25once each year or as often as the legislative auditor's funds and personnel permit. The
85	85	3.26authority shall pay the total cost of the audit pursuant to section 3.9741.
86	86	3.27 Subd. 8.Executive director; employees.The authority may appoint an executive director
87	87	3.28to serve as the chief executive officer of the authority. The executive director serves at the
88	88	3.29pleasure of the authority and receives compensation as determined by the authority. The
89	89	3.30executive director is responsible for the operation, management, and promotion of activities
90	90	3.31of the authority, as prescribed by the authority. The executive director has the powers
91	91	3.32necessary to perform the duties required and powers granted by the authority, but does not
92	92	3.33have authority to incur liability or make expenditures on behalf of the authority without
93	93	3Sec. 3.
94	94	25-05055 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/EN 4.1general or specific directions by the authority, as shown by the bylaws or minutes of a
95	95	4.2meeting of the authority. The executive director is responsible for the hiring, supervision,
96	96	4.3and dismissal of all other employees of the authority. The executive director is a public
97	97	4.4official under chapter 10A.
98	98	4.5 Subd. 9.Quorum; approvals.Any nine members shall constitute a quorum to conduct
99	99	4.6business, and action may be taken upon the vote of a majority of members present at a
100	100	4.7meeting duly called and held.
101	101	4.8 Sec. 4. [116J.384] POWERS; DUTIES OF THE AUTHORITY.
102	102	4.9 Subdivision 1.Actions.The authority may sue and be sued. The authority is a public
103	103	4.10body, and the Rondo community land bridge and related improvements outside the Rondo
104	104	4.11community land bridge area are public improvements under chapter 562. The authority is
105	105	4.12a municipality under chapter 466.
106	106	4.13 Subd. 2.Acquisition of property.The authority may acquire from any public or private
107	107	4.14entity by lease, purchase, gift, or devise all necessary right, title, and interest in and to real
108	108	4.15property, air rights, and personal property deemed necessary to the purposes contemplated
109	109	4.16by this chapter. The authority may acquire other real property, air rights, personal property,
110	110	4.17and other right, title, and interest in property, except property of the state. Any lease of air
111	111	4.18rights for the Rondo community land bridge from the state or a political subdivision shall
112	112	4.19be for a minimum of 99 years, with renewal options, unless a shorter period is agreed to by
113	113	4.20the authority.
114	114	4.21 Subd. 3.Disposition of property.The authority may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose
115	115	4.22of any real or personal property acquired by the authority that is no longer required for
116	116	4.23accomplishment of the authority's purposes. The property may be sold in accordance with
117	117	4.24the procedures provided by section 469.065, subdivisions 1 to 5, to the extent the authority
118	118	4.25deems it to be practical and consistent with this chapter.
119	119	4.26 Subd. 4.Data practices; open meetings.The authority is subject to chapters 13 and
120	120	4.2713D.
121	121	4.28 Subd. 5.Land bridge operation.The authority may develop, construct, equip, improve,
122	122	4.29own, operate, manage, maintain, finance, and control the land bridge or may delegate such
123	123	4.30duties through one or more agreements, including a statutory trust under subdivision 6,
124	124	4.31paragraph (b), subject to the rights and obligations transferred to and assumed by the
125	125	4.32authority, other user, third-party manager, or program manager, under the terms of a lease,
126	126	4.33use agreement, or development agreement. The authority may enter into agreements with
127	127	4Sec. 4.
128	128	25-05055 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/EN 5.1the state or other governmental units regarding respective ownership and operation of any
129	129	5.2portion of the land bridge.
130	130	5.3 Subd. 6.Land bridge development authority.(a) In addition to the other powers
131	131	5.4granted in this section and other law, the authority, for purposes of fostering community
132	132	5.5development, may spend any money made available to the agency by direct appropriation
133	133	5.6to acquire real or personal property or interests therein by gift, purchase, or lease and may
134	134	5.7convey by lease, sale, sublease, assignment, or other means of conveyance or commitment
135	135	5.8any or all property interests owned or administered by the authority.
136	136	5.9 (b) In furtherance of development of the land bridge, the authority may establish and
137	137	5.10participate in charitable foundations, nonprofit limited liability companies, statutory trusts,
138	138	5.11and nonprofit corporations, including a corporation under section 317A.011, subdivision
139	139	5.126.
140	140	5.13 Subd. 7.Design, construction, and maintenance.The authority may contract for
141	141	5.14materials, supplies, and equipment in accordance with section 471.345, except that the
142	142	5.15authority may employ or contract with persons, firms, or corporations to perform one or
143	143	5.16more or all of the functions of architect, engineer, construction manager, or program manager,
144	144	5.17or other government entity with respect to all or any part of the design, construction,
145	145	5.18financing, operation, maintenance, and use of the land bridge under the traditional separate
146	146	5.19design and build, integrated design-build, construction manager at risk, structures, or a
147	147	5.20combination thereof. The construction of a land bridge is a "project" as that term is defined
148	148	5.21in section 177.42, subdivision 2, and is subject to the prevailing wage law under section
149	149	5.22177.41 to 177.43.
150	150	5.23 Subd. 8.Employees; contracts for services.The authority may employ persons and
151	151	5.24contract for services necessary to carry out its functions, including the utilization of
152	152	5.25employees and consultants retained by other governmental entities.
153	153	5.26 Subd. 9.Gifts, grants, and loans.The authority may accept monetary contributions,
154	154	5.27property, services, and grants or loans of money or other property from the United States,
155	155	5.28the state, any subdivision of the state, any agency of those entities, or any person for any
156	156	5.29of its purposes and may enter into any agreement required in connection with the gifts,
157	157	5.30grants, or loans. The authority shall hold, use, and dispose of the money, property, or services
158	158	5.31according to the terms of the monetary contributions, grant, loan, or agreement.
159	159	5.32 Subd. 10.Exemption from Metropolitan Council review; Business Subsidy Act.The
160	160	5.33acquisition and betterment of a land bridge by the authority must be conducted pursuant to
161	161	5.34this chapter and are not subject to sections 473.165 and 473.173. Section 116J.994 does not
162	162	5Sec. 4.
163	163	25-05055 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/EN 6.1apply to any transactions of the authority or other governmental entity related to the land
164	164	6.2bridge or to any tenant or other users of the land bridge.
165	165	6.3 Subd. 11.Incidental powers.In addition to the powers expressly granted in sections
166	166	6.4116J.382 to 116J.384, the authority has all powers necessary or incidental thereto.
167	167	6Sec. 4.
168	168	25-05055 as introduced03/24/25 REVISOR SS/EN