Metropolitan Council - Duties

Duties

The Council delivers regional services to communities and the public through these divisions and operating areas:

  • Regional Administration/Chair's Office - Generally sets the goals and direction the Council will take with the metro area. It also manages finances and makes budget decisions on how shared funding and grant programs are distributed amongst the region.
  • Community Development - The majority of land use, regional, urban, and community planning occur with this division. It also develops and administers regional and municipal frameworks as well as the long-range vision plans.
  • Transportation - This division is known as Metro Transit to the public and administers all bus and light rail lines. It also analyzes and develops future transportation options. However, road and street corridor planning is left to county and city governments. Highways are planned and managed by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Additional public transit agencies also exist under an opt-out agreement of Metro Transit service. The largest agencies are Southwest Metro Transit in the west and Minnesota Valley Transportation Authority in the south.
  • Environmental Services - MCES is mandated to address water quality, water supply, and sewage treatment. It also has full jurisdiction of the wastewater treatment system (within the MUSA boundary). This includes maintenance and construction of wastewater interceptors and operation of seven wastewater treatment plants throughout the metro area. Treatment of drinking water and storm run-off water management are left to municipalities.
  • Municipal Urban Service Area (MUSA) - While not a division, the MUSA is an urban growth boundary which instead of limiting development, limits the services and infrastructure needed for development. The most important service of which is connection to the sewage treatment system. Growth is controlled because state law prohibits disastrous septic tank systems and most cities require development to be connected to a system.

Read more about this topic:  Metropolitan Council

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