Blue Ribbon Panel Final Recommendations

On August 28, 2020, Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 20-88, establishing the Blue Ribbon Committee on the Metropolitan Council’s Structure and Services to review three identified issues.

The committee met over a three-month period, collecting a broad range of input through open (virtual) meetings. Information and testimony were received from state legislative staff, state agency representatives, Metropolitan Council staff, local government officials, and interested advocacy groups and civic organizations.

This report reflects the committee’s findings and consensus recommendations.

Recommendations on three identified issues

• Review the role of elected versus appointed Metropolitan Council members:
  The committee recommends that Metropolitan Council Members should be appointed by the governor and should not be directly elected to the Council. Metropolitan Council Members should not be sitting local elected officials. The committee recommends a change in current law to establish four-year staggered terms for Council Members, and an expansion of the nominating committee to include a majority of local elected officials.

• Review the Metropolitan Council’s role as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (“MPO”) and identify and evaluate the ways this federal designation may complement and conflict with the Council’s responsibilities under Minnesota law:
  The committee finds that the U.S. Department of Transportation has determined that the Metropolitan Council is the properly designated MPO for the Twin Cities metropolitan area under federal law. Federal agencies have recognized the legal status of the Council as the region’s MPO directly, through certification of the planning process and plan approval, and award of federal transportation funds.

• Review the effectiveness of the delivery of regional transit service:
  The committee finds that the current regional transit model allows for conflicting priorities for investment, but also provides value in opportunities for local input. The committee recognizes that stable and long-term funding have been a challenge for the regional transit system, and that there is a great deal of uncertainty moving forward as budget deficits loom and ridership trends were severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Full report and meeting materials

• Download the full report (PDF, 324 pages, 22 MB)

• Committee meeting information, including minutes and agendas

About the committee

The committee, established by executive order, included a panel of civic, business, and academic leaders to provide for a broad range of input and expertise. They met over three months and heard from a variety of stakeholders.