Posted In: Council News, Housing Date: 9/10/2025 Met Council awards $1.3 million to cities to advance affordable housing in the region This month the Metropolitan Council awarded grants to 11 cities in the seven-county region. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 7/23/2025 New staff engage Tribal staff, help ensure protection of culturally significant areas The Met Council has added two staff positions to its Environmental Services division to engage staff with Minnesota’s 11 federally recognized Tribal Nations and Native residents across the metro area. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 6/10/2025 Met Council makes gains in year two of climate plan Dozens of efforts have been completed or are under way to reduce the Met Council’s greenhouse gas emissions and make our services and facilities resilient to the impacts of climate change. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 6/5/2025 Met Council maintains top bond ratings for 37th consecutive year Two of the nation’s leading credit rating services have once again assigned their highest possible ratings to the Metropolitan Council, continuing an unbroken streak that began in 1989. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 4/14/2025 Met Council’s land acknowledgement is backed by commitments, action The Metropolitan Council has adopted a Land, Water, and People Acknowledgement written by its American Indian Advisory Council. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 3/11/2025 Met Council offers community tree planting grants Local governments and regional park agencies in the seven-county Twin Cities region are invited to apply for a grant to improve the region’s tree canopy. Read more
Posted In: About Council, Council News Date: 2/5/2025 Optimism and collaboration are key themes at State of the Region The 2025 State of the Region at Allianz Field on Jan. 30 was a rousing success, thanks to a diverse group of engaged participants, including those who watched the event in person or online. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 1/6/2025 Met Council hosts Climate Planning Summit for local government staff Met Council staff hosted a summit to share ideas on how to implement new state planning requirements for climate mitigation and adaptation. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 11/15/2024 Met Council adopts draft budget for public comment The Metropolitan Council adopted a public comment draft of its 2025 budget in October and will accept public comments on the budget through Dec. 11. Read more
Posted In: Date: 10/8/2024 American Indian Advisory Council delivers recommendations for action to Met Council The Metropolitan Council’s American Indian Advisory Council delivered its recommendations for action to Met Council members in September. Read more
Posted In: Date: 10/8/2024 Artists engage residents in imagining the region’s future A group of nine artists from the seven-county metro region engaged residents young and old during the public comment period for the Draft Imagine 2050 regional development guide. Read more
Posted In: Date: 7/31/2024 Meet Allison Waukau, tribal liaison and Native relations coordinator In December 2023, the Metropolitan Council hired its first full-time tribal liaison and Native relations coordinator, Allison Waukau, Menominee/Navajo. Read more
Posted In: Parks Date: 7/30/2024 Metro regional parks and trails attract over 69 million visits Regional parks and trails in the seven-county metro region continue to be hugely popular, seeing 69.4 million visits in 2023. Read more
Posted In: Date: 7/30/2024 Metro population growth slows, construction strong The population of the seven-county Twin Cities region is growing more slowly in the 2020s than it did in the previous decade, but population continues to increase. Read more
Posted In: Wastewater & Water Date: 7/30/2024 Met Council sets 2025 wastewater rates The Metropolitan Council has approved a 5.6% increase in the overall regional municipal wastewater charge for 2025. Read more
Posted In: Date: 6/27/2024 Grants help cities clean up polluted land for redevelopment The Metropolitan Council has awarded four Livable Communities grants totaling nearly $1.5 million for assessing and cleaning up contaminated land for redevelopment. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Housing Date: 6/27/2024 Met Council announces federal grant to address affordable housing shortage $4 million will help cities remove barriers to creating affordable housing choices Read more
Posted In: Date: 6/25/2024 Met Council grants support cities to prepare for development In June, the Metropolitan Council awarded 10 grants totaling $1.1 million to support cities as they prepare for development or create local policies that influence physical development. Read more
Posted In: Date: 6/25/2024 Met Council awards $1.1 million in grants to reduce water use The Met Council has awarded a total of $1.1 million in grants to support changes that reduce the amount of water being pumped from underground aquifers and surface waters as the region grows. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 5/3/2024 Equity is key focus for Imagine 2050 Imagine 2050, the next regional development guide, will have a specific equity chapter that will detail how the regional equity goal sets the direction for Met Council work. Read more
Posted In: Date: 3/25/2024 Metropolitan Council and Saint Paul HRA seek developer for Central Station block A prime development site in the heart of downtown Saint Paul is available for mixed-use, high-density development. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 3/22/2024 Zelle: Imagine what we can build together for our region in 2050 At the State of the Region event, Chair Charlie Zelle encouraged regional leaders to imagine the possibilities for the Twin Cities region. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 12/11/2023 Ryan O'Connor named regional administrator O’Connor joins the Met Council from Ramsey County, where he has served as county manager since 2018. Read more
Posted In: Date: 6/27/2023 Walz and Flanagan announce appointments The Minnesota Legislature completed the statutory requirement to redraw Metropolitan Council districts, and Governor Walz and Lieutenant Governor Flanagan announced appointments to the districts. Read more
Posted In: Transportation Date: 6/12/2023 Legislature stabilizes transit funding Legislators and Gov. Tim Walz delivered a sustainable funding source for transit, investments in our regional parks and trails, investments in clean water and repairs to sewer pipes, and more. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 3/3/2023 Walz and Flanagan announce appointments to the Metropolitan Council The district members each represent a geographically defined Metropolitan Council district. Council members will be sworn in before the regular Metropolitan Council meeting on March 8. Read more
Posted In: Date: 1/27/2023 A new stage in Met Council’s response to climate change In December, the Met Council adopted an internally focused Climate Action Work Plan. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 1/10/2023 Governor Walz reappoints Zelle as Met Council Chair and announces Met Council Nominating Committee Zelle has served as chair of the Metropolitan Council since December 2019. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 5/24/2022 Partners support equitable trades career prep 35 people — mostly women and people of color — graduated from the fourth cohort of the Building Strong Communities program. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 5/2/2022 Finalists announced for open Met Council District 3 seat The names of four finalists for the open position for District 3 Council member were forwarded to Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for consideration. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 2/23/2022 Gov. Walz appoints John Pacheco Jr. as District 6 Council member Pacheco is the president of the Latino Chamber of Commerce of Minnesota, which he helped found, and a principal with Pacheco & Associates. The appointment is effective March 1. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 12/17/2021 Finalists announced for open Met Council District 6 seat The names of three finalists for the open position for District 6 Council member were forwarded to Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan for consideration. Read more
Posted In: Date: 12/6/2021 Nominating committee announces candidates for public interviews for Metropolitan Council District 6 The committee will interview eight candidates at a public meeting on Thursday, Dec. 9, for the open position for District 6 Council member. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 11/9/2021 Walz and Flanagan announce nominating committee for District 6 vacancy This committee will hold public meetings to accept statements from applicants, then recommend candidates to the Governor. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 10/27/2021 2022 budget reflects Met Council priorities The budget includes the cost of operations, pass-through funding programs, and debt service. It reflects our legislative charge, overall mission, goals, and priorities for the current period. Read more
Posted In: Date: 8/30/2021 Land Use Inventory shows region’s spatial development over time We use aerial photography, county and assessor information, building permits, and internet searches to collect the information about every five years. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 8/25/2021 At 50, innovative tax-base sharing program still going strong The Fiscal Disparities Act promotes greater equity in the distribution of fiscal resources among local taxing jurisdictions. It still attracts national and even international attention. Read more
Posted In: Date: 8/12/2021 Twin Cities population is growing and diversifying The Twin Cities region’s population gained 314,000 residents over the last decade, bringing the total population to 3.16 million in 2020, according to Decennial Census counts. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 7/28/2021 Met Council forecasts steady regional growth Despite the pandemic and 2020 recession, researchers expect the region’s population and employment will continue to grow at a steady and stable pace. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 7/27/2021 Bus rapid transit, Metro Mobility make gains in state budget The 2021 session of the Minnesota Legislature yielded important gains for transit, as well as funding for regional parks and water planning in the seven-county metro area. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 6/9/2021 Bogie named regional administrator In nearly 18 years with the Met Council, she has overseen budget, financial, human resources, and information technology functions, and she has managed our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more
Posted In: Communities Date: 5/23/2021 Met Council recognized for climate work The Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy announced that the Met Council has earned two of nine “badges” for the climate work we’ve done so far. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 4/22/2021 Council to develop internal Climate Action Plan The plan will unify efforts across all Met Council divisions to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to climate impacts, and help us build resilience to potential changes. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 12/23/2020 Panel recommends Met Council remain appointed, not elected A committee created by Governor Walz to examine the structure and services of the Met Council recommends that the Council remain an appointed board but to stagger the appointment of Council members. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 12/9/2020 Council adopts 2021 budget, keeps tax levy flat The Metropolitan Council adopted a 2021 budget and property tax levy. The Council voted to keep the overall tax levy the same as 2020. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 12/1/2020 Met Council earns top credit ratings The ratings, Aaa/MIG-1 from Moody's, and AAA/SP1+ from Standard & Poor's, are the highest possible and awarded to a very limited number of entities nationally. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 10/21/2020 Governor Walz signs bonding law The $1.9 billion bonding bill provides critical funding for investments in rapid bus lines, grants to address clean water in the wastewater system, and grants for regional parks and trails. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 10/21/2020 Rethinking areas of concentrated poverty Local research has shown that deficit-based narratives can stigmatize neighborhoods and negatively impact the investments that decision-makers are willing to make in them. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 10/20/2020 Small-business owners paired with mentors to help grow their companies The Mentor Protégé Program helps small, disadvantaged construction businesses grow, make connections, and get a foot in the door. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Transportation Date: 9/8/2020 Workforce development creates jobs, opportunity, and equity The Metro Transit Technician Training Program puts job seekers on a path to a good-paying job with a paid internship, job and skills training, and support for an educational degree. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 8/25/2020 Pandemic doesn’t stop summer interns Our summer intern program emerged with 25 students in jobs embedded across the agency. Almost half the cohort are working in Metro Transit. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 7/27/2020 Economic framework provides path to federal funds A broad swath of organizations in the metro area, including local governments, will soon have access to federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) funds, thanks to a regional partnership. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 7/27/2020 Council researchers study economic impacts of COVID-19 Over the past four-plus months, research staff have analyzed the broader economic impacts of the virus on employment, income, and housing cost-burden. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 7/20/2020 Council moving ahead with wide-ranging accessibility improvements We're taking initial steps in a far-reaching plan to make our offices, treatment plants, transit facilities, garages, websites, and other digital media more accessible to people with disabilities. Read more
Posted In: Date: 5/28/2020 Finding temporary shelter for encampment residents An effort to assure the safety of the people experiencing homeless who are living in the encampment on Met Council property along Hiawatha Avenue in Minneapolis. Read more
Posted In: Date: 3/12/2020 Census instructions land in a mailbox near you The 2020 Census comes to Minnesota and the Twin Cities this month. Starting March 12, the Census Bureau began mailing letters to all known residential addresses. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 2/18/2020 Council appoints residents to advisory committees We rely on these committees to help develop solutions to regional challenges and bring diverse perspectives to inform our policymaking and operations. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 1/21/2020 Comment on draft ADA transition plan The Met Council has completed a comprehensive self-evaluation of the accessibility of its services and facilities, as required by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 1/17/2020 Walz/Met Council legislative agenda pushes regional investment and public safety Investments in transit, parks, and wastewater treatment infrastructure continue to be high priorities for Governor Tim Walz as he rolls out his agenda for the 2020 legislative session. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 12/23/2019 Charlie Zelle named Metropolitan Council Chair Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the appointment, effective January 6, 2020. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 12/23/2019 Charlie Zelle named Metropolitan Council Chair Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan today announced the appointment, effective January 6, 2020. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 12/3/2019 Met Council is part of new Climate Change Subcabinet The subcabinet is charged with “identifying policies and strategies that will put Minnesota back on track” to meet the goals of the 2007 Next Generation Energy Act. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 11/18/2019 Cummings to serve as interim chair Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan are seeking applicants for the chair position formerly held by Nora Slawik, who resigned effective Nov. 15. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 11/1/2019 Council Chair Nora Slawik Resigns Resignation comes with desire to focus on her health. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 8/26/2019 Council evaluates accessibility of services, facilities Included in the evaluation is a look at Council facilities at 400 locations across the metro area including offices, treatment plants, transit garages, and other transit facilities. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Transportation Date: 7/12/2019 Minneapolis Police Inspector Eddie Frizell will lead Metro Transit Police Department A veteran Minneapolis police officer with decades of experience in multiple aspects of law enforcement, Frizell will fill the position August 5. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 6/21/2019 Met Council's Saint Paul headquarters is an ENERGY STAR top performer The Council meets strict energy efficiency criteria set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 6/20/2019 Attorney seminar a step toward broadening legal contracts A seminar planned for later this summer will offer guidance to attorneys — particularly people of color as well as women — to better position themselves for legal-services contracts with the Council. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Transportation Date: 6/10/2019 Council announces finalists for Metro Transit Police chief Council leadership has narrowed the field of candidates to two finalists before Thursday’s public event as part of the interview process to hire for the position of Metro Transit Police chief. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Parks, Transportation Date: 5/30/2019 Gov. Walz brokers budget deal that improves the lives of all Minnesotans Compromise includes funding for transit, regional parks, and water supply. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 5/9/2019 Metropolitan Council appoints advisory committee members with broad perspectives and experience The Metropolitan Council appointed members to eight of its advisory committees who will provide guidance and advice to the Council on its policies and plans. Read more
Posted In: Communities, Council News, Housing, Transportation Date: 5/7/2019 Support services play critical role in allowing people who have disabilities to live independently Council Chair calls for state lawmakers to pass transportation bill with real solution for Metro Mobility. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 4/29/2019 Council makes appointments to two advisory committees 16 members named to Land Use Advisory Committee, and four members named to Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 4/18/2019 Steady growth continues in metro area Metro area population increased 8.8% since 2010, according to U.S. Census Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 4/3/2019 Council’s small business program helps deliver Final Four For the last year, Met Council staff have been connecting the local organizing committee with small businesses owned by women, people of color, veterans, and people with disabilities. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 1/10/2019 Slawik sworn in as Metropolitan Council Chair “I am very familiar with the good work of the Council and its importance to our region. That’s one of the reasons that I accepted this position – I believe in the mission and work of the Council.” Read more
Posted In: Communities Date: 11/26/2018 Council recognized for leadership on climate change mitigation and adaptation The Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership (MCAP) awarded the Council for efforts to help the region adapt to climate change. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Planning Date: 2/22/2018 Women leaders at the Council: Joan Campbell Longtime Council member was a nurse and single mother, appointed to the Council in 1973. A key strength was her focus on long-range planning. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 2/8/2018 First female Council member was not afraid to speak truth to power Looking at a photograph of the first group of Metropolitan Council members—appointed by Governor Harold LeVander in 1967—it’s impossible to miss the sole woman in the group. Read more
Posted In: Communities, Council News, Planning, Transportation Date: 11/22/2017 Council partners with small businesses on projects big and small The Council's procurement process describes a percentage of contracts that should be available to Minnesota businesses that are owned by women, people of color, veterans or people with disabilities. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Planning, Transportation Date: 10/11/2017 Council promotes inclusion in contracting opportunities Council purchasing practices will engage more diverse businesses in economic opportunities and ensure access to jobs is more inclusive and equitable. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 7/17/2017 Chair Duininck to leave the Council: His steady approach will be missed The Council's first full-time chair praised for connecting to communities around the region, building relationships, and squarely facing controversial issues. Read more
Posted In: Communities, Council News, Planning, Transportation Date: 12/15/2016 Dovetail Consulting found niche in rail safety Dovetail’s work has included light rail and streetcar projects across the nation, and Allen credits the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program for helping her firm continue to thrive. Read more
Posted In: Communities, Council News, Planning Date: 9/20/2016 Engaging the community in determining equitable investments Community conversations around equitable investment begin this week in North Minneapolis. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Planning Date: 8/18/2016 Council collaborates with state, local governments to study ethnic and gender disparities in procurement processes The Council is among several government agencies participating in a study to assess whether there is a gap among firms owned by women and people of color in receiving government contracts. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 5/19/2016 MNUCP website meets high standard for accessibility New accessibility features of the website now enable small-business owners with a disability to better navigate the ins and outs of the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Program. Read more
Posted In: Council News Date: 10/14/2015 Council establishes new advisory committee on equity-related policy The new Equity Advisory Committee will advise the Council in advancing equity in the region, more specifically how the Council implements the equity commitments in Thrive MSP 2040. Read more
Posted In: Council News, Housing, Parks, Planning, Transportation Date: 7/14/2015 ADA has positive impacts on Council services and customers The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is 25 years old. From transit to housing to access to democracy, the ADA has had a huge and positive impact on the Metropolitan Council and our customers. Read more
Posted In: Communities, Council News, Housing, Planning, Transportation, Wastewater & Water Date: 2/11/2015 Council Chair Duininck, local officials tour Gateway Corridor Metropolitan Council Chair Adam Duininck wrapped up the first week of his seven-county tour on Feb. 6 with a bus ride through the Gateway Corridor (future METRO Gold Line) in the east metro area. Read more