Advocacy Update, November 2019

You're receiving this email because of your commitment to SPAAR's advocacy mission. Whether you respond to Calls for Action, joined the Broker Involvement Program, or invest in the REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) we hope these monthly updates will provide you with all the information you need on how government affairs are impacting your business.

While each member of the advocacy team is new to their roles, they have kept busy with a few projects:

Improving vacant building ordinances in Saint Paul and West Saint Paul.
Partnering with Afton to craft REALTOR®-friendly rules for short-term rentals.
Networking with elected officials & housing-industry allies like Housing First Minnesota and the Minnesota Homeownership Center.
Scheduling and planning REALTOR® Forums for 2020.

If you have an issue in your community that needs the attention of REALTORS® , please reach out to Vice President of Advocacy & Community Engagement Joe McKinley , or Government Affairs Directors Bobby Goldman and Khayree Duckett .

North Metro News

White Bear Lake voters approved the state's largest successful school bond measure.
Seven chambers of commerce are partnering to host a free-entry business summit. The two-hour event is Anoka County’s latest effort to encourage economic growth in the region.
Developers and north metro cities hope apartments, a grocery store, and more than 100 new single-family homes, plus the possibility of a new hotel, can breathe new life into County Road 10.

South Metro News

The City of Burnsville is working on a Stormwater System Modeling and Analysis Study. Click here to view an interactive map and provide feedback about areas with known drainage problems and flooding.
A number of south metro communities voted to fund improvements in their school districts on Election Day. Faribault voters were split on their levy questions, approving a seven-period day at the high school while rejecting increased funding to pay for additional academic support and more transportation options.
A proposal to pump up to 500 million gallons of Dakota County groundwater annually and transport it by rail to the western United States is being considered by the DNR.

East Metro News

Ryan Companies has reached a development agreement with the City of Saint Paul that will bring 3,800 units of housing, the largest solar array in the state and 100 percent of electricity from renewable or carbon-free sources to the vacant Ford Motor Co. site.
Nelsie Yang won a majority of votes after four rounds of election judges hand-counting ranked-choice paper ballots. St. Paul voters also said yes to city's trash collection system.
Maplewood is joining a number of suburbs in toughening licensing rules for landlords.

West Metro News

Starting in January 15, 2020, the City of Minneapolis will include a new energy disclosure report in the Truth-in Sale of Housing (TISH) program. The two-page ‘Asset-Based Energy Efficiency’ report will be part of the set of returned documents from the TISH inspection. Find out what's new in this report from the Minneapolis Association.
A report from the Minnesota Housing Partnership details the lowest vacancy rates in 10 years and the unprecedented financial pressures for renters in Hennepin County.

State & National News

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently heard oral arguments in the case challenging the Department of Labor (DOL) association health plan (AHP) rule issued in 2018. A decision is not expected until next year, likely late winter or early spring.
To counter a growing narrative that the Federal government has expanded its exposure to risky mortgages, NAR recently published an op-ed with the Mortgage Bankers Association, the American Bankers Association, and the National Home Builders Association in the American Banker.
A shortage of construction workers and the severe shortage of affordable housing across the country is spurring interest in manufactured housing. A number of elected officials are talking about this Minnesota Public Radio article on the issue.

Meetings & Events

" The benefits I've received have been outstanding! I have met so many Realtors as well as other affiliates through tons of networking over the years that has helped me with my business. I feel it is important to get out there and be seen and, as a SPAAR volunteer, I have many opportunities to do so ."

-SPAAR Committee member

Join Us

Government Affairs is recruiting members for its committees in 2020. Both existing committee members and those new to serving on a committee are welcome to join.

Committees will hold regional meetings each quarter and focus on the communities closest to them: North, East, and South Metro. Attached is the application ; feel free to apply to serve in the upcoming year.

Questions? Contact Khayree or Bobby .

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