9.e) League of Minnesota Cities Land Use Training r �
Meeting Date: 01/18/2011
Agenda Item: � ��
City Council Agenda Report
City of Scandia
14727 209`h St. North
Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274
Action Requested: Consider registering Council Members, Planning Commissioners and
staff in a land use course offered by the League of Minnesota Cities.
Deadline/ Timeline: N/A
Background: • The League is offering an on-line course, "Land Use Basics:
Grasping the Ground Rules." A description is attached.
• The course is the first in a"Land Use Series" that that the League
is offering. Cities that meet the participation requirements will
qualify for a "Land Use Incentive Program" offered by the League
of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, which could save the city
money on deductibles for future land use claims. At least 3
Council members, 2 Planning Commissioners and 1 staff inember
must complete the course for the city to qualify for the incentive.
• Even though the course is part of a series, the city will qualify for
the incentive in the next policy year if it has enough participation
in this first course. A new course will need to be completed each
year for the city to continue to qualify for the incentive.
• The cost is only$30 per person for the first 6 registrants.
Additional registrations are free. This is quite economical
compared to the cost of other training available. Each participant
completes the training at their own pace and convenience.
Recommendation: Staff recommends that all Council and Planning Commission
members take this course.
Attachments/ • Information on Land Use Series and Land Use Incentive Program,
Materials provided: League of Minnesota Cities
Contact(s):
Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator
(LMC Land Use Course)
Page 1 of 1
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Land Use Series
This is a Ciry Lea�•ning Point online training series
People have strong feelings about their property rights and the character of their neighborhoods. When
conflicts occur, cities often get caught in the middle. This first course in the Land Use Series will help
you understand cities' roles and authority in land use regulation to more effectively navigate
controversial situations. Additional courses in this series (available in 2011) will cover how to write
effective land use laws and apply them using a fair and open process. All the laws, examples, and
exercises in this training series will apply specifically to Minnesota cities.
—Register for the first course in the Land Use Series���nk�o:h«p:irw„�„�.rm�.orgiPageiiiYe�-randuseser,es.�sp�
Intended audience:
• Elected city officials and appointed planning commission members.
• City employees who have responsibilities in land use regulation.
Each person will access and complete the course individually. Upon receiving log-in credentials,
registrants may access the courses online at any time and go at their own pace.
Fee/Incentive: $30 for League members ($60 for non-members) per person for each course, with a
group discount available. An LMCIT Land Use Incentive(Link ro:http://www./mc.org/page/1//and-use-lcjsp)1S a1S0
available to cities that meet certain training participation requirements. Please contact the League for
more information related to the group discount and the incentive (see details at right).
Course LU501—Land Use Basics: Grasping the Ground Rules
Cities must consider many perspectives and priorities when making land use decisions, and costly
conflicts can occur when cities don't follow the ground rules. In this course, you will reflect on land use
challenges that your city has faced and the consequences that can result when a city oversteps its
authority. You'll consider typical land use situations where you'll be asked to identify what role the city
is playing and determine what information can be considered when making land use decisions.
Recognizing your city's role and how much authority it has can help your city avoid expensive lawsuits,
minimize controversy, and make land use decisions less confusing.
Course objectives:
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• Appreciate the tensions in land use regulation and the consequences of overstepping the city's
authority.
• Identify what role the city is playing for each land use decision that it makes.
• Determine what authority the city has in land use situations and what information the city may
consider when making a decision.
http://www.lmc.org/page/1/landuse.jsp 1/5/2011
� '�and Use Series Page 2 of 2
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Your LMC Resource
Contact Kari Smoley
Training Program Assistant
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ksmoley@1mc.0I'g(Link to:mailto:ksmoley@Imc.or�
Course Fee
League members:
$30 per person
for each course in the Land
Use Series.
Non-members:
$60 per person
for each course in the Land
Use Series.
Discount for
Land Use Basics:
Grasping the Ground Ru[es
League members:
After 6 paid registrations, each additional registrant from the city can sign up for this course for FREE!
(Maximum charge of$180 per city.)
While group discounts are available to member cities that register multiple people for the course, the
training itself is completed individually. City Learning Point courses are not designed for
group/classroom training.
Land Use Incentive
The LMCIT Land Use Incentive Program beginning Nov. 15 will reward Property/Casualty program
member cities that successfully complete the online training course, Land Use Basics: Grasping the
Ground Rules.
—Learn more about the Land Use Incentive Program�Lr„k ro:i,�rp:in,�„�„�.�m�.orgipa�Piu�a»d-use-r�.�sp�
—Connect with Underwriters and ask your questions by choosing "Underwriting"under
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Copyright�02011 League of Minnesota Cities,145 University Ave.W,Saint Paul,MN 55103-2044�Phone:(651)281-1200�7 o1Ll�ree:(800)925-I 122
http://www.lmc.org/page/1/landuse.j sp 1/5/2011
Land Use Page 1 of� .
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Land Use
Members of the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) spend about $2.5 million per year
on land use claims, representing about 22 percent of all liability costs. The average cost of a land use
claim is $35,000, more than 85 percent of which is spent to cover defense costs. In other words, these
claims generally are not about paying damages to someone but rather about paying for legal defense of
the city.
Because land use costs to Minnesota cities are significant, and because the only way to avoid many land
use claims is by making informed, thoughtful and appropriate land use decisions, LMCIT offers a
unique loss control program to address these risks.
Land Use Incentive Program begins Nov. 15
The Land Use Incentive program beginning Nov. 15 will reward Property/Casualty program member
cities that successfully complete online training about land-use.
Qualifying member cities will earn a savings of as much as $3,750 per land use claim. Cities that do not
meet the training requirements will pay a greater rate of each land use claim.
The website-based training is designed to make land use decisions less confusing, and will help cities
avoid expensive land use claims and lawsuits. Cities can qualify for the incentive at any time by meeting
the training requirement, at which point the city will receive an endorsement. Any land use claims made
against the city after the city gets the endorsement will qualify for the savings.
The incentive is available on an ongoing basis to all member cities that certify at their renewal that all
the following city officials successfully completed the training:
• A quorum of the city council;
• The chair and another planning commission member;
• The city planner or another staff person with lead responsibility for planning activities.
Learn more about the online class, "Land Use Basics: Grasping the Ground Rules," and register
(Linklo:http://www.lmc.org/page/1/landusejsp)
Land Use Litigation Coverage
Litigation relating to a city's land use regulation decisions, development and redevelopment activities,
franchising, or city enterprise operations can be very expensive. LMCIT has developed a specialized
approach to cover this type of litigation.
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Land Use Team Provides Consultation, Training, Information
A team of LMCIT land use attorneys works with members to provide customized information and
training, and acts as a resource to elected and appointed city officials and to city attorneys. Land use loss
control staff addresses topics including the different roles elected officials must play in making land use
decisions, and specific legal requirements related to things like planning, zoning, development,
http://www.lmc.arg/page/1/land-use-lc.jsp 1/5/2011
, T�;nd Use Page 2 of 2
redevelopment, franchising, and more.
Read more about Frequently Asked Questions�z.rnk to:hrtp:irx�WW.r,�,�.orgipagei�i�a„auseF�re9uen��yAskedguesaons�sp�
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Your LMC Resource
Land use attorneys are at the ready to answer your questions and provide the customized training your
city needs.
Contact Jed Burkett
Loss Control/Land Use Attorney
(651) 281-1247 or(800) 925-1122
�bUYkCtt!�[1111C.OTg(Link to:mailto.jburkett@lmc.or�
Frequently Asked Questions
Several new information resources are available to help members understand variances,
nonconformities and conditional use permits. Please visit the "Materials" section of the website to learn
more, or visit one of the FAQs listed below.
Read FAQs on Conditional Use Permits�c,�nk�o:
http://www.lmc.org/media/document/1/conditionalusepermitsfrequentlyaskedquestions.pd�
RCaCI FAQS OIl NOIICOI1fOI'111ItICS(Link to:http://www.lmc.org/media/document/1/landusenonconformitiesfrequentlyaskedquestions.pd�
RCa(� FAQS OIl VaI'lAl10ES(Link to:http://www.lmc.org/media/document/1/landusevariancesfrequendyaskedquestions.pd�
Spotlight on Zoning
The League's Zoning Guide for Cities explores the framework of municipal zoning, provides guidance
on zoning ordinance drafting, adoption, administration and enforcement. The Guide also introduces
other land use controls available to cities that may complement or be used separately from zoning
controls.
RCiI(� Zi011lIlg �iUl(IC fOC C1t1eS(Link to:http://www./mc.org/media/document/1/zoning�uide.pdn
Copyright�02011 League of Minnesota Cities, 145 University Ave.W,Saint Paul,MN 5 5 1 03-2044 I Phone:(651)281-1200�Toll-Free:(800)925-I 122
http://www.lmc.org/page/1/land-use-lc.j sp 1/5/2011