A longtime Apple Valley resident urged the City Council on April 10 to press the city
nd the region
gainst a series of Minnesota bills he said would sharply limit local zoning authority and public input.

Bernie Baumann, who identified himself as an Apple Valley resident, told the council the measures would create a "one-size-fits-all approach" from the state and called the proposals "an affront to the comprehensive plan" the city and its residents have developed.

Baumann listed several bills by file number, including "Senate File 22 29, companion House File 19 87; Senate File 22 31, companion House File 21 40; Senate File 22 86, House File 20 18; and Senate File 12 68, House File 13 09," and said the legislation would "rob our citizens the input to long term planning for housing, commercial zones, green space, and most concerning, the character of our neighborhoods." He called the package "the worst legislation I have ever seen."

The council confirmed it passed a resolution at a recent meeting opposing the state proposals. City staff told Baumann the city had shared the resolution with the legislative delegation; the transcript records one direct exchange in which staff said they sent the resolution and had had a number of email exchanges with the delegation. Staff reported one follow-up question from "Representative John Hewitt" asking staff to put a dollar figure on the bills' financial impact; staff said that because the bills were broad and lacked limitations it was "impossible to come up with an actual number".

Council members and staff did not report any formal response from Senator Quaid or Representatives Hout and Biermann describing changes to the legislation. Staff said they had received many emails but could not recall a direct written response from each named legislator.

Baumann also contrasted local customer service with the level of access he expects from a state-level zoning authority, recounting a recent interaction where the city clerk and staff met in person with a local organization to discuss permitting for outdoor events. He said that kind of hands-on help would be unlikely from a centralized state body.

The council did not take new formal action on the specific bills during the meeting. Council members indicated the resolution opposing restrictions on local zoning authority remains the city's formal stance and discussed pursuing a broader policy conversation about outreach to the legislative delegation.

Ending: The council had already adopted a resolution opposing the state measures; at the April 10 meeting staff confirmed they had shared that resolution with the legislative delegation and described one limited follow-up. The council did not vote on additional steps during the meeting.