Eagan legislators and municipal advocates press housing, bonding, EMS and local decision-making at annual city meeting

Eagan elected officials and municipal advocates met with area state legislators on Feb. 11 to review legislative priorities for the 2025 session, focusing on housing production and affordability, a state bonding bill, emergency medical services funding and local decision-making authority.

The meeting brought together Senators Jim Carlson (Senate District 52) and Erin McQuaid (Senate District 56), Representative Liz Ryer, and representatives from the League of Minnesota Cities, Metro Cities and the Municipal Legislative Commission. Anne Finn of the League of Minnesota Cities, Patty Nauman of Metro Cities and Tom Poole of the Municipal Legislative Commission outlined the organizations’ priorities for cities while council members and legislators discussed where the session might move.

"We collectively acknowledge that there's a very significant housing shortage," said Anne Finn, legislative representative for the League of Minnesota Cities, urging solutions that preserve local decision-making for land use and zoning. Finn told the council the League’s priorities include housing, bonding, public safety and adjustments to labor-related laws passed in 2023.

Metro Cities representative Patty Nauman said the organization supports "expanding the local tools that have statutory connections so that cities can continue to be using those with flexibility, innovation, expansiveness," and said Metro Cities is working on a proposed capital appropriation to address local sewer inflow and infiltration. Tom Poole, representing the Municipal Legislative Commission, called for a regionally balanced bonding bill and urged caution about tax equalization proposals and overly prescriptive restrictions on local option sales tax projects.

Senators and representatives described their likely emphases in the session. Senator Carlson noted he serves on transportation and elections committees; Senator McQuaid said she is focused on human services and supports measures to preserve naturally occurring affordable housing and expand supports for seniors and people with disabilities. Representative Liz Ryer, a member of the House capital investment and health committees, said she would engage on budgeting and capital issues and flagged data center siting and infrastructure impacts as items she will follow closely.

Legislators and advocates stressed that housing production and affordability are distinct goals and that different tools are required for each. Poole and others described several legislative approaches expected this year: missing-middle and starter-home proposals, parking and condo/HOA reform, and expanded use of tax increment financing for affordable housing. "We want more affordable housing … but it has to be done in a way that the community can enhance it and support it," Poole said.

Public-safety and EMS funding also drew attention. Finn said cities continue to see emergency medical services delivery challenges across the state and are watching the newly created Minnesota Emergency Medical Services Department for policy and funding changes. Senator McQuaid pressed the need for investments and supports to help people remain in place with appropriate services, and noted concerns that changes to federal funding flows could affect local service delivery.

On other issues, legislators discussed implementation of the state's adult-use cannabis law, regional transit funding, construction sales tax exemptions and data-center proposals. Representative McQuaid said she was sponsoring bills on data centers to address energy and water use, describing an interest in ensuring greater public input on large projects.

No formal actions were taken at the meeting; participants characterized the session as an annual briefing and an opportunity to align municipal priorities with legislative sponsors. Council members thanked the advocates and legislators and offered to serve as local resources for testimony or briefings if specific bills are introduced.

Votes at a glance The workshop included two brief procedural votes at the end of the meeting: approval of revised council meeting dates for January 2025–2026 (motion approved) and a motion to adjourn (approved). These were procedural workshop actions and not votes on policy matters discussed at the legislators' presentation.

Why it matters: Cities said they want state tools and funding (bonding, infrastructure, targeted housing resources and EMS supports) that help increase housing supply and preserve affordability without eliminating community-based planning and local land-use decision-making.