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2023 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 4 <br />Urban Forest Management Funding <br />Emerald Ash Boer (EAB) is the most destructive and <br />economically costly forest pest ever to invade North <br />America. No city in Minnesota can easily afford the costs <br />and the liability threats resulting from EAB. The City of <br />New Brighton supports funding and support for expanded <br />educational campaigns, advertisements, and other means <br />to educate the general public and targeted audiences <br />about the importance of slowing the spread of EAB and <br />preparing private woodlands for EAB. <br />The City also supports setting up a grant program and corresponding funding a community grant program <br />to provide technical assistance to professionals and homeowners, as well as funding for ash tree removal <br />programs for low-income homeowners. Direct grants to cities are desperately needed to help in the cost <br />burden of ensuring healthy urban forests. <br />Funding for Local Climate Resiliency Programs and Projects <br />The City of New Brighton is currently in the process of creating the City’s first Climate Action Plan (CAP). <br />The Plan will establish climate action goals and identify actions to reduce the community’s greenhouse gas <br />emissions and enhance community resilience and adaptation to climate change. The City of New Brighton has <br />already taken advanced steps to care for our environment having reached the highest step of the Minnesota <br />GreenStep Cities program. It is likely that there will be recommendations that come from the CAP that will <br />require capital and operational investment. State funding to help us accomplish such initiatives is important. <br />Require child protection legislative task force to examine any law around mandatory reporting by youth <br />recreation workers <br />With the delay in implementation of the Mandatory Reporting for Youth Recreation Employees, the City <br />supports the inclusion of Municipal Recreation expertise for potential recommendations the come from the <br />Legislative Task Force on Child Protection. <br />Youth and Workforce Development Programs <br />The City supports funding for programs that create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. <br />Programs can include employment-based training, funding for internships, diversity training, translation <br />services and outreach efforts. <br />Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) <br />The City of New Brighton supports municipalities and park and recreation entities as deserving recipients of <br />LCCMR funds and parks and recreation representation on the LCCMR. <br />PARKS, RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT <br />Primary Contact: Jennifer Fink, Director of Parks and Recreation