B.

MLC supports common-sense changes to the Data Practices Act to protect
municipalities from abusive or harassing requests, and to compensate
municipalities for overly broad and burdensome requests
The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act was written before the widespread
use of computers and other technology, and has never been updated to reflect the
exponential increase in the amount of data that every public and private entity must
manage in order to conduct business. A single overly burdensome and broad
request can cost a city hundreds of hours in staff time and tens of thousands of tax
dollars to respond to, and the Act largely prohibits a city from recouping any of that
cost. Further, some requests are made with the intent to harass a city and its
employees, and some requesters never intend to collect the data, wasting time and
tax dollars. The MGDPA must be modernized to reflect today's data-intensive
society.
MLC supports common-sense changes to the Data Practices Act to protect
municipalities from abusive or harassing requests, and to compensate
municipalities for overly broad and burdensome requests.

C.

MLC supports streamlining the number of state and regional agencies that
regulate municipal activities related to water quality and water supply
Over the years the state and regional governments in Minnesota have layered
countless regulations relating to water quality and water supply on cities, their
residents, and their businesses. Overlapping, duplicative, and conflicting
requirements create confusion, impede development, and waste tax dollars. While
MLC acknowledges the need for reasonable regulations, the current system has
become unworkable.

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