1.1                                        A bill for an act&#10;1.2     relating to professional sports facilities; providing for the financing, construction, &#10;1.3     operation, and maintenance of a major league ballpark and related facilities; &#10;1.4     providing for the financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of a major &#10;1.5     league football stadium; authorizing a metropolitan area sales and use tax upon &#10;1.6     approval by voters; providing funding for certain public transit operations &#10;1.7     and capital improvements; requiring a Web site; providing that proceeds of &#10;1.8     the Metrodome sale be transferred to the Metropolitan Council for certain &#10;1.9     transit purposes; requiring an election;amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, &#10;1.10    sections 297A.71, by adding subdivisions; 473.551, subdivisions 1, 8, by adding &#10;1.11    subdivisions; 473.553, subdivisions 2, 3, 4, 5; 473.556, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, &#10;1.12    6, 12, 17, by adding a subdivision; 473.561; proposing coding for new law in &#10;1.13    Minnesota Statutes, chapter 473; repealing Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections &#10;1.14    272.02, subdivision 50; 297A.71, subdivision 31; 473.553, subdivision 14; &#10;1.15    473.5995, subdivision 2; 473I.01; 473I.02; 473I.03; 473I.04; 473I.05; 473I.06; &#10;1.16    473I.07; 473I.08; 473I.09; 473I.10; 473I.11; 473I.12; 473I.13.&#10;1.17     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.0.0"></a>1.18                                           <b>ARTICLE 1</b>&#10;1.19                                            <b>BALLPARK</b>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.1.0"></a>1.20        Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 297A.71, is amended by adding a &#10;1.21    subdivision to read:&#10;1.22        <ins>Subd. 37.</ins> <ins><b>Building materials exemption.</b></ins> <ins>Materials, supplies, and equipment used </ins>&#10;1.23    <ins>or consumed in, and incorporated into the construction or improvement of the ballpark </ins>&#10;1.24    <ins>and public infrastructure constructed pursuant to sections 473.75 to 473.757, are exempt. </ins>&#10;1.25    <ins>This subdivision expires one year after the date that the first major league baseball game is </ins>&#10;1.26    <ins>played in the ballpark for materials, supplies, and equipment used in the ballpark, and five </ins>&#10;1.27    <ins>years after the issuance of the first bonds under section 473.755 for materials, supplies, </ins>&#10;1.28    <ins>and equipment used in the public infrastructure.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.2.0"></a>2.1         Sec. 2. <ins><b>[473.75] PURPOSE.</b></ins>&#10;2.2     <ins>The purpose of this article is to provide for the construction, financing, and </ins>&#10;2.3     <ins>long-term use of a ballpark primarily as a venue for major league baseball.  It is found and </ins>&#10;2.4     <ins>declared that the expenditure of public money for this purpose is necessary and serves </ins>&#10;2.5     <ins>a public purpose.  It is further found and declared that any provision in a lease or use </ins>&#10;2.6     <ins>agreement with a major league team, that requires the team to play its home games in a </ins>&#10;2.7     <ins>publicly funded ballpark for the duration of the lease or use agreement, serves a unique </ins>&#10;2.8     <ins>public purpose for which the remedies of specific performance and injunctive relief are </ins>&#10;2.9     <ins>essential to its enforcement.  It is further found and declared that government assistance to </ins>&#10;2.10    <ins>facilitate the presence of major league baseball provides to the state of Minnesota and its </ins>&#10;2.11    <ins>citizens highly valued intangible benefits that are virtually impossible to quantify and, </ins>&#10;2.12    <ins>therefore, not recoverable even if the government receives monetary damages in the event </ins>&#10;2.13    <ins>of a team's breach of contract. Minnesota courts are, therefore, charged with protecting </ins>&#10;2.14    <ins>those benefits through the use of specific performance and injunctive relief as provided </ins>&#10;2.15    <ins>herein and in the lease and use agreements.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.3.0"></a>2.16        Sec. 3. <ins><b>[473.751] DEFINITIONS.</b></ins>&#10;2.17        <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Terms.</b></ins> <ins>As used in this article, the terms defined in this section </ins>&#10;2.18    <ins>have the meanings given them in this section, except as otherwise expressly provided or </ins>&#10;2.19    <ins>indicated by the context.</ins>&#10;2.20        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Ballpark.</b></ins> <ins>"Ballpark" means the stadium suitable for major league baseball </ins>&#10;2.21    <ins>to be constructed and financed under this article.</ins>&#10;2.22        <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Ballpark costs.</b></ins> <ins>"Ballpark costs" means the cost of designing, constructing, </ins>&#10;2.23    <ins>and equipping a ballpark suitable for major league baseball. "Ballpark cost" excludes </ins>&#10;2.24    <ins>the cost of land acquisition, site improvements, utilities, site demolition, environmental </ins>&#10;2.25    <ins>remediation, railroad crash wall, site furnishings, landscaping, railroad right-of-way </ins>&#10;2.26    <ins>development, district energy, site graphics and artwork and other site improvements </ins>&#10;2.27    <ins>identified by the commission, public infrastructure, capital improvement reserves, bond </ins>&#10;2.28    <ins>reserves, capitalized interest, and financing costs.</ins>&#10;2.29        <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Development area.</b></ins> <ins> "Development area" means the area in the city of </ins>&#10;2.30    <ins>Minneapolis bounded by marked Interstate Highway 394, vacated Holden Street, the </ins>&#10;2.31    <ins>Burlington Northern right-of-way, Seventh Street North, Sixth Avenue North, and Fifth </ins>&#10;2.32    <ins>Street North.</ins>&#10;2.33        <ins>Subd. 5.</ins> <ins><b>Public infrastructure.</b></ins> <ins> "Public infrastructure" means all property, </ins>&#10;2.34    <ins>facilities, and improvements determined by the commission to facilitate the development </ins>&#10;2.35    <ins>and use of the ballpark, including but not limited to property and improvements for </ins>&#10;3.1     <ins>drainage, environmental remediation, parking, roadways, walkways, skyways, pedestrian </ins>&#10;3.2     <ins>bridges, bicycle paths, and transit improvements to facilitate public access to the ballpark, </ins>&#10;3.3     <ins>lighting, landscaping, utilities, streets, and land acquired and prepared for private </ins>&#10;3.4     <ins>redevelopment in a manner related to the use of the ballpark.</ins>&#10;3.5         <ins>Subd. 6.</ins> <ins><b>Team.</b></ins> <ins>"Team" means the owner and operator of the baseball team </ins>&#10;3.6     <ins>currently known as the Minnesota Twins.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.4.0"></a>3.7         Sec. 4. <ins><b>[473.752] LOCATION.</b></ins>&#10;3.8     <ins>The ballpark must be located in the city of Minneapolis at a site within the </ins>&#10;3.9     <ins>development area.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.5.0"></a>3.10        Sec. 5. <ins><b>[473.753] CONSTRUCTION OF BALLPARK.</b></ins>&#10;3.11        <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Contracts.</b></ins> <ins>The commission may enter into a development agreement </ins>&#10;3.12    <ins>with the team or any other entity relating to the construction, financing, and use of the </ins>&#10;3.13    <ins>ballpark and related facilities and public infrastructure.  The commission may contract </ins>&#10;3.14    <ins>for materials, supplies, and equipment in accordance with section </ins><ins>471.345</ins><ins>, except that </ins>&#10;3.15    <ins>the commission may employ or contract with persons, firms, or corporations to perform </ins>&#10;3.16    <ins>one or more or all of the functions of architect, engineer, or construction manager with </ins>&#10;3.17    <ins>respect to all or any part of the ballpark and public infrastructure.  Alternatively, at the </ins>&#10;3.18    <ins>request of the team, the commission shall authorize the team to provide for the design </ins>&#10;3.19    <ins>and construction of the ballpark, subject to terms of this article. The commission may </ins>&#10;3.20    <ins>also enter into agreements with Hennepin County or the city of Minneapolis relating to </ins>&#10;3.21    <ins>the design and construction of the public infrastructure with revenues available to the </ins>&#10;3.22    <ins>commission. The construction manager may enter into contracts with contractors for </ins>&#10;3.23    <ins>labor, materials, supplies, and equipment for the construction of the ballpark through the </ins>&#10;3.24    <ins>process of public bidding, except that the construction manager may, with the consent </ins>&#10;3.25    <ins>of the commission or the team:</ins>&#10;3.26    <ins>(1) narrow the listing of eligible bidders to those that the construction manager </ins>&#10;3.27    <ins>determines to possess sufficient expertise to perform the intended functions;</ins>&#10;3.28    <ins>(2) award contracts to the contractors that the construction manager determines </ins>&#10;3.29    <ins>provide the best value, which are not required to be the lowest responsible bidder; and </ins>&#10;3.30    <ins>(3) for work the construction manager determines to be critical to the completion </ins>&#10;3.31    <ins>schedule, award contracts on the basis of competitive proposals or perform work with </ins>&#10;3.32    <ins>its own forces without soliciting competitive bids if the construction manager provides </ins>&#10;3.33    <ins>evidence of competitive pricing.</ins>&#10;4.1     <ins>The commission may require that the construction manager certify, before the contract </ins>&#10;4.2     <ins>is signed, a certified, fixed, and stipulated construction price and completion date to the </ins>&#10;4.3     <ins>commission and post a bond in an amount at least equal to 100 percent of the certified </ins>&#10;4.4     <ins>price, to cover any costs that may be incurred in excess of the certified price, including, </ins>&#10;4.5     <ins>but not limited to, costs incurred by the commission or loss of revenues resulting from </ins>&#10;4.6     <ins>incomplete construction on the completion date.  The commission may secure surety </ins>&#10;4.7     <ins>bonds as provided in section </ins><ins>574.26</ins><ins>, securing payment of just claims in connection with </ins>&#10;4.8     <ins>all public work undertaken by it. Persons entitled to the protection of the bonds may </ins>&#10;4.9     <ins>enforce them as provided in sections </ins><ins>574.28</ins><ins> to 574.32, and are not  entitled to a lien on any </ins>&#10;4.10    <ins>property of the commission under sections </ins><ins>514.01</ins><ins> to </ins><ins>514.16</ins><ins>. Contracts for construction </ins>&#10;4.11    <ins>and operation of the ballpark must include programs to provide for participation by small </ins>&#10;4.12    <ins>local businesses and businesses owned by women and people of color, and the inclusion </ins>&#10;4.13    <ins>of women and people of color in the workforces of contractors and ballpark operators. </ins>&#10;4.14    <ins>The contracts must comply with all employment requirements applicable to city and state </ins>&#10;4.15    <ins>contracts for construction, including requirements relating to the payment of prevailing </ins>&#10;4.16    <ins>wages under sections 177.41 to 177.44.</ins>&#10;4.17        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Zoning and planning.</b></ins> <ins>It is found and declared that the construction </ins>&#10;4.18    <ins>of a ballpark within the development area is consistent with the adopted area plan, is </ins>&#10;4.19    <ins>the preferred ballpark location, and is a permitted land use. Local units of government </ins>&#10;4.20    <ins>may not impose restrictions or conditions on ballpark and public infrastructure land use </ins>&#10;4.21    <ins>approvals except those that are based on reasonable land use grounds and criteria that are </ins>&#10;4.22    <ins>within their jurisdiction to apply. This subdivision applies to establish a procedure for </ins>&#10;4.23    <ins>all land use reviews and approvals by local governments for the ballpark and related </ins>&#10;4.24    <ins>public infrastructure and supersedes all land use rules and restrictions and procedures </ins>&#10;4.25    <ins>imposed by other law, charter, or ordinance. Section 15.99, subdivision 3, paragraphs </ins>&#10;4.26    <ins>(f) and (g), does not apply. Within 60 days of the effective date of this article, the </ins>&#10;4.27    <ins>city of Minneapolis and Hennepin County shall establish a ballpark implementation </ins>&#10;4.28    <ins>committee with equal representation from the city of Minneapolis and Hennepin County </ins>&#10;4.29    <ins>to make recommendations on street vacation, parking, roadways, walkways, skyways, </ins>&#10;4.30    <ins>pedestrian bridges, bicycle paths, transit improvements to facilitate public street access to </ins>&#10;4.31    <ins>the ballpark, and integration into the transportation plan for downtown and the region, </ins>&#10;4.32    <ins>lighting, landscaping, utilities, streets, drainage, environmental remediation, and land </ins>&#10;4.33    <ins>acquired and prepared for private redevelopment in a manner related to the use of </ins>&#10;4.34    <ins>the ballpark. The recommendations of the committee must be forwarded to the city of </ins>&#10;4.35    <ins>Minneapolis Planning Commission for an advisory recommendation and then to the city </ins>&#10;4.36    <ins>council for action in a single resolution.</ins>&#10;5.1         <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Local government action; environmental review.</b></ins> <ins> Local governmental </ins>&#10;5.2     <ins>units shall take action promptly and within project design and construction timetables on </ins>&#10;5.3     <ins>applications for building permits and certificates of occupancy.  The commission shall be </ins>&#10;5.4     <ins>the responsible governmental unit for any environmental impact statement prepared under </ins>&#10;5.5     <ins>section 116D.04.  The commission may make decisions and take actions to acquire land </ins>&#10;5.6     <ins>and obtain financing before completion of environmental review.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.6.0"></a>5.7         Sec. 6. <ins><b>[473.754] CRITERIA AND CONDITIONS.</b></ins>&#10;5.8         <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Binding and enforceable.</b></ins> <ins>In developing the ballpark and entering </ins>&#10;5.9     <ins>into related contracts, the commission must follow and enforce the criteria and conditions </ins>&#10;5.10    <ins>in this section, provided that a determination by the commission that those criteria or </ins>&#10;5.11    <ins>conditions have been met under any agreement or otherwise is conclusive.</ins>&#10;5.12        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Team contributions.</b></ins> <ins>The team must agree to contribute at least </ins>&#10;5.13    <ins>$130,000,000 toward ballpark costs, plus 25 percent of the cost of adding a retractable </ins>&#10;5.14    <ins>roof to the ballpark. The team contribution must be reduced by a proportionate share </ins>&#10;5.15    <ins>of any amount by which actual ballpark costs may be less than a budgeted amount of </ins>&#10;5.16    <ins>$390,000,000, plus the costs of a retractable roof.  The team contributions must be funded </ins>&#10;5.17    <ins>in cash during the construction period.  In addition to any other team contribution, the </ins>&#10;5.18    <ins>team must agree to assume and pay when due all cost overruns for the ballpark costs that </ins>&#10;5.19    <ins>exceed the budget, excluding land, site improvements, and public infrastructure.</ins>&#10;5.20        <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Reserve for capital improvements.</b></ins> <ins>The commission shall require </ins>&#10;5.21    <ins>that a reserve fund for capital improvements to the stadium be established and funded </ins>&#10;5.22    <ins>with annual team payments of $1,000,000 and annual payments from other sources of </ins>&#10;5.23    <ins>$1,000,000, provided that these amounts are subject to adjustment under an agreement </ins>&#10;5.24    <ins>between the team and the commission to achieve an equitable distribution of the funding </ins>&#10;5.25    <ins>requirement. The annual payments must increase according to an inflation index </ins>&#10;5.26    <ins>determined by the commission.  The commission may accept contributions from any other </ins>&#10;5.27    <ins>source for the portion of the funding not required to be provided by the team.</ins>&#10;5.28        <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Lease or use agreements.</b></ins> <ins>The commission and team must agree to a </ins>&#10;5.29    <ins>long-term lease or use agreement with the team for its use of the ballpark.  The team </ins>&#10;5.30    <ins>must agree to play all regularly scheduled and postseason home games at the ballpark. </ins>&#10;5.31    <ins>Preseason games may also be scheduled and played at the ballpark.  The lease or use </ins>&#10;5.32    <ins>agreement must be for a term of at least 30 years from the date of ballpark completion. </ins>&#10;5.33    <ins>The lease or use agreement must include terms for default, termination, and breach of </ins>&#10;5.34    <ins>the agreement.  Recognizing that the presence of major league baseball provides to the </ins>&#10;5.35    <ins>state of Minnesota and its citizens highly valued, intangible benefits that are virtually </ins>&#10;6.1     <ins>impossible to quantify and, therefore, not recoverable in the event of a team owner's </ins>&#10;6.2     <ins>breach of contract, the lease and use agreements must provide for specific performance </ins>&#10;6.3     <ins>and injunctive relief to enforce provisions relating to use of the ballpark for major league </ins>&#10;6.4     <ins>baseball and must not include escape clauses or buyout provisions.</ins>&#10;6.5         <ins>Subd. 5.</ins> <ins><b>Notice requirement for certain events.</b></ins> <ins>Until 30 years from the date </ins>&#10;6.6     <ins>of ballpark completion, the team must provide written notice to the commission not </ins>&#10;6.7     <ins>less than 90 days before any action, including any action imposed upon the team by </ins>&#10;6.8     <ins>Major League Baseball, which would result in a breach or default of provisions of the </ins>&#10;6.9     <ins>lease or use agreements required to be included under subdivision 4.  If this notice </ins>&#10;6.10    <ins>provision is violated and the team has already breached or been in default under the </ins>&#10;6.11    <ins>required provisions, the commission or the state may specifically enforce the lease or </ins>&#10;6.12    <ins>use agreement, and Minnesota courts shall fashion equitable remedies so that the team </ins>&#10;6.13    <ins>may fulfill the conditions of the lease and use agreements, including, but not limited to, </ins>&#10;6.14    <ins>remedies against Major League Baseball.</ins>&#10;6.15        <ins>Subd. 6.</ins> <ins><b>Enforceable financial commitments.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must determine </ins>&#10;6.16    <ins>before ballpark construction begins that all public and private funding sources for </ins>&#10;6.17    <ins>construction and operation of the ballpark are included in written agreements. The </ins>&#10;6.18    <ins>committed funds must be adequate to design, construct, furnish, and equip the ballpark.</ins>&#10;6.19        <ins>Subd. 7.</ins> <ins><b>Community ownership option.</b></ins> <ins>(a) The lease or use agreement for the </ins>&#10;6.20    <ins>baseball facility must provide that if the owner of the baseball franchise seeks to sell the </ins>&#10;6.21    <ins>franchise during the term of the agreement, the franchise must first be offered for sale to </ins>&#10;6.22    <ins>the entity formed in compliance with paragraph (b) on the same terms offered to any other </ins>&#10;6.23    <ins>entity. The offer to sell the franchise to this entity must remain open for at least one </ins>&#10;6.24    <ins>year. The amounts that would otherwise be returned to the public under subdivision 10 </ins>&#10;6.25    <ins>may be used by an entity created under paragraph (b) to offset the cost of acquiring the </ins>&#10;6.26    <ins>baseball franchise.</ins>&#10;6.27    <ins>(b) The governor and the commission must attempt to facilitate the formation </ins>&#10;6.28    <ins>of a corporation to acquire the baseball franchise and to identify an individual private </ins>&#10;6.29    <ins>managing owner of the corporation. The corporation formed to acquire the franchise must </ins>&#10;6.30    <ins>have a capital structure that complies with all of the following provisions:</ins>&#10;6.31    <ins>(1) there may be two classes of capital stock: common stock and preferred stock. </ins>&#10;6.32    <ins>Both classes of stock must give holders voting rights with respect to any relocation </ins>&#10;6.33    <ins>or contraction of the franchise;</ins>&#10;6.34    <ins>(2) the private managing owner must own no less than 25 percent and no more than </ins>&#10;6.35    <ins>35 percent of the common stock. For purposes of this restriction, shares of common stock </ins>&#10;6.36    <ins>owned by the private managing owner include shares of common stock owned by any </ins>&#10;7.1     <ins>related taxpayer as defined in section 1313(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as </ins>&#10;7.2     <ins>amended. Other than the rights of all other holders of common stock and preferred stock </ins>&#10;7.3     <ins>with respect to relocation of the franchise or voluntary contraction, the private managing </ins>&#10;7.4     <ins>owner must control all aspects of the operation of the corporation;</ins>&#10;7.5     <ins>(3) other than the private managing owner, no individual or entity may own more </ins>&#10;7.6     <ins>than five percent of the common stock of the corporation;</ins>&#10;7.7     <ins>(4) at least 50 percent of the ownership of the common stock must be sold to </ins>&#10;7.8     <ins>members of the general public in a general solicitation and no person or entity may own </ins>&#10;7.9     <ins>more than one percent of common stock of the corporation; and</ins>&#10;7.10    <ins>(5) the articles of incorporation, bylaws, and other governing documents must </ins>&#10;7.11    <ins>provide that the franchise may not move outside of the state or agree to voluntary </ins>&#10;7.12    <ins>contraction without approval of at least 75 percent of the shares of common stock and at </ins>&#10;7.13    <ins>least 75 percent of the shares of preferred stock. Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, </ins>&#10;7.14    <ins>these 75 percent approval requirements may not be amended by the shareholders or by </ins>&#10;7.15    <ins>any other means.</ins>&#10;7.16    <ins>(c) Except as specifically provided by this article, no state agency may spend money </ins>&#10;7.17    <ins>from any state fund for the purpose of generating revenue under this subdivision or for the </ins>&#10;7.18    <ins>purpose of providing operating support or defraying operating losses of a professional </ins>&#10;7.19    <ins>baseball franchise.</ins>&#10;7.20        <ins>Subd. 8.</ins> <ins><b>Environmental requirements.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must comply with all </ins>&#10;7.21    <ins>environmental requirements imposed for the ballpark, site, and structure by regulatory </ins>&#10;7.22    <ins>agencies. </ins>&#10;7.23        <ins>Subd. 9.</ins> <ins><b>Ballpark design.</b></ins> <ins>(a) The ballpark must have a retractable roof. </ins>&#10;7.24    <ins>(b) The commission must ensure that the ballpark receives Leadership in Energy and </ins>&#10;7.25    <ins>Environmental Design (LEED) certification for environmental design, and to the extent </ins>&#10;7.26    <ins>practicable, that the ballpark design is architecturally significant. The Department of </ins>&#10;7.27    <ins>Administration and the Department of Commerce must cooperate with the commission to </ins>&#10;7.28    <ins>obtain any grants or other funds that are available to help to pay for the cost of meeting the </ins>&#10;7.29    <ins>requirements for the LEED certification.</ins>&#10;7.30    <ins>(c) The ballpark design must, to the extent feasible, follow sustainable building </ins>&#10;7.31    <ins>guidelines established under section 16B.325.</ins>&#10;7.32    <ins>(d) The commission must ensure that the ballpark be, to the greatest extent </ins>&#10;7.33    <ins>practicable, constructed of American-made steel.</ins>&#10;7.34        <ins>Subd. 10.</ins> <ins><b>Public share upon sale of team.</b></ins> <ins>The lease or use agreement must </ins>&#10;7.35    <ins>provide that, if the team is sold after the effective date of this article, a portion of the sale </ins>&#10;7.36    <ins>price must be paid to the commission and deposited in a reserve fund for improvements to </ins>&#10;8.1     <ins>the ballpark or expended as the commission may otherwise direct. The portion required to </ins>&#10;8.2     <ins>be so paid to the commission is 18 percent of the gross sale price, declining to zero ten </ins>&#10;8.3     <ins>years after commencement of ballpark construction in increments of 1.8 percent each </ins>&#10;8.4     <ins>year. The agreement shall provide exceptions for sales to members of the owner's family </ins>&#10;8.5     <ins>and entities and trusts beneficially owned by family members, sales to employees of </ins>&#10;8.6     <ins>equity interests aggregating up to ten percent, and sales related to capital infusions not </ins>&#10;8.7     <ins>distributed to the owners.</ins>&#10;8.8         <ins>Subd. 11.</ins> <ins><b>Access to books and records.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must seek a provision in </ins>&#10;8.9     <ins>the lease or use agreement that provides the commission access to annual audited financial </ins>&#10;8.10    <ins>statements of the team and other financial books and records that the commission deems </ins>&#10;8.11    <ins>necessary to determine compliance by the team with this article and to enforce the terms </ins>&#10;8.12    <ins>of any lease or use agreements entered into under this article.  Any financial information </ins>&#10;8.13    <ins>obtained by the commission under this subdivision is nonpublic data under section </ins><ins>13.02</ins><ins>, </ins>&#10;8.14    <ins>subdivision 9.</ins>&#10;8.15        <ins>Subd. 12.</ins> <ins><b>Affordable access.</b></ins> <ins>To the extent determined by the commission or </ins>&#10;8.16    <ins>required by a grant agreement, any lease or use agreement must provide for affordable </ins>&#10;8.17    <ins>access to the professional sporting events held in the ballpark.</ins>&#10;8.18        <ins>Subd. 13.</ins> <ins><b>No strikes or lockouts.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must use its best efforts to </ins>&#10;8.19    <ins>negotiate a public sector project labor agreement or other agreement to prevent strikes and </ins>&#10;8.20    <ins>lockouts that would halt, delay, or impede construction of the ballpark and related facilities.</ins>&#10;8.21        <ins>Subd. 14.</ins> <ins><b>Youth and amateur sports.</b></ins> <ins>The lease or use agreement must require that </ins>&#10;8.22    <ins>the team provide or cause to be provided $250,000 annually for the term of the agreement </ins>&#10;8.23    <ins>for youth activities and amateur sports without reducing the amounts otherwise normally </ins>&#10;8.24    <ins>provided for and on behalf of the team for those purposes.  The amount must increase </ins>&#10;8.25    <ins>according to an inflation factor not to exceed </ins><ins>2.5</ins><ins> percent annually and may be subject to a </ins>&#10;8.26    <ins>condition that the county fund grants for similar purposes as authorized by this article.</ins>&#10;8.27        <ins>Subd. 15.</ins> <ins><b>Name retention.</b></ins> <ins>The lease or use agreement must provide that the </ins>&#10;8.28    <ins>team and league will transfer to the state of Minnesota the Minnesota Twins' heritage </ins>&#10;8.29    <ins>and records, including the name, logo, colors, history, playing records, trophies and </ins>&#10;8.30    <ins>memorabilia in the event of any dissolution or relocation of the Twins franchise.</ins>&#10;8.31        <ins>Subd. 16.</ins> <ins><b>Facility operation.</b></ins> <ins>The commission may equip, improve, operate, </ins>&#10;8.32    <ins>manage, maintain, and control the ballpark and related facilities constructed, remodeled, </ins>&#10;8.33    <ins>or acquired under this act as smoke-free facilities, subject to the rights and obligations </ins>&#10;8.34    <ins>transferred to and assumed by the team or other user under the terms of a lease or use </ins>&#10;8.35    <ins>agreement, but in no case may a lease or use agreement permit smoking in the ballpark.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.7.0"></a>9.1         Sec. 7. <ins><b>[473.755] FINANCING OF FACILITY.</b></ins>&#10;9.2         <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Public expenditures.</b></ins> <ins>The amount that the commission may grant </ins>&#10;9.3     <ins>or expend for ballpark costs, except financing costs, must not exceed $475,000,000. </ins>&#10;9.4     <ins>The amount of any grant for capital improvement reserves must not exceed $1,000,000 </ins>&#10;9.5     <ins>annually, subject to section 473.754, subdivision 3, and subject to annual increases </ins>&#10;9.6     <ins>according to an inflation index acceptable to the commission.  This section does not </ins>&#10;9.7     <ins>limit the amount of grants or expenditures for land, site improvements, and public </ins>&#10;9.8     <ins>infrastructure.  A grant agreement is valid and enforceable notwithstanding that it involves </ins>&#10;9.9     <ins>payments in future years and they do not constitute a debt of the commission within </ins>&#10;9.10    <ins>the meaning of any constitutional or statutory limitation or for which a referendum is </ins>&#10;9.11    <ins>required.  The commission may acquire land, air rights, and other property interests within </ins>&#10;9.12    <ins>the development area for the ballpark site and public infrastructure for development as a </ins>&#10;9.13    <ins>ballpark, and acquire and construct any related public infrastructure. The commission may </ins>&#10;9.14    <ins>review and approve ballpark designs, plans, and specifications to the extent provided in a </ins>&#10;9.15    <ins>grant agreement and in order to ensure that the public purposes of the grant are carried </ins>&#10;9.16    <ins>out.  Public infrastructure designs must optimize area transit and bicycle opportunities, </ins>&#10;9.17    <ins>including connections to planned or existing trails and transportation corridors, including </ins>&#10;9.18    <ins>Central, Hiawatha, I-394, Northstar, Northwest, Red Rock, Rush Line, and Southwest.  The </ins>&#10;9.19    <ins>commission may enforce the provisions of any grant agreement by specific performance. </ins>&#10;9.20    <ins>The commission may reimburse a local governmental entity within which the ballpark is </ins>&#10;9.21    <ins>located or make a grant to such a governmental unit for site acquisition, preparation of the </ins>&#10;9.22    <ins>site for ballpark development, and public infrastructure.  Amounts expended by a local </ins>&#10;9.23    <ins>governmental unit with the proceeds of a grant or in expectation of reimbursement by the </ins>&#10;9.24    <ins>commission are not an expenditure or other use of local governmental resources by the </ins>&#10;9.25    <ins>governmental unit within the meaning of any law or charter limitation.  </ins>&#10;9.26        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Revenue bonds.</b></ins> <ins>When the criteria and conditions set forth in section </ins>&#10;9.27    <ins>473.754 have been met, the commission may, by resolution, authorize, sell, and issue </ins>&#10;9.28    <ins>revenue bonds to provide money to finance all or a portion of the costs of site acquisition, </ins>&#10;9.29    <ins>site improvements and other activities necessary to prepare a site for development of a </ins>&#10;9.30    <ins>ballpark, to construct, improve, and maintain the ballpark and to establish and fund capital </ins>&#10;9.31    <ins>improvement reserves, and to acquire and construct any related parking facilities and other </ins>&#10;9.32    <ins>public infrastructure.  The commission may also, by resolution, issue bonds to refund the </ins>&#10;9.33    <ins>bonds issued under this section.   The term of the bonds must be no longer than is necessary </ins>&#10;9.34    <ins>to provide interim financing in anticipation of receipt of sufficient funds under section </ins>&#10;9.35    <ins>473.131 to meet these costs. The bonds must be limited obligations, solely payable from </ins>&#10;9.36    <ins>or secured by revenues to become available under this article and article 3.  The bonds </ins>&#10;10.1    <ins>may be issued in one or more series and sold without an election.  The bonds must be sold </ins>&#10;10.2    <ins>in the manner provided by section </ins><ins>475.60</ins><ins>.  The bonds shall be secured, bear the interest </ins>&#10;10.3    <ins>rate or rates or a variable rate, have the rank or priority, be executed in the manner, be </ins>&#10;10.4    <ins>payable in the manner, mature, and be subject to the defaults, redemptions, repurchases, </ins>&#10;10.5    <ins>tender options, or other terms the commission may determine.  The commission may enter </ins>&#10;10.6    <ins>into and perform all contracts deemed necessary or desirable by it to issue and secure the </ins>&#10;10.7    <ins>bonds, including an indenture of trust with a trustee within or without the state. The debt </ins>&#10;10.8    <ins>represented by the bonds is not included in computing any debt limitation applicable to </ins>&#10;10.9    <ins>the commission.  Subject to this subdivision, the bonds must be issued and sold in the </ins>&#10;10.10   <ins>manner provided in chapter 475.  The bonds must recite that they are issued under this </ins>&#10;10.11   <ins>section and the recital is conclusive as to the validity of the bonds and the imposition and </ins>&#10;10.12   <ins>pledge of the taxes levied for their payment.  </ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.8.0"></a>10.13       Sec. 8. <ins><b>[473.756] CITY REQUIREMENTS.</b></ins>&#10;10.14       <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Third Avenue.</b></ins> <ins>At the request of the commission, the city of </ins>&#10;10.15   <ins>Minneapolis shall vacate the portion of Third Avenue North from Seventh Street North to </ins>&#10;10.16   <ins>the intersection of Third Avenue North and the on-ramp to marked Interstate Highway 394 </ins>&#10;10.17   <ins>without impeding on-ramp access.</ins>&#10;10.18       <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Land conveyance.</b></ins> <ins>At the request of the commission, the city of </ins>&#10;10.19   <ins>Minneapolis shall convey to the commission at fair market value all real property it owns </ins>&#10;10.20   <ins>that is located in the development area and is not currently used for road, sidewalk, or </ins>&#10;10.21   <ins>utility purposes and that the commission determines to be necessary for ballpark or public </ins>&#10;10.22   <ins>infrastructure purposes.</ins>&#10;10.23       <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Liquor licenses.</b></ins> <ins>The city of Minneapolis may issue intoxicating liquor </ins>&#10;10.24   <ins>licenses that are reasonably requested for the premises of the ballpark.  These licenses </ins>&#10;10.25   <ins>are in addition to the number authorized by law.  All provisions of chapter 340A not </ins>&#10;10.26   <ins>inconsistent with this section apply to the licenses authorized under this subdivision.</ins>&#10;10.27       <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Charter limitations.</b></ins> <ins>Actions taken by the city of Minneapolis under this </ins>&#10;10.28   <ins>section are not an expenditure or other use of city resources within the meaning of any </ins>&#10;10.29   <ins>charter limitation.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.9.0"></a>10.30       Sec. 9. <ins><b>[473.757] LOCAL TAXES.</b></ins>&#10;10.31   <ins>No local unit of government shall impose a new or additional tax on sales or uses </ins>&#10;10.32   <ins>of any item that is not in effect for the ballpark site on the effective date of this article, </ins>&#10;10.33   <ins>except taxes generally applicable throughout the jurisdiction.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.10.0"></a>11.1        Sec. 10. <ins><b> REPEALER.</b></ins>&#10;11.2    <ins>Minnesota Statutes 2004, sections 272.02, subdivision 50; 297A.71, subdivision 31; </ins>&#10;11.3    <ins>473.5995, subdivision 2; 473I.01; 473I.02; 473I.03; 473I.04; 473I.05; 473I.06; 473I.07; </ins>&#10;11.4    <ins>473I.08; 473I.09; 473I.10; 473I.11; 473I.12; and 473I.13,</ins><ins> are repealed.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.1.11.0"></a>11.5        Sec. 11. <ins><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b></ins>&#10;11.6    <ins>This article is effective the day following final enactment.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.0.0"></a>11.7                                           <b>ARTICLE 2</b>&#10;11.8                                        <b>FOOTBALL STADIUM</b>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.1.0"></a>11.9        Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 297A.71, is amended by adding a &#10;11.10   subdivision to read:&#10;11.11       <ins>Subd. 38.</ins> <ins><b>Stadium construction materials and equipment exempt.</b></ins> <ins>Materials </ins>&#10;11.12   <ins>and supplies used or consumed in, and equipment incorporated into the construction of </ins>&#10;11.13   <ins>a National Football League stadium constructed under sections 473.76 to 473.768 are </ins>&#10;11.14   <ins>exempt.  The exemption under this subdivision terminates one year after the first National </ins>&#10;11.15   <ins>Football League game is played in the stadium.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.2.0"></a>11.16       Sec. 2. <ins><b>[473.76] PURPOSE.</b></ins>&#10;11.17   <ins>The legislature finds that construction of a new stadium that meets National Football </ins>&#10;11.18   <ins>League programmatic requirements, with a retractable roof, in the city of Blaine, county </ins>&#10;11.19   <ins>of Anoka, serves a public purpose.  The legislature finds that the public purpose served </ins>&#10;11.20   <ins>includes retaining the Minnesota Vikings as a part of Minnesota's public amenities for </ins>&#10;11.21   <ins>its citizens and as a major attraction to visitors to the state, adding to the economic </ins>&#10;11.22   <ins>development of the state, attracting revenue from out of the state, and preserving the </ins>&#10;11.23   <ins>contributions of football to the culture of Minnesota and to the enjoyment of its citizens. </ins>&#10;11.24   <ins>Further, the legislature finds that a National Football League stadium may be financed as a </ins>&#10;11.25   <ins>public-private partnership between the state, the Minnesota Vikings, and other supporting </ins>&#10;11.26   <ins>interests that may contribute to the construction of a football stadium and related facilities. </ins>&#10;11.27   <ins>The legislature further finds that a new stadium should be coordinated with transportation </ins>&#10;11.28   <ins>and transit plans and activities.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.3.0"></a>11.29       Sec. 3. <ins><b>[473.761] DEFINITIONS.</b></ins>&#10;11.30       <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Terms.</b></ins> <ins>For the purposes of sections 473.76 to 473.768, the terms </ins>&#10;11.31   <ins>defined in this section have the meanings given them in this section, except as otherwise </ins>&#10;11.32   <ins>expressly provided or indicated by the context.</ins>&#10;12.1        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Sports facilities.</b></ins> <ins>"Sports facilities" means the stadium, with a retractable </ins>&#10;12.2    <ins>or fixed roof, adjoining structures related to the operation of the stadium, practice </ins>&#10;12.3    <ins>facilities, including preseason training camp facilities, and other supporting infrastructure, </ins>&#10;12.4    <ins>including parking.</ins>&#10;12.5        <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Stadium district.</b></ins> <ins>"Stadium district" means a district designated by the </ins>&#10;12.6    <ins>commission that contains the National Football League stadium and consists of no more </ins>&#10;12.7    <ins>than 740 contiguous acres surrounding the sports facilities. </ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.4.0"></a>12.8        Sec. 4. <ins><b>[473.762] LOCATION.</b></ins>&#10;12.9    <ins>The new National Football League stadium must be located in the city of Blaine, </ins>&#10;12.10   <ins>Anoka County, Minnesota.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.5.0"></a>12.11       Sec. 5. <ins><b>[473.763] CONSTRUCTION OF FOOTBALL STADIUM.</b></ins>&#10;12.12       <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Construction manager.</b></ins> <ins>The commission and the Minnesota Vikings </ins>&#10;12.13   <ins>shall jointly select a construction manager. With respect to the construction of the stadium, </ins>&#10;12.14   <ins>the construction manager must:</ins>&#10;12.15   <ins>(1) guarantee a maximum cost of construction; and </ins>&#10;12.16   <ins>(2) provide payment and performance bonds or other security reasonably acceptable </ins>&#10;12.17   <ins>to the commission in an amount equal to the guaranteed maximum cost of construction, </ins>&#10;12.18   <ins>and must comply with all employment requirements applicable to city and state contracts </ins>&#10;12.19   <ins>for construction, including requirements relating to the payment of prevailing wages under </ins>&#10;12.20   <ins>sections 177.41 to 177.44. Contracts for construction and operation of the ballpark must </ins>&#10;12.21   <ins>include programs to provide for participation by small local businesses and businesses </ins>&#10;12.22   <ins>owned by women and people of color, and the inclusion of women and people of color </ins>&#10;12.23   <ins>in the workforces of contractors and ballpark operators.</ins>&#10;12.24       <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Contracts.</b></ins> <ins>The lessee under the stadium lease or the construction manager </ins>&#10;12.25   <ins>may enter into contracts with contractors for labor, materials, supplies, and equipment to </ins>&#10;12.26   <ins>equip and construct the new stadium through the process of public bidding.</ins>&#10;12.27       <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Bids.</b></ins> <ins>The lessee or the construction manager may:</ins>&#10;12.28   <ins>(1) limit the list of eligible bidders to those that the construction manager determines </ins>&#10;12.29   <ins>possess sufficient expertise to perform the intended functions;</ins>&#10;12.30   <ins>(2) award contracts to the contractors that the construction manager determines </ins>&#10;12.31   <ins>provide the best value, which need not be the lowest responsible bidder; and </ins>&#10;12.32   <ins>(3) for work the construction manager determines to be critical to the completion </ins>&#10;12.33   <ins>schedule, the construction manager may award contracts on the basis of competitive </ins>&#10;13.1    <ins>proposals or perform work with its own forces without soliciting competitive bids if the </ins>&#10;13.2    <ins>construction manager provides evidence of competitive pricing.</ins>&#10;13.3        <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Design.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must ensure that the stadium receives Leadership </ins>&#10;13.4    <ins>in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification for environmental design, and </ins>&#10;13.5    <ins>to the extent practicable, that the stadium design is architecturally significant.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.6.0"></a>13.6        Sec. 6. <ins><b>[473.764] CRITERIA AND CONDITIONS.</b></ins>&#10;13.7        <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Requirement.</b></ins> <ins>The commission shall issue its bonds and construction </ins>&#10;13.8    <ins>of the stadium may commence when the commission has completed the requirements </ins>&#10;13.9    <ins>imposed under this section.</ins>&#10;13.10       <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Use agreement.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must execute a long-term use agreement </ins>&#10;13.11   <ins>with the Minnesota Vikings, meeting the requirements of section 473.767.</ins>&#10;13.12       <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Development and financing agreement.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must execute </ins>&#10;13.13   <ins>a development and financing agreement with the Minnesota Vikings meeting the </ins>&#10;13.14   <ins>requirements of section 473.766.</ins>&#10;13.15       <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Sufficient funds.</b></ins> <ins>The commissioner must determine that the proceeds </ins>&#10;13.16   <ins>of bonds authorized and provided for in section 473.765 will be sufficient, together </ins>&#10;13.17   <ins>with other capital funds that may be available to the commission for expenditure on the </ins>&#10;13.18   <ins>sports facilities, including, except as otherwise provided in this section, the acquisition, </ins>&#10;13.19   <ins>clearance, relocation, and legal costs referred to in subdivisions 5 and 6. </ins>&#10;13.20       <ins>Subd. 5.</ins> <ins><b>Acquisition of property.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must acquire title to or an </ins>&#10;13.21   <ins>interest in all real property, including all easements, air rights, and other appurtenances </ins>&#10;13.22   <ins>needed for the construction and operation of the sports facility or has received a grant of </ins>&#10;13.23   <ins>money or has entered into agreements sufficient in the judgment of the commission to </ins>&#10;13.24   <ins>assure the receipt of money, at the time and in the amount required, to make any payment </ins>&#10;13.25   <ins>upon which the commission's acquisition of title or interest in and possession of the real </ins>&#10;13.26   <ins>property is conditioned.</ins>&#10;13.27       <ins>Subd. 6.</ins> <ins><b>Money for site preparation.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must receive a grant of </ins>&#10;13.28   <ins>money or enter into agreements sufficient in the judgment of the commission to assure </ins>&#10;13.29   <ins>the receipt of money, at the time and in the amount required, to pay all costs, except as </ins>&#10;13.30   <ins>provided in this subdivision, of clearing the real property needed for the construction and </ins>&#10;13.31   <ins>operation of the sports facilities, railroad tracks, and other structures, including, without </ins>&#10;13.32   <ins>limitation, all relocation costs, all utility relocation costs, and all legal costs.</ins>&#10;13.33       <ins>Subd. 7.</ins> <ins><b>Agreement prohibiting strikes.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must use its best efforts </ins>&#10;13.34   <ins>to negotiate an agreement to prevent strikes and lockouts that would halt, delay, or impede </ins>&#10;13.35   <ins>construction of the sports facilities.</ins>&#10;14.1        <ins>Subd. 8.</ins> <ins><b>Construction agreements.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must execute agreements </ins>&#10;14.2    <ins>that will provide for the construction of the sports facilities for a certified or guaranteed </ins>&#10;14.3    <ins>construction price and completion date. The agreements must include performance bonds </ins>&#10;14.4    <ins>in an amount at least equal to 100 percent of the certified or guaranteed price to cover any </ins>&#10;14.5    <ins>costs that may be incurred over and above the certified price, including, but not limited </ins>&#10;14.6    <ins>to, costs incurred by the commission or loss of revenues resulting from incomplete </ins>&#10;14.7    <ins>construction on the completion date.</ins>&#10;14.8        <ins>Subd. 9.</ins> <ins><b>Environmental requirements.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must ensure that </ins>&#10;14.9    <ins>environmental requirements imposed for the sports facilities by regulatory agencies are </ins>&#10;14.10   <ins>complied with.</ins>&#10;14.11       <ins>Subd. 10.</ins> <ins><b>Adequacy of revenues.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must determine that the </ins>&#10;14.12   <ins>anticipated revenue from the operation of the sports facilities, plus any additional available </ins>&#10;14.13   <ins>revenue of the commission, will be an amount sufficient to pay when due all debt service </ins>&#10;14.14   <ins>on the bonds issued under section 473.765, subdivision 1, plus all administration, </ins>&#10;14.15   <ins>operating, and maintenance expense of the sports facilities.</ins>&#10;14.16       <ins>Subd. 11.</ins> <ins><b>Committed funds.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must determine that all public and </ins>&#10;14.17   <ins>private funding sources for construction and operation of the sports facilities are officially </ins>&#10;14.18   <ins>committed in writing and enforceable.  The committed funds must be adequate to site, </ins>&#10;14.19   <ins>design, construct, furnish, equip, and service the sports facilities debt, as well as to pay </ins>&#10;14.20   <ins>for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the stadium.</ins>&#10;14.21       <ins>Subd. 12.</ins> <ins><b>Guaranty.</b></ins> <ins>The commission must ensure that a guaranty is in place in </ins>&#10;14.22   <ins>a form satisfactory to the commission.  The guaranty may be in the form of a letter of </ins>&#10;14.23   <ins>credit, minimum net worth requirements, personal guaranties or other surety covering the </ins>&#10;14.24   <ins>payments on terms determined by the commission's negotiations with the Minnesota </ins>&#10;14.25   <ins>Vikings. </ins>&#10;14.26       <ins>Subd. 13.</ins> <ins><b>Public share upon sale of team.</b></ins> <ins>The lease or use agreement must </ins>&#10;14.27   <ins>provide that, if the team is sold after the effective date of this article, a portion of the sale </ins>&#10;14.28   <ins>price must be paid to the commission and deposited in a reserve fund for improvements to </ins>&#10;14.29   <ins>the ballpark or expended as the commission may otherwise direct. The portion required to </ins>&#10;14.30   <ins>be so paid to the commission is 18 percent of the gross sale price, declining to zero ten </ins>&#10;14.31   <ins>years after commencement of ballpark construction in increments of 1.8 percent each </ins>&#10;14.32   <ins>year. The agreement shall provide exceptions for sales to members of the owner's family </ins>&#10;14.33   <ins>and entities and trusts beneficially owned by family members, sales to employees of </ins>&#10;14.34   <ins>equity interests aggregating up to ten percent, and sales related to capital infusions not </ins>&#10;14.35   <ins>distributed to the owners.</ins>&#10;15.1        <ins>Subd. 14.</ins> <ins><b>Affordable access.</b></ins> <ins>To the extent determined by the commission or </ins>&#10;15.2    <ins>required by a grant agreement, any lease or use agreement must provide for affordable </ins>&#10;15.3    <ins>access to the professional sporting events held in the ballpark.</ins>&#10;15.4        <ins>Subd. 15.</ins> <ins><b>Effect of determinations.</b></ins> <ins> The validity of any bonds issued under section </ins>&#10;15.5    <ins>473.765, subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), and the obligation of the commission related </ins>&#10;15.6    <ins>to them, must not be conditioned upon or impaired by the commission's determinations </ins>&#10;15.7    <ins>made under this section.  For purposes of issuing the bonds, the determinations made by </ins>&#10;15.8    <ins>the commission shall be deemed conclusive and the commission shall be and remain </ins>&#10;15.9    <ins>obligated for the security and payment of the bonds, irrespective of determinations that </ins>&#10;15.10   <ins>may be erroneous, inaccurate, or otherwise mistaken.</ins>&#10;15.11       <ins>Subd. 16.</ins> <ins><b>Facility operation.</b></ins> <ins>The commission may equip, improve, operate, </ins>&#10;15.12   <ins>manage, maintain, and control the stadium and related facilities constructed, remodeled, </ins>&#10;15.13   <ins>or acquired under this act as smoke-free facilities, subject to the rights and obligations </ins>&#10;15.14   <ins>transferred to and assumed by the team or other user under the terms of a lease or use </ins>&#10;15.15   <ins>agreement, but in no case may a lease or use agreement permit smoking in the stadium.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.7.0"></a>15.16       Sec. 7. <ins><b>[473.765] ISSUANCE OF BONDS.</b></ins>&#10;15.17       <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Bonds.</b></ins> <ins>The commission may by resolution authorize the sale and </ins>&#10;15.18   <ins>issuance of its bonds for any or all of the following purposes:</ins>&#10;15.19   <ins>(1) to provide money and pay costs to predesign, design, construct, furnish, equip, </ins>&#10;15.20   <ins>and otherwise improve or better the sports facilities owned or to be owned by the </ins>&#10;15.21   <ins>commission pursuant to this article, including construction of a retractable roof, and </ins>&#10;15.22   <ins>to finance acquisition of right-of-way and construction and reconstruction of Interstate </ins>&#10;15.23   <ins>Highway 35W and other trunk highways in Anoka County to improve access to the </ins>&#10;15.24   <ins>stadium;</ins>&#10;15.25   <ins>(2) to establish a reserve fund or funds for the bonds and to pay costs of issuance </ins>&#10;15.26   <ins>of the bonds;</ins>&#10;15.27   <ins>(3) to refund bonds issued under this section; and </ins>&#10;15.28   <ins>(4) to fund judgments entered by court against the commission in matters relating to </ins>&#10;15.29   <ins>the commission's functions related to the sports facilities.</ins>&#10;15.30       <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Procedure.</b></ins> <ins>The bonds must be sold, issued, and secured on the terms </ins>&#10;15.31   <ins>and conditions the commission determines to be in the best interests of the commission, </ins>&#10;15.32   <ins>except as otherwise provided in sections 473.76 to 473.768.  The bonds may be sold at </ins>&#10;15.33   <ins>any price and at public or private sale as determined by the commission.  They shall be </ins>&#10;15.34   <ins>payable solely from revenues referred to in sections 473.76 to 473.768.  The bonds are not </ins>&#10;15.35   <ins>a general obligation or debt of the commission or any city, county, or the state, and shall </ins>&#10;16.1    <ins>not be included in the net debt of any city, county, or other subdivision of the state for the </ins>&#10;16.2    <ins>purpose of any net debt limitation.  No election is required.</ins>&#10;16.3        <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Limitations.</b></ins> <ins> The principal amount of bonds issued by the authority under </ins>&#10;16.4    <ins>subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2), must not exceed $510,000,000 plus the amounts </ins>&#10;16.5    <ins>necessary to fund appropriate reserves, capitalized interest, bond insurance, and to pay </ins>&#10;16.6    <ins>issuance costs. The term of the bonds must be no longer than is necessary to provide </ins>&#10;16.7    <ins>interim financing in anticipation of receipt of sufficient funds under section 473.131 for </ins>&#10;16.8    <ins>the purposes of subdivision 1, clauses (1) and (2).</ins>&#10;16.9        <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Security.</b></ins> <ins>To the extent and in the manner provided in sections 473.76 to </ins>&#10;16.10   <ins>473.768, the revenues of the commission described in this article, and any other revenues </ins>&#10;16.11   <ins>of the commission attributable to the sports facilities, including teams' contributions, must </ins>&#10;16.12   <ins>be and remain pledged and appropriated to the commission as appropriate for the payment </ins>&#10;16.13   <ins>of all necessary and reasonable expenses of the operation, administration, maintenance </ins>&#10;16.14   <ins>of the sports facilities, and debt service on the bonds until all bonds or certificates of </ins>&#10;16.15   <ins>indebtedness issued under sections 473.76 to 473.768 are fully paid or discharged in </ins>&#10;16.16   <ins>accordance with law.  Bonds issued under sections 473.76 to 473.768 may be secured by a </ins>&#10;16.17   <ins>bond resolution, or by a trust indenture entered into by the commission with a corporate </ins>&#10;16.18   <ins>trustee within or outside the state, which must define the revenue and team contributions, </ins>&#10;16.19   <ins>and other sports facilities revenues pledged for the payment and security of the bonds.  The </ins>&#10;16.20   <ins>pledge is a valid charge on the revenues referred to in this article from the date when bonds </ins>&#10;16.21   <ins>are first issued or secured under the resolution or indenture and shall secure the payment </ins>&#10;16.22   <ins>of principal and interest and redemption premiums when due and the maintenance at all </ins>&#10;16.23   <ins>times of a reserve or reserves securing payments.  No mortgage of or security interest in </ins>&#10;16.24   <ins>any tangible real or personal property may be granted to the bondholders or the trustee, </ins>&#10;16.25   <ins>but they shall have a valid security interest in all tax and other revenues received and </ins>&#10;16.26   <ins>accounts receivable by the commission under this article, as against the claims of all other </ins>&#10;16.27   <ins>persons in tort, contract, or otherwise, irrespective of whether the parties have notice of </ins>&#10;16.28   <ins>the claims, and without possession or filing as provided in the Uniform Commercial </ins>&#10;16.29   <ins>Code or any other law.  In the bond resolution or trust indenture, the commission may </ins>&#10;16.30   <ins>make covenants, which shall be binding upon the commission, that are determined to be </ins>&#10;16.31   <ins>usual and reasonably necessary for the protection of the bondholders.  No pledge may be </ins>&#10;16.32   <ins>revoked or amended by law or by action of the commission except in accordance with </ins>&#10;16.33   <ins>the terms of the bond resolution or indenture under which the bonds are issued, until the </ins>&#10;16.34   <ins>obligations of the commission are fully discharged.</ins>&#10;16.35       <ins>Subd. 5.</ins> <ins><b>No full faith and credit.</b></ins> <ins>Any bonds or other obligations issued by the </ins>&#10;16.36   <ins>commission under sections 473.76 to 473.768 are not public debt of the state, and the full </ins>&#10;17.1    <ins>faith and credit and taxing powers of the state are not pledged for their payment or of any </ins>&#10;17.2    <ins>payments that the state agrees to make under this article.</ins>&#10;17.3        <ins>Subd. 6.</ins> <ins><b>Taxability of interest on bonds.</b></ins> <ins>The bonds authorized by this section </ins>&#10;17.4    <ins>may be issued whether or not the interest to be paid on them is gross income for federal </ins>&#10;17.5    <ins>tax purposes, provided that the commission must make an effort to arrange the financing </ins>&#10;17.6    <ins>for the project in a manner that would allow the interest to be tax-exempt to the greatest </ins>&#10;17.7    <ins>extent possible.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.8.0"></a>17.8        Sec. 8. <ins><b>[473.766] DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCING AGREEMENT.</b></ins>&#10;17.9        <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Agreement required.</b></ins> <ins>Prior to commencement of construction, the </ins>&#10;17.10   <ins>commission must negotiate and enter into an agreement with Anoka County, the city of </ins>&#10;17.11   <ins>Blaine, and the Minnesota Vikings concerning the terms and conditions under which </ins>&#10;17.12   <ins>the parties will make contributions of money, future revenues, interests in property for </ins>&#10;17.13   <ins>the site and public infrastructure, the method of completing design and construction, </ins>&#10;17.14   <ins>which may include the design build process, the integration of the stadium and related </ins>&#10;17.15   <ins>infrastructure with surrounding development, and other matters relating to the stadium, </ins>&#10;17.16   <ins>its operation, maintenance, and financing.  This agreement must, at a minimum, meet </ins>&#10;17.17   <ins>the requirements of this section.</ins>&#10;17.18       <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Total public investment towards stadium project costs.</b></ins> <ins>The total public </ins>&#10;17.19   <ins>investment shall not exceed $510,000,000, of which $395,000,000 is for stadium project </ins>&#10;17.20   <ins>costs and $115,000,000 is for offsite infrastructure. As used in this section, "stadium </ins>&#10;17.21   <ins>project costs" includes the costs of the following:</ins>&#10;17.22   <ins>(1) acquisition of land needed for the stadium structure and related parking and </ins>&#10;17.23   <ins>infrastructure;</ins>&#10;17.24   <ins>(2) design and construction of the stadium and related infrastructure;</ins>&#10;17.25   <ins>(3) finished space and fixtures, furniture, and equipment within the stadium project </ins>&#10;17.26   <ins>for the Minnesota Vikings, concessions and suites; and</ins>&#10;17.27   <ins>(4) land, design, construction, fixtures, furniture, and equipment for the Minnesota </ins>&#10;17.28   <ins>Vikings indoor practice facility and exhibition hall. </ins>&#10;17.29   <ins>The extent of the expenditures under this section is subject to the agreement of </ins>&#10;17.30   <ins>the Minnesota Vikings. Expenditures for finishing and equipping the space within the </ins>&#10;17.31   <ins>stadium for the Minnesota Vikings is subject to a per square foot maximum agreed to </ins>&#10;17.32   <ins>by the commission and the team.</ins>&#10;17.33       <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Team contribution.</b></ins> <ins>The team must contribute at least $280,000,000 </ins>&#10;17.34   <ins>to the sports facility costs.  Team contributions may include, but are not limited to, </ins>&#10;17.35   <ins>contribution of land, initial cash contributions, and cash equivalent to the net present </ins>&#10;18.1    <ins>value of guaranteed annual payments and assignments of naming rights and permanent </ins>&#10;18.2    <ins>seat licenses. Team contributions do not include payments of operating and maintenance </ins>&#10;18.3    <ins>expenses for the stadium, which must be made by the team. In addition to any other team </ins>&#10;18.4    <ins>contribution, the team must assume and pay when due all cost overruns for the stadium.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.9.0"></a>18.5        Sec. 9. <ins><b>[473.767] USE AGREEMENT.</b></ins>&#10;18.6        <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Requirement.</b></ins> <ins>Prior to the issuance of bonds under section 473.765, </ins>&#10;18.7    <ins>the commission must have entered into an agreement with the Minnesota Vikings and the </ins>&#10;18.8    <ins>National Football League meeting the requirements of this section.</ins>&#10;18.9        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Agreement with Minnesota Vikings.</b></ins> <ins>The commission shall enter into a </ins>&#10;18.10   <ins>use agreement with the Minnesota Vikings that, at a minimum, provides for the following:</ins>&#10;18.11   <ins>(1) the Minnesota Vikings will use the stadium for all scheduled home preseason, </ins>&#10;18.12   <ins>regular season, and postseason games that the team is entitled to play at home for a term </ins>&#10;18.13   <ins>of not less than 30 years;</ins>&#10;18.14   <ins>(2) the agreement must include terms for default, termination, and breach of </ins>&#10;18.15   <ins>agreement; and </ins>&#10;18.16   <ins>(3) the agreement must require specific performance and must not include escape </ins>&#10;18.17   <ins>clauses or buyout provisions.</ins>&#10;18.18       <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Agreement with national football league.</b></ins> <ins>The commission shall enter </ins>&#10;18.19   <ins>into an agreement with the National Football League guaranteeing the continuance of the </ins>&#10;18.20   <ins>Minnesota Vikings in the metropolitan area for the period of the agreements referred to in </ins>&#10;18.21   <ins>subdivision 2, clause (1).</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.10.0"></a>18.22       Sec. 10. <ins><b>[473.768] LIQUOR LICENSES.</b></ins>&#10;18.23   <ins>The city of Blaine may issue one or more intoxicating liquor licenses for the </ins>&#10;18.24   <ins>stadium.  These licenses are in addition to the number authorized by law.  All provisions </ins>&#10;18.25   <ins>of chapter 340A not inconsistent with this subdivision apply to the licenses authorized </ins>&#10;18.26   <ins>under this subdivision.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.2.11.0"></a>18.27       Sec. 11. <ins><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b></ins>&#10;18.28   <ins>This article is effective the day following final enactment.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.0.0"></a>18.29                                          <b>ARTICLE 3</b>&#10;18.30                          <b>SPORTS FACILITIES FINANCING AND GOVERNANCE</b>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.1.0"></a>18.31       Section 1. <ins><b>[473.131] METROPOLITAN AREA SALES AND USE TAXES.</b></ins>&#10;19.1        <ins>Subdivision 1.</ins> <ins><b>Sales and use tax authorized.</b></ins> <ins>Notwithstanding section 477A.016 </ins>&#10;19.2    <ins>or any other provision of law, ordinance, or city charter, if approved by a majority of the </ins>&#10;19.3    <ins>voters in the metropolitan area at an election described in section 19, the council shall </ins>&#10;19.4    <ins>impose by resolution a sales and use tax at a rate of one-half of one percent on sales </ins>&#10;19.5    <ins>and uses in the metropolitan area for the purposes specified in subdivision 2. Except </ins>&#10;19.6    <ins>as otherwise provided in this section, the provisions of section 297A.99 govern the </ins>&#10;19.7    <ins>imposition, administration, collection, and enforcement of the tax authorized under this </ins>&#10;19.8    <ins>subdivision.</ins>&#10;19.9        <ins>Subd. 2.</ins> <ins><b>Use of revenues.</b></ins> <ins>(a) The proceeds remitted to the Metropolitan Council </ins>&#10;19.10   <ins>under this section must be used by the council as follows: </ins>&#10;19.11   <ins>(1) one-half must be distributed to the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission to </ins>&#10;19.12   <ins>be used to finance a new ballpark for the use of the Minnesota Twins, including public </ins>&#10;19.13   <ins>infrastructure costs, ballpark costs, capital improvements to the ballpark, operating </ins>&#10;19.14   <ins>expenses of the commission, and payment of debt service on obligations issued under </ins>&#10;19.15   <ins>article 1, and a new stadium for the use of the Minnesota Vikings; and</ins>&#10;19.16   <ins>(2) one-half to be used by the council for implementation of the public transit </ins>&#10;19.17   <ins>components of the council's 2030 transportation policy plan, and for other public transit </ins>&#10;19.18   <ins>operations and capital improvements provided or assisted by the council in counties in the </ins>&#10;19.19   <ins>metropolitan transportation area.</ins>&#10;19.20   <ins>(b) When sufficient revenues to complete construction of the stadium and ballpark </ins>&#10;19.21   <ins>and to provide for payment of the costs described in paragraph (a), clause (1), have been </ins>&#10;19.22   <ins>raised from the tax under this section and all other revenues available for those projects, </ins>&#10;19.23   <ins>the full amount of the revenues from the tax must be used for purposes of paragraph </ins>&#10;19.24   <ins>(a), clause (2).</ins>&#10;19.25       <ins>Subd. 3.</ins> <ins><b>Exemption to tax limitations.</b></ins> <ins>The tax imposed under this section is </ins>&#10;19.26   <ins>not included in determining whether the total tax on lodging in the city of Minneapolis </ins>&#10;19.27   <ins>exceeds the maximum allowed tax under Laws 1986, chapter 396, section 5, as amended </ins>&#10;19.28   <ins>by Laws 2001, First Special Session chapter 5, article 12, section 87, or in determining a </ins>&#10;19.29   <ins>tax that may be imposed under any other limitations.</ins>&#10;19.30       <ins>Subd. 4.</ins> <ins><b>Stadium financing.</b></ins> <ins>The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission must </ins>&#10;19.31   <ins>allocate the revenues provided under subdivision 2, paragraph (a), clause (1), in a manner </ins>&#10;19.32   <ins>that provides for timely completion of both sports facilities, with the ballpark having first </ins>&#10;19.33   <ins>priority in time, and that minimizes the cost of borrowing for construction of the facilities. </ins>&#10;19.34   <ins>The commission must consult with the Minnesota Twins and the Minnesota Vikings in </ins>&#10;19.35   <ins>developing the plan for timing of the projects.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.2.0"></a>20.1        Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.551, subdivision 1, is amended to read:&#10;20.2        Subdivision 1. <b>Terms.</b> For the purposes of sections  473.551 to  473.599<ins> and 473.75 </ins>&#10;20.3    <ins>to 473.768</ins>, the following terms shall have the meanings given in this section. &#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.3.0"></a>20.4        Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.551, subdivision 8, is amended to read:&#10;20.5        Subd. 8. <b>Sports facility or sports facilities.</b> "Sports facility" or "sports facilities" &#10;20.6    means real or personal property comprising a stadium, stadiums, or arenas suitable &#10;20.7    for university or major league professional baseball, for university or major league &#10;20.8    professional football and soccer, or for both, or for university or major league hockey or &#10;20.9    basketball, or for both, together with adjacent parking facilities, including on the effective &#10;20.10   date of Laws 1994, chapter 648, the metrodome, the met center<del>, and,</del><ins>;</ins> upon acquisition by &#10;20.11   the commission, the basketball and hockey arena<ins>; the ballpark provided under sections </ins>&#10;20.12   <ins>473.75 to 473.757; and the stadium provided under sections 473.76 to 473.768</ins>.&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.4.0"></a>20.13       Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.551, is amended by adding a subdivision &#10;20.14   to read:&#10;20.15       <ins>Subd. 18.</ins> <ins><b>Ballpark.</b></ins> <ins>"Ballpark" is the sports facility located in the city of </ins>&#10;20.16   <ins>Minneapolis used primarily as a venue for playing major league baseball, constructed and </ins>&#10;20.17   <ins>financed under sections 473.75 to 473.757.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.5.0"></a>20.18       Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.551, is amended by adding a subdivision &#10;20.19   to read:&#10;20.20       <ins>Subd. 19.</ins> <ins><b>Football stadium.</b></ins> <ins>"Football stadium" is the sports facility located in the </ins>&#10;20.21   <ins>city of Blaine used primarily as a venue for playing major league professional football, </ins>&#10;20.22   <ins>constructed and financed under sections 473.76 to 473.768.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.6.0"></a>20.23       Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.553, subdivision 2, is amended to read:&#10;20.24       Subd. 2. <b>Membership.</b> The commission shall consist of <del>six</del><ins>two </ins> members<del>,</del> <ins>appointed </ins>&#10;20.25   <ins>by the governor, both of whom must reside in a metropolitan county other than Anoka or </ins>&#10;20.26   <ins>Hennepin, one member</ins> appointed by the city council of the city <del>in which the stadium is </del>&#10;20.27   <del>located</del><ins> of Blaine, one member appointed by the city council of the city of Minneapolis, </ins>&#10;20.28   <ins>two members appointed by the Anoka County Board, two members appointed by the </ins>&#10;20.29   <ins>Hennepin County Board,</ins> plus a chair appointed as provided in subdivision 3.<ins> The terms </ins>&#10;20.30   <ins>of all members of the commission on the date of enactment of this act terminate, and </ins>&#10;20.31   <ins>the terms of all members under this subdivision as amended under this act begin, on </ins>&#10;21.1    <ins>September 1, 2006. The members appointed by the governor, including the chair, are </ins>&#10;21.2    <ins>subject to confirmation by the senate.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.7.0"></a>21.3        Sec. 7. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.553, subdivision 3, is amended to read:&#10;21.4        Subd. 3. <b>Chair.</b> The chair shall be appointed by the governor as <del>the ninth</del><ins> a</ins> voting &#10;21.5    member and shall meet all of the qualifications of a member<del>, except the chair need </del>&#10;21.6    <del>only reside outside the city of Minneapolis</del>. The chair shall preside at all meetings of &#10;21.7    the commission, if present, and shall perform all other duties and functions assigned by &#10;21.8    the commission or by law. The commission may appoint from among its members a &#10;21.9    vice-chair to act for the chair during temporary absence or disability.&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.8.0"></a>21.10       Sec. 8. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.553, subdivision 4, is amended to read:&#10;21.11       Subd. 4. <b>Qualifications.</b> A member shall not during a term of office hold the office &#10;21.12   of Metropolitan Council member or be a member of another metropolitan agency or hold &#10;21.13   any judicial office or office of state government. <del>None of the members appointed by the </del>&#10;21.14   <del>city council of the city in which the stadium is located shall be an elected public official of </del>&#10;21.15   <del>that city or of another political subdivision any part of whose territory is shared with that </del>&#10;21.16   <del>city.</del> Each member shall qualify by taking and subscribing the oath of office prescribed by &#10;21.17   the Minnesota Constitution, article V, section 6. The oath, duly certified by the official &#10;21.18   administering it, shall be filed with the chair of the Metropolitan Council.&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.9.0"></a>21.19       Sec. 9. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.553, subdivision 5, is amended to read:&#10;21.20       Subd. 5. <b>Terms.</b> The <ins>initial </ins>terms of <del>three</del><ins> the</ins> members <ins>appointed by the governor </ins>&#10;21.21   <ins>and one of the members appointed by each of the county boards in 2006 </ins>shall end the &#10;21.22   first Monday in January <del>in the year ending in the numeral "5"</del><ins> 2010</ins>. The terms of the &#10;21.23   other members and the chair shall end the first Monday in January <del>in the year ending in </del>&#10;21.24   <del>the numeral "7"</del><ins> 2012</ins>. <ins>Thereafter, </ins>the term of each member and the chair shall be four &#10;21.25   years. The terms shall continue until a successor is appointed and qualified. Members &#10;21.26   may be removed only for cause.&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.10.0"></a>21.27       Sec. 10. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.556, subdivision 3, is amended to read:&#10;21.28       Subd. 3. <b>Acquisition of property.</b> The commission may acquire by lease, purchase, &#10;21.29   gift, or devise all necessary right, title, and interest in and to real or personal property &#10;21.30   deemed necessary to the purposes contemplated by sections  473.551 to  473.599<ins> and </ins>&#10;21.31   <ins>473.75 to 473.768</ins> within the limits of the metropolitan area. &#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.11.0"></a>22.1        Sec. 11. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.556, subdivision 4, is amended to read:&#10;22.2        Subd. 4. <b>Exemption of property.</b> <ins>(a) Except as otherwise provided in this </ins>&#10;22.3    <ins>subdivision, </ins>any real or personal property acquired, owned, leased, controlled, used, &#10;22.4    or occupied by the commission for any of the purposes of sections  473.551 to  473.599<ins> </ins>&#10;22.5    <ins>and 473.75 to 473.768</ins> is declared to be acquired, owned, leased, controlled, used and &#10;22.6    occupied for public, governmental, and municipal purposes, and shall be exempt from &#10;22.7    ad valorem taxation by the state or any political subdivision of the state, provided that &#10;22.8    such properties shall be subject to special assessments levied by a political subdivision for &#10;22.9    a local improvement in amounts proportionate to and not exceeding the special benefit &#10;22.10   received by the properties from the improvement. No possible use of any such properties &#10;22.11   in any manner different from their use under sections  473.551 to  473.599 <ins>or 473.75 to </ins>&#10;22.12   <ins>473.768 </ins> at the time shall be considered in determining the special benefit received by the &#10;22.13   properties. All assessments shall be subject to final confirmation by the council, whose &#10;22.14   determination of the benefits shall be conclusive upon the political subdivision levying the &#10;22.15   assessment. Notwithstanding the provisions of section  272.01, subdivision 2, or  273.19, &#10;22.16   real or personal property leased by the commission to another person for uses related to &#10;22.17   the purposes of sections  473.551 to  473.599<ins> or 473.75 to 473.768</ins>, including the operation &#10;22.18   of the metrodome, met center, and, if acquired by the commission, the basketball and &#10;22.19   hockey arena shall be exempt from taxation regardless of the length of the lease. The &#10;22.20   provisions of this subdivision, insofar as they require exemption or special treatment, shall &#10;22.21   not apply to any real property comprising the met center<ins>, the ballpark, or the football </ins>&#10;22.22   <ins>stadium,</ins> which is leased by the commission for residential, business, or commercial &#10;22.23   development or other purposes different from those contemplated in sections  473.551 to  &#10;22.24   473.599<ins> or 473.75 to 473.768, as applicable</ins>. &#10;22.25   <ins>(b) For the football stadium, this exemption includes concessions, suites, locker </ins>&#10;22.26   <ins>rooms, and clubhouse facilities in the stadium and parking facilities on the stadium site, </ins>&#10;22.27   <ins>but does not include team offices. </ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.12.0"></a>22.28       Sec. 12. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.556, subdivision 5, is amended to read:&#10;22.29       Subd. 5. <b>Facility operation.</b> <ins>(a) </ins>The commission may equip, improve, operate, &#10;22.30   manage, maintain, and control the Metrodome, Met Center, basketball and hockey arena &#10;22.31   and sports facilities constructed, remodeled, or acquired under the provisions of sections  &#10;22.32   473.551 to  473.599<ins> and, to the extent provided in the applicable use agreements, 473.75 to </ins>&#10;22.33   <ins>473.768</ins>. &#10;22.34   <ins>(b) The commission must seek to promote and maximize the use of the sports </ins>&#10;22.35   <ins>facilities for uses in addition to that by the team for which it was constructed.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.13.0"></a>23.1        Sec. 13. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.556, subdivision 6, is amended to read:&#10;23.2        Subd. 6. <b>Disposition of property.</b> (a) The commission may sell, lease, or otherwise &#10;23.3    dispose of any real or personal property acquired by it which is no longer required for &#10;23.4    accomplishment of its purposes. The property shall be sold in accordance with the &#10;23.5    procedures provided by section  469.065, insofar as practical and consistent with sections  &#10;23.6    473.551 to  473.599<ins> and 473.75 to 473.768, except as provided in paragraph (c)</ins>. &#10;23.7    (b) The proceeds from the sale of any real property at the metropolitan sports area &#10;23.8    shall be paid to the council and used for debt service or retirement.&#10;23.9    <ins>(c) The sale or disposition of property acquired in connection with the ballpark is </ins>&#10;23.10   <ins>not subject to the requirements of section 469.065, subdivisions 6 and 7. Title to the </ins>&#10;23.11   <ins>ballpark shall not otherwise be transferred or sold without approval by a law enacted </ins>&#10;23.12   <ins>by the legislature.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.14.0"></a>23.13       Sec. 14. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.556, subdivision 12, is amended to read:&#10;23.14       Subd. 12. <b>Use agreements.</b> The commission may lease, license, or enter into &#10;23.15   agreements and may fix, alter, charge, and collect rentals, fees, and charges to all persons &#10;23.16   for the use, occupation, and availability of part or all of any premises, property, or &#10;23.17   facilities under its ownership, operation, or control for purposes that will provide athletic, &#10;23.18   educational, cultural, commercial or other entertainment, instruction, or activity for the &#10;23.19   citizens of the metropolitan area. Any such use agreement may provide that the other &#10;23.20   contracting party shall have exclusive use of the premises at the times agreed upon.<ins> The </ins>&#10;23.21   <ins>agreement related to the ballpark may provide that the other contracting party has the </ins>&#10;23.22   <ins>right to retain all revenues from ticket sales, suite licenses, concessions, advertising, </ins>&#10;23.23   <ins>naming rights, and other revenues derived from the ballpark. The lease or use agreement </ins>&#10;23.24   <ins>with a team using the ballpark must provide for the payment by the team of operating </ins>&#10;23.25   <ins>and maintenance costs and expenses and provide other terms the commission and team </ins>&#10;23.26   <ins>agree to.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.15.0"></a>23.27       Sec. 15. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.556, subdivision 17, is amended to read:&#10;23.28       Subd. 17. <b>Creating a condominium.</b> The commission may, by itself or together &#10;23.29   with the Minneapolis Community Development Agency and any other person, as to real &#10;23.30   or personal property comprising or appurtenant or ancillary to the basketball and hockey &#10;23.31   arena and the health club, <ins>the ballpark, or the football stadium, </ins> act as a declarant and &#10;23.32   establish a condominium or leasehold condominium under chapter 515A or a common &#10;23.33   interest community or leasehold common interest community under chapter 515B, and &#10;23.34   may grant, establish, create, or join in other or related easements, agreements and similar &#10;24.1    benefits and burdens that the commission may deem necessary or appropriate, and exercise &#10;24.2    any and all rights and privileges and assume obligations under them as a declarant, unit &#10;24.3    owner or otherwise, insofar as practical and consistent with sections  473.551 to  473.599. &#10;24.4    The commission may be a member of an association and the chair, any commissioners and &#10;24.5    any officers and employees of the commission may serve on the board of an association &#10;24.6    under chapter 515A or 515B. &#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.16.0"></a>24.7        Sec. 16. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.556, is amended by adding a subdivision &#10;24.8    to read:&#10;24.9        <ins>Subd. 18.</ins> <ins><b>Web site.</b></ins> <ins>The commission shall establish a Web site to provide </ins>&#10;24.10   <ins>information to the public concerning all actions taken by the commission.  At a minimum, </ins>&#10;24.11   <ins>the Web site must contain a current version of the commission's bylaws, notices of </ins>&#10;24.12   <ins>upcoming meetings, minutes of the commission's meetings, and contact telephone and fax </ins>&#10;24.13   <ins>numbers for public comments.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.17.0"></a>24.14       Sec. 17. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.561, is amended to read:&#10;24.15   <b>473.561 EXEMPTION FROM COUNCIL REVIEW.</b>&#10;24.16   The acquisition and betterment of sports facilities by the commission shall be &#10;24.17   conducted pursuant to sections  473.551 to  473.599<ins> and 473.75 to 473.768</ins> and shall not be &#10;24.18   affected by the provisions of sections  473.165 and  473.173.<ins> Minnesota Statutes, section </ins>&#10;24.19   <ins>116J.994, does not apply to any transactions of the commission or any other governmental </ins>&#10;24.20   <ins>entity related to the ballpark or its related public infrastructure.</ins> &#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.18.0"></a>24.21       Sec. 18. <ins><b>[473.5996] PROCEEDS OF METRODOME SALE.</b></ins>&#10;24.22   <ins>Upon sale of the Metrodome, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission must </ins>&#10;24.23   <ins>transfer the net sales proceeds less costs of demolitions, if any, to the Metropolitan </ins>&#10;24.24   <ins>Council for use to fund transit improvements.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.19.0"></a>24.25       Sec. 19. <ins><b>ELECTION.</b></ins>&#10;24.26   <ins>The secretary of state, in cooperation with the county auditors of the metropolitan </ins>&#10;24.27   <ins>area, shall conduct a special election in the metropolitan area at the time of the general </ins>&#10;24.28   <ins>election the Tuesday after the first Monday in November 2006. The following questions </ins>&#10;24.29   <ins>shall appear on the ballot:</ins>&#10;24.30   <ins>"Shall an additional tax of one-half of one percent be imposed on sales and uses in </ins>&#10;24.31   <ins>the metropolitan area to pay for a ballpark, a football stadium, and public transit operations </ins>&#10;24.32   <ins>and improvements in the metropolitan area?"</ins>&#10;25.1    <ins>If a majority of the electors voting on the question answer the question in the </ins>&#10;25.2    <ins>affirmative, the Metropolitan Council shall impose the tax described in Minnesota </ins>&#10;25.3    <ins>Statutes, section 473.131.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.20.0"></a>25.4        Sec. 20. <ins><b>METROPOLITAN SIGNIFICANCE.</b></ins>&#10;25.5    <ins>The expenditure of public money for infrastructure or otherwise in connection with </ins>&#10;25.6    <ins>the convention facilities to be constructed adjacent to and in conjunction with the football </ins>&#10;25.7    <ins>stadium is declared to be a matter of metropolitan significance within the meaning of </ins>&#10;25.8    <ins>Minnesota Statutes, section 473.173. The council must review the proposed expenditure </ins>&#10;25.9    <ins>in accordance with Minnesota Statutes, section 473.173, with emphasis on the extent to </ins>&#10;25.10   <ins>which the proposed new facilities would adversely impact existing convention or large </ins>&#10;25.11   <ins>venue facilities in the metropolitan area. Public money must not be expended on the </ins>&#10;25.12   <ins>convention facilities until the council has completed the review required by this section.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.21.0"></a>25.13       Sec. 21. <ins><b> REPEALER.</b></ins>&#10;25.14   <ins>Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.553, subdivision 14,</ins><ins> is repealed.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.22.0"></a>25.15       Sec. 22. <ins><b>APPLICATION.</b></ins>&#10;25.16   <ins>This act applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, </ins>&#10;25.17   <ins>Scott, and Washington.</ins>&#10;&#10;<a id="go.3.23.0"></a>25.18       Sec. 23. <ins><b>EFFECTIVE DATE.</b></ins>&#10;25.19   <ins>This article is effective the day following final enactment.</ins>&#10;