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3-E. Franchise and Other Agreements. Any munici- pality should be able to reserve the right to continue in full force and effect, or to negotiate franchises or other agreements including agreed upon fees or taxes, 4. PLANNING Responsible government requires careful attention, not only to meeting existing problems, but also to planning for future growth and development. Local governments are cognizant of a variety of planning needs and tools. The following proposals reflect specific steps which should be taken to allow municipal governments to con- tinue to be responsive to such needs: 4-A. Minnesota Municipal Commission. To improve the effectiveness of the Municipal Commission it is sug- gested that thc following changes be made: Thc rcfcreh- dura requirement in all annexation proceedings should be removed; the Commission should be authorized to estab- lish urban and rural taxing districts where none exist and to provide for differential tax rates for not more than five years, and to clarify the/provisions relating to apportion-~ mcat of assets and obligations, and to define more clearly appealable orders. To improve the "orderly nexation" provisions it is suggested that an affected municipality be authorized to initiate orderly annexation proceedings upon being ordered ny an appropriate state ag~'-,v to extend municipal services to an unincorpor- at ,rea or when unincorporated territory abutting thc municipality qualifies as agricultural property for the purpose of the Minnesota Agricultural Property Tax Law. Initiation also should be permitted upon resolution of the~anncxing municipality and a petition of either 100 or 20 percent property owners, whichever is smaller, in the area to be annexed. Thc mandatory tax rate differ- ential requirement sh6uld be removed and the Commis- sion given discretionary autho~;ity to fix a period of not more than five years in which to equalize the mill rates in the affected areas. The annexed municipality should be required to assume all planning, zoning and subdivision obligations and functions, as well as author- ized to levy special assessments for local improvements . constructed, in an area designated as in need of orderly annexation. 4-B. Agricullural and Open Space Propet~y Tax Laws. To achieve orderly urban expansion the League recom- mends that modifications bc made in property tax policies affecting agricultural and recreational open space land. The period for paying deferred taxes on agricultural rand should be increased to seven years so that if within that time the land ceases to qualify or is sold. the taxpayer should be required to pay the. differ- enc,~between toe taxes he would have paid and the tax- es ~ally paid while the land was classified as agricul- turin. If agricultural or recreational open space land has received tax deferment for more than seven years and then is sold or ceases,to qualify, the taxpayer should Min ,n?sota MuniCipalities be required to pay 25 percent of the appreciated value of the property computed from the time it first qualified until sold. or the total deferred taxes for the last seven years, whichever is greater. The amounts should be dis- tributed to the a~{ected taxing districts on an equitable basis. Additionally, an interim study commission should be established to seek greater coordination of tax policy and urban development programs. 4-C. Urban and Rural Tax Districl Laws. It is sug- gested that platted land be authorized to be included in rural tax districts, provided there is a periodic review of both the tax ratio and district boundaries by the muni- cipality; that if one lot in the platted area is developed, sold, or basic municipal services made available, the en- tire plat is transferred to the urban taxing district; and that a minimum size for qualifying parcels be established. 4-D. State Programs and Local Government. Any ef- fort by the state to establish a department of local af- fairs should be undertaken with caution to avoid dupli- cating the efforts of existing functional or service groups or organizations, especially in consulting services, train- ing programs, basic research and information services. Moreover, a prol~ram of this type must be accompanied by a significant financial commitment for the support of departmental programs. 4-E. County Subdivision Regulations. It is suggested that county subdivision regulations, as ts the case with municipal regulations, be required to be filed with the county register of deeds and tl~at h~ be prohibit0d from accepting plats not approved by the county platting authority. Metes and bounds conveyances should also be restricted in counties which have adopted and filed subdivision regulations. PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION The quality of service rendered by a municipality to its residents is vitally dependent upon the quality of its employees. A sound personnel program providing equitable treatment to all employees is essential in secur- ing ond maintaining quality personnel. An effective em- ployment system must be structured in such a way that undue preference is not afforded to selected individuals so as to deny equal opportunity for original ap- pointments or promotions to otherwise quali- fied individuals. Furthermore, pensions and other pay- related benefits should be adequately funded and de- signed to allow municipalities to compete with other potential employers in seeking and retaining qualified em- ployees. The following specific proposals are endorsed by the League as component parts of a programto move toward equal employment opportunity for, all individuals and to strengthen pay-related benefits ~o retain such in- dividuals in mtmlcipal employment: June, 1970 ~'