About the Metropolitan Council
The Metropolitan Council is the regional planning agency serving the Twin Cities seven-county metropolitan area and providing essential services to the region. The Council works with local communities to provide these critical services:
- operates the region's largest bus system
- collects and treats wastewater
- engages communities and the public in planning for future growth
- provides forecasts of the region's population and household growth
- provides affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income individuals and families
- provides planning, acquisitions and funding for a regional system of parks and trails
- provides a framework for decisions and implementation for regional systems including aviation, transportation, parks and open space, water quality and water management.
More about the regional services provided by the Council.
The Council is committed to environmental stewardship, sustainable solutions, and reduced energy use.
Governance
The 17-member Metropolitan Council has 16 members who each represent a geographic district and one chair who serves at large. They are all appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor. The State Senate confirms Council member appointments.
Organizational structure
The Council delivers regional services to communities and the public through these divisions and operating areas: Regional Administration/Chair's Office, Community Development, Transportation, and Environmental Services. (See more about the Council's organizational structure and an organizational chart in pdf format.) Council Chair is Susan Haigh.
Location and directions
The Council's main offices are located at 390 N. Robert St., St. Paul, MN 55101. (See directions and map.) The phone number is (651) 602-1000. Contact the Council by email at data.center@metc.state.mn.us.
Budget and Staff
The Council employs about 3,700 people and has an annual operating budget of $739 million: 70% of spending is for day-to-day operations; 19% is debt service for wastewater and transportation capital projects; and 11% is pass-through grants to other agencies. The $78 million of grants to local jurisdictions are for regional park operations, community development projects, suburban transit agency operations, and housing assistance for low-income families. On the operations revenue side, 45% of revenues are from user fees, such as wastewater charges and bus fares; 41% is state and federal funds; 10% is a regional property tax; and 4% other sources. The bulk of the Council’s employees operate the region’s transit and regional wastewater treatment systems. See Council budgets and annual reports.
History
The Minnesota Legislature established the Metropolitan Council in 1967 to coordinate planning and development within the Twin Cities metropolitan area and to address issues that could not be adequately addressed with existing governmental arrangements. Additional legislative acts in 1974, 1976 and 1994 strengthened the Council's planning and policy roles, and merged the functions of three agencies (the Metropolitan Transit Commission, the Regional Transit Board and the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission) into one — the Metropolitan Council. More on the Council's history.
Performance
Along with 22 other Cabinet-level departments, the Council was asked by the Governor to identify its priority goals and develop performance indicators to measure progress toward achieving these goals. See the Council's four goals and results.
The Council also has benchmarks to measure the region's progress toward achieving the goals of the 2030 Regional Development Framework. See the most recent Framework benchmarks.