Inside: Park Fee Rift Rises No Images? Click here
 
   

3 Things You Need to Know

  1. It's the most wonderful time of the year! May your holiday be Merry and Bright and spent with family and friends. 
  2. We're making a list, And checking it twice! Gonna find out who's approved their final proof or not!  Don't be on the naughty list. All final Spring Parade of Homes and Remodeler Showcase Final Proofs are due Dec. 28th. Contact Casey if you have any questions.
  3. Oh the weather outside if frightful, but these savings are so delightful! Book your BRS booth online by Thursday, December 31st to take advantage of early-bird pricing for the 2016 Builders & Remodelers ShowEARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT CODES: 10x10 Booth: EB1010  | 10x20 Booth: EB1020.
 
 

This Week's Top Stories

 
 
 
 

BATC Weighs in on Upcoming Wetlands and Environmental Review Rules Changes

 
 
 
 

Processes to update the Wetlands Conservation Act (WCA) rules and Mandatory Categories for Environmental Review will commence in 2016. BATC recently submitted comments on both issues during the pre-rule comment period. For the WCA rule, BATC expressed our priority of balancing conservation efforts with affordability. BATC challenged BWSR and its fellow stakeholders to consider the cost impacts on the end users impacted by the WCA rules.

On the Environmental Review issue, BATC notes that the capacity of local units of government to self-manage environmental review of potential project impacts and the redundancy of regulatory oversight, substantially reduces if not eliminates the need for mandatory category review by EAW and especially by EIS except under the most unusual circumstances. As such, any adjustment to thresholds triggering environmental review should reflect this modernization and certainly not cast a wider net for environmental review projects.

As these processes commence, BATC will be appointing stakeholder members to participate in the rulemaking process where appropriate. Supporting the effort will be BATC staff and the land use team at Larkin Hoffman, along with coordination efforts with the business community.

Read BATC's comments on the WCA Rule >>
Read BATC's comments on the EQB Rule >>

 
 
 
 

Park Fee Rift Arises Between Mpls and Hennepin County

 
 
 
 

BATC members and their customers have long felt the impacts of park dedication fees placed upon new developments. We’ve always agreed that parks are important, but we’ve advocated for fair park fees that ought to reflect new growth’s impact on a city, but not serve as an alternative revenue stream for a city. It seems that BATC members are not alone in feeling the impacts of park fees --- Hennepin County is objecting to the imposition of park fees by the City of Minneapolis. We’ll watch this one closely.

Read the Star Tribune's coverage of the issue >>
Read MinnPost's coverage of the issue >>

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

The Interest Rate Hike and Housing

As expected, the Federal Reserve raised rates, a quarter of a of a percentage point for the first time since 2006. How will this hike affect housing? Experts believe the impact should be minimal.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

BATC & SPAAR Partnering to Build Mini-Libraries

BATC's Young Professionals and SPAAR's Community Engagement Committee are thrilled to announce a new joint venture that will bring Books Around the Block to several area communities. We’d like your help!  Click to learn more about this wonderful new project.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Does your company use Salesforce?  

Would you be interested in talking with other people in the construction industry who are also using Salesforce?  Join us on Friday, February 5, at 9 am at the BATC office to see how other companies are using Salesforce, share best practices and resources. Just curious about Salesforce?  You’re welcome too!  Contact Perri Graham-Raff with questions.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Earn Your CE Credits at Contractor University!

Contractor-U runs through March 2016. Sign up for courses on building/energy codes and the latest building science featuring national and local experts. Plus, a selection of legal and specialized courses that you will not find anywhere else. 

Most daylong courses (7 credits) are only $98 with individual courses as low as $14. All classes are held at BATC except the classes on January 21, 2016 (Maple Grove) and February 25, 2016 (Bloomington).

 
 
 

We're Half Way There!

Our first ever class of the BATC Leadership Institute is half way through their  courses. A big thank you to all our guest speakers so far. Pictured below are last week's guest speakers, Lowell Pratt, Pratt Homes; KC Chermak, Pillar Homes; and Jody Maier, Wausau Supply Company, who gave the students insights on "Seeing Your Company Through Your Customers Eyes".

 
 
 
 

Upcoming Calendar of BATC Events

 
 
 

Jan. 14
Annual Meeting & Board Induction
Jan. 20
BATC Hospitality Suite at IBS
Jan. 21
Contractor University: New Home Construction from Permit Application to Final Inspection [Register]
Jan. 26
Contractor University: “Compliance” Code, Law, Insurance CE course [Register]
Jan. 28
Contractor University: Seven hours of CE courses [Register]
Feb. 2
Contractor University: Seven hours of CE courses [Register]
Feb. 4 
Contractor University: EPA Lead Renovator Initial Certification Course [Register]
Feb. 9
Contractor University: Seven hours of CE courses [Register]
Feb. 11
Contractor University: Mold Remediation course [Register]
Feb. 16
Remodelers Roundtable Houzz Workshop [RSVP]
Feb. 18
BATC Job & Career Fair [Register]
Feb. 23
Contractor University: Building for High Performance [Register]
Feb. 25
Contractor University: New Home Construction from Permit Application to Final Inspection [Register]

For a complete list of events, visit our website at WWW.BATC.ORG.