Agenda - Council - 07/08/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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plmming focused on TH 10 corridor. Staff recommended that the City Council authorize the initiation of an AUAR for the Highway #10 corridor. Motion by Councilmember Kurak, seconded by Councilmember Cook, to adopt Resolution #03- 06-165 authorizing the initiation of the Highway #10 AUAR. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, and Councilmembers Kurak, Cook, Pearson, Strommen, and Zimmerman. Voting No: None. Case #16: Authorization to Apply for a Development Grant Through the Livable Communities Demonstration Program; Case of the City of Ramsey Councilmember Kurak abstained from the discussion. Principal Planner Trudgeon stated that the Metropolitan Council recently opened up a new round of funding for Development Grants through the Livable Communities Demonstration Program. The grant program was created to fund and assist local communities in projects that are ready for construction. The Metropolitan Council has a total of $7.9 million in grant money available to disperse to metro area communities, with at least 30 percent of the funds targeted for cities located in the developing portion of the region (which includes Ramsey). There are no minimum or maximum awards as part of the grant process and there is no local match required for the Development Grant. The funds can be used for hard costs such as site assembly, land acquisition, demolition of existing buildings, new streets and sidewalks, and for structured parking. Last year, the City was awarded $800,000 in LCDA Development Grant funds to assist in the construction of Sunwood Drive through Town Center. The deadline for the grant applications is June 30, 2003. Metropolitan Council staff have indicated that they expect to award the grants on December 10, 2003. Staff is still working on completing the application and is proposing to apply for funds to assist in the construction of a parking ramp near the future multi-modal transit facility and possible City Hall site in the Town Center. This parking ramp is expected to cost slightly more than $5 million. Staff is anticipating requesting approximately $2.6 million, which is roughly half of the cost of construction the parking ramp near the multi- modal transit facility. Staff is also investigating using Park and Ride funds received from MnDOT to assist in the funding of the parking ramp. Councilmember Strommen stated that it was her understanding that staff was still be negotiating the cost of the parking ramp and this would be a grant to bring in an outside source of funding. City Administrator Norman replied that that was correct. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired if it would be a public parking ramp. Principal Planner Trudgeon replied yes. Councilmember Zimmerman inquired as to why the City would be expected to pay for a public parking ramp. City Council/June 24, 2003 Page 32 of 37