Agenda - Council Work Session - 04/26/2011

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CC Work Session Date: 04/26/2011 By: Brian Olson Engineering/Public Works Information Title: Consider an agreement with Metropolitan Council for service expansion Item #: 2. 1. Background: On March 24, 2009, the City Council approved a resolution that was sent to the ACRRA that began final design for the project. In 2009, the City of Ramsey submitted an application for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds. During the process of the grant application, the City of Ramsey received the attached letter from Brian Lamb from the Metropolitan Council that required the City to enter into the transit taxing district. This is consistent with the Metropolitan Council's requirements and past practice when transit is introduced to an area that is not currently in the transit taxing district as evidenced by the attached agreement with the City of Forest Lake and Columbus township The Northstar Ramsey Rail Station has been identified as a high priority by the Ramsey City Council during the strategic planning session that was held earlier this year. Within the last year, the City of Ramsey has partnered with the Anoka County Regional Rail Authority (ACRRA) by jointly completing the design, cost estimates and environmental documentation of the rail station. The City Administrator and Public Works Director are members of the Ramsey Rail Station Project Management Team that is working to get these documents into a biddable format and bring this project to fruition. Observations: There will be a few agreements that will be necessary for the City Council to consider to proceed with the construction of the rail station. They are as follows: • The attached agreement with the Metropolitan Council for the entrance into the transit taxing district. • A Master Cooperation, Funding and Delegation Agreement which will be between Metropolitan Council, Anoka County Regional Rail Authority and City of Ramsey. Attached in draft form simply to give you an idea of the types of issues that that will be discussed. • A Lease Agreement to discuss the parameters of maintenance Most of the stations are owned and operated by the Metropolitan Council except the parking lot adjacent to the Anoka Rail Station. Attached is a copy of the Anoka Lease to give you an idea of the types of issues that that will be discussed. The purpose of this case is to provide you information regarding the agreements and discuss the conditions upon which the City Council will consider entrance into the transit taxing district. Arlene McCarthy and Adam Harrington from the Metropolitan Council will be present at the meeting to discuss the Metroplitan Council position regarding this requirement. Attached to this case is a Transit Service Plan that is similar to that which is included in the Forest Lake Agreement but specific to the City of Ramsey. Recommendation: Based upon discussion