Minutes - Council Work Session - 07/22/2014

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project bills, one funded by cash and the other through the sale of bonds. The Armstrong Boulevard Interchange project was to be funded through the bonding initiative. That fund contained two projects, the Armstrong Boulevard Interchange at $8 million and a Richfield underpass project at $2.5 million. It also contained $29 million beyond what the two projects were designated to get. The Local Road Advisory Committee determines how to use those additional funds by soliciting projects, statewide, and unfortunately decided to include Ramsey's and Richfield's projects into the solicitation process. The project solicitation process occurs through the fall and into the winter with a proposal deadline in January. Most likely, the Committee will receive requests for more projects than funding is available. In February, the Committee determines the projects to be funded and in March, it announces award of the funds. Mr. Tinklenberg stated the Armstrong Boulevard Interchange project had been designated by the Legislature and should not have been included within the solicitation project. He stated he found that to be an inappropriate process and reported on conversations he has already held about this error, including House and Senate leadership, Chairs of the' Transportation Committees in both the House and Senate, Mn/DOT, and the Governor's office. As a result, there has been a movement on the part of the Department to reconsider that process. Mr. Tinklenberg explained that he has argued that the Armstrong Boulevard Interchange is a great project to demonstrate what the project can do to improve infrastructure and the importance of starting that project in the same year that it was approved by the Legislature for funding. In addition, he has pushed for a groundbreaking ceremony this fall to assure it keeps moving forward. Mr. Tinklenberg stated he anticipates this issue will be resolved shortly as there has been tremendous support for changing the process. Mayor Strommen stated she assumes the City of Richfield had the same position as Ramsey. Mr. Tinklenberg confirmed that was the case and the City of Richfield had been effective in voicing the same concern. Mayor Strommen thanked Mr Tinkenberg for his diligence in moving the Armstrong Boulevard Interchange forward. Mr. Tinldenberg stated another important thing with having a groundbreaking this fall is that everybody in the area working on Highway 10 sees Ramsey's work on the Armstrong Boulevard exchange as the model for how to move a project along so they all take heart in Ramsey's success. The Council thanked Mr Tinklenberg for his work on the City's behalf City Administrator Ulrich reported that North Metro Mayor's Association is organizing a Highway 169/Highway 10 Corridor Coalition comprised of several communities to help fund continued legislative efforts. He stated Mr Tinklenberg is under contract to look at a multi -city funding effort. This will be considered by the Council at a future meeting during budget discussion. City Council Work Session / July 22, 2014 Page 9 of 10