Minutes - Council - 12/13/2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Johns aye Councilmember Kuzma aye Mayor Strommen aye Motion carried. 7.08: Consider Authorizing Application for Federal Funding, and Consider Final Design for the Mississippi Skyway Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood reviewed the staff report and recommendation to authorize staff to apply for Federal funding (due on December 16, 2016) for the extension of the existing skyway at the rail station over Highway 10 and Riverdale Drive; additionally staff recommends advancing to Final Design for the "Mississippi Skyway" at this time, utilizing the previously awarded $490,000 in National Park Service monies for the pedestrian bridge. Councilmember Shryock thanked staff for their efforts on this, as this has been a long time coming. Motion by Councilmember Shryock, seconded by Councilmember Johns, to approve the application for funding in the amount of $1,000,000 from the Federal Lands Access Program and authorize the application of $490,000 in National Park Service funds for Final Design services by Bolton & Menk Inc. Further discussion: Councilmember Williams stated that she is not in favor of this project and is disappointed that this continues to be discussed as an essential safety feature when the item has not been identified as an essential safety feature in the Highway 10 corridor. She stated that she would not support this request and did not think that the City should continue to compete for Highway 10 transportation funds. Councilmember Riley echoed the comments of Councilmember Williams. He stated that there is an estimate of $5,600,000 for the cost of skyway which is too much. He stated that the Council is always talking about other transportation and park needs that need this amount of funding that would be more useful. He believed that this would fall under the category of want rather than need. He believed moving this forward to the final design stage would be very premature and would not support the request. Councilmember Shryock asked for the funds designated for this and what other uses they could be applied to. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated that the TAB provides awards for only trail related projects up to $5,500,000 in the 2016 cycle. He noted that the next award cycle would be in 2018. He stated conceivably the $1,000,000 requested to be pursued can only be used for connections to National Parks. Councilmember Shryock stated that as the Council has discussed Highway 10 there has been a consensus that things should be at a shovel ready state. She stated that the County Park plans are progressing, the City is progressing, and noted that this would provide connectivity to the neighborhood on the south side of Highway 10. Councilmember Kuzma stated that the City is bordered by the Rum River and Mississippi River and the bicycle trails are heavily used. He stated that this would provide an amenity that would bring further attention to the community. Councilmember Johns stated that she does support this request and noted that the skyway would be an economic tool to City Council / December 13, 2016 Page 13 of 15