Agenda - Council - 04/24/2018 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Observations: There can be a significant amount of effort invested in the preparation of a grant proposal that this case discusses, and thus the request for $5,000 in consulting services to assist in the preparation of the application, at this time.. Additionally, Staff is seeking authorization to invite Anoka County to partner in the application for the Metropolitan Council's Regional Solicitation for the proposed Mississippi Skyway —which is an element of the Central Anoka County Regional Trail. Further, this case proposes that Staff be directed to develop a list of alternatives and options for the funding the required local match (+/- $800,000), should grant funding be secured —and return for City Council authorization for final approval to apply for Metropolitan Council's Regional Solicitation in late June or the first Council meeting in July 2018. Three items should be noted here; the first is that if successful in the grant application, funding would not be available until 2020 (or thereafter). Secondly, the funding source being applied for, is only monies available for bicycle and pedestrian facilities like the Mississippi Skyway. And third, and perhaps most importantly, seeking funding for the pedestrian facility does not compete for surface transportation improvements to Hwy #10 but rather is an integrated, multi -modal highway safety improvement that effectively supplements desired improvements to the Hwy #10 corridor. Funding Source: Funding authorized as part of this case, in the amount of $5,000, would be from the Park Trust Fund which has a balance of approximately $2M. This case does authorize staff to begin the process to seek Federal funding. It may be pointed out the grant source this case references, requires a 20% local match (which is not specified at this time), and does not preclude other Federal funding sources —as long as there remains a local match. Recommendation: Staff recommends preparing a grant application concurrently with pursuing an agreement with Anoka County to apply for the grant, and identifying options for the required 20% of local share. Action: Motion to authorize up to $5,000 in Park Trust Funds for consulting services, to prepare an application for up to $4 million dollars in Federal funding through Metropolitan Council's Regional Solicitation grant program, for the Mississippi Skyway —while pursuing a partnership for both the application for the grant funding, and (potentially) for an agreement to identify the local match. Attachments consultant assistance proposal Central Anoka county Regional Trail Miss.Skyway Ex Summary illustrative budget Signed MnDot Layout approval Graphics Miss Skyway final plans Form Review Inbox Reviewed By Date