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Councilmember Shryock introduced the following resolution and moved for its adoption: <br />RESOLUTION #19-073 <br />RESOLUTION REQUESTING COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING <br />WHEREAS, all Minnesota communities benefit from a sound, efficient, and adequately <br />funded transportation system that offers diverse modes of travel; and <br />WHEREAS, the integrity of Minnesota's transportation infrastructure is dependent upon <br />long-term planning and ongoing maintenance, both of which require dedicated and sustainable <br />revenue sources; and <br />WHEREAS, current funding for roads, bridges, and transit systems across all government <br />levels in Minnesota is inadequate, and this under -investment diminishes quality of life for <br />Minnesota residents and hinders Minnesota's progress as a national business, economic, and civic <br />leader; and <br />WHEREAS, Minnesota's transportation system is failing to meet the capacity needs <br />necessary to sustain population growth and promote economic development; and <br />WHEREAS, many rural roads are not built to modern safety standards and are not meeting <br />the needs of industries that depend on the ability to transport heavy loads; and <br />WHEREAS, insufficient state funding has delayed regionally significant road construction <br />and reconstruction projects across Minnesota; and <br />WHEREAS, transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvement costs <br />significantly contribute to rising property taxes; and <br />WHEREAS, for every one dollar spent on maintenance, a road authority —and therefore <br />taxpayers —save seven dollars in repairs; and <br />WHEREAS, Minnesota contains over 141,000 miles of roadway, and over 22,500 miles <br />or 16 percent --are owned and maintained by Minnesota's 853 cities; and <br />WHEREAS, almost 85 percent of all municipal streets are not eligible for dedicated <br />Highway User Tax Distribution Fund dollars; and <br />WHEREAS, the more than 700 Minnesota cities with populations below 5,000 are <br />ineligible for dedicated Highway User Tax Distribution Fund dollars, but have benefitted from the <br />creation of the Small Cities Assistance Account; and <br />WHEREAS, City streets are a separate but integral piece of the network of roads <br />supporting movement of people and goods; and <br />