Agenda - Council - 10/08/2019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Observations: If authorized, this would be the second grant application submitted for the Highway 10 Ramsey Gateway improvements. On May 28, 2019, Council authorized applying for up to $25 million for the Ramsey Gateway improvements through the FY 2019 Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grant program. Funds awarded through the FY 2019 BUILD program must be expended by September 30, 2026. At this time it is not known if the City was awarded funding from the BUILD grant program. Upon Council authorization to submit an application for funding through the CRISI program, letters of support for the Ramsey Gateway Highway 10 Improvements previously obtained from local businesses, Anoka County, the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Burlington Northern Railroad, Met Transit, and members of Congress and the Senate, will be submitted with the application. In 2017, the City applied for a federal FASTLANE grant and though the City was not successful with that application, Staff did request an audit of our application. During the audit we were informed that while we were not awarded funding, neither do the vast majority of first time applicants. We were also informed that chances of award increase each time an application is resubmitted due to their increased familiarity with the project, and due to the increased feedback on how to enhance future application to increase the chances of being awarded funding. If the City is unsuccessful in securing funds under the FY 2019 CRISI grant program, the application can be re -purposed to apply for future CRISI program funds, or other available funding sources such as Corridor Investment Management Strategy (CIMS), Corridors of Commerce (COC), Local Road Improvement Program (LRIP), Local Partnership Program (LPP), Transportation Economic Development (TED) and Transportation Economic Development Infrastructure (TEDI). Alternatives: Adopt Resolution #19-249 authorizing Staff to utilize Bolton and Menk at a cost not -to -exceed $10,000 to prepare an application for funding up to $25 million through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Transportation Grant program for Highway 10 Ramsey Gateway improvements. Funding Source: The current estimated cost for constructing the proposed improvements along the Highway 10 corridor through the City of Ramsey is $140 million. If the City is successful in obtaining the requested grant funds, a 20% local match will be required. This local match can be funded in many ways, including the use of Local Road Improvement Program funds, MSA funds, etc. A share of the local match could also come from Anoka County. Applicants are encouraged to identify other public and/or private funding sources that will be leveraged to contribute to the capital costs of the project. Staff will further identify the source(s) of the local match amount while working with Bolton and Menk to complete the application. Local cost share requests would require future Council approval. Bolton and Menk, Inc. submitted a proposal to the City of Ramsey on September 27, 2019 for preparing the application in an amount not -to -exceed $10,000. A copy of the proposal is attached. Anoka County has offered to pay for 75% of the application costs, or up to $7,500. The Minnesota Department of Transportation will not contribute to the costs. The City's share of the application costs will be limited to a maximum of $2,500. City costs are proposed to be taken from the Public Improvement Revolving (PIR) fund. Recommendation: City staff recommends adopting Resolution # 19-249 authorizing Staff to utilize Bolton and Menk at a cost not -to -exceed $10,000 to prepare an application for funding up to $25 million through the Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Transportation Grant program for Highway 10 Ramsey Gateway improvements to ensure the City is able to complete the Highway 10 Ramsey Gateway improvements as soon as possible. Action: