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I. INTRODUCTION <br />In 2002, the Minnesota State Legislature passed into law a bill which <br />generally exempts city bonds issued under a street reconstruction <br />program from the referendum requirements usually required for bonding <br />expenditures. In 2013 the Legislature amended the law to allow <br />bituminous overlays to be included in the street reconstruction program. <br />In 2021 the Legislature amended the definition of street reconstruction <br />and bituminous overlays to include the addition or reconstruction of turn <br />lanes, bicycle lanes, sidewalks and paths. In addition, bicycle lanes, <br />sidewalks and paths were added as allowable costs when widening a <br />street. The authorization is contained in Minnesota Statutes, Section <br />475.58, subdivision 3b (the "Act"). <br />II. PURPOSE <br />A street reconstruction program represents a major expenditure of city <br />funds for the reconstruction or bituminous overlay of public streets. As <br />defined in the Act, street reconstruction and bituminous overlay projects <br />may include utility replacement and relocation and other incidental costs, <br />turn lanes and other improvements having a substantial public safety <br />function, realignments, other modifications to intersect with state and <br />county roads, and the local share of state and county road projects. <br />Except in the case of turn lanes, safety improvements, realignments, <br />intersection modifications, and local share of state and county road <br />projects, street reconstruction and overlays do not include the portion of <br />project costs allocable to widening a street or adding curbs and gutters <br />where none previously existed. <br />A Street Reconstruction and Overlay Plan (SROP) is a document <br />designed to anticipate street reconstruction and overlay expenditures <br />and schedule them over a five-year period so that they may be <br />purchased in the most efficient and cost-effective method. A SROP <br />allows the matching of expenditures with anticipated income. As <br />potential expenditures are reviewed, the city considers the benefits, <br />costs, alternatives and impact on operating expenditures. <br />The City of Ramsey, Minnesota (the "City") believes the street <br />reconstruction and overlay process is an important element of <br />City of Ramsey, MN <br />Five -Year Street Reconstruction & Overlay Plan 2 <br />