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recommended funding of the Ramsey project. Mr. Norman explained a TAB policy is in place <br />that disqualifies funding for more than one project in the same corridor. The City of Anoka has <br />also made an application for CMAQ funding, however, the Anoka grant application received less <br />points in the grant funding process. During a discussion at the City Council meeting of January <br />24, 2006, City Council requested that the City of Anoka formally request assistance of the City <br />of Ramsey prior to any measure of support for the Anoka grant application. The City of Ramsey <br />has received a letter from Anoka Mayor Bjom Skogquist requesting the City of Ramsey draft a <br />letter of support for their project. <br /> <br />Mayor Skogquist, City of Anoka, stated the cities of Ramsey and Anoka are part of the same <br />growing county with the same issues, including Highway 10, Highway 47, and growth <br />management issues. The best way to deal with this is smart growth. Both cities have taken <br />strides towards smart growth and both have significant developments that are in play. Ramsey <br />has been working on the Ramsey Town Center, and Anoka's downtown is coming to fruition. <br />Anoka is also looking ahead to their Commuter Rail Transit Village, and the rail station will be a <br />key component of that. Resources are scarce and things will be increasingly difficult to come by, <br />and that is the nature of the request tonight. Mayor Skogquist stated Anoka is requesting <br />Ramsey's support in the concept that the two CMAQ funding projects, while similar, are in <br />different corridors. Anoka did score lower than Ramsey, yet there are cities below them that <br />may be funded. Anoka's position is that they all win if there are fewer cars that travel Highway <br />10. Anoka County wins when the Anoka and Ramsey rail stations are successful, and they all <br />move forward together. In the spirit of that cooperation he is asking for Ramsey's support in the <br />form of a letter or a motion to be presented to the TAB and the Metropolitan Council stating that <br />both cities deserve this CMAQ grant, showing that they are working together on other issues as <br />well. <br /> <br />Commissioners Haas-Steffen and Berg of the Metropolitan Council and Kate Garwood of Anoka <br />County were present to discuss the process of the CMAQ funding and the TAB policy that <br />disqualifies funding for more than one project in the same corridor. <br /> <br />Commissioner Haas-Steffen advised she would recommend the City of Ramsey construct a letter <br />to support the letter drafted by Kate Garwood. Ms. Garwood's letter supports funding for both <br />the cities of Ramsey and Anoka, outlining how these cities are located in separate transportation <br />corridors. Commissioner Haas-Steffen stated the letter would need to be delivered prior to the <br />Metropolitan Council meeting tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. She stated she agrees with Mayor <br />Skogquist that the goal is to obtain the funding for both cities. <br /> <br />Commissioner Berg discussed the TAB policy that disqualifies funding for more than one project <br />in the same corridor. He advised the best case scenario would be for the conunittee to pass a <br />recommendation that includes two options; one option with funding granted to the City of <br />Anoka, and the other option with no funding granted to Anoka and projects scoring below Anoka <br />funded. <br /> <br />Kate Garwood, Anoka County, explained she is deeply involved with grants and is on the <br />CMAQ scoring committee. She stated the Metropolitan Council Transportation Policy Plan <br />(TPP) is key in the determination of the applications. Ms. Garwood reviewed a letter drafted in <br />support of funding for both the cities of Anoka and Ramsey, which documents how the TPP <br /> <br /> City Council Work Session / January 31, 2006 <br /> Page 3 of 7 <br /> <br /> <br />