HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-01-05 • RESOLUTION NO. 12-01-05
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
WASHINGTON COUNTY, MINNESOTA
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AND DIRECTING THE PURSUIT OF FUNDING
THROUGH DIRECT LEGISLATIVE ACTION FOR POTENTIAL COSTS TO BE
INCURRED BY THE CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS, SHOULD THE ST. CROIX
RIVER WAY CROSSING PROJECT PROCEED
WHEREAS, the City of Oak Park Heights is aware of efforts that have been
advanced to legislatively allow the St. Croix River Crossing Project to proceed, notwithstanding
current determinations within the Federal District Court, the National Park Service and the
Department of the Interior determining the requirements of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act on the
proposed project, and,
WHEREAS, the City is aware of projected costs for construction and related
enhancements that have been identified by the Minnesota Department of Transportation should the
Project proceed, and,
• WHEREAS, the City may be asked to participate in terms of sharing costs, to land
and right of way acquisitions necessary to make the needed improvements all as a part of the
Project and the Trunk Highway 36 improvements corridor improvements that would be associated
with the Project, and,
WHEREAS, the City has made extensive and proactive efforts to communicate with
State and Federal Legislators, local advocacy groups as well as Minnesota Department of
Transportation staff to specifically allocate the required funding to ensure that the residents and
businesses of Oak Park Heights do not pay a disproportionate share of the costs for this Regional
Project as compared to those who will substantially benefit from this regional interstate project, and,
WHEREAS, despite the aforementioned outreach the State of Minnesota through its
Department of Transportation has not identified any substantive funding sources to assist with
regard to the city's projected share of the Project, should it proceed, nor has a funding source been
identified by other agencies and entities supporting the Project that would alleviate the need for the
City's taxpayers and rate payers to contribute to the Project for local improvements potentially
totaling $20,000,000 including utility replacements, right -of -way, acquisitions, signalization,
stormwater, ponding, pedestrian and bike trail location and maintenance, frontage road turnback,
utility and/or related improvements and upkeep, and,
•
WHEREAS, without meaningful financial commitment from the Federal, State or
• Regional authorities supporting this project to provide for such costs, the City will not be in a
position to support this Project or assume anticipated costs as suggested by Department of
Transportation and,
WHEREAS, the City has engaged in additional discussions with its State Legislators
to consider these costs and does seek their assistance to obtain funding to assist in mitigating this
Project's unreasonable financial burden to be placed on this local community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council for the City of Oak Park Heights
that the office of the City Administrator forward a copy of this Resolution and a direct letter of
request to State Legislators requesting their assistance within the State Bonding Bill or other
legislative opportunities that may provide such funding.
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Passed by the City Council for the City of Oak Par ei_�,. J day of January 2012. 4fr
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David Be. 'det, Mayor __
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Jo ,I ,w_ '
C' A a nistrator
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