City Council Meeting Date: July 17, 2018
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Consideration of Resolution Supporting Application for Transit Hub and Local Funding Match Commitment.
Body
Action Requested:
Staff recommends a motion to approve Resolution Supporting Application for Transit Hub and Local Funding Match Commitment.
Summary Report:
Staff is working cooperatively with Three Rivers Community Action in preparing a “Capital Non-Vehicle Grant” application to the Minnesota Department of Transportation that is due on July 27, 2018. The grant would be submitted by Three Rivers Community Action - Hiawathaland Transit as the transit provider in Northfield. We are requesting a Resolution Supporting Application for Transit Hub and Local Funding Match Commitment.
The City Council discussed this project at their June 12, 2018 Council meeting. This review included a prior review of the options and prior cost estimates. Additionally, Council suggested looking at including parking lots into the application potentially as well. Staff is still reviewing cost estimates for additional work in putting together the potential total cost, local funding match and related Resolution of Support to authorize the grant application. We will be providing additional supplemental information prior to the City Council meeting.
Jenny Larson, Executive Director of Three Rivers Community Action is our primary contact we are working with on the application. She has also informed us that they have hired a new Transportation Director Tracy Holguin who has started and brings over 20-years of management and operations experience to Hiawathaland.
Additional Project Background
At the September 19, 2017 City Council meeting staff provided an update on the site work improvement plans that have been completed for the project. At that time, the preliminary design costs were estimated to be around $250,000 for the site work. The site work improvements currently include the following costs: preliminary design, construction design, access road, curbing, and conduit for future lighting.
The City set aside $150,000 in funding from TIF 4 to fund the improvements. Understanding a funding gap existed, staff reached out to Hiawathaland Transit in the fall to inquire if there are additional options. Hiawathaland indicated they could apply for a grant from MnDOT for the transit building and transit share of the site improvements. This would allow the ability to leverage the local match dollars from TIF 4.
Application to the City and Economic Development Authority Strategic Plan
This project is complimentary to goals of the City of Northfield’s Strategic Plan (2018-2020) under “Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion” Strategic Initiative to Develop equitable service access strategy. Additionally, this project is expected to be a catalyst to other potential redevelopment opportunities in the immediate area that is a Strategic Initiative under the “Economic Development” Strategic Priority area.
This project is complimentary to goals of the Northfield Economic Development Authority Strategic Plan (2018-2020) “Workforce” Strategic Priority has a Key Outcome Indicator of “Mass transit options connecting businesses in & out of Northfield” and Target goals of “increased transit stops and connections.” Additionally, the Economic Development Authority Strategic Plan (2018-2020) “Redevelopment” Strategic Priority has identified a Desired Outcome of “Expanded downtown/riverfront” with “parking; cars/bikes” as a Key Outcome Indicator and Target goals of “increasing car parking by 20 and increase bike parking by 20.”
Alternative Options:
None at this time. We will include that with the supplemental memo information.
Financial Impacts:
Staff is currently reviewing the remaining funds of the $150,000 of the TIF4 funds that were allocated for the project. Staff is researching total potential costs and local match requirements along with sources of funds to complete the application.
Tentative Timelines:
A few things to keep in mind as the project moves forward related to development planning items that would also need to be addressed:
1. Subdivision of the Land.
2. Variance through Zoning Board of Appeals for building setback/orientation, two story height, and possible windows. The variances most likely requested at this time will be the setback/orientation and two-story height.
3. Update development agreement on Depot Project will need to be reviewed and revisions anticipated to be necessary.
4. If awarded, the spring of 2019 would be the soonest construction could commence.