Title
Authorizing the Department of Planning and Economic Development to submit applications to the Department of Employment and Economic Development for Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grants and to the Metropolitan Council for Tax Base Revitalization Account Program for the 333 Lofts, 845-851 Payne Avenue, CLUES Expansion, Former Gross-Givens Manufacturing, Lonnie Adkins Court Apartments, Rice/Sycamore, Saxon Ford, Schmidt Keg House, Sibley Plaza Shopping Center, Twin Cities Academy High School Building Project, University and Vandalia Mixed-Use Housing and Commercial Development Project, and Western U Plaza sites.
Body
WHEREAS the City has identified site investigation and contamination cleanup projects within the City that meet the purposes and criteria of the Department of Employment and Economic Development's Contamination Cleanup and Investigation program and the Metropolitan Council's Tax Base Revitalization Account program; and
WHEREAS the City of Saint Paul is a participant in the Livable Communities Act's Local Housing Incentives Account Program for 2014 as determined by the Metropolitan Council, and is therefore eligible to apply for funds under the Tax Base Revitalization Account, and the projects described in the grant applications are consistent with and promote the purposes of the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act and the policies of the Metropolitan Council's adopted metropolitan development guide; and
WHEREAS the City finds that the required site investigation and contamination cleanup will not occur through private or other public investment within the reasonably foreseeable future without either Contamination Cleanup and Investigation or Tax Base Revitalization Account grant funding; and
WHEREAS the City represents that it has undertaken reasonable and good faith efforts to procure funding for the activities for which Contamination Cleanup and Investigation and Tax Base Revitalization Account funding is sought but was not able to find or secure from other sources funding that is necessary for cleanup completion and states that this representation is based on the following reasons and supporting facts:
· The City of Saint Paul has no general fund resources to invest in site investigations or remediation activities, and
· Demands on balances in existing TIF districts and the financial limits on new TIF districts leave the Housing and Redevelopment Authority of the City of Saint Paul with no resources to invest in these site investigation and cleanup activities; and
WHEREAS the City has the institutional, managerial, and financial capability to ensure adequate project and grant administration; and
WHEREAS the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the contract grant agreements; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council of Saint Paul authorizes the Director of the Department of Planning and Economic Development to submit applications to the Department of Employment and Economic Development for Contamination Cleanup and Investigation Grants and the Metropolitan Council Tax Base Revitalization Account Cleanup and Site Investigation Grants for projects at the 333 Lofts, 845-851 Payne Avenue, CLUES Expansion, Former Gross-Givens Manufacturing, Lonnie Adkins Court Apartments, Rice/Sycamore, Saxon Ford, Schmidt Keg House, Sibley Plaza Shopping Center, Twin Cities Academy High School Building Project, University and Vandalia Mixed-Use Housing and Commercial Development Project, and Western U Plaza sites.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the City is awarded Department of Employment and Economic Development or Metropolitan Council Tax Base Revitalization Account grants for these projects, the City will be the grantee and agrees to act as the legal sponsor to administer and be responsible for grant funds expended for the projects contained in grant applications submitted on May 1, 2015; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the sources and amounts in the local match identified in the application are committed to the project identified; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul has not violated any Federal, State, or local laws pertaining to fraud, bribery, graft, kickbacks, collusion, conflict of interest, or other unlawful or corrupt practice;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Mayor and City Clerk of the City of Saint Paul are hereby authorized to execute such agreements as are necessary to implement the projects on behalf of the applicant.