TITLE
Authorizing the Department of Planning and Economic Development to apply for the Metropolitan Council’s Livable Communities Demonstration Account Pre-Development Grants for Little Saigon Plaza (365 University Avenue).
BODY
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul is a participant in the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act (“LCA”) Local Housing Incentives Program for 2019 as determined by the Metropolitan Council, and is therefore eligible to apply for LCA Livable Communities Demonstration Account funds; and
WHEREAS, the City has identified the Little Saigon Plaza project that meets LCDA purposes and criteria and is consistent with and promotes the purposes of the Metropolitan Livable Communities Act and the policies of the Metropolitan Council’s adopted metropolitan development guide; and
WHEREAS, the City has the institutional, managerial and financial capability to adequately manage an LCDA grant; and
WHEREAS, the City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the grant agreement; and
WHEREAS, the City acknowledges LCDA grants are intended to fund projects or project components that can serve as models, examples or prototypes for LCDA development or redevelopment elsewhere in the Region, and therefore represents that the proposed project or key components of the proposed project can be replicated in other metropolitan-area communities; and
WHEREAS, only a limited amount of grant funding is available through the Metropolitan Council’s Livable Communities LCDA initiative during each funding cycle and the Metropolitan Council has determined it is appropriate to allocate those scarce grant funds only to eligible projects that would not occur without the availability of LCDA grant funding.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, after appropriate examination and due consideration, the governing body of the City:
1. Finds that it is in the best interests of the City’s development goals and priorities for the following proposed LCDA Project to occur at this particular site and at this particular time:
• Little Saigon Plaza (365 University Avenue)
2. Finds that the LCDA Project components for which Livable Communities LCDA funding is sought:
(a) will not occur solely through private or other public investment within the reasonably foreseeable future; and
(b) will occur within the term of the grant award (two years for Pre-Development grants, and three years for Development grants,) only if Livable Communities LCDA funding is made available for this project at this time.
3. Authorizes its Director of Planning and Economic Development to submit on behalf of the City an application for Little Saigon Plaza (365 University Avenue) to Metropolitan Council for Livable Communities LCDA grant funds for the LCDA Project components identified in the application, and to execute such agreements as may be necessary to implement the LCDA Project on behalf of the City, wherein said agreement contains indemnification provisions in favor of the Metropolitan Council.