Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to apply for a Federal TIGER VI Planning Grant for the Saint Paul Grand Round Implementation Priority Plan.
Body
WHEREAS, on January 17, 2014, the President signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act that includes a $600 million authorization for National Infrastructure Investments referred to by the U. S. Department of Transportation as TIGER Discretionary Grants; and
WHEREAS, the grants are awarded to support major capital infrastructure investments for highways, transit, aviation, and ports; and
WHEREAS, City of Saint Paul has reviewed the qualifying and ranking criteria to apply for these grant funds and based on these criteria, determined that the Grand Round is a currently eligible project for a planning grant; and
WHEREAS, if successful in being awarded this planning grant, the work will focus on providing required information for future federal and state 'construction' grant applications to implement the plan; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the Grand Round Master plan, CF #03-844 on September 17, 2003; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul is committed to opportunities to make Saint Paul one of the most livable cities in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul, Department of Parks and Recreation, is committed to developing safe and convenient transportation choices through its trail and parkway connections throughout the City of St. Paul; and
WHEREAS, alternate means of transportation improve energy efficiency, reduce dependence on oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and encourage physical activity; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation desires to submit a grant application to the TIGER Discretionary Grant program for the Grand Round project; and
WHEREAS, the grant application requires a minimum of twenty (20) percent local funding match that the City has secured from its Capital Improvement Budget (2011 CIB Grand Round) if the project grant is awarded; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council fully supports the application of the grant by the Department of Parks and Recreation and is hereby authorized and directed to submit application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the Grand Round planning project;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that if the grant is awarded to the Department of Parks and Recreation, the City Council does hereby authorize the proper City officials to execute contracts and grant agreements, which may include an indemnification clause, as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City of St. Paul.