Title
Authorizing the Department of Planning and Economic Development to apply for a federal TIGER VI Planning Grant to prepare a Master Plan for the CP Rail Spur between Downtown and the site of the former Ford plant.
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, $35 million of the total will be devoted by the Department of Transportation to planning grants; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has reviewed the qualifying and ranking criteria associated with these funds and determined that a Master Plan for CP Rail Spur between downtown and the site of the former Ford Plant would be eligible for a planning grant; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Planning and Economic Development proposes to submit a $200,000 grant application to the TIGER Discretionary Grant program for the CP Rail Spur Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, although the grant application requires a minimum of twenty (20) percent local funding match, among successful applications, the average match amount is sixty-six (66) percent; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Planning and Economic Development is seeking grant funds from partners to propose a fifty (50) percent match with the understanding that CIB funds will be available to make up the difference; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council authorizes the Department of Planning and Economic Development to prepare and submit an application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for the CP Rail Spur Master Plan; and be it finally
RESOLVED, that if the grant is awarded, the Council does hereby authorize the proper City officials to prepare a budget amendment for Council consideration and execute contracts and grant agreements as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the City of Saint Paul.