Title
Authorizing application and acceptance of two grants from the State of Minnesota for asset preservation of the Minnesota Humanities Center’s main facility; amending the 2021 City budget in the amount of $1,750,000 upon acceptance of said grants; and approving and authorizing execution of a State Grant Agreement and other necessary documents in connection therewith (District 5, Ward 6).
Body
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Legislature approved a GO Bond Grant of $1,000,000 (the “2018 Grant”) to the City of Saint Paul (City) and a GO Bond Grant of $750,000 (the “2020 Grant” and collectively the “Grants”) for asset preservation of the Minnesota Humanities Center's main facility, including capital improvements for building envelope, foundation, and structural integrity; and for mechanical systems upgrades, including heating, ventilation, and cooling (the “Project”), in Minn. Laws 2018, Chapter 214, Article 1, Section 21, Subdivision 25 and Minn. Laws 2020, 5th Special Session, Chapter 3, Article 1, Section 21, Subdivision 39 respectively; and
WHEREAS, the non-profit entity, Minnesota Humanities Commission (“MHC”) has an existing lease with the City, dated August 15, 1995, and will continue to manage the above-referenced facilities, operate the Program as described in the Lease / Use Documents and State Grant Documents, and complete the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City, as the legal sponsor for the Project must submit an application to the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for receipt of the Grants, said application to be submitted by the City’s Department of Planning and Economic Development; and
WHEREAS, the City, as legal sponsor and applicant, has the legal authority to apply for the Grants, and the institutional, managerial, and financial capability to ensure adequate construction, operation, maintenance and replacement of the Project for its design life; and
WHEREAS, the City has not violated any Federal, State, or local laws pertaining to fraud, bribery, kickbacks, collusion, conflict of interest or other unlawful or corrupt practice; and
WHEREAS, to complete the Project, the City of Saint Paul must amend and restate its existing lease and/or enter into new leases, use agreements, and other related documents with MHC and its agents (collectively, the “Lease / Use Documents”) and enter into a grant agreement and other related documents with the Department of Employment and Economic Development for the State of Minnesota (collectively the “State Grant Documents”); and
WHEREAS, the State Grant Documents contain provisions wherein the City of Saint Paul must indemnify and hold harmless the State of Minnesota, the Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Commissioner of MMB, and their agents and employees and provisions ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and regulations; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.1 of the City Charter and by receipt of the Grants, certifies that there are available for appropriation funds in the amount of $1,750,000 in excess of those estimated in the 2021 budget and recommends the changes to the 2021 budget identified on the attached Financial Analysis; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing on this resolution was held before the City Council on this date, March 3, 2021, and the Saint Paul City Council finds a public purpose for the actions taken in this resolution; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul, through the Saint Paul City Council, hereby:
1. Authorizes application for the Project to the State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development through the City’s Department of Planning and Economic Development.
2. Accepts the Grants from the State of Minnesota and approves the use and operation of the above-referenced facilities for purposes of the Program as described in the Lease / Use Documents and State Grant Documents.
3. Approves the changes to the 2021 budget as identified in the attached Financial Analysis.
4. Approves the Lease / Use Documents and authorizes the proper City officials to execute the same on behalf of the City.
5. Approves the State Grant Documents, which include indemnification and hold harmless obligations, and authorizes the proper City officials to execute the same on behalf of the City.
6. Authorizes City staff and legal counsel for the City to take all actions necessary to implement this Resolution and authorizes the City’s Director of Department of Planning and Economic Development to execute such documents, consents, and instruments in connection therewith including, without limitation, annual approvals of operating budgets of the Project’s operations and other actions required by the State Grant Documents and Lease / Use Documents.