Title
Approving the use of grant funds through the Ward 2 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round Program for Saint Paul Downtown Alliance and Amsterdam Bar and Hall.
Body
WHEREAS, on May 19, 2023, the Neighborhood STAR Board reviewed two proposals for STAR grant financing through the Ward 2 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round Program, one from Saint Paul Downtown Alliance to finance capital improvements to vacant retail spaces in Downtown Saint Paul and one from Amsterdam Bar and Hall for costs associated with their completed patio rebuild project at their location on Wabasha Street; and
WHEREAS, a dollar for dollar match was not pledged for Amsterdam Bar and Hall; and
WHEREAS, Amsterdam Bar and Hall has already incurred costs for project activities; and
WHEREAS, due to the community significance of Amsterdam Bar and Hall’s proposal, a waiver to City Council approved Neighborhood STAR Guidelines is being recommended to eliminate the required $1 for $1 match with private resources and to allow reimbursement of expenses already incurred; and
WHEREAS, the Neighborhood STAR Board rated the two grant requests on a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high) with Saint Paul Downtown Alliance receiving a final score of 4.9, and Amsterdam Bar and Hall receiving a final score of 3.6; and
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Mayor and the Saint Paul City Council to participate in the financing of these activities by providing grant financing through the Ward 2 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round Program in an amount up to $7,000 to Saint Paul Downtown Alliance for capital improvements to vacant retail spaces in Downtown Saint Paul and in an amount up to $12,500 to Amsterdam Bar and Hall for costs associated to their completed patio rebuild project at their location on Wabasha Street; now be it
RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Mayor, the Council of the City of Saint Paul hereby approves a grant in an amount not to exceed $7,000 from the Ward 2 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round Program to Saint Paul Downtown Alliance for capital improvements to vacant retail spaces in Downtown Saint Paul and a grant in an amount not to exceed $12,500 from the Ward 2 Neighborhood STAR Year-Round Program to Amsterdam Bar and Hall for costs associated to their completed patio rebuild project at their location on Wabasha Street; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, the required $1 for $1 match with private resources for Amsterdam Bar and Hall is hereby waived. In addition, the timing requirements for reimbursement for Amsterdam Bar and Hall are hereby waived allowing Amsterdam Bar and Hall to submit requests for reimbursement of costs which were incurred back to March 21, 2022; and be it
RESOLVED, the appropriate City officials are authorized to execute the necessary grant documents to implement this Resolution, subject to approval by the City Attorney; and be it
FINALLY RESOLVED, staff of the Department of Planning and Economic Development are further authorized and directed to proceed with all other actions necessary to implement this Resolution.