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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.b. Authorization of 2023-2024 Legilsative Priorities EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Regular Meeting: February 7, 2023 AGENDA ITEM: Authorization of 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities AGENDA SECTION: Unfinished business PREPARED BY: Logan Martin, City Administrator AGENDA NO. 8.a. ATTACHMENTS: Draft 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities APPROVED BY: LJM RECOMMENDED ACTION: Motion to authorize the City’s 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities and direct staff to pursue efforts with appropriate parties in support of the priorities BACKGROUND The 2023 Legislative Session is upon us, and significant new programs have already been created at the State and Federal levels to provide funding to cities in a variety of areas. The City Council provided direction at its December work session surrounding an initial list of 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities for consideration. The below list reflects what was discussed at the work session, and each item has been expanded upon in the formal document (attached). This documented is utilized in meetings with Legislators and their staff members to convey some of the City’s needs. • Water Treatment Plant • PD PW Campus Project • Hwy 3 / 42 grade separated crossing • Hwy 52 / 42 interchange improvements • Broadband infrastructure improvements • Other development driven initiatives A few priorities remain unfinished / on-going from previous years, including general transportation network improvements and other policy related matters. Our legislative partners at the League of MN Cities, Metro Cities, and the Municipal Legislative Commission annually adopt a lobbying platform that we support via our participation within those groups. Staff is beginning to research Sate and Federal programs to pursue these projects, and will rely on legislative partners at NLC and MLC for support and background. We are cautiously optimistic that some projects (water treatment specifically) could get funding due to the fact that a large focus of the new Federal funds is on water infrastructure. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council authorize the City’s 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities and direct staff to pursue efforts with appropriate parties in support of the priorities. 2023-2024 Legislative Priorities The City of Rosemount has identified the following legislative priorities for 2023-2024. The City generally supports the platforms of Metro Cities, the Municipal Legislative Commission, and the League of Minnesota Cities and these policies are not generally re-stated here except where they have unusual relevance for Rosemount. • Completion of Preliminary Engineering for an Overpass over the RR at Hwy 3/42. The intersection of Highways 3 and 42 in Downtown Rosemount features one of the busiest at-grade railroad crossings in the Metro. With significant Federal funding now available to support rail safety efforts, the City desires to partner with MnDOT and Dakota County to complete preliminary engineering of a safety improvement project that separates the roadway intersections and removes the need to cross this busy rail line. Having this design and analysis in-hand will position the City to pursue State and Federal funds for this needed safety improvement. • Intersection funding for Highway 3 & Rosemount High School. The intersection of State Highway 3 and 142nd St W is overly congested and needs to be addressed. ISD 196 completed a significant project in 2018 to improve traffic flow in and around Rosemount High School, however the intersection at Highway 3 and its traffic issues were not improved. Thousands of students and parents use this single access point to enter / exit the school, and the increased traffic on Highway 3 requires a traffic control solution be installed. The City wishes to ensure that funding for MnDOT’s proposed project in this area remains in place and on a fast track. • National Guard Land Transfer for Public Works & Police Campus. The City has been in conversation for a few years with the MN National Guard about a land transfer to support the Public Works & Police Campus project. The National Guard maintenance facility on Biscayne Ave. has excess land, and the State has indicated a willingness to dispose of that property. Flint Hills Resources has donated a 20-acre parcel to “swap” with the National Guard per their requirement to not lose acreage in the metro area. All parties are supportive of this arrangement and request final direction from the State on how to legally complete this transfer. • Bonding Request for the Public Works & Police Campus. In 2023 the City will break ground on a combined Police & Public Works facility, housing both departments in a modernized facility that meets our needs long into the future. Work on planning the size and scope of the City’s need for this facility has been ongoing since 2017. While the scope of this facility has remained largely similar to original plans, pandemic related supply-chain issues coupled with historic levels of inflation have greatly increased the costs of the project. The City has been diligently saving for this critical project, but a nearly $15 million increase in project cost was not anticipated. State support from the 2023 Bonding Bill is requested to support the City’s construction of this needed facility. • Completion of full highway interchange at Hwy 52 & 42. The recent improvements to sightlines at the entrance / exit ramps at Hwy 52 & 42 were necessary, however the installation of MnDOT’s planned full-cloverleaf interchange at this area is still needed. Not only will this project provide further safety and traffic improvements along this corridor, but it will also incite planned commercial development in the area. The City supports funding to complete MnDOT’s full build-out of this intersection. • Improved transportation network within Rosemount. Continued growth in Rosemount and the surrounding region continues to place a significant strain on the City’s roadway system. Specifically, Highway 3 is serving as the only north-south corridor in the community, and thus faces significant traffic concerns. Improvements and additions to the signal light system on the corridor are warranted, and the City supports MnDOT’s planned analysis of the entire Highway 3 corridor. The City asks that Dakota County consider alternative north-south traffic relievers, and the City continues to support the full pavement upgrade to Akron Avenue. • Support Funding Opportunities for City’s 1st Water Treatment Plant. Historically, the City has treated its drinking water at individual wells. The presence of Manganese in the City’s water is a continued focus, despite the fact that the City’s levels are within health-based minimums. As the City grows, a centralized water treatment plant will become needed. This will also allow the City to more directly respond to any future changes in contaminant treatment requirements, especially related to manganese levels. • Completion of the Broadband Infrastructure Network. The post-pandemic shift to a work from home culture has exposed gaps in the City’s broadband network. The Federal and State governments have created programs to address these gaps, and the City intends to pursue funding opportunities as they are presented. Partnership with private industry to complete this work is critical, so the City will work to foster those relationships to ensure that our needs are understood during their infrastructure planning efforts. • State Licensing of Massage Therapists. The City supports legislation requiring the statewide licensure or registration of massage therapists to assist local law enforcement efforts to control prostitution and other criminal activity. Minnesota is one of only five states that has no such requirement.