HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 140-20 - Reaffirm Bonding Support For Airport Runway Reconstruction (walk-on)
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS the Rochester City Council adopted its 2020 Legislative Priorities on November 4,
2019 which included a $11.4 M request for state funding for the Rochester International Airport
(RST) Runway Safety improvements as the primary capital investment (state bonding) request
for the city. That request remains the first bonding priority for the community currently.
WHEREAS, This funding is critical for reconstruction, extension and instrument approach
improvements to maintain uninterrupted access for the many critical users of RST. Runway 2/20,
with portions dating over 40 years old, has reached the end of its useful life and is in need of
replacement.
WHEREAS, RST serves as a gateway for the global healthcare system, providing conveyance of
healthcare personnel, critical medical samples and patients directly to the Mayo Clinic and Mayo
Clinic Laboratories on a daily basis. RST is an economic cornerstone in Minnesota with nearly
$190 million in annual economic impact supporting all of southeastern Minnesota. Reconstruction
of Runway 2/20 is imperative to providing uninterrupted access to world-class healthcare and
economic benefit to southeastern Minnesota, including during this pandemic.
WHEREAS, The airport runway safety improvement project is estimated to involve $62.8 million
in federal funding, and a $5 million contribution from the City of Rochester toward the total project
cost of $79.2 million.
WHEREAS Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding for construction of a project of this
magnitude always proceed construction by a year, resulting in a grant application due this year is
for construction that begins in 2021. It is important to have the state and local dollars in place
before this process and project begins. Current dollars awarded from the federal CARES act to
airports are not for construction of this project.
WHEREAS, the current pandemic has caused economic pressures across the country and capital
investment in infrastructure can provide some economic stimulus and jobs for the local economy.
WHEREAS, an estimated 160 direct, onsite jobs would be created from this runway improvement
project over the course of the 6-7 years of the project; many other industries and jobs would also
benefit from this project and from the passage of a capital investment bill in the 2020 legislative
session.
WHEREAS, the City of Rochester wants to ensure that projects can continue to move forward
that are relying on support from multiple partners and complex constructions timelines.
WHEREAS over 35 organizations from across the state have written letters of support for this
project, including Mayo Clinic, Hormel Foods Corporation, Medical Alley, area Chambers of
Commerce, and over a dozen other cities in the region.
WHEREAS, the Minnesota State Legislature is constitutionally scheduled to adjourn the biennium
th
and regular session on May 18, 2020.
BE IT RESOLVED: the Common Council of the City of Rochester reaffirms their support for a
request of $11.4 million in state bonding for airport runway safety improvements and asks the
legislature to pass a robust bonding bill during the 2020 Legislative Session to provide economic
stimulus across the state and the Rochester community.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS __________ DAY OF _______________, 2020.
___________________________________
PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL
ATTEST: __________________________
CITY CLERK
APPROVED THIS _____ DAY OF ______________________, 2020.
___________________________________
MAYOR OF SAID CITY
(Seal of the City of
Rochester, Minnesota)