HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 121-21 - Approving 2022 Bonding Priorities
RESOLUTION
Approving the Support of The Listed Capital Investment (Bonding) Projects as
Priorities for the City of Rochester and Amending the Legislative Priorities
Document.
WHEREAS the District Energy Rochester project would create a downtown district energy
system that will heat and cool city buildings with the potential to add private buildings onto
the system in the future while also providing long term efficiency, decreased operating
costs, help avoid an estimated 7,400 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually,
and could provide distribution capacity to allow for future private development of 500,000
square feet; and
WHEREAS, the Willow Creek Trail would create a crossing under US 52 that would
connect the path and trail network in Willow Creek to the larger city network of more than
100 miles of trails to create a 2.5-mile trail, half mile of trail rehabilitation, creek crossing,
trail wayfinding and rest areas, and a trailhead at Gamehaven Regional Park; and
WHEREAS, the Willow Creek Trail would establish safe access to Gamehaven Regional
Park and to segments of the city that are currently cut off due to Highway 52, would serve
as the first leg to connect to the Bluestem Trail linking to Stewartville, MN, has been
anticipated and had various planning options since the late 1990s, and meets key priorities
outlined in the Park System Plan, Bicycle Master Plan and connectivity goals
of the Comprehensive Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Silver Lake Sediment Removal and Revitalization project will not
changing major flood elevations up or downstream, maintain the normal lake elevation,
and address needed dredging of silver lake, could reconnect the river to the Silver Lake
with fish passage, and could provide increased recreational opportunities such
as kayaking, canoeing, and running; and
WHEREAS, the 6TH Street Bridge request is for the construction of a Sixth Street Bridge
over the South Fork of the Zumbro River as part of the Downtown Waterfront S.E. Small
Area Plan; and
WHEREAS, the 6TH Street Bridge would be critical for promoting/stimulating transit-
oriented development, decrease emergency services response times to the project area
and neighborhoods to the east and south, allow access to parcels that can be redeveloped
in the near term, aligns with city policy to promote a connected street network, aligns with
historical visions for the project area, serve both as a key connection to serve the
transformative development envisioned in the Downtown Waterfront South Small Area
Plan, would allow for continuous movement of all modes of transportation and recently,
the bridge has been recommended by the 2020 Transit-Oriented Development Station
Area Study, known as New Rapid Transit for a Growing, Equitable Rochester, and the
2021 Downtown Waterfront S.E. Small Area Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Rochester City Council adopted its 2021 Legislative Priorities on January
4, 2021 and potential bonding projects that have emerged since that time; and
WHEREAS, the Rochester City Council discussed these new potential 2022 bonding
priorities at the May 3, 2021 study session; and
WHEREAS, the following potential bonding projects were discussed and the following
projects emerged as important community and regional projects: District Energy
Rochester, Willow Creek Trail, Silver Lake Sediment Removal and Revitalization, and the
6TH Street Bridge; and
WHEREAS, the state process for capital investment projects will begin this spring and
continue into the fall and 2022 legislative session; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of Rochester
that the bonding priorities for 2022 are as follows and the 2021 Legislative Priorities
document be updated as such: FIRST: District Energy Rochester; SECOND: Willow Creek
Trail, THIRD: Silver Lake Sediment Removal and Revitalization; and FOURTH: 6TH Street
Bridge.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS DAY OF , 2021.
PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
APPROVED THIS DAY OF , 2021.
MAYOR OF SAID CITY
(Seal of the City of
Rochester, Minnesota)