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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 258-23 - Resolution - 2024 Bonding Priorities Resolution RESOLUTION Supporting the following Capital Investment (Bonding) projects as priorities for the City of Rochester and take action to further pursue them: Riverfront Public Realm and Redevelopment, Airport Solar Array Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Transit Operations Facility Expansion and Electric Vehicle Fleet Conversion, and Public Infrastructure Accessibility and Energy Improvements. WHEREAS, the Riverfront Redevelopment project would include reuse and revitalization with public realm improvements to be used by visitors and residents from the region; and WHEREAS, the Riverfront Public Realm and Redevelopment project would repurpose existing riverfront property (aging parking ramp, surface parking lot, and vacant commercial building), provide needed ADA accessibility improvements in skyway; and WHEREAS, the Riverfront Public Realm and Redevelopment project would construct other Riverfront public realm improvements, including trail improvements, tree planting, public wayfinding, public amenities, and related infrastructure for the reuse of properties in the City of Rochester near the Government Center and Zumbro River area envisioned by the Rochester Riverfront Area Wide Plan adopted by the City Council; and WHEREAS, the Airport Solar Array Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Station would provide users of the airport with added ability to access the airport and electric vehicle connections as well as aligns with the City’s sustainability goals around energy; and WHEREAS, the Airport Solar Array Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Station project is carrying out part of the City and Rochester International Airport (RST) commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability by incorporating renewable energy into the airport campus which will help the City meet its 100% renewable energy goal by 2030; and WHEREAS, the Airport Solar Array Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Station is expected to generate enough electricity to cover approximately half the terminal building’s current power needs; and WHEREAS, the Transit Operations Facility Expansion and Electric Vehicle Fleet Conversion project would provide funding for a bus facility that would provide storage, maintenance, and charging for the fleet of electric buses that will be deployed for the LINK bus rapid transit line, along with charging and storage for a micro-transit pilot program funded in part from the legislature previously; and WHEREAS, the current transit vehicle and maintenance facility is not equipped for the additional or changing vehicle type that will be used for the LINK bus rapid transit line that will begin operations in 2026; and WHEREAS, Transit Operations Facility Expansion and Electric Vehicle Fleet Conversion allows for conversion of existing diesel bus fleet that services 32 fixed routes currently to electric and electric conversion of paratransit vehicles that provide origin-to-destination transportation service for over 30,000 trips annually for people who cannot use Rochester Public Transit's fixed route service due to a disability; and WHEREAS, the Public Infrastructure Accessibility and Energy Improvements project aligns with city and state goals around equity, accessibility, and greenhouse gas reductions and climate resiliency; and WHEREAS, the Public Infrastructure Accessibility and Energy Improvements project has two components focused on accessibility and energy improvements at the Mayo Civic Center and accessibility improvements to right-of-way public infrastructure, which could include sidewalks, ramps, and other public infrastructure; and WHEREAS, the City’s ADA transition plan and capital improvement plan has identified at least $4 million in project and additional funding would allow additional projects to be completed in the plan; and WHEREAS, the Mayo Civic Center has over 200,000 square feet of space used for a variety of public and regional uses, and is also ripe for additional investment in energy efficiency and accessibility; and WHEREAS, the following potential bonding projects were discussed and the following projects emerged as important community and regional projects with the primary bonding requests to be the Riverfront Public Realm and Redevelopment project and the Airport Solar Array Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations project; secondary priority projects are the Transit Operations Facility Expansion and Electric Vehicle Fleet Conversion and Public Infrastructure Accessibility and Energy Improvements; and WHEREAS, these projects will result in benefits to both the region and residents of the City of Rochester and to non-resident visitors and businesses; and WHEREAS, the City of Rochester is an established regional center in Southeastern Minnesota as home to the State's largest employer while hosting over three million visitors per year, and is a significant tax contributor to the State of Minnesota particularly through sales, income, and provider tax revenues; and WHEREAS, the State’s process for capital investment projects is underway and will continue into the 2024 legislative session. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Common Council of the City of Rochester that the bonding priorities for 2024 are as follows: FIRST: Riverfront Public Realm and Redevelopment; SECOND: Airport Solar Array Parking and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations; THIRD: Transit Operations Facility Expansion and Electric Vehicle Fleet Conversion; FORTH: Public Infrastructure Accessibility and Energy Improvements. PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA, THIS __________ DAY OF _______________, 2023. ___________________________________ PRESIDENT OF SAID COMMON COUNCIL ATTEST: __________________________ CITY CLERK APPROVED THIS _____ DAY OF ______________________, 2023. ___________________________________ MAYOR OF SAID CITY (Seal of the City of Rochester, Minnesota)