01.02.24 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Minutes January 2, 2024 Page 6 of 10 9.1. Public Works Report Report provided. 9.2. Transportation Alternatives Grant — Letter of Support Mayor Gardner confirms this is a similar request as the letter of support that we previously provided for Ideal Township. Council Member Ronning questions whether anyone has been working through the school on this type of grant, as it is part of the "Safe Routes to School" plans. He says when he went to the website to get more information on the grant, it appears the State is offering up to a 5-million-dollar grant. He states if we are going to come to the table and before we write a letter, we should have a meeting and be a little more versed on what is all in the plan first. Matt Kallroos comes forward to speak on behalf of the request. He says he is the one that wrote the email requesting the letter of support. He states fiscal year 2028 is the funding year for the project. You can ask for $800,000 with a twenty percent match from the City or entity. Phase One of the project is from Breezy Point Resort to Ranchette. The City of Breezy Point is getting that portion going for the start of it. It wouldn't be until the project gets closer to the City of Pequot Lakes line that they would then talk to the City of Pequot Lakes for that portion of the funding match, as Phase Two of the project would then finish connecting our two cities and Phase Two would be the City of Pequot Lakes responsibility. He states that would probably be somewhere around 2030. Discussion ensues regarding this being something that most everyone has wanted to get completed for decades. There is a consensus between council members to write the letter to support the project. Mr. Houle then brings to council's attention that a motion may be viewed more appropriately for the support letter. COUNCIL MEMBER PEDERSON MOVES TO APPROVE THE LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR PHASE ONE OF THE TRAIL, COUNCIL MEMBER CLEMENT SECONDED THE MOTION. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 9.3. Main, Front, and NW Area Studies Mr. Houle updates on the status of the projects in the Main/Front Streets and NW Area. They held a committee meeting last month with the intention of getting feedback from the committee on the levels of potential for improvements. He says they are now going to take that information and put together some sketches and cost estimates. There will be a draft of that presented at the February City Council Meeting. That will be a tool for the council members to use in future budgeting. Mr. Houle states everyone at the committee meeting were balancing the best they could without knowing numbers yet, putting in improvements that will serve the City now and in the future.