08-017 RES
RESOLUTION NO. 08-17
CITY OF ELK RIVER
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING COMPREHENSIVE ROAD AND TRANSIT
FUNDING
WHEREAS, all T\-1inncsota C0111111unities benefit fronl a sound, efficient and adec.l'.lately funded
transportation systen1 that offers diverse 1110des of travel; and
WH EREAS, the integrity of Ivlinnesota's transportation infrastructure is dependent upon long-
ter111 planning and ongoing 111aintenance, both of \vh.ich require dedicated and sustainable revenue
sources; and
WHEREAS, h,Iinnesota leaders have not increased dedicated funding levels for roads, bridges and
transit SYStC111S to keep pace \vith gro\ving costs and changing needs; and
WHEREAS. transportation analysts in consultation \vith tl1C tvlinncsora Dcpart111cnt of
~rransportation ()\JnD 0"1) es Ulna te Ivlinnesota \vilI have to in1lcst an adclitional S 1. 5 billion per year
in transportation in frastructure for tlle next ten years in order to lueet identified needs on
l\'{innesota's state high\vays and bridges, county roads, city streets, ll1CtrO and rural transit systelTIS
and local bridges; and
WHEREAS, i\-1inncsota's transportation systen1 is failing to ll1CCt the capacity needs necessary to
sustain population gro\vth and pr01110te econol1uc dcveloptuent; and
WHEREAS, congestion, inefficient transportation SYStC111S and lack of transportation choices lead
to greater dependence on foreign oil, increased environn1cntal degradation, and econonuc
disadvantages for l'VIlllnesota's businesses and residents; and
WHEREAS. 111any rural roads arc not built to 1110dern safety standards and are not l11ccting the
needs of industries that depend on tlle ability to transport heavy loads; and
WHEREAS, local cost participation requircl11cnts for trunk lugh\vay and county projects arc
onerous and are contributing to strains on city budgets; and
WHEREAS, transportation infrastructure ll1aintenance and ll11prOVC111ent costs significantly
contribute to rising property taxes; and
WH E REAS, insuffIcient state funding has delayed regionally significant road constrllction and
reconstrllction projects across 1\linnesota; and
WH EREAS, current funding for roads, bridges and transit systclns across all governluent levels in
IvIinncsota is inadequate, and this under-inveSt111cnt dllTun.ishcs quality of life for Ivlinnesota
residents and lunders Ivlinnesota's progress as a national busil1CSS) econonuc and civic leader.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED tllat tlle City Council of tlle City ofEl1( River
requests d1at the I\.-finnesota Legislature pass a cOluprehensi,re and balanced transportation funclir1g
package tllat perll1anently increases dedicated funding for transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED tl1Ut tIus Council requests that Governor '-fUll Pa\vlenty seriously
consider a cOll1prehensive and balanced transportation funding package dlat perlnanent1y 111creases
dedicated funding for transportation that is passed by the Legislature; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that tllis Council requests tl1at a cOlnprehensive and balanced
transportation funding package be based upon ll1ultiple rev"enue sources, \vhich ll1ay include but not
be linuted to general obligation and trunk high\vay bonds; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED tl1at tllls Council supports funding options including, but not
!inured to, the follo\vll1g:
· i\n increase in tl1e gas tax \vith a regular revic\v to occur on an established periodic basis;
. Trunk lligh\vay bonding, provided tlle Legislature unplen1ents reasonable restrictions 011 dle
an10unt of debt service the state \vill incur and provided the Legislature appropriates funding
to assis t \vi th local casts related to proj ects funded \vith trunk high\va y bonds;
o General obligation bonding for local roads and bridges, particularly for roads of regional
significance and to assist ,vith local cost participation requirenlents pertairllng to trunk
high\vay projects;
. Sales tax cxen1ptions for state and local transportation consu~L1crion projects, inclucfu1g
transit construction and purchases of light rail vehicles; and
e N e\v local funding tools, such as autllority to establish street irnproven1cnt clistricts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that tlus Council defines a cOlnprehensive and balanced
transportation funding package as an initiative that perl11anently increases dedicated funding for state
and local road and transit SystcIUS III Greater Ivlinnesota and the ivletropolitan j\rca.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Elk Hiver this 19th day of February, 2008~
W~ ~a ce
lie j\.~ I<linzing, 1\.Jay~
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1~ina .t\llard, City Clerk