10.1. SR 03-16-2009Item # 10.1.
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MEMORANQUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Lori Johnson, City Administrator
DATE: March 16, 2009
SUBJECT: Stimulus Funding
More details axe becoming available about opportunities to receive funding from the
American Recover and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (federal stimulus package). At the staff
level we have been monitoring the sketchy information that is available and compiling a list
of possible City projects that may qualify for funding. That list is attached for your review.
At this time, most of the details and deadlines for applications for the funding are not
known. What we do know is that funds are available, and if the City doesn't apply, another
entity will get the funds instead. Therefore, staff is being proactive in preparing for and
monitoring the application process very carefully so we can move quickly to apply for the
funds. That means that there may not be time to check in with the Council on every
application before it needs to be submitted. If the Council has concerns with or objections
to any of the projects on the attached list, those projects should be discussed at the Council
meeting. If not, staff will be soliciting federal funds for as many of these projects as
possible if they meet the yet to be determined eligibility requirements. If several meet the
criteria for the same pool of funds, staff will prioritize the projects before applying.
As you will recall, the City also applied for transportation funding for improvements at
Highway 169 and Main Street and for nulling and overlaying Main Street, west of downtown
to the Orono Bridge. Neither of these projects was funded through the first round selection
process by MnDOT.
Additionally, we are currently studying whether additional police officers are programmed to
be hired in the next five years. There is competitive funding available to retain, rehire, or add
police officers; however, the funding pays for only the first three years of employment and
the City is required to keep the officers fox five years. If the City intends to hire an officer in
the next four years, it maybe to our benefit to apply for those funds. However, if an officer
would not otherwise be hired within the next four years, we would be committing to
expenses in years four and five that we would not have absent this funding.
Project List
^ Energy efficiency block grant for energy audits of all City buildings
^ Additional neighborhood stabilization funds
^ EPA clean up funds for private redevelopment sites with abandoned
underground tanks
^ New energy efficient lighting system for the Olympic Rink
^ Low emissive ceiling in the Olympic Rink
^ New boilers for hot water system for the Ice Arena
^ Dehumidifier/heating system for Ice Arena
^ New energy efficient lighting at Northbound Liquor Store
^ Pedestrian bridge at the Northstar Station
^ Pedestrian bridge over Highway 10 to link trails to the Northstar Station
^ Pedestrian connection from Babcock Park to Anoka County trail
alignment
^ Pedestrian connection from Rotary Trail to Babcock Park
^ Replace Activity Center HVAC with high efficiency system
^ Replace Lions Park Center HVAC with high efficiency Geo-Thermal
^ Fund engineering study on converting sludge to fertilizer
^ Transportation funding -see memo
^ Police officer funding -see memo