CR 08-018 Resolution Requesting Comprehensive Road and Transit Funding~,
February 19, 2008 Council Report 2008-018
Resolution Requesting Comprehensive Road and Transit Funding
Proposed Action
Staff recommends adoption of the following motion: Move to approve Resolution 2008-
018 Requesting Comprehensive Road and Transit Funding.
Adoption of this motion will show support by the City of Hopkins that the Governor and
the legislature need to take an immediate and comprehensive approach to road and
transit funding.
Overview
A model of this resolution was provided by League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) and is
supported by both the LMC and the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities (AMM).
These organizations are asking cities to pass resolutions of support that could be
forwarded to their agencies to support their lobbying and communication efforts.
Primary Issues to Consider
• Does the resolution fit the City of Hopkins legislative priorities?
• Are there any issues that make the resolution controversial or not worth
supporting?
Supporting Information
• Resolution Number 2008-018
~~,
Ri k Getschow
City Manager
Financial Impact: N/A Budgeted: Y/N N/A Source:
Related Documents (CIP, ERP, etc.):
Notes:
Council Report 2008-018
Page 2
Primary Issues to Consider
• Does the resolution fit the Cify of Hopkins legislative priorities?
Yes. This resolution is in line with the Hopkins 2008 Legislative agenda on the topic of
transportation which reads as follows:
The City of Hopkins strongly supports increased funding for transit and highways, both
of which are a critical need in the metropolitan area. In addition, funding for mass
transit, including transit ways, light rail or heavy rail in existing corridors, should be
dedicated in a manner consistent with current highway funding. Funds allocated to the
metropolitan area should be flexible so that the most efficient and cost effective
transportation solutions may be chosen and the main metropolitan problem of
congestion relief can be addressed.
For the purpose of accelerating road and transit construction projects in the metro area,
the City of Hopkins supports the following list of revenue raising options in any
combination, provided there is no corresponding offset to negate any actual new
revenue that has the political and financial viability to produce improved roads and
transit.
Gas Tax Wheelage Tax
Additional Highway Bonding Street Utility Fee
License Tab Fee Restoration Road Access Fee
Motor Vehicle Sales Tax Increase Sales Tax
• Are there any issues that make the amendment controversial or worth not
supporting?
No. However, the city was given another option. The city received a copy of a
resolution from House Minority Leader Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) seeking support for
the Governor's bonding proposal, which includes $225 million for local bridges and $30
million for local roads.
Although the Governor's bonding proposal, which is supported by the Seifert resolution,
addresses a piece of the overall transportation funding need in the state, it is not seen
as a long-term and comprehensive solution for our state and local transportation
infrastructure needs. The LMC was concerned that adopting that resolution as
presented may be misinterpreted; that bonding alone represents an adequate response
to transportation funding needs. Therefore, approval of this resolution could be viewed
as not supporting the Governor's proposal but that does not necessarily mean it is
controversial.
CITY OF HOPKINS
HENNEPIN COUNTY, MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION 2008-018
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING
COMPREHENSIVE ROAD AND TRANSIT FUNDING
WHEREAS, all Minnesota communities benefit from a sound, efficient and adequately
funded transportation system that offers diverse modes of travel; and
WHEREAS, the integrity of Minnesota's transportation infrastructure is dependent upon
long-term planning and ongoing maintenance, both of which require dedicated and
sustainable revemie sources; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota leaders have not increased dedicated funding levels for roads,
bridges and transit systems to keep pace with growing costs and changing needs; and
WHEREAS, transportation analysts in consultation with the Minnesota Deparh»ent of
Transportation (MnDOT) estimate Minnesota will have to invest an additional ~ l .5
billion per year in transportation infrastructure for the next ten years in order to meet
identified needs on Minnesota's state highways and bridges, county roads, city streets,
metro and rural transit systems and local bridges; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota's transportation system is failing to meet the capacity needs
necessary to sustain population growth and promote economic development; and
WHEREAS, congestion, inefficient transportation systems and lack of transportation
choices lead to greater dependence on foreign oil, increased environmental degradation,
and economic disadvantages for Minnesota's businesses and residents; and
WHEREAS, many rural roads are clot built to modern safety standards and arc not
meeting the needs of industries that depend on the ability to transport heavy loads; and
WHEREAS, local cost participation requirements for trunk highway and county projects
are onerous and are contributing to strains on city budgets; and
WHEREAS, transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvement costs
significantly contribute to rising property taxes; and
WHEREAS, insufficient state fiinding has dela}red regionally significant road
construction and reconstruction projects across Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, current funding for roads, bridges and transit systems across all government
levels in Minnesota is inadequate, and this under-investment diminishes quality of life for
Minnesota residents and hinders Minnesota's progress as a national business, economic
and civic leader.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITE' OF
HOPKINS requests that the Minnesota Legislature pass a comprehensive and balanced
transportation funding package that permanently increases dedicated filnding for
transportation; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF I-IOPKINS
requests that Governor Tim Pawlenty allow a comprehensive and balanced transportation
funding package that permanently increases dedicated funding for t-anspol-tation that is
passed by the Legislature to become law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS
requests that a comprehensive and balanced transportation fielding package be based
upon multiple revenue sources, which may include but not be limited to general
obligation and trunk highway bonds; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HO1'KINS
supports funding options including, but not limited to, the following:
• An increase in the gas tax;
• Indexing of the gas tax, provided there is a limit on how much the tax can be
increased for inflation in a given amount of time;
• Increases in vehicle registration taxes (a.k.a. license tab fees);
• Trunk highway bonding, provided the Legislature implements reasonable
restrictions on the amount of debt service the state will incur and provided the
Legislature appropriates fielding to assist with local costs related to projects
filnded with trunk highway bonds;
• General obligation bonding for local roads and bridges, particularly for roads of
regional significance and to assist with local cost participation requirements
pertaining to trunk highway projects;
• Sales tax exemptions for state and local transportatlon COllstl-Llctloll pCO~ecIS; and
• New local funding tools, such as local option sales tax authority or authority to
establish street improvement dist-icts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF TI-IE CITY OF
HOPKINS, that delllleS a CO111prehenSlVe alld balallCed tl'allSpOrtat1011 IUnding paClCage aS
all Inltlatlve that pernlallelltly lilCreaSeS dedlCated f1111d1ng for state and lOCal I'Oad alld
transit systems in Greater Minnesota and the Metropolitan Area.
PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HOPKINS,
MINNESOTA, THIS DAY TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, ?008.
Eugene Maxwell, Mayor
ATTEST:
Terry Obermaier, City Clerk