Item Description:
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Resolution supporting Hennepin County’s role in preventing displacement of business and residents along the METRO Blue Line Extension Corridor - offered by Commissioner Fernando and Commissioner Lunde.
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WHEREAS:
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WHEREAS, Hennepin County is the primary local funder of the METRO Blue Line Extension Project and believes that the project is essential to fighting climate change, promoting racial equity, and fostering regional prosperity; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County is committed to maximizing the community benefits of the Project and preventing displacement, to ensure that current residents along the alignment of the Project realize these benefits; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County is committed to developing and implementing a comprehensive, innovative set of strategies to ensure that Project investments build on, support, and protect residents and community assets, and increase opportunities for equitable housing, employment, business development, cultural experiences, and other activities of daily life; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County hired the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (“CURA”) at the University of Minnesota to study strategies for preventing displacement in the Project corridor; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County and the Metropolitan Council have incorporated these strategies into a Coordinated Action Plan to guide implantation of these strategies by the County and its partners; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature provided $10 million to Hennepin County for the implementation of an Anti-Displacement Community Prosperity Program in the corridor and created a new community board to govern that Program; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County has been providing staff and other resources to the community board to facilitate its effective operation and ultimate success; and
WHEREAS, Hennepin County remains committed to advancing anti-displacement work in this corridor;
Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED, that Hennepin County will work with its governmental and nongovernmental partners to advance the recommendations of the Coordinated Action Plan and to take other necessary and appropriate steps to prevent displacement of business and residents in the METRO Blue Line Extension Corridor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Hennepin County will bring forward specific projects and programs to accomplish these goals, including in the areas of affordable housing, small business support, cultural space, and workforce development, and will provide matching funds for these projects and program; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Hennepin County will work to secure additional funds from governmental and nongovernmental sources for anti-displacement work in the corridor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Hennepin County will continue to support the Anti-displacement Community Prosperity Program Board by providing administrative, legal, and other support as needed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Hennepin County will support the METRO Blue Line Extension Project in ensuring that owners of property taken for the Project are fully informed of their rights, properly compensated, and provided with opportunities to relocate within their community; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Hennepin County will work with its partners to support residents and businesses remaining in the corridor, including through such measures as development of affordable housing, legal support, technical assistance, and financial assistance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Hennepin County will collaborate with corridor cities on redevelopment strategies for publicly owned parcels along the corridor to mitigate displacement and build community wealth; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Hennepin County will coordinate with the METRO Blue Line Extension Project in mitigating direct construction impacts, (including parking, access issues, and wayfinding prior to, during construction, and after rail service begins), providing real-time advance notice of construction plans for residents and businesses (including information about street closures, sidewalk closures, parking impacts and options, utility shutoffs, and noise alerts), and incorporating inclusive language and accessibility strategies in communication plans.
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Background:
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval