Item Description:
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Agmts PW 13-27-24 with Excelsior and PW 14-40-24 with MnDOT (1055913) for sponsorship of federal and state grants totaling $337,000; establish budget of $337,000 for CP 2230800; amend 2023 Prioritized Bridge Replacement List
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to execute Agreement PW 13-27-24 with the City of Excelsior for county sponsorship of a Bridge Investment Program (BIP) Planning Grant in the amount of $269,600 and an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Discretionary Match Program Grant in the amount of $67,000 for improvements to bridge number 90608, carrying Minnetonka Boulevard over St. Alban’s Bay Channel, county project (CP) 2230800, at no county cost; that upon review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to execute Agreement PW 14-40-24 with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) (State Contract Number 1055913) authorizing the Commissioner of Transportation to act as the county’s agent, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, §161.36, in accepting federal funds on its behalf for the Minnetonka Boulevard Bridge over St. Alban’s Bay Channel replacement project (CP 2230800), bridge number 90608, in the amount of $269,600 from the BIP Planning Grant; that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the agreement on behalf of the county; and that the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that CP 2230800 be identified as a project in the 2024 Capital Budget with a budget of $337,000 to be funded by the grants; and that the Controller be authorized to accept and disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the 2023 Hennepin County Prioritized Bridge Replacement List, approved by Resolution 23-0429, be amended to include the Minnetonka Boulevard Bridge over St. Alban’s Bay Channel replacement project (CP 2230800), bridge number 90608, with a local planning index of 32 and proposed replacement in 2027; that Hennepin County does hereby request financial assistance on behalf of the City of Excelsior from MnDOT with eligible construction, approach grading and engineering costs on such bridges, as provided by law.
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Background:
The cities of Excelsior and Greenwood, in collaboration with the county, are planning to replace the Minnetonka Boulevard Bridge over St. Alban’s Bay Channel. Built in 1941, the bridge is currently weight restricted due to its structural condition.
In 2022, the City of Excelsior was awarded a federal discretionary BIP Planning Grant for project development to replace the bridge. This federal funding requires a local match. In 2023, the city was awarded an IIJA Discretionary Match Program Grant to be used as the local match.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) allows state agencies to be the recipients of federal funds for transportation infrastructure improvements by local agencies. An agreement is needed for MnDOT to act as the county’s fiscal agent in accepting the federal funds for this bridge project.
Additionally, the City of Excelsior has a population of less than 5,000 and therefore requires the county’s sponsorship to serve as the fiscal agent on its behalf. The agreement with the city will name the county as the project sponsor, set up project roles and responsibilities, and enable the city to receive the funds totaling $337,000. The city will handle any ineligible expenditures and own and maintain all improvements.
To accommodate the county’s sponsorship, CP 2230800 will be identified as a project in the 2024 Capital Budget with a budget of $337,000.
When the project advances to the construction phase, the city intends to request state bridge funds from MnDOT to offset a portion the bridge construction costs. To be eligible for state bridge funds, bridge no. 90608 needs to be listed in the 2023 Hennepin County Prioritized Bridge Replacement List.
Current Request:
This request is for authorization to execute the following agreements for bridge no. 90608:
• PW 13-27-24 with the City of Excelsior for county sponsorship to receive federal and state grant funds, and identify CP 2230800 as a project in the 2024 Capital Budget with a budget of $337,000 to be funded by the grants and
• PW 14-40-24 (State Contract No. 1055913) for MnDOT to act as the county’s agent in accepting federal funds on its behalf in the amount of $269,600 in BIP Planning Grant.
Additionally, the request seeks authorization to amend the 2023 Hennepin County Prioritized Bridge Replacement List to include the Minnetonka Boulevard Bridge over St. Alban’s Bay Channel replacement project (CP 2230800), bridge no. 90608.
Impacts/Outcomes:
Approval of this request will allow the county to sponsor the City of Excelsior to receive funding for improvements to bridge no. 90608, CP 2230800, protecting the safety and structural integrity of the bridge that holds historical significance in Minnesota.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval