HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2007-036 Requesting Comprehensive Transportation Funding o e RESOLUTION NO. 2007-36
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING City Of tdifla
COMPREHENSIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
IN 2007
WHEREAS, current funding for roads and transit systems across all government levels
in Minnesota is inadequate; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota's transportation system is failing to meet the capacity needs
necessary to sustain population growth and promote economic development; and
WHEREAS, many rural roads are not built to modern safety standards and are not
meeting the needs of industries that depend on the ability to transport heavy loads; and
WHEREAS, lack of state funding has delayed regionally significant road construction
and reconstruction projects across Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, local cost participation requirements pertaining to trunk highway and
county projects are onerous and are contributing to strains on city budgets; and
•
WHEREAS, existing local funding mechanisms, such as Municipal State Aid (MSA),
property taxes, special assessments and bonding, have limited applications, leaving
cities under-equipped to address growing transportation needs; and
WHEREAS, due to budget constraints, cities are increasingly deferring maintenance on
the over 39,000 lane miles under municipal jurisdiction in Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvement costs
significantly contribute to rising property taxes; and
WHEREAS, the constitutional amendment that phases in dedication of 100 percent of
the motor vehicle sales tax (MVST) for transportation purposes will address only a
fraction of the transportation funding needs in Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, transportation analysts estimate Minnesota must invest an additional $1.5
billion pet year for the next ten years to preserve Minnesota's current transportation
infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, all Minnesota communities benefit from a sound and adequately funded
40 transportation system that offers diverse modes of travel.
City Hall 952-927-8861
4801 WEST 50TH STREET 1 FAX 952-826-0390
EDINA,MINNESOTA, 55424-1394 www.cityofedina.com TTY 952-826-.0379
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINA,
that this Council requests that the Minnesota Legislature pass a comprehensive
transportation funding package in 2007; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINA, that this
Council requests that Governor Tim Pawlenty allow a comprehensive transportation
funding package that is passed by the Legislature to become law in 2007; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINA that this
Council encourages the governor and legislature to consider a comprehensive
transportation funding package that may include:
• 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;
• A re-balancing of vehicle registration taxes;
• Additional trunk highway bonding, provided the legislature implements
reasonable restrictions on the amount of debt service the state will incur and
provided the Legislature appropriates funding to assist with local costs related to
projects funded 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 transportation construction projects; and
• Metro area sales tax authority and local street utility authority; and
• MVST funds allocated 60% to roads and bridges and 40% to transit; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDINA, that this
Council defines a comprehensive transportation funding package as an initiative that
increases investments in state and cal road and transit s stems in Greater Minnesota
and the Metrop Titan Area.
ATTEST:
ding Cit le Mayor
STATE OF MINNESOTA )
COUNTY OF HENNEPIN ) SS
CITY OF EDINA )
CERTIFICATE OF CITY CLERK
I, the undersigned duly appointed and Acting City Clerk for the City of Edina do hereby certify
that the attached and foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Edina City Council at its
Regular Meeting of March 6,2007,and as recorded in the Minutes of said Regular Meeting.
WITNESS my hand and seal of said City this: - day of 20
CA Clerk
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