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Heather Worthington stated the City and Ramsey County were working together to complete a <br />Request for Proposal (RFP) for an infrastructure study that will consider roadways, utilities, <br />surface water management, platting and gradin g. Ramsey County will be the lead agency for <br />the contract which will include analysis and preliminary design for the Spine Road and other <br />infrastructure. City utilities will be included in the study, and the City will be asked to enter into <br />a cost-sharing agreement for its portion of the contract. Staff expects that the RFP will be <br />released in early April, and a consultant will be selected by mid -May. <br /> <br />Commissioner Grant asked if the City were to replace the lights along Highway 96, if this <br />expense would be reimbursed at a future date by the JDA or County. Ms. Worthington stated <br />this would have to be discussed with MnDOT. She reported the County would be consulting <br />with the City of Arden Hills during this project. She commented that the infrastructure study <br />would not be complete by the time the I-35W/Highway 96 interchange is designed, but as part <br />of that work, the County will do a detailed analysis of lighting and other amenities at the street <br />level. <br /> <br />Metropolitan Council Grant Opportunities <br /> <br />Development Director Hutmacher explained the 1995 Livable Communities Act (LCA) provides <br />funding for local communities to invest in economic revitalization, affordable housing <br />initiatives, and development or redevelopment that connects differen t land uses and <br />transportation. The funding is administered by the Metropolitan Council and is available to <br />cities that have negotiated long-term affordable and lifecycle housing goals through a Housing <br />Action Plan (HAP). She stated under the LCA, the Met Council makes grant and loan awards <br />from three accounts: <br /> <br /> Tax Base Revitalization Account (TBRA) – Cleans up brownfields for redevelopment, job <br />creation and affordable housing. <br /> Livable Communities Demonstration Account (LCDA) – Supports development and <br />redevelopment that links housing, jobs and services while demonstrating efficient and <br />cost-effective use of land and infrastructure. <br /> Local Housing Incentives Account (LHIA) – Produces and preserves affordable housing <br />choices for households with low to moderate incomes. <br /> <br />Ms. Worthington explained the Met Council awards TBRA grants in the spring and fall. It is <br />expected that $2.5 million will be available in each of the spring and fall of 2014 funding cycles. <br />The average TBRA award is approximately $200,000, and 25% of available funds are reserved <br />for projects outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Eligible expenses include soil remediation, soil <br />vapor remediation, and ground and surface water cleanup. <br /> <br />Ms. Worthington commented these TBRA dollars could be utilized to further improve sub-grade <br />conditions at County Road H where there is currently a large infiltration gallery that may <br />become problematic for installation of related roadway improvements. Because the grant <br />dollars must result in development within three years of th e award, this application has been