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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — AUGUST 12, 2024 7 Mayor Grant directed Council to discuss what is justifiable going into a bonding session. It's not about funding favorite projects. The goal is to get some funding relief for the City. Councilmember Holden asked about the Met Council Highway 10 project. She wondered if it was for the complete strip. She thought an option would be to go to the DNR grant, or other state bonding where we could get the boardwalk. She wondered how much money was received from Met Council. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen updated that the Met Council Regional Solicitation Grant received initial recommendation from the Transportation Advisory Board which was $1 million. That is set to be approved by Met Council on August 281n Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen said Council directed staff to pursue the MNDOT Safe Routes to School Grant. Staff met with MNDOT last week and got really good feedback. The City was edged out by tougher competition. They were trying to spread the money around and the Safe Routes to School funds received for the Mounds View High School Trail may have played into the decision. They suggested that we resubmit this fall, as an additional $1 million in grants is available. This would push the construction year from 2025 to 2026. Ramsey County indicated they will be putting additional money towards that project but we won't know the amount until the TIP comes out in November. We can look into a DNR grant or something more specific for the boardwalk site. He can look into any grant options Council makes him aware of. Councilmember Holden asked what the total cost of the project is. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen estimate for total project cost was S4 million. Councilmember Holden said the design is complete so that cost won't be recouped. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen confirmed. He said at this point we're looking for $3.8 million or $3.9 million. Councilmember Holden calculated we would be short $2 million. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen confirmed. He stated we would pursue the MNDOT grant this fall. He believed the application is due in November with the decision being made in February. Councilmember Holden asked if Rice Creek Watershed would give anything for a boardwalk. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen replied that they could but they have a max pot of $300,000, with only $100,000 maximum being given per applicant. Mayor Grant asked how long we have to use the Met Council grant. Public Works Director and City Engineer Swearingen believed it is 2028 or 2029 and he will verify that.