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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br /> Date: 3/12/12 <br />Item No.: 7.g <br />Department Approval City Manager Approval <br />Item Description: Authorize to Send Letter of Support for Ramsey County Environmental <br />Response Fund <br />B <br />ACKGROUND <br />1 <br />2 <br />The Ramsey County Environmental Response Fund (ERF) provides financial assistance of last <br />3 <br />resort to clean-up contaminated properties where redevelopment in not independently financially <br />4 <br />feasible. Clean-up funding is used to assist projects that result in new jobs at decent wages, new <br />5 <br />housing units for working families, urban green space and tax base revitalization. <br />6 <br />Funding for ERF is generated by a .004% mortgage registration and deed fee at the time property <br />7 <br />transactions occur. ERF is Ramsey County’s primary source of funding for brownfields clean-up <br />8 <br />and redevelopment. The City of Roseville has received funding from ERF in the past, most <br />9 <br />recently about $265,000 to assist in the Twin Lakes Infrastructure Improvements. <br />10 <br />Under the enabling legislation, the ability for Ramsey County to collect the mortgage and deed <br />11 <br />fee for the ERF is set to sunset at the end of 2012. House File 1113/Senate File 772 has been <br />12 <br />introduced at the state legislature. The proposed bills would eliminate the sunset provision and <br />13 <br />would make the .004% mortgage and deed fee permanent. <br />14 <br />The City has been asked to send a letter of support to our legislators urging their support of the <br />15 <br />legislation. Staff has prepared a draft letter for Council consideration. <br />16 <br />PO <br />OLICYBJECTIVE <br />17 <br />The Environmental Response Fund has been a great tool in providing gap financing for the <br />18 <br />brownfield redevelopment activities within Roseville. Continuation of the program will be <br />19 <br />beneficial for Roseville and all of Ramsey County. The ERF program is consistent with the <br />20 <br />goals and policies identified in Imagine Roseville 2025 and the Comprehensive Plan and will <br />21 <br />provide the City another “tool in the toolbox” for economic development purposes. <br />22 <br />BI <br />UDGET MPLICATIONS <br />23 <br />None <br />24 <br />SR <br />TAFF ECOMMENDATION <br />25 <br />Authorize staff to send a letter signed by the City Council to Roseville’s legislative delegation to <br />26 <br />urge their support for the continuation of the ERF Program with the passage of House File <br />27 <br />113/Senate File 772. <br />28 <br />Page 1 of 2 <br /> <br />