Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-032 CCRMember Kay Lasman introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 2007-32 RESOLUTION REQUESTING COMPREHENSIVE ROAD AND TRANSIT FUNDING IN 2007 WHEREAS, all Minnesota communities benefit from a sound, efficient and adequately funded transportation system that offers diverse modes of travel; and WHEREAS, due to budget constraints, cities are increasingly deferring maintenance on the over 39,000 lane miles under municipal jurisdiction of the 277,607 total lane miles in Minnesota; and WHEREAS, local cost participation requirements for 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 unable to adequately address growing transportation needs; and WHEREAS, the recently approved 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 total MVST revenues are not meeting projections; and WHEREAS, transportation analysts in consultation with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) estimate Minnesota will have to invest an additional $1.5 billion per year in transportation infrastructure for the next ten years in order to meet identified needs; and WHEREAS, transportation infrastructure maintenance and improvement costs significantly contribute to rising property taxes; and WHEREAS, lack of state funding has delayed regionally significant road construction and reconstruction projects across Minnesota; and WHEREAS, Minnesota's transportation system is failing to meet the capacity needs necessary to sustain population growth and promote economic development; and WHEREAS, congestion, inefficient transportation systems and lack of transportation choices lead to greater dependence on foreign oil, increased environmental degradation, and economic disadvantages for Minnesota's businesses and residents; 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, current funding for roads and transit systems across all government levels in Minnesota is inadequate, and this under-investment hinders Minnesota's progress as a national business, economic and civic leader. RESOLUTION NO. 2007-32 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER that this Council requests that in 2007 the Minnesota Legislature pass a comprehensive transportation funding package that permanently increases dedicated funding for transportation; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER that this Council requests that in 2007 Governor Tim Pawlenty allow a comprehensive transportation funding package that permanently increases dedicated funding for transportation that is passed by the Legislature to become law; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER that this Council supports funding options including, but not limited to, the following: • A reasonable 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; • Increases in vehicle registration taxes (a.k.a. license tab fees); • 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 • New local funding tools, such as local option sales tax authority, expanded wheelage tax authority and/or street utility authority; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota: that this Council defines a comprehensive transportation funding package as an initiative that permanently increases dedicated funding for state and local road and transit systems in Greater Minnesota and the Metropolitan Area. Februarv 12. 2007 Date Mayor ATTEST: *OLW-~M_, City Clerk The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Dan Ryan and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof: Tim Willson, Kay Lasman, Dan Ryan, and Mark Yelich; and the following voted against the same: Mary O'Connor; whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.