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City of <br /> Elk - Request for Action <br /> River O. <br /> To Item Number <br /> Mayor and City Council 8.3 <br /> Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by <br /> General Business September 2, 2014 Justin Femrite, P.E., City Engineer <br /> Item Description Reviewed by <br /> Quiet Zone Funding Tim Simon, Finance Director <br /> Reviewed by <br /> Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> Action Requested <br /> Approve,by motion, funding option for quiet zone improvements and internal loan resolution. <br /> Background/Discussion <br /> Direction from the City Council at the July 7, 2014, meeting was for staff to identify funding options to <br /> support an expanded quiet zone project that would include the installation of a 4-quadrant gate system at <br /> Jackson Avenue. In addition to this treatment at Jackson Avenue,the project will include installation of a <br /> wayside horn system at Proctor Road, and supplemental safety measures (channelization devices/raised <br /> medians) at 171"Avenue, 165"'Avenue, and Jarvis Street. The remaining crossings,will receive smaller <br /> upgrades that include minor channelization devices and signage upgrades. <br /> Historically, there has been no state or federal funding available to assist in the funding of quiet zones. <br /> The State Legislature set a new precedence in their last session when they allocated funding to the cities <br /> of Little Canada and Shoreview for their quiet zone upgrades. The same bill included $2.OM for <br /> additional railroad grade crossing safety improvements along rail routes used for oil transport. Staff has <br /> submitted the needs for our safety upgrades to the state for consideration,but there is no guarantee of <br /> funding. <br /> Staff reviewed various funding options from special assessments to bonding. Since this is a community- <br /> wide benefit staff identified using internal funds to avoid several fees that come with outside funding <br /> (studies, bond issuance costs etc.) <br /> Financial Impact <br /> The current estimate for implementation of a quiet zone is $1,350,000. The current Capital Improvement <br /> Plan identifies $500,000 of the costs funded from the Street Improvement Reserve. Staff discussed <br /> options to fund the remaining$850,000 less any amount that potentially could be received in state grants. <br /> It is proposed to cover this outstanding amount with a loan from the Municipal Liquor Store Enterprise <br /> Fund to be repaid with tax levy line item over a 10-year period starting with the 2015 levy payable 2016. <br /> An $850,000 note,with 2.46% (08/12/14 10 year US treasury rate) interest would require an annual tax <br /> levy line item of$96,402.30. The first payment would be made on February 1, 2017. <br /> Attachments <br /> • Loan Amortization schedule <br /> • Internal loan resolution <br /> P a w E A E U s r <br /> NaA f RE] <br />