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City Council Minutes Page G <br /> September 2,2014 <br /> would be making a recommendation to the legislation this fall on how the $2 million <br /> will be spent. <br /> Councilmember Motin expressed concerns with Elk River internally funding these <br /> improvements and by doing so,would this lessen the city's need for state funds. <br /> Mr. Femrite stated he didn't know how this would be viewed by the state. <br /> Councilmember Motin asked how this inter-fund loan would show up on our <br /> budget. <br /> Mr. Simon stated it would be a line item in the city's total levy. <br /> Mayor Dietz asked how much residents pay for this per year. Mr. Simon would <br /> prepare a calculation. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard asked Mr. Femrite what his thoughts were on the city's <br /> probability of receiving grants or funding from the state level. <br /> Mr. Femrite stated he presented a map to the state, evaluating the city's need for <br /> safety upgrades at the three crossings at Main,Jackson, and Proctor, and outlined the <br /> data to support the criteria the state uses to determine needs, such as traffic volumes, <br /> risk index, proximity to schools, and proximity to senior housing. He stated this <br /> information showed the city's crossings to have characteristics the state is looking for <br /> to benefit from safety upgrades. He stated as it turns out at this point, the same <br /> safety upgrades our city is reviewing and asking the state to consider also meets the <br /> requirements for quiet zones. <br /> Mayor Dietz asked if this request for an inter-fund loan was passed this everting, <br /> would the city have quiet zones by the end of 2015. <br /> Mr. Femrite stated that was the intention was to make the improvements have a <br /> quiet zone completed by the end of 2015. He stated he had requested from BNSF <br /> the preparation of the 4-quadrant gate agreement, similar to the wayside horn <br /> agreement, in preparation of finalizing the needs towards any commitments the city <br /> would be required to make to speed up the process, and has communicated these <br /> needs to BNSF. <br /> Councilmember Motin expressed concerns with Elk River internally funding these <br /> improvements,lessening the city's need for state funds, and was the financing ability <br /> of Little Canada and Shoreview expressed to the state in receiving funds. <br /> Mr. Portner didn't know what other successful city's lobbying efforts were,but Elk <br /> River would lobby this year and showcase the city's immediate need to make these <br /> safety improvements. With a debt for the improvements,we would request relief for <br /> the debt. <br /> 1A1' � All INATUREI <br />