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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION FOR AND, IF OFFERED, ACCEPTANCE OF A GRANT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION’S REBUILDING AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND EQUITY (RAISE) PROGRAM FOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth (“City”) is authorized to apply to the United States Department of Transportation RAISE grant program for a grant of up to $12,800,000 for improvements to the downtown waterfront including:
1. Resilient reconstruction with major accessibility improvements on 1.5 miles of Lakewalk from Fitgers northeast to 20th Avenue East.
2. Multi-modal transportation enhancement of the DECC waterfront to allow for enhanced bike, pedestrian, automobile, and marine transportation use.
3. Implementation of an interpretive plan for the downtown waterfront inclusive of the Baywalk and Lakewalk.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City has the legal authority to apply for financial assistance, and the institutional, managerial and financial capability to ensure adequate project administration;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City hereby commits to contribute at least 20%, or $3.2 million, of the total $16 million project cost and no less than 100 percent of the project cost contribution in excess of any grant provided by the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the City has not violated any federal, state, or local laws pertaining to fraud, bribery, graft, kickbacks, collusion, conflict of interest, or other unlawful or corrupt practices;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon approval of its application by the Secretary of Transportation of the United States of America, the mayor and clerk may enter into a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the above referenced project and local match, and any project costs above the grant award will be paid from the appropriate funding source. The City certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations;
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the mayor and clerk are authorized to execute such documents as are necessary to implement the project on behalf of the city.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes application to the United States Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program in an amount not to exceed $12,800,000. If awarded, the grant would permit the City to complete ongoing restoration of the downtown Lakewalk and DECC waterfront to a higher standard at lower cost to the City of Duluth. There are three major components to the project:
1. Resilient reconstruction of 1.5 miles of Lakewalk from Fitgers northeast to 20th Avenue East including major accessibility improvements through Leif Erikson Park. The project will reconstruct the remainder of the downtown Lakewalk to align with the appearance, accessibility, and construction standards of previously completed Lakewalk segments at Canal Park and Fitgers. Once complete, the project will ensure that the entirety of the downtown Lakewalk will be able to withstand the more frequent and intense storms Duluth expects to see as a result of climate change.
2. Multi-modal transportation enhancement of the DECC waterfront to allow for enhanced bike, pedestrian, automobile, and marine transportation use. The project will pay for the cost of planned new street ends at 5th Avenue West and Harbor Drive where, in the future, the road network will end and the envisioned waterfront plaza behind the DECC will begin. The project will also pay for mooring structures in front of the reconstructed seawall that will enable cruise ships to moor behind the DECC without the necessity to temporarily close portions of the waterfront plaza to the public.
3. Implementation of an interpretive plan for the downtown waterfront inclusive of the Baywalk and Lakewalk.
The City will contribute 20%, or $3.2 million, of the project cost from a portion of funds previously put aside for restoration of the downtown Lakewalk and DECC waterfront. Award of the grant would lower the City’s total expenditure on the project.