Title
RESOLUTION SETTING THE CITY OF DULUTH'S PRIORITIES FOR THE 2017 LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
The City Council finds as follows:
(a) The primary objective of the 2017 legislative session is setting the state biennial budget for the 2018-2019 biennium. The legislature may also act on a capital budget/bonding bill since no such action was taken in 2016, the typical year for action on the capital budget;
(b) The city desires to establish a highly focused legislative agenda for 2017;
(c) The city's top 2017 legislative priority is the steam plant hot water conversion project. Upgrading and converting the Duluth steam plant from steam to hot water in conjunction with the reconstruction of Superior Street in Duluth's downtown district will result in significant cost savings, and
(d) Maintaining adequate Local Government Aid (LGA) is vital to the economic wellbeing of the city and the city seeks to work with legislators and the Governor to safeguard funding for LGA.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the city requests state appropriation bond funds in the amount of $21 million to design, equip, and construct improvements to the Duluth steam plant operations, including converting the system from steam to hot water.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city requests increased funding for the LGA and advocates for maintaining a LGA formula which does not reduce LGA payments to the city of Duluth;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth also supports the following requests:
(1) Funding to leverage federal aviation administration grant to reconstruct the main runway at Duluth International Airport and to reconfigure the runway at the Sky Harbor Airport;
(2) Funding to revitalize and restore Lake Superior Zoo infrastructure damaged by the 2012 flood; and
(3) Funding for Minnesota housing finance agency (MHFA) and department of employment and economic development (DEED) housing and community development programs, including the MHFA ...
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