Sponsor: Public Works
Title
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Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement Establishing the Gold Line Joint Powers Board
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement Establishing the Gold Line Joint Powers Board with Washington County, Washington County Regional Railroad Authority and Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority for the Gold Line Joint Powers Board.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the document.
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Background and Rationale
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The METRO Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Project connects Saint Paul to Woodbury. The Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority has partnered with the Washington County Regional Railroad Authority since 2009 on the advancement of this important transitway through the Gateway Corridor Commission/Gold Line Partners Joint Powers Board.
On January 19, 2018 the METRO Gold Line BRT Project entered the Project Development Phase of the Federal Transit Administration’s Capital Investment Grants (New Starts) Program. The entry into Project Development was a major milestone that marked the transition of project leadership from the counties to the Metropolitan Council. Additionally, entry into the New Starts Program allowed funding from the Ramsey County and Washington County sales taxes to be used on the project in addition to the funding provided by the regional railroad authorities. The transition led to the creation of the Gold Line Project Office to manage the development of the project through the Project Development, Engineering and Construction phases of the New Starts Program. Creation of this office resulted in a duplication of efforts with the Gateway Corridor Commission/Gold Line Partners Joint Powers Board, while leaving gaps in how the project’s finances would be overseen by its funders.
On July 23, 2019 Ramsey County approved Resolution B2019-184 forming the Gold Line Joint Powers Board with Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority, Washington County, and the Washington Regional Railroad Authority. This joint powers board provides fiscal oversight and contingency management, and holds funding agreements with the Metropolitan Council. On December 17, 2019 Ramsey County approved Resolution B2019-184 dissolving the Gateway Corridor Commission/Gold Line Partners Joint Powers Agreement and transferring its remaining funds to the Gold Line Joint Powers Board.
The Gold Line Joint Powers Board has worked since 2019 to secure liability insurance. The board directed staff to solicit quotes for insurance in 2020. The Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust responded to the solicitation, stating its interest in providing the insurance and noting areas where language clarifications were needed to the joint powers agreement. Staff worked with the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust to remedy most of these clarifications within the existing joint powers agreement language, however language changes related to liability are required by Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust prior to their extension of an offer of coverage. Article XII, part 1 of the Joint Powers Agreement provides that “[t]his Agreement may be amended by unanimous agreement of the Parties as evidenced by resolutions adopted by the respective governing bodies.”
The Amended and Restated Gold Line Joint Powers Agreement Establishing the Gold Line Joint Powers Board and its attachment reflect amendments to Article XI of the original Joint Powers Agreement required by the Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust.
These changes were presented to the Gold Line Joint Powers Board at its April 28, 2021 meeting and the joint powers board passed Resolution GLJPB #2021-07 recommending approval of the Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement Establishing the Gold Line Joint Powers Board.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☐ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☒ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The METRO Gold Line BRT Project is in an ethnically and culturally diverse area that is home to people who rely on transit for access to jobs and services. Within the METRO Gold Line BRT Project corridor, 11.1% of all households do not own an automobile, and 16.6% of the population lives in poverty. Approximately 44% of the population are people of color. The East Side area of concentrated poverty, which covers 16 census tracts and includes the Dayton’s Bluff and Sunray-Battle Creek-Highway neighborhoods of Saint Paul, is served by the METRO Gold Line BRT Project. People of color are frequently overrepresented in areas of poverty.
The METRO Gold Line BRT Project will improve access to opportunities by providing more frequent transit service and all-day transit service where none currently exists. This service will be better connected to job centers, neighborhoods, and other parts of the regional transit system. It will also be an incentive for redevelopment of the vacant land and reinvestment in underutilized land, improving economic stability and creating jobs. Station area planning for the METRO Gold Line BRT Project has been done collaboratively with the cities of Saint Paul and Maplewood to maximize affordable housing opportunities and mitigate displacement of existing housing units. Contracts for construction of the Metro Gold Line BRT Project will comply with federal rules for hiring of disadvantaged and minority-owned businesses.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Public engagement is essential to informed and transparent decision making. Public engagement to date was conducted throughout the Alternatives Analysis, Draft Environmental Impact Statement and the Environmental Assessment. Public engagement included large community meetings, presentations to district councils and business associations, pop-up meetings in public places, small group meetings with area residents, engaging people at national Night Out celebrations, tabling information and public events, information shared through social media (website and Facebook), and through Ramsey County GovDelivery email. METRO Gold Line Corridor Management Committee meetings were advertised and open to the public. Gold Line Joint Powers Board meetings are advertised and open to the public offering increased transparency in financial decision-making for the METRO Gold Line Bus Rapid Transit Project.
☒ Inform ☐ Consult ☐ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Funding for the Gold Line Engineering Phase as well as property acquisition in the amount of $37,500,000 is available in the Public Works Multi-Modal Planning Capital Projects.
County Manager Comments
The METRO Gold Line BRT Project will greatly improve mobility and access to opportunity for a growing population that needs improved transit service and will be a catalyst for redevelopment and reinvestment. Additional information on the project can be found at: <https://www.metrotransit.org/gold-line-project>.
Last Previous Action
On July 23, 2019, Ramsey County approved the Joint Powers Agreement for the Gold Line Joint Powers Board (Resolution B2019-184).
Attachments
1.Amended and Restated Gold Line Joint Powers Agreement