03-09-2010 Council Work Session Packet

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� Long Lake-Orono Improvement af OId TH 12 Decernber i l,2009 � Page 2 Bvdget: At this point, the county is budgeting for a basic turnback project without the enhancements. �bviously it is not possible to quantify the total budget inclusive of enhancements, but estabIishing a base budget allows us to initiate the project and retain the necessary consultants to suppart the visioning process. The budget currently stands at$20 million for furnback and initial planning-purposes only. Of that,$1 million is planned for 2010 and$500,000 in 2011 for consultant-staffed planning. All stakeholders should proceed on the assumption that highway reconstruction project elements will consume tlte current$20 million budget and that enhancements to fulfill your broader vision wiii require significant additional funding that remains "to be determined". Funding: As noted,the reconstruction is to be financed predominantly through the expenditure of state provided turnback fitnds. The balance of the costs is to be financed by the county and the cities. In very general terms, by way of the county's Cost Participation Policy, the cost to the cities f�r the related road reconstruction costs is ten percent or roughly$2 million. The turnback funds are not available for ihe constructian of new pedestrian ways (sidewalks and trails), landscaping(except as repIacement of existing components},or street lights; therefore,those costs must be predominantly borne by the cities and,to the eatent approved, by the county. 1 he county sponsors a Roadside Enhance2nent Partnership Program{REl'P)which helps finance landscaping and street light installatian via a competitive process. Unfortunately, REPP is available only in Long Lake so it will be necessary to develop a finance plan for the Orono improvements out of Orono-directed funds and fot•�l�e Long La1ce improvements out of Lorig Lake and county-directed funds, The county bttdget for initial planning through 2012 will be entirely based on turnbacic funds, sa ci#y funding will not be needed to start the process. Between 2012 and 2015 it will be necessary for the cities and county to identify and dedicate financial resources for all segrnents. I am enclosing a document that explains the process by which financial participation is split between . the"caunty share" and"city share" in any such road project. The "city share"in this case is a bit • more complicated,of course,because there are two cities involved, and the split between the two remains a key "to be determined" item in the planning process. Piease note that the ten percent amount used abave is a round figuxe used for informal discussion purposes;the many more specific policies that will determine the eventual figure are described in the enclosed document, Note that the REPP policies(see Section XV on pages 9-12} are contingent on a competitive award process. While nearly all REPP-eligible.pro}ects have been funded in fhe recent past,the amount of REPP-avaiEable fianding for such competitive awards is subject to annual appraval by the County Board. � Getting Started: County staff will proceed with the c�nsultant sedection process. A project manager from my staff will be assigned to wark with the consulting team. Together they will work with yau, your City Councils, and your city staffs to kick-off the public involvement process in 2010, Your support invotving a broad cross-section of community stakeholders will be key to the success af that effort.