NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ALSO TOUCHED ON IN 6 P.M. MEETING AT CITY HALL TRAINING ROOM

by Joseph Back

Metro area transit planning and affordable housing factored big in Cottage Grove’s 2022 Legislative Agenda as discussed prior to Council January 19 in the City Training Room.

“One of the things we’re struggling with is affordable housing,” City Administrator Jennifer Levitt said of the City and metro area political realities on funding disbursements at the State level. While developers were reportedly interested, the funding just wasn’t there for an outer-ring suburb like Cottage Grove once others dipped in. Using local Tax Increment Finance (TIF) to fund high-density affordable housing was one option, but help at the state level was also appreciated.

“If there’s anything you can do we’d appreciate that,” Levitt told Karla Bigham, Keith Franke, and Tony Jurgens as present from the State Capitol.

With limited time to discuss the 22-page priority list before the January 19 Council meeting, however, there were some pressing transit infrastructure needs to touch on at the 6 p.m. meeting in the City Hall Training Room, located at 12800 Ravine Parkway South in Cottage Grove. With Council and staff present along with SWCTC and the City’s legislative representatives in Keith Franke, Tony Jurgens, and Karla Bigham, it was into front and center issues.

“Thanks for joining us this evening,” Mayor Bailey told the Capitol legislators who had come once again to go over those issues deemed important to the city government and residents of Cottage Grove.

“We appreciate that you guys work with us every year on whatever projects are important to us or the citizens of Cottage Grove,” Bailey said.

As to the priorities discussed on January 19, here’s a short list: · The 100th Street extension project off the City’s southwest business park · A railroad bridge on 103rd Street. · Lights on Highway 61 to improve traffic safety Whereas the three State Capitol legislators had also worked to try and get some money for the Community Center in a bonding bill, “obviously that won’t be happening,” Bailey said following the defeat of the proposed Community Center in the November referendum. Speaking for priority one in the 100th Street extension was public works director Ryan Burfiend.

“So this ties into the Washington County Southwest Arterial Study,” Burfiend said of a road to be widened and realigned out to Grey Cloud Island and managed through the county. “And this is the first phase of that, they completed their planning study last year,” he said. The 100th Street extension would provide another way to get to Highway 61 from the city’s business park and take some stress off the roundabouts on Jamaica that were built in 2007, Burfiend said. “This is really a great option to provide another route out of the business park.” Bridges would also be put over the railroad tracks, with the intent to eliminate at least one rail crossing along with safety improvements elsewhere and changes near the bridge on Innovation Road, said to have problems with traffic near 3M. As additional support for the 100th Street extension, City Administrator Jennifer Levitt brought up the coming NorthPoint development.

“As part of that they absolutely need a bridge over the railroad tracks,” she said of NorthPoint and the jobs tied to same. “Because obviously logistics can’t be stopping at railroad crossings.” The need for a bridge over 100th Avenue as such, was crucial. Along with NorthPoint, Levitt said that 3M had closed its incinerator and was open to selling more industrial land, bringing jobs and growing the tax base as a side effect. Renewal by Andersen is also due to expand again, Mayor Bailey chimed in, while legislator Tony Jurgens struck a more cautionary note.

“Expecting anything out of this legislative session might be premature,” Jurgens told those present after asking but failing to receive a firm number of how much the city was looking for in state assistance for the road extension, with county and other partners as well. Senator Bigham said that the Capitol legislators hadn’t received any guidance on a federal bill that would provide road funding, while Mayor Bailey raised the possibility of hiring a Washington D. C. lobbyist, something the city would discuss at a staff retreat that Saturday.

“A lot of cities that have gone that route have had success,” he said of hiring a lobbyist at Washington, a strategy the City had used for its HERO Center as well, it was revealed. Next up on the city’s list of legislative priorities as ranked from front to back was a road and rail bridge adjustment on 103rd Street, “This is the one that goes down the hill where Settler’s Bluff is,” Mayor Bailey said of the road locally known as Dead Man’s Hill for the steep road slope with concrete bridge piers below. “This bridge is obviously deficient when it comes to width and such, so this is another area we’re looking at as an important pull for safety,” Bailey said, with traffic and an eventual extension out to Grey Cloud Island for a regional park also in the mix. Cottage Grove public works director Ryan Burfiend shared that the project would include a temporary bridge and temporary railway while the area underneath the bridge was dug out and a permanent bridge installed. An earlier prospect which had envisioned a road bridge over the railway had anchor points to far out, Burfiend said, making it impractical.

As to St. Paul Park just north, brief mention was made of a potential rail yard on land owned by the BNSF railroad, with some speculation that it might not become a railyard but instead go through to development.

“Depending on which way it goes, you’re going to need a partnership that works hand in hand,” Representative Keith Franke related of the need for St. Paul Park area groups to cooperate in intra-metro matters. “Because that adds a whole other dichotomy to the size of the Mississippi Dunes development,” he said. As to the bridge project, City Administrator Levitt had input to add “We’re working hand in hand with Washington County on this,” she said, “because obviously if Grey Cloud Island is ever going to develop as a Regional Park this will be a critical element of it.” Also mentioned at the Legislative Agenda meeting was Governor’s Walz’s commitment to Build Back Better as the prospective federal aid bill moves its way through Washington. As it stood, Levitt said, the City was “at about eight-and-ahalf million for the bridge.”

Following the 103rd Street bridge talk, it was on to the next priority, with lights on Highway 61 coming up for discussion.

“It’s not a big ask,” Mayor Bailey said of Highway 61 improvements. With transportation deaths reportedly going up 100 percent (effectively doubling) each year, ensuring safe streets was a priority. With that Senator Bigham brought up somewhat ambivalent news as it pertained to Capitol voting leverage on the part of Cottage Grove’s legislators.

“We three are in the minority and obviously they need us and our votes to pass a bill,” she said of bonding items. “I can’t predict the future as to whether they’ll pass a bonding bill or not, but a cash bill does not need a supermajority,” Bigham said of the present voting reality at the state legislature. A supermajority is defined as threefourths of the chamber, while the DFL and Republicans are closely split in terms of seats at the State Capitol. Nevertheless, Bigham thought that public safety could still be a bipartisan point of agreement.

“I guess I would like a list with some of the numbers next to it,” she said. “I think it’s a very good priority to do regional significance.” Continuing on, Council member Justin Olsen had a unique ask.

“One thing they don’t have that they would like is a burn tower,” Olsen said of the HERO Center and training needs, also touching on the mental health aspect of public safety and the development of departments across the state.

Council members Tony Khambata, Steve Dennis, and Dave Thiede, meanwhile, thanked the state legislators for their support. Going further, Thiede brought up a unique idea: autonomous buses. “Sometimes I get the blank stare. What are you talking about Dave?” he said of technological talk on flexible transit options. In short, transportation was important to planning for the future.

“We cannot not invest in our public transit,” Bigham seconded Council member Thiede’s observation. “For businesses, because of workforce, because of economic development.” Bigham said a demonstration bill was currently out at the State Capitol “Obviously we want a demonstration bill when we have something to demonstrate,” Bigham said. Representative Franke, meanwhile, made a point of his own.

“We’re continuing to push and have these discussions,” he said of the Capitol, “But coming out of this and where we’re at right now, we want to make sure we have provability.” Without it, the plans wouldn’t come to fruition. “We’re going to continue to push and work and be the buzz in everybody’s ears, because we want to make sure it happens.”

Locally known for being somewhat hazardous and slippery in winter, the rail bridge at the bottom of the hill on 103rd Street is due to get a rethink, along with road digging as anchor points for a bridge over the railroad, would be too far out. Photo by Joseph Back.

Cottage Grove’s state legislators were present at City Hall January 19 to go over the city’s priorities for the coming legislative year. From left are Representatives Tony Jurgens and Keith Franke, along with Senator Karla Bigham. To the back are Dr. William Doebler as former owner of the Mississippi Dunes golf course and resident Bonnie Matter, the latter outspoken on local development plans. Photo by Joseph Back.

Council member Justin Olsen spoke about the importance of mental health and public safety at the 2022 Legislative Agenda meeting. Whereas most mentally ill people are non-violent (contrary to popular perception), sufficient resources are still needed for their care. Photo by Joseph Back.

Not to be left off the City’s Legislative Agenda were issues tied to the water quality and sustainibilty, taking up two pages. This rusty barrel, meanwhile, was seen in a stream that drains to the St. Croix River from the east, a human impact revealed after water drawdown elsewhere. Photo by Joseph Back.

Compared with 70th Street South in documentation from earlier last year, a coming arterial in southwest Washington County is due to spur development and lead out to a Regional Park on Grey Cloud Island, pending the unknown future. Photo by Joseph Back.

City public works director Ryan Burfiend spoke on the rail crossing at 103rd Street last week, a community development director Christine Costello read from a brochure.Photo by Joseph Back.