HF 2470

as introduced - 92nd Legislature (2021 - 2022) Posted on 04/06/2021 11:31am

A bill for an act
relating to public finance; requiring contingent termination of Nothstar Commuter
Rail and reallocation of certain funds; providing for certain redevelopment;
appropriating money.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin NORTHSTAR COMMUTER RAIL TERMINATION; APPROPRIATION.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Commissioner" means the commissioner of transportation.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Council" means the Metropolitan Council.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Northstar" means the Northstar Commuter Rail line that is operated by the council
to provide rail passenger service between downtown Minneapolis and Big Lake, and includes
any subsequent rail project or service that operates wholly or primarily in the same corridor.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Redevelopment assistance account" means the redevelopment assistance account
in the special revenue fund established in section 2.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Federal waiver. new text end

new text begin The council must immediately seek a federal waiver or similar
release of all obligations for payment to the United States Department of Transportation
related to the termination of Northstar.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Contingent termination. new text end

new text begin If the council obtains a waiver or release of federal
payment obligations as provided in subdivision 2:
new text end

new text begin (1) the council must decommission and permanently terminate all services related to
Northstar, including stopping all passenger service, closing all stations, and ending law
enforcement services provided by the Metropolitan Transit Police along the route;
new text end

new text begin (2) the commissioner and the council must terminate all memorandums of understanding,
joint powers agreements, contracts, or any other agreement entered into with any public or
private entity pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, sections 174.82 and 473.4057, for the planning,
development, construction, operation, or maintenance of Northstar to the fullest extent
permissible without a breach under the agreements;
new text end

new text begin (3) pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 473.4057, subdivision 5, the commissioner
must immediately terminate any lease, license, assignment, right of access, or other agreement
provided to the council to develop, operate, and maintain Northstar;
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new text begin (4) the council must convey ownership in any real or personal property related to
Northstar that was previously owned and conveyed by the commissioner or Department of
Transportation under Minnesota Statutes, section 473.4057, subdivision 5, back to the
commissioner; and
new text end

new text begin (5) the council and the commissioner must sell or otherwise dispose of all assets related
to Northstar, including but not limited to equipment, supplies, materials, rolling stock,
facilities, improvements, personal property, and real property, which must be conducted
pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 16B.2975.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Appropriation cancellation. new text end

new text begin Any unspent funds remaining from the fiscal
year 2020 general fund appropriation under Laws 2019, First Special Session chapter 3,
article 1, section 2, subdivision 2, paragraph (b), for the project to extend Northstar are
canceled to the transportation development account.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Deposit of available funds. new text end

new text begin On or before June 30, 2029, the commissioner and
the council must deposit the following in the redevelopment assistance account:
new text end

new text begin (1) any revenue received under subdivision 3; and
new text end

new text begin (2) if the council obtains a waiver or release of federal payment obligations as provided
in subdivision 2, the amount of general fund appropriations to the council and the
commissioner that would otherwise be anticipated to be expended for Northstar in that fiscal
year, absent the requirements of this section.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following
final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
Scott, and Washington.
new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin REDEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definitions. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have
the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Council" means the Metropolitan Council.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Eligible recipient" means a statutory or home rule charter city, a registered business,
or a nonprofit organization.
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new text begin (d) "Redevelopment zone" means:
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new text begin (1) in Minneapolis:
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new text begin (i) Lake Street between Hennepin Avenue and West River Parkway and any area within
two city blocks of that portion of Lake Street in any direction; and
new text end

new text begin (ii) West Broadway Avenue and any area within two city blocks of West Broadway
Avenue in any direction; and
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new text begin (2) in Saint Paul, University Avenue between Rice Street and Highway 280 and any
area within two city blocks of that portion of University Avenue in any direction.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Program established. new text end

new text begin Subject to available funds under this section, the
Metropolitan Council must implement a program for financial assistance to eligible recipients
for infrastructure development activities within the redevelopment zone to assist businesses
and nonprofit organizations adversely affected by civil unrest during the peacetime
emergency declared in governor's Executive Order No. 20-64.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Redevelopment assistance account; appropriation. new text end

new text begin (a) A redevelopment
assistance account is established in the special revenue fund. The account consists of funds
as provided in section 1 and any other money donated, allotted, transferred, or otherwise
provided to the account.
new text end

new text begin (b) Money in the account is annually appropriated to the council for the redevelopment
assistance program.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 4. new text end

new text begin Program requirements. new text end

new text begin (a) The council must establish program requirements,
including: eligibility requirements; application procedures; a process for review and award
of financial assistance; and terms, underwriting and security requirements, and repayment
requirements for loans.
new text end

new text begin (b) The council may provide grants or loans to an eligible recipient, as follows:
new text end

new text begin (1) the maximum amount of financial assistance is $75,000 per recipient;
new text end

new text begin (2) a recipient must identify a match from nonstate sources of funds that is at least equal
to the amount of financial assistance;
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new text begin (3) a recipient may make subgrants to local nonprofit organizations to further the goals
of the program;
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new text begin (4) an entity that receives financial assistance must:
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new text begin (i) remain in the local community a minimum of three years after the date of receipt of
the assistance; and
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new text begin (ii) submit a plan to the council that documents continued operation with probable success
and, for a loan, probable capability to repay the loan according to the established terms; and
new text end

new text begin (5) the maximum loan period must not exceed six years from the date the loan is
approved.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 5. new text end

new text begin Administration. new text end

new text begin (a) The redevelopment assistance program is under the
jurisdiction of the Transit Oriented Development Office.
new text end

new text begin (b) All loan repayments under this subdivision must be paid to the council for deposit
in the redevelopment assistance account.
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new text begin (c) The council may use up to three percent of annual expenditures for program
administration.
new text end

new text begin (d) The council must maintain on a website information regarding the redevelopment
assistance program, which must include program requirements, an overview of funded
projects, and details on program finances.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 6. new text end

new text begin Expiration. new text end

new text begin The redevelopment assistance program expires December 31,
2029. On or after that date, any funds in the redevelopment assistance account and any funds
received under this section must be transferred to the general fund.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE; APPLICATION. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following
final enactment and applies in the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey,
Scott, and Washington.
new text end