HF 4055

as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; requiring report on mitigating effects of transportation
construction projects on small businesses.

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

Section 1. new text begin REPORT ON MITIGATION OF TRANSPORTATION
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS.
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new text begin (a) The commissioner of transportation shall submit a report to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the senate Transportation Committee, the house of representatives
Transportation Finance Division, the senate Economic Development Budget Division,
and the house of representatives Higher Education and Work Force Development Policy
and Finance Division that proposes a program to mitigate the impact of transportation
construction projects on small businesses in this state. The report must include, but not
be limited to:
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new text begin (1) a description of the components of an information packet, which must be
distributed to small business owners whose property will be affected by planned
transportation improvements and must include, without limitation, information on:
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new text begin (i) the nature, extent, and timing of planned construction;
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new text begin (ii) anticipated effects on business operation, including, but not limited to, traffic,
parking, and public access;
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new text begin (iii) identification of a contact person within the appropriate road authority who is
informed about the construction progress and timing; and
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new text begin (iv) available resources for short-term loans and grants, and other financial,
marketing, and technical counseling to prepare the business for temporary disruptions
related to construction projects;
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new text begin (2) recommendations developed by the commissioner of transportation in
consultation with the commissioner of employment and economic development and with
community organizations, including metropolitan consortium of community developers,
for establishing, funding, and implementing a grant or short-term loan program to be
administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development, which
must include, without limitation:
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new text begin (i) definition of transportation impact zones and identification of eligible grant or
loan recipients within these zones;
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new text begin (ii) identification of eligible purposes for grants and loans, to include the creation of
informational advertising containing access and parking information, cash flow assistance
during construction, and technical assistance related to financial management, inventory
control, and marketing; and
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new text begin (iii) development of a grant or loan application process and documents;
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new text begin (3) recommendations developed by the commissioner of transportation in
consultation with representatives of counties and cities for actions to be taken in
cooperation between the commissioner of transportation and road authorities involved in
the transportation construction project, in order to facilitate the adoption of ordinances to
provide for customer parking during construction and access to the business premises; and
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new text begin (4) identification of potential funding sources, costs of implementing the mitigation
program, and any necessary legislative action.
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new text begin (b) The commissioner shall submit the report no later than December 1, 2008.
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