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STAFF REPORT <br />TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br />FROM: Chris Heineman, City Administrator <br />DATE: October 9, 2024 <br />RE: Resolution of Support for Ramsey County Critical Corridors Grant Program <br />ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: <br />Motion to approve Resolution of Support for Ramsey County Critical Corridors grant funding <br />for public infrastructure improvements on Rice Street and Demont Avenue related to the Rice <br />and Demont (RIDE) multi-family housing project. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Reuter-Walton is nearing the finish line in obtaining the necessary funding for the proposed 160- <br />unit apartment project at the corner of Rice Street and Demont Avenue. Pedestrian amenities in <br />this area are lacking, and one of the goals of this project is to improve pedestrian connectivity on <br />Rice Street and Demont surrounding this project. <br />The existing sidewalk south of this project area was installed during the Highway 36 interchange <br />improvement project in 2011. The sidewalk currently ends at Mama T’s Castle Tap at the north <br />end of Terrace Heights manufactured home park. There is no sidewalk or trail north of that point <br />on the east side of Rice Street until the north side of County Road C. <br />The Ramsey County Critical Corridors program offers a chance to acquire funding to install a <br />sidewalk to connect the existing sidewalk from Demont Avenue to County Road C. Staff will <br />work with Reuter-Walton to complete the application for the Critical Corridors program, which <br />includes the following goals: <br />•Boosting connectivity between housing, jobs, retail, services and transportation. <br />•Creating more compact, walkable environments. <br />•Enhancing pedestrian access and safety in connection with redevelopment. <br />•Supporting vibrant business districts. <br />Staff believes the sidewalk project helps to meet all of those goals and help the City as it <br />continues to fill the gaps in its sidewalk and trail system. <br />A resolution of support is requested from the City Council to help in the application process. <br />The deadline to apply for funding is October 15. <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: <br />Staff recommends approving the resolution of support for Ramsey County Critical Corridors <br />Funding for sidewalk on Rice Street from Demont Avenue north to County Road C.