The City Council is being asked to approve 2011-12 Federal funding priorities as discussed at a previous work session. Although it has been determined since then that Federal earmarks will be withheld for at least two years in an effort to balance the Federal budget, Senatorial staff will search for other sources of funding, such as grants, for prioritized City projects. City Council members are providing information on their priorities for the items, and a tally of the results will be submitted with the Friday packet. The proposed projects are:

• 6th Avenue North/Bench Boulevard Connecter, $25,000,000;
• Public Safety Radio System Replacement, $9,875,000;
• Storm Water Improvements, East End Industrial Area, $6,400,000;
• Sharptail Storm Water Retention System, $2,300,000;
• Speed Control Radar, $197,750;
• Regional Park Land Acquisition, $900,000; and
• Fire Department Emergency Services Training Facility, $10,250,000.

A simple majority of those present is required for approval.

The City Council may:

• Approve the priorities as ranked and direct staff to submit them;
• Re-rank the priorities and direct staff to submit the revised list; or
• Decide not to submit Federal funding priorities at this time.

The prioritized projects generally will not be able to be funded otherwise by the City, and the only current cost to submit them is some staff time. Grants in the future might require some matches, but those would have to be evaluated against the value of the projects at the time they are offered.

It is recommended that the Council approve the prioritized Federal funding list as presented and direct staff to submit it.