Approve a Professional Services Contract Extension for the Tinklenberg Group

The purpose of this case is to consider a proposed extension of the contract with the Tinklenberg Group as it relates to the Ramsey US Trunk Highway 10 Improvement Development Plan.  The term of this proposed extension would be for the twelve (12) month period from July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. The rate for this extension would be $3,500.00 per month.

Background: 
The City has worked with the Tinklenberg Group for most of the past decade. Mr. Tinklenberg continues to work with federal, state, county, and regional officials to advance Ramsey's interests in developing the Highway 10 corridor.  The City's past success during this period have included the recent announcement of a $40 million INFRA federal grant, plus past grant awards totaling $35M for the Armstrong Interchange Project, which was awarded several grants, including a $10M federal (TIGER) grant, a $10M state (CIMS) grant, a $8M bonding allocation from the state, and a $10.2M award from the Counties Transit Investment Board (CTIB), which fully funded the project.

In 2017, work with the state legislature successfully secured an estimated $1.5 million in funding for the engineering and design of the Ramsey Boulevard underpass of the BNSF rail line, and the City of Ramsey received an additional $2 million from the 2018 state bonding bill for the Ramsey Boulevard rail separation project. 

Staff believes this extension of the Tinklenberg contract is important to continue given recent legislative requests for Highway 10 funding, and the need to supplement the $40 million INFRA award with additional state and federal funding to complete the estimated $138 million corridor project from Sunfish Lake Blvd. to Ramsey Blvd.  The services under the contract allow the City to more effectively push our current legislative initiative, and to maintain a strong and consistent message to the Legislature and Congressional Delegation. 

Intent of this Extension:
This proposed extension is intended to capitalize on the exciting accomplishments already achieved under earlier phases of the City's US Trunk Highway 10 Improvement Development Plan and continue the implementation of strategies adopted in that plan. It will support the utilization of federal grant dollars awarded and leverage those dollars to secure state, regional, and MnDOT funding necessary to construct identified improvements on US TH 10 within the City of Ramsey.

The extension of the contract will extend the base contract services provided in the July, 2015 plan, and will include a continuation of those identified in earlier extensions of the plan with special emphasis on the following:

• Coordinate, on behalf of the City, follow-up and implementation of funding opportunities made available to the US TH 10 corridor during prior sessions of the Minnesota legislature and awarded federal grants.
• Coordinate on-going review and consideration of federal and state transportation program and grant opportunities appropriate to US TH 10 improvements within the City of Ramsey.
• Facilitate and coordinate the planning and implementation of meetings of communities, business leaders, and elected officials along US TH 10 in support of broader improvement needs in the corridor.
• Work with the State's congressional delegation and the US DOT, to identify and pursue federal funding opportunities and programs supportive of the City's US TH 10 improvement goals that have been or may be advanced by the congress or the Trump administration.
• Prepare for and facilitate the introduction and consideration of City' s 2020 and 2021 legislative proposals related to US TH 10 improvements.
• Identify, recommend, and coordinate as directed, pursuit of additional opportunities for MnDOT grant funding applicable to US TH 10 improvements.
• As directed, participate in and coordinate with the activities of the Anoka County US TH IO Corridor Coalition.
• As directed, support and participate in the City's TH IO planning and communications initiatives.
• Consultant will provide activity updates to the City at Council workshop or regular meetings every six to eight weeks during the term of this extension.

Mr. Tinklenberg will be at the meeting to provide an update and respond to any questions.

NA

Funds would come from the City's Public Improvement Revolving Fund.

Staff recommends approval of the contract extension as outlined in the attached proposal.