Item 4.10 Sponsor ISD 728 Safe Routes to School Grant Application
Request for
City Council Action
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT REQUESTOR: MEETING DATE:
Planning City Planner Licht 13 January 2025
PRESENTER(s) REVIEWED BY: ITEM #:
Consent City Administrator/Finance Director Flaherty
City Engineer Wagner
Parks and Recreation Director Jacobs
4.10 – ISD 728 Safe Routes to
School Grant
STRATEGIC VISION
MEETS: THE CITY OF OTSEGO:
Is a strong organization that is committed to leading the community through innovative communication.
X Has proactively expanded infrastructure to responsibly provide core services.
Is committed to delivery of quality emergency service responsive to community needs and expectations in a
cost-effective manner.
X Is a social community with diverse housing, service options, and employment opportunities.
Is a distinctive, connected community known for its beauty and natural surroundings.
AGENDA ITEM DETAILS
RECOMMENDATION:
City staff recommends the City Council adopt a resolution supporting a grant application.
ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL OF A CONTRACT? IS A PUBLIC HEARING REQUIRED?
No No
BACKGROUND/JUSTIFICATION:
ISD 728 received a grant from the State of Minnesota to complete a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Design Assistance Study
to improve access to Prairie View Elementary and Prairie View Middle School. The study was led by the Minnesota
Department of Transportation in partnership with ISD 728, the City of Otsego, and Wright County. The purpose of the
study was to understand the access needs for these schools and identify a list of potential projects.
ISD 728 is preparing an application for a Safe Routes to School infrastructure grant funding to complete pedestrian trails,
sidewalk, and crosswalk improvements within the schools’ property, which were identified by the study. ISD 728 staff and
City staff agree that these projects are the most feasible to complete within the current grant cycle considering that in 2025
the City will separately be constructing a separate Safe Routes to School project on the north side of 80th Street from MacIver
Avenue west to the Hunter Hills subdivision.
Safe Routes to School grants are administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation through its State Aid
program. Only that are State Aid recipients are eligible for Safe Routes to School grant awards meaning the City must
act as a sponsor for the ISD 728 application. City staff and ISD staff have identified that the City would assist with the
following responsibilities if a grant is awarded:
• Serve as the fiscal agent on behalf of the community
• Request an SAP/SP number for the project
• Ensure the project meets milestones and dates for scheduled completion
• Assist local agency/community in execution of any grant agreement
• Develop, review, and approve the construction plan project
• Ensure that any required environmental documents and permits are received, and requirements are followed
• Submit plan, engineers estimate, and proposal to the District State Aid Engineer (DSAE)
• Advertise/let/award the project in accordance with state aid and/or federal aid procedures
• Submit the State Aid Pay Requests to the DSAE
• Communicate progress and updates with the DSAEs and Active Transportation Engineer or State Programs
Engineer
• Ensure that the project receives adequate supervision and inspection to ensure that project is completed in
conformance with approved plans and specifications
• Assist with project close out and final contract documents
• Retain project documents in accordance with document retention schedule
ISD 728 will be responsible for hiring an engineer to prepare plans, complete surveying, administer the construction contract
and provide inspection. ISD 728 would send their paid pay requests with items that are eligible for funding to the City. City
staff would submit a State Aid Reimbursement in to State Aid for payment to ISD 728 for which City may incur some minor
costs. City staff recommends that upon any award of a Safe Routes to School infrastructure grant for the project, the City
of Otsego and ISD 728 enter into an agreement outlining roles and responsibilities of each party with regards to the
administration of the project and grant funds.
The draft resolution outlines considerations for supporting the project and sponsoring the grant application. These
include improving access to the school facilities and expanding the trail system within the City. The other positive factor
for sponsoring the grant application is having the City as a State Aid eligible jurisdiction, assist another taxpayer funded
entity install improvements at no direct cost to their shared constituents.
SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
• Safe Routes to School Design Assistance Projects #3 and #7
• Resolution 2025-05
POSSIBLE MOTION
PLEASE WORD MOTION AS YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO APPEAR IN THE MINUTES:
Motion to adopt Resolution 2025-05 to sponsor an ISD 728 Safe Routes to School grant application.
BUDGET INFORMATION
FUNDING: BUDGETED:
N/A
N/A
H:\Projects\14000\14622\TechData\CADDesignMNSS10\Graphics\SAFE ROUTES\Elk River\14622_loa_exhibit_01.dgnSAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
11/8/2024
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MIDDLE SCHOOL
PRAIRIE VIEW
Project 3: Trail Connections From Housing Development
Figure 1
Otsego, MN
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
PRAIRIE VIEW
10-FT BITUMINOUS TRAIL
CONNECT BY POND
INSTALL FENCE,
100050
SCALE IN FEET
R=40'
H:\Projects\14000\14622\TechData\CADDesignMNSS10\Graphics\SAFE ROUTES\Elk River\14622_loa_exhibit_03.dgnLocation of Project
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL
11/8/2024
14622
150 30
SCALE IN FEET
H:\Projects\14000\14622\TechData\CADDesignMNSS10\Graphics\SAFE ROUTES\Elk River\14622_loa_exhibit_03.dgn11/8/2024
14622
Project 7: Internal Crossing
Otsego, MN
Figure 2
R = 10'
ELEMTARY SCHOOL
PRAIRIE VIEW
CURB RAMP
CURB RAMP
1
CITY OF OTSEGO
COUNTY OF WRIGHT
STATE OF MINNESOTA
RESOLUTION NO: 2025-05
TO SPONSOR AN ISD 728
SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION
WHEREAS, Independent School District (ISD) 728 received a grant from the State of Minnesota to complete a Safe Routes to
School (SRTS) Design Assistance Study (the “Study”) to improve access to Prairie View Elementary and Prairie View Middle
School, located within Otsego; and
WHEREAS, the Study was led by the Minnesota Department of Transportation in partnership with ISD 728, the City of Otsego,
and Wright County; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of the study was to understand the access needs for these schools and identify a list of potential
projects, including preliminary design; and
WHEREAS, ISD 728 is preparing an application to the Minnesota Department of Transportation for Safe Route to School
infrastructure grant funding to complete pedestrian trails, sidewalk, and crosswalk improvements within the schools’
properties (the “Project) identified by the Study; and
WHEREAS, the grant application requires that the City, as a State Aid recipient, act as a sponsor on behalf of ISD 728 for the
Project and ISD 728 has requested the City sponsor the grant application; and
WHEREAS, the Project would connect to existing and planned pedestrian facilities owned and maintained by the City adjacent
to the schools’ properties; and
WHEREAS, the Project will improve access to Prairie View Elemenary School in accordance with the Safe Routes To School
Program objectives, the policies of the Otsego Comprehensive Plan, and the Otsego Park System Master Plan.
WHEREAS, the grant conditions require that the project will be under construction prior to December 31, 2026.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OTSEGO, MINNESOTA:
1. The City of Otsego supports the proposed Safe Routes to School Project proposed by ISD 278.
2. The City of Otsego agrees to act as the Project sponsor and understands its responsibilities therein.
3. ISD 728 shall be responsible for all costs not covered by Safe Routes to School grant funding including, but not limited
to, consultant engineering, construction administration and inspection, utility construction, as well as construction
costs above the Safe Routes to School infrastructure grant amount
4. Upon awarding of a Safe Routes to School infrastructure grant, the City of Otsego and ISD 728 shall enter into an
agreement outlining roles and responsibilities of each party with regards to the administration of the project and grant
funds.
5. The City of Otsego understands the responsibilities of sponsoring the grant application and agrees to full fill them.
2
ADOPTED by the Otsego City Council this 13th day of January, 2025.
MOTION BY:
SECONDED BY:
IN FAVOR:
OPPOSED:
CITY OF OTSEGO
__________________________________
Jessica L. Stockamp, Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Audra Etzel, City Clerk