03-056CITY OF SHOREWOOD
Hennepin County, Minnesota
RESOLUTION NO.03 - 056
A RESOLUTION THAT THE CITY OF SHOREWOOD
NOT MAKE APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE TO THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL
TO PROVIDE TRANSIT SERVICES
UNDER THE REPLACEMENT TRANSIT SERVICE, aka OPT -OUT TRANSIT, PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the City of Shorewood desires to have appropriate and cost-effective transit services
available to its residents, businesses, and visitors, as well as to those of its neighboring
cities; and
WHEREAS, the payers of property taxes within the City of Shorewood inequitably paid more for transit
Services than what the metropolitan transit system provided within the City; and
WHEREAS, the City supported legislation adopted in the 2000 session (Chapter 493, Minnesota
Session Laws, 2000), that permitted the City of Shorewood and the City of Minnetonka to
establish Replacement Transit Service (also known as "Opt -out" Transit Service), provided
that they submit an Application for Assistance by June 30, 2003; and
WHEREAS, in the 2001 session, the Legislature radically altered the sources of funding for transit
services by removing the operating property tax levy for transit within the metropolitan
area, thus significantly reducing the funding that would be available for the City to provide
Replacement Transit Service; and
WHEREAS, the City engaged professional services in 2002 to evaluate transit needs, trends, alternative
models for providing transit, and financial and organizational feasibility to provide various
alternatives, including Replacement Transit Service; and
WHEREAS, it was determined that the available funds and organizational capacity would likely not
result in cost-effective replacement transit services, although inequity continues to exist in
that residents and businesses in Shorewood pay to the metropolitan transit system more
than twice the value of the services they are provided; and
WHEREAS, the consultant, staff, and Planning Commission identified a very cost-effective service
currently provided by Senior Community Services (SCS), which is under contract with the
Metropolitan Council, that is serving a population within Shorewood and the South Lake
Minnetonka area that will continue to be growing over at least the next decade; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has requested that Metropolitan Council Transit Services respond to
firxlinp from the City -commissioned transit evaluation for immediate, needed
enhadments to the services provided by SCS, in order that SCS may more adequately
meet the transit needs of senior citizens and other residents of the South Lake Minnetonka
• area for the foreseeable future; and
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• WHEREAS, after consultation with SCS and with City staff, Metropolitan Council Transit Services has
proposed expanded and additional transit services, as well as securing leased facilities for
bus storage by Fall 2003 and identifying a permanent garage as a capital improvement
project; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has reviewed the proposal, dated June 13, 2003, and found that it would
adequately address the current and foreseeable needs of the population of Shorewood and
neighboring cities; and
WHEREAS, this proposal, when implemented as committed to by Metropolitan Council Transit
Services, and combined with the existing fixed -route service provided by Metro Transit,
would provide the replacement and enhancement service that the City would seek to
provide if it exercised the option to provide an opt -out transit system; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is satisfied that it has now, pursuant to the Act of the Legislature in 2000,
thoroughly considered the alternatives for providing the most cost-effective transit services
for Shorewood and neighboring cities;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Council of the City of Shorewood, that it:
1) Endorse the "Commitment to improve Metropolitan Council Transit Services in the
South Lake Minnetonka Area" as proposed by that entity on June 13, 2003; and
. 2) Not Apply for Assistance to provide Replacement Transit Services as provided by an
Act of the Minnesota Legislature, 2000 Minnesota Laws, Chp. 493, Sec. 21(b), relating
to Minnesota Statutes section 473.388.
Adopted this 23`d day of June, 2
Attest:
Craig W.zVAson, City Administrator
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Woody Love, Mayor