22-011 (01-18) Sales Tax Fund Specific Capital ImporvementsRESOLUTION NO. 22-011
SUPPORTING THE AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE A LOCAL SALES TAX TO FUND SPECIFIC CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS THAT PROVIDE REGIONAL BENEFIT, TO ESTABLISH THE DURATION OF THE
TAX AND THE REVENUE TO BE RAISED BY THE TAX, AND TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY OF GOLDEN
VALLEY TO ISSUE BONDS SUPPORTED BY THE SALES TAX REVENUE
WHEREAS, the City of Golden conducted a comprehensive study in 2021 to identify the
future needs of its Public Safety, Public Works and City Hall facilities; and
WHEREAS, the study determined that the City’s facilities are outdated and undersized,
create inefficiencies, and cannot be effectively remodeled to meet modern standards; and
WHEREAS, the City extensively engaged residents and businesses during the study to
establish principles, priorities and scenarios to develop a long-term phased approach to address
its facility needs; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Public Safety operations serve the needs of the surrounding
communities through emergency responses and regional collaboration; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Public Works operations manage and support a water supply
system jointly owned and operated by the cities of Golden Valley, Crystal and New Hope, with
water purchased by the City of Minneapolis and stored in reservoirs located in C rystal and
Golden Valley; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Public Works operations maintain and manage a stormwater
management system to protect and enhance the quality of stormwater that drains into the
Mississippi River with management from Bassett Creek Water Management Commission which
involves nine cites and
WHEREAS, the City’s DMV serves residents throughout the region, including the many
employees who work in Golden Valley but reside elsewhere, and the City is prominently located
in the metro area with four regional corridors that run through it serving many residents and
businesses in the western metro; and
WHEREAS, following a presentation of the completed facilities study, the City Council
identified four areas are needed to be renovated to meet the needs of the City and the region:
1. Remote Fire Station: Currently the City has three stations that serve the city and
surrounding communities. The stations are currently staffed by paid-on-call firefighters who
must first drive to a station from home or work, resulting in delayed response time.
Furthermore, attracting and retaining staff for a paid -on-call staffing model is increasing
difficult. A new remote fire station will provide the City and region with facilities to house
scheduled duty-crews and provide modern training facilities to serve the region. ($17M)
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2. Downtown Public Safety Facility: The current public safety building does not meet
the operational needs for contemporary public safety operations, creating many operational
inefficiencies. The current facility does not have gender-equitable locker rooms, suitable
dedicated training space for classroom and physical training by police officers and fire fighters,
sufficient secure space for vehicles and equipment, adequate workspace for officers and
firefighters to complete administrative duties, or space to meet or engage with the public. The
building’s structural construction and limited site size limit the ability to modify or expand.
(61.5M)
3. Public Works Facility: The City’s Public Works Department encompasses four divisions
(Parks, Streets, Utilities, Vehicle Maintenance) to maintain local and regional infrastructure,
parks, vehicles and buildings. Work includes planned maintenance projects throughout the year,
seasonal maintenance and response and emergency repairs. Currently Public Works operates out
of four buildings on two different sites. A new public works facility would be moved out of the
downtown area to allow more housing options. Public Works operates under a regional approach
for mutual aid, works with the Bassett Creek Water Management Commission (9 cities) that
works with storm water management, and the Joint Water Commission (3 cities) to maintain a
water distribution system with the City of Minneapolis water. Golden Valley has four major trunk
highway systems. ($56.3M)
4. City Hall: City Hall serves as a gathering and meeting space for public discourse and
policy making that affects residents, businesses, and workers throughout the entire metro
region, not just Golden Valley. The DMV serves residents and dealership from around the metro
area. Current facilities present many challenges to accessing these spaces, and the building’s
structural layout limits the ability to cost effectively remodel or expand. ($33.8M)
WHEREAS, the projected cost to construct new facilities that meet the needs of the
community and the region over a thirty year period exceed $160M.
WHEREAS, the Minnesota Department of Revenue’s estimate for the City of Golden
Valley estimates that a local sales tax of 0.5 percent would generate $2.8 million annually.
WHEREAS, the City has provided documentation of the regional significance of each
project, including the share of the economic benefit to or use of each project by persons
residing, or businesses located, outside of the jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, the estimated local sales tax revenue and estimated time needed to raise
that amount of revenue for the project is as follows:
• Municipal Facilities as described earlier
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat.§ 297A.99 authorizes the imposition of a general sales tax if
permitted by special law of the Minnesota Legislature; and
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WHEREAS, Minn. Stat.§ 297A.99 requires the City to pass a resolution authorizing such a
local tax and to obtain Legislative approval prior to approval by the local voters to enact the
local tax.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Council supports the authority to
impose a general local sales tax of 0.5 percent for a period of 30 years to fund the
aforementioned project(s). Upon approval of this resolution, the City will submit the adopted
resolution and documentation of regional significance to the chairs and ranking minority
members of the House and Senate Taxes committees for approval and passage of a special law
authorizing the tax, by January 31 of the year that it is seeking the special law. Upon Legislative
approval and passage of the special law authorizing the tax, the City will adopt a resolution
accepting the new law, which will be filed with a local approval certificate to the Office of the
Secretary of State before the following Legislative session.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the City will put a detailed ballot
question(s), which includes separate questions for each project, on a general election ballot for
local voter approval. This will be done within two years of receiving legislative authority. If the
ballot question passes, the City will also pass an ordinance imposing the tax and notify the
Commissioner of Revenue at least 90 days before the first day of the calendar quarter that the
tax will be imposed. Upon completion of the aforementioned requirements, the local sales tax
will commence and run thirty (30) years or until a sum sufficient to fund the voter approved
project(s), including related debt costs, is raised, whichever comes first.
Adopted by the City Council of Golden Valley, Minnesota this 18th day of January 2022.
__________________________
Shepard M. Harris, Mayor
ATTEST:
____________________________
Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk
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