SF3701

Purpose

• The bill would appropriate 6,500,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the city of South St. Paul as a grant for site preparation and to construct, equip, and furnish a new swimming pool and aquatics center. The funding is to be provided through the sale of state bonds. The grant is exempt from Minnesota Statutes section 16B.325.

Main Provisions

• Subd.1 Appropriation:
  • 6.5 million dollars is designated as a grant to the city of South St. Paul for site preparation and to build, equip, and furnish a new swimming pool and aquatics center.
  • The grant is exempt from the requirements of Minnesota Statutes section 16B.325.
  • The project funded under this section must include:
  • high-efficiency and low-impact lighting;
  • native and pollinator-supporting landscaping;
  • WaterSense certified low-flow sink and toilet plumbing features;
  • daylighting in occupied spaces;
  • shade features;
  • amenities and accessibility features to support visitor travel to the facility by active transportation (as defined in Minnesota Statutes section 174.38, subdivision 1);
  • low-VOC materials to improve indoor air quality;
  • photovoltaic-ready infrastructure.
• Subd.2 Bond sale:
  • The commissioner of management and budget must issue bonds up to 6.5 million dollars to fund the appropriation, using the bonding methods and effects outlined in Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and Article XI, sections 4 to 7 of the Minnesota Constitution.

Effects and Compliance

• The funding supports a specific local project (a new swimming pool and aquatics center) in South St. Paul and requires design and construction to include specified energy, water, air quality, and accessibility features.
• The project must be financed through state bonds and follow existing bonding statutes and constitutional requirements.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new capital investment appropriation for the City of South St. Paul project.
• Establishes mandatory sustainability and accessibility design features for the funded facility.
• Exempts the grant from Minnesota Statutes section 16B.325.
• Uses existing bond authority and procedures (16A.631 to 16A.675 and Constitution Article XI).

Summary of Eligible Impacts

• Provides state-backed funding to a city project, with explicit modern design and environmental standards to be incorporated into the facility.

Relevant Terms - bond proceeds fund - appropriation - grant - City of South St. Paul - swimming pool and aquatics center - site preparation - equip and furnish - high-efficiency lighting - low-impact lighting - native landscaping - pollinator-supporting landscaping - WaterSense - low-flow plumbing - daylighting - shade features - active transportation - low-VOC materials - photovoltaic-ready infrastructure - bond sale - Commissioner of Management and Budget - Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI - 16B.325