Capital Investment Committee hears a slate of city and regional bonding requests

The House Capital Investment Committee on April 8 heard a series of informational presentations on local and regional capital projects that sponsors are asking the state to include in an upcoming bonding bill.

Lawmakers received short presentations on a range of requests, from stormwater and flood mitigation to parks, community centers, wastewater and public-safety facilities. Committee chairs emphasized time limits for each presentation and invited local officials to return with more detailed, shovel‑ready proposals.

Highlights from the hearing:

- Rice Creek stormwater (House File 204): Representative Pat Godfrey and Nick Tomshek, administrator of the Rice Creek Watershed District, described a phased flood-mitigation project along the I‑35W corridor serving New Brighton, St. Anthony Village and Roseville. The project would create roughly 6.4 million cubic feet (about 147 acre‑feet) of stormwater storage to reduce surface flooding on I‑35W and nearby corridors; local governments and the watershed district have contributed prior funds and are seeking state bonding to complete the next phase.

- Rum River Dam/Anoka riverfront improvements (House File 746): Representative Stevenson's presentation and city testimony from Lisa Lacasse (Public Services Administrator, City of Anoka) outlined safety upgrades at the Rum River Dam plus possible pedestrian, boating and white‑water…