Excitement for stimulus cash in Minneapolis

The deteriorating Camden Bridge might get an overhaul. Bridges that flaked loose concrete on Midtown Greenway bikers might be repaired. The Convention Center area could get a pedestrian mall. Scattered-site public housing will get renovated.

Those are among the priorities in Minneapolis for federal economic stimulus money as local officials learn the details of the new law.

Plenty of uncertainty remains, however, because the money is spread among so many congressional priorities, some of it will flow through the state, and a healthy share is subject to competitive proposals. In fact, the city won't have a total of what it can expect from the package for some time.

But also there's excitement about having some financially starved city projects sped up.

"It'll keep us all busy," said Public Works Director Steve Kotke. "This is a good investment."

His department stands to potentially reap federal money in several areas. Some projects already slated for funding in future years could get moved up to this year. This includes $1.5 million to start rehabbing the series of bridges spanning the Midtown Greenway that are nearing the century mark and were flaking material on bikers until crews recently sandblasted them down to rebar.

The city also hopes to use $11 million to speed replacement of the brains and hardware that control its traffic signals. The Camden Bridge would consume $13.5 million. And the city is hoping for $18 million for new technology for removing sludge at its water treatment plant, plus $1.3 million for a storm sewer tunnel.

But there's plenty of money beyond shovel-ready public works projects, with much of it augmenting existing federal programs, some of which have been squeezed in recent federal budgets.

"For all the discussion about projects, projects, projects, it really came down to be programs, programs, programs," said Gene Ranieri, the city's chief lobbyist, referring to the federal legislation. And it offers hope of some relief at a time when budgets are getting cut: Mayor R.T. Rybak plans to propose a 2009 budget on Monday that will absorb huge cuts in state aid.

The city, for example, expects an extra $5.5 million from the federal legislation for homelessness prevention, some of which it might be able to use for foreclosure prevention. If not, there's a fresh dose of federal money for city programs aimed at dealing with homes left empty by foreclosure. There's at least $3.5 million for a new energy conservation program, plus more money for weatherizing the homes of low-income people. There's also federal money for lead abatement, job training, and training workers in green technology.

Police expect to gain tens of millions of extra dollars to be spread through city and county law enforcement. Some of it can only be used to hire officers, but the city isn't sure it can meet the federal requirement that they be kept on staff after the grant runs out.

A separate and even larger pot of law enforcement money has looser guidelines, and past allotments have been used by the city to install prosecutors in police precincts to work with officers. The department's wish list includes replacing mobile computers used by police and adding Tasers and digital cameras in squad cars.

There's also extra money in the new law for emergency operations centers, and Minneapolis officials hope to score some of it for their planned center in Fridley.

One of the most open-ended sources of federal money for the city will expand by more than one-quarter because the new law adds $3.7 million to community development block grants. The city has used much of its block grant money for housing development through its affordable housing trust fund, but some also has gone to human service organizations.

Steve Brandt • 612-673-4438