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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - MAY 10, 1999 15 . In 1998, the City was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Cooperative Trails Grant Program sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. This grant was to partially fund the construction of a section of trail along County Road F, between Hamline and Lexington Avenues. The total project cost was estimated at approximately $115,000. At the time of the application to the State for the grant, the City had jurisdictional control over County Road F. The City subsequently turned back County Road F to Ramsey County. As a result, the City would need to obtain authorization from Ramsey County in order to construct the trail along both County Road F and Hamline Avenue. While the Minnesota Department of Transportation does not havc a specific design completed for this area, it did share some of its options for the various improvements that could be made. It was the consensus of staff and Ramsey County officials that, at such time when the Minnesota Department of Transportation completed its improvements, County Road F would most likely need additional improvements, such as widening. With the trail to be constructed immediately behind the curb, any widening would require the trail to be removed. The improvements to 1-694 are currently scheduled for 2004, but will most likely be delayed due to design and funding Issues. . Staff had been concerned by the idea of installing a trail that will most likely be removed in the future and, depending upon the grant agreement with the state, the City, the County, or both may be responsible for reimbursing the state for the grant money. The Parks and Recreation Committee discussed this issue briefly at its April meeting and unanimously recommend the City proceed with the projcct. It was the opinion of the Committee that neither Ramsey County or Minnesota Department of Transportation have a record of completing projects in a timely manner and that, even if the improvements were completed by the State or County in 2004, it would allow for the trail to be used for five years. In addition to the timing issue, the Committee found the area to be highly used by pedestrians and the need to improve pedestrian safety is significant. Staff did contact the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to determine what options the City had. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources representative had indicated that the City would have the opportunity to present a similar design option. One suggestion was a pedestrian trail along County Road E over Highway 51. This option was found to be too far outside the boundaries ofthe grant project. Mr. Fritsinger stated that if the project is to move forward, it must be completed early in the year 2000, so the decision whether or not to proceed must be made quickly. e With regard to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' willingness to allow the money to be used elsewhere, Mayor Probst asked how far away from the County Road F trail would the City be allowed to go. Mr. Fritsinger indicated that the City would not be allowed to use the money very far from the original site, otherwise it would change the intent ofthe application. Mayor Probst asked if the Round Lake area would be too far away from the original project site.