CCP 11-27-2006 - Laserfiche WebLink

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, ~ . ~HILLS MEl\10RANDUM DATE: November 2 I. 2006 AGENDA ITEM: 7C TO: Michelle Wolk - City Administrator Honorablc l'vlayor anu City Council FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager Pl& SlJBJECT: Minnesota Safe Routes to School Grant Program ENe: Trail Map, Safe Routes to School Grant Program Information B:\('KGROlJND The Minnesota Departmcnt of Transportation has recently announced its 2007 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Grant Program, This program was created by the Federal Surface Transportation Act, which establisheu the program in order to provide communities with the opportunity to . improve conditions for bicycling and walking to school. Ramsey County Parks and Recreation has agreed to partner in this grant process. The trail segments that County and City Staff have ientatively selected lor this grant arc in the Valentine Hills Elementary School area. This area is surroullded by busy roads and has littlc or no sidewalks/trails, The segments are identitied on the attached map. The identilieu green areas arc existing turf/vv'Ood chip trails and the identified blue area is a proposed ne\v trail. We arc proposing to pave both identified segments, The Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee added this trail location to their Strategies at their Nm'ember 21,2006 mecting and is recommending Council approval. Safe Routes to School Projccts arc funucd at one hundrcd percent and do not require a local match. The SRTS Program is a reimbursable grant program which requires recipients to front project costs and be reimbursed during the course ofthe project. The SRTS grant range for individual infrastructure projects is between S10,000 and $175,000, At this time a preliminary cost analysis has not been done, however staff anticipates applying for the highest amount allowed. S 175,000, The grant deadlinc is January :3 I, 2007 and the awards will be announced somctime in IVrarch 2007. Staff anticipates bringing forward an official resolution to the City Council supporting the completed grant application sometime in January 20C)7, If the City is awardcd this grant. this project would be phlCed on the 2008 calendar. I f unsuccessful, the trail segments \vould be put on hold. RECOl\lMENDATION Staff recommends a motion to authorize City StalT to apply for a grant through the Safe Routes to School Program with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, .