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Home My WebLink About7A, Resolution 2011-016 Parks and Trail Legacy Program Grant MEMORANDUM DATE: March 28, 2011 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members Patrick Klaers, City Administrator FROM: Michelle Olson, Parks and Recreation Manager SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution No. 2011-016: Supporting the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Parks and Trails Legacy Grant Program Background Staff has been preparing an application for a Trails Legacy Grant Program through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the creation of an off street shared use path on the west side of Old Snelling Avenue from County Road E to County Road E2. A map of the proposed project is included for Council review (Attachment A). The application deadline is Thursday, March 31, 2011. The City applied for this same grant in 2009 for the Canadian Railway Crossing. Regional Trail Legacy Grants are intended to support trails of regional or statewide significance. Funding for this grant program is from the Parks and Trails Fund created by the Minnesota Legislature from the “Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment” passed by the voters in 2008. Priority for trail project funding will be given to projects that provide connectivity, enhanced opportunities for commuters, and enhanced safety. Grant Criteria Eligible projects include acquisition, development, restoration and maintenance of trail facilities that are considered of regional or statewide significance. Staff has determined that a pathway on Old Snelling is the only trail development in the City that meets the Trail Legacy Grant Program eligibility requirements. This pathway is listed high on the Parks Trails and Recreation Committee’s priorities for proposed trails. The criterion for defining a trail of regional significance has expanded since 2009 when the City applied for the Canadian Pacific Railway Crossing. After reviewing the 2011 application information and speaking with Greg Mack, Ramsey County Parks Director, it appeared that the City’s eligibility was questionable. The criterion in question is a requirement that the proposed trail must be consistent with the Metropolitan Council’s Regional Parks Policy Plan. This essentially means that the two eligible trails in the City of Arden Hills would be County Road 96, which is already being programmed 13 Page of 03282011Memo to CC re - Res 2011-016 Regional Trail Legacy Grant.doc with upcoming road improvements and the Rice Creek Corridor, which is a Ramsey County initiative. Staff contacted the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to discuss the grant criterion. The DNR was not aware of the added criteria and acknowledged that adding this to the eligibility requirements eliminated significant potential applicants. A legislature subcommittee has been meeting to determine the grant details and there has been lengthy discussions regarding who should be eligible and what percentage of funding should be allotted. Although the criteria and eligibility requirements are listed within the grant manual, the DNR asserts that there is potential for criteria and eligibility requirements to change before grant awards are announced, as these are recommendations at this point. Staff spoke with Forrest Bo of the DNR and he strongly recommended that the City apply for the grant in 2011, even if the application is ultimately determined to be ineligible. In addition, the DNR suggested sending a letter or email to relay the City’s concerns regarding the regionally significance criterion. Staff requested a support letter from Greg Mack of Ramsey County. However, due to the eligibility questions regarding this potential project, the County declined. Considering the conflict that is taking place regarding the Legacy funding, staff feels that the City should apply to indicate to the DNR that projects such as the Old Snelling Pathway are regionally significant and should be eligible; if not this year, then in upcoming solicitations. Financial Implications Funding for the 2011 Parks and Trails Legacy Program has not yet been determined. Approximately $4,192,500 was available for both parks and trails grants in the 2010 solicitation. Grant awards will be announced in July of 2011. The minimum grant request is $20,000 and the maximum award is $500,000. These grants are reimbursed up to 75 percent of the total eligible project costs, and recipients must provide a non-state cash match of at least 25 percent. The grant award and match cannot be used for in-house labor services and/or to meet existing payroll. Only contract services, materials, and supplies are reimbursable. Other state funds or grants, or Metropolitan Council grants cannot match these grants. All projects awarded through this grant round must be completed by June 30, 2013. All facilities that are funded through this program also require a commitment from the applicant that the trail will be in place and maintained for no less than twenty years. The resolution before you tonight is a requirement of the grant application (Attachment B). The amount of the Old Snelling Pathway Regional Connection project is estimated at $975,270.40 for construction and project administration. Both of these costs are eligible for reimbursement. The maximum grant award is $500,000 and therefore, the City match would be $475,270.40. This estimate takes into account the wetland and floodplains that exist in this area. An appealing attribute of the proposed Old Snelling Pathway is its scenic travel way along wetlands and other natural areas. Recognizing the importance of protecting these amenities while integrating them into the experience of using the trail system, the design will reflect minimal environmental impacts, particularly to the wetland areas and a small floodplain area. Adjacent to wetland areas, the trail will be designed to include retaining walls to minimize or 23 Page of 03282011Memo to CC re - Res 2011-016 Regional Trail Legacy Grant.doc eliminate encroachments. These walls are intended to follow the full length of the adjacent wetland. Where existing wetlands become very close to the proposed trail alignment, the use of an elevated boardwalk will be incorporated into the design. Approximately 500' of boardwalk has been estimated along the wetland area just south of the Canadian Pacific Railway crossing. The boardwalk design has also been designated for a short (100') segment of trail that will traverse a designated floodplain channel just south of County Road E2. Council Action Requested A motion to adopt Resolution No. 2011-016: Supporting the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Parks and Trails Legacy Grant Program for the creation of an off street shared use pathway on Old Snelling Avenue. 33 Page of 03282011Memo to CC re - Res 2011-016 Regional Trail Legacy Grant.doc A Attachment : Old Snelling Pathway Site Level Map ÚËÌËÎÛ ÌÎß×Ô ÓÑËÒÜÍ Ê×ÛÉ ÌÑ ÔÑÒÙ ÔßÕÛ Ø×ÙØ ÍÝØÑÑÔ ÎÛÙ×ÑÒßÔ ÐßÎÕ ö ÝÑËÒÌÇ ÞÛÌØÛÔ ËÒ×ÊÛÎÍ×ÌÇ ÊßÔÛÒÌ×ÒÛ Ø×ÔÔÍ ö ö ÛÔÛÓò ÍÝØÑÑÔ ö ÝØßÎÔÛÍ ÐÛÎÎÇ ÐßÎÕ ÑÒß ÑÎÌØ ÌÎß×Ô Èó×ÒÙ ßÌØÔÛÌ×Ý ÝÑÓÐÔÛÈ ËÒÜÛÎ ÞÎ×ÜÙÛ ÝÑÒÍÌ îðïð ÝÑËÒÌÇ ÎÑßÜ Ü É B Attachment : Resolution 2011-016: Supporting Parks and Trails Legacy Grant Program Application CITY OF ARDEN HILLS COUNTY OF RAMSEY STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION NO. 2011-016 A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE GRANT APPLICATION MADE TO THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR THE PARKS AND TRAILS LEGACY GRANT PROGRAM FOR THE CREATION OF AN OFF STREET SHARED USE PATHWAY ON OLD SNELLING AVENUE. WHEREAS, the City of Arden Hills proposes to construct 3,060 feet of paved trail and the associated retaining wall systems necessary to create an off street shared use path on Old Snelling Avenue; and WHEREAS, the City of Arden Hills approved a 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which includes this segment as a proposed improvement; and WHEREAS, the improvement will benefit the City of Arden Hills, Mounds View School District 621, Ramsey County, nearby universities; and WHEREAS , the City of Arden Hills recognizes the twenty-five (25) percent match requirement for the Parks and Trails Legacy Grant Program, and has secured the matching funds; and THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: If the City of Arden Hills is awarded a grant by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the City of Arden Hills agrees to accept the grant award, and may enter into an agreement with the State of Minnesota for the above referenced project. The City of Arden Hills will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: The City Council of the City of Arden Hills names the fiscal agent for the City of Arden Hills for this project as: Sue Iverson Director of Finance and Administrative Services City of Arden Hills 1245 W. Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112 \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\Admin\Council\Resolutions\2011\2011-016, Reslution Supporting Application for the Parks and Trails Legacy Grant for Old Snelling Pathway.doc BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED : the City of Arden Hills is committed to year-round operation and maintenance of the proposed off-road shared use pathway on Old Snelling Avenue and commits to maintaining this facility for a period of no less than 20 years. TH ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARDEN HILLS THIS 28 DAY OF MARCH, 2011. _______________________________ David Grant, MAYOR ATTEST: ___________________________________ Patrick Klaers, CITY ADMINISTRATOR \\Metro-inet.us\ardenhills\Admin\Council\Resolutions\2011\2011-016, Reslution Supporting Application for the Parks and Trails Legacy Grant for Old Snelling Pathway.doc