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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO THE GREATER MINNESOTA REGIONAL PARKS AND TRAILS COMMISSION (GMRPTC) FOR GRANT FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF UP TO $1,500,000 TO PROVIDE IMPROVED RECREATIONAL ACCESS TO THE RESTORED ST LOUIS RIVER ESTUARY
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to apply for grant funding up to $1,500,000 from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and trails Commission.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the city of Duluth has the legal authority to accept the money and financial, technical, and managerial capacity to ensure proper planning and maintenance of the project. There is no match required.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Duluth City Council names the fiscal agent for this project as Jennifer Carlson, City of Duluth Finance Director, 411 West 1st Street, Duluth, MN 55802.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
This resolution authorizes application to the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) for grant funding in the amount of up to $1,500,000 to provide improved recreational access to the restored St. Louis River Estuary.
If awarded, funds will be used to implement portions of three integrated Council-approved plans for, respectively, a riverfront bike/pedestrian trail (Waabizheshikana - The Marten Trail), the federally designated St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail, and the Waabizheshikana Interpretive Plan.
The grant would be used to:
• Improve the accessibility of the original 3.3-mile bike/pedestrian trail (Segment 0).
• Extend Waabizheshikana by constructing all or portions of Segments 1, 2, and 3.
• Implement the Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail Interpretive Plan on the existing trail (Segment 0) and Segments 1, 2, and 3.
The City has received formal recognition by the GMRPTC designating Waabizheshikana a regional trail.
The City has secured complementary funding through the Legislative Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) for $500,000 from the Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund, the Minnesota Historical Society for $130,100, and has several other grant applications pending. They City has also partnered with the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Steel on trail construction and a financial contribution toward interpretive elements and wayfinding signage on Segment 3. The overall investment between secured and pending sources for this project is nearly $3.5 million.