Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO AGREEMENT 24739 WITH THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY FOR LAKEWALK INTERPRETATIVE PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, resolution 23-0162R authorized application to the U.S. Department of Transportation for up to $8,200,000 for a Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (“RAISE”) grant for resilient rehabilitation of the Lakewalk.
WHEREAS, resolution 24-0189R authorized acceptance of a $165,725 Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant from the Minnesota Historical Society to support implementation of the Lakewalk Interpretive Plan; and
WHEREAS, installation of the interpretive elements will take place in conjunction with Lakewalk reconstruction supported through the RAISE grant and an amendment is needed to align the expiration date of the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant with the RAISE funding.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to execute the first amendment to the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage grant agreement (City contract No. 24739), substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, with the Minnesota Historical Society.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the matching funds of $21,775 will come through the RAISE funding associated with the Lakewalk reconstruction project.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the first amendment to the grant agreement (City contract No. 24739) with the Minnesota Historical Society to extend the term of the agreement to align the expiration date with the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant funding. Together, these projects will support significant improvements to the Lakewalk by increasing accessibility, replacing trail amenities, and adding interpretive and wayfinding signage along the Lakewalk.
The Lakewalk between the corner of the Lake and 27th Avenue East is a critical multi-modal transportation corridor connecting visitors and residents to Lake Superior, business districts, and residential areas. Repeated storm damage and accessibility limitations of the existing trail require reconstruction to retreat the trail, where possible, away from the immediate Lake Superior shoreline and realignment to reduce grade changes and improve turning radius. These improvements will be supported through an awarded RAISE grant.
The Lakewalk Interpretive Plan describes opportunities to improve connectivity between Superior Street and the Lakewalk while incorporating new interpretive signage to improve placemaking by sharing stories of the history that shaped Duluth. Implementation of the Interpretive Plan requires coordination with the reconstruction activities.
This resolution will amend the expiration date of the MN Historical and Cultural Heritage Grant to match the RAISE funding expiration to support concurrent implementation of the associated Lakewalk improvements. The matching funds of $21,775 will come through the RAISE funding supporting the Lakewalk reconstruction project.