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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A SUSTAIN OUR GREAT LAKES GRANT OF $201,430 FOR ONGOING SUPPORT FOR HABITAT RESTORATION IN THE ST. LOUIS RIVER CORRIDOR AND HARTLEY PARK.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to accept and execute a Sustain Our Great Lakes grant contract agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A, in an amount not to exceed $201,430, with said funds to be deposited into fund 205-130-1220-4210-02-CM205-NATRES (Parks Fund - Community Resources - Parks Capital - Pass-thru Federal Grants Operating - Capital Maintenance Fund - Natural Resources).
FURTHER RESOLVED, the City of Duluth has the legal authority to accept these funds and the financial, technical, and managerial capacity to ensure proper planning and maintenance of the project.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the required match will be provided with $52,000 from the Parks Fund, in-kind volunteer work valued at $4,000, and in-kind staff work valued at $4,000.
FURTHER RESOLVED, the Duluth City Council names the fiscal agent for this project as Jen Carlson, City of Duluth Finance Director, 411 West 1st Street, Duluth, Minnesota 55802.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes acceptance of a $201,430 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Sustain Our Great Lakes (SOGL) Program to support habitat restoration on lands in the St. Louis River Corridor and Hartley Park that are vital for ecological health and public recreation. Over the last several years, Duluth has restored and managed invasive species on 838 acres along the St. Louis River and 200 acres at Hartley nature Area with state and federal grants matched by smaller contributions of local funds. This SOGL grant will support follow-up treatment of invasive species on 264 acres of public land in the same areas and initial treatment of an adjacent 73 acres for a total of 337 acres.
The historic proliferation of invasive plants along Tischer Creek in Hartley Park and Kingsbury Creek near the Lake Superior Zoo seriously harmed sensitive ecological systems and significantly diminished recreational enjoyment. Grants like the one authorized by this resolution contribute to a multi-year process of progressively restoring native species to environmentally important public lands.
The required match will be provided with $52,000 from the Parks Fund, in-kind volunteer work valued at $4,000, and in-kind staff work valued at $4,000.