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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PROPOSED PURCHASE OF TAX-FORFEITED PARCELS FROM ST. LOUIS COUNTY PURSUANT TO MINN. STAT. § 282.01, SUBD. 1(a)(h)
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CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are hereby authorized to move forward with the purchase of tax-forfeited parcels, as listed on Exhibit 1, from St. Louis County pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 282.01, Subd. 1(a)(h)
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the City to proceed with the necessary appraisal and title work to purchase tax forfeited parcels in accordance with Minn. Stat. § 282.01, Subd. 1(a)(h) at 5 to 20 % of their estimated market value as part of the Strategic Public Lands Realignment Project. The parcels to be acquired and the terms for their acquisition are shown in Exhibit 1,
The parcel acquisitions authorized by this resolution are pursuant to:
1. City Council resolution 18-0240R approving the Imagine Duluth 2035 Comprehensive Plan, whose Open Space Policy 2 directs the City to acquire and protect tax forfeit property that has considerable ecological, recreational, and/or stormwater management value.
2. City Council resolution 20-0617R approving guidelines for the selection of tax forfeit parcels to be acquired for permanent protection as shown in Exhibit 2.
3. City Council resolution 20-0878R approving an agreement with St. Louis County establishing the process by which the parties would negotiate the selection and transfer of select tax forfeit open space parcels from the County to the City.
4. Unanimous recommendations of the Natural Resources Commission, the Planning Commission, and the Parks Commission to authorize these land purchases.
5. City Council resolution 21-0624R approving the acceptance of certain free conveyed tax forfeit parcels within these same areas from St. Louis County pursuant to MINN. STAT. § 282.01, SUBD. 1(a)(e).
The parcels identified in Exhibit 1 are within the Lester, Hartley/Downer, Piedmont, and St. Louis River areas, and will be purchased and conveyed under state statute for stormwater, preservation, or restoration of the land in its natural state. The lands to be acquired under this resolution are in addition to those lands City Council authorized the City to accept at no cost under a separate state statute with separate City Council resolution 21-0624R.
It is anticipated that previously awarded federal grant funds will be sufficient to pay for 100% of the discounted purchase price for these parcels. In the unanticipated event of excess project costs, the City will pay for the excess from the Park Fund and/or proceeds from the St. Louis River Corridor Initiative half-and-half tax.
Pursuant to the Strategic Public Lands Realignment Project, administration intends to bring forward a number of related resolutions over the course of 2022. Those resolutions will include:
1. A spring resolution expressing how Council expects that the parcels selected for City ownership will be designated and managed for long-term protection.
2. A fall resolution authorizing the final acquisition of the listed parcels, following completion of necessary title work.