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RESOLUTION OF INTENT FOR FUTURE PROTECTIVE DESIGNATIONS OF TAX-FORFEITED LANDS TO BE ACQUIRED BY THE CITY.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, Resolutions 21-0624R and 22-0226R express the Duluth city council’s intent to acquire a number of parcels of tax forfeited land from the State of Minnesota at no cost or reduced cost for long-term protection; and
WHEREAS, the State of Minnesota, in trust for the taxing districts, is permitted under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 282 to transfer ownership of these parcels at no cost or reduced cost, and the city of Duluth is able to accept and retain them on the condition that the city of Duluth will use these lands for the specific statutory public purposes identified in the various deeds conveying the parcels to the city of Duluth; and
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth wishes to clearly signal, now and in the future, that the city intends to protect these parcels for the specific statutory public purposes identified in the deeds conveying the parcels to the city of Duluth; and
WHEREAS, the Duluth city council has the authority to dedicate, by ordinance, land that the City owns in fee as park property;
WHEREAS, the Duluth city code includes a process by which the Duluth city council can designate land for inclusion in the Duluth Natural Areas Program;
WHEREAS, by Resolution 20-0273, the Duluth city council has previously created the St. Louis River Natural Area as an area protected by the Duluth Natural Areas Program;
WHEREAS, dedicating land as park property and including land in the Duluth Natural Areas Program are two ways in which the city of Duluth can evidence its use of land in a way that is consistent with the statutory public purposes required by the deeds conveying the parcels to the city of Duluth.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Duluth city council hereby states its intent to dedicate by ordinance the lands shown in dark green on the attached Exhibit A as park property once such property is owned by the City.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Duluth city council hereby states its intent to take the final steps necessary under the Duluth City Code to include the lands shown in light green on the attached Exhibit B in the St. Louis River Natural Area once such property is owned by the City.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to preliminarily set forth and affirm the protective designations the City Council intends to pursue with respect to the State of Minnesota tax-forfeited land identified in Resolutions 21-0624R and 22-0226R after those parcels are in City ownership.
Exhibits A and B show where parcels slated for each designation are located.
Exhibit C indicates, for each parcel to be acquired, whether the parcel is to be dedicated by ordinance as portions of new or expanded parks, to be included in the Duluth Natural Areas Program, or not intended to receive any immediate protective designation by the City for lack of an applicable designation in City Code.
It is anticipated that the City will close on the acquisition of the indicated parcels by the end of 2022. Sometime following closing, City Council will be asked to approve additional measures that will put in place the protective designations indicated in this resolution.