Title
RESOLUTION OF SUPPORT TO COMMENCE DESIGN AND FUNDRAISING TO IMPROVE THE ELY PEAK SKI TRAIL LOOP IN MAGNEY SNIVELY PARK TO SUPPORT ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE EQUESTRIAN USE ON A SEASONAL BASIS.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the 2005 Management Plan for Magney Snively Park approved by the Duluth City Council with Resolution R-05-0774 allows for equestrian use of trails provided that they are selected, improved, maintained, and managed to protect Magney Snively’s unusually valuable natural resources; and
WHEREAS, the 2011 the Master Trail and Bikeway Plan approved by the Duluth City Council with Resolution R-11-0552 called for development of new equestrian trails in western Duluth; and
WHEREAS, Resolution R-14-0628 approved by the Duluth City Council on December 15, 2014 encouraged conduct of a study in partnership with the Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance to assess the potential for environmentally sustainable equestrian use of select trails in Magney Snively and identify trail improvements necessary to support such use; and
WHEREAS, Resolution R-14-0628 also expressed the Duluth City Council’s intent that, upon completion of a sustainable equestrian trail plan and all prescribed trail improvements, the selected trails shall be designated for equestrian use; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to Resolution R-14-0628, City administration commissioned a study in consultation with representatives of the McCabe Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, Duluth Cross Country Ski Club, the River Corridor Coalition and the Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance which found that the Ely Peak Ski Loop can be improved to support environmentally sustainable equestrian use on a seasonal basis; and
WHEREAS, with the support of other stakeholder groups the Duluth Horse Trail Alliance has requested the development of Ely Peak Ski Loop to support environmentally sustainable equestrian use on a seasonal basis.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council supports moving forward with design and fundraising to improve the Ely Peak Ski Loop to support environmentally sustainable equestrian use on a seasonal basis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council intends to designate the Ely Peak Ski Loop for seasonal equestrian use following completion of the improvements.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution expresses the support of the Duluth City Council for the City to move forward in partnership with the Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance with design and fundraising to improve the Ely Peak Ski Loop in Magney Snively Park to support environmentally sustainable equestrian use on a seasonal basis and expresses the City Council’s intent to designate the Ely Peak Ski Trail for seasonal equestrian use following completion of the necessary improvements. The plan is pursuant to prior City Council resolutions and supported by a stakeholder advisory group comprised of representatives from the River Corridor Coalition, Duluth Cross Country Ski Club, the Izaak Walton League, and the Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance. When complete the trail will create a top quality 4.4 mile equestrian trail experience.
A map is attached as Exhibit A.