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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO ACCEPT A FINANCIAL AWARD OF $1,275,000 TO SUPPORT PROGRAMMING AND THE EXTENSION OF WAABIZHESHIKANA: THE MARTEN TRAIL.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the City of Duluth has accepted a previous Cooperative Agreement from the National Park Service, City contract No. 24401, to support the implementation of place-based educational programming and the planned extension of Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail; and
WHEREAS, additional funding is necessary to complete the project and the National Park Service, with support from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, are interested in collaborating on the project to expand and enhance educational and recreational opportunities along the revitalized St. Louis River Estuary.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper City officials are authorized to accept and execute the Cooperative Agreement, substantially in the form of the attached Exhibit A, and to draw down the appropriated funds in an amount not to exceed $1,275,000 with said funds to be deposited into fund 452-130-1220-4209-02-HANDHTAX-1501-04 (parks fund, community resources, parks capital, direct federal grants operating, half & half tax projects, Waabizheshikana, Seg 0-2: 63rd Ave W to Blackmer Park).
FURTHER RESOLVED, that 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. There is no local matching requirement of the City of Duluth under this Cooperative Agreement.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Duluth City Council names the fiscal agent for this project as Jen Carlson, City of Duluth Finance Director, 411 West First Street, Duluth, MN 55802.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes acceptance of a $1,275,000 grant from the National Park Service, and execution of an associated agreement. The grant will improve access to the restored St Louis River by funding construction of segments 1 and 2 of Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail, from the Riverside neighborhood to the Morgan Park neighborhood, and providing free river-focused recreational programming to area residents. There is no obligatory City matching contribution for this specific grant.
This grant is contributing to a larger, $5.8 million riverfront access improvement project that will enhance access to six miles of restored riverfront from the Irving neighborhood to the Morgan Park neighborhood by:
1. Making the original Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail (segment 0) more accessible to wheelchairs and all users.
2. Extending Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail by constructing segments 1 and 2.
3. Enhancing trailheads at Munger Landing and Blackmer Park to better support lower cost ways to experience the river such as shore fishing, paddling, running, biking, and walking.
4. Implementing the Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail interpretive plan for segments 0, 1, 2, and 3.
$5.3 million, or 91%, of the cost of this larger project will be paid for by previously secured state, federal, and private grants. The City of Duluth is contributing $511,000, or 9% of the total project cost. City funding is sourced from a one-half-of-one-percent increment in the City of Duluth’s tourism taxes whose proceeds are dedicated by law to support outdoor recreation and tourism in the St. Louis River Corridor.