Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TEN-YEAR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE OF MINNESOTA FOR EQUESTRIAN USE ON A PORTION OF THE MUNGER TRAIL, AT NO COST TO THE CITY.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to enter into a ten-year cooperative agreement, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit 1, with State of Minnesota, acting by and through the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources for land use, operations and maintenance of an equestrian connection on a portion on the Munger Trail, at no cost to the city.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes a ten-year cooperation agreement with the State of Minnesota, acting by and through the Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”), for land use, operations and maintenance of an equestrian connection on a portion on the Munger Trail, at no cost to the city. The specific portion of the Munger Trail subject to this agreement is depicted on Exhibit A attached to Exhibit 1.
The City offers 10+ miles of trails for horseback riding, utilizing portions of Skyline Parkway (eastern and western areas), the Duluth Winnipeg Pacific Trail, and designated equestrian trails. The DNR is willing to allow an equestrian connection within the Munger Trail corridor, which will allow for a connection between a City-equestrian trail and the Buffalo House restaurant (the “Equestrian Connection”). This agreement also allows the City to delegate its duties to another organization, which the City intends to do with the Duluth Area Horse Trail Alliance, a Minnesota non-profit corporation who is dedicated to keeping public trails accessible for equestrian use.
Although the term of this agreement is for ten years, the Equestrian Connection will be permitted between April 2 and November 30. The State operates the Munger Trail as a snowmobile trail in the winter season from December 1 to April 1.