Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION OF A GRANT FROM THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY TO IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE ST. LOUIS RIVER ESTUARY
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are authorized to accept the modification attached as Exhibit A providing a one-year extension of a grant, city contract 24833, from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve public access to the St. Louis River Estuary.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes acceptance of the modification attached as Exhibit A providing a one-year extension, for a new expiration date of September 30, 2027, of a grant (city contract 24833) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve public access to the St. Louis River Estuary. The amount of the federal funding is unaffected by the extension, and there continues to be no local match requirement.
The noncompetitive grant is supported by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The projects supported by this funding will improve connections to the St. Louis River to support safer, more accessible recreation opportunities for the community. The grant funding supports preliminary design of a pedestrian connection between Perch Lake Landing and Chambers Grove Park (Waabizheshikana: The Marten Trail Segment 7), construction of an accessible trail connection from Indian Point to the existing Kingsbury Bay fishing pier, design and installation of a new observation platform and sandy paddle landing at Grassy Point, design and installation of an accessible dock and paddle launch at Chambers Grove Park, and a subgrant of $50,000 to the St. Louis River Alliance for implementation of programming and trailhead maintenance for the St. Louis River Estuary National Water Trail.
The extension is needed to allow for the installation of designed improvements during the 2027 construction season. The design process was delayed due to longer than anticipated review periods at the federal office.