Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO AND, IF OFFERED, ACCEPTANCE OF A $250,000 MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES REGIONAL TRAIL PROGRAM GRANT TO CONSTRUCT 5.4 KM OF NORDIC SKI TRAILS AT GRAND AVENUE NORDIC CENTER.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth supports the grant application for $250,000 made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the Regional Trail Program to build 5.4 km of nordic ski trail for the Grand Avenue Nordic Center, located within the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area, and
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth recognizes that is has secured $1,240,000 in non-state cash matching funds for this project.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth, if awarded, agrees to accept the grant award from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and enter into an agreement with the state of Minnesota for the above referenced project.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth will comply with all applicable laws, environmental requirements and regulations as stated in the grant agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as exhibit A, and
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city council of the city of Duluth names the fiscal agent for the city of Duluth for this project as:
Wayne Parson
Chief Financial Officer
411 West First Street
Duluth, MN 55802
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth hereby assures the nordic ski trails at the Grand Avenue Nordic Center will be maintained for a period of no less than 20 years.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes Duluth parks and recreation division to submit an application to the Minnesota DNR Regional Trails grant program for funding of trail construction at Grand Avenue Nordic Center. If the grant application is accepted, this resolution also approves acceptance of the funding and entering into a grant agreement with the state of Minnesota.
The grant application is for $250,000, which will be matched by $840,000 in tourism tax funding from Tourism & Recreation Projects 452, Finance 030, Half and Half Tourism Tax Projects 5530, HANDHTAX-1506 Nordic Lower Spirit Phase I & II. Additional match will come from Duluth Cross Country Ski Club in the amount of $450,000.
This trail construction is consistent with the Grand Avenue Nordic Center Mini-Master Plan attached hereto as exhibit B that was approved by the city council and the Spirit Mountain Recreation Area Authority. The project is also consistent with the Grand Avenue Nordic Center Environmental Assessment Worksheet approved by the Planning Commission. The complete Nordic Center will consist of 5.4 kilometers of ski trails at the base of Spirit Mountain, with lighting and snowmaking capability, connecting to an additional 34 kilometers at Magney Snively and the top of Spirit Mountain. The Nordic Center will also be the first and only cross country ski trails conveniently accessible to the St. Louis River Corridor neighborhoods of Fond du Lac, Gary/New Duluth, Morgan Park, Fairmount, Norton Park and Smithville. Pending this grant funding, construction of the nordic center could begin fall 2017.