Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE APPLICATION FOR A $2,156,680 GREATER MINNESOTA REGIONAL PARK AND TRAIL COMMISSION GRANT FOR DULUTH TRAVERSE MINI MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the council has approved the Duluth Traverse Mini Master Plan, and the Greater Minnesota Regional Park and Trail Commission (GMRPTC) has named the Duluth Traverse as a designated trail, and
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth is aware of the information provided in the funding request, including any non-state match and other long term commitments; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city of Duluth shall act as a legal sponsor for the project contained in the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Parks and Trails Legacy Grant Application, and that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to apply to the Department of Natural Resources for funding of this project on behalf of the applicant.
WHEREAS, that the city of Duluth has not incurred any development costs and owns in fee simple the property described in the funding request and therefore, also in the state’s grant application; and
WHEREAS, that the city of Duluth has fee title over the land described in the funding request and in the state grant application for regional parks.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are authorized to apply to the Department of Natural Resources for a $2,156,680 Greater Minnesota Regional Park and Trail Commission Grant for funding the Duluth Traverse Mini Master Plan implementation.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the application of a $2,156,680 grant from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission for the Duluth Traverse. The application seeks full funding to complete conversion of 5.5 miles of the former Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific Railroad bed from Spirit Mountain to the intersection of West Skyline Parkway and Becks Road to be a multi-use accessible trail. The application includes funds for repair and repurposing of the Sargent Creek bridge, stabilization of rock cuts and tunnels at Ely Peak, connector trails, improvement of the existing parking lot opposite the Becks/West Skyline intersection, and some bike-optimized single track trails. The trail will complete the largest remaining gap in the Duluth Traverse multi-use trail system and serve as part of a nine-mile loop trail for equestrians. If approved, grant funds would be available in July of 2019 and have to be spent by July of 2022. Prior to design and construction, the City will conduct a public process to decide how the DWP trail should be surfaced, where there should and should not be a parallel single-track trail off of the rail bed, and how user conflict should be mitigated and managed through a mix of signage, education, and enforcement. Local match is recommended but not strictly required. In the unlikely event that the entire $2,156,680 request is funded, the City intends to provide a 25% match of $540,000 comprised of community contributions, $250,000 of half and half funds previously put aside for repurposing of the Sargent Creek Bridge, and up to $100,000 from the Park Fund put aside for completion of the Duluth Traverse.