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RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING APPLICATION TO AND, IF OFFERED, ACCEPTANCE OF A $2,156,680 GREATER MINNESOTA REGIONAL PARK AND TRAIL COMMISSION GRANT FOR DULUTH TRAVERSE MINI MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION.
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CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth has the legal public authority to sponsor at $2,156,680 funding request associated with the council approved Duluth Traverse Mini Master Plan, which has been previously designated by the Greater Minnesota Regional Park and Trail Commission (GMRPTC) as a regional 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, related master plan and any supporting information as submitted.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that, if selected for funding by the GMRPTC, 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 Chief Financial Officer is hereby authorized to apply to the Department of Natural Resources for funding of this project on behalf of the applicant.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth has fee title over the land described in the funding request and therefore, also in the state’s grant application for regional parks has fee title.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon approval of its application by the state, the applicant may enter into an agreement, substantially in the form attached hereto as exhibit A, with the state of Minnesota for the above-referenced project, and that the applicant certifies that it will comply with all applicable laws and regulations as stated in the grant contract including committing to maintain the trail for a period of no less than 20 years and providing a perpetual easement for recreational purposes on all lands acquired for trail use.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the chief financial officer is hereby authorized to execute such agreements as necessary to implement the project on behalf of the applicant.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the application to and, if offered, acceptance of a $2,156,680 grant from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission for the Duluth Traverse.
On July 16, 2018, City Council approved application for, but not acceptance of, funding for this project. The granting agency strictly requires a resolution to apply for and accept funding; therefore, this request will replace resolution 18-0484R.
The application seeks full funding to complete conversion of 5.5 miles of the former Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific (DWP) 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 to repair and repurposing of the Sargent Creek Bridge, stabilization of rock cuts and tunnels at Elys 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 2020. 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 the rail bed, and how user conflict should be mitigated and managed through a combination of signage, education, and enforcement. Local match is recommended by not strictly required. In the unlikely event that the entire $2,156,680 request is funded, the City intends to provide match dollars through community contributions, half and half tax proceeds, and Park Fund dollars put aside annually for completion of the Duluth Traverse.