Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING PROPER CITY OFFICALS TO ACCEPT A $13,600 GRANT FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOR CONTROL OF INVASIVE KNOTWEED AND WILD PARSNIP ON CITY LANDS.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to accept a grant provided by the State of Minnesota Department of Agriculture in the amount of $13,600 for control of invasive knotweed and wild parsnip on city lands as well as education to contractors and landowners.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are authorized to execute a grant agreement, substantially in the same as that attached hereto as Exhibit A, with the State of Minnesota, funds to be deposited into 205-130-1220-4220-02-CM205-NATRES-MISC (Parks Fund, Community Resources, Parks Capital, State of Minnesota Operating, Natural Resources, Miscellaneous).
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: This resolution authorizes the proper city officials to accept a $13,600 Noxious Weed and Invasive Plant grant provide by the State of Minnesota Department of Agriculture for the purpose of controlling invasive knotweed and wild parsnip on city lands. The city will provide the required in-kind match through staff time and educational materials.
Wild parsnip is a public safety risk as its sap is a skin irritant that can cause painful rash and blistering. Knotweed is a difficult to control species that can cause significant harm to public infrastructure. Both species are just getting a foothold in Duluth. Partners from the southern St. Louis County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area partners and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture have located infestations across the city. This grant will allow the City to eradicate invasives at thirty knotweed locations and three parsnip locations as well as provide education to contractors and landowners.