Adopt Resolution #03-13-XXX Supporting Local Match for Minnesota DNR Trail Grant Application Along T. H. #47 and CSAH # 83

In the early spring of 2011 City Council authorized by Resolution, the application of several trail grants, one of which was a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Trail grant from Central park, south to Alpine Drive and another for a trail along T. H. #47 from the Trott Brook Cemetery (the Fox Park neighborhood), south to connect to Elmcrest Park.

Staff submitted both grants to the DNR before the March 31 deadline. Thereafter, the State of Minnesota budget issues continued to play out - culminating in a 'shut down' of government.  The resultant biannual budget that was agreed to included a formulaic local match change for the trail grant program; resulting in the DNR calling for a re-submittal of the grant applications, which were then due on October 31, 2011.

The City was not successful in either 2011 application, but did 'score' just short of being funded.  This same grant application is now back to the usual application timing, with the deadline of March 31st, 2012.

Approving Resolution #03-13-XXX via this Consent Agenda case authorizes staff to resubmit the same two trail grant applications discussed and acknowledged at the City Council work session in October 25th, 2011.  The only difference within the T.H. #47 grant application is that staff is refining the estimated cost of the building for Elmcrest Park, and expecting it to be less than the earlier estimates.

Attached are exhibits for both trail grant applications, and draft applications that discuss the projects in detail.  Both grants request $100,000 in funding from the State of Minnesota.

Adopting this Resolution does not require funding at this time - however, the trail grant for the trail along T. H. #47, includes reference to a building for Elmcrest Park (the topic of consensus approval at the October 25th, 2011 work session), and therefore an award of this grant would include the expectation that the city would move forward accordingly and build the building, if awarded the grant.  The trail grant award can also be rejected.

The local match funding for the T.H. #47 trail project would come from a combination of the city's Trail Fund, the Park Trust Fund, and Northern Lights Soccer (for a small or undetermined portion of the building's construction and operation).

The local match funding for the CSAH #83 trail project would be from the city's Trail Fund.

Motion to adopt Resolution #03-13-XXX Supporting Local Match for Minnesota DNR Trail Grant Application Along T. H. #47 and CSAH # 83.