Acknowledge Award of Two Trail Grants

The purpose of this case is to acknowledge the 2012 award of a two trail grants, and authorize staff to begin the execution of these projects accordingly.  Additionally, this is an opportunity to communicate to residents that Council and Staff are responding to requests for more trails; and delivering trails for increased connectivity between neighborhoods and destinations - and at the same time expanding recreation choices, as well as travel alternatives.
Attached are two trail grant award letters received this summer.  For the meeting, staff will organize a visual presentation of where these new trails will be for the public's orientation, and how the project's meet with City Council's goals for leveraging external funding in connecting the community with trails.

This case acknowledges and accepts external funding in the form of a DNR grant for the trail from Central Park to Alpine Drive and Federal funds for the Mississippi River Trail (MRT) from Mississippi West Regional Park, west to Ramsey's border with Elk River.

In the first grant, the city's Trail Fund (monies previously collected from new development) will be required as a match to complete the project's estimated construction cost of $279,000.  For the second trail project, the MRT, Anoka County Parks has committed to providing $300,000 of the local match through Phase Two of improvements (trails and trail connections) within the Regional Park to the MRT - for a total MRT project value estimated at $1.5 million dollars.

In the case of both trail projects, administration and engineering expenses are not factored in the project totals, nor are they compensated by the grants.  As project development occurs, both trails will return for Council approvals with detailed cost analysis's.

Motion to acknowledge and accept both trail grants, and authorize staff to begin project development.