The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2013-12-18 PACKET 04.P.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCI� ACTION COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # � DATE 12/18/13 ' • PREPARED BY Parks and Recreation Zac Dockter ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT HEAD **�**��*�**:��**��***�*****�*****��***********�* COUNCIL REQUEST Consider authorizing staff to apply for the MN Department of Natural Resources Community Partners Legacy Grant in the amount of $50,000 for prairie and wetland rehabilitation of Hidden Valley Park. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Authorize staff to apply for the MN Department of Natural Resources Community Partners Legacy Grant in the amount of $50,000 for prairie and wetland rehabilitation of Hidden Valley Park. BUDGET IMPLICATION: $0 BUDGETED AMOUNT ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE ❑ PLANNING ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS � MEMO/LETTER: ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: ❑ OTHER: ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS REVIEWED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ $3,667.00 ACTUAL AMOUNT APPROVED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ DENIED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ � , � � � � �� City dministrator ate � C:\Documents and Settings\nbelscamper\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.0utlook\ M1 X Q6KCouncil Action Form - C�L Grant 121813.doc City of Cottage Grove , Minnesota To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Zac Dockter, Parks and Recreation Manager Date: 12/16/13 Subject: MN DNR Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Introduction The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Conservation Partners Legacy (CPL) Grant program has a mission of restoring, protecting, and enhancing wetlands, prairie, forest and habitat for fish, game and wildlife. The CPL Grant is designed by the DNR to partner with regional and local organizations to achieve said mission through Legacy Grantfunding. Funding for the CPL program is from the Outdoor Heritage Fund created by the people of Minnesota. This fund receives 33% of the sales tax revenues resulting from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Constitutional Amendment passed by the voters in the November 2008 election. The CPL Grant program offers an excellent opportunity for the city of Cottage Grove to continue its efforts in restoring historical landscapes within Hidden Valley Park. Background Staff has reviewed the MN DNR's CPL grant program criteria and believes the continuation of restoring native landscapes in the Hidden Valley Park greenway corridors meets the criteria for funding. This project would begin rehabilitation of the native prairie that dominated the pre- settlement landscape to improve plant variety, soil stabilization, habitat and water quality. The project would consist of prairie restoration work where the land is more open and ripe for prairie. Areas near and below normal water elevations of the Hidden Valley Park ponds would be planted with wetland mixes. The restoration of this property would advance the vision of a "prairie belY' through Cottage Grove via the power line corridor (see attached map). Work would be completed using multiple sources including both in-house services and hired services. Staff is proposing that a CPL grant application be submitted in the amount of $50,000 to provide for a prairie and wetland restoration project within Hidden Valley Park. 10% of the project costs must be derived from non-state sources meaning that the city is responsible for up to $5,000 of the total project expense. Of that responsibility, up to 33%, or $1,667, may be in-kind services such as labor hours, machinery, project management and such. The remaining 67%, or $3,333, must be cash-based expenses which would be derived from the Parks Maintenance operating budget, Public Landscapes Initiative or other potential grant funding. Staff Recommendation Authorize staff to apply for the MN Department of Natural Resources Community Partners Legacy Grant in the amount of $50,000 for prairie and wetland rehabilitation of Hidden Valley Park. Map A Cottage Grove "Prairie BeIY' — �,:� — ii � � �� `; ^ � , + �y , r r � .1i f i � 1 1 "� � �"} . � �i ,, w,F� ` � �.� -.[z, .v:�, . � ,: � = .� � � � ;�- z. � � � � � � �� t 4� , i ti. �-_.;�f� Y }r � . 1 � n What a restored rairie mi ht look like at Hidden V { � w �� _ � � y' � u . .. ' . ��. � �� ; �� , r , � i �i '.: "' � � "i ` "` ��,� )�, ' � t �� r �� , { '� � .t � ' a � � � Park: �� — �.�� p � � i i i >� r3 . � —i�. � �I 1 �4.Ti y p E � � I� � �. � ilE r J �e �� i"� � -. ��, � � ��' �t'� �� m.�iF � Q , 1 � i � .. « � . / ��. ��,�.17�#! : -��..''�� 6�"� .- � �.�s. � � � .�s.�"�` � � � �_�� 1 a, � '. � s.:+�a;�` a:. I .E3��. . t � . , ✓ . . � . � c �� 4 �I � Y �Z � . .s�