DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreement With City Of Inver Grove Heights For Natural Resources Restoration Within Select Parks And Amend Budget To Reflect Local Project Match
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the execution of an agreement to partner with the City of Inver Grove Heights (City) for natural resources restoration at Mississippi River Greenway nodes (Ernster Park, Heritage Village Park, Rock Island Swing Bridge Park), Seidl’s Lake Park, and Harmon Park Reserve/Salem Hills (Attachment: Project Map). Amend the 2025 Parks Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget to include local match funding from the City of Inver Grove Heights.
SUMMARY
The Land Conservation Plan, adopted by Resolution No. 20-568 (November 17, 2020), called for creating a City County Conservation Collaborative (4C) to “more effectively protect critical undeveloped areas, increase natural resource restoration and management, and share information and financial and staff resources within all incorporated areas.”
In 2021, a 4C development and implementation proposal was distributed to all cities located in the County. There was interest and support amongst all the cities, and a request to submit potential restoration projects was distributed. Five cities - Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, and Mendota Heights, submitted project applications. Inver Grove Heights’ Seidl’s Lake Park and Harmon Park Reserve/Salem Hills is one of the projects selected to receive County support, including project management assistance and state Outdoor Heritage Funds (OHF). The City of Inver Grove Heights committed a minimum of 15 percent match toward each project. Other projects selected and in progress include Caponi Art Park in Eagan, Valley Park in Mendota Heights, and Alimagnet Park in Apple Valley and Burnsville.
On February 7, 2023, and March 28, 2023, the County Board of Commissioners approved to submit grant applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program and the Legislative-Citizen's Commission on Minnesota Resources’ Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (LCCMR-ENRTF) program. These applications included restoration work at key nodes along the Mississippi River Greenway, including Inver Grove Heights’ Ernster Park, Heritage Village Park, and Rock Island Swing Bridge Park. Both grants were awarded in full, eliminating the need for any additional local match.
The Natural Resources Restoration joint powers agreement (JPA)(Attachment: JPA) establishes a standardized, citywide template for collaboration, replacing the need for multiple project-specific agreements for each of these projects. It centralizes information for jointly managed restoration projects in an efficient, transparent format. Future amendments will be made by adding or updating exhibits as new projects are undertaken.
Project Details:
Mississippi River Greenway Nodes at Ernster Park, Heritage Village Park, and Rock Island Swing Bridge Park
Conduct natural resources restoration on 55 acres following recommendations of the 2025 Natural Resources Management Plans (NRMPs).
Budget:
$89,500 LCCMR-ENRTF grant
$110,095 RAISE grant
$75,000 County LCCMR-ENRTF Grant Match
$274,595 Anticipated total project budget
Seidl’s Lake Park
Conduct natural resources restoration of 19.4 acres following recommendations of the 2025 NRMP.
Budget:
$128,755 Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) grant
$22,723 City of Inver Grove Heights match (minimum 15 percent)
$151,478 Anticipated total project budget
Harmon-Salem Park
Conduct natural resources restoration of 28.5 acres following recommendations of the 2025 NRMP.
Budget:
$426,000 Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF) grant
$70,035 City of Inver Grove Heights match (minimum 15 percent)
$496,035 Anticipated total project budget
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that Dakota County execute a joint powers agreement with the City of Inver Grove Heights to cover the described natural resources restoration projects.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The estimated total cost of all proposed restoration and enhancement projects for the described parks within the City of Inver Grove Heights is approximately $922,108. There is sufficient funding in the Parks CIP to cover these expenses.
|
Funding Source |
Amount |
|
Outdoor Heritage Fund Grant |
$554,755 |
|
LCCMR-ENRTF Grant |
$89,500 |
|
RAISE Grant |
$110,095 |
|
Required Grant-Match (ELF) |
$75,000 |
|
City Contribution (cash and/or in-kind) |
$92,758 |
|
Total |
$922,108 |
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, the Land Conservation Plan, adopted by County Board Resolution 20-568 on November 17, 2020, called for creating a City County Conservation Collaborative (4C) to “more effectively protect critical undeveloped areas, increase natural resource restoration and management, and share information and financial and staff resources within all incorporated areas”; and
WHEREAS, in 2021, a 4C development and implementation proposal was distributed to all cities located in the County. There was interest and support amongst all the cities, and a request to submit potential restoration projects was distributed. Five cities - Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Inver Grove Heights, and Mendota Heights, submitted project applications; and
WHEREAS, Inver Grove Heights’ Seidl’s Lake Park and Harmon Park Reserve/Salem Hills were selected to receive County support, including project management assistance and state Outdoor Heritage Funds; and
WHEREAS, the City of Inver Grove Heights committed a minimum of 15 percent match toward each project; and
WHEREAS, on February 7, 2023, and March 28, 2023, the County Board of Commissioners approved to submit grant applications to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program and the Legislative-Citizen's Commission on Minnesota Resources’ Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (LCCMR-ENRTF) program; and
WHEREAS, these RAISE and LCCMR-ENRTF grant applications included restoration work at key nodes along the Mississippi River Greenway, including Inver Grove Heights’ Ernster Park, Heritage Village Park, and Rock Island Swing Bridge Park; and
WHEREAS, both grants were awarded in full, eliminating the need for any additional local match; and
WHEREAS, the Natural Resources Restoration joint powers agreement with the City of Inver Grove Heights establishes a standardized, citywide template for collaboration, replacing the need for multiple project-specific agreements for each of these projects; and
WHEREAS, the joint powers agreement centralizes information for jointly managed restoration projects in an efficient, transparent format; and
WHEREAS, future amendments will be made by adding or updating exhibits as new projects are undertaken.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That Dakota County execute a joint powers agreement with the City of Inver Grove Heights for natural resources restoration projects; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby approves the estimated city match contributions and amends the 2025 Parks Capital Improvement Budget as follows:
Revenue
Local Program Match-City of IGH $92,758
Total Revenue $92,758
Expense
Natural Resources Restoration $92,758
Total Expense $92,758
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
20-568; 11/17/20
23-066; 02/07/23
23-130; 03/28/23
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Map
Attachment: Joint Powers Agreement
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☒ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Niki Geisler
Author: Meghan Manhatton