DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreement With City Of Eagan For Natural Resource Restoration And Enhancement Of Caponi Art Park
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize expenditure of up to $275,960.00 through a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the City of Eagan to enhance and restore natural resources in Caponi Art Park.
SUMMARY
By Resolution No. 20-568 (November 17, 2020), the County Board adopted the Land Conservation Plan (LC Plan) to prioritize and improve County coordination and collaboration with other agencies and organizations regarding land protection and long-term natural resource management. The County received $6.2 million of Outdoor Heritage funds appropriated by the 2022 Minnesota Legislature for land protection and restoration to assist in implementing the LC Plan.
The County initiated the City-County Conservation Collaborative (Collaborative) in 2021 as an innovative and strategic LC Plan initiative to assist and provide incentives for cities to increase natural resource management on important city-owned property. The County worked with the cities to jointly develop guidelines and criteria for implementing the Collaborative, and cities were then asked to submit potential natural resource restoration projects to the County for financial and other assistance. The City of Eagan submitted a proposal for restoring 40 acres of the 50-acre Caponi Art Park (Park).
The LC Plan also developed a recommended cost share split of 85/15-County/City, but each case will be negotiated per a management agreement between the County and City, based on precedent greenway policies and the Land Conservation Collaborative. Examples include River to River Greenway between County and Cities of Mendota Heights and West St. Paul, Lake Marion Greenway with the cities of Farmington, Lakeville, and Burnsville, and North Creek Greenway with the cities of Apple Valley, Farmington, and Lakeville.
Caponi Art Park is recognized as one of Eagan’s most unique sites. It contains a diversity of landcovers typical of the region, including oak woodland, oak forest, oak savanna, and lakeshore, and is adjacent to another large natural area, Patrick Eagan Park. The Park is a well-known and heavily used community resource. Due to its diverse native vegetation communities, high-quality resources, adjacency to other natural areas, and high visibility and usage, this is a high-priority area for the City and the County. The County completed a field survey and developed a Restoration Plan for the entire Park that assessed current conditions and provided management goals, recommendations, and a work plan that describes restoration activities, a schedule, and estimated costs. Approximately 40 acres are recommended to be restored and managed in the Park as Phase 1 of the plan.
The City shared the JPA and the Restoration Plan for the Park with the City Council on November 19, 2024, at which time the City Council gave its support for the draft JPA and Restoration Plan.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that the County Board authorize the Physical Development Director to execute a JPA with the City to expend up to $234,566.00, from a combination of state grant funds and County funds, to implement natural resource enhancement and restoration of the Caponi Art Park located within the City of Eagan.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The County would provide up to 85 percent of the cost or $234,566. The City will contribute 15 percent, or $41,394, with cash and in-kind contributions.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 20-568 (November 17, 2020), the County Board adopted the Land Conservation Plan (LC Plan) to prioritize and improve County coordination and collaboration with other agencies and organizations regarding land protection and long-term natural resource management; and
WHEREAS, the County initiated the City-County Conservation Collaborative (Collaborative) in 2021 as an innovative and strategic LC Plan initiative to assist and provide incentives for cities to increase natural resource management on important city-owned property, as well as establish the recommended cost share split of 80-85 percent from County and 15-20 percent from City; and
WHEREAS, the County has precedent working with the Cities of Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, Farmington, Lakeville, Eagan, and Burnsville on greenway natural restoration projects using similar cost share splits; and
WHEREAS, the County received $6.2 million of Outdoor Heritage (OH) funds appropriated by the 2022 Minnesota Legislature (ML22) for land protection and restoration to assist in implementing the LC Plan; and
WHEREAS, the County worked with the cities to develop guidelines and criteria for implementing the Collaborative, and the cities were then asked to submit potential natural resource restoration projects; and
WHEREAS, the City of Eagan (City) submitted a proposal for restoring 40 acres of Caponi Art Park (Park); and
WHEREAS, the County prepared a Restoration Plan for the Park that assessed current conditions and provided management goals, recommendations, and a work plan that describes restoration activities, schedule, and estimated costs; and
WHEREAS, the City shared the Restoration Plan with the City Council on November 19, 2024, at which time they approved the plan and restoration activities for the Park; and
WHEREAS, the estimated total cost to implement the enhancement and restoration of 40 acres of the Park is $275,960.00; and
WHEREAS, the County would provide up to $199,381 (85% of the project cost) of the available ML22 OH appropriation to the County and $35,185 (15% of the project cost) of County match funds; and
WHEREAS, the City agrees to contribute 15 percent of the project costs or $41,394 with cash and in-kind contributions; and
WHEREAS, the County and City have developed a draft joint powers agreement that describes the purpose, terms, and obligations of both entities for implementing this natural resource enhancement and restoration project within a portion of the Park located in the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute a joint powers agreement with the City of Eagan to expend up to $234,566 from a combination of state grant funds and County funds to implement natural resource enhancement and restoration of Caponi Art Park located within the City of Eagan.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
20-568; 11/17/20
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: City of Eagan Caponi Art Park DRAFT Joint Powers Agreement
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☒ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Niki Geisler
Author: Joseph Walton