DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Submit Grant Application To Metropolitan Council’s Regional Parks System Fishing Piers Grant Program, To Accept Grant If Awarded, And To Execute Grant Agreement
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize submission of a grant application to Metropolitan Council’s Regional Parks System Fishing Piers Grant Program for a master plan-approved Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) fishing dock and viewing platform at Lake Byllesby Regional Park’s Echo Point, authorize the Physical Development Director or their designee, to accept the grant if awarded and execute the grant agreement, and authorize an amendment to the Parks Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget.
SUMMARY
Dakota County is eligible to submit a grant application in the amount of $125,000 to Metropolitan Council for the one-time legislatively directed Regional Parks System Fishing Piers Grant Program.
Background and Purpose
The 2024 legislative session appropriated $500,000 for grants to Regional Park Implementing Agencies for new fishing piers to increase fishing opportunities on lakes in the metropolitan parks system. Metropolitan Council is tasked with soliciting proposals from the implementing agencies. These funds expire on June 30, 2026.
Eligible Applicants
By state statute, applicants must be a regional park implementing agency, defined as the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington, the cities of Saint Paul and Bloomington, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and the Three Rivers Park District.
Available Funds and Award Limits for 2024
• $500,000 in State funds is available for new fishing piers.
• Agencies are allowed to submit one application each for $125,000.
• A lottery will be held at a Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission (MPOSC) meeting to select four awards from the pool of eligible applications.
• The Council reserves the right to award less than the available funding.
• Grants are reimbursement-based.
Eligible Uses of Funds and Criteria
Grant proposals must meet all of the below criteria to be considered for funding.
• Proposals must be for new fishing piers.
• Proposals must clearly demonstrate a need and describe how the fishing pier will increase fishing opportunities.
• Proposals must address one or more equity focus areas (age, race, ethnicity, income, national origin, or ability).
• The proposal must demonstrate how a new fishing pier will contribute to additional programming opportunities and awareness building for the regional parks and trails system.
• Projects must be ready to start so that they can be completed by June 30, 2026.
• Projects must be within the boundaries of the Regional Parks and Trails System, consistent with the 2040 Regional Parks Policy Plan, consistent with a Council-approved long-range plan, and ADA compliant.
• Projects must be approved by the Agency’s locally elected board either individually or as part of a local capital improvement plan before a grant agreement is executed.
Lake Byllesby is the largest lake in Dakota County and serves as a hub for lake-based recreation for the region. With its unique position as a reservoir of the Cannon River, it is regulated by a hydroelectric dam, making its water levels relatively predictable and consistent. Consistency in lake water levels makes shore fishing and fishing from fishing piers especially attractive as the quality of the fishing experience stays high throughout the year, even as weather and climate conditions change.
Echo Point, a peninsula-like area of Lake Byllesby Regional Park, was identified as a targeted location for a fishing pier in the master plan. Echo Point is fully accessible from a paved parking area and is connected throughout by a paved lakeside trail, which would make a new fishing pier off the westernmost tip of the peninsula fully accessible to anglers of all abilities and mobilities. A large fishing pier in this location will make group fishing programming (day camps, fishing clubs, and learn-to-fish general programs) possible, as the existing fishing pier in the park is significantly undersized for this type of use (accommodating just four people at one time).
Fishing is what Lake Byllesby Regional Park does best, though the park lacks a large fishing pier typical of most regional parks in the regional park system, which makes the shortcoming more significant for a regional park with so much lake-based recreation. Providing a large fishing pier makes fishing more possible, available, approachable, and teachable by park staff and volunteers.
As a new addition to Lake Byllesby Regional Park, this amenity will serve a dual purpose of supporting the interests of an adjacent and captive campground audience looking for more opportunity and a growing day-use regional park audience.
The revenues and expenses associated with this grant are currently not accounted for in the Parks Capital Improvement Program as this grant was not available at the time the CIP was developed.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends that Dakota County submit an application to Metropolitan Council for the Regional Parks System Fishing Piers Grant Program. Furthermore, staff recommends that Dakota County execute the grant agreement in the amount of up to $125,000 and authorize an amendment to the 2025 Parks CIP.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
This grant has no associated additional County cost. Authorization is requested to amend the 2025 Parks CIP budget by $125,000 to reflect the revenues and expenses associated with the grant agreement, if the grant is awarded to the County.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the 2024 legislative session appropriated grant funds to Regional Park Implementing Agencies for new fishing piers to increase fishing opportunities on lakes in the metropolitan parks system, and Metropolitan Council is tasked with soliciting proposals from the implementing agencies; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County is eligible to apply for the fishing piers grant program through Metropolitan Council.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director, or their designee, to submit a grant application to Metropolitan Council for a fishing pier grant in the amount of up to $125,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That, if awarded, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director, or their designee, to execute a grant agreement with Metropolitan Council for a fishing pier funding in the amount of up to $125,000, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s Office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby amends the 2025 Parks Capital Improvement Program as follows, if awarded:
Expense
Fishing Piers Project Expense $125,000
Total Expense $125,000
Revenue
Fishing Piers Grant - Met Council $125,000
Total Revenue $125,000
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Lake Byllesby Regional Park Executive Summary
Attachment: 2024 Fishing Piers NOFA
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Georg Fischer
Author: Niki Geisler