Title
Establishing the financing and spending plans in the Department of Parks and Recreation in the amount of $296,000 to recognize funding from the FY 2012 Parks and Trails Legacy Fund Allocation to restore the Phalen Park waterfall as a park amenity and return the feature to an operable condition.
Body
WHEREAS, Minn. Stat. ยง 85.53, Subd. 3 requires the Metropolitan Council to disburse appropriations it receives from the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund. Recipients' shares are based on a formula in the law that considers the following factors:
--Population of each park agency's jurisdiction with no overlap when jurisdictions occur (e.g. Ramsey County parks population does not include City of St. Paul)
--Amount each park agency spent in the past year to operate and maintain its portion of the regional park system.
--Amount of land each park agency manages for its portion of the regional park system; and
WHEREAS, An adjustment is made for the 80% of park reserve land acreage that is set aside for natural resource protection/interpretation, and is allocated based on the following factors:
--Amount of total visits each park agency hosted in the past year
--Amount of non-local visits relative to all non-local visits each agency hosted based on the most recent visitor origin research data. A "non-local visit"is a visit by a person to a park that is outside that visitor's residential jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is one of the ten Metro Parks Implementing Agencies and is eligible to apply for this funding; and
WHEREAS, the grant agreement contains a requirement for the City to indemnify the Metropolitan Council, and the Council finds that the provision has a public purpose in that enables the City to obtain the money for the uses below; and
WHEREAS, the Phalen Regional Park Water Fall was originally constructed as a means to replenish low lake levels in Lake Phalen from a nearby well; and
WHEREAS, landscape plantings, lighting, and other site amenities will be included to enhance the area and enjoyment by park users: and
WHEREAS, water will be drawn from Lake Phalen (not a well) and returned to the lake via the water fall; and
WHEREAS, this operation will provide oxygenated water which will improve the water quality of the lake and provide visitors with a scenic respite along the shores of Lake Phalen; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor, pursuant to Section 10.07.1 of the Charter of the City of Saint Paul, does certify that there are available for appropriation, funds of $296,000 in excess of those estimated in the 2011 Capital Improvement Budget; now therefore be it
RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Saint Paul, upon recommendation of the Mayor and advice of the Long Range Capital Improvement Budget Committee, that $296,000 is available for appropriation in the 2011 Capital Improvement Budget, and said 2011 budget, as heretofore adopted by the Council, is here by further amended as indicated on the attached financial analysis; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Council authorizes the appropriate City officials to enter into an agreement with the Metropolitan Council, which contains an indemnification clause, for these funds.
Financial Analysis
See Attachment.
CIB Recommendation
The St. Paul Long-Range Capital Improvement Budget Committee received this request on November 14, 2011 and recommends approval.