Title
Authorizing the Department of Parks and Recreation to accept Hazardous Tree Removal and Replacement funds, enter into a grant agreement, and amend the financing and spending plan in the amount of $66,321.51.
Body
WHEREAS, the Legislature appropriated funding to the Metropolitan Council for grants to regional parks implementing agencies “to remove hazardous trees and replace ash trees with more diverse, climate-adapted species within the metropolitan regional park system”; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul is designated as a regional parks implementing agency by Minn. Stat. 473.351, subd. 1; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota Session Laws 2023, Chapter 60--H.F. No. 2310, Article 1, Section 5, Paragraph (e) designates funding for "implementing agencies to remove hazardous trees and replace ash trees with more diverse, climate-adapted species; and
WHEREAS, no grant application or matching funds are required; and
WHEREAS, the appropriation to Saint Paul Parks and Recreation for hazardous tree removal and replacement is $66,321.51 for State Fiscal Year 2024; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Parks and Recreation wishes to accept said grant funds and establish a financing and spending plan for said Metropolitan Council grant; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that there is a public purpose in the removal of hazardous trees and improving the urban canopy in the regional parks; 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 $66,321.51 in excess of those estimated in the 2023 budget; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Saint Paul, that $66,321.51 is available for appropriation in the 2023 budget, and said 2023 budget, as heretofore adopted by the Council, is hereby 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 for the aforementioned funding, which includes an indemnification clause.
Financial Analysis
See Attachment