Title
Authorizing the grant contract with the City of Minneapolis for completing activities outlined in the US Fish and Wildlife Service Grant.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul (the "City") is committed to opportunities to make Saint Paul one of the most sustainable cities in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provides federal assistance for the Service's Urban Bird Treaty Program (UBT) to help municipal governments conserve birds that live and nest in or overwinter or migrate through their cities; and
WHEREAS; the Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul are located on the Mississippi River Flyway - a bird migration route for 40 percent of North America's waterfowl and shore birds - and at the confluence of two major rivers; and
WHEREAS: Every spring and fall hundreds of thousands of birds, including a wonderful diversity of waterfowl, raptors, warblers and neotropical songbirds, pass through Saint Paul and Minneapolis on the way to summer breeding or wintering grounds and the cities are also home to significant resident populations of bald eagles, peregrine falcons , ospreys, water birds and numerous songbirds; and
WHEREAS, the Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul submitted a collaborative UBT proposal in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Audubon Minnesota to enhance bird habitat along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and Saint Paul; increase public education in the cities about birds through citizen science programs, interpretive signs, and youth engagement; and
WHEREAS, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded the City of Minneapolis a total of $75,000 for the UBT proposal of which $25,000 each would be subcontracted to the City of Saint Paul and Audubon Minnesota; and
WHEREAS, the subgrant agreement with the City of Minneapolis contains an indemnification clause; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul will use its portion of funds ($25,000) for the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department to: 1) provide public educational materials on birds and their conservation; 2) develop a birding trail immediately adjacent to the Mississippi River and within Lilydale Regional Park; and 3) restore bird habitat and manage invasive species along the Mississippi River in Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds there is a public purpose to the expenditure of funds, which includes the promise of indemnification, to allow the City to receive this grant money; 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 $25,000.00 in excess of those estimated in the 2011 budget, and
WHEREAS, the Mayor recommends changes be made to the 2011 budget as indicated on the attached financial analysis;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saint Paul accepts the funds, amends the 2011 Adopted Budget as indicated in the attachment, and does hereby authorize the proper City officials to execute contract and grant agreements with the City of Minneapolis, which contain an indemnification clause.