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Home My WebLink About15.C.1. Greenway Grant Application IS, c.ll CITY OF SHAKOPEE MEMORANDUM CONSEr~T To: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator From: Mark Themig, Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Director Meeting Date: November 16, 2004 Subject: Greenway Grant Application INTRODUCTION City Council is asked to authorize staff to submit a Greenway Grant Application to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for potential park land and greenway acquisition funding assistance. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION On Monday, November 1, I had the opportunity to make a presentation to the Central Division managers of the Department of Natural Resources on upcoming projects in Shakopee. This presentation included information on the Quarry Reuse Project, Huber Park redevelopment, Minnesota River Boat Landing and Archery Range relocation, Greenway Planning, and land acquisition. As part of the discussion that followed, Kate Drewry, Metro Wildlife Corridors/Greenways Coordinator, noted that the city's priority park acquisition site, the Shutrop Property, as well as the adjacent Prior Lake outlet channel, is in the newly identified Metro Wildlife Corridor 2005 Focus Area. (Wildlife Corridor is the new term for some of the areas that were previously identified as greenways.) There are two grants available. The first is a restoration grant and the second is a protection grant. Restoration work must be completed by December 2005, so it appears that the protection grant is more appropriate as these funds can be used to acquire property. The Shutrop property appears to be an ideal candidate. Grant applications are due November 30. Funding and grant amounts are contingent on approval by the legislature, and the Shutrop's timeline may not fit the grant cycle. However, I believe it is still worthwhile to submit the application since the project area does meet most, if not all of the grant criteria. ACTION REQUESTED: If City Council concurs, move to authorize staff to submit a Greenway Grant application for funding potential park land and greenway acquisition. f\oJl~ Mark Themig ~ Parks, Recreation, and Facilities Director Metro Greenways protection & restoration grants: Minnesota DNR Page 1 of 3 wrD)lKn~l Shortcum: gol ar, "''''''''''lO'''''' Site Map I Contact the DNR I What's New? I Newsroom I Events > MN DNR Home> Assistance> Grants> Land> --. go Metro Greenwaysprotection ~ & restoration Grants General information: Main page The Metro Greenways program, created by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1998, demonstrates the continued importance Financial assistance program that Minnesotans place on protection and managing important matrix natural areas. For more information check the Metro Greenways program pages. Contacts & maps Program purpose: Education. planning & Protect, connect, restore and manage a regional network of research natural areas, parks and other open spaces interconnected by ecological corridors in the seven county metropolitan region Forest management through collaborative public/private partnership. Gifts & donations Eligible projects: Funds are available for both land restoration and acquisition Habitat improvement project. Potential sites must have high overall ecological significance, involve willing landowners, be supported by Land conservation interested parties (nearby residents, local community, elected officials, etc.) and not exceed the funding limits of the program. D t' ftecrea Ion ~~o may al?ply:. . . Water CItIes, countIes, townships, watershed dIstncts, watershed - management organizations, soil and water conservation districts. special park and conservation districts. and nonprofit organizations may nominate sites located within the Metro wildlife corridors focus areas IPDFI in the seven county metro area, plus Isanti, Chisago, and Sherburne counties. Priorities: Priority is given to sites that best meet established program criteria. (Refer to selection criteria included with application packet.) For example, sites which demonstrate regional ecological significance, have high levels of community support including financial involvement will receive high consideration. Timeline: Applications are due by November 3Q, 2004. Projects will be evaluated and ranked over the winter of 2004/2005. Project funding recommendations will be announced spring of2005, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/land/metrogreen.html 11/10/2004 Metro Greenways protection & restoration grants: Minnesota DNR Page 2 of3 but will be contingent on final legislative approval of overall program funding level. Level of assistance: Sites are evaluated on a case by case basis. A variety of land conservation programs strategies, including donation, grants, conservation easements, and fee title aquisition will be considered. In most instances, sites with significant fmancial involvement by other participants will receive higher consideration. ~ How to apply Download, complete and submit: . Site restoration grant application materials - deadline: November 30, 2004: o MS Word version application form (1.5Mb) and site selection criteria (35Kb) o PDF version application form and site selection criteria IPDFI (170Kb) . Site protection grant application materials - deadline: November 30, 2004 o MS Word version nomination form (1.5Mb) and site selection criteria (54Kb) o PDF version nomination form and site selection criteria IPDFI (153Kb) Further information Kate Drewry, Metro Greenways Project Coordinator Minnesota DNR 1200 Warner Road 81. Paul, MN 55106 Phone: (651) 772-7946 Fax: (651) 772-7977 E-mail: kate.drewry@dnr.state.mn.us Related DNR Programs: Environmental Partnerships Grant Program Conservation Partners Grant Program Metro Greenways Planning Grants Program Natural and Scenic Area Grant Program Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) Critical Habitat Match Program Other Related Programs: Big Rivers Partnership through Great River Greening Phone: (651) 665-9500 Green Corridor Project through 1000 Friends ofMN Phone: (651) 312-1000 http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/grants/land/metrogreen.html 11/10/2004 Metro. Greenways protection & restoration grants: Minnesota DNR Page 3 of3 Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas Program Phone: (952) 891-7030 Back to top Main Categories: About the DNR I Education & safety training I Grants I Jobs I Maps I Natural resources I Outdoor activities I Regulations, licenses, permits I Public input I Publications I Stewardship in your backyard I Volunteering @2004 Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Copyright Notice. Web site policies: Accessibility. Linking. Privacy http://www.dnr.state.ron.us/grants/land/metrogreen.html 11/10/2004 Metro Greenways Criteria for Selecting Land Restoration Grants I. Potential Ecological Value - Primary Criteria A. Plant Community/Habitat Quality - Site located within, buffering or connecting to a Regionally Significant Ecological Area and/or having rare species or plant communities will receive a higher priority. The restoration plan must be ecologically sound and appropriate for the site. Current and future use of lands adjacent to the site should not significantly diminish the ecological quality of the site over time. B. Other Ecological Functions - In addition to habitat, natural areas and other open spaces may provide a wide variety of additional ecological benefits, such as protection of surface and ground water quality and quantity, soil stability, and natural flood storage capacity. Restoration of sites to enhance such functions will receive a higher priority. II. Project Feasibility - Primary Criteria A. Committed and Capable Land Owner/Manager - The owner of the site must support the project and be willing to commit to long-term protection of the site. A letter of interest/support from the landowner should be submitted with this application (or no later than Sept 19). A capable private or public entity that will accept long-term management responsibilities for the site, including monitoring and maintenance, must be identified. B. Timeliness - Sites that offer the prospect of completing the funded restoration by June 2005 will receive higher priority. Projects must be completed by December 2005. A work plan with timeline must be submitted with the application. C. Reasonable Cost - The cost of restoring the site must be reasonable given existing site conditions and restoration goals. A detailed work plan and budget must be submitted with the application. D. Expertise ofthe Implementing Entity - The experience and expertise of the entity responsible for the restoration will greatly influence the likelihood ofproject success. Specific expertise in the type of restoration contemplated is highly desirable, and previous successful projects should be listed. III. Other Program Goals - Secondary Criteria A. Community Support and Collaboration - Local community elected officials, residents, and other interested groups should be involved and favor the project. Identification of the site for natural resource conservation in community documents such as natural area/greenway plans, and natural resource inventories is desirable. Financial involvement and/or resource dedication by multiple partners is also a strong indicator of support. In general, projects that include a local cost-share (cash or in-kind) will receive higher consideration. B. Compatible Public Use - Although the primary focus of the program is to restore natural areas, people may also have opportunities to use and enjoy these areas. Sites where educational and recreational activities can be accommodated without compromising the site's ecological value will receive greater consideration than comparable sites that do not provide for these uses. C. Imminence of Threat - Many natural areas and potential corridors are threatened by invasion of exotic species. In some situations, only a short period of time may be available to protect an area from being significantly degraded. Higher priority will be given to those sites with an immediate threat from invasion by exotic species, if the proposal includes provision for ongoing exotics control. D. Program Visibility and Geographic Distribution - Certain sites, by virtue oftheir size, characteristics, location, and history can further natural resource protection by increasing awareness of the Metro Greenways program and its goals. Sites and projects that bring these important benefits to the program will receive extra consideration. Would the project not be able to be done, but for Metro Greenways support? Also, an attempt will also be made to distribute protected sites throughout the region and within urban, suburban and rural areas. Metro Greenways Criteria for Selecting Potential Land Protection Sites I. Ecological Value - Primary Criteria A. Plant Community/Habitat Quality - Site located within, buffering or connecting to a Regionally Significant Ecological Area and/or having rare species or plant communities will receive a higher priority. Sites that have been disturbed or degraded should not require extraordinary restoration efforts and expenditures. Current and future use of lands adjacent to the site should not significantly diminish quality of the site over time. B. Other Ecological Functions - In addition to habitat, natural areas and other open spaces may provide a wide variety of additional ecological benefits, such as protection of surface and ground water quality and/or supply, natural flood storage capacity, and soil stability. Sites that contribute such functions will receive a higher priority. II. Project Feasibility - Primary Criteria A. Committed Donor/Seller - The success ofthis program depends upon property owners who are ready and willing to engage in discussion and negotiation of land protection options, including. donation or sale of fee title or conservation easements. Projects with a willing landowner will receive a higher priority. B. Timeliness - Sites that offer the prospect of concluding the land protection transaction by June 2005 will receive a higher priority. Projects must be completed by December 2005. Potential delaying factors such as multiple owners, title defects, property encroachments, boundary disputes, site contamination, deed or easement restrictions, will be considered in evaluating the nomination. C. Feasible Funding Plan - The cost for protecting the site cannot exceed the abilityllimits of the program. A realistic assessment of the cost to protect the site should be made and a preliminary funding plan needs to be submitted as part of the nomination. Administrators of other potential funding sources should be consulted to determine if additional funds are available to supplement Metro Greenways if necessary. D. Willing and Appropriate Future OwnerlManager - Future ownership of fee title or conservation easement must contribute to effective, long-term protection of the site and management of its natural resources. A private or public entity that will accept management responsibilities for the site, including stewardship, monitoring, and/or security activities, should be identified. m. Other Program Goals - Secondary Criteria A. Community Support and Collaboration - Nearby residents, local community elected officials and other interested groups should be involved and favor the project. Identification of the site for land protection in community documents such as natural arealgreenway plans and natural resource inventories is desirable. Financial involvement and/or resource dedication by multiple partners is also a strong indicator of support. In general, projects that include a higher percentage of non-state funding sources will be rated higher. B. Compatible Public Use - Although the primary focus of the program is to protect and improve natural areas, people may have opportunities to use and enjoy these areas. Sites where educational, stewardship, and recreational activities can be accommodated without compromising the site's ecological value will receive greater consideration than comparable sites which do not provide for compatible uses. C. Imminence of Threat - Many natural areas and potential corridors are threatened by development pressure, fragmentation and other factors. In some situations, only a short period of time may be available to protect an area from being permanently lost or significantly degraded. Higher priority will be given to those sites with an immediate or high level of threat. D. 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