Memorandum 16-155 Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant

Memorandum ID: 
16-155
Memorandum Status: 
Backup

Details

Memorandum 16-155

TO:                       KATIE KOESTER, CITY MANAGER

CC:                        JO JOHNSON, MMC, CITY CLERK

FROM:                  PARKS, ART, RECREATION AND CULTURE ADVISORY COMMISSION

THRU:                  RENEE KRAUSE, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

DATE:                   SEPTEMBER 21, 2016

SUBJECT:           LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT            

At the regular meeting on September 15, 2016 the Commission discussed and made a recommendation to request application for a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for the construction of the Fairview Avenue portion of the Woodard Creek Trail part of Karen Hornaday Park Master Plan – Phase 2. 

Following is an excerpt of the minutes of that discussion including the motion to request:

C. Land and Water Conservation Grant Application for Projects – Jack Gist or Fairview Park Trail

 

Chair Steffy read the title into the record. He requested input from Commissioner Lowney.

 

LOWNEY/STEFFY – MOVE TO FORWARD A RECOMMENDATION AND REQUEST FOR STAFF TO SUBMIT A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT APPLICATION FOR THE FAIRVIEW AVENUE PORTION OF THE WOODARD CREEK TRAIL.

 

Commissioner Lowney provided input regarding the Fairview Avenue Trail citing the park being a previous Land and Water Conservation grant recipient, acknowledging staff concerns regarding the difficulties in writing this grant, the costs are already known, application would be for the Fairview portion of the trail and that would reduce the those estimated costs, not completing the portion that goes up into the park until the road is realigned; the trail would go through significant wetlands even though it goes right along that bench; this will also assist with some drainage issues behind the ballfields.

 

Commissioner Brann agrees but the grant is available for purchasing property too and agrees that the trail supersedes the purchase of the property but would advocate for staff to keep a look out for grants that would allow purchasing that property.

 

Commissioner Lowney mentioned that in the future they could look at tapping to a fund created by the city from land that was sold.

 

Chair Steffy agreed and felt comfortable making that recommendation but commented that his experience with grants October 31st is awful soon and would like to add to the recommendation that if staff deems that it is unfeasible that they keep it on the schedule to apply next year grant cycle.

 

Commissioner Lowney disagreed and wanted to make the recommendation and just leave it to the discretion of the City Manager.

 

Commissioner Sharp acknowledged needing to be brought up to speed but asked about additional projects that the commission has in the wings that this grant could apply to. Chair Steffy provided some input mentioning the Non-Motorized Trail Plan, Summary from the Trails Symposium, the Capital Improvement Plan, Karen Hornaday Park Master Plan.

 

Chair Steffy asked if there was any disagreement in forwarding the recommendation to apply for the Land & Water Conservation Fund Grant for the Fairview Ave Trail. There was no objection voiced from the commission.

 

Recommendation:

Approve the request to apply for the Land and Water Conservation Grant for the Fairview Avenue portion of the Woodard Creek Trail.