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STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: 05/21/2024 <br /> CONSENT <br /> MOTION <br />TO: City Council <br />FROM: Adam Swanepoel, Assistant Public Works Director <br />AGENDA ITEM: Cross Country Trail Grooming Grant <br />REVIEWED BY: Marty Powers, Public Works Director <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />For the past several years, the City has been a participant in the Cross Country Ski Trail Assistance <br />Program sponsored by the Minnesota DNR. This program allows for reimbursement of costs related to <br />maintaining the ski trails in the forms of fall trail maintenance and winter trail grooming. The proposed <br />application would cover the 2023/2024 ski season in Sunfish Lake and Reid Park. <br /> <br />ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: <br />Should the city pursue submission of a grant application for Cross Country Trail Grooming Reimbursement <br />at Sunfish Lake, Reid Park and Demontreville? <br /> <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: <br />Each year the City of Lake Elmo has applied for the Cross Country Ski Trail Assistance Program through <br />the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the trail system in Sunfish Lake Park. The City added <br />two miles of additional trails in 2022 by adding Reid Park to the trail grant. This year Demontreville Park <br />will add an additional 1.3 miles of trail. The fund allocations are driven by the number of participants in <br />the program and the number of trail miles being maintained. The city has consistently received $4,000- <br />$5,500 per year in grant funds to cover a portion of the costs related building and maintaining the Cross <br />Country Ski Trails all three parks. These funds are used to help offset the cost of fall trail preparations and <br />the cost of grooming throughout the winter months. A requirement of the application process is to attach a <br />resolution providing City Council approval to sponsor the participation in the program. <br /> <br />FISCAL IMPACT: <br />• If awarded, the city could receive approximately $4,500 to $5,500 to help offset the cost of trail <br />maintenance. <br /> <br />OPTIONS: <br />• Approve participation in Cross Country Trail Grooming Grant <br />• Deny participation in Cross Country Trail Grooming Grant <br />• Table for future discussion <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />“Motion to approve Resolution #2024-064 to approve grant submission to Minnesota Department of <br />Natural Resources for Cross Country Ski Trail Grant-In-Aid Program.” <br /> <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />• Resolution <br />• Grant Application