Parks Packet 04.20.22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Bryan Bear April 15, 2022 Page 8 G:\.Clients All\Hugo\Proposals\Northstar Bank\LETTER_HUGO_NorthstarBank_041522_Final.docx Funding Development of the bank, planning, construction, etc., is not able to be funded through grants and is the responsibility of the bank owner. However, other portions of the bank may be grant eligible and help defray the cost of the bank. LCCMR The Legislative Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) is one potential source of funding for the trail. The trail/boardwalk could be constructed through the bank, providing an opportunity to offset the cost of some construction and structures tha t would be part of the bank (i.e., berming and grading along the private ditch). This would also provide an opportunity for residents and students to have direct access to the interior of the bank and may support education and outreach goals. Under 2020 LCCMR appropriations, $29.9 million dollars were granted under the land acquisition, habitat, and recreation subdivision. https://www.lccmr.mn.gov/projects/2020/2020_appropriations_by_subdivision.html Safe Routes to School Safe Routes could be another program to supplement funding of the trailway while defraying some of the costs of the bank development; similar to the LCCMR funding source. In 2019, nearly $5.7 million was provided to LGUs for various projects across the state. The Northstar Bank Trail may be a high priority for funding due to its unique nature of traversing a wetland bank and being used to for education and outreach while facilitating safe travel routes from a dense residential area directly to a school. Example Banks Similar projects have been completed successfully. One example is the City of Blaine’s Blaine Wetland Sanctuary. https://www.blainemn.gov/1387/Blaine-Wetland-Sanctuary. This site is over 500 acres of restored wetland and includes two wetland banks. The northernmost wetland bank, Site 7 is the bank from which credits were purchased last year for the 147th Street project. This bank has been referred to as a great success and is used as a model bank, developed by a city, for other bank developers to emulate. The creation of these two banks in the Blaine Wetland Sanctuary serve many benefits to the community. The central bank is owned by the city’s Economic Development Commission who uses their credits as an economic development tool. The northern most bank, Site 7, was created to provide for a non-tax funding source to expand and maintain the city’s open spaces and trails. The incorporation of outreach and education has been a huge component to the success of the City of Blaine’s wetland bank by using the boardwalk as the classroom. An Environmental Educator was hired to develop a curriculum focused on the wetland bank and offer classes throughout the year. Wargo Nature Center provides educational opportunities to the public at the site throughout the year. In addition, the City worked with Anoka Ramsey Community College Ecology students to create interpretive signs that are located along the boardwalk and help educate the public on the benefits of the site. The students have been integral to the city by conducting some of the on-going monitoring of the site. There have been many more successes with the site in Blaine that could be emulated in Hugo.