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<br /> STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: 05/06/2025 <br /> CONSENT <br /> <br />TO: Mayor and Councilmembers <br />FROM: Assistant Public Works Director – Adam Swanepoel <br />AGENDA ITEM: Cross County Trail Grooming Grant <br /> <br /> <br />CORE STRATEGIES: <br /> ☒ Vibrant, inclusive, connected community ☐ Efficient, reliable, innovative services ☐ Responsive, transparent, adaptive governance ☐ Balanced Finances now and future ☒ Managed Growth ☐ Resilient Infrastructure <br /> <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />For the past several years, the City has been a participant in the Cross Country Ski Trail <br />Assistance Program sponsored by the Minnesota DNR. This program allows for reimbursement <br />of costs related to maintaining the ski trails in the forms of fall trail maintenance and winter trail <br />grooming. The proposed application would cover the 2025/2026 ski season in Sunfish Lake and <br />Reid Park. Historically, the city has groomed trails in Sunfish Lake, Demontreville, and Reid <br />Park, which collectively feature over 8 miles of ski trails. In 2025, the city plans to extend its <br />grooming track by adding an additional two miles of trails in Schiltgen Park. <br /> <br />ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: <br />Should the city pursue submission of a grant application for Cross Country Trail Grooming <br />Reimbursement at Sunfish Lake, Reid Park, Demontreville and Schiltgen Park ? <br /> <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: <br />Annually, the City of Lake Elmo submits an application for the Cross Country Ski Trail Assistance <br />Program through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to support the trail system in <br />Sunfish Lake Park. In 2022, the city expanded the trail network by incorporating an additional two <br />miles through Reid Park. In 2024, Demontreville Park contributed an extra 1.3 miles of trail. The <br />allocation of funds is influenced by the number of participants in the program and the total miles <br />of trails being maintained. The city has received between $4,000 and $5,500 in the past from grant <br />funding to assist with some of the expenses associated with the construction and upkeep of the <br />cross country ski trails across all three parks. These funds are utilized to help mitigate the costs of <br />fall trail preparations and winter grooming activities. A prerequisite for the application process is <br />the inclusion of a resolution that demonstrates City Council approval to endorse participation in <br />the program. <br />