Agenda - Public Works Committee - 01/16/2001

Home

Project components must support at least one of the three goals of the program (roadside beautification, community improvement, and environmental stewardship.) In the formative stages of the project, the applicant must form and designate a committee of at least three contact people for the project. At least one of the three contact people must be an employee or officiaI representative of the local government unit requesting or sponsering the project. The designated individuals on the committee would then be responsible .for overall project liaison and coordination prior to and during the submission of the application, as well as during implementation stages after the project is awarded. At least one of the committee members will be required to attend a six hour landscape project inspection, installation and maintenance training school. The committee member or members will be responsible for providing community workers and volunteers with Mn/DOT supplied instructions, videos, and information packets Pertaining to safe and proper worker supervision, materials handling, plant installation and plant maintenance. The application must include a formal resolution or letter indicating community support for the desired improvements and authorization of a primary cor~tact person to apply to Mn/DOT for funding. (See Appendix I for sample resolution or letter.) If volunteers are to be used, the application must include a volunteer pledge list identifying sufficient numbers of volunteers to complete the scope of work within an acceptable time period. A Mru'DOT approved (District Metro Division and Landscaping Programs Coordinator) landscape plan at a scale of not more than 100'=1" must be included as part of the application. (1I" x 17" reductions are acceptable for application purposes.) The landscape plan shall incorporate by reference or attachment, standard Mn/DOT planting details, material specifications and special provisions as applicable. The plan may be prepared by Mn/DOT's Landscape, Forestry and Turf Section with no obligation, as scheduled work loads permit. Potential applicants may use the gervices of local landscape design professionals to prepare plans, thereby minLmizing time delays that-may occur as a result of Mn/DOT's workload. Mn/DOT's Landscape, Forestry, and Tuff Section will assisst applicants in obtaining basemapping information, design guidelines, required reviews,' and necessaryapprovals. Funding assistance is limited to the estimated cost of providing the required lanscape materials. (soil amendments, herbicides, plant materials, seed, sod, mulch, rodent guards and.other miscellaneous materials necessary for the project.) Eligible projects must include a minimum of $1,000 worth of materials and the maximum award of funds for any project or project phase shall not exceed $20,000 in any given year. The program requires that a community provide the funds or in-kind services to install and maintain the state funded materials. Applicants may utilize their oWn labor forces, service organiza- ti0ns~ volunteers or contractors. The community must act as the contract letting and administration authority where contract installation is desired. Volunteers must be 13 years of age or older unless accompanied and supervised by an adult at al! times. A ratio of at least one adult supervisor for every five children under the age of 13 is required.