Agenda - Council - 04/25/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Given the state funding cycle for each fund source, the process outlined above would take effect at different times. For Parks and Trails Legacy Fund dollars, the process would be initiated during the 2018-2019 biennium funding cycle (beginning on July 1, 2017). For Capital Improvement Program dollars, the process would be initiated for 2019 fiscal year (beginning on July 1, 2018). It is important to note that the review of proposed projects will in no way alter an agency's share of funding received from either the Capital Improvement Program or the Parks and Trails Legacy Fund. Require regional park implementing agencies to complete a Regional Parks System equity toolkit in grant applications. The Regional Parks System equity toolkit, once adopted, will also be completed by regional park implementing agencies when they submit grant applications. The Regional Parks System equity toolkit will not be used for screening purposes or to determine eligibility of funding, but will provide the Council a mechanism to track and monitor progress toward strengthening equitable use of the Regional Parks System. Using Council bonds, the Council will create, fund, and administer a set-aside competitive grant program for capital projects explicitly aimed to strengthen equitable usage of the Regional Parks System. The Council will levy Council bonds annually to fund a competitive grant program that is used solely to strengthen equitable use of the Regional Parks System. Considering existing limitations on Council bonds, the grant program will only provide funding for acquisition, development, or redevelopment projects in the Regional Park System. To develop this grant program, the Council will work in close collaboration with regional park implementing agencies, partners, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, and other stakeholder groups in 2015 to formulate criteria and measures for awarding grants to regional park implementing agencies for capital projects aimed to strengthen equitable use. The amount available for the grant program would vary annually. The amount available is primarily determined by four factors: 1) the Council's $40 million limit on outstanding park bond debt at any given time (Minn. Stat. 473.325), 2) the Council's policy to limit park bond levying to $7 million annually, 3) the amount required to fulfill Council's obligated match to state funds, as it pertains to other Regional Parks System grant programs, and 4) Council approval to levy bonds.