Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 02/08/2018

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Parks and Trails Legacy Fund In November 2008, Minnesota citizens approved a constitutional amendment, commonly called the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. The amendment created a new 3/8ths cent sales tax to be collected from July 2009-June 2034. Revenue from the sales tax is placed into four dedicated accounts. One of those accounts is called the Parks and Trails Fund. The constitutional amendment states: "...the parks and trails fund... may be spent only to support parks and trails of regional or statewide significance.... The dedicated money under this section must supplement traditional sources of funding for these purposes and may not be used as a substitute." (Minn. Constitution, art. 11, sec. 15) Legislation enacted in 2009 directs how money appropriated from the Parks and Trails Fund to the Council is distributed to the regional park implementing agencies under a formula in the legislation (Laws of Minn. 2009, ch. 172, art. 5, sec. 6, subd. 3) The Council awards grants to the regional park implementing agencies based on that formula for projects that support the regional park system. In 2011, the Parks and Trails Legacy Plan was released, outlining the Parks and Trails vision for Minnesotans. The vision states: "In 2035, our world class parks and trails connect everyone to the outdoors. They create experiences that inspire a legacy of stewardship for the natural world and they provide fun outdoor recreational opportunities that strengthen friendships, families, health, and spirit, now and into the future. Minnesotans experience the full range of benefits that outdoor recreation provides, reinforcing our identity as an outdoor culture." The Parks and Trails Legacy Plan specifies four strategic directives: • Connect People and the Outdoors - Develop stewards of tomorrow through efforts to increase life-long participation in parks and trails. • Acquire Land, Create Opportunities - Create new and expanded opportunities to serve current and future users. • Take Care of What We Have - Provide safe, high -quality experiences through regular re -investment in infrastructure and natural resource management. • Coordinate among Partners - Enhance coordination among the network of public, private, and nonprofit park and trail partners. The strategic directions serve as the guidepost for how Parks and Trail Fund dollars should be invested. The Parks and Trails Legacy Plan should be consulted for additional information, specifically regarding particular activities (for example, investments) that are viewed as priorities to implement the Parks and Trails Legacy Plan. As the fiscal agent for the funds, the Council has the responsibility to ensure regional park implementing agencies target the funds to projects that capture the strategic direction outlined in the Parks and Trails Legacy Plan.