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

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To that end, as previously noted in Chapter 4, the Council will identify a minimum percentage of Parks and Trails Legacy appropriations that should be used to "connect people and the outdoors." Once determined and approved by the Council, the Council will require regional park implementing agencies to adhere to the determined minimum level of spending as it applies to their annual share of the Parks and Trails Fund appropriations. Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund In 2001, the Council established a Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund grant program to assist regional park agencies in acquiring land for the Regional Parks System. The Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund consists of two accounts: • The Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) acquisition account, which is financed with 60% state appropriations from the ENRTF as recommended by the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources. The remaining 40% of the account is financed with bonds issued by the Council. • The Parks and Trails Legacy Fund (PTLF) acquisition account, which is financed with 60% Parks and Trails Fund appropriations from the Land and Legacy Amendment. The remaining 40% is financed with Council bonds. Park Acquisition Opportunity Fund Grant Rules Qualifying Lands All properties to be acquired must be within Council -approved master plan boundaries. ENRTF acquisition requests must be intended for acquisitions of undeveloped land with high natural resource values, to comply with Minnesota Constitution art. XI, sec. 14 and Minn. Stat. Ch.116P. PTLF acquisition requests do not have any restrictions on the condition of lands within Council - approved master plan boundaries. Qualifying Land Acquisition Costs The following items are eligible in calculating the total costs of the acquisition: a. Appraisal cost for the acquiring regional park implementing agency or as part of a condemnation settlement/award consistent with applicable provisions of Minn. Stat. ch. 117; b. Appraisal review cost needed to verify the value of a land donation, or the value of land obtained via parkland dedication ordinance and subsequently transferred to the regional park implementing agency when other land is obtained from the same landowner; c. Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment; d. Environmental contamination remediation costs if consistent with the conditions specified in the "Special Circumstances" section below; e. Legal services and closing costs to the park agency for costs associated with the purchase or condemnation settlement/award including attorney's fees, litigation expenses, appraisal fees and