HF 2787

as introduced - 89th Legislature (2015 - 2016) Posted on 03/31/2016 04:28pm

A bill for an act
relating to capital investment; appropriating money for acquisition and
development of state parks, recreation areas, and trails; authorizing the sale
and issuance of state bonds.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin STATE PARK, RECREATION AREA, AND TRAIL ACQUISITION
AND DEVELOPMENT.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin State park and recreation areas. new text end

new text begin $10,000,000 is appropriated from
the bond proceeds fund to the commissioner of natural resources to:
new text end

new text begin (1) develop a new visitor center at Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine
State Park and rehabilitate the mine shaft;
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new text begin (2) develop new mountain biking trails, campground improvements, additional
yurts, a trailhead, and support features, such as parking, toilets, and an operations shop at
Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area;
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new text begin (3) develop the Fort Snelling Upper Bluff; and
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new text begin (4) redevelop the beach picnic area at William O'Brien State Park.
new text end

new text begin Development, redevelopment, and rehabilitation may include predesign, design,
construction, furnishing, and equipping, as necessary for each project. For any project
listed in this subdivision that the commissioner determines is not ready to proceed, the
commissioner may reallocate that project's money to another state park or recreation
area project determined to be a priority by the commissioner. The commissioner must
notify the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with jurisdiction
over environment and natural resources, and legislators from the affected legislative
districts, of any changes.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin State trails. new text end

new text begin (a) $17,720,000 is appropriated from the bond proceeds fund
to the commissioner of natural resources to acquire land for and to construct and renovate
state trails under Minnesota Statutes, section 85.015. This appropriation includes funding
for the following trail projects:
new text end

new text begin (1) $1,250,000 is for the Casey Jones Trail, and is to develop and pave approximately
five miles of existing rail bed into the city of Woodstock, including prairie restoration
and development of interpretive displays;
new text end

new text begin (2) $2,250,000 is for the Chester Woods Trail, and is to complete construction of a
five-mile segment connecting the city of Rochester to Chester Woods County Park, and to
acquire land from willing sellers for an eventual connection to the city of Eyota;
new text end

new text begin (3) $3,130,000 is for the Gitchi-Gami Trail, and is to complete a trail connection
in the city of Tofte and extend the trail approximately 3.3 miles from Grand Marais to
Cutface Creek;
new text end

new text begin (4) $2,590,000 is for the Glacial Lakes Trail, and is to complete an approximately
six and one-quarter mile trail connection between New London and Sibley State Park,
and includes repair of the bicycle trail in Sibley State Park;
new text end

new text begin (5) $1,300,000 is for the Goodhue Pioneer Trail, and is to extend it approximately
five miles from its current terminus north of Zumbrota and into Goodhue;
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new text begin (6) $350,000 is for the Heartland Trail, and is to develop a trail head parking area
along the existing trail in Park Rapids, and to predesign a trail connection to Itasca State
Park;
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new text begin (7) $2,200,000 is for a trail connection through Interstate State Park to connect
Taylors Falls to the Swedish Immigrant Regional Trail;
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new text begin (8) $650,000 is for the Mill Towns Trail, to match federal funding for a bicycle and
pedestrian bridge in Faribault to connect the Mill Towns Trail with the Sakatah Singing
Hills Trail;
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new text begin (9) $1,500,000 is for the Minnesota Valley Trail, and is to complete a 13-mile
trail along the Minnesota River in Bloomington with both a hard and natural surface
to accommodate multiple uses;
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new text begin (10) $1,000,000 is for the Mississippi Blufflands Trail, and is to acquire land for
and to construct a portion of the trail between Red Wing and Lake City, including a
connection to Frontenac State Park; and
new text end

new text begin (11) $1,500,000 is for the Blufflands Trail System, and is to extend the Preston
to Harmony segment approximately six miles to the Iowa border to connect with
northeastern Iowa's emerging regional trail network. This project includes connecting
the trail to Niagara Cave.
new text end

new text begin (b) For any project listed in this subdivision that the commissioner determines is not
ready to proceed, the commissioner may reallocate that project's money to another state
trail project described in this section or other state trail infrastructure. The commissioner
must notify the chairs of the house of representatives and senate committees with
jurisdiction over environment and natural resources, and legislators from the affected
legislative districts, of any changes.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Bond sale. new text end

new text begin To provide the money appropriated in this section from the
bond proceeds fund, the commissioner of management and budget shall sell and issue
bonds of the state in an amount up to $27,720,000 in the manner, upon the terms, and with
the effect prescribed by Minnesota Statutes, sections 16A.631 to 16A.675, and by the
Minnesota Constitution, article XI, sections 4 to 7.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective the day following final enactment.
new text end