SF 2043

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 11:33pm

A bill for an act
relating to natural resources; appropriating money from the parks and trails fund;
providing for the allocation of certain funding for metropolitan area parks and
trails; creating a regional park and trail grant program; providing funding for a
statewide 25-year park and trail framework; amending Minnesota Statutes 2008,
section 85.53; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 85.

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

Section 1. new text begin PARKS AND TRAILS FUND APPROPRIATIONS. new text end

new text begin The sums shown in the columns marked "Appropriations" are appropriated to the
agencies and for the purposes specified in this act. The appropriations are from the parks
and trails fund, or another named fund, and are available for the fiscal years indicated for
each purpose. The figures "2010" and "2011" used in this act mean that the appropriations
listed under them are available for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010, or June 30, 2011,
respectively. "The first year" is fiscal year 2010. "The second year" is fiscal year 2011.
"The biennium" is fiscal years 2010 and 2011. Appropriations for the fiscal year ending
June 30, 2009, are effective the day following final enactment. All appropriations in
this act are onetime.
new text end

			new text begin APPROPRIATIONS new text end
			new text begin Available for the Year new text end
			new text begin Ending June 30 new text end
				new text begin 2010 new text end		new text begin 2011 new text end

Sec. 2. new text begin DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 16,500,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 19,800,000 new text end

new text begin $13,000,000 the first year and $15,500,000
the second year are for state parks, recreation
areas, and trails to:
new text end

new text begin (1) connect people to the outdoors by
providing access, conservation education,
and interpretive services, including enhanced
naturalist programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) accelerate natural resource management,
restoration, and protection activities at state
parks; and
new text end

new text begin (3) accelerate facility maintenance and
rehabilitation, including energy-efficiency
improvements and the use of renewable
sources of energy.
new text end

new text begin $3,500,000 the first year and $4,300,000
the second year are for grants under new
Minnesota Statutes, section 85.535, to
parks and trails recognized as meeting the
constitutional requirement of being a park
or trail of regional or statewide significance.
Grants under this section must be used only
for acquisition, development, restoration,
and maintenance. Up to 2.5 percent of this
appropriation may be used for administering
the grants.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall develop a ten-year
strategic state parks and trails plan
considering traditional funding and the
funding available under the Minnesota
Constitution, article XI, section 15. The plan
shall incorporate the 25-year framework
developed under section 7.
new text end

new text begin The commissioner shall submit an annual
report on the expenditure and use of money
appropriated under this section to the
legislature as provided in Minnesota Statutes,
section 3.195. The first year report must be
submitted by March 1, 2010. In subsequent
years the report shall be submitted by January
15. The report must relate the expenditure of
funds by the categories established and detail
the outcomes in terms of additional use of
parks and trails resources, user satisfaction
surveys, and other appropriate outcomes.
new text end

new text begin The department and grantees receiving
money under this section shall give
consideration to contracting with the
Minnesota Conservation Corps for contract
restoration, maintenance, and other activities.
new text end

Sec. 3. new text begin METROPOLITAN COUNCIL new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin $13,000,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin $15,500,000 new text end

new text begin (a) To be distributed as required under
new Minnesota Statutes, section 85.53,
subdivision 2.
new text end

new text begin (b) The Metropolitan Council shall submit
an annual report on the expenditure and use
of money appropriated under this section
to the legislature as provided in Minnesota
Statutes, section 3.195. The first report
shall be submitted by March 1, 2010.
In subsequent years, the report shall be
submitted by January 15. The report must
detail the outcomes in terms of additional use
of parks and trails resources, user satisfaction
surveys, and other appropriate outcomes.
new text end

new text begin (c) The implementing agencies receiving
appropriations under this section shall
give consideration to contracting with the
Minnesota Conservation Corps for contract
restoration, maintenance, and other activities.
new text end

Sec. 4. new text begin UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin 400,000 new text end

new text begin $ new text end

new text begin -0- new text end

new text begin To the Board of Regents of the University
of Minnesota for the Center for Changing
Landscapes to create a comprehensive
statewide parks and trails framework and
system inventory.
new text end

Sec. 5.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 85.53, is amended to read:

85.53 PARKS AND TRAILS FUND.

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Fund established; purpose. new text end

The parks and trails fund is established
in the Minnesota Constitution, article XI, section 15. All money earned by the parks and
trails fund must be credited to the fund.

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Metropolitan area distribution formula. new text end

new text begin (a) Money appropriated from
the parks and trails fund to the Metropolitan Council shall be distributed to implementing
agencies, as defined in section 473.351, subdivision 1, paragraph (a), as grants according
to the following formula:
new text end

new text begin (1) 45 percent of the money must be disbursed according to the allocation formula in
section 473.351, subdivision 3, to each implementing agency;
new text end

new text begin (2) 31.5 percent of the money must be distributed based on each implementing
agency's relative share of the most recent estimate of the population of the metropolitan
area;
new text end

new text begin (3) 13.5 percent of the money must be distributed based on each implementing
agency's relative share of nonlocal visits based on the most recent user visitation survey
conducted by the Metropolitan Council; and
new text end

new text begin (4) ten percent of the money must be distributed as grants to implementing agencies
for land acquisition within Metropolitan Council approved regional parks and trails master
plan boundaries under the council's park acquisition opportunity grant program. The
Metropolitan Council must provide a match of $2 of the council's park bonds for every $3
of state funds for the park acquisition opportunity grant program.
new text end

new text begin (b) Money allocated under paragraph (a) is to:
new text end

new text begin (1) connect people to the outdoors by providing access, conservation education, and
interpretive services, including enhanced naturalist programs;
new text end

new text begin (2) accelerate natural resource acquisition, management, restoration, and protection
activities at regional parks; and
new text end

new text begin (3) accelerate facility acquisition, development, maintenance, and rehabilitation,
including energy-efficiency improvements and the use of renewable sources of energy.
new text end

Sec. 6.

new text begin [85.535] PARKS AND TRAILS GRANT PROGRAM.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Establishment. new text end

new text begin The commissioner of natural resources shall
administer a program to provide grants from the parks and trails fund to support parks and
trails of regional or statewide significance. Grants shall not be made under this section for
state parks, state recreational areas, or state trails.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Priorities. new text end

new text begin In awarding trails grants under this section, the commissioner
shall give priority to:
new text end

new text begin (1) trail projects that provide connectivity;
new text end

new text begin (2) trail projects that provide enhanced opportunities for commuters; and
new text end

new text begin (3) trail projects that provide enhanced safety.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Match. new text end

new text begin Recipients must provide a nonstate cash match of at least 25
percent of the total eligible project costs.
new text end

Sec. 7. new text begin CREATION OF FRAMEWORK AND INVENTORY.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Framework development. new text end

new text begin (a) The University of Minnesota
Center for Changing Landscapes is directed to create a long-range, 25-year framework
for an integrated statewide parks and trails system that provides information on the
natural resource-based recreational opportunities available throughout the state. The
detailed framework must include an inventory of existing regionally and statewide
significant parks and trails, respond to recreational trends and demographic changes,
and identify underserved areas, overused facilities, and gaps in the current parks and
trails system. The framework must identify opportunities for enhancing existing assets,
developing new assets, and linking those assets together effectively. In developing the
framework and creating the inventory, the Center for Changing Landscapes shall use
geographic information system technology, aerial photographs, and other pertinent data
from government agencies.
new text end

new text begin (b) As part of the inventory, the Center for Changing Landscapes shall develop
a user-friendly Web-based application that will function as a guide for information on
state and regional parks in the state. The Department of Natural Resources and the
Metropolitan Council shall work with the Center for Changing Landscapes to ensure that
all the information currently available on their Web sites is incorporated into the newly
developed statewide Web system. The statewide parks and trails Web guide shall be
incorporated into the Department of Natural Resources Web site.
new text end

new text begin (c) In developing the framework and inventory, the Center for Changing Landscapes
shall consult with the Department of Natural Resources, the Metropolitan Council, local
units of government, park and trail groups, the public, and other stakeholder groups. The
Center for Changing Landscapes shall ensure public participation and active involvement
of user groups and local communities.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Report. new text end

new text begin The Center for Changing Landscapes shall submit the framework
in a report to the chairs and ranking minority members of the senate and house of
representatives committees and divisions having jurisdiction over natural resources policy
and finance by October 1, 2010.
new text end