Sample Resolution Instructions

 We need your help to encourage the Governor and Legislature to include money for local park and trail grant programs in the 2020 bonding bill. A resolution from your city council or county commission is a great way to start generating that support.

 This sample resolution seeks support for $4 million in bonding money for the local parks and trails programs created by Statute 85.019. This includes the Outdoor Recreation Grant Program and Local/Regional Trail Connection Grant Program.

 GMPT has been lobbying hard for these grant programs over the last several years. We were able to restore general fund money for the first time in several decades and have helped the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) acquire Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) money from the Legislative-Citizens Commission on Minnesota Resources. Our efforts helped secure $4 million in general fund and ENRTF money for the programs in the last year alone. We’re proud of these successes, but the programs continue to be oversubscribed and demand far exceeds supply. Therefore, we’re seeking bonding money.

 The sample resolution has slots where you will need to fill in the name of your city or county and a blank at the bottom for your legislators’ names. In addition, if you have received one of these grants in the past, please make use of the optional clause (it’s the fifth whereas clause) to describe how it has benefited your community. In the sixth clause, you can explain how your community could benefit from a grant in the future. You can describe a specific project you hope to get a grant for, or speak more generally about what you hope to do in the future.

 After your local government has passed the resolution, please send a copy to:

 Governor Tim Walz, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 130, St. Paul, MN 55155-1611  Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 130, St. Paul, MN 55155-1611  DNR Commissioner Sarah Strommen, 500 Lafayette Rd, Box 37, St. Paul, MN 55155-4037, [email protected]  Your senator(s) and state representative(s). Visit gis.leg.mn/iMaps/districts/ to see who represents you.  Speaker of the House , [email protected] (she prefers electronic communications)  Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, 3113 Building, St. Paul, MN 55155  House Capital Investment Chair Rep. , 343 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155 [email protected]  Senate Capital Investment Chair Sen. David Senjem, 3401 Minnesota Senate Building, St. Paul, MN 55155, [email protected]  House Environment Finance Chair Rep. Rick Hansen, 407 State Office Building, St. Paul, MN 55155, [email protected]  Senate Environment Finance Chair Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, 3207 Minnesota Senate Building, St. Paul, MN 55155, [email protected]

*If there is no email listed, this person only uses a mail form on their website to accept electronic messages. If both email and street addresses are listed, you can use either (or both).

In addition to the officials listed above, please send electronic or hard copies of the resolution to:

 Katie Hatt (Governor’s lead staff person on bonding), 75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Suite 130, St. Paul, MN 55155-1611, [email protected]  GMPT lobbyist Elizabeth Wefel, 525 Park Street, Suite 470, St. Paul, MN 55103, [email protected]

And, after you’ve completed the resolution, start thinking about applying for a grant. The DNR opens up these programs in January.

RESOLUTION 2020-XX

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF BONDING MONEY FOR PARKS AND TRAILS.

WHEREAS, parks and trails are an essential part of our {city or county} and

WHEREAS, parks and trails play a vital role in building healthy communities and in attracting much- needed younger workers and families and retaining retirees; and

WHEREAS, recreational opportunities draw in tourists from around the state, region and nation and recreational spending is a major contributor to state and local economies; and

WHEREAS, according to a George Mason University study, local and regional parks in Minnesota generated an estimated $2.8 billion in direct, indirect and induced economic activity in Minnesota; and

Optional clause to be used if you have received one of these grants in the past: WHEREAS, the local parks and trails recreation grants under Minnesota Stat. 85.019 have helped {your city/county} by {insert a sentence describing how you have used these grants};

WHEREAS, local parks and trails recreation grants under Minnesota Stat. 85.019 could help {your city/county} in the future by {insert a sentence on how a grant could help your community}; and

WHEREAS, many important projects in Greater Minnesota do not qualify for funding under the Legacy Amendment and must look instead to the Minn. Stat. 85.019 programs for funding;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the {City/County} of {name} supports an appropriation of $4 million in general obligation bonds in 2020 for the Outdoor Recreation, Local Trails Connections and other Minn. Stat. 85.019 grant programs and urges Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, and the Legislature to include it in their proposed 2020 bonding bill; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the following: Governor Tim Walz, Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan, Sen. {Local Senator(s)}, Rep. {Local Representative(s)}, Speaker of the House Rep. Melissa Hortman, Senate Majority Leader Sen. Paul Gazelka, House Capital Investment Chair Rep. Mary Murphy, Senate Capital Investment Chair Sen. David Senjem, House Environment Finance Chair Rep. Rick Hansen, Senate Environment Finance Chair Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, and Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Sarah Strommen.

Passed and adopted by the {City Council/County Board} of the {City/County} of {name} this X day of X 2020.

Name Title of authorized signator

ATTEST:

Name Title