Sponsor: Parks & Recreation
Title
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Grant Award from the Metropolitan Council for 2024 Legacy Amendment Parks and Trails Fishing Piers Grant Program
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Recommendation
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1. Ratify the submittal of the grant application to the Metropolitan Council for the 2024 Regional Parks Fishing Piers Grant Program.
2. Accept grant award from and approve the grant agreement with the Metropolitan Council for Legacy Amendment Parks and Trails Fishing Piers Grant Program for the period upon execution through June 30, 2026, in the total amount of $125,000.
3. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the grant agreements.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and amendments to agreements, in accordance with the county’s procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the limits of the grant funding.
5. Establish a project account number for Sucker Lake Fishing Pier in 2025.
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Background and Rationale
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The 2024 legislative session appropriated $500,000 for competitive equity grants to Regional Park Implementing Agencies for new fishing piers to increase fishing opportunities on lakes in the metropolitan parks system. A lottery was held at the Metropolitan Parks and Open Space Commission meeting on February 6th, 2025, and the Ramsey County Parks Sucker Lake Fishing Pier application was one of four awarded from a pool of eligible applications.
Fishing at the Sucker Lake section of Vadnais-Snail Lake Regional Park is extremely popular. Currently the only fishing available in this section of the park is either along Sucker channel or the shoreline of Sucker Lake. Because of the limited availability of fishing locations, the channel has collected significant amounts of lead tackle, leading to dozens of swan deaths. www.ramseycounty.us/leadfreelakes
Adding a fishing pier to Sucker Lake will alleviate some fishing pressure at the channel while providing increased fishing opportunities to a diverse community of anglers and accessible fishing access that is missing at this location. Signage would be installed to encourage people at this popular fishing location to visit the pier.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☐ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
Recent community engagement and outreach has shown there to be significant racial diversity of anglers in this area. Spring through fall, families visit Sucker Lake and will often make a day of picnicking and fishing at this park. The Saint Paul Police Activities League (P.A.L.) Cops and Bobbers use this area as part of their youth programming and Ramsey County Parks free Catch & Release programming could be expanded with the addition of a pier.
Community Participation Level and Impact
Public engagement was conducted in March and April of 2024. An online survey with 107 participants and a virtual meeting with 12 participants provided valuable insights that were incorporated into the decision to install a fishing pier. More information is available at www.ramseycounty.us/leadfreelakes <http://www.ramseycounty.us/leadfreelakes>
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☐ Collaborate ☐ Empower
Fiscal Impact
Since this grant award was done by lottery, it was not included in the Parks operational budget. There is no match required with this grant and design work will be completed by Parks & Recreation planning staff. There will not be an operational budget impact as a result of accepting these grant funds.
Last Previous Action
None.
Attachments
1. Notice of Funds Availability
2. Grant Application
3. Grant Agreement