Title
Resolution to Accept and Appropriate a $50,000.00 Connecting Communities Grant Award from Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission for Treeline Alignment Study (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
NOTE: This resolution is connected with the resolution to appropriate $35,000.00 in general fund money and approve a contract with SmithGroup to conduct the Treeline Alignment Study that is also before City Council for approval. Both resolutions must be approved to move forward with the Alignment Study.
This resolution accepts and appropriates a $50,000.00 Connecting Communities grant from Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. The resolution also approves a grant agreement with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission necessary to receive the grant funds. The grant funds are anticipated to be used to fund a contract with SmithGroup for a Treeline Alignment Study, which is also on City Council’s agenda for approval in a separate resolution.
The proposed Alignment Study will provide preliminary engineering for the portion of the trail from the Border-to-Border Trail near Argo Dam to the City property at 721 N. Main. Among other deliverables, this will include community engagement, an evaluation of specific potential trail locations and necessary structures, such as bridges and ramps, and cost estimates. Once preliminary engineering is complete, staff anticipates that this portion of the trail will have advanced to a stage where a greater variety of funding sources will be available to fund final design and construction.
Background
The Treeline originated as the Allen Creek Greenway, an initiative that began nearly 20 years ago, which focused on flood mitigation and creating recreational space along the creek’s corridor. In 2011, the Ann Arbor City Council passed a resolution in support of advancing the Allen Creek Greenway initiative. In 2015, the City dedicated resources to take the next step of the Allen Creek Greenway initiative and to develop a Master Plan. This was an extensive, multi-year process that involved a high level of public engagement. In 2017 Ann Arbor’s City Council unanimously adopted the Treeline Master Plan into the City’s overall Master Plan.
Since the adoption of the Plan, the City has been engaged in a public/private collaboration with the Treeline Conservancy to implement the Plan. Together, the City and the Conservancy have made great strides and the work that the Connecting Communities grant offers to fund would help continue and accelerate this momentum.
Budget and Fiscal Impact: This grant revenue was not anticipated at the time of budget adoption and therefore was not included in the approved capital budget. This resolution would appropriate the awarded grant funds to the existing Treeline Implementation Budget.
Sustainability Framework: The Treeline Implementation Project furthers the City’s Sustainability Goals.
Staff
Prepared by: Heather Seyfarth, Community Engagement Specialist
Reviewed by: Craig Hupy, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Howard S. Lazarus, City Administrator
Body
Whereas, City Council unanimously adopted the Treeline - Allen Creek Urban Trail Master Plan as part of the City’s overall Master Plan;
Whereas, Awarded grant funds from the Connecting Communities Initiative would move the City toward implementation of the Treeline Allen Creek Urban Trail Master Plan by supporting a preliminary engineering study that is critical to determining the best manner of crossing from Argo Pond to City-owned property, 721 N. Main, a significant trail link that is a key connector to the Border-to-Border Trail and is the Treeline’s most complicated road crossing;
Whereas, A preliminary engineering study will also help address concerns and questions about cost by providing more detailed cost estimates;
Whereas, City Council passed Resolution R-19-401, which supported the grant application to the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission Connecting Communities initiative; and
Whereas, The Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission identified this project as a significant public improvement that satisfies the criteria and intent of the Connecting Communities program and will serve as an important link in the County non-motorized trail system;
RESOLVED, That City Council accept and appropriate $50,000.00 in Connecting Communities grant funds to increase the revenue and expenditure budget of the Treeline Implementation Project Budget;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute a grant agreement for this grant with Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission, after approval as to form by the City Attorney and as to substance by the City Administrator; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take all appropriate actions to implement this resolution.