HF3564

Purpose

• Modify provisions governing the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission.
• Extend the availability of several grants from the parks and trails fund.
• Repeal specific earlier subdivisions of Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 85.536.
• Reorganize how regional parks and trails are planned, funded, and reported, with a focus on areas outside the seven-county metro area.

Key Provisions

• District creation and planning (Sec. 1)

  • Establish six regional parks and trails districts outside the seven-county metropolitan area.
  • Districts are formed by combining counties; no county may be in more than one district.
  • The Commission, with input from the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Coalition, will develop a strategic plan and criteria for identifying parks and trails of regional significance eligible for funding.
  • Counties within a district may jointly prepare a master plan for acquiring and developing regional parks and trails, with input from affected municipalities, and submit to the Commission.
  • District-level and park-level plans must meet criteria in the overarching strategic plan.
  • Counties must hold a public hearing on proposed plans and budgets, with at least 15 days’ notice to the public.
  • The Commission reviews master plans and may require revisions if plans don’t meet the criteria.

• Grant recommendations and funding (Sec. 2)

  • When recommending grants, the Commission must align with approved master plans.
  • Grant amounts are determined via a merit-based evaluation process that includes a measure of local financial support.
  • The merit-based process is not subject to standard rulemaking, and a specific statutory provision (14.386) does not apply.
  • Grant recommendations must balance benefits across greater Minnesota.
  • Grants may be given only for projects included in a plan approved by the Commission.

• Governance and reporting (Secs. 3–4)

  • The Commission shall elect a chair and other necessary officers from among its members, with elections occurring on an annual or biennial basis.
  • The Commission must submit an annual (biennial) report by January 15 detailing its district-based recommendations in priority order to the chairs and ranking minority members of the Senate and House committees with primary responsibility for legacy appropriations.

• Grant extensions (Sec. 5)

  • Extend the availability of several grants funded by the parks and trails fund for specific projects and dates:
  • Mesabi Trail project (St. Louis and Lake Counties Regional Railroad Authority) extension to June 30, 2027.
  • Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo (Olmsted County) extension to June 30, 2027.
  • Kraemer Lake and Wildwood County Park (Stearns County) extension to June 30, 2027.
  • Plum Creek Park (Redwood County) extension to June 30, 2027.
  • Robinson Quarry Park (city of Sandstone) extension to June 30, 2028.

Significant Changes from Current Law

• Establishment of six distinct regional districts outside the seven-county metro area with formal district-level planning and public hearing requirements.
• Requirement that grant recommendations follow a merit-based evaluation and align with district master plans, with emphasis on local financial support and balanced benefits across greater Minnesota.
• Repeal of Minnesota Statutes 2024 section 85.536 subdivisions 3 and 4, removing or changing prior substantive provisions in those subdivisions.
• New formal processes for district master planning, public input, and ongoing reporting to key legislative committees.

Practical Impact

• More structured regional planning for parks and trails outside the metro area.
• Greater emphasis on aligning funding with district master plans and local financial participation.
• Extended timelines for several existing grants, allowing ongoing or completed projects to proceed with extended funding availability.

Relevant Terms - Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission - six regional parks and trails districts - districts outside the seven-county metropolitan area - district plans and master plans - parks and trails of regional significance - master plan criteria - public hearing - districtwide plans - master plan approval - merit-based evaluation - local financial support - balance of grant benefits - parks and trails fund - legacy appropriations - grant extensions (Mesabi Trail, Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo, Kraemer Lake and Wildwood County Park, Plum Creek Park, Robinson Quarry Park) - St. Louis County - Lake County - Olmsted County - Stearns County - Redwood County - City of Sandstone - Laws 2023 chapter 40 article 3 section 3 paragraph c