SF4869

Purpose

This bill would authorize a capital investment project in Dakota County’s regional parks by providing a grant to Dakota County funded from state bond proceeds. The goal is to replace and upgrade buildings, facilities, and infrastructure that are degraded, unsafe, or undersized, improving park amenities and accessibility.

Main Provisions

• Subdivision 1 – Appropriation:
  • The bill appropriates 22,000,000 from the bond proceeds fund to the Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) as a grant to Dakota County.
  • The funds are for designing, constructing, furnishing, and equipping the replacement of structurally degraded, unsafe, and undersized park buildings, facilities, and infrastructure at Dakota County regional parks.
  • Specific projects include:
  • Lebanon Hills Regional Park: replacement of the swimming beach facility with fully accessible restrooms and showers, all-terrain wheelchair and watercraft storage, energy-efficient electrical/mechanical systems; addition of a swimming beach facility, patio, trails, and outdoor area for concessions and other amenities.
  • Schulze Lake Beach: improvements related to the beach facility.
  • Campgrounds at Lebanon Hills Regional Park and Lake Byllesby Regional Park: updated campground lodge and office facilities with storm shelter areas; fully accessible restrooms and shower buildings for campers; trails and other campground facilities and infrastructure.
• Subdivision 2 – Bond sale:
  • The Commissioner of Management and Budget must sell and issue state bonds up to 22,000,000 to fund the appropriation, following the terms set by state law and the Minnesota Constitution.

Funding and Oversight

• Funds come from the bond proceeds fund.
• DEED administers the grant to Dakota County for the described projects.
• Bond issuance must comply with Minnesota Statutes sections 16A.631 to 16A.675 and Minnesota Constitution Article XI, sections 4 to 7.

Location and Projects Affected

• Dakota County regional parks, focusing on:
  • Lebanon Hills Regional Park (swimming beach facility and campground improvements)
  • Schulze Lake Beach
  • Lake Byllesby Regional Park (campground improvements)

Significance and Expected Impacts

• Improves safety and accessibility by adding accessible restrooms/showers, storm shelters, and accessible facilities.
• Upgrades energy efficiency in new electrical and mechanical systems.
• Enhances park experiences with new amenities (patio, trails, concessions areas) and updated campground facilities.

Relationship to Existing Law

• The bill does not create new long-term law changes beyond authorizing the bond issuance and the grant for the described projects. It references existing bonding authority and oversight processes and must follow the specified state statutes and constitutional provisions.

Timeline

• The text does not specify a completion timeline.

Relevant terms section follows.

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Relevant Terms - bond proceeds fund - grant - Dakota County regional parks - Lebanon Hills Regional Park - Schulze Lake Beach - Lake Byllesby Regional Park - accessible restrooms - showers - all-terrain wheelchair - watercraft storage - energy efficient electrical/mechanical systems - campground improvements - campground lodge - storm shelter - office facilities - bond sale - Commissioner of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) - Commissioner of Management and Budget - Minnesota Statutes 16A.631 to 16A.675 - Minnesota Constitution Article XI