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9.c) Staff Report-WCSTA Letter of Supportmi-� €-, SCANDIA Staff Report Date of Meeting: October 20, 2015 To: City Council From: Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk Re: Washington County Star Trail Association Letter of Support Background: The Stillwater Snowmobile Club, on behalf of the Washington County Star Trail Association, contacted the City to ask for a letter of support to accompany a federal grant application to purchase trail grooming equipment. Issue: Should the City provide a letter of support to the Washington County Star Trail Association for a federal grant application? Proposal Details: The information below was provided to the City: The Washington County Star Trail Association is beginning the process of seeking Federal Grants to replace aging grooming equipment that is 20+ years old. Without the Federal Grant money, our current funding is not enough to allow us to upgrade equipment. So it is critical that we receive the Federal Grant. The Washington County Star Trail Association is made up of 10 snowmobile clubs throughout the County. The snowmobile clubs in Washington County are volunteer organizations dedicated to building and maintaining trails for use by all snowmobilers. By building and maintaining the trails we are keeping snowmobiles on the designated routes and promoting safe snowmobiling. We provide over I80 miles of marked and groomed trails in Washington County that are used by thousands of people that ride on the trails every season. The sport of snowmobiling is important financially to many of the area business and cities they reside in, providing both direct and indirect financial benefits. The Clubs have worked diligently throughout the decades within Washington County to provide safe trails and tourism opportunities. We have even branched out and used the equipment to maintain a cross-country ski trail in the city of Hugo. The Star Trail Association is looking for support from the cities and businesses that benefit from having well maintained snowmobile trails and the tourism it brings. If you are willing to support us in our pursuit of Federal Grant money to purchase new grooming equipment, please supply us with a letter showing your support. Fiscal Impact: The WCSTA is not seeking any funding from the City, just a letter of support for their grant application. Options: 1) Provide a letter of support signed by the Mayor 2) Do not provide a letter of support Recommendation: Option 1.