2024-10-14T09:14:54-05:00 2023-12-31 411534805 CARPENTER EVERT & ASSOCIATES LTD 7760 FRANCE AVE S SUITE 940 BLOOMINGTON MN 55435 990 2023-01-01 411450303 PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA PARK 6517262457 275 EAST 4TH STREET 250 ST PAUL MN 55101 BRETT FELDMAN PRESIDENT 6517262457 2024-10-09 1 0 MATT PILLSBURY P01565609 9528310085 2024-10-09 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z BRETT FELDMAN 275 EAST 4TH STREET 250 ST PAUL MN 55101 2291735 0 X WWW.PARKSANDTRAILS.ORG X 1954 MN WE EXIST TO ACQUIRE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE CRITICAL LAND FOR THE PUBLIC'S USE AND BENEFIT. 14 14 7 100 0 0 623051 549122 0 0 97317 189458 49200 20637 769568 759217 13450 0 0 0 452012 527991 0 0 61807 306874 343316 772336 871307 -2768 -112090 8899852 8942209 623413 332779 8276439 8609430 X THE PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA EXISTS TO ACQUIRE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE CRITICAL LANDS FOR THE PUBLIC'S USE AND BENEFIT. 0 0 120410 LAND PROTECTION: A MAJOR FOCUS OF PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL'S WORK IS ACQUIRING LAND FOR PARKS AND TRAILS, SOMETIMES CREATING A WHOLE PARK OR TRAIL FROM SCRATCH LIKE WE DID WITH AFTON AND GRAND PORTAGE STATE PARKS, BUT MORE OFTEN ADDING CRITICAL LAND WITHIN AN ALREADY ESTABLISHED PARK OR TRAIL CORRIDOR. IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL FACILITATED 10 LAND TRANSACTIONS PROTECTING 215 ACRES VALUED AT $3.52 MILLION FOR THE PUBLIC'S USE AND BENEFIT. P&TC IS INVOLVED IN SIX ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT WILL PROTECT 50 ADDITIONAL ACRES, AND WE ARE HOLDING 93 ACRES IN TRUST FOR PUBLIC PARTNERS. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM LANGUAGEONE OF THE PROJECTS P&TC IS REALLY EXCITED ABOUT IS WORK WE ARE DOING TO SECURE 2.1 MILES OF THE SWEDISH IMMIGRANT TRAIL CONNECTING TAYLORS FALLS AND SHAFER TO THE EAST AND CENTER CITY/LINDSTROM/CHISAGO CITY TO THE WEST. THIS ACQUISITION, WHICH ACTUALLY INVOLVES THREE LANDOWNERS, COMBINED WITH WORK MNDOT WILL BE DOING ON A COUNTY HIGHWAY PROJECT IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS WILL MEAN THE ENTIRE 20-MILE CORRIDOR CONNECTING THE SUNRISE PRAIRIE TRAIL IN THE WEST TO INTERSTATE FALLS STATE PARK IN THE EAST WILL BE IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.P&TC'S CONSERVATION MODEL IS FUNDED BY OUR SAMUEL H. MORGAN LAND ACQUISITION FUND, A REVOLVING FUND THAT HAS GROWN TO NEARLY $5.3 MILLION AS SUPPORTERS HAVE ADDED TO IT OVER THE YEARS. USING THIS FUND, WE NEGOTIATE COMPLEX DEALS AND PURCHASE HIGH QUALITY LAND FROM WILLING SELLERS; WE THEN HOLD THIS LAND IN TRUST WHILE PARTNERING WITH A PUBLIC AGENCY TO CONVEY IT FOR A PARK OR TRAIL. ALL PROCEEDS ARE THEN REINVESTED TO SAVE THE NEXT CRITICAL LAND. TO DATE, NEARLY 10,000 ACRES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO MINNESOTA PARKS AND TRAILS THROUGH THIS INNOVATIVE MODEL. MANY OF THESE LANDS WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE BEEN LOST TO DEVELOPMENT. SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO HOLD LAND IN TRUST INDEFINITELY WHILE WE WAIT FOR OUR PUBLIC PARTNER TO SECURE FUNDING. YOU CAN TOUR SOME OF P&TC'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THE "LAND PROTECTION" SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PARKSANDTRAILS.ORG AND IN THE 2023 ANNUAL REPORT. 202813 RESEARCH AND PUBLIC POLICY: PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL PRIDES ITSELF ON MAKING SURE THAT POLICIES WE ADVOCATE FOR ARE INFORMED BY THE BEST AVAILABLE DATA, SCIENCE AND RESEARCH. WHEN RESEARCH IS MISSING, WE BUILD THE NECESSARY INFRASTRUCTURE AND COLLECT IT OURSELVES. DOING SO HAS HELPED US BECOME A GO TO SOURCE FOR INDEPENDENT RESEARCH WHEN OUR PUBLIC PARTNERS NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF THEIR INVESTMENTS. IN FACT, 2023 MARKED THE THIRD YEAR IN WHICH WE FACILITATED VISITOR SURVEYS AT MOUNTAIN BIKING SYSTEMS FUNDED BY PARKS & TRAILS LEGACY GRANTS. IN APRIL, WE RELEASED TRAIL VISITOR SURVEY REPORTS FOR GIANTS RIDGE AND REDHEAD MOUNTAIN BIKE PARK FOR THE IRON RANGE TOURISM BOARD. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM LANGUAGEWHILE PARKS AND TRAILS SPEAK TO P&TC MEMBERS, THEY ARE UNABLE TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. TO THAT END P&TC HAS BECOME THE VOICE FOR THESE SPECIAL PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE ONE. THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT WE WERE PART OF A TEAM OF ORGANIZATIONS AND FOLKS WHO HELPED SECURE NEARLY $200 MILLION IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS FOR PARKS AND TRAILS THROUGHOUT THE STATE IN 2023. THIS IS THE LARGEST PARKS AND TRAILS INVESTMENT PACKAGE IN STATE HISTORY. AND IF THAT ISN'T ENOUGH, WE ACTUALLY TURNED OUR RESEARCH INTO POLICY BY BRINGING DATA COLLECTED BY OUR RESEARCH BIKE TO THE CAPITOL. IN FACT, WE WORKED TO INTRODUCE BILLS TO PROVIDE ANNUAL FUNDING FOR STATE TRAIL REHAB BASED ON OUR RESEARCH FINDINGS. WHILE STATE TRAILS DIDN'T RECEIVE THE $4.8 MILLION THEY REQUIRE ANNUALLY, LAWMAKERS DID WRITE THEM INTO THE BONDING BILL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SEVERAL YEARS. WE ALSO HAD GOOD SUCCESS ON THE POLICY FRONT. AS ALWAYS, PARKS & TRAILS CONTINUED OUR VIGILANCE TO DEFEAT EFFORTS TO OPEN UP STATE PARKS TO ALL-TERRAIN VEHICLES. THIS IS A FIGHT WE HAVE BEEN LEADING FOR NEARLY A DECADE, AND WE'RE NOT LETTING OUR GUARD DOWN NOW.WE ALSO MANAGED TO HELP STOP A PROPOSAL TO SIGNIFICANTLY RAISE STATE PARK ENTRANCE FEES AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE ALREADY HAD A $17.5 BILLION SURPLUS. THIS WOULD HAVE MARKED THE SECOND LARGE ENTRANCE FEE INCREASE IN SIX YEARS AND WOULD HAVE MADE ACCESS TO MINNESOTA STATE PARKS THE MOST EXPENSIVE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT HIGHER ENTRANCE FEES DISINCENTIVIZE THE BENEFITS STATE PARKS PROVIDE AND DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECT PEOPLE ALREADY UNDERREPRESENTED IN OUTDOOR RECREATION. FINALLY, AS THE GO TO SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON ALL THINGS PARKS AND TRAILS, P&TC DEVELOPS, MAINTAINS AND UPDATES SEVERAL FACT SHEETS THAT ARE USED BY DECISION MAKERS AND ARE ACCESSIBLE IN THE "RESEARCH AND REPORTS" SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PARKSANDTRAILS.ORG. A SUMMARY OF P&TC'S LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS CAN ALSO BE FOUND IN THE ADVOCACY SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE. 368416 OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: OF COURSE, COMMUNITY IS AT THE HEART OF P&TC'S WORK, AND WE ARE GRATEFUL TO HAVE A DEDICATED COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH US TO COORDINATE HANDS-ON PROJECTS IN THE PARKS AND TRAILS. IN 2023, P&TC WORKED WITH 54 VOLUNTEER-BASED FRIENDS GROUPS ACROSS THE STATE. SEE SCHEDULE O FOR ADDITIONAL PROGRAM LANGUAGEWE WORKED ESPECIALLY CLOSELY WITH FOUR OF THESE GROUPS WHO UNDERTOOK VITAL HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS AS PART OF OUR GRANT PROGRAM. THEY INCLUDE: THE FRONTENAC STATE PARK ASSOCIATION, WHO RESTORED AN IMPORTANT AREA FOR BREEDING AND MIGRATING BIRDS NEAR THE PARK'S WILDLIFE BLIND AND WHO ALSO BEGAN WORKING WITH PROJECT GET OUTDOORS TO BRING MORE UNDERREPRESENTED YOUTHS TO THE PARK; THE FRIENDS OF MINNEOPA STATE PARK, WHO USED A P&TC GRANT TO RESTORE AN ERODED SPOT IN THE PICNIC AREA WITH NATIVE PLANTS AND SHRUBS; THE FRIENDS OF LAKE SHETEK STATE PARK WHO PARTNERED WITH A LOCAL AREA SCHOOL TO HOST FIELD TRIPS IN THE PARK; AND THE FRIENDS OF SCANDIA PARKS AND TRAILS WHO JUST BEGAN PHASE ONE OF A THREE-YEAR PROJECT TO RESTORE NATIVE PRAIRIE IN LITEN PARK.P&TC BELIEVES THAT OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE ENHANCED WHEN VOLUNTEERS ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO A COLLECTIVE LAND ETHIC. WE WORK TO BOOST OPPORTUNITIES FOR FRIENDS GROUPS, LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO ACCOMPLISH EVEN MORE. FINALLY, FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, P&TC HOSTED EIGHT WEBINARS TO BUILD FRIENDS GROUP CAPACITY. YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE WORK WE DO WITH FRIENDS GROUPS BY VISITING THE "FRIENDS GROUPS" SECTION OF OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.PARKSANDTRAILS.ORG. 0 691639 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 13 0 1 7 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 14 14 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 MN X X X BRETT FELDMAN 6517262457 275 EAST 4TH STREET ST PAUL MN 55101 COLLEEN TOLLEFSON VICE CHAIR 4.00 X X 0 0 0 CYRI VAN HECKE DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 DICK BRAINERD DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 JOHN PROVO DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 KATHY BONNIFIELD CHAIR 5.00 X X 0 0 0 KIMBERLEY WASHINGTON DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 MARV TRANDEM DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 STEVE COOK DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 THARANGI CUMARANATUNGE DIRECTOR 3.00 X 0 0 0 WAYNE SAMES SECRETARY 4.00 X X 0 0 0 RICK NELSON TREASURER 4.00 X X 0 0 0 CHIA LEE XIONG DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 KIRK RODYSILL DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 PETER ROYER DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 TOM STOA DIRECTOR 2.00 X 0 0 0 BRETT FELDMAN PRESIDENT/EXECUTIVE DIRECT 40.00 X 121811 0 18128 121811 0 18128 1 0 0 0 0 92055 457067 3587 549122 209627 209627 1498800 1518969 -20169 -20169 -20169 14345 13549 796 796 OTHER INCOME 19841 19841 19841 759217 -328 0 210423 X 139939 111118 23832 4989 306478 243357 52195 10926 47714 36610 9372 1732 33860 27150 5583 1127 21122 17492 1865 1765 127384 105491 11247 10646 2117 1635 433 49 40500 30780 8505 1215 7024 6627 397 2006 1746 260 7990 7157 746 87 PRINTING 46288 28366 17922 PROTECTED PROPERTY COST 28616 28616 POSTAGE 24532 16519 316 7697 MISCELLANEOUS 15382 11336 2195 1851 20355 17639 1312 1404 871307 691639 117861 61807 294027 244375 2351347 3516227 35000 0 2968 1879 15407 8997 2085876 53505 3536815 2032371 2664288 3074787 0 63573 8899852 8942209 21121 39169 150 1770 412500 189642 291840 623413 332779 X 8241439 8609430 35000 0 8276439 8609430 8899852 8942209 -112090 445081 0 X 0 1 X 1 0 X 415676 622168 755644 623051 584590 3001129 415676 622168 755644 623051 584590 3001129 104712 2896417 124123 64657 53386 101242 208778 552186 33132 15809 28377 49200 20637 147155 3700470 0.78270 0.79620 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 40000 40000 831307 871307 155696 38924 0 0 128449 134091 140850 155696 559086 838629 43194 39863 40840 40000 163897 32112 33523 35213 38924 139772 209658 8194 4863 5840 18897 PART II-A, LINE 1A P&TC EMPLOYEES A CONTRACT LOBBYIST FROM LOCKRIDGE, GRINDAL AND NAUEN PLLP WHO ENGAGES IN OUR PRIMARY LOBBYING ACTIVITIES. TWO STAFF PEOPLE ALSO SPEND 5% OF THEIR TIME ENGAGING IN DIRECT LOBBYING OR PREPARING MATERIALS USED FOR DIRECT LOBBYING. X 7764663 37620 653859 241199 8214943 8275912 68804 -467244 112809 7764663 7719212 319828 454169 217297 8275912 7411821 74343 425550 192502 7719212 7041279 26202 546478 202138 7411821 1.00000 0 0 2031498 2085876 53505 873 2032371 FUNDS HELD FOR OTHERS 228007 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY (SHORT-TERM) 41715 OPERATING LEASE LIABILITY (SHORT-TERM) 22118 291840 X 1204298 445081 445081 759217 0 759217 0 0 0 0 0 PART V, LINE 4: THE REUEL HARMON ENDOWMENT FUND WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL STABILITY IN PERPETUITY FOR THE OPERATION OF THE PARKS & TRAILS COUNCIL THROUGH ANNUAL DISTRIBUTIONS OF A PORTION OF THE MARKET VALUE OF THE FUND THAT WAS CREATED WITH A DONATION MADE BY THE FUND'S NAMESAKE. THE SAMUEL H. MORGAN LAND ACQUISITION FUND WAS CREATED TO COVER THE COSTS OF ALL LAND ACQUISITION ACTIVITIES. FUNDS THAT ARE RECEIVED FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF LAND ACQUISITION, AS INDICATED BY THE DONOR OR THE BOARD, ARE DEPOSITED INTO THIS FUND, WHICH IS NAMED AFTER ONE OF THE COUNCILS FOUNDERS AND BENEFACTORS. PROCEEDS FROM ANY SALE OF PROPERTY ASSETS ARE DEPOSITED IN THE ACCOUNT. PART X, LINE 2: THE ORGANIZATION HAS RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT IT QUALIFIES AS A TAX EXEMPT ORGANIZATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE BECAUSE THE ORGANIZATION IS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 509(A)(1) AND SECTION 170 (B)(1)(A)(VI) AND CORRESPONDING PROVISION OF STATE LAW AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS NOT SUBJECT TO FEDERAL OR STATE INCOME TAXES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS ADOPTED ACCOUNTING FOR UNCERTAINTY IN INCOME TAXES, ASC 740-10. THE ORGANIZATION'S POLICY IS TO EVALUATE UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS, AT LEAST ANNUALLY, FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR INCOME TAX EXPOSURE FROM UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME OR FROM LOSS OF NONPROFIT STATUS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO OPERATE CONSISTENT WITH ITS ORIGINAL EXEMPTION APPLICATION AND EACH YEAR TAKES THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO MAINTAIN ITS EXEMPT STATUS. IT HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS NOT A PRIVATE FOUNDATION UNDER THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS BY DONORS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. IN COMPLIANCE WITH ITS EXEMPT STATUS, THE ORGANIZATION ANNUALLY FILES A RETURN OF ORGANIZATION EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX (FORM 990). FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 6 LINE 6 EXPLANATION - THE ORGANIZATION HAS ONE CLASS OF VOTING MEMBERS PURSUANT TO ORGANIZATION'S ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION A, LINE 7A LINE 7A EXPLANATION - THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION ELECT A BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THE ORGANIZATION'S GOVERNING BODY; SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO TEMPORARILY FILL VACANCIES OCCURRING FROM CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS DEATH OR RESIGNATION. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 11B LINE 11B EXPLANATION - REVIEWED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE AND APPROVED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE AND BOARD. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C BOARD MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO FILL OUT NEW CONFLICT OF INTEREST FORMS AT THE MAY BOARD MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 15 HR COMMITTEE REVIEWS COMPARABLE NON-PROFIT COMPENSATION DATA AND ALIGNED PTCM COMPENSATION. INFO IS SHARED AND DELIBERATED AT DECEMBER EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING. FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 19 UPON REQUEST AND THEY ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR GIVEMN.ORG/GUIDESTAR ACCOUNT. FORM 990, PART IX, LINE 11G OTHER PROFESSIONAL FEES: PROGRAM SERVICE EXPENSES 105,491. MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL EXPENSES 11,247. FUNDRAISING EXPENSES 10,646. TOTAL EXPENSES 127,384.