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Falcon Heights <br /> Page 2 <br /> Because the sidewalk was important to the city, the city reviewed <br /> its options for acquiring the easement. <br /> Alternatives for action <br /> Two alternatives were available to the city: <br /> 1) Pursue the matter in court <br /> a) Advantage eventually would get the easement <br /> acquired <br /> b) Disadvantages more time, more money and further <br /> damage the relationship between the city and <br /> residents along this street <br /> 2) Arrange for dispute resolution <br /> a) Advantage less time, less money and a better <br /> relationship with the residents, if it worked, and <br /> court remained an option <br /> b) Disadvantage it might not work <br /> The process <br /> Getting the okay. The administrator contacted all the parties to <br /> see if they were willing to discuss the matter with a <br /> representative from the Dispute Resolution Center at city hall. <br /> All six people who owned the three properties agreed to <br /> participate. <br /> Arranging the meeting. The Dispute Resolution Center staff <br /> arranged for the meeting time, place and mediators to be at city <br /> hall and contacted all participants about these details. <br /> The meeting. Five of the six owners of the three properties <br /> attended the meeting along with the city administrator, the city <br /> engineer and two mediators. Introductions were made. Initially <br /> there was some tension among the group knowing that there was a <br /> disagreement over the easement acquisition price. The property <br /> owners were also frustrated over the pending street project, the <br /> impact of the sidewalk on their property and the proposed <br /> assessment. To ease these concerns, the city engineer rolled out <br /> the plans for the project and described exactly what would happen <br /> to each property. This created a common interest for this small <br /> group to discuss. Eventually the cost of the easement acquisition <br /> came up at the property owners' initiation. Within forty -five <br />