01-11-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT 1 TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council FROM: Eric Seaburg, P.E., City Engineer DATE: January 11, 2023 RE: Resolution Authorizing Acquisition of Trail Easement at 3071 Payne Avenue ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Motion to approve a resolution authorizing the acquisition, by purchase, of certain real property for a trail easement associated with the Thunder Bay/Westwinds Park Trail Extension Project. BACKGROUND: The Thunder Bay/Westwinds Trail Park is part of the linear park system in the northeast corner of the City that takes advantage of land within the Xcel Energy transmission line easement. The eight-acre neighborhood park serves the growing number of young families with children in the area. Amenities include a hiking and biking trail extending from Payne Avenue to Greenbrier Street that is a popular recreation option for residents of the City. The recently approved Pioneer Commons subdivision will be installing a public trail system from its eastern development boundary to its western development boundary and then ultimately to Allen Avenue. As a result, there will be a very short segment without trail that separates the existing Thunder Bay/Westwinds Park trail system and the new Pioneer Commons trail system. City staff intends to initiate a trail project using funds collected through the City’s Park Dedication Fee to install a trail to fill the gap in the trail system. Once complete, the Thunder Bay/Westwinds Park trail system will be connected to other sidewalk and trail systems that provide access to Pioneer Park as well as other destinations within the City. In order to complete the trail gap, the proposed trail needs to cross a single private property, 3071 Payne Avenue. After crossing this property, the remainder of the trail will reside on property owned by Xcel Energy who will permit the trail extension like they have other trail installations on their property. Staff has been working with the property owners at 3071 Payne Avenue since June 2022 to secure a trail easement. Through direct negotiation, staff has reached a tentative easement agreement with the landowner subject to review and approval by the City Council. The easement agreement includes compensation in the amount of $15,603 for the 2,972 square foot trail easement, along with incorporation of evergreen screening with the project.