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<br /> <br /> STAFF REPORT <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />TO: Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council <br /> <br />FROM: Eric Seaburg, P.E., City Engineer <br /> <br />DATE: January 24, 2024 <br /> <br />RE: Resolution Authorizing Acquisition of Easements for Country Drive & South Owasso <br />Boulevard Sidewalk Project <br /> <br />ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: <br />Motion to approve a resolution authorizing the acquisition of certain real property, by negotiation, for <br />roadway right-of-way associated with the Country Drive & South Owasso Boulevard Sidewalk <br />Project. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: <br />City staff is finalizing the design for the proposed Country Drive & South Owasso Boulevard <br />Sidewalk Project. The intent is to submit this project to Ramsey County’s upcoming Community <br />Development Block Grant (CDBG) program for project funding. Through the final design process, <br />staff identified two gaps in roadway right-of-way that must be filled in order to install the proposed <br />sidewalk. These gaps are located along 3001 Country Drive (North Star Estates) and 3015 Country <br />Drive (Bwana Archery). The right-of-way gaps are both very small and can be filled with road right- <br />of-way easements as depicted in the attached figures. <br /> <br />City staff has met with representatives from each property to discuss the easements. <br />• The property owner at 3015 Country Drive (Bwana Archery) has indicated that they would <br />grant the requested easement at no cost to the City and is ready to execute documents. <br />• The property owner at 3001 Country Drive (North Star Estates) appears likely to grant the <br />requested easement at no cost to the City. However, they are requesting reimbursement for <br />legal costs they will incur from their lender, which requires review of the proposed easement. <br />Staff feels the requested reimbursement, at a not-to-exceed amount of $5,000, is a fair cost for <br />the City to reimburse given the city’s request for the easement. In the event that the <br />negotiation shifts to a compensation request for the easement, City staff will initiate <br />negotiations with the property owner before bringing the item back to the City Council. <br /> <br />STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS: <br />Staff recommends that the City Council approve: <br /> <br />• Resolution authorizing the acquisition, by negotiation, of certain real property for roadway <br />right-of-way, including property owner reimbursement for incurred legal costs, in association <br />with the Country Drive and South Owasso Boulevard Sidewalk Project. <br />