03-27-2024 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: March 27, 2024 RE: Approve license agreement from Northern States Power Company (NSP) for Thunder Bay/Westwinds Trail connection ACTION TO BE CONSIDERED: Motion to approve license agreement from Northern States Power Company (NSP). BACKGROUND: The Thunder Bay/Westwinds Trail is part of the linear park system in the northeast corner of the city that takes advantage of land within the Northern States Power Company (NSP), aka Xcel Energy transmission line easement. The existing linear trail serves the current community and the growing number of young families with children in the area. Amenities include a hiking and biking trail currently extending from Payne Avenue to east of Labore Road to the city limits (the trail continues into Maplewood) and is a popular recreation option for residents of the city and a key trail connection to a regional trail system. There is currently a gap in the trail system to get the Thunder Bay/Westwinds Trail to continue east and connect to Pioneer Park and the surrounding neighborhood. The new Pioneer Commons subdivision will soon be installing a public trail system from its eastern development boundary with a connection at Allen Avenue and Desoto Street, to its western development boundary with the plan to continue the trail to Payne Ave. Continuing the trail to Payne Avenue has required the need for easement acquisitions and agreements to be put in place since the property to continue the trail is not city-owned. In January 2023, the City Council approved an authorization of trail easement at 3071 Payne Avenue, and it was noted at that meeting the final piece to get the trail extension completed was to obtain the proper agreements from Xcel Energy. At the September 27, 2023, City Council meeting, the Council approved the trail extension project to be constructed. Staff and the contractor anticipated the project to be completed in the Fall of 2023, but an agreement was needed from Xcel Energy to allow the trail to be built within the Xcel Energy easement. Due to delays from Xcel Energy, the agreement was not available to be reviewed in the Fall of 2023, and progress on the trail construction was paused. The contractor for the trail work did indicate he would honor the constriction pricing into the 2024 construction season.