04/02/2007 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • MEMORANDUM March 28, 2007 To: City Council From: Jeff Smyser Subject: Bridge to Island, Pheasant Hills 12th Addition V\15 x-21 You may recall that the City Council approved the Pheasant Hills 12th Addition project in September 2004. This project included a private bridge and private utilities. The approval specifically required that the bridge and utilities would be private. Staff met with Ed Vaughan recently at Mr. Vaughan's request. Mr. Vaughan tells us that the MN Dept. of Natural Resources will not allow the bridge to be constructed across public waters unless the bridge is a public bridge and the local government requests the crossing. That is, if the bridge is to be built, it would need to be a City bridge and road. Mr. Vaughan has requested that the City pursue this. Staff's recommendation on this question has not changed. We do not believe it is in the public interest for the bridge, road, and utilities to be public infrastructure. They would be expensive to maintain. Since they would serve only the lots on the island, the development should bear full responsibility for them. Mr. Vaughan's position is that it would be in the public interest to provide fire fighting access to the island even without homes there because it would allow fire fighters to battle forest fires on the island to protect existing homes in the Quail Ridge neighborhood. Staff is seeking direction on whether or not the City Council wants the bridge and road to the island to be public facilities owned and maintained by the City.