Minutes - Public Works Committee - 01/15/2002

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Motion by Councilmember Hendriksen, seconded by Councilmember Kurak, to direct staff to prepare a feasibility study for the 2002 Street Maintenance Program. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec and Councilmembers Hendriksen, Kurak, Anderson, and Zimmerman. Voting No: None. Case #2: Discuss Property Acquisition Policy Along C.R. #116 City Engineer Jankowski stated that C.R. #116 is an important arterial corridor, which will serve the developing areas of the City. This roadway is currently the subject of a corridor study, which is being undertaken in anticipation of facilitating future improvement projects along this corridor. Acquisitions of right-of-way will certainly become a major issue in realizing the transformation of the corridor. Occasionally properties necessary for future right-of-way acquisitions will come on the market. Acquisitions of such properties at the time property owners are desiring to sell, usually represent the lowest cost way to obtain necessary right-of-way. Currently, a property located at 5515 Industry Avenue is listed for sale at $177,900. Attached is a memo from SRF, Inc., which indicated that the existing 66-foot right-of-way along this parcel will be inadequate. Councilmember Kurak inquired if staff was talking about acquiring the entire property or just the necessary frontage. City Engineer Olson replied that staff was recommending the purchase of the entire property and relocating the access and then possibly subdividing the property and then reselling the property. Councilmember Zimmerman stated that at this point they should be looking at a policy. He inquired if the Committee wanted to proceed the same as they did for the T.H. #47 acquisition. Mayor Gamec stated that if the property is available he thought it would be a good opportunity to acquire it. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that it seemed that the house and the property value would remain the same even after the additional 22-foot strip of land is acquired. He felt that their first step should be to approach the property owner to purchase the 22-foot strip of land, and then if those negotiations are unsuccessful then he felt they should pursue the purchase of the house and sell the 22-foot strip of land and then resell the house. He stated that the worst-case scenario would be for the City to become a landlord. The City of Ramsey, City of Anoka and the County are all involved in the road and inquired if all three wouldn't be splitting the right-of-way acquisition costs. City Engineer Jankowski replied that he would need to research that information further. Councilmember Hendriksen stated that if staff is unsure of who will be responsible for acquiring the right-of-way then it might not be in the City's best interest to spend money on acquiring the right-of-way. Public Works Committee/January 15, 2002 Page 5 of 10