Agenda - Council Work Session - 04/26/2022

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33 feet of Shawn Acres Park, as well as over a 33-foot wide portion of the private property located at 7705 173rd Avenue NW. Since February 8, 2022, Staff has been working, in coordination with the petitioner, to develop two draft Cartway Easement Agreements. One cartway easement agreement is between the petitioner and the owner of the property at 7705 173rd Avenue NW to acquire a cartway easement over, under, and across 2,899 square feet of their private property. The other easement agreement is between the petitioner and the City of Ramsey to acquire a cartway easement over, under, and across the southerly and easterly 33 feet of Shawn Acres Park, totaling 32,132 square feet. Both easement agreements generally include 4 conditions including conditions for; 1. Compensation requirement to acquire cartway easement area, and 2. Petitioner's right to clear and remove brush from easement area, and 3. Assignment of maintenance rights and responsibilities over easement area, and 4. Verification that cartway easement runs with land and that the property owner has the right to convey the easement to petitioner. Prior to April 15th, Staff was of the understanding that the petitioner approved of the existing 4 conditions. But then on April 15th the petitioner sent an email to the City Administrator and City Engineer, as well as to all City Council members, noting their objections to two (unspecified) conditions, and stating that they "want to be heard by the Council at their next meeting date of 4/26/22 either during work session, or preferably during an official council meeting, so Council can give direction to staff regarding the discrepancies we feel are in the attached agreement between the City of Ramsey and the Kuraks". A copy of this email is attached. On April 19th, the petitioner sent another email to the same Staff members and all City Council members stating their two objections to "The fees and the width 33 ft of the cartway...". A copy of this email is also attached. Staff is therefore seeking direction from the City Council on these two conditions (fees and easement width) as related to the Shawn Acres Park cartway easement agreement, as well as any other conditions that Council would like to weigh in on. Staff feels the required compensation sum of $5,550 is reasonable considering that all costs are not yet known, but that various costs will occur during the life of this easement including such costs as installing "No Parking" signs to allow unimpeded access to the easement from Chameleon Street, possible enforcement of these signs, loss of public use of the portion of the park within the easement area while the petitioner clears and removes brush within the easement area, loss of wildlife habitat, responding to questions from the public, etc. Timeframe: Staff anticipates 30 minutes will be needed to present this case and respond to questions. Funding Source: Unless the Clty Council directs otherwise, the petitioner is responsible for all costs related to this cartway easement. Responsible Party(ies): The City Engineer will present the case. The City Administrator and City Attorney will be available for questions. Outcome: The City Council is asked to provide direction to Staff regarding various conditions of the Shawn Acres Park Cartway Easement Agreement for Thorn Lake Property PID #04-32-25-31-0001. Attachments