Minutes - Council - 12/13/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Jeffrey concurred. City Attorney Goodrich advised the resolution could be amended to authorize acquisition of permanent utility (remove and trail) easements necessary for City Improvement Project 03-20. Councilmember Elvig inquired about fire hydrants being located in this area. Assistant Public Works Director Olson replied there currently is not water planned in this area; it is a sewer route. Easements are purchased with the ability for both sewer and water. A water main is not being planned at this time, but the ability for the water is important for the possibility of subdivisions or potential developments. He explained there will not be fire hydrants located in this area. Initially when they looked at the trail they knew it would not be on the south side of the wetland area because the houses along 157th are so close to the wetlands that the trail could not be placed there without total takes. They initially started to put the trail on the wetland boundary and found some properties that were dramatically impacted. It was determined that the avoidance criteria could not be met. They then tried moving some of the trail out into the wetland to minimize the effect to the property owners and the wetland. Mr. Olson explained staff felt the trail was necessary as the existing right-of-way cannot be used to access the sewer. The trail was to fill a dual purpose; one was to provide access to the sewer and the second was to connect Elmcrest Park and Central Park, which has long been included in the CIP and Comprehensive Plan. Staff understands the concern about the trail in the current location. Access is an issue, but it will not likely be too long before there will be subdivisions, at which point there will not only be a requirement for the trail, but also for access to a local road. There may be a short period of time when there is not access to the sanitary sewer, but that access will be required when and if subdivision occurs. He would be in agreement with separating the trail and sewer easements. He advised staff has been working with a lot of property owners, and suggested staff be authorized to continue offering the trail easements to interested property owners. The consensus of the Council was to authorize staff to continue offering the trail easements to interested property owners. Assistant Public Works Director Olson indicated there have been discussions with the TEP Panel about the location of the trails, as well as the location of the sewer. The City was specifically requested to move the sewer alignment where it is located to try to minimize the amount of impact to the wetland. Now that the trail will not be completed there is a little more flexibility because there will not be a great deal of impact with the sewer construction. However, the bottom line is that access will be needed to the manholes. Motion by Councilmember Pearson, seconded by Councilmember Jeffrey, to adopt Resolution //05-12-427 authorizing the eminent domain process to acquire necessary easements for the Northwest Sanitary Sewer Project with the elimination of any reference to trail easements. Further discussion: Councilmember Cook stated this trail has been included in the plans for over ten years and has always been planned to connect these parks. He suggested the negotiation for the trail easements include a time period for the construction of the trail in the future. City Council / December 13, 2005 Page 24 of 37