HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 04Lakeville
Memorandum
To:
Mayor, City Council & City Administrator
From:
Brett Altergott, Parks & Recreation Director
copy:
Monica Heil, Operations & Maintenance Engineer
Park Dedication Fund - Fees
John Hennen, Parks & Operations Manager
112,210
Matt Mohs, WSB & Associates
$100,000
Al Singer, Dakota County
Date:
January 9, 2015
Subject:
North Creek Greenway Update
City of Lakeville
Parks & Recreation
The City and Dakota County jointly submitted a grant application for Transportation Enhancement (TE)
funds through the Transportation Advisory Board (TAB) of the Metropolitan Council in 2012. The City was
informed that it was awarded $899,410 for the North Creek Greenway Trail Project which includes the
construction of a trail from 173rd Street West south to an existing trail system within the City of Farmington
and a restroom building in East Community Park. The County is providing the grant's local match for the
costs associated with the land acquisition and construction and the City is responsible for design,
engineering and construction management costs. Below is the budget as presented to the Council during
past work sessions:
2014 2015
Revenues
Federal Grant
899,410
Dakota County
224,857
Park Dedication Fund - Fees
100,000
112,210
Total
$100,000
$1,236,477
Expenditures
Trail Design & Administration
100,000
112,210
Trail/Amenity Construction
1,124,267
Total
$ 100,000
$1,236,477
The County is leading the acquisition of a regional trail easement and adjoining shoreland easement
through three parcels owned by Mr. Mikell Smith and addressed as 17380 Pilot Knob Road. Although the
County has had informal discussions with Mr. Smith for several years regarding the trail project, and Mr.
Smith has been generally supportive of the greenway concept, more formal discussions between Mr.
Smith, the City and County staff began in early 2014. City and County staff have had numerous meetings
and conversations with Mr. Smith over the past six to seven months regarding the trail, the wetland
delineation, and the future development of his property. Discussions between City/County staff and Mr.
Smith regarding trail design and alignment, shoreland and floodplain regulations, and future development
questions were necessary in order to finalize a trail alignment. The County's appraisal process for the
parcels owned by Mr. Smith could not commence until an alignment could be agreed upon with the
property owner. The appraisal work has since commenced, and a draft independent appraisal report will be
provided to the County by January 9th. The appraisal must be reviewed and certified, upon which the
County Board may authorize a contingent offer. Value and terms would have to be approved by both the
landowner and the County.
At the same time the aforementioned easement valuation was taking place, WSB & Associates was working
on both the preliminary plans and the project memorandum. The project memorandum was due and
submitted to State Aid on December 1, 2014. As the County/City were unable to obtain a formal easement
agreement with Mr. Smith by December 31, an extension request for the grant funding was filed with the
Metropolitan Council so that the request could be discussed at the Council's Funding Program Committee
meeting on January 15, 2015, (program year extension requests are due on December 31). In short, the
City's request states that additional time is necessary to amicably negotiate a permanent easement to
maintain a good relationship with a landowner and allow the project to be bid during a favorable bidding
climate.
Progress Schedule
The schedule below outlines the progress of the project to date and anticipates future dates assuming the
program year extension is granted:
City of Lakeville hired WSB & Associates
Wetland delineation
Topographic survey
Early coordination letters
Alignment development
Project Memorandum Submittal
Easement appraisal, negotiation and acquisition
Submit construction plans for review & approval
Construction plan approval
Project letting
Project construction
Outcomes/Options
There are three potential outcomes/options for this project:
May 2014
July 2014
July 2014
June - November 2014
September - November 2014
December 1, 2014
October 2014 - June 2015
October 2015
December 2015
February 2016
April - November 2016
1. The Metropolitan Council's Funding Program Committee grants the requested extension to 2016.
The City would not lose the federal funding. However, federal reimbursement could be pushed
back as far as 2019. The City had preliminary discussions with the County about a short-term loan
to cover this funding gap, should this need arise.
In order to maintain the originally approved 2015 schedule and meet the current funding
requirements, condemnation may be required. Because this is a City project, the City would have
to lead the condemnation process, which is subject to Federal Aid requirements. For example, the
appraisal performed by the County would not be valid and a new, city -contracted appraisal would
be required prior to sharing the value with the landowner. The City would need to start these
proceedings no later than the end of January, 2015.
3. If the extension request is denied, the City does not pursue condemnation prior to the end of
January, and the County is unable to acquire the easement from Mr. Smith prior to April 1, 2015,
the project would forfeit the federal funding.
Jack Corkle, Senior Transportation Planner with WSB & Associates and Al Singer, Land Conservation
Manager with Dakota County will be in attendance at the work session to answer questions specific to their
involvement with the proposed project. In the meantime, if you have any questions do not hesitate to
contact me at 952-985-4601 or baltergottPlakevillemn.gov