Discussion:
On February 20, 2018, City Council advanced the 2020 12th Avenue Trail Project CIF-20-003 that was included in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). This project was advanced to 2018 and includes the design, easement acquisition, and construction of a trail along the south side of 12th Avenue from Canterbury Road (County Highway 83) to Gateway Drive.
Currently, the plans are completed to a 95% level, awaiting final plan submittal and approval by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. City staff have also been working with the adjacent property owners to obtain the necessary trail easements. Trail easements are still needed on 12 of the 20 parcels along this corridor. Consequently, City Council authorized a professional services agreement with Henning Professional Services, Inc., to assist with acquiring the remaining easements.
Henning Professional Services proceeded with their work and have provided a report for the needed easements to construct the regional trail
(see attached resolution with exhibits).
Authorization is now needed to make offers of compensation to the respective landowners for the easements, consistent with the independent appraisals, while continuing to attempt to negotiate the voluntary acquisition of the easements. Authorization is also needed to direct the city's attorney to take all steps necessary on behalf of the city to acquire through eminent domain the easements that are not acquired by voluntary negotiation, including filing an action in eminent domain and using the quick-take procedure under Minn. Stat. § 117.042.