The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutA002 - Council Action Form dated October 8, 1991 COUNCIL ACTION FORM Item # Date: October 8, 1991 SUBJECT: Resolution approving the easements for the Squaw Creek Bicycle Path. BASKBROWN D: Included in the 1991 Capital Improvement Projects is the construction of a bicycle path along the former Chicago & Northwestern Railroad right- of-way from S. 16th Street to Airport Road This path segment will connect to the existing Squaw Creek bicycle path that extends from South 4th Street to S. 16th Street. Currently, staff has obtained two easements from the Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Transportation for constructing the path from S. 16th Street south to the south right-of-way of Highway #30. However, the easement has not been obtained from the Iowa State University Re- search Park for the segment from Highway #30 to Airport Road. (Staff is in the process of obtaining an easement for the other one-half of the bicycle path (41) from Marguerite Sevde, owner of the 1021 Airport Road property adjacent to the Iowa State University Research Park property.) Staff recommends that the easements with the Iowa Department of Trans- portation and Iowa State University be approved at this time in order to construct a large portion of the path this fall. By constructing in the fall, the path would have a better surface due to the compaction resulting from the moisture and snow accumulations during the winter months. This path will be a rolled limestone surface. The entire bicycle path can't be completed south of Highway #30 to Airport Road since the Iowa State University Research Park has refused to grant an easement for a bicycle path along the west half of the former Chicago and Northwestern Railroad right-of-way. In order to grant an easement, the ISU Research Park Corporation has requested that landscaping be included along the bicycle path, and that it be maintained by the City. Staff has submitted landscaping plans to the ISU Research Park with the stipulation that the City could not maintain these plantings (landscaping costs were estimated at $3,000 for the 50 tree plantings). Len Goldman, President of the ISU Research Park Corporation, has informed staff that the easement has been refused on the basis that the Research Park could not afford to water, mulch, fertilize, trim, and mow this area. The bicycle path will be constructed from S. 16th Street south to Highway #30's south right-of-way line. Signage will be posted informing bicyclists and pedestrians that the path is not completed and terminates at Highway #30. The estimated costs of constructing this bicycle path segment is CAF - Easement-Squaw Bike Path s October 8, 1991 , Page 2 $9,000. The 1991192 budget allocates MAN for the bikepath construction program. The project is a part of the approved program. Construction of the path is scheduled in October. The path will not be opened until the entire length has been constructed. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Deny the request to approve the easements with the Ionia Department of Transportation and Iowa State University for the Squaw Creek Bicycle path. 2. Delay approving the easements until the easement is obtained from the Iowa State University Research Park Corporation. 3. Approve the easements with Iowa State University and the Iowa Department of Transportation in order to construct a portion of the path this fall. MANAGER'S ACTION: It is recommended by the City Manager that the City Cowl adopt alter- native number 3 and approve the bicycle path easements with the Iowa Department of Transportation and Iowa State University. COUNCIL ACTION: SL:Revl Squaw Creek Bicycle Path Bicycle Path Easement. Property Plat - Ty STATE OF IOWA STREET i 1 ' N Iowa State University > 4 i Location of Bicycle Path ' W > PEACH er N 1 ♦ US BYPASS 30 Iowa oep artment of Transportation W D: ISU RESEARCH PARK CORP. RICHARD SEVOE W 1 W NORTH LOOp 4D,�` ,01RT ROAD* F P�K September 6. 1991 Mayor Curti s and E_ , 'Ames City Council ..r_ Ames City Hall 515 Clark Street Ames. IA 50010 ; i Re: Ea ent Agreements to Extend Bikeway from S uth 16th Stre to Airport RoadX Dear Mayor Council : \ At the Septe1 meeting the Commit a passed a motion to report th to the Mayor and C y Council. The Bicycle is of in agreeme with staff recommendati la dscaping im ovements to the ISU Research Parthe b eway pro ect from Highway 30 to Airport Road. The Committee has previously bee ssured by the Planning and Housing Department that the bik was planned to be constructed by the Research Par as heir Master Plan was developed. It is also underst od tha the timing of the bikeway construction is prior to the esearch P k development adjacent to the bikeway and the Conn tee believes t is justifiable to construct the bikeway usin city funds. H ver. the Committee does not bel i eve the expe di ture of adds ti ona city funds for Research Park landscapin improvements is appr riate. The basis for the Comm ttee's objection is that th city will not be viewed as cons stently handling bikeway impro ents in developing areas. I other parts of the city develope s are being required to i stall the bikeway improvements and appropriate site i provements at no cost to the city. If current staff rec mmendations are followed. precedent would,be set for the city to pay for landscaping improvements that are not necessary f r use of the bikeways. Respe tfully. Denn s L. Jones Chair. es/ISU Bicycle Committee DLJ/lj cc: Bicycle Committee (w/Meeting Minutes) Scott Logan Cathy Brown 4 SEP 9 i991 September 6, 1991 L--CIT=Yc Mayor Curti s and ,I c�tv of nMES�s,ww .—...� a 'Ames City Council Ames City Hall 515 Clark Street Ames. IA 50010 Re: Easement Agreements to Extend Bikeway from South 16th Street to Airport Road. Dear Mayor Curtis and Council : At the September 5, 1991 meeting the Committee passed a motion to report the following to the Mayor and City Council . The Bicycle Committee is not in agreement with staff recommendations to make landscaping improvements to the ISU Research Park part of the bikeway project from Highway 30 to Airport Road. The Committee has previously been assured by the Planning and Housing Department that the bikeway was planned to be constructed by the Research Park as their Master Plan was developed. It is also understood that the timing of the bikeway construction is prior to the Research Park development adjacent to the bikeway and the Committee believes it is justifiable to construct the bikeway using city funds. However, the Committee does not believe the expenditure of additional city funds for Research Park landscaping improvements is appropriate. The basis for the Committee's objection is that the city will not be viewed as consistently handling bikeway improvements in developing areas. In other parts of the city developers are being required to install the bikeway improvements and appropriate site improvements at no cost to the city. If current staff recommendations are followed. precedent would be set for the city to pay for landscaping improvements that are not necessary for use of the bikeways. Respe tfully, Denn s L. Jones Chair, Ames/ISU Bicycle Committee DLJ/ljm cc: Bicycle Committee (w/Meeting Minutes) Scott Logan Cathy Brown a r Iowa .State University Research Park Corporation Suite 200, 2625 North Loop Drive, Ames, Iowa 50010-8290 515-296-PARK FAX: 515-296-9924 September 12, 1991 Brian P. O'Connell, Director Dept. of Planning and Housing City of Ames P. O. Box 811 Ames, Iowa 50010 RE: YOUR SEPTEMBER 11, 1991 LETTER Dear Brian, At this time, the ISU Research Park does not have the funds to maintain the landscaping for the proposed bike trail on the easement the City has requested. Declining operating cash sup- port already strains our ability to perform landscape and lawn maintenance on other easements described in the 28E Agreement with ISU and the Foundation. That must remain our priority unless the City can offer us some relief in that regard. Our costs for the 28E maintenance exceeded $8,000 last fiscal year. Although we wish to support the City's plan to extend bike paths; and we accept the City:s landscape plan, we cannot allow an unlandscaped bike path nor can we, at this time, assume any costs associated with the bike path. We would respectfully have to refuse to grant an easement for the path unless the City can attend a; the Watering, mul._M.., r.tili�i;:� .tree <•takA .,o,,;..:...i trimmi7g and ^:sWirg �„ �'• aia" w ♦vaaav•a4a µau a activities at its own cost. ' Since r ly, Leonard C. Goldman President C1\LCG\O'Connell:vs