HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Council Action Form, November 25, 1980 v � 4
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` COUNCIL ACTION FORM
NO: 11-25-80
SUBJECT: Request for City to vacate alley
BACKGROUND:
The City Manager has received a request from the abutting property owners for
the City to vacate the north-south alley situated in the block bounded by 2nd
and 3rd Streets, and Des Moines and East Avenues.
ALTERNATIVES:
1) Reject the request by the owners of the adjacent properties and continue to
utilize this area as a public alleyway.
2) Approve the vacating of the alley by the City and deed the land to the adjacent
property owners. The City, however, should continue to retain a permanent
utility easement along this property, and the owners should be charged for
all administrative costs (recording fees, duplicating expenses, publishing
costs, etc.) involved with vacating this alley.
3) Approve the vacating of the alley by the City, and deed the land to the adjacent
property owners. The City would continue to retain the permanent utility ease-
ment along this property, and the owners would be responsible for paying the
administrative fees and appraisal fees associated with vacating this alley,
as well as the fair market value for this property.
MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION:
It has been determined that the alley's primary purpose has been to provide access
to the local properties and, therefore, does not serve the general public. Con-
sequently, there is no reason for the City of Ames to continue to maintain this
alleyway.
It is recommended that the City Council adopt alternative #3, and approve an
Ordinance which authorizes the vacating of the north-south alley in Block 16 of
Borne's Addition. The hearing for the vacating of this alley, and the first
reading of the Ordinance should be set for December 2. If this Ordinance is
passed on third reading by the City Council on January 6, it would be possible
at that time to set January 20, 1981 as the date of the hearing for conveyance
of this land.
This alley has been appraised by the City Assessor. Given the fact that the City
would retain a permanent utility easement over this property, and therefore, no
permanent building could be accomplished on this land, the assessor has estimated
that this property is worth anywhere from $ .75 to $1.25 per square foot. Utilizing
a $1.00 per square foot value, and adding an additional $124 for administrative costs,
the City should expect to receive approximately $5,603 for the conveyance of this
land to the abutting property owners. Based on a simple front footage formula and
an equal distribution of administrative costs, the owner cost would be approximately
as follows: Dave's Auto & Truck Service, Inc. $534; S. Hanson Lumber Company, Inc.
$1,959; James Thompson & Sons, Inc. $3,110. Each of the abutting property owners
has contacted the City Manager's office and verbally agreed to accept this proposal.
COUNCIL ACTION: