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HomeMy WebLinkAboutA009 - Council Action Form dated January 8, 1991 ITEM? DATE January 8, 1991 COUNCIL ACTION FORM SUBJECT: Final Plat for Third Addition in Northridge Subdivision BACKGROUND: At the December 11 meeting, the City Council approved the final plat for the third addition to the Northridge Subdivision "contingent upon signing an agreement between the Homeowner's Association and the City of Ames for snow removal and landscaping care in the cul-de-sac." At the meeting, the developers explained to the Council that an agreement for snow removal and landscaping care in the cul-de-sac island parking areas had already been reached between the developers and the Homeowners Association at Northridge Subdivision. Unfortunately, the City was not made part of this agreement and therefore a separate agreement between the Homeowners Associa- tion and the City of Ames is required. Since that meeting, the staff has attempted to convince the Homeowners Associa- tion representatives to sign a cul-de-sac parking agreement similar to the one which was signed by the Homeowners Association of the Stonebrooke Subdivision (see Attachment I) . Unfortunately, the developers and Homeowners Association representatives are not willing to agree to the same conditions included in the Stonebrooke agreement. They are concerned about the potential liability being placed on the Homeowners Association for failure to exercise the snow removal .responsibilities within the given time frame, as well as lack of available manpow- er and equipment to efficiently accomplish maintenance duties. The developers of Northridge have agreed to sign the parking agreement designated in Attachment II. Under this agreement, the homeowners would be responsible for snow and ice removal on the cul-de-sac. However, if this work is not done in an acceptable manner to the City, then the agreement allows for the City to take action to "close the parking spaces from November 1 through April 1." ALTERNATIVES 1. Before approving the final plat for the third addition to Northridge Subdi- vision, the City Council could require the Homeowners Association to sign an agreement with the City of Ames which contains the same stipulations as the existing Stonebrooke Cul-de-Sac Parking Agreement dated September 9, 1990, (Attachment I) . 2. Before approving the final plat for the third addition to Northridge Subdi- vision, the City Council could require the Neighborhood Association in Northridge to sign an agreement with the City which contains the stipulations contained in Attachment II entitled "Northridge Parkway Cul-de-sac Parking Agreement." 3. Before approving the final plat for the third addition to Northridge Subdi- vision, the City Council could require the developers to remove the parking in the existing cul-de-sacs and restore the curb and landscaping to the total structure. MANAGER'S RECOMMENDED ACTION: The City Council should offer guidance on this crucial issue since approval of the final plat for the third addition to Northridge Subdivision was contingent upon an agreement being signed between the City of Ames and the Homeowners Association regarding "snow removal and landscaping care in the cul-de-sac island parking areas." At the December 11 meeting, the City Council gave direction to the staff regarding your willingness to allow parking in cul-de-sac islands and directed staff to prepare specific criteria that must be met to allow such parking. At this time the staff has not completed this assignment. The only document which currently exists which articulates some of the requirements we would prefer regarding parking in cul-de-sacs is evidenced in the September 1990 Stonebrooke Cul-de-sac Parking Agreement. Ultimately, the City Council will have to decide whether to adopt Alternative 1 or Alternative 2. Both forms of agreement place the responsibility of snow and ice removal on the Homeowners Association. However, the compromise agree- ment supported by the developers (Attachment II) requires the City staff to constantly monitor the situation and take action to close off the parking if the removal efforts were not acceptable. It is doubtful as to whether or not we could effectively accomplish this closing. In addition, if we allow this second form of contract to exist, we may be encouraging a situation such as the one that developed with alternate side parking, in that we will not have a consistent policy for handling cul-de-sac maintenance. The Northridge Subdivision will be handled in one manner, the Stonebrooke Subdivision will be handled in a different manner, and each succeeding subdivision in another manner. Therefore, it is the recommendation of the City Manager that the City Council adopt Alternative #1 and require the Homeowners Association to sign an agree- ment similar to the one developed for Stonebrooke Subdivision regarding cul-de-sac parking maintenance. COUNCIL ACTION: