Review Survey Results for Potential Pedestrian Trail Connection Between Bowers Drive and Riverstone South

Purpose:
To review the results of a recent survey mailed to property owners along Bowers Drive and in the Riverstone South development asking if they would support construction of a paved pedestrian trail connection between Bowers Drive and Riverstone South as part of the 2024 Bowers Drive pavement overlay project, Improvement Project #24-07.
 
Background:
The City’s 2024 to 2033 Capital Improvement Plan includes project #21-STR-012, 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlays, which proposes pavement overlay improvements to various street segments in several neighborhoods across the City, including Bowers Drive.  Attached is the CIP project sheet for reference.
 
While designing the pavement overlay plans for Bowers Drive, Staff recalled previous City Council direction from their September 8, 2020, regular meeting while reviewing the sketch plan for Riverstone South.  During this meeting there was consensus among Council that the City should not pursue a paved road connection for emergency and maintenance vehicles between Bowers Drive and Riverstone South but that the City should maintain ownership of the outlots required to make a connection and should reconsider a paved connection when opportunities to do so occur. Attached is a copy of City Council case #11229 from September 8, 2020, along with an attachment showing the responses received from Bowers Drive residents to a survey asking whether they supported a public road connection (not a pedestrian trail), as well as the approved meeting minutes.
 
Since a paving contractor will be overlaying Bowers Drive in 2024, Staff asked the Public Works Committee for direction on this subject on February 20, 2024. After discussion, the Public Works Committee adopted a motion recommending further discussion of this topic with the full City Council at a future worksession and directing staff to mail a survey to adjacent neighborhoods as discussed, ahead of the worksession. Attached is a copy of Public Works Committee case #14984 with meeting minutes for reference. 
 
If a trail were to be constructed, Staff would recommend a 10-foot wide bituminous trail able to support all necessary trail maintenance equipment.  The length of the trail would be approximately 760 feet, which would be constructed through two City-owned outlots and would connect Bowers Drive to the trail along the south side of Snowy Owl Street in Riverstone South. 
 
Attached is a copy of the Riverstone South plat, which shows Outlot F where the northern half of the trail would be constructed.  
 
Also attached is a copy of the Pearson Place plat, which shows Outlot C where the southern half of the trail would be constructed. 

Staff anticipates up to 15 minutes will be required to present and discuss this case and respond to questions. 

Staff estimates project costs to construct a 760-foot long by 10-foot wide bituminous trail at $60,000.  If gates or posts were to be installed to deter motorized vehicle access, project costs could increase by up to $10,000.  
 
If a paved trail connection were to be constructed, Staff would recommend using Park Trust Funds to fund the improvements.  

City Engineer/Public Works Director Bruce Westby will present the case.

Staff is seeking consensus direction from the City Council on whether to add a paved trail connection to the plans for Improvement Project #24-07, or not.  Potential alternative actions include;

Alternative #1:
Consensus direction to Staff to not include a paved trail connection as part of Improvement Project #24-07, 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements. 
 
Alternative #2:
Consensus direction to Staff to add a paved trail connection as part of Improvement Project #24-07, 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements, and to bid the paved trail as an alternate bid.

Alternative #3:
Consensus direction to Staff to add a paved trail connection as part of Improvement Project #24-07, 2024 Neighborhood Pavement Overlay Improvements, and to bid the paved trail with the base bid.