Consideration of approving Memorandum of Understanding and Easements for Riverdale Drive Extension to Traprock Street; Improvement Project 12-22

City Improvement Project 12-22 includes the extension of Riverdale Drive to Traprock Street from its current easterly terminus at the cul-de-sac east of Alpaca Street. This roadway extension will require the city to obtain permanent roadway, trail and utility easements from the owners of three properties including the Diamonds property and Tooth Acres Outlots A and B.  The property owners of the Diamonds and Tooth Acres Outlot A parcels have indicated they are willing to dedicate the necessary easements to the city due to the benefit they will receive by having access to the new road, as well as city utilities which are being extended with the project. However, the city has been informed that the necessary easements will need to be purchased from Anoka County for their Tooth Acres Outlot B parcel.

Attached is the draft Memorandum of Understanding which is currently being reviewed by the private property owners. As of Thursday, May 9th, the city had not yet received any comments from the private property owners. If comments are received from any or all of the property owners prior to the Council meeting, staff will present those comments to Council during the presentation of this case. Otherwise, staff will simply review the draft MOU with Council and seek Council’s comments, which would then be incorporated into the draft MOU and forwarded to the private property owners for review and execution. Upon receiving all comments, staff will present the final MOU to Council for final approval, along with final costs for purchasing the Anoka County property easement.

The MOU addresses numerous conditions that will impact the ability to successfully deliver this project.  Staff therefore recommends approving the Memorandum of Understanding at such time that all comments from the private property owners have been addressed to the satisfaction of Council, and after the costs to purchase roadway easements from Anoka County have been determined.

The only funds required for this item are those necessary to purchase the roadway easements from Anoka County.  Those funds are proposed to be issued from the MSA fund.

Motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding and Easements for Riverdale Drive Extension to Traprock Street; Improvement Project 12-22 once review comments from the private property owners have been received and addressed to the satisfaction of the City Council.  If comments have not yet been received and addressed prior to this meeting, Council could choose to table the item until such time that all comments have been addressed.