DEPARTMENT: Parks
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Accept Donation Of Regional Greenway Trail Easement From City Of Eagan For Veterans Memorial Greenway, County Project P00147
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize acceptance of a donated 37,855 square-foot regional greenway trail easement (Easement) from the City of Eagan (City) for a segment of the Veterans Memorial Greenway in the cities of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights.
SUMMARY
To provide a safe and efficient greenway transportation system, Dakota County is proceeding with the Veterans Memorial Greenway Project (Attachment: Project Location Map). By Resolution No. 17-493 (September 26, 2017), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners (County Board) approved the Rich Valley Regional Greenway Master Plan, now known as the Veterans Memorial Greenway Master Plan since the greenway’s 2020 renaming. The Master Plan identified the land within the existing Lakeside Park in Eagan as the preferred alignment for a segment of the Greenway trail.
Veterans Memorial Greenway, Phase II, will entail the construction of about two miles of shared-use trail, including a bridge over State Trunk Highway 3 in Eagan and Inver Grove Heights. Construction is proposed in 2025. Phase II is being funded in part by Federal and State funding.
The County Easement is legally described in Attachment: Legal Description of Regional Trail Easement, and generally depicted in Attachment: General Depiction of Regional Trail Easement, on the Eagan Property. Eagan has been a very cooperative partner in this project, is willing to donate the Easement to the County, and supports the construction of a new regional greenway trail.
A Dakota County Donation Plan (Donation Plan) has been adopted in accordance with Policy 1570 Gift Acceptance by Resolution No. 24-101 (February 27, 2024). The donation that the City of Eagan is providing for the Veterans Memorial Greenway warrants a recognition and thank-you letter signed by the Board Chair and Commissioner of the Donor’s district (Attachment: Recognition Letter).
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends acceptance of the Easement from the City of Eagan for the Veterans Memorial Greenway project.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There is no cost to accept the donated Easement. There is adequate funding included in the 2024 Parks Capital Improvement Program budget to construct the new section of the Greenway trail on the Eagan property.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 17-493 (September 26, 2017), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners approved the Rich Valley Regional Greenway Master Plan, now known as the Veterans Memorial Greenway (Greenway) Master Plan since its 2020 renaming; and
WHEREAS, the Greenway Master Plan identified the land within the existing Lakeside Park, in Eagan as the preferred alignment for a segment of the Greenway trail location; and
WHEREAS, the 2024 Parks Capital Improvement Program has adequate fund balance to construct a new section of the Greenway trail on the City of Eagan’s property; and
WHEREAS, Eagan is supportive of granting an easement to the County and for the County to construct a new regional greenway trail on its property; and
WHEREAS, the City held a public hearing on the proposed regional trail easement on November 5, 2024, and the City Council approved donating the Eagan property easement on November 5, 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes acceptance of a 37,855 square foot regional greenway trail easement from the City of Eagan, which is located on their property in Lakeside Park for a section of the Veterans Memorial Greenway Regional Trail, approved as to form by the County Attorney’s Office.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
17-493; 9/26/17
23-482; 10/24/23
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Project Location Map
Attachment: Legal Description of Regional Trail Easement
Attachment: General Depiction of Regional Easement
Attachment: Recognition Letter
BOARD GOALS
☒ A Great Place to Live ☒ A Healthy Environment
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Niki Geisler
Author: Tony Wotzka