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Home My WebLink About12.D. Boundary Marking of Park, Open Space and Conservation Easements-Res. No. 6417 CITY OF SHAKOPEE /.1. . D ~ Memorandum To: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator From: Ryan Hughes, Natural Resource Specialist On behalf of the Environmental Advisory Committee and Park and Recreation Advisory Board Subject: Boundary Marking of Park, Open Space, and Conservation Easements, Resolution No. 6417 Meeting Date: May 2,2006 INTRODUCTION The City is asked to review a proposed plan to begin marking boundaries of park, open space, and conservation easements. If you support the plan, we ask that you adopt Resolution No. 6417, a Resolution Implementing a Program to Mark Boundaries of Park, Open Space, and Conservation Easements. BACKGROUND In 2005 the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) compiled a list of goals for 2006. This list included Park, Open Space, and Conservation Easement boundary marking. City Council reviewed this goal/project as part of the 2006 budget and included funding for the work. DISCUSSION The City owns over 850 acres of park and open space throughoutthe city, and has over 100 acres of conservation. easements in the Dean Lakes, Valley Creek Crossing, Whispering Oaks, and Ridge View Farms developments. These lands and conservation easements have been provided to the city over time, with some of the park areas dating back to the original incorporation of the city. This project would begin a process to mark boundaries of these lands and conservation easements. The primary purpose for marking boundaries is to inform adjacent property owners where the property or easement begins in order to help prevenfencroachment issues in the future. Unfortunately, we anticipate that the project will also deal with a significant number of existing encroachment issues. Once the boundary marking program is complete, we would like to begin developing . management plans for much of the park, open space, and conservation easement areas. Locating, inventorying, and installing park, open space, and conservation easement boundary markers is the first step to managing these areas. The process will include creating a GIS database of all existing boundary markers installed as part of recent developments and new boundary markers installed as part of this project. Additionally, the installation of boundary markers and creation of a database that can be utilized by City staff will enable inspectors to more accurately determine when encroachments have occurred. The process for this project is intended to be positive for both staff as well as residents living next to park, open space, and conservation easements. We plan on startingineast Shakopee, East of County Road 83/Canterbury Road. The process is expected to include four steps: LEVEL Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 We have identified a summer. intern studying natural resources that would take the lead on this project. Under my supervision, his role would be to conduct the boundary marking, identify encroachment, work with residents to address encroachment issues. Samples of the signs anticipated to be installed for the park, open space, and conservation easement boundary marking will be presented at the meeting. The following are questions that might be raised during this process: Why should anyone care if someone encroaches? First, the property is in public ownership, and this plan will help to protect the public's interest. Second, some of the encroachment may pose future issues such as interfering with planned development, damaging important natural resources, or creating a liability for the city. How many encroachments are there on park, open space, and conservation easements? Some estimate that there are hundreds of encroachment issues throughout the city; however, we simply don't know. Last fall I completed the boundary marking of a conservation easement between the ACC 2nd and Valley Creek Crossing developments. Of the ten residential property owners adjacent to the conservation easement, five have encroachment issues either due to landscaping or fence installation. How has the City dealt with encroachments into park, open space, and conservation easements in the past? According to the Public Works department, residents have been informed of the encroachment in a letter from the city and the encroachments have been removed. In many cases, the encroachment may have been as simple as planting trees in park, open space, or conservation easements. Although this is positive because it benefits the public with additional trees inthe park, open space or conservation easements, however it negatively impacts the City when tree maintenance or removal is necessary and the City is the responsible owner and assumes the cost. Are residents knOWingly encroaching into park, open space, and conservation easements? Usually residents are unknowingly encroaching because no sign is in place for them to question what they do on land adjacent to their property. This is why the boundary marking project is important. Do you anticipate issues in dealing with encroachment? Yes. Based on recent experience with encroachment in conservation easements and right-of- ways, as well as stories from other cities, we anticipate that some residents who are encroaching will appeal our request for them to remove their encroachment to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Environmental Advisory Committee, and City Council. What is the City doing to prevent encroachments from happing in thefuture? Weare now requiring developers to install boundary markers as part of the development process. This is anticipated to reduce encroachments and allows future homeowners to view the signs when they are considering the purchase of a lot and to contact the city to determine what they can or can not do within the park, open space, or conservation easements adjacent to the property. Are you going to also mark utility easements? No. Marking the park, open space, and conservation easements is a huge project in and of itself. It will likely take more than one summer season to complete. Public Works Director Bruce Loney has indicated that he is interested to see how this process works, and will be considering the utility easement issue.in the future. Why do the proposed signs not have a contact phone number, contact name, or contact department? Past signs have had this information, but signs seem to last longer than phone number and/or web site addresses as technology continues to change. The proposed signs contain the city logo requiring an individual to look up the information in a phone directory or on the web. By following this approach, we help minimize future expenses to change or modify signs. PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD/ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and Environmental Advisory Committee reviewed the plan at their April 24joint meeting and unanimously recommended the plan. VISIONING RELATIONSmOp This action appears to meet the following aspects of the City's vision: Goal: High Quality of Life Strategies: Protect the Environment ACTION REQUESTED: If City Council concurs, move to adopt Resolution No. 6417, a Resolution Implementing a Program to Mark Boundaries of Park, Open Space, and Conservation Easements. RESOLUTION NO. 6417 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA IMPLEMENTING A PROGRAM TO MARK BOUNDARIES OF PARK, OPEN SPACE, AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS WHEREAS, the boundary marking of park, open space, and conservation easements is a project unanimously supported by the Environmental Advisory Committee; and, WHEREAS, the boundary marking of park, open space, and conservation easements is a project unanimously supported by the Park and Recreation Advisory Board; and, WHEREAS, the boundary marking of park, open space, and conservation easements is a project supported by the City Council; and, WHEREAS,.the purpose of the project to locate and mark the boundary of park, open space, and conservation easements and address encroachment issues. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OFTHE CITY OF SHAKOPEE, MINNESOTA, that the City of Shakopee (The City) supports marking the park, open space, and conservation easements with post or stakes and signs. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Environmental Advisory Committee, Park and Recreation Advisory Board, and City Council will work with staff to implement corrective actions for encroachments. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the boundary of conservation easements managed by the City of Shakopee be marked with a 4X4X8green treated post and signage identifying the area; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the boundary of City owned park and open space be marked with fiberglass boundary stakes and signage identifying the area. Adopted in adjourned regular session of the City Council of the City of Shakopee, Minnesota, held this 2nd Day of May, 2006. John J. Schmitt Mayor of the City of Shakopee ATTEST: City Clerk .. . .....: ParkandODenS~aceAreas : ' '=. .:..: ........~ <;!': c> ..:' 1:,....;.)11:: : ;:.: ,^ o. . .. 1ii 8. c . ~. I'.: ~ .. '" :.'; w .. .. J:l "" 6:. :g C .i!!. I'.'. = " . '" 5 ~ ~'2'..,LU::" " ~', ."0. 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Please do not alter the area beyond this boundary marker without wri tten permission from the City of Shakopee. SHAKOPEE COMMtJNITYPlUDE SrNCE1857 I ~. fJ . SHAI<OPEE COMMUNITY.PRIDE.SINCE.185'7 PARK AND OPEN SPACE +- ~ This sign marks the location of the park and open space boundary. It is nota survey monument. The property beyond this point is owned by the City of Shakopee. Please do not alter the area beyond this boundary. Ordinances Enforced