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Home My WebLink About5.C.2. Donation of Property Adjacent to Huber Park s: C. 2- , CITY OF SHAKOPEE MEMORANDUM CONS '.., .i'l~] " kl '-, E~~ k; . ~ t4 To: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator From: Jamie Polley, Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Meeting Date: March 16,2010 Subject: Donation of Property Adjacent to Huber Park INTRODUCTION The City Council is asked to direct staff to conduct an environmental assessment on the property adjacent to Huber Park. Assuming no negative environmental issues are found, it is further asked to direct the City Attorney to prepare the appropriate documentation for the donation of the property adjacent to Huber Park to the City. That document would be brought back to Council for final action. BACKGROUND Staff presented the donation of the property adjacent to Huber Park by Gary and Sherla Monnens at the March 2nd City Council meeting (Attachment A). The City Council asked for clarification on the request from the Monnens to have the City maintain ownership of the property and not to sell it to another party. The Council expressed concern that the covenant might be too restrictive for future City needs. DISCUSSION Staff contacted Mr. and Mrs. Monnens about the Council's question. They replied that they do not want the City to sell the property so that the City or anyone else could make a profit. When they were asked if, in the future, the City could utilize the property for road way expansion or improvements to the area, the Monnens stated that they found that to be acceptable. The City Attorney stated that the property could be conveyed to the City for public purpose and this would allow the City to utilize the land as needed in the future. The City has no intent to sell the property at this time. BUGDET IMPACT The cost of the environmental assessment, cleanup, and fill would have relatively minor impacts on the City's budget, compared to the gain of this acre of property adjacent to Huber Park. The cost of the environmental assessment (estimated to be approximately $1500) would be funded by the Park Reserve. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City accept the donation of the parcel of land located at the corner of Bluff Avenue and Market Street, conditioned upon receiving report of an acceptable environmental assessment. RELATIONSHIP TO VISIONING C. Great Place for Kids to Grow Up ACTION REQUESTED If the City Council concurs, it should direct staff to 1. Have performed an environmental assessment on the property. 2. Assuming no negative environmental issues are found, direct the City Attorney to prepare the appropriate documentation for the transfer of the property adjacent to Huber Park to the City; and have that document brought back to Council for final action. 3. Provide necessary donation documentation requested by the donors. Attachment A CITY OF SHAKOPEE MEMORANDUM To: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator From: Jamie Polley, Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Director Meeting Date: March 2, 2010 Subject: Donation of Property Adjacent to Huber Park INTRODUCTION The City Council is asked to discuss the donation of property adjacent to Huber Park as requested by the property owner. BACKGROUND The parcel being donated is owned by Gary and Sherla Monnens and has been for sale for a number of years. The parcel is located directly east of Huber Park on the corner of Bluff Avenue and Market Street. The parcel is approximately one acre and is wooded with high quality woodland and contains a natural spring. The area along Bluff St is flat with a very steep slope on the northern half of the property but is for the most part unbuildable. In the fall of 2008 the PRAB and the City Council discussed whether or not the City should purchase the land. The conclusion in 2008 was to not purchase the land due to insufficient funds in the Park Reserve Fund. DISCUSSION Gary and Sherla Monnens have submitted a letter seeking to donate the property to the City (Attachment A). The letter requests that the City provide the Monnens with written documentation indicating the date of the donation, the legal description of the property being donated and the value of the property (recent appraised value is $95,000). The Monnens also request that the property remain as public property and never be sold to another party. If the City Council chooses to accept the donation the City attorney should be directed to prepare the appropriate documentation. In order to make the site usable a large amount of cleanup would be needed. The site contains pieces of foundation, an extensive amount of brick, a large concrete tank from the bait shop and invasive species such as buckthorn. Staff has indicated that much of the cleanup could be done with the Sentence to Service program. The cost to the City would include bringing in fill to prevent erosion of the site once it is free of debris. Staff has contacted the DNR and it was indicated that bringing in fill to prevent erosion would be allowed as long as all flood plain ordinance regulations are followed. It is unknown what kinds of facilities were located on the property; therefore staff recommends that the City conduct an environmental assessment prior to accepting the donation. The environmental assessment would cost between $500 -$1 OOO,and would be the City's cost. Acquisition of this property would add to the size of Huber Park and contains an easement for the Department of Natural Resources Trail. BUGDET IMPACT The cost of the environmental assessment, cleanup, and fill would have minor impacts on the City's budget compared to the gain of an acre of property adjacent to Huber Park. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the City accept the donation of the parcel of land located on the corner of Bluff Avenue and Market Street upon receiving an acceptable environmental assessment. ACTION REQUESTED If the City Council concurs, it should direct staff to 1. Have performed an environmental assessment on the property. 2. Assuming no negative environmental issues are found, direct the City Attorney to prepare the appropriate documentation for the donation of the property adjacent to Huber Park to the City; and have that document brought back to Council for final action. 3. Provide necessary documentation requested by the donors. A\+a.Ch (Y1e:t'1 -\- -A February 23; 2010 Shakopee Community Center Jamie Polley, Director Parks and Recreation 1255 Fuller Street -. - -. ...--- Shakopee,~ 55379 RE: Property ill: R279060451 Description: Sect-06 Twp-115 Range-022 .06AC S 150' of Govt Lot 3 Bounded on W. by Main St, on E. by Market St & on S. by Bluff St. Dear Jamie, As per our previous conversations, my husband~ Gary and I wish to donate our piece of property listed above to the City of Shakopee, Parks and Recreation. In discussing this matter with our tax professional, we will need a letter or documentation from the City of Shakopee indicating the following: 1). Date of donation 2). Description of property being donated -legal description (listed above) 3). Value of property donated (Value of$95;000 -100,000) Also, as we previously discussed, we wish to have the City of Shakopee maintain ownership of this piece of land and not sell it to another party. Thank you for your time. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me Jlj-4~6-1429.~ . __ ... . ~ {T)/l/YU- ~~!,r,~t!1~ 2232 Vierling Drive E. Shakopee,~ 55379 sherla12303@earthlink.net