CCP 02-18-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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MEMORANDUM eO. FROM: SUBJECf: DATE: MAYOR BEVERLY APUKOWSKI CDUNOLMEMBERS AND STAPF. eRR, liC PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO 1HE RICE CREEK NORTIIREGIONAL TRAIL MASTERPLAN 1/1612003 OVer the last several weeks we have had several meetillgs and conversations concerning the Amendment to the Rice Creek North Regional Trail Master Plan. While Ramsey County has changed some language ill the Amendment, illcluding taking out language that made the city responsibje for the cost of design and construction of the infrastructure we still have some concerns over other language still contained or missing from the Amendment. Our concerns are as follows : . . 1. We have suggested that Ramsey County be a part of the planning process and suggested language ill the Amendment as follows: 2. "The city and the county together during the next year will complete extensive engilleering, environmental, and planning studies to determine how to best utilize and develop parcels A, and C through G ill compliance with the "Vento Plan." We all agree that preliminary transportation plans call for a north! south road from Courtty Road I to Highway 96. The city has put ill motion the process which illcludes transportation, engilleering, and land planning to determine the best way to accomplish this connection. We also understand the County's preference is for no road connection through the wildlife corridor. And we agree that after the city's planning process is complete it may well be the recommendation of the transportation experts that the north! south road does not go through the wildlife corridor. However, we believe those experts and the city should be allowed to go through the planning process and design without havillg a preselected site outlined ill this amendment. The language we suggested that allows for this is as follows: "If after transportation studies are completed and those studies recommend a eastern north! south road across the wildlife corridor as the connection between Highway 96 and County Road I the County will provide a road easement to the Oty ill the general alignment of the existing north! south road." We believe this language recognizes the County's position, provides the County with what it needs to move forward with their process, but ultimately allows the Oty's process to follow its natural progression and select the best site for the Vento Plan. 3. We believe the language contained in the Amendment under 3. Restoration/Development relaring to the remediation of the contaminated portion of the wildlife corridor does not go far enough in protecting the Oty's illterests ill cleaning up the property. For example, remediated can simply mean placiog deed restrictions On the property and/ or leaving the contamination in place and placillg a fence around it. We believe it is important that both the Oty and the County share the goal to have the contamination cleaned up. Therefore, the language we suggested was as follows: "It is the goal of the County and Oty to have all the TCAAP property cleaned up to a degree that allows for usage by the public. It is understood that Ramsey County Parks Department does not have the funds to clean up the property."