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<br />City Council Regular Meeting - 09/12/05 <br />Minutes - Page 12 <br /> <br />Snelling Avenue, requIrlng additional east side right-of-way <br />acquisitions, as well as the closure on County Road B of the <br />existing service drive. Mr. Schwartz reviewed access, parking <br />and other concerns of business owners along the frontage road at <br />that intersection. <br /> <br />Mr. Schwartz advised that several options had been discussed, <br />but staff was recommending conveyance of the property to the <br />business owners to accommodate shared parking for the <br />businesses, removal of the existing road, and construction of a <br />storm water pond directly adjacent to Snelling Avenue, with <br />landscaping and a buffer provided by property owners. <br /> <br />Staff had negotiated an agreement with the affected and <br />applicable business owners, a copy of which was not available <br />for tonight's meeting, to convey the property conditionally to the <br />business owners for shared parking and their egress/ingress. <br /> <br />Discussion included legal description revisions; hold harmless <br />clause in the agreement; City liability; boulevard maintenance <br />conditions; conveyed property subject to City Code; and the <br />intention of business owners to pursue the improvements yet this <br />fall. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan expressed her concern that the City had <br />not called for an appraisal to determine the market value <br />compensation for the property to be conveyed. <br /> <br />Mr. Schwartz advised that after research and discussion by staff <br />and the City Attorney, it had been determined that market value <br />would be a "trade-off' with future roadway reconstruction and <br />maintenance costs if the City retained the property; that the <br />business owners would incur between $75,000 to $80,000 in <br />improvements to the property (i.e., parking, landscaping); and <br />that actual ownership of the property was questionable, thus <br />creating the recommendation that a Quit Claim Deed be provided <br />for the properties, rather than pursuing a Warranty Deed. <br /> <br />Councilmember Ihlan opined that the City needed to receive fair <br />market value for City assets when conveyed; and that an <br />appraisal of the property to determine value should be included <br />