6c. Proposal to Jointly Acquire a 5.07 acre Parcel on Bluff Creek with the Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed Districti
CITY OF �
CHANHASSEN
690 COULTER DRIVE • P.O. BOX 147 • CHANHASSEN, MINNESOTA 55317
(612) 937 -1900 • FAX (612) 937 -5739
Mr. Conrad Fiskness
Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District
c/o Barr Engineering
Suite 300
8300 Norman Center Drive
Minneapolis, MN 55437
Action by City Adminish to
Endorsed ✓ 7., , k
I+Soditie
Rejected
Dat
Date submitted to Commission
Date Submitted
to COYnQ
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Dear Conrad:
I have had several conversations with Bob Obermeyer and Ray Haik concerning acquisition of
a 5 acre parcel of land owned by Steve Rowland, -located at the south end of Bluff Creek in
Chanhassen. Todd Hoffman, our Director oaf Parks; nd Recreation, and I have expressed an
interest in the city acquiring the land outright or preferably in cooperation with the district. I
believe our goals in this area are similar. The land contains a portion of the creek that has a
unique, pristine ecosystem that warrants public protection in its own right. It is also part of the
planned Bluff Creek Corridor project that we anticipate working on with the district and other
agencies.
When I first spoke to Bob, I had assumed that we would negotiate for the land in partnership
with the District, but Ray informed me that you already have a purchase agreement in place.
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Pending action by the Chanhassen City Council, I believe; it is likely that the city would
participate financially in the acquisition. ;kissed. upon , my.'�conversation with Bob, we had
anticipated a 25% Distdct/75%, CitS► most share
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It is clear that some sort of joint action on this parcel would further our common goal of
protecting this resource. It is my understanding that the district is willing to consider assuming
the full cost in the expectation that you and the city would ultimately undertake a cooperative
Bluff Creek project. I am proposing that this cooperation start immediately by supporting a joint
acquisition strategy. The land in question jS adjacent to a city park and has some current
drainage and erosion issues. We would like to start addressing these matters as soon as time
and funding permit. I am proposing two alternatives to the City Council, but you may think of
others. The first is based upon the purchase agreement Ray negotiated which, as I understand
it, would pay $25,000 down and the balance over the following two years. We would consider
being responsible for the remaining $50,000 payments and interest. In this case, since we would
I January 20, 1994
Mr. Conrad Fiskness
January 20, 1994 s1
Page 2
1 be paying most of the acquisition cost, I would assume that we would hold fee title to the land
with the district retaining some sort of easement or covenant to assure that it is put to proper use.
The second would be a 50/50 split with the land held jointly in some sort of partnership
' arrangement. We would anticipate taking the city's share of the funding from our Surface Water
Utility and Park Acquisition funds.
' I am asking that the Board consider these proposals and am asking the City Council to do the
same. The Council will review this proposal at their January 24 meeting. I fully expect that
whatever option is selected, our joint efforts to preserve this land will be one of the first steps
' to implementing a comprehensive plan to protect the entire creek corridor.
' Sincer
' Paul Krauss, AICP
Director of Planning
' pc: Ray Haik, Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District
Bob Obermeyer, Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District
' Chanhassen City Council
Chanhassen Planning Commission
Chanhassen Park and Recreation Commission
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