ITEM TITLE:
Approval to Appraise Lot 3, Sleepy Hollow Addition #3 for Potential Snow Lot Purchase
SUBMITTED BY: Lisa Von Bargen, CEDD Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: $1,200
Unencumbered Balance: $116,042 Snow Lots Reserve Account
Funding Source: 350-8000-55000.580
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Appraisal of Lot 3, Sleepy Hollow Addition #3 for Potential Snow Lot Purchase.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The Public Works Department has had a snow storage agreement for many years with the owners of the vacant property that is generally located in between Eagle’s Rest RV Park and Safeway. The owners of this large tract of land have advised Public Works they will no longer be allowing the City to store snow on the property. This leaves the City with almost no snow storage along Meals Avenue.
In previous years the City has also had an agreement with the owners of Lot 3, Sleepy Hollow Addition #3. This property is located at 655 Meals Avenue and sits between Chena RV Park and Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The owner of this property has indicated she is interested in selling her property. From the position of Public Works, this is a critical parcel to own for snow storage in this part of town, especially given the loss of the other snow storage location. In order to provide the Council with appropriate information to consider the purchase of this property, it is necessary to have an appraisal completed.
The City Manager has advised staff the Council is interested in considering the sale of City snow lots to free up land for potential residential development. No doubt, this will need to be a significant portion of the overall discussion on City lands. Given this, the City Manager has requested staff obtain approval from the Council to have the appraisal done. Staff expects the cost to be around $1,200.
Staff recognizes this request is brought as a stand-alone item, and not in the context of the greater discussion. Given the time of year, and the need to find alternative snow storage area in this part of town, staff is bringing this request to the Council for action. If approved, staff will move forward with obtaining an appraisal. Action to purchase the property will come back to the Council for consideration as a separate item.
The 2016 Budget includes an account within the reserve fund under Land, titled Snow Lots. The unencumbered balance of that account is $116,042. Funds will be taken from this account to pay for the appraisal.