Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer
CC:	Toni Wheeler, Scott Wagner, Walt Ward, David Cronin, Chuck Soules
Date:	March 25, 2009
RE:	Burroughs Creek Rail Trail – Project Status Update

Engineering Design of this project is currently underway. Recently, City Parks and Recreation and Public Works staff met with the East Lawrence Neighborhood representatives.  Based on the discussions at this meeting, layout of the Trail has been revised.  Field survey is near completion.  Public Works staff estimates the project design to be completed and construction plans to be ready for bid letting by end of June, 2009. Construction will begin mid- August; with all construction to be completed by end of 2009.

The City of Lawrence will have to certify to the Kansas Department of Transportation that property acquisition is complete before bidding the project.  Legal staff has been working with outside counsel on acquiring the abandoned rail right-of-way needed for the project – the property acquisition team (PAT). Map Offer letters were sent to parcels north of 19^th Street in November of 2008.  Negotiations have been continuing and several agreements have been reached with the adjacent property owners.  Offers for the industrial zoned properties to the south of 19^th Street were sent on March 4, 2009.  In order to meet the project deadlines, the PAT is recommending initiation of condemnation proceedings.  The PAT advises that negotiations will continue until that time a court appointed appraiser’s panel is formed and their hearing held.

Action Requested

Adopt Resolution No. 6829 authorizing the City’s use of eminent domain authority for Burroughs Creek Trail property acquisition.