HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/04/93CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
January 4, 1993
5:30 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Roll call: Mayor Manning, Angel, Buck, Budak, Dell, Fox, Lemke and
Wright.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the request of Harold
Leahy and Nick Courbat for a temporary easement across the Katoski
Greenbelt to transport logs from a logging operation on their
property to Ridgeway Avenue. Mr. Courbat explained that he had
purchased property approximately 22 years ago north of the
Greenbelt that is land locked. He now wants to transport logs and
firewood from said location. Since original conversations with the
Park Department approximately 14 months ago, Mr. Leahy and Mr.
Courbat have obtained bids for said logging operation and have been
paid for the logs. It was Mr. Courbat's understanding that it was
merely a formality to utilize the Greenbelt as specified above. He
also reported that he is assisting in a feasibility study (at no
cost to the city) to log all city property.
Rick Tagtow, Director of Parks and Forestry, stated that several
issues are of concern including liability and safety issues.
Further, aesthetics and security issues to users while logging
operations are underway are also of concern. Mr. Tagtow warned of
the precedent that would be established by allowing private use of
said private property. Park staff have estimated that
approximately 39 trees would be removed from the Greenbelt easement
ranging in size from 1" diameter to 14" in diameter for said
operation. Several other alternatives were suggested for removal
of said logs.
Questions were raised as to whether the 10 -foot width of proposed
easement was adequate space for logging operations. It is also
noted that the original request in February, 1992 was for
unrestricted vehicle access although said request has now been
altered to allow for a temporary easement.
Mr. Tagtow pointed out that it was the staff's recommendation that
said logging operation not be allowed. In the interests of
compromise, he presented an agreement for temporary Greenbelt
easement access delineating the terms and conditions of said
operation. The contractors would be required to purchase a bond in
the amount of $10,000 and to reimburse the city for any and all
additional costs incurred in returning the premises to the original
condition together with reimbursement for the cost of all trees
marked and felled within the Greenbelt. It is difficult to
anticipate the cost of said restoration until the work is
completed.
Matt Hobson, representing the Audubon Society, Shelly Shehe,
representing the Cedar Valley River Festival and Bill Dotsler,
representing the Cedar Valley Coalition for Earth, all spoke
against the request. Each of them expressed their concern with the
environmental damage that could be done by such an action.
It was the consensus of the council that action on said item be
delayed to allow further investigation of said topic.
No official action was taken by city council. The meeting was
adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor