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8. Discussion on closing the Wind in the Pines parking lot To: Mayor, City Council From: Adam Hawkinson, Director of Public Works Date: April 4, 2018 Re: WIP – (Wind In the Pines) – Parking lot closing options Background: WIP is about a 44-acre Scandia park just off Hwy 95 bordered by DNR property and several private properties. It is designated as a natural park with limited access and used mainly by hikers. Over the last two years. a neighbor that has acquired his parents home, has come before the City Council with trespass concerns. There is vandalism, littering, and general trespass occurring. The Sheriff Department reports reflect these concerns. The resident is requesting the City to take actions to restrict access to his property from the park property. There is also a large amount of time spent by the Sheriff Deputy monitoring the area, writing situations, and responding to the resident’s complaints. At the March 20th Council meeting the PW Director was asked to come up with options for closing the parking lot access. Issue: Should the parking lot be closed? Proposal: If the gates are installed, patrons wishing to the use the parks for its intended purposes will be displaced and possibly seek other areas to park such as Pilar Rd. or park in the Hwy 95 road right of way. Also, any fence we install, unless the whole length of the property line, will serve mainly as a minor deterrent and warning. There are two options to close off the parking lot, chain or gates, and two locations to install the closure devices. They can be installed at area A or B on the map provided. Location A is the best solution along with a No Parking sign to keep people from parking and then trying to back onto a highway. Gates are recommended since they are much more visible to the public, and for the Sheriff’s department to do visual checks of tampering. The gates can be installed by staff. Gate: L style gate - $79.89 Menards + posts - $66.00 + Chain and lock - $12.00 = $157.89 Stock Gate: $139.99 TSC + posts - $66.00 + Chain and lock - $12.00 = $217.99 To address the trespassing with fencing, there are numerous fencing options available. One option is from the Critter Fence Co. https://www.critterfence.com is economical. Staff is suggesting the metal deer-fence-kit-o-6-x-100. The County Sentence to Serve has been contacted and are able to such a fence. To fence the top ridge, about 24’, and the three paths below the ridge we will use all of the 100’ section the in the fence kit quoted in this report. The cost would be $446.20 for the 7.5’ tall fence and $326.79 for the 6’ fence. If Council wishes to fence most of the flat area people can walk along the creek bed, the order should be doubled. Along with the fences should be more signs. The cost for 10 signs is $214.50. It should be noted that the fencing on the lower sections of the trail might not prove to be effective since that area abuts the Falls Creek SNA which provides a means to bypass any fencing installed by the City. Fiscal Impact: The Parks budget is not funded specifically for these purchases. The costs would come out of the Parks “operating expenses account” which is funded $1,400.00 for the 2018 fiscal year. The costs would impact this fund significantly. Options: 1. Have a gate installed at location A to block off the parking lot 2. Have a gate installed at location B to block off the parking lot 3. Don’t install a gate 4. Install fencing at the ridge trail and the trails in creek flats blocking trails only, and add the signage 5. Install fencing at the ridge and the all creek flats – hill to hill and add the signage 6. Add more signage only 7. Do nothing, consider it the land owners responsibility and have the Sheriff’s Deputy cite and the City prosecute any trespassers. Note that the cost of prosecution will be the City’s responsibility. Attachments: Maps of WIP Gate Options Web link to fencing option Wash. Co. ERSI Soil survey site 71 4.3 Legend Map Name 0 500 Feet This drawing is neither a legally recorded map nor a survey and is not intended to be used as one. This drawing is a compilation of records, information, and data located in various city, county, and state offices, and other sources affecting the area shown, and is to be used for reference purposes only. The City of Scandia is not responsible for any inaccuracies herein contained. Disclaimer: © Bolton & Menk, Inc - Web GIS 4/17/2017 9:15 AM City Limits Parcels (1-1-2017) Lot Lines Parks