New Search
involvement in the Nature Park. The County owns a 4 acre parcel which <br />was obtained by tax foreclosure and a 7 acre parcel that was obtained <br />with road funds as part of the Delta Highway construction project. <br />Both parcels were acquired in 1967. In addition, the County owns <br />several acres of road right of way associated with Delta Highway. A <br />portion of this property may be surplus property and could also be <br />conveyed to the City. <br />I recommended that the County transfer the 4 acre parcel to the City <br />and at a later date once the road fund issues were ironed out, <br />transfer the 7 acre parcel. The transfer of any road right of way <br />would be a decision best suited for the County Engineer and his staff. <br />I also informed the Board that the Parks Division is supportive of <br />seeing the Delta Pond area preserved as park land. However, the <br />Division does not currently have the staff to administer a study of <br />the area or co- manage the area with another agency. <br />The Board requested that staff find out from City Administration if <br />there was interest on the Council and /or within City Administration to <br />acquire additional property in the Delta Ponds area. On September 6, <br />1995, County Administrator Bill VanVactor, sent a letter to City <br />Administrator Mike Gleason regarding the City's interest in the <br />property. A copy of Mr. VanVactor's letter is attached to this memo. <br />On September 27, 1995, Mr. Gleason replied to Mr. VanVactor's letter <br />and a copy is also attached to this memo. <br />B. Analysis <br />It is clear from Gleason's letter that there is significant interest <br />from the City to proceed with the acquisition of the two tax lots and <br />surplus Delta Highway road right of way. I recommend that the Board <br />proceed with the transfer of property to the City after the following <br />is completed: <br />1. 4 Acre Parcel - Before this property can be conveyed to the City <br />without compensation, the County will need to hold a Public Hearing as <br />required in ORS 271.330. Property Management Officer Jeff Turk should <br />be requested to proceed with this transfer since the property is under <br />his management control. <br />2. 7 Acre Parcel - Before this parcel can be conveyed to the City, <br />the Engineering Division of the Lane County Public Works Department <br />will need to determine which portion of the property should be <br />retained in County ownership for road purposes. <br />3. Public Works staff has not determined the amount of property <br />within the Delta Highway road right of way which could be considered <br />surplus and available for transfer to the City as part of the Delta <br />Ponds Nature Park. The Engineering Division will need to survey these <br />properties and develop legal descriptions for the property which will <br />be retained by the County and for the property which could be conveyed <br />to the City. It is estimated that it may take at least a year for the <br />Engineering staff to complete this work. In any case, staff is <br />recommending that the County retain ownership of the Delta Highway <br />right of way north of Goodpasture Island Road until ODOT has <br />delerrpinq6L.their property needs for the reconstruction of the _ i — <br />Beltline /Delta Interchange. <br />4. Prior to conveying any road fund asset, the County will need to <br />determine if the properties can be transferred to the City for <br />non -road purposes without compensation. If so, the transfer could be <br />relatively simple. If not, the County and City will need to do some <br />creative thinking and problem solving to find ways to transfer or fund <br />the acquisition of the properties by the City. <br />Page 2 <br />