Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Real Estate Owned by Jacob Kon for Aquatic Habitat Protection and Flood Management Purposes
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve the Resolution authorizing the purchase of real estate owned by Jacob Kon for aquatic habitat protection, flood management and water quality purposes and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to acquire 1.22 acres of real estate from Jacob Kon for these purposes.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the purchase of real estate from Jacob Kon for habitat protection, flood management and water quality purposes.
Staff Contacts:
Jesse Barham, Water Resources Director, Public Works Department, 360.753.8164
Mark Barber, City Attorney, 360.753.8338
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
Jacob Kon owns a 1.22-acre parcel of undeveloped real property located at 1501 Wheeler Avenue SE, Assessor’s Parcel Number 83200300100 (see attached Property Location Map).
The City intends to purchase the property to protect a portion of Indian Creek and adjacent wetlands and better manage ongoing flooding across Central Street SE right-of-way. The property provides aquatic habitat, flood management and water quality functions that have potential benefits for the City and community. The parcel is adjacent to other City owned properties to the south and east along the Karen Fraser Olympia Woodland Trail.
Staff has concluded negotiations with the Seller and has prepared the Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement that is attached to the Staff Report. The purchase price is $20,000.
Climate Analysis:
The purchase of this property and subsequent management actions are not anticipated to impact (neither increase nor reduce) carbon emissions. This undeveloped property contains both forests and wetlands. The eastern forested portion of the site will provide both storage and continued uptake of carbon over time. The wetlands present also have the potential to store carbon in anerobic sediments as well as provide climate resilience and water storage to reduce flooding during increasingly intense rainfall events.
Equity Analysis:
Neighboring property owners along Central Street will benefit from this action. Under City ownership the parcel will be more consistently monitored and managed to prevent flooding of the roadway. This flooding has been a growing concern impacting nearby property owners whose access to their homes is impeded during heavy rain events. Similarly, people living in or otherwise accessing the nearby encampments along Wheeler Ave will benefit from reduced flood-related hazards with City management of the parcel. Presence of City workers or contractors may put encampment residents on alert or create tension when work is being done to improve drainage and habitat conditions on the property. If there are still community member living in encampments in the area, Public Works should coordinate with the Homelessness Response Team to notify people ahead of time that City workers (or other contracted entities) will be working in the area.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Protection of aquatic habitat that also provides water quality and flood management functions has been a priority for the community over many years. The community members that live at the end of Central Street SE have also been supportive of this acquisition and having the City directly manage the flooding concerns that originate on this parcel.
Financial Impact:
Stormwater Utility funds are available and will be used to acquire this parcel. The purchase price is $20,000.
Options:
1. Move to approve the Resolution authorizing the purchase of real estate owned by Jacob Kon for aquatic habitat protection, flood management and water quality purposes and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to acquire 1.22 acres of real estate from Jacob Kon for these purposes.
2. Do not move to approve the resolution authorizing the purchase of real estate from Jacob Kon. City staff will need to require the property owner to manage flooding originating from their property, which may be financially burdensome to them and have limited long-term success.
3. Direct staff to seek other options to satisfy the City’s need to protect aquatic habitat, flood management, and water quality functions. Flooding in the area will continue for a longer period of time.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement
Property Location Map