Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of 1219 Boundary Street SE for or Aquatic Habitat Protection, Flood Management and Water Quality 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 Karen Flanigan for aquatic habitat protection, flood management and water quality purposes and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to acquire 4.31 acres of real estate for these purposes.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Resolution authorizing the purchase of real estate owned by Karen Flanigan for aquatic habitat protection, flood management and water quality purposes and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to acquire 4.31 acres of real estate for these 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:
Karen Flanigan owns a 4.31-acre parcel of undeveloped real property located south of 1219 Boundary Street SE, Olympia, Assessor’s Parcel Number 78207200100 (see attached Property Location Map).
The City intends to purchase the property to protect a portion of Indian Creek and adjacent wetlands. The property provides aquatic habitat, flood management and water quality functions that have potential benefits for the City and community. The parcel is downstream of other City owned properties to the south and east along the Karen Fraser Olympia Woodland Trail and offer potential future opportunities to increase stormwater treatment of runoff from Interstate 5 in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation. Use of the parcel will be restricted to prohibit development of the property, which will be used only for greenspace, habitat preservation, passive recreation, including but not limited to walking or hiking, and for stormwater/water quality management activities, infrastructure or projects upon the property, including maintenance and enhancement of aquatic habitat, vegetation, and
potential future water quality facilities.
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 $160,000.
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 forested portions 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:
Downstream sites will benefit from this action. These include flooding risks for the Quince Street Tiny Home Village and adjacent commercial sites. Under City ownership the parcel will be more consistently monitored and managed for flood management, habitat and water quality function.
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. Potential future stormwater treatment opportunities would protect downstream areas and Budd Inlet from highway runoff.
Financial Impact:
The purchase price of the parcel is $160,000, and available Stormwater Utility funds a will be used to acquire this parcel.
Options:
1. Approve the Resolution authorizing the purchase of real estate owned by Karen Flanigan for aquatic habitat protection, flood management and water quality purposes and authorize the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to acquire 4.31 acres of real estate for these purposes.
2. Do not authorize the purchase of real estate from Karen Flanigan. Future partnership opportunities to improve stormwater treatment from Interstate 5 and improve water quality and habitat conditions may be delayed or lost.
3. Direct staff to seek other options to satisfy the City’s need to protect aquatic habitat, flood management and water quality functions.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement
Map