Title
Approval of an Ordinance Accepting a Gift and Donation from the Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation to be Used Soley for Purchasing Real Property from the Estate of Margaret E. Long for Park and Conservancy Purposes - FIRST AND FINAL
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve on first and final reading the donation Ordinance accepting a gift of $1,450,000.00 to be used solely for the purchase of 9.85 acres, more or less, of real property located at 401 Kaiser Rd NW from the Estate of Margaret E. Long on the terms and conditions of the donor, The Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation.
Report
Issue:
Whether to enact on first and final reading an Ordinance pursuant to RCW 35.21.100 and OMC 3.56.020 accepting a gift and donation of $1,450,000.00 to be used solely for the purchase of real property from the Estate of Margaret E. Long for a future park site and for conservancy purposes, open space and non-motorized public recreation purposes in perpetuity.
Staff Contact:
Mark Barber, City Attorney, 360.753.8338
Laura Keehan, Planning & Design Manager, Parks, Arts & Recreation, 360.570.5855
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item.
Background and Analysis:
The Estate of Margaret E. Long (Seller) owns a 9.85-acre property located at 401 Kaiser Rd NW, Tax Parcel No. 12817240101. The property is undeveloped and contains a mature stand of western red cedar, Douglas fir, big leaf maple and western hemlock. The understory consists of native vegetation and few invasive species.
Acquisition of the Long property aligns with the proposed western continuation of the Capitol to Capitol Trail. The Capitol to Capitol Trail was originally envisioned by former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro to connect the Washington State Capitol with the State Capital Forest. The first mile-long segment of the Capitol to Capitol Trail was recently constructed at Grass Lake Nature Park.
The Capitol to Capitol Trail is a shared use trail that will offer recreation and non-motorized transportation connections for northwest Thurston County and west Olympia neighborhoods. The Trail has been included in the Thurston Regional Trails Plan and Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Plan for almost two decades.
Staff has completed negotiations with the Seller and has prepared the Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement. The purchase price is $2,900,000.00. Because of the habitat and trail connection value of the subject property, The Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation (AJBCF) has agreed to donate to the City of Olympia half of the purchase price ($1,450,000.00), on certain terms and conditions. Without this gift and donation, the City would be unable to purchase the property for the western continuation of the Capitol to Capitol Trail.
Climate Analysis:
Acquisition of the subject property will preserve a mature stand of healthy forest, which provides carbon sequestration benefits. Additionally, future use of the property will allow for continuation of the Capitol to Capitol Trail which provides non-motorized transportation options to community members thus reducing vehicle mile trips.
Equity Analysis:
West Olympia contains some of the City’s more diverse and lower income census tracts. This land acquisition will allow for a trail connection for recreation and non-motorized transportation connection options that are free, ADA accessible and open to the public.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Park land acquisition has been a high priority in Olympia for many years as demonstrated by voter support of tax measures for park land acquisition.
Financial Impact:
The City’s half of the purchase price will be paid by using voted utility tax funds allocated in the Capital Facilities Plan and half will be paid by a donation from The Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation.
Options:
1. Approve the donation Ordinance accepting a gift of $1,450,000.00 to be used solely for the purchase of 9.85 acres, more or less, of real property located at 401 Kaiser Rd NW from the Estate of Margaret E. Long on the terms and conditions of the donor, The Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation.
2. Do not approve the donation Ordinance and decline the gift of $1,450,000.00 to be used for the purchase of real property from the Estate of Margaret E. Long.
Attachments:
Ordinance