CC MEETING: January 23, 2024
DATE: January 16, 2024
TO: Erin Rinehart, City Manager
FROM: Jonathan Wheat, P.E., Director of Engineering
Marc Guy, Assistant City Manager
Title
Consider A Resolution Declaring The Necessity To Acquire Certain Utility Easements For The Construction Of The Ridgecrest Phase 1 Reconstruction Project; Determining The Public Use And Necessity For Such Acquisition; Authorizing The Acquisition Of Property Rights Necessary For Said Project; Appointing An Appraiser And Negotiator As Necessary; Authorizing The City Manager Of The City Of Carrollton, Texas, To Establish Just Compensation For The Property Rights To Be Acquired; Authorizing The City Manager To Take All Steps Necessary To Acquire The Needed Property Rights In Compliance With All Applicable Laws And Resolutions; And Authorizing The City Attorney To Institute Condemnation Proceedings To Acquire The Property If Purchase Negotiations Are Not Successful.
Body
BACKGROUND:
This resolution will provide authorization to acquire the necessary easements to construct the ongoing improvements in the Ridgecrest Phase 1 neighborhood. To facilitate the construction of the project, it is necessary for the City to acquire a utility easement. As with other similar infrastructure construction projects it is not anticipated that the use of eminent domain will be required to complete the acquisition process. However, staff is requesting advance authorization to pursue acquisition by eminent domain if negotiations are unsuccessful.
The reconstruction of Phase 1 of the Ridgecrest Addition is currently underway. This needed easement is for the re-alignment of the existing sanitary sewer line under the tennis courts at Newman Smith High School on CFBISD property. A change order for this work was approved on September 26, 2023. There is also an existing storm sewer line that follows a similar alignment that will be encapsulated by this easement. The infrastructure reconstruction of the Ridgecrest Addition is part of the 2018 Bond Program.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There are no financial implications associated with this resolution.
IMPACT ON COMMUNITY SUSTAINABILITY:
This project will support the City Council’s strategic objectives and vision of building a community that families and businesses want to call home by:
- Sustaining quality of life - Improvements in the subdivision should improve the appearance of the neighborhood and promote residents to maintain their properties.
- Sustaining day-to-day operations - The replacement of substandard infrastructure should reduce the need for non-scheduled or emergency repairs.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION/ACTION DESIRED:
Staff recommends City Council approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to take all steps necessary to acquire the needed property rights in compliance with all applicable laws and resolutions, and authorizing the City Attorney to institute condemnation proceedings to acquire the property if purchase negotiations are not successful.