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Bicycle, Pedestrian & Trails Committee Agenda Report August 22, 2022 Item 5 SUBJECT: PROVIDE INPUT ON HOW THE REMAINING FUNDS FOR THE MEADOWLARK TRAIL SHOULD BE SPENT SUMMARY On October 17, 2006, City Council approved the 30-acre Meadowlark development, PUD-58, consisting of eight lots surrounded by 22 acres of open space. One of the Conditions of Approval required that the applicant install or provide funding for a trail in the open space area as determined by the Director of Parks and Community Services. The improvement plans for the trail, along with a payment of $57,379 for trail construction, were accepted by City Council on March 3, 2020, and City Council awarded a construction contract to the low bidder, American Ramp Company, for $59,500 at the November 16, 2021, City Council meeting. Before construction could begin, the City heard from many residents opposing the creation of the trail in the open space, stating they hadn’t been informed a trail was planned. In response to the neighbors, staff held a neighborhood outreach meeting on March 2, 2022, to discuss the trail alignment. Most residents in attendance at the meeting stated their opposition to the construction of a trail. On March 15, 2022, several members of the public attended the City Council meeting and again stated their opposition to the trail and asked City Council to reconsider the 2006 decision to construct a trail. Council directed staff to bring the project back for further consideration. Staff brought the project back to City Council on May 17, 2022, and Council directed staff to cease construction and remove the condition of approval requiring the construction of the trail. At the same meeting, the developer confirmed that they were not seeking the return of the trail payment and that instead, they would like to see the funds used on another trail project. Council directed staff to obtain input from the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Trails Committee (BPTC) on how the remaining funds should be spent. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the BPTC review options for trail projects that would be best served by supplementing the budget with the remaining Meadowlark Trail developer-contributed funds, an amount of approximately $50,000. Four projects are included for consideration.