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CITY OF ORONO MEMORANDUM <br />DATE: February 26, 2018 <br />TO: Orono City Council <br />FROM: Adam Edwards, P.E., Public Works Director / City Engineer <br />RE: Maintenance of Three Rivers Park District Trails <br />1. Purpose. The purpose of this memo is to provide background information for discussion of the City <br />taking on the responsibility for winter maintenance of Three Rivers Parks District Trails. <br />2. Background. Periodically the City received requests for residents and groups to perfume winter <br />maintenance on the regional trail systems; in particular the Dakota Trail. The City's position has been <br />that regional assets should be maintained by the regional body responsible for them. In previous years <br />Orono and our neighboring communities have declined to accept winter maintenance responsibility for <br />the regional trail system within the City. (See attached newspaper articles) However the City has <br />historically maintained the trail along Old Crystal Bay Road from Wayzata Blvd and to CR6 as it <br />functions as a side walk. Every three years Three Rivers Park District asks each city along its regional <br />trails to respond as to whether the city wishes to authorize winter use of the trail segments within their <br />communities. Acceptance requires that the city accept responsibility for maintaining the trails including <br />but not limited to plowing, sweeping, sanding, trash removal and sign placement from November 15te to <br />March 31 st. The District also requires that the city provide a Certificate of Insurance. <br />3. Regional Trails Description. Three Rivers Regional Trails within Orono include (6.9 total of miles): <br />a. The Dakota Regional Trail is a bituminous surfaced trail which goes through Orono East to West <br />for 3.5 miles to the north of Shoreline Road from Wayzata to Minnetonka Beach and then from <br />Minnetonka Beach to Spring Park. <br />b. The Lake Independence Trail is 2.9 miles of bituminous surfaced trail which connects the Luce Line <br />Trail to Baker Park following Old Crystal Bay Road North and then CSAH 6 West. <br />4. Cost. Maintaining the Dakota Trail (2.7 mi. and 0.7 mi.) for 5 months each year for snow removal <br />would cost approximately $5522.88 in labor and equipment. (23 snow events * 4.25 hours to travel, plow, <br />sweep and then touch up *($42/hr. in labor + $14.50/hr. in equipment)) <br />5. Other Considerations. <br />a. Pros and Cons. <br />Pros <br />Cons <br />• Reasonably safe place for runners and walkers <br />• Limited Length for runners (2.7 Mi and ,0.7 Mi) <br />• Allows Three Rivers Park District to focus their <br />• Eliminates winter sport uses <br />resources on other regional assets <br />• Inconsistent with surrounding communities <br />• Relieves 3 Rivers of their responsibility and <br />accountability to their constituents <br />• Cost born by Orono tax payers for a regional asset <br />• Liability <br />