Non-Motorized Blue Star Trail Summary & Parks Commission Motion
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Non-Motorized Blue Star Trail Summary & Parks Commission Motion Background/Purpose Information: The Friends of the Blue Star Trial (FOTBST) have asked Allegan County to consider taking ownership of phase II of the non-motorized Blue Star Linear Trail that will run from South Haven to Holland. (Please refer to non- motorized linear report for more details on each phase) Facts The Phase II section is ~ 1.8 miles and will go from Baseline Rd, South Haven north to Beverly Shores in Casco Township. Phase II will be funded using Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) monies and matching funds raised by FOTBST The development cost of Phase II will be approximately $680,000.00 and will be funded in FY 2015. FOTBST has contracted with the Allegan County Community Foundation which requires the FOTBST to initiate an endowment fund this year, and to fund it on annual basis. Yearly trail maintenance will come from this fund. FOTBST must meet the requirements of the Allegan County Road Commission (see Road Commission resolution) Assumptions Estimated annual maintenance costs (based on research/past park maintenance experience) o Year 1: $1800/mile = ~ $3240.00 /total for section Phase II o Year 2: $1800/mile = ~ $3240.00 /total for section Phase II o Year 3: $2800/mile = ~ $5040.00 /total for section Phase II o Year 4: $2800/mile = ~ $5040.00 /total for section Phase II o Year 5+: $3800/mile = ~ $6840.00 /total for section Phase II Estimated annual maintenance costs cover staff/contractor time (overseeing & performing maintenance tasks). Maintenance tasks include but are not limited to mowing, removal of debris/litter, signage, crack sealing, patch & cutting & section overlay. Added liability insurance will be less than $2000.00 Non –Motorized linear trails can generate economic, social, and personal benefits. (please click on links below for two recent reports/ studies on the benefits of bicycling) o http://www.advocacyadvance.org/site_images/content/Final_Econ_Update(small) .pdf o http://iowabicyclecoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2012-Economic- Impact-Study.pdf Questions that needs to be considered: Can support be made for only developing/taking ownership of the project phase by phase, not knowing if the funds will be available to complete/maintain future phases? Is there value in each phase developed? If FOTBST is able to completely fund the development of the trail, then how much money or percentage of total maintenance cost, for how many years, do they need upfront for annual and future maintenance costs? Motion from Parks Commission: A motion was made by Bruce Brandon, seconded by Dean Kapenga to: The Parks Commission supports the project as presented by FOTBST (Allegan County taking ownership of Phase II (~ 1.8 miles) of the non-motorized Blue Stair Linear Trail). o Provided the following conditions are met: . Requirements of the Allegan County Road Commission for FOTBST . FOTBST meeting the financial commitment for development and annual/future maintenance costs. The motion passed with a nine to one vote count: No – Mark DeYoung Yes – Larry Rasmussen Yes – Maryln Langeance Yes – Bruce Brandon Yes – Bob Kaarlie Yes – Lenore Sartini Yes – Bruce Culver Yes – Dean Kapenga Yes – Chuck Pullen Yes – Denise Medemar Additional conditions recommend by staff: . That ~60% of total assumed annual maintenance cost of the first five years(~$14,000.00) is placed in the Allegan Community Foundation maintenance fund prior to Allegan County taking ownership. Insurance premiums to be paid as part of the maintenance cost. The Blue Star Trail will be non-motorized county trail and not a county park and will have its own revenue and expenditure accounts to fund maintenance. FOTBST agrees to a formal partnership to assist the county in stewardship of the trail. An agreed upon contract. Additional Resources: Non-Motorized Linear Trail Report Letters of Support Road Commission Resolution Strategic Priority: Provide valuable and necessary quality services to our customers Non- Motorized Linear Trail Information Report BACKGROUND: The Friends of the Blue Star Trail (FOTBST) organization was developed to promote construction and support of a ~ 19 mile non motorized multi-use trail connecting South Haven to Saugatuck. In addition to connecting these two cities it also connects already established trails (Kal-haven Trail & Van Buren trail (south side of trail) and Laketown Township trail (north side of trail). A conceptual plan has been created and broken down into six phases. Red Lines = Established Trails (http://www.wmtrails.org/Trail-Maps) Phase I Will be completed, owned, operated, and maintained by the Village of Douglas with the support of FOTBST. The Phase I section is ~ 1.5 miles and will go from the Kalamazoo River Bridge & through the Village of Douglas south to exit 36. Phase I is being funded using Village of Douglas general revenues and will be completed in 2014. Phase II FOTBST has asked Allegan County to consider taking ownership of this section. FOTBST has already received funds to develop phase II and set aside funds for future maintenance. The Phase II section is ~ 1.8 miles and will go from Baseline Rd, South Haven north to Beverly Shores in Casco Township. Phase II will be funded using CMAQ monies and matching funds raised by FOTBST. The development cost of Phase II will be approximately $680,000.00 and will be funded in FY 2015. Phase III Will be completed, owned, operated, and maintained by Saugatuck Township with the support of FOTBST. The Phase III section is ~ 4.5 miles and will go from exit 36 south to 124th (M-89). Phase III will be funded using MNRTF grant, TAP grant and matching funds raised by FOTBST. The development cost of Phase III will be approximately $1,250,000.00 and will be funded in FY 2016. FUTURE PHASES: FOTBST will not be seeking ownership of the following phases until they have secured the funding for development and future maintenance. Phase IV Phase IV is a future phase that FOTBST will be asking either Allegan County or Casco Township to take ownership of once funding has been secured. The Phase IV section is ~ 4.5 miles and will go from Beverly Shores north to 118th Ave. Phase IV will be funded using MNRTF, TAP and matching funds raised by FOTBST. Phase IV will cost approximately $1,400,000.00 and will hopefully be funded in FY 2017. Phase V & VI Phase V & VI is a future phase that FOTBST will be asking either Allegan County or Ganges Township to take ownership of once funding has been secured. The Phase V & VI sections combined are ~6.5 miles and will go from 118th Ave north to 124th Ave. Phase V & VI will be funded using MNRTF grants, QMAQ monies, TAP grants and matching funds raised by FOTBST. Phase V & VI will cost approximately $2,770,000.00 and will hopefully be funded in FY 2018 & FY 2019. Action Needed: FOTBST has asked Allegan County to consider taking ownership for Phase II of the Blue Star Trail. Phase II FOTBST has asked Allegan County to consider taking ownership of this section. FOTBST has already received funds to develop phase II and set aside funds for future maintenance. The Phase II section is ~ 1.8 miles and will go from Baseline Rd, South Haven north to Beverly Shores in Casco Township. Phase II will be funded using CMAQ monies and matching funds raised by FOTBST. The development cost of Phase II will be approximately $680,000.00 and will be funded in FY 2015. Review all information and come prepared in June to consider making a recommendation to the County Board of Commissions on whether they should consider taking ownership of phase II. County/Parks Department Follow- up Research: When deciding if the taking ownership of these sections of the Blue Star trail the following questions need to be addressed / answered: 1. What are the pros and cons of the trail? a. What does it accomplish? b. Who will benefit? i. Local residents ii. Tourist? iii. County? c. What are the risks? If you decide that the pros out way the cons the next question you need to ask is: 2. If FOTBST is able to completely fund the development of the trail, then how much money do they need upfront to make sure will be available for annual and future maintenance? Following is the summary of the Parks Staff’s research: Have you Annual Annual had to Main- Main- Who checks/ Who replace Have you Issues Age of Ownersh Was Trail tenance tenance Annual Main- Where do oversees completes How often large Who are seen with Trail Miles of oldest ip of developed Cost per Cost per tenance annual funds main-tenance maint-enance is trail sections Estimate # the economic trail Name Tails? trail? Trail? in sections? mile? trail? Activities come from? of trail? of trail? checked of trail? of users? users? impact? users $3000- Pere 3 -5 week Yes in Isabella $4000 (up parks millage during season, residents very Marquette 8.5 14 Yes > staff, supplies Park Staff Park Staff No N/A connecting County to since 2012 once a month & tourists minor Rail trail cities $10,000) off season Wadhams 5 asphalt, parks and rec Parks and Parks and dogs not St Clair residents to Avoca 7.5 15 Yes N/A N/A N/A property tax Recreation Recreation weekly No N/A Yes on County & tourists Trail limestone millage Management Department leashes City of 16 paved debris/trash dogs not Marquette daily -drive residents 24 non- N/A City of Yes N/A N/A pick up, general fund Park Manager DPW/Parks No N/A Yes on Trails Marquette by & tourists paved plowing leashes Systems general fund, friend support No but mowing trash Parks Parks weekly Falling Jackson group.