CITY OF BELOIT REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL - AWS

CITY OF BELOIT
REPORTS AND PRESENTATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL
                 Natural Gas Facilities Easement and Release of Existing Easement Rights Over Vacated Portion of Water
Topic:
                 Street Right-of-Way – Council Referral to the Plan Commission
Date:            July 6, 2020

Presenter:       Julie Christensen                                        Department:                 Community Development
Overview/Background Information
This request includes two separate-but-related actions following the recent vacation of a portion of Water Street in
advance of the Snappers Stadium Redevelopment. The attached Plat of Vacation was approved by the City Council on
April 20, 2020 and recorded with the Rock County Register of Deeds on June 15, 2020. As part of the vacation process,
public utility providers notify City staff of any existing facilities within the roadway to be vacated, and State law
automatically reserves a blanket easement over the vacated street.
Key Issues
      1. There are two types of facilities in the vacated right-of-way: City stormwater infrastructure and street lights to
         be removed and replaced as part of the stadium project, and an existing 12-inch natural gas main owned by
         Alliant Energy/Wisconsin Power and Light in the location shown on the attached Gas Line Easement
         Diagram. This gas main will be protected during construction and will ultimately be under a portion of the
         stadium's parking lot and the relocated bike path. Alliant Energy has agreed to release their rights that were
         automatically reserved when the street was vacated, provided that rights to their existing gas main are
         protected. The attached Natural Gas Facilities Easement grants Alliant Energy/Wisconsin Power & Light an
         easement over an approximately 3,242 square-foot area of City-owned land, which was previously Water Street
         right-of-way, so that the gas main can be accessed and maintained. The third page of the Easement & Release
         document includes an official Release of easement rights over the remainder of the vacated street so that the
         stadium can be constructed.
      2. The other document involved in this request is a Release of Easements for the City-owned stormwater
         infrastructure and street lights that will be removed as part of this project and the approved demolition and
         utility plans. Planning staff approved the site plans for this project on June 12, 2020.
Conformance with Strategic Plan
Approval of this action would conform with the stated purpose of the following strategic goal:
       Goal #1 – Create and Sustain Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods
       Goal #2 – Create and Sustain a High Performing Organization
       Goal #3 – Create and Sustain Economic and Residential Growth
       Goal #4 – Create and Sustain a High Quality of Life
       Goal #5 – Create and Sustain High Quality Infrastructure and Connectivity
       Goal #6 – Create and Sustain a Positive Image, Enhance Communications and Engage the Community
Sustainability
(If applicable, briefly comment on the sustainable long term impact of this policy or program related to how it will impact both the built and natural
environment. Consider whether the policy or program will reduce dependence upon fossil fuels, reduce dependence on chemicals and other
manufacturing substances that accumulate in nature, reduce dependence on activities that harm life sustaining eco-systems, and/or meet the
hierarchy of present and future human needs fairly and efficiently. Write N/A if not applicable)
N/A
Action Required/Recommendation
         Referral to the Plan Commission for the July 8, 2020 meeting
         This item will most likely return to the City Council for possible action on July 20, 2020
Fiscal Note/Budget Impact
N/A

Attachments
Plat of Vacation, Release of City Easements, Natural Gas Facilities Easement & Release