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Parks commissioners flag Dalton Lake agreement, warn city could bear removal costs when contract ends
Summary
Commissioners reviewed the cooperative management agreement covering Dalton Lake, noting it expires in about four years and requires the city to pay for maintenance, improvements and potentially removal of those improvements unless ODOT approves otherwise. Commissioners asked staff for documents and follow-up.
Commissioners and volunteers at the St. Helens Parks & Trails Commission meeting pressed for clarity on Dalton Lake’s cooperative management agreement with the Oregon Department of Transportation and what will happen when the contract ends.
Lynn, chair of the Dalton Lake advisory committee, told the commission the cooperative management agreement was signed in February 2009 for a 20‑year term and therefore will expire in roughly four years. She said the city is obligated under that agreement to cover the costs of maintenance and improvements and to develop a management plan for ODOT approval. "The city shall develop a management plan for approval by ODOT," Lynn said during the discussion.
The requirement matters because the agreement also says the city must remove any improvements at its sole expense when the agreement ends unless ODOT specifically allows them to remain. Commissioners raised concerns that benches, kiosks and other passive improvements the commission and volunteers have placed at Dalton Lake could need removal and that such work could create an unplanned bill for the city.
Commissioners and staff reviewed several provisions Lynn cited from the agreement: the property is owned by ODOT; improvements must be compatible with wetland preservation and are limited to passive trail features and interpretive signage; ODOT review and approval — through district maintenance staff — is required for any improvements; and the city must prepare and maintain a management plan describing staffing, resource management and procedures. Lynn said the site is about 56 acres and that some mitigation work previously permitted is the only construction formally approved so far.
City staff (referred to in discussion as Jacob) told commissioners he would look into the outstanding permit records and the city’s position on future ownership or renewal. Commissioners asked Lynn to circulate the materials she mentioned; she agreed to forward the presentation and any documents she had submitted to the city. Jacob said he would discuss the issue with the manager and follow up with the commission.
Several commissioners urged caution on new improvements while the agreement and permitting status are verified. One commissioner said staff advised that pausing nonessential improvements may be advisable until the city clarifies whether it will seek to extend or buy the property. Lynn and other volunteers said the improvements placed so far have been low‑impact (kiosks, benches, signage) and could likely be removed with limited disturbance, but they acknowledged removal would still carry a cost if ODOT required it.
Commissioners agreed to: (1) ask Lynn to forward the management plan and related materials to the commission; (2) have staff check city records and ODOT permit files; and (3) revisit the question after staff and council input so the commission could decide whether to recommend renewing the agreement or pursue other options.
The commission did not take a formal vote on any Dalton Lake action at the meeting; members instead directed follow‑up steps and requested documents from staff and the advisory committee.
