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Council opens discussion on Valley Academy access; asks staff to pursue talks with school
Summary
Council discussed a Valley Academy request to allow a walking/running path across city property between two school buildings; council directed staff to ask Valley Academy whether it will permit a roadway connection and to return with an agreement proposal if the school is agreeable.
The council discussed a Valley Academy request to allow students and a school running club to walk across a portion of city-owned property to reach a second campus and to access nearby informal trails. Brian Hall, a fourth-grade teacher and running-club coach at Valley Academy, told council the group—s intent is to use nearby desert trails for a supervised running program and not primarily to shuttle students between buildings.
Staff noted the city already has sidewalks on 870 West that could be used for routine travel between sites but that the school—s request involves trail access on city property and could create a new pedestrian desire line. The city—s parks and engineering staff and the school discussed liability, fencing and maintenance; Valley Academy representatives said they would be willing to indemnify the city and help maintain any simple trail.
Council members expressed interest in connectivity across the larger civic-site property but raised concerns about turning the area into a public thoroughfare for unsupervised children and about eventual infrastructure changes if a public road is required. Several council members asked staff to reopen talks with Valley Academy: investigate whether a road alignment that was designed previously could be completed to provide a safe two-way access, and, separately, to draft a limited access agreement for trail/running-club use if the parties agree.
Mayor and staff said the city would talk further with Valley Academy and return to council if the school consents to negotiate an access agreement.
