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Council reviews three design options for 4200 West pond; amenity trade-offs noted
Summary
City public works staff presented three design alternatives for adding storage at the 4200 West pond and asked the council whether to prioritize maximum storage or add public amenities such as walking trails and fishing.
City public-works staff presented three design alternatives for adding storage at the 4200 West pond and asked the council for guidance on whether to prioritize maximum storage or add public amenities such as walking trails and a fishing area.
The current pond holds about 31 acre-feet. Option 1 would remove and extend the north wall to add roughly 21 acre-feet of storage and minimal landscaping (estimated total about $1.1 million). Option 2 would add a second pond linked by equalization piping, create a walking trail and landscaping and would yield about 11 acre-feet of additional storage (non-fishing estimate roughly $1.3 million). Option 2b would add a fishable area that requires deeper excavation and a lift station (about $1.4 million to $1.5 million) and additional maintenance.
Funding and trade-offs: Staff said impact fees are budgeted to pay for most of the construction and that TRCC grant funds could cover landscaping and amenity elements. Council members raised two recurring concerns: loss of storage when amenities are added ("it cuts in half" the added storage, a council member noted), and the visual/privacy impacts on existing homes adjacent to the site. Council member McKay and others recommended shifting amenities away from the east side of the pond that faces backyards and toward the Welby Jacob Canal when feasible to reduce overlook and privacy concerns.
Maintenance and safety: Staff said state dam inspection rules apply and that deeper excavation for fishable areas could trigger additional permitting or state requirements. Staff also described annual dam inspections and the need to budget ongoing maintenance for any added landscaping or recreational features.
Next steps: Council directed staff to refine designs and cost estimates, seek TRCC grant opportunities for amenity improvements, and return with a recommendation that balances storage needs and neighborhood impacts. No contract was awarded and no final design was adopted at the meeting.
