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Council approves application for pedestrian-improvement grant for Indian Head Lake Estates; residents voice levee, liability concerns
Summary
Council unanimously authorized applying for a Transportation Alternatives grant for sidewalks in Indian Head Lake Estates with staff noting a $320,000 maximum award and a required 20% local match; residents raised concerns about levee access, trash and liability.
The Sherwood City Council voted unanimously to authorize staff to apply for federal-aid/MetroPlan transportation-alternatives funds to build pedestrian improvements in Indian Head Lake Estates, while residents urged caution about potential impacts to the lake levee and liability.
Finley, a city staff member working on the application, told the council the grant "will provide a maximum of $320,000; we have to put up a 20% match so if we can get it done for $400,000 then our match would be $80,000." Staff noted engineering estimates varied (an engineer—s estimate was discussed in the packet and some staff referred to higher RDOT-area maximum project costs), and that the city had included funding in the budget but might need to scale the project if construction costs exceed the grant maximum.
During public comment, Julianne Carney said she supports sidewalks but opposes building paths across the levee, citing concerns about increased trash, nuisance and insurance costs for property owners. She said: "I'm absolutely opposed to that only because of the risk that the city will encumber, the cost, the trash that property owners will have."
Resident Steve Hopkins said he was "adamantly opposed to this resolution," raising concerns about public access to a private-membership lake, safety near the water (he referenced drownings), and who would bear liability if people accessed the lake from a new path. Council and staff replied that engineering for any levee work has not begun, environmental regulations would apply, and the city will engage property owners and homeowners associations in future design and review if the grant is awarded.
Because the grant application deadline is early January, council approved the resolution to apply; staff will pursue the grant and return with more detailed engineering and cost information if the project advances.
