Council to hold open house after neighbors petition to vacate short Rose Creek trail

At the Oct. 22 work session Speaker 9 updated the council on a petition seeking vacation of a short asphalt trail north of 134th and just west of 5600 West in the Rose Creek area. Speaker 9 said the petition was signed by most residents immediately adjacent to the trail and summarized their primary concerns as safety, security, improper use and lack of maintenance.

Options and process: Staff explained two technical paths for vacation. A plat amendment (recommended as the cleaner long‑term record) would amend the original subdivision plat and typically requires signatures from all affected owners; it is cleaner for future reference but can be costlier. The alternative is issuing individual quitclaim deeds to affected parcels; that option can be less expensive and avoids needing every signature but creates separate parcel records. The city attorney advised the council it has flexibility to split the trail down the middle or convey it to one side.

Noticing and outreach: Speaker 9 noted state minimum noticing is a 300‑foot radius, which would primarily reach adjacent properties; several councilmembers urged broader notification, posting notices at both ends of the trail, and holding a public open house and an online feedback option so non‑adjacent users can comment. Staff said cost, tax‑parcel impacts and post‑vacation fence relocation responsibilities would be handled in later steps.

Council direction: Council members asked staff to hold an open house, expand mailed notice beyond the 300‑foot minimum, post on site, and return with specifics (cost estimates for plat amendment vs quitclaim deeds and recommended approach).