Council authorizes final design work for Willow Creek trail after heated debate on property route and bridge funding

The Rochester City Council voted to accept the Willow Creek Regional Trail feasibility study and to authorize a supplemental design agreement of $418,170 for final engineering, with staff directed to return with a legal update on any potential condemnation action.

Mister Dombrowski, who presented the feasibility study, told the council the recommended alignment excluding a pedestrian bridge is estimated at "$2,600,000," and that "the bridge when we think about engineering acquisition costs, $3,400,000," making the two-line recommended total $5,960,000 compared with $5.5 million currently in the city's capital improvement plan. He urged the council to weigh routing costs against long-term project success and safety.

Debate centered on Segment 1c, where one recommended alignment would cross private property owned by the Loomis family and could require condemnation if an easement cannot be negotiated. Several council members pressed staff on alternatives and maintenance implications; Mayor Norton framed condemnation as a last resort, saying it was "the worst case scenario and should be the very last resort."

Council member Palmer initially moved to advance Alternative 2 (which stays closer to the property edge but would increase boardwalk costs), but that motion failed on a tie vote. An alternative motion to accept the preferred route and authorize final design with Alliant/Line Engineering passed 4–2; the motion also directed staff to provide a legal update on property acquisition steps.

The action advances final design work through the fall and winter with a target to support construction in 2027–2028 under the DNR agreement's substantial completion expectations. Staff noted some project funding is state-bonding dollars and emphasized timing constraints tied to those allocations.