Agenda Item No: P.6
AGENDA REPORT
DATE: June 17, 2025
TO: Mayor and Council
FROM: David Gassaway, City Manager
SUBJECT: Resolution 2025-114 PW Linear Park Conservation Easement Agreement and Restatement
Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Trail Easement Agreement, an Amendment and Restatement of Grant of Conservation Easement with Covenants, with the Solano Land Trust for the Linear Park Trail
Funding Source: N/A
Contact: Ryan Panganiban, (707) 428-7017
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Adopt resolution.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE
In 2024, the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) conducted an eminent domain process to acquire portions of the Linear Park Trail that are no longer in service. The STA acquired portions of the Linear Park Trail property to construct the Caltrans Solano Westbound I -80 Cordelia Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility Project . Currently, the Solano Land Trust (SLT) has a Grant of Conservation Easement with Covenants (Conservation Easement ) over abandoned portions of the Linear Park Trail . The SLT approached the City to update the Conservation Easement to define the encumbered lands associated with the Linear Park Trail and update outdated text. The proposed resolution will authorize the mayor to execute the Amended a nd Restated Trail Easement Agreement (Agreement) between the Solano Land Trust and the City for the Linear Park Trail.
DISCUSSION
In 1990, the City Council initiated amendments to the General Plan to delete all references to the use of the Linear Park as an arterial roadway; and added the Linear Park to the Urban Recreation and Open Space and to the General Plan Diagram, which provides linkages among r ecreation, park, school, shopping, industrial, residential, and other activity centers of the community as an
important alternative to automotive transportation. In January 1992, the City and SLT entered into a Conservation Easement for the Linear Park Tra il. The purpose of the Conservation Easement was to maintain the Linear Park Trail in its natural, scenic, and open -space condition for the enjoyment and recreational use of the public. The Conservation Easement was amended in 2002 to adjust the boundary of the Linear Park Trail to reflect a change of a property line with an adjacent landowner near Tabor Avenue.
In 2010, the STA, Solano County, and City collaborated on a project to construct widening improvements to segments of Business Center Drive and S uisun Parkway. In addition to the roadway widening, this project also included a new sidewalk, asphalt pathway, and class I and II bikeways. These developments have improved pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the Cordelia area. With an upgraded, safer circulation route constructed, the City decided to close an existing section of the Linear Park Trail at the Chadbourne Road/I -80 interchange west of the Solano Community College.
In 2024, the STA notified the City and SLT that they planned to start construction of the proposed Caltrans Solano Westbound I -80 Cordelia Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Facility Project . The proposed project boundary re quires land acquisition of the closed segments of the Linear Park Trail. The STA completed an appraisal and determined the value of $78,360 for the proposed property rights owned by the City and $14,140 for the Conservation Easement held by SLT.
At the conclusion of the eminent domain process, the City and SLT staff collabora ted to update the Conservation Easement , and the following summarizes the key items included in the Agreement:
Defines the current encumbered lands associated with the Linear Park Trail. Staff have coordinated closely with a title company to verify prope rty ownership for the segments of the trail network as seen in Exhibit B.
SLT has determined and the City concurs that the Agreement constitutes a trail easement, rather than a Conservation Easement , because a Conservation Easement must be perpetual, and the original documents included a 99-year term. The proposed Agreement will restart the 99-year term at the time of the new recordation. SLT conducted a condition assessment of the existing segments of the Linear Park Trail and the findings are documented in the Present Conditions Report included as Exhibit C of the Agreement. The Present Conditions Report is intended to serve as a baseline for monitoring compliance with the conservation terms of the Agreement (i.e., the Linear Park Trail remains as an amenity for recreational and open-space uses).
The proposed resolution authorizes the mayor to execute the Agreement, and execute various legal instruments required for the Agreement.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There are no additional costs for executing the Agreement. The City and SLT have incurred costs over the years related to this Agreement, and each has funded those expenses separately due to the benefits that each is receiving with the agreement's outcome.
PUBLIC CONTACT/ADVISORY BODY RECOMMENDATION
The SLT Board considered and agreed to the terms and conditions of the Agreement on May 6, 2025.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION
If the council has any questions regarding the adoption of this resolution, this item may be rescheduled until the next council meeting to allow staff to provide the necessary supporting documents.
COORDINATED WITH
City Attorney’s Office and Solano Land Trust
STAFF CONTACT
Ryan Panganiban, Assistant Director of Public Works/City Engineer (707) 428-7017
[email protected]
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 2: Exhibit A - Proposed Resolution
Attachment 3: Exhibit B - Proposed Easement
Attachment 4: Exhibit C - Original Conservation Easement