Title
RESOLUTION ACCEPTING CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY FROM THE DWP RAILWAY COMPANY.
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are hereby authorized to accept the conveyance of that property described on Exhibit A attached hereto and made a part hereof from the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway Company conveying the property described thereon along with rail, ties, track material, trestles, bridges, culverts and other structures and facilities located thereon, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in said Exhibit A.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to formally accept the conveyance of railroad right-of-way from the DWP Railway Company originally conveyed to the City in 1984.
The right-of-way in question starts in the Spirit Valley neighborhood and runs through much of West Duluth and extends out into Midway Township terminating just south of I-35. The deed does not include the property commonly referred to as the DWP roundhouse recently acquired from MnDOT.
The City originally accepted only that portion of the property described on the Deed which lay within the 1984 City of Duluth boundary. At the time, the City did not formally accept the portion of the property in Midway Township. However, the City has exercised some control, maintenance, and use of the property (most recently a contract for the demolition of a dilapidated railroad bridge).
The property to be accepted is now a popular unimproved trail for walkers, bicyclists, and rock climbers. The City's 2011 Trails and Bikeways Plan recommends improvement and maintenance of the former DWP rail right-of-way as an official part of the City trail system. The right-of-way is envisioned as the western end of the multi-use Cross City Trail. The City recently commenced a public mini master planning process for the Cross City Trail system, including the rail right-of-way. FEMA-funded repairs to flood-damaged portions o...
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