09252000 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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4. Regular Meeting September 25, 2000 Page 4 NAY: Cox. ABSTAIN: None. The Council then voted unanimously for approval of the Ordinance on first reading. Mayor Chiu introduced for consideration a public hearing and approval to proceed to obtain appraisals for exchange of right-of-way to be abandoned for adjacent property between the 300 Block of LBJ Drive and Guadalupe Street. Mayor Chiu opened the public hearing and asked if anyone wished to speak. Sherwood Bishop stated this area is one block from the riverwalk and close to Dunbar Park. He stated if this property swap is made, the City's portion would then be the channel and would not be conducive for a trail or bikeway because it would wash away in the creekbed. He urged the Council to retain its property for a future trail, and that the property is also in close proximity to the bus/train station. He stated Austin recently received a grant for a trail into the downtown area, and he thinks it is important we retain this land for a future greenbelt. George Forrester is in favor of the abandonment and stated there were no taxes collected from 1980 until he cleaned this area up. He is offering to swap properties so the City can control the floodway. Mr. Forrester stated Staff recommended the swap be made, and the City does not own property to connect with this to make a greenway. Ed Theriot stated the City owns some creek property west of this area, and stated some lots cannot be built on. He also stated on the East side of LBJ the property is owned by the railroad. He stated Staff had recommended the entire alley not be abandoned so the City could access the property to clean the floodway. He stated he would like to see consideration of the remaining half of the easement above the floodway area go forward as a greenbelt. Mr. Doiron stated he thinks this could be an integral part of a possible greenbelt. Mr. Theriot stated he does not know another route other than the creekbed. Ms. Huffman stated the area along the natural terrain of a creekbed would be good for the purpose of a greenbelt. No one else wished to speak, so Mayor Chiu closed the public hearing. Sherwood Bishop stated when the land was surveyed the City's land was on top of the floodway and the swap would be for the creekbed. Robert Mooney stated when this matter came before the Planning and Zoning Commission, all facts were not known. The Commisson recommended the trade if the swap was for an area the Staff would want. Ed Theriot stated with the Greenbelt Alliance's concern, he would now recommend we retain our property. Before this information was known, he stated they would have recommended the swap so the City could have control of Lot 4, which is in the floodway. Ms. Hughson moved this matter be tabled to allow Staff time to work out an exchange of property and to consider the Greenbelt Alliance's request and Mr. Doiron seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. Mayor Chiu introduced for consideration approval on an Ordinance on first reading, the caption which was read as follows: