Title
Consideration and Possible Approval of a Conveyance and Development Agreement with PHC-Los Alamos, Inc. for the Conveyance of Real Property Located along Trinity Drive to Los Alamos County to construct the Finch Street Extension; and Related Budget Revision 2024-06
Recommended Motion
I move that Council approve a Conveyance and Development Agreement with PHC-Los Alamos, Inc. for the conveyance of real property located along Trinity Drive to Los Alamos County to construct the Finch Street Extension and related Budget Revision 2024-06.
I, further move, that Council authorize the County Manager to execute the agreement in substantially the same form as Attachment A and take all steps necessary to complete the transaction.
County Manager’s Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Body
Beginning in 2019, previous County Manager Harry Burgess and Mr. John Whiteside CEO of the Los Alamos Medical Center (LAMC) held conversations to review the area around the medical center and to identify measures to improve safety. Subsequently, Los Alamos County Public Works Engineering staff and LAMC facilities staff had ongoing discussions and sharing of ideas to develop a project plan that was mutually beneficial to improve safety and access at the LAMC driveway and along Trinity Drive. The project plan involved moving the LAMC driveway farther east, away from Diamond Drive, and consolidating it with Finch Street, a proposed connection extending the roadway west to Trinity Drive from its current terminus near 35th Street (See Project Site Map, Attachment B). The relocated driveway provides safety improvements for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists while providing connectivity to the new Hills Apartments development as well as any other future developments along 35th Street.
With an agreed upon design concept, County Council programmed capital funds in Fiscal Year 2022 for the design and construction of the Finch Street Extension Project. With the project budgeted, Public Works Engineering staff worked with an engineering professional to complete the design package for construction.
The Development and Conveyance Agreement was developed in negotiations with the Los Alamos Medical Center in lieu of eminent domain proceedings and provides for the transfer of Tract B-2 owned by PHC-Los Alamos, Inc. (d/b/a Los Alamos Medical Center) to Los Alamos County which is necessary for completion of the Finch Street Extension Project. This land acquisition totals approximately 16,998.82 Square Feet is located along Trinity Drive (NM 502) and within the existing Los Alamos Medical Center parking lot and would be utilized to construct a consolidated Finch Street/LAMC driveway connection (See Attachment A and included Exhibits).
In lieu of a cash payment, the County has agreed to make certain improvements to the medical center parking lot as part of the overall Finch Street Improvement Project. The proposed agreement outlines the specifics of how these improvements will occur. Of note, the proposed agreement allows the County to terminate the agreement if the bids received for the proposed improvements exceed the fair market value of the property the County needs to acquire to complete this road project. Additionally, award of any construction contract for these proposed improvements will require approval by County Council.
Alternatives
Council could choose not to approve this agreement and the existing driveway safety concerns would remain and no future connection of Finch Street could occur.
Fiscal and Staff Impact/Planned Item
The FY2022 adopted budget included $1,500,000.00 for the project through the County’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
Budget Revision 2024-06 will provide an additional $264,450 to the CIP for the purpose of constructing the required LAMC parking Lot Improvements, plus an additional negotiated amount of $23,900 to be provided directly to LAMC upon conveyance of the property, for the purpose of obtaining and installing a new sign.
Attachments
A - Conveyance and Development Agreement
B - Project Site Map
C - Appraisal
D - Budget Revision Form - 2024-06