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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: September 27, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Towns to Teanaway <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook and Nicole Ogan <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Direct staff prepare enabling documents accepting sponsorship of Towns to Teanaway <br />Trail (TtoT) Network. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• In 2019, Public Works (PW) briefed the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) <br />on a request from Towns to Teanaway regarding third party easements. <br />• PW cannot hold third party easements by law. <br />• PW can utilize our expertise and resources securing necessary easements from <br />private landowners and is well suited to hold such easements if requested by <br />TtoT. <br />• TtoT sought sponsorship from Kittitas Parks and Recreation District No. 1 <br />(KPRD 1) in 2019. <br />• TtoT now desires revising County sponsorship of the trail network. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />The TtoT Corridor Master Plan (EXHIBIT 1) covers over 7,700 acres and spans over six <br />miles at its widest dimension. The trail network provides a diverse variety of trials for <br />many user groups at a range of experience levels. In 2019, TtoT attracted KPRD1 as <br />project sponsor. As sponsor, easements may be held for TtoT and liability insurance is <br />provided covering project operation and maintenance liabilities. KPRD1 has not held any <br />easements for TtoT to date. The sponsor is also able to submit grant requests and manage <br />grant funding. The recent action by the BoCC adopting the Recreation and Tourism plan <br />for the County creates renewed interest by TtoT for project sponsorship consideration. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Construction improvements to trailheads supporting the TtoT trail network are <br />contemplated within the 2022 recreation capital facility plan (pending BoCC adoption). <br />The pending trailhead construction provides additional support for sponsorship <br />consideration. Sponsoring TtoT does not appear to create any undue liability against the <br />County pursuant to Revised Code of Washington Chapter 4.24.2 10 (AKA recreational <br />immunity from unintentional injures — EXHIBIT 2). Sponsoring TtoT provides valuable <br />Page 1 of 4 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2021 <br />