Agenda Date: 05/19/2026
Subject:
Title
Resolution 27-2026: Approving a license agreement between the City of Littleton and Arapahoe County, regarding transportation and right-of-way improvements within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue, which supersedes and terminates two associated existing license agreements between the City of Littleton and Denver Water
Body
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From: |
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager |
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Prepared by: |
Brent Soderlin, Director of Public Works and Utilities |
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Ray Hill, Interim City Engineer |
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Kristina Evanoff, Civil Engineer III |
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Presentations: |
N/A |
PURPOSE:
Approval of a license agreement between the City of Littleton and Arapahoe County regarding transportation and right-of-way improvements within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue, which supersedes and terminates two existing license agreements between the City and Denver Water.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Safe Community; High-Quality Governance
DISCUSSION:
For any infrastructure constructed, operated, or maintained within the High Line Canal, a license agreement must be executed between the High Line Canal owner and the respective jurisdiction(s) or organization(s) that are responsible for the infrastructure. In Littleton, the High Line Canal is owned by Denver Water, with exception of the current in-process transfer of ownership of portions of the High Line Canal to Arapahoe County (County). With this recent transfer of the High Line Canal ownership to the County, existing or new improvements within the High Line Canal within Arapahoe County will need to be captured going forward through agreements with the County instead of Denver Water. The City of Littleton (City) has several existing agreements with Denver Water regarding infrastructure located within the High Line Canal throughout Littleton.
In addition to the existing roadway, bridge, and traffic signal infrastructure within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue in Littleton, there are several newly constructed capital and traffic signal improvements implemented in this area that were recently completed through Littleton’s Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 project. Both the existing and planned new infrastructure with the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue, and the associated operations and maintenance responsibilities, are required to be documented in a license agreement between the High Line Canal owner and the City. At the time of the project kick-off, only the existing transportation and right-of-way infrastructure within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue were documented through two existing 1999 and 1981 license agreements between Denver Water and the City. The City, County, and Denver Water coordinated and recognized the opportunity and efficiency to supersede and terminate the existing 1999 and 1981 license agreements between Denver Water and the City (for improvements within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue), and replace those agreements with a single new license agreement between the City and County capturing both existing and new infrastructure and responsibilities, of which is presented for City Council approval.
BACKGROUND:
There are two existing license agreements between Denver Water and the City for transportation and right-of-way improvements within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue as listed below. These agreements document the transportation and right-of-way infrastructure including the roadway, bridge, and traffic signal infrastructure within this area of the High Line Canal.
- License granting the City for construction of a bridge and roadway located at the High Line Canal (at Mineral Avenue), executed on February 2, 1981 (Attachment A)
- License granting the City for a traffic signal pole within the High Line Canal (northeast corner of Mineral Avenue and Peninsula Drive at the High Line Canal trail crossing), executed on December 17, 1999 (Attachment B)
In lieu of creating a new license agreement only to capture the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 improvements implemented within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue, or to modify the above-listed existing license agreements between the City and Denver Water, the City, County, and Denver Water have coordinated to efficiently combine and update the components of the two existing Denver Water license agreements while incorporating the Mineral Mobility East Improvement Phase 1 project improvements, into one new license agreement between the City and the County. This proposed license agreement between the City and the County will supersede and terminate the 1981 and 1999 license agreements with Denver Water.
In addition to the existing roadway and bridge infrastructure, as documented in the 1981 and 1999 agreements, the new agreement will include the newly-constructed Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 project elements including removal of the old pedestrian crossing signal infrastructure; installation of the new pedestrian signal and associated infrastructure including pedestrian-activated push buttons; installation of new signs and roadway striping, and new concrete added to portions of the High Line Canal Trail.
The associated operations and maintenance responsibilities of this infrastructure within the High Line Canal are also documented in the proposed license agreement. The City owns and maintains most of the infrastructure, with exception of trail maintenance (removal of snow/debris and landscape care) that is currently completed by South Suburban Parks and Recreation Department via agreements with the County and the City.
For the Mineral Mobility East Improvements Phase 1 construction to remain on schedule, the County showed great partnership in working with the City to develop and execute Letters of Authorization that allowed the contractor to work within the High Line Canal and along the High Line Canal Trail while this new license agreement was in development.
Prior Actions or Discussions
The existing license agreements between the City and Denver Water regarding improvements within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue are:
- Bridge and roadway license agreement dated February 2, 1981
- Traffic signal license agreement dated December 17, 1999 (Resolution 54-1999 on December 7, 1999)
FISCAL IMPACTS:
Since there are no fees associated with the license agreement with Arapahoe County, there are no fiscal impacts.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the license agreement with Arapahoe County which supersedes and terminates the two existing license agreements between the City and Denver Water. The new agreement with the County updates the terms of the former agreements, while efficiently combing existing agreements by documenting the ownership and maintenance of the existing and newly constructed transportation and right-of-way improvements within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue.
ALTERNATIVES:
Should Council not approve this license agreement, the recently constructed improvements within the High Line Canal would be in violation of agreement terms of infrastructure and activities allowed within the High Line Canal.
PROPOSED MOTION:
Proposed Motion
I move to approve Resolution 27-2026 approving a license agreement between the City of Littleton and Arapahoe County, regarding transportation and right-of-way improvements within the High Line Canal at Mineral Avenue, which supersedes and terminates two associated existing license agreements between the City of Littleton and Denver Water.