HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-12-14 City Council (33)TO:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
DATE:
CITY MANAGER
DECEMBER 14, 1998
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS
CMR:467:98
SUBJECT: OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF CHAUCER STREET BRIDGE
This is an information report and no Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
During the Oral Communications period of the December 7, 1998 Council meeting, residents
presented a petition requesting that the City remove the Chaucer Street/Pope Street Bridge
across San Francisquito Creek. Council directed staff to prepare an informational report
describing the ownership and control of the bridge.
DISCUSSION
Chaucer Street in Palo Alto is connected to Pope Street in Menlo Park via a vehicular bridge
across San Francisquito Creek. The centerline of the creek forms the political boundary
between the two cities in ~ vicinity. The current bridge structure was constructed in 1948.
At that time, area on the northern bank of the creek was within unincorporated San Mateo
County, and had not yet been annexed by the City of Menlo Park. City of Palo Alto staff
prepared the engineering drawings for the bridge and administered the construction contract.
The costs for the construction of the bridge were shared by the City of Palo Alto, San Mateo
County, and Santa Clara County. It is unclear whether Palo Alto has sole ownership of the
bridge. In the absence of a formal agreement, the ownership and maintenance
responsibilities would typically be divided between the two cities at the common bouridary
line.
ATTACHMENT
Map of Chaucer Street!Pope Street bridge across San Francisquito Creek
PREPARED BY: Joe Teresi, Senior Engineer
DEPARTMENT HEAD: //~ ~"
GLENN S. ROBERTS
Director of Public Works
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL
EMILY HARRISON
Assistant City Manager
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