HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-07-18 City CouncilCity of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE
SERVICES
DATE:JULY 18, 1996 CMR:339:96
SUBJECT:DELAY IN PRESENTATION OF ARASTRADERO PRESERVE
MANAGEMENT PLAN AND REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL FOR
PRESERVE STEWARDSHIP
RECOMMENDATION
This is an informational report and no Council action is required.
BACKGROUND
On May 13, 1996 (CMR:253:96), Council approved a workplan for implementing direction
given on the Arastradero Preser;ce project. Element 2 of the workplan involved exploration
of the possibility of a public/private partnership for both removing the structures on the
Preserve and habitat restoration implementation steps, and with respect to the "stewardship"
concept. StafFs original plan was to return to Council at its July 22 meeting with a
Management Plan for the Preserve and a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Preserve
stewardship.
DISCUSSION
After having worked for about six weeks on the Management Plan and RFP, staff now
believes that the original goal of bringing both to the Council by mid-July was overly
optimistic. The schedule needs to be amended to return to the Council with the Management
Plan in October or November 1996 and to bring the RFP for stewardship to the Council after
final approval of the Management Plan. Factors causing the delay include:
o Recognition that the 1983 Conceptual Master Plan prepared by the Arastradero
Citizen’s Advisory Committee, and amended and adopted by the Council in 1984,
requires significant review and updating.
CMR:339:96 Page 1 of 2
O
O
O
Resolution of the significant City policy issues involved in implementing any kind of
public/private partnership for the City’s open space.
Advisability of circulating the draft Management Plan to interested environmental
groups to get feedback and suggestions prior to bringing to the Council.
Advice from the City Attorney’s Office that the Management Plan should be
accompanied by an Environmental Impact Assessment, which will take approximately
two months.
This delay will not impact Element 1 of the workplan (Structure Removal). Element 3
(Creation of the Arastra Fund) is completed. Element 4 (Habitat Restoration) may be
delayed to some extent. Element 5 (Creation of a Modest Gateway Facility) should not be
affected.
DEPARTMENT HEAD APPROVAL.’~~. ~
Emil3E’~arrison
Deputy City Manager,
Administrative
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Fleming
Manager
CC: n/a
CMR:339:96 Page 2 of 2