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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-03-08 City Council (8)City of Palo Alto City Manager’s Report 5 TO:HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES DATE: SUBJECT: MARCH 8, 1999 CMR: 165:99 ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR A SAN FRANCISCO BAY ACCESS PROGRAM GRANT FOR BAYLANDS TRAIL IMPROVEMENT REPORT IN BRIEF Annually in March(the Califomia State Coastal Conservancy accepts grant applications for projects that will protect and improve coastal and San Francisco Bay resources, and provide publi6 access to the shore. This year, the Conservancy wishes to accelerate the completion of the 400-mile San Francisco Bay Trail by adding new connecting segments to the trail, improving existing trails, and by enhancing destination points. Staff is recommending that the City submit a Coast Conservancy grant application for a Bayland Preserve trail construction project, which will provide an off-road connection between the trails around the old yacht harbor and duck pond to Byxbee Park. The project, including educational trail-side displays, will cost approximately $50,426. Applications must be submitted by March 15, 1999; to the California Coastal Conservancy. Grants will be awarded by June 30, 1999. CMR: 165:99 Page 1 of 3 RECOMMENDATIO33I Staff recommends that Council approve the attached resolution, which authorizes the submittal of an application for up to $50,426 for the improvement of Bayland Preserve trails to the California State Coastal Conservancy, and authorizes the City Manager or her designee to execute the application, certifications, standard grant agreement, and any amendments thereto on behalf of the City. BACKGROUND The mission of the Coastal Conservancy,a state agency, is to protect and improve coastal and San Francisco Bay resources and to provide public access to the shore. Since 1980, the Conservancy has contributed more than $6 million to public access projects on the Bay. The goal of this year’s grant program is to add new trail segments to the San Francisco Bay Trail, improve existing trails, add connectors and create destination points. The 400-mile Bay Trail Project, which rings the entire San Francisco Bay through nine counties, is administered by the Association of Bay Area Governments. The Bay Trail passes through the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve by two routes. The first is a paved bicycle path along East Bayshore Road from San Antonio Road at the Mountain View border to the bicycle bridge that leads onto O’Connor Street in East Palo Alto, near the Baylands Athletic Center. The second route, which runs closer to the shoreline, follows the flood control levee along Charleston Slough, through Byxbee Park, past the Duck Pond and Baylands Nature Center, and around the baY side of the airport and municipal golf course to where it connects with the bicycle bridge into East Palo Alto. Segments of the second route run on Embarcadero Road from the old yacht harbor to the entrance to Byxbee Park, without grade separation from cars. The proposed project would create a new quarter mile off-road foot and bicycle path between the harbor and Byxbee Park’to facilitate relaxed hiking and bicycle travel. Trail construction work would be performed under contract by the California Conservation Corps. In order to enhance understanding and appreciation by park users for Palo Alto’s unique marsh habitat, three trail-side interpretive signs would be designed and erected along/.his section of the trail. Grant funds would also be used to improve segments of the gravel levee trail surface between Byxbee Park and the Charleston Slough, which are rutted with potholes and badly eroded. This work would also be performed by contract with the California Conservation Corps. If Palo Alto’s grant proposal is chosen for funding, trail construction would begin in June 1999, and be completed by January 2000. Grant funds would not be available for reimbursement to the City until October 1999. CMR: 165:99 Page 2 of 3 RESOURCE IMPACT Since Coastal Conservancy funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis (if these grants are applied for and secured), City funds would need to be appropriated for the project expenditures and then reimbursed by Coastal Conservancy grant funds. POLICY IMPLICATIONS The recommended actions in this report are consistent with the existing Comprehensive Plan Natural Environment Policy 2: support sub-regional efforts to link existing open space areas together; and Natural Environment Program 4: seek additional sources of funding, including state and federal programs, to finance open space acquisition and development. TIMELINE The Coastal Conservancy grant applications, submitted by all of the jurisdictions in California, will be reviewed and pri0ritized by a review panel made up of Coastal Conservancy staff and Bay Trail Project staff and referred to the Conservancy Board at its June 1999 meeting. All applicants will be notified of the award selection by June 30, 1999. If funded, the proposed projects are expected to be completed by January 2000. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The application for a grant is not considered an action subject to the Califomia Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); therefore, no environmental assessment is needed at this time. Environmental review will be conducted prior to obligating the grant funds to this project. ATTACHMENTS A Resolution Authorizing the Filing of Application for California Coastal Conservancy Funds B Application Summary C Project Location Map Prepared By: Greg Betts, Superintendent, Open Space and Sciences Department Head Review:’ ",/ ~ PAUL THILTGEN Director of Community Services City Manager Approval: Assistant.City Manager CMR: 165:99 Page 3 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT TO THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CONSERVANCY A GRANT APPLICATION FOR FUNDS WHICH THE CITY INTENDS TO EXPEND ON TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED WITHIN THE PALO ALTO BAYLANDS PRESERVE WHEREAS, the State of California Coastal Conservancy wishes to accelerate the completion of the 400-mile San Francisco Bay Trail by adding connecting segments to the trail, improving existing trails, and enhancing destination points; WHEREAS, the California Coastal Conservancy accepts, annually, grant applications for projects that wil! protect and improve California’s coastal resources and the San Francisco Bay’s resources; and WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto ~wishes to submit a grant application that will result in the reimbursement to the City for funds that are expended in connection with proposed improvements to the Bay Trail that passes through the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: ~. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager to file a grant application on behalf of the City of Palo Alto with the State of California Coastal Conservancy in order that the City may be reimbursed for funds which the City intends to expend on proposed improvements to the trails passing through the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve. SECTION 2. The Council hereby designates the City Manager or her designee as the person responsible for the administration of the grant application. SECTION 3. The Council finds that the adoption of this resolution, which authorizes the submittal of a grant application, does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act. Staff will perform an environmental assessment when the proposed trail improvement project is considered. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST:APPROVED: City Clerk Mayor APPROVED AS TO FORM: Senior Asst. City Attorney APPROVED: City Manager Director of Community Services Director of Administrative Services San Francisco Bay Access Program APPLICATION SUMMARY MARCH 1999 1. Project Title:City of Palo Alto Harbor-Byxbee Park Trail 2. Applicant:City of Palo Alto, Community Services, Open Space & Science.Division Address:1451 Middlefield Road Palo Alto, California 94301 Telephone:650-617-3112 Fax: 650-473-1965 3. Name and Title of Contact Person:Greg Betts, Superintendent, Open Space & Science 4. Project Summary: Provide new public access to .25 miles of Bay marsh frontage between the Palo Alto Duck Pond and former Yacht Harbor to the trail head of Byxbee Park through the construction of a foot and bicycle trail. Design and install three interpretive panels along this trail segment to educate visitors about marsh birds, animals and habitats. Improve an existing hazardous .25 mile Bay Trail segment at Byxbee Park by r.estoring the trail tread with base rock mixed with a natural soil stabilizer. 5. Requested Grant: $50~ 426 6. If nonprofit or land mast: 7. Proposal prepared by: Signature: Total Project Budget: $80,0~2 Not applicable, municipal government Greg Betts, Superintendent, Open Space & Science Date: City of Palo Alto 1 San Francisco Bay Access Program Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve Scale in Tenths of a Mile 0.5 Please Follow Preserve Rules and Hours. (See other side of Map.) Sand Point Restored Marsh Hooks Point Levee improvement ,.~ ¯ /o H Gates open locked -- Paved Trail .......... Gravel Trail Gate,A - Open 8:00 am to Sunset Palo Alto Airport .......... Trail on Levee Mile Markers ~Ranger Station ~Parking Lot ~Picnic Area ~Drinking Water I~ Restrooms B Public Phone San FranciscoBay Trail New trad segments Creek Viewin Bike Bridgeto Oregon Avenue via St. Francis Drive ’Center Forebay West Bays~ ~ Adobe~b~-e~Undercros~ng~.~.~-~3~onal) Open Apr.15 to © 1998 City of Palo Shoreline Lake Map by Teater & etc.