HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 367-08TO:
City of Palo Alto
City Manager’s Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL 8
¯ FROM:CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
DATE:
SUBJECT:
SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 CMR:367:08
ADOPTION OF AN ORDINANCE APPROVING AND ADOPTING
A PARK IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR THE REHABILITATION
AND RELOCATION OF THE BUILDING COMMONLY KNOWN
AS THE PALO ALTO SEA SCOUTS BASE BUILDING AND
IMPROVEMENT OF THE 2500 BLOCK OF EMBARCADERO
(HARBOR) ROAD WITHIN BYXBEE PARK AND CITY-OWNED
BAYLANDS
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council @prove and adopt the attached Park hnprovement
Ordinance for improvements to the building formerly known as the Palo Alto Sea Scouts
Base Building (Sea Scout Building) within the Byxbee Park and the City-owned
Baylands.
BACKGROUND
The Sea Scout Building is a 2,209 square foot wood frame structure located in the Palo
Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. The building is currently in poor condition and its floors
have been subject to flooding during biannual extreme high tides. After a lengthy RFP
process, Environmental Volunteers (EV) was selected to restore the building in exchange
for a forty-year lease.
On July 9, 2007, Council approved a two-year Option to Lease with EV. This option
period permitted EV to prepare detailed construction documents, solicit necessary
funding for the proposed renovations and construction, and to obtain the necessary
permits for the renovation and improvement of the Sea Scout building (CMR:291:07.)
EV currently plansto rehabilitate and relocate the building onto a new foundation in
order to use the structure as its office headquarters. EV proposes to use the small rooms
in the building for its offices and the large, two-story high central room of over 1,000
square feet for an EcoCenter that will house EV-related meetings and training sessions. It
will also accommodate other groups that might need meeting space. Additionally, EV
CMR:367:08 Page 1 of 4
intends to provide ecologically-oriented classes and exhibits at the site for Palo Alto
residents and the general public (Attachment A-1).
The Environmental Volunteers’ use of the building would fulfill the following objectives:
¯Provide public benefit and public access
¯Preserve and maintain the historic significance of the property
¯Not adversely impact the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve
¯Promote use by non-profit groups benefiting youth, seniors, wildlife and/or the
environment
¯Relocate the building to higher ground and improve, maintain and operate the
property at no cost to the City.
The Environmental Volunteers have satisfied all of the conditions of the Option to Lease
and have recently exercised their option to enter into a forty-year lease of the property.
DISCUSSION
Palo Alto Municipal Code 22.08.005 requires that, prior to approving or commencing any
substantial building, construction, reconstruction or development in any dedicated
parkland, the Council shall approve and adopt by ordinance (Attachment 1) a plan
showing the improvements. The site plan (Attachment A) must show, "as applicable, the
nature, function, size, extent and general appearance of the proposed project."
The Sea Scouts Building has been closed to the public since the Sea Scouts failed to
renew their lease in 2002. Over the Years, the building has fallen into disrepair and a
rotting wooden foundation has caused the building to sink. As a result, the building
presently has extensive water damage on the floors and interior of the building.
Proposed Improvements:
The proposed ordinance allows for the improvement of the existing building, the
renovation of the building’s deck and promenade, the connection of new pedestrian and
bicycle trails to the existing Marsh Front Trail, the addition of a public restroom, and the
addition of a three-car parking area. Other than the temporary relocation of the building
in order to build a new and higher foundation in the building’s original location, no
changes to the defining historic characteristics of the building will occur. In addition, no
plans for additional or exterior alterations are proposed. The plan for rehabilitation and
adaptive re-use will be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for
Historic Rehabilitation and in accordance with the. City’s analysis tl~at the building needs
to be at a higher elevation to avoid water incursion problems from high tides.
The Environmental Volunteers have worked closely with various City departments to
design repairs that will not only restore the historic features of the building, but will also
enhance accessibility to the building and ensure that it is well protected from tidal waters
in the future. The purposes of the new EcoCenter will augment and complement other
CMR:367:08 Page 2 of 4
educational and conservation activities at the Baylands and will help to advance
environmental programs of the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center.
PROJECT REVIEW
This project has been reviewed by the following boards and commissions:
Park and Recreation Commission
At its June 26, 2007 regular meeting, the Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the
proposed conceptual project for consistency with park uses for recreation and
conservation (Attachment B). The Commission received comments from the public on
the proposed improvement and asked staff to respond.
Architectural Review Board
At its August 21, 2008, regular meeting, the Architectural Review Board reviewed the
project. The plans were approved by consent.
The Environmental Volunteers have been responsible for securing all necessary permits
for this project. This project has been coordinated between the Utilities Department, the
Public Works Department and the Transportation Division.
In addition to permits required by the City building inspection division, the EV have also
obtained permits from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, Army Corps of
Engineers, Bay Conservation and Development Commission, California State Fish &
Game Department, and United States Fish & Wildlife Service.
RESOURCE IMPACT
The improvements of the Lucie Stern Maritime Center (EcoCenter) and the associated
trail connection improvements, parking lot and public restroom have been funded by the
Environmental Volunteers as part of a Council-approved forty-year lease of the facility.
As a part of the lease agreement, the Environmental Volunteers will also be responsible
for maintaining the EcoCenter, deck promenade and parking areas. Once constructed and
accepted by the City, the City will be responsible for the on-going maintenance of the
public restroom at the Duck Pond. The cost of maintenance of the restroom is estimated
at $900 per year. Savings from the rent of the current porta-potty will pay for the
maintenance of the new restroom facility.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Ilnprovement and maintenance of City facilities furthers Policy N-1 of the
Comprehensive Plan by managing open space areas in a manner that meets habitat
protection goals, public safety concerns, and low impact recreation needs. This
improvement also further implements Policy C-19 of the Comprehensive Plan by
providing better access to persons with disabilities at public facilities.
CMR:367:08 Page 3 of 4
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Planning Director adopted a
August 20, 2008.
Mitigated Negative Declaration for this project on
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:
Attachment B:
Park Amendment Ordinance
A-l"Project Description
A-2:Project Site Plan
Adopted minutes from the June 26, 2007 Parks
Commission
and Recreation
PREPARED BY:
Director, Community Services
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL"
JAME:
City M~airiager {
CMR:367:08 Page 4 of 4
NOT YET APPROVED
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
APPROVING AND ADOPTING A PARK IMPROVEMENT PLAN
FOR THE REHABILITATION AND RELOCATION OF THE
BUILDING COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE PALO ALTO SEA
SCOUTS BASE BUILDING AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE 2500
BLOCK OF EMBARCADERO (HARBOR) ROAD WITHIN BYXBEE
PARK AND CITY-OWNED BAYLANDS
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1.Findings. The City Council finds and declares that:
(a)Article VIII of the Charter of the City of Palo Alto and Section 22.08.005 of the
Palo Alto Municipal Code require that, before any substantial building, construction, reconstruction
or development is commenced or approved, upon or with respect to any land held by the City for
park purposes, the Council shall approve and adopt a park improvement ordinance and a plan
describing the proposed project.
(b) The building commonly known as the Palo Alto Sea Scouts Base Building (Sea
Scouts Building) and the public improvement of the 2500 Block of Embarcadero (Harbor) Road are
located within Byxbee Park and City-Owned Baylands which is dedicated parkland.
(c)The Environmental Volunteers’ (EV) use of the building would provide
significant public benefit,, including: providing public access; preserving and maintaining the historic
significance of the property; minimizing impact the Palo Alto Baylands Preserve; promoting use of
building by non-profit groups benefiting youth, seniors, wildlife and/or the environment; relocating
the building to higher ground; and improving, maintaining and operating the property at no cost to
the City.
(d) The City intends to authorize certain replacement and improvement projects
within the Sea Scouts Building and hnprovements in the 2500 B!ock of Embarcadero (Harbor) Road
located within Byxbee Park and City-Owned Baylands including, without limitation, the following:
(1) Restoration of the original deck and promenade.
(2)Construction of a fully .accessible connection between.the building deck
and the adjoining Marsh-~i:{Snt Trail.
(3)Construction of an off-road bicycle trail to connect the two spurs of the
public Marsh Front Trail.
(4) .Construction of a new permanent public bathroom building near the
Duck Pond to replace an existing portable toilet facility.
(e)The project improvements will avoid protected trees and other sensitive
resources and all existing park uses will be restored following project construction. The plan for
rehabilitation and adaptive re-use will be consistent with the Secretary of the Interior’s standards
080909jb 0100299
NOT YET APPROVED
for Historic Rehabilitation and in accordance with the City’s analysis that the building needs to
be at a higher elevation to ensure it is high enough to avoid problems related to water incursion
from high tides. Accordingly, the improvements described above and as more specifically
described on the Plans attached hereto as Exhibits "A-1" and "A-2" are consistent with park and
conservation purposes.
(f) The Council desires to approve the projects described above and as more
specifically described on the Plans attached hereto as Exhibits "A-I" and "A-2".
SECTION2.The Council hereby approves the Plan for replacement and
construction of improvements to the Sea Scouts Building and public improvements in the 2500 Block
of Embarcadero (Harbor) Road within Byxbee Park and City-Owned Baylands and hereby adopts the
Plans attached hereto as Exhibits "A-1" and "A-2" as part of the official plan.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that a Mitigated Negative Declaration for this
project was adopted on August 20, 2008.
SECTION 4.
of its adoption.
This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the date
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
AB STENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mayor
APPROVED:
Senior Asst. City Attorney
APPROVED:
Director of Public Works
City Manager
Director of Community Services
Director of Administrative Services
080902jb 0130355
Attachment A-1
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
ENVIRONMENTAL VOLUNTEERS ECOCENTER
9/3/08
The Environmental Volunteers (EVs) is a non-profit environmental education
organization located in Palo Alto dedicated to teaching kids of all ages to love nature and
learning. The EVs are finalizing an agreement with the City of Palo Alto for a long-term
lease for the Environmental Volunteers EcoCenter to provide a new home for the
organization. The Center is located in the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve, at 2560
Embarcadero Road.
The historic Birge Clark-designed building was completed in 1941, and was previously
used by the Sea Scouts. The building currently floods at high tide and requires
renovation. The proposed project will temporarily move the building to the east onto the
site of the demolished Palo Alto Yacht Club, build a new raised foundation using pilings,
and move the building back onto the new foundation pilings, which will be shifted 4 feet
further away from the bay. The project includes construction of a 3-stall gravel parldng
lot with area for a trash enclosure, mechanical equipment pad, benches, bike rack, and
interpretive signage on the site of the existing gravel parking lot (already filled). The
project also includes a trail to connect a gap within the Marsh Front Trail, and the
removal of an existing portable toilet adjacent to the duck pond and the installation of a
pre-fabricated single stall restroom to replace it. About 200 feet of an existing sandbag
"seawall" along the project site will be removed and a grader will be used to create a
gentle slope to the marsh.
The areas immediately surrounding the building and parking area will be landscaped with
native plants, including pickleweed (Salicornica virginica), sea lavender (Limoniurn
californicum), Pacific gumplant (Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia), alkali heath
(Frankenia salina), silver bush lupine (Lupinus albif"ons), coyote bush (Baccharis
pilularis var consa~Tgui~Tea), and quail bush (AtripIex lentiformis).
The Baylands contains several sens~itive biological resources, including federally and
state protected wetlands, state and federal Endangered Salt Marsh Harvest Mouse
(SMHM), nesting habitat for birds including a heronry near the duck pond, and state and
federal Endangered California clapper rail. Because the project could affect sensitive
habitat, is adjacent to San Francisco Bay, and may impact wetland resources, it falls
under the jurisdiction of several local, state and federal agencies.
The project incorporates measures to minimize biological impacts. The project requires
fill to be placed on the site in order to accommodate limited parking, trash enclosure,
mechanical pad and a trail. This area will be landscaped with native plants, as mentioned
above. Work will be done while the seawall is still in place and the site is not inundated.
Prior to removal of the seawall, the building will be temporarily moved to the east, the
new building foundations will be put in place and shifted 4 feet away from the bay and
the building’s existing location. The building will then be moved onto the new
foundations. Once the building has been raised 3.5 feet onto a new foundation, a
cantilevered deck will be built over the area occupied by the sea wall and colmected via
ramps to the re-routed trail. The seawall will then be removed and the area will be
graded to gently slope down to the marsh.
The project is scheduled to start construction in September 2008 and be completed during
the summer of 2009. The Clapper Rail non-breeding season is from September through
January, which is when the foundations, preliminary grading and building moving will
take place. After that time, the rehabilitation of both the exterior and interior of the
building, final grading and site work will be completed.
The restoration work on the building will commence once the building is placed on the
new foundations. It will include removing all of the exterior siding, windows and metal
handrails with hand tools, such as hammers, pry bars, and nail pullers. The handrails and
windows will be refinished off site and reinstalled. The siding will be refinished on site
using a planer and/or sander and reinstalled with a compressor-powered nail gun. After
the siding is removed, the rough mechanical, plumbing, and electrical will be installed.
The siding and windows will be reinstalled and drywall and/or paneling installed on the
inside. New interior partitions, bathrooms, and a kitchenette will be constructed. During
the restoration process, there will be occasional use of Sawzalls and skill saws, and a
table saw. Painting of the building could be sprayed on with a compressor (if allowed) or
rolled and back brushed. Restoration work will occur on both the exterior and interior at
the same time. It is estimated that the restoration portion of the construction will take
approximately 6 months, starting in January 2009.
The site work will include the construction of the ramps, decks,, mechanical pad, trash
enclosure, benches, paths and signage. This will take place in late spring/early summer
2009. Landscape will be installed in late fall/early winter 2009 during the rainy season.
Plant materials will be hand watered and weeded until established.
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@Copyright 2007 CO~ONG & T~IGUCHI
APPR 0 VED
MINUTES
PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
June 26, 2007
City Hall
250 Hamilton Ave
Commissioners Present:
Commissioners Absent:
Joel Davidson, Carl King, Paul Losch, Pat Markevitch, Beth
Trailer, Daria Walsh
David Charleson
Others Present:
Staff Present: Greg Betts, Catherine Bourquin, Khashayar Alaee
Roll Call Conducted by: Catherine Bourquin
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS: None
AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, and DELETIONS:
BUSINESS:
None
1.Approval of Draft Minutes of May 22~ 2007 - Unanimously approved the Draft
Minutes for the May 22, 2007 meeting. Approved 6:0
o Services and Programs provided by Palo Alto Kiwanis Club - Presentation
Staff Betts introduced the president Brian Dahlquist who provided the Commissioners
with a handout on what the Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto is about. He educated the
Commissioners on some of the projects that the club has been involved with for Palo
Alto. The Commissioners were given time to ask questions.
Subcommittee Reports
Future of Baylands - Markevitch, Davidson, King
Commissioner Markevitch said there were no items to take
action on. She would be providing a brief written update for
the next scheduled meeting.
June 26, 2007 Approved Minutes
APPR 0 VED
Playing Areas - Charleson, Losch, Walsh
No report
Culture of Fitness - Trailer, Walsh, Davidson
No report. Since Commissioner Trailer will be leaving the
Commission, there might be a need to regroup.
Strategic Funding -Losch, King
Commissioner Losch and King have five areas that they will be looking into.
1. Competitive Analysis
2. Asset base - opportunities to increase revenue
3. Grant funding
4. Capital Projects identified
5. Regional strategies
Strategies for Management of Playing Fields and the Enforcement of Rules and
Regulations
Staff Alaee presented an update on recreation related to field user and neighbor
issues. Recreation has hired a new Recreation Coordinator to handle the Aquatics
programs which will allow Mr. Alaee to concentrate more fully on field issues.
Recreation is in the process of implementing new techniques for monitoring the
Jordan fields. This should occur in September when a vendor is selected from a
Request For Proposal process for park and field patrol. Patrol of fields is only
contemplated for weekends. A copy of the RFP will be provided to the
Commissioners in the next scheduled meeting packet. Staff Alaee said they were
following the 13 components that Recreation instituted a few months ago.
Commissioner Walsh said she was not familiar with the 13 components that Khash
referred to. Staff Alaee said he would send another copy to the Commissioners for
their reference. He added that new signage will be placed at Jordan specifying the
rules and times of play when Recreation has their enforcement in place.
Group 4 Update on the Mitchell Park Library/Community Center Design
Process
An update from the October design planning meeting was given to the Commission.
The intent of the discussion was to confirm the size the Commissioners had agreed on
from the last review meeting. No action was required from the Commissioners.
Group 4 will come back at the next meeting to get the approval of the Comlnissioners
on the Program Recommendation options. Group 4 will provide the Commissioners
with the updated conceptual design material in the August Commission packet.
June 26, 2007 Approved Minutes
APPROVED
Follow Up On Joint Meeting With Neighboring Ci,ty Commissions On Issues Of
Mutual Concern
Commissioner Markevitch gave an update on the results of the first joint meeting
with fellow Park and Recreation Commissioners from around the peninsula. Palo Alto
PARC hosted this meeting to review mutual issues each city might have.
Commissioners Markevitch and Commissioner Losch represented Palo Alto along
with Staff inembers Rob de Geus and Catherine Bourquin. All cities represented
agreed that the meeting was beneficial and it would be acceptable to meet every six
months.
Park Improvement Ordinance-Environmental Volunteers EcoCenter
Staff Betts provided the Commissioners with the purpose of the staff report and what
outcome is expected of the Commission. The purpose is to provide the Commission
with information on the proposed renovations to the Lucie Stern Maritime Center at
the Palo Alto Baylands, to hear public comment on the proposed renovations and
uses, and to ask the Commission to recommend to Council the approval of a Park
hnprovement Ordinance for the restoration of this historic City structure and public
facility.
Motion: The Parks and Recreation Commission accepts staff recommendations one
and two of the Environmental Volunteers Proposal for Sea Scout Building
Renovation Report dated June 26, 2007. Approved 6:0
Strategies For Dogs Off-Leash In Parks And Open Space Areas (continuation)
Given the time constraints of the meeting, it was agreed to defer this business item
until the next scheduled meeting.
COMMENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Date of Joint Meeting with the Palo Alto City Council - Postponed to September 10,
2007
2. Commissioner Losch announced Coinmissioner Charlesons resignation from the Parks
and Recreation Commission. Commissioner Charleson will need to notify staff in
writing of this resignation.
3. Cominissioner Trailer resigned last month and was acknowledged for her service on
the Commission.
4. Commissioner Losch distributed an email related to Rock and Roll Community Walk
from Mayor Kistiimoto. It was agreed that Commissioner Walsh would be the
Commissioner designee for this event.
5. StaffBetts reminded the Commissioners of the Chili Cook Off coming up next
weekend.
6. Commissioner Davidson announced a presentation coining up "Across Boundaries"
on July 17th by Richard Walker.
June 26, 2007 Approved Minutes 3
APPROVED
7. Commissioner Davidson also announced an article in the Palo Alto Weekly on Monroe
Park having their first neighborhood social event at Monroe Park in 35years.
8. Recommendation to cancel the July meeting and schedule the next meeting on August
28th.
TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR June 26~ 2007 MEETING
1. Approval of June 26, 2007 Draft Minutes
2. Sub-committee reports - Commissioners
3. Commissioner Markevitch would like to present a flyer to the Commission (5 min)
4. Dog off-leash deferred from June meeting.
5. Group 4 - Mitchell Park Library/Community Center Design Process (continued)
ADJOURNMENT
Adjourned 10:08 pm
June 26, 2007 Approved Minutes