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Home My WebLink AboutStaff Report 424-06TO: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: C ty Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES DECEMBER 18, 2006 CMR: 424:06 ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF BAY AREA GOVERNMENT FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL PROJECT FOR FUNDS WHICH THE CITY INTENDS TO EXPEND ON TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED ALONG THE FABER/LAUMEISTER TRACT IN THE PALO ALTO BAYLANDS REPORT IN BRIEF The Trail Project, under administration by the Association of Bay Area Government accepts grant applications for projects that will protect and improve coastal and San Francisco Bay resources, and provide public access tO’the shore. This year, the Bay Trail Steering Committee 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. The Bay Trail Commission has reviewed a grant proposal by the City and has recommended the allocation of $55,000 for the proposed project. The proposed construction project would improve and widen an existing 1,100-foot section of Bay Trail between Weeks Street and Bay Road in East Palo Alto along the edge of the City-owned Faber-Laumeister marsh tract. The City will provide its share of the required grant matching amount through in-kind services such as surveying, design work and project management. CMR:424:06 Page 1 of 3 RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council approve the attached resolution to: 1. Authorize the approval of a construction grant agreement with the Association of Bay Area Government for the San FranciscoBay Trail Project in the amount of $55,000 for improvements to the Bay Trail segment between Weeks Street and Bay Road in East Palo Alto. 2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the certifications, standard grant agreement, request for reimbursements, and any amendments on behalf of the City. BACKGROUND The mission of the Bay Trail Project, a program of the Association of Bay Area Governments, is to encourage government agencies and nonprofit organizations to plan and construct undeveloped segments or improve existing trails of the 400-mile Bay Trail Plan. The California Legislature approved an appropriation of $7.5 million to the State Coastal Conservancy for development of the Bay Trail. 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. In Palo Alto the Bay Trail passes through the 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. In East Palo Alto the trail continues along the edge of the City owned Faber- Laumeister tract marsh to the edge of the Ravenswood Open Space Preserve at Bay Road. The proposed project would improve a 1,100-foot dirt pathway between Weeks Street and Bay Road. The footpath would be widened from three feet to eight feet. The trail improvements are intended to provide an all-weather trail that will facilitate relaxed hiking and bicycle travel. DISCUSSION The proposed grant from the State Coastal Conservancy would reimburse the City of Palo Alto for all costs incurred with the construction of the trail. The annual expense for maintaining the trail and controlling vegetation along the trail margin would continue to be provided by the City of Palo Alto. The City was awarded similar grant in 2002 to improve the section of trail between Runnymede and Weeks Street in East Palo Alto. CMR:424:06 Page 2 of 3 RESOURCE IMPACT Since Bay Trail Project funds are disbursed on a reimbursement basis, funds from the .... Open Space Trails and Amenities capital improvement project (CIP OS00001) would be used to cover project expenditures and then reimbursed by 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 proposed project is expected to be completed by January 2007. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The approval of an agreement is not considered an action subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); therefore, no environmental assessment is needed at this time. Environmental review will be conducted prior to any actual construction. ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Resolution Authorizing The City Manager To Approve An Agreement With The Association Of Bay Area Government For The San Francisco Bay Trail Project For Funds Which The City Intends To Expend On Trail Improvements Located Along The Faber/Laumeister Tract In The Palo Alto Baylands Attachment B: Project Loc/a~ap Prepared By: Open Space Division Manager Department Head Review: City Manager Approval: Director of C~m~n~]nity Services EMILY HARRISON Assistant City Manager CMR:424:06 Page 3 of 3 NOT YET APPROVED RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO APPROVING A CONSTRUCTION GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE ASSOCIATION OF BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS AND THE CITY OF PALO ALTO PERTAINING TO THE RECEIPT OF FUNDS FOR THE BAY TRAIL PROJECT’S TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE AT THE FABER/LAUMEISTER TRACT IN THE PALO ALTO BAYLANDS WHEREAS, under the administration of the Association of Bay Area Governments, the San Francisco Bay Trail Project- accepts, annually~ grant applications for projects that would improve public access and related facilities to and around the bay; and WHEREAS, the Bay Trail Project’s Steering Committee awards grant funds to develop trail segments of the Bay Trail throughout the nine-county area; and WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto (~City") wishes to enter into a grant agreement that will authorize reimbursements to the City for funds that are expended in connection with proposed Bay Trail improvements to the trails in and around the Palo Alto Baylands; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of .the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION i. The City Council hereby approves the execution of the Construction Grant Agreement by the City of Palo Alto, and the City Manager is hereby authorized to sign a grant agreement on behalf of the City in order that the City may be reimbursed for funds which the City intends to expend on proposed-improvements to the trails passing along the Faber/Laumeister tract of the Palo Alto Baylands. SECTION 2. The Council hereby designates the City Manager or his designee as the person responsible for the administration of the Construction Grant Agreement. SECTION 3. The Council finds that the adoption of this resolution, approving the construction grant agreement, does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act. An environmental 061115 syn 0072794 NOT YET APPROVED assessment will be conducted whenever the proposed trail improvement project will be considered. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTENTIONS: ATTEST:APPROVED: City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mayor Senior Asst. City Attorney City Manager Director of Community Services Director of Administrative Services 061115 syn 0072794 2 FOUND MONUMENT WELL PER RECORD OF SURVEY BOOK 4 PAGE 100. S 24° 21’ 19"W 9 ’N 66° 18’ 09"E_2.44 10 ft Storm Drain Easement 95-106337 FOUND IRON PIPE ,,, SET NEXT TO CONCRETE WALL AND METAL FENCE ": .- ’ " 2" " ,:1~.~CENTEP, OF ELE( "1 RICAL TOWE P.O.B. FRAIL EASEMENT ¯ 00, Title CENTER 4 39° 29’ 25" E 16.71’- 0 125 EXHIBIT "B" DRAWN BY: JAMES D. KIEHL CENTER OF ELETRICAL TOWER PG&E CO. COOLEY LANDING SUBSTATION S.B.E. 135-41-27 ~rt ~,A) Parcel Three excepting Parcel Two.\ Titl~!R~port (A) Pm’cei TwoQ CS, iNC.o)877670 y EP,/ \ POLE--!,,/. .EGAL FILENAME:APN6312202.DOC )RAWING FILENAME:EP070606.DWG o (A) Title Report _SLOPE EAS EM ENT LOCATION SHOWN APPROXIMATIL. LAND OF CITY OF PALO ALTO A.P,NO. 063-580-090 SAN MATEO COUNTY THE SOUTHEASTERLY RANCHO DE LAS PULGAS LINE 56906-56990631-PRT, June 19, 2006 FOUND 4 X 4 WOOD POST PLAT TO ACCOMPANY DESCRIPTIO Public Trail Easement ISCiLE: 1’’= 125" Starlink Logistics, Inc. A.P.N. 063-1 22--020 i REVISION:(3) 8-19-2006 EAST PALO ALTO, SAN MATEO COUNTY~R~VlSlO~: m s-s-2o0~ CITY OF PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA ’/REVISION: ili 6-14-2006