Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 8347 City of Palo Alto (ID # 8347) City Council Staff Report Report Type: Consent Calendar Meeting Date: 9/11/2017 City of Palo Alto Page 1 Summary Title: Approval of Budget Amends to Inc. $400K in FY18 Budget for Byxbee Park CIP PE-18006 Title: Approve of Budget Amendment to increase FY2018 Capital Improvement Fund by transferring $400,000 from Parkland Dedication Fund for the Byxbee Park Completion Capital Improvement Project (PE-18006) to secure the Baylands ITT Site From: City Manager Lead Department: Public Works Recommendation Staff recommends that Council amend the Fiscal Year 2018 Budget Appropriation Ordinance for: a. the Parkland Dedication Fund by: i. Increasing the Transfer to the Capital Improvement Fund in the amount of $400,000, and ii. Decreasing the ending fund balance in the amount of $400,000. b. the Capital Improvement Fund by: i. Increasing the Transfer from the Parkland Dedication Fund in the amount of $400,000, and ii. Increasing the Byxbee Park Completion Capital Improvement Project (PE-18006) in the amount of $400,000. Executive Summary In 2016 the City purchased the easement held by Globe Wireless for the 36-acre property within the John F. Byxbee Recreational Area commonly referred to as the Baylands International Telephone & Telegraph Transmitter site (ITT site) and on June 5, 2017 (SR# 7030), Council dedicated this area parkland. City of Palo Alto Page 2 Although a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project to complete Byxbee Park (PE-18006) was established and $3.0 million budgeted as part of the FY 2018-2022 Capital Improvement Program, the first appropriation of funding wasn’t scheduled until Fiscal Year 2019. A portion of the funding for this project is anticipated to come from the Parkland Dedication Fund. The ITT site remains fenced off limiting public access due to considerable damage and unsafe site conditions resulting from vandalism, water and age. Staff is recommending urgent improvements and restoration work be performed on the newly created 36-acre recreational open space to secure the site and correct safety issues so that the currently fenced area can be made accessible to the public by an existing trail. Therefore, staff further recommends increasing the Fiscal Year 2018 budget appropriation for PE-18006 by $400,000 and increasing the transfer from the Parkland Dedication Fund to construct essential improvements and perform immediate restoration to ensure the safety, security, access to the site and prevent further deterioration of the buildings, theft and vandalism, without assumptions on the site’s ultimate use. Overall the total budget for PE-18006 CIP will remain at $3.0 million. Background In 1921 the Federal Telegraph Company leased 200 acres of marshland and built a radiotelegraph transmitting station to serve as the hub of a coastal network of stations and perform ship-to shore communications. In 1928 the property was sold to Mackay Cable & Wireless and in 1930 to ITT. The station transmitted overseas cables, telephone calls and other communications until the advent of satellite transmission. The site served as a “bounce” station for ships lacking satellite equipment. The high water table and moist soil aid transmission bounce and thus made this a good location for this function. On December 12, 1977, ITT World Communication, Inc., donated approximately 69 acres and sold approximately 83 acres for a total of 152 acres in the Baylands to the City of Palo Alto. In the grant deed (SR# 8078), ITT reserved an exclusive easement to use and occupy 36.55 acres of the property for a “Public Coast Station” (radio antenna operation). The purchase price for the 83 acres was $1,300,000 of which the City of Palo Alto paid $1,000,000 and the Santa Clara Valley Water District paid $300,000. City of Palo Alto Page 3 Over the years, the buildings and equipment at the site were vandalized and power was shut off in mid-2014. In 2016 Globe Wireless offered to sell easement rights to the City for the previously negotiated price of $250,000.The City purchased Globe Wireless’s easements rights and all other interest to the Property through a purchase and sale agreement, thereby gaining full control, possession and use of this property in the Baylands (SR# 7030). Break-ins, theft and vandalism prior to the City’s take-over left the ITT site with many safety issues and the most recent winter storms have caused an urgent need to protect it from further deterioration and damage from winter rains. The site was fenced to prevent public access many years ago, but break-ins and vandalism have been common. Discussion When preparing the Fiscal Year 2018-2022 5-year CIP, the intent was to defer the Byxbee Park Completion project until after the completion of the Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan (PG-17000) in FY 2018 to inform plans for the larger Byxbee Park project. However, following staff finalization of the FY 2018 Budget, and while preparing for the dedication of the 36-acre area as recreational open space, staff identified security, safety, access and site protection issues which require more immediate improvements and rehabilitation, and which, when remediated, would allow the City to open the area to recreational use. The recommended appropriation to the Fiscal Year 2018 CIP PE-18006 will be used to address these issues. Description of work to be performed:  The existing road to the facility buildings will be improved so that the public can walk or bike into the 36 acre site. The badly deteriorated asphalt will be replaced with compacted base rock and graded to smooth out deep depressions and match the existing trails in other areas of Byxbee Park. The existing road, which terminates at the ITT buildings, could potentially be extended to connect to other existing roadways allowing pedestrian or bike access through the site, depending on future planning efforts and decisions.  Old concrete pads, unwanted equipment, pipes, electric wire and rock strewn next to the buildings will be removed in order to rehabilitate the site and make it safe for hikers and bikers to access. New soil and compacted base rock will be used to create space for walking and gathering City of Palo Alto Page 4 adjacent to the buildings.  To make the area safer for the public, abandoned utility poles and associated signal and power lines will be removed. The transformers and utility cabinets will also be removed for the same reason.  Security of the two buildings will be improved by covering windows and most doors. A new, higher fence will be placed immediately adjacent to each building to deter unauthorized access and further vandalism.  Partial rehabilitation and preservation of the main building will be achieved with a roof liner to prevent further rain damage. Water proofing of the crawl space will be provided to prevent further water damage from ponded surface water. Soil will be placed next to the building and graded away from the building to improve site drainage. Resource Impact Traditionally, budget for Capital Improvement Program projects are appropriated during the annual budget cycle. However, following staff finalization of the FY 2018 Budget, and while preparing for the dedication of the 36-acre area as recreational open space, staff identified security, safety, access and site protection issues which require more immediate improvements and rehabilitation and which, when remediated, would allow the City to open the area to recreational use. To perform this work quickly, as required, an appropriation of $400,000 is required for CIP Project PE-18006, Byxbee Park Completion in Fiscal Year 2018. Staff requests Council approval of a budget amendment, transferring $400,000 from the Parkland Dedication Fund to the to Capital Improvement Fund for PE-18006. The total funding for PE-18006 of $3.0 million over the FY 2018- 2022 CIP will not increase; however, the appropriation of funding will be updated accordingly as part of the development of the FY 2019-2023 CIP. Policy Implications This recommendation is consistent with existing City policy and the Baylands Master Plan. Environmental Review The work to be conducted is categorically exempt from CEQA requirements under Section 15301 (d) of the CEQA Guidelines as it is restoration and rehabilitation of existing facilities and does not impact adjacent wetlands. Further environmental review will be conducted in connection with any future use of the ITT site. City of Palo Alto Page 5 Attachments:  Attachment A: Former ITT Property_Area Map This map is a product of the City of Palo Alto GIS This document is a graphic representation only of best available sources. Legend abc City Boundary Former ITT Property 0'1200' Fo r m e r I T T P r o p e r t y Ar e a M a p CITY O F PALO A L TO I N C O R P O R ATE D C ALIFOR N IA P a l o A l t oT h e C i t y o f A P RIL 16 1894 The City of Palo Alto assumes no responsibility for any errors. ©1989 to 2016 City of Palo Alto RRivera, 2016-05-25 17:52:19Baylands Former ITT Property (\\cc-maps\gis$\gis\admin\Personal\RRivera.mdb)