HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-02-20 City Council (15)TO:
City of Palo Alto
..... City Managgr’s. Report
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:
.DATE:
CITY MANAGER
FEBRUARY 20, 2001
DEPARTMENT:COMMUNITY SERVICES
CMR: 134:01
SUBJECT:ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER TO FILE .AN APPLICATION FOR A SAN
FRANCISCO BAY .TRAIL PROGRAM GRANT FOR BAYLANDS
TRAIL IMPROVEMENT
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that Council approve the attached resolution to:
1. Authorize the submittal of a grant application for $65,000 to the San Francisco Bay
Trail Project for improvements to the Bay Trail segment between O’Connor Street
and Bay Road in East Palo Alto.
2. Authorize the City Manager or his designee to execute the application, certifications,
standard grant agreement, and any amendments on behalf of the City.
BACKGROUND
Annually in April, the San Francisco Bay Trail Project accepts grant applications for
projects that will provide or improve public access to the bay shore. The mission of the
.Bay Trail Project, a program of the Association of Bay Area Govemments, 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 and Govemor Gray Davis recently approved an appropriation of
$7.5 million to the State Coastal Conservancy for development of the Bay Trail. The
money comes from the parks and open space bond passed by California voters in March
2000. The goal of this years’ grant program is to add new trail segments to the San
Francisco Bay Trail, improve existing trails, add connectors and create destination points.
DISCUSSION
In Palo Alto, the Bay Trail passes through the Baylands Preserve by two routes. The first
.route, 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
CMR:134:01 Page 1 of 3
Alto. In East Palo Alto, the trail continues along the edge of the .City owned Faber-
Laumeister tract and marsh to the edge of the Ravenswood Open Space Preserve at Bay
Road.
The proposed project would improve a half-mile existing asphalt path between o’Connor
Street and Runnymede Street. The trail would be widened from three feet to six feet.
Between Runnymede Street and Bay Road, an existing two-foot wide dirt path would be
widened to six feet and paved. The trail improvements are intended to provide an all-
weather trail that will facilitate relaxed hiking and biking. Trail construction work would
be performed under contractby a qualified paving company.
.If Palo Alto’s grant proposal is chosen for funding, trail construction would begin in
September 2001, and be completed by January 2003. Grant funds would not be available
for reimbursement to the City until October 2001.
RESOURCE IMPACT
The cost of the project is estimated at $65,000. Bay Trail Project funds are disbursed on
a reimbursement basis. If Palo Alto is awarded a grant, staff would return with a Budget
.Amendment to appropriate City funds for project expenditures which would be
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 Bay Trail Project grant applications, submitted by all qualified jurisdictions, will be
reviewed and prioritized by a review panel made up of Bay Trail Project staff, and
referred to the Coastal Conservancy Board of Directors at its June 2001 meeting. All
-applicants will be notified of the award selection by June 30, 2001. If funded, the
proposed projects are expected to be ’completed by January 2003.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The application for a grant is not considered an action subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act; therefore, no environmental assessment is needed at this
time. Environmental review will be conducted prior to obligating the grant funds to this
project.
CMR:134:01 Page 2 of 3
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:
Attachment B’
PREPARED BY:
Resolution Authorizing the Filing of Application for San Francisco
Bay Trail Funds
Project Location Map
BETTS
Superintendent, Open Space & Sciences
REVIEWED BY:
PAUL THILTGEN
Director of Community Services
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
Assistant to the City Manager
CMR:134:01 Page 3 of 3
Attachment A
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO
ALTO AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SUBMIT TO
THE SAN FRANCISCO BAYTRAIL PROJECT A GRANT
APPLICATIONFOR FUNDS WHICH THE CITYINTENDS TO
EXPEND ON TRAIL IMPROVEMENTS LOCATED ALONG THE
FABER/LAUMEISTER TRACT IN ’THE PALO ALTO BAYLANDS
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Bay Trail Project provides
grant funds to develop trail segments of the Bay Trail
throughout the nine-county area; and
WHEREAS, the San Francisco Bay Trail Project accepts,
annually, grant applications for projects that improve public
access and related facilities to and around the bay, and
WHEREAS, the City of Palo Alto wishes t.o submit a grant
application that will result in reimbursement to the City of
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 hereby RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION I. The Council hereby authorizes the City
Manager or his or her designee to file a grant application on
behalf of the City of Palo Alto with the San Francisco Bay Trail
Project 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 or her designee as the person responsible for the
administration of the grant application.
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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
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Mayor
City Attorney
APPROVED:
City Manager
Director of Community
Services
Director of Administrative
Services
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