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HomeMy WebLinkAbout0431.000July a, 1990 TIlE BONORAaLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto. California HArbor Improvements project elP 18918 -Recommend~tion to Proceed with Sailing Station Members of the council: This report recommends that Council direct staff to proceed vith detailed: design of a sailIng station as part of the Palo Alto Harbor Xmprovements Project with the understanding that the facility would be primarlly llsed by board sailors.. Funds bave been appropriated in elP 18918, Harbor Xmprovements. Background In January 1988, Council approved capital improvement options described in a study of the harbor conducted by Santina and Thompson., rnc.. Tbe .first three years of a fIve-year implementation plan for these options bave been budget.ed in th4e C.apital I:llprovement Program. The five-year plan ir.£ludes renovatinq the former Barbor Kaster's cottage I restoring 4.5 acres of marsh I developinq a 24-Acre mar&h conversIon mitigation bankl updating the Baylands Kaster Plan, and ~structing a sailinq station. In December 1989 1 Council approved an agreement with Santina and Thompson, Inc. to provide desiqn services for the improvements included in the implementation plan. At that meetinq, staff Informed Council tbat the consultant would review and update the sailing station hydrologIcal data to determine the ~sability of such a facilIty .. The latest hydrological information was presented to a qroup of small-boat users in June .1990. Their input is describe4 below .. pi§cusslon Council approved a sailing station which would accommodate sail boards and hand-carried craft.1 such as Lasers and El Toros. A facility for 'trailerable boats with drafts of two to three feet 'Was rejected by Council as being t.oo large and less "harmonious with the .nvironment~ The facility would be sited in the cbannel at the confluence o~ Charleston Slough, as indicated on the attached site plan. It Would be designed with a lBO-foot-long fixed pier and connecting floating platform located in the deepest section of the channell also indicated on the attached plan~ An existing boat ramp nearby viII continue to be used after the sailing station Is -1- CKR:Ul:0 • . , , -' i i " .m o o operational, provided that the condition of the ramp do-es not present unacceptable safety risks to the City. No dre~lnq or r~val of alit at the mouth of the eXistlng boat romp will be peraltted by San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCOC). '!'he conaultant recently revIewed the hydrology information and •• c11111.entation rates in the harbor and found that conditIons toda.y are as predicted in 198'. Sedimentation is expected to fill the chan~l at the 5al1ing station site over time. Tbe channel depth vill decrease by approximately three teet by 2002. Sedimentation vill occur at a slower rate between 20'02 and 2037 with the channel ueptb deereasinq another one foot. A copy of the study Is on file in the Public Works Department otfice. At the t.ime council approved the sailing statio-n option in January 1988 1 discussion was focussed mainly on band-carried craft sailors a .. users of the tacility. Based on a recent meeting with a representative qroup of small boat enthusiasts on JU1'le 21 .. 1990 .. it haa become clear that the primary users will tie board sailors .. This is due to the growth in popularity of the sport over the last few years, as witnessed by the facIlities at Shoreline Park in the city of Mountain View and. other Ilan-made lakes in the Bay area.. A copy of a letter of support from the San Francisco Board Sailing Association is attaChed.. The le.tter references a ten-fold increase in the membership of the peninsula chapter since 1986.. SOme of the reasons for the sport'. popularity are lower equipment costs. ease of transportinq (roof rack). minimal off-season storage needs. and the thrill of a clean l outdoor vater experience.. .Its acceptance as a demonstrat.ion sport 1n the 1984 Olympic Sports in Los Angeles qave it further USA and world exposure. Representatives of the San Francisco Board sailing Associat.ion advised staff that. access to and from the Bay .. via the Palo Alto channel and sailing at-at ion. 'Would not. present a problem for board sailors because their .inimwa operating depth is less than 2,( inches. CUrrently the channel has a water depth of 24 inches or more for ten continuous hours per day (d'.Jrinq daylight hours}. This would be reduced to eight hours per day by year 2002. During this time the channel would be at least so feet wide, ~hich is SUfficIent for board sailing. Based on feedback frOll the meeting with boat enthusiasts. the sailIng station elso would provide a launching facility for small, band-carrIed .ailboat.... It was noted that the Palo Alto site presents an opportunity for small-boat sailors to qain better access to South Bay \latera. as other Bay access points ere located further north at. Coyote Point. and Redwood city.. The facility would be usable for sailors with boats such as Sunfish and Lasers .. Typically, these sailors are more skilled and generally know when to launcb their boats so tbey can talce advantage of tidal condit.ions and return safely from their sail in the Bay. 'l'be inner -2- CIIR: 431: 0 • • t i t I , I I r I , t , j' i f i '> --;~ , , '_,.r~. , '-', I I r·-· • - , -'-.... o o harbor would continue to be used by £1 Toros because of the protected waters o~ the barbor. There appeare~ to be no reservations frem the qroup concerning the eftect of the sedimentation on the water d.epth. Boats such as sunfish and Lasers require 42-of water depth to access the sailing atation and can tack or jibe within a S<I-ioot .... ide Channel .. currently these conditions occur eight continuous hours per day. By the year 20C2¥ tbe reduced channel depth will limit the use of the sailing station to more experienced sailors, who would need to carefully time their sailing excursions in the Bay. The consultant •• timates that there woul~ be sufficient channel water depth and width tor hand-carried. craft to access the sailing station approximately six continuous hours per day~ The Sea Scouts have canceled their plans to build a small dock in front of th.eir base for launchill9 of their small boats, as sedimentation buildup In the inner harbor made their proposal unsuitable. Tbe new public salling station can be used by the Sea Scout.s to hand-launch their small boats. Canoe and kayak enth·usiasts also will .find t.he new sailing station suitable for their needs. Representatives from the Palo Alto chapter of the Red Cross have expressed interest in utilizing the proposed facility for their canoe program. $upmsny The latest hydrological data on the sedimentation rates at the harbor is consistent with 1987 estimates at the sailing station site. Predicted use of t.he facility has shifted from small hand­ carriecS boats to board sailing. This Is d·ue t.o the increased popularity of board sailitl9 and. the usability of this type of craft in relatively shallow waters. The facility will provide an adequate means of access to the SOuth Bay waters for users of hand­ carried, small boats. However, as sedil!lentation contin·ues to occur, use of the facility will be. limited. to more experienced sailors who are capable of timinq their trips around high tide condi tiona. If Council approves staff's recolilIOendation, staff will proceed with deslq·n. Preliminary plans of the sailIll9 sta.tion will be returned to Council tor theIr approval as part of the Site and. Desig:1 Review process.. Construction is expected to start in summer 19191 .. stotu§ of other Harbor ImprOVements Harsh restoration of 4.S acres will begin during the 1991 summer construction season. The San Francisco Bay Conservation Development COInlllission requires that. the work be completed by February 1992, as a c.ondition to the City's previous dredging! permit. With respect to the Harbor Master's co-tt.age, the consultant has made a detailed evaluation of the roof and structural members. prel1ainary estimates for termite repair and -)- CMR:4Jl:O • \ L , ., \ \ • , \. \ " .' I' " '. >- • , .- I j I re.toration work indicate that the project may not be financially viable. Staff vill return later in the year with a recommendation to Cow>cil a. pert of the project Site and Design revie" process. Pre.l1alnary plana have been revie .... ed by the city'. Historic blioure'S. Board. rhe Kaster Plan update 15 approll!imately 20 percent completed. B'S9mmendat;lon staft recommends t.h.at Council direct staff to proceed with the detailed design of the sailinq ,.tation, with the understandlnq that such a facilIty would be primarIly used by board sailors. Respectfully submItted, k~ GEORGE BAGDON Acting Director of Public Works ~~ ~~~I~Ity Manager cc: Sea SCouts Attachments: QIR:Ul:0 San Francisco Sailing Association Letter Location Plan Hand Launch Facility Plan -4- ----" """1!!! ....... ,-.... ' .... '-~---.~>-'" :,'> ''', ,--'~ ,-,'''', . " , ~ :'~ . . ; ':~~:~~'~- :~~:~'l; "'"-', . . -,,\~.--:' " '. , - +-- • l. '.> ," .;,~ ·L·.····.'··· . . . . ' . >C" ----- ... In':O',iJ'-,~r''''''':;';'':'; r" A TTACIIHENT A ; '1,. /' ~-} AIRPOIIT tAN hWIO'IlOO _",If , ...... ·~I-"-1; ... _ , / ; j/ d 'I I, /., i' Ii [ I t'l • II t.1 :,1 : :1 ~'. . . I "J j . , , , , "j 1 , I I i 1 ! '" ... ~ C :.I tTl .... 'J: .:''' ;" MARSH ~AE9EAVe IM."~· • r It JL_I' ';. .j A,It "'-' " . -1-.... "'-·1.""11 _ "._"-AlI ~ I • , ~tIY MARSH _ ... ".110 ... '" !'. ,/' ~ ... "'" ._ ____(I), .. .. --~~ STATtON " f) = LANDPIIJ. HOOJ(S ISt.ANO . NO"TH ~ SANTINA • '~~:::::: :;,a,;: THOMPSON 1111" ~ '''"U'''l __ I __ ~_'"'''' "."." .... ,,".-.,,\ .. , •• ." .... ", n," SUMMARY OP RECOMMENOATIQNS CITV O~ PA~O A~TO 110 HAMll..T~ 1",.aT PAl,O At,TQ, O~llP~jrfA "11113 PALO ALTO YACHT HARBOR LOCATION PLAN .' o Of: [ ~ o ',' ; i .. :ill. ;:I ~.1 . : .--.~--~;~-~~ .. ~., ... :, ill , .l".. '.'IIM'~' , ,.--, .. .'''' ... , J..\ /", " . -' • .. " '. ·';"'>- .. I ~ < , .. - ;'1 r. ----­.. .. ." • \ , J '1 ~ 1 J "j I .. .. · .. .-.. ... :. '. '. "', . :~ , . CD 0 Hr. Jim BarrinqtOD. senior En9'ineer City Qf Palo A1to Public Work. Dept. June 28, U90 uge Two Botb for weekday users who do not bave time to travel far~ and for weekend users who prefer to avoid the crush at Coyote Point~ tbe proposed .aili~i facility in Palo Alto would be greatly appreciated.. Palo Alto residents have always been at the forefro:Llt of this .grovin.q sport~ il'lcllldinq Stanford student and Ol~plc bopeful 'red Huang. who has f"enled a Stanford U;:;:!.versity Sallboard Team! ! am sure you would be prcvidin9 a 9reat benefit tor your communIty by constructing these facilities. Our assocIation will be more than happy to supply a $peaker~ or even a qroup of supporters If' yO""O would lite us to attend a meeting or hearin9 on thi$ matter .. Thank you for your kind consideration .. JtAE:eek cc: ~dy Anderson Burch Thoms en ~"~'-~~'~1~"\; ~ , , - • "< ','t,_,,_ .," 'e ...... ·.",::;;;; -" ~~\'. , f (. ) l 1 ./ ATTACIDIEIIT C o t 0 San F .......... Boan!saiIina Assoo:iation 2114 U .. on -.. Ilol; 41 s... Frana-c:..llromla '412) CtrrCFPALOAlTO RECEIVED JlJl - 2 J99() S.nd reAM .. ' r.:Ht.I{S fNG'NtER1NG blth a. !.p,tdn 1421 krrcw. ftc.ad. ou.l&ru!~ a. 9~061e June 28, 1990 Hr. Jim Barrin9ton Senior Enginoeer City of Palo ~to Public Works Oept. 2SO B~11ton Avenue Palo Alto, California 94301 .Re: Windsu.rfin'9 at the Palo Alto Yacht Harbor Dear HI. Barrln~on: IU~J U4-15S3 dill's Ins) "3-5541) ~"'e$ 1415) 'J'~JlJi iu The Sao Francisco 8oardsailin9 Association ,SFBAJ would like to express our interest In and support for the idea of cODstru~tin9 access facilities for boardsailin9 (or "Windsurfing) at tbe Palo Alto Yacht Harbor.. SfBA represents a cross-section of avid boardsailors around the Bay Area. We keep tabs on sallin9 sites and actively work to protect and improve access and conditions. Currently there 1s only one formally iroprcved laonch site fo::: board saIlors to access southern San Fr~ncisco Bay; at Coy~te Point P~rk In San Mateo. Our membershIp. which has qrovn Lrom a~oond 200 ~mbers in 1986 to over 1.0'00 in 199C, reflects the in-crease in this sportts popularity locally~ Our Peninsula chapter has over 2~0 ~mbers, a tenfold increase since 1986. We estiSlate that o'or .-aembers comprise less than 10' of the total boardsailors in the area. The popularIty of the sport in the Bay Area is further suppo~ted by the fact of the increase in Boardsai11ng equipment and supply Ibops ~h in the North and South Bay. Deman'" for 5&1111'19 sit.es. both those 'With pr~tected: waters and 'With access to tbe bay has ca.used overcrowdin:9 at ~ny sites. including Coyote Poin:t wbere the parkinq areas often close ~y noon on summer weekends. even: thou.qh they easily lIc:comodate severE!l hundred veh1.cl~sl abo'\lt. half bo.ard.sallors an-d half par'k 13!.ers (many of whom enjoy jost ~atcbin9 the boardsailinq action). This 1s in spite of a 300' increase in season pass cost in 3 years from $20.00 to HO.O'O • . _-_. M· ... 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