HomeMy WebLinkAbout0268.093\
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May 6, 1993
THE HOI/ORABLE CIT< COUNCIL
Palo Alto, California
fAl.Q. 1'.1 to Harbor .J,:mpr9vements. elF 1~'3:1S -Statu5~oor't.
Members of the Council:
Report in Brief
Members of th~ cQuncil:
This report provide9 information on the status of the Palo Alto
Harbor Improvements Froject ~W'hich include:s mardh restoration,
public access ~mprovements, sailing station construction, Harbor
Master's Cottage restoration and picnic area improvements. No
Council action is required.
In Auqust 1992, staff received tinal permit approval from the Army
corps of Engineers to construct improvemer,ts in the harbor area.
In OCtober 1992. the first of three constructicn contracts ..... as
awarded which incl"-lded the restoration of the Harbor Master's
Cottage and picnic area. In Ncverr.ber 1992, the remaining t ..... o
contracts were a.,:arded invel ving the Jr.arsh restorati c·n and sailing
station.
Discussio!'.
The following is a. prief description of the current status and
planned future actions on improvements in the harbor &rea.
Karsh Restoration/Public Access:
Marsh Restorati~n at Harbor Point began in December 1992. The ~or~
consisted of excavating 49, 000 cubic yards of earth from four acres
of land at the southern tip of Harbor Point. Ccrdgrass ~as planted
in the low channel areas belOW mean high tide to provide foraging
area~ for the endangered California Clapper Rail. In addition,
approximately 1700 feet of bicycle/pedestrian path and 1500 feet
of cable and bollard barriers and four vista points ~ere
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constructed, The oaths are located bEtween the s.aili.r.g station
site at Harbor Point and the Lucy Evans Interpretive center pa~ki~g
lot.
The work was suspended on April 15 1 IS93, to comply with the Corps
of Engineers permit conditions which ban construction activitiEs
during ths nesting season of the endangered California ClapplO!r
Rail. Construction ~ill resume on September 2, 1993, In order to
keep the public informed regarding tbe status of the project during
the interim period, a sign has been posted indicating the reason
for the pause in co~struction,
In September 1993 interpretive signs, conSisting of artistic
renderings and information about 'Wildlife and flora in the San
Francisco Bay marsh environment, will be placed at each of the four
vista and interpretive stations. Shrubs lItill be planted bet\o'een
the new paths and the marsh t.o provide a barrier into these
sensitive habitat are,as~
Sailing Station:
The sailing station will be locat~d at the eastern edge of Harbor
Point parking lot and has been designed to accommodate small hand
carried boats with shallow drafts such as lasers, sunfish, sail
boards, canoes and rowing boats. The structure will consist of an
elevated 10-foot wide pile supported pier, extendinq approxi~ately
200 feet out into the deepest part of the channel.
Work on the sailing station will begin in Septe~ber 1993.
construction 'Was postponed because the contractor, Ol,;,tr-a
constrJction Company, Inc~, could not obtain and erect the concrete
piles prior to the start of the nesting season~ Ho~ever, all other
land-based facilities have been completed including the ' . .mdergrcund
\:tilities, portable toilets and ch.e>.nging area. Removal of the old
existing boat ramp vil1 take place after the sailing station is
completed in Nove~ber 1993.
cottage and Picnic Area:
Work began on the restoration of the historic Harbor Master's
cottage in March 199]. To preserv~ the original outline of the
cottage, the lean-to additions and adjacent storage sheds were
demolished~ Significant damage had occurred to some of the old
adobe walls. These walls vere totally rebuilt with special hand
made adobe bricks in order to metch the original structure. Due to
excessive soil settlement, the building foundation ~as packed with
concrete folloved QY a ternti te t;:-eatment and installation of a
vermin proof, subfloor concrete slab. The remainir.g work consists
of restoring the roof J plastering .2".nd painting the walls and
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landscapinq. Construction of the c-::lttage is expect:.ed to be
completed in June 1993.
The picnic area to be located east of the cottage consists of four
t~bles.. two bencbes, a dr-ink ing fou.ntain, paths, fe~cing and
landscaping. WorK on grading and landscaping began in April 1993
and the entire project is schedul~d to be completed by June 1993.
R&spectCully submitted,
1::tG~
Assistant Director of Public Works
GLENN S~ ROBERTS
Director of Public Woeks
~~
Ci ty Manager
Related .Reports C1tm:: 433:92, 520:~2, 521:9.2
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