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Home My WebLink About0325.095TO: FROM: DAn;, SUBJECT: BEQIJFST City of Palo Alto City l\lanager's Report HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT, Public: Works July 6, 1995 CMR:325:9S Enc:roadunenl PermU 10 City of Mountaia ,"",,.. for Access over a Portioo of Palo Alto Flood Basin Levee to Construct a Habitat Ellhancement Project This is an informatiooal report on an eocroachmeDl permJt 10 be issued I<> the City of Mountain VIeW f<x access over a portion of the Palo Alto Flood Basin levee IQ construct a babital enhancement project on Charleston Slough. WI ,ICY IMPUCATIONS Issuance of the encroachment permit does not represent a change 10 e.;sting City policies. EJF.CJmvE SJ TMMABY The City of Moun!aln VIeW is required by the Bay Conservation and Developmem Commission (BCOC) 10 COIlS!ruct a babilat enbancemenl project Il>a! will restore tidal "l!.cbange and tidal marsh conditioru 10 \nner Charleston Slough (see vicinity mal'. Attachmenl 1), The project involves installing several culverts wilh self-regulating tide gates. raising levees outside !he jurisdiction of Palo Alto, and constructing islands within the slough for 'IIraterfowl habitat. The limits of the won are completely outside the City of Palo Alto. In order 10 access the work sire, bowever .. construction equipmem will need 10 travel aIoog a one-mile pof1ioo of the Palo Alto Flood Basin levee. which is owned by the City (see site map. AnacbmeDl 2). This levee is the only access route fila! will support the anticipated buCk traffic loads. Therefore. Mountain V'IeW has applied 10 the City for an encroachment permit which would allow its contractor 10 travel over the levee during coostruction. Staff from the Public Works and Community Services depamne!l!S have developed permit conditions that will minimi'" the loss of public recreatiooal access and damage 10 the levee from the truck traffic. A thorough biologic assessmenl has been conducted and the work will be timed between OcIober 1995 and March 1996 in order 10 avoid disturbance 10 sensitive species that seasonally inhabit the site. During L'lis period. truck traffic along the levee will . ,-, '.-~ .. o be intermitt.mt. varying from zero 10 as high as 100 vehicles (dump trude., ",">IlCrele trucks, and 0Iller vehicles weighing 110 more !ban 20 tons) per day. In order to assure public safety and 10 avoid the ronfusion of repeatedly opening and closing the levee, the levee will be clo5«llo the public for t'>e eDllre ",ode day (8:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m.) wbene-... r trucks are it! operation. The levee will remain open 00 weekdays when there is 110 truck traffic and on evenings and weekends. MOIllItlin Vie'" staff will conduct an outre3Cb program to explain their ~ project and advise the public of the levee closure policy in advance of the actual wad. They will install advisofy closure signs and boxes containing informational brochures at the entran.::es to the levee trail and will coordinate ",id! Palo All<> Baylands ranger staff throughout the project. Local Baylands advocates are aware of Moor>tain VIeW'S request 10 use the levee and are satisfie:l !bat the encroachmenl permit condi600s will adequately prolect the adjaunt wellaoo •. Because the eristing levee is often impassable for vehicles during the late fall and winter due 10 its muddy condition. Mountain VIeW will be required 10 place a 4"-6" COffiJl'lcle<l Iaye. a( base rock over the portion of the levee 10 be used for truck 0C<:eSS. The base rock path. approximately 12 feet-wide (lIlCluding sbouIdert), will be p!a<;<:d in the center of the exisling 18 10 40 foot-wide levee 10 avoid any existing vegetation. Staff will direct that the path remain after completion of the project as it facilitates pedesIrian. bicycle and vehlclllar travel it! the cenJer of the levee, away from adjaum vegetation. Furthennore. the path will provide an alI-wead!er surface for ranger patrol vehicles 00 • year-round basis. Prior to final sign off of the encrooclnnenl permit, Mountain \~!eW will be required 10 repair any rutting of the pad! or levee and restore any vegetation damaged by the truck traffic. - AI!bouglI the Palo AIt> Flood Basin levee is wlIhln • dedicated park and within the Site and Design overlay zone, staff does no! believe that • ParI< Improvement Ord"mance nor a Site and Design review is required, since the awlication of base rock ""ill DO! alter the physical cliaracteristics or elevation of the levee nor disturb any vegetation. Staff belleves thaI the City's interests can be adequately pro!ected throogh the conditions placed on the encroachmenl permit. Unless otherwise direcle<l by Council. staff intezx!s 10 issue the encroachment permit 10 the City 0( Mountain VieW 00 July II, 1995. nSCAJ,IMPACf The City of Mountain V",w will pay the City an encroachmelll permil fee to cover the cost of City administration and inspection. ENvIRONMENTAl. ASSFSSMFNI BCOC is the 1ead agency for the 0Jar1esk>n Sloogh Habital Enbancement Project for CEQA pur]105eS. BCDC staff have indica~ that they will not :;ccept Mountain VieW', permit application until an local approvals have been receiVed. Following issuance of the CMR:315:95 ", __ .0 -' • • I:IICl'OOclImeI permiI. BCOC will circulate an envirOlllDe!llal assessmeor of the entire projf'Ct, inc!u<flllg IlSe of ,"" Palo Alto Flood Basin levee for equipment -=. for pubtic review. City staff will review the enviroomenra! ass<ssmenI ancf amend the ~llCroacbmeDt permit. if _my, to ossure !bat any ad<!itional impacts to City facilities or ~ identified in !he document are addressed ancf mitigated. ATfAQfMF.NTS t -YICinity Map 2 -Site Map PREPARED BY, Geocge Bagdon, AsSlSIant Dir",,1or of Public Worb DEPARTMENT HEAD REVIEW, ~ >I UdbL 7 GLENN S. ROBERTS OUeclOr of Public Works cc, . Gail Seeds, C'lIy of Mountain YleW Emily IWlzeI florence and Phil;;' .... Riviere \~ VICINITY MAP " " I' ' , , , " \' \' ! I :~ " :''':' " ,~, 'I'. .. ;' " ' , , i I "\ \ SHOREtJNE AT MOUNTAIN VIEW ~ "iT! X I; ~ (.I, ~ .. , \ \ \ 1)00 o ~ALO AL'['O ,FLOOO BASIN ., JIllilI:ll CHARLESTON SI.Q.!J.W:J. .cAllC'i' $A~D..JA PIllYA1'E) , COIlN!Y OF ilANT A CI,Af!/', 2~ !)CO 1000 --- • CONSTRVCno;;i ACCESS ROUTE j OVER PALO AI.TO I.EVEE . ':" '" " " . , " )', '. " >' "' , , , • ":;',, •