COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

June 2, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

June 17, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Acceptance of a Donation from the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation in the Amount of $98,500 and the Reallocation of $55,000 from a Previously Approved Crystal Springs Trail Ranger Station Project to the Sanchez Adobe Seismic and Roof Repair Project

Recommendation

For the Board to:

1.

Adopt a resolution:

(a)

Accepting a donation of $98,500 from the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation for environmental review and permitting for the Edgewood Interpretive Center; plans, design, biological studies and permitting for the Sequoia Flat Crossing in Memorial Park; funding a park aide at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve; landscaping improvements at the Coyote Point Recreation Area; maintenance of equestrian trails within Pescadero Park; make improvements at the Jack Brook Horse Camp in Sam McDonald Park and the reallocation of $55,000 from the previously approved new Ranger Station for Crystal Springs Trail to the Sanchez Adobe Seismic and Roof Repair Project; and

(b)

Authorizing the Director of Environmental Services to execute and submit any agreements or other documents related to the donation and subject projects.

2.

Approve an Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $50,000 for the Sequoia Flat Crossing, $40,000 for the Edgewood Interpretive Center, $6,000 for funding a park aide at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, $1,000 for landscaping improvements at Coyote Point Recreation Area, $1,000 for the maintenance of equestrian trails within Pescadero Park, and $500 for improvements at the Jack Brook Horse Camp in Sam McDonald Park.

Background

County policy requires gifts (other than real property) of a value of over $2,500 or gifts that have significant conditions or stipulations to be acknowledged in writing by the division head and referred to the Board of Supervisors for acceptance or rejection.

In 1998 the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved the formation of the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to support the work of the County Parks Division in a variety of ways, including raising funds for capital projects. The agreement between the Foundation and the County calls for such funds to be turned over to the County Parks Division for use for designated capital projects or programs.

Since its inception, the Foundation has raised or received pledges for almost $3 million in funds for various park improvements. An annual work program is developed jointly between the Foundation and the Parks' Division that identifies priority projects. Once funding for specific projects is complete the Foundation conveys funding to the County for acceptance by the Board of Supervisors.

Discussion

The San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation proposes to fund two additional projects at this time.

1.

Edgewood Park and Preserve: Interpretive Center Phase II. The Division has recently completed the conceptual plan for a small Interpretive Center for Edgewood Park as described in the Park's Master Plan. The Foundation will contract for the preparation of detailed plans and specifications to be used for the construction of the proposed Interpretive Center. The Foundation will also transfer $40,000 to the Division to cover the costs of permits and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review. Any funds not used for permits or CEQA will be rolled over into the actual construction costs for the Center.

2.

Memorial Park: Sequoia Flat Crossing. Various regulatory agencies and FishNet 4C have identified the removal of fish barriers as a high priority in certain impaired streams, including Pescadero Creek that runs through Memorial Park. This $50,000 donation, which comes as mitigation for a development project adjacent to the Pescadero Park, includes $10,000 for various wildlife and biological studies that must be completed to obtain necessary permits and $40,000 for the engineering, design and permitting for the project. We anticipate seeking grant funds to actually construct the project. The actual construction project will not go forward until such a grant or donation is secured.

This project funds a study to evaluate whether to replace or modify the Sequoia Flat crossing, the existing summer access crossing of Pescadero Creek to the Sequoia Flat campground and is a high priority for the resource agencies. Options to be studied range from modification of the crossing to removal and replacement with a bridge spanning the creek. Modification includes removal of parts of the concrete structure, lowering and widening the fish passage down to bedrock, headwall improvements, such as boulders and weirs, for fish habitat and sediment flow and installation of a seasonal bridge over the fish passage. Projected costs range from over $800,000 for the bridge to $200,000 for the modification. These costs are rough estimates and the design work funded through this grant will provide more reliable estimates.

The Sequoia Flat project has two phases: (1) design and permitting and (2) modification activities. This grant is for phase 1, design and permitting. The information used during this project will facilitate efforts to seek funding for the modification phase.

In addition to the two projects, the Foundation has approved restricted donations to the County of San Mateo, which are (1) a $6,000 gift to the Foundation by Riley R. Russell, Vice President of Business and Legal Service on behalf of Sony Computer Entertainment America, which funds are to be used to fund a park aide, with related experience, at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve to provided interpretive information to reserve visitors, assist with resource preservation and scientific studies, and other

park related duties; (2) a $1,000 gift made by the Northern California Paddlefest Council for landscaping improvements at Coyote Point Recreation Area; (3) a $1,000 gift raised by Adda Guinn and provided to the Foundation through the Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks for maintenance of equestrian trails within Pescadero Park; and (4) a gift of $500 made by the Summit Riders Horsemen's Association to improvements to the Jack Brook Horse Camp in Sam McDonald Park.

Finally, the Division is seeking approval to reallocate $55,000 donated by the Foundation to the County in June 2002 for construction of a new ranger station at Crystal Springs Trail. When that project was proposed, it included plans to tap into CalTrans utilities from their maintenance yard adjacent to the site proposed for the new ranger station. CalTrans gave preliminary approval to the concept. However, they recently rescinded that approval. We recommend that these funds would be better used to complete funding for the already approved Sanchez Adobe Roofing and Seismic Repairs project. As these funds are currently in the appropriate fund account, reallocation of these funds does not require a request for an appropriation transfer.

Vision Alignment

The Interpretive Center for Edgewood Park and Preserve will focus on environmental education and stewardship practices. The removal of the fish barrier in Memorial Park is designed to improve habitat for endangered and threatened species. Both projects keep the commitment stated in Goal 14 that important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. The proposal to install a new roof and seismic repairs to the Sanchez Adobe keeps the commitment stated in Goal 15: residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities by preserving a historic resource for use by our County's schools and the general public.

Fiscal Impact

None.