COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

February 4, 2004

BOARD MEETING DATE:

February 24, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Approval of Operating Agreement between County Parks and California State Parks for County Parks to Maintain State Park Lands on San Bruno Mountain.

Recommendation

For the Board to adopt a Resolution:

1.

Approving an Operating Agreement between the County and California State Parks for the County to manage State Park lands on San Bruno Mountain for and on behalf of the County of San Mateo; and

2.

Authorizing the Director of the Environmental Services Agency to execute the Operating Agreement between the County and California State Parks.

Background

In 1978 the County acquired 1,646 acres to establish San Bruno Mountain County Park. In 1980, the State of California acquired the adjacent 400 acres of the Saddle Area as part of the State Park System. The County then formed an Operating Agreement with the State, merging the parklands into the San Bruno Mountain State and County Park. The Operating Agreement expired January 2, 1989, and was renewed for another ten-year period, which ended January 1, 2001. County Park staff has been in negotiations with State Parks staff to re-do this Operating Agreement and are now recommending that this Agreement be renewed for a 15-year period, which will be recognized as having commenced January 1, 2001 and expiring on December 31, 2015 (Item 3 of the Agreement). The Agreement recognizes that the parties acknowledge that the County has performed under this Agreement since January 1, 2001 in anticipation of this Agreement.

At their January 8, 2004 meeting, the Park and Recreation Commission voted to recommend that the Board of Supervisors approve the Operating Agreement so that County Parks may continue to manage State Park lands on San Bruno Mountain.

Discussion

The Operating Agreement identifies the County as responsible to develop, operate, control, and maintain the premises as public recreational park facilities to be accessible and subject to the use and enjoyment of the general public. The County is also identified as the administrator of the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan and as such is responsible for habitat restoration activities taking place on State Park lands on San Bruno Mountain.

As a result of the Park Division's reorganization last year, the San Bruno Mountain Park unit is not being regularly staffed by specific Park Rangers as it was previously. Rangers within Area 1, which includes Coyote Point Park, Junipero Serra Park, Crystal Springs Trail and San Pedro Valley Park, are currently staffing the San Bruno Mountain Park unit. State Parks understands the County's change in operations and management as a result of budget reductions and reorganization, and recognizes in this Agreement that County Parks will maintain these State Park lands in such a level and standard of condition and repair as other County Park facilities (Item 7 of the Agreement).

The Operating Agreement has been reviewed and approved as to form and content by County Counsel.

Vision Alignment

Approval of this Operating Agreement keeps the commitment of: Preserving and providing people access to our natural environment, and goal number 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship, and goal number 15: Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities. Approval of this Operating Agreement will allow County Parks to manage these State Park lands for the benefit of public recreation and natural resource management.

Fiscal Impact

There is no significant fiscal impact in approving the Operating Agreement in that County Parks has managed these lands since 1989 and the State acknowledges that County Parks will maintain the State Park Lands at the same level and standard of condition and repair as other County Park facilities.

A fiscal benefit that County Parks receives from this Operating Agreement is the eligibility it gives to County Parks for certain State bond and grant funds.