COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

April 21, 2004

MEETING DATE:

May 11, 2004

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Extending to January 27, 2007 the Construction Time Period for Facility and Trail Construction as Outlined in the Crystal Springs Trail Memorandum of Understanding

RECOMMENDATION

Adopt a resolution approving a three-year extension to the facility and trail construction period as outlined in the Crystal Springs Trail Memorandum of Understanding and authorizing the Director of the Parks and Recreation Division of the Environmental Services Agency to execute any documents necessary for the extension of the construction time period.

BACKGROUND

The County of San Mateo, in conjunction with the City and County of San Francisco, is in the process of expanding the recreation trail opportunities in the Crystal Springs Watershed. The City and County of San Francisco has granted easements within the Watershed for four multi-use trails for the County of San Mateo to design and construct. The trails are being built and operated under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two agencies. The Board approved the operating agreement in August 1993, and the trail easements were granted in 1996. The MOU specified that construction would be completed within three years from the date the easements were granted.

For various reasons, including the length of time for the processing of the project by the City and County of San Francisco, staffing shortages and funding issues, the project has not been completed. Following is a summary of the status of completion for each trail segment of the project.

Segment

Anticipated Completion Date

San Andreas Trail Segment

Construction completed. Segment to be opened upon completion of crosswalk and new signalization at San Bruno Avenue and Skyline Boulevard intersection. (Signalization work is not on SFPUC property.) Bid opening date is April 16, 2004 and the expected completion date is late June/early July.

Sawyer Camp Trail to the Dam

Construction completed. Segment opened.

South of Dam to exit on Hwy. 35

SFPUC staff is reviewing final plans. Construction by County Parks staff is anticipated for April 2004.

San Mateo Creek Trail

Due to environmental constraints and with SFPUC concurrence, this segment is not currently planned for improvement.

DISCUSSION

In 2000, the City and County of San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the County of San Mateo approved a three-year extension of the facility and trail construction period. This extension expired on June 27, 2003.

The SFPUC at its January 27, 2004 meeting approved another three-year extension of the facility and trail construction period from June 27, 2003 to January 27, 2007. As part of that approval, the SFPUC requested a revised business plan denoting the timeframe, budget, and tasks for the project during this extension period, which was submitted.

The County Parks and Recreation Commission at its regular February 5, 2004 meeting voted to recommend approval to the Board of Supervisors for the adoption of a resolution authorizing an extension of the construction time period for the project.

Staff recommends that the Board of Supervisors approves the extension of the time period for the facility and trail construction of this project for an additional three years to January 27, 2007. This extension is anticipated to provide adequate time for completion of all segments, except San Mateo Creek Trail, and resolution of any unforeseen issues.

VISIONING ALIGNMENT

This three-year extension to January 27, 2007 of the time period for the facility and trail construction for this project keeps the commitment of Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment and goal number 15: Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities. The extension of the time period for the construction schedule for the identified segments of the Crystal Springs Trail will allow the County Parks and Recreation Division of the Environmental Services Agency to continue to develop these trail segments as agreed between the County of San Mateo and the SFPUC. The existing six miles of Sawyer Camp Trail currently serves approximately 350,000 people a year, and this trail expansion project will double the size of the existing Sawyer Camp Trail network.

FISCAL IMPACT

This project is budgeted in the Parks Acquisition and Development budget approved by the Board of Supervisors in June 2000. There is no impact to the general fund.