COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

February 9, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 1, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Approval of an Amendment to the Agreement between the County of San Mateo and Harris Design Inc. for development of the Huddart/Wunderlich Master Plan to increase the amount by $13,845 for a total obligation of $113,685 and extend the agreement date to September 30, 2005

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the Agreement between the County of San Mateo and Harris Design to increase the amount by $13,845 for a total obligation of $113,685 and extend the agreement date to September 30, 2005.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goal 15: Residents have nearby access for green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.

The contract amendment for the Huddart/Wunderlich Master Plan keeps the commitment of “Preserving and providing people access to our natural environment” and goal 15 by providing an additional Trail Users Focus Group meeting and a third public workshop to solicit additional input prior to the Plan being reviewed and approved by the Park and Recreation Commission and the Board of Supervisors.

Performance Measure(s): Number of public meetings facilitated.

Measure

FY 2004-05 Actual

FY 2005-06 Projected

Total number of public meetings facilitated

5

1

BACKGROUND:

Planning for the Huddart/Wunderlich Master Plan was initiated in April 2004. To date numerous meetings with the public have occurred to address the various issues at these parks including: a Focus Group with five equestrian organizations regarding equestrians’ issues, the King Mountain Archers Association, a meeting regarding fire hazard reduction opportunities with Woodside Fire and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, a meeting with the Woodside Bicycle Committee regarding bicycle issues, and a meeting with the San Francisquito Creek Watershed Council. There are additional meetings planned with representatives of the Girl Scouts regarding their needs, and Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space District and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area regarding common issues as adjacent property owners. There have been two public workshops held so far on July 10, 2004 and November 18, 2004 that were each well attended by 40 to 50 people each.

DISCUSSION:

Based on public input received to date, we have identified potential conflict issues between equestrians who do not want either bicyclists or dogs to have access within these parks and bicyclists that want access to all trails but particularly to provide safe access from Woodside Road to Skyline Boulevard. With the exception of paved roads within Huddart Park, no other bicycle use is allowed in either of these parks according to County Ordinance. A bike lane does not currently exist along Kings Mountain Road, but could be developed. Bicycle use is currently not allowed along Bear Gulch Road, which is a private road, but the County retains a public easement for bike use. To facilitate a better understanding about the opportunities and constraints that are available to accommodate recreational use in and around these parks, County Park staff have determined that a Trail Use Focus Group meeting involving all trail user organizations and facilitated by a mediator would be useful in attempting to comprehensively address all issues and concerns before the Master Plan is completed. The original budget had not anticipated this proposed meeting nor a third public workshop to be able to share the Draft Master Plan with the public before the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Board of Supervisors consider it.

The current proposal is to extend the contract to facilitate the Trail User Focus Group and a third public workshop to build consensus for the Master Plan. The contract with Harris Design, Inc. would be extended from May 20, 2005 to September 30, 2005.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Funds from the sale of a .5-acre parcel of Wunderlich Park property upon which an encroachment occurred were placed into a specific account in the County Parks Acquisition and Development Budget. These funds ($500,000) have been set aside for development of this Master Plan, including the proposed additional expenses, the subsequent required Environmental Impact Report and some portion of future development.