COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Parks

DATE:

March 26, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 24, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director of Parks

SUBJECT:

Application for and Acceptance of a $90,000 Grant from the California State Coastal Conservancy for Plans and Permits for the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Coastal Trail and Visitor Access to Moss Beach

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution approving the filing of an application for and acceptance of a California Coastal Conservancy Grant in the amount of $90,000 for the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Coastal Trail and Visitor Access to Moss Beach Project and authorizing the Director of the Department of Parks, or his designee, to execute in the name of the County of San Mateo all necessary applications, contracts, agreements, amendments, payment requests, and any other documents hereto for the purposes specified in the grant application.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

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

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

The proposed project will complete designs and permits for the approximately 1,500-foot long Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Coastal Trail between Cypress Avenue and the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve parking lot and for improving visitor access along the approximately 350-foot long ramp to Moss Beach and Reef from the Reserve’s Visitor Center parking lot.

BACKGROUND:

A Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan (April 2002), a Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Resource Assessment Plan (2004), a Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Master Plan Final Environmental Impact Report (April 2004), and the Conceptual Plan for Interpretation at Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (December 2004) were prepared by the Department of Parks and have been adopted by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors. The planning documents and interpretive plans include the California Coastal Trail through the Reserve and all-visitor accessible ramp at Moss Beach.

The California Coastal Trail (CCT) is a network of public trails for walkers, bicyclists, equestrians, wheelchair users and others along the entire California coastline. State legislation in 2000 (ACR 20) declared the CCT an official state trail followed by federal recognition as a Millennium Heritage Trail. In 2001, the State Senate through SB 908 directed the Coastal Conservancy, aided by other State Agencies, to determine what was needed to complete the CCT. The California Coastal Conservancy has mapped the entire 1,200-mile California coastline and is working with landowners to align the trail. Our parks project will complete the planning, design and permitting for the California Coastal Trail within the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve boundaries.

DISCUSSION:

The Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Coastal Trail and Moss Beach Access Project contains two interconnected components: Design of a section of California Coastal Trail within the Reserve’s bluff; and design of a ramp to provide all-visitor access to the Moss Beach Reef. This $215,000 project is fully funded with this grant of $90,000 and a California Department of Parks and Recreation Bond Act of 2002 grant of $125,000. This Project is also part of a larger project that contains the design of a bridge over San Vicente Creek and some associated creek restoration. The San Vicente bridge design is also being underwritten using Bond Act of 2002 funds and is being undertaken at the same time as it is a critical part of the completion of the Coastal Trail. A second phase of this project will be undertaken to construct the Coastal Trail, Moss Beach Reef Ramp and San Vicente Bridge and implement creek restoration adjacent to the new bridge.

Planning, design, and permitting of the improved Moss Beach Access will allow for the connection of the Reserve parking lot to Moss Beach and Reef for over 125,000 annual park visitors. The redesign will improve access and meet Americans with Disability Act guidelines. Currently on one side of the ramp, there is a steep step and on the other side there are stairs. In addition, the current ramp configuration requires a visitor to walk on rocks while crossing San Vicente Creek on the way to the Beach and Reef.

FISCAL IMPACT:

This Coastal Conservancy grant of $90,000 will be matched by $125,000 of State Park Bond Act of 2002 grant funds to fully underwrite this project. There will be no impact on the County General Fund.