COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Parks

DATE:

August 28, 2008

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 16, 2008

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

Request for a One-Time Waiver of the $5.00 Vehicular Entry Fee to San Mateo County Parks for the 15^th Annual National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 27, 2008

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a resolution authorizing a one-time waiver of the $5.00 vehicular entry fee to Coyote Point Recreation Area and Flood, Huddart, Junipero Serra, Memorial, Sam McDonald, San Bruno Mountain, San Pedro Valley, and Wunderlich County Parks for the 15^th Annual National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 27, 2008.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

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

Goals 14 and 15: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship. Residents have nearby access to green space, such as parks and recreational opportunities.

This request to waive the $5.00 vehicular entry fee to San Mateo County Parks for the 15^th Annual National Public Lands Day contributes to goal 14 as it will be used to promote volunteerism in the parks. This request contributes to goal 15 in that the waiver will be used to promote public use of County Parks.

BACKGROUND:

National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with three federal agencies and 700 volunteers participating and was inspired greatly by the accomplishments of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Mr. Robb Hampton, Program Director for National Public Lands Day, said “Our nation has benefited immensely from the impressive work performed by the Civilian Conservation Corps 75 years ago. The Civilian Conservation Corps is one of the driving forces that has inspired National Public Lands Day for the past 15 years, and National Public Lands Day volunteers work together to achieve the same common goals and mission.”

Participation in National Public Lands has increased every year. Last year there were an estimated 110,000 volunteers at 1,300 sites through whose efforts over 500,000 pounds of trash were removed, 720 miles of trails created and maintained, and over 55,000 trees planted among many other tasks.

DISCUSSION:

San Mateo County Parks will be hosting two volunteer activities on September 27 for National Public Lands Day. At Junipero Serra Park, volunteers will work with Park Rangers to paint restroom and picnic shelter buildings, remove eucalyptus debris in the picnic area, repair existing table sites and install relocated picnic sites. At Huddart Park, the Parks Department will partner with REI, the Bay Area Ridge Trail Project, the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation, and other volunteers on National Public Lands Day to rock a half-mile section of Skyline Trail.

The Parks Department requests that the Board of Supervisors authorize a one-time fee waiver on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 27, 2008, of the $5.00 vehicular entry fee to San Mateo County Parks. The intent of the one-time fee waiver is to both develop future park volunteers and encourage visitation to our County Parks so that more people become aware of these wonderful natural resources and environments and avail themselves of this experience in the future.

FISCAL IMPACT:

Last year the Board authorized a one-time fee waiver for the $5.00 vehicular entry fee on National Public Lands Day. Based on the number of cars reported for that day’s vehicular entry, the loss of revenue was approximately $6,450. We would expect similar revenue this year so a waiver of the vehicular entry fees on Saturday, September 27, 2008, National Public Lands Day, would result in approximately $6,500 of revenue loss. We strongly feel that the loss of revenue for one day is offset by the opportunities to introduce new people to our parks, who will return in the future, recruit future volunteers and accomplish two significant volunteer projects.