COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Parks

DATE:

September 13, 2010

BOARD MEETING DATE:

September 28, 2010

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

David G. Holland, Director, Department of Parks

SUBJECT:

Extend the Construction Time Period for Facility and Trail Construction to October 1, 2015 as Outlined in the Crystal Springs Trail Memorandum of Understanding

RECOMMENDATION:

Adopt a Resolution:

1)

Approving a five-year extension through October 1, 2015 for the facility and trail construction time period as outlined in the Crystal Springs Trail Memorandum of Understanding between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and the County of San Mateo; and

2)

Authorizing the Director of the Department of Parks, or his designee, to execute any documents necessary for this extension.

BACKGROUND:

The County, 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 granted easements within the Watershed for four multi-use trails for this County to design and construct. The trails are being built and operated under a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two agencies. The County’s Board of Supervisors 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. In 2000, 2004 and 2007, the SFPUC and the County both approved three-year extensions of the MOU, the last of which expires October 1, 2010. Another extension for a five year period is required to provide adequate time for completion of the remaining planned segments.

DISCUSSION:

For various reasons, including the length of time for the processing of the project by SFPUC, staffing shortages, construction difficulties, and funding issues, the entire project has not been completed. The South of Sawyer Camp Trail to be constructed has three components that are in various stages of development: 1) South of Sawyer Camp Trail to Skyline, 2) Skyline to Highway 92, and 3) the trail crossing of Highway 92. Status of all of the construction on Crystal Springs Trail can be found in the Business Plan for the Crystal Springs Trail Construction on Easements within the City and County of the San Francisco Peninsula Watershed on the County Park’s website at www.eparks.net under “What’s New.”

Performance Measure(s):

Measure

FY 2010-11
Actual

FY 2014-15
Projected

Miles of Crystal Springs Regional Trail

9

12

This five-year extension to the Crystal Springs Trail Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) and the County of San Mateo (County) contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 for an Environmentally conscious community as it furthers the common goal of the Department of Parks and SFPUC to continue developing the remaining trail segments as agreed. The existing nine miles of Sawyer Camp Trail currently serve approximately 300,000 people a year; this phase of the project will increase the existing Sawyer Camp Trail network by an additional three miles, and disperse overall visitor use.

County Counsel has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The MOU provides no funding for improvement of these trails. The Department of Parks is securing grant and private funding to construct improvements, which will then be budgeted in the Parks Acquisition and Development budget. There is no impact to the General Fund.