HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 05 - 2020 Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report Department Name: Parks and Recreation
Cost Center: 7005 & 7001
For Agenda of: February 2, 2021
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Greg Avakian, Parks and Recreation Director
Prepared By: Aleah Bergam, Administrative Analyst
Bob Hill, Sustainability & Natural Resources Official
SUBJECT: 2020 OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the Parks and Recreation Department’s Open Space Maintenance Plan 2020
Progress Report.
DISCUSSION
Background
On December 15, 2015, the City Council adopted the City’s first Open Space Maintenance Plan.
Adoption of the Plan identified annual progress reports to the Council; this Agenda Report
transmits the Fifth Annual Progress Report (Attachment A).
The adopted Plan is premised on the protection of the City’s natural resources including plants,
animals, geologic, and historic features as well as the natural areas themselves. The Plan was
written in a manner that affirms existing maintenance practices undertaken by staff, contractors,
and volunteers. Those practices are all undertaken in a manner that is consistent with existing
City policies, ordinances, and plans regarding open space. The Plan specifically references and
integrates as its foundational policy guidance the following existing City policy documents:
Conservation and Open Space Element, Conservation Guidelines for Open Space Lands of the
City of San Luis Obispo, and the adopted Conservation Plans for each of the City’s open space
lands. Overall planning, acquisition, and management is undertaken by the Open Space Team,
which meets at least monthly and is comprised of staff from the Natural Resources Program and
Parks and Recreation Ranger Service. Day-to-day maintenance, monitoring, education, and
patrol is led by Ranger Service.
In addition to implementing the Conservation Plans for specific open space and reserve
properties, the Plan addresses existing maintenance needs and proper development of newly
acquired property in the City’s open space lands. It arti culates the enhancement and
maintenance of existing trailheads and trails in a sustainable manner for passive recreation
purposes only. It also articulates removal of illicit materials and trails, improvements to user and
natural resource safety, land restoration and stewardship projects, invasive species treatment and
control, erosion control and stabilization, education of users via patrol and outreach and
management of the wildland-urban interface areas.
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Plan Focus
The Plan is divided in three sections:
1. Maintenance Activities. Maintenance Activities have been ongoing in the City’s open
space for years. They are undertaken by staff, as well as contractors and volunteers on a
daily, weekly, monthly and annual basis. Maintenance activities fall into six main
categories: 1) vegetation, 2) structure, 3) signage, 4) trail/road, 5) drainage, and 6) trail
construction. Under each category are specific tasks. Within each of these categories are
focused activities that can occur seasonally or year-round.
2. Trailhead Amenities. For the purpose of standardization, the City has three different
sized trailheads (small, medium, and large) with differing degrees of enhancement at
each. Currently, the City has 24 trailheads throughout its open space system. The Plan
identifies for each trailhead amenity its purpose, design specification, location, standard
costs, materials, installation, maintenance, and lifespan.
3. Open Space Locations. City Ranger Service staff presently maintain approximately
4,040 acres of open space lands comprised of 16 properties held in open space, natural
reserve, ecological reserve, or agricultural reserve status. The Plan implementation items
are numerous and property specific. They include activities such as: trailhead, parking,
and emergency access improvements; directional and educational trail signs and kiosks;
trail installation, closures, re-routes, and erosion control; invasive species control, fire
protection and native habitat restoration; and bridge, fence, and open space infrastr ucture
replacement.
Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report Highlights
The Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report covers predominately calendar year 2020. It
provides a visual and numerical summary for Council and the community about the work efforts
undertaken to address the adopted Plan (Resolution No. 10682).
Open Space Maintenance and Protection efforts in 2020 addressed new and deferred projects.
How those efforts were accomplished is also highlighted in the report. A major accomplish ment
includes preparing the recently acquired Miossi Open Space for public use. Staff installed three
gate systems, repaired and improved roads and access points, and built approximately one mile
of new trail. Staff are finalizing signage for trails and the identification of trail names and
anticipate opening the trails to the public in late Winter 2021.
In addition, staff worked collaboratively with the Utilities Department to accomplish some
shared goals. The Ranger Service needed a location to better develop and fine tune their machine
trail building technique in order to be well prepared to work in San Luis Obispo’s Natural
Reserves and the Utilities Department needed to increase public access to Whale Rock Reservoir
via a trail system. Leveraging the skill sets of both departments, staff designed and built 2.75
miles of new trail at the Whale Rock Reservoir which is now open to the public.
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Of particular focus for Ranger Service staff this past year was fire-fuel reduction. The Open
Space Team received California Conservation Corps (CCC) free volunteer labor (3,561 hours)
through the State of California’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund valued at over $120,000. The
CCC crew worked on fuel reduction projects at Bowden Ranch, Irish Hills, Terrace Hill and
Prefumo Creek. This is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the fire threat in the City’s Wildland
Urban Interface (WUI). Numerous non-native eucalyptus trees were removed in the creek
corridor to support the ongoing succession planning efforts established along the creek through
protecting the resident native trees and the additional mitigation plantings.
Per Council’s direction in November 2020, the Department has allowed a one-year extension of
the pilot program at the Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve that allows extended evening hours of
use for passive recreational purposes along approximately 4.9 miles of trails during the winter
months when daylight savings time is not in effect. The extension will run through Spring 2021
at which point staff will return to Council with a final summary report and seek direction for any
future actions regarding the pilot program. In year one, there were 3,160 permitted trail users
(307 Bikers, 2,853 Hikers) and in year two there were 2,746 permitted trail users (342 Biker ,
2,405 Hikers). Data analysis from years one and two indicate that permits are highest in demand
during the month of December during the holiday season.
Looking Ahead to 2021
The City’s Open Space Team has planned out its priority projects for 2021. This coming year
will see new trails built in the Irish Hills Natural Reserve from the updated Irish Hills
Conservation Plan that followed the acquisition of the Waddell Ranch property, as well as a new
trail system for public access at Righetti Hill (Mine Hill). In addition, staff will complete the last
section of new trail at the Miossi Open Space, install additional trail signage, and work with the
City’s GIS department to make a trail map for trailhead kiosks. It is important to note that over
500 acres of new Open Space lands have been acquired in the past five years that will drive
additional maintenance needs into the future. A current list of open space acquisition activity is
included as Attachment B.
In addition to trail building, Ranger Service staff will complete third-year extension of the pilot
program allowing evening hours at Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve and will continue to track
usage data surrounding the pilot program to report back to Council. In Spring 2021, staff will be
releasing PixOnPeaks 3.0, focusing on challenging residents to hike all trails in the Irish Hills
Natural Reserve to earn a bandana with the trail map imprinted. Due to the increased volume in
encampments in the open spaces and riparian areas, Ranger Service staff will continue to
prioritize contract clean-ups of encampments in these areas in coordination with the Police
Department and City Attorney’s Office.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On December 15, 2015, the City Council adopted the City’s first Open Space Maintenance Plan
(Resolution No. 10682).
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Policy Context
All activities undertaken in protecting the City’s Open Space by Ranger Services, are done in a
manner consistent with all adopted City policies, ordinances, and open space and/or natural
preserve conservation plans.
Public Engagement
Public engagement was conducted surrounding the initial development and adoption of the Open
Space Maintenance Plan. No new public engagement has been done surrounding the
development of the 2020 Annual Progress Report on the Open Space Maintenance Plan. Public
comment can be provided to the City Council through written correspondence prior to the
meeting and through public testimony at the meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
When adopted on December 15, 2015, a Negative Declaration was adopted for the Maintenance
Plan. In addition to being compliant with the Plan, all activities undertaken in protecting the
City’s Open Space by the Ranger Service staff, are done in a manner consistent with all adopted
City policies, ordinances, and open space and/or natural preserve conservation plans. The City’s
consideration of an Open Space Maintenance Plan 2020 Progress Report is not a project within
the meaning of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2020-21
Funding Identified:
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding Sources Current FY Cost
Annualized
On-going Cost
Total Project
Cost
General Fund N/A
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total N/A
This report on maintenance activities does not have a new fiscal impact. The activities are
funded through the adopted 2019-21 Financial Plan and include the Annual Open Space
Maintenance CIP and resources from the operational budgets for the Ranger Service Program in
the Parks and Recreation Department and Natural Resources Protection Program in
Administration.
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ALTERNATIVES
Do not receive and file the 2020 Annual Progress Report for the Open Space Maintenance
Plan and direct staff to make revisions to the Report.
Attachments:
a - COUNCIL READING FILE - 2020 Open Space Maintenance Plan Annual Report
b - Open Space Inventory 2021
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Open Space Lands of the City of San Luis Obispo
as of January 2021
I. pre-1996 open space lands, prior to formal Greenbelt Protection Program
Terrace Hill Open Space, 30 acres
Lemon Grove Open Space, 43 acres
Ferrini Open Space, 136 acres
Laguna Lake Open Space, 140 acres
Let It Be Nature Preserve, 5 acres
South Hills Open Space, 62 acres
Reservoir Canyon Open Space, 203 acres
Lopez Canyon Open Space, 320 acres
Wolfe Open Space Easement Dedication, 95 acres
Madonna Open Space Easement Dedication, 20 acres
Islay Hill Open Space Easement Dedication, 70 acres
Total: 939 acres fee, 185 acres easement (1,124 acres total)
II. Lands Acquired 1996 through 2007
Guidetti Ranch Easement, 1,480 acres (November 1996)
$400,000 City funds
Maino Open Space, 75 acres (March 1997)
$950,000 City funds
$400,000 donation value
Bishop Peak Open Space, 108 acres (February 1998)
$400,000 City funds
$450,000 State and private funds
Filipponi Ecological Area, 75 acres (March 2000)
$175,000 City funds
$350,000 State grants
Stenner Springs Open Space, 49 acres (April 2000)
$55,000 City funds
$10,000 Federal grant
DeVaul Open Space, 182 acres (December 2000)
$182,000 donation value
Prefumo Canyon Open Space, 360 acres (January 2001)
$360,000 donation value
Guidetti Ranch Easement amendment, 1,480 acres (January 2001)
$50,000 City funds
$950,000 State and private grants
Hastings Open Space, 284 acres (March 2001)
$70,000 City funds
$130,000 State grant
Froom Ranch Easement Dedication, 150 acres (May 2001)
$150,000 donation value
Foster Open Space, 154 acres (September 2001)
$300,000 City funds
$915,000 Federal and State grants
Johnson Ranch Open Space, 242 acres (November 2001)
$300,000 City funds
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Open Space Lands of the City of San Luis Obispo
2
$1,300,000 Federal, State, and private grants
$150,000 donation value
Bowden Ranch Easement Donation, 195 acres (December 2001)
$195,000 donation value
Bowden Ranch Open Space Dedication, 27 acres (August 2003)
$54,000 donation value
Kuden Donation, 2 acres (September 2003)
$300,000 donation value (per appraisal)
Olson Donation, 1 acre (December 2004)
$250,000 donation value (per appraisal)
Boysen Ranch Easements, 30 acres (June 2005)
$60,000 donation value
Congregation Beth David Easement, 63 acres (June 2005)
$126,000 donation value
Bowden Ranch Fee Donation, 185 acres (50% undivided interest)(October 2005)
$90,000 donation value (per appraisal---encumbered by easement)
Gearhart/McBride Donation, 12 acres (November 2005)
$60,000 donation value (“basic” farmland value)
Brughelli Ranch Easement, 390 acres (December 2006)
$650,000 City funds
$100,000 private grants
$250,000 donation value
Margarita Area Easement donation (King), 71 acres (June 2007)
$142,000 donation value
Union Pacific Railroad property donation (Land Conservancy), 315 acres (June 2007)
$448,000 donation value (per appraisal)
Total this period: 2,071 acres fee, 2,309 acres easement
II. Lands Acquired July 2007 – 2014 (including Measure Y funds)
Elks Lodge Creek and Trail Easement donation (Elks Lodge), 3 acres (May 2008)
$6,000 donation value
Stenner Ranch and Stenner Creek Road property easements, 852 acres (December 2008)
$300,000 Measure Y funds
$200,000 from sale of 14 acre property
$350,000 Federal funds
$150,000 donation value (Stenner Ranch)
$28,000 donation value (Stenner Creek Road property)
Bowden Ranch Open Space , 185 acres (December 2008)
$120,000 from sale of surplus 14 acre property
Froom Ranch agricultural easement (Irish Hills West, Inc.), 7 acres, June 2010
$35,000 donation value
Froom Ranch, 310 acres, July 2010
$310,000 Measure Y funds
$350,000 Federal and private grants
$40,000 donation value (Phyllis Madonna)
BLM property management agreement, 78 acres, July 2010
No financial consideration
Prefumo Commons donation (Irish Hills Plaza West, Inc.), 12 acres, August 2010
$60,000 donation value
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Open Space Lands of the City of San Luis Obispo
3
O’Connor Ranch agricultural conservation easement (held by Land Conservancy of SLO
County), 191 acres (October 2010)
$107,500 City funds
$850,000 Federal grant
300 Lawrence Drive lots donation (Inland Pacific Co.), 1 acre, December 2011
$2,000 donation value
Rockview Close open space lot donation, (Asset Logic Group), 3 acres, December 2011
$6,000 donation value
Foster/Spangler property conservation easement donation, 38 acres (December 2011)
$250,000 donation value
Righetti Hill and Righetti Homesite conservation easements, 56 acres (April 2012)
$112,000 donation value
Upper Goldtree Vineyard Tract lots, 89 acres (June 2012)
$235,000 City funds
$15,000 Land Conservancy of SLO County grant
$325,000 donation value (Filipponi / Twisselman)
Total this period: 493 acres fee, 952 acres easement
III. Lands Acquired July 2015 – Present (including Measure G funds)
Righetti Hill open space dedication, 40 acres (May 2015)
$100,000 donation value
South Hills open space dedication, 71 acres (March 2016)
$177,500 donation value
Waddell Ranch Open Space, 154 acres (February 2017)
$100,000 City funds
$1,000,000 grants
San Luis Ranch, offsite agricultural conservation easement, 30 acres (September 2018)
$300,000 donation value
Miossi Open Space, 266 acres (November 2019)
$1,000,000 City funds
$200,000 grant
$100,000 donation
San Luis Ranch, onsite agricultural conservation easement, 50 acres (November 2020)
$500,000 donation value
Total this period: 531 acres fee, 80 acres easement
Overall Total: 4,034 acres fee, 3,526 acres easement (7,560 total)
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Open Space Lands of the City of San Luis Obispo
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