HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-03-2017 Item 10 Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report Meeting Date: 1/3/2017
FROM: Shelly Stanwyck, Parks and Recreation Director
Prepared By: Lindsey Stephenson, Administrative Analyst ,
Sahvanna Ettestad, Administrative & Communications Specialist
SUBJECT: OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the Parks and Recreation Department’s Open Space Maintenance Plan 2016
Progress Report (Attachment A).
DISCUSSION
Background
On December 15, 2015 the City Council adopted the City’s first Open Space Maintenance Plan
(“Plan”). Adoption of the Plan identified future progress reports to the Council, this Council
Agenda Report transmits the First Annual Report.
The adopted Open Space Maintenance Plan is the City’s first – and it is one of the first in open
space programs across the nation. The 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
proposed Open Space Maintenance 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.
In addition to implementing the Conservation Plans for specific open space and reserve
properties the Plan addresses existing maintenance needs in the City’s open space lands. It
articulates 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.
Plan Focus
The Plan is divided 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
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categories of maintenance: 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 staff (7 full-time and 1 part-time) presently
maintain approximately 3,700 acres of open space lands comprised of 15 properties held
in open space, natural reserve, ecological reserve, or agricultural reserve status. The
Conservation 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 infrastructure replacement.
Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report Highlights
The Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report covers results predominately from calendar
year 2016. It provides a visual and numerical summary for Council and the commu nity about
the work efforts undertaken to address the adopted Plan as well as the 2015 -17 Major City Goal:
Open Space Preservation. Implementation efforts addressed new and deferred maintenance
projects. How those efforts were accomplished is also highlighted in the report. Of particular
focus for Ranger staff this past year were enhanced trail head amenities. The pictures in the
progress report provide a visual summary of all of the work accomplished. Other highlights
address the education of staff and the public and the use of volunteers and contractors. The
results have been significant and have “caught” up many open space areas such that they are
safer and more welcoming for the public to use and enjoy.
2017 will see a maintenance focus on the installation of informational panels at every trailhead
kiosk as well as signage. Maps, historical, biological and other information will be readily
available to the public. Staff anticipates parking and fencing improvements to be other activities
of focus as well as the continued construction and maintenance of trails. The M trail loop will be
completed in 2017 and the newly acquired Waddell Property will be studied and planned for
future public access. Other anticipated activities include bridge and gate repairs as well as
trimming, fire fuel reduction, and the like.
CONCURRENCE
Administration’s Natural Resources Program Manager, Bob Hill, concurs with this report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
When adopted on December 15, 2015, a Negative Declaration was approved for the Maintenance
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Plan. In addition to being compliant with the Plan, all activities undertaken in protecting the
City’s Open Space by the Rangers, are done in a manner consistent with all adopted City
policies, ordinances, and open space and/or natural preserve conservation plans.
FISCAL IMPACT
This report on maintenance activities does not have a new fiscal impact. The activities are
funded through the adopted 2015-17 Financial Plan and include resources from the operational
budget for the Ranger Service Program in the Parks and Recreation Department as well as from
the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) associated with the 2015-17 Major City Goal to Protect
Natural Resources.
Attachments:
a - Open Space Maintenance Plan Annual Report
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Annual Open Space
Maintenance Report
2016 PROGRESS REPORT
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN
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1
2
1
1
6
Bell Box
Bike Rack (4)
Mutt Mitt
Large Kiosk
Panels
1
2
1
1
Bell Box
Medium Kiosk
Small Kiosk
Panel
1
1
Mutt Mitt
Medium Kiosk
Stenner SpringsJohnson Ranch
After
After
During
Laguna Lake
After
After
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 1
NEW
2016TRAILHEAD AMENITIES
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Islay Hill
2
1
Mutt Mitt
Small Kiosk
AfterBefore;Huckleberry During
After; SpanishAfter; Sweetbay
1 Mutt Mitt
Reservoir Canyon
1
1
1
1
3
Bike Rack (4)
Mutt Mitt
Medium Kiosk
Small Kiosk
Panels
South Hills
After
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 2
NEW
2016TRAILHEAD AMENITIES
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3
2
1
1
1
Bike Racks (4)
Mutt Mitt
Large Kiosk
Medium Kiosk
Panel
1
2
1
1
1
Bell Box
Bike Racks
Mutt Mitt
Large Kiosk
Small Kiosk
Bell Boxes
Bike Racks
Mutt Mitt
Kiosk Medium
Kiosk Small
Panels
2
2
1
2
1
6
During
After
Cerro San Luis
Irish Hills
Bishop Peak
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 3
NEW
2016TRAILHEAD AMENITIES
After
After
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Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 4
Terrace Hill
1
1
Mutt Mitt
Small Kiosk
After; New fence
Before
After;
New fence, gate & kiosk
NEW
2016TRAILHEAD AMENITIES
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VOLUNTEER HOURSJAN 1, 2016 to NOV 16, 2016418
75.5
volunteers’ value
Total Hours Worked
total volunteer hours spent at
The M trail
Wednesday Work Days
total volunteer hours spent at
Saturday Work Days
total volunteer hours spent at
807
total hours
39 days X 3 hrs
132by Dean arrighi
Volunteer hours worked
447
total hours
15 days X 3 hrs
Reservoir Canyon
total volunteer hours spent at
Volunteer patrol hours
by grace demsey
$33,716.81
507
total hours
29 days X 3 hrs
300
total hours
10 days X 3 hrs
Number of volunteers
1461.5
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 5
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supervising & working on the project per day
1-3
1,000
hours of labor
2-4
105
crews supervised by ranger staff 7
on the project
12
work days
FIRE FUEL REDUCTION
Cal Fire Captains
supervising & working on the project per day
Rangers
Hours
Total Days
CDCR crew
CDCR crew
2016
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 6
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$2,700
of crews
Cost
15
of wood removed
Truck bed loads
of wood removed
Trailer loads
1,300+
21
25
of a chipper running reducing wood debris
Hours
were made with the public during wow week
Contacts
$1,200
for equiptment
Rental fees
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 7
FIRE FUEL REDUCTION
2016
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NEW TRAIL CONSTRUCTION
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 8
JAN 2016 to PRESENT
Reservoir Canyon
M Trail
2.4 miles
0.4 miles
!(
800
700
800
900
1000
1100
1200
1
6
0
0
15
0
0
1400
1300
1700
500
400
600
9
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
20
0
8
0
0
1300
14001500
1600
6001000110090012001300140015000.
1
Bowden Ranch
Reservoir Canyon
1712 ft#
1548 ft#
To HWY 101
$Trail
Easement
Only
$$mimi
mi
2 mi
0.
3
mi
0.9
3.2
00.20.40.1
Miles
Reservoir Canyon
& Bowden Ranch
I
!(!(!(!(!(![80
0
7
0
0
6
0
0
5
0
0
4
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
9
0
0
Trail
Trail
Easement
Only
$$0
.
2
Lemon Grove Loop
CarriageRoadTrail
LemonGroveLoop
o p
LemonGrove Loop
"M"Lem onGroveLoop0.1
0.3
0.40.3
0.5
0.6
00.10.20.05
Miles
Cerro San Luis gNm
IN PROGRESS
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STAFF TRAINING HOURSAnnual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 9JULY 1, 2016 to NOV 16, 2016PC 832
80 hours
64 hours
160hours
24 hours
16 hours
8 hours
6 hours
72 hours
24 hours
8 hours
8 hours
20 hours
24 hours
514
IMBA
Wilderness first aid
Chainsaw refresher
Environmental education
Steele head summit
Wilderness &
waterways
clets & radio
2015 cpr first aid aed
pepper spray
(oc spray)
Loading bed box
& chipper operation
informal trail
building techniques
osha
TOTAL
staff
training
hours
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Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 10
Junior Ranger
Activity Camp
(JRAC)
WOW Week
Trail Head
information
Ranger
Lead Hikes
Laguna Lake
Camp Out
After School Ranger
Talks
TOTAL 1296 hrs
of public education
18 students X 6 hours per day X 5 days540 hrs
12 students X 6 hours per day X 5 days360 hrs
1350 students X 5 min informed about
rules & open space112 hrs
One hike per month, 2 people each hike
X 2 hrs X 11 months44 hrs
12 talks, 1 hour each, with 18 students
216 hrs
4 groups X 12 people X 30 mins24 hrs
August
June
PUBLIC
EDUCATION
These numbers only represent the formal education
provided by ranger staff.
Rangers engage with hundreds of visitors a week and are constantly
educating the public about rules, wildlife plants, trail and more.JUNE 1, 2016 to PRESENT
September
Annual
September &August
After School
JRAC
Laguna Campout
RLH
WOW
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#PixOnPeaksLearn more on Instagram @PixOnPeaks
and www.slocity.org/parksandrecreation
Bus Poster
Book mark
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 11
Using Instagram to promote
laws & trails less traveled
Hike Reservoir Canyon, Ocean View, Morro View,
South Hills, Eucs Kiosk, Islay Hill, and The M Trail
Take a photo at each & tag @pixonpeaks
Then come into our office to show us all
the photos you receive a FREE t-shirt!
Hand-out
Sticker / logo
500
LEASHES
GIVEN AWAY
AT TRAIL
ENTRANCES
PUBLIC
OUTREACH Two education campaignsAUG 2015 to PRESENT
Leash is the Law and
@pixonpeaks
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Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 12
ENFORCEMENT
Began OCTOBER 1, 2015
Dog Off Leash 71
Open Space Closed Per Director 20
Smoking 27
Camping Overnight/Riparian Corridor 13
Disposing/Collecting Trash at Riparian 5
Alcohol 20
Littering 2
Night Hiking 21
Parking Citation 8
Possessing Alcohol by a City Riparian 4
Traveling Off Trail 9
Disturbing Natural Rescources in a Riparian 3BISHOP PEAKBOB JONESCERRO SAN LUISCREEKSIRISH HILLSJOHNSON RANCHLAGUNA LAKESOUTH HILLSTERRACE HILLSBIANCHI OPEN SPACE50
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Types of Tickets
TICKETS PER OPEN SPACE
11
41
27 26
7
21
26
5 4 3
Dog Off Leash
26%
Open Space Closed Per
Director
7%
Smoking
29%
Camping
Overnight/Riparian
Corridor
5%
Disposing/Collecting
Trash at Riparian
2%
Alcohol
13%
Littering
1%
Night Hiking
8%
Parking Citation
3%
Possessing Alcohol
by a City Riparian
1%
Traveling Off Trail
3%
Disturbing Natural
Rescources by a Riparian
1%
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CREEK
STEWARDSHIP
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 13
Rangers Total
January 1- November 18
17,393 lbs
TOTAL COMBINED
43,753 lbs
or 21.87 Tons
Contract Total
26,360 lbs+illegal
camps
posted Jan 1- Nov 15, 2016
Contract Cleanups
Illegal camps create
trash that rangers remove daily.
On-going Creek
Maintenance
2016
180
Dec 7, 2015 March 30, 2016 April 26, 2016 Aug 4, 2016 Sept 1, 2016
6,900 lbs 3420 lbs 5740 lbs 8600 lbs 1700 lbs
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Ranger Service Team 2016
2016 PROGRESS REPORT
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN
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