HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-06-17 PRC Agenda PktCity of San Luis Obispo, Agenda, Parks and Recreation Commission
Regular Meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 @ 5:30 p.m.
Parks and Recreation Conference Room, 1341 Nipomo Street
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Avakian
ROLL CALL: Commissioners Applegate, Olson, Schwab, Spector, Thurman and Whitener
Public Comment Period. At this time, you may address the Commission on items that are not on the agenda but are of interest to
the public and within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Commission may not discuss or
take action on issues that are not on the agenda other than to briefly respond to statements made or questions raised, or to ask staff
to follow up on such issues.
PRC Meeting Agenda
1. Consideration of Minutes of Regular Meeting of November 1, 2017
2. Consideration of the 2018 Commission Meeting Schedule (Avakian – 5 minutes)
3. 2017 Annual Report: 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan (Mudgett/Hyfield - 30
minutes)
4. 2017 Annual Report: Open Space Maintenance Plan (Carscaden/Stephenson - 30
minutes)
5. Monthly Update Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan Project
(Stanwyck/Gershow - 15 minutes)
6. Director’s Report (Stanwyck – 10 minutes)
7. Subcommittee Liaison Reports: Discuss past practice, current assignments and if any
changes are desired to assignments and/or the practice (Avakian – 15 minutes)
Committee Liaison
Adult and Senior Programming Vacant
Bicycle Advisory Susan Olson
City Facilities (Damon, golf, pool, joint use) Greg Avakian
Jack House Committee Jeff Whitener
Tree Committee Rodney Thurman
Youth Sports Association Keri Schwab
8. Communications
Adjourn to Regular Meeting of January 10, 2018
APPEALS: Administrative decisions by the Parks and Recreation Commission may be appealed to the City Council in
accordance with the appeal procedure set forth in Chapter 1.20 of the San Luis Obispo Municipal Code.
The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to including the disabled in all of its services, programs, and activities.
Please contact the Clerk or staff liaison prior to the meeting if you require assistance.
Minutes - DRAFT
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
01 November 2017
Regular Meeting of the Advisory Body Commission
CALL TO ORDER
A Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order on the 1st day of
November 2017 at 5:30 p.m. in the Parks and Recreation Administration Conference Room
located at 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, California, by Vice Chair Thurman.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Greg Avakian, Vice Chair Rodney Thurman and Commissioners Kari Applegate,
Susan Olson, Keri Schwab, Bob Spector and Jeff Whitener
Absent: Chair Avakian, Commissioner Whitener
Staff: Parks and Recreation Director Shelly Stanwyck, Recreation Manager Melissa Mudgett,
Active Transportation Manager Adam Fukushima
PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA
None
CONSENT AGENDA AND CONSIDERATION OF MINUTES
ACTION: APPROVAL OF THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE PARKS AND
RECREATION COMMISSION FOR OCTOBER 4, 2017 AS AMENDED.
1.Consideration of Minutes
CARRIED 3:0:0:2 to approve the minutes of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Body
for the regular meeting of 10/4/2017 as amended as motioned by Commissioner Susan
Olson and second by Commissioner Keri Schwab Whitener.
AYES: OLSON, SCHWAB, THURMAN,
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT: AVAKIAN, WHITENER
APPOINTMENTS
2.PRESENTATION OF THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR PARKS AND RECREATION
COMMISSIONER SPECTOR AND COMMISSIONER APPLEGATE
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DRAFT Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of November 1, 2017 Page 2
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND BUSINESS ITEMS
3.Presentation on Active Transportation in SLO
Director Stanwyck introduced the City’s Active Transportation Manager, Adam
Fukushima. Staff Fukushima presented to the Commission information about Active
Transportation programs, projects, community events (Bike Rodeo, Bike/World to
School Day, Kiddical Mass and Bike Month activities), multi-use trails, bicycle
amenities and the Bicycle Transportation Plan for the City of San Luis Obispo. Staff
Fukushima explained the elements that make up active transportation and the City’s
modal goals identified for a future Active Transportation Plan. Staff Fukushima
encouraged the nurturing of partnerships between Active Transportation Groups,
Bicycle Advisory Committee and the Parks and Recreation Commission.
Public Comment
None
Commission Comments followed
Commissioner Spector asked about the challenges of implementation active
transportation projects. Staff Fukushima responded that available funding is a
significant challenge and attractive to interested but concerned users. Leah Brooks,
Chair of the Bicycle Advisory Committee, added that the Downtown Concept Plan
presents ideas for increased bicycle and pedestrian use of the City.
Commissioner Applegate asked about bicycle theft. Staff Fukushima said that most of
the theft occur when bikes are left unattended.
Commissioner Olson asked about the Broad Street Bike Boulevard. Staff Fukushima
said currently the City is undertaking a parking analysis to learn how this affects
vehicles and the projected impact to vehicles if a lane is taken away.
Vice Chair Thurman thanked staff for their hard work in encouraging new bicyclists
through programs and projects. Vice Chair Thurman talked about a “bike buddy”
program. Vice Chair Thurman asked about enforcement. Staff Fukushima talked about
a SLO Police Department enforcement report and annual results.
4.Presentation of the Project Plan for the Management, Maintenance, and Operations
of the Historic Jack House
Staff Mudgett presented to the Commission a Project Plan for the Historic Jack House
policy development. Staff Mudgett explained that in a review of existing documents,
Parks and Recreation staff identified a lack of policy documents, which are needed to
help guide the city in the sustainable stewardship of the Jack House for future
generations. She added that with the guidance of the Jack House Committee, the
public’s feedback received to-date, Parks, and Recreation staff have drafted a project
plan that outlines the scope of policy development project and a preliminary schedule
for this research. Staff Mudgett summarized the key project plan components for the
ongoing management, maintenance and operations of the historic Jack House and
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DRAFT Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of November 1, 2017 Page 3
gardens. Staff Mudgett concluded that since the Jack House (as both a City facility and
park) is under the Commission’s purview and therefore the Commission has the
opportunity review and provide input on the proposed project plan and future policy
recommendations.
Public Comment
None
Commission Comments followed
Commissioner Spector asked about facility rentals at the Jack House. Director
Stanwyck responded with information about the hours of park use, noise ordinance and
noise complaints in the downtown and facility staff available to manage rentals and
events. Director Stanwyck said the allowed rentals have been reduce by 1/3 and the
recent adoption of City fees has minimized rentals.
Commissioner Schwab asked about the makeup of the Jack House Advisory Body.
Director Stanwyck said the Committee has requirements for diversity of Committee
Member’s background.
5.Update of Parks and Recreation Element and Master Plan Project
Director Stanwyck provided the Commission with an update on the Parks and
Recreation Element and Master Plan project. Director Stanwyck said on November 7th
the Council will consider the Commission’s Recommendation to approve the project
plan and consider issuing the Request for Proposals for RFP for consultants. Director
Stanwyck said that Vice Chair Thurman will be the Commission representation on the
Consultant selection committee. Director Stanwyck said the Department is in the
process of hiring an intern to start gathering baseline parks data.
Public Comment
None
Commission Comments followed
Vice Chair Thurman asked the Director to provide some background information on the
Parks and Recreation Element Update and Master Plan for the benefit of the new
Commissioners.
COMMITTEE COMMUNICATIONS
6.Director’s Report
Director Stanwyck provided a brief update of current Parks and Recreation
programming and City updates.
•She thanked Commissioners for attending the Annual Parks Tour
•Boo Bash was a success with over 500 people in attendance
•Gobble Wobble at the Golf Course on Thanksgiving Day – partnering with
Food Bank for donations – Cal Poly Student volunteers
•No Reindeer Run this year
•Team Rangers busy performing winter trail maintenance
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DRAFT Minutes – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting of November 1, 2017 Page 4
LIAISON REPORTS
7.Subcommittee Liaison Reports
•Adult and Senior Programming: Liaison position is currently vacant. Director
Stanwyck reported that Adult Softball Games were cancelled due to low
attendance because of the World Series. Director Stanwyck invited
Commissioners to see the landscape improvements as part of a neighborhood
grant project at the Senior Center. Director Stanwyck shared that the Volunteer
Executive Board programs the Senior Center and Parks and Recreation staff assist
in programming.
•Bicycle Advisory Committee: Commissioner Olson said the BAC is meeting this
month on November 16, 2017 and she will be unable to attend. Vice Chair
Thurman expressed interest in attending.
•City Facilities (Damon Garcia, Golf, Pool & Joint Use Facilities): Chair Avakian
was absent. Director Stanwyck reported about the status of the kikuya grass at the
sports fields and recent parking enforcement concerns.
•Jack House. Commissioner Whitener was absent. Staff Mudgett reported on a
proposed historic plaque for the Jack House and the upcoming Docent
Appreciation Dinner on November 9th.
•Tree Committee: Vice Chair Thurman said there will be an Arbor Day
celebration on Saturday, November 4th at Laguna Lake Park. The public is
invited to attend events and information can be found on the City’s website.
Trees in parks will only be removed if presenting a safety hazard as determined
by the City’s Arborist. Director Stanwyck said any tree removals completed as
part of fuel reduction efforts in the Open Space are in accordance with the City’s
adopted Open Space Maintenance Plan.
•Youth Sports: Commissioner Schwab said she was unable to make the YSA
meeting. Commissioner Whitener could attend and shared meeting notes with the
Commission. The YSA is concerned with field availability and participation in
youth football is declining.
8.Commission Communications
Agendize discussion for the subcommittee liaison assignments at the December 6, 2017 meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 6:54 p.m. to the next Regular meeting of the Parks and Recreation
Commission held on December 6, 2017 at 5:30 p.m., in the Parks and Recreation Department
Conference Room located at 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, California.
APPROVED BY THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION: 12/06/17
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City of San Luis Obispo, Parks and Recreation, 1341 Nipomo Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3934, 805.781.7300, slocity.org
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
2018 MEETING SCHEDULE
•JANUARY 10, 2018 – MOVED
•FEBRUARY 7, 2018
•MARCH 7, 2018
•APRIL 11, 2018 - MOVED
•MAY 2, 2018
•JUNE 6, 2018
•JULY MEETING CANCELLED
•AUGUST 1, 2018
•SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
•OCTOBER 3, 2018
•NOVEMBER 7, 2018
•DECEMBER 5, 2018
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City of San Luis Obispo, Council Agenda Report, Meeting Date, Item Number
Parks
Parks and Recreation Commission
AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: 2017 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE 2020 PARKS AND
RECREATION STRATEGIC PLAN
Prepared by: Shelly Stanwyck, Director of Parks and Recreation
Melissa C. Mudgett, Recreation Manager
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the 2017 Annual Progress Report for the 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic
Plan.
DISCUSSION
Background
On November 1, 2016, the City Council adopted the 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
(Attachment 1). The Plan outlines the Department’s vision, goals, and objectives for four years
(2017-2020) with a primary focus on operational and programmatic priorities.
2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Highlights
The Strategic Plan is organized into six goals with key objectives. It provides guidance for
Department operations and programming in support of the Parks and Recreation mission
statement: inspire happiness by creating community through People, Parks, Programs, and Open
Space. The six goals are summarized below.
Parks & Recreation is a vibrant, thriving department with
effective leadership and practices which ensure a
sustainable future.
DEPARTMENT IS WELL-
MANAGED, SMART AND
HEALTHY
Parks & Recreation demonstrates a culture of valuing
human capital and expecting the best from all team
members. Staff is hired for department compatibility, is set
up for professional success in serving the public,
contributing to the team, and pursuing advancement in
municipal government careers.
STAFF IS HIGH PERFORMING,
PROFESSIONAL AND PROVIDES
EXCELLENT SERVICE
Meeting Date: December 6, 2017
Item Number:___3_____
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2017 Annual Progress Report of the 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Page 2
First Annual Progress Report on the 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
Attached is the first ever, Annual Progress Report on the Department’s Strategic Plan. As found
in the Plan each goal includes a set of detailed objectives; many of those objectives are reported
on through a series of measurable action items. The 2017 Annual Progress Report on the 2020
Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan is organized by the six main goals and highlights of the
accomplishments by the Department from January through December 2017.
During the first year of the strategic plan, staff worked collaboratively on identifying means of
achieving the Plan’s objectives. Each objective was assigned an action-lead and eight
subcommittees were formed as a way to expose staff to new professional development
opportunities and inspire innovative ways to accomplish these goals. The eight Strategic Plan
subcommittee groups consisted of 34 full and part-time staff from various levels throughout the
Department. Throughout the year, these subcommittee groups met on a regular monthly basis to
work towards accomplishing objectives, as well as bi-annually at the Parks and Recreation Summit
events to share information about their progress, receive peer feedback and identify opportunities
to align related objectives to maximize positive results.
As the first year of implementation, 2017 was the opportunity to create meaningful metrics by
collecting baseline data for future year-to-year comparisons and determining performance
measures for the Department. The annual progress report for the 2020 Parks and Recreation
Strategic Plan highlights numerous accomplishments and progress made throughout the year
(Attachment 2). A brief summary of the 2017 Annual Progress Report is provided in the table
below.
Parks & Recreation provides high quality programs that are
responsive to industry trends and changing community
needs. Programming encourages participation and builds
community amongst all users.
PROGRAMMING IS DIRECTED
TO DIVERSE USERS
Parks and Facilities are contemporary, desirable to use,
and meet the needs of diverse users.
EXPAND PARKS AND
FACILITIES
The City’s open space is preserved and protected to
ensure its health and wellness as well as the community’s
continued stewardship while continuing to grow the next
generation of land stewards.
NURTURE OPEN SPACE
Parks & Recreation increases its programming and positive
impact, shares resources, and meets needs through
community partnerships.
MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY
RESOURCES AND
COLLABORATIONS
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2017 Annual Progress Report of the 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Page 3
Parks and Recreation continues to creatively provide programs and services to the community in
addition to being a healthy and smart workplace for exceptional staff.
FISCAL IMPACT
Receiving and filing the report does not result in a direct fiscal impact. The completion of the
annual objectives listed in the report were completed in-house, by Parks and Recreation staff
within available resources and budget.
NEXT STEPS
The 2017 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Annual Progress Report is scheduled to be presented
to the City Council as a Consent Item in late January 2018. Staff will continue to work on 2018
Strategic Plan objectives and will return to the Parks and Recreation Commission and Council
with progress reports on the Plan. In 2018, staff will focus on core areas to help the Parks and
Recreation Department maximize limited available resources, provide an array of programming
designed to meet the needs of diverse park users and better define our future relationship with the
community; together crafting an exciting future for Parks and Recreation. A sneak peak of coming
attractions for 2018 include the following:
1.Growing the Parks and Recreation Healthy & Smart Culture by Modeling Healthy Work
Habits for the City of SLO
2.Innovating with SharePoint and Video Marketing as a recruitment tool
Future Planning
•Parks & Rec Element
and Master Plan
Update funded by
Council
•Updated Cost of
Services Fees
Adopted by Council
•Investment in Capital
Projects & 10-year
Capital Improvement
Program
•Approved Parks in
Future Private
Development
Projects
•Expand Community
Partnerships through
Creative
Programming
Adressing
Challenges
•Addresed
Recruitment
Challenges &
Changing Minimum
Wage Laws with
Updated
Supplemental
Employee
Compensation Study
•Reduced Risk &
Increased Liability
Management through
New User
Agreements
Providing Services
•Increased
Community
Awareness &
Attendance at
Events/Programs
(20%-50%) through
use of Social Media
•Leveraged 11,000
Volunteer Hours to
Maximize Limited
Available Resources
•Met the Needs of
Diverse Park Users
Through New
Innovative Events &
Programming
•Enhanced User
Experience of Open
Space with
Emphasis on
Education
Investing in Parks &
Recreation Staff
•Onboarded 116 New
Hires
•Provided
Professional
Development
Opportunities for 80
staff, resulting in 7
Job Promotions
•Sustained a
Supportive, Healthy
& Smart, Progressive
Work Environment
Where Staff is
Motiviated and
Trained to Provide
Outstanding Service
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2017 Annual Progress Report of the 2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan Page 4
3.Continuing to Promote Opportunities to Gain Knowledge and Skills Needed as a Parks and
Recreation Professional
4.Creating Unique Ways to Recognize Staff for Outstanding Work
5.Maximizing Limited Resources with Community Collaborations
6.Expanding Programming to Reach Diverse Users (Youth, Seniors and U40 Adults)
7.Measuring Customer Satisfaction by Determining Our “Happiness Score” and Utilizing
Results for Continuous Improvement
ATTACHMENTS
1.2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
2.2017 Annual Progress Report
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2020 Parks and Recreation
Strategic Plan
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Inspiring HAPPINESS
by creating
COMMUNITY
through PEOPLE,
PARKS,
PROGRAMS, and
Open Space
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODCUTORY REMARKS FROM PARKS AND RECREATION .... Error! Bookmark
not defined.
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW................................................................................. 3
PLANNING PROCESS & PLAN DEVELOPMENT ................................................... 4
ASSESSMENT & FINDINGS ................................................................................ 6
SUMMARY OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES ........................................................... 6
IMPLEMENTATION & ACCOUNTABILITY ........................................................... 8
TIMELINE ............................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
NEXT STEPS ........................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
THE PLAN: VISION 2020 GOALS, OBJECTIVES & KEY ACTIONS ........................... 9
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .................................................................................. 27
APPENDICES .......................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS FROM PARKS AND RECREATION
Dear Reader -
This document marks the beginning of an exciting time for the City of San Luis Obispo’s Parks
and Recreation Department. We are pleased to introduce the Department’s inaugural
Strategic Plan which outlines its vision, goals, and objectives for the next five years, 2016
through 2020.
The Department’s leadership team and staff, along with the community and other City
departments, has crafted an operational road map. This “big picture” plan builds on the
successes of current programs and staff as well as includes new strategies to make Parks and
Recreation’s service to our community even better.
This plan is both a guiding document that declares the Department’s commitments, as well as
an evolving document that will be reviewed annually for progress and relevancy. It highlights
the goals and the objectives to get us to “Mission Accomplished”
You are encouraged to review the plan’s goals and objectives, and as always we invite your
comments and suggestions. As you will find, Parks and Recreation continues to creatively
provide programs and service to the community in addition to being a healthy and smart
workplace for exceptional staff.
We look forward to continuing to inspire happiness and creating community through our staff,
programs, and parks and open spaces. We look forward to reporting annually on our progress.
Please visit us at www.slocity.org for more information about Parks and Recreation.
With Excitement and Gratitude,
The Parks and Recreation
2020 Strategic Plan Steering Team
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW
In 2016, Parks and Recreation is one of 10 of the City of San Luis Obispo’s Departments. The
current operating program budget for the department for fiscal year 2016-17 is approximately
$3.8 million. The department projects $1.65 million in 2016-17 revenues associated with its use
and programming fees.
The Parks and Recreation Department serves residents in San Luis Obispo, neighboring
community members, and many visitors. The Department has 18 full time permanent
employees, 17 full time limited benefit employees, and on average 100 to 150 part-time
employees providing diverse services from community garden management to skate park
ambassadorship to lifeguarding to refereeing Futsal.
The Department is comprised of multiple divisions including: Administration, Adult and Youth
Sports, Aquatics, Community Services and Special Events, Facilities, Golf Programming and
Maintenance, Public Art, Ranger Service, and Youth Services.
The Department is responsible for managing an array of facilities including: the Damon Garcia
Sports Fields, Laguna Lake Golf Course, Library Community Room, Ludwick Community Center,
Sinsheimer Stadium and Tennis Courts, SLO Public Art Program, SLO Swim Center, and SLO Skate
Park. Department staff provide before and after school enrichment activities at the City’s five
elementary schools and Laguna Middle School. Department staff produce multiple summer
camps including the Junior Ranger Camp and City Workers In Training. For 37 years the
Department has produced the SLO Triathlon with over 1200 participants annually. Other
special events include a diversity of inclusive activities from mindful children’s parades to movies
in the Mission to fun runs to contract classes to even a family campout. During the 2015-17
Financial Plan Period Ranger Services has partnered with Administration’s Natural Resources to
continue to protect the City’s opens spaces through enhanced maintenance and patrol
activities in support of Council’s major city goal of the same. Significant progress has been
made with the adoption of the City’s first Open Space Maintenance Plan in 2015, hiring of
additional Ranger staff, and focused maintenance projects.
The Department maintains numerous partnerships and collaborates with a wide variety of
groups and volunteers to meet the community’s recreational needs. The Department works
closely with its Public Works Partners in Building Maintenance, Engineering and Parks
Maintenance. Many community collaborations are long standing (such as the Joint Use
Agreement with the School District) and focus on Adult and Youth Sports, Open Space
Maintenance, as well as Senior Services and Community Events.
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS & PLAN DEVELOPMENT
This Strategic Plan is the end product of a year-long process in which the Parks & Recreation
Department not only sought out what it should be doing over the next five years, but also analyzed
why is should be doing it.
The plan identifies goals, objectives and key actions that have been determined to best
meet the future recreational needs and expectations of the community. This plan is a
roadmap to designing an organization and programs that meet the Department’s mission in
the best way possible. Employees of all levels and a variety of stakeholders were engaged
to create this plan and will continue to be involved to ensure success.
While the plan is intended to provide direction and accountability to the Department, it is
also dynamic enough to meet emerging needs, respond to fiscal or other constraints , and
maximize new opportunities that meet the wishes of our users.
The strategic planning process began in September 2015 with the creation of the Strategic
Plan Steering Team that included. Shelly Stanwyck, Department Director; Melissa
Mudgett, Recreation Manager; Lindsey Stephenson, Analyst; Doug Carscaden, Ranger
Supervisor; Devin Hyfield, Recreation Supervisor.
The Steering Team was charged with overseeing the planning and plan development
processes. The Steering Team met one to three times per month through August 2016,
assessing and refining the plan through seven drafts. In between sessions, the members
reviewed progress with staff and other stakeholders, and integrated that input and insight into
the working draft.
Project
Management
•Stakeholder input
•Data Analysis
•Synthesis of
Information
Prioritization
•Options
•Final Goals
•Key Actions
Writing the Final
Plan
•Drafting
•Editing and Refining
•Presenting to
Stakeholders
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
STAKEHOLDER INPUT
The Steering Team focused on designing a stakeholder input process that would give direction
and insight into the final strategic plan. Existing community assessments and reports, local and
national trends, City Council’s Major City Goals, and diverse programming experience where all
relied upon in developing the plan.
This strategic plan is rooted in input received from both internal and external
stakeholders. Between September and November 2015 the Steering Team facilitated a
process that gathered input from a variety of stakeholders , including more than ten
affinity groups and sixty individuals.
A series of community and staff meetings and focus groups were held to learn from
participants’ experiences in recreation at large and the Department specifically, and to glean
insights that would lead to creating the best Parks & Recreation future for the communit y.
The input sessions included a variety of activities including visioning exercises, SWOT
(Strengths – Weaknesses – Opportunities – Threats) analyses, examination of emerging trends,
and prioritizing options.
The public engagement process followed the City’s adopted process.
Once the initial Goals, Objectives and Key Action Items were identified, Parks & Recreation
staff convened in March 2016 for review and feedback. From that input the Plan was further
revised alongside staff engagement. Following this staff review and further polishing of the
plan, the Plan’s Goals, Objectives and Key Action Items were presented to City Manager Katie
Lichtig for her direction and refinement. By August 2016 this realistically ambitious,
innovative and well-supported Strategic Plan was complete and being presented for final
public input and review.
INFORM•Outreach to Stakeholders
•Advisory Body Review: PRC
& Jack House
•Monthly Staff Meetings
•City Council Meeting:
November 1, 2016
CONSULT•City Website
•Email Communications
•City Master Plan & Council
MCGs
•Facilitated Community and
staff meetings and focus
groups: October 7, 8 and 15th
COLLABORATE•Bimonthly meetings and
communications
•Open House Opportunities:
August 30, Sept 1 and 6
•Drafting and revising the goals
and objectives of the plan
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
ASSESSMENT & FINDINGS
The community and employee input process yielded invaluable, exciting, original, and
realistic information that ultimately lead to the direction and priorities in this plan .
More than 500 comments were collected regarding impressions about the Department,
programming, internal operations, emerging trends, opportunities, innovations, critical
issues, areas for improvement, and inspiring visionary ideas. A variety of common themes
and suggested pursuits emerged.
From the comments and conversations the Steering Team learned that the Department is
positively supported, has earned a solid reputation in the community, and is seen as largely
meeting the community’s needs. It enjoys positive relationships and partnerships with a
variety of public and private organizations. It is also viewed as valuing staff as it greatest
asset, is resilient to change, receptive to innovation, and committed to service
improvements and maximizing limited facilities.
The input also highlighted areas that could be created, improved, maximized, and/or
prioritized. These areas are in addition to the needed update of the City’s Parks and
Recreation Element of the General Plan. These findings were separated into three broad
thematic areas:
Programs
Parks,
Facilities,
and Open
Space
Internal
Operation
s
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
SUMMARY COMMENTS BY THEMATIC AREA
Below is a summary of inputs received in a table format and a graphic representation of
visioning undertaken at various workshops. From these findings, the direction provided from
Stakeholders, an analysis of current conditions, and considering the Department’s place in
serving the City as a community, strategic priorities were determined. Six main Goals then
evolved, with supporting Objectives and Key Actions determined for each of those.
Programs
•Comprehensive
Recreation Center is
needed
•Collaborate more with
other providers
•Web marketing could
be more
contemporary
•Increase partnership
with private entities
•Collaborate
specifically with Cal
Poly
•Attract youth;
especially teens
•Focus on
intergenerational
programming
•Senior Services
•Educational programs
•Enhance racquet
sport offerings &
facilities (tennis and
pickleball)
Parks, Facilities and
Open Space
•Enhance current
parks, facilities and
open spaces
•Rec Center –
comprehensive facility
is needed
•Multi-use parks
facilities are
supported
•Safety is important to
users and they don’t
always feel safe in the
City’s parks
•Ranger
services/ranger
station is needed
•Enhanced trails
•Bike park
•Water park
•Golf increases
Internal Operations
•More staff and more
permanent staff
•Better benefits for
staff
•Increased
opportunities for
promotion of staff.
•Technology -stay
current
•Fiscal stability and
increased funding
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
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SLO City Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan 2016-2020 5
ORGANIZATION OF PLAN
This strategic plan utilizes the following planning conventions
Goals. These are specific strategic focal areas that best lead the Department in the
desired direction to meet its mission over the next five years. These were derived from
Stakeholder input, situational analysis, and leadership experience.
Objectives. Specific, measurable items that are needed to meet each of the goals.
These can be accomplished in varying timeframes and will be assessed and updated
annually. Objectives are statements of the general means by which the Department will
work to meet the Goals.
Key Implementation Items. Crucial, immediate steps needed to accomplish the
Objectives to reach the Goals. These are designed to produce measurable results.
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SLO City Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan 2016-2020 6
SUMMARY OF GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The Strategic Plan includes six Goals, 21 Objectives and 64 Key Implementation Actions. Each
goal is defined more specifically in this report including objectives and key implementation
actions.
GOALS OBJECTIVES
1.DEPARTMENT IS WELL-MANAGED, SMART,
AND HEALTHY
Parks & Recreation is a vibrant, thriving
department with effective leadership and
practices which ensure a sustainable future.
1.1. Enhance Department structure for
sustainable success.
1.2. Build financial stability to ensure
outstanding levels of service.
1.3. Optimize technology to facilitate
effective work processes.
1.4. Maintain vigilant attention to continuous
process improvements.
1.5. Lead in modeling healthy work habits for
the City of San Luis Obispo.
2.STAFF IS HIGH PERFORMING, PROFESSIONAL,
AND PROVIDES EXCELLENT SERVICE
Parks & Recreation demonstrates a culture of
valuing human capital and expecting the best
from all team members. Staff is hired for
department compatibility, and is set up for
professional success in serving the public,
contributing to the team, and pursuing
advancement in municipal government
careers.
2.1. Sustain a supportive and progressive
work environment.
2.2. Staff is motivated and trained to provide
outstanding service.
2.3. Maximize the use of volunteers.
3.PROGRAMMING IS DIRECTED TO DIVERSE
USERS
Parks & Recreation provides high quality
programs that are responsive to industry
trends and changing community needs.
Programming encourages participation and
builds community amongst all users.
3.1. Maximize the use of existing Parks and
Facilities.
3.2. Optimize and implement innovative
programming in three priority areas:
Golf, Aquatics, and Racquet Sports.
3.3. Strengthen operational commitment to
programming across all age groups.
3.4. Increase Community’s awareness of
programs, services, events, and
Department needs.
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SLO City Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan 2016-2020 7
GOALS OBJECTIVES
4.EXPAND PARKS AND FACILITIES
Parks and Facilities are contemporary,
desirable to use, and meet the needs of diverse
users.
4.1. Increase access to non-City turf facilities,
and increase the number of City turf
facilities.
4.2. Maintain current facilities and
infrastructure to optimal levels.
4.3. Maximize the potential of new
developments’ neighborhood parks to
provide amenities beyond Park &
Recreation’s existing resources.
5.NURTURE OPEN SPACE
The City’s open space is preserved and
protected to ensure its health and wellness as
well as the community’s continued
stewardship while continuing to grow the next
generation of land stewards.
5.1. Implement the adopted Open Space
Maintenance Plan as well as all City-
adopted Conservation Plans.
5.2. Enhance the user experience with
emphasis on Education, Conservation,
and Collaboration.
5.3. Build an effective management structure
reflective of the size and scope of the
City’s open space.
6.MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND
COLLABORATIONS
Parks & Recreation increases its programming
and positive impact, shares resources, and
meets needs through community partnerships.
6.1. Expand partnerships with Cal Poly and
Cuesta College to increase the City’s
facility options and provide development
opportunities for their students.
6.2. Develop partnerships with SLO County
Parks Department.
6.3. Leverage Community Stakeholders for
citizen-driven programming, funding,
and problem-solving.
.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
8
IMPLEMENTATION & ACCOUNTABILITY
As execution is frequently where strategic planning fails, the Steering Team invested more
than two months in critical assessment of each Goal’s activities, assigned individual leads to
each Goal and Objective, determined additional support needed to complete each activity, and
plotted a realistic timeline for completion of each activity.
The Department’s management team is committed to the successful implementation and
execution of the Strategic Plan. The Director is responsible for the overall implementation and
success of the Plan’s activities. Department leadership and each Goal leader will work together to
ensure resources and effective approaches are in place as the plan moves forward.
Goal Groups are expected to set milestones for each activity and track progress regularly.
The Department’s analyst will track overall progress on the plan using an internal tracking tool
that contains detailed information about each Goal, and includes status, accomplishments,
issues, and progress to completion.
The Management Team will review progress at least monthly. It is expected that some
strategies will be accelerated, delayed, or possibly canceled dependent on variables.
The plan will be reviewed at least annually with key actions being replaced as completed, and
Objectives and Goals assessed for relevancy and reprioritized as necessary. Community input,
Council direction and other factors will be considered during the review.
An annual strategic planning report will detail the outcome of each goal area. This process
ensures reliability of the Strategic Plan as a tool that can be used for annual operating
budget development, Capital Improvement Project (CIP) development, and equipment and
personnel planning.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
9
THE PLAN: VISION 2020 GOALS, OBJECTIVES & KEY ACTIONS
GOAL #1
Department is well-managed, smart, and healthy.
Parks & Recreation is a vibrant, thriving department with
effective leadership and practices which ensure
a successful future.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
10
GOAL #1 Department is well-managed, smart, and healthy.
1.1. Key Actions Enhance Department structure for
sustainable success.
1.1.1 Identify the ideal Department management structure for the long term.
Identify current and future services; identify support needs, eliminate unnecessary or
redundant programs and practices.
Design the best structure; consider reorganization.
May include community manager, special projects, or other manager-level positions.
1.1.2 Enhance the commitment to Older Adult programming and identify the staffing structure
that best serves this population.
Continue to partner with the Senior Center board of directors and work with the golfers at
Laguna Lake Golf Course to further develop active senior programming.
Seek funding for staffing that is responsive to needs, such as a dedicated specialist in
senior programming.
1.1.3 Streamline P&R hiring practices in coordination with the citywide MOTION project.
1.1.4 Partner with HR to complete part time staffing classification, salary surveys and retention.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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1.2 Build financial stability to ensure outstanding levels of
service.
1.2.1 Commit to proactive, long term projections for CIP and operational needs.
1.2.2 Update fee structure and application.
Evaluate fees paid by for-profit organizations (youth clubs, etc.).
Analyze implementation of a non-resident fee structure.
1.2.3 Research feasibility of and seek alternate funding sources, such as grants, foundations,
sponsorships.
1.2.4 Manage risk associated with recreational facilities to ensure public safety, and reduce
Workers’ Compensation and liability claims costs.
Enhance communication with support departments which are responsible for Risk
management (City Attorney, HR, Public Works).
Continue staff training with insurance provider regarding risk management.
Directly coordinate responses to the public regarding recreational issues (programming,
maintenance, risk).
Annually review claims for trends and respond accordingly.
1.3 Optimize technology to facilitate work processes.
1.3.1 Advocate for increased interactivity of the City’s website.
1.3.2 Continue Social Media excellence by maximizing the use of current and upcoming social
media platforms (FB, Instagram, etc.).
1.3.3 Employ modern intra-staff and public communications in response to changing
communication habits of customers and other stakeholders. Includes texting capabilities, apps.
1.3.4 Ensure staff’s access to needed technology, including hardware (may need additional PCs,
tablets, etc.), software (updated, useful, P&R specific), and training.
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1.4 Maintain vigilant attention to continuous process
improvements.
1.4.1 Examine current practices for relevance, proper resources, innovative efficiencies, and most
effective way to meet mission.
1.4.2 Institute a staffing “trigger points” formulation.
If X happens, Y number of staff is added – both management and line staff (trigger points
to be determined).
1.4.3 Institutionalize annual Customer Survey.
1.4.4 Update P&R Element and Masterplan.
1.5 Lead in modeling healthy work habits for the City of San
Luis Obispo
1.5.1 Focus on Employee Health.
Promote physical health activities, such as moving during the day, food choices/awareness.
Utilize flex schedules.
Good work habits are assumed. “You don’t have to be here to prove that you’re a hard
worker.”
Create Wellness Committee and Wellness Officer (a rotating position).
Explore incentives / rewards / accommodations for alternative transportation users.
1.5.2 Remodel P&R office building so physical space is conducive for healthy, creative and
productive work.
Standing desks, clean, good storage, etc.
1.5.3 Embody the SLO HAS culture throughout the Department.
Follow and keep current division Operations manuals.
Effective and efficient processes. Eliminate roadblocks. Encourage questioning; be open to
change for the better.
Meetings: use staff time wisely; don’t have one if it’s not needed; use alternative locations.
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GOAL #2
Staff is high performing, professional, and provides excellent
service.
Parks & Recreation demonstrates a culture of
valuing human capital and expecting the best from all team
members. Staff is hired for department compatibility, and is set
up for success in serving the public, contributing to the team,
and pursuing advancement in municipal government careers.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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GOAL #2 Staff is high performing, professional, and provides
excellent service.
2.1 Sustain a supportive and progressive work environment.
2.1.1 Implement enhanced non-monetary benefits for Staff.
Explore possibilities and options.
Advocate for development of on-site day care for City Staff proximate to work sites.
2.1.2 Conduct Staff Satisfaction survey annually.
2.1.3 Launch Staff Appreciation Committee.
2.1.4 Launch Department Innovation Committee.
2.1.5 Continue to pursue competitive wages for all part time employees.
2.2 Staff is motivated and trained to provide outstanding
service.
2.2.1 Provide Department-wide training on a regular basis.
Training during Rec All Staff meetings.
Speakers at All Staff; have a focus topic.
2.2.2 Promote opportunities to gain knowledge and skills needed as a Parks & Recreation
professional.
Exposure to all aspects of the Department.
Job Shadowing / Visit other Divisions.
Self-directed learning and growth (e.g. volunteer for special assignments/projects; allow
flexible schedule to accommodate learning).
2.2.3 Promote staff involvement in broader Department operations.
Create standing committee’s w/ representative from each Division.
Create a Facilities Services/Facility Design Committee.
Provide training on City-wide issues/topics.
2.2.4 Utilize results from annual Customer Satisfaction survey for continuous improvement.
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2.3 Maximize the use of volunteers.
2.3.1 Enhance coordination of volunteers Department-wide, with each Division identifying its
own needs.
2.3.2 Make it easier to volunteer and stay motivated.
Develop Incentive/Reward system.
Increase appreciation events.
Create and maintain proper database.
Create “Volunteer” button on homepage.
2.3.3 Engage younger volunteers, “U40” (40 and under)
Facilitate U40 volunteerism.
Provide opportunities for families to volunteer together.
Provide intergenerational volunteer opportunities.
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GOAL #3
Programming is directed to diverse users.
Parks & Recreation provides high quality programs that are
responsive to industry trends and changing community needs.
Programming encourages participation and builds community
amongst all users.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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GOAL #3 Programming is directed to diverse users.
3.1 Maximize the use of existing parks and facilities.
3.1.1 Complete comprehensive Community Needs assessment to further inform current and
future facilities needs and options.
3.1.2 Develop Use Plan for facilities that are underutilized or outdated. Anticipated focus will
include:
Recast the Ludwick Center: Commit to making it a recreation center with a youth focus.
Emerson Park: Enhance the usable space.
Meadow Park: Study the re-purposing of the softball field to turf facilities.
3.2 Optimize and implement innovative programming in three
priority areas: Golf, Aquatics, and Racquet Sports.
3.2.1 Laguna Lake Golf Course: Continue to add programming and creative uses of the course.
3.2.2 Aquatics: Develop new programming, in response to School District’s construction of its
own pool.
3.2.3 Racquet Sports: Respond to growing popularity of tennis and pickleball.
3.2.4 Form “Maximize This!” work groups for each priority area.
All levels of the Department are involved in optimizing each area.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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3.3 Strengthen operational commitment to programming
across all ages.
3.3.1 Every division integrates programming and facilities for varied age groups.
3.3.2 Develop programs to increase participation in targeted populations:
Adults, 18 -55 year olds
Millennials and Gen Z
Young Families
3.3.3 Attract new users and fill service gaps.
Free weekly classes in a park
WiFi at parks / facilities
Family activities and childcare
Create “Pop Up” Class program
3.3.4 Evaluate and adjust the current programming framework to meet the needs of the diverse
and growing senior population.
Assess the relevance of the Sr. Center / complete a needs assessment.
Collaborate with senior service providers. Connect P&R users to sr. services, active seniors,
Sr. Center programming. Explore use of alternative transportation for seniors.
Offer activities compatible with users’ activity levels.
3.4 Increase Community’s awareness of programs, services,
events and needs.
3.4.1 Use technology to enhance marketing, customer service and user experience.
WiFi in Parks
Increase Social Media efforts
Marketing – active, flexible, nimble, “in the moment,” daily info, multi-outlets
3.4.2 Seek donations from the Community for program materials and supplies (e.g. paper goods,
refreshments, art supplies).
Create a managed list of supplies needed by the various programs. Post on website,
newsletters, and social media.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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GOAL #4
Expand Parks and Facilities.
Parks and Facilities are contemporary, desirable
to use, and meet the needs of diverse users.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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GOAL #4 Expand Parks and Facilities.
4.1 Increase access to non-City turf facilities and increase the
number of City turf facilities.
4.1.1 Pursue additional facilities that are lighted.
4.1.2 Plan for additional Sports Fields for purchase and development.
Identify property; negotiate for acquisition.
Expand Damon Garcia through purchase of surrounding properties.
4.1.3 Explore ways to convert existing fields to year-round artificial turf.
Research cost, health issues.
Convert Emerson.
Identify other appropriate locations.
4.1.4 Use other entities’ existing facilities. Build creative partnerships such as:
Corp Yard
Churches
Co-operate with Cal Poly
Cuesta Park (co-use with the County)
Hotel properties (i.e. Madonna Inn)
4.2 Maintain current facilities and infrastructure to optimal
levels.
4.2.1 Identify priorities and ensure funding.
4.2.2 Address needs of aging and high-use facilities.
Mitchell Park: revitalize it.
Meadow Park: develop a priority list for capital projects; include the public and Public
Works in the planning.
Emerson Park: explore intensification.
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4.3 Pursue new neighborhood parks and maximize existing parks to
provide amenities beyond Parks and Recreation’s existing resources.
4.3.1 Insert Parks & Recreation more actively into the planning process for new neighborhood
parks (i.e. those not managed by the Department).
Provide expertise, strategic thinking, management recommendations, and advocacy for
unmet needs, such as dog parks, pump tracks, pickle ball courts, community gardens.
4.3.2 Pursue a new park located in the North Broad Street Neighborhood.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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GOAL #5
Nurture Open Space.
The City’s open space is preserved and protected to ensure its
health and wellness as well as the community’s continued
stewardship while continuing to grow the next generation of
land stewards.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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GOAL #5 Nurture Open Space.
5.1 Implement the adopted Open Space Maintenance Plan as
well as all City adopted Conservation Plans.
5.1.1 Support Natural Resources’ acquisition of more open space, with emphasis on appropriate
funding for effective infrastructure, maintenance.
5.2 Enhance the user experience with emphasis on education,
conservation and collaboration.
5.2.1 Provide an array of nature-based activities for diverse users.
Such as trails, age-specific hikes, Jr. Ranger camps, flora and fauna identification hikes,
Ranger-led activities, conservation education.
5.2.2 Understand and adapt to appropriate levels of passive recreation on trails.
5.2.3 Build a dedicated Ranger Station.
Assess needs and feasibility. May be best in one central location or two (north/south).
Explore the use of an existing facility that may be vacated by another City department
Seek a co-located partnership with another agency or organization.
Leverage opportunities to refurbish existing buildings at Johnson Ranch and/or Ahearn
Ranch or other properties. Use creative acquisition terms to facilitate this.
5.2.4 Environmental Education Center
Explore options for creative opportunities. Co-use facilities, house at Ranger Station, etc.
Hold classes, programs, etc.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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5.3 Build an effective management structure reflective of the
size and scope of the City’s open space.
5.3.1 Commit to appropriate staffing, resources (tools, fleet), and amenities for current
properties.
5.3.2 Institute ratio of at least 1 FT field-staff level position per 1000 acres, increasing that based
on intensity of property and use demands.
5.3.3 Create an enhanced Department structure as Ranger staffing increases.
Evaluate the addition of Open Space Superintendent.
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GOAL #6
Maximize community resources and
collaborations.
Parks & Recreation increases its programming
and positive impact, shares resources, and
meets needs through community
partnerships.
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
26
GOAL #6 Maximize community resources and collaborations.
6.1 Expand partnerships with Cal Poly and Cuesta College to increase
the City’s facility options and provide development opportunities for
their students.
6.1.1 Pursue shared fields at Cal Poly.
6.1.2 Pursue shared tennis courts at Cuesta.
6.1.3 Conduct concentrated recruitment effort for volunteers from the student populations.
6.1.4 Focus on NRM and Recreation Departments for service-learning opportunities.
Rangeland management, field projects, evidence-based, research-based planning.
Leverage “Learn By Doing” – help Cal Poly meet its motto.
Utilize student expertise, academics, research projects.
6.2 Develop partnership opportunities with SLO County Parks.
6.2.1 Explore partnership opportunities, such as Cuesta Park.
6.3 Leverage community stakeholders for citizen-driven
programming, funding, and problem-solving.
6.3.1 Maximize volunteers from existing groups to assist Park & Recreation’s efforts .
CCCMB, Jack house, PRC, Arts in Public Places, Sr. Center, YMCA, School District.
6.3.2 Continue to provide staff support to Community Partnerships.
6.3.3 Define our future relationship with users.
Encourage users to creatively problem-solve with us.
Invite Stakeholders to spearhead rational, pragmatic new endeavors .
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2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
With great appreciation we thank the more than 60 individuals for gave their time and input
in helping to create Parks & Recreation’s 2016 – 2020 Strategic Plan. We give special thanks
to the following for their contributions in crafting an exciting future for the Parks & Recreation
Department:
Dale Magee, Catalyst Consulting
The 2015-2016 Parks & Recreation Commission
San Luis Obispo City Council for their continued support of Parks & Recreation
Katie Lichtig, City Manager
City Departments
Parks & Recreation Users and Volunteers
Parks & Recreation Staff
And most importantly, the citizens of San Luis Obispo who allow our programs to enrich
their lives and in turn make the community better
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2020 Parks & Recreation Strategic Plan
2017 Annual Progress Report
3-38
Programming is
directed to diverse
usersgoal 3
staff is high performing,
professional & provides
excellent service goal 2
Expand Parks
& Facilities goal 4
Nurture
open spacegoal 5
maximize community
resources &
collaborations goal 6
2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
goal 1 Department is well
managed, smart
& healthy
2020 Parks and Recreation Strategic Plan
Nov. 16, 2017 Bi-Annual Strategic Plan Summit
where staff shared accomplishments and sought
input on Strategic Plan Goals.
YEAR 1!
This year was an opportunity to
create meaningful
metrics by collecting base-line
data for future year-to-year
comparisons & determining
performance measures for the
Department
The plan provides guidance for
Department operations and
programming in support of the
Parks and Recreation mission
Page 1
3-39
Department
is well
managed,
smart
& healthy
goal 1
Enhance Department Structure for Sustainable Success
Build financial stability to ensure outstanding levels of service
Optimize technology to facilitate effective work processes
Page 2
3-40
GOAL #1 DEPARTMENT IS WELL MANAGED, SMART & HEALTHY
2017 Annual Report Page 3
Update of Parks and Recreation Element
and Master Plan funded in the 2017-2019 Financial Plan
FINANCES
The Cost of Services Study adopted by Council in April
2017 provided foundational information for data-based
user fees
STAFFING
FUTURE
Onboarded 116 new hires
Provided outstanding services and programs
Complied with state licensing/regulations with continued to focus on public safety
3-41
2017 Annual Report
Website Landing Page revised to be more responsive
Council approved New Use Agreements with
YMCA and CC Soccer for shared youth sports
and Adult Soccer. Helped to reduce risk and
increased management of City’s liability.
GOAL #1 DEPARTMENT IS WELL MANAGED, SMART & HEALTHY
Page 4
INCREASE COMMUNITY AWARENESS
of Parks & Recreation programs
14 %
Increase in
Website Visits
REDUCE RISKNEW AGREEMENTS WITH
3-42
Sustain Supportive & Progressive Work Environment
Staff is motivated & trained to provide outstanding service
Maximize use of Volunteers
staff is high
performing,
professional &
provides
excellent service
goal 2
Page 5
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GOAL #2 STAFF IS HIGH PERFORMING, PROFESSIONAL & PROVIDES EXCELLENT SERVICE
2017 Annual Report
HEALTHY
Parks and Recreation works to create a culture with
“WOW”. Work-Out-Wednesdays, World-of-Wellness,
(Department library & healthy resources) and
Working-on-Wellness (Newsletter) are all in support
of employee health.
INNOVATIVE
New whimsical directional signs at selected Parks and Recreation facilities
offer a fun way to increase community awareness about our services.
Golf cart leasing option saves $1,200 annually and added a new
maintenance cart vehicle resource.
Increased access to shared fleet at SLO Swim Center & Golf Course
allowed staff to transition away from using personal vehicles for required
work; helping to reduce City’s liability.
SMART
Staff Appreciation Committee recognized 28 Parks &
Recreation staff for their outstanding work throughout the
year with Department hydroflasks and a “Shout-Out-Board” to
note individual accomplishments.
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VOLUNTEERS
TRAININGS
1,491 volunteers
10,946 hours
Valued at $146,999
2017 Annual Report Page 7
15 staff participated in the California Professional Recreation Society (C.P.R.S.) Fall Forum with 3 staff
serving on the CPRS Board
40 staff became American Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid certified
3 staff obtained professional certifications for lifeguard instructor training, mechanized trail equipment
training and certification and pesticide & herbicide applications
7 promotions of staff both within the Department and City Wide
Parks and Recreation continues to demonstrate a culture of
valuing human capital and expecting the best from all team
members.
In 2017, 22 Parks and Recreation staff participated in
trainings provided by the Centre for Organizational
Effectiveness (S.T.A.R.T., Supervisors Academy, Leadership
Lab and Disc Assessments)
GOAL #2 STAFF IS HIGH PERFORMING, PROFESSIONAL & PROVIDES EXCELLENT SERVICE
New City-wide volunteer system (CERVIS) launched in February
2017 with website “volunteers” link making it easier to connect volunteers with opportunities
Resulted in
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Maximize the Use of Existing Parks and Facilities
Programming is
directed
to diverse
users
goal 3
Page 8
Optimize and implement innovative programming in three priority areas: Golf,
Aquatics and Racquet Sports
Increase Community’s awareness of programs, services, events and needs
Strengthen operational commitment to programming across all ages
3-46
GOAL #3 PROGRAMMING IS DIRECTED TO DIVERSE USERS
2017 Annual Report
Parks and Recreation provides high quality programs that are responsive
to industry trends and changing community needs. New programming in
2017 encouraged participation, built community amongst all users, and
strengthened the Department’s operational commitment to programs
across all age groups.
ALL EVENTSLISTED ONFACEBOOKMONTHLY
Page 9
PROGRAMMING FOR
ALL AGES
DOWNTOWN ATFARMERS MARKET
INCREASED PLAY 400%
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SOCIAL MEDIA METRICS
880
New Followers in 1 year
2,076 Total Followers
1,000+
New Followers in 1 year
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
958
Total Followers
As of November 28, 2017
50%
32%
30%
15%
Family Water Safety
Day from
75 to 150 people
Gobble Wobble from
374 to 550+ people September Scramble from
385 to 550+ people
Boo Bash from
800 to 1,000 people
2016 to 2017
Event Attendance Increase
2017 Annual Report Page 10
GOAL #3 PROGRAMMING IS DIRECTED TO DIVERSE USERS
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Increase access to non-City turf facilities & increase the number of City turf
facilities
Maintain current facilities & infrastructure to optimal levels
Pursue new neighborhood parks and maximize existing parks to provide amenities
beyond Parks and Recreation existing resources
Expand
Parks
& Facilities
goal 4
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GOAL #4 EXPAND PARKS AND FACILITIES
2017 Annual Report
Investment in Capital Projects to Expand the
Use of Parks & Facilities
New Kikuyu Grass at Damon Garcia Sports Field
New Kikuyu grass planted on Field B in 2017 on a trial basis. Rennovations are
planned for fields A, C, D in 2018. Regular field visits with user groups support
ongoing communication, active problem solving and innovative ideas.
Sinsheimer Park
Playground
Page 12
Re-Opened November 2017 with
hundreds of community members
using it every day!
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2017 Annual Report Page 13
GOAL #4 EXPAND PARKS AND FACILITIES
French Park Pickleball Multi-Use Lines
on Tennis Courts
ADA Trail at
Laguna Lake Park
¼ mile long ADA accessible nature trail installed at Laguna Lake Park
Laguna Dog Off-Leash Area capital project for safety enhancements allocated $50,000 for site
improvements, including visual boundary markers, pavement collars at water stations to reduce
mud, 900+ feet of new fencing to improve safety along parking lot, new signage & woodchips
filled in cracks to increase pet & owner safety when walking.
Surveyed Dog Park Users and Explored PetSafe Dog Park
grant opportunity. Results of survey; users like unfenced.
178 people responded, 41% people prioritized woodchips as
the preferred surface, 77% of Laguna Dog Off-Leash Area
users want to keep it open and unfenced.
Dog Off-Leash Area
Safety Enhancements
Increased use of sports courts:
190 pickleball players weekly at
4 city locations = 9,880 players
annually.
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Implement the adopted Open Space Maintenance Plan as well as the City
adopted Conservation Plans
Enhance the user experience with emphasis on education, conservation and
collaboration
Build an effective management structure reflective of the size and scope of the
City’s open space
Nurture
open spacegoal 5
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Climbing Experience & Impact
Even when considering its limited elevation and the total amount of
climbable rock face, the hard dacite rock that is characteristic of the
Morros, and Bishop Peak, provides a high quality climbing experience.
This, combined with a pleasant year round climate, make Bishop Peak
an ideal location for moderate climbing.
Many of the crags are accessed by ‘social trails’ which have been created by
frequent travel over previously undisturbed habitat. As more climbers come
into the area it is important to consider the impacts of climbing on the Peak.
Many of these social trails have become impacted and worn and new trails
have begun to appear, particularly between the different walls. Unfortunately,
these new unsanctioned trails lead to greater impacts on the land including:
soil compaction, erosion, and vegetation loss at the base of climbs, and on
approach and descent trails, destruction of cliffside vegetation and lichen,
disturbance of cliff-dwelling animals, litter, and the visual blight of chalk marks,
pin scars, bolts, and gear that has been left behind.
All climbers, be they visitor or regular, are encouraged to use existing trails and be mindful of the impacts your use has on this natural resource.
History
Rock climbing is a long standing historic use at
Bishop Peak, with evidence of early use going
back as far as the World War II era. Regular
climbing activity appears to have begun in
the mid to late 1970’s. Most of the “roped
climbing” at Bishop Peak has focused on the
north facing cliffs and crags known as P-Wall,
Shadow Wall and Cracked Wall as well as the
Summit Blocks. In recent years, bouldering
has become popular at Pete Boulder, Clorissa
Boulder, Hummingbird Boulder, the Boulder in
the Woods and the Potato.
Climbing
at bishop peak
Minimum Impact Practices
It is important to remember that climbing should not interfere with the
overall management of Bishop Peak, which is designated as a Natural
Reserve with natural resource protection its primary goal*. These
impacts can be eliminated or greatly reduced by following minimum
impact practices and leave no trace ethics.
Though you may consider the individual impacts of your actions as insignificant, when multiplied by all of the people who climb here every year they can have a significant, long lasting effect..
*San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 12.22.050
Hard dacite rock, combined with a pleasant
year round climate, make Bishop Peak an
ideal location for moderate climbing
!Climb at your own risk
PHOTO BY: Douglas Bush
Wildflowersour local
“A world without open country would be universal jail.”
— ED ABBEY
Each year our springtime brings a profusion of wildflowers.
When our surrounding hills turn green, it’s soon after they
appear dusted with yellows, oranges and other colors.
From the California Poppy to Mustard and the stately Yucca, the change of our
seasons bring about the changing beauty of our open spaces. But the spectacular
display of wildflowers neither begin nor end with the passage of Spring. All Flowering
plants have their own particular bloom period. The annual wildflowers appear first and
rapidly bloom, undergo pollination, and set seed before the dry summer can end their
life cycle. Look for Chinese Lanterns in Oak Woodlands and Gold Fields and Baby
Stars in open grass land. Perennial herbs can persist longer and into the summer
months before going dormant.
Late-blooming bulbs can be seen veiled on the dried grassy slopes where you’ll find
Mariposa, Golden Stars and other Lilies mid-summer. In the Chaparral surrounding the
City, Black Sage, Ceanothus and Sticky Monkey Flower all come into bloom to delight
the observant hiker. Winter-blooming shrubs are Chaparral Current and Fuchsia-
flowered Gooseberry.
There are hundreds of wildflowers in our area that many can be found at any given
time of the year. Most have lived here since pre-Columbian times, but many have
arrived in recent years. The vast fields of mustard, the noxious thistles and the
escaped ornamental plants have contributed to our springtime palette of colors.
Take your time and look closely at your
surroundings as you pass through them to further enjoy your outdoor experience.
Wildflowers of San Luis Obispo, California is an
excellent guide to initiate the trail user to our treasures
that bloom. It was written by a consortium of botanists,
enthusiasts and photographers with a passion for our
flora and can be found at the Parks and Recreation
office (1341 Nipomo Street in San Luis Obispo).
Club-Haired Mariposa Lily Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus Twinning SnapdragonAntirrhinum kelloggii Tidy Tips
Layia platyglossa
Coast Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja affinis
Palmer’s Monardella
Monardella palmeri
Gum PlantGrindelia hirsutula
PHOTO BY: Ranger Service Staff
Our open spaces are home to some
of the most diverse and unique
wildflowers found in the country.
Wildflowers exist here that can survive in
no other environment.
Palmer’s Monardella
(Monardella palmeri)
is unique to serpentine soils.
Uncommon Jewel flower
(Streptanthus albidus ssp.peramoenus)
is an inconspicuous flower found
on disturbed serpentine slopes.
NEW TRAILHEAD
KIOSKS
Informative Trailhead
Panel Inserts
GOAL #5 NURTURE OPEN SPACE
NEW EQUIPMENT
2017 Annual Report Page 15
3-53
VOLUNTEERS
528 hrs
500+
PAPER TRAIL
MAPS GIVEN
AWAY
1,500
LEASHES
GIVEN AWAY
AT TRAIL
ENTRANCES3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N
0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5 2 MILES
Open Spaces
san luis obispo
Please respect
private property
and stay on trails.
Please observe the City of San Luis Obispo Open Space rules found
at each location. Violators will be cited under San Luis Obispo
Municipal Codes; Fines in excess of $561.
Hikers and mountain bikers can explore 52+ miles of
trails running through over 3,500 acres of Open Space
properties belonging to the City of San Luis Obispo.
In case of emergency dial 911.
For Ranger Service call (805) 781-7302.
For more information and downloadable trail maps
visit Ranger Service page at www.slocity.org
Reservoir Canyon
NATURAL RESERVE
South Hills
NATURAL RESERVE
Terrace Hill
OPEN SPACE
Johnson Ranch
OPEN SPACE
Laguna Lake
NATURAL RESERVE
Bishop Peak
NATURAL RESERVE
Irish Hills
NATURAL RESERVE
Cerro San Luis
NATURAL RESERVE
Stenner Springs
NATURAL RESERVE
Islay Hill
OPEN SPACE
PUBLIC EDUCATION
2017 Annual Report Page 16
GOAL #5 NURTURE OPEN SPACE
Every Wednesday morning Volunteers meet Rangers
out at a designated location - info found on our website
and social media.
Saturday Work Days: Once a month at various
locations
3-54
goal 6
maximize
community
resources &
collaborations
Develop partnership opportunities with SLO County Parks.
Leverage community stakeholders for citizen-driven programming, funding, and
problem-solving
Expand partnerships with Cal Poly and Cuesta College to increase the City’s facility
options and provide development opportunities for their students
Page 172017 Annual Report
3-55
GOAL #6 MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES & COLLABORATIONS
Cal Poly 3Wins Exercise Program partnership
begins in 2018 – pilot program at Golf Course
Ongoing Construction of Laguna Lake Golf Course
Community Garden (Donation from Kiwanis Clubs and One
Cool Earth) (120 volunteers, 72 volunteers hours/12
community workdays/$7,200 value)
Public Art Maintenance
Day at “Oh Great Spirit”
in October 2017 by
Rotary volunteers
(A value of $1,200)
AmeriCorp Worker: leveraged funding for
city-wide volunteer program launch
LOVE SLO 2017 Parks and Recreation
Projects (Laguna Lake Golf Course
Community Garden, SLO Swim Center
landscape and Rock Around SLO)
A DAY OF
VOLUNTEERING
Page 182017 Annual Report
STAKEHOLDERS
3-56
COLLABORATION
Parks and Recreation collaborates with student
volunteers for events like the Gobble Wobble,
Senior Center classes and 3Wins.
Parks and Recreation hosts Cal Poly
WOW Booth
Special Trail Maintenance Class at Cal Poly
taught by Ranger Doug Carscaden
Ranger Led Hikes in collaboration with Cal Poly
Professors & field professionals
Partnerships with Local Hotels (Embassy Suites & Avila Bay)
assisted in pool use during hotel construction down time allowing
local businesses to provide their patrons with this amenity
AQUATICS
Supports Special Olympics Training, Navy Seals Training, Arts for Living Therapy, SLO County
Reading program at the SLO Swim Center
New Pool Ambassador Program offers community collaborations for programming and
innovative ideas at the SLO Swim Center
+
200 maps handed out
300 student contacts
Page 192017 Annual Report
GOAL #6 MAXIMIZE COMMUNITY RESOURCES & COLLABORATIONS
3-57
What’s Ahead in 2018?
Growing Parks and Rec’s Healthy & Smart culture
Launching the Parks and Recreation
Element Update and Master Plan
Continuing to Recognize Staff for Outstanding Work
Maximizing Community Collaborations
to make the most of resources, facilities & volunteers
Expanding Programming to Reach Diverse Users
including Young Adults (20-30s) and Seniors
Measuring Customer Satisfaction
What’s Your Happiness Score?
1
2
3
4
5
6
Page 20
3-58
Meeting Date:
Item Number:_________
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT
Prepared by: Lindsey Stephenson, Administrative Analyst
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Receive and file the Parks and Recreation Department’s Open Space Maintenance Plan 2017
Progress Report and the Open Space Kiosk Panels (Attachment 1 & 2).
DISCUSSION
Background
On December 15, 2015 the City Council adopted the City’s first Open Space Maintenance Plan.
Adoption of the Open Space Maintenance Plan identified future progress reports to the Council,
this Agenda Report transmits the Second Annual Report.
The adopted Open Space Maintenance 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
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
categories of maintenance: 1) vegetation, 2) structure, 3) signage, 4) trail/road, 5)
4-1
Parks and Recreation Commission
December 6, 2017
Page 2 of 3
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 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 predominately calendar year 2017. It
provides a visual and numerical summary for Council and the community about the work efforts
undertaken to address the adopted Plan as well as the 2015-17 Major City Goal: Open Space
Preservation.
2017 Open Space Maintenance and Protection efforts addressed new and deferred projects. How
those efforts were accomplished is also highlighted in the report. Of particular focus for Ranger
staff this past year was the installation of new informational panels and open space name headers
at every trailhead kiosk, as well as “blade-style” directional signage throughout the entire open
space trail system. The Open Space team, Rangers, Department Analyst and Director, worked
with local firm iiiDesign over the span of six months to research, write, and develop new
educational kiosk panels and trail maps. The outcome is educational panels which follow the
City’s Style Guide while highlighting the beauty of its open space. The pictures in the progress
report provide a visual summary of all of the work accomplished and Attachment 2 includes the
entire array of maps and informational panels. This year’s results have been significant and have
“caught” up the maintenance of many open space areas such that they are safer and more
welcoming for the public to use and enjoy.
Looking Ahead to 2018
The City’s Open Space team has planned out its priority projects for 2018. This coming year
will see major improvements at Johnson Ranch and Reservoir Canyon trailheads including the
installation of a 60-foot pedestrian bridge above the waterfall at Reservoir Canyon. Staff
anticipates parking and fencing improvements at both sites as well as the continued construction
and maintenance of trails throughout the City’s open space lands. Lastly, the recently acquired
Waddell Property will be included in an update to the Irish Hills Conservation Plan which will
include its comprehensive study and planning for public access. Other anticipated activities
include new kiosks, bridge and gate repairs as well as fire fuel reduction, mitigation projects, and
new directional blade signage throughout the city’s trail system.
4-2
Parks and Recreation Commission
December 6, 2017
Page 3 of 3
ATTACHMENT
1. OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN 2017 PROGRESS REPORT
2. OPEN SPACE KIOSK PANELS
4-3
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report
2017 PROGRESS REPORT
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN
4-4
Laguna Lake
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 1
NEW
2017
TRAILHEAD AMENITIES
After | Spanish Oaks
Islay Hill
4-5
Small Kiosk
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 2
Terrace Hill
Bishop Street Entrance
Large Kiosk
NEW
2017
TRAILHEAD AMENITIES
4-6
Hiking Etiquette open space
YIELD TO UPHILL
TRAFFIC
Hiking Etiquette
• Hike single file, share the trail with others
• No amplified music/noise
• Stay on designated trails. Creating new trails
or cutting switchbacks creates erosion, damages
vegetation and habitat
• Please DON’T litter
• Uphill traffic has right of way
• Hike with a plan and let others know your route
• Trail runners yield to hikers/walkers
• Don’t use wet trails, it causes damage
• Be respectful of wildlife and livestock
• Embrace Leave No Trace ethics.
Using the open spaces is not a right,
it’s a privilege we need to keep
Recommendations for a good hike:
• Bring enough water for you and
your group
• Use sunscreen or wear long
sleeved shirts
• Wear a hat to help shade the sun
• Closed toe shoes are always
a good idea
• Have a map if you aren’t familiar
with the area
• Hike with a friend
• Don’t just hike in one place, search
out new hikes
Eurasian PLATE
PhilippinePLATE
Pacific PLATE
Juan de Fuca PLATE
AntarcticPLATE
Indian-AustralianPLATE
North AmericanPLATE
Caribbean PLATE
CocosPLATE
Nazca PLATE
South AmericanPLATE
ALEUTIAN ISLAND S
ALEUTIAN TR E N C HJAPANTRENCHKURILTRENCHMARIANASTRENCHJAVA TRENCH
CHILE RISEEAST PACIFIC RISEP AC IF IC-A N TA R C TIC R ID GE
NE
W HEBRID
ES
TR
EN
CH
P
ERU -C
HI
LE TRENCHANDUSSOUTH EAST INDIAN RISE KERMADEC TONGATRENCHMauna Loa
Ngauruhoe
Ruapehu
Kilauea
Taal
Mayon
Merapi
DempoKrakatoaSemeru
Lassen
St. Helen’s
Rainier
KatmaiPavlof
Shishaidin
Klyuchevskaya
Osorno
Azufral
Misti
CotopaxiPuracéRuizPelee
Soufrière
IzalcoPoàs
Popocatépetl
Paricutin
EQUATOR
SACLE IS TRUE ON ON THE EQUATOR
0
0
1,000 2,000
2,000 4,000
3,000 MI
KM
Spreading plate boundaries Converging plate boundaries Volcanic arcs Major active volcanoes Pacific Ring of Fire
Geologyour local
Understanding our local geology requires a larger view of our global
geology and the forces of plate tectonics at work.
The rocks of our coastal ranges were originally created deep under water at the boundary
of the Pacific plate and the American plate. In this region the Pacific plate, containing
dense oceanic rock, was thrust beneath the American plate, containing less dense rock.
This tumultuous zone is responsible for the creation of a variety of different rock types that
comprise the Franciscan Formation. The age of the Franciscan spans from Early Jurassic
(190 million years ago) to Late Cretaceous (75 mya). There are no known formations beneath
the Franciscan and it is thought to extend downward to the upper mantle of the Earth’s crust.
The Basalts, of volcanic origin, appear as a dark reddish brown and
highly fractured mass. Much of our basalt has been hydrothermally
and tectonically altered to “redrock”, a crumbly decomposed material
that is commonly used as a dirt road base within the county.
Chert is a highly weather resistant rock and is
commonly seen as outcroppings. A prominent
example can be seen on the King trail in Irish
Hills. This rock is initially formed as a precipitate
when silica in the super-heated Basalts contact
and saturate sea water. Upon cooling, the silica
“gels” and then is deposited as layered beds.
An excellent layered example can be found at the water tank on the
Felsman Loop trail at Bishop Peak.
Graywacke is a poorly-sorted, coarse grained sandstone
sedimentary rock that was originally deposited undersea from
turbidity currents within the subduction zone. Considered a
“dirty sandstone”, it doesn’t commonly appear as outcrops,
as it is easily eroded compared to other Franciscan rocks.
Serpentine is an easily identifiable
rock, due to its bluish-green hue
and amorphous structure. It is also
quite common in our immediate area.
Serpentine is originally intruded into
fault zones in deep ocean
environments. The visible Serpentine
ridges –South Hills, Reservoir Canyon,
Irish Hills–are the core of these
intrusions made visible following
uplift then erosion of the less resistant
surrounding rocks.
Blue Schist occurs as isolated and fragmentary lenses. It is a
metamorphic rock seen occasionally but shares little universal
agreement on its genesis. The blueschist may have originated as
oceanic basalt that was subjected to very high pressure but
relatively low temperature. This is truly an enigmatic member of
the Franciscan Formation.
Western coastal California has some of the most complex
geology of the North American Continent.
The East Pacific subduction zone, propelled by the forces of mid-oceanic spreading,
shifted from one of compression/subduction to right lateral shear. The offshore
subduction zone later altered and shifted ashore to what is now observed as the
present day San Andreas Fault. Being at the edge of an intensely violent but profoundly
slow tectonic boundary, we are able to observe the complex effects of uplifting, folding,
faulting, and eroding of the terrain around us. During these times of changes in sea
levels and landforms, extensive marine shales were deposited in the surrounding
areas beyond San Luis and Chorro Valleys. The Monterey, Pismo and Paso Robles
Formations were deposited as extensive, white layered marine shale beds. The Chorro
and San Luis Valleys also witnessed the creation of Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis,
Terrace and Islay Hill. These relatively recent iconic Dacite intrusions (plugs) are eroded
internal remnants of volcanic cones, Oligocene in age. (22-26 mya). These volcanic
vents penetrated through the underlying Franciscan Formation and are surrounded
by the eroded detritus of nearby features.
DESCENDING FARALLON PLATE
?
??
FRANCISCAN ASSEMBLAGE
OCEANIC CRUST OF
PACIFIC PLATE
GREAT VALLEY SEQUENCE
CONTITENTAL CRUST OF
NORTH AMERICAN PLATE
SIERRA NEVADA VOLCANOS
3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N
0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5 2 MILES
Open Spaces
san luis obispo
Please respect
private property
and stay on trails.
Please observe the City of San Luis Obispo Open Space rules found
at each location. Violators will be cited under San Luis Obispo
Municipal Codes; Fines in excess of $561.
Hikers and mountain bikers can explore 52+ miles of
trails running through over 3,500 acres of Open Space
properties belonging to the City of San Luis Obispo.
In case of emergency dial 911.
For Ranger Service call (805) 781-7302.
For more information and downloadable trail maps
visit Ranger Service page at www.slocity.org
Reservoir Canyon
NATURAL RESERVE
South Hills
NATURAL RESERVE
Terrace Hill
OPEN SPACE
Johnson Ranch
OPEN SPACE
Laguna Lake
NATURAL RESERVE
Bishop Peak
NATURAL RESERVE
Irish Hills
NATURAL RESERVE
Cerro San Luis
NATURAL RESERVE
Stenner Springs
NATURAL RESERVE
Islay Hill
OPEN SPACE
Climbing Experience & Impact
Even when considering its limited elevation and the total amount of
climbable rock face, the hard dacite rock that is characteristic of the
Morros, and Bishop Peak, provides a high quality climbing experience.
This, combined with a pleasant year round climate, make Bishop Peak
an ideal location for moderate climbing.
Many of the crags are accessed by ‘social trails’ which have been created by
frequent travel over previously undisturbed habitat. As more climbers come
into the area it is important to consider the impacts of climbing on the Peak.
Many of these social trails have become impacted and worn and new trails
have begun to appear, particularly between the different walls. Unfortunately,
these new unsanctioned trails lead to greater impacts on the land including:
soil compaction, erosion, and vegetation loss at the base of climbs, and on
approach and descent trails, destruction of cliffside vegetation and lichen,
disturbance of cliff-dwelling animals, litter, and the visual blight of chalk marks,
pin scars, bolts, and gear that has been left behind.
All climbers, be they visitor or regular, are encouraged to
use existing trails and be mindful of the impacts your use
has on this natural resource.
History
Rock climbing is a long standing historic use at
Bishop Peak, with evidence of early use going
back as far as the World War II era. Regular
climbing activity appears to have begun in
the mid to late 1970’s. Most of the “roped
climbing” at Bishop Peak has focused on the
north facing cliffs and crags known as P-Wall,
Shadow Wall and Cracked Wall as well as the
Summit Blocks. In recent years, bouldering
has become popular at Pete Boulder, Clorissa
Boulder, Hummingbird Boulder, the Boulder in
the Woods and the Potato.
Climbing
at bishop peak
Minimum Impact Practices
It is important to remember that climbing should not interfere with the
overall management of Bishop Peak, which is designated as a Natural
Reserve with natural resource protection its primary goal*. These
impacts can be eliminated or greatly reduced by following minimum
impact practices and leave no trace ethics.
Though you may consider the individual impacts of
your actions as insignificant, when multiplied by all
of the people who climb here every year they can have
a significant, long lasting effect..
*San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 12.22.050
Hard dacite rock, combined with a pleasant
year round climate, make Bishop Peak an
ideal location for moderate climbing
!Climb at your own risk
PHOTO BY: Douglas Bush
Wildflowersour local
“A world without open country would be universal jail.”
— ED ABBEY
Each year our springtime brings a profusion of wildflowers.
When our surrounding hills turn green, it’s soon after they
appear dusted with yellows, oranges and other colors.
From the California Poppy to Mustard and the stately Yucca, the change of our
seasons bring about the changing beauty of our open spaces. But the spectacular
display of wildflowers neither begin nor end with the passage of Spring. All Flowering
plants have their own particular bloom period. The annual wildflowers appear first and
rapidly bloom, undergo pollination, and set seed before the dry summer can end their
life cycle. Look for Chinese Lanterns in Oak Woodlands and Gold Fields and Baby
Stars in open grass land. Perennial herbs can persist longer and into the summer
months before going dormant.
Late-blooming bulbs can be seen veiled on the dried grassy slopes where you’ll find
Mariposa, Golden Stars and other Lilies mid-summer. In the Chaparral surrounding the
City, Black Sage, Ceanothus and Sticky Monkey Flower all come into bloom to delight
the observant hiker. Winter-blooming shrubs are Chaparral Current and Fuchsia-
flowered Gooseberry.
There are hundreds of wildflowers in our area that many can be found at any given
time of the year. Most have lived here since pre-Columbian times, but many have
arrived in recent years. The vast fields of mustard, the noxious thistles and the
escaped ornamental plants have contributed to our springtime palette of colors.
Take your time and look closely at your
surroundings as you pass through them to further enjoy your outdoor experience.
Wildflowers of San Luis Obispo, California is an
excellent guide to initiate the trail user to our treasures
that bloom. It was written by a consortium of botanists,
enthusiasts and photographers with a passion for our
flora and can be found at the Parks and Recreation
office (1341 Nipomo Street in San Luis Obispo).
Club-Haired Mariposa Lily
Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus
Twinning Snapdragon
Antirrhinum kelloggii
Tidy Tips
Layia platyglossa
Coast Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja affinis
Palmer’s Monardella
Monardella palmeri
Gum Plant
Grindelia hirsutula
PHOTO BY: Ranger Service Staff
Our open spaces are home to some
of the most diverse and unique
wildflowers found in the country.
Wildflowers exist here that can survive in
no other environment.
Palmer’s Monardella
(Monardella palmeri)
is unique to serpentine soils.
Uncommon Jewel flower
(Streptanthus albidus ssp.peramoenus)
is an inconspicuous flower found
on disturbed serpentine slopes.
NEW
2017
TRAILHEAD PANELS
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 3 4-7
VOLUNTEER HOURSJAN 2017 to NOV 2017764
15.5
volunteers’ value
Total Hours Worked
total volunteer hours spent atThe M trail
Wednesday Work Days
total volunteer hours spent at
Saturday Work Days
total volunteer hours spent at
400
total hours
39 days X 3 hrs
131by Dean arrighi
Volunteer hours worked
288
total hours
15 days X 3 hrs
Volunteer patrol hrs
by grace demPsey
$59,799.19
723
total hours
28 days X 3 hrs
Number of volunteers
2225.5
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 4
4-8
EQUIPMENT
2017
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 5
Mini Excavator
Sutter
Of Use
Hours
0
Waiting to be delivered 67
of USE
Hours
of USE
Hours
55165
Of Use
Hours
Gator
Tractor
4-9
4
recieved certs
Rangers
Mechanized Trail Equipment
Training & Certification by Trails
Unlimited LLC
200
of training
Hours
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 6
EQUIPMENT TRAINING
Hosted at Whale Rock
Mini Excavator
2017
4-10
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 7
Junior Ranger
Activity Camp
(JRAC)
WOW Week
Trailhead information
Ranger
Led Hikes
Laguna Lake
Camp Out
After School Ranger
Talks
TOTAL 2,133 hrs
of public education
15 students X 6 hours per day X 5 days450 hrs
18 students X 6 hours per day X 5 days540 hrs
800 students X 6 min informed about rules
& open space80 hrs
One hike per month528 hrs
15 talks, 1 hour each, with 34 students510 hrs
3 groups X 11 people X 45 mins25 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.Jan 1, 2017 - Present
September
Annual
September &
August
4-11
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 8
Using Instagram to promote
laws & trails less traveled
Hike Reservoir Canyon Loop, Orange Loop, Lemon
Grove Loop, King Trail, Terrace Hill,
Bob Jones (Prado Rd) and Allen K. Settle
Take a photo at each & tag @pixonpeaks
Then come into our office to show us all
the photos you receive a FREE hat!
New Logo
PUBLIC OUTREACH Two education campaigns2017
Hikes with Hounds and
@pixonpeaks
Prize Hat
Community Posts using #PixOnOPeaks
over 3,000 photos
500+
PAPER TRAIL
MAPS GIVEN
AWAY
1,500
LEASHES
GIVEN AWAY
AT TRAIL
ENTRANCES
4-12
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 9
ENFORCEMENT
2017
Dog Off Leash 88
Open Space Closed Per Director 29
Smoking 92
Camping Overnight/Riparian Corridor 19
Disposing/Collecting Trash at Riparian 5
Alcohol 45
Littering 2
Night Hiking 26
Parking Citation 10
Possessing Alcohol by a City Riparian 4
Traveling Off Trail 20
Disturbing Natural Rescources in a Riparian 4
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Types of Tickets RESERVOIR CANYON1
TICKETS PER OPEN SPACE
BISHOP PEAK13
BOB JONES62
CERRO SAN LUIS35
CREEKS40
IRISH HILLS9
JOHNSON RANCH27
LAGUNA LAKE35
SOUTH HILLS9
TERRACE HILL5
ISLAY HILL1
BIANCHI OPEN SPACE8
STENNER SPRINGS0
4-13
CREEK
STEWARDSHIP
Annual Open Space Maintenance Report Page 10
Rangers Total ACTUAL
January 1- November 18
14,660 lbs
TOTAL COMBINED
as of Nov 18, 2017
40,040 lbs
or 20 Tons
Contract Total 2017 EST
25,380 lbs+illegal
camps
as of Nov 15, 2017
Contract Cleanups
On-going Creek
Maintenance
Illegal camps create trash that rangers remove daily.
2017
158
May 2, 2017 May 3, 2017 June 15, 2018 Aug 14, 2017 Oct 6, 2017 Nov 21, 2017
3,750 lbs 3500 lbs 2840 lbs 5100 lbs 4300 lbs 5890LBS
4-14
Ranger Service Team 2017
2017 PROGRESS REPORT
CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO
OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN
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3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 7 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '3 0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N3 5 °1 6 '0 "N
0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5 2
MILES
Open Spaces
san luis obispo
Please respect
private property
and stay on trails.
Please observe the City of San Luis Obispo Open Space rules found
at each location. Violators will be cited under San Luis Obispo
Municipal Codes; Fines in excess of $561.
Hikers and mountain bikers can explore 52+ miles of
trails running through over 3,500 acres of Open Space
properties belonging to the City of San Luis Obispo.
In case of emergency dial 911.
For Ranger Service call (805) 781-7302.
For more information and downloadable trail maps
visit Ranger Service page at www.slocity.org
Reservoir Canyon
NATURAL RESERVE
South Hills
NATURAL RESERVE
Terrace Hill
OPEN SPACE
Johnson Ranch
OPEN SPACE
Laguna Lake
NATURAL RESERVE
Bishop Peak
NATURAL RESERVE
Irish Hills
NATURAL RESERVE
Cerro San Luis
NATURAL RESERVE
Stenner Springs
NATURAL RESERVE
Islay Hill
OPEN SPACE
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Hiking Etiquette open space
YIELD TO
UPHILL
TRAFFIC
Hiking Etiquette
•Hike single file, share the trail with others
•No amplified music/noise
• Stay on designated trails. Creating new trails
or cutting switchbacks creates erosion, damages
vegetation and habitat
•Please DON’T litter
•Uphill traffic has right of way
•Hike with a plan and let others know your route
•Trail runners yield to hikers/walkers
•Don’t use wet trails, it causes damage
•Be respectful of wildlife and livestock
• Embrace Leave No Trace ethics.
Using the open spaces is not a right,
it’s a privilege we need to keep
Recommendations for a good hike:
• Bring enough water for you and
your group
• Use sunscreen or wear long
sleeved shirts
• Wear a hat to help shade the sun
• Closed toe shoes are always
a good idea
• Have a map if you aren’t familiar
with the area
• Hike with a friend
• Don’t just hike in one place, search
out new hikes
4-28
Trail Etiquette & Safety
open space
Nice Matters when sharing trails. Trail users in SLO County
have established a culture of sharing trails courteously. That
sharing culture allows land managers to continually expand
the trail system, and improves all users’ trail experience.
Cyclists
•Use a bell. Using a bell sends the message that you intend
to share the trail courteously – a message that hikers and
equestrians greatly appreciate.
•Expect to see other users on the trail.
Slow down around corners and where your
view of the trail ahead is limited.
•Yield to hikers and runners. Stop and step to
the side of the trail as soon as you see another
user approaching. Riding up to them makes
them think you are not going to stop.
•If other users choose to yield to you, dismount or ride very
slowly as you pass.
•Downhill traffic stops for uphill traffic (these are narrow trails).
Dog Owners
•Keep your dog on a leash, many users are frightened by dogs.
•Bag your dog’s waste and put it in a trash can at the trailhead.
•Never leave poop bags, even if you intend to collect them on
your way out. Carry them with you, or immediately drop them
in trailhead trash cans.
The trail system around San Luis
Obispo accommodates hikers,
runners, and cyclists.
All Users, please:
• Stay on signed trails and roads
•Be alert for other users on the trail.
If using headphones, keep one ear open.
•Downhill traffic yields to uphill traffic.
STOP when yielding, step toward the side
and wait for the other user to pass.
•When other users yield to you, stay on the
trail. Don’t go off-trail to get around them.
Please do your part to ensure that
others will enjoy these trails as
much as you and that our local trail
system continues to expand.
Nice Matters: Smile, be positive &
be sympathetic to others’ concerns.
4-29
Wildflowersour local
“A world without open country
would be universal jail.”
— ED ABBEY
Each year our springtime brings a profusion of wildflowers.
When our surrounding hills turn green, it’s soon after they
appear dusted with yellows, oranges and other colors.
From the California Poppy to Mustard and the stately Yucca, the change of our
seasons bring about the changing beauty of our open spaces. But the spectacular
display of wildflowers neither begin nor end with the passage of Spring. All Flowering
plants have their own particular bloom period. The annual wildflowers appear first and
rapidly bloom, undergo pollination, and set seed before the dry summer can end their
life cycle. Look for Chinese Lanterns in Oak Woodlands and Gold Fields and Baby
Stars in open grass land. Perennial herbs can persist longer and into the summer
months before going dormant.
Late-blooming bulbs can be seen veiled on the dried grassy slopes where you’ll find
Mariposa, Golden Stars and other Lilies mid-summer. In the Chaparral surrounding the
City, Black Sage, Ceanothus and Sticky Monkey Flower all come into bloom to delight
the observant hiker. Winter-blooming shrubs are Chaparral Current and Fuchsia-
flowered Gooseberry.
There are hundreds of wildflowers in our area that many can be found at any given
time of the year. Most have lived here since pre-Columbian times, but many have
arrived in recent years. The vast fields of mustard, the noxious thistles and the
escaped ornamental plants have contributed to our springtime palette of colors.
Take your time and look closely at your
surroundings as you pass through them
to further enjoy your outdoor experience.
Wildflowers of San Luis Obispo, California is an
excellent guide to initiate the trail user to our treasures
that bloom. It was written by a consortium of botanists,
enthusiasts and photographers with a passion for our
flora and can be found at the Parks and Recreation
office (1341 Nipomo Street in San Luis Obispo).
Club-Haired Mariposa Lily
Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus
Twinning Snapdragon
Antirrhinum kelloggii
Tidy Tips
Layia platyglossa
Coast Indian Paintbrush
Castilleja affinis
Palmer’s Monardella
Monardella palmeri
Gum Plant
Grindelia hirsutula
PHOTO BY: Ranger Service Staff
Our open spaces are home to some
of the most diverse and unique
wildflowers found in the country.
Wildflowers exist here that can survive in
no other environment.
Palmer’s Monardella
(Monardella palmeri)
is unique to serpentine soils.
Uncommon Jewel flower
(Streptanthus albidus ssp.peramoenus)
is an inconspicuous flower found
on disturbed serpentine slopes.
4-30
Climbing Experience & Impact
Even when considering its limited elevation and the total amount of
climbable rock face, the hard dacite rock that is characteristic of the
Morros, and Bishop Peak, provides a high quality climbing experience.
This, combined with a pleasant year round climate, make Bishop Peak
an ideal location for moderate climbing.
Many of the crags are accessed by ‘social trails’ which have been created by
frequent travel over previously undisturbed habitat. As more climbers come
into the area it is important to consider the impacts of climbing on the Peak.
Many of these social trails have become impacted and worn and new trails
have begun to appear, particularly between the different walls. Unfortunately,
these new unsanctioned trails lead to greater impacts on the land including:
soil compaction, erosion, and vegetation loss at the base of climbs, and on
approach and descent trails, destruction of cliffside vegetation and lichen,
disturbance of cliff-dwelling animals, litter, and the visual blight of chalk marks,
pin scars, bolts, and gear that has been left behind.
All climbers, be they visitor or regular, are encouraged to
use existing trails and be mindful of the impacts your use
has on this natural resource.
History
Rock climbing is a long standing historic use at
Bishop Peak, with evidence of early use going
back as far as the World War II era. Regular
climbing activity appears to have begun in
the mid to late 1970’s. Most of the “roped
climbing” at Bishop Peak has focused on the
north facing cliffs and crags known as P-Wall,
Shadow Wall and Cracked Wall as well as the
Summit Blocks. In recent years, bouldering
has become popular at Pete Boulder, Clorissa
Boulder, Hummingbird Boulder, the Boulder in
the Woods and the Potato.
Climbing
at bishop peak
Minimum Impact Practices
It is important to remember that climbing should not interfere with the
overall management of Bishop Peak, which is designated as a Natural
Reserve with natural resource protection its primary goal*. These
impacts can be eliminated or greatly reduced by following minimum
impact practices and leave no trace ethics.
Though you may consider the individual impacts of
your actions as insignificant, when multiplied by all
of the people who climb here every year they can have
a significant, long lasting effect..
*San Luis Obispo Municipal Code 12.22.050
Hard dacite rock, combined with a pleasant
year round climate, make Bishop Peak an
ideal location for moderate climbing
!Climb at your own risk
PHOTO BY: Douglas Bush
4-31
Hazardsopen space
Safety starts by being mindful of these hazards
and staying on trail while in our open space.
Ticks
Ticks are commonly found along trails waiting to
attach to a host walking by. They are most active
during the summer months.
Ticks are small parasitic insects that may attach to your skin and
begin feeding on your blood. They will gorge themselves and after
approximately 24-hours, can potentially release harmful bacteria from
their bodies back into their host’s blood system.
Deer ticks and Brown Dog ticks are the most common species and
both can carry the bacteria known as Borrelia burgdorferi, which can
cause Lyme disease, an infection that attacks people in the form of rashes,
arthritis, numbness, neurological disorders, or worse. If found early, a doctor
can easily remove the tick ensuring to get all parts of the arachnid’s body. If
a tick has been attached for a while and a red ring is evident, further testing
and treatment may be needed to prevent a serious disease.
Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes commonly emerge in the spring and are active in the summer
months. It is important to stay on trails since they blend in and can deliver a
venomous bite if startled.
Rattlesnakes are a native reptile that live in rugged chaparral habitat. These snakes are “pit” vipers
which means they have small pores on the front of their heads that sense heat from prey. Once they
hone in on where their prey is, they lunge and deliver a venomous bite to incapacitate their victim.
Once the poison has had time to work, they will consume their prey.
Rattlesnakes range from 1-7 feet in length, have a diamond shaped head and a rattle on their tail.
The rattle is formed when the snake sheds its skin to allow for growth and the number of buttons on
the rattle usually indicates the relative age of the snake (one button for each skin shedding).
Being ectothermic, or cold blooded, they can usually be found in places sunning themselves to allow
for quicker movement. They are ovoviviparous meaning that the female carries the eggs of the young
inside her until they hatch, and then has live birth. Rattlesnakes are long lived, ranging from 10-25 years.
Poison oak
Careful trekking in open space and staying on the trail will
offer enough distance for you and poison oak to live together.
Poison oak is a native riparian plant species with a kick. If the oils of this plant
come into contact with your skin a serious rash can develop. Poison oak is a
woody vine that is a member of the sumac family. This plant can be found in
riparian and chaparral habitats. “Leaves of three, let it be” is the common saying
to help remember what to look for. Urushiol is the irritating oil present on the
plant that causes an allergic reaction. Poison oak is deciduous but the woody
vines can still cause a reaction. When the plants leaf out in the spring and are
in full bloom in the summer, they are likely to pass along their oils to you.
Adult Female
‹ Adult Male
Nymph
Larva
PHOTO CREDIT: TickEncounter Resource Center
4-32
Oak Woodlandsthe
Oak Woodlands are a major component of San Luis Obispo’s
natural landscape. Oak Woodlands are valuable for many
reasons, including natural resource diversity and ecology,
environmental benefits, and aesthetic and open space values.
Natural Resources Diversity & Ecology
Much of the diversity of the state’s wildlife is found in oak ecosystems.
Oaks provide habitat to more different animals than any other
ecosystem in the state. Over 320 terrestrial vertebrates and thousands of
invertebrates are associated with California’s oak landscapes. Acorns as
well as oak leaves, wood and sap are sustenance for a myriad of insects,
birds, and mammals. Many other species, including amphibians, reptiles and
birds, do not directly feed on oaks but prey heavily on insects that do. Oaks
also contain nooks, crannies, perches and passages, places that are homes,
breeding grounds and resting areas for many animal species. Small mammals
such as mice, voles, gophers, moles and others rely upon and may assist oaks.
By eating mycorrhizal fungi, they spread the spores of this beneficial fungus
into areas where young trees are growing. The fungi attach to the roots of oaks
and enhance the uptake of inorganic nutrients from the soil. Even though these
mammals often kill young oaks by eating their bark, roots or leaves, in other
cases they appear to enhance their chances of survival.
Aesthetic and Open Space Values
The presence of attractive trees such as the Oak is
associated with positive perceptions about a place.
Looking at trees reduced stress in individuals, so much so that hospital
patients who have a view of trees and natural areas have significantly
shorter stays, require less pain medicine and have fewer postoperative
complications. People feel more comfortable in a shaded, open area
of trees, compared to parking lots or other hard-surfaced areas. Urban
residents who lived in “greener” surroundings reported lower levels of
fear, fewer incivilities, and less aggressive and violent behavior. Research
found that the “greener” an apartment building’s surroundings were, the
fewer crimes were reported. Research into children with Attention Deficit
Disorder has found the “greener” a child’s play area, the less severe his or
her attention deficit symptoms and that these children function better than
usual after activities in green settings. Because of these and other reasons,
over 100 California municipalities, including the City of San Luis Obispo,
have enacted preservation ordinances for oak protection.
Source: County of San Luis Obispo Voluntary Oak Woodlands Management Plan, 2003
Environmental Benefits
Like all trees, oaks produce oxygen and
through their normal respiration reduce
air pollutants. The air pollutants
partially controlled by oaks include
nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxides,
carbon monoxides, carbon dioxide,
ozone as well as particulate matter
smaller than 10 microns in size.
Other benefits of oak trees are
extensive. They include shade, wind
control, improved air quality, oxygen
production and carbon dioxide reduction,
reduced water runoff and erosion and
improved water quality, noise abatement,
glare reduction, animal habitat, visual
enhancement, and reduced cooling and
heating expenses.
‹ Ash Throated Flycatcher
Pictured Above: A House Wren
PHOTOS BY: Terra Verde Environmental
4-33
Steelhead Trout
Steelhead trout are the anadro-
mous form of resident rainbow
trout. Anadromous means that
these fish are born in fresh wa-
ter, live up to 2 years as juve-
niles in our local creeks and
then begin to move down
the watershed toward the
estuary. They will move
out into the ocean for
1-3 years and then come
back to the same creek
they were born in to lay
Conservation
The City of San Luis Obispo
works with many partners to
protect and enhance Steelhead
populations in our watershed.
Creating and restoring habitat for their rearing,
opening up barriers to allow for greater access
and controlling stormwater pollution in the
creeks are all ways we are working to save
these iconic fish.
This 24-inch male adult
Steelhead was rescued from
Cuesta Park as the creek
began to dry up. We were able
to capture this fish and relocate
it to a perennial section of the
mainstem of SLO Creek further
down in the watershed. This
fish resumed its life in another
section of San Luis Obispo
Creek and hopefully was able
to reproduce another time.
Anadromous Fish
Steelhead Trout are the anadromous form of resident Rainbow Trout. Anadromous
describes fish that are born in fresh water, live up to 2 years as juveniles in local
creeks and then begin to move down the watershed toward an estuary. They will
move out into the ocean for 1-3 years and then come back to the same creek they
were born in to lay their eggs and complete the cycle.
These fish have adapted their life cycle to survive over a variety of climatic
conditions. Fire, drought, sporadic winter deluges; Steelhead have been able to
survive for thousands of years because of their phenomenal adaptability. Steelhead
can be truly anadromous and go to the ocean before reproducing. They move to
the estuary and then migrate back upstream to lay their eggs, or they can stay
in the creek and remain resident fish.
Watersheds
A watershed is the entire area that drains to one central creek from the
ridge tops down to the ocean. The San Luis Obispo Creek watershed is
about 84 square miles and the mainstem San Luis Obispo Creek is about
15 miles in length. There are several main tributaries that feed SLO Creek
such as Prefumo Creek, Reservoir Canyon Creek and Stenner Creek,
which is the biggest Steelhead producing tributary. During the winter, Steelhead
enter the creek and begin their ascent toward prime spawning habitat high up in the
watershed, looking for year round flows.
Steelhead Troutthe
The Steelhead Trout has been able to survive for thousands
of years because it has adapted its life cycle to survive over
a variety of climatic conditions.
Migration
Steelhead Trout undertake an amazing journey during their life.
After they are born in freshwater, they spend about two years in the
creek and then move out into the ocean to develop into adult fish.
They will spend one to three years somewhere in the ocean but to
date, where they go is still a mystery. Do they stay in the nearshore
environment? Do they school up like salmon? Where do they go?
These are relevant issues for the protection of the species that they
undertake a journey in this vast environment. With many unknown
hazards, it is challenging to offer their protection.
Obstacles
Steelhead Trout are resilient fish with the ability to face and overcome
many obstacles, but dams and old diversion structures built to
provide water storage or delivery can prevent them from getting back
to their spawning grounds. The City has worked and continues to
work toward removing impediments in the creek to allow these fish to
access all portions of the watershed.
Fresh Juvenile Phase
WATER
WET SEASON
WET SEASON
DRY SEASON
(1-3 YEARS)
Ocean Residency
Ocean Entry
Smolts
WinterRun
“Kelts”
“Parr”
Fry
Eggs
(2-3 YEARS)
FreshwaterResidency
FreshwaterResidentAdults*FreshwaterJuveniles***
LagoonJuveniles
Spawning
Spawning
?
AnadromousAdults**
Other PopulationsElsewhere
(2-3 YEARS)
WATERSalt ma
turation
* Rainbow Trout
** Steelhead Trout
*** Individual-level plasticity foranadromous vs. freshwater fates is not currently known
TYPICAL LIFE HISTORIES OFOncorhynchus mykiss
KNOWN TO OCCUR IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
A PARTIAL ENUMERATION
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Many San Luis Obispo
families experienced life on
the slopes of Terrace Hill,
including the Callaway and
Mazza families.
The Callaway Family
In March of 2010, an oral history was
undertaken with the now late Bill Callaway
(retired City of San Luis Obispo Fire
Marshal) and his mother “Sis” Callaway.
Mrs. Callaway was born in 1918 on a
ranch above the old County Hospital just
off of what today is Bishop Street. Mrs.
Callaway recalled milking cows before
going to school in the mornings.
The Mazza Family
Pacifico Mazza, a Southern Pacific
railroad employee purchased a five-
bedroom house at the corner of Rachel
Street and Rachel Court, along with a
significant portion of the Terrace Hill land.
Mr. Mazza built four additional houses
north of and east of the existing five-
bedroom house. This large house was
once a boarding house, and some of the
railroad crews from San Francisco and
Los Angeles would stay there, as well as
in one of the smaller houses northwest of
the Big House. The Mazza Family kept
cattle on Terrace Hill until around 1950,
when some of the property on the hill
was sold to a gravel operation.
Terrace Hill Open Space history
Terrace Hill is the only open space property included in the
City of San Luis Obispo’s “Contributing Property List of
Historic Resources” due to its association with important
historic events and people.
The Morros
Terrace Hill is one of nine “Morros,” geologically speaking. The Morros are ancient
volcanic peaks that have eroded to the core plugs. The ancient peaks, located on the
Pacific Plate, originated some 400 miles southeast near the present-day area of San
Diego during the Miocene era about 25 million years ago. Known as the “Nine Sisters,”
or sometimes the “Seven Sisters,” the Morros include Morro Rock (State Historical
Landmark No. 821), Black Hill, Cerro Cabrillo, Hollister Peak, Cerro Romauldo,
Chumash Peak, Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis Obispo, and Islay Hill. The deeply
submerged Davidson’s Seamount in Estero Bay, Righetti Hill and Terrace Hill are
typically omitted from the named sisters (Mountains of Fire: San Luis Obispo’s Famous
Nine Sisters- A Chain of Ancient Volcanic Peaks. Dickerson, 1990.)
Early Inhabitants
The earliest inhabitants near and around Terrace Hill were the Chumash Native
Americans, followed by the Spanish and the Alta California Missions. Mission San Luis
Obispo de Tolosa was one of the more economically successful missions and ran
considerable numbers of cattle. The mission placed sentinels on the top of Terrace Hill to
look out for marauding outsiders.
The Buena Vista Addition
By the mid 1880’s San Luis Obispo and San
Francisco leading businessmen/speculators
were pushing for the Southern Pacific Railroad to
continue the line from San Francisco further up
the Salinas Valley and eventually extend down
Cuesta Grade to San Luis Obispo. Money was to
be made by opening the Central Coast beyond
the more limited coastal steam ships and the
Pacific Coast Railway. This was the impetus for extensive land speculations. The
speculators purchased lands surrounding the small town and added named additions
to the town, which were in turn divided into lots for residential development. One
such subdivision was the Buena Vista Addition, a subdivision that included the
top of Terrace Hill. The name Terrace Hill originates from the Buena Vista Addition
subdivision, filed in 1887, by Edwin Goodall, president of The Goodall Syndicate
Lands (Rails Across the Ranchos. Nicholson, 1980.)
During World War II, the hilltop was used for the location of an enemy
aircraft lookout. According to Caltrans documentation, in 1948 earthen fill
and rock were taken from Terrace Hill to be used for portions of the
construction of Highway 101.
Finally, in 1986, the 22.96-acre Terrace Hill was dedicated
to the City of San Luis Obispo as Open Space as part of
the subdivision of Tract 926.
Source: Terrace Hill Open Space Conservation Plan, City of San Luis Obispo, 2015
4-35
Early Water Supply
Reservoir Canyon was identified very early in the history of
the City of San Luis Obispo as a source of reliable water
of good quality.
In the late 1800’s the private San Luis Obispo Water Company purchased about 200 acres
of land in the canyon and constructed several small diversion dams to divert water out of
the creek and a series of pipelines to carry the water to a distribution reservoir just below
the canyon. The company also constructed an earthen dam at the mouth of the canyon to
also capture water for distribution into the City’s water supply. It was this structure that gave
the name Reservoir Canyon to the area. Prior to that time it had been known as Fillmore
Canyon.
In 1900 the City of San Luis Obispo purchased the water company in its entirety and
became the water purveyor for the community. At that time the water collection system
consisted of several diversion structures on San Luis Obispo Creek and several of its
tributaries, including Reservoir Canyon Creek, Hansen Creek, and Gularte Creek, as well
as the dam on Reservoir Canyon Creek. The purchase of the water company also included
property for a potential dam site on Stenner Creek. However, this dam was never built.
These facilities continued to operate into the 1950’s. By this time the City had secured
rights to water from the Salinas Reservoir, constructed in 1942 by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers as part of the war effort to supply water to Camp San Luis Obispo, which was a
major training facility during the war. With such a large water supply available, the smaller
local supplies became uneconomical to continue to operate and were eventually abandoned
as part of the City’s water supply.
Today all that remains of the local water supply system are remnants of a diversion dam on San Luis Obispo Creek, a few sections of pipeline, some
remains of small concrete diversion dams in the tributary creeks, including Reservoir Canyon Creek, and the dam face at the mouth of Reservoir
Canyon. The reservoir itself became silted in following the 1985 Las Pilitas Fire and today only holds a small volume of open water. Water still flows
over the reservoir’s outlet in a 15-foot waterfall, which is a popular walking destination for visitors.
As part of the 1994 General Plan update, the City Council formally declared that the Reservoir Canyon property would be kept as a portion of an
open space system envisioned for the community. Since that time the 284-acre Hastings property, the 207-acre Bowden Ranch property, and the
89-acre Upper Goldtree Vineyard property have been added. Today, the total land area of Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve is 783 acres.
La Loma Adobe History
La Loma Adobe is Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve’s most notable cultural and historic feature,
located near the top of Lizzie Street within the Reserve.
With La Loma Adobe when one considers the site and structure
together as a historic landscape, our understanding becomes that
much richer. It is typical to observe the presence of natural resources
surrounding early settlements; it is likely that La Loma Adobe was
constructed where it is because of the perennial spring that flows
adjacent, the elevated views off-site to the Mission and the surrounding
valley, and the proximity to game species and pasture for cattle.
City staff’s preliminary research is inconclusive as to how large the
original land holding surrounding La Loma Adobe was. It is known that
by the beginning of the early California period the La Viña property
(which included La Loma Adobe) was large enough to support a
substantial cattle operation when it transferred from Baptiste Garcia to
the tenure of Estevan Quintana in 1852.
Following a dispute with the U.S. Land Grant Commission in 1853
in which Estevan Quintana’s claim that La Viña rancho was deeded
by the Mexican government was denied, there was a subsequent
exchange for a portion of La Viña rancho for 3,166
acres of the 3,506.33-acre Rancho Potrero
de San Luís Obispo, which lay on Stenner
Creek about five miles northeast. The
exchange was made with Doña María
Concepción Boronda de Muñoz, one of
the prominent Boronda family of Monterey
County, CA (Dana, 1970). It is also known
that an additional quarter section of land
(160 acres) adjacent to La Loma Adobe was
homsteaded by the Boronda de Muñoz family in
1870 (Sanchez, 1998).
Reservoir Canyon Natural Reserve history
La Loma Adobe
“La Loma de la Nopalera Adobe” Literally
translated, it is the sun-dried mud brick house
on the hill of prickly pear cactus (Opuntia spp.).
The core structure is thought to have been
constructed around 1782 or earlier and it is a
rare example of a two-story adobe of “Monterey
style” architecture, making it of substantial
historic significance.
4-36
Thistles
Not all thistles in San Luis Obispo are non-native.
In fact, the Chorro Creek Bog Thistle (Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense)
is an extremely rare plant which grows exclusively in San Luis Obispo
County. The bog thistle is listed as a federal endangered spices. It has
very specific habitat requirements, growing only in and around serpentine
springs and seeps. In wet years their habitat can expand out in to the
moist fringes of the seeps but in dry years their habitat range is restricted.
in our area
Thistles are annual or biennial plants which are part of the
sunflower family (Asteraceae). The purple or yellow flowers
turn in to furry seeds that are dispersed by the wind. Controlling Invasive Plants
Control of invasive plants can be a very
daunting task. There are a variety of ways to
go about control: manual, chemical, mechanical,
and biological.
Manual an be extremely hard work and very
expensive in labor costs.
In some cases, biological control can be an
effective and low cost solution, although extreme
care must be taken.
In Canada the Weevil (Rhinocillus
conicus) was introduced to combat
their invasive thistle problem. This little
beetle burrows into the thistle, eating the
developing seeds before they can mature.
The weevil population surged as they
ate the invasive thistles and when their
food source ran low, the weevils moved
on to the native thistle population. This
effectively turned the biological control
into an invasive species.
Mechanical means such as mowing are not
very effective because thistles can regenerate
new seed heads every time they are cut. Thistles
need to be cut off 4 inches below ground level
to effectively kill the plant. Thistles can produce
viable seed heads at only 3 inches tall.
Chemical application can have many draw
backs as well, including water contamination
and adversely affecting other plants and animals.
Invasive Thistles & Native Plants
There are many varieties of thistle, unfortunately most of the thistle species in
San Luis Obispo are non-native and invasive. These thistles displace and out
compete native plants for space, water, nutrients and sun light. Since these
thistles are relatively new to this region the native plants have not had adequate
time to develop strategies to compete with them. For example, the keystone, late
succession plant species in this area is the Coast Live Oak. It takes hundreds of
years for this tree to fill its niche in the ecosystem. It holds its place by creating
a canopy that native plants can’t survive under. It drops acorns and leaves,
creating a thick layer of duff that native plants can’t sprout through. But
Italian Thistle can grow fine through the thick duff and canopy shade
of the live oak, and when that oak tree finally falls, it might not foster the
next generation of Oak saplings but a field of thistle instead.
Unchecked invasive thistles can dominate the flora in some areas, minimizing biodiversity and making ecosystems more vulnerable to disease and less hospitable for wildlife.
Invasive Thistles & Agriculture
Not only do invasive thistles adversely affect our natural environment but also
San Luis Obispo’s long tradition of agriculture. This region’s history of grazing
land has shaped the landscape, perhaps more than any other human activity.
As invasive thistles move into grasslands, cattle eat around them looking for
more palatable plants, leaving the thistles free to seed in the newly disturbed
area. In time this can render large areas completely unviable for grazing cattle
and change the historic and cultural landscape of San Luis Obispo.
Some of the most common invasive thistles in San Luis Obispo are:
Italian Thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), Yellow Star Thistle
(Centaurea solstitialis), and Woolly Distaff (Carthamus lanatus).
4-37
Birds of Preyour local
Birds of prey, or “Raptors” are some of the most iconic and
well known bird species. The term ‘bird of prey’ taken literally,
would encompass many species of bird that hunt and feed on
animals and also birds that eat very small insects.
Raptors
The term ‘Raptor’ is derived from the Latin word rapere
which means ‘to take by force’.
Even these powerful
large birds are vulnerable
to the effects of our actions.
Many Raptors are endangered and all are
protected under state law. Threats to these
large birds of prey are varied, and include
loss of foraging areas, loss of nesting habitat,
pesticide poisoning, lead poisoning and
collision with man-made structures.
Raptors, being apex predators, are more
susceptible to the accumulation of pesticides
and chemicals that have been ingested by
species lower down the food chain. This is
known as Biomagnification. Issues that arise
within raptor populations can be indicators to
possible risks to another apex predator: humans.
Apex Predators
Many raptors are considered Apex Predators
(the top of the food chain) and will even feed on
other bird species (Avivores). Most will eat carrion
(the decaying flesh of dead animals) occasionally
with Vultures and Condors having this consist as
their main food source.
These birds have excellent vision that
allows them to spot prey during flight.
They usually hunt during the daytime
(diurnal), with the exception of owls who
hunt at night (nocturnal).
Raptors have, in general, powerful beaks
for tearing flesh and strong talons and
feet for holding down their prey, with the
exception of Turkey Vultures.
The sweeping grasslands and oak woodlands around
San Luis Obispo provide great habitat for Raptors.
Beneath the canopy of the Oak woodlands the Cooper’s Hawk
and Sharp-shinned Hawk, with their shorter wings and rapid
twisting flight, use their agility to pursue and catch small birds.
Other raptors that hunt this way are falcons and kites. The open
fields, meadows, and the hills of the Morros, where warm thermal
updrafts lift the broad winged Red-tailed Hawk or Golden Eagle
high up allowing them to stay aloft as they scour the landscape
with their keen vision for any movement below. Very common
around San Luis Obispo is the Turkey Vulture. These unusually
silent birds can soar at low altitudes where they use their sense
of smell to find carrion.
PHOTO BY: Ranger Service Staff
PHOTO BY: Terra Verde Environmental
Bald Eagle ›
Great Horned Owl ›
‹ Red-Tailed Hawk
‹ Northern Harrier
‹ Turkey Vulture
4-38
Eurasian PLATE
PhilippinePLATE
Pacific PLATE
Juan de Fuca PLATE
AntarcticPLATE
Indian-AustralianPLATE
North AmericanPLATE
Caribbean PLATE
CocosPLATE
Nazca PLATE
SouthAmericanPLATE
ALEUTIAN ISL A N D SALEUTIAN T R E N C HJAPANTRENCHKURILTRENCHMARIANASTRENCHJAVA TRENCH
CHILE RISEEAST PACIFIC RISEPAC IFIC -AN TARC TIC RID G E
N
E
W H
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B
RID
E
S
T
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C
H
P
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U -
C
HI
LE TRENCHANDUSSOUTH EAST INDIAN RISE KERMADEC TONGATRENCHMauna Loa
Ngauruhoe
Ruapehu
Kilauea
Taal
Mayon
Merapi
DempoKrakatoaSemeru
Lassen
St. Helen’s
Rainier
KatmaiPavlof
Shishaidin
Klyuchevskaya
Osorno
Azufral
Misti
Cotopaxi
PuracéRuizPelee
Soufrière
Izalco
Poàs
Popocatépetl
Paricutin
EQUATOR
SACLE IS TRUE ON ON THE EQUATOR
0
0
1,000 2,000
2,000 4,000
3,000 MI
KM
Spreading plate
boundaries
Converging plate
boundaries Volcanic arcs Major active
volcanoes
Pacific Ring of Fire
Geologyour local
Understanding our local geology requires a larger view of our global
geology and the forces of plate tectonics at work.
The rocks of our coastal ranges were originally created deep under water at the boundary
of the Pacific plate and the American plate. In this region the Pacific plate, containing
dense oceanic rock, was thrust beneath the American plate, containing less dense rock.
This tumultuous zone is responsible for the creation of a variety of different rock types that
comprise the Franciscan Formation. The age of the Franciscan spans from Early Jurassic
(190 million years ago) to Late Cretaceous (75 mya). There are no known formations beneath
the Franciscan and it is thought to extend downward to the upper mantle of the Earth’s crust.
The Basalts, of volcanic origin, appear as a dark reddish brown and
highly fractured mass. Much of our basalt has been hydrothermally
and tectonically altered to “redrock”, a crumbly decomposed material
that is commonly used as a dirt road base within the county.
Chert is a highly weather resistant rock and is
commonly seen as outcroppings. A prominent
example can be seen on the King trail in Irish
Hills. This rock is initially formed as a precipitate
when silica in the super-heated Basalts contact
and saturate sea water. Upon cooling, the silica
“gels” and then is deposited as layered beds.
An excellent layered example can be found at the water tank on the
Felsman Loop trail at Bishop Peak.
Graywacke is a poorly-sorted, coarse grained sandstone
sedimentary rock that was originally deposited undersea from
turbidity currents within the subduction zone. Considered a
“dirty sandstone”, it doesn’t commonly appear as outcrops,
as it is easily eroded compared to other Franciscan rocks.
Serpentine is an easily identifiable
rock, due to its bluish-green hue
and amorphous structure. It is also
quite common in our immediate area.
Serpentine is originally intruded into
fault zones in deep ocean
environments. The visible Serpentine
ridges –South Hills, Reservoir Canyon,
Irish Hills–are the core of these
intrusions made visible following
uplift then erosion of the less resistant
surrounding rocks.
Blue Schist occurs as isolated and fragmentary lenses. It is a
metamorphic rock seen occasionally but shares little universal
agreement on its genesis. The blueschist may have originated as
oceanic basalt that was subjected to very high pressure but
relatively low temperature. This is truly an enigmatic member of
the Franciscan Formation.
Western coastal California has some of the most complex
geology of the North American Continent.
The East Pacific subduction zone, propelled by the forces of mid-oceanic spreading,
shifted from one of compression/subduction to right lateral shear. The offshore
subduction zone later altered and shifted ashore to what is now observed as the
present day San Andreas Fault. Being at the edge of an intensely violent but profoundly
slow tectonic boundary, we are able to observe the complex effects of uplifting, folding,
faulting, and eroding of the terrain around us. During these times of changes in sea
levels and landforms, extensive marine shales were deposited in the surrounding
areas beyond San Luis and Chorro Valleys. The Monterey, Pismo and Paso Robles
Formations were deposited as extensive, white layered marine shale beds. The Chorro
and San Luis Valleys also witnessed the creation of Bishop Peak, Cerro San Luis,
Terrace and Islay Hill. These relatively recent iconic Dacite intrusions (plugs) are eroded
internal remnants of volcanic cones, Oligocene in age. (22-26 mya). These volcanic
vents penetrated through the underlying Franciscan Formation and are surrounded
by the eroded detritus of nearby features.
DESCENDING FARALLON PLATE
?
??
FRANCISCAN ASSEMBLAGE
OCEANIC CRUST OF
PACIFIC PLATE
GREAT VALLEY SEQUENCE
CONTITENTAL CRUST OF
NORTH AMERICAN PLATE
SIERRA NEVADA VOLCANOS
4-39
Birdsour local
Birds are essential to the function of
a well-rounded ecosystem.
Birds serve as pollinators, predators, scavengers, and seed
dispersers. They also help us to gauge ecosystem health because
they are quick to respond to climatic changes and are easy to
detect by sight and sound.
Birds are unique in that they are the only animals that have feathers, having evolved from
feathered dinosaurs. Like dinosaurs, birds lay eggs, but are warm blooded, like mammals.
To identify the species of the bird, first observe its overall size and shape: the color and
shape of the bill, wings, breast and tail. Birds have developed many specific adaptations
that allow them to thrive in their respective habitats. Note these features and think about
the type of environment you are in.
This information, together with a good guidebook and a pair of binoculars, can make
identification achievable and fun. Try to move slowly and quietly so as not to disturb the
wildlife around you; do not intentionally frighten birds and take care not to disturb nesting
or resting birds.
The California Towhee can be spotted scratching at the ground as it forages for seeds.
You will likely hear the distinctive “bouncing ball” song of the Wrentit echoing across
the landscape, but you will be lucky to see one. You might just catch a glimpse of the
California Thrasher using its long, curved bill to probe leaf litter for insects and grubs.
A covey of California Quail (our state bird) might surprise you
as they hurriedly scuttle across the trail or explode into startled
bursts of flight.
Take a minute to stop and listen; you will soon
become aware of a variety of sights and sounds.
As you open your ears and eyes, this seemingly
tranquil landscape is filled with life.
Bird Diversity
California hosts diverse and abundant avian life. Over
650 avian species reside in California, 450 of which
have been spotted in San Luis Obispo County.
Bird Watching
The best time of day to spot birds is in the
early morning, before the sun is fully up. Song
birds are most active near dawn and dusk, but
waterfowl, seabirds, shorebirds and hawks may be
seen all day. Forest edges are a great place to look,
especially during migration times.
‹ California Towhee
‹ Wrentit
‹ California Quail
California Thrasher ›
Chaparral
Many of the open spaces around San
Luis Obispo contain chaparral. This
habitat is dominated by evergreen shrubs
that have evolved to cope with the
long, dry summers characteristic of this
region. Chaparral may seem dense and
impenetrable, but this makes it an ideal
habitat for many birds.
4-40
Bellevue School
the
The one-room school with a view
More than 100 years ago, girls and boys
attended first through sixth grades in a one-room
schoolhouse located on the Johnson Ranch.
Bellevue School was built in 1897 and
held 20 to 25 students. The building had
no indoor plumbing so the students and
their teachers used an outhouse. Most
people didn’t have bathrooms during
this time, so an outhouse was not
thought to be a terrible hardship.
Bellevue’s original location was further
up the canyon. To make the walk to
school easier for the children, the
building was moved closer to the
public road (then called San Luis-Avila
Road, now South Higuera Street).
Bellevue faced east, looking out over San Luis Obispo from atop a knoll
where the South Higuera Street underpass crosses Highway 101 today.
As you can see, the view is indeed beautiful.
The Bellevue School merged with
another school in 1947 and became
the Bellevue-Santa Fe School.
That building still has its bell tower
and sits close to its original site
near Ontario Road. It is visible from
Highway 101 as a restored multi-
use historic building. The present-
day Bellevue-Santa Fe School still
exists as a charter school on See
Canyon Road.
From the Students
GEORGE CHAPMAN
“I attended the Bellevue school from 1940
to 1942 in the first, second, and third grades.
I lived across Highway 101 from Karen
Hewlett in the big white house that still exists.
The house was on the Smith Ranch - my
grandparents’. I would walk to Highway 101
and be picked up by Mrs. Ball, the teacher
at the time. When the flats were flooded as
they were each year, I would walk along the
mountain to a schoolmate’s house and cross
the creek on the only available bridge to get
to the school. Behind the school was the ‘Out
House’ - a real ‘two seater.’ In the front yard
lived many tarantulas that we could play with.
After December 7, 1941 (the day Pearl Harbor
was bombed), we would practice air raid
drills by evacuating the school and cuddling
in a slight depression to the west of the
school along the road to the Johnson Ranch.”
Mr. Chapman now lives in New Jersey.
KAREN HEWLETT WOODMAN
“I remember all of those kids you mentioned
but haven’t thought of for years. Do you
remember Mrs. Ball’s great old car? Every
once in a while she would give us a ride
down the highway. Mrs. Lind was great.
I went to sixth grade with her daughter
Daphne and we were good friends. I only
went to the fourth and fifth grade there and
then Mrs. Lind got me into sixth grade at
Fremont (in San Luis Obispo) so I could meet
some kids before starting Junior High.”
Ms. Woodman now lives in Utah.
HERB FILIPPONI
“I remember Mrs. Ball’s old car with a fancy
spare tire cover on the back. She would pick
me up on the way to school because it was
on the way. I remember some of the fun
chores assigned to kids like putting up the
flag on our old flag pole every day. One time
I slipped on the pole and gashed my knee. I
was embarrassed so I never told anyone. A
special treat was if you were picked to ring
the bell (pull the rope) to call the kids in from
recess. We often played a type of hide and
seek game - ‘All the all the outs in free’- I
thought it was Ollie Ollie oxen free.
Our thanks to Bellevue student and long-time San Luis
Obispo resident, Herb Filipponi, who provided history,
photos, and fond memories from himself and other
Bellevue students of their days in the school.
The Bellevue School building was purchased by a church
in 1947 and moved from Johnson Ranch to Windward
Drive in Shell Beach, where it served as a church for
many years. A new hall was built in Shell Beach next
to the old schoolhouse that is rented out as a non-
denominational wedding chapel and reception room.
The old school building, which still looks very much like
it did in this photo from almost a century ago, currently serves as a
honeymoon suite.
Students at Bellevue School, about 1940. Standing left to right: Virginia Oliveira, Merle Feliz, Lucille Sarmento, Lena Oliveira, Manuel Santos, Marie Santos, Luis Silveira (behind Marie), Irvin Silveira, Johm Oliveira, Ken Ball‹›
The Bellevue School in its original location on a knoll overlooking San Luis Obispo, east
of the current entry to Johnson Ranch where the highway in now located
4-41
Cheapskate Hill history
In the early 1920s, Exposition Park’s one-mile
track was billed as the nation’s fastest dirt oval
and attracted the top drivers in the country.
A “Sensational Racing Romance”
One of South Hills’ main contributions to San Luis
Obispo history was a great view of the auto races held
at what was known in the early 1920s as Exposition Park.
Paying fans could watch the races from the grandstand, but for
those who didn’t wish to pay, the view from “Cheapskate Hill”,
now known as South Hills Natural Reserve, was just fine.
The racetrack was not a commercial success, and the property was
sold after about three years. The grandstand remained as part of a
baseball field for a number of years and, in time, 18 acres of the
original 80-acre property became Meadow Park.
A crowd gathers at Exposition Park at the scene of a wreck.
Photo courtesy of the SLO Tribune
Traces of the track could still be seen shortly after Meadow Park
was built. Photo courtesy of the SLO Tribune
1923 1950
PHOTO COURTESY OF: Special Collections and Archives, Cal Poly
PHOTO COURTESY OF: Special Collections and Archives, Cal Poly
4-42
Greenbelt Protection Program history
As we look forward to the future, the City will be working hard with its partners
and with the trust of private landowners to complete the Greenbelt.
Purchasing the land is the easy part, but securing the
permanence of our conservation efforts in order to take
care of the land – forever – will be the challenge that
is incumbent upon all of us who care deeply about the
landscapes that make San Luis Obispo special.
Laguna Lake wildflower hike, 1996
1996
The City of San Luis Obispo has established a proud land conservation
legacy through its signature Greenbelt Protection Program.
In 1995 the stated program goals were “to permanently conserve and protect prime
agricultural land, sensitive wildlife habitat, and scenic land surrounding the City.” Today,
over 7,000 acres have been safeguarded for these purposes.
The City of San Luis Obispo acquired its first open space property at the turn of the century,
in the Reservoir Canyon area. This was done for the purpose of securing a municipal water
supply for the City’s growing population. Other important greenbelt
property interests were acquired over the years prior to the formal
establishment of the Greenbelt Protection Program. These include
the Laguna Lake properties and scenic hillsides such as Islay Hill,
Terrace Hill, and the South Hills.
Once the Greenbelt Protection Program was formally established open
space acquisition expanded rapidly. Signature land conservation efforts
that were achieved in the early days of the program included portions of
Cerro San Luis and Bishop Peak, perhaps the two most majestic and
prominent peaks in the entire region. Diverse wildlife habitat and oak woodlands were acquired
through a series of purchases and land dedications that would become the Irish Hills Natural
Reserve. Large ranch properties will remain in active agriculture, while also protecting watershed
lands and sensitive habitats, through the purchase of conservation easements at the Guidetti
Ranch, Brughelli Ranch and Stenner Ranch. Prime farmland will remain in production at
the Calle Joaquin Agricultural Reserve. Important habitat and city gateway properties were
protected with the acquisition of Johnson Ranch and the Filipponi Ecological Reserve. The
headwaters of two local creeks were acquired with the Stenner Springs and Waddell Ranch
properties, as well.
Johnson Ranch at time of acquisition, September 2001Bishop Peak Dedication, 1998
1998 2001
Ebenezer Howard and the
Modern Greenbelt
The notion of the modern greenbelt is most
often attributed to Ebenezer Howard. In his
1898 book, Garden Cities of Tomorrow,
Howard put forth a new model for cities in
reaction to the crowded, polluted, unbalanced,
and inequitable cities of the industrial age.
Howard’s vision of a “garden city” included
the provision of a permanent belt of open
land, to be used for agriculture as an integral
part of the city, and the use of this land to limit
the physical spread of the city from within, or
encroachments from urban development not
under control at the perimeter of the city.
Ebenezer Howard’s model of a “garden city” is
surprisingly consistent with the goals set forth
by the City of San Luis Obispo’s Greenbelt
Protection Program. In fact, Howard’s idea of
small, planned cities surrounded by greenbelts
was thought to represent a higher, more
cooperative stage of civilization based on
ecologically balanced communities.
Reservoir Canyon Falls ›
The original Greenbelt map from 1993
4-43
The Johnson Family history
A Century of Hard Work and Hardware
Mark Johnson was born in Denmark in
1851 and immigrated to America when
he was 17. He bought land near what
is now Los Osos Valley Road and
Foothill Boulevard, and in 1901, Mark
and his wife Emelia purchased the
Johnson Ranch, which the family
owned for 100 years.
Mark and Emelia Johnson had four sons:
Christian (1886), Frederick (1887), Allen (1890), and
George (1893). The family lived together at the ranch until Mark
passed away in 1916. Emelia, George, and Allen continued to live
at the ranch for many more years. After George’s death in 1981,
the family rented the property to others until deciding to sell it to
the City of San Luis Obispo in 2001.
Chris and Fred moved to town and ran Union Hardware &
Plumbing on Garden Street. Allen ran A Better Plumbing Co.
in San Luis Obispo for years. Chris and his wife Ida had three
children: Jeanette, Mark, and Randi. It is through the efforts
of Jeanette Johnson Ayres, with support from her cousins
Steve Curtiss and Carolyn Silacci, that the Johnson Ranch was
conserved and the history of a prominent local family retained.
Johnson Ranch, a living legacy
Most of the ranch buildings remain in use today as part of
the continuing agricultural operation. Two of the old barns
are used for storage and agricultural operations. Though
not open to the public at this time, the ranch buildings
can be seen from the trail above.
‹ The sons of Mark andEmelia Johnson, left to right: George Johnson, Chris Johnson, Fred Johnson, and Allen Johnson
Jeanette Johnson on the left, with her cousins Nadine Johnson and Margaret Johnson. The adult is Nadine’s mother, Belva. Jeanette’s married name was Ayres; she was instrumental in having the Johnson Ranch preserved as public open space.
›
Mark & Emelia Johnson, 1885 ›
Exterior and interior views of the Union Hardware and Plumbing Company building on Garden Street in San Luis Obispo, operated by the Johnson family, 1912. This will be the Garden Street Terrace project / Serra Hotel.
‹ Johnson Ranch House, 1915
View of the Johnson Ranch farm buildings, about 1910. The barns and main farm house still exist.
The smaller building is gone. A few orchard trees remain, as do most of the eucalyptus trees pictured.
4-44
Thank you for your
cooperation, and enjoy your
visit to the Johnson Ranch!
through the years
Johnson Ranch
The Quarry Spur and Forbes Pond
For a short time in the early 1900s, a railroad spur came off
the Pacific Coast Railway line and ran alongside Dry Creek to
a rocky bluff, which was quarried for gravel. Once the quarry
was no longer used, it filled with water that seeped from
Dry Creek. Over the years, willows and cattails grew, people
introduced fish, and the quarry area became a small wildlife
refuge, which it remains today. This little jewel is now named
Forbes Pond, in honor of Bert and Candee Forbes, whose
donation allowed the City to purchase Johnson Ranch.
Development of the Highway and Its
Effect on Johnson Ranch
In the early 1950s, the San Luis Obispo-Avila Road was
replaced by a modern highway with only limited access
points. The Johnson family lost its access to Avila Road until
a long driveway was built parallel to the highway permitting
access to Ontario Road. This driveway remains the main
access to the ranch today. Grading for the highway also
destroyed the site of the original Bellevue School.
Miramonte Ranch Easement
Please do not hike on the road or
near the nesting site at Forbes Pond.
A legal easement granting access
across what is now the Johnson
Ranch was made in 1883 to allow
several neighboring owners to go
across Johnson property to reach
their ranches further to the west.
This easement remains as a legal
access for the successors to those
owners, and the easement road does
get vehicle traffic on a regular basis.
For this reason, and because the road
passes near the heron nesting site
at Forbes Pond, visitors are asked to
stay off the road and utilize the trails
provided. The pond can be viewed
from several areas along the trail.
4-45
Old Quarrythe
Forbes Pond
In the early 1900s this area was quarried for gravel,
which was shipped out on a railroad spur connected to
the Pacific Coast Railway. The quarry was abandoned
and over time, water seeped into it from Dry Creek.
Willows and cattails grew, fish were brought in, and
the quarry eventually became a small wildlife refuge.
This little jewel is now named Forbes Pond, in honor of Bert
and Candee Forbes, whose significant donation allowed the
City to purchase Johnson Ranch.
You may see large flocks
of red-winged blackbirds
and cedar waxwings, or the
elusive black-crowned night
herons, who make
their homes here.
Please stay on
the trails and
avoid disturbing
the birds.‹ Black-Crowned Night Heron
4-46
At least three small chromite mining efforts occurred
in the Irish Hills between the 1880s and early 1900s.
The remains consist only of the actual working faces,
foundations and mine tailings of low grade ore. Small sheds
probably existed to store fuel, equipment, or explosives, but no
larger buildings have been discovered.
Early Mining Historyirish hills
Chromite is a mineral found in certain
rocks, including serpentine, which underlies
much of the Irish Hills Natural Reserve.
Chromium is known for its high
shine when polished, and is used
as a protective and decorative
coating on car parts, cutlery, and
many other items.
A major industrial
development was the
discovery that steel
could be made highly
resistant to corrosion
and discoloration by
adding chromium to
form rustproof stainless
steel. This process
would prove to be
important to the World
War I effort.
The form of chromium found here is not
considered hazardous. Falling hazards may
still be present and caution
is always urged around
such areas due to the
danger of unstable
slopes or falling rocks.
C12H17
H17C12
H17C12
Cr–Cr C12H17
C12H17
R
=
Cr
Irish Hills prospectors find value
in Chromite
“As a mining county, San Luis Obispo is
most widely known for its production of
chromic iron. In years past many mines
were worked here, but, owing to the low
prices obtained in recent years, nothing
is now being done. Chromic iron occurs,
however, in large quantities and, under
favorable conditions, will again be mined.”
Now, in 1918, 13 years after the above was
written, it is interesting to note that, while
quicksilver production also adds largely to
San Luis Obispo’s fame as a mining county,
the chromic iron mines are, under present
favorable conditions, supplying a steady
tonnage of ore to an eager market.
Froom’s (Mrs.) Chrome Deposits.
Mrs. Froom of San Luis Obispo owns some
old chrome properties in the southern part
of Rancho Laguna, 4.5 miles southwest
of the city. There are five old tunnels on
the property, one of which is still open
for 50 feet. This tunnel is driven entirely
in serpentine and shows some granules of
chrome ore scattered through the rock.
There is an old open cut with a face 40
feet high from which it is reported quite a
tonnage of ore was extracted in the past. A
small amount of prospecting has recently
been done on the property.
California Division of Mines Bulletin, 1918
4-47
We are fortunate to have remnant, intact
native grasslands in San Luis Obispo
that are now all but gone throughout
most of California.
Serpentine Scene
the
Quite a few of these species are considered very
rare by the California Native Plant Society, while
others are listed as threatened or endangered.
Some notable examples of especially rare plants that are known only
from San Luis Obispo and a few other locations include: Jones’ layia
(Layia jonesii), Adobe Sanicle (Sanicula maritima), Club-Haired
Mariposa Lily (Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus) and Chorro Creek
bog thistle (Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense).
Native California perennial bunchgrasses, such as purple needlegrass
(Stipa pulchra) are also commonly found in serpentine areas throughout
the Greenbelt. The State of California designated purple needlegrass
as the official state grass in 2004. Tolerant of summer drought and heat
once established, these grasses have deep roots that help stabilize
soils and prevent erosion, as well as retain soil moisture content. We are
fortunate to have remnant, intact native grasslands in San Luis Obispo
that are now all but gone throughout most of California.
Botanical Diversity
The San Luis Obispo Greenbelt
contains outstanding botanical
diversity, primarily due to
numerous locations where
serpentine rock and soil are
present. In fact, over 1,400
native plants are known from
the Greenbelt, representing
more plant diversity than is found in
the entire state of Alaska!
(Keil and Ritter, 2016).
Club-Haired Mariposa Lily
Calochortus clavatus spp. clavatus
Adobe Sanicle
Sanicula maritima
Chorro Creek Bog Thistle
Cirsium fontinale var. obispoense
Jones’ Layia
Layia jonesii
Purple Needlegrass (Stipa pulchra)
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The Bob Jones Trail draws focus to this vital feature of our
landscape while providing outdoor recreational opportunities.
Please take a moment to consider this intricate and dynamic natural system and bear in mind its need for care and protection.
San Luis Obispo Creek watershed
The thin ribbon of water that threads
its way from the Santa Lucia Range
through San Luis Obispo, until ultimately
emptying into the Pacific Ocean, has been
the foundation of local human existence.
Our area Chumash tribes subsisted on its
water and the associated wildlife. Mission
San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, founded in
1772, could only have been established and
exist by the water it provided. Likewise, it is
questionable if San Luis Obispo would have
ever been founded without the establishment
of the Mission. The nearby creek provided
the Mission with not only an irrigation source
but power to operate a grist mill. San Luis
Obispo Creek also contributes to the San Luis
Obispo Valley Groundwater Basin aquifer
which supplies our town with an additional
municipal water source.
The importance of San Luis Obispo Creek can never
be overstated, however it has been the recipient of
considerable abuse and neglect.
During the early years of San Luis Obispo, before our now high level of wastewater
infrastructure and treatment, residential and commercial wastewater was simply
piped to and discharged into this once pristine and vibrant waterway. Imported
urban vegetation has escaped cultivation and established itself in the creek corridor
resulting in the displacement of prime native riparian vegetation. Broken concrete and
other erosion control methods have prevented the replenishment of sediments and
accelerated channel incising.
Unknown to many is the cavernous quarter mile section under downtown ominously
known as “deep dark” that flows beneath the City from Cheng Park to Mission Plaza.
Homeless populations, the presence of trash, and urban storm water heavily impact the
integrity of any creek system.
San Luis Obispo Creek is not always the tranquil creek
we see that meanders through town. In unusual winters
when rain saturates the soil and subsequent heavy
rains occur, San Luis Obispo Creek can become a
devastating torrent. Trees, limbs and debris carried
by the turbulent water can clog the numerous bridges
forcing water out of the channel and down City
streets. Continued urbanization exacerbates run off
with impermeable pavement, hardscapes and buildings.
‹ Collections of debris and trash in SLO Creek, 1966
PHOTO BY: The Tribune
ABOVE THREE PHOTOS COURTESY OF: The History Center of San Luis Obispo County
Broad St bridge, before Mission Plaza Corner of Montery and Chorro Streets, circa mid 1960’s Mission plaza under construction, circa 1971
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