HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 02 - 2019 Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report
Department Name: Parks and Recreation
Cost Center: 7005 & 7001
For Agenda of: January 21, 2020
Placement: Consent
Estimated Time: N/A
FROM: Greg Avakian, Parks and Recreation Director
Prepared By: Aleah Bergam, Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: 2019 OPEN SPACE MAINTENANCE PLAN PROGRESS REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
Receive and file the Parks and Recreation Department’s Open Space Maintenance Plan 2019
Progress Report.
DISCUSSION
Background
On December 15, 2015 the City Council adopted the City’s first Open Space Maintenance Plan.
Adoption of the Plan identified annual progress reports to the Council; this Agenda Report
transmits the Third Annual Progress Report (Attachment A).
The adopted Plan is premised on the protection of the City’s natural resources including plants,
animals, geologic, and historic features as well as the natural areas themselves. The Plan was
written in a manner that affirms existing maintenance practices undertaken by staff, contractors,
and volunteers. Those practices are all undertaken in a manner that is consistent with existing
City policies, ordinances, and plans regarding open space. The Plan specifically references and
integrates as its foundational policy guidance the following existing City policy documents:
Conservation and Open Space Element, Conservation Guidelines for Open Space Lands of the
City of San Luis Obispo, and the adopted Conservation Plans for each of the City’s open space
lands. Overall planning, acquisition, and management is undertaken by the Open Space Team,
which meets at least monthly and is comprised of staff from the Natural Resources Program and
Parks and Recreation Ranger Service. Day-to-day maintenance, monitoring, education, and
patrol is led by Ranger Service.
In addition to implementing the Conservation Plans for specific open space and reserve
properties, the Plan addresses existing maintenance needs 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.
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Plan Focus
The Plan is divided in three sections:
1. Maintenance Activities. Maintenance Activities have been ongoing in the City’s open space
for years. They are undertaken by staff, as well as contractors and volunteers on a daily,
weekly, monthly and annual basis. Maintenance activities fall into six main categories: 1)
vegetation, 2) structure, 3) signage, 4) trail/road, 5) drainage, and 6) trail construction. Under
each category are specific tasks. Within each of these categories are focused activities that
can occur seasonally or year-round.
2. Trailhead Amenities. For the purpose of standardization, the City has three different sized
trailheads (small, medium, and large) with differing degrees of enhancement at each.
Currently, the City has 24 trailheads throughout its open space system. The Plan identifies
for each trailhead amenity its purpose, design specification, location, standard costs,
materials, installation, maintenance, and lifespan.
3. Open Space Locations. City Ranger staff presently maintain approximately 4,040 acres of
open space lands comprised of 16 properties held in open space, natural reserve, ecological
reserve, or agricultural reserve status. The Plan implementation items are numerous and
property specific. They include activities such as: trailhead, parking, and emergency access
improvements; directional and educational trail signs and kiosks; trail installation, closures,
re-routes, and erosion control; invasive species control, fire protection and native habitat
restoration; and bridge, fence, and open space infrastructure replacement.
Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report Highlights
The Open Space Maintenance Plan Progress Report covers predominately calendar year 2019. It
provides a visual and numerical summary for Council and the community about the work efforts
undertaken to address the adopted Plan (Resolution No. 10682).
2019 Open Space Maintenance and Protection efforts addressed new and deferred projects. How
those efforts were accomplished is also highlighted in the report. A major accomplishment
includes extensive improvements at Johnson Ranch trailhead including the construction of a new
parking area, road work, and the construction of new fencing and gates. Significant trailhead
improvements were also made to Bishop Peak including bog thistle fencing; construction of a
new pedestrian gate and a foot bridge was constructed at Islay Hill. Of particular focus for
Ranger staff this past year was fire-fuel reduction. Ranger Staff received California Conservation
Corps (CCC) free labor through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. The CCC crew worked on
fuel reduction projects at Bowden Ranch. This is part of ongoing efforts to reduce the fire threat
at the Bowden Ranch Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Over 75 non-native eucalyptus trees
were removed in the creek corridor to support the ongoing succession planning efforts
established along the creek through protecting the resident native trees and the additional
mitigation plantings. Ranger staff began Plan objectives focused on the Waddell Ranch portion,
including installation of trail signage, protection of resources and improvement to existing trails.
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In response to prior Council discussion and direction, 2019 includes the end of year one of a two-
year pilot program at the Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve that allows extended evening hours of
use for passive recreational purposes along approximately 4.9 miles of trails during the winter
months when daylight savings time is not in effect. Users are required to register for a free
permit in order to gain access to the trails. In year one, there were 3,160 permitted trail users
(307 Bikers, 2,853 Hikers). The Open Space team installed an EcoCounterTM device that uses
infrared technology to track and capture use data at the Marsh Street trailhead location of Cerro
San Luis. Data analysis from year one indicates that permits are highest in demand during the
month of December when the light tree is set up on top of Cerro San Luis.
Looking Ahead to 2020
The City’s Open Space team has planned out its priority projects for 2020. This coming year
will see new trails built in the Irish Hills Natural Reserve, as well as other access improvements
at Laguna Lake. In addition, the Miossi Open Space Conservation Plan was heard by Council on
January 14, 2020, which includes its comprehensive study and planning for public access to this
266-acre property. Ranger staff anticipate contract fence construction to be completed along the
southerly property boundary prior to the opening of Miossi Open Space for public access in
2020, as well as other standard specification open space amenities (kiosk, interpretive panels,
fencing & gates, etc.). Ranger staff will complete the second year of the two-year pilot program
allowing evening hours at Cerro San Luis Natural Reserve and will continue to track usage data
surrounding the pilot program to report back to Council. In 2020, staff will be releasing
PixOnPeaks 3.0, focusing on challenging residents to hike all trails in the Irish Hills Natural
Reserve to earn a bandana with the trail map imprinted. Ranger Service staff will continue
contract clean-ups of encampment waste in Open Spaces, specifically located in creeks.
Previous Council or Advisory Body Action
On February 5, 2019 City Council received and filed the Parks and Recreation Department’s
Open Space Maintenance Plan 2018 Progress Report. On January 16, 2018 City Council
received and filed the Parks and Recreation Department’s Open Space Maintenance Plan 2017
Progress Report and the Open Space Kiosk Panels. On December 6, 2017 the Parks and
Recreation Commission received a presentation on the 2017 Annual Progress of the Open Space
Maintenance Plan and concurred with the information provided in the report. On January 3, 2017
City Council received and filed the Parks and Recreation Department’s first Open Space
Maintenance Plan 2016 Progress Report. On December 15, 2015 the City Council adopted the
City’s first Open Space Maintenance Plan (Resolution No. 10682).
Policy Context
All activities undertaken in protecting the City’s Open Space by Ranger Services, are done in a
manner consistent with all adopted City policies, ordinances, and open space and/or natural
preserve conservation plans.
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Public Engagement
Public engagement was conducted surrounding the initial development and adoption of the Open
Space Maintenance Plan. No new public engagement has been done surrounding the
development of the 2019 Annual Progress Report on the Open Space Maintenance Plan. Public
comment can be provided to the City Council through written correspondence prior to the
meeting and through public testimony at the meeting.
CONCURRENCE
City Administration’s Sustainability & Natural Resources Official, Bob Hill, concurs with this
report.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
When adopted on December 15, 2015, a Negative Declaration was approved for the Maintenance
Plan. In addition, to being compliant with the Plan, all activities undertaken in protecting the
City’s Open Space by the Rangers, are done in a manner consistent with all adopted City
policies, ordinances, and open space and/or natural preserve conservation plans. The City’s
consideration of an Open Space Maintenance Plan 2019 Progress Report is not a project within
the meaning of CEQA Guidelines Section 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2019-20
Funding Identified:
Fiscal Analysis:
Funding Sources Current FY Cost
Annualized
On-going Cost
Total Project
Cost
General Fund N/A
State
Federal
Fees
Other:
Total N/A
This report on maintenance activities does not have a new fiscal impact. The activities are
funded through the adopted 2019-21 Financial Plan and include the Annual Open Space
Maintenance CIP and resources from the operational budget for the Ranger Service Program in
the Parks and Recreation Department and Natural Resources Protection Program in
Administration.
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ALTERNATIVES
Do not receive and file the 2019 Annual Progress Report for the Open Space Maintenance Plan
and direct staff to make revisions to the Report.
Attachments:
a - COUNCIL READING FILE - Open Space Maintenance Plan 2019 Progress Report
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