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Home My WebLink About10-24-2017 Item 4, HampianCOUNCIL MPEETINQ-101 '=-`1 ITEM NO.: H From: Ken Hampian < Sent: Monday, October 16, 2017 8:14 AM To: E-mail Council Website Cc: Johnson, Derek; Dietrick, Christine; Ansolabehere, Jon; Grigsby, Daryl; Hill, Robert Subject: Fwd: EI Capitan Bridge: October 24 Council Meeting Attachments: CIP & EI Cap Bridge 5-28-17.pdf OCT 16 207 Mayor Harmon and Council Members: ' !.y f 17 r Unfortunately, I will be unable to attend your meeting on October 24th. Hence this email ... Last May, I wrote to Council the EI Capitan Bridge "backstory" and how it came to be that a few unsuspecting property owners became responsible for maintaining the bridge (attached). This was a hopelessly optimistic, impractical arrangement, as we now know. You will have an action before you on the 24th that will remedy this situation and allow for a long awaited replacement of the damaged bridge. Your staff has done an excellent job of pursuing a remedy and crafting the legal and budgetary actions needed to move forward. The purpose of this email is to reveal a bit of the human side - even a little domestic "dispute"' - relevant to the recommendations before you. Here's the story.... After the Ston ec reek path was built to connect the bridge to the area trail system, my wife and I began to see a regular stream of bobbing heads passing over our rear fence line. These bobbing heads were, quite naturally, inclined to peer into our backyard - which often caused my wife to say "Thanks, Ken, for the loss of privacy". My reply: "Every time I see heads bobbing by, it makes me happy. So many people are using the path!" The bobbing heads have reduced to a trickle since the bridge was damaged. While some of this decrease can be attributed to the disconnect between EI Capitan Street homes and the rest of the trail system, there are two other reasons, as illustrated in the pictures below: (1) A big sign has been posted at the opposite access point to the Stonecreek path that reads "Bridge Closed Ahead". While posting this sign may be an appropriate alert, it is the equivalent of an unwelcoming "Dead End" message to walkers; and (2) The defunct bridge cut off paved access from Poinsettia Street to the trail, now replaced by the improvised and uninviting option of traipsing (and trespassing) through an open scrub brush area. It should be noted, however, that some people (and cats) are still using the damaged bridge, as evidenced by the fence cuts (at both ends) and the telltale mutt mitt in the photo below. This is not good. One of the best things about the Edna -Islay, Arbors & EI Capitan area is the connected pedestrian trail system. City policy has worked here to create a highly used, socially uplifting neighborhood pedestrian amenity. By supporting staffs recommendations on the 24th, Council will assure that City policy and existing paths are working optimally in the neighborhood once again. In closing, my thanks to the staff for the great effort required to bring this matter to you - and to the Council for your constant hard work to manage and balance so many community needs and challenges. Ken Hampian Paved path on left to Poinsettia Street 2 .t SSL � � � ��-' � . - � 5�r.Vr �, '' ,. , • {r. •�. :!ir' iii{" 9 � 4 �r� f •� •4 � ia..>iF,:iL Ul:� .a �i'}d. •Yi-l�+b�L Iq. ► - yam•. ''• list, ..•��t..- ,ly �j+s+v •j r {,r�R Fence cuts at both ends of bridge 1 •, Kms. ___- _. _ 1.. r •BFj.. - - T ------------- rte+ i'-is�F•+1 � _ - .'! May 28, 2017 To: Mayor Harmon and Council Members: RE: No 2017-19 CIP Money for El Capitan Bridge, but.... In 1999, after much review and debate, a small tract (#2294) was approved by the City Council designed to yield seven "affordable" homes on the creek side (southerly) of El Capitan Way. These homes would complete the development of this small street (the north side tract, #2248, was approved in 1997). I was the assistant city manager when these tracts were approved - an observer only because of my home's proximity to the development (4143 Poinsettia). A significant concern for the Council related to how the creek corridor behind the homes (but within their property lines) would be maintained to reduce fire risk. Fire Department weed abatement was indeed common in this recently annexed area. The Council decided that a bridge spanning the creek, built to handle 1 -ton trucks, should be installed to allow access to the open area. The question of who would maintain the land and the bridge was then debated. The idea of an HOA was rejected. The Council felt that burdening the homes with an HOA would undermine affordability. Instead, maintenance of both the land and the brie would be up to, and shared by, the seven homeowners (such is the nature of late night decisions?). There was debate about the location of the bridge — should it be more "central" to the homes or at the end of the El Capitan Way cul de sac? The cul de sac location, which includes a chunk of City owned property (60%), was chosen to avoid tree removal. The bridge was built and the homes were sold. The bridge led from the cul de sac to an undevelopable open space area, heavy with weeds. Pedestrian and bike paths connecting neighborhoods were of high interest at this time, and staff was working hard to gain railroad approval to open an existing paved culvert under the tracks to create a pedestrian/bike connection between two major neighborhoods: the Edna side "flower -tract homes" northwest of the tracks (the French Park area) and the Islay side Arbors neighborhood to the southeast. It took an act of Congress (literally!) to make this great connection happen. When the adjacent Stone Creek tract (#2366) was considered a couple of years later, the City seized an opportunity to further extend the area trail system by requiring a pedestrian/bike path to connect the El Capitan Bridge to Fuller Road. This path runs parallel with La Posada Street and is maintained by the Stone Creek HOA. With this connection, the bridge and path became a heavily used part of the larger bike/pedestrian trail system in the area (see attached pictures). Then in late 2014/early 2015, a large Eucalyptus tree fell and severely damaged the bridge. My first thought was, "Uh oh, who is going to fix it? Do the El Capitan homeowners know they have a dog in the fight?" My question was answered later on KSBY when one of the owners was interviewed and expressed her great surprise that she partially "owned" a bridge - and that she was expected to help fix it. This was going to get complicated ... and boy, did it ever! I shall leave it to City staff to explain the details, but very long story short, the seven El Capitan Way homeowners and the Stone Creek HOA have not been keen on paying for a bridge replacement. As such, your staff has been working to forge a proposed agreement that would allow the City to replace and maintain the bridge - truly, the only practical alternative. It is hoped that staff can bring an agreement to the Council in the next few weeks. This gets to the core purpose of this letter. It has been 2 'h years since the bridge was damaged and E1 Capitan Way access to the larger trail system has been closed off. The bridge now sits as a deteriorating, hazardous "attraction" between two neighborhoods with many children. During future storms, there is increasing potential for the bridge to collapse and create a creek blockage. It needs to be replaced or fixed. The attached pictures make the case. While it's good that the legal steps prerequisite to Council action seem to be falling into place, there is no funding in your proposed 2017-19 CIP to repair and/or replace the bridge. This initially concerned me because waiting until 2019-21 to fund the bridge would effectively postpone repairs for another four years (given design, bid, work -in - creek requirements). Such a delay would be risky for all parties involved. And a neighborhood connection would stay broken. I have been assured, however, that when staff brings forward to Council the agreements needed to finally resolve the ownership and easement issues now blocking progress, staff will also offer alternative funding strategies (including non -General Fund options). Hopefully this will occur this summer. In closing, it seems that vehicles have seldom used the bridge, if at all (and certainly not over the last 2 '/Z years). On the other hand, the bridge has been a heavily used pedestrian link by residents throughout the area. Therefore, I would suggest that the City evaluate the potential of replacing the bridge with a less costly pedestrian bridge, with vehicles accessing the open area using the path off of Fuller (as I have seen them do in the past). Thank you very much for your hard work in balancing so many community needs and interests. I look forward to seeing you when the El Capitan Bridge matter comes before your Council. *V,n an�pian Attached Pictures: (1) Area maps; and (2) The bridge today /, 2 `. A -,�J Stone Creek path connects bridge to Fuller Road, and eventually to the larger trail system. Railroad culvert connects [slay neighborhood (Arbors) to Edna neighborhood (French ParkP'flower tract"). Homes and "Poinsettia path" to right of bridge approved with Tract 2248 in 1997; 7 homes to left with Tract 2294 in 1999. Stone Creek path build around 2003I2DO4 with Tract 2365 (Stone Creek). v ,.'P, c_s 7i �,J OV -*/ 2 C-, -0t) /7 0.4 BRIDGEI" CLOSED r. �1�"�b. �'. ;lief Y•�� - oell 00 dq 11,714-C �, t-l�, A,.) w1� ,,,v, � e Y---