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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1971-05-04; City Council; 409; Request for City's support of H.B. 4750 BillTHE CITY OF C A R L S B A D, C A L I F'O R N I A . Agenda Bill No. Ref erred To : -- - Subject: Submi t t ed By : Req;est for City's support of H.B. 4750 Bill, authorizing federal acquisition of land - Mayor Dunne Rancho Guajome and Lake Calavera Statement of the Matter Letter from E. R. Asmus, City Manager of Vista, requesting the City's support of H. B. 4750, authorizing federal acquisition of approximately six hundred acres of land known as Rancho Guajome. Exhibit 1. Letter dated April 8, 1971, from E. R. Asmus, City Manager of Vista. 2. Resolution No. 71-25 of the City of Vista. 3. Resolution No. 1849 of the City of Carlsbad Staff Recomrnenda tions - .. - r Date: April 16, 1971 .- -a City Manager's eecommendation Council 'Action . 4-20-71 The City Attorney was instructed to prepare a Resolution for the next Council Meeting urging support of Bill HR 4750 per- taining to the acquisition of Rancho Guajome as a National Historic Site, and that Lake Calavera also be included. 5-4-71 -Council adopted Resodution No. 1849 by title only and further reading waived. The City Manager presented the proposed 'Bond Issue Park Plan to Council and Council agreed a meeting should be held May 22, 1971 at.8:30 A.M. to have an on-site inspection of parks and also view slides and requested a member of the Parks & Recreation Commission and Planning Department be present at said meeting. .. ' # $4 -'i -2- i PHONE 726-1340 P. 0. BOX 188 e 200 W. BROADWAY 0 VISTA. CALIFORNIA 92063 April 8, 1971 City Clerk, City of Escondido City Clerk, City of Oceanside City Clerk, City of San Marcos City Clerk, City of Carlsbad / Gent lenien : The Vista City Council, at its regular meeting of April 5, 1971, adopted Resolution No. 71-25 urging the House of Representatives to pass H, B. 4750 authorizing federal acquisition of approxi- mately six-hundred acres of land known as Rancho Guajomc. The bill, if approved and funds provided, would complement present county efforts to acquire additional adjacent lands contemplated as a county regional park in North County, For your information, we are attaching a copy of our resolution supporting this bill. your city's support, The Vista City Council would appreciate ve'ry truly yours, &=- E, R, Asmus City Manager EF&:pf cc: County Board of Supervisors Honorable John Scliiitz House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs I 3 .- I A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUiVCIL OF THE CITY PER’LAII6ING TO THE ncguTSlT~:O~~ OF RANCHO GTcJAJOME OF VISTA URGING SUf’f’O2i71 OF EILL H. H. 4750 - AS A NATIONAL HISTORIC S’LTK WHEREAS, Rancho Gu2joine excmplifies the tradit ionrzl Spanish-Mexican Rznche ri) ; and WHEH34S, it is in the bsst isterest of the cormrlunity atid the nation to maintain such historical ni~nurrlzrits which have contributed to our heritage and especially to the developmmt of the State of Cal-ifomia; aqd WHEREAS, Guajolne Ranchhouse, erected in 1852, has been careful-ly pre- served; and WHEREAS, the acquislition of this raiichho:ise, together with the surround- ing prop,erty, would be very desirable and beneficial to Norliherii San Diego County in order to preserve a historical site which wou1d greatly enhance the cornmmity and contribate toward our open-space program; zid WHEREAS, Congressman Schinitz has in.trodilced Bill H. R. 4750 to establ.i.Eh a National Historic Site at Guajorne; and WHE3CAS, the City Council of the City of Vista does endorse this b-ill and urges the House Comaittee on Interior and Insular Affairs to appropriate the - necessary funds to acquire Rancho Guajorne. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the citizens of ow- cornunity heartily concur in the adoption of Bill II. R. 4750 together with the ap2ropriation of government funds to acquire Rancho Guajome and urge our sister cities to adopt a resolution affirming their support. a PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Vista, County of San Diego, State of California, this 5th day of April, 1971, by the following roll call vote: . AYES: COUNCILMEli: Annin, Doan, Matush, Tanner, Mihalek NOS : COiU?lCIUlEN : None ABSENT: COUNCIINE2i: None ATTEST : -.fd--u Leths D. Finch, City Clerk -__I_ /s/ Orbee V. Mihalek Mayor STATE OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO }'" I, LETHA D. FINCH, City Clerk of the City of Vista, County of San Diego, State of Cali- Pornia, hereby certify that I have compared the foregoing copy with the original J&S-O-ht&n passed and adopted by said City Council, at _____ a-x-egul.ar.-~--~ _____ meeting thereof, at the time and by the vote therein stated, which original -----~~~~-Lu~io~-~------ is now on file in my office: that the same contains a full, true and correct transcript therefrom and of the whole thereof. Witness my hand and the seal of said City of Vista, this 7J-h--_ day of Apr-i-L--I9-7-J, ______. (SEAL) City Clerk I ( It 3.: 1: I: 14 1: 1E 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 . 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 I ~ i I I --. x , RESOLUTION NO. 1849 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD URGING PUBLIC ACQUISITION OF RANCfIO GUAJOME AND LAME CALAVERA. WHEREAS, Lake Calavera in Northern San Diego County is presently owned by the City of Carlsbad, and WHEREAS, Lake Calavera, if developed as a public recreation area, would create ii beautiful and highly useful public recreatio area in Northern San Diego County, and WHEREAS, Northern San Diego County represents one of the fastest population growth areas of the state and of the nation and is therefore in need of newly developed recreation areas, and WHEREAS, the City of Vista has heretofore enacted Resolutii No. 71-25 urging acquisition of Rancho Guajome by the State of California through the adoption of Bill HR4750 as a public his- torical monument; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that appropriate steps be taken to cause the public acquisition and development for public recreation purposes of Lake Calavera and for the acquisition by the State of California of Rancho Guajome as an historical monu- ment, and we urge our sister cities to adopt Resolutions of support hereof. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council OF ths City of Carlsbad at a regular meeting held May 4, 1971, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Councilmen McComas, Jardine, Castro and Lewis. NOES : None. ABSENT: Mayor Dunne. ATTEST : GLENN E. ClcCONAS, Vice Mayor of The City of Carlsbad Carlsbad, California MARGARET E. ADAMS City Clerk c OPEN SPACE BOND ISSUE. MAY - 4 - 1971 May 4, 1971 TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council FROM: City Manager SUBJECT: Preliminary Report - Proposed Park and Open Space Bond Issue IMTRODUCTION Historically, Carlsbad residents have at various times in the history of the City considered acquisition and development of parks and open space. Our present general plan indicates a proposed park system, but little beyond active discussion has taken place to implement the general plan recommendations. Until very recent years, Carlsbad has not been in a financial position to consider a more active acquisi- tion program because of the community's lack of an industrial tax base outside the San Diego Gas & Electric Encina plant, and due to a very low per capita sales tax revenue. Nith the development of Plaza Camino Real and the promise of future commercial development, it is becoming apparent that we will achieve a more normal amount of revenue from the sales tax than heretofore. In addition, the development of the Burroughs Corpo'ration faci 1 i ty and other light industrial firms, combined with the large amount of industrial acreage adjoining Palomar Airport, gives every indication that our industrial tax base will expand in future years. Now that the tax base of the City permits consideration being given to development of a park and open space acquisition program, this re- port is being submitted to the City Council in order that a workable program may be developed and guidelines set for a program of acquisi- . tion and development. Present City-owned park and open space consists of Holiday Park with 5-1/2 acres, Laguna Riviera Park with four (4) acres, and Maxton Brown Park with approximately three (3) acres for a total of 12-1/2 acres. Holiday Park is partially improved, and Laguna Riviera and Lagoon Parks are unimproved. In addition, we have Rotary Park which enchances the central business district but is leased land, and Cannon Park which is on leased property from the San Diego Gas & Electrjc Company. Reasonable standards for a City the size of Carlsbad indicate that we should presently have in the parks system, 20 acres in neighborhood parks, 100 to 140 acres in a community-wide park, and from 0 to 40 acres of specialized recreation areas. Property for these parks must be acquired prior to or at the time of subdivision or development of property; otherwise we are placed in the position of acquiring devel- oped property which is prohibitively expensive. Carlsbad is fortunate - H o n o r a b 1 e May o r a ti ?-“‘ern h e r s -2- of the City Counc, 6 May 4, 1971 in that there are presently available park sites in older portions of the community which are either undeveloped or substantially under- developed. Much of this property will be developed in a reasonably short period of time if it is not placed in public ownership. The older portion of Carlsbad contains much undeveloped or under- developed land; hence, it is obvious that any sites acquired in this portion of the City should be of adequate size and distribution to serve this portion of the community when it is fully developed. Much of our contemplated community park site is wooded and ideal for a large type of community park envisioned. Again it is imperative that some of this property be placed in public ownership before the wooded areas are developed, or vandalism, fire, or simple cutting for firewood re- moves .the trees from the site. LOCATIONAL CRITERIA Neighborhood parks ideally should be located adjoining or in close proximity to elementary schools. Elementary schools are usually placed so that for each portion of the City served by elementary schools there are various criteria that are met indicating a neigh- borhood park should serve the same area. Using this criteria for lo- cation of neighborhood parks encourages joint use OF school and park facilities and lowers the cost of school sites as State law permits smaller school sites if they are located adjacent to neighborhood parks. Accepted criteria for the location of community-wide and other large parks indicate that they should be a minimum of 100 to 300 acres, and if possible, cemtrally lo-cated within the community which they serve. It is considered desirable to locate these facilities adjoin- ing public high schools whenever possible. In this large type of park which serves the total community, it is im- portant that existing vegetation and topography be considered in order to acquire the most desirable site. It is also considered wise to ac- quire acreage for such a park that is fairly distant from the developed part of the City in order that reasonably priced land may be acquired to obtain more property within funds made available for this purpose. The corridor concept for a community-wide park is presently considered the most desirable configuration. This particular design concept serves three functions that are not possible with the older rectangular con- cept. It-- (1) permits maximum utilization of property acquired by gift (2) allows the park to serve in a more beneficial way a sub- or by subdivision dedication. stantially greater portion of the community, and (3) this type of park tends to enhance property values to a much greater extent than typical design, thereby assist- ing in the creation of a tax base to support its acquisi- tion and development. 7 -3 Honorable Mayor anc embers .J- of the City Council 4 May 4, 1971 FACILIiIES TO BE CONSIDERED c~r~tained in this report is a recommendation to acqulk-e and/or develop eight (8) neighborhood parks for an estimated COS: of $1,110,000 as indicated in the attached listing. To be incid;?ed, in addition to the eight (8) neighborhood parks, is a community center at $275,000, a small park operation center for $90,000, and a community-wide park at a cost of $560,000, the cost estimates of which follow: / -- Naxton Brown Park Existing acreage NEIGHBORHOOD PARKS 3 acres Land $ 40,000 Additional acreage - 1 acre Development Costs 60,000 Total acreage 4 acres Total Cost $100,000 Hosp Grove Park Existing acreaqe 0 acre Land - subdivision dedication Additional acreage - 28 acres Development costs $100,000 Total acreage 28 acres Total Cost $100,000 Buena Vista Park Existing acreage 0 acre Land - Water Dept. $20,000 Acquire from Water Dept. 3 acres Other land 80,000 Additional acreage - 3 acres Development Costs 100,000 Total acreage 6 acres Total Cost $200,000 Holiday Park Existing acreage 5-1/2 acres Land $ 30,000 Additional acreage 1/2 acre Development Costs 50,000 6 acres Total Cost $80,000 Jefferson Park Additional acreage - 6 acres Development Costs 100,000 Existing acreage 0 acre Land $1 20,000 Total acreage 6 acres Total Cost $220,000 Magnolia Park Exi sting acreaqe 0 acre Land $ 72.000 Acquire-from School Dist. 3-1/2 acres Development Costs ' 58;OOO Total acreage 3-1/2 acres Total Cost $130,000 Arroyo Park Existing acreage 0 acre Land $1 05,000 Additional acreage 7 acres Development Costs 95;OOO Total acreage 7 acres Total Cost $200,000 Laguna Riviera Park Existing acreaqe 4 acres Land -- Additional acreage - 0 acre Development Costs $ 80,000 Total acreage 4 acres Total Cost 80,000 Neighborhood Park Total --------- $1,110,000 Hanorahle Mayor and Fk-mhers -4- of the City Council Community Center Land (4 acres) Development costs Building Total Cost Park Operations Center Land (2 acres) Devel opment Costs Building Total Cost COMMUNITY FACILITIES - $ 80,000 35,000 160;OOO $275,000 $ 40,000 20,000 30,000 $90,000 May 4, 1971 Community Park Land (40 acres) $400,000 Initial Development Costs 160,000 Total Cost $560,000 AQUATIC FACILITIES An Olympic or competition size swimming pool could be built for $100,000 based on a recently completed-facility by the Vista School District. This includes shower facilities but is an:uncovered pool. There would be no land costs as it would be placed on the Carlsbad High School site. Normal school-city sharing of costs is on a two-thirds school, one- third city basis if the pool is available for evening swimming dur- ing winter months which requires a covered pool. An uncovered pool is used for recreational swimming in the summer months only; hence participation would be on a three-fourths school, one-fourth city basis. These costs would be shared on both construction and opera- tion of the facility. Our recommendation would be for an uncovered pool at Carlsbad High School initially, and a covered facility at the new high school site, when mutually desired, depending on usage of the Carlsbad High School facility. Our $25,000 for construction could come from the bond issue (if passed) and would be paid for by accumulation over a two or three year period, or could be funded similar to a bond issue by a joint powers agreement. The funding used would probably be greatly depen- dent on how the Carlsbad Unified School District would fund their $75,000 portion. Operational costs would come from the School District's operating bud- get and from our Recreation Division budget. Costs would depend on the extent the public used the facility. Most cities make a small charge (25& for children, 50t for adults) for recreational swimming. This would defray most of our operating costs; hence our main cost would be for initial construction. Swimmina instruction in a recre- ation program is usually self-supporting thpough small registration fees. Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council -5- May 4, 1971 REGIONAL PARKS Buena Vista Lagoon - State Wildlife Cons,ervation Board responsible for additional acquisition. Alternately joint venture between San Diego County, Carlsbad and Oceanside. Near term priority with San Diego County. Lake Calavera - Development as a regional park by San Diego County in cooperation with Carlsbad. Near term priority with San Dieqo County' near top of the county's development priorities. funding available for their project. New federal Agua Hedionda Lagoon - Development as a combination community-regional park facility jointly by Carlsbad, San Diego County, San Diego Gas and Electric and the Corps of Engineers. Near term pri0rity.wit.h San Diego County. Priority with Carlsbad dependent on bond issue. Batiquitos Lagoon - Development as a regional park facility by San Diego County. Also has near term priority with the county. Carlsbad to co- ordinate with county on north shore of lagoon. GOLF COURSE A golf course has also been considered. This requires some 125 acres for a regulation 18-hole facility and is beyond the ability of a City of our size to finance at the present time. In the future, as the City grows, a golf course may be considered depending on the rate of growth of the community. Probably the most practical way to develop a regula- tion 18-hole golf facility for Carlsbad would be in cooperation with a major subdivider and in conjunction with a quality, golf course-oriented, residential development. Due to the history of private golf courses be- ing subdivided after a number of years, any privately owned and/or oper- ated golf course should have some provision for eventual revision to pub- lic ownership. DESIGN CRITERIA Each neighborhood park would obviously have trees, shrubbery and turfed areas. Most would have "tot lots" and eventually restrooms. Exact de- signs and other possible facilities such as basketball courts, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, play areas, picnic areas, etc. would vary from site to site. kleetings would be hela separately on each neighborhood park with residents of the service area invited to indicate their preferences. Desires of the neighborhood, within available funds, would be the major determinant in final design. The community park again would have certain basic facilities. Input would be solicited from interested groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts, Campfire Girls, Boys Club, Girls Club, P.T.A.s, service clubs, etc. relative to the needs of their groups. Of course, interest'ed individual citizens r4ould be invited to participate. This would be the site for activities taking large areas such as hiking, rid- ing, etc. Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council -6- May 4, 1971 FINANCE There are many ways to finance the acquisition and development of public park and open space areas. Carlsbad could consider a pay-as- we-go program, but this program would prohibit large property acqui- sitions, making acquisition of a community-wide park dubious. It would also probably restrict neighborhood park development to pres- ently owned sites and new sites in conjunction with subdivisions; hence, would not serve the entire community. A park and open space bond issue would allow acquisition and development of a total park and open space system at present day prices and would benefit every residential neighborhood in the community. There is an excellent possibility that there would be some substantial land donations for a community-wide park concurrent with a large purchase of acreage for this purpose. The proposed program which totals $2,035,000 contemplates a major Federal open space land acquisition and development grant wherein the Federal government equally shares (50%) the cost acquisition and development. It also contemplates a Federal neighborhood facil- ity grant which would pay for 75% of the development cost of a com- munity center were it to be located west of Interstate 5. The fi- nancing schedule would be, therefore, as follows: Item Bond Issue Federal Grants Total Neighborhood Parks $ 555,000 $ 555,000 $1,110,000 Community Center 75,000 200,000 275 , 000 Community Park 280 , 000 280,000 560,000 $1,000,000 $1,035,000 $2,035,000 Park Operation Center 90,000 -- 90,000 A one million dollar park and open space bond issue on a 20-year straight amortization basis would initially require a 15 to 18t tax levy permitted by the public resources code. However, the required levy would decrease each year as the assessed valuation of the com- munity increases. It should be indicated, however, that this levy would probably remain rather constant as the lessened requirements in terms of a tax rate to amortize the bond issue would be offset by increased maintenance costs as the park system becomes more fully de- velop,ed. Even with reasonably full development of the contemplated park and open space system, there should be a tax rate reduction after the first five to ten years. A proposed one million dollar bond issue would require taxes in the amount of approximately $11.25 annually on a home valued at $25,000. This is less than $1.00 per month or approx- imately the cost of two packs of cigarets per month. In the case of City employees and others who are paid twice a month, the cost of the system would amount to a pack of cigarets per payday. Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council -7- May 4, 1971 COMMUNITY BENEFITS In addition to the recreational opportunities that a developed park and open space would provide to residents of the community and visit- ors, there'are definite tangible and intangible benefits to any com- munity that possesses the parks and open space facilities that are proposed. It has been documented by independent study that the value of residential property in a community with such a system is enhanced and the marketability of residential property within the community is facilitated. This certainly is of no immediate concern to many of our residential property owners, but is a factor to be considered as a po- tential future benefit in case of transfer, plans to acquire a larger home, or in the case of the older residents when a home is to be dis- posed of so that the resident may move to a retirement unit, a condo- minium apartment, etc. It a150 has been demonstrated that communities with good'schools and public facilities, such as libraries, parks, etc., attract residents with larger family incomes. This results in higher per capita sales volumes, and is of substantial benefit to community retailers and to the community itself through increased sales tax revenues. Industrial firms also find it easier to recruit and retain skilled technical, engi- neering, and management personnel in a community that provides public facilities of this nature. Lastly and perhaps most important, devel- oped park and open space facilities provide retention and enhancement of the environment. One only has to drive through Los Angeles and Orange counties to realize the depressing effect of wall-to-wall sub- divisions where no open space has been provided. R E C 0 f? M EN D AT I 0 N S It is recommended that the City Council modify the staff's recommenda- tion by adding or deleting elements of the proposed park and open space bond issue as in your judgment make the proposal most suitable for our City. Following your changes, the preliminary report will be modified and a final report prepared. Comments of the Parks and Recreation Com- mission and the Planning Commission have been incorporated in this re- port. In reviewing the very fine presentation in the November 16, 1970 issue of U. S. News and World Report on the fate of bond issues throughout the nation, we are encouraged to believe that the trend that is demon- strated in this article, together with the interest demonstrated in this matter to date, would warrant placing this matter before the Carls- bad electorate. The U. S. News and World Report article points out that while school and public works bond issues failed dismally at the polls this November, those issues concerned with the environment received sub- stantial support. Proposed bond issues for water pollution control, development of water supplies-, and park and open space acquisition were in a large measure approved by the electorate throughout the country. In noting this Honorable Mayor and Nembers -8- of the City Council May 4, 1971 trend, the Parks and Recreation Commission requests the City Council to place the park and open space bond issue on the ballot separate and apart from any other item, such as streets, etc. In terms of tim- ing, we believe it vital that some commitments be received from the Department of Housing and Urban Development on matching funds prior to submission of this matter to the voters. I believe that the avail- ability of large amounts of Federal funds to assist in this program would enhance the chance for its approval. It would also allow us to be rather definite about what is proposed to be done with the proceeds of the bond issue if it is approved, which I believe to be vital to any successful bond issue. To meet these criteria, an issue on the ballot this summer would appear to be too early to secure necessary Federal commitments, while an issue to be placed on the ballot a year from last April at the time of the regular municipal election might tend to re- duce the current interest in the matter by prolonging its considera- tion unduly. It, therefore, appears that November of 1971 would be the most appropriate date to submit the proposal to the electorate for con- si deration. Carlsbad's per capita expenditure for Parks and Recreation in 1969-70 was $5.95, lower than every city in the county except San Marcos and Vista, both relatively new incorporations. Of the thirteen cities in San Diego County our expenditures for Parks and Recreation were 2.9% of our budget, a very conclusive thirteenth of thirteen cities. Our nearest "competitor" was Vista with 3.9%. We have, considering the population difference, 1/10 of Escondido's park acreage, 1/10 that of San Marcos, 1/5 that of Oceanside, and 1/2 that of Vista. I am certain both the electorate and the City Council would like to see these fig- ures change as soon as possible. It is recommended that the ballot contain the following questions: 1. Shall the City of Carlsbad be authorized to issue bonds in the amount of $1,000,000 to acquire park and open space facilities herein described? 2. Shall the City of Carlsbad, and the Carlsbad Unified School District, enter into a joint powers agreement to acquire and operate aquatic facilities to allow swimming instruc- tion for children of the community, and to provide recrea- tional swimming opportunities for the children and adults of the community? JBA:hl Encls. /I JacYB. Arnold, City Manager Pa" io 3c- . . _.- & .a , .'- - .. ... . t :1