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Home My WebLink About1997-05-13; City Council; 14167; AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON/RECREATIONAL MANAGEMENT PLANAB#~~L TI#: DEPl AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON/RECREATlONAL CITY CITY MTG. DEPT. CSD RECOMMENDED ACTION: MANAGEMENT PLAN 5/13/97 If Council concurs with initiating a Recreational Management Plan for Agl Hedionda Lagoon, your action would be to direct the issue to the Parks a1 Recreation Commission for a recommendation on the scope of subject matter a1 for financing alternatives to fund the study. ITEM EXPLANATION : b u a, u z s a) u r: 0 G -4 0 U cd 0 G s 0 u 0 a U ri u L- O a a, L- a, .”, a u al a a, u u rd ri 4 0 G 2 V .. z 0 F= 0 a 5 -I Z 3 0 0 On January 14, 1997, the Council adopted Resolution of Intention (ROI) No. 97-17 authorizing staff to study the land uses permitted by the City’s General Plan, Coas Plan and Zoning Map along the south shore of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon (AHL). addition, Council directed staff to return with a report outlining the types of issues which would be addressed as part of a Recreational Management Plan Study for AH L. Prior to Council action on the ROI to study the south shore, the Parks and Recreation Commission received a request (Exhibit 1) from the Agua I-ledionda Lagoon Foundation (AHLF) to initiate a full and thorough analysis of the lagoon’s potential to provide recreation activities for the citizens of Carlsbad. The Commission had deferred any action on this request pending a resolution to the south shore study area and more recently, because of council’s direction for staff ti report back on a Recreation Management Plan. Owned by SDG&E, the AHL consists of three (3) distinct bodies of water, the outer middle and inner lagoon. In addition to the City, several other private entities also operate within the boundaries of the lagoon including, public/private boat launchins facilities (inner), YMCA camp (middle), Hubbs Sea World Hatchery and an Aquaculture Enterprise (outer). The City’s current recreational program on the lagoon exists as the result of a year to year lease with SDG&E for the waters of the inner lagoon only. The lease is resource area for active and passive use including boating and other aquatic vessl operation. The City protects its interest by providing a patrol program to insure the safe recreational operation of the inner lagoon. In December 1994, the City concluded its latest study regarding the lagoon operation. As a result of committec proceedings, including significant public involvement, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended to the City Council that actions be taken to insure that the traditional recreation on the AHL continue. Consequently, the Council approvc continuing the annual lease with SDG&E for the waters of the inner lagoon, authorized funding for the patrol program and continues to assume the liability for program operation. Accordingly, the City provides for the ongoing active and passive use of the inner lagoon as it has existed for many years and allows for the safe recreational use of this resource area. maintained by the City to provide the general public with the opportunity to utilize t SCOPING CONSIDE 1), TIONS 0 If the City is to proceed with a Recreational Management Plan for AHL, staff believes there are fundamental issues which need to be clearly resolved andlor defined in preparation of, or to be included as part of a management plan. Those issues are: 0 Dredging - If, when, and by whom, the inner lagoon will be dredged - Identification of, and commitments from those participants - At what cost - Available funding sources 0 Managing entities and public use availability / access to each of the lagoon: three water bodies The relationship of Veterans Memorial Park Master Plan to AHL / updating ( Master Plan 0 Public use, private interests and commercial ventures 0 Environmental concerns relative to the AHL 0 Opportunities assessment 0 Constraints assessment The AHLF in it’s request to the Commission stated that they “believe that a thorou! analysis of the existing lagoon and the lagoon after the imminent full dredging, should be initiated now so the conclusions from the analysis are in the hands of yc commission as it is asked to make further decisions regarding recreation in the future. The AHLF feels this analysis should include the following subjects”: 1. Review of the current recreation uses now allowed on the lagoon. 2. The potential for other or alternative uses not currently allowed. 3. The physical characteristics of the three areas of the lagoon in their current condition and as they will be when dredged. 4. The climatic conditions that may effect the types of recreation uses the lagoon can provide. 5. A survey of the citizens’ recreation needs and desires in Carlsbad and of tourists who stay in town. 6. The ecology of both the marine ecosystem and surrounding terrestrial environment. 7. The relationship of existing and potential recreation activities to the lagoon’: other functions. e 0 8. A financial analysis of forms of recreation, private versus public operation; revenue generation vs. Public fees to cover operation costs. Additionally, with respect to the South Shore Study, staff believes that if an AHL Recreational Management Plan is to proceed, there may well be overlapping interests which could influence the future uses occurring within each of the respective study areas. With that in mind, should Council direct the management plan go forward, it may be beneficial to conduct a joint public participation worksho to solicit input from all interested parties. A joint meeting with interested parties to the individual study areas (South Shore and AHL Recreational Management Plan) would insure that efforts are being addressed to avoid the potential for later conflic in recommendations arising as a result of the separate planning areas. A joint workshop would also avoid duplication of effort. SUMMARYKONCLUSION Since the later 195O’s, active and passive boating has been the principle recreatiol on the inner AHL. In more recent years, the use of personal water craft has also developed as a primary form of recreation. In 1994, City Council endorsed ,a recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Commission to continue the traditior recreation program on the lagoon. Consequently, the City continues to lease the inner waters of the AHL from SDG&E to provide for the safe active and passive aquatic vessel recreation operation. To further explore the recreation potential of AHL, the issues identified within the scoping considerations listed above (including those requested by AHLF) are quite extensive and would require significant funding for completion of a management plan. The City of Carlsbad is only one of many entities that have an operational interest in this resource area and staff believes the City should not assume sole responsibility for its funding. Therefore, if Council decides to initiate a recreational management plan, staff would suggest that the plan develop as a result of contributive efforts and financial assistance from other parties who also have a vested interest in the operation of the lagoon. Those interests would include, but would not be limited to, SDG&E, AHLF, YMCA, Hubbs Sea World, City of Carlsbac California Department of Boating and Waterways, Snug Harbor, Bristol Cove HOA Carlsbad Boat Club, Hillman Properties, Aquaculture Farms, etc. To the extent that the City only has a lease agreement to manage the inner lagoor on a year to year basis and other private and non profit entities (some of whom ha access to grant funding) also have an interest in the lagoons’ current and future operation, the Council may wish to pursue joint financing with other entities if a management plan study is to proceed. If Council concurs with the necessity for a recreational management plan staff recommends the issue be referred to the Park and Recreation Commission for a recommendation on the scope of subject matter be studied and for financing alternatives to fund the study. 0 e FISCAL IMPACT: A Recreational Management Plan which incorporates the in-depth requests of the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation would be considered a multidisciplinary study, and could require the engagement of several subcontracting consultants including financial analysts, environmental analysts and design professionals. Based upon previous experience in providing similar services, a study of this magnitude could cost up to $200,000. A focused study which addresses the more fundamental issues outlined by staff is not exceed $50,000, excluding a revised master plan for Veteran’s Memorial Park. estimated to cost considerably less. The estimated cost of a focused study should EXHIBITS: 1. Letter dated September 5, 1996 to Parks & Recreation Commission Chairpersc from Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. ACUA HEDIONDA '0 LAGOON FOUSDATION e r September 5, 1996 Q%m Mr. Seth Schulberg, Chairman Parks and Recreation Commission Community Services 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive Carlsbad, California 92008 Dear Mr. Schulberg: The Directors of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation (AHLF) appreciate the hard work deliberations the Parks and Recreation Commission goes through in performing their appoj task. With that in mind, we respectfully submit the following request for your considerati( The AHLF asks that your Commission take action to initiate a full and thorough analysis C Agua Hedionda Lagoon's potential to provide recreation activities for the Citizens Of Cads Natural water bodies are relatively rare in Southern California, due to this, they are an attra in and of themselves. As one of the few tideland lagoons that can be Used for recreation, Hedionda should provide a unique and valuable recreational experience for Carlsbad citizen the guests that come to our City. The City of Carlsbad has had the lease on the lagoon's waters for recreation purposes for years. The City's Parks and Recreation Element to the General Plan defines objectives for 11 and management of the lagoon in providing recreation activities to its citizens. One Of objectives is that these activities be self-sustaining in covering the cost of management (patrol As you know, over the past year 'or so a crises came about whenansideration was giy shutting down the City's management roIe on the lagoon. This action was narrowly averte the decision to raise the fees required for putting a private craft on the water. It understanding that the fee increase has made an improvement in mGntaining a Self-Susl recreation management program, but that the use of the lagoon's waters has declined. This problem of maintaining a self-sustaining management program on a unique and 1 tideland lagoon is puzzling to the foundation. We believe that it is appropriate at this Pin1 City's growth for a thorough studylanalysis of the Current program of recreational uses, access and management practices be made to see if the current program for recreation is C( A Czliforn-a Nonp,vfit Corporadm Since March P.O. BOK 4004 Culsbad, CA 92018 EXHIBIT 1 ' . Mr. Seth Schulberg a 0 September 6, 1996 Page 2 suited to the lagoon's physical characteristics, weather conditions and the evolving recrea needs and desires of the Carlsbad citizens. We believe that a thorough analysis, of the ex lagoon and the lagoon after the imminent full dredging, should be initiated now so the conclt from the analysis are in the hands of your commission as it is asked to make further dec regarding recreation in the near future. The AHLF feels this analysis should include the following subjects: 1. Review of the current recreation uses now allowed on the lagoon. 2. The potential for other or alternative uses not currently allowed. 3. The physical characteristics of the three areas of the lagoon in their current conditic as they will be when dredged. 4. The cLimatic conditions that may effect the types of recreation uses the lagoon can prc 5. A survey of the citizens' recreation needs and desires in Carlsbad and of tourist th; in town. 6. The ecology of both the marine ecosystem and surrounding terrestrial environmen 7. The relationship of existing and potential recreation activities to the lagoon's functions. 8. A financial analysis of forms of recreation, private versus public operation; re generation vs. public fees to cover operation cost. We expect that the results of this analysis will uncover untapped potential and provide inforl that will produce adjustments or alter the programming of recreation on and around the lag the future. If we are correct, the roIe Agua Hedionda plays in the system of venues for rea with in the City may be upgraded. Currently, the City includes Agua Hedionda in the tabulation of parklands, but classifie: same as Batiquitos Lagoon. Certainly, both lagoons are great resources for varying tj recreation (when both passive and active recreation is considered), but when each lagoor recreation value is considered the two are quite different. The total parkland in the City's northwest quadrant is largely made up of many relative11 areas and the open space of Hosp Grove. Its active recreation venues are made up of important facilities (pool and tennis) and school yards, but the quadrant does not - . ' Mr, Seth Schulberg e September 6, 1996 e Page 3 community park size area for recreation. We feel that Agua Hedionda may be able to play a important role in providing a venue as a larger area that can provide a wide menu of recrc activities. Adjacent to Agua Hedionda Lagoon, is Macario Canyon which is planned to become Vel Park in the future. This park site has had numerous new influences put on it over the pa! years, most of which will reduce the useable area for active-type recreation enjoyable to : percentage of people. Because of these new influences, the master plan for Veterans P outdated and in need of review. Our request, for an analysis of the lagoon's recreation could be done in conjunction with the Master Plan update for Veterans Park. The past h Plans for the park have always recognized the lagoon's edge and to a limited degree, its pol the lagoon and canyon together as a more comprehensive system of recreation activities. Again, we appreciate your consideration of our foundation's request for action. Over th years, the Parks and Recreation Commission has done a fine job in helping to guide the efforts in providing a high quality system of parks and recreation programs that add greatly quality of life in Carlsbad. We are confident that you will agree with our position that this lagoon is a unique resou1 recreation. A community amenity that deserves further considerations and analysis to dete more clearly how it can benefit a greater portion of all who live or visit Carlsbad. The AHLF Board Members will be glade to discuss our position with your commissioners a convenience. for recreation. A full and thorough analysis of the lagoon's three basins may find reasons -' Sincerely, AGUA HEDIONDA LAGOON FOUNDATION *& Robert E. Wilkinson Board Vice President REW:vs cc: Mrs. Ramona Finnila, City of Carlsbad, Council Member Mrs. Julie Nygaard, City of Carlsbad, Council Member Mr. Dave Bradstreet, Community Service Director Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, Board of Directors