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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-02-17; City Council; 21861; Pursue Agreement with California Parks & Recreation for State-owned Beaches, South Carlsbad State BeachAN 4 CITY OF CARLSBAD - AGENDA BILL AB# 21,861 ADOPT A RESOLUTION DIRECTING STAFF TO DEPT. DIRECFOR MTG, 02/17/2015 PURSUE A LONG TERM MAINTENANCE AND CITY ATTY. DEPT. P&R OPERATIONS AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA CITY MGR. DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION FOR STATE-OWNED BEACHES WITHIN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, EXCLUSIVE OF THE CAMPGROUND AT SOUTH CARLSBAD STATE BEACH RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt Resolution # 2015-041 , directing staff to pursue a long term maintenance and operations agreement with the California Department of Parks & Recreation for state-owned beaches within the City of Carlsbad, exclusive of the campground at South Carlsbad State Beach. ITEM EXPLANATION: The California Department of Parks & Recreation (State) operates under significant budget constraints that have resulted in a corresponding decline in the quantity and quality of services it provides to the public. The State owns approximately 5 miles of beaches within the City of Carlsbad (City). The City has become increasingly concerned about the effects of the State's declining service levels on the general public - including residents, business owners, and tourists. The State's inability to provide improvement and basic maintenance services — especially on high profile properties like beaches - bears a negative reflection on the City's image. For these reasons, several members of the public have recently indicated a desire for the City to assume the maintenance and operations of the State's beaches within the City's bounds. On October 15, 2013, the City Council directed staff to pursue exploration of expanded partnership opportunities with the State, in a goal of enhancing beach facilities and services along the full extent of the City's coastline. In consideration of these concerns and direction, staff initiated discussions with the State on the potential for the City to assume improvement and maintenance services from the State at the Tamarack State Beach Upper Picnic Facilities (Picnic Facilities) and at the Tamarack/Frazee State Beach Coastal Bluff (Coastal Bluff). DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Kyle Lancaster 760-434-2941, Kyle.Lancaster@carlsbadca.gov FOR CLERK USE, COUNCIL ACTION: APPROVED ❑ CONTINUED TO DATE SPECIFIC ❑ DENIED ❑ CONTINUED TO DATE UNKNOWN 1121' CONTINUED ❑ RETURNED TO STAFF ❑ WITHDRAWN ❑ OTHER— SEE MINUTES ❑ AMENDED 0 REPORT RECEIVED 0 Page 2 Right of Entry Permit On May 20, 2014, the City Council executed a Right of Entry Permit (Permit) with the State for the Picnic Facilities and the Coastal Bluff. Per the Terms and Conditions, Section 1—Project Description., of the Permit, the State granted the City permission to: 1) enter onto the Picnic. Facilities solely for the purpose of "...maintaining landscaping, irrigation systems, hardscapes, and daily facility housekeeping tasks for the comfort station (i.e. blockhouse restroom)...", and 2) enter onto the Coastal Bluff solely for the purpose of "...revegetatingnativc coastal bluff habitat, retrofitting/expanding existing irrigation system, and maintaining said vegetation and irrigation system...." Per the Terms and Conditions, Section 2 —Term of the Permit, the Permit "...shall only be for the period beginning on 5/20/2014, and ending on 5/19/2015, or as may be reasonably extended by written mutual agreement of the Parties." The intent of the Permit was to allow the City a short term means of enteringYhe Picnic Facilities and Coastal Bluff to commence improvement and maintenance services.. Presuming successful results were achieved within the initial term of the Permit, the goal of the City and the State is to execute a long term maintenance and operations agreement (M&O Agreement) for the continuation of the described services on these areas. The City and the State have one such long term agreement already in place. It is for the Ocean Street Sculpture Parl< and parking lot (Sculpture Park), located northwest of the intersection of Pine Avenue and Carlsbad Boulevard. The services provided by the City at Sculpture Park are consistent with the services now provided by the City at the Picnic Facilities and Coastal Bluff. In 1990, the City and the State entered into a 20-year agreement for Sculpture Park. In 2011, based on the successful results achieved, the City and the State entered into a successor 20-year agreement. Due to the extensive nature and duration of an M&O Agreement, additional levels of State review and approval are needed. The process of fully executing an agreement with the State typically requires at least 12 months. The following initial improvements were performed on the Picnic Facilities: ✓ Pruned or removed trees/shrubs and renovated turf areas ✓ Retrofitted irrigation systems and re -landscaped planters ✓ Replaced corroded steel handrails with aluminum standard ✓ Replaced dilapidated benches/tables and trash receptacles ✓ Installed drinking fountain and two outside showers Refurbished restroom building -inside and outside The following improvements were performed on the Coastal Bluff: ✓ Removed invasive and non-native plants ✓ Installed on -grade irrigation system ✓ Planted over 5,000 native plants on bluff ✓ Installed protective cages around selective plants ✓ Installed protective fencing at both ends of bluff ✓ Sprayed south end of bluff with native hydroseed mix 2 Page 3 Today, less than 9 months after execution of the Permit, the subject areas are dramatically transformed, and are under regularly scheduled maintenance programs. By virtually all accounts, successful results for these areas were in fact achieved within the initial term of the Permit. Maintenance and Operations Agreement Based on the success achieved thus far, staff is recommending the City Council provide direction to pursue an M&O Agreement with the State for the continuation of these services. In addition, staff is recommending the M&O Agreement be expanded in terms of the scope of services to be provided, and the areas to be serviced. Specifically, the services to be provided would include not only capital improvements and basic maintenance, but also recreation programming and public safety. The areas to be serviced would include all State beaches along the City's coastline — exclusive of the beach area that is part of the South Carlsbad State Beach Campground. The State has previously expressed an interest in entertaining discussions on such an M&O Agreement with the City. A prime local example of a like collaboration is the agreement the City of Encinitas executed with the State in 1989. In particular, the City of Encinitas provides all of the aforementioned services on Moonlight Beach —which is an extremely robust and popular destination for residents and tourists alike. Under an M&O Agreement, staff envisions the potential to extend the identity of the City into the State's beaches. At the same time, the amenities within the State's beaches could be upgraded to the City's standards. A partial list of those amenities includes benches, tables, trash receptacles, fire rings, umbrellas/shade structures, playgrounds/exercise stations, interpretive panels, mobile concessions, drinking fountains, showers, and restrooms, and lifeguard towers. Similarly, staff sees an opportunity to Incorporate the City's high caliber of recreation programming into the State's beaches. A partial list of those programs includes special events, summer camps, surf camps, fitness classes, sports competitions, and junior lifeguarding. Lastly, staff recognizes the ability to integrate the City's premier public safety forces into such functions as year-round lifeguarding and proactive law enforcement patrols. It is also important to note some of the other benefits that could be derived from the City executing an M&O Agreement on the described State beaches, including: ➢ The protection and enhancement of our greatest natural/tourism asset ➢ The sustainability of a key destination for over 3 million visitors each year ➢ The quality of life enrichment and economic booster of a top notch attraction Lastly, the overarching expected results of an Agreement would be consistent with multiple aspects of the City's Mission, Vision, and Values (Exhibit 2). FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. 3 Page 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: Improvements to and maintenance of the Picnic Facilities are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQq) per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15301. In addition, improvements to and maintenance of the Coastal Bluff are exempt from CEQq per State CEQA Guidelines Section 15304. Furthermore, the recommended action to pursue an M&O Agreement with the State for the described State beaches does not commit the City to approve any funding, project, or course of action. Therefore, pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 210t5, the recommended action does not constitute a "project" within the meaning of CECW in that it has no potential to cause either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and thus does not require environmental review. EXHIBITS: 1. Resolution # 2015-041 ,directing staff to pursue a long term maintenance and operations agreement with the California Department of Parks &Recreation for the state-owned beaches within the City of Carlsbad, exclusive of the campground at South Carlsbad State Beach 2. City of Carlsbad's Mission, Vision, and Values. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 RESOLUTION NO, 2015-041 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, DIRECTING STAFF TO PURSUE A LONG TERM MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PARKS & RECREATION FOR STATE- OWNED BEACHES WITHIN THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, EXCLUSIVE OF THE CAMPGROUND AT SOUTH CARLSBAD STATE BEACH WHEREAS, the California Department of Parks &Recreation (State) operates under significant budget constraints that have resulted in a corresponding decline in the quantity and quality of services it provides to the public; and WHERAS, the State owns approximately S miles of beaches within the City of Carlsbad (City), and the City has become increasingly concerned about the effects of the State's declining service levels on the general public- including residents, business owners, and tourists; and WHEREAS, the States inability to provide improvement and basic maintenance services — especially on properties like beaches - bears a negative reflection on the City's image; and WHEREAS, several members of the public have recently indicated a desire for the City to assume the maintenance and operations of the State's beaches within the City's bounds; and WHEREAS, on October 15, 2013, the City Council directed staff to pursue exploration of expanded partnership opportunities with the State, in a goal of enhancing beach facilities and services along the full extent of the City's coastline; and WHEREAS, staff initiated discussions with the State on the potential for the City to assume improvement and maintenance services from the State at the Tamarack State Beach Upper Picnic Facilities (Picnic Facilities) and at the Tamarack/Frazee State Beach Coastal Bluff (Coastal Bluff); and WHEREAS, on May 20, 2014, the City Council executed a Right of Entry Permit (Permit) with the State for the Picnic Facilities and the Coastal Bluff; and WHEREAS, per the Terms and Conditions, Section 1—Project Description, of the Permit, the State granted permission to: 1) enter onto the Picnic Facilities solely for the purpose of "...maintaining landscaping, irrigation systems, hardscapes, and daily facility housekeeping tasks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 for the comfort station (i.e, blockhouse restroom).. ", and 2) enter onto the Coastal Bluff solely for the purpose of "...revegetating native coastal bluff habitat, retrofitting/expanding existing irrigation system, and maintaining said vegetation and irrigation system...."; and WHEREAS, per the Terms and Conditions, Section 2 —Term of the Permit, the Permit "...shall only be for the period beginning on 5/20/2014, and ending on S/19/2015, or as may be reasonably extended by written mutual agreement of the Parties"; and WHEREAS, the intent of the Permit was to allow the City a short term means of entering Picnic Facilities and Coastal Bluff to commence improvement and maintenance services; and WHEREAS, presuming successful results were achieved within the initial term of the Permit, the goal of the City and the State was to execute a long term maintenance and operations agreement (M&O Agreement) for the continuation of the described services; and WHEREAS, due to the extensive nature and duration of an M8<O Agreement, additional levels of State review and approval are needed, and the process of fully executing an M&O Agreement with the State typically requires at least 12 months; and WHEREAS, the Picnic Facilities and Coastal Bluff areas have been dramatically transformed., and are under regularly scheduled maintenance programs; and WHEREAS, by virtually all accounts, successful results for these areas were in fact achieved within the initial term of the Permit, and staff is recommending the City Council provide direction to pursue an M&O Agreement with the State for continuation of these services; and WHEREAS, staff is recommending the M8c0 Agreement be expanded in terms of the scope of services to be provided, and the areas to be serviced. Specifically, the services to be provided would include not only capital improvements and basic maintenance, but also recreation programming and public safety. The areas to be serviced would include all State beaches along the City's coastline —exclusive of the beach area that is part of the South Carlsbad State Beach Campground; and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 WHEREAS, the State has previously expressed an interest in entertaining discussions on such an M&O Agreement with the City; and WHEREAS, under an M&O Agreement, staff envisions the potential to extend the identity of the City into the State's beaches. At the same time, the amenities within the State's beaches could be upgraded to the City's standards; and WHEREAS, staff sees an opportunity to incorporate the City's high caliber of recreation programming into the State's beaches, and recognizes the ability to integrate the City's premier public safety forces into such functions as year-round lifeguarding and frequent law enforcement patrols; and WHEREAS, some of the benefits that could be derived from the City executing an M&O Agreement on the described State beaches include: protection and enhancement of our greatest natural/tourism asset, sustainability of a key destination for over 3 million visitors each year, and quality of life enrichment and economic booster of a top notch attraction; and WHEREAS, the overarching expected results of an M&O Agreement would be consistent with multiple aspects of the City's Mission, Vision, and Values. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, that: 1. The above recitations are true and correct. 2. There is no direct fiscal impact associated with the recommended action. 3. Staff is directed to pursue a long term maintenance and operations agreement with the California Department of Parks & Recreation for state-owned beaches within the City of Carlsbad, exclusive of the campground at South Carlsbad State Beach. 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the day of 2015, by the following vote to wit: AYES: NOES: ABSENT: MATT HALL, Mayor ATTEST: BARBARA ENGLESON, City Clerk (SEAL) Mission The City of Carlsbad enhances the lives of all who live, work and play in our city by setting the standard for providing top quality, efficient local government services. �/ISI®Cl A world class city. IA IT Z City of Carlsbad 8 44V/ f, FF ;rS6 O _i 1 Small town feel, beach community character and connectedness Enhance Carlsbad defining attributes —its small town feel and beach community character. Build on the city's culture of civic engagement, volunteerism and philanthropy. Prioritize protection and enhancement of open space and the natural environment. Support and protect Carlsbad's unique open space and agricultural heritage. Access to recreation and active, healthy lifestyles Open space and the natural environment Promote active lifestyles and community health by furthering access to trails, parks, beaches and other recreation opportunities. Strengthen the city's strong and diverse economy and its position as an employment hub in north San Diego County. Promote business diversity, increased specialty retail and dining opportunities, and Carlsbad's tourism. Walking, biking, public transportation and connectivity The local economy, business diversity and tourism Increase travel options through enhanced walking, bicycling and public transportation systems. Enhance mobility through increased connectivity and intelligent transportation management. Build on the city's sustainability initiatives to emerge as a leader in green development and sustainability. Pursue public/private partnerships, particularly on sustainable water, energy, recycling and foods. History, the arts and cultural resources Sustamability Emphasize the arts by promoting a multitude of events and productions year-round, cutting -edge venues to host world class performances, and celebrate Carlsbad's cultural heritage in dedicated facilities and programs. I Support quality, comprehensive education and lifelong learning opportunities, provide housing and High quality education and community services for a changing population, and community services maintain a high standard for citywide public safety. Revitalize neighborhoods and enhance citywide community design and livability. Promote a greater mix of uses citywide, more activities along the Neighborhood revitalization, coastline and link density to public transportation. community design and livability Revitalize the downtown Village as a community focal point and a unique and memorable center for visitors, and rejuvenate the historic Barrio neighborhood. on We conduct ourselves with integrity, Character openness, courage and professionalism, driven by a calling to serve others. We are thoughtful, resourceful and creative in our quest for continuous improvement, always looking for better, faster ways to get things done. Stewardship We hold ourselves to the highest Stan because our community deserves the Empowerment Innovatio We responsibly manage the public resources entrusted to us. Excellence We help people achieve their personal best by creating an environment where they feel trusted, valued and inspired. We communicate openly and dir'ecfT�T'''"•'� Promoting engagement and collaboration makes our organization better and our community stronger. Communicatio