Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5th
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Peggy Jensen, Interim Parks Director
Subject: Agreement for the dispersal of funds to the City of South San Francisco for the acquisition of open space on Sign Hill
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt resolutions authorizing:
A) The President of the Board of Supervisors to execute an Agreement with the City of South San Francisco for the dispersal of funds to assist in the acquisition of open space on Sign Hill; and
B) An Appropriation Transfer Request in the amount of $690,000 to be deposited into the Parks Acquisition and Development Fund and dispersed to the City of South San Francisco in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
The City of South San Francisco (“City”) owns and manages Sign Hill Park (“Sign Hill”), which is located on San Bruno Mountain and shown in Exhibit A attached. In addition to serving as a regional landmark, Sign Hill contains approximately 45 acres of protected open space and two miles of recreational trails. Sign Hill is also home to the endangered Mission Blue Butterfly, various species of birds such as egrets, gulls, and terns, and wild irises and poppies. In 1996, Sign Hill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Currently, there is approximately 21 acres of undeveloped open space that abut Sign Hill. However, the open space is privately owned and zoned to allow for residential development. While approximately 20 acres of the open space will be donated to the City, a 0.13 acre parcel (“Parcel”), shown in yellow on Exhibit A attached, will need to be purchased. Due to the limited availability of open space in the City, the preservation of the properties, including the Parcel, for the public good is desired. To ensure the Parcel remains accessible for public recreation and is available for habitat restoration and preservation, the City has made arrangements for its acquisition.
DISCUSSION:
During the Fiscal Year 2017-18 Mid-Year Budget Update, this Board authorized the appropriation of $690,000 to the Parks Acquisition and Development Fund to assist in the City’s acquisition of the Parcel. As the transaction did not occur during the anticipated fiscal year, the funds are no longer in the Department’s budget. The attached Appropriation Transfer Request (“ATR”) will re-appropriate the funds to the Department, and the funds will be dispersed to the City in accordance with the terms of the Agreement.
The City has arranged to acquire the Parcel for $772,500. In addition to the County’s $690,000, the City will contribute $82,500 to the acquisition. The Agreement authorizes the dispersal of funds from the County to the City for the exclusive purpose of purchasing the Parcel for use by the City as a park, and the City will be solely responsible for all operation and maintenance costs. To ensure the City has sufficient funds available to complete the transaction, the County will transfer the funds to the City prior to the acquisition. Should the City be unsuccessful in purchasing the Parcel, the funds will revert back to the County.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution and Agreement as to form.
Approval of this action contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of an Environmentally Conscious community by ensuring the Parcel and its habitat are preserved for future generations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of the Appropriation Transfer Request will appropriate funds in the amount of $690,000, which will allow for the Parks Department to disperse funds to the City of South San Francisco for the acquisition of open space on Sign Hill. There is no impact to the General Fund.