Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: 4/5ths
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Jonathan Gervais, Parks Director
Subject: Funding for Tunitas Creek Beach and Capital Projects Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt resolutions authorizing:
A) An amendment to Master Salary Resolution No. 075338 to add three positions; and
B) An Appropriation Transfer Request (ATR) transferring $204,092 from Non-Departmental ERAF Reserves to Salaries and Benefits, Other Charges, Capital Assets, and Services and Supplies in the Parks Department.
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BACKGROUND:
Tunitas Creek Beach, eight miles south of Half Moon Bay in unincorporated San Mateo County, is a remarkable 57.5-acre beach property with views of 150-foot iconic bluffs, open ocean along nearly a mile of sandy beach, and diverse natural resources, including a third of a mile of riparian habitat on Tunitas Creek. Historically, a fisherman’s footpath along the creek and social trails over the steep hillside from Highway 1 enabled local access to area residents. A private beach for decades, no government entity has jurisdiction for management of this remote beach. As California State Parks is financially unable to accept new lands, San Mateo County and Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) are responding to public concern over huge increases in unmanaged public use of this beach and consequent impacts to natural resources, public health, and safety.
Social media promotion of unregulated raves, camping, and use of an illegally graded trail through Tunitas Creek has resulted in overwhelmingly negative impacts with extensive garbage, human waste, and crab poaching in the past four years. California Fish and Wildlife and San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office staff confirm estimates as high as 1,500 people camping overnight on Tunitas Creek Beach in 2017. First responders have seen increased calls to respond to violence, fatal accidents, and significant injuries- some that required helicopter evacuation and others by stretcher hauled up trail at night. Following a landslide in spring 2017, chain sawing of trees for firewood, and cutting of new trails exacerbated bank erosion and habitat loss.
DISCUSSION:
On June 6, 2017, the Board of Supervisors added Section 3.69 to Title 3 of the San Mateo County Code of Ordinances. This section introduced a host of new prohibitions on overnight camping, trash dumping, and other dangerous activities at remote Tunitas Creek Beach. In order to effectively enforce appropriate access and eliminate overnight camping, illegal dumping, human waste, and other environmental health impacts to water quality and special status species’ habitat, the Salary Resolution for the Parks Department is amended to add the following positions:
• One Park Ranger III
• One Park Ranger II
Funding for two extra-help Park Aides and vehicle related needs, including a new truck, and safety equipment and new uniforms are also needed.
Additionally, and as indicated during the June 2017 budget hearings, the Parks Department needs one Capital Projects Manager based on the Department’s entire capital project load. There are 19 capital projects that are in various stages of design and implementation. The Capital Project Manager will ensure the timely delivery of the Parks capital program and will play a vital role in assisting with projects associated with Tunitas Creek Beach.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution as to form.
Approval of this recommendation contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Collaborative Community as the San Mateo County Parks Department is actively working with POST to accomplish shared goals of urgent community concern which also benefits State objectives, including permanent protection of coastal access, coastal trail connectivity, cultural and natural resource protection, and special status species habitat restoration.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total cost related to Tunitas Creek Beach and the Capital Projects Manager in FY 2017-18 is $204,092; this amount represents the funding needed from April to June 30, 2018. These costs will be funded with Non-Departmental Reserves. An ATR is being requested to recognize the one-time transfer from Non-Departmental ERAF Reserves to Salaries and Benefits, Other Charges, Capital Assets, and Services and Supplies in the Parks Department in FY 2017-18.
One-time and ongoing costs related to Tunitas Creek Beach and the Capital Projects Manager will be funded by a Net County Cost increase and included in the Department’s FY 2018-19 Recommended Budget, which will be presented to the Board of Supervisors in June 2018.