Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Peggy Jensen, Interim Parks Director
Subject: Letter of Intent to Participate on the Bay to Sea Trail’s Planning Coalition
RECOMMENDATION:
title
Adopt a resolution authorizing:
A) The Parks Director to execute the Letter of Intent to participate on the Bay to Sea Trail’s Planning Coalition; and
B) The Parks Director, or her designee, to execute amendments to the Letter of Intent, including, but not limited to, termination of the Department’s intent to participate on the Bay to Sea Trail’s Planning Coalition
body
BACKGROUND:
The Bay to Sea Trail (“Trail”) is a conceptual multi-use recreation trail that would span approximately 40 miles from the San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It is intended to support a wide range of user groups, including hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. Because the conceptual Trail alignment traverses property owned by various agencies and entities, as depicted on Exhibit A attached, it is envisioned that each property owner would be responsible for constructing, operating, and maintaining Trail segments on their land and determining which uses would be authorized.
The Peninsula Open Space Trust (“POST”) is forming a Planning Coalition, consisting of park agencies, non-profits, land managers, localities, and funders to identify the most feasible Trail alignment and to ensure the Trail is constructed and opened to the public. The entities invited to participate on the coalition include the County of San Mateo, POST, Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, City of Redwood City, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, California State Coastal Conservancy, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, City of Half Moon Bay, and the Coastside Land Trust. These entities were selected because they own and manage property along the conceptual Trail alignment.
DISCUSSION:
The Department has been asked to sign a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) declaring its intention to join the Planning Coalition and collaborate in the planning necessary to complete the Trail. A copy of the LOI is attached as Exhibit B. The LOI acknowledges that each signing member has independent roles and responsibilities regarding their land, but that they agree to coordinate with other agencies and entities in the short and long terms to support the Trail. Any member who joins the coalition may withdraw at any point upon written notice to the other members.
The Planning Coalition is envisioned as a group that (1) cohesively works together to complete the Trail by the year 2037, (2) ensures each member and their constituents benefit from the Trail, and (3) leverages each member’s resources to support one another and expedite the delivery of the Trail. By signing the LOI, the Department agrees to have staff participate in coalition meetings and conduct outreach to respective governing and advisory bodies, constituents, and other departments within the County. Currently, the Department can accommodate these requirements.
At its June 6, 2019, meeting, the Parks Commission took action recommending that the Board authorize the Department to sign the Letter of Intent.
County Counsel has reviewed and approved the resolution and Letter of Intent as to form.
Approval of this action contributes to the Shared Vision 2025 outcome of a Collaborative Community by partnering with other agencies and entities to design and implement the Bay to Sea Trail for the benefit of the public.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost.