HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Bill 8.B 05/03/2004i
r'
MAY n _q 2An4l
CITY OF P ETALUMA, CALIFORNIA
AGE NDA ILL •
Agenda Title
Meeting Date: May 3, 2004
Resolution Encouraging :the California Coastal. Conservancy, the
California. State Park System, and Local Government Officials to
Work Together to Create a Park and Trail System of Regional
Meeting Time ❑ 3:00 PM
Significance on Sonoma Mountain
® 7.00 PM
Category (check one) ❑ Consent Calendar ❑ Public Bearing E . New Business
❑ Unfinished Business ❑ Presentati
Department
Direct` r:
ontact'Person
Phone Number
Parks and Recreation
Jim Ca L '`a
Jim Carr.
(707) 778 - 4380
Cost of Proposal N/A '/`
Account Number N/A
Amount Budgeted N/A
Name of Fund
Attachments to Agenda Paclzet Item'
a. Excerpt from Recreation, Music and Parks'Commission,N inutes of July 16, 2003.
b. Resolution Passed by theRecreation, Music and Parks Commission Supporting the Creation of an
"Over the Mountain Trail."
c. Proposed Resolution Encouraging Agencies to Work'Together To Create A Park and Trail System
of Regional Significance on Sonoma Mountain
d. Over view of Property Boundaries.
Summary Statement
Landowner Bonnie Mitsui has offered a trail easement across her property on Sonoma Mountain if
Lafferty Ranch is opened as a. park. In that regard, a proposal has surfaced to have the California Coastal
Conservancy and the California State Park System acquire Lafferty Ranch with the intent of creating a
more extensive regional park and trail system on Sonoma Mountain.
Recommended City Council Action /Suggested Motion
The Recreation, Music and Parks Commission urges the. City Council to enact a resolution supporting the
creation of the Over the Mountain Trail, encourage the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors to.support the
Over the Mountain Trail, and begin dialogue with the appropriate State and County agencies and elected
officials toward*that end.
The enclosed, resolution supports the Commissions recommendation. and encourages local government
officials to work together to create a park and trail system of regional significance on Sonoma Mountain.
Reviewed by Finance Director:
Reviewed by City Attorney
Date:
A,��rov d JJy Manager.
Date:
Date: _
'Today's Date '
Revision ft and Date Revised:
Pile Code:
1, ,
2 CITY OF PET LUMA, CALIFORNIA
M 3; 2004
6 AGEND REPORT
7 FOR
s Resolution Encouraging. the California Coastal Conservancy, the Ca lifornia
9 State arkSystem, cl�� Government �feial Work Together to
la Create a Park and."T raiI System of Reg �tial Signifca»ce on Sonoma
a
11 Mountain
12
13 1. EX ECUTIVE SPR
14
A local landowner has offered aarail easement across her - property on top of Sonoma Mountain if
15
LaffertyRanch is opened, as z park. The proposed action is -to have the California C oastal
1:6
Conservancy and California State Parks work to acquire Lafferty Ranch from the City of Petaluma
17
and create a, regional park and trail system, tying together existing and new state lands.
18
19
20 2.
BACKGROUND
21
Since the adoption of the Lafferty Ranch Environmental Impact Report, there has been no action
22
regarding developing the proposed park for a variety of reasons. Landowner Bonnie Mitsui, who has
23
property on the top of Sonoma Mountain, has offered to :give-the State of California an' easement
across her property, which would, with the cooperation of adjacent property owners, connect
Petaluma with Jack London State Park via an "Oyer.the Mountain. Trail." Ms. Mitsui's one condition
26 is that the State open Lafferty Ranch as a public park.
27 The Recreation, Music and Parks Commission, after visiting Ms_ Mitsui's property with a variety of
28 representatives from local agencies, passed a resolution at their July 16, 2003 and August 20, 2003
29 meetings, urging the City Council to take the following .action:
30 ® Enact aResolution supporting the creation of the "Over the Mountain Trail."
31 ® Encourage the Sonoma County Board" of Supervisors to support the "Over the
32 Mountain Trail."
33 ® Begin a dialogue with the appropriate State.and County agencies and elected officials
34 toward that end.
35 Since then there have been discussions by proponents of the "Over the Mountain Trail," to have
36 agencies better suited for developing a regional park and trail system to look at acquiring Lafferty
37 Ranch-in order to make the concept work.
38 Council Member Mike•Healy has submitted a resolution (attached) by which the City Council
39 encourages the California Coastal Conservancy, the California State Park system, and local
40 government to work together to create a park and trail system of regional significance on
41 Sonoma;Mountain.
42 The proposed resolution also salutes Ms_ Mitsui for her generous' offer of a trail easement across her
43 property on top of Sonoma Mountain.
44 3. ALTERNATIVES
45
a: Approve the Resolution as proposed.
h. Direct staff into modifying the.proposed resolution.
48 c. Take no action
M
1 ,
2 4. FINANCIAL 91tl9R"AC S '.
3 None at this time
4
5 5. CONCLUSION
6 The Recreation, Music and Parks Commission recommend the development of an "Over the
7 Mountain Trail."
8 With the offer by landowner Bonnie Mitsui, an opportunity exists for tying various State lands and
9 Lafferty Ranch into a regional Park and Trail network. If the City Council gives direction to staff,
10 the California Coastal Conservancy and California State Parks will be approached to, formalize
1 i discussions;regarding their possible acquisition of Lafferty Ranch. Discussions `would. also be
12 required' Sonoma County,' -to have the 'Board of `Supervisors to support the proposed action.
13
14
15 6. REtOMAIENDATION
16 The Recreation, Music and Parks Commission urge the City Council to takemhe necessary steps to
17 create an "Over.the Mountain, Trail," and the proposed Resolution starts that process.
18
19 g /fomis /2003 & bill
20
21
In
�� MIAT[7TES
4
5
6 REGULAR NfEETING Wednesday, July 16, 2003
7 Petaluma Campus, Santa -Rosa Junior College.(Libray) 7::00 P.M
e u`o ° v Sonorrm ir`ou h"61 urn uy
9 Petaluma, Ca 94954
10
11
12 Chair* McCoy
13 CALL TO ORDER:
14 A. Present: Members McCoy, Tarr, Hagen, Kinsella, Nau, and Moynihan
is Absent Ramirez
16 Staff: Carr, Anchordoguy Erank
17 City Council members Torliatt, Harris .
18 City Manger Bierman
19 B. Pledge of Allegiance
20
21 APPROVAL OF NUNUTES
22 Correction to Minutes of June18 2003: Page 3, line 6: California; State Coastal
-� Conservancy to be changed to "Nature Conservancy
M/S/P Tarr / Moynihan-To accept the minutes as corrected
2'r
26 PUBLIC CONEY ENT
27
28 Lynn Cominsky, When;the Gatti Nursery property is developed; recommend that the
29 Urban - Separator - Path be - continued.
30
31 Jerry Vance of United Flyers, of Sonoma County, recommended the development of a Disc
32 Golf Course, starting- at the Gatti Park site and continuing down the Urban .Separator. Chair
33 McCoy suggested that,Mr. Vance attend the August 20, 2003 Recreation, Music and Parks
34 Commission meeting.
3.5
36 PE'T'ITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
37
38 Two letter were received regarding the Gatti Park: Public - Meeting and were read publicly at that
39 time
40
41 NEW BUSINESS
42 - -
43 1. Proposed Gatti Park Site - Community Input
44
To accommodate the public who were in attendance for the Gatti Park site public meeting, Chair
McCoy turned the meeting over to Director Carr. Carr gave a brief - history of the Gatti Park site and the
4" - planning to process to'be followed. Commissioner Moynihan gave a brief history of the process to
4, clear funding in order to move the park project forward.
1 ® Continuous pathway around the 7 acres
2 ® Walking paths should be curving meandering .
® Walking paths. to continue through to new Junior High School
4
5 OLD )BVSMSS
6
7'. 1. Resolution to support proposed Mitsui trail connector towards JackLondon State Paik.fron
Q s
V s� , wa•a.s a� i�sau vu. .
9
10 Commissioner Hagen introduced a resolution that would encourage the, City Council to pursue with
11 the County of Sonoma and the State of California; an Over the Mountain Trail on, Sonoma
12 Mountain. Sonoma Mountain property owner Bonnie Mitsui had recently offered to gi "ve the State
13 of California ,an easement across her mountain top property, which could connect Petaluma to Jack
14 London. State Park, on the condition that the Stateopens Lafferty. Ranch as .a public park., .
15 Following discussion about the language of the proposed resolution, Mr. Hagen made a motion for
16 approval of recommended resolution. The motion died for lack of a, second.
17 Following further discussion and changes madel to ihe,proposed resolution; a motion was made by
18 -Moyn han and seconded by Tarr to recommendto the City Council the revised resolution: The
19 motion carried on a 5 -1 vote, with Mr. Hagen dissenting.
20 Full text of the resolution revised and approved, is as follows:
21
22 Ailooted Resolution of Petaluma,Recreatimi,.Music and Parks Commission July, 14, 2003
23
24 Whereas a. trail over the -top of Sonoma Mountain connecting Petaluma to Jack London,State Park
2'z was given the highest priority of all new trails by attendees of countywide public workshops, for the
Draft Sonoma County Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP); and
27
28 Whereas 'scientific opinion surveys conducted on behalf of the County for the ,ORP show the
29 public's highest' priorities for outdoor recreation are - hiking and nature study within parks and
30 natural open space,, findings which coincide with statewide surveys also cited in .the Draft ORR
31 and
32
33 Whereas, in a public opinion survey and co nmunity workshops sponsored' by Commission
34 during the past year, Petaluma residents put high priority on the creation of'm_ more walking and
35 hiking opportunities;; and
36
37 Whereas UGB prompted City - centered development and the growth of the high - technology
38 industry in the South County, among other factors, will, continue to increase the demand for
39 accessible open space in the hills surrounding.urban areas; and
Whereas the City of Petaluma has since 1 owned the Lafferty Ranch property, 270 acres of land ,
on Sonoma Mountain, the dominant landform in the South County, which offers the perennial
Adobe Creek, deep canyons, oak =bay woodlands; broad. rolling meadows, and panoramic vistas of
the Petaluma Valley, ;the Bay Area, the North Coast, and the Pacific Ocean, and'which has been a
designated park site in the City's General Plan since 1962, and
Whereas t
e_r „eas the Petaluma City Council in 1996 enacted, by unanimous vote Ordinance 2022, which
sets the goal of creating a wilderness park on Lafferty consistent with, the best management
r
practices for public open space parks in the Bay Area; and
i -
3 Whereas Sonoma Mountain property owner Bonnie Mitsui has conditionally offered to give the
4 State of an easement across her mountaintop property which would, with the
5 cooperation of adjacent property owners, connect Petaluma to .Jack London Park in an "Over the
6 Mountain Trail "; and
7
n u7t_ t _ o. . 1 Tl' .+.., t, .,i rod o h+nh niinr�ttr �n �rrn tinn of tTatl IIf11Cages DTI
o.. .
b W Lereas 111e:aUi1G'Parr`J Lc�aa waent pla a c. aubx� rs ... "7 `^, ! '
9 parks; both for recreation -and wildlife' corridors; and
10
11. Whereas connecting- the two parks would allow the public to hike from Sonoma or Petaluma
12 valleys across.the top of Sonoma Mountain,_opening'a.spectacular landscape for visual enjoyment,
13 including oak and bay sava grassland, and the headwaters of three perennial streams; and
14
15 Whereas the•panorama of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco the whole Bay east to Carquinez, the
16 Maycamas, Mts. Hood, St. Helena.and,Konocti ca 'all viewed from the Mitsui ranch, and the
17 creation of an Over the Mountain Trail' would allow Sonoma Mountain to, join her Bay Area sister
18 peaks — Burden, Tamalpais, San Bruno, Mission Peak, and Diablo — in a Bay Area ring of
19 mountaintops with public access.
20
2.1 Be It Therefore Resolved that ihe"Petaluma Recreation, Music, and,;Parks Commission urges the
22 Petaluma City Council to 1) enact a Resolution supporting the creation of the-Over the Mountain
Trail 2) to encourage the Sonoma CountyBoard of Supervisors to support this Over the Mountain
Trail, and 3) begin a. dialogue with the appropriate State and County agencies' and elected officials
25 toward that end.
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
16
6
47
48
49
COMMSSIONERS. REPORTS
John Kinsella Bulletin board: in Oak Hi11..Park'will eventually need plastic cover; hold off for
now.
Community Garden is going well.
Karen Pilau Mentioned letterto editor regarding the Petaluma Swim Center hours in the
Spring.; Carr mentioned that - the pool does not start regular weekday hours until
after school is out forth, summer.
A Baby Grand Piano has been donated to the Petalurrra.Museum
The; new garden behind the Petaluma Museum has been a huge success and will
be the :site.for
'a number of upcoming community events.
The Skate Park looked OK
,Bryant 'Moynihan Grant Park looks OK as does'the Westridge Open Space
Bruce Hagen Putnam Plaza looked OK
Mama Tarr 'Casa del Oro has a new hole i.n the turf close to Sartori Drive.
McNear dunking fountain and: fencing has been fixed; the turf looks yellow in
Spots. Mr. Anchordoguy _mentioned that due to the hot weather, the irrigation
coverage is stressed.
There appears to be mounds (ripples) in the synthetic turf at Lucchesi Park.
4
Al2proved Raolution of the Pet l -Romtion, .Music dfarks Commission
W hereas a trail over the top of Sonoma Mountain, connecting Petaluma to Jack State
Park was given the highest priority of all new trails by attendees of countywide public
workshops, for the Draft Sonoma County Outdoor Recreation Plan (ORP) and
Whereas scientific opinion surveys conducted on behalf , of the County for the ORP show the
public's highest priorities for outdoor recreation are: hiking and nature study within pdrk& and
natural open space, . findings which coincide with statewide surveys also cited in i the Draft ORP
and
Whereas in a public opinion survey�and community workshops sponsored by this Co
during the past year, Petaluma residents put high pri ority on the creation of more walking and.
hiking opportunities;. and
Whereas VGB prompted City - centered development andw growth of the,high--technology,
industry in the South County, among other factors, will ,continue to increase e
ea the demand.for..
accessible open space in the hills surrotinding;ufban areas; and
Whereas the City of Petaluma,has since 1.959 owned' the Lafferty Ranch propert . �2 of
acres
land on Sonoma Mountain, the dominant lariffirm the South. County, which offers the
perennial Adobe Creek, deep canyons, oak-bay woodlands rolling meadows d,
s, An
panoramic vistas of the Petaluma Valley;, the-Bay Area, the North Coast, and the Pacific Ocean,
and which has been a,desigpated park site in the City's General Plan since 1962, and
Whereas the Petaluma Ci ty Q Council in 1996 enacted by unanimous vote Ordinance 2022, which
I
sets the goal of creating a wilderness park on Lafferty consi ent with'thei best- management
practices' for public,open space parks in the Bay Area; and
Whereas Sonoma Mountain, property -owner !Bonnie Mitsui has recently offered tQgivethe State
of California an easement across her mountaintop property p
which would coo of
adjacent property owners, connect Petaluma to Jack.London Park in an "Over the Mountain
Trail", on the condition that the';. State opens Lafferty as a public park, and
Whereas the State,Parks Department places a high priority trail linkages
priority on acquisition of
between parks, both for recreation and Wildlife corridors; and
Whereas connecting the two parks would allow the public to hike from Sonoma or Petaluma
valleys across, the top of Sonoma M
ountain, opening - a spectacular landscape for visual .
enjoyment, including oak; and bay'-sa-vanna, grassland; and the headwaters of three. perennial
streams; and
Whereas the panorama of the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco, the whole Bay easvto Carquinez; the • Mayca v
mas, Mts. Hood, Si.. Helena and,Konocticat all� from the Mitsui ranch, and the
creation of an Over the Mountain Trail: would allow- Son'oma.Mountain to join her Bay Area
sister peaks-- BurdelI Tamalpais, San Bruno, Nfissioh Peak, and Di ablo— in a Bay , a ring of
Are � 171
mountaintops with public. access, and
r
Be.It Therefore`Resolved that the Petaluma Recreation, Music, and Parks Commission urges the
Petaluma City Council to l) enact a Resolution supporting °creation of the Over the Mountain
Trail 2) to encourage the Sonoma County Board, of Supervisors to support this Over the
Mountain Trail, and. 3) begin a dialogue with the appropriate State and County agencies and
elected officials toward that end.
Recommendation for the City Council from the Commission meeting of July 16, 2003,
and approved in final form at the meeting of August 20, 2003.
l�
, _ ,( \� ° n l
6 00
o
�—T.- B^J\ _ \l' \ \ n .l � I / li ` �_ � -.O v� � • ` 1/ Yf
/ p
V
J e /
• � .\ Epp - .. _l I ,� . ���
` i 1
i
s7P
`col -
�.
7,00 g i - •�
16 5 c
ui .
r > V
Mu
iTD t}\ ego
- • x:1-1 O 't . ��;,
Stevenson
0 Brien
3
�.Murp y ,.l Elliot —� f�
a b , Elliot
3 Mitsui t
J
I go°
\`C1t o °
Pf en l e r Y f
Helgren �� "Petaluma
Cheda \
pfendler
1.0U
/ v
18
00
t
RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING THE CALIFORNIA COASTAL CONSERVANCY,
THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARK SYSTEM, AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS TO WORD TOGETHER TO CREATE A PARIS AND 'TRAIL SYSTEM OF
REGIONAL SIGNIFICANCE ON SONOMA MOUNTAIN
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma has owned Lafferty Ranch, a 276 acre. property located near
the crest of Sonoma Mountain, since 1959; and
WHEREAS, the City, of Petaluma has for many years endeavored to open Lafferty Ranch for
public use as a law- impact park with hiking trails; and
WHEREAS, there exist on Sonoma Mountain other opportunities to create a larger network of
parkland and trails-of regional significance more appropriate for development, ownership and
management by the California. State Parks system, and
WHEREAS, these opportunities include the generous offer of Bonnie Mitsui of a trail easement
across `her mountaintop ranch if certain conditions can be achieved- and
WHEREAS, it would of regional benefit if the California_ Coastal Conservancy and the
California State Parks system were to acquire and develop a more extensive park system on
Sonoma Mountain than that within the abilities of the City of Petaluma; and
WHEREAS, the City of Petaluma would be interested in selling Lafferty Ranch to the State for
inclusion in such a larger park, system, as an alternative to the City's plans to open Lafferty as a
stand -alone municipal park without linkages to other trail's or parks;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE .IT RE , SOLVED, THAT the City Council, of the City of Petaluma
encourages the California. Coastal Conservancy, the California State Park system, and local
government officials to work together to create a park and trail system of regional significance
on Sonoma Mountain;
FURTHERMORE., the City.Council salutes Bonnie Mitsui for her generous offer comprising
some L.4 miles of trail corridor,in one of the most beautiful settings at the top of Sonoma
Mountain.
CADocun ents and Settings \jcarr\Local SettingsUemporar_y Internet Files \OLKDI\Lafferty Mitsui Property
Resolution: doc
Mary Mitsui
7400 Given Road
C c — Inniitr Ohio 4 524.3
Sam Schuchat
Executive Director.
California State Coastal Conservancy
1330 Broadway, 11 t�h floor
Oakland CA. 94612
Dear Director Sch :u'chat;
As a long time ow..ner of property on the top of'Sonoma Mountain, i have
always considered f e possibility of connecting any land. to jack London State
.Park. Un:fortunatel ' i ,a very srnall par -cel exists that separates the two
properties by 500 feet.
Luring the past eleven years I have watched Petalurna's attempt to open their
former watershed property to u. se as a. park. Lafferty Park is joined at the
corner by my property..
f XV01.11d. be wil'liog to negotiate a future trail easernent, of about 1.45 Wailes
through nay property at such time that State Parks or, some,nther e rtrtv can
negotiate to connect fack L:onclon State Park with n1y lend aid Lafferty Park. to
the southwest. A guarantee that Lafferty Ranch becomes a public park to
connect to a proposed trail on .my property woLrl.d be an. obvious regUireEnent.
A trail across the top of Sonon.ia Mountain would. provide a. rewarding
satisfaction. to me. A p recedent was established in Petaluma "s history of a hike
frona, downtown Petaluma to Whitney Falls on the east side of Sonoma.
Mountain, I.unch and return the same day. Substi'tution,.of Jack London _Park for
Whitney Falls. would reestablish that popular hike of "yesteryear.
Iwould retain the right of r efusal if'the negotiations do not produce a. trail.
easement that 'is satisfactory , to the manage rre t of illy property.
Sincerely,
FYI �l'r►�l rr
I
xt
l
t
ryMa�+