HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 06/13/1994June 13, 1994 Vol. 28, Page 233
i MINUTES OF A REGULAR AD.T®URNED MEETING
z PETALUMA CITY C®UNCIL
3 MONDAY, JUNE 13, 1994
a LUCCHESI C®MMUNITY CENTER
s ROLL CALL
6 Present: Parkerson, Sobel, Hamilton, Barlas, Shea, Vice Mayor Read, Mayor
~ Hilligoss
s Absent: None
9 PLEDGE ®F ALLEGIANCE
io Former Councilmember Michael Davis led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
i i DTSCUSSI®N ®F LAFFERTY AND M®®N RANCI~ES
iz Lafferty Ranch is outside the City Limits at the end of the public portion of Sonoma
13 Mountain Road off of Adobe Road. Moon Ranch is outside the City Limits easterly of the
is historic Vallejo Adobe State Park.
is Recreation Director Jim Carr made a presentation showing both portions of Lafferty Ranch
16 and Moon Ranch by way of video tape. There were two television sets at which the
i~ audience could view this. He also showed, by way of an overhead projector, maps of
is Lafferty Ranch, Moon Ranch and the lots which exist between the Lafferty property and the
19 Jack London property on the other side of Sonoma Mountain. He pointed out the access
zo conditions with Lafferty having a narrower road with less driver sight distance. Both
zi accesses require easements through private parcels. Currently there are some sort of access
zz easements at both sites, but they would need to be clarified for public use.
z3 After the video tape viewing, Mr. Carr noted that early in California's history, General
za Vallejo owned this property. Due to his concern about the Russian settlements in the area,
zs the property was deeded to an American on May 25, 1888. The property was eventually
z6 sold to Cal Water for watershed. When the City of Petaluma purchased the water company,
z~ the watershed, called Lafferty Ranch, was included in that sale. Part of the City water
zs supply was collected off that watershed and directed into Lawler Reservoir for years. In
z9 recent time, the California State Division of Dam Safety placed such costly regulations on
3o dams, that. it would have cost about $1 Million to bring the dam up to those new standards.
31 In reviewing the alternatives of rebuilding the dam or closing it, the City Council found it to
3z be more practical to eliminate the use of the watershed and Lawler Reservoir.
33 During the time the City used Lafferty Ranch as watershed, access has been limited to
3a permits for :groups of teachers and their students who walked and studied the property.
3s With the closing of the reservoir, it was suggested the City look at the potential benefits of
36 selling the watershed property.
37 .Moon Ranch is easterly of General Vallejo's historic Old-Adobe State Park. It has been
3a suggested that this parcel, owned by Mr. Pfendler, be considered for a South County
39 Regional Park. In addition, it has been suggested that the Lafferty Ranch be taken out of
ao public ownership due to the potential liabilities of fire and safety. Another consideration is
ai that utilization of the Lafferty Ranch by numbers of hikers would result in ecological damage
az to the Adobe Creek headwaters habitat for fish which the Casa Grande High School students
a3 have been struggling over the last several years to restore.
Page 234, Vol. 28
June 13, 1994
~ The tendency of hikers is to utilize Adobe Creek as their walking path due. to the instability
z of some of the hillside as opposed to the stability of the creek's rocks.
3 In discussing these parcels of land, there has been some talk. of development..of a ,trail from
a the Lafferty Ranch area to the Jack London Park area, a distance across the top of he hilt of
s approximately 1.5 to 1.75 miles. Currently there are three private parcels of land between
6 the two .sites. One of the owners spoke later in this meeting saying neither he nor his
~ offspring would be willing to allow a trail to go through their property to connect Jack
a London Park with Lafferty Ranch.
9 On Saturday, June 11, Recreation staff took three bus loads of people up to both the
io Lafferty site and the Moon site.
ii Philip Sales and Jim Angelo of Sonoma County Regional Parks spoke. They noted there is
iz no request for them to consider either site as a County Park at this time.. One of the sites is
13 very steep. They noted the access to Lafferty Ranch is difficult and leaves a lot to be
is desired. The other, Moon Ranch, offers more multiple uses. The property is more useable
is by more people. It has existing facilities. It would. be able to sustain a more intensive use
i6 than the Lafferty property. Comparison of the -two sites is not like comparing apples to
1~ apples, because the sites are so different. One is steep and high; the other is lower, more flat
is and has easier access potential. The. issues are access, ability to develop a park within a
19 budget.. and cost. Access to Lafferty would be more expensive. In response to the question,
zo what is the difference in density of use, the response was 5 to 1 in the numbers of persons
zi who could use .Moon Ranch and Lafferty Ranch. Currently the County has no money to
zz fund park development.
z3 Maria Cipriani a planner from the Open Space District answered some questions
za It was noted the acreages are Moon Ranch 381 acres and Lafferty Ranch 270 acres. Jane
zs Hamilton asked people to address their concerns.
z6 Carole Barlas asked the audience to determine how we could provide a recreational site for
z~ the most people in the South County. She asked the audience to make. their comments
za around that issue.
z9 The Mayor noted the meeting would be brought to a close at 9:30 p.m. The following
3o persons spoke:
31 Marion Hodge, representative of Jim Harberson Supervisor in District 2 wh°o is on vacation
3z following the election last week, said (1) our goal is to save as much of Sonoma Mountain
33 from development. as possible, (2) we should create a regional park., in Sonoma Mountain to
34 serve the citizens of Petaluma and surrounding area,. (3) with the defeat of Proposition 180,
3s no funds .are available other than Agricultural and Open Space funds to accomplish ;this goal,
36 and (4) hopefully, the County, the City and the Open Space District can work together to
37 make this happen.
3s Mary McChesney -Sonoma Mountain Road -supports Lafferty as a park. They are
39 bordered by the Osborne. Preserve. They have been good neighbors.
ao Cathleen Cannon, 1117 E. Sunnyslope -Lafferty is a; beautiful jewel.: She likened it to a
ai Thoreau writing. She wants it to be the City of Petaluma wilderness preserve. Access could
az be provided by permit only. No campers. The number of people could be kept to a
43 mimmum.
#i" "'c.
June 13, 1994
Vol. 28, Page 235
i Frank Marshall, 1675 Mt. View Avenue - he is a volunteer docent at the Osborne preserve.
z The Nature Conservancy provides the land. Fish and Game Commission and Sonoma State
3 University also assist with the preserve. He mentioned guided 4-hour hikes for students.
a We must provide for the students.
s Michael Davis, 1648 Northstar -Regarding the Thoreau statement. That is appropriate for
6 the Moon Ranch where there is more access for more of the public. There has to be
~ wheelchair access. Moon Ranch could be used by astronomy clubs, Boy Scouts,
s equestrians, fishermen, hikers and others. If there is an Open Space easement placed on
9 Lafferty as well as development of a Moon Ranch Regional Park, that would make 651 acres
io of open space on the hills, so go for it.
i~ Simon Corwin, 2310 Magnolia - he lives on the outskirts of Petaluma. Lafferty looks like a
iz wilderness and the Moon Ranch looks like an suburban park. .Are you willing to give up
13 access to Sonoma Mountain? The question becomes, how much is privacy worth to him?
is Are there any restrictions how the City could spend the money? Well use it for Moon Ranch
is and if there is anything left give it to the police and fire departments.
16 Joe Durney, 522 Second Street -wish you could have shown the view of the southwest
i~ boundary of the Bay and Mt. Diablo. It is fortunate it is so high up there. This meeting
is should have been broadcast on cable television. He hopes the Council realizes its
19 importance. You know budgets just come and go.
zo Mark Green, Santa Rosa -Sonoma County Conservation Action - He said 11001etters have
zi been mailed to the City on this subject. He wants both Lafferty and Moon Ranches. We
zz don't have enough parklands. This transfer of Moon Ranch for Lafferty just is being pushed
z3 by staff. You should require that people can use the land. You also can get more for the
za Lafferty Ranch if you go on the open market.
zs Gene Williams, 10 8th Street - He supports the idea that Moon Ranch become a South
z6 County Regional Park. He also would like being able to hike up Lafferty Ranch to enjoy
z~ that facility.
zs Marion Specter -lives on Sonoma Mountain. She has no opinion on the sale of Lafferty
z9 versus the Bay Area Ridge Trail. There is a real safety issue here. She recently had to deal
3o with someone backin down the hill while she was_driving up the hill.
31 Randall Smith -lives on the mountain - he is sorry to see the polarization. Everybody is
3z emotional about this. Everybody wants everything. You have to do what is the greatest
33 good for the most people. Some people are looking at this as a land grab by someone who
34 is successful.
3s Matt Maguire - if we could have them both, it would be great. If there can be only one
36 publicly owned piece of land, he would choose Lafferty. You could do a phased-in
37 development. Put in a wheel chair access later. There are a lot of safety issues in a lot of
3a places. He compares the views to the Mt. Tamalpais views in Marin County.
39 Note bene -Most of the audience raised their hands when the question was asked, how many
ao of you have been to both sites. Ninety-six persons signed the evening's attendance sheets.
ai Dominga Tunzi -Lafferty- has an abundance of springs. Moon Ranch. was quite dry. No
az springs were evident. The facilities need repair. She felt it would take quite a bit of money
a3 to fix the equestrian areas.
as Pat Cheda, Sonoma Mountain Road - we work the land for our livelihood. Regarding fire
as danger - we have not had a fire, but if we did, there are only two fire trucks available in the
a6 Penngrove district to go up there. Regarding crime -trails are a problem.
Page 236, Vol. 28 Junc 13, 1994
i Yes, there are good people, but there are people who break fences, who poach deer,. who try
a to camp. We have stopped parents of some Boy Scouts digging a hole to build a campfire
3 up there, all the while a 30 mile per hour wind was blowing.
a Nile Heath - If I had the money I would buy Lafferty and give it to the people. Petaluma
s 'won°t get another chance to get a wilderness like Lafferty.
6 Alan Ritchie. - We are .looking for a little space after work. Why can't Petaluma buses take
~ : excursions. out; there to Lafferty?
s Bill Kortum -When you look at the mountain all you see is a .private mountain. Lafferty has Y
9 been 'promoted .as steep: property. It is not remote, it is closer than Moon Ranch. These
io parcels shouldn't .be compared. They are really different experiences. Sonoma County is
ii short 800 acres of open space. We can't afford to lose any public land. The headwaters of
i~ Adobe Creek should.be kept in public ownership. We: need a trail. across the mountain. One
13 of the property owners up there may be willing to have a trail. go across her land. He is
is opposed to getting the Moon Ranch. He enjoys going up the mountain.
is John Saemann, Sonoma. Mountain Road - he questions the statement that Lafferty is not
16 remote. This is extremely .remote. Only the most fleet of foot would be able to get to it.
i~ There is quite a bit of activity there even now. There is no fire protection to speak. of. In
is order to do -work on my home, I was required to bring in a pump and use. the swim pool
i9 water. The decision should be based on what is best fore all of the Petaluma area. The Moon
Zo Ranch would offer more people the opportunity to utilize a park.
Zi Bernice Fowler -local educator -please consider the access to the head waters of Adobe
za Creek for the students in order to continue working on their goal of restoration of the fish
23 population of Adobe Creek. We need to teach kids to protect our natural resources.
Za Ursula Liakos -Moon Ranch would be a good place to have docents. This is a good
Zs opportunity. Moon Ranch should not be degenerated into some commercial enterprise.
26 She also supports protection of the headwaters of Adobe Creek.
z~ Hugh Stevenson -suggested that on Pfendler's demise the property go back to the public.
ss Jon Masser - he went up to Lafferty Ranch, and although he has cerebral palsy, he had no
z9 problenns.
3o Eric Specter -Sonoma Mountain Road - it seems contradictory to call for open space and to
31 have access as well. The trout project is a joke if you -keep public access. People will walk
32 in the creek. If this were to be made into a park,'the County would haveto be in support. of
33 it, because it is in the County. People keep on driving on the road beyond. the public road
3a ~ and they go up the private road until it ends. There have been a number of near front end
3s collisions with other cars that were not residents of the area and that were driving on the
36 private road. The Ridge Trail to Jack London Park is the agenda of some of the people.
37 At 9:30 the meeting was brought to a close and it was agreed that the next meeting on the
3s subject would be 7:00 p.m. on July 11 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
. _ <:~
~~`
June 13; 1994
Vol. 28, Page 237
1 1
2 The meeting was adjourned at 9:40 p.m.
~/~ ~~ 1~° ~~~
~/~L /
3 M. Patricia Hilligoss, Mayor
a ATTEST:
s
` 6
7
s atricia rnard, City Clerk