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CC MINS 19911029M I N U T E S RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL TRAILS WORKSHOP OCTOBER 29, 1991 The meeting was called to order at 7:30 P . M . by Mayor Hinchl i f f e at the Fred Hesse Park Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard. PRESENT: BACHARACH, HUGHES, McTAGGART, RYAN, AND MAYOR HINCHLIFFE Also present were City Manager Paul Bussey, Recreation and Parks Director Mary Thomas, Environmental Services Director Robert Benard and City Clerk Jo Purcell., PUBLIC HEARING: CONCEPTUAL TRAILS PLAN, SECTION 111 - REVISIONS Director Thomas presented the October 29th staff memorandum and the following recommendations: 1) Consider the Trails Committee's recommendations for revisions to Section III of the Conceptual Trails Plan. 2) Accept public testimony pertinent to that Section 3) Approve the Trails Committee's recommended revisions to Section III of the Conceptual Trails Plan designated non - controversial. 4) Provide staff direction for revisions to Section III of the Conceptual Trails Plan and designated controversial. 5) Direct that a resolution amending the Plan consistent with the City Council's decisions at this meeting and on September 16, 1991 be prepared for Council adoption. It was the consensus that public testimony should be taken on those trails which were considered to be controversial and that the non- controversial trails be approved by the Council. Councilwoman Bacharach moved, seconded by Councilman Hughes to approve the non - controversial trails. The motion carried. Intrepid Segment (Sect . 3) Packsaddle Segment (Sect. 3) , Stalwart Segment (Sect. 3), Pirate Segment (Sect. 3), Crooked Patch Trail (Sect. 3 ) , McBride Trail (Sect. 3 ) , Kaj ima Trail (Sect. 3 ) , Fossil Trail (Sect. 3 ) , Crystal Trail (Sect. 3 ) , and, Quarry Bowl Trail (Sect. 3.) Barbara Dye, Chairwoman of the Trails Committee, with the use of drawings of the Trails Plan mounted for audience viewing, pointed out some of the trails considered to be controversial. 1 Representing the Island View Homeowners Association was Ron Beck, 43 Santa Barbara Drive, and Tom Coull who made a slide presentation of aerial photos of the trail system as it encompassed the Island View tract. Mr. Beck said they have a pedestrian easement around the tract which their homeowner association maintains and he stated that the Plan attempted to impose upon the association a change to accommodate equestrian trails which the homeowners did not want. Referring to page 5 of the October 29, 19 91 staff report, Mr. Beck questioned whether the requirement for a minimum 30 foot wide perimeter easement and the notification to the buyer of each lot had been included in the recorded tract map, He presented a letter dated April 24, 1985 from the Palos Verdes Peninsula Horsemens Association, which stated in part that the developer of the Island View Tract had agreed to assist that Association in applying to the City to establish a horse trail in the public right-of-way in front of it's development to allow continuation of the horse trail, as well as to open access to Rattlesnake Trail. In response to Council's inquiry, Mr. Beck stated that homeowners in the tract were not advised of an equestrian trail; however, they were advised that a pedestrian easement would exist around the tract. He also explained that the Homeowner Association installed a barrier at the top end of Rattlesnake Trail because they were concerned about the damage being done by equestrian usage. Referring to page 7 of the staff report, Mr. Beck pointed out that a revision was never made in the tract's Conditional Use Permit to allow for an equestrian trail. He requested that the trail at Rattlesnake be deleted because of its steepness and that the equestrian trails around their tract be eliminated from the Plan. Council discussion then included clarification of whether the conditions for the equestrian trails were indeed part of the Conditional Use Permit for this. tract when the tract map was recorded; the difference between a public trail versus a pedestrian trail; and, the fact that this link was identified as a pedestrian, bike and public trail. Tom Coull, 49 Santa Catalina Drive, representing the Island View Homeowners Association, read from the conditions on the recorded tract map and said there was no indication of the B1 bike trail. He summarized the various trails surrounding the tract and stated his association's concerns with those trails. Paul Garmus, 3324 Seaclaire, representing the Mediterranea Homeowners Association, told the Council that a lot of people were unfamiliar with the Trails Plan and especially about the Seaclaire segment of the trail. He said that this area was very steep and people were concerned about the danger and erosion of the area if it is used as an equestrian trail. He said that he was not objecting to trails but was concerned about them going through private property and making the public liable for them. He felt that this issue should get more publicity and perhaps should be put 2 October 29, 19 91 to a vote of the people. Hirsh Marantz , 2 Pony Lane, Rolling Hills Estates, representing the Palos Verdes Peninsula Horsemens Association related his experience with the developer of the Island View tract and how they set aside $10,000 in the event an equestrian trail was ever built adjacent to that tract. Heda Carpenter, M.D., 2913 Crenshaw Blvd., said she learned of the trails for Crenshaw Blvd. only two weeks ago. She said that where the horse trail is proposed there already exists a bike trail; she referred to the conditions existing on her property which she had bought in 1984. She cited her concern about equestrian trails on that part of Crenshaw Blvd. Jean Longacre, 6 Martingale Drive, speaking as an individual, presented a prepared statement dated October 29, 1991 which contained a brief history on the importance of retaining the trails and vistas on the Peninsula which ran along the back of the Island View tract. Her letter also cited the EIR process for the Island View tract and, in particular, the resolution which called for a minimum 30 foot wide perimeter easement dedicated to the City for public trail purposes as a condition of approval. (Ms. Longacre' s letter is on file with the City Clerk's office.) Judy Schnerk , 3444 Hight ide , told the Council that she has lived in this area since 1965 and the trails which now go through Section 4 have been in existence a long time and well before development occurred in that area. Charlene O'Neill, 38 Headland Drive, spoke in favor of the Rattlesnake Trail. Sunshine, 6 Limetree, said that the trail around Section 4 was part of the General Plan and that the equestrians would prefer not to be on the road but that is a fall back position. She stated that Rattlesnake Trail was built to mitigate erosion and serve as a fire break. Phyllis Murphy, 5 Park Place, spoke to the Del Cerro Trail (Section 3) and said that when they bought their lot in 1982 there was only a bike trail along that area. She explained the problems they have encountered with horses encroaching on to their private property. She requested that the equestrian designation be removed from the area. Evie Hunter, 18 Martingale Lane, said that the problems with the Crenshaw Trail would be solved if the trail was along the public right -of -way and urged the City Council to keep as many trails as possible. 3 October 2 9 , 1991 Council then requested a clarification of the importance of the Island Crest Trail in relation to the entire plan; if it was a link around Crest Road or Crenshaw Blvd.; if the Crest Road link was more important than the Crenshaw link; and, the fact that the approval of the Kajima tract did provide an alternative link to Rolling Hills Estates. Further Council discussion centered on the Crest Gate House Trail and whether that could go on the other side ' of Crest Road; the disposition of the equestrian easement along the St. John Fisher property; and, whether the residents on the other side of the street had been notified of this equestrian easement. Jacqueline Crowley, 15 San Clemente Place, stated she was in favor of having a rural community but not necessarily having horses or equestrian trails running through well planned and manicured areas. She said that the community had changed, that there are a lot of trucks and that the trails along the eastern side of the City and the trails that go into Palos Verdes Estates were sufficient. She opposed trails going into communities that were already planned. RECESS AND RECONVENE At 9:50 P.M. the Mayor declared a recess. At 10:05 P.M. the meeting reconvened. A brief discussion ensued regarding the date that this matter should be brought back to the Council. Councilwoman Bacharach moved, seconded by Councilman Hughes to close the public hearing with the assurance that the resolution on this matter would come back to the Council on November 6th. The motion carried on a 3 -2 vote, with Councilmembers Hughes, Hinchliffe and Bacharach voting in favor and Councilmen Ryan and McTaggart voting in opposition. B -3 - ISLAND VIEW TRIAL: Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilwoman Bacharach that the equestrian designation be removed from the Island View and Island Crest Trail. The motion carried with Councilman Hughes abstaining. The suggestion was made that the staff keep in mind some way to secure the 40 foot section of Rattlesnake Trail that crosses the Island View property and keep it open for equestrian uses. F-2 - (Island Crest Trail- Section 3 ),_ Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilman Ryan to delete the equestrian designation and leave as a pedestrian trail. The motion carried with Councilman Hughes abstaining. H -3 - (Rattlesnake Trail - Section 3): Councilwoman Bacharach moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart to make Rattlesnake Trail a Category 6 and leave at it's current use. The motion carried with Councilman Hughes abstaining. 4 October 29, 1991 G -2 (Crenshaw Boulevard Trail - Section Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Councilman Ryan to delete the equestrian use from this trail. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: AYES: McTaggart and Ryan NOES: BACHARACH, MAYOR HINCHLIFFE ABSTAIN: HUGHES G -2 (Crenshaw Boulevard Trail- Section 3): Councilwoman Bacharach moved, seconded by Councilman Hinchliffe to make this a Category 1 pedestrian trail and a Category 6 equestrian trail and delete the reference to going on the grassy roadside area. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: BACHARACH, McTAGGART AND MAYOR HINCHLIFFE NOES: RYAN ABSTAIN: HUGHES B -4 (Del Cerro - Section 3): Mayor Hinchliffe moved, seconded by Councilwoman Bacharach to approve the staff recommendation. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: AYES: BACHARACH AND MAYOR HINCHLIFFE NOES: McTAGGART AND RYAN ABSTAIN: HUGHES B -4 (Del Cerro - Section 3 Councilman McTaggart moved, seconded by Mayor Hinchliffe to move this trail to the east side. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: BACHARACH, McTAGGART, AND MAYOR HINCHLIFFE NOES: RYAN ABSTAIN: HUGHES F -3 (Crest Gate House Trail) : Councilwoman Bacharach moved, seconded by Mayor Hinchliffe to adopt the staff recommendation with the suggestion to investigate the use of the funds for the other side of the road. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: BACHARACH, McTAGGART, RYAN AND MAYOR HINCHLIFFE ABSTAIN: HUGHES G -3 (Valley View Trail- Section 33,_ Mayor Hinchliffe moved, seconded by Councilwoman Bacharach to adopt the staff recommendation as modified. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: AYES: BACHARACH, MAYOR HINCHLIFFE NOES: McTAGGART, RYAN ABSTAIN: HUGHES 5 October 29, 1991 G -3 (Valley View Trail- Section 3 }: Mayor Hinchliffe moved, seconded by Councilwoman Bacharach to delete G -3. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: BACHARACH, McTAGGART, RYAN, AND MAYOR HINCHLIFFE ABSTAIN: HUGHES B -4 (Del Cerro- Section 3): Mayor Hinchliffe moved, seconded by Councilman McTaggart to reconfigure this trail to join H -4 on the east side to the intersection with G -4 (Pollywog intersection ) . The motion carried on the following roll call vote: AYES: BACHARACH, McTAGGART, AND MAYOR HINCHLIFFE NOES: RYAN ABSTAIN: HUGHES B -2 (McBride Trail Councilwoman Bacharach moved, seconded by Mayor Hinchliffe to adopt the staff recommendation. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: AYES: BACHARACH AND MAYOR HINCHLIFFE NOES: McTAGGART AND RYAN ABSTAIN: HUGHES GEOLOGY WORKSHOP It was the consensus of Council to hold a Geology Workshop on Saturday, November 23, 1991 at Ladera Linda Community Center, at 9:00 A.M. The motion carried. ADJOURNMENT: At 11:15 P.M. the meeting adjourned on motion of Councilman Hughes, seconded by Councilman McTaggart and carried. YOR 1029919MIN 6 October 29, 1991