PVDE Study_Jan2010_App A Willdan Engineering Palos Verdes Drive East Preliminary Study Report
#100114/2000/10006 City of Rancho Palos Verdes
AAPPPPEENNDDIIXX AA
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Conceptual Trails Plan
Revised September 7, 1993
and
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes Nature Preserve – Public Use Master Plan
(PUMP) Preserve Trails Plan (PTP)
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Willdan Engineering Palos Verdes Drive East Preliminary Study Report
#100114/2000/10006 City of Rancho Palos Verdes
AAPPPPEENNDDIIXX AA--11
City of Rancho Palos Verdes Conceptual Trails Plan
Revised September 7, 1993
(Excerpt: Introduction, Section 4, Section 5,
Trail Classifications and Standards, and
Trail Implementation Procedures )
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Willdan Engineering Palos Verdes Drive East Preliminary Study Report
#100114/2000/10006 City of Rancho Palos Verdes
AAPPPPEENNDDIIXX AA--22
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
Palos Verdes Nature Preserve – Public Use Master Plan
(PUMP) Preserve Trails Plan (PTP)
(Excerpt: March 18, 2008 City Council Meeting Staff Report)
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CrrYOF
MEMORANDUM
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
REVIEWED:
Project Manager:
HONORABLE MAYOR &CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
JOEL ROJAS,AICP,DIRECTOR OF PLANNING,
BUILDING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT ~(f\\q...
MARCH 18,2008
PALOS VERDES NATURE PRESERVE -PUBLIC USE
MASTER PLAN (PUMP)PRESERVE TRAILS PLAN (PTP)
CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER
Ara Michael Mihranian,AICP,Principal Planner
RECOMMENDATION
1)Review the PUMP Committee's recommended trail routes and trail uses,as
identified in the proposed Public Trails Plan,and if deemed acceptable,approve the
Public Trails Plan for each of the following five reserves:
a.Abalone Cove Reserve
b.Three Sisters Reserve
c.Forrestal Reserve
d.San Ramon Reserve
e.Ocean Trails Reserve
2)Review,and if deemed acceptable,approve the trail routes located within the
Preserve identified as segments of the City's Palos Verdes Loop Trail system and
the City's Coastal Access Trail system.
3)Direct Staff to prepare the appropriate code amendment language to Section
12.16.080 of the RPVMC to establish a tiered penalty system for violators of the
Preserve Trail Plan.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On February 23,2008,the City Council held a Saturday workshop to review the PUMP
Committee's recommendations for the Preserve Trails Plan.At that meeting,the Council,
among other things,approved a trails plan for five of the ten areas that make up the
greater Preserve and continued this item to the March 18 th Council meeting.As such,the
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is being asked to review the trails plan for the remaining Reserves, which include Abalone
Cove, Three Sisters, Forrestal, San Ramon, and Ocean Trails. The Council is also being
asked to review the trail routes with the Preserve that are to be designated a part of the
Palos Verdes Loop Trail system and the Coastal Access Trail system. Lastly, the Council
is being asked to consider amending Title 12.06.080 of the RPVMC to establish a tiered
penalty fee for violators of the Preserve Trails Plan.
BACKGROUND
On Saturday, February 23, 2008, the City Council held an adjourned meeting to receive the
PUMP Committee’s recommendations on the Preserve Trails Plan. Based on the Council’s
review of the Committee’s recommendations, the Council made the following decisions:
• Officially named the greater Preserve the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve
• Accepted the Committee’s recommended names for the sub-areas that make up the
greater Preserve with the exception of renaming the Canyons Reserve to the
Portuguese Bend Reserve and dropping the word “ecological” from the title of the
sub-areas.
• Approved the Committee’s recommendations (trail use, trail route, and trail names)
to the Vista del Norte Reserve (also known as the Crestridge property) and the Aqua
Amarga Reserve (which includes the PVPLC’s Lunada Canyon property).
• Approved the Alta Vicente Reserve (also known as Upper Point Vicente) with the
exception of designating the Prickly Pear Trail as pedestrian only.
• Approved the trails plan for the Vicente Bluffs Reserve (also known as Ocean Front
Estates) with the exception of the Golden Cove Trial that was designated as
pedestrian only.
• Approved the Portuguese Bend Reserve (the former Hon property previously
referred to as the Canyons Reserve) with the exception of designating the Fire
Station Trail and the Grapevine Trail as pedestrian/equestrian.
In addition to the above, the Council agreed to lift the temporary “time-out” at the
Portuguese Bend Reserve provided that the following items are implemented by the City
and PVPLC Staff:
• Installation trail marker signs on all designated trails that indicate the trail name
and the approved trail uses and the installation of signs at the entrances to the
Reserve.
• Implementation of an educational program.
• Implementation of an enforcement program.
• Implementation of speed limits.
The Council also requested that a 6-month review occur after the re-opening of the closed
portions of the Portuguese Bend Reserve. The 6-month review is intended to occur
separately from the presentation of the NCCP Management Annual Report by the PVPLC.
The Council continued the meeting to March 18th to review the trails plan for the following
sub-areas:
• Abalone Cove Reserve
• Three Sisters Reserve
• Forrestal Reserve
• San Ramon Reserve
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• Ocean Trails Reserve
Additionally, the Council continued the item on the Palos Verdes Loop Trail and the Coastal
Access Trail.
As such, the Council is now being asked to continue the discussion on the Staff
recommendation remaining from the February 23rd meeting.
DISCUSSION
The following discussion explains in detail the three (3) components of Staff’s
recommendation:
1) The remaining PUMP Committee’s Preserve Trails Plan recommendations
2) The PUMP Committee’s Loop Trail and Coastal Access Trail
Recommendations
3) The establishment of a tiered penalty enforcement program
1. The PUMP Committee’s Recommended Preserve Trails Plan (PTP)
One of the actions that the City’s NCCP calls for as part of the development of the PUMP is
the creation of a Preserve Trails Plan (PTP). Specifically, the NCCP requires that the City
and the PVPLC develop a PTP that is consistent with the City’s Conceptual Trails Plan
(CTP) in such a way that new trail construction avoids direct access to sensitive resource
areas and major biological features. Furthermore, the NCCP states that all the trails
designated as unnecessary should be closed to minimize biological impacts.
The following discussion summarizes the Committee’s recommended PTP (trail routes, trail
names and trail uses) for the Preserve. In regards to trail uses, the following four trail use
categories were considered:
pedestrian only (shown in purple);
pedestrian / equestrian (shown in pink);
pedestrian / bicycle (shown in light blue); or
multipurpose (pedestrian, equestrian, and bicycle shown in light green)
Attached to this Staff Report is the PTP (from the February 23rd meeting). When viewing
the PTP, the trails identified are located entirely within the City’s Preserve. It is assumed
that for purposes of connectivity to the City’s trail system that the trails within the Preserve
will connect to the trails adjacent to the Preserve. However, at no point do the trails within
the Preserve connect to trails that are located on private property unless appropriate public
access easements are in place. This also applies to trails located in neighboring cities,
such as Rolling Hills. For organizational purposes, the order of the following discussion is
based on the order of the individual ecological reserves to be discussed at the March 18th
Council meeting.
A. Abalone Cove Reserve
The Abalone Cove Reserve is located between Palos Verdes Drive South and the coastline
and consists of a 64-acre portion of the Abalone Cove Shoreline Park and the adjoining 45-
acre RDA property. A portion of Abalone Cove Shoreline Park, near the shore, is
designated by the State as an official Ecological Reserve (see attached map). A State
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designated Ecological Reserve is intended to provide protection for rare and endangered
native plants, wildlife, aquatic organisms and specialized terrestrial or aquatic habitat types.
Public use of a State designated Ecological Reserve shall be compatible with the primary
purpose of the ecological reserve and the general State rules and regulations, unless
otherwise noted (see attachment).
When reviewing the trail routes and trail uses for the Abalone Cove Reserve, the
Committee reviewed, among other documents, the State guidelines for an ecological
reserve and the conceptual design for Abalone Cove in the Vision Plan. As a result, the
Committee is recommending a series of trails extending from the neighborhood off Sea
Cove Drive to the archery club to the east. The Committee is recommending a total of
sixteen (16) trails that vary in use from pedestrian to multipurpose (see attached map). In
regards to uses, the Committee limited bicycle use to the existing roads because of safety
concerns with school groups visiting the Abalone Cove beach area, as well as the close
proximity of the pre-school.
Additionally, the Committee is recommending that the Council consider allowing equestrian
access to the shore at Sacred Cove. However, the Committee’s recommendation includes
a caveat that would recommend that the City’s Municipal Code be amended to allow such
equestrian access to the shore. This is because Section 6.04.050 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC) prohibits equestrian activity, as well as any other animal
activity, along the City’s coastal/beach areas. Specifically, Section 6.04.050 of the RPVMC
states:
No person shall bring onto a beach or into the waters of the Pacific Ocean
adjacent to any beach any cattle, horse, mule, goat, sheep, swine, dog, cat
or other animal of any kind.
This Ordinance was adopted by the City Council in 1978 under Ordinance No. 98, and
amended in 1998 under Ordinance No. 337, based on Title 10 of the Los Angeles County
Animal Control Ordinance. The purpose of this Ordinance is primarily for health and safety
reasons especially in regards to animal waste and potential impacts to the marine
environment. Additionally, there is a maintenance expense associated with animal waste
left on local beaches. In considering the Committee’s recommendation to allow equestrian
access to the shore at Sacred Cove, careful consideration needs to be given to the purpose
of this restriction and whether such access is appropriate within the boundary limits of the
State designated ecological reserve. This could be a concern as animal access to the
shore at this location may potentially impact the sensitive marine life intended to be
protected by the State’s ecological reserve designation.
In addition to the above, it should also be noted that a concern was raised by certain
Committee members that the trails (Bow and Arrow and Archery Coastal Trails) that
traverse the site where the existing archery club operates should not be included in the
PTP because of potential conflicts with the operation of the archery club. Members of the
archery club were made aware of the proposed trails and they did not express a concern
with the proposed trail routes.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Committee’s recommended trail
routes, trail uses, and trail names for the Abalone Cove Reserve and direct Staff as to
whether it wishes to amend Section 6.04.050 of the RPVMC to allow equestrian access to
the shore at Sacred Cove.
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B. Three Sisters Reserve
The Three Sisters Reserve consists of the 95-acre Barkentine parcel which was purchased
by the City in 2001 with funds from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open
Space District Grant Program (1996 proposition). The Committee has identified four (4)
trail routes for this Reserve, all of which are to be designated as multipurpose (pedestrian,
equestrian and bicycle). At this time, the trail routes do not connect to the nearby
Portuguese Bend Reserve because the area in between is currently under private
ownership (York Long Point Associates). However, currently the Three Sisters Reserve
can be accessed off Palos Verdes Drive South near the McCarrel Canyon storm drain inlet
(a part of the common open space area for the Tramonto residential development) and at
the end of Barkentine Road.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Committee’s recommended trail
routes, trail uses, and trail names for the Three Sisters Reserve.
C. Forrestal Reserve
The 160-acre Forrestal Reserve (previously known as the Forrestal Nature Preserve)
serves as a template for the City and the PVPLC in shaping the Public Use Master Plan,
especially the Preserve Trails Plan. Several years ago, the City formed the Forrestal
Steering Committee to develop a Management Plan that would, among other things,
identify the trail routes and trail uses for Forrestal. The Forrestal Management Plan was
originally adopted by the City Council in 2001, and later amended in 2004, 2005 and most
recently in 2007. At its January 30, 2007 meeting, the City Council adopted amendments
to the trail uses at Forrestal by allowing bicycle use on the upper trails that previously
prohibited bicycle use because of trail deficiencies. Once the trail deficiencies were
corrected, the current Forrestal Advisory Board (formerly known as the Steering
Committee) recommended that these trails be opened to bicycles by designating the trails
as multipurpose (pedestrian, equestrian and bicycle). In its adopted motion, the Council
allowed bicycle use on these trails with the understanding that the PUMP Committee would
be reviewing trail routes and uses at Forrestal as part of its overall review of the Preserve.
When it came time to review the trail uses at Forrestal (see the August 22, 2007 meeting
minutes), the majority of the Committee agreed to accept the Council’s January 30, 2007
plan. As such, the Committee is recommending no changes to the most current City
Council approved trails plan for the Forrestal Reserve.
It should be noted that since the Forrestal Reserve is part of the greater NCCP Preserve,
the existing Forrestal Management Plan is intended to be replaced by the greater Public
Use Master Plan document. As such, once the Council adopts the Public Use Master Plan
document in the near future, the existing Forrestal Management Plan will be superceded by
the PUMP document for the Forrestal Reserve. More information is provided under the
Additional Information heading of this Staff Report.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Committee’s recommended trail
routes, trail uses, and trail names for the Forrestal Reserve.
D. San Ramon Reserve
The San Ramon Reserve is comprised of the 94-acre Switchback parcel which was deeded
to the City in connection with the Sea Cliff Hills residential development project (11 acres of
the site is currently a part of the Trump National project’s habitat mitigation). The
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Committee’s recommended trail routes for the San Ramon Reserve is partly based on the
City’s Conceptual Trails Plan and partly based on existing use of the property. As such, the
Committee is recommending four (4) trail routes that are to be designated for pedestrian
and bicycle use only. The Palos Verdes Drive East Trail runs parallel to the road’s
northbound lane. As shown in the San Ramon PTP, a portion of the Switchback Trail and
the entire San Ramon Trail are two trails routes where the exact location has yet to be
determined.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Committee’s recommended trail
routes, trail uses, and trail names for the San Ramon Reserve.
J. Ocean Trails Reserve
The Ocean Trails Reserve generally consists of two properties, the City’s 52-acre Shoreline
Park and 72 acres of the Trump National Golf Course that is designated as the habitat
restoration area pursuant to the properties’ HCP. Although the Trump habitat area is
currently not officially owned by the City and thus not presently part of the City’s Preserve,
it is proposed to become a part of the NCCP Preserve once the City owns all the habitat
areas (as is required) and the Resource Agencies accept the completed habitat restoration
work. In considering the trail routes for the Ocean Trails Reserve, the Committee reviewed
the existing project conditions for Trump National as it pertains to the trails, as well as the
existing paths at Shoreline Park. Based on this information, the Committee identified a total
of twelve (12) trails including five (5) trails to the shore. Although not shown in the PTP for
Ocean Trails, the proposed trails will connect to the existing trails at Trump National that
are outside of the Preserve. Of the proposed twelve (12) trails, four (4) are designated to
be pedestrian / bicycle, while the remaining trails are designated as pedestrian only. It
should be noted that some Committee members expressed a safety concern with allowing
bicycles on the trails located at Trump National because of the high volume of walkers.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Committee’s recommended trail
routes, trail uses, and trail names for the Ocean Trails Reserve.
2. Designation of the Palos Verdes Loop Trail and the Coastal Access Trail within
the Preserve
As part of the PUMP process, the Committee was asked to identify the trail routes within
the Preserve to be identified as the official segments of the City’s Palos Verdes Loop Trail
system (“A” trails in the Conceptual Trails Plan) and the City’s Coastal Access Trail system
(“D” trails in the Conceptual Trails Plan). Included in the PTP are the maps identifying the
Palos Verdes Loop Trail and the Coastal Access Trail within the Preserve. It should be
noted that the use designation for the Palos Verdes Loop Trail is based on the City Council
approved PTP use designation. In other words, the trails within the Preserve that are
designated as part of the Palos Verdes Loop Trail and Coastal Access Trail will be reflected
in the City’s Conceptual Trails Plan when updated. Furthermore, as previously stated at no
point do the trails within the Preserve connect to trails that are located on private property
unless appropriate public access easements are in place.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the Committee’s recommended trail routes
for the Palos Verdes Loop Trail and the Coastal Access Trail.
3. Enforcement of the Preserve Trails Plan
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The City Council adopted Preserve Trails Plan is enforceable through Section 12.16.080 of
the RPVMC which states that:
Any person who enters any park, nature preserve or recreational facility that is
owned by the city shall comply with all applicable city regulations and posted signs,
including, without limitation, regulations and signs regarding the use of public trails.
A. No person shall ride or drive or otherwise introduce any horse or other large
domestic animal within a city park, city-owned nature preserve or city-owned
recreational facility except on trails or areas that are designated by the city for
equestrian use and in areas where automobiles and other motorized vehicles
expressly are allowed, unless expressly authorized in writing to do so by the city
manager or the city manager’s designee.
B. No person shall ride or drive or otherwise introduce any bicycle or other similar
unmotorized wheeled device within a city park, city-owned nature preserve or city-
owned recreational facility except on trails or areas that are designated by the city
for bicycle use and in areas where automobiles and other motorized vehicles
expressly are allowed, unless expressly authorized in writing to do so by the city
manager or the city manager’s designee.
C. No person shall walk, jog, run or otherwise utilize any city park, city-owned nature
preserve or city-owned recreational facility except on trails or areas that are
designated by the city for such use and in areas where automobiles and other
motorized vehicles expressly are allowed, unless expressly authorized in writing to
do so by the city manager or the city manager’s designee.
D. In deciding whether to grant such authorization for use pursuant to subsections
A, B or C of this section, the city manager or the city manager’s designee shall
consider time of day, relative crowding of the area requested, factors of public
safety, availability of areas approved for such activities, impact of such activities
upon sensitive habitat, and any other factor relevant to the welfare of those utilizing
city parks or city-owned nature preserves or recreational facilities.
The above Municipal Code section allows the Sheriff’s Department to enforce the City
Council’s adopted plans for the Preserve, including restrictions and temporary moratoriums.
In light of the Sheriff’s recent patrol of the Preserve to enforce the Council’s temporary
“time-out” at the Portuguese Bend Reserve, it has come to City Staff’s attention that unless
otherwise noted in the Municipal Code, a violation of a cited ordinance is considered a
misdemeanor. Pursuant to Section 01.08.010 of the RPVMC a misdemeanor violation,
unless otherwise noted, is subject to a fine of up to $1,000, or imprisonment of up to six
months, or both (see attached Code Excerpt). The Sheriff’s Department is recommending
that the City Council establish a penalty tier for violators that would allow first time offenders
to be given a written warning followed by fines that incrementally increase based on the
number of occurrences. This is based on feedback the Core Deputies received from the
public who were stopped for violating the ‘time-out.” In most cases it was the Deputies
opinion that the public was not aware of the “time-out” because they either had not heard
about it or did not see the signs when entering the Reserve. As such, if the concept of a
tiered fine system is of interest to the Council, Staff is seeking Council direction to prepare
the appropriate ordinance language for future consideration by the Council.
Staff seeks Council direction on whether to prepare code amendment language that will
establish a penalty tier system for violators of Section 12.16.080 of RPVMC.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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Update on the Temporary “Time-Out” at the Portuguese Bend Reserve
At the February 23rd meeting, the Council identified specific items that should be in place
prior to lifting the temporary “time-out” at the Portuguese Bend Reserve. The following is a
status update on these items as directed by the Council:
1. Installation of Signs
As directed by the Council, the PVPLC has ordered the signs to be installed at the
Portuguese Bend Reserve. The signs consist of carsonite trail markers (similar to
the trail markers used at Forrestal and Ocean Trails), and trailhead signs at the
entry points to the Reserve. The trail marker signs will include decals that identify
the trail name, the permitted uses, and any other pertinent information. The
fabrication and delivery of the signs is expected to take approximately 6 to 8 weeks
and will be installed shortly thereafter. The installation of the trail marker signs are
labor intensive and will most likely take approximately a month to install. As such, it
is anticipated that the installation of the signs will be completed in approximately 3
months.
2. Implementation of an Educational Program
The education program envisioned by the PVPLC includes the production and
distribution of the trails plan for the Portuguese Bend Reserve (as well as the other
Reserves). The Council adopted trails plan will be posted on the City’s and the
PVPLC’s website, as well as distributed to visitors of the Preserve, especially during
high peak usage times, such as select weekends. Brochures of the trails plan will
also be made available to the public at the main entry points. The PVPLC will also
install trailhead signs that will educate users on the general guidelines of the
Preserve. Additionally, City Staff intends to raise public awareness on the Council
adopted PTP by presenting the Plan to Homeowner Associations neighboring the
Preserve and the Council of Homeowners Association.
3. Implementation of an Enforcement Program
Staff expects that once all the appropriate signs have been installed and the PVPLC
implements the education program, most of the unauthorized trail use will be
remedied. If there are still reports of unauthorized trail use, Staff will periodically
request the Sheriff’s Core Deputies to conduct sporadic unannounced enforcement
of the Council adopted Preserve Trails Plan pursuant to Section 12.06.080 of the
RPVMC. It should be noted that the Core Deputies are shared with the Cities of
Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. Furthermore, the Core Deputies currently
patrol existing City parks such as Del Cerro and Abalone Cove. Expanding their
services to include sporadic patrols of the Preserve will have to collaborate with the
areas they currently patrol for the City and the neighboring cities. In the event City
Staff and/or the Core Deputies find that additional patrol hours or deputies are
needed to effectively enforce the PTP, Staff will bring this matter to the Council for
further direction.
Notwithstanding the above, the City Council recently funded the creation of a new
position for the Planning Department, an Open Space Analyst. Staff envisions the
duties of this newly created position to include, among other things related to trails
and open space, being a conduit for information on the Preserve and the PTP, but
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not an enforcement officer. In regards to enforcement, the Management Partners
report recommends (Recommendation No. 65) that the City Council establish a
ranger program, to be staffed by full-time or part-time employees, to provide
enforcement for the City’s open space properties. This matter will be addressed in
the future based on Council direction.
4. Implementation of Speed Limits
Another aspect of enforcement that was discussed by the Council at the February
23rd meeting was the establishment of speed limits as recommended by the
Committee. As a clarification point, the Committee recommended a speed limit for
only one trail within the greater Preserve. The recommendation was for the Fire
Station Trail in the Portuguese Bend Reserve to have 5 miles per hour (mph) speed
limit. The PUMP Committee recommended the speed limit to address safety
concerns on a trail designated for multiple user groups. However, the Council
designated the Fire Station Trail as pedestrian/equestrian only rather than
multipurpose. As such, it is Staff’s understanding that a speed limit is no longer
required for the Fire Station Trail because of the Council’s change to the use
designation.
Notwithstanding the above, the concept of speed limits is a common management
tool for open space park areas managed by state and local agencies, such as the
Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. However, speed limits are typically used as
suggested guidelines for trail users rather than an enforceable legal requirement. In
this regard, it is suggested that the use of speed limits in the City’s Preserve be
considered a PVPLC management tool as opposed to an enforceable requirement
codified by a Council adopted Ordinance. The enforcement of speed limits may
prove to be problematic without the appropriate studies and equipment, such as
radar guns. In order to be defensible if challenged, radar guns need to be calibrated
and speed limits need to be posted based on speed surveys which Staff’s feels
would be difficult to conduct in a nature preserve.
In addition to the above items, the Council requested a report be given to the City Council
6-months after re-opening the areas closed by the temporary “time-out” at the Portuguese
Bend Reserve. The report to the Council is to occur separately from the Annual
Management Reports and is to focus on the items listed above.
Bicycle Trail at Ocean Front Estates
At the February 23rd City Council workshop, there was extensive Council discussion on the
Committee’s recommendation to designate the use of the Golden Cove Trail at the Vicente
Bluffs Reserve as pedestrian/bicycle. As the Council may recall, the Golden Cove Trail is
a decomposed granite trail within the City’s Preserve that parallels the adjacent public
street which is Calle Entradero. Between the public street and the decomposed granite trail
is an eight foot wide concrete path (located within the public right-of-way) that was
constructed as part of the public improvements for the Ocean Front Estates development.
At the workshop, a question was posed on whether bicycles could use the concrete path.
At that time, Staff noted that while the trail is 8 feet wide, the path is not marked as a
bicycle trail and thus it should be assumed that the path was intended to function as a
sidewalk, meaning bicycles would not be allowed on the pathway. The ultimate consensus
of the City Council was to designate the Golden Cove Trail (the decomposed granite path
within the Preserve) as pedestrian only. No designation was made with regards to the eight
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foot wide concrete path as it is actually outside of the Preserve and more research on its
use was needed.
Since that time, Staff has researched the tract conditions of approval and according to the
tract conditions the eight foot wide concrete path is actually intended to be a bicycle trail. As
such, any type of bicycle can currently ride on the concrete path at Ocean Front Estates.
This is consistent with the Council’s decision to limit the adjoining decomposed granite path
(Golden Cove Trail) to be pedestrian only. Since the appropriate signage indicating that the
concrete path is for bicycle use is not posted, the City intends to stencil the trail use
designation on the path.
Next Steps for the PUMP Committee and the PUMP Document
At this time, the PUMP document has not been completed with the exception of the Public
Trails Plan (PTP). The PTP has been forwarded to the City Council for consideration
before the completion of the entire PUMP document so that the City and the PVPLC can
begin implementing the PTP, since there is no trails plan in place currently. Upon the
completion of the Council’s review of the PTP, the Committee will reconvene to continue
working on the remaining components of the PUMP Document. According to the NCCP,
the Committee is to review the following components of which trail uses has already been
completed:
• Trail Uses (Preserve Trails Plan)
• Public Access
o Trailheads
o Permitted activities in the Preserve (parasailors, archery club, etc)
• Preserve Amenities and Improvements
o Picnic Areas
o Seating Areas
o Overlooks
o Fencing
o Lighting (if any)
City Staff anticipates the Committee to reconvene in April to complete their responsibilities.
The Committee is expected to meet approximately 3 to 4 more times. Once the Committee
completes its recommendations, the PUMP document will be drafted by City Staff and
PVPLC Staff and presented to the City Council for final approval. As specified in the
NCCP, the City Council adopted PUMP Document will then be forwarded to the Resource
Agencies for their review and approval. The PUMP document is not considered official until
the Resource Agencies have approved the document. However, in order to begin
regulating trail use activities at the Preserve, the City will consider the Council adopted PTP
as the “official” document until further notice from the Resource Agencies. This will provide
the City and the PVPLC with the tools needed to begin the management of the Preserve.
The Resource Agencies have agreed to this procedure.
It should be noted that currently, the Council adopted Forrestal Management Plan is the
management document utilized by the City and the PVPLC for the Forrestal Reserve. As
previously mentioned, the Forrestal Management Plan will eventually be replaced by the
PUMP Document. Furthermore, the current PUMP Committee is expected to be disbanded
after completing its remaining responsibilities. However, as specified in the NCCP, a
NCCP Preserve Steering Committee is required to be approved by the City. Once the
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PUMP is approved, City Staff will request that the Council appoint the NCCP Steering
Committee. The Steering Committee’s responsibility will be to oversee implementation and
management of the NCCP, including implementation of the approved PUMP.
Public Notification
A notice of the March 18th meeting was sent to the PUMP/Vision Plan and NCCP list-serve
subscribers on March 7th. A notice was also published in the Peninsula News in the
Peninsula News on Saturday, March 8, 2008.
Public Comments
At this time, the City has received three comment letters since the February 23rd meeting
(see attachment). One of the comment letters is from PUMP Committee Member Troy
Braswell who is seeking clarification regarding the Council’s action on the trails plan for the
Portuguese Bend Reserve which is discussed under the following heading. Additionally,
the City received photographs from Mr. Lowell Wedemeyer regarding the trail conditions at
the Three Sisters Reserve (see attachment). If additional comment letters are received
before the March 18th City Council meeting, Staff will provide these comment letters to the
Council at the meeting.
Clarification of the Council Approved Trails Plan for the Portuguese Bend Reserve
After the February 23rd meeting, the City Council received a comment letter from
Committee Member Braswell seeking clarification regarding the Council’s decision to the
trails map for the Portuguese Bend Reserve. In summary, Mr. Braswell indicates in his
letter that the Council’s decision to designate the Grapevine Trail as a
pedestrian/equestrian trail essentially prevents bicyclists from completing a loop that was
originally intended by the PUMP Committee’s original recommendation. He states that the
PUMP Committee’s recommendation to allow bicycles uphill on the Ishibashi Trail was so
that bicyclists could ride downhill on the Grapevine Trail. He also adds that the Ishibashi
Trail and the Grapevine Trail do not go into the City of Rolling Hills and should therefore be
retained as a multipurpose trail because it does not encourage bicycle use that is generally
prohibited on trails in the City of Rolling Hills.
The Council designated the Fire Station Trail and the Grapevine Trail as
pedestrian/equestrian, as opposed to the recommended multipurpose designation, because
these trails are in close proximity to the neighboring City of Rolling Hills where bicycles are
generally not allowed on the trails. Furthermore, it is Staff’s interpretation that the
Committee’s recommendation to allow bicycle uphill on the Ishibashi Trail and (as
previously stated) to establish a 5 miles per hour speed limit on the Fire Station Trail is no
longer warranted because bicycles are not a permitted use. As such, Staff believes that an
adjustment to the trails plan is not warranted.
PVPLC Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve Visitor Survey Results
On June 30, 2007, the PVPLC conducted a visitor survey at various locations within the
greater Portuguese Bend Nature Preserve. The purpose of the visitor survey was to
provide a better understanding of who is using the Preserve and in what ways. Attached to
this Staff Report are the results of the visitor survey that was provided to the PUMP
Committee to assist the Committee in its deliberations on trail uses. According to the
survey results, a total of 519 visitors were counted at the survey locations of which 243
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individuals agreed to participate in the survey and 274 individuals declined to participate.
The individuals surveyed were visitors to the Preserve that were categorized as either
pedestrians (hikers/walkers), equestrians, bicyclists, or dog walkers depending on the use
they were engaging in on the day of the survey. The attached document explains the
survey methodology and provides detailed results.
PUMP Relationship to the Vision Plan
When the Vision Plan planning process was first initiated, Staff proposed that it also
encompass the preparation of the PUMP, which is a requirement of the City’s NCCP. This
is because the purpose of the PUMP is to establish the level of allowable public use in the
Preserve, including trail use, and part of the Vision Plan goal is to integrate the public use
of the Preserve with other nearby non-preserve open space properties. While Staff
continues to ensure that the Vision Plan is compatible and integrated with the PUMP, Staff
is moving forward with the preparation and approval of the PUMP and Vision Plan as
separate processes. This is because the PUMP is a requirement of the NCCP and has to
be completed by the City as an obligation of the NCCP whether or not the City Council
elects to move forward with the Vision Plan. In addition, the timing for preparation of the
PUMP and preparation of the Vision Plan has progressed, and will likely continue to
progress, on two very different schedules.
Annual Reports
According to the current temporary operating agreement between the City and the PVPLC,
the PVPLC is required to submit annual reports on the Preserve to the City Council.
Although the 2007 Annual Report was distributed to each Council Member prior to the
November 20, 2007 meeting, no formal Council acceptance of the Annual Report occurred
since it was not an agenda item. As such, the City Staff and the PVPLC anticipates
bringing the 2007 Annual Report to the City Council at the April 15, 2008. Copies of the
Annual Report will be transmitted to the Council at least three weeks before the City
Council meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT
The approval of the Preserve Trails Plan document will not result in fiscal impacts on the
City’s general fund since the document solely establishes the management tools for the
Preserve but does not actual approve any projects. Actual implementation of the various
components identified in the PUMP, such as trail improvements, signs, enforcement, etc.
will require separate funding. Costs realized in the management of the Preserve that are
not already appropriated in the City’s budget will be treated as a separate fiscal matter as
part of a specific management task. However, approval of the PUMP would likely increase
the chances of receiving public and private grants for implementing the document. It has
been Staff’s past experience with grant funding that projects that are a part of a City
approved plan, such as the PUMP, have a much better chance of being funded. Receipt of
such grant funds would help offset any future costs borne by the City with project
implementation, including the construction and maintenance of such improvements.
ATTACHMENTS
• Preserve Trails Plan (updated to reflect the February 23rd modifications)
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• Abalone Cove Ecological Reserve Boundary Map and State Regulations for an
Ecological Reserve
• Section 01.08.010 of the RPVMC (General Penalty)
• Public Comment Letters including photographs (black and white)
• June 2007 PVPLC Visitor Survey Results
M:\NCCP\PUMP\CITY COUNCIL\MARCH 18, 2008\CCMEMO.doc
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