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20140617 Late CorrespondenceMayor Duhovic and Members of the City Council, First, I have to say that I am really very pleased with the effort, the integrity, and the commitment of the VTW volunteers. As you know, our role is to observe, report, and educate and the volunteers do a fine job. But we need help with enforcement. Rangers are very good for education, but they can be reluctant to give citations. I worry about the demands on our restoration efforts and costs incurred. I'd like to see greater sensitivity for our Preserve especially with the drought conditions we are currently facing. As part of my research for the VTW program, I found a number of county parks & preserves that utilize their local or county Sheriff's and CHP to help enforce preserve rules. They report good results and strong learning curves. For our Preserve, the Lomita Sheriffs are local and do not have to commute from Santa Clarita, Azuza, and Calabasas. So that proximity would help the communication between the volunteers and the Sheriff's Deputies if an issue arises. I would like to suggest that we periodically call in our fine Lomita Sheriff Department for more effective enforcement, and perhaps during those times, reduce the Ranger services to help with the costs. Have a concentrated police presence for 3 to 4 weeks, then return as things escalate again. I see the Rangers will also be patrolling by horseback. This is helpful, as we have seen that the VTW equestrians clearly have an advantage due to their observation height and ability to get to a location more quickly. Visitors are attracted to the horses and take selfies with the horse. Juana Lamb and her posse are on the Preserve, but like the VTW volunteers, the posse cannot cite those who are not respecting the preserve rules. BTW, we need Juana's observations to be submitted- time of day and day of week. To wrap up, the habitat, signage, & our safety are pleading for better enforcement. FYI, I have a list of agencies that utilize local sheriffs, county sheriffs, CHP. East Bay Regional Park District is so large, they even have their own police force and helicopter. Barbara Ailor Volunteer, Volunteer Trail Watch Coordinator FAD ED FROM ADE A PART OF TME ECORD 1052 Via Palestra IL MEETING OF Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 t r't LLr T. J i �t r �tfit . .f Y fir''• ♦ 1 . 4 4 RECEIVED FROM AND MADE A PART OF THf EC RD AT THE 7:Dtt +`r ft C -' F- 1--2--3 COUNCIL MEETING OF R01_ OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CARLA MORREALLE',, CITY CLERK -lrl I A f. m CITY OF "!RANCHO i? app' • P LOS VERDES TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: CITY CLERK DATE: JUNE 17, 2014 SUBJECT: ADDITIONS/REVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA** Attached are revisions/additions and/or amendments to the agenda material presented for tonight's meeting: Item No. Description of Material H Email from Barry Holchin; Letter from Bill Swank 10 Email from Bob Nelson Respectfull ubmitted, Carla Morreale ** PLEASE NOTE: Materials attached after the color page(s) were submitted through Monday, June 16, 2014**. W:WGENDA\2014 Additions Revisions to agendas\20140617 additions revisions to agenda.doc From: Barry Holchin <bholchin@cox.net> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 8:24 PM To: CC Cc: Barbara Ailor; wkswank@me.com Subject: MRCA Contract Renewal Mayor Duhovic and Council Members, I recommend that you decline to renew the MRCA contract, and use the funds intended for that purpose to aggressively address the single primary problem facing the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve (PVNP), namely habitat damage and several other concerns caused by mountain biking activity (Dogs are not the primary problem in the Preserve — mountain bikers are.) Given the current state of technology, $500,000 might be able to buy quite a bit of capability to detect and apprehend offenders. Obviously any organization taking on this responsibility would need to be staffed with individuals who believe in this cause and think this is worth their time and effort. On the other hand, if you decide to renew the MRCA contract, I recommend that someone in authority from the City have a sit down meeting with the proposed ranger manager to express the City's view of what the major problems facing the Preserve are and request a plan to address them. I also believe in that case that a one year contract is all that should be let at this time. I read the email Eva Cicoria sent you on June 14 regarding this subject, and I agree with it almost entirely. As a matter of fact, it understates my sentiments, especially regarding inadequate enforcement of mountain biking infractions. On the other hand, I have never believed that any reasonable amount of effort and resources would be adequate (it would not be cost effective) to curtail this activity or even bring it within acceptable limits. My conversations with the rangers and others have led me to believe that there just isn't the will to do what needs to be done, namely make the cost of getting caught doing such as the following too expensive and inconvenient: 1) Riding off trail or on a non -multiuse trail, or widening a trail (trails originally a couple of feet wide are now 10 — 15 feet wide) 2) Riding recklessly, such as to endanger oneself or others 3) Tearing down or otherwise making signs useless 4) Removing brush and other debris purposely put on illegal trails to prevent their use 5) Riding so as to not yield the right of way to other trail users Please understand that this is not due solely to what a ranger chooses to do, but also to the system that metes out justice (penalties). Given the damage being caused and the very low probability of getting caught, the penalty for such should be high indeed (say the value of a mountain bike?). Absent that, they'll just consider getting caught a small price to pay for doing what they want to do. If the City is unable to have a positive impact on this process, then I question whether any form of enforcement will work. Thank you. Yours truly, Barry Holchin From: Jill Wittman <jwittman@pvplc.org> Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 201411:12 AM To: CC Cc: William K. Swank; Andrea Vona Subject: PVPLC Letter to City Council Attachments: RPV City Council Letter 06.17.14.pdf Dear Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Members, Please see the attached letter from Bill Swank. PVPLC President. Sincerely, Jill Wittman Administrative Assistant Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy 916 Silver Spur Road, #207 Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 www.pvplc.or� 310-541-7613 X201 310-541-7623 (Fax) Preserving land and restoring habitat for the enjoyment and education of all. Join our mailing list join us 10 PRESERVING LAND AND RESTORING HABITAT FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENJOYMENT OF ALL June 17, 2014 Rancho Palos Verdes City Council 30940 Hawthorne Blvd. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275 Dear Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Members, The Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy has no position on whether the existing contract should be extended. It does have concerns about the level of enforcement in the Preserve as discussed below and it wishes to raise this issue now so that the Council can consider the lowest cost way to support increased enforcement. Last year, the Conservancy spent over $90,000 closing spur trails (this includes $10,000 attributed cost to volunteer hours). In addition to these amounts, the Conservancy this year will hire a full time staff person to address the closure of spur trails on a rapid response basis (something we began last year). We believe these expenditures and efforts are required to fulfill our obligations under the conservation easements we hold over the Preserve. We also believe that we should undertake these efforts to support the City in its efforts to enforce user rules and regulations. Increased use of the Preserve, and the drought, have exacerbated spur trail abuse. We believe that increased enforcement, perhaps by periodic use of Sheriff deputies, is warranted and we will support those efforts by stepping up our own commitment. Sincerely, Bill Swank President 916 SILVER SPUR ROAD # 207. ROLLING HILLS ESTATES. CA 90274-3826 T 310.541.7613 WWW.PVPLC.ORG bi From: Nelsongang <nelsongang@aol.com> Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 9:15 PM To: Teresa Takaoka Subject: Re: Item 10 Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Agenda June 17, 2014 Teresa, Thank you very much. Good job and we'll see what Council decides. I particularly found how other towns handle this of interest. I think one consideration is whether this should be a'Committee' or'CommissionT When our citizens are actively involved, as monthly meetings would be, I favor Commissions (have the ability to make a decisions and not merely 'advising' as 'Committees' do). We'll see. I think one challenge will be to do this without a tremendous amount of paperwork which = staff time! Bob Nelson -----Original Message ----- From: Teresa Takaoka <TeriT@rpv.com> To: FAC <FAC@rpv.com>; Bill James <billandkathyjames@msn.com> <billandkathyjames@msn.com>; Robert Nelson <nelsongang@aol.com> <nelsongang@aol.com> Cc: Michael Throne <MichaelT@rpv.com> Sent: Thu, Jun 12, 2014 6:16 pm Subject: Item 10 Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Agenda June 17, 2014 Hello - This item is being sent to you on behalf of Public Works Director Michael Throne as he thought it may be of interest to you. If you have any questions, please contact him at (310) 544-5335. Thank you. Teri Takaoka Deputy City Clerk CITY OF i 3 � •�RANCHO PALOS VERDES TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FROM: CITY CLERK DATE: JUNE 16, 2014 SUBJECT: ADDITIONS/REVISIONS AND AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA Attached -are revisions/additions and/or amendments to the agenda material received through Monday afternoon for the Tuesday, June 17, 2014 City Council meeting: Item No. Description of Materials H Email exchange between Councilwoman Brooks and Acting City Manager Petru; Emails from: Donna McLaughlin; Eva Cicoria; Joan Krause J Respectfully submitted, Carla Morreale Email from Troy Braswell W:WGENDA\2014 Additions Revisions to agendas\20140617 additions revisions to agenda through Monday afternoon.doc From: Carolynn Petru Sent: Monday, June 16, 2014 11:46 AM To: Susan Brooks <Subrooks08@gmail.com> Cc: CC; Cory Linder; Michael Throne; Chris Ortiz Subject: RE: pictures to go with email regarding MRCA Contract Renewal Hi Susan — These same pictures were provided to staff about two weeks ago. They were discussed at our monthly meeting with the Land Conservancy on June 5th. We usually experience an uptick in graffiti, vandalism and trash this time of year with school getting out and more people coming to the coast as the weather gets nicer. Public Works is reassessing the trash pick-up schedule and has provided graffiti removal supplies to both the MRCA rangers and the Land Conservancy to assist us with getting on top of the tagging as quickly as possible. I've copied the other Council members as this information is probably of general interest to each members, but please do not reply all to this message. Thanksyou! CP From: Councilwoman Susan Brooks [mailto:subrooks08@gmail.com] Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2014 6:43 PM To: Carolynn Petru Subject: Fwd: pictures to go with email regarding MRCA Contract Renewal Carolynn, can we get a response to here concerns? T Thanx, s Susan Brooks Councilwoman, Rancho Palos Verdes (Sent from my iPad) Begin forwarded message: Resent -From: <cc@mv.com> From: Donna McLaughlin <ddmclau hg lin a,cox.net> Date: June 14, 2014 at 1:14:07 PM PDT To: <cc ,rpv.com> Cc: Barbara Ailor <barbailorggmail.com>, Andrea Vona <avona(&pvplc.org> Subject: pictures to go with email regarding MRCA Contract Renewal Lots of graffiti all over Sec B of Abalone Cove.... becoming a problem .... too many photos to include them all here IMG 8943 Graffiti on both sides of sign at bottom of Cliffside Trail at beach .... we removed the graffiti IMG -8946 graffiti on sign at Scared Cove beach south end toward water ... too high to reach IMG -8950 lots of trash and graffiti all over trash can on Sacred Cove Beach (south end) IMG_8953 graffiti all over front and back of sign leading up from south end of beach to Sacred Cove view trail area IMG 8963 sign on ground at top of trail coming up from the south end of beach on Sacred Cove View trail 10 Sacred View trail (as you come up from the beach). Would be EASY to put it back in place it ... its been there for months. 11 intersection of Sacred Cove View trail where it comes up from beach .... the "nude" sign is lying above this spot 12 IMG -8970 added erosion off of Sacred Cove View trail ...bike tracks noted. This area is having lots more biking activity and lots of erosion is now happening. 13 From: Donna McLaughlin <ddmclaughlin@cox.net> Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2014 1:14 PM To: CC Cc: Barbara Ailor, Andrea Vona Subject: MRCA Contract Renewal Dear Mayor Duhovic and Council Members I am writing to discourage you to renew the contract with MCRA. I am out on the trails 4-5 mornings a week hiking ( 8 hrs/week) and am also a Keeper volunteer in the Abalone Cove area, and a volunteer for the Cactus Wren survey. I am very aware of the activities going on in the Preserve and volunteer my time as I feel this area is such a wonderful gift to our Peninsula. We are blessed to have this beautiful piece of nature in our backyard. The Rangers are NOT doing their job with enforcement in the area. I NEVER see them in the Preserve or on the trails. Do you know when they are there? Do they cite the bikers forgoing off trail or on trails that are closed to bikes? They are ineffective in taking care of the Preserve. The graffiti on signs has increased dramatically over the past six months ... they do not clear it. The city is spending $185,000 a year. This money is not being well spent. That is over $3,500 a week and they are never seen in the areas that have the most destruction. I will separately send a few pictures I recently took during my Keepers Survey in Abalone Cove and you will see the erosion from bikers (a non -bike area) and graffiti everywhere. The Rangers are not on top of things. Who do they report to? Who keeps track of their hours and when they are in the preserve? I never see them in the Portuguese Bend area and I am there many hours a week. Do you know where they are each week and what hours they are there? Who do they report to? The city needs to find a more effective organization/group to monitor the trails. I am a citizen of Rancho Palos Verdes and feel spending the tax money on the MCRA is a waste of tax payers money. You need to find a better, more effective group to maintain our trails and preserve. The Preserve is a gift that we need to treasure and you need to use the best resources to do that. The MCRA is not the best source. They have not been effective in the area. Thank you. Donna McLaughlin From: Donna McLaughlin <ddmclaughlin@cox.net> Sent: Saturday, lune 14, 20141:14 PM To: CC Cc: Barbara Ailor, Andrea Vona Subject: pictures to go with email regarding MRCA Contract Renewal Lots of graffiti all over Sec B of Abalone Cove.... becoming a problem .... too many photos to include them all here IMG -8937 added graffiti on pipe at north end of Scared Cove Beach '92 the graffiti IMG -8946 graffiti on sign at Scared Cove beach south end toward water ... too high to reach IMG -8950 lots of trash and graffiti all over trash can on Sacred Cove Beach (south end) IMG -8952 bike tracks all over south end of Sacred Cove beach (where no bikes are allowed) cred Cove view trail IMG -8961 erosion next to trail where biker was photographed a few months back going down this area IMG -8964 sign turned over Sacred View trail (as you come up from the beach). Would be EASY to put it back in place it ... its been there for months. 10 Cove View trail where it comes up from beach .... the "nude" sign is lying above this spot 11 IMG 8970 added erosion off of Sacred Cove View trail ...bike tracks noted. This area is having lots more biking activity and lots of erosion is now happening. 12 From: cicoriae@aol.com Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2014 10:57 AM To: CC Cc: wkswank@me.com; avona@pvplc.org; barbailor@gmail.com Subject: MRCA Contract Renewal Mayor Duhovic and Council Members, I take issue with the statement in the Staff. Report regarding MRCA contract renewal that "the proposed hours allocation will continue to provide effective enforcement." There has not been effective enforcement. Insufficient hours allocation is only part of the problem. I believe that at most the City should renew the contract for one year while pursuing other enforcement options. Meanwhile, the City should boost the MRCA patrol hours on the ground, set goals for MRCA, and insist upon achievement of those goals before renewing a long-term contract. In particular, MRCA has been rather ineffectual at curtailing some of the most deleterious activity in the Preserve --spur trail creation and reckless mountain bike activity that adversely impacts the trails, habitat, safety, and general user experience in the Preserve. There have been NO citations for such behavior. I tabulated MRCA citations for the 30 months of the 3 -year contract period for which we have reports. (The numbers are total counts for a reporting period and then the totals over the contract period): Dogs off leash 5 4 9 17 15 4 9 9 Dogs on beach or in prohibited area Mtn bikers unauthorized trail use 4 Hiker unauthorized trail use 1 1 2 Illegal take or fishing in MPA 1 2 1 Fishing w/o license 2 Total 2 Parasail1 1 Total Nudity 1 1 2 Total 4 Unauthorized motor vehicle use 1 1 Radio control plane 1 Total 1 Car speeding 1 Total 1 14 9 Total 95 1 1 8 16 1 1 Total 28 5 7 19 (16 in March 2012) 3 Total 38 1 Total Total 4 1 Total I believe the City should insist that MRCA hit hardest the behavior that is doing the greatest damage in the Presence in the next year. This activity is not only destructive on its own, it is bleeding into other user groups, creating an image of the Preserve as a large playground and making our task to preserve and restore this land much more difficult and costly than it should be. I have yet to see equestrians barrel racing or jumping in the Preserve, but I suspect that if/when we do there will be an outcry. Why not for bikes? Fast riding (which of necessity results in hard braking), swerving off the sides of trails, skidding, rooster tailing, catching air, etc., are damaging trails and habitat, threatening the safety of other users, and demonstrate utter disregard for the Preserve as such. This is not the Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area. It is the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve. The Preserve deserves greater respect than it is getting. Donor and volunteer efforts deserve better back up than we are getting. In sum, please consider renewing.the MRCA contract for just one year while pursuing other enforcement options, boost the MRCA patrol hours on the ground, set goals for MRCA to curtail the activity in the Preserve that demonstrates disregard for the Preserve as such, and insist upon achievement of those goals before a long-term contract renewal. Thank you, Eva Cicoria Q From: Joan Krause <joanckrause@aol.com> Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2014 8:58 AM To: CC Cc: Donna McLaughlin Subject: Ranger contract renewal As a frequent hiker on the PVNC trails I can see no reason to renew the city's contract for a ranger. In all my hikes I have never seen a ranger but have seen the evidence of their ineffectiveness. There is new and constant erosion from bikers. Signs that indicate non biking areas are destroyed or removed on a regular basis. Trash and graffiti continue to increase. While hiking there are still times when bikes are on non bike trails and I feel unsafe. We either need more effective monitoring or none at all. As it stands now I see no positive effects of the current ranger presence. Joan Krause 4021 Via Pima PVE Sent from my iPhone 1 From: Troy <troy@eworid-media.com> Sent: Friday, June 13, 201410:00 AM To: cc Subject: PV Drive East improvements Honorable Mayor and city council members, support the original roadway resurfacing, equestrian trail enhancements, shoulder widening, visibility improvements, sidewalk and curb ramp modifications, drainage system upgrades, signing and striping plan. I live on PV Drive East just a short distance from the proposed work. I agree the trees provide a very pleasant view. However, the roots of some trees will continue to encroach under the pavement creating a hazard for cars and especially bicyclists. This problem needs a permanent fix all the way to Miraleste Drive. Because this is a safety issue, I recommend replacing the offending trees at a minimum. find it curious that the plan calls for equestrian trail enhancements but not bike lanes. I don't recall ever seeing equestrians on PV Drive or any of the adjacent trails. Hundreds of bicyclists use this section of road every week. Please consider their safety as well. Sincerely, Troy Braswell 30551 Palos Verdes Dr E. Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275