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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7.1 Crossridge Road Connection Update CITY CLERK File # 930-30 AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 7, 2006 SUBJECT: Follow-Up Report on Crossridge Road Connection Between Alamo Creek Bicycle Path and the Bent Creek Open Space Trail Prepared by: Melissa Morton, Public Works Dire~ ATTACHMENTS: 1) 2) Liaison Committee Meeting Minutes, October 12, 2006 Location Map RECOMMENDATION: ~ccept report and direct Staff to complete environmental review, 1,)Ary prepare the necessary easement documents and once both are completed, work with San Ramon to make the necessary improvements to connect the two trails. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: Staff is recommending that costs associated with preparation of the environmental document and minor improvements be shared equally between the two cities. These costs are estimated at $30,000 for preparation of the environmental document, preparation of the necessary easement documents and for construction of a pedestrian gate and other related improvements. Therefore, Dublin's share of the project would be $15,000. DESCRIPTION: Staffs of both Dublin and San Ramon met at the project site and examined potential alternatives for connection between the Alamo Creek Bicycle Path and the adjacent Bent Creek Open Space Trail. Staff examined a potential connection between the concrete portion of the trail in San Ramon and the first curve in the Alamo Creek Bicycle Path, but the environmental impacts of such an intrusive project were determined to be too great. Further, Staff determined that the preferred alternative would be to construct a pedestrian gate and related improvements adjacent to the existing vehicular gate. The gate would be closed from dusk to dawn along with the other gates on the Alamo Creek Bike Path as part of an agreement between the two cities. In addition, the project will also include repair of fencing in the areas that have been damaged or defaced. COpy TO: Joye Fukuda, City of San Ramon ITEM NO. 71 Page 1 of2 G:\MISCPROJ\CrossRidge Road Gate\agst FollowUp C2 Report II0706.doc The City of San Ramon has received confirmation from Zone 7 that the current license agreement between Dublin and Zone 7 would not require amendment to accommodate connection of the two facilities. The cost to conduct the environmental analysis is $23,950 to prepare a negative declaration for the amended project. San Ramon staff estimates the cost of the pedestrian gate and related improvements to be $2,000. There would also be administrative costs for coordinating the environmental document and preparing the necessary easement documents which would be approximately $4,050. It is recommended that the two cities share the total cost of the project, making Dublin's share approximately $15,000. After careful review by the City Attorney, it was determined that the "grant and convey" language that was used on the map was sufficient to convey Lot H to the City. The grant was effective on delivery, consequently the City owns lot H at the end of Crossridge Road. Once the environmental process is complete, the City of Dublin would grant an easement for Emergency Vehicle Access (EVA) over the portion of Parcel H that abuts the current gate and a Knox Box would be installed by San Ramon for EVA access in an emergency. At all other times, the larger vehicular gate will remain closed. In addition, the City of Dublin would grant a bike/pedestrian access easement over the portion of Parcel H that will abut the new gate when constructed. Once these access easements are in place, and an agreement for opening and closing the gate is executed between the two cities, the City of San Ramon would construct the new gate for bike/pedestrian access, and renovate that portion of the current gate and fencing that requires repair. Staff recommends the Council authorize Staff, as lead agency, to initiate environmental review of the amended project and bring the mitigated negative declaration forward for adoption. Both Cities would review and comment on the document prior to adoption. In addition, it is recommended that the Council direct Staff to prepare grants of easement for Emergency Vehicle Access (EV A) over the portion of Parcel H that abuts the current gate for EVA access in an emergency. All other times, the emergency vehicle access will remain closed. Also, it is recommended that the Council direct Staff to prepare an easement which grants San Ramon a bike/pedestrian access easement over the portion of Parcel H that will abut the new gate when constructed. Execution of the easement documents would not occur until the environmental process was completed. Once this work is complete, the City of San Ramon will construct a new gate and appurtenant paving for bike/pedestrian access, will renovate that portion of the current gate and fencing that requires repair, and will enter into an agreement with the City of Dublin for gate closure between dawn and dusk and when rainfall necessitates closure of the trail for safety reasons. Recommendation Staff recommends that the City Council accept report and direct Staff to complete environmental review, prepare the necessary easement documents and once both are completed, work with San Ramon to make the necessary improvements to connect the two trails. Page 2 of2 ItrP 7 Minutes of the Dublin/San Ramon Liaison Committee Meeting October 12., 2006 A meeting of the Dublin/San Ramon Liaison Committee was held on Thursday, October 12, 2006, in the Regional Meeting Room of the Dublin Civic Center, 100 Civic Plaza, Dublin. The meeting was called to order at 5:06 p.m., by Mayor Lockhart. . ROLL CALL PRESENT: Mayor Janet Lockhart, City of Dublin Vice Mayor Tony Oravetz, City of Dublin Dave Hudson, San Ramon City Councilmember Carol Rowley, San Ramon Vice Mayor Herb Moniz, San Ramon City Manager Richard Ambrose, Dublin City Manager Melissa Morton, Public Works Director, City of Dublin Joni Pattillo, Assistant City Manager Joye Lynn F. Fukuda, City of San Ramon Caroline Soto, Deputy City Clerk, Dublin Alamo Creek Trail/Crossridf!e Road Emerf!encv Yehicle Access fEY A) Gate. Mayor Lockhart explained the reason for the meeting was to hear citizen's concerns regarding this issue and present Staff findings from meetings between the Cities of Dublin and San Ramon. These findings would then be taken to the respective City's City Council for discussion and recommendations. Public Comment Mayor Lockhart asked that anyone needing to leave early, please participate in the Public Comment at this time. Dublin/San Ramon Liaison Committee Meeting October 12, 2006 Page 1 of6 7/ 11/7/0b AnAClDlENT ~ ~o{7 Rich Guarienti, Dublin resident and Parks & Community Services Commissioner, spoke of how the Path Wanderers used the trail once a month prior to the closure of the gate. He interviewed people on the trail and everyone really enjoyed the trail. It's a connectivity issue. It's identified as a barrier on the Alameda County Bicycle Plan. He believes it should be opened to connect the two cities' trails. Mr. Dave Davis, Dublin resident, said he was there as an advocate of the trail. He represented the six homes that would be most directly affected. He said they want a trail; they want the children to have a place to run. He doesn't like the fact that they have divided a community. Its intended purpose was to be used as an emergency vehicle access road. He advocated a trail connection similar to Alamo Creek Bike Path and Nature trail, or there would be a legal challenge. He fired his legal representatives and would now act as his own representative. He advocated a trail connection that was aesthetically pleasing. The official stance of Mr. Davis was that he wanted to see the connection constructed and that the legal process be followed. Mayor Lockhart closed Public Comment. Public Works Director Melissa Morton provided an update on the meetings between Dublin and San Ramon and proposed resolutions. The two Cities' Staffs had met on site to examine potential alternatives for connection of the two facilities. Staff determined that the preferred alternative would be to construct a pedestrian gate and make minor paving improvements adjacent to the existing vehicular gate. The gate would be closed from dusk to dawn along with the other gates on the Alamo Creek Bike Path, as part of an agreement between the two Cities. San Ramon had agreed to fix the areas of the fence that have been damaged or defaced. The consultant that conducted the environmental analysis for the construction of the Alamo Creek Bike Path Project had quoted a cost of $23,950 to prepare a negative declaration for the amended project and estimated it would take 45 to 60 days to complete the draft report and an additional 30 days to address comments from the respective Staffs. Public Works Director Morton continued that the next steps would be: · Report to each City Council on the results of the Liaison Committee Meeting. · City of Dublin would initiate environmental review of the amended project and adopt mitigated negative declaration, as lead agency. Both agencies would review and comment on the document prior to adoption. · City of Dublin would grant an easement for Emergency Vehicle Access over the portion of Parcel H that abuts the current gate and a Knox Box would be installed by San Ramon for EVA access in an emergency. All other times, the emergency vehicle access would remain closed. Dublin/San Ramon Liaison Committee Meeting October 12,2006 Page 2 of6 ?Jot 7 . City of Dublin would grant a bike/pedestrian access easement over the portion of Parcel H that would abut the new gate when constructed. · City of San Ramon would construct the new gate and appurtenant paving for bike/pedestrian access, renovate that portion of the current gate and fencing that required repair, and enter into an agreement with the City of Dublin for gate closure between dawn and dusk and when rainfall necessitates closure of the trail for safety reasons. Vm. Oravetz: asked who owned the land. Public Works Director Morton stated that the City of Dublin owned the land. Vm. Oravetz asked about the suggestion at the June 6th meeting regarding extending the path. Public Works Director Morton replied that there was a big oak tree in the way and there was a great change in grade that ruled out the path extension recommendation. Mayor Lockhart reiterated the facts that ruled out the extension of the path not being feasible and stated that that information would be taken back for discussion with the Cities' respective Councils. Mayor Lockhart reopened Public Comment. A citizen asked about the feasibility of realigning the trails to meet away from the EVA. Public Works Director Morton explained the alignment of the trail would not change but there would be a NOX lock box on the EVA gate and adjacent to it would be a pedestrian gate that would follow the same methodology as the gates on the Alamo Creek Trail in that it would open from dawn to dusk and would also be closed when the water was high in the creek. There would be a minimal amount of asphalt needed adjacent to where the pedestrian gate would be. It would take approximately 90 days to go through the environmental processing. David Jefferson, San Ramon resident, expressed his concerned about the path down from San Ramon through the emergency access gate to the court. He was distressed it would remain chained. He suggested it should be opened until the issue is resolved and would like to use the trail now. He would like the gate opened now and then have the construction take place. Dublin/San Ramon Liaison Committee Meeting October 12, 2006 Page 3 of6 t-joP7 Mayor Lockhart asked City Manager Richard Ambrose to please address the issue of the gate being opened or closed remaining open while the Cities go through the process of making a new pedestrian access gate. City Manager Ambrose stated that the environmental impacts would have to be completed before the gate can be opened. Mr. Jefferson asked who owned the chain on the gate. San Ramon City Manager Herb Moniz explained that the EVA was exactly that - it was never meant to be a trail and under the law the gate was to remain locked to limit the access only to emergency vehicles. And now it is to remain locked until the Cities can come up with a solution. For the EVA the solution is the NOX box and trail access, the solution was the pedestrian gate. Mayor Lockhart restated that the gate would be closed until legally, the Cities, could get to a point where there could be a pedestrian gate. Edwin Osada. Dublin resident, agreed with the solution. He was happy with the outcome and glad to see a good ending. Suzanne Shepard, San Ramon resident, was disappointed to see the gate locked. She asked if there had been a noticeable decrease in questionable activity in the area since the gate had been locked. City Manager Moniz stated that that would be a question that would be answered through the mitigated negative declaration process. City Manager Ambrose explained that the respective City Councils had directed City Staffs to look at the feasibility of finding an access to cross through to the trails. The two City Council's had given Staff direction to find an alternative. Mr. Walters, Dublin High Cross Country Coach, brought the cross country team to support the opening of the gate. He spoke of obesity in the young and explained that the team was trying to work against obesity. He's a heavy user of the trail and the access had been a gift. The team's presence was meant to explain that the season is almost over and they had not been able to have a race here in the City. They had to go to Pleasanton. They wanted to foster and promote healthy attitudes in the community. Dale Scott, San Ramon resident, said she had a member of her family that used a wheelchair and used the paths and was devastated to learn the gate was closed. She asked that the Cities be cognizant of making the gate ADA accessible. Dublin/San Ramon Liaison Committee Meeting October 12, 2006 Page 4 of6 50t 7 Debby Laird, Coach with the Dublin High Cross Country Team, stated she would like to see the gate wide enough for more than one person to pass through at a time. Meena Anderson, San Ramon resident, had used the trail for exercise for a head injury she suffered. She would like to be able to continue to use the path for that exercise. Khodadadi, San Ramon resident, stated he didn't see the need for the lock and asked it for it to be removed. He did not know if there was a correlation with the acts of minors and the gate being unlocked. He discussed the ballard pins being used at a park at the top of Old Ranch Road and asked about the possibility of using that type of gate for EVA. He asked that the chain be removed and allow access that would bar vehicle access. Mayor Lockhart confirmed that the gate was opened, but once you were aware of the facts and knew the legalities of the situation, then you needed to follow the law. There were environmental impacts and they would go through the necessary review and then take it to the two City Councils for approval. She understood that everyone wanted the process completed quickly. Mr. Davis stated his support of the Cross Country coach and team. He saw everything that goes on at that gate and there were impacts from having the gate open. He restated he withdrew the legal challenge. Mayor Lockhart read a letter from Susan Moore, in support of opening the gate and also asked about the possibility of connecting the Dougherty Hills Trail at the top of the ridge with a trail in San Ramon. Mayor Lockhart closed Public Comment. Vice Mayor Carol Rowley stated the two cities had always worked well together. Councilmember Dave Hudson said this was not the first time the City had closed a gate on a trail. He discussed the Iron Horse Trail and how he used it before it was public property. He stressed that this was how it is done. You have to go through the process. It would be worked out. He would never vote to open access until Dublin had had the time to do it correctly. It would take time, but it would be done right. Andrew Burgess, Dublin High student, state that there was not a central place for the team to run within Dublin city limits; having something in Dublin, where they could have support from their school, Dublin High, would be great. Mayor Lockhart called for a brief recess. The meeting reconvened at 5 :05 p.m. Dublin/San Ramon Liaison Committee Meeting October 12, 2006 Page 5 of6 6tJ('7 City Manager Ambrose asked how the two Cities were going to share cost on the pedestrian access gate, soft costs, environmental work, as well as the construction costs. The Cities' representatives decided to recommend splitting all costs 50/50. Dublin Ref!ional Fire Authoritv (DRFA)Uudate City Manager Ambrose stated that there is usually an annual meeting of DRF A in October. The last direction the DRF A Board gave them was to evaluate the issue of terminating the retirement contracts. Staff is proposing to cancel the annual meeting again this year, because PERS has not completed the annual actuarial report. Mayor Lockhart stated PERS is looking at taking over small accounts like this. The county has some of these small accounts and is asking PERS to look into taking these over. Vm. Rowley stated that if they were able to change over to PERS, all employees and former employees would have to be notified. Meeting adjourned at 5: II p.m. Dublin/San Ramon Liaison Committee Meeting October 12,2006 Page 60f6 · 'Z ~NalOl~V~~V )> OJ 3 0 () -, . ~ CD CD '" ! OJ ~ ,,- 9- .ll ~ ..- 8 [ CD ""CJ OJ ,...,. ::J'" OJ ~ ,...,. () ~ -, 0 Ul Ul ~ . -, 0.. ~ lO CD ;;U 0 OJ 0..