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Home My WebLink AboutItem 8.2 AltamontLandfillOpenSp CITY CLERK File # Dr6J~~-[!lJ1QJ AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: February 15, 2005 SUBJECT: Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund - Application for Grant Funding. Report by Diane Lowart, Parks & Communily Services Director ATTACHMENTS: I. Application from East Bay Regional Park District RECOMMENDA TlON:pt.--. ~pprovc Application FINANCIAL STATEMENT: None DESCRIPTION: As part of thc scttlement of litigation over the expansion of the Altamont Landfill, the parties to the litigation (Alameda County, Waste Management of Alameda County, the Cities of Livermore and Plcasanton, and various cnvironmental groups) agreed that the County would charge Waste Management of Alameda County, Inc. (WMAC) two fees totaling $1.25 per ton of waste disposed at the Landfill.. Of the two fees, $0.75 per ton must be spent on acquisition of open space, either by purchasing the land or obtaining a permanent easement. Twenty percent of the total amount of moncy acquired through the fee will be spent in the Dublin-Pleasanton area and the other eighty percent must be used to acquire property in eastern Alameda County, around Livermore. Under thc terms of the settlement agreement, the County must convene an Advisory Committee to make decisions about the expenditure of the funds in the account. The County, Livermore, Pleasanton, and the Sierra Club may appoint voting members to the Advisory Committee. Dublin has a non-voting representative. The City has entered into two Agreements to guarantee that the interests of the City of Dublin are represented when the allocation of funds is made. The first Agreement is with the City of Pleasanton and ensures that Pleasanton will use its vote on the Advisory Committee to assure that funds allocated for open space in the western area will be divided evenly between Dublin and Pleasanton. The second Agreement is with the County of Alameda and ensures that the County will use its vote in a similar fashion. Both votes arc needed in order to secure a majority vote on the Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee reccived its first application for funding from the East Bay Regional Park District (Attachmcnt). East Bay Regional Park District proposes to acquire 106 acres of open space, a portion of Devaney Canyon, located at the northern boundary of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. The addition of this property will bring the total acreage of the park to 4,850 acres. Located in close proximity to the cities of Pleasanton and Dublin, the property is situatcd approximately one mile south west of Dublin Canyon Road and 1-580. The total funding request is $450,000. A subcommittee of the Advisory Committee consisting of representativcs from Pleasanton, Alameda County and the Sierra Club is recommending approval of thc rcqucst. As per the Settlement Agreement, the request must be formally approvcd by thc Plcasanton City Council and Alameda County Board of ____________________.___________RW___W~_W____________________________________________________________________ G;\COUNCIL\Agenda Statements\2005\2-t5 altamont.doc COPIES TO: I Ø() 9- ITEMNO.~ CI $upcrvisors. Howcver, neither body can approve the application without the City's of Dublin's approval. As the City of Dublin does not currently have a project through the Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund and given the proximity of the Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park to the Dublin Hills Regional Park, Staff recommends approval of the application. At this time there is $745,757 available for expenditures in tl1e Dublin-Pleasanton area; with this application, tl1e available funding will be reduced to $295,757. RECOMMENDATION: Approve application for funding from East Bay Regional Park District and direct Staff to notify the City of Pleasant on and the County of Alamcda of Dublin's action. -2- ~~ . . .. East Bay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acqnisition - Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park Alameda County AItamont Landfill Open Space Fnnd Application for Grant Funding GRANTEE INFORMATION Name of Applicant Requesting Funding (Project Sponsor): EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT 2950 Peralta Oaks Court P. O. Box 5381 Oakland, CA 94605 Project Manager or Contact Person: Nancy Wenninger, Manager, Land Acquisition Telephone No. 510-544-2607 F(4 No. 510-569-1417 E-mail Address: nwenninger{@.eboarks.org Is the Applicant a Non-profit or 501 (c)(3) organization: No Federal T(4Identification No. 94-6000-591 LANDOVVNERINFORMATION Mary R Vinson Trust 18868 Walnut Rd. Castro Vallcy, CA 94546 PROJECT IN}"ORMATION Project Title: Vinson Property Land Acquisition, Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park Project Location: Lanson Rd., Pleasanton; APNs: 085A-3250-002 (portion) 085A-3275-001-1 085A-3275-001-2 (portion) Jurisdiction in which property is located: Alameda County Land Use Description and Zoning applicable to the property: Alameda County General Plan Designation is "Large Parcel Agricultural" Zoned: A-100 "Agricultural District" (100 acre min.) 1O'b \0 . z,...IS-DE) 3.'¡- A+-\-~me.<'T , . ~ttlb East Bay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acquisitiou - Devaney Canyon Pleasautou Ridge Regional Park Project Objective: Acquisition of 106 acres of open space Funding Requested: $ 450,000 Total Project Cost (including in-kind contributions): $ 941,000 Itemized Project Expenses, including transaction costs." (Include all project expenses; indicate those that would be paid for with Altamontfi.¡nds-J Itemized Exvenses (estimated) Purchase Price Appraisal services Title & Escrow Staff Time Totals Requested Funding $ 450,000 $ $ $ $ 450,000 Funded by Other Source" $ 450,000 $ II ,000 $ 10,000 $ 20.000 $ 491,000 1988 EBRPD Regional Open Space Bond Measure AA and Prop 40 Per Capita Grant Proposed Funding Date: January 1, 2005 Estimated Completion Date of Project: February 1, 2005 Is the property currently under a Williamson Act contract? Yes Are there other easements on the property or are other easements being negotiated? There are some minor access road and utility easements which have minimal impact on the property. Who will holdfee title to the land or hold the easement? East Bay Regional Park District will hold fee title to tl1e land. Signature of Applicant: Robert Doyle, A Date: to/L7 }lit- stant General Manager / I ~&b lip East Bay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund Application for Grant Funding PROJECT DESCRIPTION East Bay Regional Park District proposcs to acquire 106 acres of open space, a portion of Devaney Canyon, loêatcd at tl1e northcrn boundary of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. Thc addition of this property will bring the total acreage of the park to 4,850 acrcs. Located in closc proximity to thc cities of Pleasanton and Dublin, the property is situatcd approximately one mile southwest of Dublin Canyon Road and 1-580. Consisting of gentlc and steeply sloped terrain, the property contains riparian corridor, oaklbay woodland, chaparral and grasslands. This type of environment provides habitat for Califomia red-legged frog, California tiger salamander, and Alameda whip snake. Other species likely to be supported by the property's rich habitat include mountain lion, bobcat, deer, fox, golden eagle and otl1er raptors. This acreage will provide an important habitat linkage to publicly owned property and protect a wildlife corridor in tl1is highly urbanized region. This acreage is a portion of a 240-acre property on which a homesite is currently being developed. Located in an unincorporated area of Alameda County, tl1e property's zoning designation would allow it to be developed into two home sites. Acquisition by the Park District of 106 acres of this property will prevent further development. The proposcd acquisition is comprised of three separate parcels, two of which are contiguous to cach othcr, and all three are contiguous with Park District property. Elevations range from 750 to 1,100 feet abovc sea level. The property offers panoramic views of the San Ramon Valley, the cities of Pleasant on and Dublin, the Livermore area, and Mt. Diablo, with more secluded views of Devaney Canyon and adjacent Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park. Steep terrain, with portions hcavily wooded, provides excellent habitat and a wildlife corridor linking Pleasanton Ridge with surrounding open space to the north and west. Acquisition of this 106 aeres in a secluded part of Devaney Canyon will aid in important resource protection goals by maintaining open spacc, protecting endangered species habitat, extending a wildlife corridor, and expanding Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park's northern boundary. 4rJb II.p East Bay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acqnisition - Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund Application for Grant Funding FUNDING CRITERIA 1. Significant Native Biodiversity Value The Vinson property is adjacent to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park and contains a portion ofthe Hedd Canyon and Devaney Canyon riparian corridor system. In addition to this rich riparian habitat, other habitat types present on the property include oak/woodland, mixed chaparral, high rolling grasslands, creeks, seeps and springs. The wooded hillsides and densely shaded canyons contain a mix of coast live oak, California bay laurel, buckeye, black oak and sycamore. The rich understory consists of a moderate growth of woody and herbaceous plants including coffeeberry, sticky monkcy flower, poison oak, and at least two types offems. The high rollíng grasslands are covered witl1 introduced am1ual grasses; however, there is also an abundance of native California bunchgrass. These rich habitats can support a variety of wildlife, including such rare, threatened or endangered species as Alameda whipsnake, California tiger salamander, and California red-legged frog. Other species likely to be present on the property include mountain lion, bobcat, deer, fox, golden eagle and other raptors. This riparian corridor system supports wildlife movement north from Plcasanton Ridge and provides a linkage to surrounding open space and pastureland, increasing potential range for mobile species. Wildlife corridors maintain diversity and prevent inbreeding, increase population size and rcduce probability of extinction, increase foraging area and allow escape or refuge ftom predators, fire and otl1er disturbances. Acquisition of this property by the Park District will achieve a significant District goal: to consolidate key blocks of sensitive habitat and create nearly 5,000 acres of contiguous protected terrain. This acquisition will add strategic acreage to Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, provide an important habitat linkage to publicly owned property, and protect a wildlife corridor in this highly urbanized region. 2. Significant Visual and/or Non-Motorized Recreational Value The Vinson property is the key linkage for trail access to the north end of Pleasant on Ridge Regional Park at Devaney Canyon. Currently, this area of the Park in not open to the public due to lack of a connection between Dublin Canyon Road and the parkland. . Thc Vinson property will provide this linkage and also will provide much-needed emergency vehicle access from Dublin Canyon Road to this northern end of the park. Without this linkage, emergency vehicles - and trail users - will continue to be excluded ftom this end of the park, or be required to traversc the cntire ridge from an entry point far to the south. This access will also provide a connection to the Calaveras Ridge TraiL East Bay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Pleas an ton Ridge Regional Park 3. Strategic Value in Land Protection 5q,11t. Currently, this acreage is a portion of a 240-acre property adjacent to the Park and is being developed as a home site. Located in an unincorporated area of Alameda County, the property is zoned A-I 00 (Agriculture: 100,acre minimum), with a General Plan designation of "Large Parcel Agriculture". The property is located outside the "Urban Growth Boundary" and is classified as "Large Parcel Agriculture" under Alameda County's Measure D. With these designations, the 240-acre property could be developed into two home sites. AcquisitioÌl by the Park District of 106 acres of this property will prevent further development. With 70 years of experience in land acquisition and stewardship, East Bay Regional Park District manages the lands it owns and operates through a resource management program. Most District lands are wildlands~natural areas which provide watershed, open space, recreation and habitat for plants and animals. EBRPD management activities are designed to conserve, enhance and restore natural plant communities and to protect populations of rare, threatened and endangered species of plants and animals. The District is responsible for protecting all wildlife in the parks, managing non-native and feral animals, and cooperating with other land managers to address wildlife management issues on a regional scale. This land will become part of a resource-based management system, allowing for protection in perpetuity as dedicated parkland. The goal of the managemént pian will be to conserve and enhance important natural resources (soil, v..getation, wildlife and water) to ensure that the ecosystem is maintained in a healthy and productive condition. . 4. Additional Funding Sources Other funding that may be used for this acquisitlon include EBRPD 1988 Measure AA Bond Proceeds, Prop 40 Per Capita Grant funding, EBRPD'g Resource Enhancement Program and/or other District f'Ullding. 5. Willing Sellers The Vinsons are willing sellers and are eager to sell a portion of their property to the Park District. . The property has been owned for a number of years by the Vinson family. Currently held by the Mary R Vinson Trust, the land has been inherited by her two sons. One son is developing a homestead; the otl1er son wants to sell. The brothers prefer to divide the land, allowing a portion of the land to be developed, and they would like to see the remainder pass to the Park District and remain open space. However, if the Park District is unable to purchase the land, the property will be actively marketed. ...--- ; \ _ c." - ~ - - ,- ;' ;~', ,/.' -' , ',. " ~ " ---", , .. '.-" '. '.. " J"" ,:1 ::\ :7 :.f ;. '". ", .~~' : " -. -. -. ~- ': . -' " T·' " 1..... ., '.~'''- . -,......- ~~ - - -. ~ " '~' . "'., . ",., .".. '.-..."....-....................... '. .. - ---.:. ~p" " .' . '. >- -"". ,.-, '. ,-<,"; ...(.~.~. .,.- - .' ,I." ,.:I:.I,t__~n ,'. ..' ,'" .'.f;.'~ -'__, . 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East Bay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park 't't;¡ ,(, Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund Application for Grant Fnnding PARCEL MAP .::._>'>:';'.',':"'~':" ;.j., ,,:.,:,'.}; . {." ~ East Bay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park 1Ducl'" Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund Application for Grant Funding Additional Information Easements Thcre arc no proposed easements which will affect the acquisition property. The Park District will ncgotiatc a public trail easement on the parcel being retained by the Vinsons. Environmental Hazards There are no known environmental hazards on the property. CEQA Exemption This project is Categorically Exempt from CEQA. The project consists ofthe acquisition ofland in order to create a park. This land is currently jn a natural condition and will remain in a natural condition. East Bay Regional Park District Vinson P'opcrty Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park ll~¡~ Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund Application for Grant Funding Alollg Pleasanton Ridge East Bay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Plcasanton Ridge Regional Park 12~1~ Alameda County Allamont Landfill Open Space Fund Applicafion for Grant Funding Oak Woodland East Bay Regional Park Distrid Vinson Property Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Plcasanton Ridge Regional Park 1~'bIÞ Alameda County Altamont Landtïll Open Space Fund Applkation for Grant Funding View from Ridgetop East Bay Regional Park Distrid Vinson Property Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridgc Re~ional Park Alamcda County Altamont Landfill Open Space Fund Application for Grant Funding Ridr:etop on Vinson Acqui"ititJ/l Property I t./-'-b1þ East Hay Regional Park District Vinson Property Acquisition- Devaney Canyon Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park Alameda County Altamont Landfill Open Space I<'und Application for Grant Funding Hedd CanYQn Creek ¡ 5 D'Q/Þ · East Bay Rcgional Pal"k District Vinson Property Acquisition - Devaney Canyon Plcasanton Ridgc Regional Park (oOV1b Alamcda County Altamont Landlïll Open Space Fund Application for Grant J<'unding Above Devaney Canyon