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AGENDA BILL Agenda Item No. 5(K) Date: May 19, 2015 To: El Cerrito City Council From: Melanie Mintz, Interim Community Development Director Emily Alter, Community Development Analyst Subject: Priority Conservation Areas Designation ACTION REQUESTED Adopt a resolution supporting the designation of the Hillside Natural Area, Lower Cerrito Creek, and the Ohlone Greenway as Association of Bay Area Governments Priority Conservation Areas. BACKGROUND In 2007, the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) requested nominations from local governments and land conservation organizations for Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) pursuant to the “Focusing our Visions” multi-agency regional planning initiative. The new program paired Priority Development Areas (PDAs) and PCAs to create a regional framework to concentrate development and limit urban sprawl. The City nominated the San Pablo Avenue plan area as a Mixed-Use Corridor PDA in 2007 as part of this early process. PCAs are intended to support the regional development framework by identifying those areas that contain important agricultural, natural resource, watershed, historic, scenic, cultural, recreational, and/or ecological values and ecosystem functions. PCAs are locally identified and may exist outside of PDAs. There are currently 101 PCAs regionally. In July 2013, the ABAG Executive Board and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) approved Plan Bay Area, a long-range, integrated transportation and land-use/housing strategy for the nine Bay Area counties. As part of Plan Bay Area implementation, ABAG and MTC developed the One Bay Area Grant (OBAG) program and allocated $5 million to PCA Projects in 2013 and 2014 through the State Coastal Conservancy. As a result of the grant program, ABAG and stakeholders updated the PCA program by introducing four new categories of PCAs to recognize the various roles PCAs play in supporting the vitality of the region’s natural systems, rural economy and human health. The updated program clarifies the types, characteristics and functions of PCAs by identifying four new PCA designations, clarifying designation requirements and eligibility criteria. The introduction of designations helps better position the PCAs for future funding opportunities by placing each within a regional implementation ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(K) Page 2 framework. Future regional funding programs may identify specific objectives supported by different PCA designations. The four new categories as defined by the program update are: 1. Natural Landscapes - areas critical to the functioning of wildlife and plant habitats, aquatic ecosystems and the region's water supply and quality. 2. Agricultural Lands - farmland, grazing land and timberland that support the region's agricultural economy and provide additional benefits such as habitat protection and carbon capture. 3. Urban Greening - existing and potential green spaces in cities that increase habitat connectivity, improve community health, capture carbon emissions, and address stormwater. 4. Regional Recreation - existing and potential regional parks, trails, and other publicly accessible recreation facilities. The process also identified important benefits and co-benefits to be identified in the application process, siting local and regional data sources where applicable. These benefits include terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, water supply and water quality, agricultural resources and economy, community health, recreation, climate resilience and compact growth. Friends of Five Creeks, the El Cerrito Trail Trekkers and members of the Environmental Quality Committee requested that City staff advance designation of the Hillside Natural Area and Lower Cerrito Creek as key urban greening amenities consistent with the PCA program. City staff met with representatives of the community organizations and City committees to discuss the application process and confirm area selection. On April 14th, the Environmental Quality Committee (EQC) considered and recommended City Council designate the Hillside Natural Area and Lower Cerrito Creek. Based on significant discussion, the Committee also voted unanimously to recommend the inclusion of the privately-owned “Fairview property” within the Hillside Natural Area. As a result of the EQC’s recommendation, City staff met with the City Attorney to discuss the implications of including this undeveloped, privately-owned property and the Wells Fargo property along Cerrito Creek in the designation without the consent or participation of the owner. The City Attorney identified potential issues associated with designating private property under those circumstances, stemming from the relative newness of the PCA concept and absence of case law resolving the issues. In the case of the Wells Fargo property, prior City Council action on Resolution 96-103 and the creek’s zoning designation of Open Space would mean that designation of the property as a PCA would not have any further implications on development. He therefore recommended that the City not proceed with designation of Fairview at this time. Since the initial meeting with engaged stakeholders and staff’s presentation to the EQC, members of the public have also identified the Ohlone Greenway as an important community amenity and have encouraged staff to prepare an additional application for its designation. ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(K) Page 3 ANALYSIS Designation of PCAs in El Cerrito will help: 1) continue to build broad consensus among local stakeholders around the benefits and uses of designated areas; 2) assist the City in applying to and qualifying for future grant funding opportunities to complete previously identified projects which are important to the community; 3) emphasize the importance of open spaces and natural resources to maintaining our economic, social and natural vitality. As stated in the PCA application materials, private property may be designated as part of a PCA, however, local jurisdictions maintain land use and zoning authority over the property and a PCA designation does not affect the development potential of a property. The City Attorney, however, has identified potential issues associated with including private property without the owner’s consent or participation, if the property has not yet been the subject of adopted policy. The PCA concept is relatively new and untested in the courts, so the potential issues have not yet been resolved. The updated PCA process requires that the nominating agency send notifications to all of the jurisdictions in which the PCA is located. Applications are due to ABAG on May 30, 2015. Staff recommends that City Council designate the Hillside Natural Area, Lower Cerrito Creek from the Ohlone Greenway to the western city boundary, and the Ohlone Greenway as Urban Greening PCAs under the revised guidelines. Hillside Natural Area Designation of the Hillside Natural Area as an Urban Greening PCA will build on the recent community effort to purchase the Madera Property and to conserve the 102.5 acres as community open space, as required by the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant (Resolution 2014-01). These efforts, as well as the Urban Greening Plan (in development), have identified the need for a master planning process to better define the needs of all users, formalize the trail system, balance potentially competing vegetation management requirements, and design a more robust set of community programs. Conservation of the Natural Area is critical to maintaining the City’s adopted level of service standard for parkland and helps implement General Plan Goal PR2: high quality open space protected for the benefit of present and future generations. Further, the Active Transportation Plan (in development) and efforts by the El Cerrito Trail Trekkers (Trekkers) have identified the Natural Area as a key link in the City’s trail network. Trekkers and Friends of Five Creeks requested that the City pursue PCA designation in order to support their efforts throughout the Natural Area. Staff is working closely with these organizations to complete the application and will keep them engaged as funding opportunities emerge. The Hillside Natural Area is likely to be a highly competitive applicant for future regional funding sources as it provides significant ecosystem, wildlife habitat, air and water quality, health, recreation, native vegetation and climate resilience benefits amidst built out residential neighborhoods. While the Hillside Natural Area is not subject to development pressures and has been designated community open space in perpetuity, it will continue to require City investment and planning, and community volunteerism and ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(K) Page 4 advocacy. Qualifying this property for additional funding and identifying it regionally as a unique urban space with significant community importance will help develop these future efforts. City staff does not recommend inclusion of the privately-owned Fairview property as part of the PCA designation at this time. Cerrito Creek from the Ohlone Greenway to Pierce Street Designation of Cerrito Creek from the Ohlone Greenway to Pierce Street will help continue to preserve the naturalized creek from Talbot to Kains and from San Pablo Avenue to the western city boundary. The designation would build on the City Council’s goals and policies set forth by the Joint Watersheds Goal (1995), Cerrito Creek Design Objectives (Resolution 96-103), General Plan, and Cerrito Creek Bay Trail Connector Study (2005), which encourage opening the creek channel to provide access and recreational opportunities along and adjacent to the creek. The Urban Greening and Active Transportation Plans, both in development, have identified bicycle, pedestrian, and stormwater projects along the edge of Cerrito Creek as important linkages to be developed to provide urban greening amenities within the area of change identified by the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan. In addition, southern Gateway improvements were identified in the San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan (2014) as an important placemaking opportunity. The City of Albany designated Albany Hill as a PCA in 2007, and will confirm its designation this year. Friends of Five Creeks brought the application process to staff’s attention earlier this year, highlighting that the Albany Hill application does not include Cerrito Creek and the important ecological functions it provides. As the boundary between the two cities, the creek is stewarded by both cities. Contiguous or overlapping PCA designations are allowed per the PCA Guidelines, so designation of Cerrito Creek as a PCA will highlight and emphasize the connection and interplay between the two areas. Staff has discussed designation of Cerrito Creek with the City of Albany and, with their agreement regarding the designation and consistent with the PCA guidelines, will provide notification to the City of the pending designation. The city’s designation of the creek will stop at the City of El Cerrito’s western boundary. Ohlone Greenway Designation of the Ohlone Greenway will help identify and emphasize the important role this green corridor plays for residents of El Cerrito and surrounding communities, carrying forward the momentum started by the Ohlone Greenway Master Plan (2009), Urban Greening Plan (in development), and Active Transportation (in development), as well as the City’s previous investments at the Baxter Creek Gateway Park, Bruce King Dog Park, Fairmont Park, the Ohlone Greenway Natural Area, Ohlone Greenway intersection improvements and along the length of the Greenway. The San Pablo Avenue Specific Plan identified the Greenway as a street type, requiring developments within the Plan area to orient towards the Greenway, providing ground floor connections and uses to activate the Greenway and expand its open space. Identification of the Greenway as a key community amenity will help emphasize its importance as an El ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(K) Cerrito asset. The Greenway currently provides significant active recreation and transportation infrastructure to the city, and its designation is consistent with existing PCA Designations, such as the East Bay Greenway. Designation of the Greenway as an urban greening amenity supports General Plan Goals LU5: a land use pattern and types of development that support alternatives for the movement of people, goods, and ideas, Strategy LU5. 6: Development Along the Ohlone Greenway, and CD3: A city with attractive landscaping of public and private properties, open space, and public gathering spaces. STRATEGIC PLAN CONSIDERATIONS Designation of Priority Conservation Areas will help to fulfill El Cerrito Strategic Plan Goal F, "Faster environmental sustainability citywide", Goal C, "Deepen a sense of place and community identity" and Goal B, "Achieve long term financial sustainability" by continuing to pursue new funding, including outside grants. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS There is no financial impact to the City. Designation of Priority Conservation Areas will help the City to qualify for grant funding in the future. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS Designation of Priority Conservation Areas is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and no CEQA analysis is therefore required. LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS The City Attorney has reviewed the proposed action and believes there are no legal issues associated with staffs recommendation. Scott Hanin, City Manager Attachments: 1. Resolution to Support PCA Designations 2. Hillside Natural Area PCA Map 3. Cerrito Creek PCA Map 4. Ohlone Greenway PCA Map Page 5 ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(K) Attachment 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2015-XX RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EL CERRITO SUPPORTING PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA DESIGNATIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF EL CERRITO WHEREAS, in 2007 the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) requested nominations from local governments and land conservation organizations for Priority Conservation Areas (PCAs) pursuant to the “Focusing our Vision” multi-agency regional planning initiative to identify areas which contain important agricultural, natural resource, watershed, historic, scenic, cultural, recreational, and/or ecological values and ecosystem functions. WHEREAS, in 2008 the City Council designated San Pablo Avenue a Priority Development Area (PDA) as part of ABAG’s “Focusing Our Vision” initiative; and WHEREAS, in 2013, the State Coastal Conservancy developed the Priority Conservation Area (PCA) grant program to fund projects within PCAs and provided $5 million in funding for a competitive program in San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Alameda, and Contra Costa counties; and WHEREAS, in July 2014, as part of the Plan Bay Area implementation effort and as a result of the initial PCA grant program, ABAG updated its Priority Conservation Area application process and designations to introduce four categories to recognize the role of different kinds of PCAs in supporting the vitality of the region's natural systems, rural economy and human health; and WHEREAS, one of these categories is the Urban Greening category, intended to conserve existing and potential green spaces in cities that increase habitat connectivity, improve community health, capture carbon emissions, and address stormwater; and WHEREAS, Designation of Priority Conservation Areas is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and no CEQA analysis is therefore required. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of El Cerrito hereby endorses the Hillside Natural Area, Lower Cerrito Creek (from the Ohlone Greenway to the western City boundary) and the Ohlone Greenway Urban Greening Priority Conservation Areas. I CERTIFY that at a regular meeting on May 19th, 2015 the City Council of the City of El Cerrito passed this Resolution by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: ---PAGE BREAK--- Agenda Item No. 5(K) Attachment 1 IN WITNESS of this action, I sign this document and affix the corporate seal of the City of El Cerrito on May 2015. Cheryl Morse, City Clerk APPROVED: Mark Friedman, Mayor ---PAGE BREAK--- Arlington Blvd Portola Drive Kenilworth Ave Navellier Street Ganges Ave King Dr Contra Costa Dr Madera Circle Potrero Ave To El Cerrito del Norte BART To El Cerrito Plaza BART Blake St Regency Ct Schmidt Lane Ohlone Greenway Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Bay Trail San Francisco Bay Kensington El Cerrito Albany Richmond Richmond * * El Cerrito del Norte BART Station El Cerrito Plaza BART Station San Pablo Avenue Arlington Blvd Arlington Blvd Richmond St Richmond St Moeser Ln Moeser Ln Arlington Steps Norvell St Colusa Ave Terrace Dr Kearney St Navellier St Ashbury Ave Barrett Ave Schmidt Ln Portola Dr Lincoln Ave Central Ave Seaview Dr Waldo Ave Stockton Carlson Blvd Rifle Range Rd Fairmount Ave Hill St Blake St Snowdon Ave Potrero Ave Potrero Ave Cypress Ave Central Ave Cutting Blvd Potrero Ave Cutting Blvd Fresno Ave S 55th St San Luis St S 56th St Ells Street Pathway Ohlone Greenway W i l d ca t C r e e k Tr a i l Mira Vista Golf & Country Club Castro Park Canyon Trail Park Cerrito Vista Park Huber Park Arlington Park Tassajara Park Central Park Poinsett Park Baxter Gateway Park Ohlone Greenway Harding Park Creekside Park Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Havey Canyon Trail Conlon Trail Mezue Trail City of El Cerrito Hillside Natural Area Figure 1 - Location Map Agenda Item No. 5(K) Attachment 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- 3a City of El Cerrito Cerrito Creek Figure 1 - Location Map Pierce Street Ohlone Greenway Cerrito Creek San Pablo Avenue El Cerrito Plaza Shopping Center Creekside Park Central Park I-80 Freeway El Cerrito Plaza BART Station Albany Hill PCA To Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Bay Trail I-580 Freeway Open Creek Creeks Under Street ROW Proposed PCA City Limits Richmond El Cerrito Albany Pacific East Mall Agenda Item No. 5(K) Attachment 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- 580 80 123 San Francisco Bay El Cerrito del Norte BART Station El Cerrito Plaza BART Station T T City Hall Library * * * * * Fairmont Elementary El Cerrito Plaza Albany Middle School Safeway Bruce King Dog Park Point Isabel Regional Shoreline Central Park Baxter Gateway Park Fairmont Park Ohlone Greenway Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Kensington El Cerrito Albany Richmond Richmond BRIGHTON AVE E AVE VISALIA AVE SAN ANTONIO AVE SAN LUIS RD MENLO PL SAN GABRIEL AVE SAN JUAN AVE SAN RAMON AVE ANDO AVE AVIS RD SANTA CLARA AVE VALLEJO ST BOYNTON A SANTA BARBARA RU SAN M VINCENTE WALK POMONA AVE TRAIL ROMONA AVE NTA ROSA AVE I 80 I 580 Ohlone Trl San Pablo Avenue Arlington Blvd Richmond St Key Blvd Moeser Ln Elm St Norvell St Colusa Ave Everett St Terrace Dr Kearney St Navellier St S 55th St Ashbury Ave Barrett Ave Potrero Ave Cutting Blvd Schmidt Ln Balra Dr Cutting Blvd Liberty St San Joaquin St Blake St Portola Dr Stockton Ave Manila Ave Central Ave San Mateo St San Luis St Lincoln Ave Central Ave Carquinez Ave Highgate Rd Seaview Dr Donal Ave Arlington Ave Scott St Waldo Ave Stockton Ave Contra Costa Dr Sutter Ave Pomona Ave Coventry Rd Carlson Blvd S 47th St MacDonald Ave Rifle Range Rd Clayton Ave S 56th St Monterey St Jordan Ave Fairmount Ave Fresno Ave Hill St Blake St Potrero Ave Wall Ave Santa Clara St S 49th St Bonnie Dr Panama Ave Franciscan Way Lexington Ave Tehama Ave Lawrence St Exit 11 44th St Tulare Ave Carlston St Columbia Ave Galvin Dr Rydin Rd Butte St Van Fleet Ave Ramp Eureka Ave ba St Yale Ave Brewster Dr Huntington Ave Carl Ave Vista Heights Rd Knott Ave Cutting Blvd Ells Ln Shasta St Behrens St Santa Cruz Ave Betty Ln Hagen Blvd Lynn Ave Burlingame Ave Sacramento Ave S 52nd St Ganges Ave Edwards Ave Mira Vista Dr Tassajara Ave Highland Blvd S 45th St Merced St C St Gately Ave Taft Ave Poinsett Ave Mariposa St B St Snowdon Ave Bayview Ave San Jose Ave Yosemite Ave El Dorado Ave Overend Ave or St Curry Ave Kingston Rd S 50th St Fleming Ave S 59th St Avila St Gatto Ave Alameda Ave Mono Ave Ward Ave Walkway S 58th St Mendocino St San Benito St Lagunitas Ave Rincon Rd San Diego St Junction Ave Windsor Ave Exit 15 Stratford Rd Club View Dr Belmont Ave S 51st St Bates Ave Jefferson Ave S 57th St Fallon Ave Madison Ave Parking Lot Walnut St Tapscott Ave Cypress Ave Glen Mawr Ave Carlos Ave Lassen St Oscar St Highland Ave Santa Clara Ave Oak St Cambridge Ave Rivera St A St Ardmore Rd State Ave Lawson Rd S 46th St Kenilworth Ave Errol Dr Campbell St Orchard Ave Plumas Ave 46th St Don Carol Dr Kent Dr Tuller Ave Edwin Dr 45th St Placer St Columbia Blvd Cabrillo St Seaview Pl Conlon Ave Plank Ave Eastshore Blvd Imperial Ave Cedar St Scenic St Fray Ave Rockway Ave Oakview Ave Avila Pl Craft Ave Alta Punta Ave Point Isabel Ct Santa Fe Ave Charles Ave Alta Vista Dr Ave Victor Ave o Ave Roosevelt Ave Edith St Arno Ct Ray St S 53rd St Victoria St Waldo Ln Julian Dr Mound St Reid Ct Gloria St Garden Dr Park Way Downey Pl Madera Dr Florida Ave Earl Ct Westminster Ave State Ct School St er Ave Brooks Ave Modoc Ave Burns Ct Yolo Ave Jessen Ct Castilla Ave Bissell Ave Roberta Dr Coronado St Ridgeway Ln Humboldt St port Ave Ernest Ave Kensington Ct Hotchkiss Ave Clark Pl Willamette Ave ery Ave Bell Ct S 44th St Nason Ave School Ave Irma Ave Eldridge Ct Gordon Ave Beverly Ct Elm Ct F St Valley Rd Cypress Path Humboldt Ave Noble Ct Shevlin Pl Bay Tree Ln Morris Ave Madera Ct Peerless Ave Kent Ct Kenilworth Dr Reece Ct Yale Cir Eagle Hl Richardson Rd Prather Ave Ellerhorst Ave Napa St Janie Ct Aqua Vista Rd Harris Ave Alvarado Pl Hershey Ct Sunset Ter Carol Ct Plank Ct Ct Tahoe Pl Willow Ln Scenic Ave Willow St Walk Way Escuela Ct Duke Ct Arlington Ln Norwood Ct Harvard St Saint Albans Rd Maiden Ln Sunset Ct Kings Pl Fairview Marchant Ct Fall Ave Highgate Ct Cort Ave Dylans Way Club View Ct Baron Ct Norvell Ct Reed Pl Midcrest Way Edna St Linda Vista Dr Lexington Rd Adams St Susan Ave Cliff Ln Ohio St S 54th St Ardmore Path Devonshire Ct Summit Park Ct Ricardo Ct Princeton Ave Pebble Beach Way Marguerita Rd Lambrecht Ct Lawrence Ct Tamalpais Pl Pomona Ct Camelot Ct Brewster Ct Edgehill Ct Dewey Rd Kenilworth Ct Channel Ave Aqua Vista Ct Estates Rd Loran Ct Crescent Park Glenwood Way Verjane Ave Cutting Cir Cresent Way Norwood Vw Agenda Item No. 5K Attachment 4