Item #2 COUNTY OF SACRAMENTO RECREATION AND PARK COMMISSION 6730 Front Street Rio Linda, CA 95673 ACTION SUMMARY Thursday June 23, 2005 7:00 p.m. COMMISSIONERS: BASTIAN, GONZALES, McCORMICK, ROBINSON, WHITE PRESENT: BASTIAN, GONZALES, ROBINSON, WHITE ABSENT: McCORMICK SUMMARY OF RULES OF PROCEDURE AGENDA: The Chairperson of the Commission may reschedule items on the agenda. Action items are heard prior to the information items. Major items of interest to the general public will generally be heard first, followed by items expected to have fewer persons speak on the subject. Staff presentations will be heard last. CONDUCT OF HEARING: The typical sequence for an agenda item is as follows: (1) staff report; (2) testimony of proponent; (3) testimony of opponent; (4) rebuttal; (5) close of hearing; (6) Commission discussion and vote. The Chairperson may limit the time allowed for testimony by persons addressing the Commission. VOTING: The Commission serves in an advisory capacity only to the Board of Supervisors and the Director of Regional Parks, Recreation and Open Space. All actions by the Commission are subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors. No action or recommendation of the Commission shall be valid unless it receives a simple majority of the votes. A tie vote is deemed a vote for denial. ADDRESSING THE COMMISSION: Any person desiring to address the Commission shall, when recognized by the Chair, step to the rostrum and state his name and address. Statements and expressions which lack factual reasons, are repetitive or cumulative, or do not directly address the issue at hand are to be avoided. Groups of people with similar viewpoints are urged to appoint a spokesperson who will represent their views to the Commission. In all cases, redundant testimony is to be avoided. Page 1 of 8
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairperson Dan Gonzales called the meeting to order at 7:40p.m. The delay in the start of the meeting was due to the tour of North area project sites. Commissioner Michele McCormick was absent. PUBLIC COMMENTS Mr. Erwin Hayer, a 66 year resident of Rio Linda informed the Commission that the presentation had been made before two other locations outside of Rio Linda and there is a Park Board in Rio Linda. The boundaries of the Park Board cover 100% of the Dry Creek Parkway and that the Park Board should have the presentation. He felt that this meeting should have been at the Rio Linda Park Board meeting so that the board members for Rio Linda know what is going on. Director Ron Suter informed all that the Parkway Advisory Committee which is appointed by the Board of Supervisors has a representative from the Park Commission on the Advisory Committee which is Charlea Moore. Ron spoke with Charlea Moore and she indicated to him that she is the representative to the Park District and that she was reporting back to the Park District and the she has no issues or concerns with the presentation and she felt if the Park Board wanted to see the presentation they would. PRESENTATION 1. Dry Creek Parkway Trail System (Kolling) Guy Kolling, Landscape Architect for Parks Planning gave a brief overview of the Dry Creek Parkway Trails Phase I project. Dry Creek Parkway extends from the Placer County boundary to Gibson Ranch, to Sacramento City limits at Rio Linda Boulevard, Dry Creek Road, Rio Linda High School, Dry Creek Ranch, Hayer Dam, Cherry Island Soccer Complex and Cherry Island Golf Course. The first phase of the project will consist of 2.5 miles of multi-use paved trail for bicyclist and pedestrian trail that will parallel the equestrian trail. It will extend from Dry Creek Ranch on Dry Creek Road, north of Curved Bridge Road to the Cherry Island Soccer Complex at 28 th and U Streets. At the Q Street crossing a traffic signal will be constructed. A bridge will be constructed where the trail crosses the south branch of Dry Creek near the corner of U & 24 th Streets. The project should be completed during the summer of 2007. Funding is from $1.5 million of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality money that is federal TEA-21 transportation program. We are matching that with $172,000 of Proposition 40 money, for a total project cost of about 1.7 million dollars. Jeff Bair: What roll will the Dry Creek Parkway Advisory Committee have? Director Ron Suter: The Dry Creek Parkway Advisory Committee was appointed by the Board of Supervisor and the Rio Linda Park Board appointed Charlea Moore as their representative. They will advise the County Parks Department as to the process and procedures before they get to the Parks Commission. They will be the same body that the Commission takes directions from on the American River Parkway Advisory Committee. The chain of command will be that the Parks Department will make recommendations to the Advisory group who will then make recommendations to the Commission regarding issues on policy, design and any other items that will be presented to the Commission. Page 2 of 8
PRESENTATION 1. Dry Creek Parkway Trail System (cont d) (Kolling) Ron also informed the group that if they would like staff to come back to the Park Board staff would. Commission Bastian would like to go on record that the Bridge will eventually go through 16 th Street. Also that he likes the proposal of a bridge similar to Hayer Dam. Ron Suter indicated for the record that Guy has worked very closely with the former Rio Linda Park District administrator. George Willeford: Are we looking at the same history of the American River Parkway with all the remodeling, will there eventually be a fee to use the facilities? Director Ron Suter: When we make improvements it costs us money to maintain and to manage. The answer is yes, if we have parking area and they are paved there will be a charge. A lot of the areas on the Dry Creek will be accessible on bicycles and still cost to maintain the facility and we will still have to recuperate our money to help to maintain and operate. Commissioner Ted Robinson commented that there are many on the Commission that feel the same as Mr. Willeford, and that it is a terrible thing to have to charge to use our parks. But he does not know what the alternative would be.. 2. Rio Linda-Elverta Historical Society Update (Bastian) Commissioner Bastian introduced John Posehn who gave an account of how the Proposition 12 monies were sent. Funds from Prop 12 were used for a security system in the Ranch House; a replica of the Tank House was built and the chimney at the Firehouse was restored. Commissioner Bastian wanted the public to know that the Society is now taking bids on painting the exterior of the Ranch House. Commissioner Bastian introduced Roger Mitchell a member of the Historical Society. Director Suter requested that Mr. Mitchell give a little history on the building where the meeting is being held. Mr. Mitchell informed the Commission that the building is replication of the Sacramento Northern freight shed and the other portion of the building is a replication of the Sacramento Northern Train Station that was built in 1910. In the mid 30 s when there was no longer a need for transportation for the public, the train station was sold to a local vendor who moved it two blocks from here. In the middle of the 50 s the freight shed was torn down. The Historical Society gathered pictures and took on the project of having the building rebuilt; it turned out to be a 12 year project. Page 3 of 8
PRESENTATION 2. Rio Linda-Elverta Historical Society Update (cont d) (Bastian) Ron Suter added that the train used to be electric and took people from Rio Linda to Sacramento. Wilma Dyer used to take the train to Sacramento High School. Mr. Mitchell informed all that in the early 20 s this was the largest commuter train line in the world. The Fire Department is planning to build a new fire station in Rio Linda. The Rio Linda Historical Society has requested that the current station located across the street from the Train Depot, known as Sacramento Metro 111, be turned over to Sacramento County when it is abandon. The engine room would be used to store fire engines that have been restored and the remainder of the building can be used as a multi-use facility. Three years ago (Pearl Harbor Day) the Historical Society purchased a fire truck known as Rio Linda #7 which was original built in Rio Linda by a Rio Linda volunteer firefighter (Les Grane) who later became the fire chief for Rio Linda. The Society is currently working on rebuilding the truck. The first fire truck in Rio Linda, known professionally as Old Bessie, still belongs to the district and is the oldest fire truck in Sacramento County. The second oldest fire truck in Rio Linda, was sold to private parties on February 11, 1952. The Society purchased back the truck and spent two years researching the truck before taking apart to begin restoration. 3. Cosumnes River Preserve Update (Cooper/Veselka) Rick Cooper provided the Commission with a verbal and PowerPoint update on the land that Parks and Recreation has on the Preserve and what they contribute to the Preserve. The Preserve is a 40,000 acre habitat restoration project located in South Sacramento County and parts of San Joaquin County. Land within the Cosumnes River Preserve is jointly owned by County Parks and Recreation and the Bureau of Land Management. The Preserves was formed in 1994 with a mission to preserve and protect some of the riparian forest and central valley wetlands, and at the same time in protecting those sites under habitat management demonstrate compatible uses. The main partners on the Preserve are The Nature Conservancy, The US Bureau of Land Management, Sacramento County Parks and Recreation, Ducks Unlimited, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the Department of Water Resources. In 1994 the original management plan was signed by The US Bureau of Land Management, Sacramento County Parks and Recreation, and Ducks Unlimited and in that cooperative agreement it was agreed that we would try to manage the lands as a single ecological use. In 1994 the Preserve was about 6,000 acres in size and since 1994 it has grown to protecting over 40,000 acres of habitat. After 1994 the Department of Water Resources added land, later The State Lands Commission, The Nature Conservancy and The Department of Fish and Game. The County of Sacramento has four blocks of land at the Preserve. Page 4 of 8
PRESENTATION 3. Cosumnes River Preserve Update (Cooper/Veselka) Amber Veselka updated the Commission on her responsibilities at the Cosumnes River Preserve. Amber is the volunteer coordinator and is also responsible for the visitor s center operation. She is responsible for overseeing recruitment, training and employment at the Cosumnes River Preserves. Volunteers provide approximately 5,000 hours annually at the Preserves. ACTION ITEMS 4. Approval of Ecology Reserve Designation for County Properties Within the Cosumnes River Preserve (Rick Cooper) The purpose of the Cosumnes River Ecological Reserve Management Plan is: To guide management of the Reserve toward achieving the purposes for which the land was acquired in accordance with federal and state environmental statutes; To manage habitats, species and programs for ecological benefit and public enjoyment; To describe the area s natural history and outline appropriate public use; and To provide an overview of the area s operation, maintenance, and personnel requirements to implement management goals. Ron Suter recommended that if the Commission approves this request that a presentation be made to the Galt Historical Society before it is taken to the Board of Supervisors for approval. Recommendation: 1. Approve the Ecological Reserve designation for County properties at the Cosumnes River Preserve. - Crane Ranch - McFarland Ranch - Valensin Horseshoe Lake 2. Direct staff to move the Ecological Reserve to the Board of Supervisors for approval. Commissioner Ted Robinson moved to accept staff s recommendation, second by Commissioner Art White. AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Bastian, Gonzales, Robinson, White McCormick Page 5 of 8
ACTION ITEMS 5. Approval of Action Summary, Regular Meeting May 26, 2005 Commissioner Bob Bastian moved to accept the Action Summary, seconded by Commissioner Art White. AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Bastian, Gonzales, Robinson, White McCormick INFORMATION ITEMS - WRITTEN 6-9. No discussion. AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY PLAN UPDATE WRITTEN MATERIAL 10. Status of American River Parkway Plan Update Committee (Kukkola) There was a meeting on June 20, there is another meeting scheduled for June 27 leading up to a review of the draft document and a Community Workshop that is scheduled for July 18. Three remaining hot topics for discussion are: Indian Cultural Heritage Center, Off Paved Trail and Dogs Off-Leash. The group is hoping to wrap up the Integrate Area Planning Process by the end of July, and will begin discussing the upper reaches of the American River Parkway. They are on track to complete the total project by the end of the year, with project going to the Board the first of the year. INFORMATION ITEM ORAL 11. Project Management Team Status Report Receive and File (Kukkola) The Project Management Team is comprised of key staff members from the County of Sacramento, City Parks and Recreation, City of Sacramento Planning Department, County Planning Department, Cal Expo staff and SAFCA. The Project Management team tries to stay a few steps ahead of the Citizens Advisory Committee in trying to anticipate what questions, problems and concerns they might have and prepare appropriate responses as needed. The document included in the Commission packet is the Project Management Team s analysis of the three remaining issues, the hot topics. The document shows what type of criteria the Project Management Team (PMT) uses to work through its analysis: Habitat Sensitivity; Community Use and Recreation; Surrounding Community, Connectivity and Access; Management and Operations; and Safety and Security. Page 3 provides background on the California Indian Heritage Center followed by Conditions of Use on page 4. It is hopeful that the group will be able to work through the remaining two issues: Off Leash Dogs and Off Trail Bicycle Use and that there be some resolution brought to the table at next Monday s meeting. The group needs to be prepared to go to the North Sacramento Community meeting at large on July 18 with a preliminary draft of some position of the UCAC which hopefully will be consistent with the recommendations from the PMT and other entities involved with the process. Page 6 of 8
INFORMATION ITEM ORAL (cont d) 12. Parkway Survey (Kukkola) Commissioners were provided with copies of a draft American River Parkway User Survey. Allen Wade, President of Save the American River Association and long time member of the American River Natural History Association approached staff with information that California State University, Sacramento could do a survey to find out more information on the use of the Parkway. The survey will be done by phone versus in person. DIRECTOR S COMMENTS 13. Update 2005 Golf Report The Golf Report was pulled from the Board of Supervisors agenda and it is hopeful it will be rescheduled sometime early July. It is placing a hardship on some of the divisions and staff within the Department. 13a. Fireworks in the American River Parkway There was an article in the Sacramento Bee in regards to Fireworks in the American River Parkway by the City of Rancho Cordova. County staff and several other local officials have attended several meetings with the City of Rancho Cordova City Council to help find options on relocating their fireworks display. There was an official ruling today from County officials stating that Sacramento County Parks Director has no legal authority to approve or otherwise sanction the proposed use of fireworks on the American River Parkway. Commissioners were provided with a copy of the letter sent to David Sanders, Council Member with the Rancho Cordova City Council with regards to using fireworks in the American River Parkway. STAFF COMMENTS COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REPORTS 14. Committee Reports A. American River Parkway Advisory Committee (McCormick) B. Lower American River Task Force (White) C. Fish and Game Commission (Gonzales) No Meeting D. Friends of Mather Regional Park (Gonzales) No Meeting, there will be a meeting on Wednesday. E. Regional Parks Working Group (White/McCormick) Page 7 of 8
COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REPORTS F. Chamber Liaison (McCormick) G. Dry Creek Parkway Advisory Committee (Bastian) H. Review Panel for Regional Transit DNA Project (Robinson) Meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. STAFF PRESENT: Ron Suter, Director Gary Kukkola, Deputy Director, American River Parkway Dave Lydick, Park Ranger Manager Guy Kolling, Associate Landscape Architect Amber Veleska, Recreation Specialist, Cosumnes River Preserves Sylvia Smartt, Executive Secretary VISITORS PRESENT: Rick Cooper, Cosumnes River Preserves Roger Mitchell, Rio Linda-Elverta Historical Society Bill Fanchar, Rio Linda-Elverta Historical Society Erwin Hayer Ray Griffith Jeff Bair John Posehn George Williford Page 8 of 8