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AGENDA. From the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) agenda for Wednesday, July 26, 2023, as a hybrid meeting.
Midpeninsula Open Space Partners with City of Half Moon Bay for the Planning of Johnston House Park and Uplands Trail
GENERAL MANAGER’S RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the General Manager to enter into a Partnership Agreement with the City of Half Moon Bay and contribute funding for the planning, design, environmental review, and permitting phases to pursue public access improvements at Johnston House Park. S
SUMMARY
Beginning in fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), the City of Half Moon Bay (City) anticipates initiating a master planning effort for their Johnston House Park property (Johnston House or Park) (Attachment 1: Project Area Map) with the intent to plan, design, permit, (Planning Phase) and eventually construct improvements to the Park. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) and City are interested in collocating parking and establishing a trailhead at the Johnston House site to serve both the Park and the future trail network that will be located at the Johnston Ranch Uplands area of Miramontes Ridge Open Space Preserve. Per the proposed Partnership Agreement (Agreement) (Attachment 2: Draft Partnership Agreement), the City would lead the Planning Phase with District technical support and review, and the District would reimburse the City for one-half (50%) of the consultant costs up to an amount not-to-exceed $350,000. The Agreement describes the various roles, responsibilities, and expectations during the Planning Phase of the project and outlines a commitment to enter into a new agreement for the future Construction Phase, including development of an easement for District use, patrol, and maintenance of the proposed parking area and trailhead at the Park.
DISCUSSION
Background In January 2019, the City adopted a Parks Master Plan for their entire park network that recommends the evaluation of potential improvements to the Johnston House during a master planning process specific to the Park. The improvements include new park facilities and an improved parking area. Following adoption of the Parks Master Plan, the District and City signed a partnership Letter of Intent (Attachment 3: Letter of Intent) in October 2019 to identify areas for collaboration and support at the City’s Johnston House and the District’s adjoining Johnston Ranch Uplands. The Letter of Intent expresses District support of the City’s planned public use efforts for the Johnston House and an intention to collaborate and partner on trail planning, shared use, and funding of an expanded parking area and trailhead at the Park. In November 2021, the District Board of Directors (Board) authorized the purchase of the Johnston Ranch Uplands property and adopted a Preliminary Use and Management Plan for the property that includes direction to develop a partnership agreement with the City to memorialize the Letter of Intent.
PRIOR BOARD AND COMMITTEE REVIEW
This Project previously came before the full Board at the following public meeting: • November 10, 2021: The Board approved the purchase of the Johnston Ranch Uplands and adopted a Preliminary Use and Management Plan that includes direction to develop an agreement with the City to memorialize the Letter of Intent, to collaborate and partner on future trail and parking uses and funding for an expanded parking area and trailhead on the Johnston House Park property, and trail planning on the Uplands south of Higgins Canyon Road. (R-21-132, meeting minutes).
Expenditures for the Johnston Ranch Loop Trail and Parking Area Project #31907 are anticipated to begin in FY25. Budget for the project will be refined and requested during the annual Budget and Action Plan process.
Once this effort results in a capital project, the expenses should be eligible for Measure AA reimbursement under Portfolio #01: Miramontes Ridge: Gateway to the Coast Public Access, Stream Restoration and Agriculture Enhancement, which includes the goals to “Develop trail loop system, including …. neighborhood access points. Develop staging area.”
Full Agenda Item
[pdf-embedder url=”https://www.coastsidebuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/20230726_JohnstonHouseAgreementCityHalfMoonBay_R-23-65.pdf”]
Midpen District Wards that were Approved in March 2022
Following the federal census every ten years, Midpen’s board of directors was required by law to ensure that the geographic areas, or “wards”, which our seven publicly elected board member represent, remain substantially equal in population. The process is called redistricting, and for Midpen it meant evaluating and adjusting the boundaries of our seven wards to ensure that representation mirrors population shifts.
After a six-month public outreach process, the Midpen board of directors adopted the map that will be used in the November 8, 2022 general election at its March 23 meeting.
Midpen is governed by a seven-member board of directors. The District is divided into seven geographic wards, each represented by an elected board member for a four-year term.
Author: Coastside Buzz
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