HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 - Santa Ana River Vision PlanCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
Agenda Item No. 11
November 14, 2006
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: City Manager's Office
Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager – (949) 644 -3002
dkiff(a)city. newport-beach.ca. us
General Services Department
Chris Marcarello, Administrative Analyst -- (949) 644 -3057
cmarcarel Io(&city. newport- beach. ca. us
SUBJECT: Santa Ana River Vision Plan— Advisory Committee Formation
ISSUE:
Should the City Council appoint members to serve on the City's Santa Ana River
Advisory Committee and accept a grant of $5,000 from The Wildlands Conservancy to
begin resource planning along the Santa Ana River?
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Appoint the proposed list of organizations and their designated representatives to
the City's Santa Ana River Advisory Committee;
2. Designate Mayor Pro-Tem Rosansky to chair the committee;
3. Accept a $5,000 grant from The Wildlands Conservancy to begin work on a vision
document.
DISCUSSION:
Background
The City has participated in planning for the Orange Coast River Park (OCRP), a park
that would link Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Newport Beach via the Santa Ana
River. The OCRP would be one of the largest parks in Orange County, but is currently
still in the conceptual design phase. In order for the OCRP to become reality, land must
be purchased and recreational amenities must be constructed. The City has offered
about $10,000 in direct donations or staff time in support of the OCRP planning
process.
Santa Ana River Vision Plan
Advisory Committee Formation
November 14, 2006
Page 2
The Santa Ana River Trail is a 110 mile trail that passes through the counties of
Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino. The trail's bike path helps to connect several
recreational amenities, including national forests, state and county parks, and the
Pacific Ocean. Over the past several years, The Wildlands Conservancy (TWC) has led
a renaissance of the Santa Ana River, offering private funding to public agencies in
efforts to restore the bike trail and establish a tri- county natural lands parkway. So far,
TWC has funded several projects, including a grant to the City of Santa Ana to restore
habitat and enhance outdoor education programs at Santiago Park; a grant to San
Bernardino County to purchase land and create a new regional park; and a grant to
Riverside County to perform ecological restoration work.
TWC has offered up to $5,000 to cities that abut the Santa Ana River, to assist with
developing vision plans for their portion of the river. The vision plans will help to restore
and enhance environmental and passive recreational elements along the Santa Ana
River. In addition, these vision plans will create trail linkages and increase public
access between neighboring communities.
The Santa Ana River passes by Newport Beach along our western border. The river
carries stormwater and sediment from as far away as San Bernardino County and the
foothills of the Redlands area. Only about one mile of the Santa Ana River is within the
City's boundaries. However, since this mile includes the mouth of the river, it is an
important mile for habitat restoration and passive recreation.
City Council Direction/Future Steps
On March 28, 2006, the City Council adopted resolution 2006 -25, authorizing the City's
participation in the Santa Ana River habitat and recreational planning process. Since
then, staff has worked with community representatives and TWC to develop a list of
organizations (Attachment 1) that should be represented on The City's Santa Ana River
Advisory Committee. The organizations on this list represent a diverse group, including
the City Council, City Advisory Commissions, a City Advisory Committee, City
departments, non - profit groups, and community associations. Prior to beginning the
Visioning process, TWC requires that the City Council approve all representatives
appointed to the committee.
Over the next six to twelve months, the City's Santa Ana River Advisory Committee will
meet at least 4 times to develop a vision and identify enhancement opportunities for the
areas adjacent to the Santa Ana River. Using the grant from TWC, the committee will
work to develop a vision document and report that outlines these opportunities and
better positions the City for future project development along the Santa Ana River trail.
Environmental Review:
This project does not require environmental review.
Santa Ana River Vision Plan
Advisory Committee Formation
November 14, 2006
Page 3
Public Notice:
This agenda item may be noticed according to the Ralph M. Brown Act (72 hours in
advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
Funding Availability:
A planning grant of $5,000 is available for this purpose.
Submitted by:
Dave`Kff
Assistant City Manager
Attachments:
Prepared by: C,4A&
Ch s Marcarello
Administrative Analyst
1 — Santa Ana River Advisory Committee Roster
2 — Resolution 2006 -25
City of Newport Beach
Proposed Santa Ana River Advisory Committee Roster
1- City Council (Committee Chair)
2- Planning Commission
3- Parks, Beaches, Recreation Commission
4- Coastal /Bay Water Quality Citizens Advisory Committee
8- The Wildlands Conservancy
9- Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH Americas)
10- Newport Bay Naturalist and Friends
11- Earth Resources Foundation
12- Friends of Harbors, Beaches and Parks
13- Orange County Coastkeepers
14- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
15- Orange County Bicycle Association
16- Newport Shores Community Association
17- West Newport Beach Association
18- City of Newport Beach Staff
19 -- Orange County Harbors, Beaches, and Parks
20- Community Representative
Steve Rosansky, or designated representative
Designated representative
Designated representative
Nancy Gardner, or designated representative
DP Myers, or designated representative
Jerry A. King, or designated representative
Dennis Baker, or designated representative
Stephanie Barger, or designated representative
Jean Watt, or designated representative
Garry Brown, or designated representative
Ken Morrison, or designated representative
Designated representative
Bob Paal or Mike Sinacori
Paul Watkins, or designated representative
Chris Marcarello, or designated representative
Kevin Thomas, or designated representative
To be determined
RESOLUTION NO. 2006 - 25
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH
AUTHORIZING PARTICIPATION IN AND ACCEPTING A GRANT FOR
SANTA ANA RIVER HABITAT AND RECREATIONAL PLANNING
WHEREAS, residents of the City of Newport Beach value the habitat and
recreational value of the Lower Santa Ana River, and
WHEREAS, the City of Newport Beach has long supported the planning and
formation of the Orange Coast River Park, which would abut and include the Santa Ana
River, and
WHEREAS, The Wildlands Conservancy has worked to coordinate and
'encourage planning along the Santa Ana River to create a consistent plan across the
three -county region; and
WHEREAS, these planning efforts may be supplemented by a $5,000 grant from
The Wildlands Conservancy or one of its partner funders if River - adjacent communities
form committees to conduct this planning and if such planning is consistent with habitat -
protective and passive recreational uses; and
WHEREAS, community representatives to the Orange Coast River Park
Planning Committee and the City's Coastal/Bay Water Quality Committee are
supportive of the City's participation in the Wildlands Conservancy's efforts; 'now,
therefore be it
RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Newport Beach that it hereby:
1. Authorizes the Mayor to execute any document that accepts a planning grant from
the Wildlands Conservancy for Santa Ana River planning; and
2. Authorizes the City Manager or his designee to research the formation of a planning
advisory committee to comply with the terms of the Wildlands Conservancy's grant,
and
3. Expresses the City's support of planning activities along the Santa Ana River that
protect habitat, encourage passive recreational uses, and that are consistent with the
goals of the Orange Coast River Park and the City's General.Plan.
ADOPTED this 2& Day of March, 2006.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
W
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF ORANGE
CITY OF NEWPORT BRACH }
I, LaVonne M. Harkless, City Clerk of the City of Newport Beach, California., do
hereby certify that the whole number of members of the City Council is seven; that the foregoing
resolution, being Resolution No. 2006 -25 was duly and regularly introduced before and adopted by
the City Council of said City at a regular meeting of said Council, duly and regularly held on the 28tb
day of March 2006, and that the same was so passed and adopted by the following vote, to wit:
Ayes: Curry, Selich Rosansky, Ridgeway, Daigle, Nichols, Mayor Webb
Noes: None
Absent None
Abstain: None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed the
official seal of said City this 29th day of March 2006.
(Seal)
City Clerk
Newport Beach, California