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Home My WebLink About20 - Maintenance Obligation of Pacific Ridge TrailheadCITY OF NEWPORT BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT Agenda Item No. 20 September 9, 2008 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: City Manager's Office Dave Kiff, Assistant City Manager 949/644 -3002 or dkiff@city.newport- beach.ca.us SUBJECT: Acceptance of Maintenance Obligation — Pacific Ridge Trailhead ISSUE: Should the City accept maintenance responsibilities for a new trailhead for the Laguna Coast Wilderness Area and Crystal Cove State Park at the end of Ridge Park Road in the Newport Coast? RECOMMENDATION: 1. Authorize the City Manager to accept, on the City's behalf, the maintenance responsibility and any related easements to maintain the new Pacific Ridge Trailhead in the Newport Coast; and 2. Direct the City Manager to appropriately budget for the maintenance expense in the current or upcoming budget. DISCUSSION: The Newport Coast community was annexed by the City in 2001. The annexation area included what is now the easternmost part of Newport Beach, something the City Manager refers to as "the Panhandle." The Panhandle includes the main westerly entrance to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park, a 6,500 acre series of connected open space parcels owned by the County of Orange, the City of Laguna Beach, and the California Department of Fish and Game. The County of Orange manages the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. Most access to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park is through the Nix Center and the "Willow Canyon" parking area off of Highway 133 (Laguna Canyon Road). The latter requires a $3 parking fee. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park includes trails which enter Crystal Cove State Park, an open space area that includes 3.2 miles of beaches and 2,400 acres of undeveloped woodland, all operated by the California State Parks system. Most access to the State Park is off of Pacific Coast Highway at El Morro, just southerly of the city limits. A $10 parking fee is required at this entrance to Crystal Cove State Park. The City will soon take title to at least two parcels associated with "Coastal Peak Park," also at the easternmost edge of the city (see Exhibit A). Coastal Peak Park (the "Large Parcel" on the Exhibit) will include an active park with ballfields, restrooms, and a tot lot. The Irvine Company, the major landowner in the area, is building the park according to plans reviewed and approved by the City. Once the park is constructed, it will be transferred to the City for operation and maintenance (likely to be Spring 2009). Pacific Ridge Traithead September 9, 2008 Page 2 Because of the large population now residing in Newport Coast (especially its Pacific Ridge community), good access to both Laguna Coast Wilderness Park and Crystal Cove State Park, and the fact that no parking fees are charged at this location, the cul -de -sac at the end of Ridge Park Road has become a popular entrance to these facilities — for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. The Irvine Company, working with the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and the Coastal Greenbelt Authority (the latter being the advisory body that oversees activities at County - controlled open space lands stretching from Aliso -Woods Canyon Regional Park to Laguna Coast Wilderness Park), has prepared plans to construct an improved trailhead at the Pacific Ridge entrance (see Exhibits A and B). The land itself (Lot F, Tract 16166) is owned by the Ziani Homeowners Association. But the Irvine Company holds an easement for the construction, installation, repair, replacement and maintenance of landscaping, walls, and related improvements. The easement is fully assignable by TIC to other parties — including to the City. TIC seeks to assign its easement to the City once the improvements are complete (along with Coastal Peak Park, likely to be in Spring 2009). The Trailhead will include: • A wood and steel kiosk structure approximately 7' -6" tall and 7' -4" wide with one sign panel approximately 3'x 2' in size. Life span of approximately 25 years. • Low stone veneer wall approximately 50' in length. Life span of approximately 100 years. • Stone veneer pilaster approximately 6' -6" in height with signage indicating trailhead name. Life span of approximately 100 years. • Five (5) pressure treated timber steps. Life span of approximately 15 years. • Stabilized decomposed granite trail surfacing. Life span of approximately 25 years. • Permanent irrigation consisting of pop up and fixed spray heads. Life span of approximately 25 years. • One oak tree and California native shrubs to match surrounding landscape. Maintenance items are likely to be: Yearly Maintenance: • Typical repair /replacement of irrigation equipment. • Reapplication of mulch in landscape areas. • Weeding in landscape areas. • Replacement of any dead or missing shrub material. Occasional Maintenance: • Removal of graffiti. • Replacement of vandalized signage panel on kiosk. • Recharge and /or recompaction of decomposed granite paving. • Replacement of any stone veneer that may come off because of vandalism, etc. The Irvine Company's estimate of annual maintenance for the above is about $2,000, with another $4,000 every 5 -10 years depending on wear and tear. Pacific Ridge Trailhead September 9, 2008 Page 3 City staff believes that the City is better positioned than the HOA or the County to maintain the new trailhead once it is constructed (in part because of limited parks funds at the County and possibly a more narrow interest from within the HOA). In addition, city contract parks crews will be maintaining the nearby Coastal Peak Park (both the small and large parcels) — maintaining the Trailhead's minimal facilities should be of limited expense and limited effort. Environmental Review: The City Council's approval of this Agenda Item does not require environmental review. Public Notice: This agenda item may be noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the public meeting at which the City Council considers the item). Funding Availability: The small cost projected can be included within existing budget parameters. Submitted by: Dave Wff Assistant City Manager Attachments: Exhibit A — Project Location Exhibit B — Diagrams of the Trailhead Project Pacific Ridge Trailhead September 9, 2008 Page 5 Exhibit B Project Diagrams ZtANl HOA 0 PACIFIC RIDGE TRAIMEAD FACILITY - CONCEPTUAL SITE PLAN PACIFIC RIDGE (PAS) IRVINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY milEll 9k4 E PARK WIFIC Rl HOA KEY NOTES PILASTER TO MATCH PACIFIC OG PATHITRAN. EUDU COMMUNITY gi WOOD TIMBER STEPS tOW STONE WALL STEPPED VDITCH INWINCREMENTS RELOCATED INTERMITIVE KIOSK TO MATCH CRWSTAt COVE STATE PARK SIGNS WOOD TIMBER STEP OVER EXIST" STREET UGHT ATTOPSTEP QS NTW OAK TREE O XP 400 KEY MAP PACIFIC RIDGE TRAILHEAD FACILITY - FRONT ELEVATION PACIFIC RIDGE (PA5) IRVINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY ASP PACIFIC RIDGE TRAILHEAD FACILITY - SECTION A PACIFIC RIDGE (PA5) IRVINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY KEY MAP S'_4" �n n 4 PACIFIC RIDGE TRAILHEAD FACILITY - KIOSK DETAIL PACIFIC RIDGE (PAS) IRVINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY _._4. EQ LQ L 4' TVP —SIGN PANEL PER OWNER METAL FRAME WITH WOOD VENEER TO ;o MATCH CRYSTAL COVE i ,_p• STATE PARK KIOSK TYP .— LOW STONE VENEER WAIL 6'-7' �J 0 1 r .E 4o• * 2-3' STONE VENEER PILASTER TO MATCH PACIFIC RIDGE COMMUNITY SIGN FACE • STONE AND LETTERS '( TO MATCH PILASTER AT EAST COASTAL PEAK AND PACIFIC RIDGE ENTRY FINISH GRADE PACIFIC RIDGE TRAILHEAD FACILITY - TRAILHEAD PILASTER DETAIL PACIFIC RIDGE (PAS) IRVINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPANY �J