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Home My WebLink AboutApprove Modification to Shipley Nature Center Master Plan of Council/Agency Meeting Held: Deferred/Continued to: ►9'Approved ❑ Conditionally Approved ❑ Denied City Clerk's Signature Council Meeting Date: 11/7/2005 Department ID Number: � 5-& CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH - REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION SUBMITTED TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCkMEMBERSOk , SUBMITTED BY: PENELOPE IJLBRE -GRAFT, CITY ADMINISTRATOR PREPARED BY: JIM B. ENGLEa DIRECTOR, COMMUNITY SERVIC S SUBJECT: APPROVE MODIFICATION TO SHIPLEY NATURE NTER MASTER PLAN 1[Statement of Issue,Funding Source,Recommended Action,Alternative Action(s),Analysis,Environmental Status,Attachments} Statement of Issue: In April 2004, City Council approved a Master Plan of Improvements for the Shipley Nature Center. Per the city's Memorandum of Understanding with the Friends of Shipley Nature Center, any changes to the Master Plan are subject to the approval of the city. The Friends have requested to add a trail with boardwalk that was not part of the original Master Plan. Fundina Source: Not applicable. Recommended action is relative to modifying the Master Plan. Note: Friends would be responsible for construction of a boardwalk at a later date. Recommended Action: Motion to: Approve modification to the Shipley Nature Center Master Plan of Improvements to include a trail with boardwalk per the attached plan. Alternative Action(s): Do not approve a trail modification to the Shipley Nature Center Master Plan to include a trail with boardwalk. Analysis: During the past two years of restoration work at Shipley Nature Center, a new trail was naturally developed as a shortcut between the Nature Center and the area being restored as a Coastal Sage Scrub habitat. While this trail came about by happenstance, it is now one of the most highly utilized trails among the volunteers and visitors to the Nature Center. The trail passes under a canopy of 30-year-old oak trees. The experience of walking under those oaks is something that the staff and volunteers would like to preserve for visitors to the Center. Because this trail was not formally identified on the approved Master Plan, the Friends of Shipley Nature Center (FSNC) have approached city staff to consider amending the Master Plan for its inclusion. REQUEST FOR ACTION MEETING DATE: 11/7/2006 DEPARTMENT ID NUMBER:CS05-026 Over the years, oak tree species throughout Southern California have diminished on a rather large percentage. Also, finding a stand of oaks as mature as those at the Nature Center and in a dense urban setting like Huntington Beach is very rare. Therefore, while the Friends are recommending establishing a new trail in this area, protection of the oak trees' roots must be taken into consideration. The FSNC are proposing to construct a 60-foot long.8-foot wide boardwalk along the trail in the area of the oaks in order to protect their roots from soil compaction due to the amount of anticipated foot traffic in the area. While the volume of traffic passing over the oaks' root zone was not an issue during the restoration work, it potentially could be an issue once the center begins conducting educational tours and opens on a more regular basis to the public. The construction of the boardwalk would provide adequate protection for the trees' root system as well as provide the public with easy access over the irregular terrain in the area. The Building & Safety Department has reviewed and approved the construction detail for the boardwalk and has indicated that the nature of construction does not require building permits. Guy Stivers, the landscape architect who developed the master plan for the Shipley Nature Center, concurs with the FSNC's plan to install the boardwalk. If approved by City Council, the FSNC will be responsible for all costs associated with construction and maintenance of the boardwalk. Staff is, therefore, recommending approval of the addition to the Shipley Nature Center master plan of the proposed trail with boardwalk Community Services Commission Action: On September 14, 2005, the Community Services Commission reviewed and approved the change in the Shipley Nature Center master plan. Environmental Status: Not applicable Attachment(s): City Clerk's Page Number No. Description 1. Shipley Nature Center Preliminary Landscape Plan 2. Construction Detail 3. Letter from President of FSNC G:\RCA\2005\o5-026 Approve Modification to SNC Master Plan.doc -2- 9/22/2005 3:04 PM • ATTACHMENT # 1 r ; .................. ............................................................................................................................................................................. .................. ............................. -------................... ............... ............. ........... ........... /! /. Jv / /i. .!/ /. / j / / /��f . : / :/ / / /!/l r! f f.. / ` /. / /l f • r f /r �J• XX -/ N / / f J J / iriu frJ Lv !: U! ........... .. _,y , acC ,. ATTACHMENT #2 SHIPLEY NATURE CENTER • OAKWOODLAND BOARDWALK AND LEARNING SPUR S'o" BENCH DETAIL 8'0" 0" I 64'0^ 1'6^ 3'0^ I'6" • BENCH SEAT --- -�� BRACING J L 1'6" 4X4 6" 6101, i'6" DECK CONCRETE FOOTONG GRAVEL BASE DECK DETAIL 4X4 KICK BRD. D 13 2X6XS'DECK p p G YX6XS'RUNNERS O%GRADE ON EACH END • ATTACHMENT #3 A 7 �C*Ve& if Aortwb,& &4itez& July 29, 2005 David Dominguez, Manager Community Services Department City of Huntington Beach Dear Dave, The Friends need to make a small addition to the Master Plan for Shipley Nature Center. This addition is a trail that goes from the Interpretive Building through the Oak Woodland that is very near the building. This trail has been established over two years by foot- traffic as a short-cut for restoration work. As it turns out, it is now a beloved trail that passes under the canopy of our 30 year old oaks. It has become part of the Nature Trail that the public takes through the Center. We need to make it part of the Master Plan. We also need to protect our 30 year old oaks by putting a boardwalk over 60 feet of the trail that passes under these oaks and over their roots. As we prepare for Inside the Outdoors program (ITO) in September with 7- 10,000 children walking this trail, these roots must be protected from this impact. The boardwalk would be this protection. Guy Stivers, architect of the Master Plan, agrees. The Friends Board of Directors and the Restoration Committee also agree. They all have seen the schematic drawings of such a boardwalk that David Pryor, Board member, drew up. David works for California State Parks at Crystal Cove and has personally overseen and even built their boardwalks at Crystal Cove. He is very knowlegeable and public safety conscious. Guy is very public safety conscous as well. Guy likes his drawings and says we can go ahead. We need to start ASAP to have this in place by the time ITO children arrive. Would you help us get this done? I know this is short notice. The whole ITO partnership has evolved very quickly and has put all of us on a very short leash. However, it will be a marvelous opportunity for boosting Shipley and exposing literally 1,000's of school children to the wonderment of nature at Shipley. Thank you, as always, for all your work for us. We all appreciate your efforts very much. Sincerely, Juana Mueller, President Enclosures: Master Plan showing trail addition Master Plan of Demonstration Gardens showing trail addition start point David Pryor's schematic of boardwalk P.O.Box 1052- Huntington Beach,CA 92647. 714.846.0916. shipleynature@yahoo.com. www.fsnc.org RCA ROUTING SHEET INITIATING DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES SUBJECT: APPROVE MODIFICATION TO SHIPLEY NATURE CENTER MASTER PLAN COUNCIL MEETING DATE: November 7, 2005 RCA ATTACHMENTS STATUS Ordinance (w/exhibits & legislative draft if applicable) Attached ❑ Not Applicable Resolution (w/exhibits & legislative draft if applicable) Attached ❑ Not Applicable Tract Map, Location Map and/or other Exhibits Attached Not Applicable ❑ Attached El Contract/Agreement (w/exhibits if applicable) Not Applicable (Signed in full by the City Attorney) Subleases, Third Pa Agreements, etc. Attached Party g Not Applicable (Approved as to form Py City Attome Certificates of Insurance (Approved b the City Attorne Attached ( PP y y y) Not Applicable Attached ❑ Fiscal Impact Statement (Unbudget, over$5,000) Not Applicable BondsIf applicable) Attached ( pp ) Not Applicable Attached ❑ Staff Report (If applicable) Not Applicable Commission, Board or Committee Report applicable)If a Attached 1 p ( pp ) Not Applicable Findings/Conditions for Approval and/or Denial Attached Findin g pp Not Applicable EXPLANATION FOR MISSING ATTACHMENTS REVIEWED RETURNED FORWARDED Administrative Staff .............. Assistant City Administrator Initial City Administrator Initial City Clerk EXPLANATION FOR RETURN OF ITEM: Only)(Below Space For City Clerk's Use RCA Author: