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HomeMy WebLinkAbout33-03 • • Resolution No. 33-03 Resolution of the City Council of Los Altos Hills Supporting and Endorsing the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's Proposed Extension of its Boundaries to the San Mateo County Coast to Preserve Open Space and Agricultural Lands WHEREAS, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is a special district in northwestern Santa Clara County in 1972 (and extended to southern San Mateo County in 1976) for the purpose of preserving and managing open space lands within its jurisdiction on the San Francisco peninsula; and WHEREAS, existing public benefits of the District's services include protecting nearly 50,000 acres of our nearby open space lands,providing for low-intensity public recreational use on approximately 220 miles of trails within 26 open space preserves, permanently protecting local streams and watersheds, and preserving the sensitive habitats of a variety of species of endangered plants and animals, maintaining historic structures and facilities on the land,preserving existing agricultural uses, and providing an environmental education program and volunteer opportunities; and WHEREAS, the Town of Los Altos Hills is within the jurisdiction of the District, and its constituents have reaped the priceless benefits provided by the District,many utilizing the lands for recreational purposes, others enjoying the unspoiled scenic backdrop provided by District lands, and all secure in the knowledge that these unspoiled open space lands are permanently preserved for their children, and the generations beyond; and WHEREAS, in the late 1990s,the District received requests and petitions from individuals, organizations, and elected bodies (including the Half Moon Bay City Council and the Midcoast Community Council) asking for its services in the preservation and management of open space lands, beyond its current boundaries west of Skyline Boulevard, and including the natural treasure that is the San Mateo County coastline, and in a subsequent public opinion poll by the District, approximately 90% of the respondents said that preservation of open space west of Skyline Boulevard was important; and WHEREAS, the 1998 Coastside Subregional Planning Study conducted by the County of San Mateo, the cities of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, the Midcoast Community Council and sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments indicated the need for regional open space preservation and management services in this area, concluded that District boundary expansion was one of the most promising attempts in a decade to meet this need; and • • WHEREAS,public agencies, land trusts, and other non-profit entities, some of which currently own open space lands west of Skyline Boulevard and on the San Mateo County coast, have indicated a great need for District services in providing for additional open space preservation and in providing experienced, long-term stewardship and management for those open space lands, especially in light of current budget constraints at the federal, state and county level which restrict other government agencies' ability to provide these services; and WHEREAS, in response to these request and this need,the District is considering extending its boundaries so that it may provide services to preserve and manage open space lands west of Skyline Boulevard, preserve agricultural lands on the coast,preserve the rural character of the coastal region,provide land management services for other land-owning agencies, enhance fire protection and public safety through the increased presence of its highly skilled field staff, and offer the public further opportunities for ecologically-sensitive recreational uses and environmental education; and WHEREAS, through this proposed annexation of the coastside, the District will greatly enhance the protection of the pristine, "world-class"natural beauty, open spaces and agriculture of the San Mateo County coast, from the southern boundary of Pacifica to the Santa Cruz/San Mateo County Line and from Skyline to the sea, one of the last remaining unspoiled coastlines so near to one of the world's major urban areas; and WHEREAS, the District's annexation proposal envisions purchasing (from willing sellers only, and often through acquiring conservation or agricultural easements) and/or managing up to 11,800 acres of pristine public open space and continuing-use agricultural land, over the next 15 years,thereby allowing orderly development, yet preventing urban sprawl; and WHEREAS, if successful,the District's efforts will provide for the people of the Town of Los Altos Hills and for the entire region expanded opportunities for public access on the coastside, increased resources for maintaining the physical and economic integrity of Coastal agricultural lands, elected representation for the coastside area on the District's board of directors, enhanced community programs in environmental education and open space volunteerism; and WHEREAS, such and extension would have no financial impact on the Town of Los Altos Hills, would have insignificant financial effect on other government agencies or services within the proposed annexation area, and would not change any land use designations or land use control, as the District does not have any regulatory or zoning authority, but would offer the District, on behalf of the public,the opportunity to contribute its services to open space and agricultural preservation and long-term stewardship efforts, subject to all local, state, and federal land use regulations and in compliance with all city and San Mateo County General and Coastal Plans; and will be the most efficient and effective way to provide these needed services; and • WHEREAS, over the 30 years since its inception,the District has proved itself to be a good neighbor, and excellent steward of open space land on behalf of the public, a solid and fiscally conservative manager of public funds, and an organization very sensitive and responsive to the community's needs and desires,through a great deal of solicitation and consideration of public input into the planning and management decisions made by its board of directors, NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED for the reasons stated above that the City Council of Los Altos Hills does hereby endorse and support the extension by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District of its boundaries to include lands west of Skyline Boulevard from the southerly limits of the City of Pacifica to the San Mateo/Santa Cruz County line. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of Los Altos Hills does hereby urge the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to file an application for the annexation of all of this territory with the San Mateo Local Agency Formation Commission. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of Los Altos Hills does herby urge, if such an application is submitted, that the San Mateo County Local Agency Formation Commission approve the application of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for the extension of its boundaries to include all of the territory west of Skyline Boulevard from the southerly limits of the City of Pacifica to the San Mateo/Santa Cruz County Line. DATED: June 5, 2003 By ` Mayor ` `��erk