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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1990-07-11 - AGENDA REPORTS - SC RIVER FEATURES STUDY (2)CITY OF SANTA CLARITA I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M TO: City Manager Honorable Mayor City Council FROM: Jeff Kolin, it for o£ Parks and Recreation DATE: July 2, 1990 SUBJECT: Santa Clara River Water and Recreation Features Study The first meeting of the Santa Clara River Study task force was held on June 28, 1990. Representatives of community groups, environmental organizations, federal, state, county and local agencies joined together for a general orientation on the project. The maps:and data which had been compiled to date were presented and shared with all participants. The task force spent a major part of the afternoon developing a list of issues and objectives which the task force members wished to have addressed during the course of the river study. A list of those issues and objectives, together with a similar list developed by department heads and management staff at a recent pre -agenda meeting, is attached for the City Council's information. The second meeting of the task force is scheduled for August 2, 1990. This meeting will be devoted to, a discussion of watershed management, water management and applicable landscape issues. The Upper Santa Clara Water Committee, composed of the local water retailers and the Castaic Lake Water Agency, were particularly interested in the subject matter of this meeting. The Santa Clara River serves as a major resource providing water recharge to the aquifer used by local water retailers and their wells. The third meeting of the Santa Clara River Study task force will be held during the first week of September. This meeting is designed as a workshop to be conducted by Merle Grimes, of The Greenway People. The community will be invited to participate in a day -long workshop format, which will encourage the exchange of ideas and the development of various alternatives for future river improvements to be reviewed by the consulting team. Gail Foy, Public Information Officer, will be working with the staff of the Parks. and Recreation Department to develop a public relations campaign to keep the community informed on the developments of the river study, and to encourage their involvement in the September workshop. The task force will continue to meet on the first Thursday of each month, until the completion of the study. The process is expected to take approximately seven months to complete. The fourth task force meeting, scheduled for October 4, 1990, will be- devoted to a discussion on Agenda hem: r City Manager Honorable Mayor City Council Santa Clara River Water and Recreation Features Study Page 2. geological and hydrological issues related to the river. The fifth task force meeting, scheduled for November 1, 1990, will discuss issues related to landscape architecture, recreation features for the river and an analysis of the alternatives developed in the September 6th meeting. The December 6th meeting, which will be the sixth time the task force meets together, will be devoted to presentations of alternative solutions to hydrological, geological and water quality issues developed in earlier meetings. A preliminary look at the master plan for the river, and the development of transportation/traffic planning solutions will also be explored at this meeting. The task force will begin to conclude its work at its January 17, 1991, meeting. Here the final recommendations of the consulting team for the river master plan and a briefing of all issues will -be presented to the task force for its input. once the final report has been accepted and refined, the consulting team will begin to make presentations to the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Planning Commission and the City Council. A list of the consulting team members and the task force members is attached for the City Council's information. The task force was very enthusiastic about the project, at their first meeting in June. They share a great deal of the excitement and enthusiasm which the City has for the future of the Santa Clara River as a major component in our community's recreation and open space plans. Several of the participants, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Los Angeles County Flood Control, are enthusiastic about the possibilities for the development of a local plan to guide development of the Santa Clara River in the future. It is their hope that the plan will result in the development of local standards for river development projects, flood control and habitat restoration. The limits of the study will concentrate on those portions of the Santa Clara River and its tributaries which are contained within the City limits of Santa Clarita. However, it is very apparent that the City of Santa Clarita will not be able to control and influence the development of the river within the City limits unless it receives the cooperation of land owners and regulatory agencies which control those portions of the river outside the City limits. This issue will be explored in depth during the river study process, and will be outlined in detail for the Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission and City Council. Staff will highlight the schedule for the Santa Clara River project, and review the issues and objectives developed by the committee thus far at the City Council Study Session. The City Council is encouraged to identify any priority issues and objectives which they wish to have addressed in the river study, so that staff can include this information in the river study process. Page 2. CITY OF SANTA CLARITA I N T E R O F F I C E M E M O R A N D U M TO: Ernie Hamilton, B.S.I. Consultants, Inc. FROM: Jeff Kolin, Director of Parks and Recreation DATE: June 25, 1990 SUBJECT: City Management Staff Brainstorming Session The City management staff had a brief, impromptu management brainstorming session on what they would like to see the Santa Clara River Study.and the River itself become. The following items were listed: - Coordinate design with County flood control. - Year-round water in the River. - Percolation of run-off water into water table. - Trail systems. - Preservation of stickleback. - Natural bottoms. - Bird -watching areas. - Canoeing, kayaking, sculling. - Limits or guidelines established for sediment transport. - Enhancement of wetland areas, including interpretive and interactive areas. - Restaurant/river front development. - Water taxis. - Parking. - Access by the public - Viewpoints. - Picnic areas. Page 3. City Staff Brainstorming Session June 25, 1990 Page 2. - Bridges to connect to the paseo system. - Resolution of the cowbird vs. the lise bell variel. - Fishing. - Nature centers. - Locate a water park adjacent to the River. - Transitional areas between development and the River. - Keep it looking natural. - Create nature sanctuaries. - Drought -tolerant on the east side of the River. - Kids play areas. - Bike paths. - Ideas on how to finance River improvements. - A schedule for developing the River improvements. - Ideas about how to gain community support for the River. - Themed landscaped developments. - Water sources. - Fitness trail. - Effluent water use for stream flow vs. irrigation. Page 4. RIVER STUDY ISSUES AND OBJECTIVES Alignment for 126. Floods every 10 to 12 years. - Protect the improvements that are made, so they aren't washed away. Interest in cultural and exhibition areas. Enhancement of ecological areas in concert with recreation improvements. - Be sensitive to environmental impacts (long and short term) of improvements. - Restore S.E.A. habitats and protect existing areas. Keep community involved and informed of goals. Therapeutic recreational aspects. Concern for children. Educational programs. Regional wildlife movement. Tie in the history of the area. Connect existing historical society facilities. Don't forget tributaries. Bow do we control/influence development/use up and downstream of project area? General plan and land use designations around river. Buffer areas between river and development. How will development take place on/adjacent to river? Impacts of drainage from tributaries. Avoidance of impacts.and mitigation measures. Develop and adopt river plan or ordinance. Sediment transport policy. Page 5. How will river plan relate to GPAC and General Plan? Finding - I.D. alternatives. Citizen survey to find out what they want in the plan. Earthquake faults -- seismic hazards. Impacts outside the study area. Different areas of the river should have different uses/themes. Encourage use. Recreational opportunities. - Balance of issues. - Balance amenities vs. cost of development and return to developers. Development credits or transfers as incentives to developers to preserve the river. Road; highway and bridge impacts. Water supply and availability. 2/3 of long-term water will come from state project. Santa Clara River contributes to aquifer. Protect ground water. Improve water recharge. - Reclaimed water study will provide information and resources. - Water orientation will help develop community theme/identity. Drought tolerant plants, gardens adjacent. - Re-establish wildlife corridors. Trail connections/Rim of the Valley. Trails as links to community resources. Bridges and roads must include trail connections. Develop standards for improvements, bridges, etc. - Look at entire watershed area. Page 6. Development can't encroach on river. Protect watershed and ground water quality. Ground water recharge is important. Page 7.