Mission Trail Nature Preserve Pedestrian Footbridge

ABSTRACT: At the January 8, 2008 City Council Meeting, the City Council accepted a $10,000 grant that was awarded by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. At the same City Council meeting, the Council also approved FY 2007-08 mid-year budget adjustments which included $5,000 City matching funds for this project to cover environmental review and permit fees. The project was scheduled for the spring of 2008; it was completed Sunday, 30 August 2009. The Agenda Item Summary and Resolution are reproduced.

Mission Trail Nature Preserve Pedestrian Footbridge
Doolittle Trail (east of Rio Road Entrance)

BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE MONTEREY PENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AND THE CITY OF CARMEL 2009

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA Seal
MONTEREY PENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT Seal

Preserving & Protecting Parks & Open Space
(Placard on Bridge, on left bridge post in photo)

CITY COUNCIL: $10,000 Grant from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District

CITY COUNCIL: $10,000 Grant from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District

Meeting Date: 8 January, 2008
Prepared by: Mike Branson

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Consideration of a Resolution accepting a $10,000 grant from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District (MPRPD) for construction of a new pedestrian footbridge in Mission Trail Nature Preserve (MTNP) and authorizing a transfer from the Capital Improvement Reserve until grant funds are reimbursed.

Description: The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea applied to the MPRPD in August of this year for a grant to construct a new pedestrian bridge in MTNP. The MPRPD has awarded a grant to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea in the amount of $10,000 for the new bridge.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: $5,000 (mid-year request for permits and foundation engineering)
Grant Funds: $10,000

Staff Recommendation: Accept the grant award of $10,000 from the MPRPD for a construction of new pedestrian footbridge in MTNP.

Important Considerations: The grant agreement between the City and the MPRPD and the grant guidelines are attached. The MPRPD grant is supported on a reimbursement level. A transfer from the Capital Improvement Reserve Account to a general fund account will allow the proper designation of project expenditures to support reimbursement requests. A map of MTNP with the proposed bridge location is also attached.

Decision Record: The MPRPD grant application was authorized by the City Council on their meeting of 7 August 2007 per Resolution 2007-51.

Reviewed by:

______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date


CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
RESOLUTION 2008-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA ACCEPTING A GRANT FROM THE MONTEREY PENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IN THE AMOUNT OF $10,000 FOR CONSTRUCTION OF A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE IN MISSION TRAIL NATURE PRESERVE AND AUTHORIZING A TRANSFER FROM THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT RESERVE UNTIL GRANT FUNDS ARE REIMBURSED
__________________________________________________________________

WHEREAS, the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District is awarding grants for parks, open space, and coastal preservation projects within its boundaries; and

WHEREAS, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea applied for a grant to construct a pedestrian bridge in Mission Trail Nature Preserve; and

WHEREAS, the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District has awarded a grant to the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea in the amount of $10,000 for construction of a pedestrian bridge in Mission Trail Nature Preserve; and

WHEREAS, the grant is paid on a reimbursement basis and a transfer of $10,000 from the Capital Improvement Reserve to a project account will allow proper designation of expenses to support reimbursement requests.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA DOES:

1. Accept the grant of $10,000 from the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District for construction of a pedestrian bridge in Mission Trail Nature Preserve.

2. Authorize the City Administrator to enter a grant agreement between the City of
Carmel-by-the-Sea and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District.

3. Authorize a transfer of $10,000 from the Capital Improvement Reserve Account to general fund account 01-87601 designated for the grant project.

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA this 8th day of January 2008, by the following roll call vote:

AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:

SIGNED,

________________________________
Heidi Burch, City Clerk

ATTEST:

___________________________
Sue McCloud, Mayor

Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District's PALO CORONA REGIONAL PARK

 
Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District's
Palo Corona Regional Park
View from Inspiration Point; views of the Carmel River, Carmel River State Beach, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Pescadero Point and beyond. 
MONTEREY PENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT’S
PALO CORONA REGIONAL PARK

“Preserving & Protecting Parks & Open Space”

http://www.mprpd.org/parks/palocorona.htm or click on the post title above.

Interesting Facts about Palo Corona Regional Park, as follows:

• One of the Central California Coast’s “most significant undeveloped open spaces.”

• Acquisition of the 10,000 acre Palo Corona Ranch represents the “largest land conservation project in Monterey County history.” Acquired through a partnership between Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, The Nature Conservancy, The Big Sur Land Trust and the State of California; finalized in 2004.

• The State Department of Fish & Game and The Park District will protect the 10,000 acres as “public conservation and parkland in perpetuity.” The State Department of Fish & Game added the southern 5,500 acres to its existing 640 acre Joshua Creek Ecological Preserve and the Park District created the Palo Corona Regional Park from the northern 4,350 acres.

• Palo Corona Regional Park is a “critical environmental link in a protected 70 mile wild land corridor;” almost 7 miles long and 4,300 acres of “rugged, spectacular country.”

• The park protects significant habitat areas for diverse species of wildlife, including deer, mountain lion, bobcat, golden eagle, California condor, mountain quail, horned larks, coastal trout, red-legged frog, tiger salamander and endangered species, including the Smith’s blue butterfly. And there are over 500 species of plants, including “some of the highest numbers of individual grass and wildflower species found anywhere along California’s central coast.”

Public Access to Palo Corona Regional Park:
Presently, public access is limited to the main road that leads to Inspiration Point and Animus Pond. This is a distance of over 2 miles from the park entrance gate. All other areas are closed to public access.

Importantly, due to the lack of available parking, only 13 access permits per day will be issued. For Access Permit, click on post title above and scroll down to PARK RULES, click on Access Permit; allow 48 hours to process permit.

Destinations:
INSPIRATION POINT
(1.3 miles, 850 ft. elevation climb)
Spectacular views of Carmel-by-the-Sea, Carmel Point, Pebble Beach, Carmel Valley, the Carmel River, Pt. Lobos et cetera.

ANIMAS POND
(0.6 mile from Inspiration Point)
This time of year Animas Pond was nearly dry; the hike from Inspiration Point to Animas Pond was downhill and shady, a respite from the 850 ft. elevation climb to Inspiration Point.

NOTES: The Access Permit includes a Parking Permit #, Valid Date, instructions on gaining entrance, i.e., Entrance Gate Lock Combination, and other important information. Once through the Entrance Gate, there is a Visitor Sign In area; a clipboard requesting number of individuals in your party, date, and whether it is your first visit or repeated visit to the Park. Along Palo Corona Trail, there is a Barn and Corrals, then the steep ascent to Inspiration Point; there are two picnic tables at Inspiration Point. And then downhill to Animas Pond. Roundtrip hike approximately 2-3 hours.

On Thursday, 30 November 2006, visitors to Palo Corona Regional Park were treated to citings of a coyote, a flock of blue birds, a hawk and witnessed beautiful unspoiled wetlands, grasslands and forested areas. Quite a remarkable experience this close to Carmel-by-the-Sea. Highly Recommended.

For those not interested in a strenuous hike, there is a hike along flat ground from the Park Entrance Gate along Palo Corona Trail, past the Barn and Corrals and then a left fork in the trail on River Trail to a closed gate and closed area; less than 2 miles roundtrip.