Earlier this year, the City celebrated the opening of 2.7 miles of the San Francisco Bay Trail between Sunnyvale Baylands Park and the City's Water Pollution Control Plant (RTC 99-293). This report recommends that the City now enter into a Land Use Agreement with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company which would enable the City to extend that portion of the San Francisco Bay Trail an additional three-quarters of a mile to the west of the Water Pollution Control Plant (please see Attachment A – Map Depicting Sunnyvale’s Portion of Bay Trail).

The attached Agreement is enabling, not mandatory, in nature. In other words, it would not require the City to open the described .75 mile section of trail--rather, it would allow the City to open the trail section if and when it was prepared to do so. The attached Agreement would hold the City responsible for both the capital and operating expenses associated with opening the trail to the public, yet this report requests no funding from City Council. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company has already made a generous donation of $15,000 to the project, and staff intends to raise as much as possible of the remaining capital monies required by pursuing grants. If additional funding is required, staff will return to Council for its future consideration. The Department of Parks and Recreation’s Parks Division would absorb on-going operating costs.

Staff recommends that Council authorize the City Manager to execute the attached License Agreement for San Francisco Bay Trail (please see Attachment B). This report further recommends that Council authorize submission of a grant application to the Association of Bay Area Governments for related trail construction; acceptance of such a grant if awarded; execution of the grant contract and related documents; and designation of the Director of Parks and Recreation as the agency’s authorized representative in related matters.

It should be noted that this matter has not been reviewed by the Parks and Recreation Commission due to deadlines for filing the referenced grant application. However, various action by the Parks and Recreation Commission clearly demonstrate its support of and advocacy for furthering the development of the San Francisco Bay Trail.

The San Francisco Bay Trail is a multi-use trail envisioned to surround the San Francisco Bay (please see Attachment C – Map of Proposed 400 Mile Bay Trail).

In 1992, City Council approved Open Space Sub-Element Action Statement C.3.d.: Participate in the planning and development of the Regional San Francisco Bay Trail to ensure access from Sunnyvale Baylands Park.

On November 26, 1996, Council authorized staff to pursue an open space agreement with the Santa Clara Valley Water District for development and maintenance of a 2.7 mile trail segment within the city limits of Sunnyvale (RTC 96-463). That agreement, together with grant funding from the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) and a separate land use agreement with Cargill Salt, allowed the City to open and dedicate that particular portion of the Bay Trail on July 1, 1999.

Since that date, staff has been working closely with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space to develop the terms of a land use agreement which would extend the San Francisco Bay Trail three-quarters of a mile further west of the Water Pollution Control Plant.

Development of this portion of the San Francisco Bay Trail would provide considerable benefit to the City. In an era when little open space remains, development of trail segments offers additional recreational opportunities, further enhanced when trails are connected to other facilities and trail segments. This trail would essentially expand the length of the City’s portion of the San Francisco Bay Trail, increasing opportunities for outdoor recreation and exercise. Employees from many companies currently use the Bay Trail for noon-time relaxation and weekend outings. Located in the center of commercial properties, the trail would also provide a bicycle transportation corridor.

Under the proposed agreement, levees would be maintained to their current standards, and the City is not suggesting any grading or paving of this trail segment. Minimal trail development will enable operating costs to remain low while providing a more authentic bay edge experience for visitors and reducing disturbance to the existing habitat.

By entering into this partnership with Lockheed, the City hopes to leverage outside resources and obtain funds for trail amenities such as fencing, directional and interpretive signage and waste containers.

There are no fiscal impacts associated with this report. Capital costs of opening this section of trail are estimated at less than $100,000. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company has donated $15,000 toward these costs, and the City hopes to secure grant funding to cover the remaining capital costs. The City’s Parks Division would absorb operational costs estimated at $10,000 per mile.

Notice of this report was published as an item for public hearing for the January 25, 2000, meeting of the Sunnyvale City Council and copies of this report have been provided to the Parks and Recreation Commission, Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Company, and Association of Bay Area Governments.

Staff recommends Alternative 1 and 2.

Prepared by:

Robert A. Walker, Director
Parks and Recreation

Approved by:

Robert S. LaSala
City Manager