DATE: December 1, 2015
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Development Services Director
SUBJECT
Title
Adopt a Resolution of Intention to Execute Renewal of a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) for Another Five Years through December 31 of 2021 for the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (HASPA)
End
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
That Council adopts the attached resolution (Attachment I) renewing the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement for the Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (Attachment II).
Body
SUMMARY
On October 22, 2015, the HASPA Board of Trustees unanimously voted to recommend extending for another five years the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) between the City of Hayward, the East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) and the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD), with the main goal of addressing sea level rise along the Hayward Shoreline. The HASPA Board’s focus on sea level rise aligns with a Hayward General Plan Implementation Program that calls for the development of a Shore Realignment Master Plan, which would entail a comprehensive analysis of sea level rise impacts, along with programs and projects to respond to such impacts.
BACKGROUND
On May 19, 2015, City Council authorized a six-month continuance of Hayward Area Shoreline Planning Agency (HASPA) until the end of 2015. This short extension of the JPA allowed for discussion among the EBRPD and HARD General Managers and Hayward’s City Manager to assess the desirability of continuing HASPA. After such communication between the park district General Managers and Hayward’s City Manager, it was agreed that HASPA should continue, with sea level rise to be the focus of the JPA for next five-year cycle. General Plan Implementation Program Haz-4.3 calls for a Shore Realignment Master Plan to be drafted in coordination with HASPA, the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) and other agencies involved with the Adapting to Rising Tides project.
On October 22, 2015, the HASPA Board of Trustees unanimously voted to extend the JPA for another five years with the express goal of addressing sea level rise. The Trustees also voted to sunset the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) in favor of a more robust Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). An expanded TAC could include involvement from federal, state and special district agencies to assist the group with various aspects of sea level rise planning and development of a Shore Realignment Master Plan
At the October 22 HASPA meeting, each Trustee also encouraged CAC members to stay involved and engaged with HASPA, even though members would no longer officially be part of the formal HASPA structure. It was stressed by Trustees that all meetings are public meetings and the CAC’s valuable knowledge of the shoreline and HASPA’s past efforts could prove helpful to the new sea level rise focus.
It is also important to note that HASPA will still have an active role in reviewing and commenting on development projects that could impact the Shoreline area, though such review will be subordinate to the central sea level rise mission.
DISCUSSION
The HASPA Board of Trustees is composed of three members, one from each participating agency. The current Board consists of Councilmember Al Mendall, HARD Board member Minane Jameson, and EBRPD Board member Dennis Waespi. Mr. Mendall serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees, as elected by the Board.
In keeping with the traditional rotation of official duties and administrative responsibilities among member agencies, the City of Hayward representative will serve as Chair of the Board of Trustees (mentioned above) and City of Hayward staff will provide administrative support for the next five years. The City of Hayward served in this capacity from 2000 to 2005 and has assumed responsibility for these duties from 2016 through 2021, providing the agreement is again renewed by all three member agencies.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Hayward is a desirable place to live and enjoy in part because of the existence of natural resources/settings, including the Hayward Shoreline. The activities of HASPA will continue to help ensure that the Shoreline remains protected and accessible, and education of the value of the Shoreline occurs. The Shoreline is a local asset that has a positive impact on the local economy by attracting hikers, bird watchers, industrial area workers/companies, and cyclists.
FISCAL IMPACT
Support provided by Planning Division staff to HASPA is budgeted within the Planning Division’s Advanced Planning section. It is estimated that Planning Division staff spends approximately 60 hours per year supporting HASPA quarterly meetings and activities.
The new mission of addressing sea level rise through development and implementation of a Shore Realignment Master Plan will require future financial resources. In the near term, the TAC will be working to identify funding sources and developing a framework for producing a Shore Realignment Master Plan. Staff estimates development of the Master Plan, including any necessary environmental analysis, could cost from $350,000 to $400,000. It’s anticipated that grant funding would pay for a portion or all of the Master Plan work. Once grant funding for the project becomes available, staff will be pursuing such funding opportunities. Also, once a project outline has been developed and financial needs have been verified, this information will be shared with Trustees for their review and consideration at a future Board meeting, which may lead to future recommendations of some financial support (matching funds for grant requests) from the three involved HASPA agencies.
PUBLIC CONTACT
The need to renew the HASPA JPA was discussed at the regular HASPA meetings on January 22, 2015, April 23, 2015, and October 22, 2015. All HASPA meetings are open to and attended by the public.
NEXT STEPS
Staff will have the executed agreement forwarded to HARD and EBRPD for signatures.
Prepared by: Damon Golubics, Senior Planner
Staff contact
Recommended by: David Rizk, AICP, Development Services Director
end
Approved by:
Fran David, City Manager
Attachments:
|
Attachment I |
Resolution to Execute JPA |
|
Attachment II |
HASPA Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement |
|
|
|