[0:09] Perfect. Well, welcome. And we'd like to call to

[0:13] order with the roll call, please, if you don't mind, Tony.

[0:17] » Yep. Absolutely. So, we'll start with Chair Charlie Harrington,

[0:21] » present. >> Vice Chair Nick Markman,

[0:23] » present. >> Committee member Wayne Stacy,

[0:27] » present. Committee member John Sherm present and um committee member Ma

[0:34] Burksund has uh excused herself and we also have council leaison Jane Cooper

[0:39] » present. >> Thank you Tony. Okay. Um we're going to

[0:44] do a slight reshuffle of the agenda. We'd like to move uh what is item number

[0:51] five to be the next immediate item. So, it'll happen next and that is the

[0:55] updates by the lane subcommittee on the report to city council on the Beach Road

[0:59] Strip. Um, great. Do I need to ask for anything

[1:06] permission for that? No, that's fine. >> No. Um, I think it in my uh Yeah, you

[1:13] you're bringing it forward is is the way to do it.

[1:15] » Okay, great. Um well I don't have much of an update on this largely because uh

[1:21] the timing of our meetings as everyone knows we meet rather infrequently um

[1:25] which I want to discuss later. Um but there was a previous city council

[1:29] meeting um where it came up where the lane subcommittee of this very committee

[1:35] would be providing a survey and report to city staff and city council

[1:40] specifically on the revocable licenses associated with the strip. Um parks,

[1:45] open spaces and lanes um responsible for stewardship of parks, open spaces of

[1:50] lanes of which the strip being designated as a park is one of those

[1:53] things. Um when we met with city council, we believed uh we stated that

[1:57] we would be coordinating with the planning department in terms of

[2:01] receiving materials. So the update we have um on this is that we stated we

[2:06] would not be active on this during the summer other than setting up the

[2:09] document exchange which has taken place. So we wanted to say thank you to Rebecca

[2:12] and Sammy as well as Jane for your help in gathering the records. Um we have

[2:17] received a number of recorded revocable licenses, staff reports, drawings,

[2:21] photos, meeting minutes. Uh these are all provided securely to the

[2:25] subcommittee. Um MA shares that she's started to review those and the plan is

[2:30] that we are going to create similar to the lane survey last year a little

[2:34] tracker document where we can look into all of those and provide updates and um

[2:38] you know again the framing for this was to provide an asset to city staff and

[2:42] city council when looking at these things uh because they do come up time

[2:46] to time. Um when the survey draft is completed, I would I believe we'll

[2:51] hopefully target um you know early fall, we will be

[2:55] sharing it with this committee and sharing it with uh you Tony and city

[2:59] staff. So that's mainly the update I have on that topic. Jane,

[3:03] » can I ask a question just for clarification for myself and everybody

[3:07] here? Uh when you say that this committee is looking at all revocable

[3:13] licenses, are you talking about ones that are the lanes and in public space

[3:19] or are you saying this committee is looking at all private revocable

[3:24] licenses? So, um, if you own a home and your, uh, pier goes down

[3:34] to the water and there's a revocable license,

[3:37] but it's not a lane. >> Are are we looking at private revocable

[3:43] licenses? I I don't know that I have the exact distinction you have in mind, but

[3:47] the the lanes you can think about as one component of what this uh survey is

[3:52] looking at and then the recreation zone designated as the strip of which some of

[3:57] those peers and and uh docks may be cutting across that's also in

[4:01] consideration. So, okay, >> I think the goal is to sort of work down

[4:05] that entire stretch that is designated as um park.

[4:10] uh and I don't have the exact list of documents we've received, right,

[4:14] » from uh the planning department. I expect there may be some additional

[4:17] documents that we need to request as we start to look into that.

[4:20] » Do you have any any guidance in that regard? No, I mean I think you know I

[4:25] think we have to be careful if we're looking at private ownership versus okay

[4:30] » when it's on a lane which we've been running into where the lanes uh an

[4:35] individual home has a revocable license on the lane itself and it hasn't been

[4:42] kept up and I think that's how so that access for the public

[4:47] » but certainly these other ones are not public access They're privately owned

[4:53] except for going under, >> right?

[4:55] » Anything go walking under, but other than that, I I would not know where our

[5:02] influence would come. >> Yeah, I the main guidance was in in

[5:07] terms of what is impacting public access, whether it's on a lane or on the

[5:11] navigable area along the strip. But I >> yeah just to to jump in to provide a bit

[5:17] of context um from the council's perspective um I believe that this is uh

[5:24] part of their discussion on RL's uh in in general and um their sort of

[5:30] protocols on how they um how they manage their RL um approval decisions. Um so

[5:36] this is uh input into into that um deliberation for them. Um the um

[5:44] conversation I had with with the city manager um was that really the the value

[5:48] that the uh that this committee can provide is um kind of digging into

[5:53] details and um discussing with with staff how to um present those to council

[5:59] and how they can be of value to to council um to the city council with

[6:04] their uh with their work. Um yeah and and and apart from that I think um I

[6:10] don't think there are any specific action items um that will you know that

[6:14] are that are lined up for this. Um I think any of the you know if if there

[6:18] are any issues that are that are found and and you know highlighted um you know

[6:23] the city's position is not to um to to to police um actions that you know or

[6:29] activities that have happened you know over over many many years. Um so um

[6:35] yeah, I think um it's it's a work in in progress and I think it's something that

[6:40] um will be continually coordinated with staff and uh and certain council

[6:45] members. >> Thanks for that context. And you know

[6:48] again this falls within the um responsibilities of this committee to

[6:52] provide these surveys and and I might even call them acts of acts of service

[6:56] to help city council with that periodically as requested. So thank you

[6:59] for that context. Does the committee have any comments or

[7:03] questions on this item?

[7:07] » The my understanding is that section of the island is half recreational, half

[7:12] open space. Are we only covering the recreational portion?

[7:17] » Uh the remitt as I understand is to cover both recreation and open space.

[7:22] » Thank you.

[7:27] Is there any public comment on Zoom relating to this item?

[7:36] » Fair enough. >> Okay. Is there any public comment in the

[7:38] in the room on this item? >> Yes. Please step forward and if you

[7:44] don't mind stating your name and your address and uh also pressing the button

[7:48] so your mic turns green. That was a lot of instructions. I'm

[7:52] sorry. I can repeat them. and I've got it green. Um Albert

[7:57] Richards, I'm at 266 Beach Road. Uh Jane, you mentioned uh kind of in the

[8:03] preamble as we were in our discussions that uh building isn't allowed on the

[8:08] strip. Um that's a subject of debate. Uh, and I think I've seen in past uh um

[8:19] planning approvals a reference to an 1898 deed that says no structures are

[8:26] permitted on the strip. That begs the legal question of what is a structure

[8:32] and how was that defined in 1898 in that document which is unclear. The document

[8:38] itself is between the Belvadier land company and Belvadier. The land company

[8:44] still exists. We have an opportunity to clarify that such that it becomes

[8:51] something that does not become the subject of multiple lawsuits in the

[8:55] future. And I would take it I would strongly advise the city to engage uh

[9:01] with the land company to make that as flexible as possible such that we don't

[9:07] use that document in a backhanded manner to create someone's own definition of

[9:14] structure in order to back into a preferred solution and instead have it

[9:20] be as flexible as possible going forward such that the city has the remit to uh

[9:27] use the strip as it sees fit. Uh one of the dangers there is right now is if

[9:33] there's a failure uh and there is let's say a walkway that

[9:39] goes across is that a structure? Um and if somebody wants to put a walkway or a

[9:45] platform, is that a structure? And if they already exist and the city decides

[9:49] that that is a structure, the city is basically taking the legal view that the

[9:54] strip has already reverted to Belvadier land because Belveter land the deed says

[9:59] if there's a structure on the strip, it reverts to Belvader land ownership.

[10:04] Uh so if you're in a situation that if there's a failure below somebody's house

[10:10] and uh then you have two different parties that can potentially uh uh be

[10:15] actioned. One is the city because it owns or two is the Belvader Land Company

[10:20] because someone can claim that the land has actually already reverted to

[10:24] Belvader Land Company because of that deed. And that is just an incredible

[10:29] legal clagmire that I would strongly encourage the city to have a rational

[10:35] conversation with Belvadier Land, get a nice flexible arrangement uh that we can

[10:42] move forward as a city for the benefit of the overall community.

[10:46] Certainly from a uh existing standpoint and from a uh

[10:53] what's essentially the the pattern and practice of the city has

[10:58] been to deem a walkway or a platform or something like that not a structure

[11:03] because you've approved it a lot in the past, most recently at our neighbors.

[11:08] And I would be more than happy to have people come down and take a look at

[11:12] what's going on down there. Uh we have a stairway that goes all the way down uh

[11:16] even though the lane next to us does not. Um which is a subject of a

[11:20] different discussion. Uh but uh I I I think if you know it it one

[11:26] of one of the things that concerns me is in the past it appears as though people

[11:32] have been making decisions about that area who have never visited it. And uh

[11:37] again open invitation to come take a look. uh and uh uh I would I would

[11:44] encourage us to have a rational conversation about what works best for

[11:48] the entire community as we go forward.

[11:52] » Thank you. >> Yes, chair.

[11:55] » Do you remember the instructions? >> Well, fortunately, it's still green.

[11:59] » Uh yeah, and sorry, Tony, >> if I if I could just jump in to say um

[12:03] there is uh and I should have said this in the beginning, but um we don't

[12:06] normally have we're not normally this popular. Um if um there is usually a

[12:12] time limit for for comment which is 3 minutes. Y

[12:16] » okay >> I will abide by the additional

[12:19] instruction. >> Um two points regarding

[12:23] » sorry your name and your address 222 beach road.

[12:27] » Thank you. >> So uh two points regarding um building

[12:31] on the strip. One is um the house at 228 Beach Road, which the Murray's currently

[12:37] own, was developed by the Tevises, who were the original owner, some of the

[12:43] original owners of the Belvadier Land Company. And you can find in the um

[12:48] historical records the massive staircase that they built on the hill when the

[12:53] hill was bare that goes over the strip to the water. They are the people that

[12:58] deeded the strip to the city. So why would they do something that thought was

[13:05] bad? There's a little um discontinuity there. The second thing I would say

[13:10] regarding structure is that left to its own devices, the strip will naturally

[13:16] fall into the water. It is to the benefit of the city to

[13:22] allow people to put walkways and other structures and I would say even plants

[13:28] on the strip to maintain the integrity of the hill.

[13:32] » That's it. >> Thank you.

[14:16] I'm sorry. Is Am I up?

[14:22] » Not sure if you heard Chris there, but we can hear you now, Mark.

[14:25] » Oh, I'm sorry. Um, well, um, I I appreciate the prior comments. Mark

[14:31] Conroe, 310 Beach Road. Um, I I'm my question, I guess, very fundamentally,

[14:38] is what problem are we trying to solve? uh it seems like it's uh pedestrian

[14:44] beach access and sort of ir irrespective of where the strip begins and ends. If

[14:50] that's the goal, then I think we should be trying to achieve that goal. Uh and I

[14:55] would echo what Bird says is to come out there to uh have uh anybody who wants

[15:02] two parks and wreck and others to come out there and see what kind of beach

[15:05] access there is both under various conditions. under high tide there is

[15:10] really no beach access because the water comes up to the hillside and and uh as

[15:16] members of the parks and reccks know four months ago I met with them and

[15:19] trying to facilitate a solution. I think we came up with a solution as it relates

[15:22] to 310 and 312 beach road in terms of having access at

[15:28] relative high tide. Um but there is in some parts of the strip you can't get by

[15:34] certainly at high tide. Um, so again, I would just h have us try to focus on uh

[15:40] what problem we're trying to solve. If it's from pedestrian access along the

[15:44] beach, then I think we we can all uh try to work together and achieve that.

[15:51] That's all.

[15:55] Thank you, Mark.

[16:00] U I I may respond directly to Mark. Mark. Um I was among the group of people

[16:05] that went with Mark and others and uh there were city staff and Mika and

[16:09] others went down and visited the spot where Mark pointed out and um I'll also

[16:13] state that I tried I do personally try to go down to the strip as much as

[16:15] possible. Even this past weekend I jumped in at the beach and was swimming

[16:18] with my kids which was a delight. Um uh one of the things I was going to bring

[16:23] up in my um next comments was relating to another responsibility of this

[16:30] committee which is to be involved in planning um commission uh responses to

[16:36] things that are adjacent to parks, open spaces and lanes. Um I would first like

[16:41] to say thank you to the planning department for being um very proactive

[16:45] in providing us with these materials and I think the relationship there is uh

[16:48] really solid in terms of alerting to us when there is a development along a lane

[16:52] or related to a park. So I think that that's going well and it's often um it's

[16:58] often on the responsibility of the chair to review these because this committee

[17:02] does not meet so frequently. So, um they're representing um you know the

[17:06] stated objectives of park open space which is to effectively steward the

[17:10] recreational zones, parks, open spaces and lanes of which the lanes often come

[17:14] up into these considerations as does the strip. And some of the things that we do

[17:18] look

[19:14] for stewarding these these areas. So I think there's been lots of useful uh

[19:18] discussion today that'll be really helpful for that. So thank you.

[19:22] » Can I get clarification? Are you seeking comment on project?

[19:27] » Uh not at this meeting. I'm more saying that I'll be working on uh collaborating

[19:31] on a parks open spaces lanes comment on that project.

[19:36] I would love to have public input if you if you don't mind.

[19:43] » Yes. Thank you. >> Just a quick comment from a neighbor.

[19:48] Anything that helps support the hillside, any peers that keep it from

[19:52] sliding down, that is a huge public benefit. You mentioned public benefits.

[19:56] If that's what you're looking for, it's a great project.

[19:58] » I appreciate it. Thank you. And I'll just also round up by saying

[20:03] that um if anybody has any questions, they're welcome to contact staff and um

[20:08] uh you know we can provide updates or let people know where uh where the city

[20:14] is on it. >> Great. And I you know again thank you to

[20:18] this committee for ongoing work in like the working on um protecting and and

[20:24] beautifying these areas. So thank you. I think that covers this item which was

[20:29] item number five. With that um we can move to item number two which is

[20:34] comments from the chair of which I have none. Um so let's move on to a report

[20:40] from public works director Tony Boyd.

[20:46] Thank you Chair Charlie.

[20:51] As we all know, we had late rains this year and we received a flush of growth

[20:55] in vegetation and weeds and the city's contractor is continuing trimming of

[21:00] vegetation along roadsides and lanes. Uh this is primarily for fire fuel

[21:04] reduction and additional fire fuel work is planned for the city's open space

[21:08] properties on West Shore, which will consist primarily of removal of dead

[21:13] vegetation and debris. Um and Pagota Lane, where overgrowth of ivy and weeds

[21:18] has created a thicket. This work will improve the views from Pagod Lane as

[21:23] well as the health of the trees, but it will likely require consistent

[21:26] additional maintenance over the next couple of years to really improve the

[21:29] site until routine fire fuel reduction maintenance is established.

[21:34] Artists View was trimmed a couple of weeks ago uh in what is now annual fire

[21:38] fuel reduction work on that property. Speaking of artists view, I can provide

[21:44] the update that structural engineering design work is complete and the RFP

[21:49] packet has been put together uh to post the artist view deck project um for

[21:55] bidding. Um look out for the posting on uh Friday in the Marin INJ and um it'll

[22:02] be on in our usual online channels. The deadline for bids is July the 30th,

[22:07] after which a contractor will be selected and provided with a notice to

[22:11] proceed. Staff anticipates this project to be completed in the fall.

[22:18] The city's crew has been very busy every Tuesday since the end of June with the

[22:22] curbside pickup program. This program encourages residents to clear fire fuel

[22:26] vegetation from their property by offering a free pickup on Tuesdays

[22:30] through June. And this year was a very big year as many residents clearly took

[22:35] advantage of the program. As summer starts to warm up, irrigation

[22:40] becomes critical in the parks, especially where turf is concerned.

[22:46] Alberto and his crew have been working on issues with the system at Tom Price

[22:50] Park, which has led to dry areas in the grass. The trouble appears to stem from

[22:55] the manganese deposits that have built up over the years on the inside of the

[22:58] pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads. The new manganese filter that was installed

[23:03] last year has improved water quality. However, the residual deposits remain. A

[23:08] mini project to replace 19 valves is planned for the next few weeks which

[23:12] will hopefully address this issue as well as improve the functioning of the

[23:16] system as a whole. And uh those are my comments and if

[23:22] anyone has any questions they're welcome to ask.

[23:29] May we have an update on the removal of the playground mounds,

[23:36] which I I believe is done. >> Yes. Um well, it's partly done. Um some

[23:40] of the mounds have been removed. Um and but I can hand it over to Chris for that

[23:44] update. >> Yes. Just a quick update on the mound

[23:48] removal. So the tan mounds have been removed. As you probably have seen,

[23:53] there's a remaining wave themed mound near the tan mounds that will be

[23:57] removed. um in the next week or so. Um that's just kind of been rescheduled

[24:03] just due to make sure the coloring is consistent with what is existing and

[24:08] that it's more aesthetically pleasing. Doesn't look like a repair. That's more

[24:12] of a a a themed um wave. So that's the update. So in the next um let's see the

[24:20] eth probably by within the next two weeks it'll be removed and replaced.

[24:24] Thank you Chris.

[24:27] question.

[24:35] » Are there any comments on staff report from Zoom? Chris,

[24:44] » there are no comments. >> Are there any comments from the room on

[24:49] staff report? Okay, we can move on. Okay, we're into

[24:54] schedule items. Number four is the update and discussion on lanes.

[24:59] Tony, I believe you gave some degree of update of this in your report, but do

[25:02] you have anything to add for item A? >> Yeah. Uh, yes, I can add a couple of

[25:08] details um related to maintenance and repairs. Um, there has been tree work

[25:13] that's taken place and some handrail repairs. Tree work was completed at Park

[25:17] Lane to improve the views from the new seating area. Um and I can report that I

[25:22] visited the site with council leaison Jane Cooper uh to discuss further

[25:26] improvements um and uh enhance that view uh further.

[25:32] Um more to come on that tree work is also was also done at the bottom of

[25:36] Hawthorne Lane or Centennial Park uh to thin the overgrown vegetation, remove a

[25:42] plum tree and cut back two plum trees where their branches uh were overhanging

[25:47] the pathway. Um

[25:50] and yeah, next in line will be Pagota Lane,

[25:55] uh where extensive work is needed for, uh as I mentioned, both fire fuel

[25:59] reduction and general maintenance. Um and then trimming around street lights

[26:03] at lane entrances. And I will report back on these at the next meeting. And I

[26:09] will hand over to Chris for an update on the handrail repairs as well as

[26:12] improvements to the park lane seating area.

[26:17] Yeah, quick update on the hand railway pairs. So, we've completed all those on

[26:21] MLAN Lane except for the ones on I think we discussed this last meeting on top of

[26:25] near beiew. So, we're still kind of scoping out how to approach that one

[26:30] because the fire hydrant we can't put the railing on the new metal railing on

[26:34] that side. There's an existing wood with private improvements, lighting, water

[26:39] fixtures. So, that that's still being scoped out.

[26:43] best way to install that. Whether it's to replace it in wood and kind or to put

[26:48] a metal railing there and then engage with the neighbor how to relocate those

[26:55] utilities.

[27:00] » All right. >> And Chris, you have an update on the um

[27:03] park lane seating area? >> Yes, I do. So, I heard back from the

[27:08] contractor today, the bench brackets, they have to be fabricated. It's

[27:13] customized because the how it bends down the lip a little bit. So, right now

[27:17] those are in the shop getting galvanized for protective coating. Um, so those

[27:22] will be expected to be done next Thursday

[27:25] and then once they get those back they can begin with the bench install. So,

[27:29] I'm anticipating the following Monday, July 20th. Hopefully, they can get

[27:35] started on that and then it shouldn't be too labor intensive to install that.

[27:39] They said a week, so maybe a week or two to get that done. So hopefully by the

[27:44] end of July, beginning of August, they can have that installed.

[27:48] » Thank you. Well, I had a comment on um the

[27:52] maintenance and repairs on Pigota. Are you able to describe the the scope

[27:58] of what the work is? Because I know when you're sitting on that bench, there's a

[28:02] fair degree of overgrowth that's preventing what could be a rather nice

[28:05] view. So, um are you able to describe the plan? Yeah.

[28:09] » Um, yes. And without um being there or having a picture, it's a little tricky,

[28:15] but basically there's uh there's a lot of ivy uh that's growing up among the

[28:20] trees and um just, you know, blocking uh a lot of light to the trees. So that the

[28:26] health of the trees is suffering. One of the trees may need to be removed um

[28:30] because um it only has um foliage at the very tips of its branches uh with no

[28:37] internal um uh branch structure. Um um and that's a process that we would

[28:43] need to we will need to go through with uh the planning department uh to remove

[28:47] a tree. Um but the majority of the work is removing dead branches, thinning the

[28:53] trees, uh removing brushy vegetation and ivy uh from the trees. Um there's one um

[29:00] uh area below pagod lane as you as you walk up from beach road um as you're

[29:06] sort of walking up the hill on the right hand side there's some there's some

[29:09] vegetation out there. There's actually a dead tree over there that's kind of

[29:12] hanging over the road. Um and yeah, so that's that's going to be removed. Um,

[29:17] and yeah, I mean, apart from that, it's it's thinning and um and removing some

[29:22] of the the um uh scotch broom and some of the weedy weedy material on the site.

[29:30] » Great. It could be useful to do it before and after from se sitting at the

[29:33] bench. Um >> Yeah. Okay.

[29:36] » Yeah, that's that's a great idea. Yeah. And and one one concern, you know,

[29:41] speaking to Bartlett out there, uh, who who will be doing the work, um, is that,

[29:47] you know, it's going to leave a lot of bare soil. Um, and, um, that it's not

[29:53] going to look great. Um, at least initially, uh, there's going to need to

[29:56] be some some sort of growing back by some of the vegetation, and that's where

[30:01] a couple of years of of of work comes in. Um, so this is really a a sort of a

[30:06] three or four year project to to make it a little bit more groomed. Um, and even

[30:11] though it's a natural uh landscape, it does need work uh to to uh to be

[30:16] maintained.

[30:20] » Maybe we'll go through items A and B. Does the committee have any comments or

[30:23] questions on items A and B from this section?

[30:28] Did we decide not to proceed with any further landscaping on parkland? Uh

[30:31] mulch or stuff on the side that was part of the original plan

[30:35] mostly my concern is just stabilization but I curious

[30:42] » we did not reach a decision. I don't I don't think I think um mulch I think um

[30:48] aesthetically would be uh would be a good idea. Um

[30:54] and I think um I think there are quite a few things that we can do um to improve

[31:00] improve that site. Um and I think

[31:05] now that we've moved away from that that area as a project area and as a general

[31:10] maintenance area, I think um you know general maintenance funding would be uh

[31:14] probably the best way to do that. um just have smaller maintenance projects

[31:18] out there that um you know cumul cumulatively improve improve the site.

[31:23] Um and I know that that you um uh you know that uh we had a couple of emails

[31:29] back and forth about about that site some of the details there. So I'm happy

[31:33] to to continue that and and pick up where we left off.

[31:37] » Yeah. Then maybe it go I mean if we're doing kind of more view stuff maybe it

[31:41] kind of all gets wrapped into one just a just overall plan versus um kind of bare

[31:46] dirt at this point. >> Yeah. Happy happy to give some thoughts

[31:49] next time I next Thursday when I sit down on the nice new bench I'll ponder

[31:52] it.

[31:56] » Any other comments from the committee council member? Okay. Anyone on Zoom

[32:01] want to comment on item 4 A or 4B? No comments from Zoom.

[32:07] » Any comments from the room? Okay, let's go on to item 4C, which is the lane

[32:12] subcommittee update, which largely has uh become the survey subcommittee. So, I

[32:17] gave a brief update on um the expansion of that. Um, we originally had talked

[32:22] about earlier in our plan for this year in our letter to city council that we

[32:26] were going to be expanding our lane survey which we provided to city staff

[32:30] la last year to inform development of improvement of lanes as well as

[32:35] maintenance. And Tony, you you've acknowledged uh the utility of that

[32:38] already. We're going to be expanding that to cover open spaces and parks and

[32:42] recreation space. Um, with the ask uh to focus on the strip area first. that's

[32:48] pushed that um to the sort of first part of our priority in terms of getting the

[32:52] survey done. Um but we're also still we've built the tracker out for the

[32:57] additional parks and open spaces again using exhibit six in the Belvadier

[33:02] general plan to inform what those are. So we're going to go through and

[33:04] hopefully have um as useful of a survey with photos of the different um city

[33:11] parks and things like that. So that'll include Centennial Park, um the Oak Mini

[33:16] Park, and some of the other some of the other areas as well as um this the large

[33:21] park here. So we plan to have that done by end of the year and that will be part

[33:26] of the package with which we hopefully present our next report to city council.

[33:30] We'd like to review that internally here first. So we'll make sure that's done

[33:34] ahead of um ahead of probably our next meeting, if not the second one. um

[33:39] regarding one of the projects which was to develop an improved lanes map.

[33:44] Council member Peter Marks offered some assistance in that regard from a digital

[33:49] perspective and he shared some cool ideas there. Um I'm now just

[33:52] realistically thinking it might be nice to incorporate feedback from the rest of

[33:56] the survey into that prior to endeavoring on updating any maps. I also

[34:00] think this could be useful as the city's beginning to think about the next major

[34:06] general plan and things like that to try to be aligned with whatever document we

[34:09] produce could be helpful in that regard. Um my other update before I go to a

[34:14] question is that I met with Roger Felton who is um I would say the guru of the

[34:20] lane signs. Uh it was amazing. Um he's got a lot of a flipboard of every lane

[34:26] sign and who painted it and when. It was really fun and he and I have been

[34:29] working with city staff on improving some of the dilapidated lane signs and

[34:33] adding some where they where they are missing. So, um, we've got that out and

[34:38] thank you to city staff for providing us with some of the boards to do that and

[34:41] I'm hopeful before the end of the year we'll get some neat new signs and some

[34:45] improved signs. And that was one of the things in the survey that we pointed out

[34:47] that some of the beautiful art is fading away. And then the last thing update I

[34:52] have is we had talked about some collaboration with some of the emergency

[34:56] preparedness initiatives which I've not followed up on. I'm wondering Jane if

[34:59] you have any updates on that. >> Uh no you know uh we didn't have a a be

[35:05] ready belvier meeting in um June >> and so we're also behind it.

[35:11] » Okay. Okay. Well, we're here. >> Okay. Okay.

[35:15] » That is my update on item 4 C. Any comments or questions from the

[35:20] committee? Okay. Anyone on Zoom?

[35:24] Sorry, Chris. We should have you sit in that seat.

[35:27] » No, no comments on Zoom. >> Okay. Any comments from the room?

[35:32] » Yes. Step right up.

[35:38] » Me again. Um, I have a dream and I actually don't know if it's a lane or

[35:43] not. I I I think it might be strip. It might not be. Um, but I walk up and down

[35:48] Beach Road quite a bit and as I come up to the end of those big uh um uh palm

[35:56] trees next to the yacht club and then you keep up and you look over the edge

[35:59] and you see all the erosion on the supports for Beach Road and I know you

[36:03] guys get to work on that at some point in time. Uh but while you're thinking

[36:06] about that, uh I would love for the someone on the lanes committee to

[36:10] consider uh um making a walkway from the southernmost palm tree to that lovely

[36:18] beach uh which you could do at a much better angle with a lot fewer steps than

[36:24] the current metal graded uh walkway that no dogs can go down. Um and uh uh it it

[36:31] if you could do that in coordination with uh improving the supports, it's a

[36:36] it's a great little beach that gets very little use. And uh I just think it's an

[36:41] amazing public a uh uh asset that we're not uh maximizing. And in terms of of uh

[36:47] use and ability to access the water, which is what we're all about, I would

[36:52] love it if you guys would consider that. >> We have the same dream. Um, uh, that's

[36:58] the same beach that I went with, uh, my kids this weekend. I would say it was

[37:01] not, it was not so easy, uh, to get there. We went through that sort of deer

[37:05] path. Um, but yeah, uh, in fact, I've actually seen some historic documents of

[37:10] some sketches of that in our minds, and I do think that that is within the realm

[37:14] of what we've talked about for the future, and um, would love to follow up

[37:17] on on suggestions that you or anyone else might have in that regard. Um,

[37:21] thank you. Okay.

[37:27] All right, I'll close out this item.

[37:31] We will now move on to item six, discussion of the 2027 parks, open

[37:36] spaces, lanes report to city council, uh identifi identification and selection of

[37:41] priority projects, including lane restoration. So, why is this on here

[37:45] now? It's the middle of the year. This report is due in January. Um I'm, you

[37:50] know, I I tend to procrastinate much more than this. It's mainly because we

[37:53] don't meet that frequently. So, we want to make sure that we're aligned and

[37:55] talking about this. We brought this up in a previous meeting um using the

[37:59] feedback coming from the lane survey to drive what our priority was. And I'll

[38:04] I'll remind folks um in prior years there was uh a whole host of strategic

[38:10] priorities. And then it it uh when you're prioritizing everything, it

[38:13] became hard for city council to focus on certain actions. And for the last two

[38:18] years, we've been endeavoring to identify one priority project. Um, and

[38:23] you know, I'm sort of giving it away here, but including lane restoration

[38:26] projects when we last discussed um the there was an idea that we would look at

[38:31] the lane survey results, look at the top prioritized opportunities for lane

[38:36] improvements and come up with a suggestion there. I will also say that

[38:39] something else that we said in our previous letter that is still on the

[38:42] table is the uh improvements to Centennial Park. Jane, you had some

[38:46] great suggestions on that in a previous meeting. Um in some of the previous um

[38:53] references I was talking about about going down to the strip, we actually

[38:56] went down with city staff on one such lane that was identified in the survey

[39:00] as a high opportunity for water access and this is Cliff Lane on Beach Road. Um

[39:06] there is a uh walkway to get down. Um, some of this is some of this uh requires

[39:12] you to go through a sort of passable gate to get down to it, but then

[39:15] eventually you come to a nice curved track down that looks like historically

[39:20] this may have been one of the places the boats and feries went down, but you can

[39:23] basically come all the way down to a pocket beach. It very much looks like an

[39:26] opportunity for um restoration of one of these lanes that would give uh water

[39:31] access. And um that's currently near the top of what I'm I'm thinking of

[39:36] gathering together for this. But of course, Centennial Park is something

[39:39] we've talked about for a while. Um, and I wanted to see, you know, between those

[39:43] two or something else if the committee has other directions that they would

[39:48] like the chair to take in drafting this report because hopefully the chair,

[39:54] myself, um, at least for the time being, will be preparing that for our next

[39:58] meeting. So, I'll I'll open it up for comments or suggestions.

[40:03] » I think those are great and thank you for all the hard work, Charlie. One

[40:06] thing I mentioned at the last meeting that I'd like to at least think about

[40:10] for consideration for the 2027 plan is Belvadier Way. Again, the uh the the

[40:17] road path. >> Yep.

[40:19] » Um there's massive erosional concerns under undermining the bench up there.

[40:25] The gates at both end are falling off. the the the covert is a constant mess um

[40:34] when it comes to winter and getting clogged and running over the edge and

[40:36] stuff like that. Um so maybe some of this is general, maybe some of this is

[40:40] more in the purview of of of us, but I think we should consider that for

[40:44] allocating some some time and energy and at least discussion.

[40:49] » Thank you for reminding me. I know we talked about that last time, but I'll

[40:51] I'll include that. >> John, anything? Oh, I I agree with what

[40:57] you're flagging there and, you know, just making sure that we're looking at

[41:00] maintenance and where there's, you know, safe evacuation routes.

[41:04] » Thanks, >> Wayne or Jane. That rhymes. Anything?

[41:10] » Well, I appreciate all of it. Also, um, my dream is Centennial Park and cleaning

[41:17] that up, but I love cleaning up everything. And I think Belvadier Way, I

[41:21] walk up and down that a lot. And it it is um at times it seems a lot more awful

[41:29] than it is and other times it some seemed like that erosion was held

[41:33] together but lately it really washed away. So yeah, it's probably something

[41:39] that deserves focus on that. And then of course the cliff lane. I did go down

[41:44] that and um I needed to be a little bit younger but I did it and the steps were

[41:51] a little too wide for me. >> But um but it seems like there wasn't

[41:58] there was a little bit at the top that needed help and a little bit at the

[42:01] bottom that needed help and otherwise it was in great shape. So it seemed worth

[42:05] really fixing up those two areas and then that's done. Yeah,

[42:09] » that was an that's like an easy one. >> That's how that's was has been my

[42:13] opinion there, too. So, that's why it might be it might be nice to prioritize

[42:16] that >> earlier.

[42:18] » Yeah, >> Wayne, I see you reaching for your mic.

[42:21] Well, anytime anybody talks about easy velvet construction,

[42:25] I went I was wondering if if the city's looked at any of that in terms of what

[42:30] it would take to to bring things up to code and make that happen just just to

[42:34] have a feel for are we in a in the realm of budget possibility or is this a dream

[42:40] for our children? I don't know that um Antonio, you can correct me if there's

[42:45] proactive actions you're taking outside of recommendations from this group as it

[42:49] relates to restoration projects like that. I I would expect that

[42:54] investigation could happen after we direct you to look into this, but could

[42:58] you clarify?

[43:01] » Yeah. Um it's yeah, both both points here. Um I think it isn't always as easy

[43:09] as it seems. um you know when you have lanes that in this case have have a gate

[43:15] at the top which uh is used for for a residence um so to remove that and to

[43:22] establish a a public uh pathway entrance up there um would be the complication

[43:28] there physically not too difficult to do but um you know uh having agreement on

[43:34] how that's done would be the would be the hard part. Um

[43:39] yeah, and that's I I definitely agree that of the lanes uh on that side of

[43:43] Beach Road, that's one of the few that's actually a feasible construction

[43:48] project. Um and it looks like it has served that um

[43:53] you know that's provided that service before. Um, interesting that it has

[43:59] those um those posts, the black posts that you see around Balvadier uh the

[44:05] very old railings, the black posts with the round ball knob on the top. Um that

[44:10] there are some on that lane. Um so it was clearly uh you know a city um access

[44:16] route at some point. Um, and it would be it would be I mean it would be wonderful

[44:22] to to bring it back as a um you know bring it back into the uh facilities

[44:28] that are that are available to residents. Um yeah, but uh like I say, I

[44:33] mean it's um it's it's sometimes a lot more nuanced or delicate to to work

[44:38] through the um through the issues of what's there um and and how it's

[44:43] currently being used. >> Yeah, I don't know that there was easy.

[44:46] It might just be relative. Um, but uh maybe I would love with those three

[44:52] things in mind. Of course, I'll open it up for for feedback, but maybe that's

[44:55] something I can follow up with you on in terms of at least sketching out high

[44:59] level what um like a budget might look like at a high level for those three

[45:03] things that we talked about. Um, and I realize there's a lack of specificity

[45:07] particularly around Belvadier Way and additionally Centennial Park, but maybe

[45:10] that's something you and I can collaborate on, Tony.

[45:14] » Yeah, absolutely. Um yeah, I think um yeah,

[45:21] as far as bringing it up to code, um I don't think very many of the lanes are

[45:25] up to code. Um they're rustic, you know, pathways and trails. So, um I think a

[45:31] budget could be, you know, very a very realistic, you know, we we should be

[45:36] able to put one together fairly fairly easily. Um and yeah, be happy to do

[45:41] that. >> Thank you. Yeah, we I think we had

[45:42] discussed maybe like the sort of railroad tie style approach which seems

[45:46] to be like replacing some of the stuff that may have already existed and

[45:49] deteriorated at the top, but then as Jane talked about, most of the rest of

[45:53] it with the exception of the the staircase down is seemingly in in very

[45:58] good shape. >> Yeah. Okay.

[46:00] » Right. >> What's the property address that's goes

[46:03] with the gate? I don't know if the top >> I I think it's 270.

[46:08] » Okay. And we have had gates before on

[46:13] revocable licenses areas as long as they're never locked and they're always

[46:19] open. Then um I think I remember one of those on an upper side of Beach Road,

[46:26] not the not the beach side, but the other one. And there was a long

[46:30] discussion about as long as the gate is always left unlocked for public access

[46:35] should there be a need for it. So, I don't know that you actually I mean

[46:40] that's a discussion and something to find out about if we need to remove the

[46:44] gate or just make sure that it's always open. And then of course there's no sign

[46:49] there so it no one would ever know it was lane.

[46:53] » I if we were to endeavor on this as the priority and we move forward,

[46:58] » we would put a sign, right? I'm assuming. Yeah. And quick correction, I

[47:01] think it's 290. >> Okay.

[47:03] » Oh, 290. Okay. I think I think the address with

[47:11] » with the gate >> with the gate is 290 not 270. Yeah.

[47:15] » Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah, I think it's 290. That that

[47:20] rings a bell. All right. Um, thank you for this. I I feel empowered to with

[47:27] your ideas and and comments. Um, I'll open it up to Zoom.

[47:35] No comments on Zoom. >> Okay. Are there any comments from the

[47:38] room? >> Okay,

[47:43] fantastic. Uh, we are now on item seven, update on fiscal year 2026 27 capital

[47:50] improvement project requests. Tony, would you take it away, please? Excuse

[47:55] me. Yes, absolutely. Um, this is really just um I realized that um I I probably

[48:03] mentioned this before, so it's a it's an update, but um u the the committee is

[48:08] not always aware of of the the CIP fund funding um mechanism and how it does

[48:14] approve projects in the park. Um so just an update on on what has been approved

[48:18] for this year. uh community park restroom um has an upgrade and uh the

[48:24] community park ir uh irrigation well uh which has been in the works for a while

[48:29] but um that uh has been funded and um and then the two smaller maintenance

[48:34] ones are San Rafale Avenue uh pathway improvements um which is just repairs to

[48:40] the the DG path out there um and then the mulch uh replacement out there too

[48:45] um as a as a small CIP fund So those will be happening and we're

[48:51] strategizing uh on how to get these completed uh in the next few weeks.

[48:56] Well, the strategizing is happening in the next few weeks, not the not the

[49:01] projects. Um on the San Rafale Avenue

[49:06] improvements, since you brought it up, the rocks

[49:12] that went in at the end where we are adjacent to Tibon's property. So there's

[49:17] the culvert where the stream comes out. Is that there? Who did that? Did we do

[49:22] that or did Tibbron do that? >> That was

[49:24] » uh that was a Tibberon project. Yeah. Yeah, there's a part of that. So the uh

[49:29] the jurisdiction line is is very close to that. And um there was a part of that

[49:34] section was collapsing. So they did a a project to just shore it up.

[49:39] » Yeah. Thank you. >> Can I ask for details on the restroom

[49:43] improvements? Um Well, I don't really have any

[49:48] details. Um, but um yeah, I I uh will happily uh provide an

[49:54] update and um but what I can say is is that um we are getting an architect on

[49:59] board. Um there's there there's a renovation in the police department as

[50:03] well that's also been approved. Um so we'd like to get an an architect on

[50:07] contract that can do uh work on both of them. Um, and yeah, as soon as we have

[50:12] some some plans and and some concepts, um, be happy to share them.

[50:17] » Um, just reminding of feedback that we previously received around adding purse

[50:21] hooks in the stalls. Um, and that might be possible to do

[50:26] sooner rather than later. Um, and also just checking in on baby changing areas.

[50:32] » Thank you for the reminder. >> Okay,

[50:36] » great. Uh, any other comments on this item from the committee?

[50:42] Anything on Zoom, Chris? >> No questions from Zoom.

[50:46] » Any comments from the room? No. Okay, here we go. Item eight, discussion and

[50:52] possible motion on new committee chair and vice chair.

[51:00] No one's No one's >> that discussion is always very quiet.

[51:03] » Exactly. Was waiting. Um, yeah. So, this committee meets infrequently. Um, I

[51:10] believe last time we talked about the, you know, the term being eligible for

[51:14] two years. I don't know exactly when the start date ends and whatnot, but it

[51:18] might we're we're approaching the cycle where I'll be hitting two years as

[51:23] chair. I know having read the code I can switch over to vice chair or someone

[51:28] else could step into that and you can alternate between those two roles but it

[51:32] um it either is time or will be time soon for uh someone to become the new

[51:37] chair.

[51:41] » Yes sir. >> So I'd like to start with that's very

[51:43] disappointing. >> You've done a great job.

[51:46] » Thank you. So, uh, it shouldn't go without being said that if you get a

[51:52] third year, I'd still put you there. >> Thank you.

[51:56] » I second that.

[52:00] » Did we I'm forgetting stuff.

[52:05] Um, did we look at the terms? We did that a couple meetings ago when we

[52:08] looked at the terms and we thought about amending the terms.

[52:11] Is this anybody recalling this? Did did we ever go anywhere with that as far as

[52:17] clarifying or amendments and did that get pushed through?

[52:21] » Yes, it did. And um it uh it was changed to a two-year term um as the uh I think

[52:31] one year is um standard. It can be extended to two years if I remember

[52:36] correctly and after which a new chair would be uh would be in place and that

[52:42] previous chair can return at some point to be chair again.

[52:49] » So term a term limit of of two two terms. Yeah. So Tony, when is the date

[52:56] by which we need to? Do you know? Is it this meeting? We have

[53:01] to >> It got It was confused because Jenna

[53:03] left. The previous chair left to go to planning. So I don't know when I don't

[53:08] know when exactly it was. I'm sure it could be figured out.

[53:12] » Yes. Um I'm sure it can. And um I'd be happy to just get that clarified. Um

[53:20] » well just to make it easy is the thought we need a new chair by next meeting.

[53:25] » I think that would be good to aim for. Yes. Um I I think if there's any reason

[53:29] that it's not we can um skip that that item on the next agenda. Um but I think

[53:36] it's on the agenda for discussion at this meeting and at the next meeting um

[53:40] we should plan to u have a have a nomination and a vote. So, I think one

[53:46] of the things that we keep running into in the city is all the different start

[53:50] and stop dates of committee chairs. And um I was just thinking since we're by

[53:57] the time we have another one or two meetings that the city council makes all

[54:02] their changes on the you know who becomes mayor, vice mayor, etc. every

[54:07] meeting in December and so you don't have to think about it

[54:11] ever. It's always December. So maybe we want to line up with that. So it would

[54:15] be a couple more months, but um like maybe in if we have I forget if we have

[54:21] a meeting in November or early December, then that would be the appropriate time

[54:25] and then we'd get on a schedule and then I think it would be great if we could

[54:29] get planning commission also on the same schedule and it would just make it

[54:34] easier for everybody instead of having to remember all the different stop and

[54:38] start dates of each committee. I definitely agree.

[54:42] » So, I don't know. Just I'm just throwing it out there as a thought.

[54:45] » That would be that would be December. >> December.

[54:48] » And then when Charlie, when do you report? When do you submit or sorry,

[54:52] when do we submit our uh report? >> We present I believe in Feb.

[54:56] » The Feb meeting. >> I think it would be largely drafted at

[55:01] that point. >> Okay.

[55:02] » That's all I'm solving for is kind of handoff at the 11th hour.

[55:08] effectively it's meant to represent the >> the prior year

[55:10] » the prior year so it'll be a report and then this um

[55:14] » and then I think also during that presentation I would be as former chair

[55:18] could come and comment on certain sections and maybe like maybe I would

[55:21] give I could give a report on the previous year and then the new chair

[55:24] could give an update on the priority for the next year and that might be a nice

[55:27] passing of the baton. So, I would be supportive of that we put

[55:32] this on that December agenda and then just mark it for December turnovers.

[55:37] » Okay, I'm fine with that. >> Okay,

[55:44] I guess is there a motion to make a decision and switch chairs in December?

[55:51] » I move that we move in December to switch chairs.

[55:55] » Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I

[55:58] » I Yes. I Okay, fantastic. There any comments on Zoom from that illuminating

[56:04] discussion? >> There's no comments from

[56:07] » Are there any comments from the room? Surprise. All right. Um, perfect. We're

[56:12] moving on to future items. Discussion of possible items to be placed on the

[56:16] agenda of upcoming meetings. One thing that did come to mind for me was whether

[56:21] or not this group, we've had a lot of challenges scheduling this and it feels

[56:27] somewhat ad hoc. And I wonder if a um well, it's not ad hoc, it feels ad hoc.

[56:32] Um to clarify it. I wonder if we might consider a more regular schedule perhaps

[56:38] six times a year or five times a year and it's like every third x every third

[56:43] Thursday or something like that. I I I think um that would help some of this

[56:49] dialogue move along, I think. Um and hopefully it would help with

[56:52] availability and things like that to just bake this into your collective

[56:55] schedule. So, um right now we're on the deck to meet four times. I would

[57:00] consider bumping that to five, if not six, and then have maybe if it's six, it

[57:04] could be every other month on some Wednesday or something like that. Don't

[57:07] need to debate it now, but that is my proposal that we think about that and

[57:10] that be an agenda item for the future. Okay.

[57:16] And try I'd love the the next time to be able to talk about

[57:20] the budget for each of the the priorities just so we know what's in the

[57:24] realm of possibility. >> Great.

[57:28] » That will help with the report to city council.

[57:30] » You mean the the each of the three things we talked about? Okay.

[57:39] » And when I say budget, how much would be parks and lanes? How much would be

[57:42] maintenance standard maintenance of how it would be

[57:47] divided up? >> Great.

[57:51] I'd love in the next meeting to get an update from John. I know that you had

[57:54] been had some level of dialogue with the Tibrron Parks Commission as it relates

[57:59] to opening up different access points in Tibbron. So, if you could provide an

[58:04] update in the next meeting, that would be helpful.

[58:06] » Absolutely. And MA is going to meet with uh the Tan representatives in the coming

[58:11] week. Okay,

[58:15] Tony, do you have any items on your on your docket?

[58:20] » No, I think that's a pretty good list. >> Okay. Yeah.

[58:22] » Anyone else, Jane, or others? No. Okay. Anyone on Zoom have any ideas?

[58:29] » Uh, no, they don't. >> Okay.

[58:32] Any suggestions? No. Okay. With that, we've moved on to open forum. This is an

[58:38] opportunity for any citizen to briefly address the parks and open space

[58:41] committee on any matter that does not appear in this agenda. Upon being

[58:44] recognized by the chair, please state your name, address, and limit your oral

[58:47] statement to no more than three minutes. Matters that appear to warrant a more

[58:51] lengthy presentation or committee consideration may be agendaized for

[58:54] further discussion at a later meeting. First, turn to Zoom. Is there anyone who

[58:58] would like to speak in the open forum? >> There is no one on Zoom that wants to

[59:03] speak. >> Sad. Um, anyone in the room? I knew it.

[59:09] Okay. Um, you you've heard the instructions.

[59:13] » Three minutes and counting. Start the timer.

[59:18] » Started yet. There we go. Um, I know you discussed paddle board access. Um, and

[59:25] something that I would love to see which doesn't necessarily get to paddleboard

[59:29] access is the corner of what I think is Main Street and Beach Road. Uh, I

[59:34] believe somebody said there was actually a plan which uh was based off of

[59:39] something in Denmark which had some steps that went down to that beach. Um,

[59:44] and you could even make kind of a higher place to step over so you get a bit of a

[59:48] retaining wall there as well. I would love to see that beach accessible. Uh, I

[59:52] know parking is a bit of a concern because people are worried people might

[59:56] bring in paddle boards. I actually have a picture if anyone wants to see it of a

[1:00:00] gentleman taking a kayak out there. Uh he was kneedeep uh and that's to the top

[1:00:05] of his knee in muck. So uh unless you're at high tide, nobody's going in and out

[1:00:09] of there with paddle board. Uh the beach though is a lovely little place. It I

[1:00:13] could see a grandkid or a dog having a great time. I don't think it would

[1:00:17] create a parking problem because I don't think it's going to be a big paddleboard

[1:00:21] access point except occasionally uh at high tide. Um but just anything that can

[1:00:27] get people closer to the water I'm in favor of. So, one minute and whatever.

[1:00:32] But

[1:00:36] » I think technically we think of it as AR, but I think technically it's

[1:00:40] » Yeah. >> You're the three-way intersection,

[1:00:45] right? It's a three-way intersection there. The other road coming from

[1:00:48] Woodlands.

[1:00:52] » Okay. Thank you. Is there a motion to adjurnn?

[1:01:00] Yes. I'll I'll move to adjurnn. Is there a second?

[1:01:05] » Second. All in favor? >> I

[1:01:08] » I We are journed.

[1:01:19] I love this.

Parks, Open Spaces and Lanes Committee Meeting: July 8, 2026

Agenda

Transcript