HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC Resolution 10826 (Marin Baylands Wildfire Refuge)RESOLUTION NO. 10826
A RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL
EXPRESSING CONCERNS RELATED TO PROPOSED BOUNDARIES FOR THE
MARIN BAYLANDS WILDLIFE REFUGE
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has a long history of support for private and public efforts to
acquire and protect open space and important habitat areas; and
WHEREAS, the health of the San Francisco Bay is of great concern to the City, including the
historic loss of critical marshlands, and
WHEREAS, the City's General Plan attempts to balance the needs of environmental quality,
economic vitality and workforce housing needs; and
WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael and Marin County jointly sponsored a twenty month community
planning process for the St. Vincent's and Silveira properties where the balancing of environmental and
development objectives was addressed by a Citizen's Advisory Committee composed of members of
environmental organizations, business groups, the League of Women Voters, neighborhood
representatives housing advocates and the community at large, and
WHEREAS, both the City of San Rafael City Council and Marin County Board of Supervisors
accepted the Citizen's Advisory Committee recommendations and directed their staffs to consider and
incorporate the recommendations in their respective General Plan updates, and
WHEREAS, the Council wishes to provide input to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their
analysis of proposed refuge boundaries and possible refuge management practices during their public
comment period;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of San Rafael
recommends the following issues be addressed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in their analysis of a
proposed Marin Baylands Wildlife Refuge:
1. That those portions of the St. Vincent's and Silveira properties west of the former Northwest Pacific
railroad line and the previously developed portion of the Silveira property known as the Honor Farm
east of the railroad tracks be excluded from the proposed refuge boundaries for the following reasons:
a) The land use study initiated by Marin County and the City of San Rafael for the St.
Vincent's and Silveira properties was an example of a community process that brought
together all interest groups — environmental organizations, business groups, the League
of Women Voters, neighborhood representatives housing advocates and the community
at large, to reach consensus. They recommended that the entire eastern half of the
properties, excluding the previously developed Honor Farm site, remain as open space,
but that portions of the properties west of the railroad tracks be devoted to critical housing
needs. The City is required by the State of California to demonstrate the ability to
construct 2,090 housing units by 2007. The St. Vincent's and Silveira properties are the
only large, undeveloped sites remaining in San Rafael's Sphere of Influence. Consigning
the entire 1,200 acres to environmental preservation ignores the balancing of needs.
b) The proposed boundaries are inconsistent with the Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals
Project, a four year effort which involved numerous resource agencies, including U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and extensive public input. The Goals Project recommends for
the Silveira and St. Vincent's properties that there be restoration of tidal marsh on one
half of the properties east of the railroad tracks, that seasonal wetlands and transitional
uplands be preserved and enhanced between the new marshland and the railroad tracks,
and that seasonal wetlands and oaks be preserved west of the tracks. These
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ORIGINAL \` 1b
recommendations are consistent with General Plan policies of both Marin County and the
City of San Rafael and with the recommendations of the St. Vincent's/Silveira Citizen's
Advisory Committee which require preservation of 70% of the land area west of the
railroad tracks, including preservation of the adjacent oak woodlands on Pacheco Ridge,
the large seasonal wetlands near the railroad tracks and retaining substantial areas for
habitat corridors.
c) While the proposed refuge designation may not affect local land use authority, it certainly
will add further controversy and affect public perception regarding development west of
the railroad tracks. Given the level of controversy that a development proposal would
engender, we believe it would not be prudent to include designation of the lands as a
potential refuge into the community debate.
2. Boundary designation should either exclude the former Northwest Pacific rail corridor or specifically
incorporate policy direction in the Land Protection Plan to preclude establishment of sensitive habitat
near the rail line. No refuge activities or restrictions should infringe upon future use of the rail line for
transit or bicycle use.
I, JEANNE M. LEONCINI, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was
duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of said City on Monday, the
7th day of May, 2001, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Cohen, Miller, Phillips and Mayor Boro
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS: Heller
JEMN-E M. LEONCIMCity Clerk