AgdaPkt 2004-09-13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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-I REPORT To the Honorable City Council From the Mayor September 13, 2004 Subject Resolution adopting the "Redwood City Plan and Proposal" for the restoration of Inner Bair Island Recommendation Approve the Resolution adopting the "Redwood City Plan and Proposal" for the restoration of Bair Island and authorizing the Mayor and/or City Manager to submit the Plan to the appropriate federal authorities, to advocate on its behalf and to seek funding for implementation of the Plan Background Bair Island, part of the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, encompasses approximately 3,000 acres of wetlands in San Francisco Bay at the foot of Whipple Road. The area is divided into three distinct portions: Inner Bair Is/and is connected to the mainland at Whipple Avenue at Highway 101. Midd/e Bair Island is separated from the inner island by Smith Slough, while Corkscrew Slough separates Outer Bair Island from the middle island. This entire urban wildlife refuge is of inestimable importance to our community for both its inherent environmental, biological, and habitat values, as well as for its value as a beautiful and peaceful low-intensity recreational destination, attracting an estimated 250,000 visitors annually. The area is permanently preserved as an urban wildlife refuge. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Game are proposing to restore to natural tidal action some 1,400 acres of former salt ponds on Inner Bair Island, and have created a restoration plan to accomplish this objective. This is an important and commendable objective in that it will make great strides in restoring natural habitat for native plants and wildlife, including two endangered species. Mayor Ira, Vice Mayor Pierce, and Councilmember Foust, as an ad-hoc committee, have been involved with and have closely monitored the development of the restoration plan, and note that the FWS plan, while wholly addressing the environmental and habitat issues, does not sufficiently incorporate Bair Island's value to the community as a low-intensity recreational destination, and does little to provide for what the City and the community would consider adequate public access. The ad-hoc committee recognizes that this is an opportunity for the City to become a fully engaged partner in this project with the FWS and NWRS, and to ensure that the needs and desires of the local community are addressed in the final restoration plan. To accomplish this partnership and best work toward the protection and public involvement and