PRC MIN 1975-02-11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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'., ,~:'.'T" ,,~", ," ' ".':, , . ,'" ',' '~ft.": '- .-, :-10 The main points which Mr. Bosch emphasized in his presentation involved erosion, soil compaction, abusive use of the area by children and off~road vehicles, dogs roaming throughout the park unleashed, the effects of poison oak control and fire protection practices, the lack of full-time supervision in the area, the lack of trails and pathways, points of access throughout the park, the storm drain system in the park, the sanitary sewer system in the park, and the vandalism. His main points of concern were that the public abuse of the area is setting back the natural succession of the ecology in the park. Also, the present practices of poison oak control and fire control is having the same effect. He indicated that the stream is being polluted by the storm drainage system and that there is a danger of raw sewage into the park if the sanitary sewer system fails. He indicated that there had been a disruption of the natural water table of the area resultant from the spray- ing and fire protection practices together with the irrigation of the turf area near Farm Hill Boulevard entrance. Mr. Bosch suggested that the current planning and improvement program for Stulsaft Park should be curtailed and that a Natural History Park Department be formed and staffed with an ecologist, ,botanist, etc., in order to arrive at the future of Stulsaft Park. He further suggested that there should be a full-time supervisor of the park with arresting authority. He also su- gested an in~depth study of the ecosystems in the park, a closing of the entrances except for the Farm Hill Boulevard entrance, the construction of a museum type facility rather than an information center, a rerouting of the storm drain system, and controlled and planned restoration of the natural plant life of the park. Mr. Weeks was then called upon to comment on the Study as well as the back- ground of the park. He pointed out that the City, the Parks & Recreation Commission, and the staff were acutely aware of many problem areas which were simply further identified in Mr. Bosch's report. It was further pointed out that the upgrading and development of Stulsaft Park had been a matter of discussion for many years. Decisions had been made many years ago that the park would be made available for public use of the citizenry and would serve, in pert, some neighborhood park needs together with a passive type of picnic and day camp needs. It was also pointed out that decisions with respect to utilizing the area for storm water drainage as~ell as sanitary sewer facil- ities had been made and implemented. It was obvious that when houses were built in the Farm Hill area as well as the other areas around Stulsaft Park that the natural ecology of the area would be upset. It was pointed out that the long-range plan for the improvement of the park would correct many of the problems that currently exist and is designed to do so. The decisions to develop the park as a municipal park, having a variety of recreational uses yet hoping to maintain the more natural appearance, resulted in arriv- ing at the scope-of-work for the park and had been approved by the Commission and Council months ago. As time progresses, in-depth studies will be made of specific issues if found to be feasible and related to the proposed develop~ ment of the park. Mr. Weeks reviewed the background history of the park, the elements of the master plan, and the progress of current working drawings for the first stage ~ " .-..----------.