The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to open six trail segments as soon as possible, with or without paving, including the controversial south side Arroyo Mocho Trail.
It also approved a trails ad-hoc committee, which will be a permanent subcommittee of the Parks and Recreation Commission and will meet as trails issues arise.
The only contentious aspect of the trails plan was the Arroyo Mocho Trail. Residents in the Parkside neighborhood whose homes back up to it hired lawyer Peter MacDonald to represent them and plea for mitigations for the 61 homes to help protect their privacy.
"We want the city to give money for a 7-foot (solid) fence, and if a person wants an 8-foot fence it would be out of their own pocket, but we want them to have the city's permission to do so," said MacDonald.
There is currently a chain link fence at the rear of the property lines that belongs to Zone 7 Water Agency, which controls the land near the arroyos.
MacDonald also cited studies that property values decline when homes are on trails, and said that the decision to open the trail south of the arroyo rather than on the north side was based on inaccurate information. Residents also fear noise and potential vandalism.
Subsequent speakers addressed these problems, as well as urging the council to open the trails.
"I liken tails to a moving 'neighborhood watch,'" said Steve Fiala, regional trails manager for the East Bay Regional Parks District. "I have worked with a group of folks anxious to see Pleasanton develop its trail plan. You have a unique situation with your arroyos and the area trails. We urge you to realize that dream."
"We always have to put our bikes in the car to go to trails," said James Durkee, who lives in Vintage Hills. "It shouldn't be that way. We need to do what it takes. If it takes mitigation then so be it, but let's do it."
Mayor Tom Pico also made a motion to direct city staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission to work with the Parkside neighborhood on a mitigation plan, making it clear the city will not participate financially, and to explore the issue of gates from the private yards opening onto the trail. It passed unanimously.
"The issue of gates would require modification of our agreement with Zone 7," said Jim Wolfe, director of Parks and Community Services. "Discussions I've had (with Zone 7) have indicated a potential for looking at that issue."
The six trail segments approved for immediate opening are as follows: € Iron Horse Trail - south from Santa Rita Road to Busch Road, to utilize the abandoned Southern Pacific railroad right of way € Arroyo Mocho, east of Hopyard Road to Santa Rita - this is a major east-west connector, with the potential to link to Livermore € Alamo Canal/Arroyo de la Laguna, from Val Vista Park to Dublin - would entail paving existing maintenance road € Downtown trail, from Old Stanley Boulevard to Bernal Avenue - this 1-mile section of former Southern Pacific right of way lies between First Street and Main € Arroyo del Valle trail, west from Main Street to Harvest Park Circle - would construct concrete pathway to replace previous section washed out in late 1990s. Staff will look at putting trail above the watermark. € Vineyard Avenue Corridor Trail - After Vineyard Avenue is realigned, the existing roadway will be used as a pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian corridor, as well as for emergency vehicle and maintenance access.
The Community Trails Master Plan developed in 1993 estimated the cost for these improvements at $2.75 million-$9.95 million. Other improvements such as signage, bridges, staging areas and landscaping were expected to add $6.1 million-$7.6 million.
The six projects approved Tuesday will be done as funding becomes available through grants, private contributions or the city's Capital Improvement Program funds.
Due to lack of funds, trails will at first be opened unpaved, said Parks Director Wolfe after the meeting. "We'll be looking at what trails can be opened as soon as possible."
Mayor Pico also made a motion to direct staff to look at the possibility of an alternate trail on the north side of Arroyo Mocho, as a long-term plan. "I would like to link the Business Park and the schools," Pico said. "I'd like to have as many trails and access points as possible."
Councilwoman Becky Dennis added to Pico's motion the segment of the old
Southern Pacific corridor between Junipero Street and Bernal Avenue, which
would connect the Senior Center and Ridge View Commons with downtown. The
motion passed 3-2 with councilwomen Kay Ayala and Sharrell Michelotti
voting against it.