Pacifica City Council
August 28, 2023

DRAFT Authorizing Resolution suggested by OSPAC to replace Resolution 44-2015 (Transmitted by OSPAC majority vote for discussion with Pacifica City Council at a Study Session – 8/28/2023)
1 WHEREAS, the Council reviewed the function of the Open Space and Parkland Advisory 2 Committee (OSPAC) and held a study session on _____________, 2023; and 3 4 WHEREAS, the City of Pacifica has had a long history of open space committees with the latest 5 being OSPAC, a result of combining the Open Space Advisory Committee and the Golden Gate 6 National Recreation Area Advisory Committee via City Council Resolution 44-2015 on 7 November 23, 2015; and
8 9 WHEREAS, Pacifica’s Open Spaces and Parklands and associated prominent hills, ridgelines, 10 bluffs, beaches, recreational opportunities, and viewsheds are fundamental to Pacifica’s 11 essence. The beauty, character, economy, history, and the quality of life for the citizens of 12 Pacifica attracts residents and visitors to Pacifica, and provides them with mental and physical 13 health benefits; and
14 15 WHEREAS, the Opens Spaces and Parklands of Pacifica support a unique coastal flora and fauna 16 that require intact and connected habitats to thrive, and this biodiversity is essential to 17 ecosystem diversity and resilience which is critical to maintaining the community and public 18 benefits derived from Open Spaces and Parklands; and 19 20 WHEREAS, significant Parklands and Open Spaces in and around Pacifica are owned and 21 managed by the
22 • National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreational Area (GGNRA), such 23 as Mori Point, Milagra Ridge, and Sweeney Ridge;
24 • San Mateo County through its Parks Department (SMCP), such as San Pedro Valley Park and 25 Devil’s Slide Trail
26 • the City of Pacifica, including Cattle Hill and lands on Pedro Point Headlands 27 • the California Coastal Conservancy such as lands on Pedro Point; and 28 29 WHEREAS, some of the recommended actions of the Open Space Task Force Report have been 30 completed, the report will remain the fundamental reference for the Open Space and Parkland 31 Advisory Committee; and
32 33 WHEREAS, equitable access to Parklands and Open Spaces is an important component of 34 addressing systemic injustices and inequalities; and 35 36 WHEREAS, an Advisory Committee whose sole focus of consideration is Open Space and 37 Parklands, including advisement on issues of equity, access, safety, connectivity, economics, 38 scenic beauty, and effects on adjacent neighborhoods. OSPAC is uniquely qualified to engage 39 the public, to provide valuable recommendations on these topics, and provide input in a 40 community forum to safeguard the benefits of Open Spaces and Parklands for current and 41 future generations; and
42 DRAFT Authorizing Resolution suggested by OSPAC to replace Resolution 44-2015 (Transmitted by OSPAC majority vote for discussion with Pacifica City Council at a Study Session – 8/28/2023)
43 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Pacifica does hereby 44 reauthorize the creation of the Open Space and Parkland Advisory Committee (OSPAC) 45 consisting of nine (9) members selected from the community at large and appointed by the City 46 Council with goals and objectives as stated in this resolution; and 47 48 BE IT RESOLVED that the committee shall continue to advise the City Council on open space 49 issues, making recommendations to the City Council on:
50 (1) issues related to lands owned or managed, or considered for ownership or 51 management, by the GGNRA and SMCP within and adjacent to the City of Pacifica; and 52 (2) issues related to Open Space owned by the City of Pacifica and the Coastal Conservancy 53 associated considerations such as transfer of ownership to an appropriate long-term 54 owner; and
55 (3) opportunities for existing and potential future Open Space and Parklands to provide 56 public benefit and continue to enrich the well-being of Pacifica’s residents and visitors. 57 Including consideration of Open Space and Parkland related issues of access, use, 58 connectivity, safety, economics, scenic beauty, preservation and effects on adjacent 59 neighborhoods; and
60 61 BE IT RESOLVED that OSPAC will engage and collaborate with other City Committees and 62 Pacifica’s Land Trust to protect Open Space lands described in the City’s General and Coastal 63 Plans; and
64 65 BE IT RESOLVED that planning project applicants shall be required to participate in a public 66 study session during OSPAC’s monthly meetings for properties listed in the Open Space Task 67 Force report, as well as vacant parcels in the Hillside Preservation District (HPD), vacant 68 adjacent to existing parklands, or existing and proposed trails. The purpose of the study session 69 is for the applicant to share their design and vision, to establish an opportunity for the public to 70 have a voice, and for OSPAC to work with the applicant collaboratively in the early conceptual 71 stage, as soon as practicable after the initial application package is submitted and as a condition 72 of an application deemed “complete”, to bring stakeholders together to identify opportunities 73 to bring value to the project and for open space preservation, natural resource protection, and 74 public benefit. Recommendations and comments from OSPAC would be incorporated into the 75 Planning Department’s staff report on the project proposal; and 76 77 BE IT RESOLVED, that Committee members may assist staff with identifying sources of funding 78 for open space preservation, acquisition, enhancement, and maintenance. Funding sources 79 could be as varied as grants, bond or parcel tax measures or community fund raising resources; 80 and
81 82 Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Pacifica on 83 ___________, 2023 by the follow vote of the members thereof:
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