CC Resolution No. 03-106RESOLUTION NO. 03-106
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF CUPERTINO
SUPPORTING AND ENDORSING THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE
DISTRICT'S PROPOSED EXTENSION OF ITS BOUNDARIES TO THE SAN MATEO
COUNTY COAST TO PRESERVE
OPEN SPACE AND AGRICULTURAL LANDS
WHEREAS, the Mid-peninsula Regional Open Space District is a special district formed in
northwestern Santa Clara County in1972 (and extended to southern San Mateo County in1976) for
the purpose of preserving and managing open space lands within its jurisdiction on the San
Francisco peninsula; and
WHEREAS, existing public benefits of the District's services include protecting nearly
50,000 acres of our nearby open space lands, providing for low-intensity public recreational use on
approximately 220 mi les of trails within 26 open space preserves, permanently protecting local
streams and watersheds, and preserving the sensitive habitats of a variety of species of endangered
plants and animals, maintaining historic structures and facilities on the land, preserving existing
agricultural uses, and providing an environmental education program and volunteer opportunities;
and
WHEREAS, the City of Cupertino is within the jurisdiction of the District, and its
constituents have reaped the priceless benefits provided by the District, many utilizing the lands for
recreational purposes, others enjoying the unspoiled scenic backdrop provided by District lands, and
all secure in the knowledge that these unspoiled open space lands are permanently preserved for
their children, and the generations beyond; and
WHEREAS, in the late 1990s, the District received requests and petitions from individuals,
organizations, and elected bodies (including the Half Moon Bay City Council and the Midcoast
Community Council) asking for its services in the preservation and management of open space
lands, beyond its current boundaries west of Skyline Boulevard, and including the natural treasure
that is the San Mateo County coastline, and in a subsequent public opinion poll by the District,
approximately 90o/el-"Dfthe respondents said that preservation of open space west of Skyline
Boulevard was important; and
WHEREAS, the 1998 Coastside Subregional Planning Study conducted by the County of
San Mateo, the cities of Pacifica and Half Moon Bay, the Midcoast Community Council and
sponsored by the Association of Bay Area Governments indicated the need for regional open space
preservation and management services in this area, concluded that District boundary expansion was
one of the most promising attempts in a decade to meet this need; and
WHEREAS, public agencies, land trusts, and other non-profit entities, some of which
currently own open space lands west of Skyline Boulevard and on the San Mateo County coast,
have indicated a great need for District services in providing for additional open space preservation
and in providing experienced, long-term stewardship and management for those open space lands,
especially in light of current budget constraints at the federal, state and county level which restrict
other govermuent agencies' ability to provide these services; and
WHEREAS, in response to these requests and this need, the District is considering
extending its boundaries so that it may provide services to preserve and manage open space lands
west of Skyline Boulevard, preserve agricultural lands on the coast, preserve the rural character of
Resolution No. 03-106
the coastal region, provide land management services for other land-owning agencies, enhance fire
protection and public safety through the increased presence of its highly skilled field staff, and offer
the public further opportunities for ecologically-sensitive recreational uses and environmental
education; and
WHEREAS, through this proposed annexation of the coastside, the District will greatly
enhance the protection of the pristine, "world-class" natural beauty, open spaces and agriculture of
the San Mateo County coast, from the southern boundary of Pacifica to the Santa Cruz/San Mateo
County Line and from Skyline to the sea, one of the last remaining unspoiled coastlines so near to
one of the world's major urban areas; and
WHEREAS, the District's annexation proposal envisions purchasing (from willing sellers
only, and often through acquiring conservation or agricultural easements) and/or managing up to
11,800 acres of pristine public open space and continuing-use agricultural land, over the next 15
years, thereby allowing orderly development, yet preventing urban sprawl; and
WHEREAS, if successful, the District's efforts will provide for the people of the City of
Cupertino and for the entire region expanded opportunities for public access on the coastside,
increased resources for maintaining the physical and economic integrity of Coastal agricultural
lands, elected representation for the coastside area on the District's board of directors, enhanced
community programs in environmental education and open space volunteerism; and
WHEREAS, such an extension would have no financial impact on the City of Cupertino,
would have insignificant financial effect on other government agencies or services within the
proposed aimexation area, and would not change any land use designations or land use control, as
the District does not have any regulatory or zoning authority, but would offer the District, on behalf
of the public, the opportunity to contribute its services to open space and agricultural preservation
and long-term stewardship efforts, subject to all local, state, and federal land use regulations and in
compliance with all city and San Mateo County General and Coastal Plans; and will be the most
efficient and effective way to provide these needed services; and
WHEREAS, over the 30 years since its inception, the District has proved itself to be a good
neighbor, an excellent steward of open space land on behalf of the public, a solid and fiscally
conservative manager of public funds, and an organization very sensitive and responsive to the
community's needs and desires, through a great deal of solicitation and consideration of public input
into the planning and management decisions made by its board of directors,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED for the reasons stated above that the City Council
of Cupertino does hereby endorse and support the extension by the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District of its boundaries to include lands west of Skyline Boulevard from the southerly limits
of the City of Pacifica to the San Mateo/Santa Cruz County line.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of Cupertino does hereby urge the
Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to file an application for the
annexation of all of this territory with the San Mateo County Local Agency Formation Commission.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of Cupertino does hereby urge, if such
an application is submitted, that the San Mateo County Local Agency Formation Commission
approve the application of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for the extension of its
boundaries to include all of the territory west of Skyline Boulevard from the southerly limits of the
City of Pacifica to the San Mateo/Santa Cruz County Line.
ResolutlonNo. 03-10~ ~
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular adjoumed meeting of the City Council of the City of
Cupertino this 2nd day of June 2003, by the following vote:
Vote
Members of the City Council
AYES: Chang, James, Lowenthal, Sandoval
NOES: None
ABSENT: Kwok
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Mayor, City of Cupertino~