SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT · The San Mateo County Parks system has been in place for over 90 years and includes: • 20 Parks • Approximately 17,000 Acres • Approximately

SUSTAINABILITY ACTION PLAN

December 3, 2015

SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT

The San Mateo County Parks

system has been in place for over 90

years and includes:

• 20 Parks

• Approximately 17,000 Acres

• Approximately 190 Miles of Trails

• 147 Family Campsites

• 3 Visitor Centers

• Serves over 1,700,000 visitors/yr.

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SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DEPT.

SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DEPT.

Our 20 parks are located throughout

the County and represent a wide

variety of natural settings including:

• Coast side marine reserve

• Bayside recreational area

• Coastal mountain woodland areas

• Urban sites

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Coyote Point Recreation Area Memorial/Pescadero Park Complex

Devils Slide Coastal Trail San Bruno Mountain

• Provide a unique system of natural parks and programs, a broad

spectrum of recreational facilities and opportunities that accommodate

people of all abilities, varying needs and unique interests.

• Enhance the stewardship of natural resources by developing

science based resource management programs to protect, revitalize

and restore ecosystems indigenous to our park lands.

• Provide interpretive and educational programs that instill knowledge,

appreciation and stewardship for our rich and diverse, natural, historical

and cultural resources.

• Create living partnerships with park users and the community to

realize our vision and ensure that all County residents and decision-

makers participate in and support the presentation and enhancement of

San Mateo County park lands.

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PARKS DEPARTMENT VISION

Sustainability for San Mateo County Parks is ensuring the wise

use of resources to minimize waste, natural resources are

managed for healthy ecosystems for the plants and animals that

live there, as well as clean air and water quality, and the

Department operates accessible park system for all.

Through stewardship, San Mateo County Parks

preserves our County’s natural and cultural treasures, and provides

safe, accessible parks, recreation and learning opportunities to

enhance the community’s quality of life.

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SUSTAINABILITY & STEWARDSHIP

• Promoting sustainability as a value will save the County Parks

Department money through increased efficiency, less waste, and

improved stewardship of its natural resources.

• San Mateo County Parks will become a model regional park department

demonstrating the value of sustainability.

• Medium or long-term returns from improving our brand and how we

communicate it.

• Working with our suppliers and customers.

• Retaining and attracting talent because we are an organization that

values sustainability.

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WHY SUSTAINABILITY?

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Team Member Department Role

Marlene Finley Parks Director

Scott Lombardi Parks Superintendent

Ramona Arechiga Parks Natural Resource Manager

Ed Castillo Parks Management Analyst

Sam Herzberg Parks Senior Planner

Cecily Harris Parks Grants Manager

Carla Schoof Parks Community Program Specialist

Brenda Bennett Parks Executive Secretary

Matt DelCarlo Parks Ranger IV – District I (N County)

Stephen Kraemer Parks Ranger IV – District II (S County)

Priscilla Alvarez Parks Ranger IV – District III (S. Coast)

Kevin Scott Parks Ranger IV – District IV (Mid-Coast)

Ty Kang Parks Ranger IV – District V (Maintenance)

Ed Hallett Parks Harbor Master (Coyote Point Marina)

Laurel Finnegan Parks New

David Vasquez Parks New

OUR GREEN TEAM

• Complete energy audits of the 6 of the highest use County Parks

and implement the recommendations.

• Complete water audits of the 6 of the highest use County Parks

and implement the recommendations.

• Work with a collaborative stewardship approach across the

Santa Cruz Mountains to ensure resilient forests, healthy water

and habitat.

• Achieve Green Business certification for County Parks.

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OUR BIG GOALS

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PORTFOLIO OF INITIATIVES

SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT

Energy Water Waste Transportation

Procurement Stewardship General/Admin

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ENERGY INITIATIVES

1 OF 2

Initiatives Savings Other Benefits/Costs/Notes Location Timeframe

Transfer Utility Bills to Electronic

Payment

Transfer paying paper bills by switching to

Utility Manager to be able to pay on line.

Bills get paid faster, involve less staff time,

and reports can be produced that

summarize unity usage.

Office 0-6 months

Change energy pricing to reflect smart

meters time of use rates

Verified all meters are charging at time of

use except for 3 located at Memorial and 1

located at Huddart, which have now been

changed.

Office/Parks 0-6 months

Consider changing from propane to

natural gas in County Park facilitiesCounty DPW evaluating where opportunities

are.Parks - ? 6-18 months

Replace Metal Halide, Mercury vapor,

and Sodium type bulbs with LED fixtures

at Coyote Point Park.

In process. Cost savings for long term

fixtures. More to be done at Coyote Point

Promenade East.

Parks - 1 18-24 months

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Energy Audits conducted by Energy

Watch for Coyote Point, Memorial, San

Pedro Valley, Edgewood, Huddart and

Wunderlich.

Audits to occur in January 2016 to evaluate

energy efficiency, windows, HVAC,

insulation, lighting, solar panels and solar

hot water heaters will be evaluated in the

context of PG&E rebates and incentives.


Implement recommendations of Energy

Watch AuditsTBD based on audits in January 2016. Will

request funding for FY 2016-17Parks - 6 6-24 months

Replace current flood light fixtures being

used in all parks with LED.In process Parks - All 0-12 months

Make improvements/upgrades to park

residences.

Ongoing installation of energy efficient

windows, insulation, lighting, heater, and

plumbing fixtures.

Parks - All 24-60 months

ENERGY INITIATIVES

2 OF 2

ENERGY AUDITS BY ENERGY WATCH

• Energy Audits conducted by

Energy Watch for Coyote Point,

Memorial, San Pedro Valley,

Edgewood, Huddart and

Wunderlich County Parks.

• Audits to occur in January 2016 to

evaluate energy efficiency,

windows, HVAC, insulation,

lighting, solar panels and solar hot

water heaters will be evaluated in

the context of PG&E rebates and

incentives.

• Will inform budget requests for

FY2016-17

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WATER INITIATIVES

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Modify Memorial Park Water Treatment

Plant to allow taking water during wet

season instead of dry season.

Work with Resource Conservation District to

address all season storage of water taken

during winter.Parks - 1 12-24 months

Replace Memorial Park Waste Water

Treatment Plant and demolish existing.

New waste water treatment plant will be

further away from Pescadero Creek, and be

able to control remotely with less manpower.


Secure recycled water for Coyote Point

Recreation Area and Flood Park.

Coyote Point used to be on recycled water,

and needs a connection again to City of San

Mateo given 80% irrigation. West Bay

Sanitary District will run recycled water to

Bay Road within 5 years.


Work with BAWUA on Large Landscape

Audits to assess effectiveness of irrigation

at Coyote Point, Flood, San Pedro Valley,

and Junipero Serra.

Discuss with Ranger IVs if all areas with

dead lawns should be restored or portions

replanted with drought tolerant native

landscaping on drip irrigation.


Work with BAWUA and State of CA to lose

the lawn where desired at Coyote Point,

Flood, San Pedro Valley, and Junipero

Serra.

Discuss with Ranger IVs where there may

be opportunities to improve the irrigation

systems in County Parks.


WATER INITIATIVES

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Replace old plumbing with new water

conservation measures (i.e. low flow

fixtures, waterless urinals, etc.).

Ongoing effort All Parks 0-24 months

Minimize irrigation during 4 year drought. Ongoing effort All Parks 0-12 months

Facilitate volunteer cleanups at Coyote

Point, Mirada Surf, and Flood and Huddart

Parks to prevent storm water pollution.

Ongoing effort Parks - 40-60 months

Budget for Water Audits for FY 2016-17 for

Coyote Point, Memorial, San Pedro Valley,

Edgewood, Huddart and Wunderlich

Calculate developed area of each park and

assess total acres, convert to sq. ft. x .25 a

sq. ft. for total for each park.


Implement water audit recommendations for

Coyote Point, Memorial, San Pedro Valley,

Edgewood, Huddart and Wunderlich.

To be determined, but will include leaking

pipes.Parks - 6 6-60 months.

MEMORIAL PARK WATER

TREATMENT PLANT

• Modify Memorial County Park

Water Treatment Plant to allow

taking water during wet season

instead of dry season

• Work with Resource Conservation

District to address all season

storage (1.5 million gallons) of

water taken during winter

• Camping at Memorial park will not

be compromised by future

droughts.

• Pescadaro creek will have water

for healthy fish and water quality

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WASTE INITIATIVES

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Provide easier recycling opportunities for

accumulated scrap metal, concrete, and

used tires.

In process Parks - All 6-12 months

Promote more recycle, reuse and re-

purpose opportunities between our

individual District's

In process Parks - All 6-12 months

Install 72 new or replacement

Bearsaver garbage cans in Parks where

they do not exist.

Where not existing to prevent animals,

blowing, and easier for staff to remove.Parks - All 6-12 months

Trees and brush cleared for fire hazard

reduction are chipped for mulch which

minimizes hauling of waste to the landfill.

Reduced hauling costs. Mulch suppresses

weeds.Parks- All 0-60 months

Mill fallen redwoods from Pescadero Park

complex for bench boards, and information

kiosks

Reuse of fallen trees saves money, and

produces beautiful benches and information

kiosks

Parks -All 0-60 months

BEARSAVER TRASH/RECYCLING

CONTAINER

• Install 72 new or replacement

Bearsaver garbage cans in

Parks where they do not exist.

• Where not existing to prevent

animals, blowing, and easier

for staff to remove.

• Promote recycling in all parks.

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TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVES

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Develop opportunities for regional multi-

modal trails Countywide to lessen reliance on

automobile.

Currently working on following regional trail

projects: Green Valley Trail, Pedro Point

Headlands, openings S. of Crystal Springs

Trail S of Dam, CST S of Dam Gap, Midcoast

Parallel Trail, Surfers Beach, Pedro Point

Headlands, Bay Trail to Ravenswood OSP,

Dumbarton Trail, San Bruno Mtn Master Plan,

Quarry/Wicklow/Mirada Master Plan, National

designation of Portola Trail

Office 0-60 months

Develop a program for the use of bicycles in

the field for Ranger staff use/park & trail

patrols.

Initiate in District I, and consider addition to

other Districts. More Ranger presence.

Ranger health. Only possible in specific

parks/areas.

Parks – 2 6-24 months

Encourage safe routes to Parks and install

bike racks where needed.Initiate discussion with SamTrans and

adjacent jurisdictions to County Parks.Parks – All 0-60 months

Continued replacement of heavy equipment

to meet new regulations/requirements (air

quality, etc.). Chippers, tractors, etc.

In process. Recent examples include JD210

Skiploader, Kabotas, 2 new Peterbelt garbage

trucks and Shuttle bus (up to 20 people).Parks - All 0-60 months

Partner with other agencies to evaluate

shared parking and trailhead and transit

opportunities in Midcoast.

Facilitate non-vehicular access, shared

resources by collaborating with park and open

space partner agencies

Parks -7 0-60 months

County Parks has received 5 State and

regional awards for repurposing a section of

Highway 1 into the Devils Slide CA Coastal

Trail.

Received recognition provides encouragement

to complete section of the California Coastal

Trail to the south at Green Valley Trail and to

the north at Pedro Point Headlands

Parks-1 0-60 months

TRANSPORTATION REPLACEMENT FOR

CLEAN AIR BENEFITS

• Continued replacement of

heavy equipment to meet new

regulations/requirements (Air

quality, etc.). Chippers,

tractors, etc.

• In process. Recent examples

include JD210 Skiploader, 2

new Peterbelt Garbage trucks

and Kabotas.

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PROCUREMENT INITIATIVES

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County Parks will become a Green Certified

Business

Field offices will be consistent with main

administration office. Purchasing policies will

become consistent. Change purchasing of

office supplies through Green Office Depot to

green/recycled materials.


Develop County Park Environmental

Purchasing Policy.

Tied to when Office of Sustainability develops

a Environmental Purchasing Policy, and list of

vendors, but also something that can be

initiated sooner than later by Parks.

Office 6-12 months

Promote use of remanufactured ink cartridges

for copiers.Parks can purchase remanufactured from

Office Depot instead of new.Office 0-6 months

Ensure Integrated Pest Management Policies

are followed.

Parks staff are licensed sprayers w/ Co. Ag.

Commissioner and contractors must

demonstrate how they comply with IPM

Ordinance.

Parks - All 0-6 months

Transition from recycled tire mats in

playground to Fibar.Being done playground at a time. Reduces

toxic and replaces with reusable material.Parks - All 024 months

Operate our own sign shop, which improved

standardization of sign design, repurposed

signs, and lower cost to produce than using

contractor.

Uniformity of signs in all parks at lowered cost.

Also can make signs for other County

Departments.Parks-All

0-60 months

COUNTY PARKS BECOMES GREEN

CERTIFIED BUSINESS

• County Parks will become a

Green Certified Business

• Field offices will be consistent

with main administration office.

Purchasing policies will

become consistent. Change

purchasing of office supplies

through Green Office Depot to

green/recycled materials.

• Potential cost savings.

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STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVES

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Manage grasslands at Edgewood and San

Bruno Mountain for resilience from impacts

of accelerated brush succession, nitrogen

deposition, lack of grazing, and controlled

burns.

Manage scrub on SBM, and continue

mowing at Edgewood. As part of SBM

Master Plan update review opportunities for

grazing and burning.


Evaluation of landscape areas for more

drought resistant vegetation choices.

(1) Discuss with Ranger IVs where there

may be opportunities to remove or reduce

lawns within parks; possibly at Coyote Point,

Flood, San Pedro Valley, and Junipero Serra

parks. (3) Work with BAWUA and State of

CA to identify funding for vegetation

transitions (3) Work with rangers to improve

the irrigation systems in County Parks (4)

Explore the opportunity to capture storm

water run off for alternative irrigation water

sources


Forests in County Parks will be assessed

and managed for forest health, fire hazard

reduction, wildlife habitat and hazardous

trees.

Work with partners in a collaborative

stewardship approach across the Santa

Cruz Mountains to ensure resilient forests,

and healthy water and habitat. Establish

research, monitoring and metrics.


Developed BMPS for Regional Trail Design

and Management, Vegetation Management

Guidelines, and Watershed Protection

Standards.

Existing and standardize consistent

application of BMPs throughout Parks.

Working with Public Works to update the

Watershed Protection Standards for

Programmatic Permits for Creek and

Wetland projects.


Improved Coyote Point Promenade West

(windsurf area) to adapt to sea level rise. Completed Parks-1 0

STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVES

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Coyote Point Promenade East Sea level adaptation project that will

relocate parking and recreate a crenulate

shaped beach. Parks- 1

0-24 months

Remove salmonid fish migration barriers

in Memorial County Park

Completed removal of middle fork of San

Pedro Creek in San Pedro Valley in

2002,Fitzgerald Marine Reserve in 2003 ,

and West Union Creek in Huddart in

2005.


Update Water Rights concerning drafting

water from Pescadero Creek for

Memorial County Park Water Treatment

Plant to allow taking water during wet

season for storage and use during dry

season

Work with Resource Conservation District

and Water Rights Experts to address

year-round storage of water concerns and

constraints and update/revise water rights

to reflect changes in water withdrawal

schedule


Impaired Watershed Improvement

Program

1) Reduce TMDL issues in County Park

watersheds (e.g. sediment, bacteria,

heavy metals, etc. (2) Develop BMPs and

facilitate appropriate inspection schedules

to prevent facility failures. (3) Seek

funding opportunities to address legacy

forest practices in the Pescadero

Complex. (4) Continue to support efforts

to reduce bacteria impairments in the San

Pedro Creek watershed. (5) Work to

proactively manage the San Vicente

Creek watershed for bacteria to avoid the

need for TDML development.

Parks - 624-60 months

STEWARDSHIP HIGHLIGHT

• Forests in County Parks will be

assessed and managed for

forest health, fire hazard

reduction, wildlife habitat and

hazardous trees.

• Work with partners in a

collaborative stewardship

approach across the Santa

Cruz Mountains to ensure

resilient forests, and healthy

water and habitat. Establish

research, monitoring and

metrics.

• Inventory/assess our forests.

• .25

GENERAL/ADMIN INITIATIVES

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Digitize County Park maps to link to County

Facility Condition Information System

(FCIS)

$74,000 available. Must be completed by end of FY

2015-16. Saves huge amount of staff time by having

information universally available within County

departments. And provide overall greater visibility for

facility use and layout.

Office 0-12 months

Develop messaging opportunity that County

Parks is green and sustainable for County

Park employees and public

Strategic Plan developed in 2013. Consistent with

Goal 17: Provide accurate interpretive, directional,

informational, and safety information and signage to

enhance the visitor experience and give accurate

and educational information to the public.

Office 0-6 months

Form Green Team to implement

Sustainability Plan recommendations Management Team and Ranger IVs to implement. Office/Parks 0-24 months

Develop Green Report Card/Performance

MeasuresCurrently report recyclables past performance

measure by District.Office/Parks 0-12 months

Only duplex on main office and color printer

for office.Currently do in main office. Need to verify in field

offices.Office/Parks 0-6 months

Utilize website and social media for

communication with public about projects.On going. Office 0-6 months

Park maps and information are available on

County Park website.Ongoing Office 0-6 months

GENERAL/ADMIN HIGHLIGHT

• Develop New Performance

Measures to measure success

of Sustainability Plan

Initiatives.

• Currently only Sustainability

related performance measure

is related to quantity of

recyclable materials.

• Progress can be shared

decision makers and the

public.

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METRICS AND EVALUATION

• Evaluation strategy

o Develop role and action plan for Green Team to implement plan.

o Complete energy, water, and landscape audits and implement recommendations and measure savings.

o Recommend new performance measures for County Manager/Board of Supervisors/Public

• Evaluation plan

o We will put to use water saver and Utility Manager to identify areas where improvement needed to assist in altering behavior and achieve goals.

o Observe how use of alternate vehicles (bicycles, Kabotas) contribute to decrease in fuel consumption and vehicle wear and tear to consider expansion.

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METRICS AND EVALUATION

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• Analysis of results vs. projection

o Management staff and District Ranger IVs and

III will evaluate how well the plan achieves its

goals.

• Reporting

o Distribution: Use website, social media and

Annual Reports to distribute information

internally and externally about County Park

successes at implementation.

• Timing/frequency.

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FINANCIAL PLAN

• Define financial needs as a result of energy, water, and

landscape audits and request funding to implement

recommendations.

• Define other financial needs and seek sources of funding.

• Define opportunities for Measure A funding of County Parks

needs.

• If there are savings, identify a percentage that will be set aside

for future sustainability initiatives

KEYS TO SUCCESS

• Implementing these recommendations are consistent with

goals and objectives of County Park Strategic Plan.

• Roadmap for implementation of initiatives rolled out over

time.

• Complete energy, water and landscape audits.

• Green Team set up to help implement initiatives.

• Replace or upgrade existing aging to adapt to climate

change (i.e. Memorial Water and Waste Water Plants,

Coyote Point Eastern Promenade).

• Expected rewards will be through less waste of energy

and water and greater efficiency of resources via updated

infrastructure.

• Becoming Green Certified Business.

• Encourage collaboration within department and with other

County departments.

• Save money

• Messaging to community

o County Parks is on a journey to operate sustainably

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QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION

Documents

SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS DEPARTMENT · The San Mateo County Parks system has been in place for over 90 years and includes: • 20 Parks • Approximately 17,000 Acres • Approximately