sr-042679LNFORMATION Santa Monica, Califon°nia, April 26, 1979
T0: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Santa i~cnica Mountains National Recreation Area
Introduction
This report concerns the inclusion of the Santa Monica State Beach in the Santa
Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and the effect it may have on Santa
Monica.
Background
On March 26, 1979, Mrs. Marilyn Angle brought to staff's attention the fact that
the Santa Monica State Beach had been included in the boundaries of the Santa
Monica National Recreation Area which was established by Congress through Public
law 95-265, November 10, 1978. All previous maps which staff was acquainted with
regarding the Santa Monica Mountain Park did not include the Santa Ptonica State
Beach. It is staff's understanding that the boundary for the National Recreation
Area was drawn in Washington O.C. and is for study purposes only.
On April 2, 1979, staff met with the Park Superintendent assigned to this area
by the National Park Service as the administrator of the Park.
The land in question is the land owned by the State of California Department
of Parks and Recreation commonly. known as Santa Monica State Beach rhd is admin-
istered by the City of Santa Monica through the current operating agreement with
the State which expires in 1981.
Our concern with the inclusion of Santa Monica State Beach centers around
further control by another outside agency over this section of our City. The
T0: Mayor and City Council
-2-
April 26, 1979
limiting factor in any control the City might have over this inclusion is that the
City does not have title to the property involved. If the Gity does not wish to
be included in this National Recreation Area we may express our concern to the
State and request them to seek Congressional action to remove this portion of
their property from the Federal boundaries. At present, the Santa Monica State
Beach is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
The role that the Federal government, through the National Park Service, will
play in the operational aspects of this area is not yet defined. According
to the Area Administrator, their immediate function is to define and identify
the property to be acquired in the Santa Monica Mountains for public use. This
is to be submitted to the Secretary of the Interior by January, 1980. By January,
1981, a plan must be submitted to the Secretary of the Interior on the management
and operation of the Area encompassing the following:
1. Assessment of the capability and willingness of the State of
California and local units of government to manage and operate
the recreation area.
2. Recommend any changes in ownership, management and operation
which would better accomplish the purposes of this section.
3. Recommend any conditions, joint management agreements or other
land use mechanisms to be contingent on any transfer of land.
Access
Staff does not anticipate that this proposed National Park will directly affect
Santa Monica surface streets. Staff would anticipate that anyone wishing to avail
themselves of this new recreation facility would utilize the Ventura Freeway as
T0: Mayor and City Council
-3-
April 26, 1979
opposed to the Pacific Coast Highway. In fact, they make reference to the existing
congestion on the Coast Highway in their Preliminary Report as a hindrance should
anyone wish to use personal transportation and enter the park system via the
Coast Highway. It is staff's opinion that the public will not utilize the Santa
Monica City streets to gain access. The effect that the rock slide and subsequent
Pacific Coast Highway closure will have upon the access is unknown at this time,
Transportation
Staff has reviewed the work program, meeting minutes and copy of P.L. 95-625.
Little of the material seems substantive at this point and the proposals for
public transit are much too general to predict what effect, if any, there might
be on the Santa Monica Municipal Bus Lines.
A consultant will be hired by the Santa Monica Planning Commission who, working
in conjunction with SCAG and the County Road Department, will formulate a
transportation plan to service the new recreation area. Based upon the Santa Monica
Mountains Comprehensive Plan, they anticipate encouraging public transit and
particularly providing bus service for minority and low-income grcups from the
center city. Another factor that should be considered is that the consultant is
supposed to request input from the various governmental agencies who might be
affected by the National Recreation Area. Based on this requirement, staff believes
that if the consultant's reports are furnished on a regular basis to this office,
staff should be able to assess any potential impact that this new park system
would have on Santa Monica.
Other Considerations
Although the current effort does not include study of land uses, staff recommends
T0: Mayor and City C icil
-4-
April 26, 1979
that the City point out at every phase of the study of the National Recreation Area
that the continuation of the existing use of the Mission Canyon Landfill is
critical to the more than one million people of Santa Monica, Nest Los Angeles,
Beverly Hills, Culver City and surrounding areas.
In summary, the City of Santa Monica's concern over the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area is centered in three areas.
i. The Sanitary Landfill operation in Mission Canyon,
2. The operation of the Santa Monica State Beach; and,
3. The effect that the Recreation Area traffic will have upon Santa
Monica.
The Director of General Services, Director of Transportation, and the Director
of Recreation and Parks are monitoring this project and will keep Council abreast
as information becomes available.
Prepared by: Donald T. Arnett, Director
Recreation and Parks
Jack Hutchison, Director
Transportation
Stan Scholl, Director
General Services
DTA:pp
Attachments