After 20 years of planning, discussion and repair work in Potrero Canyon, an end appears to be in sight. City Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski has prepared a motion that if passed by the full council would permit the proceeds from the sale of the city-owned lots alongside the canyon to fund the completion of the infill project. The final phase (Phase III) of the estimated $30-million project includes establishing a 7-acre riparian habitat in the newly filled canyon at an estimated cost of between $7 and $12 million. In the California Coastal Commission’s original project approval in 1986, the commission placed restrictions on the sale of the city-owned lots in Potrero until the riparian habitat and park construction requirements were completed and funding for inspections and maintenance had been identified. Given the city’s current financial squeeze, these conditions have become increasingly difficult to meet. In negotiations with Commission staff, the city has sought permission to explore the immediate sale of some of the Potrero lots in order to fund the remainder of the work. Commission staff would be willing to consider this option if the city designates a specific and separate account into which all lot proceeds would be deposited, according to Miscikowski. The account would be specifically designated to pay for all remaining development and habitat restoration. Current work in Potrero Canyon involves completing Phase II by repairing two recent landslides and grading the remaining stockpiled soil. This final grading had been suspended owing to a lack of funds, estimated at $1.2 million. Miscikowski’s motion would authorize the City Controller to establish a separate account within Council District 11, entitled the Potrero Canyon Trust Fund, to capture 100 percent of the property resale proceeds for the 22 Potrero lots. Funds would be restricted to use for completion of Phases II and III (allocated to the Bureau of Engineering) via council motion and would be subject to further input from the affected community regarding design and planning of Phase III. In addition, the motion authorizes the General Manager of the General Services Department to obtain the necessary clearances from appropriate city departments to declare surplus the two city-owned lots on Alma Real and to deposit 100 percent of the net proceeds of the sale in the Potrero Canyon Trust Fund. (Declaring land surplus gives the General Services Department specific instructions to prepare those lots for sale.) The motion requests the city attorney to draft and prepare an ordinance that not only allows 100 percent of the net proceeds to be placed in the aforementioned account but also to limit the uses of these funds to Potrero Canyon Park Restoration and related improvements. The fund would be reviewed and audited annually. Finally, a Potrero Canyon Community Advisory Committee would be appointed to work with the city to ensure community participation in the future development of Potrero Canyon Park. The motion is expected to be reviewed by the Arts, Park, Health and Aging Committee sometime in September before being placed on the City Council calendar.
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