CITY COUNCIL: Report & Policy Guidance on Modification to Devendorf Park

Meeting Date: October 5, 2010
Prepared by: Mike Branson

City Council
Agenda Item Summary

Name: Receive report and provide policy guidance on modifications to Devendorf Park.
Description: During its regular meeting of 4 February 2010, the Forest and Beach Commission
reviewed a proposal presented by Carmel resident Barbara Livingston to open up the
Mission Street side of the park and to remove the camellia shrubs growing beneath the
large signature oak tree near the corner of Ocean Ave. and Mission St. Her full proposal
is included as Attachment 1.

Overall Cost:
City Funds: Unknown.
Grant Funds: Not applicable.

Staff Recommendation: Provide policy direction regarding the proposed modifications to
Devendorf Park.

Important Considerations: The Forest and Beach Commission reviewed the proposal on 4 February
2010 and made three recommendations: 1) to substantially cut back the camellias to
accent the heritage oak; 2) look into the possibility of a new “Y” entrance from Mission
Street; and 3) leave the hedge on Mission Street as a barrier between the Park and the
street.

Decision Record: The Forest and Beach Commission reviewed the current proposal on 4 February
2010 and a similar proposal on 7 November 2002.

Reviewed by:

______________________________ _________________
Rich Guillen, City Administrator Date

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR McCLOUD AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
THRU: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: MIKE BRANSON, CITY FORESTER
DATE: 23 SEPTEMBER 2010
SUBJECT: REVIEW AND PROVIDE POLICY GUIDANCE ON
MODIFICATIONS TO DEVENDORF PARK
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Provide policy direction regarding the proposed modifications to Devendorf Park.
BACKGROUND
Carmel resident Barbara Livingston presented a proposal to the City to modify Devendorf
Park to open up the Park to Mission Street that would remove the camellia shrubs growing
beneath the large coast live oak tree near the corner of Mission Street and Ocean Avenue.
REVIEW
The Forest and Beach Commission reviewed the proposal on 4 February 2010. After
discussion and public input, the Commission recommended: 1) substantially cutting back the
camellias to accent the heritage oak; 2) looking into the possibility of a new “Y” entrance
from Mission Street; and 3) leaving the hedge on Mission Street as a barrier between the
Park and the street. A similar proposal was discussed by the Forest and Beach Commission
in 2002, but no recommendations were given or action was taken.
FISCAL IMPACT
Costs associated with the proposed changes will depend on the level of implantation. Minor
items could be performed in-house, but a new pathway and/or large-scale plant removal may
be contracted out.
SUMMARY
The proposal to modify Devendorf Park was reviewed and discussed by the Forest and Beach
Commission. The Commission made the three recommendations outlined above.
Council has four options to consider:
1. Leave as is – status quo.
2. Implement the proposal as outlined in Barbara Livingston’s message.
3. Modify implementation per the Forest and Beach Commission recommendations.
4. Decide on another level of implementation.
85
Attachment #1
Devendorf Park Improvements
Barbara Livingston
August 24, 2009
TO: Mayor, Council Members and City Administrator
To make Devendorf Park more user friendly, more accessible to visitors and
residents, especially during the major CBTS festivals which are staged on Mission
Street between Ocean and 6th and include events in the Park:
Create a wide (50 feet minimum) entry on west side (Mission Street side) of park.
Remove fence (save for use elsewhere in park). Remove shrubbery, spread chips
as a connecting path to the lawn area. (Ideally, remove entire hedge and rail
fencing.)
Do not change the north or east sides of park.
The view into the park at the corner of Ocean and Mission, is totally obscured by a
forbiddingly dense dark grove of camellia bushes with potential for public
nuisance and safety issues. Cut these camellias to the ground under and around
the heritage oak and spread chips to cover the ground. This will create a friendly
open entry at this important corner where people like to congregate. Install the
saved rail fencing around the tree to keep people from trampling the surface roots
of the heritage oak.
Use ROP and Middle School Habitat kids under the supervision of Craig
Hohenberger and Greg D’Ambrosio to do this work as they did for city-school
projects at Forest Hills Park, Mission Trails Nature Preserve and elsewhere. We
have a track record of those good work products. Cost for the project can be billed
against the school grant funds from the city, but surely cutting shrubbery to the
ground and removing fencing can not cost a lot of money.
Note: The idea for opening up the west side of the park came from Fred Kent,
noted urban landscape designer (Project for Public Spaces) who visited Carmelby-
the-Sea years ago and toured our parks and open spaces with City
Administrator Jere Kersnar and Planning Commissioner Pope Coleman. These
ideas were taken to the F & B Commission but stalled at that level.
Additionally the city could tap into the natural spring under the park branch library
parking lot. Install underground storage tank (like at Del Mar) for irrigating
Devendorf. This will be especially helpful should water for gardens be severely
curtailed or totally eliminated.