Alhambra Hills Preserve Subject Of City Council Study Session

MARTINEZ, CA — The city of Martinez is hosting a study session next week to discuss the findings and recommendations of the recently finalized Alhambra Hills Public Access and Habitat Management Analysis prepared by the John Muir Land Trust though a services agreement.

The session is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20, in City Council Chambers. It will also be shown in real-time on Zoom at this link and via web browser using webinar ID 958 1601 1712and passcode ASDQWE. To attend the meeting by phone, call 669-900-6833 and enter the webinar ID and or passcode when prompted.

Council members will receive a presentation, hold a discussion, and provide direction to staff on the next steps to prioritize for the management of the Alhambra Hills Preserve. The property is situated about a mile south of John Muir's historic home and state Highway 4 and north of the Briones wilderness.

A developer's plan to build homes on 109 hillside lots on 72 acres of the site was approved more than a decade ago. However, a movement to preserve the area picked up steam amid construction delays. Jamie Fox, who led the petition effort, said he found evidence John Muir owned a parcel at the site's northern end during the 1890s.

At the will of Martinez voters who approved Measure F in June 2022, the city acquired the 297.5-acre property for permanent public parkland and wildlife habitat. The sale and purchase of the property was completed in November 2022.

In March, the city secured the professional assistance of the John Muir Land Trust via a professional services agreement for $40,000. An initial assessment was conducted by the land trust and was intended to help the city evaluate and prioritize the next steps in managing the property and ultimately opening it up to the public for use.

The land trust enlisted the services of Vollmar Natural Lands Consulting to assist with the preparation of the report titled "Alhambra Hills Public Access and Habitat Management Analysis."

The City Council also allocated $100,000 in general rund reserves as part of the adopted fiscal year 2023-2024 Capital Improvement Program to assist with the development/implementation of an open space improvement plan for the property.

The 58-page report has been reviewed by land trust staff and is finalized now for public review.

To address the public's interest in accessing the property, the city negotiated a parking lot use agreement with Bethany Baptist Church, 5850 Alhambra Ave. The agreement allowed for public use of the parking lot on the church’s property adjacent to the fire road access gate along Alhambra Avenue on select dates and times —Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings — as part of docent-led hikes. Eight hikes were coordinated via an RSVP process managed by the city's Recreation Division, with a total of 201 participants. Based on the success of these hikes, staff intends to amend the agreement with the church to provide additional dates and times in 2024.

To properly plan and implement the phased opening of the Alhambra Highlands property to the public, the city needs to work through the following several issues addressed in the document:

• Update the 2022 Grazing Management Plan prepared by LSA & Associates to address the gaps identified in Alhambra Hills Public Access and Habitat Management Analysis
• Based on the updated plan, determine the scope for grazing on the Alhambra Hills premises and enter into grazing license agreements for cattle grazing
• Determine where pedestrian-friendly gates should be installed to minimize livestock egress (potentially grazer’s shared responsibility)
• Determine preferred points of public access and where to park.
• Determine where emergency vehicle access locations should be established.
• Address the issue of dogs, bikes and horses on the property, and conditions under which these might be allowed (note: dogs and bikes are NOT advisable per the analysis)
• Identify the existing hiking/riding trails on the property and how they should continue to be used once the city opens the property to the public.
• Identify recommended improvements that could or should be constructed (e.g. benches, overlooks, informational signage regarding allowable uses, existing fire road locations, where not to hike, and sensitive plant and animal species on the property)
• Discuss the potential for continuing the non-exclusive use of Bethany Baptist Church parking lot for docent-led hikes for spring/summer 2024.
• Discuss the potential for a long-term arrangement, change of location for the access gate, and center/left-turn divider onto Alhambra Avenue.
• Discuss the interest, timing and benefit of completing a conservation easement review and assessment.
• Identify connectivity to other available trails and potential for partnership with other organizations.