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Livermore council clears Dolan Preserve MOU amid resident concerns about trail access
Summary
Council discussion and public comment about item 6.8 focused on whether a Dolan Preserve memorandum of understanding would preserve trail access; staff said the proposed easement accommodates trails and the consent calendar motion passed; council asked staff to coordinate with East Bay Regional Park District and the property owner to clarify access.
A public commenter asked the City Council on Sept. 8 to defer or condition approval of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning the Dolan Preserve, saying the East Bay Regional Park District had shifted the property toward mitigation use and away from a previously planned community-access trail. Larry Gosselin, whose family owns adjacent ranchland, asked the council to either defer the MOU to allow Open Space Committee and LAFCO comment or condition approval so prior trail commitments would be honored.
During discussion, Assistant Senior Manager Paul Spence and planning staff said the property before council that evening is mitigation associated with interchange projects but that the agreement and easement can and have been designed to accommodate a trail and points of access. Spence said the separate agreement between the property owner and East Bay Regional Park District is independent of the city’s MOU, and staff offered to reach out to East Bay and the property owner and to bring back a report on trail alignment and access.
Vice Mayor Branning and other council members emphasized the trail’s importance and asked staff to ensure conversations occur with the park district and the property owner. The consent calendar — which included item 6.8 — passed unanimously after the council pulled only item 6.1 for separate consideration.
What’s next: staff will proceed under the MOU approved on the consent calendar and agreed to follow up with East Bay Regional Park District and the property owner to clarify trail access and alignment options; council indicated a willingness to allocate staff resources to help resolve access issues.
