The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My Public Portal About20010101 - Agenda Packet - Board of Directors (BOD) (25) Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Meeting 11-10 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT And Regular Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority 330 Distel Circle Los Altos,California Wednesday,April 27, 2011 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT BEGINS AT 5:00 P.M.* REGULAR MEETING OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.* REGULAR MEETING OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FINANCING AUTHORITY AT 8:00 P.M.* AGENDA SPECIAL MEETING 5:00 ROLL CALL SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT— CLOSED SESSION 1. CLOSED SESSION:PUBLIC EMPLOYEE EMPLOYMENT AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION— CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENT CODE §54957(B)(1). TITLE OF EMPLOYEES: GENERAL MANAGER AND GENERAL COUNSEL 2. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS,GOVERNMENT CODE §54957.6 AGENCY NEGOTIATORS—BOARD APPOINTEE EVALUATION COMMITTEE UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES—GENERAL MANAGER AND GENERAL COUNSEL REPORT ON RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION(IF NECESSARY)(The Board shall publicly state any reportable action taken in Closed Session pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.1) REGULAR MEETING 7:00 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT- PUBLIC SESSION ROLL CALL ORAL COMMUNICATIONS-PUBLIC ADOPTION OF AGENDA 7:05 CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approve Minutes of the District's Special and Regular Meeting—March 23,2011 2. Approve Revised Claims Report 3. Approve Written Communications—R.Winterlin 4. Approval of Communications Site Lease Agreement Amendment and Exercise of Option with Crown Castle MU LLC,at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve—E.Cuzick 7:10 BOARD BUSINESS 5. Informational Presentation on the San Francisco Bay Area Upland Habitat Goals Project—C.Cleve and K. Lenington 6. Authorization to Extend the Existing Contract with Design Concepts for Graphic Design Services for a Portion of Fiscal Year 2011-2012—K. Britt 7. Appointment of Director to the Ad Hoc Board Appointee Evaluation Committee—L. Hassett 8. Tentative Adoption of the Complete Set of Resource Management Policies of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District—K. Lenington 9. Authorization to Purchase Five(5)Vehicles at a Total Cost Not to Exceed$395,000—D.Topley 10. Resolution Ratifying Approval to Issue 2011 Revenue Bonds—M.Foster ADJOURNMENT TO MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FINANCING AUTHORITY MEETING 8:00 REGULAR MEETING OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FINANCING AUTHORITY -PUBLIC SESSION 1. Resolution Ratifying Approval to Issue 2011 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority Revenue Bonds—M. Foster 8:10 RECONVENE TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT—PUBLIC SESSION INFORMATIONAL REPORTS—Reports on compensable meetings attended.Brief reports or announcements concerning activities of District Directors and staff;opportunity to refer public or Board questions to staff for factual information;request staff to report back to the Board on a matter at a future meeting;or direct staff to place a matter on a future agenda. A. Committee Reports B. Staff Reports C. Director Reports ADJOURNMENT * Times are estimated and items may appear earlier or later than listed.Agenda is subject to change of order. �I TO ADDRESS THE BOARD: The Chair will invite public comment on agenda items at the time each item is considered by the Board of Directors. You may address the Board concerning other matters during Oral Communications. Each speaker will ordinarily be limited to three minutes.Alternately,you may comment to the Board by a written communication, which the Board appreciates. Consent Calendar:All items on the Consent Calendar may be approved without discussion by one motion. Board members, the General Manager, and members of the public may request that an item be removed from the Consent Calendar during consideration of the Consent Calendar. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,if you need assistance to participate in this meeting,please contact the District Clerk at(650)691-1200. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the District to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting. Written materials relating to an item on this Agenda that are considered to be a public record and are distributed to Board members less than 72 hours prior to the meeting,will be available for public inspection at the District's Administrative Office located at 330 Distel Circle,Los Altos,California 94022. 1,Michelle Radcliffe,District Clerk for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District(MROSD),declare that the foregoing amended agenda for the Regular Meeting of the MROSD Board of Directors was posted and available for review on April 22,2011,at the Administrative Offices of MROSD,330 Distel Circle,Los Altos California,94022. The agenda is also available on the District's web site at http://www.openspace.org. Signed this 22❑d day of April,at Los Altos,California. District Clerk Apri122,2011 It t Claims No. 11-07 Meeting 11-11 Date 4/27/11 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District # Amount Name Description 15017 $20,500.44 Clean Harbors Environmental Services Emergency Response-Hazardous Materials Clean Up And Containment At Bear Creek Redwoods 15018 $16,432.08 Weiss Associates Water Supply Evaluation-Beatty Property 15019 $14,917.50 Geocon Consultants Hicks Flat Mercury Remediation Plan&Construction Oversight 15020 $13,519.03 The Ferguson Group Legislative Consultant-Lobbyist For Mt. Umunhum 15021 $13,344.89 Kier&Wright Civil Engineers& Boundary Survey At Monte Bello-Lysons Surveyors 15022 $12,500.00 Stewart Woods&Associates Fundraising Consulting Services 15023 $7,408.78 Sol's Mobile Service Vehicle Maintenance&Repairs 15024 $7,200,00 Go Native District Wide Vegetation Management 15025 $6,295.16 Design Concepts Graphic Design Services-Brochures/Header For Outdoor Activities Newsletter/Business Cards/Meet&Greet Layout Options/Coffee Table Book/Spanish Fact Sheet 15026 $5,000.00 Amarach Management Estimating Services For Mt. Umunhum Site Demolition 15027 $4,787.58 Schafer Consulting Consulting Services-Integrated Accounting&Financial Software Selection, Evaluation&Implementation 15028 $4,332.63 Page&Turnbull Architectural&Engineering Services-Folger House Remodel 15029 $3,360.00 Decatur Electronics Three Radar Units&Cases 15030 $3,200.00 Page&Turnbull Historic Resource Study-Mt.Thayer Buildings 15031 $2,800.00 Aladdin Painting Painting-SFO 15032 $2,409.66 Callander Associates Landscape Bay Trail Concept Plan Study At Ravenswood Architecture 15033 $2,195.00 Joan Hamilton Consulting Services-Develop Interpretive Audio Content/ Guided Trail Tours At Skyline Ridge And Alpine Pond 15034 $2,043.00 Cupertino Medical Group Employee Medical Services 15035 $2,028A5 La Piana Consulting Consulting Services For Strategic Plan 15036 $2,000.00 Conservation By Design Consulting Services-District Wide Interpretive Plan 15037 $1,840.74 Cabela's Trail Camera's&Accessories 15038 $1,530.38 West Coast Aggregates Drain Rock For Repairs On Various Trails&Lots 15039 $1,395.00 Pouncing Pachyderm Productions Pond Mural Refurbishment-Daniels Nature Center 15040 $1,318.85 Dell Business Credit Microsoft Office For AO/Acrobat X For SAO&FFO 15041 $1,317.95 Tannerhecht Architecture Architecture Services For SFO Remodel 15042 $1,304.61 Metro Mobile Communications Radio For SAO 15043 $1,081.32 San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Nest Surveys At Monte Bello Burn Area 15044 $882.28 Pape' Machinery Oil,Filters&Parts For Tractor 15045 $750.00 Lisa Wangsness Artwork For Geocaching&Children's Programming 15046 $682.66 Graniterock Base Rock For Repairs On Various Trails&Lots 15047 $645.67 Lab Safety Supply Respirator Supplies 15048 $609.10 San Jose Water Company Water Service-RSA 15049 $554.84 Simms Plumbing&Water Equipment Water Tank Repair-Rental Residence 15050 $493.01 CMK Automotive Vehicle Maintenance&Repairs 15051 $432.21 Gempler's Respirator Supplies&Safety Glasses 15052 $427,61 Cresco Equipment Rental Equipment Rental-Telescopic Boom Lift To Repair Open Air Barn At DHF 15053 $393.08 All Star Glass Windshield For Patrol Truck 15054 $375.00 *1 Elkhorn Slough Foundation Registration Fee-Red Legged Frog Workshop 15055 $348.73 West Payment Center Annual Subscription 15056 $280.62 Coony,Gina Reimbursement-Mileage&Boots 15057 $278.59 Great Printing&Copies Printing Services-Spaces&Species Passports 15058 $277.19 Uline Storage Containers For SFO Shop 15059 $275.37 Royal Brass Regulator For Air Compressor/Degreaser 15060 $273.68 Accountemps Accounting Temp Page 1 of 2 l ' Claims No. 11-07 Meeting 11-11 Date 4/27/11 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District # Amount Name Description 15061 $245.81 Craftsmen Printing Printing Services-Business Cards 15062 $229.21 Sunnyvale Ford Vehicle Maintenance&Repairs 15063 $225.00 Del Rey Building Maintenance Cleaning Service-Nature Center 15064 $221.05 The Workingman's Emporium Uniform Expenses 15065 $217.18 California Water Service Company Water Service-FFO 15066 $209.24 Big Creek Lumber Concrete For Gate Posts At Purisima Creek Redwoods 15067 $203.97 Foster Brothers Sesame Locks&Nature Center Keys 15068 $187.67 Green Waste Garbage Service-SFO 15069 $181.58 Mission Valley Ford Install Trailer Brake Control 15070 $176.02 Target et Specialty Products Landscaping Supplies 15071 $164.00 Gorman,Michael Reimbursement-Uniform Expense 15072 $155.14 Hertz Equipment Rental Equipment Rental-Stump Grinder To Remove Various Stumps At RSA 15073 $145.00 Stevens Creek Chrysler Jeep Dodge Repair A/C-Maintenance Truck 15074 $141.95 The Mercury News Legal Ad For Big Dipper Ranch Road Restoration Project 15075 $139.53 Emergency Vehicle Solutions Repair Spotlight On Patrol Truck 15076 $130.02 Pape' Material Handling Bobcat Oil 15077 $126.00 Palo Alto Medical Foundation Employee Medical Services 15078 $121.12 McKowan, Paul Reimbursement-Volunteer Supplies 15079 $110.31 Mission Trail Waste Systems Garbage Service-AO 15080 $105.00 County Of San Mateo Human Training Course-Word 2007 Intermediate Resources Department 15081 $104.36 Turf&Industrial Equipment Company Spray Rig Supplies 15082 $104.00 Pine Cone Lumber Redwood Rail For Wild Cat Loop Bridge AT RSA 15083 $102.00 Gibbons,Stephen Reimbursement-Uniform Expense 15084 $88.05 Ruiz,Ana Reimbursement-Cell Phone&Mileage 15085 $86.73 Orlandi Trailer Trailer Supplies-Lamp&Wire Cable 15086 $84.10 PT Armor Body Armor Cover 15087 $81.50 Miller,Ken Reimbursement-EMT Refresher Class Fee 15088 $78.00 Pacific Telemanagement Services Pay Phone-Black Mountain 15089 $54.59 Sears Field Supplies 15090 $50.49 Fitzsimons,Renee Reimbursement-Mileage 15091 $46.84 Muniquip Throttle Lever For Field Equipment 15092 $44.57 Tadco Supply Janitorial Supplies 15093 $25.25 Rayne Of San Jose Water Service-Fremont Older 15094 $21.84 Tooland Field Supply 15095 $18.44 Gardenland Power Equipment Safety Glasses&Saw Parts 15096 $17.21 Langley Hill Quarry Drain Rock For Ford Property Access Road 15097 $15.00 Tires On The Go Tire Repair 15098 $12.95 Recognition Specialties Name Badge 15099 $12.00 Cecily Harris Reimbursement-Bank Fee Total $168,525.41 '1 Urgent Check Issued 4/21/11 Page 2 of 2 � � Claims No. 11'07 Meeting 11-11 Date 4/27/11 Revised Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District # Amount Name Description 15017 $20.5004* Clean Harbors Environmental Services Emergency Response-Hazardous Materials Clean u»And Containment At Bear Creek Redwoods 15018 *18.43208 Weiss Associates Water Supply Evaluation Beatty Property 1501e $14.e17.50 GeoconCunvuxantm mcxu Flat Mercury nemodi000n Plan&Construction Oversight 15020 $13.519.03 The Ferguson Group Legislative Consultant-Lobbyist For Mt. Umunhum 15021 *13.3**u9 Kier&Wright Civil Engineers& avunuaryaumevxxMnnteoaUn-Lyspnx Surveyors 15022 $12.500.00 Stewart Woods&Associates Fundraising Consulting Services 15023 n7.40878 On|'s Mobile Service Vehicle Maintenance uRepairs 15024 $7.200.00 Go Native District Wide Vegetation Management 15025 *6.295.10 Design Concepts Graphic Design Services-Brochures/Header For Outdoor Activities Newsletter/Business Cards/Meet&Gee,Layout Options/Coffee Tuu|u ovox/Spanish Fact Sheet 15026 $5,000.00 xmomnh Management Estimating Services For Mt. umunxum Site Demolition 1e027 $4.787.58 Schafer Consulting Consulting Services-Integrated Accounting&Financial Software Selection, Evaluation&Implementation � � 15028 $4.332a3 Page&Turnbull Architectural&Engineering Services-rolgor House Remodel � 15029 $3.360.00 Decatur Electronics Three Radar Units&Cooeo 15030 $3.200.00 Page&Turnbull niaturioResnvrceGmdv-Mt.Thuya,ouimingo 1e031 $2.000.00 Aladdin Painting Painting'sFo � 15032 $2.408.88 CaUonuo,Associates Landscape Bay Trail Concept Plan Study/wRavenswood � � Architecture 15033 $2.195�00 Joan Hamilton Consulting Services-Develop Interpretive Audio Content / � Guided Trail Tours At Skyline Ridge And Alpine Pond � 15034 $2n43on C"�mno��mo|G�un smn|��m�i�|8emi�� . � � 15035 $2.028.*5 La Pianaomoumng Consulting Services For Strategic Plan 15036 $2,000.00 Conservation By Design Consulting Services'District Wide Interpretive Plan � 15037 $1.8*0.7* Couo|o'o Trail Camera's&Accessories � � 1e038 $1,530.38 West Coast Aggregates Drain Rock For Repairs On Various Trails&Lots � 1503e *1.395.00 Pouncing Pachyderm Productions Pond Mural Refurbishment-Daniels Nature Center � � � 15040 $1.318.85 Dell Business Credit Microsoft Office For AO/Acrobat X For 8An&ppO 15041 %1.317.9e Tann,,oecmArcx|tectum Architecture Services For 8FORemodel 150*2 $1.304.81 Metro Mobile Communications Radio For S*O � 15043 *1.081.32 San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Nest Surveys Au Monte Bello Burn Area � � 15044 $882.28 pone' Machinery Oil,Filters&Parts For Tractor � � 15045 $750.00 LisaVvongoneos Artwork For Geocacxing&Chi|dmn'mProgramming 150*6� $082.s* Groniteroom Base Rock For Repairs On Various Trails&Lots � 150*7 $8*5.67 Lab Safety Supply Respirator Supplies � � 150*8 m60910 San Jose Water Company Water Service'RSA � 1504e $e54�84 Simms Plumbing u vvaoa,Equipment Water Tank Repair'Rental Residence � � 15050 $493o1 CMn*vmmmme Vehicle Maintenance&Repairs 15051 $43221 Gempmra Respirator Supplies&Safety Glasses � � 15052 *427.81 Cresco Equipment Rental Equipment Rental-Telescopic Boom Lift Tn Repair Open Air � Barn Axm*F � 15053 $393.08 All Star Glass Windshield For Patrol Truck � 15054 $375.00 ~1 Emxvm Slough Foundation nog|mtnuuon Fee'Red Legged Frog Workshop � � 15055 $348.73 West Payment Center Annual Subscription � � 15050 *280.62 onnny.omo Reimbursement'Mileage&Boots � 15057 $278.59 Great Printing&Copies Printing Services-Spaces&Species Passports � 15058 $277 18 Uono Storage Containers For SrOShop 15059 *275.37 Royal Brass Regulator For Air Compressor/Degreaser 15000 *27168 8ccounmmpo Accounting Temp � � Page,ofn � " ' Claims No. 11'07 Meeting 11-11 Date 4/27/11 Revised MidpeninsuUa Regional Open Space District # Amount Name Description 15061 $245.81 Craftsmen Printing Printing Services'Business Cards 15062 %22911 Sunnyvale Ford Vehicle Maintenance&Repairs 1e063 $225.00 Del Rey Building Maintenance Cleaning Service'Nature Center 150*4 $221.05 The Workingman's Emporium Uniform Expenses 15065 $217.18 California Water Service Company vVate,Som|ce-ppD 15066 *209.2* Big Creek Lumber Concrete For Gate Posts/wpuhs|me Creek Redwoods 15067 $203.87 rvme,Brothers Sesame Locks u womm Center Keys 15068 $187a7 Green Waste Garbage Somicn-GFO 15069 $181.58 Mission Valley Ford Install Trailer Brake Control 15070 $178.02 Target Specialty Products Landscaping Supplies 15071 $1e4.00 Gorman,Michael Reimbursement'Uniform Expense 15072 $15e.14 Hertz Equipment Rental Equipment Rental-Stump Grinder ry Remove Various Stumps At RSA 15073 $1*5.00 Stevens Creek Chrysler Jeep Dodge Repair A/C-Maintenance Truck 15074 $1*1.95 The Mercury News Legal*u For Big Dipper Ranch Road Restoration Project � 15075 $139.53 Emergency Vehicle Solutions Repair Spotlight Un Patrol Truck � 15076 $130.02 Pape' Material Handling Bobcat Oil � 15077 $120.00 Palo Alto Medical Foundation Employee Medical Services 15078 $121 12 Mommwan. rau| Reimbursement'Volunteer Supplies � � 15079 $110.31 Mission Trail Waste Systems GarbwgeGervme-AO � 15080 *105.00 County Of San Mateo Human Training Course'Word uO07Intermediate � Resources Department 15081 $104.36 Turf u Industrial Equipment Company Spray Rig Supplies 15082� $10400 Pine Cone Lumber Redwood Rail For v,vv � � 15088 o103.00 Gibbons,Stephen Reimbursement'Uniform Expense 1508* $8&0e Ruiz,Ana Reimbursement'Cell Phone&Mileage 150e5 $os�7a O,|anu|Tmno, Trailer 8uppoeo-Lamp&vvineCable � � 15086 $8410 PT Armor Body Armor Cover 1uno7 �a1ao mme,. wen Reimbursement EMT Rehes»e,Class Fee � 15088 *78.00 Pacific TelemunugomemServices PoyPhvno-a|aoxMvuntom � � 1*089 $54.58 Gears Field Supplies � � � 15080 $50.*9 Fitzsimons, wonoo Rnimbummmem-Mihuqe 1*091 $46.8* Muniqu|p Throttle Lever For Field Equipment � � 15092 $44.57 TadcoGupply Janitorial Supplies � � 150e3 $25.25 Rayne Cn San Jose Water Service'Fremont Older � ,aoo* $21.84 Tou|end Field Supply � � 15095 *18.*4 Gaodenland Power Equipment Safety Glasses&Saw Parts � 15096 *17.21 Langley Hill Quarry Drain Rock For Ford Property Access Road � 15097 $15.00 Tires On The Go Tire Repair � 15098 o12.9e Recognition Specialties Name Badge � 150e9 *12o0 Cem|ynur,ia nvimuumement-ounxpee � 15100w $2.490.58 RinxGmema Land Surveyor-Lot Line Adjustment u Parcel Map For Crazy � pevs'e Road/Fogarty Property Line 15101n $2.23815 Concern Employee Assistance Program Quarterly Fee � 15102n $2.201 85 Office Depot Office Supplies/Copy Paper/Paper Trimmer/Tape Dispensers /Binding Covers/Labels/Calculator/Envelopes/Correction Tape/Flash Drive/Computer Backup Battery/Storage Bins 15103n $1,571.95 Go,n Mobile Service Vehicle Repairs QService 15104n $1.22800 LrnAnARCA0GCompany Engineer&Design Services-ECOM Staging Area Project 15105R $1.15925 Metro Mobile Communications Install Base Station Radio/w8AO 15106R $788.24 Patsono Media Group Business Cards/Fact Sheets � � Page zmn � � ~ , Claims No. 11-07 KXoabnQ 11-11 Dote 4/27/11 Revised Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District � # Anxpmmt Name Description 15107n $665.67 Media Center Skyline Tree Farm Video Project � 15108n $548.16 United Site Services Sanitation Services-Sierra Azu|u Fremont Older 15109n $546.74 AmuriGus pmpone-Ranta|Rooidnncea � 15110R *538.81 A000untempn Accounting Temp � 15111 n $aOu�oo Association cn Bay Area Governments Annual Membership 15112* $314s4 Summit Uniforms Uniform Expenses � 1e113R $165.11 Petty Cash Break Room&Office Supplies/Parking&Mileage/Business Related Meals � 1511*w $1*0.00 Half Moon Bay Review Notice[f Invitation To Bid-Big Dipper Ranch Road Restoration � 15115n $12r** Gtup|oo Office 8'eeox Room Supplies � 15116n $114.75 *uQg.Tino Reimbursement'Mileage 15117n $10280 Fcuex Shipping Charges � 15118n $102.00 Junoh. Miohoo| neimbursement-UnifbnnExpenve � 15119n $100.00 Town{fWoodside Room Rental Deposit For Slender False BmmoCommunity � vvom,hup 15120n $88.57 The Workingman's Emporium Uniform Expenses � 15121 R $78.66 Gorman,Michael Reimuursemont-Uniformexpenuo 15122n $71o0 Radcliffe, Michelle neimbursnmen\-woxory Expenses � � 15123n $43.00 *Uen's Press Clipping Bureau Clipping Service � 15124R $19.01 United Parcel Service Parcel Shipping � 15125n $18.00 Tn»yGnNoarg-SunmClamva|ley County Park Parking Fees For"Amazing Bird Chase"Event Audubon Society Total $184,510'19 ~1 Urgent Check Issued 4/21/11 � Page xmx ' IMidpeninsula Regional Open Space District • j To: Board of Directors From: Stephen E. Abbors Date: April 27 2011 Re: Written Communications April 27, 2011 Ronald Winterlin E-Mail Address: rcw@myastound.net Dear Mr. Winterlin, Thank you for your letter to the Board of Directors dated April 8, 2011. We are sorry to hear that you did not get the precise information from our staff that you were seeking. I would like to reassure you that this was an oversight and in no way based on staff's ill will. However, please also be assured that you will get more personalized messages in the future. Of course we are thrilled to hear, and we deeply appreciate, that you have been a supporter of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for over two decades. It takes people like you to maintain the quality of life that this area is so famous for and to preserve vital open space lands that provide clean water and air. I very much hope that you were able to see this year's display of spring wildflowers at Russian Ridge — a great visual manifestation of our land protection programs many benefits — and I would like to close with the hope that you will continue to enjoy the exciting and informative activities, led by our knowledgeable and dedicated docents, that we are proud to offer each month. Thank you for your continued interest in the District. Sincerely, Larry Hassett, Board President Michelle Radcliffe From: Steve Abbors Sent: Saturday, April 09, 2011 10:23 AM To: rcw@myastound.net; BOARD; Clerk; Vicky Gou; General Information Cc: Cindy Roessler; Rudy Jurgensen Subject: RE: 04/08/2011 - rcw@myastound.net-Contact Board Dear Mr. Winterlin, I just received your email am sorry you have not been able to get the information you seek. Staff are normally very responsive and I am 100% sure it was not Teresa's intent to appear rude to you. But that was your experience, so we'll take steps to be sure that our future messages are more informative and less impersonal. But, to your question - because of the unusually cold and rainy weather we have been experiencing, the bloom on Russian Ridge is late this year. I spoke with Cindy Roessler, our Russian Ridge Botanical expert just now and she indicates that this weekend would not be the best becacuse many species are lagging because of the weather. Cindy believes that the following 2-3 weeks will be much more productive and she can give you specific information about weekday walks and their timing. But, to nail it down further, she is going to Russian Ridge this Monday and will e-mail her best advice to you early in the week. That should provide you with the best intel available. On a more personal note, I would encourage to drive up Page Mill Road this weekend, if you have the time. The chaparral community (especially Ceanothus) is in full bloom and as you get to the higher elevations, you will see colonies of red "spiky"plants in the woodland, especially on the south side of the road. These are Indian Warriors and this is the most spectacular display of that species I have seen...anywhere, ever. Google is a good way to see what they look like. The latin name is Pedicularis densiflora. If you need to contact me personally, my office number is (650) 625-6520. 1 regret you had a bad experience. I hope this will begin to answer the question you originallyasked. Best Regards - Steve q Y Stephen E. Abbors General Manager sabbors@openspace.org Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022 P: (650) 691-1200 - F: (650) 691-0485 From: rcw@myastound.net [rcw@myastound.net] Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 10:06 PM To: BOARD; Clerk; Vicky Gou; General Information Subject: 04/08/201 1 - rcw@myastound.net - Contact Board First Name: Ronald Last Name: Winterlin Email Address: rcw myastound.net Ward / Location: San Mateo, CA Comments: Dear BoD of Mid-Peninsula Open Space: What is important is that you realize that I have been a HUGE supporter of the Mid-Peninsula Open Space Preserve ever since I moved here over 23 years ago. I am recently retired and this year would like to see what 1 everyone is talking about concerning the spring wildflowers at Russian Ridge. I live many miles from it so thought I would try and find out what the current status is so I can schedule one of the WEEK DAY walks. I sent an e-mail to the general "info" e-mail address only to get a generic response from Teresa Gibson that advised me to go on my own - here are her words: "Hello Ronald, You are welcome to join our docent-led hikes, but please also feel free to explore on your own as well, especially because it is difficult to determine precisely when the peak time of the wildflower bloom will be." This is not helpful and I requested that she simply contact one of the docents or let me, so I will know what date to choose (this month or next), Unfortunately, she did not even bother to respond which to me is very unprofessional and quite frankly RUDE. 1 will tell you that I have considered making a significant estate bequest to your organization, but now am put off and will reconsider based on this experience. Ron Winterlin 2 Midpeninsula Regional • ' 1 Open Space District R-11-53 Meeting 11-10 April 27, 2011 AGENDA ITEM 4 AGENDA ITEM Approval of Communications Site Lease Agreement Amendment and Exercise of Option with Crown Castle MU LLC, at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATIONS ��W 1. Determine that the recommended action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because there is no possibility of a significant impact on the environment. 2. Adopt the attached Board Resolution authorizing execution of the attached Communications Site Lease Agreement Amendment and Exercise of Option with Crown Castle MU LLC. SUMMARY Crown Castle MU LLC (Lessee) is exercising the second five (5) year option to extend their 2000 Communications Site Lease (Lease). Staff has negotiated a new minimum monthly rental rate of$4,292 (retroactive to October 1, 2010). for the first year of this option in addition to 4% annual increases for the remaining four(4) years. Additionally, the attached Board Resolution authorizes the General Manager to negotiate, in accordance with the Lease, and to approve or disapprove future Lessee elections to exercise its two remaining options to extend the Lease. The General Manager shall report to the Board following any subsequent exercise of an option by Lessee. DISCUSSION At the meeting of September 13, 2000 (R-00-118), the Board approved the Lease with Mountain Union Telecom, LLC (Original Lessee) for a communications facility located at Black Mountain, Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve for an Initial Term of five (5) years, with four(4) options to extend the Term for five years each. On or around November 2006, the Lessee became the successor-in-interest to Original Lessee and assumed the Original Lessee's rights, duties and obligations under the Lease. The Lessee has now exercised the second option to extend the Lease an additional five years. R-11-53 Page 2 The monthly rental rate is the greater of the following: 1) a minimum monthly rental rate; or 2) twenty-five percent (25%) of Lessee's gross monthly fees received from its subtenants. The Lease allows for negotiation of the minimum monthly rental rate for the first year and the annual percentage increase for remaining four(4) years of this second five(five) year option. Staff has negotiated a new minimum monthly rental rate of$4,292 (retroactive to October 1, 2010) for the first year of this option in addition to 4% annual increases for the remaining four(4) years as noted below. The new minimum monthly rental rate represents a 4% increase from the prior year's minimum monthly rental rate of$4,127. October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011 $4,292 per month October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012 $4,464 per month October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013 $4,643 per month October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014 $4,829 per month October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015 $5,022 per month It is in the best interest of the District to approve the Lease amendment because it provides the District with continued rental revenue at market rates with no new impacts to District land. j To facilitate an future exercise b Lessee of its remainingoptions to extend the Lease the Y Y p Board Resolution authorizes the General Manager to negotiate Rent in accordance with the Lease and to approve or disapprove any Lessee exercise of its two remaining options. The General Manager shall report in writing on any such exercise of an option to the Board of Directors following any exercise thereof. FISCAL IMPACT 0 The Lessee has consistently paid the minimum monthly rent versus twenty-five percent(25/o) of gross receipts. Negotiating a new minimum monthly rent guarantees the District an increase in revenues of approximately 4% annually for this site which totals $10,740 over the term of this lease term. If twenty-five percent (25%) of the Lessee's gross receipts is greater than the minimum monthly rental rate, then the District's revenue will be greater than $10,740 over the term of this lease term. PUBLIC NOTICE Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act. No additional notice is required. CEQA COMPLIANCE The activity authorized is not a project for purposes of the CEQA (Guidelines Section 15378) because the extension of an existing communications lease pursuant to the exercise of an option does not have the potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. R-11-53 Page 3 NEXT STEPS If the Crown Castle MU LLC Communications Site Lease Agreement Amendment is approved by the Board of Directors, staff will notify the Lessee of Board approval of this item. Attachments: 1. Resolution 2. Communications Lease Agreement Amendment 3. Location Map Prepared by: Elaina Cuzick, Real Property Specialist Contact person: Elaina Cuzick, Real Property Specialist a �� RESOLUTION NO. 11 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT APPROVING THE COMMUNICATIONS SITE LEASE AMENDMENT AND EXERCISE OF OPTION AND AGREEMENT WITH CROWN CASTLE MU LLC (RANCHO SAN ANTONIO OPEN SPACE PRESERVE) The Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District does hereby resolve: Section One. The District may, under the provisions of Section 5540 and 5563 of the Public Resources Code, lease property owned by the District for up to twenty-five(25) years, and the Board of Directors hereby finds that the premises remain presently unnecessary for open space purposes and that continuation of the Lease for communication facilities is in the best interests of the public. Section Two. The Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District approves the Amendment between Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and Crown Castle MU LLC, a copy of which is attached hereto and by this reference made a part hereof, and does hereby authorize the President or other appropriate officers to execute said Amendment on behalf of the District. Section Three. The General Manager or the General Manager's designee is hereby authorized to negotiate and approve or disapprove the exercise of each of the two subsequent options of the Communications Site Lease as set forth in the Communications Site Lease. The General Manager is further authorized to execute any and all other documents necessary or appropriate to the completion of such transactions. The General Manager shall report in writing on any such exercise of an option to continue the subject Communication Site Lease to the Board of Directors at the meeting immediately following the exercise thereof. AMENDMENT No. 2 to COMMUNICATIONS SITE LEASE AGREEMENT AND EXERCISE OF OPTION This Amendment No. 2 ("Amendment") to that certain Communications Site Lease Agreement dated September 8, 2000, as amended ("Lease") is made by and between Crown Castle MU LLC, a Delaware Limited Liability Company("Lessee") formerly known as Mountain Union Telecom LLC ("Lessee"), and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, a special district, formed pursuant to Article 3 of Chapter 3 of Division 5 of the California Public Resources Code("District"). WHEREAS, District and Lessee are parties to the Lease which was amended pursuant to the Amendment to Communications Site Lease entered into on September 30, 2005. WHEREAS, District is in receipt of a letter from Lessee dated July 14, 2010 indicating Lessee's intent to exercise its option to extend the term of the Lease("Term"). WHEREAS, District and Lessee desire to amend said Lease to, among other things, reflect Lessee's exercise of its option to extend the Term and to modify the rental terms, as more particularly set out herein. NOW THEREFORE, District and Lessee amend the Lease as follows: 1. In accordance with Section 21(a) (Option to Extend Term) of the Lease, District and Lessee agree to extend the Term for an additional period of five (5) years, commencing October 1, 2010 (Extended Option Term). 2. In accordance with Section 21(b) of the Lease, Section 5 (b) of the Lease is deleted and replaced with the following provision: 3. Lessee shall pay District rent in monthly installments, in advance, on the first day of each month of the Term hereof. District and Lessee agree to amend the Lease so that the Minimum Rent for such extended Term is as follows: October 1, 2010 to September 30, 2011 $4,292 per month October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012 $4,464 per month October 1, 2012 to September 30, 2013 $4,643 per month October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014 $4,829 per month October 1, 2014 to September 30, 2015 $5,022 per month 4. Section 9 (Maintenance and Repair) of the Lease is hereby amended to add the following provision: Lessee understands and acknowledges that defensible space of at least 100 feet in width around the perimeter of the Premises is required by State law(California Public Resource Code §4291). Accordingly, defensible space shall be maintained by Lessee free of all low-lying brush, dry weeds, and similar flammable materials, which shall be removed by Lessee at Lessee's expense. Site inspections of the Premises may be conducted at anytime by District staff to determine whether the defensible space is properly maintained. As needed, the District will arrange for the removal of brush, weeds, and flammable materials. The cost incurred by District shall be pro- Pagel of 3 rated,based on the size, topography and flammable material in each area requiring maintenance, and overlap with other communication site premises and allocated by District to Lessee accordingly. Lessee's share of such cost will be provided to Lessee for review before the work is performed. Upon completion of work, Lessee will be billed for the work performed which shall be paid by Lessee to District within 30-days of billing. 5. Section 22 (Notice) of the Lease is hereby amended to delete Lessee's notice addresses in their entirety and replaced with the following: Lessee: Corporate Crown Castle MU LLC c/o Crown Castle USA Inc. E. Blake Hawk, General Counsel Attn: Real Estate Department 2000 Corporate Drive Canonsburg, PA 15317 866 482-8890 Local Office Crown Castle MU LLC BU: 839184 5820 Stoneridge Mall Rd., Suite 300 Pleasanton, CA 95458 (925) 737-1003 6. The Lease, except as amended herein, shall continue in full force and effect with all other terms and conditions unchanged. If a conflict between terms in the Lease and those in this Amendment arises, the provisions of this Amendment shall control the construction and interpretation thereof. 7. Capitalized terms used in this Amendment not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Lease. 8. This Amendment may be executed in duplicate counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original. 9. Each of the parties represent and warrant that they have the right,power, legal capacity and authority to enter into and perform their respective obligations under this Amendment. Page 2 of 3 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, District and Lessee execute this Amendment. DISTRICT: LESSEE: Midpeninsula Regional Crown Castle MU LLC, a Delaware Open Space District limited liability company By: Stephen E. Abhors General Manager Date: Date: Attest: Michelle Radcliffe District Clerk Approved as to form: M i SusanM. Schectman General Counsel i Page 3 of 3 Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve 5 Qage o�c 10 � Monte I/o Road Water Tank WP03 • GteeV lva" O Black Mountain Campground \� r.. E N �I m a m� Black Mountain 2815 0I Monte Bello o�� Open Space Preserve 0 To o Picchetti o Ranch o 0 N U N O a` Exhibit A: Black Mountain Communications Site Plan Site #1 - Stanford Communications Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve Site #2 - C & C Equipment Company, Inc. Site #3 - FAA Communications Map produced by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 04/13/10 Site #4 - Crown Castle International 0 250 500 Feet e Site #5 - Communication and Control Inc. i Midpeninsula Regional ' Open Space District I i R-11-56 Meeting 11-10 April 27, 2011 AGENDA ITEM 5 AGENDA ITEM Informational Presentation on the San Francisco Bay Area Upland Habitat Goals Project GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION Receive a presentation on the San Francisco Bay Area Upland Habitat Goals Project. SUMMARY The San Francisco Bay Area Upland Habitat Goals project is a science-based study initiated by the Bay Area Open Space Council to identify the most essential lands needed to sustain the biodiversity across the nine Bay Area counties. The final work product of this study is the Conservation Lands Network, a geographic information system database of conservation lands needed to sustain diverse and healthy communities of plant, fish and wildlife resources, which is intended to serve as a guide for selecting lands to be conserved by public and private conservation organizations. DISCUSSION The Conservation Lands Network provides the District with a tool to evaluate future land purchases on their conservation values as potential additions to District Open Space Preserves. This lands network was developed by the Upland Habitat Goals project, a project initiated in 2004 by the Bay Area Open Space Council to identify the most essential lands needed to sustain the"natural infrastructure"of our region. The project consisted of a five-year, science-based study that included a collaboration of 125 organizations. Its goal was to recommend the types, amounts, and distribution of conservation lands, as well as actions needed to sustain diverse and healthy communities of plant, fish and wildlife resources in the nine county Bay Area. Over 4.3 million acres were studied and over 1,000 variables were considered— from redwood forests to California red legged frog habitats, from climate change to migratory routes. This effort has identified 1.8 million acres of essential land to be conserved throughout the nine Bay Area counties. Approximately 40,000 of these acres are located within District boundaries. Nancy Schaefer, Project Manager and Ryan Branciforte, Conservation Planner for Bay Upland Habitat Goals project, will provide project background, an overview of the Conservation Lands Network, and information on future steps. R-11-56 Page 2 FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this presentation. I PUBLIC NOTICE Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act. No additional notice is required. CEQA COMPLIANCE This item is a research project and therefore not a project subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). NEXT STEP Staff will provide the Board with periodic updates on the status of the research. Attachments: Exhibit A: Conservation Lands Network Map Prepared by: Casey Cleve, GIS Coordinator Contact person: Same as above I I SAN BAY AREA UPLAND HABITAT GOALS PRO-ll-CT B_ATARE_A fAl OPEN SPACE Conservation f f Network COUNCIL 4 IL V. y o� 1 1 ra ., L • " k _ j Exhibit A: Conservation Lands Network Map .+' .�+� \ • • Midpeninsula Regional ' Open Space District R-11-37 Meeting 11-10 April 27, 2011 AGENDA ITEM 6 AGENDA ITEM Authorization to Extend the Existing Contract with Design Concepts for Graphic Design Services for a Portion of Fiscal Year 2011-2012 GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION Authorize the General Manager to extend the existing contract for graphic design services with Design Concepts for a portion of Fiscal Year(FY) 201 1-12 for an amount not to exceed $40,000.00. SUMMARY Consistent with District policy and practice, staff obtained proposals for graphic design services that would have begun in FY2011-12, with the option for extensions for FY2012-13 and FY *2013-14 subject to Board approval. However, the District cannot move forward to implement a new graphic design services contract at this time because the District's project manager will be on an approximately six-month leave. Therefore, staff is recommending that the existing contract be extended for a portion of FY2011-12 until the project manager returns, at which point another Request for Proposal process will be conducted. DISCUSSION The District's Public Affairs Department conducts a competitive proposal process for District graphic design services every three years. The District also contracts for related printing and mailing services as part of the same services contract cycle. FY2010-11 represented the third year for the graphic design services contract originally approved by the Board in FY2008-09. District staff solicited Requests for Proposals for graphic design services from six firms and received five proposals. However, during the proposals review process, staff determined that the District cannot move forward to implement a new graphic design services contract at this time, as the District's project manager for this contract will be on an approximately six-month leave. The graphic design services contract requires significantly greater individualized attention than other service provider contracts and as the District's graphic design and print production materials require consistency, staff has determined that it would not be in the best interest of the District to establish a new contract for graphic design services during this time. As a result, when the project manager returns to the District in the fall, another Request for Proposals for R-11-37 Page 2 graphic design services will be conducted, and the participating firms from the January 2011 Request for Proposals process will be encouraged to re-submit their proposals for consideration. Based upon the above, staff recommends extending the existing contract with Design Concepts for a portion of FY2011-12 (approximately eight months) for an amount not to exceed $40,000.00 (which represents approximately two thirds of the District's total graphic design services budget for FY2011-1.2; the total budget available for FY2011-12 is $58514.00). Following the second Request for Proposals process for graphic design services (to be conducted when the project manager returns to the District), staff will return to the Board with a recommendation for contracting with a graphic design services firin. FISCAL IMPACT Approval of the recommended action will not result in any unbudgeted expenses. Of the $58,514 budgeted for graphic design services in FY2011-12, approximately $40,000 would be nin (approximate) would be for the initial contract extension. The remaining allocated o g $18,514 (app available for the subsequent RFP process after the project manager returns. While this amount is below $25,000 and technically falls under the General Manager's signing authority, this smaller contract will be brought before the Board as it has a strong probability of resulting in a multi- year commitment. PUBLIC NOTICE Public notice was provided as required by the Brown.Act. No additional nonce 1s requi red. CEQA COMPLIANCE This proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and no environmental review is required. NEXT STEPS Once Board approval is obtained, the current graphic design services contract will be extended for a portion of FY2011-12, and Public Affairs staff will implement on an ongoing basis the graphic design projects planned during that time.,Upon the return of the project manager, the District will release an RFP for the remainder of FY2011-12 and two potential one-year contract extensions. Prepared by: Kristi Britt, Public Affairs Specialist Contact person: Kristi Britt, Public Affairs Specialist i Mid peninsula Regional • ' Open Space District r R-11-58 Meeting 11-10 April 27, 2011 AGENDA ITEM 7 AG ENDA ITEM Appointment of Director to the Ad Hoc Board Appointee Evaluation Committee PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATION Approve the President's recommendation to appoint Director Cyr to replace Director Hanko on the Board Appointee intee Evaluation Com mittee for Calendar Year 2011. SUMMARY The District's Rule of Procedure 1.80 provides that the Board President, with consent of the Board, appoints Directors to Board Committees. President Hassett recommends that Director Cyr be appointed to serve on the Board Appointee Evaluation (BAE) Committee in lieu of Director Hanko for Calendar Year 2011. DISCUSSION The District's Rule of Procedure Section 1.80 calls for the President to appoint Board members to Board Committees, with consent of the Board. At the Board's meeting of January 26, 2011, the Board consented to President Hassett's recommendation that the BAE Committee members be Directors Hassett, Riffle, and Hanko (See Report No. R-11-13). Director Hanko's schedule requires her to be out of the state during periods when the BAE Committee will need to be carrying out its tasks. She has requested that another Director be appointed to serve in her stead. President Hassett recommends that, with the consent of the Board, Director Cyr be appointed to serve in lieu of Director Hanko. FISCAL IMPACT I There will be no new or incremental fiscal impact associated with this action. Board compensation for committee work is included in the annual budget and there will be no change in the budget. i R-11-58 Page 2 PUBLIC NOTICE Public Notice was provided pursuant to the requirements of the Brown Act. No further notice is required. CEQA COMPLIANCE This proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) and no environmental review is required. NEXT STEPS Staff will prepare a new roster of BAE Committee members for posting internally and on the District website. Prepared by: Sue Schectman, General Counsel Contact person: Larry Hassett, Board President f i i Midpeninsula Regional • ' Open Space District R-11-18 Meeting 11-08 April 27, 2011 AGENDA ITEM 8 AGENDA ITEM Tentative Approval of the Complete Set of Draft Resource Management Policies of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Review, discuss, and provide comments on the complete set of Draft Resource Management Policies of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District(District); and 2. Tentatively approve the revised Draft Resource Management Policies. SUMMARY The District's Resource Management Polices (RMPs) were first adopted in October of 1994. A series of public workshops was held from 2005 to 2011 in which each of the revised chapters of the RMPs was presented to the Board for review and tentative adoption. At the meeting of April 27, 2011, the Board of Directors will review the complete set of RMPs, including recent changes, request any additional edits or changes, and consider tentative adoption prior to staff initiating the environmental review process and returning to the Board for subsequent consideration of final adoption. DISCUSSION District staff have reviewed each of the individual RMP chapters through a series of Board workshops and compiled them into one comprehensive document. During the meeting of March 9, 2011, the Board of Directors reviewed the remaining policy topics that were not identified as priority policies for revision from the original prioritization workshop in 2004, but still required updating to maintain consistency in the updated RMP document (see Report R-11-17). With the completion of the workshop in March, the entire set of RMPs has been reviewed by the Board of Directors. The proposed changes to the document as requested by Board, staff, and the public to date have been provided as an attachment to this report (see Attachments). At the meeting of April 27, 2011, the Board of Directors will review the complete set of RMPs, request any additional edits or changes, and consider tentative adoption prior to staff initiating R-11-18 Page 2 the environmental review process and returning to the Board for subsequent consideration of final adoption. FISCAL IMPACT The District's Planning Department allocated $24,946 during FY2010-11 and FY2011-12 to compile and edit the District's revised RMPs and prepare the required California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) document. PUBLIC NOTICE Public participation and comment has been an ongoing and essential component of this policy development process. As such, notices and invitations to Board workshops have been widely distributed to the public, homeowner associations, partner agencies, and posted on the District's website. Additionally, throughout policy development, staff consulted with a number of partner agencies, consultants, educational institutions, and resource management experts. Prior to formal adoption, the public and other interested parties will receive notice regarding the proposed adoption of the policies and will be provided an opportunity to review the RMPs in their entirety during the CEQA public scoping period scheduled for mid 2011. CEQA COMPLIANCE Tentative adoption of the RMPs will allow the District's CEQA consultant, DCE, to prepare the appropriate CEQA document prior to the Board's formal adoption of the RMPs. Once public and agency CEQA review is complete, the Board will be asked to approve both the final RMPs and its associated CEQA document. NEXT STEPS Following the Board's review and tentative adoption of the revised RMPs, a full CEQA evaluation of environmental impacts will be completed by the District's CEQA consultant. Staff will circulate the CEQA document with the RMPs for public review and comment at a later date. At the completion of the CEQA review, staff will return to the Board at a public meeting to ask for certification of the CEQA document and formal adoption of the District's RMPs. Attachment(s) Revised pages from March 9, 2011 workshop Prepared by: Julie K. Andersen, Resource Planner Kirk Lenington, Senior Resource Planner Contact person: Kirk Lenington, Resource Planner PREFACE ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT Document Purpose This Resource Management Policies (RMPs) document defines the poli- cies and practices used by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Dis- trict (District) to protect and manage resources on District lands, The word resources as used in this document includes plants, animals, water, soil, terrain, geologic formations, historic, scenic, and cultural features. Recreational resources are described in other documents.] The purpose of the RMPs is to: * Set the framework for the District's resource management pro- gram; * Provide for issue-specific and site- specific planning; * Provide staff and Board a tool for informed, consistent, and ef- fective resource management decision making; * Inform the public of the purpose and intent of the District's re- source management program; * Provide a basis for evaluating the District's progress in reaching its resource management objectives. This document does not provide detailed plans for management of indi- vidual preserves or resources. Other more specific master plans, site plans, and resource management plans will supplement these policies to further refine and resolve the implementation strategies on a site-specific basis. These documents include Use and Management Plans for individual preserves,Trail Use Guidelines and Mitigation Measures, Land Use Regulations and the Visitor's Guide to the Open Space Preserves. , � | ' � � � � � � � | The suitability and scope of im0ementation of a specific RMP can oril be effectively determined on a site-specific or issue-sr)ecific basis nivgn the circumstances and conditions to be addressed. The suitability o | with the RMP, Phvsical or other constraints, availability of funding, and � effectiveness of an RMP may depend on a number of factors. These may include evaluation of Potential environmental impacts associated feasibility of implementation. Therefore, the determination of whetherand to what extent an RMP is implemented in whole or in part will be � made on a site- or issue-specific basis. In some circumstances, devia tions from an RMP will represent a more effective resource managemen approach given applicable factors. In addition, carrying out and implementing RMPs will be achieved over � � � � .� � � and overall feasibility. Competition for District funds requires balancing | � acquisition, vomect Planning, and the cost of access and facilities im- Document Organization The RK8Pm are organized into chapters by subject and resource catego- ry. The chapter format generally consists ofa background section and e | section containing goals, poiciee, and implementation measures. The background section provides rationale for the goal and policies that fol- low. The goal is phrased oaa broad, general statement describing the � desired state or condition tmbeachieved. The policies state what steps the District will take in order to attain that goal. Policies are numbered | according to chapter with the first letter ofeach of the fist two words of � the Chapter title followed bye number (e.g. V8d-1 is Vegetation Man- agement Policy 1). | Each policy includes one or more recommended implementation rnmoo- ureo. highlighted by bullets (*). Implementation measures specify action items the Districtcarry out to apply the policies to the | | landscape . Implementation measures are referenced internally according to bullets. For instance, VK8-1: Measure 2 refers to � the second buUeted measure under VK4-1. Informational sidebars identi- fy current knowledge and practices regarding resource conservation. Key � � words are noted in bold and definitions for each can be found in the � Glossary. � • MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT POLICY DOCUMENT APPENDIX A . C E O A CRITERIA The District will ample t-apply the RMPs emphasizing an interdisGiplinaity appr-eaG to everyday District functions and operations from the planning of new trails and facilities, to the evalu- ation of prospective land acquisitions to routine Preserve maintenance. It will draw upon varied expertise to balance resource needs and public interests. The annual action plan will describe existing and proposed resource management plans and projects, and progress towards re- source management goals. time, and is subjeGt to fuRdiFig availability and Gempeting Qi6tFiGt needs the expense of reseurn-e management with the Gest 4 GentiRwed land PFavements Document Review and Amendment The RMPs comprise a "living" document that will grow and change regu- larly, based on new experience and information. It will be reviewed and updated as needed to respond to ever-changing resource conditions (e.g. insect or disease outbreaks, large cataclysmic events, climate change etc.). The staff or Board may decide to amend the document for a significant single purpose at any time. I M I DPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT RESOURCE MANGEM ENT POLICIES PREFACE Document Organization The RMPs are organized into chapters by subject and resource cate- gory. The chapter format generally consists of a background section and a section containing goals, policies, and implementation measures. The background section provides rationale for the goal and policies that fol- low. The goal is phrased as a broad, general statement describing the desired state or condition to be achieved. The policies state what steps the District will take in order to attain that goal. Policies are numbered according to chapter with the first letter of each of the fist two words of the Chapter title followed by a number (e.g. VM-1 is Vegetation Man- agement Policy 1). Each policy includes one or more recommended implementation meas- ures, highlighted by bullets (*). Implementation measures specify action items the District rAustwill strive to carry out to apply the policies to the landscape where feasible. Implementation measures are referenced internally according to bullets. For instance, VM-1: Measure 2 refers to the second bulleted measure under VM-1. Informational sidebars iden- tify current knowledge and practices regarding resource conservation. Key words are noted in bold and definitions for each can be found in the Glossary. The District will imple 4ertt--apply the RMPs emphasizing an iRteFdisGip1iF;aFy appI:Gar_h to everyday District functions and operations from the planning of new trails and facilities, to the evaluation of prospective land acquisitions to routine Preserve mainte- nance. It will draw upon varied expertise to balance resource needs and public interests. The annual action plan will describe existing and pro- posed resource management plans and projects, and progress towards resource management goals. Carrying out and implementing policy measures will be achieved over time, and is subject to funding availability and competing District needs and overall feasibility. Competition for District funds requires balancing the expense of resource management with the cost of continued land acquisition, project planning, and the cost of access and facilities im- provements. v m / opsw / wouL^ nso /ow ^L upsm npxcE n`o`p /nr | neoounus MAN «GemENT poL/o /Eo � o / STRICT xsaounns MANAGE mewr peoanAw � � � ��|��U/�� U�� ^�� .°"��.��o� STATEMENT�� ^ ^-.".�-.= " FOR^ RESOURCE ^��_ � MANAGEMENT � � The nsaouroa management mission statement defines the purpose to- ward which the District directs its resource management efforts. The � � District's resource management program iu one of stewardship intended � to protect resources aL�8b4Abo sustain them in perpetuity. The District oa||e its lands "preserves" rather than "parks," emphasizing the goal of resource preservation. The following overall mission statement reflects the District's commitment Un resource management: Resource W1@nGgerneOt Mission Statement The District will protect and restore the diversity and inb*ghh/ of its na' � mourceo and ecological processes for their value to the environment and � to peop|e, and will provide for the use of the preaonee consistent with resource protection. � Overall Resource Management Strategies The following general strategies summarize how the District will achieve its resource management mission. � Strategy Favor protection of resources when use significantly in- terferes with resource protection and preservation. � Strategy Provide an effective interdisciplinary program to protect � and enhance natural and cultural naoounoem. This pro- gram should include p|anning, interpretation, neueonnh. � protection, maintenance, and monitoring practices. Strategy Prevent or minimize human-caused and accelerated impaota, including erosion, invasion by non-native ape- nieo. disruption of the natural flow of water, degradation of yvmtwr qum|ity, trampling of veOetaUon, and displace- ment of wildlife. Strategy Protect and restore known nane, ondongered, special status species and sensitive hmbitmtm, as well as omri- 4 | | m / opEw / mouLA REo /ow^L opsw S PAC E o /orn/ nr | msnooncs m^wxosmewT poL/n/ En o/ arm / or nseoonce wxw^osmewr pnoanAw | ouulydegrmded or deteriorating areas. Give priority to � sensitive habitats and consider the relative scarcity of the specific resources involved. | Strategy Manage open space as a composite resource, other � than om separate and isolated parts. Maintain ecological processes as well as individual species and features. Consider the regional context and cumulative impacts of resource management decisions. Favor long-term goals over short-term benefits. � Strategy Support low intensity recreational and agricultural use uf � � District lands consistent with nenouuxn protection. Con- sider present and potential use. Strategy Balance eMndo to protect and restore resources with efforts bo acquire and provide public access tolands. � Strategy Monitor changing conditions and the effectiveness of resource management practices. Strategy 9 Increase Public knowledge, understanding, and appre- ciation of the natural and cultural resources of the pre- serves, and sup port for their conservation. PLANNING �y��]o�� . �^_^.~^="^�� ^^.�� IMPLEMENTATION " �^ " "��. ~ The RMPm are to be used toguide the overall plonninO, budgeting, and � decision making processes for individual Preserves and for District-wide / programs. Implementation of the policies will be through the Use and Management Plan and Master Plan for each Pnuaen/a. The District's Land Acquisition Policies shall reference the RMPs to helt) guide future � land acquisitions. Successful implementation of the Policies will naau|t in � � informed,consistent, and effective resource management. � � | 5 MI D PE N IN S U LA R E G ION AL O P EN S PACE DISTRICT RESO U RC E MA NAG E M ENT POLIC I ES W I LDLI F E MANAGE MEN T stroy particular plant species that some animals require for food or cover. b. Wide-ranging animals such as the larger predators can be cut off from territories they need for feeding and breeding. c. Non-native species become more common, displacing natives and thereby also reducing biodiversity. d. Inbreeding increases when populations are cut off from neighboring populations. The resulting lack of diversity in the gene pool weakens the species through "inbreeding depression"and reduces the popula- tion's long-term chance of survival. A single environmental change or disease could then eliminate all members of the local population. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT GOALS, POLICIES, AND IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES Goal WM- Maintain and promote healthy and diverse native wildlife populations Policy WM-1 Understand and maintain the diversity of native wildlife. (See WR-6 and WR-7) ♦ Identify wildlife usage, movement patterns, and habitat features with high value to wildlife. ♦ Consider and avoid or minimize impacts on wildlife when planning trails and other facilities. ♦ Develop a wildlife data base to record wildlife sightings and guide management decisions. ♦ Non-native wildlife release on District lands shall Rot be Feleas adhere to the policies identified in the Invasive Sge- cies chapter(See IS). 15 M I DPEN INS U LA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT RESO U RCE M AN AG E M ENT POLIC IES W I LDLIFE MANAGEMENT ♦ TheDistrict shall trio t control r remove non native wildlife using D st ct s a strive o ca o g management actions identified in the Invasive Species chapter (See is Examples of wildlife using ♦ Native wildlife shall not be released onto District land if it is adapted human-made structures on to urban conditions or interaction with human. District lands include the Red barn at La Honda Creek ♦ Native wildlife can be released onto District preserves if the animal Open Space Preserve which has been rehabilitated by an animal rescue center specializing in wildlife, it is disease-free, suitable unoccupied habitat is available, is used by both the Townsend's big-eared bat and there is a high likelihood for the animal to adapt and survive in (Plecotus townsendu)and 9 its new surroundings without adversely affecting existing resources Pallid bat(Antrozous at the site. The rehabilitated animal should be marked or banded, if pallidus). feasible, to allow monitoring of its adaptation. Policy WM-2 Protect, maintain and enhance habitat features that have particular value to native wildlife. (See HC-2: Measure 5, WR-6 and WR-7) ♦ Inventory critical and sensitive wildlife habitats and develop man- agement strategies for their protection. Wildlife movement and safe ♦ Leave brush piles, snags, and fallen trees in areas where they do passage is affected at a not pose a fire hazard or visual blight, to provide cover and nesting regional level by large-scale sites for animals, and nursery conditions for forest seedlings. transportation needs and development including ♦ Evaluate the wildlife habitat value associated with human-made housing, roadways, and structures before altering or removing them and avoid or mitigate any commercial development, impacts. The District works with ♦ Repair, modify, and maintain stock ponds as wildlife watering Preserve neighbors, sources and habitat for aquatic and semi aquatic organisms (See municipalities, counties, and WR-3). regional planning organizations to improve Policy WM-3 Protect animal populations against the impact of human new development projects actions. (See HC-2: Measure 5) through the use of wildlife friendly fencing, clustering ♦ Discourage human intrusion into sensitive wildlife habitats by appro- new development away from priate placement of facilities and trails. sensitive areas, and ♦ Identify and eliminate barriers (e.g. remove unnecessary fences, old providing refuge areas for barb wire, and other barriers) and provide safe crossings (e.g. pro- wildlife, tect established wildlife crossings and use wildlife friendly fencing)to 16 M I DPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT RESO U RCE M ANAG E M E N T POL IC I ES G EOLOGY AN D SO I L S ♦ Limit agricultural activities, facility development, and trail construction in riparian and other wetland areas to protect them from disturbance. ♦ Minimize soil disturbance associated with construction and mainte- nance operations. ♦ Seed to rehabilitate disturbed ground and lessen erosion. Time seeding projects to ensure adequate soil moisture for seed germina- tion. Utilize mulch or other appropriate groundcover to reduce ero- sion where sediment can be delivered to a watercourse or wetland. ♦ Utilize native plants when possible for projects requiring revegeta- tion for long-term erosion control. Non-native sterile grass seed may be used to quickly establish ground cover and reduce erosion. In areas of active livestock grazing, incorporation of non-invasive j pasture grasses may be utilized. i ♦ Prevent, to the extent possible, the physical removal of naturally oc- curring soil. Policy GS-3 Protect unique or exceptional geologic features from hu- man damage. ♦ Identify locations and document the condition of unique or excep- tional geologic features (example: tafoni sandstone formations, ser- pentine outcrops, sag ponds). ♦ Monitor such features to determine if action is needed to prevent or stop damage. ♦ Control access to features requiring protection by informing visitors, placing signs and barriers, and enforcing restrictions. tion ♦ Develoc) security vrotocols to limit availability and distribution of geo- graahic information for geology and soils resources to protect sites, from accidental destruction, looting, and vandalism. Policy GS-4 Prevent or remediate contaminated soils 31 VII. SCENIC AND AESTHETIC RESOURCES BACKGROUN D The District recognizes the protection of scenic values as one of the pri- mary benefits of open space. The scenic and aesthetic resources of District lands provide physical and psychological relief from the stresses and uniformity of urban life. They also contribute to our"sense of place" - our appreciation of the qualities that set this area apart from others and make it feel like home. District preserves include a variety of natural settings and landscapes that form magnificent scenic backdrops to the urbanized peninsula. Lo- cal residents and visitors particularly appreciate the interplay of color, pattern, form, and light on the coastal mountains, where rugged topogra- phy, hot sun, wind, and fog combine to create dramatic and appealing contrasts in vegetation. In some cases, preserving a significant scenic or historic landscape may involve managing it to actually prevent natural succession. For ex- ample, a shallow pond may gradually fill in and become a meadow or open grassland_ Fnay be FeplaGed by WaStal SGFUb. Active management through vegetation maintenance or pond deepening not only aromotes the scenic and aesthetic value of a wetland setting, but may also be more beneficial to wildlife. However, in most instances restoring or mim- icking natural processes can help maintain the appealing visual and bio- logical diversity of native communities. 33 m / opsw /wuuLx nso /ow ^L opsw op»us o/n,n/ cT � nEoovnoE mxwxeEmEwr poL /c / Eu | nsaeAno* AND coLLsur/ ow / wFonwxr/ ow � | � * Respond to 12ublic information reguests and promote release of nonscientific sensitive resourge information to better distribute and share District � � � ° Recruit interns and wdunbaem to help organize and maintain re- source information files, in cooperation with the District's volunteer � program. � Policy RC-2 Coordinate and cooperate with inoUtuUons, agencies, or- ganizations, and individuals conducting resource manage- ment orresearch. � * Maintain u list of District related potential resource n*oaonch projects. � Encourage research directed 0n specific sites, District-related issues, � or resource management practices. � + Administer the District's Resource Management Grant Program to fund projects that contribute to resource management projects. |n' � � oorporate the District's list of potential projects into the Grant Pro- gram. � � * Explore partnerships and foster relationships with educational inaUUu' tions, aoientiate, and other land management professionals in order bo share information and resources and bo develop Memorandums of � � � Understanding or Memorandums of Agreement between the District and other agencies. * Sponsor nrparticipate in events and activities such as symposiums, wmrknhopa, and conferences that support scientific naoeavoh and � sound resource management practices. � * Encourage and facilitate currency on resource management tech- niques, such as momtmre0mn` integrated pest management, and � erosion control. w Provide internship support for appropriate research. � � Po|icyRC'3 Undertake original research necessary for planning or � management decisions. � � Carefully research existing inhnnnoUon and explore opportunities for cooperative studies to collect additional information. 45 MIDPEN INSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT RESOURCE MANAGEMENT POLICIES RESEARCH AND C O L L ECTIO N IN FORMAT ION ♦ Retain qualified consultants or researchers to conduct studies or col- lect additional information in a standardized format that can be inte- grated with the District's GIS database. ♦ Encourage and facilitate training of District staff to obtain environ- mental permits (such as scientific collection or sensitive species handling permits) in order to participate in or conduct needed re- search and monitoring and to maintain relationships with agency staff. ♦ Share significant new information through resource agency contacts and local and regional databases, such as the California Natural Di- versity Data Base and Natural Resources Database. Policy RC-4 Allow collecting, trapping, or other field research activities only in conjunction with legitimate research consistent with the District's management goals. ♦ Continue to administer the District's Special Use Permit Program for collection, trapping, archaeological research, or field studies on Dis- trict lands. ♦ Require the researcher to share the information resulting from the studies with the District and other appropriate parties. If appropriate, integrate data into electronic filing system or GIS database. Policy RC-5 Develop performance measures when designing District proiects and collect monitoring data to evaluate project success. ♦ Research and utilize existing performance measures from compara- ble prior Droiegts and partner agencies. ♦ Collect and evaluate monitoring data to measure project success and for use in adaptive management. ♦ Engage in benchmarking opportunities with public. partners. and re- search institutions through collaborations and the sharing of project data. 46 X. PUBLIC INTERPRETATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION BACKGROUND Communication and outreach are key to developing broad public sup- port for acquiring and protecting open space. Increasing public knowl- edge and appreciation of the preserves' natural and cultural resources will improve support for their conservation. The District needs to inform the public about District treasures, se y-wEll-it will care about protect- ing them. The resource management program will play a vital role in this effort by providing a greatly improved information base for the public. Studying the current condition of preserve resources and discovering how best to maintain and restore them will reveal information that stimulates public interest, makes the preserves more enjoyable places to visit, and in- spires respect and a sense of stewardship. The District's Public Affairs department is charged with communicating this information to the public. For example, staff works closely with local schools, districts, agencies, and other special groups to provide envi- ronmental education and interpretive programming to students, organi- zations, and the general public. The Public Affairs department also gets the word out through publications, presentations, and working with the media. The volunteer and docent programs greatly increase public out- reach opportunities. The volunteer program provides a means for the public to learn firsthand about stewardship, by participating in District projects. The docent program trains docents to conduct activities on the preserves and interpret District resources. Docents also staff the Daniels Nature Center and lead environmental science-based field trips for stu- dents. Environmental education is typically a curriculum-based approach tar- geted toward students to attain an ultimate goal (such as environmental stewardship). The District's environmental science-based programming was established in 1996 and serves elementary school students in a field trip experience at the District's Daniel's Nature Center and surrounding 48 � | m / orcw /wauLx nso / ow ^L opsw epxoe o/orn /cr | peSOURCE m^w^oEwewr poL/ c /Eo � aL000A*r � � � � � Patch — A mdoUv�y homogenous type ofhabdat that im upat�|k/ sepa- rated � � � � hnmothevsimi|urhobdotanddiffensfnomdnaurnoundingo. (Habi- tat Connectivity) | Pathogen — A disease causing organism. (Vegetation Management, � ' Forest Management) Performance Measure(s) — Parameter(s) used to measure project suc- cess tied to oroiect goals and obiectives. Pesticidmm — /\ broad henn used to describe any material (natural, or- � ganin. or synthetic) used to control or prevent pests including herbicides (weed or plant killers), insecticides (insect kiUena), and nodmnUciden (nn- dentkiUerm). (Invasive Species) Pests—Anima}a or plants that proliferate beyond natural control and in- terfere with the natural processes which would otherwise occur on open / space lands. (Invasive Forest VVi|d|andFina) � . . . P|amtCmnnrmwmity—Agroup of plants growing in an inbann|mbed manner on a particular site. (Vegetation Management, Invasive Species, Ecologi- cal Succession, VVi|d|and Fire) Predation—a biological interaction where o predator(an organism that is � hunting or browsing) feeds on its prey (the organism that is hunted or � consumed). (Invasive Species, VVi|d|iha [WoneQmmmnt. Habitat Connec- tivity) � Prehistoric — Dating from pahndm of human ooUvdy prior to the use of written history. In the American VVamt, prehistory generally refers to all � periods before European colonization of the region. (Cultural Resources) � Prescribed Fire — Fire applied tnvi|d|ond ecosystems under specified fuel and weather conditions bz accomplish predetermined resource man- agement objeoUve such as regeneration of sensitive species in o fire- � ndoptod plant community. ( Vi|d|ond Fire) � Programming — The regularly scheduled organized, topic-specific pres- entations or other delivery of information, including community outreach, 94 � � � � � � ��UU ��0�� ^�� UU. U��U� ��U��~Uv0x.�� California Department of Fish and Game California Natural Diversity Database (CNDDB) Dnomotod, VV.E., Olson, J.D. and Forman, R.T.T. Landscape Ecology Principles /n Landscape Architecture and Land-Use Planning. Harvard University Graduate School of Design, |o|ond Pneem, and the American � Society of Landscape Architects, 1QQG(HabitadConnectivity) � � Jensen, D.B., Torn, M.S., and Hade. J. /n Our Own Hondo A Strategy � for Conserving California's Biodiveonity. University of California Pnaoa. ' 1QQ3. (Habitat Connectivity) Natural Resources Database(NRDB) | Peck S. Planning FovBiodkxnsdy. issues and Examples. Island Press, 1QQO. (Habitat Connectivity) | � Townsend, C.R, Harper, JL. and Begon. M. Essentials of Ecology. | Blackwell Science, 20OU(HabdatConnectivity) ! UNESCO. Tbilisi Declaration, 1978(Cultural Resources) Midpeninsula Regional • ' Open Space District R-11-48 Meeting 11-10 April 27, 2011 AGENDA ITEM 9 AGENDA ITEM Authorization to Purchase Five Vehicles at a Total Cost Not to Exceed $395,000 GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATIONS2��4r 1. Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the State Department of General Services and Folsom Lake Ford for two patrol and two maintenance vehicles for a total cost not to exceed $220,000. 2. Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the State Departmentf General Services and West-Mark for one water truck for a total cost o not to exceed $175,000. DISCUSSION The District's five-year capital equipment schedule provides for two replacement patrol vehicles, two replacement maintenance trucks, and one water-truck. Purchase orders for vehicles acquired through the State of California Department of General Services (DGS)must be placed prior to the manufacturer's cut-off date. The District's ability to purchase vehicles through DGS provides a significant cost savings and greatly reduces the amount of staff time that would otherwise be required if the District conducted a separate bid process for each type of vehicle. The two new patrol vehicles will replace vehicles that have reached, or are approaching, the 70,000-mile mark. These higher mileage vehicles will be reassigned to maintenance crews and will replace maintenance vehicles that have attained approximately 100,000 miles. These high- mileage vehicles are at the end of their District life cycle and are typically sold at public auction. One of the two maintenance trucks included in the recommendation is a ten year old diesel truck subject to California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations for diesel particulates. Staff has determined that it is more cost effective to replace the vehicle than to retrofit it with a particulate filter. The cost of the retrofit would exceed the value of the vehicle. The second maintenance vehicle is 15 years old with approximately 90,000 hard miles and has reached to end of its useful service life. R-11-48 Page 2 The water truck will be used for District road maintenance, dust control, and other projects requiring large amounts of water and will be assigned to the Foothills field office. The District had previously rented water trucks, but they no longer come configured for safe operation in typical open space applications. The four wheel drive water truck currently assigned to the Skyline Field Office is properly equipped, but is often in use for Skyline projects when it is needed at for Foothills Field Office projects. The funding for the purchase of these five vehicles was included in the FY2011-12 budget (Report No. R-11-43), which was adopted by the Board at its March 23, 2011 Regular meeting. FISCAL IMPACT This purchase will not result in an incremental increase in the budget. The FY2011-12 budget includes $395,000 for the purchase of the subject five new field vehicles. PUBLIC NOTICE Public notice was provided as required by the Brown Act. No additional notice is required. CEQA COMPLIANCE No environmental review is required as the recommended action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). NEXT STEPS If approved by the Board, staff will prepare a purchase order for the five new vehicles utilizing the State of California Department of General Services vehicle contracts. Prepared by: David Topley, Support Services Supervisor Contact person: Same as above i a �� Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District R-11-54 Meeting I I- April 27, 2011 AGENDA ITEM 10 AGENDA ITEM Resolution Ratifying Approval to Issue 2011 Revenue Bonds GENERAL MANAGER'S AND CONTROLLER'S RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Ratify the November 17, 2010 approval to issue 2011 Revenue Bonds. 2. Approve the updated Preliminary Official Statements (POS) for both a$55 million bond issue and a$20.5 million bond issue. i 3. Authorize the General Manager to execute such documents and take such actions as are necessary to complete either the $55 million or$20.5 million financing, based on his judgment of market conditions at the time of pricing the bonds. DISCUSSION At its meeting on November 17, 2010, the Board held a public hearing and adopted those resolutions required to authorize the issuance of up to $60 million of lease revenue bonds (the 2011 Revenue Bonds)by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority. The two objectives of this bond issuance were to: 1) Generate $20 million of additional cash to fund land purchases over the next three years; and 2) Refinance the$36 million of outstanding 1999 Revenue Bonds to achieve a significant present value savings and improve the District cash flow. By the terms of the 1999 Revenue Bonds, the refinancing could not be accomplished prior to December 2010. By that time, municipal bond market conditions deterioriated significantly and long term interest rates continued to climb in early 2011. For example, the all-in cost of the combined financing($54 million) increased from 5.51%in October 2010 to 6.33%in January 2011. The present value savings of the refinancing portion decreased from a positive $1.4 million to a negative $1.0 million. Consequently, the decision was made to postpone the issue, wait for the market to stabilize and look for a favorable market window within the next six months. In addition, unless market demand for capital appreciation (i.e. zero coupon)bonds CABs picks u significantly, the financin should o forward without the refinancing portion. i (CABs)p pg g g The cash flow advantages of the refinancing were based upon the sale of$10 million of CABs, which have now become unpopular with investors. The interest rates for 20-30 year CABs now exceed 8%, over two percentages points more than current-interest bonds. This differential is now almost three times what it was on the District's 2004 Bonds. Given these current market R-11-54 Page 2 conditions, the cash flow advantages of refinancing are lost due to higher interest costs. Hopefully, the premium for CABs will return to its historic range by the time the District is ready to sell bonds again, and the refinancing can be accomplished at that time. While there is no way to predict the best time to sell bonds, the consensus forecast indicates increasing long-term interest rates each quarter in CY2011-12, and demand is now strong for municipal bonds carrying high ratings, such as the AA rating on the District's 2011 Bonds. The recommendation of the financing team is to go to market now, most likely with the smaller$20 million thirty year lease structure. The latest estimate of the terms of this smaller issue is an all- in cost of 5.89%, with an average life of 23.0 years. While this rate is much higher than our last lease financing, 4.84% in 2004, it is comparable to prior leases in 1999 (6.07%) and 1996 (6.09%). Since the POSs for both the combined $55 million structure and the new-money-only $20.5 million structure are complete, the recommendation is to approve both POSs and give the General Manager the authority to choose the one to take forward, after receiving the final market numbers prior to pricing. SUMMARY OF THE MOST LIKELY TRANSACTION: 1. Amount: Approximately$20.3 million 2. Term: Thirty years 3. Average Life: 23.0 years 4. Purpose: Provide $20 million of new money for land purchases 5. Interest Rates: To be priced in early May 2011; estimated all-in cost of 5.89% 6. Reserve Fund: None 7. Underwriting Fee: 0.7% of par amount of amount issued, about $142,700 8. Other Costs of Issuance: Estimated at $113,825 9. Closing Schedule: May 2011 PARTIES TO THE TRANSACTION: 1. Issuing Authority: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority 2. Issuer: Midpeninsula Region Open Space District 3. Trustee: Bank of New York Trust Company(BNY) 4. Underwriter: Stone&Youngberg LLC (S&Y) 5. Bond Counsel: Jones Hall 6. Disclosure Counsel: Meyers,Nave, Riback, Silver& Wilson DUTIES OF THE PARTIES: 1. Issuing Authority: Act as the issuing authority for the District 2. Issuer: Issue bonds, make principal and interest payments 3. Trustee: Administers bonds for the benefit of the holders, collects principal and interest from the District, makes payments to to holders 4. Underwriter: Purchases bonds from the Authority and sells them to buyers 5. Bond Counsel: Prepares and certifies bond documents; assures buyers of the tax-exempt status of the bonds 6. Disclosure Counsel: Drafts the Authority and District official statement and advises on compliance with federal securities laws R-11-54 Page 3 MAIN AGREEMENTS: The Board approved these transactional documents at its meeting of November 17, 2010 and their form has not substantially changed. 1. Preliminary Official Statement: Describes bond issue to potential buyers. 2. Site Lease(between District and Authority): Authority agrees to assist in the financing of specific District-owned properties. District leases these properties to the Authority. 3. Project Lease (between District and Authority): District leases back the specified properties from the Authority and agrees to make principal and interest payments to the Authority sufficient to service the bonds. 4. Indenture(between Authority and BNY): Appoints BNY as Trustee for the bonds, lists its duties and responsibilities, and details how the bonds will be administered. 5. Purchase Contract(between Authority, District and S&Y): Defines terms under which S&Y will purchase the bonds from the Authority. 6. Continuing Disclosure Agreement(between District and BNY): Appoints Trustee as the Dissemination Agent with regard to SEC disclosure rules. FISCAL IMPACT As reflected in the adopted budget for FY2011-12, sale of the 2011 Bonds will provide $20 million of new money to purchase land over the next three years and will increase District debt service by an average of$1.56 million per year over the next thirty years. The interest expense listed in the FY2011-12 budget assumed issuance of the 2011 Bonds in August 2011; sale in early May would increase debt service payable in FY2011-12 by approximately$325,000. The estimated terms are consistent with the District's long-term financial model. PUBLIC NOTICE Notice was provided pursuant to the Brown Act. No additional notice is necessary. CEQA COMPLIANCE No compliance is required as this action is not a project under CE A. p q p J Q I R-11-54 Page 4 NEXT STEP If approved by the Board, staff will proceed with finalization of the documentation and sell the bonds. Attachment: 1. Resolution Prepared by: Michael Foster, Controller Contact person: Same as above I RESOLUTION NO. 11-XX RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT RATIFYING ITS APPROVAL OF THE FINANCING OF THE ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE AND THE REFINANCING OF AN OUTSTANDING LEASE OBLIGATION AND RELATED REVENUE BONDS AND APPROVING A PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT WHEREAS, on November 17, 2010, pursuant to Resolution No. 10-44 (the"2010 Approving Resolution"), the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District(the"District"), after holding public hearings in San Mateo County and Santa Clara County, approved the issuance by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Finance Authority(the"Authority") of its 2011 Revenue Bonds (the"2011 Bonds") and the execution and delivery of all related documents for the purpose of(i) financing the acquisition and improvement of open space(the "2011 Project") and (ii) if market conditions permit, refinancing a Project Lease dated as of January 1, 1999 (the"1999 Project Lease") and the Authority's related 1999 Revenue Bonds (the"1999 Bonds"); and WHEREAS, the 2011 Bonds have not been issued as approved because conditions have not been favorable in the municipal bond market; and; WHEREAS, District staff has returned to the Board of Directors for the purpose of presenting updated market information and to ask the Board of Directors to ratify the 2010 Approving Resolution and to review and approve an updated Preliminary Official Statement relating to the 2011 Bonds; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, as follows: SECTION 1. Ratification of 2010 Approving Resolution. The Board of Directors hereby ratifies the 2010 Approving Resolution, including all findings and approvals set forth therein. SECTION 2. Official Statement. District staff has caused the District's Disclosure Counsel to prepare two forms of a preliminary Official Statement describing the 2011 Bonds: (i) a preliminary Official Statement describing a financing in which the 2011 Bonds finance the 2011 Project and refinance the 1999 Project Lease and the 1999 Bonds and (ii) a preliminary Official Statement describing a financing in which the 2011 Bonds finance the 2011 Project but, because market conditions remain unfavorable, do not refinance the 1999 Project Lease and the 1999 Bonds. The District hereby approves the preliminary Official Statements, in substantially the form on file with the Secretary. Distribution of the preliminary Official Statement and the final Official Statement by Stone &Youngberg LLC, the District's Underwriter, is hereby approved. The Authorized Officers are hereby authorized and directed to determine which form of the preliminary Official Statement should be distributed,based on market conditions, and to approve any changes in or additions to the final form of the Official Statement,whose execution thereof shall be conclusive evidence of approval of any such changes and additions. SECTION 3. Official Actions. The Authorized Officers, the District's general counsel and all other officers of the District are each authorized and directed in the name and on behalf of the District to make any and all leases, assignments, certificates,requisitions, agreements, notices Y consents instruments of conveyance or termination warrants and other documents, which they or any of them deem necessary or appropriate in order to consummate any of the transactions contemplated by the agreements and documents approved under this Resolution. Whenever in this Resolution any officer of the District is authorized to execute or countersign any document or take any action, such execution, countersigning or action may be taken on behalf of such officer by any person designated by such officer to act on his or her behalf in the case such officer is absent or unavailable. SECTION 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage and adoption. i i ' IMidpeninsula Regional Open Space District r s R-11-55 Meeting I I- April 27, 2011 AUTHORITY MEETING AGENDA ITEM 1 AGENDA ITEM Resolution Ratifying Approval to Issue 2011 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority Revenue Bonds CONTROLLER'S RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Ratify the November 17, 2010 approval to issue 2011 Revenue Bonds. 2. Approve the updated Preliminary Official Statements (POS) for both a$55 million bond issue and a$20.5 million bond issue. 3. Authorize the General Manager to execute such documents and take such actions as are necessary to complete either the$55 million or$20.5 million financing, based on his judgment of market conditions at the time of pricing the bonds. DISCUSSION At its meeting on November 17, 2010, the Board held a public hearing and adopted those resolutions required to authorize the issuance of up to $60 million of lease revenue bonds (the 2011 Revenue Bonds)by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority. The two objectives of this bond issuance were to: 1) Generate $20 million of additional cash to fund land purchases over the next three years; and 2) Refinance the $36 million of outstanding 1999 Revenue Bonds to achieve a significant present value savings and improve the District cash flow. By the terms of the 1999 Revenue Bonds, the refinancing could not be accomplished prior to December 2010. By that time, municipal bond market conditions deteriorated significantly and long term interest rates continued to climb in early 2011. For example, the all-in cost of the combined financing($54 million) increased from 5.51% in October 2010 to 6.33% in January 2011. The present value savings of the refinancing portion decreased from a positive $1.4 million to a negative $1.0 million. Consequently, the decision was made to postpone the issue, wait for the market to stabilize and look for a favorable market window within the next six months. In addition, unless market demand for capital appreciation(i.e. zero coupon)bonds (CABS) picks up significantly, the financing should go forward without the refinancing portion. The cash flow advantages of the refinancing were based upon the sale of$10 million of CABs, R-11-55 Page 2 which have become unpopular with investors. The interest rates for 20-30 year CABs now exceed 8%, over 2 percentages points more than current-interest bonds. This differential is now almost three times what it was on our 2004 Bonds. Given these current market conditions, the cash flow advantages of refinancing are lost due to higher interest costs. Hopefully, the premium for CABs will return to its historic range by the time the District is ready to sell bonds again, and the refinancing can be accomplished at that time. While there is no way to predict the best time to sell bonds, the consensus forecast indicates increasing long-term interest rates each quarter in FY2011-12, and demand is now strong for municipal bonds carrying high ratings, such as the AA rating on the District's 2011 Bonds. The recommendation of the financing team is to go to market now, most likely with the smaller$20 million thirty year lease structure. The latest estimate of the terms of this smaller issue is an all- in cost of 5.89%, with an average life of 23.0 years. While this rate is much higher than our last lease financing, 4.84% in 2004, it is comparable to prior leases in 1999 (6.07%) and 1996 (6.09%). Since the POSs for both the combined $55 million structure and the new-money-only $20.5 million structure are complete, the recommendation is to approve both POSs and give the General Manager the authority to choose the one to take forward, after receiving the final market numbers prior to pricing. FISCAL IMPACT There are no unbudgeted or unfunded impacts to the budget as a result of the recommended action. PUBLIC NOTICE Notice was provided pursuant to the Brown Act. No additional notice is necessary. CEQA COMPLIANCE This proposed action is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and no environmental review is required. NEXT STEPS None. Attachment 1. Resolution Prepared by: Michael Foster, Controller Contact person: Same as above. i RESOLUTION NO. 11-XX RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FINANCE AUTHORITY RATIFYING ITS APPROVAL OF THE FINANCING OF THE ACQUISITION OF OPEN SPACE AND THE REFINANCING OF AN OUTSTANDING LEASE OBLIGATION AND RELATED REVENUE BONDS AND APPROVING A PRELIMINARY OFFICIAL STATEMENT WHEREAS, on November 17, 2010,pursuant to Resolution No. 10-44 (the"2010 Approving Resolution"), the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Finance Authority(the"Authority"), approved the issuance by the Authority of its 2011 Revenue Bonds (the "2011 Bonds") and the execution and delivery of all related documents for the purpose of(i) financing the acquisition and improvement by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (the"District") of open space (the"2011 Project") and (ii) if market conditions permit, refinancing a Project Lease dated as of January 1, 1999 (the"1999 Project Lease") and the Authority's related 1999 Revenue Bonds (the"1999 Bonds"); and WHEREAS, the 2011 Bonds have not been issued as approved because conditions have not been favorable in the municipal bond market; and; WHEREAS, staff has returned to the Board of Directors for the purpose of presenting updated market information and to ask the Board of Directors to ratify the 2010 Approving Resolution and to review and approve an updated Preliminary Official Statement relating to the 2011 Bonds; NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED, DETERMINED AND ORDERED by the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority, as follows: SECTION 11. Ratification of 2010 Approving Resolution. The Board of Directors hereby ratifies the 2010 Approving Resolution, including all findings and approvals set forth therein. SECTION 2. Official Statement. Staff has caused the District's Disclosure Counsel to prepare two forms of a preliminary Official Statement describing the 2011 Bonds: (i) a preliminary Official Statement describing a financing in which the 2011 Bonds finance the 2011 Project and refinance the 1999 Project Lease and the 1999 Bonds and (ii) a preliminary Official Statement describing a financing in which the 2011 Bonds finance the 2011 Project but,because market conditions remain unfavorable, do not refinance the 1999 Project Lease and the 1999 Bonds. The Authority hereby approves the preliminary Official Statements, in substantially the form on file with the Secretary. Distribution of the preliminary Official Statement and the final Official Statement by Stone &Youngberg LLC, as Underwriter, is hereby approved. The Authorized Officers are hereby authorized and directed to determine which form of the preliminary Official Statement should be distributed,based on market conditions, and to approve any changes in or additions to the final form of the Official Statement, whose execution thereof shall be conclusive evidence of approval of any such changes and additions. I R-11-55 Page 4 SECTION 3. Official Actions. The Authorized Officers, the Authority's general counsel and all other officers of the Authority are each authorized and directed in the name and on behalf of the Authority to make any and all leases, assignments, certificates, requisitions, agreements, notices, consents, instruments of conveyance or termination,warrants and other documents, which they or any of them deem necessary or appropriate in order to consummate any of the transactions contemplated by the agreements and documents approved under this Resolution. Whenever in this Resolution any officer of the Authority is authorized to execute or countersign any document or take any action, such execution, countersigning or action may be taken on behalf of such officer by any person designated by such officer to act on his or her behalf in the case such officer is absent or unavailable. SECTION 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its passage and adoption. 2 E� i r r tr t IAN CREELMAN,CIRCLEOFLIGHTPHOTOGRAPHY.COM ' by Glen Martin &nS O� I CIT I S T H E C ONSERVATION LANDS NETWORK FOM THE NAPA VALLEY TOWN of St.Helena,Spring Mountain Road describes a steep and tortuous route up the eastern slope of the Mayacamas Range.It's not wise to take your eyes off the road,yet you can't help but admire the scenery. Off to your left is Spring Creek gorge,heavily forested with redwood and Douglas-fir.As you climb into the higher elevations,pocket vineyards appear,tucked or among the conifers and groves of madrones. (above)Panorama looking southwest over the Napa Valley from Robert Louis t e� Stevenson State Park.Napa and Sonoma counties contain undeveloped lands a a critical to Bay Area biodrversity.(left)This stretch of Lagunitas Creek in Marin s County is among the hundreds of miles of streams identified as priorities in the proposed Conservation Lands Network. CNARI.Es KENNARD R a Where a narrow side-road veers to the south,Jonathan Koeh- Habitat Goals Project(UHG),the entire 4.26 million terrestrial ler,the guide of this tour and the senior biologist for the Napa acres that comprise our region's nine counties have been divided County Resource Conservation District,gives the steering wheel into ioo-hectare hexagons(247 acres),each color-coded for its of his Jeep Cherokee an easy flick and we're off the main highway. significance to native flora and fauna,with the most important We drive past a terraced vineyard,then penetrate a heavy growth ones colored in various shades of blue.A variety of factors influ- of young Doug-firs still in the Christmas tree stage. ence the coding,from the quality of the habitat to contiguity with Suddenly we break into the open,and a spectacular vista protected lands.The UHG Project's objective is the creation of a unfolds.It is haunting,almostArcadian in its loveliness:a rugged detailed picture of a new Conservation Lands Network(CLN). topography of peaks and slopes,rolling meadows,vineyards, Starting with the region's existing protected lands,the goal is to and woodlands.At this time of year—midwinter—everything identify additional areas—primarily private lands—that harbor is deeply green,green in all its hues and registers,from almost high biodiversity in need of conservation. incandescent emerald grasses to deep viridian forests.Koehler A deep sense of urgency is driving this effort.Prime conserva- stops his rig and we get out.Stuart Weiss,the chief scientist of the tion lands are at extreme risk.The Bay Area,after all,is one of the Creekside Center for Earth Observation in Menlo Park,emerges most heavily populated regions in the country.At the southern from the back seat.Directly below,a small stock pond glimmers end of the Napa Valley,the city of American Canyon is bursting through a stand of oaks.Chorus frogs are vocalizing all around at the seams,melding with Vallejo and the sprawling megalopolis us,and a couple of turkey vultures fly overhead. that characterizes the East Bay.Farther north,the vineyards are It occurs to me that we may be looking at this landscape from creeping up from the valley floor to the surrounding hills.And strikingly different perspectives.I'm simply drinking in its beauty. wherever open space falls to urban development or intensive agri- But Koehler and Weiss are likely seeing not just a tableau of rills, culture,habitat is invariably fragmented and biodiversitydegraded. rocks,trees,grassy leas,and vineyards.Layered over that,they're The project therefore attempts to identify and plot the Bay probably seeing blue hexagons marching across the land.Not Area's remaining biodiversity,with an eye to long-term conserva- because they've imbibed some exotic hallucinogen:Rather,they tion.This five-year venture is spearheaded by the Bay Area Open have been instrumental in the creation of a remarkable dataset Space Council and supported by a large number of public agen- and computer model that balances hundreds of variables to calcu- cies,private foundations,conservationists,private landowners, late the best possible network of undeveloped lands for preserv- land trusts,and local universities.More than 8o scientists and ing the Bay Area's biodiversity.As part of the ambitious Upland land managers helped refine goals and conservation targets. a° 7,1 S�F G ?; 22 BAY NATURE APRiL—JUKE 2011 The project could be considered a logical follow-up to the land- servation District.Indeed,the research produced by Koehler,U.S. { mark San Francisco Baylands Ecosystem Habitat Goals project.A EPA ecologist Rob Leidy,and other scientists underlines a major decade ago that initiative drove the protection and restoration of emphasis of the LJHG process:Streams—all streams—are a top thousands of acres of marshland around San Francisco Bay.The conservation priority for the region. UHG Project is also a cousin of the San Francisco Bay Subtidal "Streams provide fundamental ecological connections through Habitat Goals Project(profiled in Bay Nature in fall 20I0). the landscape,"says Weiss."Riparian zones always contain unique "In many ways,though,this is more challenging,"says Weiss. local habitats,rich habitats.They're fragile—it's easy to trash them. "Uplands are typically much more complex than baylands.The But we're also learning how to restore them." biodiversity is richer,and the terrain is fragmented.Connecting The Napa River is a powerful metaphor for the great ecological the parts to achieve conservation goals is harder.Plus,the uplands value of riparian areas.It's not just about wine country public rela- feed the baylands—what happens in the upper Napa River water- tions and the millions of tourists the valley draws each year.The Napa shed affects San Pablo Bay." system is also unexpectedly rich with native fish.Koehler has demon- If the basic idea is simple—plot a series of data overlays on a strated this over the past few years by operating a trap that captures map to create a comprehensive picture of what lives where—the samples of the river's juvenile fish.One of the earliest revelations was work was challenging.Even in a circumscribed and heavily urban- that the Napa River supports a relatively robust population of fall- ized region,nature exists on a deep and fractal level. How can run chinook salmon. you possibly identify species of concern on a landscape scale and "We didn't anticipate that,"Koehler says."We also found that the present them in a useful and accurate format? The answer,of course,is by garnering all the available data and putting in the necessary hours. o f 4W PRIORITY: SAVE THE STREAMS Koehler devoted a lot of the sweat equity to this project—both directly as an adviser on riparian issues,and indirectly through his work as a fisheries biologist for the Napa County Resource Con- LOWELL DOWN EY d steelhead run was quite strong.And then there were a - all the other species—some completely unexpected." That included sockeye salmon which no one imagined were spawning in the river.Koehler thinks the sockeye W116�'. - descended from kokanee salmon,a landlocked sock- eye variant,that were planted in nearby reservoirs. (left)The proposed habitat network begins with protected lands,like these north of Mount Tamalpais. Evert more compelling from a conservation point (above)Jonathan Koehler has shown that the Napa River watershed is remarkably rich in native fish,including of view is the presence of other fish—less glamorous chinook salmon.(below)The Conservation Lands Network relies on extensive mapped data,as in this Napa species that are linchpins of local aquatic ecosystems. Valley section:Vegetation types(left)are combined with rarity(center),conservation targets,and other mea- Koehlerhas recorded more than 25 species of fish, sures such as distance to roads to produce the optimal Conservation Lands Network(right,in green and blue). �iAL . Louis iAFFE/GREENINFO NETWORK APRIL—JUNE 2011 BAY NATURE 23 including California endemics such as hitch,hardhead,Sacra- "Preserving biodiversity mento sucker,Sacramento blackfish,and pike minnow. is largely a matter of preserv- "It's really amazing,"says Weiss."Despite all the impacts from ing habitat,"says Koehler."With development and viticulture,the Napa River is one of the crown the Napa River,a variety of factors are jewels of native fish habitat for the Bay Area."Weiss ruminates for involved—and foremost among them is a minute,and then continues."You know,what we're doing really stabilizing the upper watershed.If the upper I comes back to that Aldo Leopold quote—`The first principle of watershed isn't stable,sedimentationwill hammer intelligent tinkering is to save all the parts:The Upland Habitat the fish." Goals process is allowing us to identify and save the pieces." When those pieces come together in the Conservation Lands Net- work, RANGE Weiss hopes,effective conservation strategies will emerge. Already,those strategies are taking shape.The Napa River's The significance of riparian zones is rather intuitive—water,fish, impressive biodiversity appears to be a recent phenomenon— and lush streamside forests all speak eloquently of wildlife and a matter of resuscitation rather than long-term stability.By the healthy ecosystems.Not so obvious,perhaps,is the importance ig8os,the river had become a sump,a sluggish canal clogged with of another habitat,one conservationists value as highly as sediment sluiced from adjacent vineyards.Tough water quality streams:grasslands. control regulations and private riparian restoration initiatives— There's a lot of rangeland left in the Bay Area—about 1.7 most notably those undertaken by the vintners of the Rutherford million acres.That fact alone makes grasslands an essential Dust Society—are helping to bring the river back. component in conservation planning.But all that open space is more than simply open space. f "On the one hand,grasslands are among the most modified S habitats we have in the Bay Area,"Weiss says."Invasive plants are a huge problem.But grasslands also support tremendous bio- �_, , diversity.They contain a mosaic of habitats and species—oak y t.. 3 _ �.� . woodlands,native bunchgrasses,vernal pools,wildflower stands, ' '- ponds with red-legged frogs and California tiger salamanders, 3 serpentine soils with endemic flora,burrowing owls,badgers, xo even tule elk.No matter how you look at it,we're going to have to conserve and manage grasslands if we're going to preserve bio- diversity in the Bay Area." Which gets back to the issue of implementing the Conservation Lands Network:Providing productive wildlife habitat means identifying properties for conservation and establishing corridors between protected parcels.Getting that done on a large scale requires voluntary participation even more than regulation and public acquisition of land.Most Bay Area grasslands are privately owned and destined to stay that way,so conserving the biodiversity on these lands means working cooperatively with the owners—ranchers,in most cases. "Not everything has to be purchased outright by public agen- cies or nonprofits,"says Nancy Schaefer,UHG Project manager. "Protection through conservation easements and voluntary stew- ardship incentives can be preferable for a number of reasons." The first is cost.Permanent easements—agreements in which landowners forgo development and conform to specific land man- agement regimens in exchange for cash payments—are generally much cheaper than outright acquisition and often include ambi- tious restoration programs. "Even when the state has been able to acquire land for con- servation purposes,there hasn't always been funding available California poppies frame this view from Mount Diablo.This mix of grasslands and udk for critical stewardship,"Schaefer says."In most cases,active woodlands is critical habitat for hundreds of species,from wildflowers to tiger salamanders land management is necessary to both improve and maintain to burrowing owls. biodiversity:fencing streams,keeping invasive weeds in check, 24 BAY NATURE W APRIL—JUNE 2011 Use+ kL Conservation Lands Network Upland Habitat Goals Project Essential Important Protected t Cultivated bS ; .J _ 'Dixon anta Rosa " rr Rural residential ' 5OLANO` .� 121, Y .� tw Wile Urban, 80 10 " Other lands ��.., 1011, , , F❑field f r 1 etaltl •�a '.� Study area limit �;s� • Rio Vista II fO 10 Miles 41k- 4 A N xo w Antioch .._` 'San - tL , '�.fiafa 4+y ♦ � en) Walnut Brentwood - Creek Va even using cattle to erkeleybdi reduce heavy grass Ian` i C O S T thatch and help plants ' ...... . . that native butterflies need." San �R on Alt°mont c ,F al _ Conservation easements also tV. \;' :► ' 5 °s5 keep ranchers on their ranchesLlvertliore • and their properties on the tax rolls. "Ranchers are the community in many rural areas,"she says."They �. are also stewards of the lands under A N., q T Fremont- 'a` E. easement—their active participa- 46`� tion is necessary for the implemen- Hal ;�.'�-_. _._._._:a._._._._. " ;Palo � '} tation of conservation measures." Boon Alto �� O It is unlikely anyone exemplifies r zA� Schaefer's definition of the rancher- cum-steward better than Darrel Sweet,a ; i _ San Jose fifth-generation cattleman who lives on his i,000-acre ancestral ranch at the summit �; t T A L of the Altamont Pass in eastern Alameda County.I meet Sweet one clammy,cold ''} ` + Tt afternoon at his driveway along North l° „f'p Flynn Road. . Or An A past president of the California Cattle- it men's Association,Sweet is a cheerful,bluff, sixtyish man of middle height,clad in the rancher's , uniform:jeans,worn work jacket,battered Stetson,and r LOUIS IAFFL/GRFFN INFO N-ORK cowboy boots designed for actually riding horses rather than line- on their entire properties."They're not for everyone,"Sweet dancing in the local C&W bar.He's a tad sore on the day of my acknowledges."But in the right situations,they can work out visit:A testy horse kicked him in the left kidney a month earlier, well for both ranchers and wildlife."With an easement,owners and he's still recovering.This doesn't detract from his enthusi- can realize$7,000 to$10,000 an acre in one-time payments asm,however:for his grandkids,for the history of the Altamont in return for taking specific restoration measures and restricting region,for the cattle business,and for ranchers'role in the C LN. land use and stocking levels. We clamber aboard a battered ATv and churn through the fog "People still get M-EW POLVOROSA KLINE.POLVOROSAKLINEPNOTOGRAPN COM i and hills.Ground squirrels whistle in alarm and scramble out of to graze their cattle'` our way.After io teeth-chattering minutes,we drop down a slope Sweet says."Graz- to a small,muddy pond.Cattails crowd one end,and all of it is ing is usually part fenced to exclude cattle except for a single narrow ingress point. of any management It isn't pretty,but this homely little stock pond is critical habitat plan,particularly for for two of the Bay Area's most beleaguered animals:California red-legged frogs and tiger salamanders and red-legged frogs. tiger salamanders.So "It turns out that stock ponds are hot spots for both species," you have endangered Sweet says."In many areas,it's the only good habitat they have. amphibians going But the ponds have to be managed in a certain way." from a potential lia- Built in the ig6os,Sweet's pond was considered temporary, bility to an asset." with a dirt spillway likely to wash out over time.Now,an overflow In eastern Alameda pipe and fencing ensure it will remain good amphibian habitat. County,it's not just But the salamanders also need uplands,where they hole up in about amphibians. squirrel burrows."It doesn't fit the usual stereotypes of`prime' The range of the San wildlife habitat" Sweet observes."But it's what the salamanders Joaquin kit fox,one of the hemisphere's rarest canids,reaches the need.As long as we give it to them,they do fine."The Sweet fam- Altamont.Home to theworld's densest population ofgolden eagles, ily covered about to percent of the$35,000 cost of the improve- it's also a critical migratory corridor for other raptors.Conserving ments.State and federal agencies paid the rest,and the Alameda habitat for all these species—as well as for water quality and open County Resource Conservation District supervised the work. space—puts ranchers at the forefront of Bay Area conservation. Ranchers can also secure permanent conservation easements New digital tools will help get this work done on the ground. (left)A suburban develop- ment in Dublin encroaches on the open grasslands. (above)The lands around the Altamont Pass,including thousands of acres of work- ing ranchland,are prime hunting grounds for golden eagles. (above right)Rancher Darrel Sweet with Kate Simonds of the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service in front of a stock pond that was re-engineered to benefit California tiger sal- amanders and red-legged F rJ� ofrogs.The cost of the work was shared by Sweet,Fish and Wildlife,and a number of other agencies. 0 (right)View from Roger's 3 Ridge in Morgan Territory - Regional Preserve near — Mount Diablo. 26 BAY NATURE APR I[ —JUNE 2 o I I "A guy can go on[the CLN website,bayarealands.org]and see how O RK E D C O N S E RVAT I O N his property stacks up in terms of priority species,location in regard to other high-value properties,all kinds of factors,"Sweet says. Don Rocha,the natural resource supervisor for the Santa Clara "More and more ranchers want in on this.A few years ago,they County Parks District,says the Conservation Lands Network has y resisted it.Now they see it as the thing that will let them stay on taken land managers"out of our bubbles.We're communicating now i their land." in a way we never could before,and our data is easily shared.That's He points out a golden eagle cruising the really making a difference in regional planning,the heart of effective ridgeline above us,no doubt hunting ground conservation.We have to treat the Bay Area as a whole if we're going squirrels."I was with my little grandson not to make real progress." long ago,and we were watching a golden Rocha oversees natural resource issues on 45,000 acres of park- eagle flying around,"he says."Suddenly he land,and a big part of his job revolves around preserving biodiver- turned to me and said,`Grandpa,this is so sity.This is a particular challenge in the South Bay,where decades great.No other kids I know get to live on of urbanization have fragmented habitat.The C LN is new and hasn't a ranch and watch eagles like we do.'He been deeply integrated in Santa Clara County Parks policy,but he intuitively understood what we're doing anticipates that will change."We think these new layers of informa- here—and that made me feel pretty good." tion will be especially helpful in identifying land acquisition priorities," Rocha says."It'll allow us to look at habitats on a regional scale." The data should also help park managers with the sensitive task of balancing public access with biodiversity protection."The taxpayers are supporting these parks,and they want to be able to use them," Rocha observes."But our mandate also includes resource protec- tion,so we hope to use the CLN to help us do both.We can see what I is where,figure out the best trail routes,and plot buffer areas and ,l protected zones." The CLN's online tools include biodiversity reports—specific information on vegetation types(roughly 5 o categories),listed species, and geographic features."You delineate an area and out pop the dif- ferent vegetation types,the number of ponds and streams and listed species,"Weiss says."You're able to see how any particular parcel fits into—or doesn't fit into—the Conservation Lands Network." The Conservation Lands Network is the heart of the project, N says Weiss:"That's what we're emphasizing—the integrity of the network,not the individual parcels.Every- thing must be viewed from this larger perspective." The digital tools informing that per- spective are grounded in free planning -` software called Marxan,which allows sci- ik. -' "l <: _ � �� entists to devise conservation strategies incorporating hundreds of biodiversity targets and thousands of candidate areas. "You can establish goals and design inputs about the conservation value of the planning units—human popula- tion density and distance to roads,for example,"says Ryan Branciforte,the Open Space Council's director of conser- vation planning. The project's website(bayarealands. org)hosts detailed geographic data for W scientists and land managers,as well as k an online interactive version,called the Explorer,that allows anyone to mix and APR1L—Jaws zoii W BAY NATURE 27 match overlays—laying vegetation rarity over existing protected to them.[The C LN project]is helping us make the smartest invest- lands,for example.In graphic form,the message of the blue hexa- ments possible.The map overlays give you the regional perspec- gons is clear in a way that words could never match;it is immedi- tive to make tough decisions." ately obvious where the priority lands lie. Still,the map is more a reliable sketch than an exquisitely "There is probably more G i s spatial data available on the nine detailed portrait,and its resolution will improve over time as Bay Area counties than on any other region on the planet,"says data is continually added to the overlays. Branciforte."And it's very good data.A lot of very intelligent "I have a certain faith in the maps,but the Conservation Lands j± Network must change and evolve,"says Amy Hutzel, J the state Coastal Conservancy's BayArea program manager.The CLN is designed to be flexible in the face of many factors—from climate change to shifts in a specific parcel's protected status.That points to a larger truth:Preserving biodiversity is a marathon, not a sprint. "Twenty years ago,the Napa River was a real mess," says Weiss,as we luxuriate in our view of the upper Napa Valley."But now we're starting to see the payback i (above)The rolling grasslands and woodlands of eastern Contra Costa County. (right)Cows on Coyote Ridge southeast of San Jose.Managed grazing has j { proven essential for maintaining native plant diversity on serpentine soils. people have been working on this for a long time— � decades,really.We had a huge database to work from." i All that data helped determine which of the 17,225 y u, hexagons in the C LN map were"best"for conserva- tion,as determined by everything from vegetation type to the presence of endangered and threatened species, contiguity with already protected parcels,and migra- tion corridor potential. from the work started then.We have pretty good steelhead and "It tells you where the priorities are,"Branciforte says."That chinook runs,and a surprising number of other native fish inhabit doesn't mean a hexagon doesn't have any biodiversity value just the river.I anticipate it could take 30 to 50 years to really see the because it's not blue.Any acreage we get—blue or not—will full benefits of the upland work we're doing now.Conservation probably still contribute to achieving upland habitat goals.But takes time as well as money and effort." the blue hexagons should be considered first." And the right tools in the hands of the right people. Establishing priorities is a matter of deep concern for Gary Knoblock,Bay Area program officer for the Gordon and Betty Glen Martin,a former environmental reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, Moore Foundation,a key C LN funder and the nation's largest pri- writes on resource issues for a number of publications.His latest book,on the vate financial supporter of environmental initiatives."These are conflict between animal rights advocates and conservationists in Africa,will be tough economic times,"Knoblock says,"and we are not immune published by UC Press. The Bay Area Open Space Council is a collaborative "Big Plans for Wild Lands'is a publication of the Editor:Dan Rademacher of member organizations involved in permanently con- nonprofit Bay Nature Institute. Dedicated to Design:David Bullen servingand stewarding parks,trails,and agricultural lands in the helping you explore nature in the Bay Area,the institute pub- io-county San Francisco Bay Area.OpenSpaceCouncil.org lishes Bay Nature magazine and hosts BayNature.org. Cartography:Louis Jaff6 The Upland Habitat Goals Project,an initiative of the Bay Significant funding provided by the California Coastal Special Thanks:Ryan Area Open Space Council,is dedicated to creating a resilient Conservancy Bay Area Program and the Gordon and Branciforte,Annie Burke, network of conserved private and public lands through shared Betty Moore Foundation.For a complete list of funders,visit Bettina Ring,Nancy Schaefer, vision,great science,and new connections.BayArea Land s.org BayAreaLands.org. Stuart Weiss Last Wild Places and Working Lands RM V i.. L��7 4 Q C 6 . . .tip r J,_S.= �G Ir :e C-co-C L Conservation Lands Network Upland Habitat Goals Project Essential Important Protected '►, Cultivated aouq hL c Rural residential Urban Other lands Study area limit y! �. : •�r N I k�' lOMiles fit. fir * • � t �` >. k � hN f ` ? C> ^� osa an S ' Sta R `�` � Dixon 1 . : r AQ r_ + 48 29 1 V1 vJle SO L AIV�r .�... — W I 11 o-. Sonoma •, f'' J `O \ • `i ,F irfield TV 116 1 ♦ RTO AA - - - - ' • . � 680 s. 11 Jo Y t d � z C7 A K I N' 4 eo LQ Antioc eeo Walnut Brent 1)- Creek i24?� m 1 � �h't aeo '-0,I,VyfK3�/i C O S T 4 Ian c San `�RSaon r F ancisc This map is part of a remarkable five year science-based study by over 125 organizations , t Liveuhore • and individuals tasked to identify the most _ 5 41 essential lands needed to sustain the "natural 92 ► ,'- -a 10, web of life that gives us freshwater,wildlife, F o infrastructure" of our region—a functioning �A ATf r g� g N. local food, fresh air and beautiful laces. Hal p Palo Moon Alto.•" 'k`. -`~ ^ '} I Over 4.3 million acres were studied and Bay over 1,000 variables were considered—from redwood forests to California red legged frog ' L, San Jose habitats, from climate change to migratory ''".�s, •�, 12 4T A routes. A !� .wit �t.�c ;,•4\ 101 M� 1 £ o an Go to BayAreaLands.org for the ,1 full report, web-based interactive • 1 mapping, and GIS database. '"0- "The Conservation Lands Network has the potential for tremendous impact: linked large-scale, full-functioning t natural and agricultural landscapes to support nature, OUT economy, and even some of our greatest aspirations." Steve McCormick,Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation f i Conservation Lands Network Created by the Upland Habitat Goals Project,a coalition of over 125 Bay Area organizations and individuals dedicated to creating a thriving,resilient network of wild and working lands through common vision,great science and new connections. Steering Committee Funders California Department of Fish and Game •Janice Gan California Coastal and Marine Initiative of the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation California Native Plant Society• Laura Baker,Lech Naumovich California Landscape Conservation Cooperative California State Coastal Conservancy • Melanie Denninger,Ann Buell California Resources Agency California Rangeland Trust• Darrel Sweet,Tina Batt California State Coastal Conservancy California State Parks-Marla Hastings,Cyndy Shafer David and Lucile Packard Foundation East Bay Regional Park District • Beth Stone Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Marin Open Space District• Mischon Martin Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund i Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District • Kirk Lenington US Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program at San Francisco Bay The Nature Conservancy • Dick Cameron Technical assistance provided by the National Park Service Rivers,Trails and Peninsula Open Space Trust• Paul Ringgold Conservation Assistance Program PRBO Conservation Science• Geoff Geupel San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory•Janet Hanson,Jill Demers Bay Area Open Space Council San Francisco Bay Joint Venture • Sandra Scoggin The Bay Area Open Space Council is a collaborative of member organizations San Francisco Estuary Institute • Rainer Hoenicke,Josh Collins actively involved in permanently conserving and stewarding parks,trails and Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department • Don Rocha agricultural lands in the ten-county San Francisco Bay Area. Save the Redwoods League• Laura Kindsvater OpenSpaceCouncil.org Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District 2150 Allston Way,Suite 320 Kim Batchelder,Tom Robinson Berkeley,CA 94704 Sonoma County Water Agency• Keenan Foster Sonoma Land Trust • Wendy Eliot 5108098009 University of California,Davis •Virginia Boucher Bettina Ring,Executive Director USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service •Terry Huff,Morpheus Anima Ryan Branciforte,Director of Conservation Planning US Fish and Wildlife Service • Ryan Olah,Kim Squires Annie Burke,Director of Development and Engagement US National Park Service • Darren Fong Photo credits:Max Allen,BirdsofaFcatherB&B,Annie Burke,California Beef Council, Project Team Jim Coleman,Cowgirl Creamery,David Fenton,Janet Rae Jorgensen,Peter LaTourette, Nancy Schaefer,Project Manager,Land Conservation Services Mohammad Mandian,Lech Naumovich,Larry Serpa,Michael Veneta,Miguel Viera Stuart B.Weiss,Science Advisor,Ph.D.,Creekside Center for Earth Observation Design:Ellen Toomey Design Ryan Branciforte,Conservation Planner,Bay Area Open Space Council Content:Kelly Cash Consulting Go to BayAreaLands.org for the full report,web-based interactive mapping,and GIS database. "The Conservation Lands Network helps us understand how we are connected to a bigger vision, and how we can coordinate to BAYAREA have greater impact. Andrea Mackenzie,Santa Clara Open Space Authority i I "Using these tools, ranchers can see how their ranches stack up and their potential opportunities. More and more ranchers want to participate. A few years ago they resisted. Now they see conservation of their ranches as a way to preserve their ranching heritage." Darrel Sweet,California Rank;eland Trust Board Member and Rancher I� 7� ra / A•f vI" m f6 ''C • U � .r t �✓ +n,�.�7,ptr+�4 41'4� "!+' � ��'�� Ls, A".?^';v /_. Benefits ,. • Clean water and fresh air r • Tourist-enticing vistas " • Healthy rural and agricultural economies • Habitat for native and imperiled plants and animals • Local food that supplies a world-class culinary movement • Crop pollination and resilience to climate change • Outdoor classrooms for our children • Migratory corridors for birds and mountain lions • Places to play and renew our spirits l F "There is potential here to use visualization, mapping, storytelling, citizen science, and other projects to raise understanding of environmental change, adaptation, and conservation in the face of climate change in the years ahead in the Bay Area, and potentially beyond." Jon Christensen,The Bill Lane Center for the American West,Stanford University r 1 i Charting the Course Eight Steps to a Healthier Bay Area 1. Include everyone. The Conservation Lands Network can be used by anyone with a computer who wants to help protect open space, wildlife, and ways of life. 2. Create incentives. In these cash-strapped budgetary times, create incentives for ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners that will stabilize land tenure and improve the habitat and the economic viability of working lands. 3. Continue to fund what already works. Provide consistent public and private funding for innovative programs such as the San Francisco Bay Area Conservancy Program, Williamson Act, private landowner incentive programs, conservation 1 easements, mitigation monies, and the Land and Water Conservation Fund. 4. Encourage an era of New Neighboring. Use the Conservation Lands 1 Network to help neighbors partner with neighbors by linking management actions sj across property lines. Help connections grow informally and formally in ways that ' . H " �, promote community-based conservation. i 5. Integrate into public plans. Concentrate development in places that keep essential habitat out of harm's way by including the Conservation Lands Network in General Plans, the Sustainable Community Strategy and Habitat Conservation Plans, as well as other land use, watershed and transportation planning efforts. 6. Freshwater first! Protect every drop by preserving and restoring sensitive watershed lands and streams. Promote active, ongoing stewardship and protection. These areas will provide both movement corridors and refuge for plants and animals confronting a changing climate. "With this we can 7. Adapt and evolve. Help public and private landowners create long-term, manage water and adaptive management plans that will build on and sustain the network. Create riparian areas in ways new initiatives within the Conservation Lands Network, such as the upcoming Bay that will make the Area Critical Linkages Project, that strengthen and deepen ongoing conservation Bay Area more resilient opportunities. in the face of climate change." 8. Think Big. Connect More. Find creative ways to protect essential lands and Phil Stevens, waters such as efforts like the Living Landscape Initiative and the America's Great Urban Creeks Council Outdoors Initiative. •3 ' L, E _ -ef° *Vot .. � ,.t • i 4! .. 1 gyp•. �. Dear Friend: t We all know it:The Bay Area is one of the most special places on Earth. But for how much longer? Our region is facing unprecedented threats, from budget cuts to poorly planned development to a changing climate. Every day fresh water for people and nature is dwindling, habitat and migration routes are shrinking, and small family farms and ranches are forced to cash out and move on. This matters economically because the Bay Area depends upon clean water,beautiful 'u vistas, healthy food, and accessible wilderness. It is a region that pioneered the world's largest network of urban parks, and whose farmers, ranchers,vintners and chefs continue to produce a globally lauded cuisine. All of these things contribute billions to the regional economy, and quality of life assets that can never be measured. We can't afford to lose them. There is hope.A new and growing coalition of scientists, conservationists, and ranchers has joined together. Leading with science,we have created a bold, achievable plan that can ultimately ensure the health and survival of the lands and waters that sustain us all. You now hold in your hands a "greenprint" for action: the Conservation Lands Network. This is the culmination of five years of work conducted by a comprehensive list of 125 organizations and individuals—from the National Park Service to local ranchers. It reveals the potential to create an enduring network of flourishing wilderness, parks and working lands, all connected in new ways. The Conservation Lands Network means more acres conserved and linked together across ownerships. It means protecting our "natural infrastructure" even as we build roads, railways and houses. It means supporting great agricultural land stewardship and greener urban lifestyles. These are actions that protect and build upon the tremendous investments that have already been made in land conservation in the Bay Area. With your support, the Conservation Lands Network can help the Bay Area realize its formidable promise of becoming a global model of a truly "Sustainable Community." This is the best opportunity we will ever have to protect the essential network of remaining places that can sustain the health of the Bay Area, and all its denizens— human, plant and animal—for future generations. Please join us. Sincerely, " Bettina Ring ? Executive Director Bay Area Open Space Council Jain us and explore the Conservation Lands Network —Go to BayAreaLands.org. Midpeninsula Regional ' Open Space District To: Board of Directors From: Stephen E. Abbors . Date: April 22, 2011 Re: FYIs i OIe�n S 'aceiDist ictnal Memorandum P P DATE: April 21, 2011 MEMO TO: MROSD Board of Directors THROUGH: Stephen E. Abhors, General Manager FROM: Kirk Lenington, Senior Resource Planner SUBJECT: Alma College Oil Spill Update, Bear Creek Redwoods OSP The District's response to the Alma College oil spill site has continued since the original incident was identified in March. This memorandum provides an update on the status of the response and potential future actions that may be required to address contamination concerns at the property. The initial response to contain the oil release at the former Alma College site was conducted by District staff, Santa Clara County Fire, and the District's contractor,Clean Harbors, Inc.. District staff began investigations to identify the source of the oil and the extent of contamination present at the Alma College site once the initial spill containment and cleanup was completed, approximately 3 days after the release was identified. To perform these services, the District contracted with ERM-West, Inc (ERM), an environmental consulting firm with experience investigating and cleaning contaminated sites and structures. ERM conducted subsurface utility location investigations and was able to identify the source of the oil as an approximately 2,000 gallon heating fuel underground storage tank(UST) located eight feet underground, adjacent to the Boiler Room building where oil and water were originally identified and suspected as the source of the oil observed seeping from the hillside. ERM also mapped oil distribution pipelines leading from the UST to the building, which were not capped, as well as broken and uncapped fill ports to the UST that permitted water to enter the tank and force out residual fuel oil through the distribution pipes and into the Boiler Room. A sump was identified within the foundation of the Boiler Room that drained the oil and water mixture from the building, through a drain line, and ultimately onto the slope below the building where a break in the drain pipe proved to be the release point of the oil observed flowing following the heavy rains. All of the pipelines and fill ports have been capped by ERM and there is no further threat of release of oil into the environment. Additionally, ERM has excavated all impacted soil and debris from the road surface and has collected confirmation soil samples to document that all oil contaminated soil and debris has been removed from the road. ERM has also collected soil samples from below the foundation of the Boiler Room to determine if impacted soils are present below the Boiler Room foundation. The District has not yet received analytic results of these soil samples. Over the next few months, District staff will be developing plans to remove the UST and remediate any contaminated soils present on the site. Additionally, staff will be retaining a consultant to investigate the larger Alma College site for the presence of additional USTs or other potential contaminant concerns. Because of the recent and unexpected nature of this project, sufficient funds were not allocated in the FY2011-12 budget to cover the expenses necessary to complete the required scope of services. Staff will n will reallocate funds from ot her projects at midyear to be preparing costs estimates for this project and p ,] y cover these expected expenses. i Midpeninsula Regional • " Open Space District i To: Board of Directors From: Stephen E. Abbors Date: April 27, 2011 Re: Late FYIs i Robert Zatkin P.O. Box 139 o San Carlos CA 94070 <> (615) 599-9936 o rzatkin@gmail.com Recei �` April 18, 2011 AP r$A 41,E R 2 Board of Directors Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Q��e, i r Di el C rcEe 330 Dist el Altos CA 94022-1404 Members of the Board: Over the course of the past six months I have hiked the Manzanita Trail in the El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve (ECdMC) three times — alone, with other concerned citizens, and with other concerned citizens and senior staff of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District). Repeat visits to the trail fol- lowed from my discovery that a significant portion of the trail is severely degraded ' by mountain bikes. In the affected areas the trail has been obliterated — • replaced by broad zones devoid of trail tread. These zones are comprised of exposed expanses of fractured bedrocks which is dissagregating into sediment ranging in size from sand grains to boulders. The sediment veneers, and has 9 9 accumulated downslope of, these zones; • lowered on the order of several feet relative to the adjacent forest floor; • lacks chaparral vegetation and soil beyond the width of the former trail tread; and • is clearly due largely to mountain bikes as the degraded zone is veneered with the imprint of bicycle tires, and outcrops of bedrock are veneered with the skid marks of bicycle tires. District staff has informed me that portions of other trails within ECdMC are likewise degradedz, as such it is reasonable to assume that what stands on the Manzanita Trail occurs on other trails in ECdMC. As judged by the Manzanita Trail it is likely that trails in other District lands on which mountain bikes are allowed are likewise degraded. These trail conditions hold no beauty, rather demonstrate the wasteland that moun- tain bikes leave behind. More important, the conditions do not comport with the Dis- trict's stated mission - "Our mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity; protect and restore the natural environment; and 1.Sandstone member of the Butano Sandstone. 2. Blue Blossom, Leaf, South Leaf, El Corte de Madera West, Methuselah, Springboard and Steam Donkey trails. Page 1 of 3 F_ provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.'To better assist you in understanding the severity of the degradation I have enclosed a compact disc containing photographs of the degradation. I suggest your Board in-total walk the Manzanita Trail to witness first-hand the deg- radation that mountain bikes cause to the land, keeping in mind that — (a) The Dis- trict has spent nearly $1 million of taxpayer money in ECdMC to remedy the transport of sediment from trails and roads to the channel network, (b) the sediment generated by degradation will enter the channel network with concomitant impacts to aquatic species, and (c) related issues and significant efforts to remedy the issues, exist in and for the San Gregorlo Creek watershed, in particular recovery of the coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), and in-time likely the steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 1. The District is soon to observe the benchmark 40th year since inception. The District does not exist on Distel Circle, the District is the District's land, and the vehicle through which the public partakes of District land is the trail network. Given the rel- ative chronological maturity of the District, and the history of abusive land use prac- tices in ECdMC, the degradation of the Manzanita Trail should not have occurred. However, it has occurred, and that it occurred raises the following substantive issues that the District has yet to address. 0 Where - in the context of field presence and state of consciousness - was the District field staff as degradation of the Manzanita Trail was occurring? 0 What mechanisms does the District have in place - as field assessment of trail conditions, recording assessment, and translating the record into effective man- agement of the District trail network - such that conditions as those extant of the Manzanita Trail do not occur? The degraded condition of the Manzanita Trail is a bold statement of the lack of sen- sitivity of the mountain bike community to the damage they inflict on our public lands, and the Districts poor stewardship of our lands. In conclusion, at this late stage of degradation, the only effective and responsible action by the District rict is to immediately close the Manzanita Trail and other trails sim- ilarly degraded in ECdMC, and begin to plan for decommissioning the closed trails. It is important to note that constructing by-pass to closed trails in the ECdMC will likely prove to move degradation to another location due to the hydrogeologic and topo- graphic environments in the ECdMC, and the intransigent insensitivity of the moun- tain bike community to the degradation they sow. Sincerely, Robert Zatkin Page 2 of 3 ' -- ` The following regulatory mandates exist for the San Gregorlo Creek watershed. Other correlative issues exist. ° Designation by the federal NOAA Fisheries Service for recovery of the Central California Coast DPS (Distinct Population Segment) of coho salmon (Oncorhynchus 6isutch) listed as endangered under mandate of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). [Sae http://avvcnmfs.noaa.gov/necoveqY Coho_K000vary_P|an_031810.htm, ]. � ~ Uke|ydesignetion by the federal NOAA Fisheries Service for recovery of the Central California Coast � OPS stee|head trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), listed sted as threatened under the ESA. [See tp: � swr.nmfs.noaa.gov/recovery/Steelhead—CCCS.htm] ° The State of California Water Quality Control Board released —$650,000 of taxpayer money to exe- cute a watershed-wide study and assessment tudetermine modes and mechanisms for Improving habitat for aquatic species, In particular the coho salmon [See http://www.sgerc.org/, Download San Gregorlo Watershed Management .] Recently the federal Environmental Protection agency | release ~$45O,OOOof taxpayer money to execute the p�je«t San Gregorio Creek Watershed: Filling ! Critical Flow Needs, to demonstrate the possibility of increasing maintaining agricultural productivity. ° Designation by the State of California under the federal Clean Water Act, Section 309(d) as Sedi- � menVSi|tat|on impairment to stee{head habitat. [See htLp://wvvvv.swrob.ca.gov/sanfrandsoobay/ � water]syuas/progranne/TMDLa/3O3d|ist.shtm|, � , page pfJ9Q.] � � � � � � � � | / Page 3mf3 � s TN 3 dp�• <'fit' t � f '� •.r: �rP Ilk .M •ice, !R.: �.f fir._. � - #t., ,,--•. n, 4 Et IA �7i . +• r i �t +•J w'i�Nh'•.u. t 3'+�i.� f 'I 4 � ! � fir. • / - _ ! C rY. f a /i • 4i i-. ��• t +may,*f i�� • flf. } ," i � '4 '}3 ..fs t .:.. ,.'l� tYY Alt v fir' � ':%�� i f w � Y'.f \_ ��y, � �' t.•r a ! r. � E.. >,�i, �i�c F_� :r ,t� ��! _ / E� ' � t�� j. -f_,'w•' + , '� a i��►i�ii � �+� '`rW •k .* _ `j''�y � f• 3y x $$ b d a } u�;i;4i E' A x, NIP Jvl x . a ? _ a A S .w ,. 1 �.�,. T `,, •ems � , � .\� rr ` ..•!*�*_` '�'�'�'- � it � w! 'k der M Ja�a,. � .. �7�• t 'r Aki , 1 ' - t 4 5►, 1 r. a-' ►"` fit► . ti .�a r t 4 ► - w f/ �• r:jl nay. '�� t �"+'' ��t'ri�r '•yj^'�, r i "!r fur� fir: s �4. SfK� e t , r y. fJV 1� r t s. 3 ell, t , L ir OWE ilk AN e.. } _ .d' �Ir '�: s•-yam - - � � a, ^' ��t�. .�� +!. gym. !'' � , - io �l ... •fA i N,. ,' �. .� c �'�F � � � .+ice � �.+cS �. • ,�� •`J '�� Y A fit^ . + �? �`.. .•r ,,� i `�a �* i4: Al 4 ♦ F r t`` rx r �.( I - ` at . ' - '.7iL�` -.: i I {tt. ^��`'a*'�3.-'"��g.'.. .t- ' al�jf. 1c ��rc. •t i v Ak _ y J Y •`-•�.. '.a r. `.,,��w...��s�.,�fi#. - - _�. - - :9� _' . ...y+" •'� at ' y +5 Al `a �Y'� • ..Yq'[:�F5�w..` �+ti ter.�j _ $'�!.__ __ _ _ _ - Y M lei : . �� r :r" r r 1 , � r R •'- oaf 6 , `ems! ' •t. �t � - ..Y f/ y�. .T - ... vp W Y�" �.., -yM! r= FW Ai A .0 " !• ,r;"mac � �• . - •erg •► - 4 � ..k .x �?,p � •� ,. ,. '! ��„ `+.fir. �v. .+ ti + •��y�r, mar I . t t •r w � tea, a, ro { y a _' •'• - +t• _ i �!'�IFi! ♦,. (1 , `fir I• ' ' • , { F•� r i / y \vim JrF ILI Ai RIM IL lit" . s - ► / -"� ,4 -r"'fir APR-22-2011 02:49P FROM:SEMPERVIRENS FUND 6509680713 T0:6910485 P.2 ry+ Sempervirens Fund Ptesert 3ng rediwood forest% shire I900 Lxecutive Director kcrd Holdc rm in April 22, 2011 Director of Advanccmc.nt Director of Flnanct Legislator ``rl 'F, `jl` California State Assembly Board of Gtrtctot< ,. ,r?,,, i :, Committee on Local Government Sacramento CA 95814 HE'Z!j Ilerl'c rt Ph.G. (tic i.ii; r wchard 1. conratt, & (IC' diplre 5 cahr:n,Fh r: ka,.ut Flynn FAX (916) 319-2138 Willian,N. Herne Robert L k,=L, Fn+d krrlcy AS 612 (Gordon): SUPPORT Carl Ling Regina Phcips Judith Sterner Emily F Tr,urbtr Dear Assemblymember Smyth: Stephen N Wyckoff,J p Advisory Board The Sempervirens Fund strongly urges you to support AS 612, which Dan Alper Stanley M Barnes would augment needed resources to purchase and preserve vital Allan F Brovvri RabcrL Buelitmen public open space lands by increasing the Midpeninsula Regional Mary Davcv JFitrt.y F Fssnrr,rn Open Space District's (MROSD) debt term from 20 years to 30 years. Rubcrt R.f Imi,It Walt Rays, J b Gil V Hernandez As you know, rising real estate prices threaten the Bay Area's last Harry Hind Donald kennedv,Ph ry remaining natural open space lands. We support the critical, lady Kleinbcrq ongoing commitment b the District to buy open space areas on the David P tapce, Ld.p 9 9 Y Y P P Alexander Lowrc peninsula to protect our natural environment and create Rubcrt W Mtlnlyre Lcalic Sayoko Pdrkc opportunities for public recreation. AB 612 would benefit the public Du Russell,I h° b making more money available to save land and protect Don Sherer,J D Y g Y Sunerl Thomas,l D biodiversity. Dc nzd Vei ardo Jennic Verardo t harP C Weaver,PILL)A Walton Ellenlen C. Taxpayers Y ers will not be saddled b an additional tax burden: the Colbum Wilbt,T voters originally approved the District's property tax increment in Science Advisory Panel 1972 and this bill would not add a single penny of taxes to District Robert Curry, Phh p Betsy Herbert, D,chair residents. AS 612 would merely extend the payback period for Will Singer,PIM,S notes by 10 years - which will enable MROSD to use its existing Jerry Smith, revenue much more effectively. Ellen C.Weaverver,,Ph,p. Y Founding Directors Andrew P Hill Lastly, the District's financing program utilizes prudent financial tools George C Collins Howard!-King based on a stable income from local property taxes and has recently Claude A "Tony"Look Dorothy Varian received Moody's highest rating. Because of the rise in Bay Area 419 South San Antonio Rd.,StL.211 land values, MROSD land is now worth more than twice the original Los Altos,CA 94022.3640 T (650)949-1453 F (650)949-1483 redwoods0sempervirens.org www_sempervirens.org Printed on recycled paper APR-22-2011 02:49P FROM:SEMPERVIRENS FLUID 6509680713 TO:6910485 P.3 price which shows why long-term borrowing for property purchases is sound fiscal policy. We ask for your help in ensuring the passage of this critical change in the District's enabling legislation that would save taxpayers money and increase funds to purchase and preserve essential public open space lands that are vanish ingquickl . Sincerely, V&P 0) Reed Holderman Executive Director Sempervirens Fund cc: Assemblymember Rich Gordon Ralph Heim, Public Policy Advocates MRQSD Board of Directors APR-22-2011 02:49P FROM:SEMPERVIRENS FUND 6509660713 TO:6910485 P.1 419 South San Antonio Road,Sufte 211 Los ANos,CA 94M-1453 Sempervirens Fund (650)949-1453 www.wmperArene.org Fax To: District From: Reed Holderman Fam 650.691-0485 Pages: 9 Phone: Date: 04rMOI 1 Re: A6 612(Gordon)Support cc: 0 Urgent X For Review 0 Please Comment 0 Please Reply 13 Please Recycle e Comments: Here is a copy as requested. i � Midpeninsula Regional Memorandum • ' I Open Space District r DATE: 27 April 2011 MEMO TO: MROSD Board of Directors THROUGH: Stephen E. Abbors,General Manager FROM: Ana Ruiz, Planning Manager SUBJECT: Update on Site 25 Cleanup(Stevens Creek Nature Study Area/Moffett Field) Site 25 Back rg ound Site 25 is one of several contaminated sites located at Moffett Field for which the Navy is responsible. This site encompasses approximately 230 acres of primarily seasonal wetlands that has been used as part of the Moffett Field stormwater management system since 1953. The western area of Moffett Field is currently owned and operated by NASA Ames Research Center. The District's property,the 54-acre Stevens Creek Nature Study Area, is hydrologically connected to the Moffett Field stormwater retention basin and as such receives diverted stormwater that is collected from the larger Moffett Field complex. The NASA property,which was originally under Navy ownership,and District land have over time received contaminants via stormwater runoff that are a result of Navy past practices and are therefore the responsibility of the Navy to remediate. Contaminants of concerns that have been found in elevated levels on District land include polychlorinated biphenyls(PCBs), Total DDT(pesticide),Zinc, and Lead. Current Status Most recently,the Navy has been working to develop a remedial design approach that is protective of ecological receptors found on bayland habitat. The remedial design was informed by prior sampling, agency review, public input, and the most recent field work completed in November and December 2010, which included: - Site reconnaissance to evaluation the location and access points for Remedial Action, sensitive species, wetlands,and baseline conditions - Survey work Page 1 of 2 I Sediment sampling from the top 6 inches of soil for chemical analysis and top 3 feet for physical analysis; 28 sediment samples were collected for chemicals(PCBs,pesticides, lead, and zinc)analysis and 18 sediment samples for geotechnical analysis Bulk soil sampling to study the suitability of three reagents to treat and stabilize metals in soil I Based on recent investigations, approximately 32 acres within the stormwater basic require remediation (areas that exceed contaminant thresholds). The Remedial Design/Remedial Action Work Plan was recently released for public agency and interested parties review, of which District staff is currently reviewing. Other entities that are reviewing the Remedial Design/Remedial Action Work Plan for adequacy include NASA Ames Research Center, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,California Department of Fish and Game, and U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service. The current schedule calls for remediation work to begin in the summer/fail of 2011. Site 25 Update Page 2 of 2