HomeMy Public PortalAbout20010101 - Agenda Packet - Board of Directors (BOD) (9) Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
Meeting 10-31
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
AND
MIDPENINSUAL REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FINANCING AUTHORITY
7:00 p.m.
Monday,November 15,2010
Town of Portola Valley,Town Hall, Alder Room
765 Portola Road, Alder Room
Portola Valley, CA 94028
AGENDA
7:00* ROLL CALL
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
BOARD BUSINESS
7:05* 1 Public Hearing Pursuant to Government Code Section 6586.5 on the Proposed 2011 Revenue Bond
Financing by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority and the Significant Public
Benefit Thereof—S.Abbors
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT FINANCING AUTHORITY BUSINESS
7:15 1. Approve the Holding of Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors of the Authority on the Same Date and
Time and at the Same Location as Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors of the District—L. Hassell:
8:00* ADJOURNMENT
Times are estimated and items may appear earlier or later than listed. Agenda is subject to change of order.
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.
CERTIFICATION OF PosTING OF AGENDA
1,Michelle Radcliffe,District Clerk for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District(MROSD),declare that the foregoing agenda for the Special Meeting of the
MROSD Board of Directors and the Special Meeting of the MROSD Financing Authority were posted and available for review on November 12,2010,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://ww)K.-QWqjpggs.org.
Signed this 12'b day of November,at Los Altos,California.
District Clerk November 12,2010
Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
R-10-141
Meeting 10-31
November 15, 2010
FINANCE AUTHORITY AGENDA ITEM 1
AGENDA ITEM
Approve the Holding of Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District Financing Authority on the Same Date and Time and at the Same
Location as Regular Meetings of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATION
Adopt the attached resolution providing for regular meetings of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority on the same date and time and
at the same location as regular meetings of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
(Completed copies of the resolution will be available for public review at the District office.)
BACKGROUND
The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority(the"Authority")was
established pursuant to a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement dated as of May 1, 1996, as
amended by a First Amendment to Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement, dated November 15,
2006 (as amended, the"Agreement"),by and between the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District (the"District") and the County of Santa Clara(the"County").
The Agreement provides that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution for the holding of
regular meetings at more frequent intervals than once each year.
Government Code Section 6592.1 requires a resolution authorizing bonds to be adopted by a
joint exercise of powers agency, like the Authority, at a regular meeting, and the Authority is
considering an issuance of lease revenue bonds in calendar year 2011. Accordingly, the Board
of Directors wishes to provide for more regular meetings than once each year.
R-10-141 Page 2
DISCUSSION
The attached resolution provides for holding regular meetings of the Board of Directors of the
Authority on the same date and time and at the same location as regular meetings of the Board of
Directors of the District, which are currently held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each
month at 7:00 p.m., at the District offices: 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, California.
The attached resolution further provides that, if the Secretary does not post an agenda for a
regular meeting pursuant to Government Code Section 54954.21 then such failure to post shall
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be deemed to be a determination by the Chairperson that no items required discussion and,
therefore, that the regular meeting should be cancelled, except as otherwise provided in Section
54954.2.
Attachment
Resolution
Prepared by:
Stephen Abbors, Executive Director
Michael Foster, Controller
I
Contact person:
Stephen Abbors
I
RESOLUTION NO. 10-XX
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
FINANCING AUTHORITY ESTABLISHING REGULAR
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
WHEREAS, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing
Authority(the"Authority") was established pursuant to a Joint Exercise of Powers
Agreement dated as of May 1, 1996, as amended by a First Amendment to Joint Exercise
of Powers Agreement, dated November 15, 2006 (as amended, the "Agreement'), by and
between the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District(the"District") and the County
of Santa Clara(the "County"); and
WHEREAS, the Agreement provides that the Board of Directors may
provide b resolution for the holding of regular meetings at more frequent intervals than
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once each year; and
WHEREAS, because Government Code Section 6592.1 requires a resolution
authorizingbonds to be adopted b a joint exercise of powers agency at a regular
I
p Y J p g Y � j
r wishes tprovide for more regular meetings than once
meeting, Board of Directors s es ogu g
g
each year;
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, DETERMINED AND
I
ORDERED by the Board of Directors of the Authority, as follows:
SECTION 1. Time and Place of Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the
Board shall be held on the same date and time and at the same location as regular
meetings of the Board of Directors of the District, which are currently held on the second
and fourth Wednesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m., at the District offices: 330 Distel
Circle, Los Altos, California.
SECTION 2. Circumstances Under Which Meetings Not Required to be
Held. If the Secretary does not post an agenda for a regular meeting pursuant to
Government Code Section 54954.21, then such failure to post shall be deemed to be a
determination by the Chairperson that no items required discussion and, therefore, that
the regular meeting should be cancelled, except as otherwise provided in Section
54954.2.
SECTION 3. Effective Date. This Resolution shall take effect immediately
upon its passage and adoption.
`-� STONE cSt
YOUNGBERG
FIXED INCOME MARKET UPDATE MONDAY,NOVEMBER 15, 2010
State of CA Dominates New Issue Calendar: New issuance is hefty this week in the municipal bond market,
totaling almost$17 billion. The State of California began taking orders today from retail investors on its $10 billion
one-year,tax-exempt revenue anticipation note(RAN) offering. The RANs will price on Wednesday. On Thursday
the state plans to price a$2 billion taxable BAB (Build America Bond)general ohlir.ation bond issue,and Friday it will
start taking retails orders for next week's$1.75 billion tax-P.rPw.- ext week the California State Public
Works Board will offer$275 million of lease reve
0.32 3-Mo LIBOR 2.95 86 10-Yr UST CRUDE OIL S/bbl.
j4c)
0.300.31 280 -A81 ._
�
265
0.29 76 _
0.28 2.50
71
0.27 0.26 }' "" I 2.20 1. i...'. 66
10104 10118 11/01 11/15 10/04 10118 11/01 11/15 10104 10/18 11101 11115 10/04 10118 11101 11/15
TREASURIES AND AGENCIES
• The Census Bureau reported that retail sales in October increased a slightly larger-than-anticipated 1.2% for the
month. This represents the largest monthly gain since March 2010 and the fourth month in a row that sales have
increased. This rise in sales raises hopes that the all-important 2010 holiday spending season will show an
appreciable increase over last year. Excluding automobiles and gasoline,however,October retail sales rose 0.4%,
which matched the consensus estimate. Consumer spending accounts for two-thirds of U.S.economic activity,so
retail sales and related reports are closely monitored to gauge the health of the economy.
• The NY Fed reported the November Empire Manufacturing Index fell a dramatic 27 points from last month to
turn negative,at-11.1,for the first time since July 2009. The percentage of respondents reporting that business
conditions were improving declined to just 17%in November,from 35%the previous month. However,these
New York manufacturers remain optimistic about the future,with almost 60%of respondents indicating that they
expect business conditions to improve in the future,and only 5% said they expect conditions to worsen. This
optimism is an 8%increase from the previous month when 52%said they expected better conditions in the future.
• Business inventories at U.S.businesses increased 0.9%in September,higher than the 0.6%increase economists
expected.
• Dissatisfaction with the Fed's QE2 initiative appears to be growing. International critics fear that a too-weak
dollar will hurt their ability to export goods into the U.S. The program has also been met with domestic criticism;
Fed President Lacker deemed it"dangerous." Domestic critics see limited macroeconomic effects and fear the
injection of such vast amounts of liquidity are sowing the seeds of potentially explosive inflation in the future.
• The Fed released a schedule of$75 billion in Treasury note and bond purchases,out of a total of$600 billion,for
almost every trading day through December 9. Each day the Fed will purchase between$6 and$8 billion. The
first"buy"occurred this past Friday,with$8 billion in a series of notes maturing in 4 to 6 years.
• At the market close: UST 10-yr down to yield 2.96%. UST 2-yr down to yield 0.53%. Euro at$1.3571 vs. USD;
USD at 83.165 vs. the Yen. Gold down to$1,360.13/ounce. Oil up to$85.16/barrel.
Member FINRA/SIPC •The information contained herein is based on sources that Stone&Youngberg LLC("S&Y")believes to be reliable,but it is neither all-inclusive
nor guaranteed by S&Y,and it may be incomplete or condensed. The information and opinions herein,if any,are subject to change without notice,and S&Y does not
undertake to advise the reader of changes in opinion or information. • Some of the securities S&Y follows are unrated or below investment-grade municipal bonds,or are
high-yield corporate bonds,that typically involve a higher degree of risk and more volatility than rated or investment-grade municipal bonds,or investment-grade corporate
bonds. Therefore,certain debt securities discussed in this update may be unsuitable for some investors,depending on their specific investment objectives,financial
situations,and needs. This update is for informational purposes,and under no circumstances is it to be construed as a recommendation,an offer,or the solicitation of an
offer to buy or sell any particular debt security in any amount or at all. • S&Y may make a market in or trade for its proprietary account the securities discussed in this
update. Also,S&Y may have been a manager or co-manager of a public offering of municipal bonds or other debt securities within the last three years for issuers named
herein. S&Y or its directors and employees individually,or their family members,may have either long or short positions in the securities mentioned,and may purchase or
sell these securities from time to time in the open market or otherwise for their own accounts or the accounts of others. • This update is for public distribution. Additional
information may be available on request. 9 Copyright 02010 Stone&Youngberg LLC. All rights reserved.
STONE &
YOUNGBERG
MUNICIPAL BONDS
Stone &Youngberg's Pricing Underlying
New Issue Calendar This Week Date Rating(s) Amount
State of California 2010/11 Revenue Anticipation Notes 11/17 MIGl/SP-1/F2 10,000,000,000
CA IEDB Variable Rate Demand Rev Bonds (St. Margaret's Episcopal) 11/17 25,000,000
Fontana PFA 2010 Lease Revenue Bonds (Taxable RZEDBs) 11/17 /A/ 5,420,000
NYC Transitional Finance Authority Building Aid Revenue Bonds 11/17 Aa3/AA-/AA- 350,000,000
Pasadena PFA Lease Revenue Bonds (Rose Bowl Renovation Project) 11/17 /AA+/AA+ 163,000,000
Yavapai County VRDRB (Skanon Investments—Drake Cement Plant) 11/17 MIG1// 40,000,000
State of California Various Purpose General Obligation Bonds BABs 11/18 Al/A-/A- 2,000,000,000
Chino Valley Pledged Revenue Refunding Obligation,Series 2010 11/18 /A+/ 8,020,000
Mesa Union School District 2010 General Obligation Refunding Bonds 11/18 /AA-/ 3,635,000
Newport Beach COPS (Civic Center Project/Central Library Refunding) 11/18 Aa2/AA+/AA+ 122,800,000
Preliminary Offieial Statements are available at mim.syllb-oiu/Resources/PO,S'-I.ibrary-Nerv-Issrtes
• The municipal bond market is starting the week with a weak tone. Last week we saw a steady progression to
higher rates and wider spreads,and that trend continued as institutions were sellers throughout the day.
• The rally we saw at the start of the quarter has sharply reversed course and rates are on the rise. Particularly inside
of ten years,the yield curve remains steeply sloped.
• Supply is weighing heavily on the market,as is the sell-off in Treasuries. The ongoing heavy new issue calendar is
unlikely to let up through the middle of next month.
Market Yield Curves
National and CA Yield Curves November 15 2010
5.20"/0 _
4.20"/,,
a
?; 3.20°/,
2.20%
1.20%
020'/o -
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
Maturity(years)
- - - -G.O.California(Al/A-/A-) -Active C.S.Govts
-��USD Govt Agency(Ion-callable)
Fixed Income Market Update 2 11/15/10
STONE
YOUNGBERG
CORPORATE BONDS
• New issuance of corporate bonds is expected to pick up with at least$15 billion of new investment-grade debt
expected this week.
• REIT debt issuance has picked up recently,with November on track to be the biggest month for new debt since
March 2007. Lower rates and growing investor appetite for riskier assets have been driving the market. Among
the largest deals recently were Boston Properties (Baal/A-)with$850 million of 101/2 year debt and Ventas
(Baa3/BBB-)which issued$400 million of 5-year notes.
• General Growth emerged from bankruptcy having repaid all its creditor claims in full and starts anew with$15
billion in debt and$6.8 billion in equity. S&P assigned it a BB+ corporate credit rating.
• Moody's boosted its outlook for Huntington Bank(Baa2) to stable from negative. Moody's cited improvement in
the level of nonperforming loans and reduction in the amount of net chargeoffs.
• Despite the substantial amount of slack in the U.S.economy,some companies are apparently able to exert pricing
leadership and boost revenues. Georgia Pacific (GP) reported a 6%rise in income due to higher prices and greater
volumes related to containerboard. S&P upgraded GP's credit ratings to investment grade(Ba2/BBB);the
company recently issued$1.25 billion of 10-year notes.
Current Yields*
SIFMA Municipal Short-Term Rate Trends
U.S.Treasury LIBOR Swap Index 0.4011.
3 MO 0.13% 1 Wk 0.25% 11/10 0.27%
6 MO 0.18% 1 Mo 0.25% 11/3 0.26% 0.35%
2 YR 0.53% 3 Mo 0.28% 10/27 0.28%
5 YR 1.51% 6 Mo 0.44% 10/20 0.30% 0301/ .
10 YR 2.96% 12 Mo 0.76%
30YR 4.41% �0.25/
o.20°r
0.15 i
0.10
9/18 9/1 9/15 9/29 10/13 10/27 11/10
-SIFSI;1 Muni Swap Index — 1-Ma LIBOR 3-hf(,T Hill
This Week's Economic Indicators*
Release
Date EDT Indicator Period Surve`, Actual Prior Revised
11/15 8:30 Advance Retail Sales OCT 0.7% 1.2% 0.6% 0.7%
11/15 8:30 Retail Sales Less Autos OCT 0.4% 0.4°/) 0.4% 0.5%
11/15 8:30 Retail Sales Ex Auto&Gas OCT 0.2% 0.4% 0.4%11/15 8:30 Empire Manufacturing— NOV 14.00 -11.14 15.73 11/15 10:00 Business Inventories SEP 0.8°/, 0.9°/ 0.6% 0.9%
11/16 8:30 Producer Price Index (Mom) OCT 0.8% 0.4%
11/16 8:30 PPI Ex Food&Energy(MoM) OCT
11/16 8:30 Producer Price Index (YoY) OCT 4.6% -
11/16 8:30 PPI Ex Food&Energy-(Yo'C) OCT 2.1% 1.6% I
11/16 9:00 Total Net TIC Flows SEP -- $38.9B
Fixed Income Market Update 3 11/15/10
STONE
YOUNGBERG
11/16 9:00 Net Long-term TIC Flows SEP S62.5B $128.7B
11/16 9:15 Industrial Production OCT 0.3'/o -0.2%
l 1/16 9:15 - Capacity,Utilization OCT 74.9% 74.7%
1 1/16 10:00 NAHB Housing Market Index NOV 17 16
11/16 5:00 ABC Consumer Confidence NOV 14 -- -46
11/17 7:00 MBA Mortgage AA plications NOV 12 -- 5.8%
11/17 8:30 Consumer Price Index (Mon OCT 03% 0.1%
11/17 8:30 CPI Ex Food&Energy_(MoM) - OCT 0.1')/ 0.0%
11/17 8:30 Consumer Price Index(YoY) OCT 1.3%o 1.1%
11/17 8:30 CPI Ex Food&Energy(YoY) OCT 0.7% 0.8%
11/17 8:30 CPI Core Index SA OCT -- 221.781
11/17 8:30 Consumer Price Index NSA OCT 218.854 218.439
11/17 8:30 Housing Starts OCT 598K 610K
11/17 8:30 Building Permits OCT 570K 539K 547K
11/17 8:30 Housing Starts MOM% OCT -2.0% 0.3'/0
11/17 8:30 Buildin Yermits MOM'/o OCT 4.2% -5.60/ 4.2%
11/18 8:30 Imtial Jobless Claims NOV 13 442K 435K
11/18 8:30 Continuing C laims NOV6 4290K 4301K
11/18 10:00 Mortgage Delinquencies 3Q -- 9.85%
-- — - - - _ -
11/18 10:00 MBA Mortgage Foreclosures 3Q -- 4.57/o
11/18 10:00 Leading Indicators OCT 0.5% 0.30/,
11/18 10:00 Philadelphia Fed_ NOV 5.0 1.0
11/18 4:00 RPX Composite 28 v YoY SEP -- -2.68'/o
11/18 4:00 RPX Composite 28dy Index SEP 30 -- 195.01
*Bloomberg data as of 1:00pm PDT today
Questions? The Fixed Income Market Update is posted each weekday afternoon to Stone&Youngberg's web site,
syllc.com. Also on the site is our daily in-house inventory of available securities and our weekly new issue calendar.
For further information on Stone&Youngberg's fixed income product and/or to purchase securities,please call 800-
447-8663,or send an email to info@syllc.com. Daily electronic delivery of the Market Update also is available;request
a free subscription at muniresearch(a_)s0lc.com.
Stone &Youngberg Offices
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WEB SITE www.sylic.com
Fixed Income Market Update 4 11/15/10
i
tvii 1p nins la Regional
Open n Space District
R-10-142
Meeting 10-31
November 15, 2010
AGENDA ITEM 1
AGENDA ITEM
Public Hearing Pursuant to Government Code Section 6586.5 on the Proposed 2011Revenue
Bond Financing by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority and the
Significant Public Benefit Thereof
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
Hold a public hearing for the purpose of receiving comment on the proposed 2011 Revenue
Bond financing by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority and the
significant public benefit thereof.
DISCUSSION
The Controller reports that favorable bond market conditions make it advantageous to propose
the issuance of approximately$54 million of lease revenue bonds. The Financing Authority
would issue 2011 Revenue Bonds payable from lease payments made by the District.
The budget for fiscal 2011 assumed the issuance of$22.5 million of revenue bonds, including
funding a 10%bond reserve fund. Since budget adoption, interest rates have moved such that
the District can profitably augment the 2011 "new money" financing with a refinancing of its
$36.4 million of 1999 Revenue Bonds. Under current market conditions, the refinancing portion
achieves a present value savings of$1.35 million (4.1% of the refunded bonds) and extends the
average life of the debt by 3.5 years. The proposed structure provides the planned $20 million of
immediate funding for land acquisition and other capital projects and reduces cumulative debt
service payments over the next nineteen years by$12 million, compared to such payments
projected in the prior District long-term financial model. This cash flow savings occur mostly in
the second ten years. Unlike prior District financings, the 2011 Revenue Bonds might not
require a debt service reserve fund for the benefit of bondholders. Funding a debt service reserve
fund requires issuers to sell an extra 8-10% of bonds. The ratings agencies have begun
permitting bond issuance without a debt service reserve fund for agencies with very healthy debt
service coverage ratios, like the District. If possible, the 2011 Revenue Bonds would be issued
without a debt service reserve fund. If a reserve fund is ultimately required to complete the
financing, the principal amount of the 2011 Revenue Bonds would have to increase by$5 to $6
million.
R-10-141 Page 2
Government Code Section 6586.5 requires public hearings to be held in any county where the
proceeds of a bond issue by a joint exercise of powers agency, like the proposed 2011 Revenue
Bonds by the Financing Authority, will be spent for District purposes. Public testimony should
be received on the significant public benefit to the District resulting therefrom, including
demonstrable savings to the District. Staff believes that the proposed issuance of 2011 Revenue
Bonds by the Financing Authority will result in significant public benefits within the
contemplation of Section 6586 of the Government Code, namely, demonstrable savings in bond
preparation, bond underwriting and bond issuance costs. As required by the Government Code,
notice of the public hearing was published in the San Mateo Times more than 5 days prior to the
public hearing.
It is proposed that, on November 17, 2011, you will conduct a similar hearing in Santa Clara
County and then consider adoption of the required resolution to initiate the sale of the 2011
Revenue Bonds.
Prepared by:
Stephen Abbors, Executive Director
Michael Foster, Controller
Contact person:
Stephen Abbors
Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
M �
To: Board of Directors
From: Stephen E. Abbors
--,4-
Date: November 5, 2010
Re: FYIs
• Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District For Immediate Release
• '
Date: Nov. 5, 2010 Contact: Leigh Ann Gessner(650) 691-1200 x566
MROSD's third annual photo contest open
Contest uses photography to engage the public with nature
Los Altos, CA [Nov. 5, 2010] The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District seeks compelling images capturing
the diversity of the open space preserves for its third annual digital photo contest running now through March 15,
2011.
The contest gives participants an opportunity to explore the outdoors while capturing the natural beauty of the
District's open space preserves using digital photography. Entries must be taken on one of the District's 24 preserves
located throughout the South Bay, Peninsula and Coastside areas that are free and open to the public daily. Each
participant can submit up to ten entries by uploading their digital photos to the District's Sill t<,Mu�,' gag Ilerv.
Three finalists will be announced in May, 2011, and will be awarded prizes including a whale watching cruise and Flip
U1traHD camcorder. The winning entries will also be published in the summer issue of the District's newsletter.
All photo contest entries will also be considered for inclusion in a special edition coffee table book featuring art and
photography celebrating the open space preserves that the District is publishing in 2012 to commemorate its 40-year
anniversary.
Finalists' photos from previous years, as well as more details about the contest can be found at
www.openspace.org/contest.
i 4
This image,entitled Foggy Descent,was taken by Karl Gohl in the Windy Hill
Open Space Preserve,and placed second in the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District's 2009 digital photo contest.
Created by voters in 1972,the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District protects and manages more than 58,000 acres of open space. The District's 26
diverse and beautiful preserves are open to the public 365 days a year. The District is a public agency whose mission is to acquire and preserve a regional
greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity,protect and restore the natural environment,and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment
and education. www openspace orq.
r t
Midpeninsula Regional
' Open Space District
To: Board of Directors
From: Stephen E. Abbors
Date: November 10, 2010
I
Re. Late FY s
OenS Midpeninsula strict al For Immediate Release
� Open Space District
Date: November 9,2010 Contact: Leigh Ann Gessner,650.691.1200 x566
MROSD seeks a second round of public input on access to Mt. Umunhum
Los Altos, California [November 9,20101 —The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is holding
an open house to share information and solicit input as it continues planning for environmental restoration
and public access to the summit of Mt. Umunhum.
When: Thursday,November 18,2010
Anytime between 4:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Where: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Administrative Office
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos,CA 94022 ma
This will be the second opportunity for the public to give input on the project. The first meeting was held
September 30 in Los Gatos and was attended by over 300 people. Their input helped the Open Space
District begin shaping a vision for restoration and public access at Mt. Umunhum that the public will
comment on during the open house.
South of Los Gatos, Mt. Umunhum is one of the highest peaks in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the site
of the former Almaden Air Force Station. The Open Space District purchased Mt. Umunhum from the
federal government in 1986, adding it to the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve with the goal of protecting
the environment and one day sharing it with the public. This year,the federal government began cleaning
up the former Air Force Station, allowing the Open Space District to begin planning for environmental
restoration and future public access consistent with its mission.
"Our hope is for Mt. Umunhum to become one of the Bay Area's most breathtaking public destinations,"
said Steve Abbors, the Open Space District's General Manager. "The plan we are creating, with input
from the public, must be both financially and environmentally sustainable."
With views as far as Monterey Bay, Mt. Umunhum is special to the military personnel and their families
who were stationed there, as well as the local Native People. Santa Clara Valley residents know Mt.
Umunhum as a local landmark topped by a large concrete radar tower that is visible for miles. More
details about the project can be found at www.mtumunhum.or„r.
Created by voters in 1972,the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is a public agency that has successfully protected and managed more
than 58,000 acres ofopen space.The public enjoys the District's diverse and beautiful preserves 365 days a year.The District is an independent,
non-enterprise,California special district whose mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land in perpetuity,protect
and restore the natural environment,and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education.www.openspace.org.
i
i
• ' IMidpeninsula Regional Memorandum
Open Space District
DATE: November 10, 2010
MEMO TO: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space Board of Directors
THROUGH: Steve Abbors, General Manager
FROM: David Sanguinetti, Operations Manager
SUBJECT: Dog Waste on District Lands
Earlier this year, I was notified by the San Mateo County Director of Environmental Health that
he received a complaint from the public that described excessive dog waste being left at Pulgas
Ridge Open Space Preserve. After his staff investigated the Blue Oak Trail that leads up to the
"Dog Off Leash" area, he issued the District a warning to clean up what he deemed a Public
Health Hazard of dog waste along the trail. In addition, I have been receiving reports from
visitors and volunteers concerned about dog waste that is being left both in and out of bags at
Pulgas Ridge, Windy Hill, Fremont Older, and St. Joseph Hill Open Space Preserves. To
address these concerns, I have been working with the Management Team and the Public Affairs
Department on strategies intended to solve this growing problem at the four preserves noted
Operations Departments has two
above. The Op options to address the problem:p
1. Post and enforce the District Regulation requiring dog waste to be removed from the preserve
since it is posing a health hazard and is a public nuisance covered under MROSD Regulati
on
701.5, Removal of Animal Excrement;
2. Seek authorization from the General Manager and District Board of Directors, to approve the
placement of dog waste receptacles and baggie dispensers at these four preserves, which
would result in increased operating costs and weekly servicing by District Field Staff.
Since the District's creation over 38 years ago, it has always been our policy to require visitors to
pack out any waste they generate during their visit. The policy has been very successful as
District Field Staff have not had to place and service waste cans in any District Preserves. It
would be very difficult for an already overextended staff to maintain a consistent service for the
removal of dog waste, and it would not be in keeping with the District's "pack in and pack out"
philosophy of requiring our constituents to pack out the waste they generate during their visit.
After conferring with Management Team, the General Manager approved a plan by the
Operations Department to sign and enforce District regulation requiring dog walkers to take
responsibility for bagging and removing their dogs' waste (as the Board knows the District does
not provide waste baggies or a waste can). This course of action is in line with a
recommendation by Dean Petersen, Director of the San Mateo County Environmental Health,
III
who confirmed "the County would prefer that individuals manage their animals' waste in this
circumstance" bagging it and disposing of it at home. Director Petersen sees a greater health risk
to our staff if we were to allow waste to accumulate in a waste can until it is transported to a
disposal site.
This plan constitutes a change in the current practice by dog walkers who are accustomed to
leaving dog waste off trail which is why the Public Affairs Department is working on adequate
signage and on educating visitors to take responsibility for bagging and removing dog waste
from the preserves at the end of their visit. Implementation will begin on Friday,November 19,
2010 after District regulation signs requiring the bagging and removal of dog waste are installed.
To work on gaining compliance, staff will spend the first two months focusing on education,
which will be followed by active enforcement sometime late in January 2011.