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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20050309 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Regional Open Space MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Meeting 05-05 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS March 9, 2005 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I. ROLL CALL at 6:35 .m. called the meeting toorder President Larry Hassett c,a gp Members Present: Jed Cyr, Mary Davey, Nonette Hanko, Deane Little (arrived at 6:40 .m. Ken Nitz, Pete Siemens arrived at 6:39 p.m.), and Larry Hassett. p )� Siemens( arrived Absent: None Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Mike Williams, Sally Thielfoldt, Del Woods II. CLOSED SESSION L. Hassett stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session to discuss Closed Session Agenda item 1 and 2. The Board recessed to Closed Session at 6:35 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at 6:35 p.m. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:20 p.m. REGULAR MEETING III. L. Hassett called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. He announced that the Board had discussed Closed Session Agenda Item I in Closed Session and that no reportable actions had taken place. He announced that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session following the Regular meeting to discuss Closed Session Agenda Item 2. Additional Staff Present: John Maciel, Gordon Baillie, Michele Jesperson, Mike Foster, Rudy Jurgensen, David Sanguinetti, Cathy Woodbury, David Topley Meeting 05-05 Page 2 IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS—There were none. V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: K. Nitz moved that the Board adopt the agenda. M. Davey seconded and the motion passed 7 to 0. V1. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR K Nitz removed Agenda Item 9, Authorize General Manager to Execute Purchase Contract with State Department of General Services and Folsom Lake Ford for Two Patrol Vehicles for a Total Cost Not to Exceed $60,000; Authorize General Manager to Execute Purchase Contract with State Department of General Services and West-Mark for One Water Truck for a Total Cost Not to Exceed $170,000. J. Cyr suggested changing the staff report for Agenda Item 8, last paragraph, last sentence, to read, congratulating her on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize." He also suggested changing the wording in the last two paragraphs of the resolution to strike the word "to" following "International Open Space Conference Memorial Grove." Staff will make those changes. Motion: J. Cyr moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including Agenda Item 8, Adopt Resolution Renaming International Oven Space Conference Memorial Grove at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve to Wangari Mura Maathai Grove, as amended; and Revised Claims 05-05. K. Nitz seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0, with N. Hanko abstaining on Claims 2314 and 2323. VII. BOARD BUSINESS A. Agenda Item No. I — Authorize General Manager to Sign Operating Plan for Fire Services Between San Mateo County Fire, California Department of Forestry and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District-, Approve General Manager's Authority to Approve Technical Revisions to Ag,reement on an Annual Basis—(Report R-05-23). J. Maciel presented the report. He talked about the policies regarding protection of homes. He said the agreement allows staff to interact with County Fire. Other agencies have a map that identifies all buildings. The District has not had to close a preserve because of fire danger in the past, but they can if the fire index reaches a danger level. J. Maciel said the maps available to CDF also show where Sudden Oak Death exists. Jim Rust, CDF, said they would work with the District Meeting 05-05 Page 3 liaison at fire sites. He said if the contract requires that they wash their trucks before and after fires, they will do so. Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to sign the Operating Plan between San Mateo County Fire and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, and to approve technical revisions to the Agreement on an annual basis. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. B. Agenda Item No. 2 - Accept the 2004 Miscellaneous Enforcement Activity Summary and the Fourteen Year Field Activity Summary — (Report R-05-12). G. Baillie highlighted items in the report. Referring to Appendix B, he said people were receiving word of the District's enforcement of parking regulations. D. Sanguinetti added that they have focused on painting curbs, and enforcement is very heavy, particularly during weekends. G. Baillie said that field staff has put up new signs as well. Item A.14, parking after hours, G. Baillie confirmed that Regarding Rancho San Antonio is contributing a large part of that number. Discussion followed regarding the number of auto burglaries reported. D. Sanguinetti said that they are working on surveillance equipment. G. Baillie explained that the "top 20" violations were reported separately, and others were grouped under "other." He said they hoped to refine their methods. There were no violations reported under Item A.5, bikes, unsafe operation. D. Sanguinetti explained that it was difficult to define "unsafe." D. Little asked about an incident reported in the Field Activity Report that occurred on February 22 regarding a person digging on a preserve. Staff will check with rangers as to what he was looking for. D. Little said that if he was after Indian artifacts, we need to be more aggressive. C. Agenda Item No. 3 - Annual Progress Report on Radar Use on District Lands for Calendar Year 2004 —(Report R-05-19). G. Baillie pointed out that there was a 13 percent increase in radar hours and an increase in citations and warnings. D. Sanguinetti commented that St. Joseph Hill and Fremont Older Preserves have high use and radar can be used there effectively. He said Meeting 05-05 Page 4 at El Corte de Madera Preserve, riders are spread out and trails are tight so it does not offer good places to set up radar. K. Nitz said he feels it is a problem in Long Ridge and Montebello and that they should put more effort into stopping speeders. C. Britton said that if they separate Skyline from Foothill, you could see that Long Ridge and Montebello are the ones that are being concentrated on in the Skyline area. D. Little said in looking at the numbers for total number of speed readings, there seemed to be a huge discrepancy between various preserves. He thought they were not getting a reasonable sampling on some preserves. He said it is intimidating to be a hiker at El Corte de Madera and Purisima Creek Redwoods Preserves in terms of having bicycles come up on you at high speeds. G. Baillie said the number of readings does not equate with the number of hours they spend. C. Britton suggested including the number of hours spent in next year's report. L. Hassett said the he had heard that hikers are uncomfortable at El Corte de Madera because of bikers and maybe the District should be spreading radar around a little. J. Cyr commented that St. Joseph Hill and Fremont Older Preserves are close to urban areas and easier for bicyclists to get to. P. Siemens asked if more units would help. J. Maciel said they have six radar guns. D. Sanguinetti said he did not think they could do more than 50 hours per ranger per year. D. Little commented that he stays away from Purissima and El Corte de Madera Preserve because of fast bikes. They may need added ranger presence there. D. Agenda Item No. 4 - Annual Progress..-Report on Ranger Bicycle Patrol Program for Calendar Year 2004—(Report R-05-22). G. Baillie noted the increase in hours and said that bicycle patrol is a great public contact tool. D. Sanguinetti said they have plenty of bicycles. J. Maciel said the bikes are evaluated periodically. There is currently no replacement schedule. K. Nitz asked if 7.2 contacts per patrol had changed over time. G. Baillie said that could be included in next year's report. Meeting 05-05 Page 5 D. Sanguinetti said the motorcycles are used primarily on weekends. So far they have not generated a complaint. The advantage is the ability to get around preserves. He added that this is a pilot program, and the motorcycles can only be used at El Corte de Madera Preserve. The maximum speed allowed is 15 mph. J. Maciel added that after the year is completed, the Board would receive a report on the pilot program. E. Agenda Item No. 5 - Initial Presentation of the District's Budget for Fiscal Year 2005-2006—(Report R-05-26). C. Britton introduced the item and talked about the Budget Committee meetings. He outlined the procedure used. He felt M. Jesperson's efforts made it go smoothly. M. Jesperson provided District-wide highlights. S. Thielfoldt talked about the budget procedure. She acknowledged that it was not just department heads and M. Jesperson who had contributed, but also how staff put in a lot of time. 1. Real Property Department M. Williams presented the report, noting that the majority of the increase in the budget was for debt service. 2. Planning Department C. Woodbury's report focused on the primary items in the Department's budget. She pointed out Attachment C, Definition of a Capital Improvement Program. C. Woodbury explained that there were no purchases planned in the coming year under Fixed Assets — Operating Expenses, and that was why the proposed budget was $0. Regarding demolitions, C. Woodbury stated that the Benson property would be closed off. Demolitions in the "Unanticipated" category are ones that need to be removed immediately when the District purchases property. Before any demolition takes place, they have to go through a CEQA checklist which requires evaluating the historic value of the building. 3. Operations Department J. Maciel presented the report. In regard to the studies listed in the budget, he said they will be coordinated so there is no overlap between departments. Meeting 05-05 Page 6 4. Public Affairs Department R. Jurgensen presented the report. 5. Administration Department S. Thielfoldt outlined the Department's proposed budget. J. Cyr, former member of the Budget Committee and K. Nitz, member of the Committee, thanked staff and committee members. They said the process has been refined over the years. F. Agenda Item No. 6 -(Controller's Report on Proposed Fiscal Year 2005- 2006 Budget— (Report R-05-25). M. Foster presented the report. C. Britton thanked the Board for being good about making sure they are conservative in spending so there is money for land purchase. G. Agenda Item No. 7 - Authorize All Board Members to Attend the Special Park Districts Forum in Mich4zam Authorize Payment of Board Members' Registration Fees. Travel Costs and Out-of-Pocket Costs — (Report R-05- 27). N. Hanko commented that she thought it was important that all Board Members attend this conference, as the District will be co-hosting the event next year. Motion: D. Little moved that the Board authorize all Board members to attend the Special Park Districts Forum in Michigan and further authorize payment of Board members' registration fees, travel costs, and out-of-pocket cost. K. Nitz seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. H. Agenda Item No. 9 - Authorize General Manager to Execute Purchase Contract with State Department of General Services and Folsom Lake Ford for Two Patrol Vehicles for a Total Cost Not to Exceed $60,000; Authorize General Manager to Execute Put-chase Contract with State Department of General Services and West-Mark for One Water Truck for a Total Cost Not to Exceed $170,000—(Report R-05-24). Meeting 05-05 Page 7 K. Nitz said he had removed this item from the Consent Calendar because he felt that the Board should vote on anything that is this expensive, and it should not be on the Consent Calendar. N. Hanko agreed. J. Maciel talked about the capabilities of the truck and how it could be used. D. Topley described the process used in choosing this truck. He said they would not be able to tow large items with it. J. Maciel talked about the qualifications required to drive the vehicle. He said the truck would have the District logo on it. He will find out if they will have problems being able to drive it on Highway 85. Motion: K. Nitz moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the State Department of General Services and Folsom Lake Ford for two patrol vehicles for a total cost not to exceed $60,000; and authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the State Department of General Services and West-Mark for one water truck for a total cost not to exceed $170,000. J. Cyr seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS D. Little talked about the state-of-the-art resource management program underway in Palo Alto Parks. They have done a first release of the rust fungus. He showed slides of the test release taking place. M. Davey: 1. She complimented staff on the La Honda reports. 2. She expressed appreciation for the article C. Britton had written about Stanford. 3. She and C. Britton visited the executive director of Hidden Villa and talked about the trail connection through Los Altos Hills to the District preserve. N. Hanko reported that while she was on a skiing trip to Bear Valley with her family, she met people who expressed appreciation for the work of the District. L. Hassett: 1. He recognized N. Hanko for being named Woman of the Year for the 21" Assembly District. 2. He thanked J. Cyr for taking over the last meeting and for the comments he and M. Davey made during interviews. C. Britton: 1. R. Jurgensen, S. Thielfoldt and he had hosted a District orientation for J. Simitian's staff. 2. He had made a presentation to the POST board on the Coastal Protection Program. 3. UPN had done a show on the District which would be aired March 19 at 6:30 p.m. He will try to get a tape of the show. 4. Meeting 05-05 Page 8 He had an invitation to the Enid W. Pearson Arastradero Preserve dedication on March 19. 5. There will be an all-day meeting of the Bay Area Open Space Council on May 13. 6. Ira Ruskin's office will have an open house tomorrow. R. Jurgensen reported on promotion of the District's book. He said there will be signings by the author next week. D. Little said that the book is selling great at one book store he went to. S. Schectman announced the next LFPAC meeting is scheduled for March 31 at noon. S. Thielfoldt: 1. She reminded Board Members to file their Statement of Economic Interests. 2. She had a card for Bob Brown for Board Members to sign. J. Maciel had copies of the San Mateo Fire Safe Annual Report. IX. ADJOURNMENT At 9:50 p.m., L. Hassett announced that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session to discuss Closed Session Agenda Item 2. The Closed Session reconvened at 10:00 p.m. and concluded at 10:55 p.m. President Hassett publicly announced that no reportable action had been taken. Roberta Wolfe Recording Secretary