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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20050413 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Regional Open Space � _.. _. MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Meeting 05-09 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS April 13, 2005 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING i I. ROLL CALL President Larry Hassett called the meeting to order at 6:35 p.m. Members Present: Jed Cyr, Mary Davey, Deane Little, Ken Nitz (arriving at 6:42 p.m.), Pete Siemens and Larry Hassett Members Absent: Nonette Hanko Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Mike Williams, Tom Fischer IL CLOSED SESSION L. Hassett stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session to discuss Closed Session Agenda Items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. The Board recessed to Closed Session at 6:36 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at 6:36 p.m. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:25 p.m. REGULAR MEETING M. Davey asked that this meeting be held in honor of Claire Dedrick, an important promoter of environmental concerns in this area and one of the creators of the Peninsula Conservation Center in Menlo Park. Ms. Dedrick was appointed Chief of Resources for the State of California by then-Governor Brown. III. L. Hassett called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. He announced that the Board had discussed Closed Session Agenda Items 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 in Closed Session and that no reportable actions had taken place. Closed Session Agenda Item 5 was not discussed. Additional Staff Present: John Maeiel, Rudy Jurgensen, Ana Ruiz, Sally Thielfoldt, Cathy Woodbury IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Chuck Jeffery, Eulalie Drive, San Jose, addressed his concerns to the Board regarding an alleged right of way on the Stanton property. He stated the District is relying on a Grant Deed that is vague and ambiguous. Linda Jeffery, Eulalie Drive, San Jose also stated her concerns with the alleged right of way on the Stanton property. V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board adopt the agenda. J. Cyr seconded and the motion passed 6 to 0. VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including minutes of the February 9, 2005 Regular and Special Meeting; draft response to Assemblywoman Sally Lieber and Revised Claims 05-07. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. VII. BOARD BUSINESS A. Agenda Item No. I — Authorization for General Manager to Execute Contract with LFR Levine-Fricke of Emeryville, California to Provide Design Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $57,500 to Prepare Plans and Specifications for the Proposed Parking and Staging Area at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve— (Report R-05-41. L. Hassett inquired as to the timeline of this project. C. Woodbury commented on all the FEMA-funded projects that needed to be done which were very extensive and time-consuming. The District now has a matching grant to prepare the plans and speculations for this project which makes it more feasible for the District to move forward at this time. K. Nitz commented on the potential problem of tripling the number of possible users on a preserve which is already over-used. He would like staff to work with CalTrans to alleviate Skeggs Point parking problems C. Woodbury stated that safe access and parking are very important at District preserves. The District is obligated to provide staging for its own lands and this preserve is part of the Watershed Protection Program. Meeting 05-09 Page 2 C. Britton stated that if a majority of the Board wants to bring this back up again staff needs to be informed. The staging area could bring more people to the Preserve and staff is attempting to mitigate that through the Watershed Protection Program. There is a safety issue with visitors parking along Skyline Blvd. He believes the neighbors were promised that a staging area would be provided for this preserve. P. Siemens stated that El Corte de Madera has over 3,500 acres and that there are too many people using St. Joseph's Hill and Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserves. He would like to see people get dispersed and this preserve is a good place to do it. L. Hassett would like staff to work with CalTrans on how the District can eliminate people crossing over from Skeggs Point. A. Ruiz explained that the District will need an encroachment permit from CalTrans and will also discuss Skeggs Point at that time. A. Ruiz stated that staff will participate with the Use and Management Committee and the design will come back to the full Board and further explained that the staging area, including the number of parking spaces, will be a part of the Board's authorization for staff to request bids. Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to execute the contract with LFR Levine-Fricke to provide design services, prepare plans and specifications for the proposed parking and staging area at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve in an amount not to exceed $57,500. J. Cyr seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 with Director Nitz abstaining. B. Agenda Item No. 2 -Authorization for General Manager to Amend the Agreement with EDAW, Inc. of San Francisco, California to Provide Additional Master Planning Services for the Sierra Azul and Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserves for an Additional $38,000 for a Total Contract Amount of$208,000 — (Report R-05-42). K. Nitz inquired about the additional tasks during the second stage of the Master Plan development. A. Ruiz explained that the historic resources research is to supplement the current resource inventory information that the District has for Bear Creek Redwoods. It is not to the same breadth and scope for what the District needs for Sierra Azul, so staff wanted to add to the resources database to help with the "opportunities and challenges analysis" for the Master Plan. J. Cyr commented on the necessity for additional tasks due to the fact Bear Creek Redwoods differs from Sierra Azul because of the historic structures on the Preserve. Pa Meeting 05-09 ge 3 Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to amend the Agreement with EDAW to provide additional master planning services for Sierra Azul and Bear Creek Redwoods for an additional $38,000 for a total contract amount of $208,000. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. C. Agenda Item No. 3 - Adopt Resolution Approving the Execution of the General and Special Release and Settlement Agreement in the Matter of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District v. Landi (Encroachment at Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve); Determine Recommended Action is Not a Project Under CEQA- (Report R-05-30). T. Fischer gave a PowerPoint presentation showing the Aldercroft Creek and Bear Creek areas affected by a neighbor who constructed an unauthorized trail coming across a drainage area and crossing over to existing trails. S. Schectman added that the total outside counsel legal fees were approximately $3,000. This case was handled in a cost effective manner because D. Simmons spent a good deal of time on drafting the complaint and working with outside counsel on the settlement agreement. Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board adopt Resolution approving the execution of the General and Special Release and Settlement Agreement in the Matter of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District v. Landi and determine recommended actions are categorically exempt from CEQA. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. D. Agenda Item No. 4 - Adopt Resolution Approving Board President, or Other Appropriate Officer, to Execute of the Communications Site Lease and Settlement Agreement at Pulyas Ridge Open Space Preserve with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC; Determine Recommended Actions are Cate morically Exempt from CEQA—(Report R-05-44). S. Schectman presented the staff report. M. Williams answered questions from the Board. Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board adopt Resolution approving the execution of the Communications Site Lease and Settlement Agreement at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve with New Cingular Wireless PCS and determine recommended actions are categorically exempt from CEQA. K. Nitz seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. Meeting 05-09 Page 4 VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS P. Siemens and C. Britton met with Ron Rossi and Gibson Anderson to present the Resolution the Board approved at the last meeting. He gave each of them a copy of the District's book. J. Cyr and C. Britton had lunch with Santa Clara County Supervisor Jim Beall and discussed open space interests. D. Little went on the La Honda Creek Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee field trip to the Preserve. The area was beautiful and the views were spectacular. L. Hassett: 1. He attended the La Honda Creek Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee field trip and appreciated staff s efforts in putting this together. 2. He met with members of the emergency preparedness group for the South Skyline area and discussed requirements of storage of emergency medical supplies. 3. He will be leading a wildflower hike on Saturday with docent, Catherine Green, at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. This hike was donated to the local Rotary group. M. Davey: 1. She attended the La Honda Creek Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee field trip. 2. She is working with Bob Girard and the conservation group on an initiative for zoning on Santa Clara County lands which would preserve open space, ridvelines and riparian habitat. K. Nitz: 1. He went hiking on Sunday at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and noticed a lot of Harding grass. 2. He noticed a landslide at Thornewood Open Space Preserve and slender false brome that was uncovered. C. Britton: 1. The FYls contained a memo regarding the Monte Bello ranger residence upgrades. There is also a memo regarding a correction to the fire service fee calculation for the Forde property. 2. Public Affairs developed a t-shirt that would be good for Earth Day and the 50,000 acre celebration. This year's t-shirt has the district logo on the front and a Paul Jossi watercolor on the back (the shirt was displayed). J. Maciel: 1. The slide at Thornewood Open Space Preserve has been moving for the last ten years. The trail has now been closed at the slide and at Schilling Lake; a sign has been posted. 2. Last year staff worked with a contractor and sprayed to eradicate slender false brome on District lands. This project takes three to five years to be very effective. Staff also worked with volunteers to hand pull and used visqueen to cover and suppress the plants. 3. The Harding grass at Russian Ridge was sprayed where the equipment could reach. There have not been any controlled burns in the last two years. IX. ADJOURNMENT At 8:46 p.m., the meeting was adjourned. Margaret Reimche Recording Secretary Meeting 05-09 Page 5