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