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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20050914 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Regional Open Space MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Meeting 05-20 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS September 14, 2005 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I. ROLL CALL President Larry Hassett called the meeting to order at 6:13 p.m. Members Present: Mary Davey (arrived 6:25 p.m.), Nonette Hanko, Deane Little, Ken Nitz, and Larry Hassett. Members Absent: Jed Cyr and Pete Siemens Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Rudy Jurgensen, John Maciel, Michael Williams, Del Woods. [I. CLOSED SESSION L. Hassett stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session to discuss Closed Session Agenda Items I and 2. The Board recessed to Closed Session at 6:13 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at 6:13 p.m. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:15 p.m. REGULAR MEETING L. Hassett called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. He announced that the Board had discussed Closed Session Agenda Items I and 2 in Closed Session and that no reportable actions had taken place. L. Hassett announced that the meeting would be dedicated to Bob Brown. M. Davey said that Mr. Brown had been a dear friend of the District. He served as Portola Valley City Council Member and Mayor and was consistently supportive of the District. Additional Staff Present: Jeannie Buscaglia. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS—There were none. Meeting 05-20 Page 2 V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board adopt the agenda. K. Nitz seconded and the motion passed 5 to 0. VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR K. Nitz removed Agenda Item 5, Approval of Letters Supporting Senate Bill 203 (Allowing, San Mateo County Voters to Decide if They Support a 1/8 Cent Sales Tax Increase) and Senate Bill 658 (Establishing Coastal Environmental Motor Vehicle Mitigation Program to Fund Projects to Mitigate Motor Vehicle Impacts on Coastal Resources) and Urging the Governor's Signature; Authorize Board President to Sign Letters in Support of SB 203 and SB 658. Staff answered questions about Claim #3416, Toastmasters International, Application Fee for Toastmasters Club. Seven staff members attended the first interest meeting, and 11 staff members are interested in the club. Membership might be expanded to include docents. The draft response to a letter from Mr. Matheu was removed as Mr. Matheu was present to speak on the item. Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including minutes of the July 13, 2005, and the July 27, 2005, Special and Regular Meetings; draft response to a letter from Mr. Matheu; Agenda Item 4, Authorize Additional Legal Fees in the Matter of Fogarty v. MROSD and MROSD v. Fogarty for the Law Firm of Miller, Starr & Regalia in an Amount Not to Exceed $35,000; Authorize and Appropriate an Additional Source of Funds in the Amount of$35,000 from the New Land Purchases Account 8102-24 for Payment of said Legal Fees and Include this Appropriation at Mid-Year Budget Review and Amendment,, and Revised Claims 05-16. K. Nitz seconded the motion. Discussion: Mitch Matheu, 185 Philip Road, Woodside, said he was a lifetime local resident. He wanted to give back to the community by planting trees in Windy Hill preserve. He had been collecting seeds from redwoods for years and was an expert at growing them from seeds. He proposed planting them back in the environment where they originally grew. He talked about his letter which proposed sponsoring a memorial grove of redwoods for $500. He said it would be easy for the District to do and there would be no cost to them. He would work with a ranger when doing the planting. Meeting 05-20 Page 3 L. Hassett thanked Mr. Matheu and talked about the draft response before the Board at this time which encouraged him to work with established groups. C. Britton suggested that he contact the Sempervirens Fund or Save the Redwoods. He said the District does not plant plants that are not part of restoration efforts. In addition, "planting" is prohibited by District ordinance. M. Davey informed him that Acterra has a native plant program. She said this was a wonderful idea; however, the District is hampered by rules that apply to public agencies. D. Little said the District was dedicated to conservation of species on the land. He suggested talking to private landowners or initiating an adopt-a-redwood program. Board Members wished Mr. Matheu well in his efforts. Vote: The motion passed 5 to 0. VII. BOARD BUSINESS A. Agenda Item No. I - Adopt Resolution Approving the Application for Grant Funds from the Habitat Conservation Fund Program for the Addition of the Peninsula Open Space Trust's Lobitos Creek/Irish Ridge Property to Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve; Determine that Recommended Action is Categorically Exempt From CEQA as Set Out in this Report —(Report R-05-99). D. Woods presented the staff report. He noted that they had previously asked for permission to substitute or add this project to another application, but the State encouraged staff to submit a new project under this year's program. Staff is waiting for the grant in order to acquire the property. Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board determine that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as set out in the staff report; and adopt Resolution No. 05-24, Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving the Application for Grant Funds for the Local Agency Grant Program - Fiscal Year 2006-2007 - Under the Habitat Conservation Fund Program of the California Wildlife Protection Act of 1990 for the Peninsula Open Space Trust Lobitos Creek/Irish Ridge Property Acquisition. K. Nitz seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. B. Agenda Item No. 2 - Adopt Resolution Authorizing the President of the Board or Other Appropriate Officer to Execute Right-of-Way Contract and Easement Deed Meeting 05-20 Page 4 over District Land to Use for Drainage and Erosion Improvements Along State Route 84 on a Hillside of the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve-, Determine the Recommended Actions are Categorically Exempt From CEQA as Set Out in this Report—(Report R-05-94). M. Williams outlined staff s recommendations. Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board determine that the recommended action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set out in the staff report; and adopt Resolution No. 05- 25, Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving and Authorizing Acceptance of a Right-of-Way Contract, Authorizing the President of the Board or Other Appropriate Officer to Execute an Easement Deed to the State of California, and Authorizing the General Manager to Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate to Closing the Transaction (La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve — Caltrans). D. Little seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. C. Agenda Item No. 3 - Approval of a District-Wide Job Share Policy for Employees—(Report R-05 4 00). S. Thielfoldt presented the staff report. She answered N. Hanko's question regarding the benefit pro-ration by stating that for permanent, part-time employees working from 60% to 80% of the 40-hour work week, the District would pay that share of the benefits. She proposed adding the words, "to receive pro-rated benefits"to the end of the section for clarification. N. Hanko remarked that she would like to consider in the future hiring employees who would be job sharing. C. Britton said staff has had philosophical discussion regarding job sharing. For an agency this size, it would be difficult for them to make this work. He said this was the result of two existing employees who want to share a job. Discussion followed regarding implementation of flex-time, and S. Thielfoldt added that at this time they have no telecommuting policy. C. Britton said that because this is a public agency, they feel that people should be available when members of the public come to the office. It would be difficult to implement with such a small staff. M. Davey said she thought it was wonderful and talked about her history regarding job sharing in other agencies. She said it had worked very well. i Meeting 05-20 Page 5 Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board approve the Job Share Policy for District employees. D. Little seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. D. Agenda Item 5 - Approval of Letters Supporting Senate Bill 203 (Allowing San Mateo County Voters to Decide if They Support a 1/8 Cent Sales Tax Increase) and Senate Bill 658 (Establishing Coastal Environmental Motor Vehicle Mitigation Program to Fund Projects to Mitigate Motor Vehicle Impacts on Coastal Resources) and Urging the Governor's Signature; Authorize Board President to Sign Letters in Support of SB 203 and SB 658 —( Report R-05-101), C. Britton explained that these bills were mainstream items in the District legislative program. K. Nitz said he had brought this up because of the possibility that there might be a contentious issue that all Board Members might not agree on. C. Britton said the legislative program is approved by the Board. These two items were included in the program. He said he also talked to legal counsel about the letters. S. Schectman said the Board-approved legislative program authorized the General Manger to write letters in support or opposition to legislation if certain guidelines were met. She described those criteria and said she would send information to the Board about what criteria must be met. I Motion: K. Nitz moved that the Board authorize the Board President to sign a letter supporting SB 203 (enabling San Mateo County voters to determine whether they support a 1/8 cent sales tax increase for County parks and recreation) and urging the Governor's signature; and authorize the Board President to sign a letter supporting SB 658 (establishing the Coastal Environmental Motor Vehicle Mitigation Program to fund projects to mitigate motor vehicle impacts on coastal resources); and urging the Governor's j signature. M. Davey seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. VIIL INTRODUCTION S. Thielfoldt introduced Jeannie Buscaglia to the Board, noting that she is the new Administrative Assistant in the Planning Department. VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS D. Little had hiked the Achistaca Trail for the first time since it was completed. He said it is beautiful, well-constructed and maintained. He compared it to the Eagle Falls Trail in the Desolation Wilderness which he said was a disaster compared to the District trail. L. Hassett: 1. He had spoken at the Red Barn where volunteers were building a fence. He said it was a nice experience and he really enjoyed it. 2. He ran into "Farmer John" who was tied into the coast and farming community in a supportive way. He sits on i i i i e 6 Meeting 05-20 Page several boards and commissions and was excited about sharing information he received at a White House Conference to which he had been invited. M. Davey: 1. She asked that Board Members sign a get-well card for Lois Crozier- Hogle. 2. She appreciated that the meeting had been dedicated to Bob Brown. K. Nitz. 1. The San Francisco Water Department has land next to Pulgas which has power lines running through it. He said they had clear cut a 20-foot area along the lines. 2. The new parking lot at Pulgas is open and he noted that more people were parking at the old lot. He concluded that it was because there was more shade at the old lot. 3. He hiked the new Canyon Trail and gave kudos to staff members. He said it is beautiful and well made, but is not really where they said it would be. C. Britton commented that some field decisions had to be made. 4. He went to Windy Hill and hiked the Lost Trail. g g there is evidence of Sudden Oak Death there as well as along Highway He said Y 84 and at Thornewood. 5. He asked what had been done about the Slender False Brome. J. Maciel said staff had sprayed the entire 30 acres but it takes about two or three weeks before the spray is effective. Staff also hand pulled some of the brome. D. Little said the committee had a meeting regarding Sudden Oak Death and Slender False Brome, and he was confident that staff is on the same page as the committee. 6. He had a newspaper clipping that included pictures of the two rangers introduced at the previous Board j meeting. N. Hanko: 1. She said Palo Alto had finally agreed to acquire the former Bressler property from POST. Palo Alto is taking title of the property so there will be a connecting trail. 2. She said she will be attending the POST event. 3. She asked if staff members would be attending the CSDA event. C. Britton said they get the information that would be presented there from League of California Cities and JPIA conferences. 4. She said there were supposed to be two trails across Stanford land. The Board of Supervisors agreed on trail S I C, which was not the trail the District wanted. It connects developed b the Town of Los Al tos Hills. She had to RlA which is supposed to be p y � expressed her views yesterday at the meeting regarding the trail. The Board of Supervisors voted 4 to I (Sup. Kniss voting no) that Trails S 1 C and CI be approved by December 13. She and M. Davey will meet with Jean McCown, legal counsel for Stanford. C. Britton: 1. He had a copy of a book called "60 Hikes in San Francisco" which included seven hikes on District lands. 2. He had invitations for the Board to the District staff recognition event and safety fair on October 12. 3. He had information on a Donner Truckee area restaurant which charged an extra dollar that went toward land preservation. 4. He had an invitation to a Wildlife Associates event on September 25. 5. The dedication of the Alison Marina (Santa Clara County Parks) will be September 24. 6. The Santa Clara County State Parks Commission event will be held on September 22"d. 1 7. October 2 is the date for the Deer Hollow Farm event. He and K. Nitz will attend. 8. The Committee for Green Foothills fundraising auction is also on October 2. Dir. Little won an award for a photo which will be auctioned. 9. The Presentation Center is having a green building opening celebration on September 26. He and M. Williams had toured Meeting 05-20 Page 7 the building and thought it was incredible. 10. The District received a $500,000 grant from the Habitat Conservation fund to acquire the 151-acre Rapley Ranch property from POST. S. Schectman said the trial date in the coastal litigation had been October 8. However, the County had just completed preparing the administrative record and plaintiffs had asked for a continuance of the trial until December. S. Thielfoldt said she had talked to Rebecca Elliott, the League of California local representative, who was looking forward to volunteering for the red barn fence-building project. J. Maciel said 11,000 marijuana plants had been eradicated by the task force on September 8. M. Williams: 1. The FYIs included information on the first coastal property acquisition. 2. He and D. Sanguinetti, S. Hooper, and K. Lenington will be going to a grazing conference for the next two days. L. Hassett said the Old La Honda Road picnic would be held Sunday. IX. ADJOURNMENT At 8:45 p.m., the meeting was adjourned. Roberta Wolfe Recording Secretary