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Regional Open Space
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 06-05
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
February 22, 2006
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
I. ROLL CALL
President Jed Cyr called the special meeting to order at 6:07 p.m.
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Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Ken Nitz, Pete Siemens, Deane Little, and
Mary Davey (arrived at 6:15 p.m.)
Members Absent: Nonette Hanko
Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Sally Thielfoldt, Mike Williams,
John Maeiel, Del Woods, Matt Freeman, R. Jurgensen, Michael Reeves
II. CLOSED SESSION
J. Cyr stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session to discuss Closed Session
Agenda Items 1, 2 and 3.
The Board recessed to Closed Session at 6:08 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at
6:08 p.m. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:30 p.m.
J. Cyr moved to adjourn the Closed Session and stated that the Special Meeting would
reconvene on March 1, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the District's Administrative Office to
continue discussions of Closed Session Agenda Items 1, 2, and 3. P. Siemens seconded
the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6 to 0.
REGULAR MEETING
III. J. Cyr called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:34p.m.
Additional Staff Present: Michael Newburn, Gordon Baillie, Anthony Correia, Ken j
Miller, Ben Guzman, John Lloyd, Dennis Danielson
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were none.
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V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: K. Nitz moved that the Board adopt the Agenda. L. Hassett seconded the
motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion: L. Hassett moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including
the Board Minutes of January 25, 2006 Special and Regular Meetings,
Agenda Item 5, Adoption of Resolution to Support the Formation of the
Santa Clara County Health Benefits Coalition• Authorize Payment o
$1 A0 to be Deposited in the Foothill-DeAnza Foundation for the Purpose
of Hiriny, a Grant Writer; and Revised Claims 06-05. K. Nitz seconded
the motion.
Discussion: C. Britton pointed out that in the FYI's there was a letter to the Board
regarding the Special Meeting of February 23, 2006 for the Use and
Management Committee. This letter would not be handled as a Written
Communication.
D. Little referred to the third page of the letter regarding the parking lots
and asked if the last Use and Management Committee members
remembered stating what was quoted. None of the past members recalled
making such a statement.
Vote: The motion passed 6 to 0.
VII. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. I —Call Special Meeting of the Board of Directors for March
3, 2006 at 9:00 am to Discuss Resource Management• Review the Revised
Agenda for the Resource Management Workshop with Invited Panelists; Discuss
Potential Date for the Following Works —(Report R-06-28).
C. Britton reviewed the staff report and the outside representatives chosen for the
panel. He said there would be five outside agencies involved in the workshop.
He also wanted to draw attention to the revised agenda attached to the report.
C. Britton suggested having a time-period break between the scheduled workshop
meeting and the follow-up meeting; however he said that at least one Board
member would be missing the suggested alternative dates.
D. Little asked why the follow-up meeting could not be scheduled for the
following week, but was told there were conflicts.
Meeting 06-05 Page 2
C. Britton then asked if the Board wanted specific topics discussed. P. Siemens
thought the meeting should not be structured and it wasn't necessary to have a
delay for the follow-up meeting. He also thought the follow-up meeting could be
a half-day meeting. K. Nitz agreed. D. Little added that the meeting should be
free-thinking and unstructured. L. Hassett also agreed to the workshop being a 2-
day program and liked the idea that the days be consecutive. L. Hassett stated it
should be okay if a Board Member misses the third future meeting.
J. Cyr said that he thought the second meeting should be scheduled on the
following day, Saturday, March 4, as originally scheduled. He asked for
comments on the proposed agenda. L. Hassett, P. Siemens and D. Little all
agreed that the agenda was fine and there were no other comments.
J. Cyr amended the General Manager's recommendation number 3 to state that
the following workshop would take place on Saturday, March 4 and would take
place at the District's Administrative office.
Motion: K. Nitz moved that the follow-up meeting be held at 9:00 a.m. on
Saturday, March 4, 2006 at the District's Administrative Office,
330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA. P. Siemens seconded the
motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 as amended.
C. Britton stated he needed to leave the meeting due to illness and turned his role over to S.
Thielfoldt, Assistant General Manager.
B. Agenda Item No. 2 —Annual Progress Report on the Use of Radar on District
Lands for Calendar Year 2005 —(Report 06-26).
G. Baillie reviewed the staff report pointing out that the hours of radar use was up
and the citations were down for the past year. He added that he believes the
bicyclists are more aware of the radar program.
D. Little said he frequently sees high speed bicyclists, but has only seen Rangers
clocking speeds once in the past eight months.
M. Davey thanked staff and the Board accepted the report's information.
C. Agenda Item No. 3 — Field Enforcement Activity for 2005 and Fifteen-Year
Field Activity Summary —(Report R-06-27).
G. Baillie thanked K. Miller for his help in compiling the data in the report. He
reviewed the staff report for the Board and pointed out the highlights.
P. Siemens asked if any money was received for all of the parking citations issued
at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. G. Baillie answered that a small
Meeting 06-05 Page 3
amount of money is received from the County of Santa Clara and that it is a
complex process.
P. Siemens asked where the cars park. M. Newburn replied with an overview of
the parking areas and stated that cars park in the red-zone, over curbs, in the
meadow, in handicap spaces (without the placard). K. Nitz asked if the parking
should be increased. M. Newburn said that the number of parking spaces the
County provided was adequate, but that it was a busy area. Increasing parking
spots at other areas of Rancho San Antonio OSP would be a better idea. There
are parallel trails to the main road, but the majority of visitors heading to Deer
Hollow Farm prefer using the paved road and not the dirt trail.
K. Nitz said he noticed that with the increase of land to manage there is not an
increase of violations.
D. Little asked if finding marijuana growth was on the increase on District lands.
M. Newburn replied that he did believe it was. He recently attended a multi-
agency meeting to discuss the increase of marijuana findings. The Santa Clara
County Sheriff's Department has a task force that walks the land looking for the
illegal gardens. D. Little asked if there are more armed patrollers. M. Newburn
replied that he had no data about that, but that he feared it was getting more
dangerous.
D. Little asked if District Rangers have a fear of patrolling remote areas without
firearm protection. M. Newburn replied that, personally he did find it frightening,
but he analyzes how to mitigate the situations as they come up. The ultimate goal
is to keep District staff safe. S. Thielfoldt added that a training was coming up on
March 29, 2006 to cover safety for staff who might encounter these types of
situations.
P. Siemens asked if the illegal marijuana gardens are found mostly in the Sierra
Azul area, M. Newburn replied that, historically, it has been due to the
remoteness and abundant water sources, plus it is hard to get into the area.
The Board accepted the staff report and thanked staff for the information.
D. Agenda Item No. 4—Annual Progress Report on Ranger Bicycle Patrol Program
for Calendar Year 2005 — (Report R-06-25).
G. Baillie reviewed the staff report and thanked M. Newburn for his help in
preparing the report. He stated that three Rangers were unable to participate in
the bicycle patrol program so the number of hours is down for 2005.
P. Siemens asked if there was data on the District motorcycle use. J. Maciel
replied that staff is preparing a report which will be on a future agenda and added
that the District currently has two motorcycles, that the program has been
successful and that there have been no complaints from the public.
Meeting 06-05 Page 4
D. Little asked if there were any ways to increase the incentives for Rangers to
bike or walk on the trails when patrolling. M. Newburn replied that the Rangers
do from time to time, but that patrolling in their trucks is the best way, especially
with regards to safety. The amount of land to be patrolled is very large and the
Rangers spend a good amount of time responding to problems. D. Little said that
State Rangers have different categories of rangers who patrol or work in specified
areas. J. Maciel replied that staff is encouraged to walk or bike the trails, based
on staff availability and need.
K. Nitz asked how many Rangers are out on patrol on average. J. Maciel replied
that on average ten Rangers are on patrol during the weekend days and that eight
Rangers are on patrol during the week, except for Wednesday when the entire
Ranger staff is present as that is the common work day for both field offices.
The Board accepted and thanked staff for the information in the report.
Vill. APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY PRO TEM
S. Thielfoldt announced that the Board needed to appoint a Secretary Pro Tem.
Motion: M. Davey nominated L. Hassett. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The
motion passed 6 to 0.
IX. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
L. Hassett said he would be attending the February 23, 2006 Use and Management
Committee meeting.
P. Siemens said he had attended three Administrative and Budget Committee meetings
dated February 13, 16, 22, 2006 and plans to attend the next meeting tomorrow, February
23, 2006.
D. Little: (1) He would be attending the upcoming Use and Management Committee
meeting on February 23, 2006, (2) He took photos on Monte Bello and said that Russian
Ridge is very green, but Monte Bello is a brown thatch of star thistle.
M. Davey: (1) She attended the February 15, 2006 District staff workshop at the
Presentation Center and complimented the Planning Department on the content of the
day. It was wonderful to hear all of the input. (2) She asked how a hiking permit could
be obtained for Lois Hogle's family. (3) She attended the Administrative and Budget
Committee meetings dated February 13, 16, 22, 2006 and plans to attend the next
meeting tomorrow, February 23, 2006.
Meeting 06-05 Page 5
K. Nitz: (1) He attended the Administrative and Budget Committee meetings dated
February 13, 16, 22, 2006 and plans to attend the next meeting tomorrow, February 23,
2006. (2) He hiked the Dusky-Footed Woodrat Trail Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve
and said it was a mess.
J. Cyr: (1) He hiked at Pulgas Ridge and said the wildflowers were beginning to show.
The hike included about 45 people and the parking was "interesting" as all surrounding
lots were at overflow capacity. (2) He hiked the Guadalupe River and said there was an
array of wonderful things done with the channel. (3) He attended the State of the District
meeting and was pleased with staff's participation.
S. Thielfoldt acknowledged the Ranger staff in attendance at the meeting.
X. ADJOURNMENT
At 8:45p.m. the meeting was adjourned.
Lisa Zadek
Recording Secretary
Meeting 06-05 Page 6
MOTION TO ADJOURN SPECIAL MEETING
I MOVE TO ADJOURN THE FEBRUARY 22"'2006 SPECIAL MEETING OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN
SPACE DISTRICT TO WEDNESDAY MARCH lst, 2006 AT 4:by P.M. TO BE
HELD AT 330 DISTEL CIRCLE,LOS ALTOS, CALIFORNIA,
FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS
NUMBERS 1 A@Mdw , 3 .
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