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Meeting 07-20
REGULAR and SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
October 10, 2007
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
I. ROLL CALL
President K. Nitz called the Special Meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Mary Davey, Ken Nitz and Larry Hassett
Members Absent: Pete Siemens, Curt Riffle
Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Duncan Simmons, Michael Reeves,
Matt Freeman, Andrea Christensen, David Sanguinetti, Rudy
Jurgensen
11. CLOSED SESSION
The Board adjourned to Closed Session at 6:35 p.m. and concluded at 7:30 p.m. At the
conclusion, K. Nitz publicly stated that there were no reportable items from the Closed
Session regarding Item 1.
REGULAR MEETING
111. K. Nitz called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:34 p.m.
Additional Staff Present: Gordon Baillie
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Walter Moore, Peninsula Open Space Trust, announced the recent purchase of the 1,047-
acre Mindego Ranch property. He brought along a picture of the site and he pointed out
the area on the wall map. He said this property is part of the view-shed for Russian
Ridge Open Space Preserve, and said there would be an article about the property in the
San Jose Mercury newspaper.
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V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: J. Cyr moved to adopt the Agenda. L. Hassett seconded the motion. The
motion passed 5 to 0.
VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
N. Hanko said she would voluntarily recuse herself from voting on Revised Claim
numbers 7599, 7689, 7692-R, and 7693-R. M. Davey stated that she would recuse
herself from voting on Revised Claim number 7599, 7692-R and 7693-R. S. Schectman
pointed out that if N. Hanko voluntarily recused herself from Revised Claims 7599,
7692-R and 7693-R, there would not be enough votes to pay those particular bills. N.
Hanko withdrew her voluntary recusal from Revised Claims numbered 7599, 7692-R and
7693-R; her recusal of Revised Claim 7689 remained.
K. Nitz said he would remove Agenda Item 3 and Agenda Item 4 from the Consent
Calendar for discussion.
K. Nitz asked for further information on Revised Claim numbers 7605 and 7683 which
staff explained to his satisfaction.
C. Britton pointed out that Revised Claim numbers 7617 through 7626 showed the
breakdown of the First Bankcard charge amounts. He also said that he was impressed
with the work the Ferguson Group (Revised Claim number 7683) was doing for the
District.
Motion: J. Cyr moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including the
Revised Claims 07-16. L. Hassett seconded the motion. The motion
passed 4 to 0 on Revised Claim number 7599-R with one recusal, and
passed 5 to 0 on the remaining Revised Claims 07-15. The Board Minutes
dated July 25, 2007 were tabled and not included in the vote.
VII. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. I — Proposed Retention of Consultant to Redesign the District's
Loy,o• Concur with the Legislative, Funding and Public Affairs Committee's
(LFPAC) Recommendations• Concur with LFPAC's Recommendation that
Mortensen Design be Selected by the General Manager to Redesign the District
Logo; Accept LFPAC's Recommendation of a Process for Involving Staff and
Providing the Board with a Comprehensive Redesign Process— (Report R-07-
193
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N. Hanko presented the Committee's report and said that she is satisfied with the
Committee's recommendations to redesign the District's logo.
K. Nitz asked why Mortensen Design was chosen over the other consultant, and
asked if there were examples he could see. N. Hanko said the consultant showed
the Committee samples of his work. L. Hassett explained that the Committee
wanted to be careful not to broadcast possible logo designs. J. Cyr added that at
this stage they were only choosing the logo designer, not the actual logo. He said
the Committee had a split decision, so a third firm was asked to submit further
examples. He said the Committee was unanimous in its recommendations of
Mortensen Design.
Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board accept the Legislative, Funding
and Public Affairs Committee's recommendations that Mortensen
Design be selected by the General Manager to redesign the District
logo and to accept LFPAC's recommendation of a process for
involving staff and providing the Board with a comprehensive
redesign process. The motion passed 5 to 0.
B. Agenda Item No. 2 —Review and Approve Attached Process and Timeline for
General Manager Recruitment• Direct Ad Hoc Board Appointee Evaluation
Committee to Work with Peckham & McKenney as Needed to Facilitate the
Attached Recruitment Process and to Return to the Full Board for Approval at
Decision-making Steps as Set Out in the Process—(Report R-07-99)
J. Cyr said the Committee was concerned about timeliness and effectiveness. The
Committee developed a two-month timeline and said that it was the experience of
the consultant that the most qualified candidates do not turn in their resumes until
the due date.
N. Hanko said she had asked the consultant about the holiday timing. The
consultant said that it is a time of the year that people make decisions and discuss
changes with their families.
C.Britton said that the District has used Peckham & McKenney with prior
recruitments. He said the consultant would post notices with networks, other
agencies, and through advertisements in Jobs Available and Craigslist. K. Nitz
asked if the job advertisements would be national. C. Britton said it would, but
that the consultant said the candidate will probably come from California or west
coast area. He said that she would be given a list of people he thinks should be
contacted.
K. Nitz asked if they could extend the filing date deadline by one week because of
his concern about the holidays. C. Britton advised that they should keep the
deadline and trust the process. J. Cyr agreed that the Board should trust the
person hired to do the work. He said that the Committee asked that all
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applications be available to the Board for their review. He said that the consultant
will not be limiting the Board members in the process, but everyone does not need
to cull through all of the applications.
M. Davey said that each Board member would be meeting individually with
Bobbie Peckham.
K. Nitz asked why the reference and background checks are done after an offer is
made to a candidate. S. Schectman explained that the offer comes first because
the candidate expects confidentiality; the job offer is contingent on references and
background checks; and the consultant will want the Board to be comfortable with
the process and the candidate.
Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board approve the process and timeline
for General Manager recruitment; Direct Ad Hoc Board Appointee
Evaluation Committee to work with Peckham & McKenney as
needed to facilitate the recruitment process and to return to the full
Board for approval at decision-making steps as set out in the
process. L. Hassett seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 to
1. K. Nitz voted against the motion because he did not agree with
the proposed timeline.
C. Agenda Item No. 3 —Renewal of Lease and Management Agreement with
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) for the Former Gottsleben/Sonntag Property
(Long Ridge Open Space Preserve) and Determine that the Recommended
Actions are Categorically Exempt from CEQA as Set Out in the Report;
Authorize the General Manager to Sign the Lease and Management Agreement
Renewal with POST and, Subject to Approval by the General Manager and
General Counsel, Approving Minor Revisions Which do not Substantially Change
any Material Term of the Agreement—(Report R-07-102)
K. Nitz said that he withdrew this report from the Consent Calendar because he
had a question about the rent payment, C. Britton said that POST was responsible
for paying the road assessment, and S. Schectman added that the amount was
consideration for the road management cost. K. Nitz said it looked like the
District is paying two entities.
Motion: K. Nitz moved approval for the Renewal of Lease and
Management Agreement with Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST)
for the former Gottsleben/Sonntag property (Long Ridge Open
Space Preserve) and determine that the recommended actions are
categorically exempt from CEQA, as set out in the report;
Authorize the General Manager to sign the Lease and Management
Agreement Renewal with POST and, subject to approval by the
General Manager and General Counsel, approving minor revisions
which do not substantially change any material term of the
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Agreement. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed 5
to 0.
D. Agenda Item No. 4—Off-Leash Dog Policy Discussion; Refer the Development
of an Off-Leash Dog Policy for the District's Open Space Preserves to the Use
and Management Standing Committee—(Report R-07-104)
C. Britton said that he spoke with Director Riffle about this item. He said that
Director Riffle wants this discussion to go to the Use and Management
Committee. K. Nitz, who withdrew this item from the Consent Calendar, said
that he spoke with C. Riffle too and said there is no policy for off-leash dog areas;
although it is mentioned in the Master Plan and asked for each Board member's
opinions.
C. Britton mentioned the attached article to Director Riffle's report. He said that
Director Riffle wants to "head off" requests and be in control of this issue. C.
Britton said there is a matrix that District staff and the Use and Management
Committee can look at to determine if areas could be designated as off-leash dog
areas.
K. Nitz asked that each Board member state their thoughts on this issue.
N. Hanko said that she would like to revisit the dogs on leash policy again. She
said she has received requests from the Coastal area public about the District's
dog policy. She said she was not in favor of dogs off-leash.
J. Cyr said his view was to look at this issue on a global sense for the whole
District. He said the monthly reports show violations of the District's leash
ordinance.
M. Davey said that they should let the land tell them what its uses should be. She
said that any land that is close to an urban center could be considered for on-leash
uses. She said she did not see any area where off-leash could be considered, but
they need to let the land tell them what the use should be. She said she is a dog
lover and had voted for leash use, but her overall focus is to protect the land.
L. Hassett said he agreed with Director Riffle and that this issue has come up
because of towns limiting their uses of areas in their jurisdiction. He said the
District has made strong guidelines that are difficult to maintain. Cities are
starting to re-address dog use areas. He said there are enclosed areas with
fencing, but they are small. He said he is not a fan of off-leash areas and wished
cities would take care of this issue. He said he would rather protect wildlife.
K. Nitz said he was conflicted. He likes Pulgas Ridge's off-leash area, but it is a
degraded area that is suitable for this use. He said the District's responsibility is
to preserve land.
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Motion: J. Cyr moved that the Board refer the development of an Off-Leash
Dog Policy for the District's open space preserves to the Use and
Management Standing Committee. L. Hassett seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
N. Hanko said her only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting (10/10). She said
she would be attending the State Park Foundation event that is an annual event. She said
that this year it would be held at General Vallejo's house.
J. Cyr said that his only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting (10/10). He said
that on September 291h he went on the Ridge Trail "cruz" that is a 23-mile walking event.
This event included trail users including equestrians, bicycles and hikers. C. Britton told
the Board that this would probably turn into an annual event. J. Cyr said he received
many compliments about District staff during the hike. On October 5th he said he hiked
along the Ridge Trail at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. On October 7th
he attended the Deer Hollow Farm Volunteer Recognition Event. He said that C. Riffle
also attended this event. He said that Jessica has done a terrific job since Mary left Deer
Hollow Farm.
L. Hassett said that tonight was his only compensable meeting (10/10). He gave further
information about the tank tour on November 4 1h and said that it will be held between
1:30pm and 4:30pm. He said that all Board members were invited and that there was
now a waiting list. He mentioned the South Skyline Newsletter and said that the Bat
Lady will be giving a talk on October 27 at the next South Skyline meeting. He highly
recommended the Bat Lady's talk.
K. Nitz said that his only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting (10/10). He asked
about a fax referring to tree removal. R. Jurgensen replied that nothing had been decided
yet. D. Sanguinetti said that they were leaving the trees on the site.
M. Davey said that tonight washer only compensable meeting (10/10). She gave a
review of her attendance at the 25h meeting of the Land Trust Alliance held in Colorado
this year. She gave a thorough and complete description of the conference and the people
who attended.
C. Britton pointed out several items in the Board's FYI packets, including the quarterly
report from the District's Ombudsman; the revised schedule of Board meetings (both
Regular and Special meetings); a letter to Philip Cohn regarding the Argentine Ant
proposal stated he gave Mr. Cohn a list of possible projects in which the District is
interested. C Britton also gave information about the San Mateo sales tax that three of
the Board members have put work into.
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S. Schectman gave an update on the Court of Appeal case and handed out copies of the
filed Amicus brief for each Board member.
G. Baillie handed out CDs from the Russian Ridge burn.
D. Sanguinetti said that the City of Palo Alto was having a training burn at Monte Bello
near the Laurie Stables this year. J. Cyr suggested that they invite neighbors to be present
for the bum because it is a good public relations opportunity.
R. Jurgensen reviewed a recent news story that occurred in the Saratoga Gap Open Space
Preserve area. He said that there would be media training for both the Board and staff in
December.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The Regular meeting adjourned at 9:1 Op.m.
Lisa Zadek
Recording Secretary