HomeMy Public PortalAbout20080611 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Regional open Space
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 08-14
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
June 11, 2008
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
I. ROLL CALL
President P. Siemens called the Special Meeting to order at 5:38 p.m.
Members Present: Pete Siemens, Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Mary Davey, Ken Nitz,
Curt Riffle and Larry Hassett
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Steve Abhors, Duncan Simmons, Greg Sam, Matt Freeman, Erica
Simmons. Matt Baldzikowski, Kirk Lenington, Andrea
Christenson, Stella Cousins, Meredith Manning, Stan Hooper,
Mike Williams, Rudy Jurgensen, and David Sanguinetti
11. STUDY SESSION
A. Agenda Item I- Resource Management Policy on Cultural Resources—(Report
R-08-78)
Planning Technician Frica Simmons and Resource Planner I Matt Baldzikowski
presented the draft Resource Management Policy on Cultural Resources. The
Board received comments from several speakers including: Dr. Laura Jones,
Director of Heritage Services at Stanford University, who congratulated staff for
presenting a"state-of-the-art" policy and offered assistance relating to cultural
resources management; Mark Hylkema, State Archaeologist at the California
Department of Parks, who complimented staff and stated this policy was
important for cultural resource protection, interpretation potential, ethical and
legal reasons, and also indicated a desire to assist the District in cultural resource
management; Marty Levine, caretaker/resident of the Fremont Older House, who
gave a brief overview of the Fremont Older house restoration and was happy that
the policy discussion brought up staff questions that were timely regarding the
concerns of the Levine's for the future of Fremont Older. The Board of Directors
made comments on the policy and complimented staff for their excellent work.
Page 2
R-08-14
REGULAR MEETING
Ill. P. Siemens called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:36 p.m., and asked for the Roll Call.
Members Present: Pete Siemens, Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Mary Davey, Ken Nitz,
Curt Riffle, and Larry Hassett
Members Absent: None
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS -There were none.
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved that the Board adopt the Agenda. Director Riffle
seconded the motion.
Vote: The motion passed 7 to 0.
VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Director Cyr said he had a correction to the May 14, 2008 Board Minutes, that was to add
the word "surviving" in the fifth paragraph, fourth line so that the phrase read, -... a large
gene pool would have a better chance of surviving a disease outbreak,"
Director Hanko pulled Agenda Item 4.
Motion: Director Davey moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar,
including approval of the corrected May 14, 2008 Minutes; Written
Communications; and Revised Claims 08-10. Director Hassett seconded
the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 except for the AT&T and Verizon
Claims identified on the Revised Claims list. The list contains a written
disclosure that Directors Davey and Hanko are recusing themselves from
voting on these items. The Board's vote on the Verizon and AT&T claims
is recorded as passing by a vote of 5 to 0.
VII. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. 4-Approval of Communications Site Lease Agreement and
Exercise of Option with Sprint Spectrum, L.P. at Pulgas Ridge Open Space
Preserve-, Adopt the Resolution Authorizing Approval of the Communications
Site Lease Agreement Amendment and Exercise of Option with Sprint Spectrum,
L.P.. at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve - (Report R-08-77)
Director Hanko said that she would be abstaining from this item.
Motion: Director Davey moved approval of Communications Site Lease
Agreement and Exercise of Option with Sprint Spectrum, L.P., at
R-08-14 Page 3
Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve; Adopt Resolution No. 08-31
authorizing approval of the Communications Site Lease
Agreement Amendment and Exercise of Option with Sprint
Spectrum, L.P., at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve. Director
Cyr seconded the motion.
Discussion: Director Nitz stated that he was happy to see money corning into
the District from this lease.
Vote: The motion passed 6 to 0 with one abstention by Director Hanko.
B. Agenda Item No. 5 — Authorization for Staff to Conduct a Controlled Training
Burn at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Authorize the General Manager to
Execute a Permit to Enter to the City of Palo Alto Fire Department to Conduct a
Controlled Burn Jointly with the District for Training Purposes on the Monte
Bello Open Space Preserve-, Determine that the Modification to the Traininp, Burn
Site Does Not Require Additional Environmental Review Under the California
Environmental Quality Act and Adopt the CEQA Finding As Set Out in This
Report— (Report R-08-69)
G. Baillie, Operations Management Analyst, presented this item to the Board and
displayed a map showing the area proposed for the training. Ile introduced a
guest, Chief Roger Bloom from the City of Palo Alto Fire Department.
Director Hanko asked about the timing of the burn and how staff notified the
public. G. Baillie explained the public notification procedure for this project and
added that only one letter was received from the public. He said that Ranger
Brian Malone would be meeting personally with the concerned party. Director
Hassett said that the public notification process staff is using works well.
Director Riffle asked about staff s outreach to the media about this project.
Public Affairs Manager Rudy Jurgensen described the process for notifying the
media and that an "Op Ed" piece would be placed in the San Jose Mercury News.
Director Nitz asked if staff would be studying the effects of Harding grass and if
there would be drill seeding afterwards. D. Sanguinetti said that staff will target
the invasive plants and they will reassess the area after the burn to work on
getting
ettin rid of the invasive plants. S. Abbors added that the focus of the project is
� I
for training.
Director Hassett said that the public notification process was working well, Ile
said he had received compliments from the last burn at Russian Ridge Open
Space Preserve and said he wanted to be sure there would be adequate signage so
driving in the area would know what is going on. Director Cyr stated
the public d g
good to invite the public, especially concerned neighbors to
1 be o Y id it would p he said P
g
observe the training burn. Director Riffle asked if the Board members could
attend and G. Baillie said they could.
R-08-14 Page 4
Fire Chief Bloom said that the prescription burn would be conservative. They
would invite engines from throughout the county as a joint agency response. Ile
said that even if they received a -no burn day-. they NAOUld still hold the training
and he thanked the Board of Directors for their support.
Motion: Director Davey moved approval of authorization for staff to
conduct a controlled training burn at Monte Bello Open Space
Preserve; Authorize the General Manager to execute a Permit to
Enter to the City of Palo Alto Fire Department to conduct a
controlled burn jointly with the District, for training purposes, on
the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve; Determine that the
modification to the training burn site does not require additional
environmental review under the California Environmental Quality
Act and adopt the CEQA finding as set out in this report. Director
Hassett seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
C. Agenda Item 6 —Agreement with Santa Clara County Fire Department to
Conduct Training Burns at the Rancho de Guadalupe Area of Sierra Azul Open
Space Preserve; Determine that the Recommended Actions As Set Out in this
Report are Categorically Exempt Under the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA); Authorize the General Manager to Execute a Permit to Enter for the
Purpose of Allowing the Santa Clara County Fire Department to Conduct
Controlled Burns, For Training Purposes at the Rancho de Guadalupe Area o
Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, and to Enter Other Areas as Specified for
Related Training Not Involving Live Fire from the Date of Execution Through
December 31, 2010—(Report R-08-07
G. Baillie described the project to the Board and provided definitions for
.,controlled" (training) and -prescribed" (resource management). He said the
Rancho de Guadalupe site is a great site for a controlled burn due its location,
water sources and closeness to a paved road access. He said that the foCLIS 011 this
project is training; however, there would be resource management benefits. He
introduced a guest, Hal Rooney, from Santa Clara County Fire Department.
Director Nitz said he had a concern about monitoring the resource management
benefit and asked if staff could take pictures beforehand. S. Abbors said they
could take pictures. Director Hassett said that the Russian Ridge area is a lab for
resource management efforts and that staff should not be stretched too much to
add other areas to study the affects of burns. Director Nitz said that this project
would provide an opportunity to see a result.
Motion: Director Davey moved approval of the Agreement with Santa
Clara County Fire Department to conduct training burns at the
Rancho de Guadalupe area of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve;
Determine that the recommended actions as set out in this report
are categorically exempt under the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA); Authorize the General Manager to execute a
Permit to Enter for the purpose of allowing the Santa Clara County
R-08-14 Page 5
Fire Department to conduct controlled bums, for training purposes,
at the Rancho de Guadalupe area of Sierra Azul Open Space
Preserve, and to enter other areas as specified for related training
not involving live fire from the date of execution through
December 31. 2010. Director Cyr seconded the motion.
Discussion: Director Siemens said he supported taking pre and post pictures of
the project area.
There was discussion regarding the neighbor notification and
installing sufficient road signage in the area and placing a notice
on the District's website and in local newspapers.
Deputy Fire Chief Rooney thanked the Board of Directors and said
that the training is very important.
Vote: The motion passed 7 to 0.
D. Agenda Item 7—Award of Contract with TKO General Engineering and
Construction, Inc., for the Bid Amount of$49,891 Plus a 10% Contingency for a
Total Amount Not to Exceed $54,880 and Authorize the General Manager to
Execute a Contract with TKO for Foundation Construction and Bridge Installation
at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve — (Report 08-76)
M. Manning, Planner 11, gave a brief overview of the staff report.
Motion: Director Davey moved to award the contract with TKO General
Engineering and Construction, Inc., for the bid amount of$49,891
plus a 10% contingency for a total amount not to exceed $54,880
and authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with TKO
for foundation construction and bridge installation at El Corte de
Madera Creek Open Space Preserve. Director Hanko seconded the
motion,
Discussion: Director Hassett said he was happy to see this project and
commented on the bid amount. M. Manning said that TKO had no
travel costs to add, as they are located in the area. S. Abbors said
that hiring local vendors is consistent with the District's greening
policies. Director Riffle asked if photos would be taken and M.
Manning said that photos would be taken throughout the project
timeline. Director Cyr said he would like to observe the project.
Vote: The motion passed 7 to 0.
E. Agenda Item 8 —Approval of Grant Agreement with the California Department
of Fish and Game for Funding Assistance for the Proposed Big Dipper Ranch
Road Project; Adopt the Attached Resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving the Grant Agreement with
R-08-14 Page 6
the California Department of Fish and Game for Funding Assistance for the
Proposed Big Dipper Ranch Road Project•. Authorize the District to Advertise for
Bids for Construction of the Proposed Big Dipper Ranch Project—(Report R-08-
79)
M. Baldzikowski, Resource Planner 1, gave a PowerPoint slide presentation about
the grant showing the Skyline Ridge and Big Dipper property. He outlined the
grant benefits.
Director Siemens asked if they would be working on the highest priority sites and
M. Baldzikowski said they would.
Director Nitz asked how the work would be done and M. Baldzikowski explained
the project and gave a description of the work. S. Abbors said the biggest source
of mass wasting is unmanaged roads and lie supports staff returning areas to their
natural habitat and removing the roads. M. Baldzikowski discussed how staff will
remove and restore the culvert areas and he showed slides of sites to be restored.
Director Cyr asked if the work would be done in the following fiscal year. M.
Baldzikowski said that was correct because this fiscal year staff will need to
prepare plans for the technical work and obtain permits from the county. He said
that the grant is good through 2011.
Motion: Director Nitz moved approval of Grant Agreement with the
California Department of Fish and Game for funding assistance for
the proposed Big Dipper Ranch road project; Adopt Resolution
No. 08-30 of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District approving the Grant Agreement with the
California Department of Fish and Game for funding assistance for
the proposed Big Dipper Ranch road project; Authorize the District
to advertise for bids for construction of the proposed Big Dipper
Ranch project. Director Davey seconded the motion. The motion
passed 7 to 0.
Vill. INFORMATIONAL / COMPENSABLE MEETING REPORTS
Board of Director Reports:
Director Hassett said that his only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting (6/11).
He said that tonight he wanted to express how proud he is of the District staff. He said he
completed ethics training on-line.
Director Hanko said her only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting (6/11). She
commented on an FYI about the picnic in the weeds article. She stated that she wanted
the Board to become more involved with the Resource Management policies. She said
that the Board needs to have a picnic in the weeds and that as elected officials they need
to know what is going on at the District and said that they need to be as informed as
possible, S. Abbors said that the Board should have been invited and that it was an
unintentional oversight.
R-08-14 Page 7
Director Nitz said that his only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting (6/11). He
said that the District's legal brief was mentioned in the magazine on Special Districts. He
asked when the date for gathering signatures for the election would be. G. Sam said that
July 14 is the start of the candidate filing period. Director Nitz said he hiked the Dusky-
Footed Woodrat Trail at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve with S. Abbors.
Director Riffle said that his compensable meetings included the June 6 Board Appointee
Ad Hoc Committee, and tonight's meeting (6/1 1). He said he went for a run on the Black
Mountain Trail and noticed the parking problem at Rhus Ridge, adding that there are a lot
Abbors sai
d that he met with representatives of Hidden Villa
of users in this area. S. Ab p
today and that they were looking at potential easement expansion. Director Riffle said he
attended the Conservation Trust Building event on June 10 that Director Davey hosted.
He said he would be speaking at the June 12 Docent class, adding that the District's
Docents are very important to the District. He commented on the new format of the
Board Meeting packet and asked if there was additional cost in the new format. S.
Abbors and G. Sam replied. Fie asked D. Simmons for an update on the Santa Clara
County Sheriff's contract. He said he was sorry that Measure O did not pass. He spoke
about the connection with the Coyote Valley and gave a report on De Anza College
students doing a study in Coyote Valley and suggested having a future topic about how
involved the District could be in the connectivity of projects in this area.
Director Cyr said his compensable meetings included the June 6 Board Appointee Ad
Hoc Committee and tonight's meeting (6/11). He spoke about an article from Aho
Nuevo and said he had visited the area, adding that their public facility is terrific. He
gave an update on the Portland conference being held in September.
Director Davey said her only compensable meeting was tonight"s meeting (6/1 1). She
said the Peninsula Conservation 'Trust had its 15`h anniversary of owning the building that
houses nine environmental groups. She said that the Acterra Environmental Award was
given to the Presentation Retreat Center because they have a green building.
Director Hailko said that she and Director Davey toured the Sierra Azul Hicks Creek
Ranch and said it was an outstanding tour. She asked about upcoming vacation and
meeting schedules. S. Abbors said that he would be suggesting canceling the second
Board meeting in August.
Director Siemens said his only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting (6/1 1).
Staff Reports:
D. Sanguinetti gave an update on the Santa Clara County Sheriff's contract. S. Abbors
added that S. Schectman has been on the telephone to the county nearly every day. D.
Sanguinetti said there was a '/a-acre fire at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve on the
Skyline Blvd. side and said that the disc-line put the fire out. He said the Bonny Doon
fire was on the west side and burned up to 30 acres.
R-08-14 Page 8
M. Freeman gave an update on the small grants program. He said he was approached by
the San Carlos Trails Committee regarding installing a trail at Pulgas Ridge Open Space
Preserve.
R. Jurgensen said that he would be going to Mt. Umunhum on June 12 with two staffers
from Mike Honda's office. He handed out a disc with two PowerPoint presentations.
D. Simmons said he attended the "2030 Visioning" meeting in Mountain View
concernimy, the City's general plan. He said they appreciate the District's work and
participation at Deer Hollow Farm, the Stevens Creek corridor, and the overall greening
of the area.
General Manager's Report:
S. Abhors remarked that Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve is a wonderful place and he
enjoyed the 4-mile hike with Director Nitz. He said that this was his first experience in a
dog park and noted that the animals were well behaved. On June 10, he went for a walk
at Rancho San Antonio. He said there would be a new Board calendar that would look
six months in advance so that staff could do more advanced planning. Ile said he wrote a
letter to the City of San Jose thanking them for their support. He said he met with
representatives of Save the Bay.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
P. Siemens adjourned the Special and Regular meetings of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 9:30 p.m.
Lisa Zadek
Recording Secretary
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