HomeMy Public PortalAbout20090128 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
Meeting 09-03
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
JANUARY 28,2009
MINUTES
I. ROLL CALL
President Hanko called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Pete Siemens, Mary Davey, Larry Hassett,Nonette Hanko, Jed Cyr, and
Curt Riffle
Members Absent: Cecily Harris
Staff Present: S. Abbors, G. Sam, S. Schectman, D. Simmons, M. Williams, A. Ruiz,
R. Jurgensen, N. Perez, A. Speidel, D. Sanguinetti, K. Lenington, J. Andersen
11. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS—There were none.
111. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved adoption of the Agenda. Director Siemens seconded the
motion.
Vote: The motion passed 6 to 0.
IV. INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF
K. Lenington introduced Julie Andersen as the new Resource Planner I for the District. He
gave some background information about her. The Board welcomed J. Andersen to the
District. J. Andersen thanked the Board and said she looked forward to working at the District.
V. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Director Cyr corrected a typographical error on the Board Minutes of January 14, 2009, page 2,
correcting"Directory"to "Director." Director Riffle corrected a typographical error on page
of the Minutes, correcting "Ruffle"to "Riffle." President Hanko explained her meaning on
page 3, Agenda Item 7, and said the phrase, "before the expirations of FDIC insurance
protection from $100,000 to $250,000," should replace, "they would need to be purchased
Meeting 09-03 Page 2
before the end of the year." S. Abbors stated that the apostrophe should be removed from CDs
in all instances.
Director Cyr asked about Revised Claim numbers 9515 and 9582, which staff answered to his
satisfaction.
Director Siemens said he would be recusing himself from Revised Claim number 9539.
President Hanko and Director Davey said they would recuse themselves from Revised Claim
numbers 9544 and 9594R for the AT&T claims, and Revised Claim numbers 9595R and
9603R for the Verizon Wireless and Verizon Business claims.
Motion: Director Cyr moved adoption of the Consent Calendar to Approve the Regular
Board Minutes of January 14, 2009, as amended; and Approve the Revised
Claims 09-02. Director Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to
0. For Revised Claims, Director Davey and President Hanko recused
themselves from voting on claim numbers 9544, 9594R, 9595R, and 9603R.
The vote for Revised Claims numbers 9544, 9594R, 9595R, and 9603R passed
with a vote of 4 to 0. Director Siemens recused himself from voting on Revised
Claim number 9539. The vote for claim number 9539 was 5 to 0.
VI. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item 3—Report by the Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs Committee on
Commemorating the Victims of the "Resolution" Airplane Crash—(Report R-09-17)
As the past chair of the LFPAC Committee President Hanko introduced the report and
invited Christopher O'Donnell to provide the history and background about the
"Resolution" airplane crash. Mr. O'Donnell offered the District a plaque, as a gift,to be
placed on a trail to commemorate the people who died in the crash.
President Hanko asked D. Sanguinetti to talk about where the plaque could be placed
and the cost. D. Sanguinetti said that staff was researching options and could not quote
a cost at this time. He described two options about how to place the plaque on either
sandstone, which is found in the area, or granite, which would need to be moved from
another area and installed. He suggested placing the plaque on the Methuselah Trail at
El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve as it is a nice oak covered area and the
trail eventually meets up with the Resolution Trail. There was discussion between the
Board and staff about how to secure the plaque and location options.
Director Riffle asked if there would be a ceremony. President Hanko said there should
be and LFPAC Committee would work on the event.
The Board thanked Mr. O'Donnell for his presentation and diligence in finding a happy
ending to a tragic event.
Motion: Director Davey moved approval to direct District staff to install
Christopher O'Donnell's plaque commemorating the victims of the "Resolution"
airplane crash and further amended the motion to direct staff to use local sandstone to
support the plaque. Director Hassett seconded the motion as amended.
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Vote: The motion passed by a vote of 6 to 0.
B. Agenda Item 4—Appointment of District Representatives to the Governing Board of
the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority—(Report R-09-
09)
Motion: Director Cyr moved approval of the President's appointments of
Directors Hassett and Siemens to serve with the Board President and Treasurer, as
required by the by-laws, on the Governing Board of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Financing Authority. Director Siemens seconded the motion.
Vote: The motion passed by a vote of 6 to 0.
C. Agenda Item 5—Appointment of Standing and Ad Hoc Board Committee Members
for 2009—(Report R-09-08)
President Hanko said a new ad hoc committee might be formed during the year to study
District office possibilities.
Director Cyr said that there was a"Fiscal Impact" as the Board members are
compensated and he suggested inserting language accordingly. S. Abbors suggested
inserting, "Board members will be compensated at the normal rate" which was deemed
acceptable.
Director Riffle asked if the Board should consider not compensating committees in
order to be fiscally responsible. President Hanko agreed that they should review Board
compensation in an upcoming meeting.
President Hanko suggested an amendment to the CALJPIA representatives because
there needed to be an alternative to the President of the Board and previously there
were two staff alternatives, one including the General Manager. S. Abbors asked if
staff could address this subject with the Board at a later time. President Hanko
removed her amendment.
Motion: Director Hassett moved to approve the President's recommendations for
appointments to the Board Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, appointments as Board
representatives to other bodies, and termination of Ad Hoc Committees whose tasks
have been completed as contained in the staff report, including the determination of
compensation status for attendance at Board Committee meetings. Director Siemens
seconded the motion.
Vote: The motion passed 6 to 0.
D. Agenda Item 6—Approve Amendment to Guideline for Board-Staff Working
Relationships—(Report R-09-16)
Motion: Director Davey moved approval to the amendment to Guideline for
Board-Staff Working Relationships. Director Riffle seconded the motion.
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Vote:, The motion passed 6 to 0.
VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Real Property Committee: Director Davey described the recent meeting and praised staff for
their presentation and answering questions from the audience. Both Directors Cyr and Hassett
agreed that the meeting was well attended and that staff did a great job. S. Abhors commented
that staff is listening to the agricultural community and are working towards seeing how the
agricultural community fits in with the District's mission. M. Williams discussed the process
of working on the coast and building trust over time.
Legislative, Funding and Public Affairs Committee:Director Cyr reviewed the agenda items
discussed at the meeting. There was discussion between S. Abhors and the Board about how
the District is represented at the Bay Area Open Space Council (BAOSC) and that the District
no longer has a leadership role on it. President Hanko said the Board would leave any
decisions about the District's representation at BAOSC with the General Manager.
STAFF REPORTS
R. Jurgensen reported about the Patty Fisher article, and he pointed out articles in the Palo Alto
Weekly, Half Moon Bay Review about the Purisima to the Sea project. He stated that new
District logo clothes are on the walls in the lobby and are shown on the website. Today the
District announced the results of the District's I" annual photograph contest. He said the
District received over 400 entries. He also announced that wallpaper can be accessed from the
website.
Director Hassett asked if the contest entrants signed a release for submitted photos and R.
Jurgensen said they did. He added this will be an annual event and it will expand the photo
database. Director Cyr noted the contest was an effective way to introduce the public to the
District. Director Riffle said he sat at an outreach table at El Corte de Madera and heard very
nice comments about the District's website. He said he ordered some District cloths on-line
and said it was easy to do. He thanked K. Britt for the elected officials meeting.
R. Jurgensen announced that the two videos of Mt. Umunhum would be shown at the next
regular Board meeting.
D. Sanguinetti said that staff attended the U. S. Fish and Wildlife meeting in Newark to discuss
the project at Ravenswood. Director Riffle asked if there was an update about getting help
with the gate at Cooley Landing. S. Abhors said staff has requested help and will follow-up
with East Palo Alto.
D. Sanguinetti discussed the community meeting in Woodside about Slender False Brome. He
said it was a positive meeting, they have support from Woodside's mayor and staff is moving
forward. Director Riffle said it was a well-run meeting and the Public Affairs staff did an
excellent job and set a good tone. Director Hassett said the meeting was well attended,
including by many community leaders. The meeting created an excitement that the project
could get done.
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A. Ruiz announced upcoming Cultural Resources training on February 4 at Skyline Field
Office from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.; February 11 at Foothill Field Office from 2:30 p.m. to
4:30 p.m.; and the third at the Administration Office with the date and time to be determined.
The Planning and Operations staff and a State Park archeologist will lead these trainings.
Director Siemens asked if docents were invited to the trainings and A. Ruiz said they were not
going to be invited to these trainings, but they could be invited for future trainings.
A. Ruiz said M. Manning met with consultants at Dennis Martin Creek. Director Cyr asked
about the status of the bridge at El Corte de Madera and D. Sanguinetti said it is scheduled to
be installed in the spring.
M. Williams said the Real Property Committee meeting was the most successful meeting they
have had and credited S. Sommer for her work. He said it took place in an excellent facility
and staff received good feedback. He said that he and S. Sommer attended a general plan
conformity meeting with San Mateo County's new long-range Planning staff and the meeting
was encouraging. President Hanko asked if there would be a tour of the Purisima to the Sea
properties for Board members not on the committee and M. Williams said he would set one up.
S. Schectman reported on the Woods property gift in Portola Valley which the Board had
previously approved. A portion of the gift was to occur when the senior Mr. Woods passed
away, which has occurred. The second portion was to come to the District when the son passed
away. She was notified today by the attorney representing the Woods' trust attorney that the
son has terminated his life estate in the property. As a result, the entire estate is now in a
position to be conveyed to the District. She said the District received an insurance payment for
the fire damage at the True property. She said the District received a public records request for
the files containing the documents that established the District.
S. Abhors said M. Williams took a leadership role in his absence for the Action Plan
discussions with department managers. He said he met with Assemblyman Ruskin regarding
the 30-year notes and gave an update to the Board.
DIRECTOR REPORTS
Director Riffle said his compensable meetings included the January 14 and tonight's regular
meeting. He spoke about sitting at the outreach table at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space
Preserve. He asked if he should continue representing the District on the Bay Area Ridge Trail
Council and President Hanko said he should. He stated that in 2008 he visited District
preserves 43 times and traveled over 300 miles of trails.
Director Siemens said he's been on the Board for 16 years and finally visited the Elkus 4-H
Ranch and said it was very similar to the District's Deer Hollow Farm. He said he is excited to
support the potential purchase. He turned his meeting compensation sheet to the District Clerk.
Director Hassett said his compensable meetings included the January 14 and tonight's regular
meeting,the January 15 LFPAC meeting, and January 22 Real Property Committee meeting.
He said that he continues receiving positive feedback from the slender false brome meeting in
Woodside. He said he also purchased District clothing from the website. He said that Philippe
Cohen commended M. Manning's work.
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Director Davey said her compensable meetings were the January 14 and tonight's regular
meeting, the December 16 La Honda Creek Ad Hoc Committee meeting and the January 22
Real Property Committee meeting.
Director Cyr said his compensable meetings included the January 14 and tonight's regular
meeting, the January 15 LFPAC meeting, and the January 22 Real Property Committee
meeting. He pointed out an article about the Navy's plans to clean up a pond area so bay water
can move in and out and said the District has worked on this for a long time. He said that
District docent, Patty Ciesla, wrote an article on El Corte de Madera and mentioned the
District's four-year efforts to clean-up sedimentation on the trails. He said he sent a letter to
the Sunnyvale City Council regarding creek trails and working with Los Altos. Director Riffle
announced that the Council passed the motion.
President Hanko said that her compensable meetings were January 14 and tonight's regular
meeting. She said she sent an e-mail to the Board regarding the February 11 Bay Restoration
Authority meeting and she asked Director Riffle to submit an application to this Authority, but
said there is no guarantee the District would have a representative chosen. Director Davey
agreed that Director Riffle would be a strong candidate. President Hanko said that a staff
representative could also be considered.
President Hanko asked S. Abbors about the employee retention survey and G. Sam provided a
response. He said they would hire an outside management analyst to compile the data and
prepare a report to summarize the results of the survey.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
President Hanko adjourned the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 9:20 p.m.
Lisa Zadek, Recording Secretary