HomeMy Public PortalAbout20090311 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) ' IMidpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
Meeting 09-07
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
MARCH 11,2009
I
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
I. ROLL CALL
President Nonette Hanko called the Special Meeting to order at 6:05 p.m. She called the Roll.
Members Present: Pete Siemens, Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Mary Davey, Larry Hassett and
Curt Riffle.
Members Absent: Cecily Harris
Staff Present: Steve Abbors
II. CLOSED SESSION
The Board convened the Special Meeting Closed Session at 6:12 p.m. and the Session
concluded at 6:59 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
III. President Hanko called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. President Hanko stated that
there were no reportable items from the Closed Session item 1 and asked for the Roll Call.
Members Present: Pete Siemens, Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Mary Davey, Larry Hassett and
Curt Riffle.
Members Absent: Cecily Harris
Additional Staff Present: S. Schectman, G. Sam, D. Sanguinetti, A. Ruiz, R. Jurgensen, N.
Perez, K. Lenington, S. Hooper, D. Simmons, A. Speidel, A. Spiegel.
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Karl Gohl of Los Altos, said he has donated several
photographs taken on District preserves to the District. He spoke about a photograph he wanted
to donate to the District showing the ancient oaks area. He said the photo on the wall was a
i
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composite of 96 shots where software was used to merge the shots together to create a very
clear photograph. President Hanko said she was thrilled to see the photograph. Director
Hassett said he was amazed at the quality of the photograph. Director Riffle thanked Mr. Gohl
for his time, volunteering at the District, and congratulated him on his winning(3d place) entry
in the District's recent photograph contest.
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved adoption of the Agenda. Director Davey seconded the
motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Director Cyr made a correction to the February 11 Board Minutes, page 3, second paragraph,
changing"harking grass"to "harding grass."
Motion: Director Cyr moved approval of the February 11, 2009 Board Minutes as
amended and the February 25, 2009 Board Minutes. Director Riffle seconded the motion. The
motion passed 6 to 0.
President Hanko said she would abstain from the AT&T claims and Verizon claim and that
Director Davey would recuse herself from the AT&T claims.
Motion: Director Cyr moved adoption of the Consent Calendar to approve the Revised
Claims 09-05. Director Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to
0 except for Revised Claims 9857, 9869, 9886 and 9891 R. Director Davey
recused and President Hanko abstained from voting on the AT&T claims shown
on the Revised claim numbers 9857 and 9891 R. The vote for Revised claim
numbers 9857 and 9891 R passed with a vote of 4 to 0. President Hanko
abstained from voting on the Verizon claims shown on the Revised claim
numbers 9869 and 9886. The vote for Revised claims 9869 and 9886 was 5 to 0.
VIL BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item 4—Approval of Increase from Half-Time Training Coordinator to Full-
time Training and Safety Coordinator and Amend the FY 2008-2009 Position
Classification and Compensation Plan—(Report R-09-27)
S. Abbors presented the report and explained the benefits of combining two half-time
positions into one full-time training and safety coordinator position.
Director Riffle said he appreciated the General Manager's explanation at the ABC
meeting and noted there was no net change to the budget, which he appreciated. He
asked if the Board would receive an updated budget and S. Abbors said they would at
the next meeting when they were scheduled to adopt the final FY2009-10 budget.
Director Hassett asked if the District had contracted with outside agencies for staff
training in the past and if this position would eliminate that need. S. Abbors said the
District does contract for police officer training updates, for example and if approved,
the new position would be able to provide some of the training that is currently
outsourced.
Meeting 09-07 Page 3
Motion: Director Davey moved that the Board approve the increase from Half-
time Training Coordinator in the Operations Department to a Full-time Training and
Safety Coordinator position. Director Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed
by a vote of 6 to 0.
B. Agenda Item 5—Consideration of Commemorative Trail and Bench for L. Cram
Britton in Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve—(Rqport R-09-32)
Director Cyr presented the Legislative, Funding and Public Affairs Committee(LFPAC)
recommendation and said they had met with Mr. Britton and discussed his favorite place
for a bench. Mr. Britton told them his preference was a spot on Soda Gulch Trail in the
Purisima Creek Preserve.
President Hanko said that former employee, Del Woods, had built the best stone bench
and asked if anyone had contacted him. D. Sanguinetti said he spoke with Mr. Woods,
but Mr. Woods said he could not make another stone bench. D. Sanguinetti said that
Mr. Woods had worked with Jim Bolind on the other bench. He said Mr. Britton's stone
bench would be similar to the Stan Norton bench and would be free standing.
Director Hassett said that LFPAC also recommended renaming the Soda Gulch Trail to
the"Craig Britton Trail."
Mr. Britton addressed the Board and said he and Mr. Woods would be at the District
offices next week to do the video recording of the District history. He suggested that
when the bench is built that holes be put in it so water would be able to drain from the
seat. He thanked the Board and staff and noted the trail is a"hike only"trail, which was
his preference.
Motion: President Hanko moved to approve the Legislative, Funding and Public
Affairs Committee's recommendation to rename the Soda Gulch Trail in Purisima Creek
Open Space Preserve to the"Craig Britton Trail" and to place a commemorative bench
and plaque at the intersection of the Soda Gulch Trail and Purisima Creek Trail.
Director Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed by a vote of 6 to 0.
C. Agenda Item 6—Authorize the General Manager to Enter into a Professional Services
Agreement with Geocon Consultants, Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $70,000 to
Conduct Remedial Investigations and Design Appropriate Site Cleanup Measures at
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and Determine that the Recommended Actions are
Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act—(Roort R-09-33)
K. Lenington presented the staff report and the reasons staff was recommending entering
into an agreement with Geocon Consultants, Inc. (Geocon). He showed slides of the
preserve and the specific areas of concern. Director Riffle asked how the process would
work and K. Lenington described how Geocon will conduct geo-technical studies.
Director Riffle asked about the budget and why the amount of the agreement was $6,000
less than the amount budgeted. K. Lenington stated that Geocon's bid came in under the
estimated budget, but he added there might be additional services in the future requiring
an amendment to the contract.
Meeting 09-07 Page 4
Director Cyr asked about the travel time for the Geocon staff from Rancho Cordova to
the District's work site and if staff had a concern about it. K. Lenington said that most
of the work will occur in the Geocon offices and explained how much time Geocon staff
would actually be at the work site. K. Lenington stated the District is going to request
that the Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Francisco Bay,be the regulatory
agency for the work,but it is still undecided. The regulatory agency could also possibly
be the California Department of Toxic Substances Control.
Director Cyr asked where the Regional Water Quality Control Board was located. K.
Lenington said their office is in Oakland. Director Cyr asked if someone from Geocon
would accompany District staff when they met with the regulatory agency staff and K.
Lenington said they would.
Director Hassett asked K. Lenington whether various environmental factors will be
evaluated and K. Lenington said they would be addressed. K. Lenington said that the
study would assess available remediation approaches. Director Siemens said they should
look at available options, including capping in place.
Director Riffle referred to the Good Neighbor Policy and said staff will need to notify
the Cuesta/La Honda Guild homeowners. K. Lenington said there would be a CEQA
review and the Guild homeowners would be notified at that time.
Director Siemens said he hoped there would be a rigorous study done. Director Riffle
asked if the real property issues would be the District's responsibility in perpetuity. K.
Lenington replied yes, it was the District's responsibility as owners. S. Schectman said
the District's goal is to obtain regulatory approval of the remediation and a"no further
action"letter for the benefit of both the District and the prior owner. The District staff
would work with the former owner in moving forward on this project.
Motion: Director Cyr moved to authorize the General Manager to enter into a
Professional Services Agreement with Geocon Consultants, Inc. in an amount not to
exceed $70,000 to conduct remedial investigations and design appropriate site cleanup
measures at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve; Determine the recommended actions
are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) as set
out in the report. Director Riffle seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
Vill. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ADMINISTRATION AND BUDGET COMMITTEE: Director Riffle said the Committee had
finalized the next steps for the proposed FY2009-1 0 budget. He said the full Board would be
discussing the guidelines at its March 25, 2009 Board meeting.
STAFF REPORTS
D. Sanguinetti reported on a shooting case at Long Ridge Road and Portola Heights Road. S.
Schectman added some details about the incident as well. There were some Board member
questions, which staff answered to their satisfaction.
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R. Jurgensen said the District's website was promoting people to sign up for the Bay Area
license plate program and information on it will be in the next District newsletter. He said the
new Preserve Finder was now on the District's website. The District is currently the only
agency in the area that has this capability.
A. Ruiz recognized M. Manning and M. Baldzikowski on their presentation at the Salmonid
Restoration Federation Conference in Santa Cruz last week. She said the field staff did a lot of
work to support their presentation. She said the La Honda Master Plan hearing was scheduled
for May 19 and it would be held in Half Moon Bay. She said she met with the Farm Bureau
and they had many comments.
S. Schectman reported on the oral argument in the Riverside County Park and Open Space
District case and said a decision by the California Supreme Court is due within 90 days. She
said she would brief the Board on the Bear Creek lawsuit in a future closed session.
G. Sam reminded the Board that Form 700 is due on March 23, 2009.
S. Abbors reported on the trip to Washington, DC that he and R. Jurgensen recently took to
discuss the Mt. Umunbum clean-up project. He thanked R. Jurgensen for his preparation for
their meetings. Director Siemens asked if the Friends of Mt. Umunhum could write letters of
support and R. Jurgensen said there would be a time in the future for community outreach. He
added they were keeping the contact list up to date.
DIRECTOR REPORTS
Director Riffle said his compensable meetings included the Administration and Budget
Committee meeting on March 4 and tonight's meeting (03/11). He thanked M. Williams for the
tour of Purisima to the Sea. He announced he was not selected to the Board of the San
Francisco Bay Restoration Authority. He said that at his day job he attended an interesting
meeting on wildlife corridors.
Director Siemens said his only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting(03/11). He said he
enjoyed the tour on the coast and said it was excellent.
Director Davey said her compensable meetings were the Administration and Budget Committee
meeting on March 4 and tonight's meeting(03/11). She showed a post-card she received about
attending a"green"burial seminar. She said she attended an excellent event at Sempervirens.
Director Cyr said his only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting(03/11). He pointed out
the"Death of the Dream" article in the Newsweek magazine that discussed changing
demographics and commented that the article stated there was a narcissistic element to the Bay
Area's land protection effort. He said the Special Parks District Forum would be held in June in
the Chicago area. On February 27, he hiked the Kennedy Trail to the junction of Priest Rock
Trail at Sierra Azul Preserve and found there was a mileage discrepancy between the trail
marker and the trail map. He said he also hiked the big loop at Pulgas Ridge Open Space
Preserve and saw many dog walkers.
Director Hassett said his only compensable meeting was tonight's meeting(03/11). He said he
completed the purchase of Wisnom's Hardware Store in San Mateo. He said he met with a real
estate agent who said there is a tremendous value in the District's Administration Office
property now that the medical company has purchased the building across the street.
Meeting 09-07 Page 6
President Hanko, said her compensable meetings included the Administration and Budget
Committee meeting on March 4 and tonight's meeting(03/11). She noted the FYI's letter to
Mr. Thurber and asked if staff knew where the photo was taken. R. Jurgensen said they did not
know. She said on March 24 there would be a flora and fauna workshop co-hosted by POST.
She said she met with a citizen named Mr. Smallman who lives in Santa Cruz who wants to
form a new open space district in Santa Cruz. She said she referred him to Audrey Rust at
POST and to the Land Trust in Santa Cruz County. She asked if a date could be set for a
follow-up workshop to the January Board workshop. The Board decided on May 14, 2009. She
said the General Manager was reorganizing the topics for the workshop and she thanked
Directors Cyr and Siemens for their work.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
President Hanko adjourned the Special and Regular meetings of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 9:00 p.m.
Lisa Zadek, Recording Secretary