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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20090923 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Meeting 09-26 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT SEPTEMBER 23,2009 MINUTES REGULAR MEETING I. ROLL CALL President Nonette Hanko called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. and asked for the Roll Call Members Present: Pete Siemens,Nonette Hanko, Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett and Curt Riffle Members Absent: Mary Davey, Cecily Harris Staff Present: S. Abbors, D. Simmons, D. Sanguinetti, B. Congdon, A. Ruiz, S. Schectman, M. Williams, R. Jurgensen, S. Sommer, T. Hugg, N. Perez, C. Koopmann, J. Andersen, A. Speidel 11. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS—There were none. 111. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Cyr moved adoption of the Agenda. Director Siemens seconded the motion. Discussion: Director Hassett requested that the Board amend the Board Business agenda item order so that Agenda Item 6 would be presented first. There were no objections. Vote: The motion passed 5 to 0 as amended. IV. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR Agenda Item 1. Approve Minutes—There were none. Meeting 09-26 Page 2 Agenda Item 2. Approve Revised Claims Report. —Director Hassett had a question about Revised Claim No. 11108 that staff answered to his satisfaction. Agenda Item 3. Approve Written Communications. There were none. Agenda Item 4. Approval of a Habitat Conservation Fund Grant Application for the Post DR06 Located within the Driscoll Ranch Portion of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve-, Approve the Mitigated Negative Declaration,Mitigation Monitoring Program, and Notice of Determination in Accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act(CEOA) for the Post DR06 Repair Project Located in the Driscoll Ranch Area of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve and Adopt the CEQA Findings Set Out in the Attached Resolution; Adopt Resolution No. 09-27 Approving a Grant Application for Funds from the Habitat Conservation Fund for Implementation of the Pond DR06 Rgpair Project. —There were no comments or questions. Motion: Director Riffle moved adoption of the Consent Calendar to approve the Revised Claims 09-16; and Approval of a Habitat Conservation Fund Grant Application for the Post DR06 Located within the Driscoll Ranch Portion of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve; Approve the Mitigated Negative Declaration, Miti2ation Monitorinp-Pro ram and Notice of Determination in Accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act(CEOA) for the Post DR06 Repair Proiect Located in the Driscoll Ranch Area of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve and Adopt the CEOA Findings Set Out in the Attached Resolution, Adopt Resolution No, 09-27 Approving a Grant Application for Funds from the Habitat Conservation Fund for Implementation of the Pond DR06 Repair Proiect . Director Cyr seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. V. BOARD BUSINESS A. Agenda Item 6—Informational Report on the Proposed Cooley Landing Project From the City of East Palo Alto (City); Consideration of an Ad Hoc Board Committee to Ensure Policy-level Coordination with the City Through the Conceptual Design Process; and Authorization for the General Manager to Spend Up to his Contractual Authority o $25,000 to Fund Necessary Consultant Services—(Report R-09-104) S. Abbors introduced Lily Lee and Alvin James who were present to inform the Board about the proposed Cooley Landing project. Lily Lee is the Cooley Landing Project Manager and Alvin James is the East Palo Alto City Manager. T. Hugg reviewed District staff s participation in the project. Alvin James said that East Palo Alto is in the process of reexamination of planning futures, especially at Cooley Landing and Ravenswood areas. He said they want to make Cooley Landing a destination site to pull people through the area. He said they are looking at economical opportunities in the area as well as recreational opportunities specifically connected to Cooley Landing. He said the cornerstone would be improving access to the Bay. Meeting 09-26 Page 3 Lily Lee gave a PowerPoint presentation and showed slides of where Cooley Landing is located, and she gave the history of the site. She gave information on how the project has progressed. She said that she has given presentations to local community walking groups, the East Palo Alto City Council, and local agencies. She said that the residents had asked the City Council to preserve Cooley Landing. Ms. Lee reviewed the conceptual plans, including plans for an educational center. She said that they have received grant funding. The next step is to hire a landscape architect. President Hanko asked for clarification on whether the District owned a part of the road and would be involved in repairing the road and if this information would be included in a master plan review at Ravenswood. T. Hugg said it would. A. Ruiz noted that the area in question is a peninsula and access would be the road. She said that it would be an amendment to the existing master plan. President Hanko asked if staff is asking for an ad hoc committee. T. Hugg said that is correct. President Hanko asked if the formation of a committee needs to be decided on tonight, and T. Hugg said it would be good to know who the members are in the next 30 days. Director Hassett asked for clarification on what"passive recreation"means, how it is different than the District's"low intensity"term, and if each entity has an understanding of each others' terminology. T. Hugg said she had taken Ms. Lee on a tour of District properties and that Ms. Lee understood the Districts meaning of the term. Mr. James added that it was the City's intention for the property to be low intensity. Director Hassett said he did not think having an amphitheater implied low intensity. Mr. James said that the plans reflect possible ideas for the site. A. Ruiz added that the new ad hoc committee would review the plans and give their input. S. Abbors said that the plan is to bring children to the site and that an amphitheater would be used as a gathering place. Director Riffle thanked the guests and said he is excited about the project, and he appreciates the opportunity to connect with other agencies and constituents and for the opportunity to engage children in environmental education. He asked for clarification about the dump area which Ms. Lee explained to his satisfaction. He asked for information about the management and security of the area. Mr. James said that the City is looking at a financing plan for underwriting these needs on an on-going basis. He said the City would take the lead. Director Riffle asked how much the whole project would cost. Ms. Lee said she is hesitant to make an estimate at this time without receiving the actual plans for the area. Director Cyr asked if the whole Cooley Landing site was a dump, and Ms. Lee said that it basically was and showed a slide of the dump areas. Public Comment—Charlie Touchatt, Redwood City, said that he has tried to purchase the Cooley Landing property in the past. He said that Ms. Lee has sought out his advice for the area. He said he remembered when the District purchased the property, and he hoped the project will work between the District and the City of East Palo Alto. Meeting 09-26 Page 4 The Board accepted staffs report and thanked Ms. Lee and Mr. James for the presentation. Motion: President Hanko moved approval of the General Manager's recommendations to consider creating a Cooley Landing Ad Hoc Board Committee to ensure policy-level coordination with the City through the conceptual design process for the proposed project and to Authorize the General Manager to spend up to his contractual authority limit of$25,000 to fund necessary presentations, report copies, and other services requested by the District from the City of East Palo Alto's design consultant in order to enable timely collaboration and information exchange between the City and District. Director Riffle seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. B. Agenda Item 5—Informational Rgport on the District's Method for Calculatin Stocking Rates and Rents Charged on District Grazed Lands—(Report R-09-109) C. Koopmann reviewed the staff report and explained the method for calculating stocking rates and rents charged on District grazed lands. He recommended not charging rent on a per acre basis,but base rents on Animal Unit Month (AUM) calculations. He said that,basically, the District was selling grass to grazing tenants, and the AUM determined how many cows could be allowed on the property based on the amount of grass to be grazed. President Hanko, asked about the kind of grasses the District had. C. Koopmann said that, typically, they are annual grasslands. She asked if, in the future, the District would plant more native grasses that are more nutritious. C. Koopmann said that native grasses would be a benefit to grazing, but they are sensitive and would need more management. Director Hassett said he understood the concept, but asked for clarification regarding variables and the need to make adjustments within the formula. C. Koopmann said that it is correct. The District generally charges less than similar agencies in the East Bay because of difficult access to the properties, water and other conditions. He said the District charges a lower percentage. S. Abbors added that the AUM is the market's rate and is the same for everyone. There is complexity in calculating the rents, but using the AUM is the standard. Director Cyr asked if the District is already using the AUM and C. Koopmann said they are. Director Riffle asked if the District could charge more during certain times of the year. C. Koopman said that they charge based on a per head amount, and there would be no increase in rent based on the time of the year. Director Riffle asked if the rate is negotiable. C. Koopmann said it is not negotiable. S. Abbors said that C. Koopmann determines what is available based on the AUM. He said the goal is to have the best land program available and that any income yielded would go directly back into improving infrastructure. Director Hassett said that Board members have a fiduciary responsibility because these are public owned assets. He said that they need to be sensitive, and he added that he appreciates the information provided by C. Koopmann. President Hanko said she agrees Meeting 09-26 Page 5 and that they need to be careful not to subsidize. Director Siemens said that there is a lot of responsibility on the staff and asked if staff is at risk for setting the price, or should the Board have the authority to set the price, so that the Board take the responsibility over staff. S. Abbors said that is correct, adding that staff is on a steep learning curve. He said that staff will bring the lease documents to the Board for approval, and the lease documents would state the rates. C. Koopmann reviewed a sample calculation(page 3 of the staff report) for the Board. Director Siemens asked about the Possessory Interest Tax. M. Williams gave a brief explanation about how the tenant is responsible to pay for this tax directly to the County. President Hanko referred to the Good Neighbor Policy and asked when staff would schedule a meeting on the coast to take action based on the information they learned tonight. S. Abhors said that they would schedule a meeting on the coast side when there is a long term lease structure in place. Director Siemens said this is good information and asked if it could be put on the District's website and added that it might be useful to include a paragraph about the Possessory Interest Tax. S. Abbors said it is early to put on the website now, but it may be possible in the future. The Board accepted the staff report and thanked staff for the information. No formal Board action was required. VI. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS COMMITTEE REPORTS Sierra Azul /Bear Creek Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee—Director Cyr said that the committee met on September 18, 2009, and that they received an update from A. Ruiz. Director Cyr said that the Legislative, Funding and Public Affairs Committee will meet on September 29, 2009. STAFF REPORTS R. Jurgensen pointed out a late FYI press release about the children outdoors week. He said that he toured Mt. Umunhurn with Senator Feinstein's local staff and that they would do the same with local staff representing Senator Boxer's local office. He said that the local CBS station would be interviewing Google staff about their efforts to map the trails at Pichetti Ranch Open Space Preserve. He said that the deadline for the photo contest would be moved to December and that there would be a contest specifically targeted to children and would include photographs and artwork. The winning entries may appear in the coffee table book. He said that staff is working on the October 3rd Giant Salamander Trail event. D. Sanguinetti said he toured Skyline projects and gave the Board an update on phase three of the tree farm restoration and the culvert project at Long Ridge. He said that G. Kern and K. Bolle did a great job on the culvert project. He said that on Monday, September 28th, a new ranger, Elizabeth Wright, would begin work and that Operations would be fully staffed again. Meeting 09-26 Page 6 A. Ruiz said that staff is finishing the Rapley Road project and the Fletscher demolition project, which come in under budget. She announced that M. Manning was promoted to acting Senior Planner, but that they would do another recruitment for the position. S. Abbors announced that B. Congdon was promoted to interim Administration Manager and that A. Duong was promoted to interim District Clerk. B. Congdon said that the focus groups met about the employee retention program. She said that the staff appreciation event is going to be next Wednesday, September 30, 2009, at Picchetti Winery. S. Abbors said that he toured the south county with Patrick Congdon on September I I th. He said that he and S. Schectman met with Saratoga Country Club staff. A. Speidel gave the status of the strategic planning groups and identified the working group and the strategic team. She said they are working on a vision statement and that a draft would be completed soon. She said that T3 met several times. She said that there would be a study session in November or December. She said the team created processes and information went to staff. They did receive an idea for offering commuter checks to staff, and she explained how commuter checks work. DIRECTOR REPORTS Director Riffle congratulated staff for the L. Craig Britton event. He went mountain biking and saw the Resolution plaque and said the vista point is very nice. He said the bridges at El Corte de Madera are spectacular. He attended Director Davey's event and enjoyed President Hanko's speech. He said he would be attending the Richard Lube event on Friday, September 25th. He turned his compensation sheet in to the Clerk. Director Siemens said that staff did a great job with their presentation for the Sierra Azul and Bear Creek Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee meeting, and they also came up with a vision plan for Mt. Umunhurn that will be part of the Master Plan. He said he is sorry he missed the L. Craig Britton event. He turned in his compensation sheet to the Clerk. Director Cyr attended the Ridge Trail Council meeting on September 16th. He said that District staff was praised for their Ridge Trail work. He thanked S. Sommer for the activities with the kids. He said he would attend the Skyline ice cream social event. He said his compensable meetings included the Board meetings on September 9th and 23rd, the Sierra AZU1 and Bear Creek Master Plan Ad Hoc Committee meeting on September 18th, and the LFPAC meeting on September 29th. He saw the vandalism reports at the monolith at Mt. Umunhum. He said he went hiking on the San Mateo coast and saw the Google tricycle. Director Hassett said his compensable meetings included the Board meetings on September 9th and 23rd. He said he would be attending the ice cream social event. He said staff did a great job for the L. Craig Britton event. President Hanko submitted her compensation sheet to the Clerk. She asked Director Hassett to be the speaker at the Giant Salamander Trail event. She announced that Director Hassett would Meeting 09-26 Page 7 represent the District at the San Mateo Farm Bureau and that Director Harris would be the back up. She said she would talk with the Board members about participating in the Cooley Landing Ad Hoc Committee. She said she would attend the ice cream social event. She gave a short report on Director Davey. VII. ADJOURNMENT President Hanko adjourned the Special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 9:10 p.m. Lisa Zadek, Recording Secretary