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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20091202 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District MEETING 09-31 SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT DECEMBER 2,2009 MINUTES CLOSED SESSION I. ROLL CALL President Hanko called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. She called the Roll. Members Present: Mary Davey, Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Nonette Hanko, Pete Siemens, and Curt Riffle Members Absent: Cecily Harris Staff Present: Steve Abhors, Sue Schectman, Duncan Simmons, Mike Williams, Michael Newburn, David Sanguinetti, Rudy Jurgensen 11. CLOSED SESSION THE BOARD RECESSED TO CLOSED SESSION AT 6:04 P.M.THE CLOSED SESSION CONCLUDED AT 6:50 P.M. PUBLIC SESSION MEETING 111. President Hanko called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m., and asked for the Roll Call. Members Present: Mary Davey, Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Nonette Hanko, Pete Siemens, and Curt Riffle Members Absent: Cecily Harris Additional Staff Present: J. Chung, B. Congdon, A. Ruiz, S. Sommer, S. Babcock, M. Williams, R. Fitzsimons, A. Speidel President Hanko stated that therewer-e no r-epoi4able items from the Closed Session items 1 through 3 was one reportable item from closed session, regarding, tiAgenda iltern nNumber 2. President Hanko stated that, pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.1(a)(3)(A), the Board of Directors had considered a settlement offer from the plaintiffs in Santa Clara County Superior Court Case No. 108-CV-1 12242, voted t accept the offer, and directed the Board President to execute the appropriate documents. The vote was unanimous. Meeting 09-31 Page 2 IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS—There were none, V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Hassett Riffle moved adoption of the Agenda. Director Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR Agenda Item 1. Approve Minutes Agenda Item 2. Approve Revised Claims Report. - Director Riffle commented that he had a few questions on Revised Claims,but they were answered to his satisfaction. Agenda Item 3. Approve Written Communications. —There were none. Motion: Director Hassett moved adoption of the Consent Calendar to approve the October 28, 2009 Regular Meeting Board Minutes; Agenda Item 4 - Approval of the Adoption of CalPERS 457 Deferred Compensation Plan; and Revised Claims 09-20. Director Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. VII. BOARD BUSINESS A. Agenda Item 5—Annual Land Dedication Report and Resolution of Dedication— (Report R-09-123) S. Sommer presented the staff report with a PowerPoint presentation. She reviewed the purpose of dedicating lands. She indicated that the District was at 57,984 acres of land, of which 67% are now dedicated (37,341 acres). President Hanko asked if the District is getting close to knowing which properties it wanted to keep. She especially wanted to know when the Mt. Umunhurn area might be opened and dedicated. S. Sommer responded that the District has 13,000 acres in Sierra Azul. Once the master plan is completed, the District would be better at knowing how much of that 13,000 acres could be dedicated. Director Hassett asked about the Hanson purchase and the safety regarding undermining the stability of the slope next to the quarry. M. Williams referred to the purchase contract and stated the District would be financially protected if it failed. There are funds set aside in case of a partial or full slope failure with specific dollar amounts (up to $2,000,000 for complete failure). Motion: Director Davey moved to adopt Board Resolution No. 09-34 dedicating interests in certain specified District lands for public open space purposes. Director Riffle seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. Meeting 09-31 Page 2 B. Agenda Item 6—Receive an Update on the District's Docent Program—(Report R-09-1 11) R. Jurgensen gave a brief introduction and R. Fitzsimons presented a PowerPoint presentation. She reviewed the docent program in detail, commenting that Director Siemens and his wife recently went through the program and would soon be volunteering by next spring. She indicated the types of program the docents offer along with the hours they volunteer. She also talked about the different school programs they were involved with and the challenges to get the less funded schools more involved with the activities available. The program includes a shuttle bus for those that do not have funding for field trips. Director Siemens asked if there are enough docents if more schools signed up. R. Fitzsimons responded there is a lottery for the spaces available therefore there will be enough docents for these activities. Director Riffle asked how the District would be able to increase the amount of people who visit our sites and use the docent programs. R. Fitzsimons responded that we do have a limit of how many different activities that can be offered during the week and weekend. Due to other groups and activities, it is not possible to have the Sierra Club with 40-50 people go on a hike in an area with a docent lead hike of an additional 40 people on the same day. In addition, there is a lot of coordination with other people that have to be taken into consideration. Director Hassett wanted to know if teachers could access our website from their schools' websites. President Hanko also asked how the District could get its information out to more schools. R. Fitzsimons responded that the District posts on its website and sends news to different media; however, there is another challenge in itself and that is who to send the information to, and it is different for each district as well as each school. Some want them to go directly to the teachers or the science departments, while others want them to go only to the principals. Director Riffle asked if it is the same docent group every year or if there is a high turn over. R. Fitzsimons responded that there is a core group of docents, some that have been with the district for 20-30 years. There is also an influx of new people, which makes it a diverse group. The Board accepted the staff report and thanked staff for the information. No formal Board action was required. X1. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS COMMITTEE REPORTS—There were none. STAFF REPORTS R. Jurgensen reported on Cooley Landing and indicated that Director Harris would be able to attend the meeting via web conference. Meeting 09-31 Page 3 A. Ruiz said she had nothing to report at this time, but will have something in the next few months. M. Williams reported and handed out a flyer on Elkus Ranch. B. Congdon reported there is a Second Harvest Food Drive along with a Toy Drive at the District to help those in need this holiday season. S. Abhors reported that the Rancho San Antonio Management Agreement with County Parks will end next year. Director Siemens requested to have a workshop to make sure the Board is on board with what will happen in the future. President Hanko agreed that she did not want this to be an agenda item, but a separate workshop. S. Schectman reported on CalJPlA's recent risk management evaluation of the District. The evaluator's preliminary comments were very favorable. A report will be issued later. DIRECTOR REPORTS Director Davey said she was happy to be back. Director Hassett reminded everyone of the Board meeting of South Skyline Association at his house and suggested carpooling if possible. He also asked about the coffee table book and was concerned with the closing date. R. Jurgensen responded that the District has extended the initial date and will also have another opening later next year to capture the different seasons, and also mentioned that this will be an ongoing process. President Hanko said she would like a workshop on the Rancho situation Director Siemens said the District has 1-2 mountain motorcycles and would like a report on them. S. Abbors said they are a very useful transportation to patrol. D. Sanguinetti said they are a tool, like a mountain bike, quad, or foot patrol. He also indicated that there have been no complaints and only one injury since we purchased them. Director Siemens than asked if we needed more and would like a verbal report regarding them. D. Sanguinetti said he will put together something to cover the program, changes, and report back to the Board. Director Siemens asked about the hiring of a project manager for the Mt. Umunhum project and was concerned with the closing date. A. Ruiz responded and said it has not been posted yet, but would like to have a relatively short turn around period. She would have a better idea how long it will be opened for bid when they post it. X11. ADJOURNMENT President Hanko adjourned the Special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 8:28 p.m. Jean Chung, Recording Secretary