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Home My Public Portal About20101027 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Meeting 10-29 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT October 27,2010 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I. ROLL CALL Members Present: None Members Absent: Pete Siemens,Nonette Hanko, Cecily Harris, Jed Cyr, Curt Riffle, and Larry Hasseft Staff Present: None Due to a lack of quorum, District Clerk Michelle Radcliffe adjourned the Special Meeting at 5:00 p.m. to October 27, 2010, at 7:00 p.m. REGULAR MEETING I. ROLL CALL Vice President Hanko called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Jed Cyr, Cecily Harris, Curt Riffle, Pete Siemens and Nonette Hanko Members Absent: Larry Hassett Meeting 10-29 Page 2 Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, Interim Assistant General Counsel James Atencio, Operations Manager David Sanguinetti, Public Affairs Manager Rudy Jurgensen, Planning Manager Ana Ruiz, Real Property Manager Mike Williams, Open Space Planner I Gretchen Lausten, and District Clerk Michelle Radcliffe. II. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were none. III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA General Manager Steve Abhors recommended that the Agenda Item#7 be deferred to November 10`h and that the meeting be held on the San Mateo coast to be consistent with the letter and spirit of the Coastside Service Plan. Motion: Upon motion by Director Cyr, seconded by Director Siemens, and unanimously passed,the Board approved the General Manager's recommendation of deferring Agenda Item #7 to November 10` and holding the November 10`h Board meeting on the San Mateo Coast and adoption of the agenda as amended. (Vote: 5-0-0; Absent: Hassett) III. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR Motion: Upon motion by Director Cyr, seconded by Director Siemens, and unanimously passed,the Board approved adoption of the Consent Calendar to approve the Board Minutes dated September 22, 2010 as amended; Approval of FY 2010-11 Annual Claims List; and Revised Claims 10-21. (Vote: 5-0-0; Absent: Hassett) IV. BOARD BUSINESS A. Agenda Item 4—Calling of Two Special Board Meetings for November 15, 2010, and December 9, 2010(R-10-121) Motion: Upon motion by Director Cyr, seconded by Director Riffle, and unanimously passed, the Board approved calling of two Special Board meeting for November 15, 2010, and December 9, 2010. (Vote: 5-0-0; Absent: Hassett) B. Agenda Item 5—Authorization for Use of New Comparator Benchmark Agencies Recommended by Koff& Associates to Complete the Classification and Compensation Study(R-10-113) Koff& Associates President Katie Kaneko provided a summary of the comparator benchmark agencies for completing the classification and compensation study and explained how they chose the agencies. Ms. Kaneko explained that District employees had the opportunity to comment on the comparator agencies and as a result, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority was included as a comparator agency. Brief discussion ensued. I r i i 1 Meeting 10-29 Page 3 Motion: Upon motion by Director Riffle, seconded by Director Cyr, and unanimously passed, the Board approved authorized the use of the new comparator benchmark agencies as recommended by Koff&Associates. (Vote: 5-0-0; Absent: Hassett) C. Agenda Item 6—Approve the Purchase of the Bergman Trust Property as an Addition to the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, located at 20000 Skyline Boulevard, Woodside, California(San Mateo County Assessor's Parcel Number 080-330-080); Adopt the Preliminary Use and Management Plan; and Approve a Categorical Exemption in Accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) (R-10-115) Real Property Manager Mike Williams introduced property owner Barbie Bergman to the Board and presented an overview of the property. Mr. Williams stated there were several structures on property and explained that Ms. Bergman currently has tenants residing in a few of the structures. He further reported that Ms. Bergman as well as the other tenants will enter into a rental agreement with the District, that they will remain occupants on the property, and that the District will receive$4,000 in rental income. Lastly, Mr. Williams reported that the purchase price of the Bergman property is $1,700,000 and that $850,000 will be paid by cash at close of escrow. He explained that the remaining$850,000 would be financed by a five-year unsecured promissory note at 4%interest, totaling$170,000, and that the total purchase will be $1,870,000. Brief discussion was held on the designated water rights of the property as well as potential historical issues. Director Riffle asked if the District had considered using any of the structures as a ranger residence and Operations Manager David Sanguinetti explained that the location would not be ideal for a ranger residence becaus e it is loca ted off Skyline ne Bouleva rd. Mr. San inetti further explained Y gu p arced that it is advantageous to have residences located near the road and the Bergman property structures would not be ideal. Public Comment: Barbie Bergman thanked the Board and staff for the acquisition. Motion: Upon motion by Director Riffle, seconded by Director Harris, and unanimously passed, the Board approved the purchase of the Bergman Trust Property as an Addition to the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, adopted the Preliminary Use and Management Plan, and approved a Categorical Exemption in Accordance with CEQA. (Vote: 5-0-0; Absent: Hassett) j D. Agenda Item 7—Authorization to Amend the Preliminary Use and Management Plans for Lobitos Ridge and Elkus Ranch Uplands Additions to the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve to Incorporate a Rangeland Management Plan for the Lobitos Ridge/Elkus Ranch Uplands Grazing Unit; and Authorization to Approve a Proposed Negative Declaration and Grazing Lease for the Lobitos Ridge/Elkus Ranch Uplands Grazing Unit(R-10-99) Vice President Nonette Hanko noted that that this item was deferred to November 10, 2010, and that the meeting would be held at a Coastal location. A Meeting 10-29 Page 4 E. Agenda Item 8—Award of Contract with Rutherford& Chekene to conduct a Structural Lateral Analysis and Geotechnical Assessment of the Radar Tower at the former Almaden Air Force Station on Mount Umunhum(R-10-125) Mount Umunhum Project Manager Gina Coony provided an overview of the contract award for Rutherford &Chekene to conduct a structural lateral analysis and geotechnical assessment of the radar tower located at the former Almaden Air Force Station on Mount Umunhum. She explained the reasons why the District awarded the project to Rutherford &Chekene and stated that the company has extensive experience in this type of work. Ms. Coony reported on the costs associated for different alternatives for the radar tower. Director Harris expressed disappointment that the award of contract did not go to the Committee first and stated that she would like to have seen staff's recommendation before it went to the Board. Ms. Cooney explained that due to the strict timeline the project is on, there would be no feasible way to have the Committee review staffs recommendation first and to stay on the deadline. Ms. Cooney further explained that the consultant's final report will not be completed before the November 30, 2010 Ad Hoc Committee meeting,but that staff anticipates having enough information from the consultant to give the Committee a recommendation. Brief discussion ensued. Motion: Upon motion by Director Riffle, seconded by Director Siemens, and unanimously passed, the Board approved the award of contract with Rutherford & Chekene. (Vote: 5-0-0; Absent: Hassett) F. Agenda Item 9 - Authorization to Apply for a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant for the El Corte de Madera Creek Parking/Staging Area and Trails Project(R- 10-127) Open Space Planner Gretchen Laustsen provided an overview of the El Corte de Madera Creek parking/staging area and trails project and explained that staff is applying for a grant for the Land and Water Conservation Fund program in the amount of$65,000 to fund implementation of the Phase 1 and 2 trails, trailhead signage and restroom for El Corte de Madera. Director Harris expressed concern about the amount of the grants being applied for and suggested that a cost benefit analysis be done prior to applying for a grant to determine whether the grant is sufficient to cover staff costs and the project. Brief discussion ensued. Public Comment: Mike Brushoe, spoke in favor of the District applying for the grant and stated that he has been waiting to use El Corte de Madera. Motion: Upon motion by Director Siemens, seconded by Director Cyr, and unanimously passed, the Board authorized the District to apply for a Land and Water Conservation grant for the El Corte de Madera Creek parking/staging area and trails project. (Vote: 5-0-0; Absent: Hassett) t Meeting 10-29 Page 5 G. Agenda Item 10—Memorial Bench Policy(R-10-28) Public Affairs Manager Rudy Jurgensen provided an overview of the revised bench policy. He also briefly described the picture of the swing that was suggested by Director Cyr. Brief discussion ensued. Motion: Upon motion by Director Cyr, seconded by Director Siemens, and unanimously passed, the Board approved the Memorial Bench Policy as amended. (Vote: 5-0-0; Absent: Hassett) V. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS COMMITTEE REPORTS There were no committee reports. STAFF REPORTS Mr. Jurgensen reminded the Board that Proposition 21 and Proposition 23 are on the ballot for the November 2'2010 general election. Planning Manager Ana Ruiz provided an update on grants the District received for the remediation work at Cooley Landing in East Palo Alto. She reported that the project was awarded$600,000 for toxic control; $200,000 was awarded to the City of East Palo Alto and $400,000 was awarded to the District. Ms. Ruiz also announced the District's Administrative Office will receive a new sign in the parking lot with the new District logo. Mount Umunhum Project Manager Gina Coony gave the Board an update on remediation work at Mount Umunhum. Mr. Williams reported that the exchange agreement with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at Ravenswood Opens Space Preserve was approved by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and that it is waiting for San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom to sign. Mr.Abbors announced that he attended the Santa Clara County Leadership Training graduation of Ms. Ruiz and Mr. Williams. He reminded the Board that President Mary Davey's memorial is scheduled for November 20, 2010, and explained that the District cannot provide public funds for the event,but is still able to help in other ways. Mr. Abbors also reported that the District received$38,000 from the Turnbull Trust and lastly, he reported that I the Bay Area Open Space Council is intending to attempt will be to become eoaveAing a 501(c)-3. District Clerk Michelle Radcliffe provided a brief update on Ward 2 vacancy. DIRECTOR REPORTS The Directors submitted their compensable meeting forms to the District Clerk. r Meeting 10-29 Page 6 Director Riffle acknowledged staff for their work on the Strategic Plan Kick-Off meeting held on October 22 and October 23rd and stated that staff effectively used the time to inform the Board on the Strategic Plan process. Director Hanko reported that she spoke oke to a few individuals interested in the Ward 2 Director p seat and shared that she visited President Davey's husband, Jack Davey. VI. ADJOURNMENT Vice President Hanko adjourned the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 9:10 p.m. Michelle Radcliffe, CMC District Clerk