HomeMy Public PortalAbout20110525 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District
Meeting 11-13
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
May 25,2011
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
I. ROLL CALL
President Hassett called the Closed Session Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Board of Directors to order at 5:00 p.m.
Members Present: Curt Riffle,Nonette Hanko, Yoriko Kishimoto, Jed Cyr and Larry
Hassett
Members Absent: Pete Siemens, Cecily Harris
Staff Present: District Controller Mike Foster, General Manager Steve Abbors, and
General Counsel Sue Schectman
President Hassett stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session for the purpose of
discussing Closed Session Agenda Items #1 through #2.
Meeting 11-13 Page 2
REGULAR MEETING
I. ROLL CALL
President Hassett called the Regular Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District Board of Directors to order at 7:00 p.m.
Members Present: Curt Riffle, Cecily Harris,Nonette Hanko, Yoriko Kishimoto,Jed Cyr
and Larry Hassett
Members Absent: Pete Siemens
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, General Counsel Sue Schectman,
Planning Manager Ana Ruiz, Operations Manager David Sanguinetti,
Real Property Manager Mike Williams, Administrative Services
Manager Kate Drayson, Skyline Area Superintendent Brian Malone,
District Clerk Michelle Radcliffe, Maintenance and Resource
Supervisor Craig Beckman, Deputy District Clerk Anna Duong,
Communications Specialist Rhea Maze, Supervising Ranger Tom
Lausten, Senior Resource Planner Kirk Lenington, Lead Open Space
Technician Rick Parry, Senior Real Property Planner Sandy Sommer,
Human Resources Manager Annetta Spiegel, Senior Management
Analyst Lynn Tottori, Legal Administrative Assistant Sue Voiss,
District Controller Mike Foster, Supervising Ranger Chris Barresi,
Senior Planner Meredith Manning, Ranger Frances Reneau, and
Volunteer Coordinator Paul McKowan.
President Hassett stated that there were no reportable actions for Closed Session Agenda
Items#1 through#2 and that the Board will reconvene into Closed Session after the Regular
meeting.
11. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were none.
111. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Upon motion by Director Riffle, seconded by Director Cyr, and unanimously
passed, the Board adopted the agenda as amended. (Vote: 6-0-0; Absent: Siemens)
Meeting 11-13 Page 3
IV. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion: Upon motion by Director Cyr, seconded by Director Harris, and unanimously
passed, the Board approved adoption of the Consent Calendar to approve the Minutes of
April 27,2011; and Revised Claims 11-14. (Vote: 6-0-0; Absent: Siemens)
V. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item 4—Strategic Plan Update (R-1 1-52)
Administrative Services Manager Kate Drayson presented a brief overview of the
District's mission and its historical emphasis on land acquisition. Senior Resource
Planner Kirk Lenington provided an overview of current projects and deferred
maintenance issues relating to resource management. He also presented projects that are
needed to open more District land for public access. Senior Real Property Planner Sandy
Sommer provided an overview of the District's land conservation efforts on the peninsula
and identified other organizations working towards a common goal of preservation of
natural open space. Lastly, Ms. Drayson summarized staffs recommended long-term goal
for the District which include implementation of the entire mission and balancing its three
components. She also explained the recommended strategies that include enhancing
financial and staffing resources, obtaining public support, and improving regional
collaboration. Extensive discussion by the Board followed.
Public Comment: Real Property Manager Mike Williams spoke on the costs of keeping
preserves closed and encouraged the Board to look at private land management
partnership opportunities.
Planning Manager Ana Ruiz encouraged the Board to be creative and gave an example
that the District may not be the best suited agency to manage agricultural land on the San
Mateo Coast and that a partnership with a management land trust would be beneficial.
Supervising Ranger Chris Barresi stated that rangers are the District's unofficial
.'ambassadors"and when asked for the status of the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
and nothing has changed in the past ten years, he feels the District's credibility is being
compromised.
Skyline Area Superintendent Brian Malone stated he supports implementing all
components of the District's mission well, but suggests that the Board have a well,
thought out back-up plan in case the District is not successful in increasing funding
sources.
Ranger Frances Reneau explained that her job has two components: 1)protecting the land
from the people; and 2)protecting the people from the land. She stated that as the District
acquires more land and the public visitation has increase, there are not enough rangers to
cover the acreage and her job is now focused only on protecting the people from the land.
She stated she is supportive of land acquisition but would like there to be a balance in
protecting the land from the people.
Meeting 11-13 Page 4
The Board continued discussion on how to strategically address balancing the mission and
the primary focus was enhancing the District's funding sources. Director Hanko shared
her historical perspective stating that when the District was formed, the District received
10 cents per$100 assessed property value but due to the passage of Proposition 13, the
amount dropped to 1.7 cents. She stated that if the District shared this with the voters, the
voters may more likely approve an increase in public funding.
The Board continued discussion on how the District could take a stronger leadership role
among different conservation organizations in the area and how it can shift its relationship
with partner agencies.
Ms. Drayson concluded the strategic plan discussion by stating that the Board will have a
workshop on June I 01h where the Board will hold discussion on how to align on long-term
goals for each area of the mission, and explore each strategy recommendation in more
detail.
No action was taken by the Board.
VI. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Director Cyr reported that the Cooley Landing Ad Hoc Committee met and stated that City
and District staff are working on CEQA for the project and that the Committee will go to the
full Board in the near future to discuss a proposed Comprehensive Use and Management Plan
for the project.
Director Hanko reported that the Legislative, Funding and Public Affairs Committee met and
held discussion regarding the memorial bench for Mary Davey,the banquet for the District's
40th Anniversary, and the polling results from Godbe Research.
Director Riffle reported that the Strategic Plan Ad Hoc Committee met to continue its work on
the District's strategic plan. He also reported that the Board Appointee Evaluation Committee
met with the District's employment attorney to discuss pending pension reform.
STAFF REPORTS
Operations Manager David Sanguinetti reported that there was a fatality at Rancho San
Antonio Open Space Preserve and that the individual died of natural causes.
Real Property Manager Mike Williams reported the $500,000 grant submitted to the
California Coastal Conservancy for the purchase of the POST Silva property was approved.
Planning Manager Ana Ruiz reported that staff is reviewing the Draft Environmental Impact
Report for Mount Umunhum and hopes to have it released in July. She also reported that Bay
Area Ridge Trail has expressed interest in providing funding for the Mount Umunhum
project. Ms. Ruiz also provided an update on the El Corte de Madera parking lot and staging
area and stated that the Planning Commission wants San Mateo County and the District to
meet with Caltrans regarding the warning signs proposed to be posted.
Meeting 11-13 Page 6
District Clerk Michelle Radcliffe reminded the Board about the July 9th geocaching event.
General Manager Steve Abbors reported on the health of Assemblymember Ira Ruskin, he
announced that former Assemblymember Roger Niello withdrew his legislative bill regarding
pension reform, and that the District's Ombudsperson Carol Joyce is resigning and that she
will be presenting her annual report to the Board at the June 8th meeting.
DIRECTOR REPORTS
The Directors submitted their compensable meeting forms to the District Clerk.
Director Riffle shared his appreciation for the letter District staff sent to Lehigh Quarry.
Director Hanko shared a San Jose Mercury Newspaper article and photo with the Board.
Director Cyr shared his hiking experience on Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve.
President Hassett thanked Director Riffle for presiding as Vice President on the May I Ith
Board meeting. He expressed appreciation for the well written letter to Bill Sorich and the
Citizens of Skyline Boulevard and provided a brief update on the meeting he, Director Cyr,
and General Manager Steve Abbors had with the Senators in Sacramento.
V11. ADJOURNMENT
President Hassett adjourned the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 9:23 p.m.
Michelle Radcliffe, CMC
District Clerk