HomeMy Public PortalAbout20210816 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
August 16, 2021
Board Meeting 21-25
*Approved by the Board of Directors on August 25, 2021
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, August 16, 2021
The Board of Directors conducted this meeting in accordance with California Governor
Newsom’s Executive Order N-29-20. All Board members and staff participated via
teleconference.
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
President Riffle called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko
Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Chief Financial Officer/Director of
Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the
General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Public Affairs Manager Korrine
Skinner
1. Memorandum of Agreement with Santa Clara County for inspection and
enforcement of the Ridgeline Easement on Lehigh Quarry Property near Rancho San
Antonio Open Space Preserve (R-21-110)
Assistant General Manager Brian Malone provided the staff presentation describing the 1972
ridgeline easement, which was put in place to protect the scenic ridgeline area, and described
the current condition of Lehigh Quarry, including the 1987 greenstone landslide and current view
of the area from Rancho San Antonio Preserve. Mr. Malone explained the Lehigh Quarry 2019
reclamation plan permit application asks to modify the ridgeline easement to allow for mining
beyond the current easement.
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson reviewed the terms of the proposed memorandum of
agreement, including inspection of the easement and options for enforcement of the easement
Meeting 21-25 Page 2
Ms. Stevenson outlined the next steps for the agreement, which include discussion and action by
the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Ms. Stevenson described support for the
agreement by the District’s Lehigh Quarry Ad Hoc committee, Santa Clara County (County)
Board of Supervisors, a coalition of environmental groups, governmental agencies, and members
of the public.
Director Holman requested and received clarification regarding the layback work included in
Lehigh Quarry’s proposed reclamation plan.
Director Hassett inquired regarding the costs of implementing the proposed agreement, including
monitoring, legal costs, etc.
Ms. Stevenson reported the District will use its own funding for monitoring and inspection. The
proposed agreement sets the responsibilities for enforcement, including a process to meet and
confer regarding potential legal costs.
Public comment opened at 5:19 p.m.
District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 5:19 p.m.
Director Holman spoke in support of the General Manager’s recommendation and the continued
enforcement of the ridgeline easement. The proposed agreement will also give the District
additional say in enforcement of the ridgeline easement.
Director Kishimoto thanked the Board for the appointment of the Lehigh Quarry ad hoc
committee and commended staff and District partners for their commitment to protecting the
ridgeline easement.
Motion: Director Holman moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to adopt a
resolution approving a Memorandum of Agreement with the County of Santa Clara regarding the
inspection and enforcement of the Ridgeline Easement held by the County on Lehigh Quarry
lands and authorizing the General Manager to execute the Agreement.
Director Kishimoto thanked the Board for creating the ad hoc committee, which allowed for
Board members and staff to work closely together to explore options to protect the ridgeline.
Director Kishimoto thanked District staff and Santa Clara County Supervisors Joe Simitian and
Otto Lee for work on the project.
President Riffle thanked District staff, Santa Clara County Supervisors Simitian and Lee, and the
community and partners for their support of the agreement.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
Meeting 21-25 Page 3
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 5:26 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk