HomeMy Public PortalAbout20210825 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
August 25, 2021
Board Meeting 21-26
*Approved by the Board of Directors on September 8, 2021
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, August 25, 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 – CLOSED SESSION
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: None
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54957.6)
Agency designated representatives: Ana Ruiz, General Manager, Brian Malone, Assistant
General Manager, Jack Hughes, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Employee organization: Midpeninsula Rangers Peace Officers Association
2. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION. Government Code
Section 54957(b)(1)
Title of Employee: Controller
General Counsel
General Manager
Public comment opened at 5:00 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for these items.
Public comment closed at 5:00 p.m.
Meeting 21-26 Page 2
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson announced Item 1 on the special meeting agenda would be
continued to the September 22, 2021 Board meeting.
The Board convened into closed session.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 5:54 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
President Riffle called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 7:00 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 Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant General Manager Brian
Malone, Assistant General Manager Susanna Chan, Chief Executive
Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, District
Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, GIS
Program Administrator Jamie Hawk, Information Systems & Technology
Manager Casey Hiatt, Public Affairs Manager Korrine Skinner, Public
Affairs Specialist II Leigh Ann Gessner, Human Resources Manager
Candice Basnight, Human Resources Supervisor Rebecca Wolfe
President Riffle announced this meeting is being held in accordance with Governor Newsom’s
Executive Order allowing Board members to participate remotely. The District has done its best
to conduct a meeting where everyone has an opportunity to listen to the meeting and to provide
comment. The public has the opportunity to comment on the agenda, and the opportunity to
listen to this meeting through the internet or via telephone. This information can be found on the
meeting agenda, which was physically posted at the District’s Administrative Office, and on the
District website. President Riffle described the process and protocols for the meeting.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
President Riffle reported there was no reportable action from the closed session held on August
25, 2021.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Craig Gleason, frequent District trail user, spoke in support of narrow trails, such as the Saratoga
to the Skyline Trails. Mr. Gleason stated narrow trails provide a better experience for the user
Meeting 21-26 Page 3
due to their gentler grades, scenic connection to nature, lower impact on the environment, and
designs that can minimize risk to trail users. Mr. Gleason spoke in support of creating additional
trails in the preserves.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
CONSENT CALENDAR
Director Hassett recognized Senior Planner Meredith Manning for her work on Agenda Item 3
and her years of success and exceptional work at the District, such as at Mount Umunhum.
Public comment opened at 7:10 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Mike Vandeman stated the Highway 17 crossing for wildlife must be separate from the crossing
for humans because the presence of human will discourage wildlife use of a crossing.
Alex Sabo, representing the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, provided comments in support of
Agenda Item3 because the Highway 17 crossings are key to protecting wildlife and as a part of a
continuous 550-mile regional trail.
General Manager Ana Ruiz commented that the trail and wildlife crossing will be separate, with
the wildlife crossing under the roadway and the trail crossing over the roadway.
Public comment closed at 7:13 p.m.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Hassett seconded the motion to approve the Consent
Calendar.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
1. Approve the August 11, 2021 and August 16, 2021 Board meeting minutes
2. Claims Report
3. Contract Amendment with AECOM for additional work associated with the Project
Approval and Environmental Document Phase and Mitigated Credit Agreement for the
Highway 17 Wildlife and Regional Trail Crossings and Trail Connections Project (R-21-
113)
General Manager’s Recommendation:
1. Authorize the General Manager to execute a contract amendment with AECOM in the
amount of $641,700 for additional environmental and engineering consulting services related
to the California Environmental Quality Act, National Environmental Policy Act, Caltrans
Meeting 21-26 Page 4
Project Report, and a Mitigation Credit Agreement for the Highway 17 Wildlife and
Regional Trail Crossings and Trail Connections Project, for a total base contract amount of
$1,822,085.
2. Authorize a 10% contingency of $64,170 on the base contract amendment to be reserved for
unforeseen conditions, bringing the total contingency to $182,500.
3. Authorize $213,830 in allowances for specific potential actions, if required, as described in
the report, bringing the total project allowances to $495,115.
4. Award of Contract to CVE Demolition, Inc., for Demolition Work at the former
Billingsley and Burton Properties in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve (R-21-114)
General Manager’s Recommendation:
1. Authorize the General Manager to enter into a contract with CVE Demolition, Inc. of Fresno,
CA for a not-to-exceed base contract amount of $358,718.
2. Authorize a 10% construction contract contingency of $35,872 to be reserved for
unanticipated issues, thus allowing the total contract amount to not exceed $394,590.
3. Adopt a Resolution approving the proposed amendments to the Fiscal Year 2021-22 (FY22)
Capital Improvement and Action Plan and Budget.
BOARD BUSINESS
5. Approval of Redistricting Criteria (R-21-115)
GIS Program Administrator Jamie Hawk provided the staff presentation describing the proposed
revisions to the draft redistricting criteria based on the Board’s feedback at the previous regular
Board meeting.
Director Siemens spoke in support of criteria 5, which seeks to create ward boundaries that are
compact, cohesive, and contiguous, because members of the public may not understand the
various reasons that wards are shaped as they are.
Director Riffle also spoke in favor of criteria 5 stating members of the public may not be
interested in having an elected official that represents the entirety of a city, such as Palo Alto.
Ms. Hawk provided additional information regarding the boundaries of Palo Alto and options for
ward boundaries that would minimize voter reassignment.
Director Kishimoto provided feedback on options to create cohesive and compact ward
boundaries.
Director Cyr spoke in favor of balancing populations in each ward which must be balanced
against the other criteria.
Director Siemens stated the criteria to minimize voter reassignment is not as important as the
other criteria.
Director Riffle suggested ordering the criteria in order of importance as determined by the
Board.
Meeting 21-26 Page 5
Ms. Hawk reported some criteria are required by law, and others are discretionary.
Director Siemens spoke in favor of looking at possible redistricting scenarios that are different
than the current ward boundaries to better understand the District’s potential options.
Director Kersteen-Tucker spoke in favor of two directors representing the coastal areas of the
District due to the differing views of those living in the northern and southern coastal areas of
San Mateo County.
Director Holman commented regarding the large amount of effort required of the coastside
representatives due to the large area they represent and number of District projects there and
stated two directors are needed to represent this area.
Public comment opened at 7:52 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 7:52 p.m.
Motion: Director Kersteen-Tucker moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to
approve the proposed criteria to guide the redistricting process as set out in the staff report.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
6. Design of Administrative Office Interpretive Elements (R-21-111)
Public Affairs Specialist II Leigh Ann Gessner provided the staff presentation describing the
project overview, project timeline, and project milestones to date. Ms. Gessner described the
proposed 3D relief model to be installed in the lobby of 5050 El Camino Real and exhibit wall
for the building atrium. Ms. Gessner displayed a preliminary sketch of the mural and key
elements of the exhibit wall.
Director Cyr inquired how new preserves would be integrated into the 3D topographic map.
Ms. Gessner reported the side rails can be easily update, but the 3D elements are much more
expensive and would not be updated frequently.
Director Siemens suggested future preserve acquisitions could be outlined and potentially
painted onto the topographic map until the map was replaced.
Ms. Ruiz stated a lower cost flat panel could be installed temporarily because the District is
considering a large acquisition in the next couple of years. Following the Board’s decision on the
acquisition, a topographic map would be installed.
Director Holman provided comments on the various elements proposed for inclusion on the
exhibit wall for the baylands section stating the flora and fauna of the baylands should have more
representation. Also, the urban areas could be included in the mural, which would demonstrate
the continued need for open space.
Meeting 21-26 Page 6
Ms. Gessner stated this potion is a mixture of the baylands and foothills due to the large urban
areas included in the baylands.
Director Siemens spoke in support of additional representation of flora and fauna for the
baylands portion of the mural.
President Riffle spoke in support of including both District mission statements on the
topographic map descriptions and a refence to agriculture on the graphic panels. President Riffle
spoke in supporting of seeking and receiving feedback from Native American groups on the
various interpretive elements.
Director Kersteen-Tucker spoke in favor of including the full coastside mission statement in the
in interpretive elements.
Public comment opened at 8:41 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 8:41 p.m.
Director Holman requested more representative presentation of baylands flora and fauna be
included and asked staff and the designer to explore representation of the developed areas
between the baylands and foothills.
Motion: Director Kersteen-Tucker moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to
approve designs for the final two remaining time-sensitive public interpretive elements that will
be fabricated and installed in the future Administrative Office located at 5050 El Camino Real in
Los Altos: (1) interior topographic relief model; (2) interior interpretive wall exhibit.
Director Kishimoto agreed that additional representation of the baylands should be included in
the mural.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
The Board recessed at 8:48 p.m. and reconvened at 8:58 p.m. with all Directors present.
7. Approval of a Memorandum of Understanding with Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Field Employees Association and Approval of Salary and Benefits
Adjustments for the Office, Supervisory, and Management Employees (R-21-116)
Human Resources Manager Candice Basnight provided the staff presentation describing the
negotiation and approval process for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Field
Employee Association (FEA).
Human Resources Supervisor Rebecca Wolfe reviewed the economic package included in the
MOU, including salary increases, medical and retiree medical benefits, and replacement of
binding arbitration with an administrative law judge for employee grievances.
Meeting 21-26 Page 7
Ms. Basnight summarized the corresponding salary and benefits adjustments for the Office,
Supervisory, and Management (OSM) Employees through June 30, 2024.
The members of the Board thanked staff for their efforts and cooperative approach to the
negotiation process.
Public comment opened at 9:13 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 9:13 p.m.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to:
1. Adopt a resolution approving the Memorandum of Understanding with the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District Field Employees Association, for a term of July 1, 2021,
through June 30, 2024.
2. Adopt a resolution approving corresponding salary and benefit adjustments for the Office,
Supervisory, and Management employees through 2024.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
8. Oral Update on Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District COVID-19 Response
Ms. Ruiz reported the District will continue holding remote public meetings through the month
of September in accordance with the governor’s executive orders. The District will hold in-
person meetings for offsite meetings and tours, such as for Real Property Committee meetings
that require a site visit.
Public comment opened at 9:21 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 9:21 p.m.
No Board action required.
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDA
• Water Quality Improvement Plan to Address Sediment Impairment in the San Gregorio
Creek Watershed
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Kersteen-Tucker reported the Planning & Natural Resources Committee met on August
24, 2021 to discuss the proposed vision and goals for the Hawthorns Area of Windy Hill Open
Space Preserve.
Meeting 21-26 Page 8
B. Staff Reports
No staff reports.
C. Director Reports
Director Kersteen-Tucker reported she attended a meeting of the San Mateo County Planning
Commission, which approved Vida Verde’s farm labor housing and education center project.
Additionally, Director Kersteen-Tucker, Ms. Ruiz, and Legislative Specialist Josh Hugg met
with Ayudando Latinos A Soñar (ALAS) to discuss partnership opportunities.
Director Kishimoto reported the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors appointed her to be an
alternate member of the Bay Conservation and Development Committee.
President Riffle reported he presented to the Mountain View Parks and Recreation Commission
to provide an overview of the District.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 9:27 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk