HomeMy Public PortalAbout20210908 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
September 8, 2021
Board Meeting 21-27
*Approved by the Board of Directors on September 22, 2021
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, September 8, 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. PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION. Government Code
Section 54957(b)(1)
Title of Employee: Controller
General Counsel
General Manager
CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS. Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: Board Appointee Evaluation Committee (Directors Holman,
Riffle, and Kersteen-Tucker)
Unrepresented Employees: Controller
General Counsel
General Manager
Public comment opened at 5:00 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for these items.
Meeting 21-27 Page 2
Public comment closed at 5:00 p.m.
The Board convened into closed session.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle continued the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District until the close of the regular meeting at 6:52 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, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko Kishimoto, Curt
Riffle and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: Karen Holman
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Susanna
Chan, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer
Woodworth
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
September 8, 2021.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Craig Gleason provided comments suggesting the District differentiate on its trail maps and
planning documents between trails on existing roads and new trails. This is consistent with
California State Parks maps and planning documents for projects, such as San Vicente
Redwoods.
Meeting 21-27 Page 3
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Kersteen-Tucker seconded the motion to adopt
the agenda.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 6-0-0 (Director Holman absent)
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public comment opened at 7:05 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Alex Sabo, representing the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council, expressed support for the proposed
grant application to provide funding for the Highway 17 crossing. The completed trail crossing is
key to the Bay Area Ridge Trail mission.
Public comment closed at 7:06 p.m.
Director Holman joined the meeting at 7:06 p.m.
Motion: Director Kersteen-Tucker moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to approve the
Consent Calendar.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
1. Approve the August 25, 2021 Board meeting minutes
2. Claims Report
3. Application for Grant Funding from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation (R-
21-116)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt a resolution authorizing the General Manager
to submit a grant application to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and to enter into a grant
funding agreement for up to $1,000,000 to support the planning and design of the Highway 17
Wildlife and Regional Trail Crossings and Trail Connections Project.
BOARD BUSINESS
5. Prioritization Criteria for Measure AA Projects (R-21-119)
Assistant General Manager Susanna Chan reviewed the background of the Measure AA
prioritization criteria, which help the Board and staff prioritize potential Measure AA projects for
inclusion in the 5-year project list for incorporation in annual work plans and budgets. Ms. Chan
reviewed progress on the current 5-year project list, which extends through 2023.
Assistant General Manager Brian Malone provided an overview of the process for Measure AA
project planning and reviewed the various prioritization criteria.
Meeting 21-27 Page 4
The Board requested and received clarification regarding the current prioritization criteria.
President Riffle suggested a criterion explicitly related to climate change may be needed due to
the increased impact of it on the District and region.
Mr. Malone reported many of the District’s projects to support its Climate Action Plan are
funded by the general fund because they are often not Measure AA projects.
Director Holman suggested the High Beneficial Impact for Natural Resources could be a Tier 1
criteria and modified to include an emphasis on climate change.
Mr. Malone reported if this was a Tier 1 criteria, then it would likely lead to major projects
already underway being removed from the 5-year project list. The District’s current resiliency
work supports many of the District’s Climate Action Plan goals.
Director Kishimoto suggested including language related to public safety concerns for District
land or flora and fauna in addition to District facilities and infrastructure.
Director Siemens suggested adding a criterion to Tier 3 that the project will also have the benefit
of mitigating the effects of climate change.
President Riffle suggested including language related to combatting climate change and the need
for timely action.
Public comment opened at 8:00 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comments closed at 8:00 p.m.
Director Kishimoto commented on potential risks to public safety due to loss of natural resources
habitats.
Director Kersteen-Tucker expressed concern that there could be unintended consequences of
modifying the public safety criteria to include natural resources.
President Riffle supported modifying the need for timely action criteria to address climate
change and suggested shortening the public safety criteria to read “Immediate Public Safety
Concern.”
Director Holman supported shortening the public safety criteria and reordering the Tier 2
Criteria.
Director Hassett left the meeting at 8:25p.m.
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Kersteen-Tucker seconded the motion to
affirm Measure AA project prioritization criteria, as modified, including the weighting and
project screening methodology.
Meeting 21-27 Page 5
ROLL CALL VOTE: 6-0-0 (Director Hassett absent)
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Kersteen-Tucker reported the Real Property Committee met on August 31, 2021 to
consider the proposed acquisition of the Johnston Ranch property in Half Moon Bay.
Director Cyr reported the Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs Committee met on September
7, 2021 to discuss the proposed Stevens Creek Trail designation at Monte Bello OSP and Bay
Area Ridge Trail designation at El Sereno OSP.
Director Siemens reported the ad hoc committee on the 5050 El Camino Real furniture options
met recently to continue discussion of the public-facing furniture.
B. Staff Reports
No staff reports.
C. Director Reports
Director Kishimoto reported she attended a meeting of the Bay Conservation and Development
Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 8:33 p.m., and the Board returned to closed session.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 8:49 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk