HomeMy Public PortalAbout20210225 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
February 25, 2021
Board Meeting 21-07
*Approved by the Board of Directors on March 10, 2021
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Thursday, February 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
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, 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, Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington, Senior
Resources Management Specialist Coty Sifuentes-Winter
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.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Hassett seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 6-0-0
Meeting 21-07 Page 2
1. Public Hearing to Receive Public Comment on the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program
Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (R-21-32)
General Manager Ana Ruiz provided a high-level overview of the proposed Wildland Fire
Resiliency Program describing its two main goals to enhance ecosystem resiliency and increase
wildland fire management.
Senior Resource Management Specialist Coty Sifuentes-Winter provided the staff report
describing the area of analysis for the Wildland Fire Resiliency Program and the program
objectives. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter outlined the development of the proposed Wildland Fire
Resiliency Program, including public meetings, public and agency feedback, consultant research,
etc. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter described the California Environmental Quality Act process, including
the public comment period for the Draft Program Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Mr.
Sifuentes-Winter summarized the vegetation management plan, prescribed fire plan, monitoring
plan, and pre-fire and advisor maps for planning, which are all included in the proposed
Wildland Fire Resiliency Program.
Tania Treis with Panorama Environmental provided an overview of the CEQA process to date
and described the purposed of the EIR. Ms. Treis outlined the purpose of the CEQA review
process and scoping, and listed the environmental resources addressed in the Environmental
Impact Report (EIR) and the alternatives analysis. Ms. Treis described several potential
significant impacts that are fully mitigated to a less than significant level using District best
management practices and measures and program-specific mitigation measures.
Director Holman joined the meeting at 5:23 p.m.
Ms. Treis reviewed the potentially significant and unavoidable impacts associated with the
Wildland Fire Resiliency Program, including impacts to aesthetics, greenhouse gas emissions,
and air quality impacts, which are typical of this type of program or project. Additionally, Ms.
Treis described the various mitigation measures to minimize the impacts, such as consideration
of vista points, dust control measures, and limits regarding prescribed burns. Finally, Ms. Treis
explained the alternatives evaluated in the EIR.
Mr. Sifuentes-Winter described various methods for the public to provide input and how
comments will be addressed in the Program EIR.
President Riffle opened the public hearing to receive public comment on the Wildland Fire
Resiliency Program Draft Program Environmental Impact Report at 5:36 p.m.
District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth read the submitted public comments into the record.
Norm DePeau commented on the District’s responsibility to maintain private roads crossing its
land, and proposed including wording describing the need to clear vegetation beyond the edge of
pavement on private roads that cross District property, similar to the Town of Los Gatos
The Board recessed at 5:40 p.m. and reconvened at 5:45 p.m.
Janssen Liston, resident of the Overlook Road community near El Sereno Open Space Preserve,
expressed concerns related to fire hazards at and near El Sereno. An additional 182 acres were
Meeting 21-07 Page 3
recently added to the preserve and should be mapped and included in the Wildland Fire
Resiliency Program.
Peter Kelley expressed concerns regarding to parking and traffic congestion and management at
the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Parking and traffic congestion at this
location may impair emergency access and evacuation routes.
Karen Maki inquired how the District will balance vegetation removal for wildland fire
prevention with the desire to increase carbon sequestration.
Matt Morley, Town of Los Gatos Public Works Director, supported the District’s Wildland Fire
Resiliency Program and stated vegetation management along roadways should be prioritized.
Susan Lessin suggested the District encourage Pacific Gas & Electric to inspect its wires within
District lands and repair any deficiencies.
President Riffle closed the public hearing closed at 5:57 p.m.
Director Kishimoto suggested labeling additional roads on the various maps because this
information may be helpful to neighbors and to help orient those reviewing the documents.
Director Kishimoto inquired regarding the use of prescribed fires at the state level or by other
agencies.
Mr. Sifuentes-Winter commented the CalFire project, which includes use of prescribed fire
throughout California, had a significant unavoidable impact associated with it included in its
EIR.
No Board action required.
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 5:59 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk