HomeMy Public PortalAbout20191218 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
December 18, 2019
Board Meeting 19-32
*Approved by the Board of Directors on January 22, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Administrative Office
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
Wednesday, December 18, 2019
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING
Vice-President Holman called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District to order at 10:31 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, and Yoriko
Kishimoto
Members Absent: Jed Cyr, Pete Siemens, and Curt Riffle
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Susanna Chan, District Clerk/Assistant to the General
Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Planner III
Gretchen Laustsen
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No speakers present.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Hassett moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to adopt the
agenda.
VOTE: 4-0-0 (Directors Cyr, Riffle, and Siemens absent)
BOARD BUSINESS
1. Caltrans Funding Opportunity to Support the Ravenswood Bay Trail Project –
Related to a Bay Conservation and Development Commission Permit Requirement for the
Meeting 19-32 Page 2
Caltrans San Mateo 101 Express Lanes Project to Fund Public Access Improvements (R-
19-166)
Planner III Gretchen Laustsen provided the staff report describing the potential funding available
from Caltrans for the Ravenswood Bay Trail project. The potential funding is a Bay
Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) permit condition for a Caltrans project to
establish express or High-Occupancy Toll lanes in each direction along Highway 101 in San
Mateo County.
Director Holman requested clarification regarding the type of funding available.
Ms. Laustsen reported that the funding is not a mitigation fee but is part of the BCDC permit
requirement to fund public access.
Director Hassett inquired if other agencies would be competing for the same funding.
Ms. Laustsen reported San Mateo County Parks staff has stated they do not intend to pursue the
potential funding.
Director Holman inquired regarding any conditions placed on the potential funding by Caltrans
and if any conditions would be brought back to the Board for approval.
General Manager Ana Ruiz reported that because timing is short for negotiating the funding
agreement, staff will be negotiating based on Board direction and to meet the District’s best
interest. If an agreement could not be reached on those terms, then the District would not enter
into an agreement.
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson provided additional clarification of the type of funds being
pursued explaining that it is not mitigation funding related to an environmental impact, but to
meet BCDC’s requirement to provide public or visual access to the San Francisco Bay.
The Board members requested clarification regarding the Caltrans project and whether additional
traffic lanes will be added to Highway 101.
Assistant General Manager Susanna Chan reported that the traffic improvements will take place
within the Caltrans right-of-way. Most improvements will involve converting existing lanes into
carpool/high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes. Ms. Chan provided additional information regarding
the type of potential funding being considered explaining BCDC typically requires a project to
provide public access. If the project does not provide public access, then an in-lieu fee is required
to be paid to support other public access projects, as is the case for the Caltrans project.
Public comments opened at 11:03 a.m.
No speakers present
Public comments closed at 11:03 a.m.
Vice-President Holman suggested the resolution be modified to clarify that the carpool/HOT
lanes will be created through conversion of exiting lanes and stay in the Caltrans right-of-way.
Meeting 19-32 Page 3
Director Kersteen-Tucker spoke in favor of pursuing the Caltrans funding to support public
access through the Ravenswood Bay Trail project.
Vice-President Holman suggested modifying the resolution to state BCDC identified the
District’s Ravenswood Bay Trail project as an eligible project for in-lieu funding by Caltrans.
The Board members agreed to the modifications to the resolution.
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Holman seconded the motion to adopt an
amended resolution authorizing the General Manager to negotiate and execute a funding
agreement with Caltrans.
VOTE: 4-0-0 (Directors Cyr, Riffle, and Siemens absent)
ADJOURNMENT
Vice-President Holman adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 11:23 a.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk