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Home My Public Portal About20190227 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) February 27, 2019 Board Meeting 19-04 *Approved by the Board of Directors on March 27, 2019 REGULAR AND SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Administrative Office 330 Distel Circle Los Altos, CA 94022 Wednesday, February 27, 2019 APPROVED MINUTES* REGULAR MEETING President Siemens 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, Pete Siemens, and Curt Riffle Members Absent: None Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant General Manager Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Brian Malone, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington, Senior Resource Management Specialist Coty Sifuentes-Winter ORAL COMMUNICATIONS No speakers present. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to adopt the agenda. Director Riffle noted that due to the perceived conflict of interest related to his employment at the Peninsula Open Space Trust, he will be recusing himself from the closed session following the regular meeting. VOTE: 7-0-0 Meeting 19-04 Page 2 CONSENT CALENDAR Public comment opened at 7:01 p.m. No speakers present. Public comment closed at 7:01 p.m. Motion: Director Kersteen-Tucker moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. VOTE: 7-0-0 1. Approve February 13. 2019 Minutes 2. Claims Report 3. Approval of Changes to the Classification and Compensation Plan (R-19-23) General Manager’s Recommendations: Adopt a resolution to amend the Classification and Compensation Plan to include one new classification and title changes for three existing classifications. BOARD BUSINESS 4. Resolution Approving an Addendum to the Final Environmental Impact Report for the Integrated Pest Management Program and Related Minor Project Modifications (R-19- 11) Senior Resource Management Specialist Coty Sifuentes-Winter provided the staff presentation providing highlights of the integrated pest management (IPM) program since the Board adopted the environmental impact report (EIR) in 2014 and summarizing the proposed changes included in the addendum to the certified EIR for the IPM program and minor project modifications. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter described each of the proposed changes to the IPM program, including updated best management practices, modification to the number of treated acres, addition of new selective herbicide application methods, and addition of three new pesticide active ingredients to the approved pesticides list. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter reviewed several public environmental concerns related to the use of glyphosate, including soil health, bee gut flora, and other impacts on wildlife. President Siemens commented on whether bees from beehives on neighboring properties could be affected by pollinating on District lands. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter explained that beehive owners are required to register with the county’s agricultural commissioner, and no District neighbors have registered beehives. Director Holman inquired if pesticides and herbicides are sprayed during unhealthy air days in addition to the prohibition of using pesticides on “Spare the Air” days. Meeting 19-04 Page 3 Mr. Sifuentes-Winter described the various air and weather conditions that impact when and where pesticides are sprayed. Director Kersteen-Tucker expressed concern that use of new herbicides as an alternate to glyphosate could create a larger problem because they have not been studied as extensively as glyphosate. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter reported that both Garlon and Captsone have been researched and both the United State and California Environmental Protection Agencies have said they are safe to use when used according to label precautions. Additionally, the District has best management practices to further minimize potential negative impacts of the herbicides. Director Holman inquired if signage that warns visitors of recent pesticide application similar to those used for glyphosate will be used when Garlon or Capstone are used. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter reported staff uses similar signage for all pesticide applications in the District, which will include application of Garlon or Capstone. Public comments opened at 8:25 p.m. Richard Youatt inquired if the District has a mechanism for tracking the impacts of its decisions, such as specific targets and objectives to measure the impacts of actions taken. Mr. Youatt thanked staff for distributing the materials ahead of the meeting. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter explained the District’s methods of measuring, monitoring, and tracking the impacts of its IPM program. Mike Liebhold commented on the need to further study the impact of glyphosate on the environment and not just the impact on human health. Additionally, Mr. Liebhold spoke in favor of hiring a chief scientist to study the health of open space habits and species. Public comments closed at 8:36 p.m. Director Kersteen-Tucker commented on the District’s widespread use of volunteers to hand-pull weeds, which helps reduce the use of pesticides. Director Kishimoto expressed her desire to end all pesticide use on District lands, similar to Marin Municipal Water District rather than simply continuing to reduce pesticide use. Mr. Sifuentes-Winter explained staff avoids using pesticides wherever possible, but unfortunately, the weeds on District lands are not always responsive to alternatives to pesticides. The District continues to create new programs to respond to invasive species to reduce pesticide use. Director Holman spoke in favor of zero pesticide use on District lands and commenting on the large percentage of pulling. Additionally, Director Holman suggested mapping areas where the rapid response team goes. Meeting 19-04 Page 4 Mr. Sifuentes-Winter explained that the rapid response teams would be mapping their response areas. Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Holman seconded the motion to adopt a resolution approving an addendum to the certified Final Environmental Impact Report for the Integrated Pest Management Program and related minor project modifications. VOTE: 7-0-0 The Board recessed at 8:49 p.m. and reconvened at 8:55 p.m. with all members present. INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM • Award of Contract for Literature Review on the Use of Pesticides in the Integrated Pest Management Program INFORMATIONAL REPORTS A. Committee Reports Director Hassett reported the Administrative Office Ad Hoc Committee met on February 26, 2019. B. Staff Reports Mr. Jaskulak commented on the recent publication of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the Popular Annual Financial Report. Ms. Ruiz reported Santa Clara County issued the permit for Alma College and provided an update on the Bear Creek Stables and information received for the project from Santa Clara County. Additional funding options are also being explored for Bear Creek Stables. Ms. Ruiz reported she would be meeting with staff from Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Parks Departments to discuss potential collaborative projects. Finally, Ms. Ruiz commented on comments received from Woodside Fire Protection District and a proposed meeting with Woodside Fire and CalFire. C. Director Reports The Board members submitted their compensatory reports. Director Holman reported the District is eligible for Santa Clara County grant funding for historic buildings. Director Hassett thanked field staff for their assistance while Skyline Boulevard is closed. Directors Holman and Cyr reported their attendance at the Santa Clara County State of the County event and the focus of the positive impact of open space on health. Director Kersteen-Tucker reported her attendance as the State of the Valley event. Meeting 19-04 Page 5 ADJOURNMENT President Siemens adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District into closed session at 9:23 p.m. SPECIAL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION President Siemens called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to order at 9:29 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Yoriko Kishimoto, Pete Siemens, and Curt Riffle Members Absent: None Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant General Manager Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Brian Malone, Senior Real Property Agent Allen Ishibashi Public comments opened at 9:29 p.m. No speakers present. Public comments closed at 9:29 p.m. 1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section 54956.8) Property: San Mateo County APN(s): 079-080-090 and 079-080-080 (portions) Agency Negotiator: Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Negotiating Party: Jim and Patty White Under Negotiation: Lease Terms ADJOURNMENT President Siemens adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 10:38 p.m. ________________________________ Jennifer Woodworth, MMC District Clerk