HomeMy Public PortalAbout20190409 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
April 9, 2019
Board Meeting 19-09
*Approved by the Board of Directors on April 24, 2019
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
La Honda Elementary School
450 Sears Ranch Road
La Honda, CA 94020
April 9, 2019
APPROVED MINUTES*
REGULAR MEETING
President Siemens called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
to order at 6:32 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 Susanna Chan, Assistant General Manager Brian
Malone, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer
Woodworth, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Senior Planner Tina Hugg
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No speakers present.
BOARD BUSINESS
1. Formation of the La Honda Public Access Working Group (R-19-39)
General Manager Ana Ruiz provided opening comments reviewing the District’s previous work
on the project aimed at opening the central portion of the La Honda Open Space Preserve to
public access. The current phase of the project seeks create a public access working group to
provide public input on options for providing public access as prioritized through the Vision Plan
and by the voters in approving Measure AA.
Meeting 19-09 Page 2
Senior Planner Tina Hugg described earlier public meetings for the project and public feedback
received at those meetings. On June 12, 2018, the Board directed formation of an ad hoc
committee to further study options for the project. Ms. Hugg presented the project goals and
objectives previously approved by the Board and described the purpose of the proposed public
access working group. Ms. Hugg explained the process and timeline for forming the proposed
working group, including the process by which the working group’s recommendations will be
reviewed by the Planning and Natural Resources Committee, composition of the working
group’s membership, and the process for application and appointment.
Director Kishimoto inquired if limits would be set on the various solutions, such as limiting it to
land the District currently owns.
Director Kersteen-Tucker suggested including dog owners who visit open space as an interest
group on the application.
Ms. Ruiz reported dog access is already available from Allen Road and is planned from Sears
Ranch Road, following additional negotiations with the tenants to discuss feasibility.
Public comments opened at 7:10 p.m.
Patty Mayhall thanked the District for listening to previous public feedback and asked the
District to encourage California Highway Patrol to increase enforcement on Highway 84. Ms.
Mayhall spoke in favor of preserving the current rural nature of the Red Barn site.
R. Vail commented on the composition of the working group and requested the Board consider
other interview dates to accommodate applicant availability.
Nigel Webb spoke against considering the Red Barn site for public access due to the traffic
safety along Highway 84.
Gordon Ray commented on the composition of the working group and inquired how consensus
will be created within the working group.
Bob Rosenberg commented on maintaining the rural beauty of the Red Barn site and commented
regarding many accidents and heavy traffic along Highway 84.
Kathleen Moazed inquired whether the working group would be allowed to work with Caltrans
and the local fire brigades. Ms. Moazed inquired regarding the Ward stakeholder appointments.
Barbara Hooper spoke against developing the Red Barn site for public access.
Vicki Skinner commented on the composition of the working group and expressed surprise that
stakeholders from other wards would be included in the working group.
Director Siemens commented that taxpayers from throughout the District’s 550 square miles.
Additionally, there will be five representatives to represent approximately 105,000 residents of
Ward 6, and one representative each to represent the approximately 105,000 residents of each of
the other six wards.
Meeting 19-09 Page 3
Directors Hassett and Kersteen-Tucker commented on the relatively large representation of Ward
6 and the Coastside area through the stakeholder appointment for Ward 7.
Peter Marchi expressed his concerns regarding traffic along Highways 84 and 92 and the
potentially negative impact of increased public access use on the San Gregorio Creek watershed.
Public comments closed at 7:34 p.m.
Director Holman inquired regarding the role of the Board members serving on the working
group.
Ms. Ruiz explained the Board members would be participating members of the working group
and recommended the Board members would not serve as the working group Chair and Vice-
Chair.
Director Holman suggested the working group take votes on motions in order to be able to
determine a formal consensus.
Director Holman suggested the Board members serving on the working group should not being
voting members and that there should be five representatives of the La Honda community.
Director Hassett expressed his desire to build consensus through the advisory working group to
make a recommendation, and members of the public can continue to comment at the Board level.
Director Siemens suggested formalizing the process for getting consensus and expressed concern
with the Board members acting as voting members of the working group.
Ms. Stevenson explained the current ground rules do not require consensus, and explained the
working group simply provides feedback. Therefore, she does not anticipate a Brown Act
concerns.
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Holman seconded the motion to:
1. Reconfirm and approve the goals and objectives for the La Honda Parking and Trailhead
Access Feasibility Study project.
2. Direct the formation of the La Honda Public Access Working Group.
3. Approve the La Honda Area Community Representative application form and area map
that will be presented at an informational meeting in La Honda on May 2, 2019.
4. Approve the proposed criteria and process for selecting La Honda Area Community
Representative applicants for interviews.
5. Authorize the Board President to appoint two Directors, not serving on the 2019 Planning
and Natural Resources Committee, to serve on the La Honda Public Access Working
Group, as non-voting liaisons.
6. Authorize each Board Director to submit the name(s) of selected stakeholder(s) for
inclusion in and appointment to the La Honda Public Access Working Group by May 7,
2019.
Friendly Amendment: Director Kersteen-Tucker requested including on the application a
category for dog use.
Meeting 19-09 Page 4
Directors Kishimoto and Holman accepted the friendly amendment.
Friendly Amendment: Director Cyr stated the Board members serving on the working group
would not be voting members of the body.
Directors Kishimoto and Holman accepted the friendly amendment.
Friendly Amendment: Director Holman moved that the number of local community
representatives on the working group should be increased from three to five. Mover declines.
Director Hassett seconded the friendly amendment.
Directors Kishimoto and Riffle spoke in opposition to the friendly amendment stating the
District is a regional organization and must represent the interests of all of its constituents.
Director Kersteen-Tucker spoke in favor of the friendly amendment stating that increasing the
number of the local community representatives will help empower the community to work
cooperatively with other ward stakeholders.
Director Cyr spoke in opposition to the friendly amendment stating the District has previously
had to address local community concerns related to other preserves. The formation of the
proposed advisory committee may be able to serve as a model for future. Director Cyr expressed
concerns regarding heavily weighting the composition of the working group for one community.
VOTE ON THE FRIENDLY AMENDMENT: 3-4-0 (Cyr, Siemens, Kishimoto, Riffle
dissenting)
Directors Siemens and Kishimoto spoke in favor of having a positive experience for the working
group and looked forward to receive feedback and input from the working group.
VOTE ON THE MAIN MOTION: 7-0-0
ADJOURNMENT
President Siemens adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 8:04 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk