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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