HomeMy Public PortalAbout20180613 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
June 13, 2018
Board Meeting 18-24
*Approved by the Board of Directors on June 27, 2018
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Administrative Office
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
June 13, 2018
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING – STUDY SESSION
President Cyr called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 6:02 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto,
Pete Siemens, and Curt Riffle
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Acting General Manager Ana Ruiz, Acting General Counsel Hilary
Stevenson, Acting Assistant General Manager Brian Malone, Acting
Assistant General Manager Christine Butterfield, Chief Financial
Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak, District
Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Acting
Public Affairs Manager Cydney Bieber, and Governmental Affairs
Specialist Joshua Hugg
1. 2018 State of California Legislative Session – Board of Directors Briefing on
Matters of Interest to Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (R-18-56)
Governmental Affairs Specialist Joshua Hugg introduced the District’s legislative consultants,
Russ Noack and Julee Malinowski-Ball from Public Policy Advocates, LLC. and Reed Addis
from Environmental and Energy Consulting.
Mr. Addis provided updates on various legislative topics of interest, including cap and
trade/greenhouse gas reduction fund, California budget and Proposition 68, wildlife corridors,
and water legislation.
Meeting 18-24 Page 2
Director Riffle inquired if the funds associated with cap and trade is tied to the high-speed rail
project.
Mr. Addis explained 60% of the funds are continuously allocated to existing projects, including
high-speed rail, and the remaining 40% of funds may be used for other projects.
Mr. Noack and Ms. Malinowski provided updates on various legislative topics of interest,
including wildfire prevention/forest health legislation, pension reform, and potential revival of
the former redevelopment agencies.
Director Harris inquired regarding AB 2470 asking if the bill would make the California Invasive
Plant Council redundant.
Mr. Noack reported the California Invasive Plant Council is in favor of the bill.
Public comments opened at 7:04 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comments closed at 7:04 p.m.
No Board action required.
President Cyr adjourned the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
to order at 7:05 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
President Cyr called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 7:05 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto,
Pete Siemens, and Curt Riffle
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: Acting General Manager Ana Ruiz, Acting General Counsel Hilary
Stevenson, Acting Assistant General Manager Brian Malone, Acting
Assistant General Manager Christine Butterfield, Controller Mike Foster,
Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan
Jaskulak, Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington, Visitor Services
Manager Matt Anderson, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Acting Land &
Facilities Manager Elaina Cuzick, Engineering & Construction Manager
Jay Lin, Human Resources Manager Candice Basnight, Information
Systems & Technology Manager Garrett Dunwoody, Acting Public
Affairs Manager Cydney Bieber, Real Property Manager Mike Williams,
Meeting 18-24 Page 3
Budget Analyst II Marion Shaw, Budget Analyst I Elissa Martinez, and
District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No speakers present.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Harris moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
VOTE: 7-0-0
CONSENT CALENDAR
Director Harris pulled Item 3.
Director Kishimoto pulled Item 5.
Public comment opened at 7:07 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:07 p.m.
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Hassett seconded the motion to approve the
Consent Calendar, except for Items 3 and 5.
VOTE: 7-0-0
1. Approve May 23, 2018 Minutes
2. Claims Report
3. Call District Elections in Wards 1, 2, 5, and 6 and Request Election Consolidation
Services from Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz Counties (R-18-57)
Acting General Manager’s Recommendations:
1. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District calling an election and requesting election consolidation services – Santa Clara
County, Wards 1, 2, and 5.
2. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District calling an election and requesting election consolidation services – San Mateo
County, Wards 5 and 6.
3. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District calling an election and requesting election consolidation services – Santa Cruz
County, Ward 2.
4. Reconfirm Board Policy 1.07 (Board Elections) regarding a maximum of 200 words per
candidate statement, payment of candidates’ statements and, if required by the respective
Meeting 18-24 Page 4
county, translations of candidates’ statements pursuant to the Elections Code of the State
of California, in those wards where two or more candidates have qualified to appear on
the ballot.
5. Adopt a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District authorizing not listing any unopposed candidate for election on the November 6,
2018 ballots of Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz Counties.
Director Harris spoke regarding potential community interest to run for any open Board seats and
suggested the upcoming election may be an opportunity to encourage diverse candidates.
District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth reported on the current
process used by the District to notice the election. Additionally, Ms. Woodworth reported she
meets with potential candidates to describe the various meetings and events Board members
typically attend, to review government regulations governing Board members, to encourage
potential candidates to review past Board meeting minutes, and to encourage attendance
upcoming Board meetings.
Director Riffle suggested issuance of a press release announcing the election and notifying the
public of the seats up for election.
Director Siemens suggested creation of a list of frequently asked questions for potential
candidates, which would outline various time commitments for meetings and related preparation.
Ms. Woodworth expressed concerns related to estimating the amount of time required for Board
members to prepare and attend meetings, which may vary among Board members. Ms.
Woodworth suggested she could create a sample of the number of Board meetings and District
events for a period, including the length of the meetings, according to the approved minutes.
VOTE: 7-0-0
4. Temporary Appointment of Interim General Counsel for the end of Fiscal Year
2017-2018 (R-18-58)
Board President’s Recommendation: Appoint Gary Baum. Esq., as Interim General Counsel for
the period June 17, 2018 through June 30, 2018.
5. Resolution in Support of the Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018 (R-18-59)
Acting General Manager’s Recommendation: Consider adoption of a resolution in support of the
Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018 put forth by citizens’ initiative on the ballot for the
November 6, 2018 statewide general election.
Director Kishimoto expressed her desire to learn more about the initiative prior to voting on it.
President Cyr continued the item to the June 27, 2018 regular Board meeting.
Meeting 18-24 Page 5
BOARD BUSINESS
6. Approval of the General Manager’s Employment Agreement (R-18-61)
Director Riffle spoke regarding the recruitment process and the high quality of the applicants.
Director Kishimoto spoke regarding Ms. Ruiz’s tenure at the District and ability to lead the
District.
Public comments opened at 7:32 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comments closed at 7:32 p.m.
Motion: Director Hassett moved, and Director Hanko seconded the motion to:
1. Appoint Ana Ruiz to be the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District General Manager
effective June 13, 2018.
2. Adopt a resolution approving the General Manager’s Employment Agreement.
VOTE: 7-0-0
President Cyr spoke regarding Ms. Ruiz’s high level of qualifications.
Ms. Ruiz thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve as the General Manager.
7. Consideration of the Controller’s Report on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2018-19
Budget (R-18-62)
Controller Mike Foster provided the Controller’s report outlining projected expenditures for
operating and capital expenses. Mr. Foster reported the tax revenue continues to grow and stated
the District’s FY2018-19 is affordable and sustainable. Mr. Foster provided his FY2018-198
cash projection, 30-year cash flow projection, and projected Measure AA tax rate for the life of
the bonds. Mr. Foster described potential costs related to District facilities, including the new
Administrative Office, South Area Field Office, and potential Coastal Area Office. Mr. Foster
stated the District will potentially issue a third tranche of Measure AA bonds in approximately
three years.
Director Kishimoto commented on the rising costs of capital projects.
Mr. Foster commented that as project costs go up, there is also an increase in property values,
which increases the District’s property tax revenues.
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to accept the
Controller’s Report on the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Budget.
VOTE: 7-0-0
Meeting 18-24 Page 6
8. Fiscal Year 2018-19 Budget and Capital Improvement and Action Plan (R-18-63)
Public comments opened at 8:09 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comments closed at 8:09 p.m.
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Harris seconded the motion to:
1. Adopt a resolution approving the FY2018-19 Budget and Capital Improvement and Action
Plan.
2. Approve three new positions in the Visitor and Field Services business line.
3. Approve two new positions in the Finance and Administrative Services business line.
4. Approve elimination of one existing position in the Finance and Administrative Services
business line.
5. Adopt a resolution approving the Classification and Compensation Plan.
VOTE: 7-0-0
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
• Mount Umunhum - East Summit Closure and Visitation Update
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Harris reported on the Planning and Natural Resources Committee meeting on June 5,
2018.
Director Siemens reported on the Administrative Office Facility Ad Hoc Committee tours for
local public agency offices.
B. Staff Reports
Ms. Ruiz reported on a recent meeting with the City of East Palo Alto regarding the two
proposals received for operating the Cooley Landing Education Center. Ms. Ruiz reported the
Committee for Green Foothills may be interested in providing support for the operation of the
Education Center.
C. Director Reports
The Board members submitted their compensatory reports.
Director Harris reported her attendance at the Facebook Festival and commented on the
organizations represented there.
Meeting 18-24 Page 7
Director Harris reported he spent the last two Saturdays at the Sears Ranch Road parking lot to
share information about the Red Barn Public Access project and commented on the lack of
vehicles in the parking lot.
Director Siemens reported his attendance at a meeting of the Santa Clara County Chapter of the
California Special District’s Association and heard Cindy Chavez speak there.
Director Riffle thanked staff for their work preparing for the June 12, 2018 public meeting in La
Honda.
President Cyr commented on a recent trip to the Sears Ranch Road parking lot explaining that it
was filled to capacity.
ADJOURNMENT
President Cyr adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 8:30 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk