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Meet 73-24
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Board of Directors
Minutes
November 28 , 1973 Sunnyvale Community Center
I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
President Wendin called the meeting to order at 7 :44 p.m.
Members present: Daniel Condron, Katherine Duffy, Nonette
Hanko, William Peters, Daniel Wendin
Personnel present: Herbert Grench, Carroll Harrington, Stanley
Norton
Audience of eight persons
II . MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 14 , 1973 , MEETING
Motion: N. Hanko moved acceptance of the minutes of the November
14, 1973, meeting. K. Duffy seconded. The motion passed
unanimously.
III. STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT
H. Grench announced that the office had moved from Supervisor
Victor Calvols office at the North County office Building, 270
Grant St. , Palo Alto, to 745 Distel Drive, Los Altos. Announce-
ments will be sent out about the new address and phone number.
The adopted Policies regarding office location will also need to
be changed to reflect this move.
IV. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Proposed and Existing Trails of Interest to the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District
H. Grench referred to the meeting of the Santa Cruz Mountain
Trail Association which he had attended on November 5 and said
that the present agenda item resulted from that meeting. The
next meeting of this organization will be held on May 4, 1974 .
H. Grench introduced the following speakers: Barbara Rusmore,
who had been doing a study on trails for the Santa Cruz Mountain
Trail Association under the auspices of the Sempervirens Fund;
Claude A. Look, Executive Vice-President, Sempervirens Fund; and
Curtis Mitchell, Manager, Santa Cruz Mountain Park District Head-
quarters, Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California.
Mr. Look said that the prime impetus to organize a trail system
between Castle Rock State Park and Big Basin Redwoods State Park
started in 1969 . He further described the trail system between
the two parks. Barbara Rusmore described the map which she had
prepared for the District showing both the present and proposed
trails within the MRPD. She also related this trail system to
San Mateo County, Castle Rock State Park, and Big Basin Redwoods
State Park. Mr. Look mentioned the necessity of getting trails
adopted by the various cities; these could include trails in the
baylands. Mr. Mitchell discussed a regional trail system up to
the Skyline and down to the Coast. He also talked about trail
i
SI . MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 28 , 1973, MEETING
Motion: D. Wendin moved acceptance of the minutes of the November
28 , 1973, meeting. D. Condron seconded. The motion
passed. Ayes: Condron, Duffy, Hanko, Wendin. Absent:
Peters.
Meet 73-24 . . . page 2
maintenance and trail camps. He advised that the MRPD keep in
touch with the State of California Recreation Trails Committee
since they may be able to provide assistance with the development
of a trail system within the District.
President Wendin recessed the meeting at 9 : 20 p.m. , and it was recon-
vened at 9: 35 p.m.
V. REPORTS
1. Rengstorff House
H. Grench referred to the suggestion of W. Peters at the
November 14 meeting that the MRPD get an architect to give an
estimate on what it would cost to restore the Rengstorff
House. H. Grench consulted with John Frisbee, National Trust
for Historical Preservation, regarding architects. Francis L.
Whisler, Whisler - Patri, a San Francisco architectural firm
specializing in restoration, agreed to make an estimate at no
charge on restoration. He reported that it would cost
approximately $99 ,850 to restore it, plus $12 ,000 for
architectural fees, plus the cost of moving the house to
another location if necessary. H. Grench referred to the
memorandum of November 26 from the Santa Clara County His-
torical Heritage Commission. Phyllis Butler, Chairman of
this Commission, pointed out the necessity of preserving this
particular house because of its historical value in Mountain
View. W. Peters remarked that he is meeting with several
Mountain View residents to evaluate the interest in pursuing
this project. In response to a question from N. Hanko about
the District' s ability to loan money for such a project, S.
Norton said that there is no specific mention of authority to
land in the enabling legislation for the District, and the
general rule is that public agencies don't do it. A cooperative
arrangement could be perhaps made with another local juris-
diction, in the nature of a joint powers agreement. He re-
ferred to Section 5541 of the Public Resources Code which
defines the District's authority. The District does not have
the broad powers that cities do. The ultimate use of the
facility is important. The use of a facility for public
recreation is a broad grant. In addition, it could be used
for programs and classes in conservation and environmental
education. Section 5546 does permit the District to con-
tribute money to the State, County, and other public corpora-
tions for the purposes of doing the things that are specified
in Section 5541. S. Norton said that it would depend upon the
particular use and arrangements made, and he could not prejudge
the legality without knowing the specifics.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the MRPD adopt the following
policy regarding the Rengstorff House: (1) The Board
of Directors has made no commitment of any kind on
moving its offices to the Rengstorff House nor
has it decided not to move its offices to the Rengstorff
House. (2) The General Manager is to spend no addi-
tional significant time on this project without express
approval of the Board of Directors . (3) The Board
will welcome a specific proposal on how it might be
of assistance in saving the Rengstorff House. D.
Condron seconded.
Meet 73-24 page 3
Amendment: N. Hanko moved that item (1) be voted on separately
from items (2) and (3) . The motion failed for lack
of a second.
The original motion passed. Ayes : Condron, Duffy, Peters,
Wendin. No: Hanko.
VI. ORAL COMMUNICATION
President Wendin introduced Huey Johnson and Robert McIntyre of
The Trust for Public Lands. Mr. Johnson discussed the goals and
program of TPL. There was additional discussion about ways in
which TPL and the District could cooperate in the future.
V. REPORTS
President Wendin returned to reports.
2. Possible Changes in Regional Park District Enabling Legis-
lation
After discussion about the report prepared by S. Norton about
possible changes in regional park district enabling legisla-
tion, D. Wendin stated by by the December 12 meeting the Board
should be prepared to divide the suggested changes into two
categories: changes that should be done now and changes that
could be postponed. S. Norton expects to report orally at this
meeting regarding conflict of interest provisions in the law.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that this item be continued until the
meeting of December 12 and that it be placed under
Unfinished Business . W. Peters seconded. The motion
passed unanimously.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board cancel the meeting of
December 26 and hold a special meeting on December 20.
W. Peters seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the General Manager be directed
to choose the meeting places of the meetings of
December 12 and December 20 and accordingly notify
the Board and the public. W. Peters seconded. The
motion passed unanimously.
H. Grench announced the possibility of a meeting with repre-
sentatives from other regional park districts on January 19,
1974.
3. Goals and Objectives
After discussion of D. Wendin's memorandum of November 20 ,
1973 , D. Wendin asked that the title be changed to Basic
Policy. Various suggestions were made by Board and staff
members regarding the policy draft of D. Wendin.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Basic Policy memorandum be
retyped with the suggested changes and placed on
the December 12 agenda. D. Wendin seconded. The
motion passed unanimously.
VII. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
1. H. Grench reminded the Board about the Santa Clara County
Planning Commission public hearing regarding City Services
Combining Zone on November 29 , 1973 .
Meet 73-24 . . . page 4
2 . D. Wendin mentioned the 1974 Special Districts Presidents ,
and Board Members ' Institute to held in Long Beach, January
25-27, 1974 , and said that any Director who wished to attend
should decide soon.
VIII. CLAIMS
Motion: D. Wendin moved acceptance of the claims as submitted.
W. Peters seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m.
Carroll Harrington
Secretary