HomeMy Public PortalAbout19740130 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 74-2
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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Special Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
January 30, 1974 Monte Bello School
Cupertino
I. ROLL CALL
President Peters called the meeting to order at 7 :40 p.m
Members present: Daniel Condron, Katherine Duffy, William Peters
Daniel Wendin. Nonette Hanko arrived at 7 :45 p.m.
Personnel present: Herbert Grench, Carroll Harrington
Personnel absent: Stanley Norton
Audience of 29 persons
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 9 , 1974
The following additions were made to the minutes of the January
9 , 1974 , meeting:
1. At the bottom of page 4 , add: D. Condron will develop
Goal No. 6 for the Action Plan which will focus on Board
and staff interpersonal relationships, staff professional
and personal development, and the MRPD as an employer.
2. On page 5 , under IV. , A. , line 3 , add: D. Wendin commented
that he was not in favor of changing meeting dates and
places simply for convenience, but since the next meeting
would be held at Monte Bello School, he would be agreeable
to the proposed date change.
Motion: D. Wendin moved acceptance of the minutes of the January
9, 1974 , meeting as corrected. K. Duffy seconded. The
motion passed unanimously.
Meeting 74-2
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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Special Meeting
Board of Directors
M. I N U T E S
January 30, 1974 Monte Bello School
Cupertino
I . ROLL CALL
President Peters called the meeting to order at 7 :40 p.m.
Members present: Daniel Condron, Katherine Duffy, William Peters
Daniel Wendin. Nonette Hanko arrived at 7:45 p.m.
Personnel present: Herbert Grench, Carroll Harrington
Personnel absent: Stanley Norton
Audience of 29 persons
II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 9, 1974
The following additions were made to the minutes of the January
9, 1974, meeting:
1. At the bottom of page 4 , add: D. Condron will develop
Goal No. 6 for the Action Plan which will focus on Board
and staff interpersonal relationships, staff professional
and personal development, and the MRPD as an employer.
2. On page 5, under IV. , A. , line 3, add: D. Wendin commented
that he was not in favor of changing meeting dates and
places simply for convenience, but since the next meeting
would be held at Monte Bello School, he would be agreeable
to the proposed date change.
Motion: D. Wendin moved acceptance of the minutes of the January
9, 1974 , meeting as corrected. K. Duffy seconded. The
motion passed unanimously.
III. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY AND PUBLIC HEARINGS
Public Hearing on the Tentative Basic Policy of the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District
W. Peters stated that the purpose of this meeting was to discuss
the Tentative Basic Policy of the Midpeninsula Regional Park Dis-
trict. This is the first of two public hearings that would be
held.
H. Grench introduced the Board and staff. He then described the
background and history of the MRPD. He noted that the District
had just received its first tax revenues in December 1973, and,
therefore, it had not previously been in a financial position to
acquire land. In describing the first year's progress, he focused
on the following accomplishments : 1) completion
APPROVAL OF MINUTES January 30, 1974
Motion: N. Hanko moved acceptance of the minutes Of the JanuThe
ary
1974 , meeting as presented. K. Duffy seconded.
motion passed unanimously-
President Peters asked if there
were additions to the agenda for this
requested: (1) D. Wendin
meeting. The following additions were cussed discuss in more detail under
asked that the Trails Task Force f be dis ion about the second
for urther
Reports; (2) K. Duffy asked Duffy asked for
public hearing on the Tentative Basic Policy;
sion regarding holding a second workshop
(4) W. Peters requested discuss on land acquisition;
discus ion about the Rules of Procedure.
The Board concurred.
r
ME ng 74-2 . . . page 2
of the process of setting up a new governmental agency; and 2)
the educational workshops that had been held, e.g. , on the bay-
lands, the Urban Development/Open Space plan in the County, the
Monte Bello Ridge Area study, land acquisition planning and
techniques, setting goals and objectives for the Tentative Basic
Policy, and development of a master plan. In addition, there
was a meeting with William Penn Mott, Director of the California
Department of Parks and Recreation. He then summarized and ex-
plained the major statements in the Tentative Basic Policy.
W. Peters commented that the District would like to work as
partners with the landowners and residents of the Monte Bello
Ridge area. He asked for comments from the audience.
Louis Voss, 12100 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, questioned the
name of the District because it was originally on the November
1972 ballot as "park and open space district. " W. Peters explained
that the original name was derived from the enabling legislation
for regional park districts; however, there had been agreement
between Santa Clara County and the MRPD that the MRPD would focus
on preservation of open space.
Charles Pentler, 13261 Monte Bello Road, Cupertino, welcomed the
Board and staff to the area. He expressed concern about goal
No. 2, which deals with influencing and working with private and
other public agencies to preserve open space. W. Peters discussed
the background of this goal and said that the MRPD has no influence
other than it is a public agency and can advocate the preservation
of open space.
Dotty Melton, 15070 Monte Bello Road, Cupertino, asked about the
relationship between the Hillside Subcommittee of the Planning
Policy Committee and the MRPD. W. Peters said that the Hillside
Subcommittee is separate from the MRPD, and the MRPD has no control
over it.
Matilde Alvarado, 17298 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, asked
about how much land the District was prepared to buy from each
landowner. W. Peters said that there was no defined amount per
each landowner. He also pointed out that the MRPD is interested
in present and proposed trail systems. H. Grench emphasized that
at this point the MRPD has no control over any land.
Louis Voss questioned the Tentative Basic Policy statements about
the purchase of development rights and public access. D. Condron
replied that each Director had a different opinion about these
statements, and that the public hearings were a means of formulating
the policy for the District. He reiterated that the Board and staff
would like the opinions of the public about the statements . Mr.
Voss said that priorities should be placed on the land that the
District wants to acquire and then buy it at the fair market value.
He urged that the MRPD not get involved in zoning matters. D.
Wendin said that an interest in zoning and accompanying develop-
ment regulations were part of the preservation of open space.
Meng 74-2 . . . page 3
Bernice Jones, 19 La Vuelta, Vallejo, commented that property
taxes are what is driving the private landowners off the land.
She asked if the Board had been in touch with the Santa Clara
County Assessor's Office. D. Wendin replied that it had but not
as an advocate. There was further discussion about the ways
in which land is taxed and zoned. D. Wendin added that the MRPD
could perhaps help with the problem of the tax rates. N. Hanko
suggested inviting the County Assessor to a workshop. W. Peters
said that under the present legislation, once land is dedicated
by the MRPD as open space, it is no longer possible to develop
it or use it in another way without a two-thirds vote from the
constituency.
Charles Rousten, 15050 Monte Bello Road, Cupertino, asked about
the Board' s position on the Williamson Act. W. Peters said that
the Board was prepared to take a strong advocacy position in
favor of the Williamson Act.
Keith McFarland, 13661 La Paloma Road, Los Altos Hills, referred
to the fixed number of dollars that the MRPD has available.
At the present value of the land, this amount would buy very
little land. Therefore, he felt, the MRPD policy has been to
recommend zoning that would make the land worth less so that the
District could buy larger amounts of land. W. Peters replied
that even with a change in zoning, the District would not be able
to buy a maximum amount of land. He also said that even with
an increase in the tax base, it would not be possible to do so.
The MRPD, therefore, must encourage preservation of open space
in a variety of ways. K. Duffy commented that the primary goal
of the MRPD is to acquire open space, so that there is an alternative
to zoning changes for individual landowners. She also remarked
about the importance of advocating for the preservation of open
space.
W. Peters explained the procedure for land acquisition. The
first step involves an appraisal by an independent appraiser,
which determines the price. K. Duffy stated that a landowner
could also get his own appraiser. It was suggested that a
description of these procedures could be added to the Tentative
Basic Policy.
In response to a question from Hewitt Crane, 17100 Monte Bello
Road, Cupertino, about the borrowing power of the MRPD, D. Wendin
said that the District can borrow amounts equivalent to two year's
tax revenues. He added that after the MRPD buys land within the
District, the land is no longer on the tax rolls.
Mildred Jones, 15101 Monte Bello Road, Cupertino, questioned
whether there was an arrangement to reimburse school districts
because of the loss in tax revenues . D. Wendin replied that the
MRPD presently does not have any such arrangement.
Dick Geiger, 30981 Page Mill Road, Los Altos, asked why no land
had been acquired. H. Grench referred to his remarks earlier in
the meeting about receipt of the tax money. D. Wendin remarked
Mee g 74-2 . . . page 4
about the problems because of SB 90 which prevented the MRPD
from borrowing money against tax revenues to purchase land. He
also said that H. Grench is actively negotiating with several
landowners. N. Hanko further explained that under SB 90, regional
park districts formed at the same time as the MRPD were not con-
sidered taxing agencies . Additional legislation has corrected
this. In addition, there were some possible ramifications if
Proposition 1 in the November 1973 election had passed. W. Peters
added that an agency has to be on the tax roll as of June in order
to receive revenues. Because the MRPD was formed in November 1972 ,
it missed the first tax year. He also explained that there was
a provision in the law which allowed the MRPD to borrow money for
operating expenses. This was borrowed from the County. H. Grench
stressed that with the rather limited amount of money available,
it is important to spend it in the most judicious way.
Mr. Geiger asked about the policy regarding purchasing land in
the flatlands of the District. D. Wendin said that he felt the
tax money would be better spent on areas other than those within
city limits. W. Peters added that the MRPD is focusing on the
areas at the perimeters of the urban environment.
The meeting recessed at 9 :35 p.m. and it reconvened at 9 :55 p.m.
George Glendenning, 198 Tillman Avenue, San Jose, said the people
who lived in the Monte Bello Ridge area did so because they liked
it and did not necessarily want to develop it. He expressed con-
cern for the development on the floor of the Valley. He then asked
about seismic information and about lumbering policies for the
Monte Bello Ridge area. The Board agreed that they would get
information about these items.
E. G. Hall, 15601 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, asked about the
role of the MRPD and the trail system within the County. He urged
that the MRPD put pressure on the County to set their priorities
regarding the various trails. H. Grench responded that generally
the MRPD policy would be to buy complete parcels of land and some
of these parcels may contain a trail, but not necessarily so. In
any purchase of a strip for a trail through private property,
any fair appraisal would take into account such things as reverence
damages and the remainder value of the land.
W. Peters thanked the audience for coming to the meeting. N.
Hanko concluded by saying that the assessment problem and Williamson
Act contracts should be looked into on a broader basis than had
been possible at this meeting.
IV. REPORTS
A. Taxation Structure Background and Training Materials
H. Grench referred to his memorandum (M-74-3) regarding
Lawrence Klein' s proposal to formulate taxation structure
training materials. This could involve three levels of
information: 1) a brochure for members of the public and
interested landowners; 2) longer research papers on various
topics, e.g. , tax and estate planning concepts; and 3)
M( ng 74-2 . . . page 5
information about how taxation relates to specific individuals.
Mr. Klein was proposing work in the second category. D.
Wendin suggested that this material could be distributed to
members of the Santa Clara County Bar Association. Mr. Claude
A. Look, Sempervirens Fund, briefly described the information
that the Sempervirens Fund has compiled on this topic .
Motion: N. Hanko moved the acceptance of the concept on
Taxation Structure Training Materials as presented
in Lawrence Klein's letter dated January 2, 1974 ,
and that Mr. Klein be asked to come to the next
regular Board meeting with a detailed work plan and
schedule for the implementation of this project.
D. Wendin seconded.
There was discussion about ways in which some of the costs
would be recovered after the production of this information.
The motion passed unanimously.
B. Trails Task Force
N. Hanko referred to her memorandum of January 21, 1974,
in which she described the formation of a Trails Task Force.
She added that this Task Force would report occasionally to
the Board and that each Director would sign the letters to
be sent to the organizations in his or her ward.
Motion: W. Peters moved acceptance of the Trails Task Force
plan as outlined in N. Hanko' s memorandum of January
21, 1974 . D. Condron seconded.
The Board agreed that this would not be a major responsibility
of the staff. D. Wendin asked for more information about
the responsibility of liability to the District and the costs
involved. N. Hanko will report further at the March 13 , 1974 ,
meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
V. CLAIMS
D. Wendin moved acceptance of the revised claims list (C-74-2) (attached)
as presented. K. Duffy seconded. The motion passed unanimously. ,
VI . ADJOURNMENT
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 11 :30 p.m. to discuss
personnel matters and reconvened to adjourn at 1:00 a.m.
Carroll Harrington
Secretary