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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19740522 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) eeting 74-12 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT Regular Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S May 22, 1974 745 Distel Drive Los Altos I. ROLL CALL President Peters called the meeting to order at 7 :38 . Members Present: Daniel Condron, Katherine Duffy (arrived 8 : 30) , Nonette Hanko, William Peters and Daniel Wendin. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Edward Jaynes, Stanley Norton, John Melton, Anne Crosley and Carroll Harrington. Audience of seven persons. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: N. Hanko moved acceptance of the minutes of May 4 , 1974 as presented. D. Condron seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: D. Wendin moved acceptance of the minutes of May 8 , 1974 as presented. N. Hanko seconded. The motion passed unanimously. III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: N. Hanko moved that her report on the Mildred Ligda trust subdivision be added to the agenda under NEW BUSINESS NOT REQUIRING ACTION. W. Peters stated the consensus that this was agreeable. H. Grench advised that he had an announcement to make under SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY. W. Peters stated the consensus that this was agreeable. D. Wendin asked that a discussion of the May 18 , 1974 First Annual Joint Regional Park District Conference be placed on the agenda under OLD BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION. W. Peters stated the consensus that this was agreeable. Motion: K. Duffy moved acceptance of the minutes of May 22 , 1974 as presented. N. Hanko seconded the motion. Discussion: K. Duffy noted she had been absent from the meeting of May 22 until after the Board had taken action on the Resolution Endorsing the State Beach, Park, Recreational and Historical Facilities Bond Act of 1974 . She asked the minutes be amended to reflect this . The motion passed un- animously. Meeting 74-12 Page two W. Peters said he would prefer to adjust the order of the agenda inasmuch as K. Duffy, who would be arriving later, had a special interest in particular items. The Board agreed to this format. IV. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY H. Grench introduced Mrs. Anne Crosley as the new Administrative Secretary for the MRPD, stating that she had been very active in environmental matters. V. OLD BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION A. Personnel Policies H. Grench referred to the Board discussion of May 8, 1974 con- cerning the Personnel Policies report (R-74-15) dated April 22 , 1974. Pursuant to the suggestions of the Board, he made the changes that are reflected in a memorandum (M-74-65) dated May 10, 1974 to the Board of Directors. He explained that Part A of the Personnel Policies report remained unchanged. Part B was altered to reflect that salary adjustments would be considered by the Board at the time of the adoption of the annual budget. He added that Part C, Item 1 had been changed to reflect the Board' s consensus on the vacation plan and accrual, pointing out that vacations would only be taken if the General Manager de- termined that the normal business of the District would be un- interrupted. He said these policies are in accord with the current practices of other public agencies. The paid annual vacation plan would provide that an employee of the District would receive 15 working days per year during the first 9 full calendar years of employment, increasing to 20 days after 9 years. W. Peters expressed his concern regarding the amount of vacation time accruable. D. Wendin said he was concerned that all the employees would accrue excess vacation time to the detriment of the operation of the District. H. Grench emphasized that vaca- tions would have to be approved by the General Manager. H. Grench pointed out that Part C, Item 3 had been changed to provide 13 paid holidays for employees of the District. Motion: N. Hanko moved adoption of the Personnel Policies as set forth in the memorandum (M-74-65) dated May 10, 1974 . D. Condron seconded. The motion passed unanimously. VI. NEW BUSINESS NOT REQUIRING ACTION A. Mildred Ligda Trust Subdivision Report N. Hanko reported on the status of the 86. 9 acres of land of the Mildred Ligda trust located in the City of Palo Alto. She ad- Meeting 74-12 Page three vised that a subdivision of nine units on a four-acre site has been proposed, which, according to some observers, violates the spirit of the ordinance. The total acreage consists of several parcels, one separated by about two miles from the four-acre site. The proponents of the plan intend to dedicate the remaining space to the City of Palo Alto. The opponents of the plan, most of whom live in that area, cite the drainage problems already existing. Several variances have been re- quested, such as diminishing of setback requirements, raising the height limitation, and allowing 3 1/2 parking spaces per unit. VII. RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES A. Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Park District Endorsing the State Beach, Park, Recreational and Historical Facilities Bond Act of 1974 H. Grench referred to his memorandum (M-74-62) dated May 8 , 1974 , setting forth a discussion of the proposed Bond Act and his recommendation that the Board adopt a resolution in support thereof. He mentioned that the District would receive about $834, 000 if the Bond Act passed. Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution No. 74-11, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpen- insula Regional Park District Endorsing the State Beach, Park, Recreational and Historical Facilities Bond Act of 1974. D. Condron seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. W. Peters asked what the District could do in support of the Bond Act. S. Norton advised that the District could not use public funds, but could offer any other help as long as it was not financial. A. Crosley suggested literature, bumper stickers and similar materials could be placed in the offices of the Dis- trict. The Board agreed that the staff should collect such material for distribution from the office. W. Peters asked if the staff should investigate the means by which all state propositions information could be sent to the Board prior to elections. D. Wendin stated it was up to the individual members of the Board to obtain legislative materials and place pertinent items on the agenda. B. Resolution Authorizing Signing and Endorsing Checks and Other Instruments. Motion: N. Hanko moved adoption of Resolution 74-12 , a Resolu- tion Authorizing Signing and Endorsing Checks and Other Instruments. D. Condron seconded the motion. H. Grench stated that this was necessary for the bank for the Meeting 74-12 Page four change of Administrative Secretary signatures. The motion passed unanimously. VIII. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS George Furse, 15344 Karl Avenue, Monte Sereno, introduced him- self and members of the audience as members of the Save the Canyons Committee. He explained that the Los Gatos Joint Union High School District owns approximately 38 acres of land that includes a beautiful wooded canyon used by the adults and children of the area for picnics, trails and general enjoyment of the natural environment. The School District plans to sell the land, he said, to a developer for the highest price at- tainable in order to raise money for the School District. The Board of Trustees maintains it cannot sell the land in separate parcels, and does not want it to go on the tax rolls. The estimated value per acre of this land is $40, 000 to $45, 000 . The Board of Trustees has also advised the Save the Canyon Com- mittee that it cannot legally donate the land, and the money is necessary for payment of new school facilities. Plans for changing the zoning of part of the property are currently under consideration by the Monte Sereno City Council, and a transfer of one portion from Los Gatos to Monte Sereno is also in process. Mr. Furse appealed to the Board of Directors to consider some form of assistance to the Save the Canyon Committee, whether financial or in the form of legal advice or letter writing. N. Hanko asked if the City could insist on some trail develop- ment or other restrictions on the development of the property. S. Norton advised that a City could do this only if the developer had to have his/her plan approved by the City. Joan Sequist, 1752 Clara Street, Monte Sereno, commented that a road through the wooded area would destroy the beauty of the canyon. She said ordinances in Monte Sereno concerning open spaces were not up to date. She emphasized that this area was an especially beautiful one, and asked the Board of Directors to give whatever help it could. Frances Sharkey, 15445 Karl Avenue, Monte Sereno, added her re- quest for the Board' s assistance. She said there was also an old stone bridge in the wooded parcel which was a historical landmark. David Janssen, 2555 Park Boulevard, Palo Alto, said they should not give up, no matter what, until the buildings are on the land. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Midpeninsula Regional Park Dis- trict send a letter to the Los Gatos Joint Union High School District supporting the efforts of the Save the Meeting 74-12 Page five Canyon Committee, and asking for a delay in action so citizens may develop alternative plans for the use of the land in question. The Board concurred with the motion. V. OLD BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION (continued) B. First Annual Joint Regional Park District Conference D. Wendin commented that followup measures were required in con- nection with certain discussions held at the First Annual Joint Regional Park District Conference on Saturday, May 18, 1974 in the District offices . H. Grench advised that Lawrence Klein had presented a workshop on tax structures to the participants in the conference; however, the position papers which were to have been completed by June will not be submitted until the end of the summer. As the result of Mr. Klein's expected report, the District hopes to cooperate with other regional park dis- tricts in the preparation of a brochure for landowners explain- ing tax advantages for donations of land to a regional park dis- trict. For the present, he added, we can collect existing in- formation on brochures regarding charitable contributions. Ms . Doreta Chaney of the East Bay Regional Park District has offered to send some brochures that she uses. D. Wendin advised that several legislative changes had been sug- gested at the conference, some of which require action from the MRPD Board of Directors, which will be forwarded for considera- tion to other regional park district boards. The deadline for amendment materials for next year should be early December, 1974 . He asked for a consensus of the Board regarding drawing lots - immediately after the founding election of a regional park dis-, trict to determine which seats would be up for two or four year terms in the next election. The Board agreed that language to this effect would be acceptable. D. Wendin then asked if an 18 month minimum time period between elections should be considered. N. Hanko said 18 months was an arbitrary figure, and perhaps 12 months would be more ap- propriate. The Board members agreed on the 12 month figure. D. Wendin volunteered to work out the language for the proposed amendments with S. Norton' s assistance. N. Hanko suggested the other regional park districts be kept advised of our progress. D. Wendin asked if the Board wanted to contribute toward the hiring of a legislative advocate for the regional park districts. K. Duffy said she would want to have a report on the need for a legislative analyst or advocate justified before making the commitment. H. Grench said staff would contact John Zierold for suggestions. Meeting 74-12 Page six W. Peters stated the consensus that the Board acknowledged the need for a regional park district association, but that it should be carefully worked out. C. Open Spaces Resources Program H. Grench referred to his memorandum (M-74-67) dated May 16 , 1974, in which the entire action plan for the Open Space Manage- ment Program is discussed. He distributed a draft Job Descrip- tion for a Land Manager, noting that the person selected for the position would be responsible for planning for the maintenance, development and care of lands selected or under consideration for selection by the District. He added there was no question in his mind that this position should be filled as soon as possible. Motion: D. Condron moved the Open Space Management Program be adopted by the Board, and that the General Manager be directed to hire a Land Manager at a salary range of $14, 000 to $21, 000 per year. D. Wendin seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Condron said he thought an effective staff was important to the District and that this posi- tion was a key one. W. Peters stated his opposition to the motion inasmuch as he did not feel a Land Manager should be hired at this time. He emphasized that he agreed the hiring of a Land Manager was the long range solution to the problem of managing District lands pro- perly; however, there did not seem to be an urgent need for a Land Manager at this point. H. Grench advised that the District had a right of first refusal on ad- joining office space, and in the event such space was used, 1/2 of the area might be rented to another entity. N. Hanko said she would rely on H. Grench' s discretion that the position should be filled as soon as possible. K. Duffy proposed that the Job Description be amended to include more field work for the Land Manager. Action: AYES: D. Condron, K. Duffy, N. Hanko and D. Wendin. NOES: W. Peters. D. Trails Task Force It was mentioned there was a conflict in the Trails Task Force meeting of May 30 and the meeting of the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club at which H. Grench, D. Wendin and Alan Grundmann would be speaking. N. Hanko said she would see if the Trails Task Force meeting could be postponed. IX. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS Letter from City of Sunnyvale H. Grench suggested an answer to the letter of May 10, 1974 from the City of Sunnyvale based upon the District' s Basic Policy and Meeting 74-12 Page seven program plans would be in order. Discussion ensued regarding the response by the District. W. Peters advised that meetings had been held, and will be held, to establish concept papers regarding costs, alternative plans, etc. for the Stevens Creek Trail System. He suggested the City of Sunnyvale be advised that trails are being planned for Sunnyvale, and that the Dis- trict had only received funds in January. He added that the San Jose Water Works property was near Sunnyvale Mountain Park, and suggested the District ask the City of Sunnyvale for any information it has on land it wishes to remain open space. It was agreed that the General Manager would draft a reply for the President' s signature. N. Hanko and D. Condron said they would like to see the letter before it is sent to Sunnyvale. X. CLAIMS Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board accept the revised claims list (C-74-10) (attached) as presented. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed as follows: AYES: D. Condron, K. Duffy, W. Peters, D. Wendin. NOES: None. ABSTAIN: N. Hanko. Discussion: There was discussion as to whether the Board members need receive the claims list in their packets, since the list was usually revised anyway by meeting time. No change in procedures was adopted. XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board recessed to Executive Session at 11: 05 to discuss land negotiations. XII. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 12: 25. Anne Cathcart Crosley Administrative Secretary