Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout19740710 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) L_--ting 74-15 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT Regular Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S 745 Distel Drive July 10, 1974 Los Altos, CA I. ROLL CALL President Peters called the meeting to order at 7 :35 P.M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Nonette Hanko, William Peters and Daniel Wendin. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Edward Jaynes, Stanley Norton, i Kuzak and Carroll Harrington. ro le Dennis Anne C s , g Y Audience of nine persons. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: K. Duffy moved acceptance of the minutes of June 25, 1974 as presented. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA K. Duffy asked that the Monte Bello Ridge Conservation/Development Plan Public Hearing scheduled for July 18 , 1974 be placed on the agenda under Old Business Requiring Action. W. Peters asked that a letter he received from Ms. Dorothy Gray be placed on the agenda under Written Communications. W. Peters stated the consensus that the above requested items be considered under their respective categories . IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no oral communications. V. OLD BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION A. Policies Regarding Funding of Parks and Open Space Within Urban Service Areas W. Peters referred to paragraph 1 (b) of the Basic Policy of the District which states that "The District will use its available resources primarily to acquire open space outside the Urban Service APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion: K. Duffy moved acceptance of the minutes of July 10 , 1974 as presented. B. Green seconded the motion. Amendment: N. Hanko moved that the sentence on page five stating "N. Hanko asked that the matter of the Stevens Creek Trail be agendized for a future meet- ing" be deleted inasmuch as she did not recall making the statement. W. Peters said the statement should have been attributed to him. There was no second to the amendment. W. Peters asked that his first complete sentence on page two be amended to read as follows : "He said ' the Board had two questions to consider : (1) the Primary question of whether or not the District should reconsider its basic policies, and (2) the specific request from the City of Sunnyvale for $1 million of District funds. " K. Duffy accepted the changes of N. Hanko and W. Peters as part of her motion. The motion Passed unanimously. Meeting 74-15 Page two Area boundaries of the cities rather than within the cities. " He said the Board had two questions to consider: (1) the specific request from the City of Sunnyvale for $1 million of District funds, and (2) the broader question of whether or not the Dis- trict should reconsider its basic policies. Mayor Charley Allen of the City of Sunnyvale introduced himself and City Manager John Dever, City Attorney James Hildebrand and City Councilman Charles Hefferlin. C. Hefferlin explained the main points of the resolution of the Sunnyvale City Council. He said the Council supported the Dis- trict' s formation. They are now concerned that orchard lands, an important part of Santa Clara Valley' s heritage, are rapidly disappearing. He referred to paragraph l (b) of the Basic Policy of the District which states that "The District' s priority will be to use its limited resources to acquire interest in parcels having high open space value which might be developed if the District fails to act. " C. Hefferlin said the City of Sunnyvale would be placing a $5 million bond issue before the voters in November for open space acquisition. However, the residents of Sunnyvale have already supplied the District with a substantial percentage of its revenues, he added, and have received no direct benefit in return. He said the average price of orchard land in Sunnyvale is about $40, 000 per acre . N. Hanko and W. Peters suggested the Perham Ranch and the trails system would be of direct benefit to Sunnyvale residents. N. Hanko commented that the District had no money until January, 1974. She said it would be difficult for the Board to make any decisions until it had some maps indicating what parcels of land Sunnyvale is interested in acquiring for open space. She sug- gested the City of Sunnyvale consider the use of its police power to change the zoning of orchard lands to keep them in agricultural use. W. Peters noted that a Santa Clara County study had shown that recreational driving is the most used form of recreation for its residents and that regional open space acquisition would be in keeping with this demand. He said the District could not give back all the money the cities had put into the District, or its entire purpose would be defeated. The District was formed to purchase lands of regional significance outside the Urban Service Area, he stated. He mentioned that other agencies and persons had requested District assistance in purchasing lands of special significance within Urban Service Areas, and, although the Dis- trict may sympathize with their goals, it could not afford to honor all the requests and still continue to promote and fulfill the purposes for which it was formed. Tom Brown, 2374 Deodara Drive, Los Altos, said he supported the District' s formation so that open space lands of regional signifi- cance in the foothills and baylands could be preserved. This was Meeting 74-15 Page three a job which the County and cities were not doing. He urged the Board to continue its existing basic policies and not become an agency that simply sends revenues back to the cities. Joan Brown, 2374 Deodara Drive, Los Altos, suggested the District explore means of providing emergency loan funds to cities with- out jeopardizing its primary function of purchasing open space outside Urban Service Areas . Larry Stone, 571 Belfast Court, Sunnyvale, said he did not be- lieve the Board should base any decision regarding a change in its Basic Policy under the threat of withdrawal of a city from the District. Mayor Allen said he personally would consider approaching LAFCO immediately if the District did not act favorably on Sunnyvale' s request. C. Hefferlin said he would maintain an open mind about what ac- tion he would support, depending upon the District' s approach to the questions raised by Sunnyvale. J. Dever assured the Board that Sunnyvale officials realized the Board needed time to consider all the ramifications of Sunnyvale' s request, and said he did not expect the Board to make a decision tonight. D. Wendin suggested the City of Sunnyvale and the District have different emphases - the City is concerned with urban open space and the District is concerned with open space outside the Urban Service Area. Although urban open space may be of regional sig- nificance, he said, the District does not have unlimited funds. He proposed the District address itself to the question of pro- viding financial assistance to cities for urban open space, and that several factors be taken into consideration: (1) at what dollar level, if any, would the program be administered; (2) should the funds provided, if any, be dispensed through outright grants, grants with conditions, loans, or matching grants; (3) would present District funds or a new source of funds be utilized; and (4) what criteria would be used for determining which pro- grams are more important. D. Wendin emphasized that the District was a unique agency - the only one with the power and resources to purchase the open space lands in the foothills and baylands. He advised that the District' s borrowing power was quickly dis- appearing, and much of its revenues had already been tentatively committed. K. Duffy said the Board recognized that orchards were of regional significance; however, they were very costly. She suggested the District would be interested in exploring possible areas of coop- eration between it and the cities. W. Peters stated the consensus that the Board members should in- vestigate and consider various means of possible financial assist- ance to cities for urban open space purchase, as well as the Meeting 74-15 Page four broader question of the District' s Basic Policy. He suggested that Board members study the maps offered by the City of Sunnyvale and prepare their thoughts on the questions raised at this meet- ing for discussion at the July 24 Board meeting. He stated the consensus that the matter be continued to that meeting. B. Santa Clara County Special Districts Association and Other Organization Memberships and Meetings W. Peters stated the consensus that this item be agendized for a future meeting. C. Monte Bello Ridge Conservation/Development Plan Public Hearing K. Duffy advised that the public hearing for the Monte Bello Ridge Conservation/Development Plan was scheduled for 1: 30 P.M. on July 18. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the staff be directed to send an ap- propriate letter to the Santa Clara County Planning Commission in support of the Montebello Ridge Conserva- tion/Development Plan. N. Hanko seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin and N. Hanko suggested the let- ter include an indication from the Board that, although it approved of the overall plan, perhaps stricter reg- ulations could have been adopted. T. Brown urged the Board to advise the Planning Commission that it recog- nized the Plan was the result of a balancing of a number of different factors. The motion passed unanimously. VI. NEW BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION A. Discussion of Consent Items Category D. Wendin said he would agree to placing this item on the agenda of a future meeting. W. Peters stated the consensus that this was acceptable to the Board. VII. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS D. Wendin commented that the Board was reviewing all letters it received rather than singling out those it intended to discuss. He suggested that letters intended for discussion be considered at the time of the adoption of the agenda. A. Letters Regarding Naming of Blair Property W. Peters noted the Board had received three communications re- garding the naming of the Blair property. He suggested the staff be asked to look into the policies of other agencies with respect to naming of lands. B. Letter from City of Cupertino Motion: N. Hanko moved the Board respond to the letter from the Meeting 74-15 Page five City of Cupertino by stating that the District would like to participate on a City Council Committee, and that representatives from Wards 1 and 2 be utilized. D. Wendin seconded the motion. Amendment: D. Wendin suggested the motion be amended to state that a staff member would not be a participant at this time. He also suggested the words "if such a committee is set up" , then the District would be pleased to join. N. Hanko accepted the amendment to her motion. The motion passed unanimously. VIII. CLAIMS Motion: K. Duffy moved adoption of the revised claims (C-74-13) as presented. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The mo- tion passed on the following vote: AYES : K. Duffy, B. Green, W. Peters and D. Wendin. ABSTAIN: N. Hanko, because of item No. 575. N. Hanko asked that the matter of the Stevens Creek Trail be agendized for a future meeting. IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board recessed to Executive Session at 10: 50 P.M. to discuss Land Negotiations and Personnel Matters. X. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 12: 15 A.M. Anne Cathcart Crosley Administrative Secretary