HomeMy Public PortalAbout19741009 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) t Meeting 74-21
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
October 9, 1974 745 Distel Drive
Los Altos, CA
I. ROLL CALL
President William Peters called the meeting to order at 7 : 40
P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Nonette
Hanko, William Peters and Daniel Wendin.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Edward Jaynes, Anne Cros-
ley and Carroll Harrington.
Audience of eight persons.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the minutes of September 25,
1974 , as presented, be accepted by the Board. K.
Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unan-
imously.
III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
B. Green asked that the Sunnyvale Open Space Bond Issue be
considered under New Business Not Requiring Action.
H. Grench asked that Urban Service Area Boundaries be con-
sidered under New Business Not Requiring Action.
K. Duffy asked that the Williamson Act and the Fremont High
School Property be considered under New Business Not Requiring
Action.
D. Wendin asked that a Review of Requirements for Campaign
Financial Statements be conducted under New Business Not Re-
quiring Action.
W. Peters stated the consensus that the addition of the above
mentioned items to the agenda was acceptable to Board members.
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APPROVAL OF MINUTES
W. Peters stated the consensus that the Administrative Secre-
tary review the tapes of the meeting of October 9, 1974 to
ascertain the following: (1) if there was a second to the
motion to adopt Resolution No. 74-23 ; (2) if there was a
response to W. Peter' s question of whether or not the Sub-
committee report (R-74-20) met the spirit of the City of
Sunnyvale' s request for District funds for the purchase of
urban open space; and (3) how representative's from the City
of Sunnyvale responded to questions regarding the City' s
alternative plans, if any, for the preservation of urban open
space.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: N. Hanko moved adoption of the minutes of October 9,
1974 as presented. D. Wendin seconded the motion.
Amendment: N. Hanko moved to amend the motion to
include the memorandum (M-74-160) dated October 29,
1974, prepared by the Administrative Secretary,
with a typographical error on the fourth line of
paragraph 2 changed from "Jefferlin" to "Hefferlin" .
K. Duffy seconded the motion.
Discussion: W. Peters said it appeared the memo-
randum made clear Mr. Hefferlin' s response to his
questions. The amendment to the motion passed un-
animously. The motion passed unanimously.
Meeting 74-21 Page two
IV. PUBLIC HEARING
A. Proposed Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve
H. Grench introduced his report (R-74-21) dated October 1,
1974 , regarding the Proposed Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve.
He said the Preserve would contain the first redwoods owned
by the District and would constitute the first gift of land
to the District. He noted the property had an old road bed
paralleling Skyland Boulevard which would be useful as part
of a hiking trail. H. Grench showed the audience slides of
the property, stating that the acquisition would be consistent
with the General Plans of Santa Clara County and of the City
of Saratoga. Based on studies of the ecology of the land, it
appeared that low-intensity uses would be most appropriate
(such as hiking, nature study, kite-flying and photography) .
He noted that the present owners of the property wished to see
it kept as open space in perpetuity with no permanent struc-
tures built except for those necessary or appropriate to pro-
tect the property. H. Grench acknowledged the generous volun-
teer work of Dr. Judith Unsicker, in particular her field
survey of the property, which contributed to the report. He
said he hoped other property owners will be encouraged to
donate land or other assets to the District. He recommended
adoption of Resolution No. 74-23, through which the Board of
Directors would accept the gift of land offered.
B. Green commented that the Saratoga Gap Preserve was on the
way to Sunnyvale Mountain Park.
K. Duffy said the property would be an excellent addition to
the other public lands located in the area already.
W. Peters opened the public hearing.
Mr. Dennis Kuzak, Apt. 7-G Hoskins, Stanford, said that as a
taxpayer and citizen he advocated the acquisition of open
space. He urged the Board to accept this gift of land and
said he hoped they would encourage other property owners to
do the same.
W. Peters closed the public hearing.
B. Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District Accepting Gift of Real Property
and Authorizing President to Execute Certificate of
Acceptance With Respect Thereto
Motion: N. Hanko moved adoption of Resolution No. 74-23 , a
Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpen-
insula Regional Park District Accepting Gift of Real
Property and Authorizing President to Execute Cer-
tificate of Acceptance With Respect Thereto.
Discussion: W. Peters said he was impressed with
the property and its hiking potential. He added
Meeting 74-21 Page three
that he would like the Board to discuss the defini-
tion of "permanent structures" at a future meeting.
H. Grench advised the Board that a framed Sierra
Club picture would be given to the donors as an
expression of the Board' s gratitude for the gift
of land. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the District pay appraisal
costs, title insurance, taxes and any other pertin-
ent expenses necessary and appropriate to the acqui-
sition of the Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve. N.
Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unan-
imously.
V. OLD BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION
A. Feasibility of Participating in Urban Open Space Programs
(Sunnyvale)
B. Green introduced a report (R-74-20) dated September 30,
1974, which she and N. Hanko had prepared as the Board ' s Sub-
committee regarding the feasibility of District participation
in urban open space programs. She said the question of Dis-
trict participation with cities on urban open space programs
was very complex. The District is concerned with access to,
as well as acquisition of, open space lands, she said, but
at the same time the District must avoid depleting its funds
on city acquisitions, because this would violate the intent
of the District, as mandated by the voters, to acquire open
space lands outside Urban Service Areas. The Stevens Creek
Trail Chain is one important means of providing access to
foothills and baylands areas for a significance population of
the District.
N. Hanko said there were problems regarding the maintenance
of orchard lands within city areas, and that the feasibility
of doing so should be studied. She noted the tremendous dif-
ference in lands prices between city parcels designated for
acquisition (around $60, 000/acre) and foothills parcels (around
$2, 000/acre) .
Mr. Charles Hefferlin, Councilman from the City of Sunnyvale,
563 Fort Laramie, Sunnyvale, said he would like to express
the support of the Sunnyvale City Council for any recommenda-
tion the report might give toward encouraging Board policy
to aid acquisition of urban open space. He said time was an
important consideration and urged that recommendation #2 of
the report be implemented as soon as possible. He offered
the assistance of the City of Sunnyvale' s staff for recommen-
dations #2 and #3.
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Meeting 74-21 Page four
Mr. James Hildebrand, Sunnyvale City Attorney, said the City
of Sunnyvale was considering purchase and leaseback of
orchard lands as an alternative means of preserving urban
open space in the event the bond issue failed. He pointed
out that the low market value of foothills land indicates
its undesirability for development, but, he added, the City
of Sunnyvale had never disputed the importance of acquiring
land in the foothills.
Mr. Hefferlin also asked that a correction be made on page 3,
paragraph 3, line 5 of the report, to show that the City of
Sunnyvale had designated baylands for both industrial develop-
ment and public facility zoning. He suggested that the Board
conduct extensive studies before making any decisions regard-
ing District policy on feeder trails.
N. Hanko suggested the Pome Avenue parcel would be a good
site for a bicycle trail, especially since laning problems
would be virtually nonexistent. She asked that Mr. Hefferlin
submit the Subcommittee report, as well as the question of
the desirability of feeder trails, to the Sunnyvale City
Council for its review. Mr. Hefferlin agreed to do so.
D. Wendin said he thought the introductory phrase in recom-
mendation #2 was not appropriate inasmuch as the Board had
never formally adopted the staff' s report on Urban Open Space
of Regional Significance. He suggested the Board might want
to ask the City of Sunnyvale for suggestions regarding other
parcels which the City feels are consistent with staff ' s
definition of urban open space of regional significance.
Motion: N. Hanko moved adoption of the recommendations con-
tained on page eight of the Subcommittee report
(R-74-20) dated September 30, 1974 , with referral
of recommendations #1 and #4 to the Trails Task
Force, and revision of recommendation #2 to read
as follows: "We recommend that the staff investi-
gate the feasibility of diverse methods and costs
of preservation of the approximately 12-acre parcel
on Mathilda near El Camino in Sunnyvale. " D. Wendin
seconded the motion.
Discussion: K. Duffy said there may be other re-
gionally significant lands, in Sunnyvale or in
other cities, which have not yet been considered.
B. Green said it seemed a waste to pave over the
fertile lands of the Santa Clara Valley. The motion
passed unanimously.
VI. NEW BUSINESS NOT REQUIRING ACTION
A. Sunnyvale Open Space Bond Issue
Motion: B. Green moved that the staff be directed to draft
a resolution supporting the Sunnyvale Open Space
Bond Issue as an important step in the preservation
Meeting 74-21 Page five
of open space, and that the resolution include the
following points: (1) that the Sunnyvale City Coun-
cil submit a charter amendment which will guarantee
protection of park and open space lands to their
voters at the earliest feasible date, and (2) that
the intended short and long term uses of parcels to
be acquired with the bond moneys be clearly set
forth to the residents. D. Wendin seconded the mo-
tion.
Discussion: Mr. Hefferlin said the resolution
would certainly help the bond issue; however, it
would be preferable if the questions raised in (1)
and (2) of the motion were omitted until after the
election, or, if they were submitted in a separate
resolution. W. Peters asked that the Board be given
copies of the ballot argument for the bond issue
prior to voting on a supportive resolution.
Amendment to the Motion: B. Green said she would
amend her motion to reflect the support of the Board
for the open space bond issue, and that the additional
recommendations would be submitted personally rather
than including them in the motion. D. Wendin agreed
to the amendment. N. Hanko urged Mr. Hefferlin to
initiate an open space preservation guarantee for
the residents of Sunnyvale. The motion, as amended,
passed unanimously.
B. Urban Service Area Boundaries
H. Grench advised that LAFCo has asked cities within Santa
Clara County for their recommendations regarding Urban Service
Area boundaries by November 1, 1974 . Some of the cities, he
said, have indicated a desire to expand their boundaries so
they can control development that might take place, but, he
said, such expansion might also discourage District acquisi-
tion of land in those areas. This would work against the
cities ' intent of limiting and/or controlling development.
He suggested that the staff contact the cities regarding the
District' s interest in their recommendations to LAFCo. He
also suggested writing a letter to LAFCo requesting that the
District be allowed to review proposed Urban Service Area
boundary revisions before they are adopted.
W. Peters suggested a consultant might be employed for this
review in order to save staff time. He also observed that
this topic comes under the District' s Governmental Liaison
program, which has not received the attention it should have
had, and therefore the District has been caught short.
D. Wendin said he hoped that in the future cities would auto-
matically consult the District with respect to proposed
changes in Urban Service Area boundaries.
W. Peters stated the consensus of the Board that informal
discussions with city and County personnel would be appropri-
ate as would the letter to LAFCo.
Meeting 74-21 Page six
C. Williamson Act
K. Duffy said the County was in the process of discussing
the Williamson Act, and she offered to find out more about
the discussions.
W. Peters suggested the Board give more consideration to
its program of Intergovernmental Relations.
D. Fremont High School Property
K. Duffy referred to an article she had read regarding some
surplus Fremont High School District property. It was agreed
that the matter would be followed, but that no action would
be taken at this time.
E. Review of Requirements for Campaign Financial Statements
A. Crosley advised Board members that October 11, 1974 was
the deadline for filing candidates' first campaign financial
statements (short form) . Any candidate receiving more than
$500 in contributions would have to ask the Registrar of
Voters ' office for the applicable long form.
D. Wendin suggested the non-incumbent Board candidates be
reminded of the filing deadline, and A. Crosley agreed to
advise them the following morning.
VII. CLAIMS
Motion: W. Peters moved acceptance of the revised claims
(C-74-19) dated October 9, 1974 . K. Duffy seconded
the motion.
Discussion: In answer to a question by D. Wendin,
H. Grench advised that he and S. Norton, legal
counsel to the District, had discussed the impact
of a recent State Supreme Court ruling with respect
to payment of fees charged to Board of Directors
candidates for translation and publication of cam-
paign statements. It was determined, as a result
of their conversation and in light of the court' s
ruling, that the District could pay the fees in-
curred by the candidates for their campaign state-
ments, and, at a later date the matter could be
brought to the attention of the Board to determine
what the District' s policy would be with respect
to collection of such fees from the candidates .
Amendment: N. Hanko moved to amend the motion to
remove item #730 from consideration. W. Peters
Meeting 74-21 Page seven
seconded the motion to amend. The motion to amend
passed unanimously. The amended motion passed with
the following vote: AYES - W. Peters, N. Hanko and
K. Duffy; NOES - D. Wendin; ABSTAIN - B. Green.
Motion: W. Peters moved acceptance of claim #730 of the
revised claims (C-74-19) dated October 9, 1974 .
D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed
on the following vote: AYES - W. Peters, K. Duffy,
B. Green and D. Wendin; ABSTAIN - N. Hanko.
VIII. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board recessed to Executive Session to discuss personnel
matters and land negotiations at 10: 30 P.M.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11: 10 P.M.
Anne Cathcart Crosley
Administrative Secretary
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