HomeMy Public PortalAbout19741211 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 74-25
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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
December 11, 1974 745 Distel Drive
Los Altos, CA
I. ROLL CALL
President Peters called the meeting to order at 7:43 P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Nonette Hanko,
William Peters and Daniel Wendin.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Edward Jaynes, Jon Olson,
Anne Crosley, Stanley Norton and Carroll Harrington.
Audience of five persons.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: N. Hanko moved adoption of the minutes of November 27 ,
1974 as presented. K. Duffy seconded the motion.
Discussion: N. Hanko asked that the third paragraph
on page two of the minutes be amended to read as fol-
lows: "In answer to questions from N. Hanko, H. Grench
advised that part of the property was in the Monte Bello
Elementary School District, and staff had studied the
effect of the removal of the property from the tax rolls,
but did not have the figures at hand. " A. Crosley advised
that there was en error on page three, paragraph five of
the minutes, in that the first sentence should read
"Mr. Carl Newman, 12641 Quinnhill, Los Altos, said he
liked the botanical and wildlife study of the report on
the Black Mountain property. " The words "said he liked"
had been inadvertently omitted from the minutes. W.
Peters said the first sentence on page one of the minutes
appeared to contain an error in the starting time of the
meeting. A. Crosley advised that the correct starting
time should be 7: 34, rather than 7 :24 . W. Peters stated
the consensus that the above amendments were acceptable
to the Board. The motion, as amended, passed unanimously.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (continued)
K. Duffy asked that the sixth paragraph on page five of the
minutes of December 11, 1974 be amended to read as follows:
I
"K. Duffy noted there was much land in that
area in the Urban Service Area boundaries
which would probably not be developed within
five years. "
K. Duffy stated the consensus that the minutes be accepted
as amended.
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Meeting 74-25 Page two
III . ADOPTION OF AGENDA
W. Peters asked that the memorandum written by J. George re-
garding Display Advertising for Board Meetings (M-74-175) dated
December 3, 1974 be considered under New Business Requiring
Action. He stated the consensus of the Board that this was
acceptable, and that the Board proceed with the agenda as it is
constituted until further discussion under agenda item No. 2 .
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Robert J. Debs, 3145 Flowers Lane, Palo Alto, introduced a
letter that he had written to the Board of Directors dated
December 11, 1974 , and said he would appreciate it being read
at an appropriate time when the Board considered agenda item
No. 10, Conflicts of Interest Legislation. He complimented the
Board and staff on the accomplishments of the District to date.
V. OLD BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION
A. Black Mountain Open Space Preserve
H. Grench advised that staff had nothing to report on negotia-
tions for the remaining interests in the Black Mountain Open
Space Preserve property at this time.
B. Second Regular Meeting in December and Requested Change of
Date for Goals Workshop
N. Hanko introduced her letter dated December 4 , 1974 regarding
a possible second meeting in December and requesting that the
date of the Goals Workshop be changed from December 15, 1974 to
a convenient date in February, 1975. She suggested February 1.
She emphasized that her request to postpone the Goals Workshop
came prior to the Palo Alto Times editorial that asked for a
postponement. She said she was concerned that staff had inade-
quate time to prepare for the workshop and that the public was
ti given little notice in a month which is traditionally busy for
most people.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board of Directors schedule
a Goals Workshop for Saturday, February 1, 1975. K.
Duffy seconded the motion.
Discussion: W. Peters said he thought the Palo Alto
Times editorial was capricious and that his conception
of the Goals Workshop was that it would be conducted
on an informal, unstructured basis without the benefit
of lengthy staff reports. He said that the workshop
should be held at the Board' s convenience, not the
staff's, and that any objections the staff might have
had should have been raised at the November 27 meeting.
D. Wendin said he concurred with W. Peter' s statements .
H. Grench said his concern was not that the December
Meeting 74-25 Page three
15 meeting would be personally inconvenient for staff
members, but that this season was a particularly busy
time for the average citizen, and the staff would have
insufficient time to make the preparations that he con-
sidered appropriate for the workshop. K. Duffy and N.
Hanko agreed it was important to obtain input from the
public and from groups such as the Sierra Club. D. Wen-
din advised that he would be unable to attend a Febru-
ary 1 workshop.
Amendment: N. Hanko amended her motion to schedule the
Goals Workshop for Sunday, February 2.
Discussion: N. Hanko said she regretted holding the
workshop on a Sunday, but felt it was important that all
Board members be able to attend. The motion passed on
the following vote: AYES - K. Duffy, B. Green, N. Hanko
and D. Wendin; ABSTAIN - W. Peters.
J. Olson advised that he had preparedan initial draft of land
management concepts for Board members to consider as the basis
for discussion at the workshop.
H. Grench advised that his annual report would trace the history
of the park district, its accomplishments, its present status
and possible future directions.
D. Wendin said he preferred to see the annual report presented
at a regular Board meeting rather than at the workshop.
E. Shelley said he would prefer to attend an unstructured work-
shop.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the February 2 , 1975 Goals Workshop
be held in the District offices at 745 Distel Drive,
Los Altos, from 9: 45 A.M. to approximately 5: 00 P.M.
K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unani-
mously.
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus of the Board that the
meeting be publicized appropriately in newspapers and
other publications within the District.
K. Duffy asked that it be emphasized that the meeting will be
a Board workshop.
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that the specific agenda
items for the Goals Workshop be considered at the second
meeting in January.
VI . OLD BUSINESS NOT REQUIRING ACTION
A. Master Plan Policy Statements
K. Duffy distributed copies of the Master Plan Policy Statement
revision, and the revision to it, which she had just completed.
She said she tried to limit the major statements to policies
Meeting 74-25 Page four
regarding land acquisition, and to treat non-land acquisition
policies of lesser importance to the District in brief sentences.
She said she tried to rewrite the background material for each
category so it seemed smoother and less stiff. She said she
thought the Master Plan Policy Statement draft needed some defin-
itions, and perhaps additional baylands materials such as those
she had added.
N. Hanko said she was satisfied with D. Wendin' s treatment of
the Wilderness Experience category.
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that a further revision
would be sent to Board members following the next sub-
committee meeting.
VII. NEW BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION
A. Receipt of Election Canvass
(1) A. Crosley referred the Board to her memorandum (M-74-180)
dated December 6, 1974 , regarding the receipt by the District
of the Certificate of Election Results signed by Registrar of
Voters George Mann. She recommended that the Board now accept
and approve the report of the Secretary and declare the results
of the November 5, 1974 general election as set forth in the
memorandum.
Term of
Candidate and Ward Total Votes Elected Office (years)
Katherine M. Duffy,
Ward 1 21, 506 X 4
Daniel G. Wendin,
Ward 2 16,686 X 4
Barbara Green,
Ward 3 11, 858 X 2
Jack Whitaker,
Ward 3 4 ,916 -
Edward G. Shelley,
Ward 4 15, 554 X 2
Nonette G. Hanko,
Ward 5 19, 605 X 4
Motion: W. Peters moved that the Board of Directors of the Mid-
peninsula Regional Park District accept and approve the
report of the Secretary of the District and declare the
results of the November 5, 1974 general election as set
forth therein. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion
passed unanimously.
Meeting 74-25 Page five
(2) A. Crosley advised the Board that the swearing in of all
five elected candidates could not be accomplished this evening
because the Registrar of Voters office had not yet received two
of the candidates' final financial statements for filing. She
noted that the Board had the following alternatives, keeping in
mind that the oaths of office must be administered prior to
December 20: (i) to give the oaths of office to the three elected
candidates whose financial statements have been filed at this
meeting and administer the other two oaths individually or at a
possible December 18 meeting; (ii) to give the oaths of office to
all elected candidates at a December 18 meeting; or (iii) to
give all oaths individually.
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that the three candidates
whose statements had been filed be given their oaths of
office now, and that the other two candiates may take
oaths of office separately. A. Crosley then administered
the oath of office to elected candiates Katherine M.
Duffy, Edward G. Shelley and Barbara Green, representing
wards 1, 4 and 3, respectively.
She added that, in the future, Board members and other candidates
should read election-related memorandums very carefully so that
filing deadlines are met.
B. Urban Service Area Boundaries
H. Grench advised the Board members that three cities in the
District have requested Urban Service Area boundary changes
from LAFCo: Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos and Cupertino. The
cities not requesting a change are Sunnyvale, Palo Altos, Los
Altos, Mountain View, Saratoga and Monte Sereno.
With respect to Cupertino, there is an approximately 50 acre
parcel land owned by Kaiser Permanente, designated as permanent
open space in the Monte Bello Ridge plan, which is being sub-
mitted for inclusion into Cupertino' s Urban Service Area.
K. Duffy noted there was much land in that area in the Urban
Service Area boundaries which would probably never be developed.
H. Grench advised that Los Gatos was requesting that about
5, 000 additional acres of land be included in its Urban Service
Area, primarily so it would have control over development. Los
Gatos has complained that the County Board of Supervisors has
approved construction that Los Gatos would not have. H. Grench
added that he feels Los Gatos is asking for too much and there
are other ways in which the city and County could control de-
velopment. He said there is some Williamson Act land located
within the 5, 000 acre area.
Meeting 74-25 Page six
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that H. Grench be given
discretion with respect to Urban Service Area boundary
discussions to determine and take action by the District
that would be appropriate.
H. Grench further advised that Los Altos Hills wants to add
about 450 acres into its Urban Service Area. It was his opinion
that the addition would have little or no impact on the District,
and may even add fewer units to the area than would presently
be allowed, if the County adds the CS zone.
N. Hanko suggested that Urban Service Area boundaries was a sub-
ject area which belonged in the category of intergovernmental
relations.
K. Duffy raised three questions regarding Urban Service Area
boundaries: (1) some of the Urban Service Area boundaries are
larger than they need to be, because much of the land will not
be developed within five years and, furthermore, may never be
developed; (2) some land under the Williamson Act is located
within Urban Service Area boundaries; and (3) is the County or
the cities doing the better job in the area of zoning.
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that discussions with
cities and the County regarding Urban Service Area
boundaries be done on an informal basis through H.
Grench and/or Board members.
C. Resolution Congratulating the East Bay Regional Park District
on its Fourtieth Anniversary
Motion: B. Green moved adoption by the Board of Directors of
the Midpeninsula Regional Park District of Resolution
No. 74-29, a Resolution Congratulating the East Bay
Regional Park District on its Fourtieth Anniversary.
K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unani-
mously.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS NOT REQUIRING ACTION
A. Changes in Rules of Procedure
W. Peters suggested the Board consider eliminating the section
in the Rules of Procedure dealing with agenda categories or make
changes in the section to reflect current categories. The most
recent change, he pointed out, was the placing of the Written
Communications category after Oral Communications at the beginning
of the meeting.
Meeting 74-25 Page seven
D. Wendin said he wanted to see the proposed changes in written
form, and other Board members agreed with him.
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that he would prepare
proposed changes in the Rules of Procedure in written
form and submit them to the Board for consideration
at a future meeting.
B. Further Changes in Enabling Legislation
W. Peters introduced his memorandum (M-74-179) dated December
5, 1974, proposing changes in the regional park district enabling
legislation with respect to limiting directors ' terms and limit-
ing the term of office of a Board member serving in a Board-
elected office.
Motion: W. Peters moved that the Board of Directors direct
legal counsel to draft legislation limiting Board members '
terms of office to not more than two consecutive
four-year terms. K. Duffy seconded the motion.
Discussion: D. Wendin said he thought such a change
should be in the form of a resolution by the MRPD,
not a change in the enabling legislation. N. Hanko
said she did not think other park district Board
members would be enthusiastic about the proposal.
B. Green said the limit might prevent a director
that everyone wants to keep as a director from serv-
ing. S. Norton advised that the Board cannot legally
limit the number of terms which a director can serve;
however, in his opinion, the Board can limit the
number of terms of officers elected by the Board,
although any such resolution to that effect could
be repealed at any time.
Motion: W. Peters said he would withdraw his previous motion
and move that legal counsel be directed to draft a
resolution regarding proposed Board policy that no
director should serve more than two consecutive four-
year terms. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The mo-
tion passed on the following vote: AYES - W. Peters,
K. Duffy, D. Wendin and B. Green; NOES - N. Hanko.
Motion: W. Peters moved that the By-Laws of the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District be amended to establish a two-
term limit during which a Board member may serve in
the same Board-elected office. B. Green seconded the
motion.
Discussion: W. Peters and N. Hanko said they favored
annual rotation of officers. D. Wendin said that
since the policy could be changed by a majority of
the Board at any time, the policy of annual rotation
Meeting 71-25 Page eight
should be decided by Board members at the time of the
election of Board officers. The motion failed on the
following vote: AYES - W. Peters and B. Green; NOES
K. Duffy, N. Hanko and D. Wendin.
C. Election Costs for Printing Candidates' Statements and Ad-
vertising of the Election
K. Duffy referred to her memorandum (M-74-181) dated December
6, 1974 , stating that she thought there should be better ad-
vertising of vacant offices, and that the District should
pay for the printing of candidates' statements. She said it
would be discriminatory to people with limited financial re-
sources for the District to fail to pay the cost of their
candidate statements.
D. Wendin said he would oppose the policy inasmuch as it might
invite large numbers of candidates who were not serious about
running.
H. Grench advised that the District paid about $1,750 for the
printing of candidates' statements and translation. He added
that the District paid about $9,000 for its share of the cost
of the vote counting.
S. Norton advised that the District incurs the bill for the
printing of candidates' statements. The County is obligated
to print a candidate' s statement whether or not the candidate
is going to pay for it. The bill is sent to the District from
the County, and the District must pay it. The question, he
said, is whether or not the District will choose to bill the
candidates for their shares in the cost of printing the state-
ments.
E. Shelley said he thought the District should consider its
policy in this regard as soon as possible.
N. Hanko asked for additional information from staff as to
possible costs to the District regarding candidates ' statements.
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that legal counsel be
directed to draft resolutions stating that the Dis-
trict would advertise election vacancies, and would
bear the costs of printing candidates ' statements,
including translations into Spanish.
D. Display Advertising for Board Meetings
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that this item be
agendized for the next Board meeting.
Meeting 74-25 Page nine
E. Conflicts of Interest Legislation
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that this item be
agendized for the next Board meeting.
V. OLD BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION (continued)
B. Second Regular Meeting in December
Action: W. Peters stated the consensus that there be no meet-
ing on the 18th of December, but that Board members
be on call for such a meeting if the need arises.
IX. CLAIMS
Motion: W. Peters moved acceptance of the revised claims (C-
74-23) dated December 11, 1974 as presented. D. Wen-
din seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
X. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 10: 47.
XI . ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11:16 P.M.
Anne Cathcart Crosley
Administrative Secretary