HomeMy Public PortalAbout19750409 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 75-8
JAM 40M
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
April 9, 1975 745 Distel Drive
Los Altos, CA
I
I. ROLL CALL
President Duffy called the meeting to order at 7 : 34 P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Nonette
Hanko, Edward Shelley and Daniel Wendin.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Edward Jaynes, Jon Olson,
Anne Crosley, Stanley Norton and Carroll Harrington.
Audience of about twenty persons.
II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of March 12, 1975
K. Duffy referred the Board to a memorandum (M-75-59) dated
April 2, 1975 from the Administrative Secretary regarding n
T
a review of statements made by N. Hanko at the March 12 , 1975
meeting in explanation of her amendment.
E. Shelley proposed that the following sentence be included
in the minutes: "N. Hanko said she was offering the follow-
ing amendment because it best represented the combined opin-
ions of the five directors including minority opinion. "
D. Wendin said he objected to the phrase "best represented"
and suggested the minutes be left unamended.
K. Duffy stated the consensus that the minutes of March 12 ,
1975 be approved as presented.
Minutes of March 26, 1975
K. Duffy stated the consensus that the minutes of March 26 ,
1975 be approved as presented.
III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
K. Duffy stated the consensus that the agenda be adopted as
prepared.
I
ZZ. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.' Minutes of April 9, 1975
K. Duffy suggested that N. Hanko' s motion an page four of the wW.
minutes of April 9, 1975 should refer to the recommendations
listed on pages two and three of the minutes. She stated the
consensus that the minutes be accepted with that change.
I
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Meeting 75-8 Page two
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications at this time.
V. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
There were no written communications .
VI. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
A. MRPD Slide Presentation
H. Grench introduced Don Weden of the Sa'nta Clara County Plan-
ning Department, who has been working with the District on
its Master Plan. Mr. Weden then showed a slide presentation
about the Midpeninsula Regional Park District to the Board.
Board and staff complimented Mr. Weden on the presentation
and expressed appreciation for his work.
VII . OLD BUSINESS REQUIRING ACTION
A. Report of Annexation Subcommittee
N. Hanko referred the Board to the Annexation Subcommittee' s
memorandum (M-75-24) dated March 5 , 1975 which made recommenda-
tions regarding annexation proposals , and to the Subcommittee' s
memorandum (M-75-60) dated April 3, 1975 which provided supple-
mentary information about projected administration costs and
comparative land values. She noted that there was a citizens '
group and other individuals in the audience from San Mateo County
who wished to speak on the matter and present some slides.
N. Hanko read the recommendations of the Annexation Subcommittee
with minor changes:
1. The originally proposed Midpeninsula Regional Park
District boundaries in San Mateo County which consisted
of Menlo Park, Portola Valley, Atherton, Woodside and
unincorporated adjacent areas should be expanded to
include Redwood City, San Carlos and the unincorporated
adjacent lands as described, for the purpose of consider-
ing such an annexation proposal presented to the Board
of Directors. Flexibility should remain, at this point,
on the inclusion of East Palo Alto. Further considera-
tion will be given to the inclusion of San Francisco
Watershed lands (generally southerly of Route 92) and/or
such private lands adjacent or within the watershed in
which the District might acquire interests .
2. The District will participate in the conduct of a survey
by a professional consultant to be assisted by a respon-
sible volunteer citizens ' organization to determine voter
Meeting 75-8 Page three
support for such an annexation. Furthermore, the
staff will be authorized to hire a consultant and
prepare a contract for such services in an amount
not to exceed $1, 200. 00.
3. The District supports the concept of an annexation
petition initiated by interested citizens residing
in San Mateo County, as opposed to Board initiation.
4. Regarding such an annexation proposal, it will be
the policy of the Board of Directors that
a. An annexation election be called and that it
be conducted only in the area to be annexed,
and
b. Two wards be created in the territory to be
annexed for the purpose of electing representa-
tives residing in the new area.
Furthermore, that this policy be forwarded to Santa
Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission at
the appropriate time.
N. Hanko said it was important that the citizens in San Mateo
County initiate the annexation, but the Board would lend its
support whenever possible.
Mr. Nils Nilsson, 150 Coquito Way, Portola Valley, said he
belonged to an action group, as yet unnamed, that was very
interested in putting the "Mid" back into the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District. He presented several slides to the
Board which, he said, showed that the beautiful lands in
the area extended beyond the District' s present boundary
into San Mateo County, and that preservation of the entire
area is important. He advised that the Town of Portola
Valley, as well as the Committee for Green Foothills , had
already passed resolutions in support of annexation. He
said there was a great deal of enthusiasm for annexation and
there were many volunteers who would help with circulating
petitions, conducting a survey and campaigning.
Mr. Norton Batkin, 148 Oakdale Street, Redwood City, said he
had been reviewing Redwood City' s open space plans, and it
appeared that an annexation could have nothing but beneficial
effects for Redwood City residents . He said it appeared that
Redwood City had little or no intention of acquiring park
lands outside the urban are. Therefore, he urged annexation.
Meeting 75-8 Page four
Mr. Jim Goeser, 222 Frances Lane, San Carlos, said the resi-
dents of San Carlos had voted to tax themselves at the rate
of 7� per $100 assessed valuation for the purpose of purchas-
ing the Hassler property. However, another agency must be
willing to pay half of the cost of purchasing the land and
so far no agency has indicated a willingness to do so. Mr.
Geoser said he hoped residents in south San Mateo County
would support annexation to the District. He then showed
a few slides of the Hassler property to the Board.
Mr. Sidney Liebes, 9d Monte vista Avenue, Atherton, urged the
Board to extend the District boundaries at least as far north
as Highway 92 because of the delicate nature of the land in
the area. K. Duffy assured him that the exact boundaries would
not be determined at this time, and N. Hanko pointed out that
one of the Subcommittee' s recommendations asked that special
attention be given to those lands.
Ms. Lennie Roberts , 339 La Cuesta, Portola Valley, said she
had worked on the original movement to create a regional park
district, and she commended the District' s Board for encouraging
the annexation.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board of Directors adopt the
recommendations set forth in the March 5, 1975 memoran-
dum of the Subcommittee on pages 7 and 8 , as amended.
E. Shelley seconded the motion.
Discussion: D. Wendin said he felt the work done by
the Annexation Subcommittee in investigating the pos-
sibilities of annexation was excellent. H. Grench
advised that the budget attached to the Subcommittee' s
report of April 3, 1975 reflected what the budget for
the present fiscal year might have looked like had
the District been created with a portion of San Mateo
County in its boundaries. He said the transition
period in anticipation of the annexation would be a
complex and busy one. Presentations would have to be
made to cities and other groups which are a part of
the proposed annexed area. The motion passed unani-
mously.
N. Hanko commented that five years ago to the day the first
meeting was held to discuss the establishment of a regional
park district.
N. Hanko distributed a map to Board members showing the area
of land in San Jose which has been considered for transfer to
the City of Cupertino. She said approximately 28,000 people
would be affected by the transfer. She recalled that the
residents of that area had been polled regarding a regional
Meeting 75-8 Page five
park district a few years ago and had been very supportive of
the idea.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board of Directors adopt the
recommendations set forth by the Annexation Subcom-
mittee on page thirteen of its March 5, 1975 memoran-
dum, which read as follows:
1. The Board of Directors wishes to be kept advised
on open space acquisition activities in areas
southerly of the District in order to offer ad-
vice and assistance to groups interested in pre-
serving open space in that area.
2. Santa Clara County LAFCO should be apprised that
if the pilot area is assigned to the Sphere of
Influence of Cupertino, that the District wishes
annexation to the District be made a part of any
annexation or election package presented to the
voters.
3. Santa Clara County LAFCO should be advised of the
District' s wish to be informed on any other proposed
land transfer or change of Sphere of Influence
boundaries of cities within the District.
4. The Board of Directors adopt the general policy
that favors expansion of District boundaries to
coincide with expansions in Sphere of Influence
boundaries of cities within the District.
K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unan-
imously.
B. Regulatory Ordinance
H. Grench introduced his memorandum (M-75-62) dated April 4,
1975, which discusses the regulatory ordinance as revised fol-
lowing conferences with S. Norton and J. Olson. He emphasized
that increased access to District lands would require in-
creased maintenance and patrolling, and these would cost
money. The regulatory ordinance being presented would allow
access, but would provide for a different mechanism than is
usual in park and recreation agencies in controlling such
access. He referred the Board to Section 201 of the proposed
regulatory ordinance, which allows the permit system to be
applied as the Board desires.
J. Olson advised that many of the changes suggested by Board
members at the March 26, 1975 meeting had been incorporated
into the revised version of the regulatory ordinance. Regard-
ing the question of access, he said that if the Board wanted
Meeting 75-8 Page six
to continue its policy of using most of its funds for land
acquisition, access to District lands would have to be controlled
at some level. He felt the best way to accomplish this would
be through the use of a permit system. He referred the Board
to proposals in his memorandum for handling a permit system
and to a draft of permit standards attached to the memorandum.
He said he felt it was necessary to include the originally
drafted section on trespass in the regulatory ordinance because
of the usefulness to park rangers when dealing with other
landowners or trespassers. Attaching the Penal Code section
on trespass as an appendix would be awkward and inconsistent,
and simplification of the section would dilute it and render
it less effective.
E. Shelley asked why lessees or tenants of the District were
exempted from complying with District regulations , such as
the prohibition of dogs and firearms. J. Olson said that the
District, in any lease or tenancy agreement, would be able
to specify what regulations the lessee or tenant must comply
with.
S. Norton suggested the following changes and corrections be
made in the regulatory ordinance:
On page 1, under "CHAPTER I - DEFINITIONS" , the fol-
lowing caption would be added: "Regulations for Use
of Midpeninsula Regional Park District Lands, adopted
April 9, 1975. "
On page 1, Section 100, the last word "regulations"
would be changed to read "land regulations. "
On page 1, Section 102 , the heading "DEFINITION" would
be changed to read "DEFINITIONS. "
On page 4, Section 201. 1, the word "nor" in the first
line should be changed to read "or. "
On page 4, Section 402, the word "or" in the fifth
line should be changed to read "an. "
On page 5, Section 409 , the word "of" in the third
line should be changed to read "for. "
On page 6, Section 410. 1, the number "410. 1" would be
deleted as well as the heading "Restrictions. " The words
lion District lands" would be inserted after the word
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consumed" in the second line.
On page 6, Section 600 , line three, a typographical error
showing the word "designated" as "dsignated" should be
corrected.
On page 7 , Section 603 , the word "things" would be
deleted from the first line and the word "other" would
be changed to read "others. "
Meeting 75-8 Page seven
On page 8, Section 800, the caption "ANIMALS , HUNTING,
FISHING" would be changed to read "HUNTING AND FISH-
ING. "
On page 8, section 801.1, the caption "Dogs and Cats
Prohibited" would be added. A typographical error
in the first line should be corrected from "si-" to
read "dis-" and in the second line the words "or
disturbance" should be added after the word "disrup-
tion. "
On page 8 , Section 801. 2, the caption would be changed
from "Exceptions" to read "Horses and Livestock. "
On page 9, Section 807 , the words "without a permit"
should be inserted after the word "shall" in the first
line.
On page 10, Section 900.1 (b) , the word "flowing" in
the fourth line should read "glowing. "
On page 10, Section 901. 1, the numbers "901. 1" should
be deleted. In that section, item (e) should have the
quotes removed from the word "marked" and in item (i) ,
the word "use" should be removed from the second line.
Motion: K. Duffy moved adoption of Ordinance No. 75-1 , an
Ordinance of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District Establishing Regulations for
Use of Midpeninsula Regional Park District Lands, as
amended by S. Norton' s corrections and changes. D.
Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed unani-
mously.
N. Hanko said she wanted it to be clear that District lands were
open for hiking to all kinds of groups, and that -the permit
system should allow for permits to be granted "on-site" as well
as by written or telephone communications.
J. Olson said with a number of groups a minimum of overhead
is required from the District because these groups have their
own leaders, insurance, and are well-organized. However, he
said, it would be desirable to have use plans for District lands
before permits are granted. He said it would take six to
eight weeks to prepare the permit standards.
D. Wendin said he would not want to have the regulatory ordin-
ances effective on the North Foothills and Saratoga Gap Pre-
serves until a permit system could be in effect also.
S. Norton said the Board could exempt those two properties
from permit requirements if they wished.
Meeting 75-8 Page eight
H. Grench suggested the staff consider the problem and return
to the Board at its next meeting with a proposal. K. Duffy
stated the consensus that this was acceptable.
The Board recessed at 9 :30 P.M. and reconvened at 9:46 P .M.
VIII . OLD BUSINESS NOT REQUIRING ACTION
A. "Friends of the MRPD" Foundation
H. Grench referred to his memorandum (M-75-53) dated March 19 ,
1975 , which was postponed to this meeting from the meeting of
March 26, 1975 regarding the possible formation of a "Friends
of the MRPD" Foundation to seek gifts of property, stocks,
bonds and other assets for the District' s open space program.
He said he envisioned an independent agency initiated by a
few dedicated people who could deal with persons who are more
likely to approach a private agency than a public one regard-
ing disposition of their assets. The foundation could arrange
for bargain sales and function as a holding agent for property
which the District might not be in a position to purchase at
a particular time. It could also initiate fund raising activ-
ities on behalf of the District. He felt the foundation' s
members would be working closely with the District' s Assistant
General Manager to try to avoid overlaps in negotiations. He
thought the first and most difficult step would be in finding
the right people to start such a foundation, and he hoped the
Directors would be involved in the selection process.
D. Wendin asked if the District would aid the foundation in
its start-up costs. S. Norton advised that he saw no problem
in helping the foundatin get started financially. Eventually,
he said, the foundation might be self-supporting. H. Grench
noted that the foundation could provide services to the Dis-
trict on a contractual basis.
Motion: B. Green moved that the Board of Directors endorse the
concept of a "Friends of the MRPD" Foundation. K.
Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unani-
mously.
H. Grench said he would like the Board to begin thinking of
people who would be interested in beginning the foundation.
D. Wendin volunteered to coordinate the effort to seek out
people interested in forming the foundation.
B. Governmental and Private Liaison Program
H. Grench introduced his report (R-75-3) dated April 4 , 1975,
regarding certain aspects of the Governmental and Private
Liaison Program of the District. He said that although the
program had been backburnered in favor of other programs of
more immediate importance to the District, excellent progress
had been made in fostering good relations with other agencies
and private groups.
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Meeting 75-8 Page nine
H. Grench said there was more that the District could be doing
in this program, but additional staff time would be required,
or, the reduction of other programs. He said direct contacts
with governmental officials seemed to be more productive, as
opposed to reliance on agendas and minutes, for getting infor-
mation on activities of interest to the District. Although
the prospect of holding land tours for city officials and staff
members is an exciting one, the Board may not wish to advertise
the District' s properties until land use plans have been adopted.
D. Wendin said it appeared that H. Grench would need additional
help at some point to free him to spend more time on liaison
activities, especially with the anticipated annexation. H.
Grench agreed that the pre-annexation activities would be time
consuming.
N. Hanko said she would like input from city council members
regarding the District 's Master Plan, and this could be done
prior to taking them on land tours.
H. Grench advised that the present system of reviewing agendas,
minutes and Environmental Impact Reports consisted of having
Jennie George read such documents and mark any items of parti-
cular interest to the District, then forward them to E. Jaynes
for his review. They are then given to H. Grench, who deter-
mines if any of the items marked for attention by J. George
or E. Jaynes need action. He said the process could be expanded
to include Director review if they wished.
N. Hanko said she would like to have Palo Alto agendas and min-
utes reviewed, even though Palo Alto charges considerably for
these materials.
D. Wendin said he did not want to have more time spent on re-
viewing the documents, although he did want to be alerted if
an important item of interest came to the staff ' s attention.
E. Shelley agreed that he wanted to be kept informed.
K. Duffy stated the consensus that the present system of review
of agendas, minutes and Environmental Impact Reports be con-
tinued.
H. Grench advised that the League of Women Voters had expressed
interest in a pilot project for citizen monitors who would
keep the District informed of action by other governmental
entities which might be of interest to the District.
K. Duffy stated the consensus that a pilot project be initiated
to provide for citizen monitors to advise the District of
action taken by other agencies of interest to it, providing
a minimum of staff time was involved.
H. Grench said guidelines for the project would be set up.
Meeting 75-8 Page ten
IX. CLAIMS
Motion: D. Wendin moved acceptance of the revised claims
(C-75-8) dated April 9, 1975 . B. Green seconded
the motion.
Discussion: N. Hanko stated she would abstain be-
cause of item No. 1004 on the claims. The motion
passed on the following vote: AYE - D. Wendin, K.
Duffy, B. Green and E. Shelley; ABSTAIN - N. Hanko.
X. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board recessed to Executive Session to discuss land nego-
tiations at 10: 45 P.M.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11: 10 P.M.
Anne Cathcart Crosley
Administrative Secretary