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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19760128 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) .fleeting 76-2 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT Regular Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S January 28 , 1976 745 Distel Drive Los Altos, CA I . ROLL CALL President Hanko called the meeting to order at 7 : 31 P.M. Members Present: Barbara Green, Nonette Hanko, Edward Shelley and Daniel Wendin. Katherine Duffy arrived at 7 : 33 P.M. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Edward Jaynes, Jon Olson, Anne Crosley, Robert Garcia, Jennie George, Carroll Harring- ton, Stanley Norton and Del Woods . APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of January 14 , 1976 B. Green referred to page seven, paragraph two of the minutes of January 14 , 1976 , and asked that the last phrase of the sentence read "suggesting further study by the County" in place of "subject to additional study. " E . Shelley referred to the second to the last paragraph on page one of the minutes, and asked that the last phrase in the first sentence read as follows: . . .stating that his intention was to point out that item No. 1 had been moved to the opening sentence and that no other significant changes had been made in the order of the factors listed on page eighteen of the draft Master Plan. " N. Hanko referred to page ten of the minutes and suggested that the heading "INFORMATIONAL REPORTS" should be inserted after the motion appointing the Goals Workshop Subcommittee members . K. Duffy referred to the Election of officers section on page two of the minutes, and suggested a sentence be included to show that N. Hanko took. over the duties of presiding officer at that time. Mr. Gordon Jennings, 441 East Meadow, Palo Alto, referred to page nine, paragraph two of the minutes , and asked that a sentence be added to reflect his statement that the success Y A. Minutes of January 28 , 1976 E. Shelley referred to his amendment in paragraph five , page five of the minutes of January 28 , 1976 , and asked that the words "or equivalent access" be inserted after the word "stile. " N. Hanko stated the consensus that the minutes of January 28 , 1976 be approved as amended. Meeting 76-2 Page two of the District 's land endowment program would depend on the ability of the District to attract a capable person to be the Land Endowment Specialist. E. Shelley said the tapes of the January 14, 1976 meeting could be checked to determine what was actually said. D. Wendin said he did not feel that was a proper expenditure of secretarial time and that a citizen who wanted to have certain statements included in the minutes should send a written communication to the Board. N. Hanko stated the consensus that the minutes of January 14 , 1976 be approved as amended by the Board. III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS There were no written communications. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA K. Duffy asked that Scheduling of Board/Staff Relations be considered under New Business With Action Requested. H. Grench said he would like the Board to consider a Budget Transfer item under New Business With Action Requested. N. Hanko stated the consensus that the agenda be adopted with the above changes. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no oral communications at this time . VI. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Scheduling of Hearing in San Mateo County Regarding Proposed Annexation H. Grench introduced his memorandum (M-76-12) dated January 23, 1976, on Scheduling of Hearing in San Mateo County Regarding Proposed Annexation. He advised that Santa Clara County LAFCO was expected to consider the proposed annexation to the District of a portion of south San Mateo County on February 4 , 1976. Since the timetable would be tight for getting the issue on the June ballot, he suggested the Board hold a Special Meeting at 7 :30 P.M. on February 4 to consider dates for holding public hearings on the annexation, in anticipation of favorable action that day by LAFCO. S . Norton advised that the Board must give fifteen days ' notice of a public hearing on the annexation, and that action to set hearing dates cannot be taken until LAFCO makes its decision. Meeting 76-2 Page three Motion: B. Green moved that the Board of Directors hold a Special Meeting on February 4 , 1976 at 7 : 30 P.M. to consider action taken by LAFCO regarding the proposed annexation. E . Shelley seconded the motion. Discussion: N. Hanko said she would like Legal Counsel to prepare for February 4 a schedule of actions expected from the Board regarding the proposed annexation. S . Norton said he would prepare such a schedule, and he advised that the Board is required to act within thirty days after the petition is approved by LAFCO. The motion passed unanimously. B. Support of Cupertino 's County Park Study Proposal H. Grench introduced his memorandum (M-76-13) dated January 23 , 1976, regarding District Support of Cupertino' s County Park Study Proposal . He referred the Board to a draft letter to the City of Cupertino responding favorably to the City Coun- cills request for support for a County study to determine the possibility of establishing a County regional park near the intersection of Interstate 280 and Foothill Boulevard. D. Wendin suggested the second sentence in the second paragraph of the draft letter should be changed to read as follows : "As part of its Basic Policy, the District works with and encourages other agencies to continue and to expand these programs . " N. Hanko stated the consensus that this change should be made. N. Hanko said she would like to have a copy of the final letter sent to the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the draft letter to the City of Cupertino be approved as amended and sent to the City Council , with a copy to the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Discussion: H. Grench advised that Cupertino City Councilwoman Kathy Nellis would like as many Board members as possible to attend the February 3, 1976 Board of Supervisors meeting , at 1 : 30 P.M. , when this matter will be considered. He added that staff would attend the meeting . VII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Use and Management Plan for North Foothills Open Space Preserve J. Olson introduced his report (R-76-5) dated January 21, 1976 regarding the proposed Use and Management Plan for North Foot- hills Open Space Preserve . The Preserve consists of 160 acres along Page Mill Road between Palo Alto Foothills Park and the Hidden Villa Ranch. The Preserve has three plant communities: grasslands, chaparral and oak-madrone woodlands. A variety Meeting 76-2 Page four of wildlife may be found on the site, including coyote, deer, mountain lion, birds and small mammals. The northern part of the property was once part of the Rancho La Purissima Concep- cion land grant, and there is evidence that an old stagecoach road passed through the southeasterly slope of the Preserve during the latter 18001s. Page Mill Road is the main access to the site, and there are several turnouts along the road. J. Olson described the turnouts and recommended parking and fencing for each. He suggested woodrail fencing be used to blend with fencing for the City of Palo Alto's Foothills Park and to prevent dumping and control parking. He also recom- mended that debris be removed from trails and roadside turn- outs, continuation of regular patrol , and the installation of fire gates if requested by the Palo Alto Fire Department. J . Olson suggested the Board of Directors also adopt the following policy recommendations with respect to the Preserve: (a) the natural amenities of the site should be preserved and protected, and development or changes should conform to the District 's goals; (b) the District should work with the City of Palo Alto and Foothills Park to develop an effective use and management plan for the area, and the possibility of Foothills Park manage- ment of the eastern portion of the Preserve should be investi- gated; (c) the District should cooperate with city and County efforts to establish regional trails in the area and to main- tain Page Mill Road as a Scenic Arterial Route; (d) scientific research of the site should be encouraged and the area should be allowed to evolve in a natural succession; and (e) the site should be exempt from entry permit requirements, allowing such uses as hiking , roadside viewing, picnicking and photography. E. Shelley expressed his concern that a casual observer might feel the Preserve was a part of Palo Alto Foothills Park, especially if similar fencing is used, and therefore not open to non-Palo Alto residents. He suggested one or more hiking stiles might be installed to indicate that the property was open for use. D. Wendin said he felt site planning details such as fencing and/or hiking stiles should be decided by staff , but that as a matter of policy, the Board could state that any barriers should not prohibit access. J. Olson said there was money in the land management budget for fencing of critical areas along the Preserve now; but total fencing costs would exceed $5,000 and must be considered in relation to other land management expenses. J. Olson advised that there was a rare oak tree located on the Preserve which staff will identify and protect. J. Olson advised that adjacent property owners to the Preserve had been sent copies of the use and management plan, and Mr. Frank Duveneck had replied in support of the plan. Meeting 76-2 Page five H. Grench introduced his memorandum (M-76-11) dated January 23, 1976 , recommending that the Board (a) adopt the use and management plan set forth in the Land Manager ' s report R-76-5; (b) approve the Negative Declaration for the project; and (c) continue to use North Foothills Open Space Preserve as the unofficial name of the site. E. Shelley said he felt it was important to qualify the District 's efforts to work with the City of Palo Alto so it is made clear that all District residents will have use of the Preserve. Dr. Robert Mark, 725 Cowper, Palo Alto, said he hoped the District would be as lenient as possible regarding parking along Page Mill Road. He said he did not think trail use in the area, including Foothills Park, should be restricted to residents of Palo Alto. He encouraged signing of the Preserve. Mr. Gordon Jennings, 441 East Meadow, Palo Alto, said he agreed with Dr. Mark 's statements. He added that it was his understanding there were jurisdictional problems regarding fencing and signing in the area. J. Olson replied that Page Mill Road was established by a "viewer ' s" method, and there is no precise description of the road boundaries. Only the pavement is considered to be the County' s right-of-way, so that the shoulder of the road belongs to the property owner of the land adjacent to the road. Because of this , a property owner (e.g . , City of Palo Alto) may erect signs on the shoulder of the road. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board of Directors adopt the use and management plan for the North Foothills Open Space Preserve as set forth in the Land Manager ' s report R-76-5 dated January 21, 1976 . K. Duffy seconded the motion. Amendment: E . Shelley moved to amend the use and manage- ment plan to include the installation of a hiking stile at No. 8 on the map on page five of the report, or at another equivalent access point. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The amendment to the motion passed unanimously. Amendment: D. Wendin moved to amend policy recommendation (b) on page eight of the use and management plan by striking the second sentence which states "Pursue the possibility for Foothills Park to manage the lands on the western side of Page Mill Road. " E. Shelley seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin said his motion was not intended to preclude staff from working with Palo Alto and looking into use and management alternatives for the Preserve . The amendment to the motion passed unanimously. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board of Directors approve the Negative Declaration for the project and keep the name North Foothills Open Space Preserve as the unofficial name of the site. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting 76-2 Page six In response to a question from E . Shelley, H . Grench advised that it was his interpretation that woodrail fencing on the Preserve would serve not only as functional protection but also as an improvement to the site 's appearance. Therefore, money for the woodrail fencing would come out of the 5% budget for recreational improvements. B. Appointments to Budget Subcommittee N. Hanko introduced her memorandum dated January 21 , 1976 , regarding Appointments to the Budget Subcommittee. According to the new Rules of Procedure, appointments to the Budget Subcommittee are to be made at the meeting following the first meeting in January, and the Treasurer must be one of the appointees . N. Hanko sug- gested that E . Shelley (the newly elected Treasur&r) and K. Duffy be appointed as the Budget Subcommittee members. The Board con- sented to the appointments . C. Resolution Authorizing Signing and Endorsing Checks and Other Instruments (Wells Fargo Bank) Motion : K. Duffy moved adoption of Resolution No. 76-2 , a Resolu- tion Authorizing Signing and Endorsing Checks and Other Instruments (Wells Fargo Bank) . E . Shelley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. D. Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Park District Establishing Financial Instrument Signatories of the District for Santa Clara County Accounts Motion: N. Hanko moved adoption of Resolution No. 76-3 , a Resolu- tion of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Park District Establishing Financial Instrument Signatories of the District for Santa Clara County Accounts . B . Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The Board recessed at 8 :52 P.M. and reconvened at 9 : 08 P.M. E . Scheduling of Board/Staff Relations Workshop K. Duffy said she felt the subject of Board/staff relations was not adequately addressed at the Workshop Subcommittee meeting of January 27 . She suggested the matter might be appropriately dis- cussed at a Special Meeting rather than combined with a Land Use Workshop on February 28 . D. Wendin said he supported such a meeting as long as the agenda and format of the Land Use Workshop remained the responsibility of the Workshop Subcommittee. H. Grench said the staff felt the need to express some thoughts to the Board in an informal atmosphere. He suggested Thursday, February 5, 1976 as a possible date for the meeting. Meeting 76-2 Page seven Motion: K. Duffy moved that a Special Meeting on Board/Staff Functioning and Relations be held at 12 : 00 Noon, Thursday, February 5 , 1976 . D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. F. Budget Transfer H. Grench advised that since the budget for the 1975-1976 fis- cal year was adopted, the District has made a number of changes in direction, and has hired several new staff members . In order to furnish the additional office space that was rented to accom- modate the staff, it will be necessary to transfer $4 ,000 from Services and Supplies to Fixed Assets - Office Equipment. He recommended that the Board authorize this budget transfer. Motion: B. Green moved that $4, 000 be transferred from Services and Supplies to Fixed Assets - Office Equipment for the purpose of providing the necessary furnishings for the District office . K. Duffy seconded the motion. The -motion passed unanimously. VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS There were no informational reports at this time. IX. CLAIMS Motion: N. Hanko moved appr9val of the revised claims (C-76-2) dated January 28 , 1976 . B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. X. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9 :29 P.M. to discuss land negotiations. XI . ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 10 :57 P.M. Anne Cathcart Crosley District Clerk