HomeMy Public PortalAbout19760609 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) aeting 76-17
AIM
i
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
June 9 , 1976 745 Distel Drive
Los Altos , CA
I. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by President Hanko at 7 :31 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, Carroll Harrington, Bradley Clifford and Stanley
Norton.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of May 26 , 1976
B. Green referred to page six of the minutes and suggested that
the word "acres" be inserted after the number 317 on line two of
the first paragraph. She suggested the word "golf" be placed
after the word "neighboring" on line three of the ninth paragraph
on page ten of the minutes . She also suggested the sixth para-
graph on page twelve of the minutes be clarified to read as
follows :
"B. Green said the Planning Policy Committee was
investigating a possible trail that would connect
San Mateo County' s planned baylands trail from
Brisbane to Palo Alto through Santa Clara County
baylands with connecting trails from the urban
area. . .She said there had been meetings with offi-
cials at Moffett and with the Mayors of Cupertino ,
Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and Mountain View regarding
the trail system. . . "
N. Hanko said she did not recall making the statement in para-
graph two on page five of the minutes , but would agree to let
the statement stand if no one else took credit for it. No
one took credit.
N. Hanko stated the consensus that the minutes of May 26, 1976
by approved as amended.
Meeting 76-17 Page two
III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
A. Crosley referred the Board to two written communications :
a letter dated May 20, 1976 from Pamela King and Robert C.
Jones stating that they had recently completed a map of exist-
ing and proposed trails in the Santa Cruz Mountains for the
Sempervirens Fund; and a letter dated May 28 , 1976 from Michael
Dennis of the U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service enclosing a
soils report on the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
N. Hanko said she would like to add an announcement of annexation
under Special orders of the Day.
N. Hanko stated the consensus that the agenda be adopted with the
above addition.
V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Mr. Ed Schell , P.O. Box 1345, Los Gatos , advised the Board that
the San Jose Amateur Astronomers had held a very successful "star
party" on Black Mountain on June 5. He extended his congratulations
to the Board and staff for the annexation of south San Mateo County.
VI . SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
A. Annexation of South San Mateo County to the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District
N. Hanko extended the appreciation and congratulations of the
Board of Directors to the Citizens Committee for Annexation on
the successful annexation of south San Mateo County to the Dis-
trict on Tuesday, June 8 , 1976 . She said the citizens had
worked very hard, and she looked forward to working with them
as much as acquiring some beautiful land in the annexation area.
She asked staff to prepare a resolution of congratulations to
the Citizens Committee for consideration at the next Board
meeting. The Board concurred.
V. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Report on Annexation
S. Norton advised that it was his opinion the Board must take
steps to create two new wards in south San Mateo County, and
this process could be done from now until August. Notice of
the November, 1976 election of two new Directors would have
to be published sometime during August, he estimated. He
said the Board could, at its discretion, appoint two people
to fill the new Director vacancies anytime between the crea-
tion of the wards and November, or decline to appoint anyone
and simply wait until the election.
ii
Meeting 76-17 Page three
N. Hanko said she felt, it was importwii to begin the process of
establishing wards in the new portion of the District. She
suggested the Board appoint a subcommittee of two Directors who
would work with two members of the Citizens Committee for Annexa-
tion in dividing the annexed territory into wards. The Sub-
committee would return with its recommendation no later than
August 11. She asked for a consensus from the Board that such
wards run from the Bay to the skyline. She noted that the
San Mateo County Registrar of Voters and Planning Department
were willing to help the Subcommittee determine population and
define appropriate boundaries. She said she would like to serve
on the Subcommittee since she had had some experience in this
regard when the boundaries of the original District were being
formulated. She said Director D. Wendin indicated he was also
willing to serve on the Subcommittee.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that a Subcommittee be formed consisting
of Directors D. Wendin and N. Hanko and two members of
the Citizens Committee for Annexation for the purpose
of dividing the territory annexed to the District on
June 8 , 1976 into two wards of equal population. The
boundary between the wards would generally run from
the skyline to the Bay. The Subcommittee would return
to the Board with a recommendation no later than August
11, 1976. B. Green second e4 the motion.
Discussion: D. Wendin said felt the work of the Sub-
committee should be completed as quickly as possible,
and he requested that the August 11 date be stricken
from the motion.
Amendment to Motion: N. Hanko amended her motion to
exclude the words "no later than August 11, 1976 . " B.
Green agreed to the amendment. The motion passed unan-
imously.
E. Shelley said his philosophical preference was to wait for the
election in November ; however, there has been concern expressed
that south San Mateo County be adequately represented on the
Board as soon as possible. He therefore suggested the Board
take steps to appoint two interim Directors at the earliest date.
B. Green agreed.
N. Hanko said the Board could decide on a procedure at the next
Board meeting.
B. Purchase of Previously Determined 5 .6 Acre Addition to Fremont
Older Open Space Preserve (Merkelo Property)
H. Grench introduced his report (R-76-16) dated June 4 , 1976 ,
regarding the proposed Purchase of Previously Determined 5 .6 Acre
Meeting 76-17 Page four
Addition to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve (Merkelo Property) .
He stated that the Board of Directors had passed a resolution on
October 8 , 1975 determining that a total of 68 acres would be
added to the existing 266 acre Fremont Older Open Space Preserve.
Since that time, 42 acres of the land have been acquired through
negotiation, leaving a total of 26 acres in three ownerships.
The District is now being offered the 5. 6 acre Merkelo property
for $53,500. He recommended that the Board approve the resolu-
tion attached to his report.
Motion: K. Duffy moved adoption of Resolution No. 76-12 , a Reso-
lution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District Authorizing Officer to Execute
Certificate of Acceptance of Conveyance to District,
and Authorizing General Manager to Execute Any and All
Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate to Closing of
the Transaction (Fremont Older Open Space Preserve Addi-
tion - Merkelo) . E. Shelley seconded the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.
A. Report on Annexation (continued)
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board reconsider the action
taken on agenda item No. 1 regarding appointment of a
Subcommittee to determine annexation ward boundaries
to include an assignment to the Subcommittee to prepare
a proposed procedure for appointing Directors for the
new wards in the event the Board chooses to appoint
interim Directors . N. Hanko seconded the motion. ' The
motion passed unanimously.
Mr. Gordon Jennings, 441 East Meadow, Palo Alto, said he questioned
the inclusion of two members of the Citizens Committee on Annexa-
tion in the Board' s Subcommittee. He wondered if representatives
from that group would provide a broad enough base in the annexed
area.
N. Hanko responded that the citizen members would be included in
an advisory capacity only, and that the Subcommittee 's recommen-
dation would, in any event, still be subject to public review
when the item was placed on a Board meeting agenda. B. Green
added that members of the press will be sent the Subcommittee 's
report.
E. Shelley said he felt it was appropriate to include citizen
participation in determining ward boundaries , however, he was
concerned that it was not appropriate for establishing procedures
for appointing interim Directors. He suggested two Subcommittees
be formed, one for each purpose.
Meeting 76-17 Page five
D. Wendin withdrew his previous motion.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that Directors N. Hanko and D. Wendin
return to the next Board meeting with a proposed pro-
cedure and schedule to be considered in the event the
Board decides to appoint interim Directors in the annexed
area. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
VI. NEW BUSINESS WITH NO ACTION REQUESTED
A. Presentation by Black Mountain Resource Conservation District
H. Grench introduced his memorandum (M-76-88) dated June 4 , 1976 ,
regarding a Presentation by Black Mountain Resource Conservation
District to acquaint the Board with the purposes of this special
district.
Mr. Lorin Trubschenek, Director, Black Mountain Resource Conserva-
tion District, said his District was established under Division 9
of the Public Resources Code to provide soil conservation data to
landowners and other interested parties . Although the agency' s
emphasis has been traditionally on soil conservation, the scope
of activities has gradually expanded to include other environ-
mental factors including recreation and wildlife development.
He advised that the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation
Commission was considering the possible consolidation of the three
resource conservation districts in Santa Clara County to provide
more effective staff resources and coordination of effort. He
said he felt his District could provide technical assistance to
the MRPD with respect to agricultural and recreational planning
on individual sites . He suggested a memorandum of understanding
between the two agencies could initiate this process.
Mr. Michael Dennis , Soil Conservationist with the U.S.D.A. Soil
Conservation Service, said most of his work is with individual
farm and ranch owners regarding the best use of their soils.
The process of implementing soil conservation plans can take
several years depending on economic factors. He emphasized that
the direction of soil conservation people was changing toward
resource conservation which includes many environmental consider-
ations. He said he felt the MRPD could benefit by working with
soil conservation district staff members in site planning.
J. Olson commented that the MRPD had contacted the Soil Conser-
vation Service regarding the Fremont older trail alignment and
the hayfields. He said he hoped the Service would work with the
MRPD on grazing capabilities and trail possibilities for the
Black Mountain Open Space Preserve during the planning process
for that site.
In response to a question from N. Hanko, Mr. Trubschenek said
his District was in the process of working with Stanford in
planning for its lands .
Meeting 76-17 Page six
Mr. Dennis explained that the data enclosed with his letter to
the Board of May 28 , 1976 recommended against cultivating the
apricot orchards on Fremont Older Open Space Preserve or other
similar activity which might leave the soil bare . Planting
grasses to enhance the wildlife habitat of the Preserve would
be a more appropriate use , he felt. He added that the Soil
Conservation Service was currently working with other public
agencies on land use planning, and they hoped to do more of
this .
N. Hanko said the Board would expect staff to return As necessary
with any appropriate recommendations for a memorandum of under-
standing or other activity with soil conservation people.
B. Report of Trails Task Force Subcommittee on Bicycle Routes
Ms. Artemas Ginzton, Bicycle Route Coordinator for the Trails
Task Force, introduced her memorandum (M-76-87) dated May 30 ,
1976 regarding Bicycle Route Designation Workshops Report and
Recommendations. She explained that two full day workshops had
been held in recent months with representatives from bicycle
clubs throughout the District to establish proposed bicycle
routes of regional significance which relate to existing Dis-
trict preserves and other public lands . She said the best
and most feasible bicycle routes recommended by the group as
having highest priority were as follows : (1) a route along
Alpine Road to Upper Page Mill Road and Skyline; (2) an improved
route from Saratoga to Skyline, with attention to the entrance
to Sanborn Park; (3) a scenic access route along the foothills
passing by Permanente Creek Park; and (4) providing an alternate
route to Highway 17 in the Lexington Dam and Los Gatos area.
She said other routes and improvements considered to be most
immediately useful to bicylists included the following: (1)
access to the foothills for all District residents , with special
consideration to reaching Permanente Creek Park and St. Josephs
Path from the vicinity of Highway 280 and the Foothill Expressway;
(2) closing upper Alpine Road to traffic and paving it for
bicycle use; (4) paving Monte Bello route; (5) bypassing Highway
17 in the Lexington Reservoir area; and (6) preparation and
distribution of District bicycle route maps , as well as main-
tenance of map plans . She said it was the hope of the bicyclists
that the District would use the information provided in the
report to guide development and management policies of the Dis-
trict. If the routes set forth in the report were implemented,
they would provide the most viable means of enjoying the open
spaces of the District.
Mr. E. David Uggla, 1820 West Bayshore No. 19, Palo Alto, said he
was a member of the bicycle group, representing the California
Association of Bicycling organizations and the Santa Clara Valley
Bicycle Association. He emphasized the need for the support and
cooperation of public agencies in establishing safe bicycle routes.
Meeting 76-17 Page seven
Mr. Dean Prescott, 4033 Hamilton Avenue, San Jose, said he was
a member of the Santa Clara Valley Bicycle Assocation. He
agreed with the need for public agency support and added that
bicyclists also had preferences on such items as bicycle racks.
N. Hanko suggested the Board accept the report presented by A.
Ginzton, and she asked the bicycle group members to keep the
Board informed on how the District can encourage and work with
other agencies. She said thank you letters should be sent to
participants in the bicycle workshops. She commented that the
work done by the bicyclists would be very helpful to both Board
and staff in the site planning process , and she hoped the
Fremont Older Open Space Preserve brochure would include
directions for bicyclists.
A. Ginzton encouraged the Board to include detailed directions
to District sites for bicyclists.
D. Wendin said he felt the brochure details should be taken care
of by staff. J. Olson said staff would coordinate with local
cities and would most likely show established bicycle routes by
which residents can reach District preserves. E. Shelley added
that it would seem appropriate to encourage cities to provide
bicycle access to District preserve when they can.
Motion: B. Green moved that the Board of Directors accept the
report and recommendations of the Bicycle Route Desig-
nation Workshop participants contained in memorandum
M-76-87, to be used as a resource for staff in guiding
the development and management plans of the Midpeninsula
Regional Park District. N. Hanko seconded the motion.
Discussion: G. Jennings pointed out that both Alpine
Road and Montebello Ridge are used by equestrians , and
paving of these routes , as well as any baylands route,
should take into consideration equestrian traffic,
since paving is hard on horses. N. Hanko responded
that staff would be sensitive to this. H. Grench said
his interpretation of the acceptance of the bicycle
report would be that it be used as a staff resource
document only, while the draft Trails Task Force reg-
ional trails plan is intended to be adopted as Board
policy. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the bicycle route report be sent with
a covering letter to cities within the District. N.
Hanko seconded the motion.
Discussion: Mrs . Dorothy Jennings , 441 East Meadow,
Palo Alto, cautioned that other jurisdictions might
consider such an action to be an endorsement of the
bicycle route proposals. D. Wendin questioned the
appropriateness of such an action, inasmuch as he did
not want the District involved in constructing bicycle
routes. E. Shelley said he felt the document should be
Meeting 76-17 Page eight
given more careful review if it is to be sent to other
jurisdictions. K. Duffy withdrew her motion. N. Hanko
withdrew her second. N. Hanko said she felt the sense
of the Board to be that copies of the report would be
available upon request. It was agreed that copies could
be presented to the Santa Clara County Planning Policy
Committee' s Subcommittee on Trails. G. Jennings said he
felt the bicycle group did a fine job, especially in
designating specific routes rather than general ones.
The Board recessed at 9 : 30 P.M. and reconvened at 9 :44 P.M.
VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Mountain View Summer Camp Proposal for Permanente Creek Park
J. Olson advised that he was currently expecting to receive a
proposal from Mountain View to sponsor a summer camp from about
July 6 through July 27 for about 25 children per week. He said
the Anderson house would probably be used as a center for activ-
ities.
B. City of Cupertino Hillside General PAW
H. Grench reported that a statement regarding acquisition of
open space land within and outside Urban Service Area bound-
aries of Cupertino had been adopted which very closely reflected
the recommendation of the District set forth in his May 28,
1976 letter to the City Council. According to the statement,
open space acquisition outside the Urban Service Area is com-
patible with Cupertino' s General Plan; open space acquisition
within the Urban Service Area should be reviewed on a project-
by-project basis.
C. Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve Addition: Discussions
With County of Santa Clara
N. Hanko said she placed this item on as an Informational Report
so that she could learn what staff was doing toward working
with the County on joint acquisition of the 355 acre Gunetti
property on which the District has acquired an option. H. Grench
advised that the County Parks and Recreation Department appears
to be somewhat interested in a portion of the Gunetti property;
however, there may be no money in their current budget for
acquisition of this particular acreage. Staff is in contact with
the County on this matter.
N. Hanko said she felt the County Board of Supervisors should
know of the District' s interest in cooperative efforts with
them. After discussion, H. Grench said he would contact Mr.
Amyx to get his latest thinking on the matter.
I
Meeting 76-17 Page nine
D. Open Space Conference Slide Presentation
B. Green said she had seen the slide presentation prepared by
Don Weden for the proposed Open Space Conference. She said
the presentation was excellent, and she urged Board and staff
members to see it if they can. N. Hanko suggested that staff
schedule the presentation for a future Board meeting when the
agenda is light.
E. City of Saratoga Bond Measures "J" and "K"
K. Duffy advised that the two bond measures supported by the
City of Saratoga, "J" and "K" , were defeated in the June 8
election.
VIII. CLAIMS
Motion: D. Wendin moved acceptance of the revised claims
(C-76-10) dated June 9, 1976. N. Hanko seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
IX. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9: 55 P.M. to discuss
land negotiations and personnel matters.
X. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11: 00 P.M.
Anne Cathcart Crosley
District Clerk
B. Minutes of June 9 , 1976
N. Hanko asked that the tape recording of the meeting of June 9 ,
1976 be checked to determine if the motion in paragraph three
on page four of the minutes is accurate.
Mrs. Dorothy Jennings, 441 East Meadow, Palo Alto, asked that
the information on the names of the present members of the
Board of Directors of the Black Mountain Resource Conservation
District be included in the minutes of June 9. N. Hanko stated
the consensus that this information would be included in the
minutes of June 9.
Mrs. Jennings also asked that the comments attributed to Gordon
Jennings in the fifth paragraph on page seven of the June 9
minutes be attributed to her instead. N. Hanko stated the
consensus that the minutes be checked to determine the accuracy
of this statemeht.