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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19760908 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 76-24 'eloe MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT Regular Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S 745 Distel Drive September 8, 1976 Los Altos, CA I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by President Hanko at 7 : 30 P.M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Nonette Hanko, Edward Shelley and Harry Turner. George Seager arrived at 7 : 37 P.M. Members Absent: Daniel Wendin Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Edward Jaynes , Jon Olson, Anne Crosley, Carroll Harrington, Phyllis Lee, Stanley Norton and Del Woods. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of August 25, 1976 N. Hanko referred to the second motion on page three of the minutes of August 25, 1976 and pointed out that no second had been made to the motion, although it did pass unanimously. She suggested the Board pass a motion ratifying its action. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board ratify its motion ap- proved on August 25, 1976 which amended Exhibit A, Category I by striking out paragraph 4 , page 2 , "An interest in real property which is used principally as the residence of the designated position making the filing is not a reportable interest" . H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. N. Hanko asked that the last line in the seventh paragraph on page seven of the minutes be changed from "City Council" to "Municipal Council . " H. Grench asked that the word "direct" in the second sentence of the first paragraph on page seven of the minutes be changed to do and that the last sentence in that paragraph be deleted. Meeting 76-24 Page two H. Grench suggested the word "County" be added after the words "Santa Clara" in the first paragraph under Informational Reports on page seven of the minutes. N. Hanko stated the consensus that the minutes of August 25 , 1976 be approved with the above changes. III . WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS A. Crosley advised that there were three Written Communications to the Board: (1) a letter dated September 2, 1976 from the Sequoia Union High School District declaring its Farm Hill site as surplus property; (2) a letter dated August 30 , 1976 from the Cupertino Sanitary District announcing a meeting of the Cupertino area governmental agency representatives on September 16; and (3) a letter dated August 20, 1976 from the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club asking the District to investigate the Hassler Canyon as a potential open space site. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA 11. Grench suggested the Board consider the letters from the Sequoia Union High School District and the Sierra Club under New Business With No Action Requested. N. Hanko asked that the Board consider conducting a meeting in San Mateo County under New Business With Action Requested. 14. Hanko stated the consensus that the agenda be adopted with the above additions. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Mr. Edward Schell, P.O. Box 1345, Los Gatos, said he would like the Board to consider the possibility of allowing a small por- tion of the El Sereno Open Space Preserve to be used as an observatory site. He said a number of groups, including the San Jose Amateur Astronomers and West Valley College, are interested in such a project. Several individuals , including, himself, are constructing telescopes which they would like to use in an observatory building. J. Olson said consideration of this type of structure would be addressed in the long range use and management plan. E. Shelley said there would need to be a more detailed plan presented before the Board could seriously consider the pos- sibility. Mr. Gordon Jennings , 441 East Meadow, Palo Alto, mentioned that copies of a newsletter and correspondence from the Los Altos Hills Horsemen' s Association had been sent to Board members. He Meeting 76-24 Page three said a poll of the Association' s members showed that they very strongly supported the District and did not want their area to withdraw from the District. VI. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Appointment to Mountain View Shoreline Park Study Subcommittee H. Grench referred to his memorandum (M-76-138) dated September 8, 1976 regarding an Appointment to Mountain View Shoreline Park Study Subcommittee. He recommended that the Board appoint a representative to the Subcommittee as requested by the Mountain View Parks and Recreation Commission in a letter dated July 15, 1976. He noted that the Board had delayed action on the appoint- ment until Director Shelley was present, since he represents that area. E. Shelley said he would be pleased to serve on the Subcommittee. Motion: N. Hanko moved that Director E. Shelley be appointed as the District 's representative to the Mountain View Shoreline Park Study Subcommittee. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Application for Permanente Creek Park Addition H. Grench introduced his report (R-76-25) dated August 27 , 1976 , regarding the proposed Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant Application for Permanente Creek Park Addition. He said the District has been successful in the past two fiscal years in receiving approval to use about $310 ,000 in federal Land and Water Conservation Funds to help finance District purchases. In accordance with the District' s Basic Policy, which encourages seeking grants to supplement tax revenues, it is recommended that the Board approve an application for funds to aid in the purchase of a 20 acre addition to Permanente Creek Park. The parcel is owned by the Archdiocese of San Francisco and is located adjacent to the St. Joseph' s Seminary. H. Grench pointed out that the District may have an opportunity to use the gift portion of a bargain sale of foothills property to the District as local matching funds for the grant. The foothills site consists of 274 acres above Palo Alto and Portola Valley. He emphasized that approval of the grant application does not commit the Board to a decision to acquire either or both of the parcels . He said Environmental Impact Assessments for both sites were attached to his report. Meeting 76-24 Page four J. Olson said the 20 acre site was a predominantly meadow area with large oak trees , offering a contrast to the topo- graphy of the existing Permanente Creek Park which is generally hilly. The proposed addition would be suitable as a picnic and playfield area, and with its purchase, the District would own both sides of Permanente Creek. He pointed out there could be other similar uses if Santa Clara County and the District enter into a joint project. At the present time, there is no specific boundary for a joint project. H. Grench said the application requests up to $350,000 for the site' s purchase; however, the exact amount may depend upon how much of the North Foothills Open Space Preserve Addi- tion purchase is considered a gift. In answer to a question from B. Green, he said the assessed value of that site may or may not be in line with the appraised value. He recom- mended the Board approve the grant application. Motion: B. Green moved adoption of Resolution No. 76-25, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpenin- sula Regional Park District Approving the Application for Land and Water Conservation Funds for the Perman- ente Creek Park Addition Acquisition. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. N. Hanko stated the consensus that Director K. Duffy be named alternate to both D. Wendin and B. Green in the event either of those Directors are unable to attend any of the intergovern- mental park project meetings with Sunnyvale and Santa Clara County. B. Meeting in Annexed Portion of District N. Hanko said discussions have recently been held regarding the possibility of holding District meetings in the newly annexed south San Mateo County area, rather than the present location, to encourage attendance by those residents and to acquaint them with the programs of the District. She said she felt this was a good idea, and that perhaps a meeting in the latter part of September could be held which included items of particular interest to south San Mateo County residents. She suggested the Board's next regular meeting be held in the San Carlos City Council Chambers. E. Shelley said he agreed it was a good idea to hold some meet- ings in the annexed area; however, he would prefer that they be special meetings. He felt people expected District meetings to be held in a particular place at a particular time, and the logistics of moving the usual meeting materials to another location require a special effort. Mrs. Dorothy Jennings , 441 East Meadow, Palo Alto, said she was concerned that the Board would change its established meeting place and time. Meeting 76-24 Page five H. Grench said the tentative agenda items for the second meeting in September were the Master Plan, a revision of the office lease, consideration of ranger and planning positions , and possible support of an application by the City of San Carlos for Land and Water Conservation Funds. B. Green said she felt meetings away from the office should only be done infrequently so as not to be too disruptive. N. Hanko said it appeared there were enough agenda items for one meeting, but not two meetings, and the Board had already committed itself to one special meeting on September 13. S. Norton said his opinion was that if the Board meets on its regular night at its regular time, it can still be considered a regular meeting even if held at a different location as long as the location is announced 48 hours prior to meeting time. However, if the meeting is held on a different night, it is considered a special meeting. N. Hanko said she felt if people in south San Mateo County would come to a meeting in their own area, they might be encouraged to come to a different location the next time. She suggested the matter of meetings at other sites be placed on a future Board meeting agenda. A. Crosley suggested the Board have an alternative meeting date or location in mind, since city council chambers are often reserved one or two months in advance for other public or private group meetings. Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board of Directors hold a Special Meeting as its second meeting in September in south San Mateo County at a location to be determined by staff. G. Seager seconded the motion. Discussion : N. Hanko stated the consensus that if the San Carlos City Council Chambers was not available on September 22 , an alternative date would be September 23. G. Seager reminded the Board that people from San Carlos and Redwood City think the District offices are very distant from them. He suggested the Board needs to show its willingness to cooperate, and he said he would make the effort to invite people to the meeting. The motion passed unanimously. The Board recessed at 8 :25 P.M. and reconvened at 8 :40 P.M. VIII. NEW BUSINESS WITH NO ACTION REQUESTED A. Letter from Sequoia Union High School District H. Grench said the surplus Farm Hill site referred to in the Sequoia Union High School District letter was near Canada Meeting 76-24 Page six College, but that the School District has not been responsive to requests to preserve the site. He noted that the cost ($1 ,350 ,000) was very expensive. He said staff's usual pro- cedure for a referral such as this was to send a brief letter stating the District is not interested at this time, or, to simply not respond. N. Hanko expressed interest in seeing the site. G. Seager said it might be a good idea to allude to the offer at the next meeting to point out that the District is selective and to encourage the School District to preserve the site. He suggested a letter be sent advising that the District is not interested in the property. E. Jaynes said his preference would be that the Board withhold statements about properties until staff has had an opportunity to investigate them. H. Grench said he would hold off on a response for now. B. Letter from Sierra Club N. Hanko stated the consensus that the letter of August 16 , 1976 from the Sierra Club regarding the Hassler Canyon area be considered by the Board as a Written Communication at the second meeting in September. H. Grench said he would advise the Sierra Club when the date and location of the meeting is definite. IX. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS A. Candidates for November 2 , 1976 Election A. Crosley advised that the following persons had qualified as candidates for Director of the District in the November 2 , 1976 general election: Ward 3 , Barbara Green; Ward 4 , Edward G. Shelley; Ward 6 , Harry A. Turner and Nancy Jewell Cross; Ward 7 , George Seager. B. Mid-peninsula Cities Study Group Meeting H. Grench advised that he and Directors H. Turner and G. Seager would be attending a meeting of the Mid-peninsula Cities Study Group on September 18 to discuss interaction between the Dis- trict and cities who are members of the Study Group. N. Hanko asked if San Carlos could be invited since they are the only city within the District which is not also a member of the Mid-peninsula Cities Study Group. G. Seager wondered if H. Grench would be the appropriate person to make the request. H. Grench said he would do so. Meeting 76-24 Page seven C. Presentation of Master Plan to Menlo Park City Council H. Turner advised that the Menlo Park City Council would be reviewing the District 's Master Plan at their October 5, 1976 study session, and he planned to attend the meeting. H. Grench added that he would give a presentation on the Dis- trict's Master Plan and the progress being made on extending it into south San Mateo County. D. Status of Site Use and Management Plans N. Hanko asked if staff could report on the status of use and management plans for District sites. H. Grench said staff was working on Permanente Creek Park plans at the present time. N. Hanko suggested an informational report be presented at the next meeting, which would also help acquaint residents of the annexed area with the District's sites and planning process. She further suggested staff prepare a brief slide presentation about the District' s accomplishments and Master Plan for the next meeting. X. CLAIMS Motion: K. Duffy moved acceptance of the revised claims (C-76- 16) dated September 8 , 1976 . B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. XI. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9 :00 P.M. to discuss land negotiations. XII. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 9 :58 P.M. Anne Cathcart Crosley District Clerk