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Meeting 77-3
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT
Special Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
Goals Workshop Terrace Dining Area
February 5, 1977 Syntex Corporation
3401 Hillview Avenue
Palo Alto, California
I. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by President Wendin at 10 :00 A.M.
Members Present: K. Duffy, B. Green, N. Hanko, G. Seager, E.
Shelley, H. Turner and D. Wendin.
Personnel Present: H. Grench, E. Jaynes, J. Olson, A. Crosley,
C. Harrington, B. Clifford, D. Woods, J. George , S. Norton, J.
Melton, P. Lee, J. Clark and P. Starrett.
Audience Members: Approximately twenty persons during the day.
II. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
1 . Goals Workshop
D. Wendin reviewed the previous three Goals Workshops held by the
District and stated that this year' s Workshop would explore all
facets of the District - land acquisition, governmental and pri-
vate liaison, public communications , land management and general
administration. The format for the day includes a staff presen-
tation, discussion by Board and staff of current issues in each
area, and public comment.
(a) Land Acquisition.
H. Grench introduced E. Jaynes, Assistant General Manager,
whose main area of responsibility is land acquisition.
E. Jaynes reviewed the record of the District in land acquisi-
tion to date - almost 4 ,000 acres in the past three years .
The property has mainly been acquired in fee simple. The
District ' s program includes other types of acquisition, but
this has not been as successful. The primary issue that he
saw was whether the District wants to increase the intensity
of acquisition, keeping in mind that this probably means
acquiring title in fee. He agreed that this brings up the
question of the use of the District 's borrowing power.
A. Minutes of February 5, 1977 Goals Workshop
D. Wendin stated the consensus that the minutes of February 5,
1977 be approved as presented. He expressed the thanks of the
Board to Norma Grench for having served as Volunteer Recording
Secretary for the Goals Workshop. -
N. Hanko requested that a letter of thanks be sent to Syntex: Cor-
poration for the use of their facilities for the workshop. H.
Grench responded that a letter had been sent under his signature.
Meeting 77-3 Page two
H. Grench stated that given adequate time to pursue a line
of credit the District could probably borrow $5, 000, 000.
The ceiling on borrowing would be $10 or $11 million at any
one time.
The following points were raised during discussion:
1. Repayment of loans would probably have to be within
5 years.
2. Borrowing to the fullest extent now would allow purchase
of lands before land values excalate.
3 . Delay in acquiring lands will result in lessening of
the selection possibilities.
4 . Increased acquisition could require more staff resources;
however, efficiency level could be maintained.
5. Use of borrowing power may be unavoidable just to fulfill
the program currently under consideration.
6. District should weigh current borrowing with the decrease
in future flexibility that the indebtedness will mean.
7. Land values have grown at a much greater speed than the
overall inflation rate. D. Wendin suggested that E.
Shelley and R. Mark prepare a model of interest costs,
and land value vs . overall tax assessment increases . He
asked that this report be placed on a future agenda.
N. Hanko requested a report on use of borrowing power and
its impact on future flexibility. E. Shelley said this
information would also be available from the model.
8 . Property tax reform might affect lenders ' decisions to
loan to the District. N. Hanko felt that property tax
reform implications would be an ideal topic for the
regional parks districts meeting to be held at the Mon-
terey Peninsula Regional Park District in April.
9. Limiting future flexibility due to commitments might
make fund raising by the Peninsula open Space Trust
easier because need could be emphasized. Open space
easements would be one of the easier methods of preser-
vation to discuss with potential donors.
10. Since close-in urban lands are very expensive, it may
be that giving up part of them to development in order
to preserve the remainder would be more necessary now
than it has been in the past.
Meeting 77-3 Page three
Anja Miller, 224 Sierra Point Road, Brisbane, expressed hope
for a positive definition of urban open space in terms other
than stopping development; for example, seeing communities
as entities and defining urban areas, providing breathing
space and equitable distribution of parks. D. Wendin suggested
that "urban open space" discussion be left until the end of
the day if time permits.
B. Clifford stated that there should be some discussion of
District policy for receiving property in less than fee or
contributing to another jurisdiction' s purchase. He said he
saw that as a question which might be raised increasingly.
(b) Governmental Liaison and Public Communications
H. Grench introduced Carroll Harrington, Public Communications
Coordinator, who is currently in charge of the Governmental
and Private Liaison and the Public Communications Programs.
C. Harrington said the Public Communications Programs currently
included newspaper coverage, site brochures and other publi-
cations. She demonstrated another means of public education -
a television program which was developed at the time of the
annexation drive in South San Mateo County.
J. Olson said that since much of the area of public communica-
tions relates directly to Land Management, it might be helpful
to mention areas to be discussed under that program later in
the day. These would be 1) the reasonable level of expecta-
tions for the coming year, 2) new directions for planning
studies.
C. Harrington felt there were two issues to be discussed aris-
ing from the Basic Policy statement. Those were 1) how does
the District implement those statements through other pro-
grams,rams, such as the orienteering event, the docent training
program, multi-agency cooperation; and, 2) does increased
public communication go beyond Board policy as it relates to
management and general administrations costs.
D. Wendin said he would also like the question of name change
for the District discussed later in the day.
H. Grench reviewed the current Board policy on publicity.
Last year, the Board refined its policy statements as follows :
1) most District lands would be open to the public without
permits; 2) judicious advertising of various sites would be
implemented by having information on sites available at the
MRPD office; and 3) education of the public regarding the
value of open space. While programs on the sites, such as
the orienteering event, can be useful in educating the public,
the question was raised as to how far the District should go
and what the impact would be on land management.
Meeting 77-3 Page four
Discussion raised the following points:
1. The District is still learning, and staff should keep
the Board informed about the impact of specific events,
such as the March 5 Orienteering Event.
2. Multi-agency use of District lands does require District
staff time because the agencies need and request clari-
fication. Since there are potentially 60 such agencies,
it can be a significant demand.
3. A great deal of interest exists about the docent program.
Their schedule has been filled to date simply by word-
of-mouth.
4. Every program affects the support staff of the District.
While philosophically the staff agrees with the value of
such programs, in practice more staff time is required
for each new project. At the present time, this need
is being filled by bringing in temporary help.
5. Current level of activity is probably at the edge of being
overly ambitious.
Beeze Glendenning Jones, 19 LaVuelta, Vallejo, expressed con-
cern that when use of public funds is involved, the "people
in the know use" versus "equal use" problem can lead to ani-
mosity.
D. Wendin suggested that this discussion be pursued in April
or May when the experience from the two or three current efforts
is known.
Anja Miller, a member of the Citizens Advisory Committee for
the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Plan Review was
asked to report on San Mateo County policies. She said there
are two major efforts currently taking place:
1. A San Mateo County parks and recreation needs assessment
survey is about to be published. Workshops on the report
will be held in early March. The goals and objectives
stress a cooperative approach to planning, aquisition and
management.
2. The Regional Planning Committee (19 cities and the County)
has passed policies stating that priority will be given to
acquisition and stewardship of the land over expansion
of existing facilities; recognizing the need for cooper-
ation and coordination among governmental agencies; working
to expand State and federal funding to cover maintenance
costs as well as acquisition costs; preserving agricul-
tural lands; and other positions.
Meeting 77-3 Page five
Robert Mark, 725 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, said that he would
like to hear a discussion of the level of willingness by the
Board to criticize other agencies when their open space policies
were not as good as they might be.
Discussion on Governmental Liaison raised the following points:
1. Ability to criticize implies knowledge of other agency' s
activities, which can mean staff time.
2. The low level of effort to date has been effective for
the most part.
3. The Master Plan slide presentation was successful and
should be repeated every two years or so.
4 . District could give presentations in March in San Mateo
County.
5. The Board might take public exception if another agency' s
action is contrary to District policy.
6. Past actions have included support of positive steps by
other agencies.
7. Board members can be helpful in keeping track of what is
happening in their own areas.
(c) Land Management
H. Grench introduced J. Olson, Land Manager.
J. Olson defined land management as covering two areas, 1) plan-
ning and review, and 2) operations. As a result of last year' s
direction, lands are generally being opened to the public,
some parking provided, trails established, and site brochures
written. He asked what a resonable level of expectations is
of the land mangement program consistent with current policy
and financial resources .
Discussion raised the following points:
1. There has been a period of catch-up this past year with
the work of site development plans for all of the lands
acquired to date.
2. As new lands are acquired, they may have to remain closed
for a period of time until land management resources are
available.
Meeting 77-3 Page six
3. Last year' s assumption that 18% of the budget would be
spent on land management by the end of ten years is still
valid.
4. Most of the Action Plan for land management for the current
year is being accomplished, but the high level of staff
time and involvement cannot continue.
J. Olson stated further issues in the area of land management
which he wished discussed: 1) Should intensive planning
studies be made of all potential parcels so that acquisition
and use can be planned, and 2) What should policy be for the
use of District lands by other groups.
Discussion followed on what was general public use and what was
special interest group use. No agreement was reached. K. Duffy,
N. Hanko and E. Shelley volunteered to draft a policy statement
on use of District lands by other groups. This subcommittee
is to report to the Board in 3 or 4 weeks.
J. Olson asked for discussion on the concept of intensive
planning studies . After discussion it was agreed that the
idea be incorporated into a proposed Action Plan for the future.
(d) General Administration
H. Grench reviewed Objective 5 of the Action Plan and the function
of staff in carrying out the policies of the Board. He questioned
how this young District, represented by a Board and staff of
over-achievers and idealists, and still undergoing a great deal
of change and,growth, should cope with that change? It was
agreed that in addition to the Goals Workshop, subcommittee
meetings, staff workshops, weekly staff meetings and profes-
sional growth opportunities, quarterly Board-staff meetings
would be scheduled. These meetings perhaps would be in February,
June and sometime in the fall. The format is to be worked out.
(e) Wrap Up
1. Area Naming
D. Wendin suggested reviving the Subcommittee on Site Naming
Policies to meet with staff. K. Duffy, B. Green and G. Seager
will serve and report at a future Board meeting.
2. District Name Change
H. Grench said a suggestion that the MRPD consider changing
its name to more accurately describe its purpose was made at
the recent Local Agency Formation Commission hearing.
Meeting 77-3 Page seven
S . Norton explained that the law allows these choices: Reg-
ional Park District, Regional Open Space District, Regional
Park and Open Space District. The name can be changed by a
4/5 vote of Directors after a public hearing.
Discussion raised the following points:
1. "Open Space" could seem more exclusionary.
2. In the future the District may be engaged in more park
activity.
3. It is important that the name conveys purpose to the public;
and perhaps a survey to determine public understanding of
the words "open space" would be helpful.
4. The District is a unique agency in the United States, if
not in the world, so it should promote the concept through
its name.
5. The Diridon poll of San Mateo County voters indicated a
clear understanding of the term "open space. "
6. If a name change occurs, a strong public relations effort
should be undertaken to make the most of the educational
possibility.
7 . Perhaps a change in "Midpeninsulall should be considered also.
D. Wendin asked that this issue be placed on a future agenda,
including substitutions for "Midpeninsula" , and that the staff
report include an estimate of the costs involved in any change.
3. Urban Open Space of Regional Significance
D. Wendin asked if this concept whould be redefined, elimin-
ated or left as is. It was agreed that to leave the concept
as is allows the Board sufficient descretion in responding
to specific requests or suggestions. To delete it would not
halt the requests and would not give the Board a definite policy
on which to base decisions.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3 : 27 p.m.
Norma Grench
Volunteer Recording Secretary