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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19770525 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 77-15 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT Regular Meeting Board of Directors May 25, 1977 745 Distel Drive Los Altos, CA ROLL CALL I. The meeting was called to order by President Wendin at 7 :40 P.M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Richard Bishop, Harry Turner and Daniel Wendin. Members Absent: Nonette Hanko and Edward Shelley. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Jon Olson, Carroll Harrington, Del Woods , Stanley Norton and Phyllis Lee. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Minutes of May 10 , 1977 D. Wendin said he would like the minutes to be corrected on page four, paragraph 1, second line, to accurately reflect his state- ment regarding planning procedures. He said that it should be changed from "staff is continuing to follow the original planning procedures" to "staff is following the new procedures" . D. Wendin stated the consensus of the Board that the minutes of May 10 , 1977 be approved with the above correction. Minutes of May 11, 1977 D. Wendin and H. Turner agreed that on page three, paragraph four, line three, the statement "to cover the price of the note" be changed to "provide income to the underwriters. " D. Wendin stated the consensus of the Board that the minutes of May 11, 1977 be approved with the above correction. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS H. Grench advised the Board that the letter from the California Association of Recreation and Park Districts dated May 12 , 1977, was an informational item regarding membership and required no response or action by the Board. A. Minutes of May 25, 1977 D. Wendin suggested that the sentence "The motion passed unani- mously" in the second motion on page seven of the minutes be removed, since it appears later in the meeting. He further suggested that the Board consent to designating the "Motion to Amend" on page eight a "Substitute Motion, " which it should be called. D. Wendin stated the consensus that the minutes of May 25, 1977 be approved as amended. Meeting 77-15 Page two H. Grench referred the Board to a letter dated May 19 , 1977, from Donald Frolich and Robert Meyers , Councilmembers from the City of Cupertino, regarding property tax rates. D. Wendin pointed out that the letter received from the Cupertino City Councilmembers was not an official communication from the City Council, however, the Board could consider a response at the time it sets the tax rate during budget preparation. H. Grench advised the Board that a letter dated May 9 , 1977 from the City of Mountain View had been received. Enclosed in the letter was a resolution adopted by the Mountain View City Council opposing the name change of the District. D. Wendin stated that since Director E. Shelley was not present, the Board might defer discussing the letter from Mountain View regarding the name change and place this item later on the agenda. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA D. Wendin stated that it was the consensus of the Board that the letter from the City of Mountain View, regarding the name change, be considered later in the meeting. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no oral communications at this time. VI. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Report and Recommendations of the Organizational Use Subcommittee The Board agreed that this item be postponed until later in the meeting. VII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Proposed Acquisition of Addition to North Foothills Open —Sp'ace' PreserVe' (Le6nheart Property) J. Olson introduced report R-77-27 dated May 5, 1977 from H. Grench to the Board regarding the Proposed Acquisition of Addition to North Foothills Open Space Preserve (Leonheart Property) . He stated that the District had been offered an opportunity to purchase a 10 acre parcel in the Adobe Creek watershed along Page Mill Road. This parcel would be a non- contiguous addition to the District' s North Foothills Open Space Presreve. He said the property would allow for a wilderness experience due to its undeveloped character and City of Palo Alto lands Meeting 77-15 Page three and Hidden Villa Ranch adjacent to it. He added that the property is 1/4 mile from the District's Monte Bello and Los Trancos Open Space Preserves. He said the vegetative types on the site include chamise- sagebrush, chapparral and riparian woodland. Wildlife on the property includes bobcat, coyote, muledeer and various species of birds. He stated that the property is included in Santa Clara County' s Scenic Roads and Highways element of its General Plan and, in the City of Palo Alto's Open Space Zone. He recommended that since the site has limited access and is bordered on three sides by private holdings , its primary func- tion should be that of a wildlife habitat and scenic viewshed with limited active use. He suggested that the current level of use by hikers be continued, but that no increase in use be encouraged. He explained that long term recommendations for the site would be formulated for consideration by the Board at the time the Use and Management plan for North Foothills Open Space Preserve is presented. He added that currently staff is not recommend- ing a permanent name for the site until the Board has completed its review of the planning process and site naming policies. H. Grench advised the Board that the property had been offered to the District at the initiative of individuals who hold title to the parcel. He explained that the purchase price of $12 ,000 represented the combined interests of the property owners , and the staff has determined that this figure is consistent with current valuation data. H. Grench recommended that the Board approve the resolution attached to the report and approve the interim use and manage- ment recommendations contained in the report. Motion: R. Bishop moved adoption of Resolution No. 77-23 , a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing Exercise of Option to Purchase Real Property, Authorizing ,officer to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of Grant to District and Auth- orizing General Manager to Execute any and all Other Doc- uments Necessary or Appropriate to Closing of the Trans- action (North Foothills Open Space Preserve - Leonheart Property) K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: K. Duffy moved adoption of the interim use and management plans contained in the report. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting 77-15 Page four B. Use and Management Plan for Picchetti Property J. Olson introduced his report (R-77-29) to the General Manager, dated May 19, 1977 regarding the Use and Management Plan for the Picchetti Property. He explained that the District had taken title to the 200 acre site on December 15, 1976 and possession on March 15, 1977. He said the site is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains close to the City of Cupertino. Topography varies on the site form ridges and knolls to canyons and hillsides. Oak woodland, chaparral, grassland, orchard and riparian corridors are some of the biotic communities found on the site. He stated that prior to District acquisition of the site, it was used as a ranch and vineyard operated by the Vincenzo Picchetti family. About 10 acres of the property is developed. Structures in this area include a winery, two houses, and a stable where horses were boarded in the barnyard. He reminded the Board that interim use and management policies adopted in July, 1976 required that the site be open to individ- uals gaining access from the County Park near the site, that all buildings be kept as "off limits" , that the horse boarding oper- ation be phased out and that cattle grazing be discontinued be- cause of the poor quality of the range resulting from the preced- ing low rainfall season. He suggested the following use and manage- ment recommendations be approved for the site : (a) Hikers and equestrians could gain access to the site at the parking area. (b) A designated parking area could be established along Stevens Canyon Road for use by individuals without a permit. This existing turnout could accomodate 8 to 10 cars. A group parking area accomodating 10 cars for use by permit holders should be designated outside the developed entrance to the site. (c) The area surrounding the structures should remain closed to the general public until safety hazards can be removed and a study of the restoration and/or interpretational use has been completed. (d) Organized groups such as art clubs should be issued per- mits for use of the closed area since such use would entail observation only. (e) A cattle grazing plan should be developed and cattle reintroduced to the site after completion. (f) A small portion of the orchard area consisting of pear trees could possibly be maintained after completion of a study to determine its feasibility. (g) An informal agreement with a neighboring vineyard for grape production should be allowed to continue until an agricultural plan is completed, at which time a lease would probably be formulated. Meeting 77-15 Page five (h) The City of Cupertino Parks and Recreation Department should be allowed to conduct a limited day camp program with several overnight outings. (i) The following structures should be removed from the site due to their deteriorated condition and the safety hazards associated with them: 1) hay barn 2) fruit dehydrator 3) bird coops and 4) horse stalls. (j ) All structures should be locked and secured, and minor safety improvements made. W A caretaker should be established in the residence. (1) Staff should investigate alternative sources of funding for restoration of the barnyard, winery and residence portion of the site. (m) A trail system should be established using existing roads and an old roadbed with some new construction required. An existing road that extends from the house to the orchard should be maintained for use as a patrol road. (n) Fencing should be installed in the following locations : 1) main parking area 2) the portion of the site on the northern side of Monte Bello Road 3) at all possible entry points to restrict vehicle access. (o) A major sign identifying the Preserve and the District should be placed at the Stevens Canyon Road parking area. A street sign should be placed at the gourp parking area on Monte Bello Road. (p) Costs for improvements, trail construction, fencing, gates, removal of structures, parking area improvements, signs , cleanup and improvement of caretaker residence have been estimated to total $25,500. (q) The improvement recommendations would be accomplished within the next two calendar years. In addition to the above listed recommendations for the site, J. Olson informed the Board that an Initial Study and Negative Declaration had been prepared for the site and attached for reference and approval. He said that probably the most suitable name for the site (although perhaps not in conformity with current site naming policies) would be the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve/Picchetti Ranch Area; however, he recommended that naming of the site be deferred until the Board completes its review of site naming policies. He advised the Board that acknowledgement should be made to the Picchetti family for their assistance in preparing the report. He said that two docents who were instrumental in securing some of the facts presented in the report on the cultural history of the Monte Bello Ridge area, are Maybelle Cody and Gayle Riggs. In response to a question from K. Duffy regarding further deterioration of the structures, J. Olson said that the main residence was in good condition and there were no apparent leaks in its roof. However, he said that the barn and tack Meeting 77-15 Page six shed would require several thousand dollars' worth of roof repairs. Funding for the repairs to the barn and tack shed would probably be a cooperative effort between the District and historical preservation groups or wine industry associa- tions; however, it would probably take at least a year to explore these alternatives. He added that although the structures are in poor shape, they will probably not deteri- orate significantly in a year' s time. Robert Mark, 725 Cowper, Palo Alto said that in reviewing costs associated with the improvements on the site, the larg- est amount of money seemed to be going into fencing. He asked what portion of the site was to be closed. J. Olson replied that the area immediately surrounding the barnyard, residence, winery would be fenced to protect the public users of the site and the District's liability due to the hazard- ous condition the structures present. R. Mark said that if the area surrounding the buildings were closed and the trail building was not completed for approximately a year, public access to the site would be severly hampered. J. Olson replied that the access to the building area would be con- trolled because of the hazards and management problems related to the condition of the structures. Several previously used alternate access points along Monte Bello Road were available to people. Also, he stated that permits would continue to be issued to groups for use of the closed area. K. Duffy expressed concern that the closure of the area would not keep out those people that would vandalize the structures but would restrict those people who would like to experience the historic feeling of the site. R. Bishop inquired about the cost of fencing the building area. J. Olson said the cost of fencing would range between $400 to $600. Gordon Jennings, Woodside Road, Woodside asked that staff re- consider opening the equestrian gate at Monte Bello Road. He explained that equestrians could get to that access, but it was not practical for them to get to the proposed access. J. Olson replied that the gate was currently open and designated as a neighborhood access point. H. Turner asked why the trail construction and parking area improvements could not be implemented during the summer and fall of 1977. J. Olson responded that the $4,000 would have to come within the guidelines of the Land Management budget which was extremely tight at this time; however, if some flexibility were found that the improvements could be started this fiscal year and possibly completed during the fall of 1977. Meeting 77-15 Page seven Dorothy Jennings, Woodside Road, Woodside asked where the proposed trail would connect with Stevens Canyon Road and Santa Clara County watershed lands. J. Olson said that the road would connect just beyond the CDF station where there is access to the County park. B. Green asked whether it was practical to install a fence around the area with structures, and then within five years have to tear it down. J. Olson said that it would be a light wood rail fence which is relatively easily removed. He added that fencing this area was an interim measure so that funding alternatives for restoring the area could be explored. D. Wendin stated that he was in agreement with installing a fence for the short term since the plan would be reviewed at some point within the next year. He added that the fence would minimize damages from vandals and therefore he felt it was a good investment. H. Turner asked whether it would be possible for the land management staff to give an approximate date to accomplish the objective of making the buildings safe for general public use. J. Olson responded by saying that other priorities and land management budget constraints would not allow staff to make such a projection. Particularly since alternative funding sources were unclear. Motion: D. Wendin moved adoption of the Negative Declaration for the Use and Management Plan for the Picchetti Property. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: D. Wendin moved adoption of the Use and Management Plan for the Picchetti Ranch. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion to Amend: K. Duffy moved to amend the motion to reflect the following change in the Use and Manage- ment plan: "After the hazardous area is cleaned up, that only the buildings be restricted, not the entire area" B. Green seconded the motion. Disussion: R. Bishop asked whether the motion meant to state that once the buildings and the area were made safe, people would be allowed in the area. K. Duffy replied that the area should be open but the buildings restricted. D. Wendin pointed out that on page two of the Use and Management plan, paragraph C, the amendment might delete the portion of the second sentence which reads "and a plan for restoration and/or interpretational use has been developed" leaving the portion which reads "That portion of the site which contains structures should remain closed until the Meeting 77-15 Page eight area is secured from safety hazards. " D. Wendin stated that a plan should be developed related to cost of management associated with removing the safety hazards before the building area should be open to the public. B. Green suggested that the Board could approve the Use and Management plan as presented by staff and, aftek the cost for management is deter- mined, an amendment could be made when the plan is re- viewed. Motion to Amend: K. Duffy moved that the first amendment be withdrawn and a new motion be inserted in line three , paragraph C, page two of the plan as follows : "The buildings should remain closed but the grounds open until a plan for restoration and/or interpretational use has been developed. " Discussion: D. Wendin inquired whether additional costs are anticipated if the motion to amend is passed. J. Olson replied that in order to secure the buildings locks would have to be placed on the buildings, any openings without doors or windows boarded, and if the area were to be open, some repair would be done to the siding on some of the structures. He added that he could not respond to the actual costs of the repairs since staff had not studied the potential of having the area open to the general pub- lic. He further stated that the liability of the District would be mitigated if the area was fenced rather than open. The motion to amend failed on the following vote : Ayes - B. Green and K. Duffy; Nays - R. Bishop, D. Wendin, H. Turner. The original motion to approve the Use and Manage- ment plan for the Picchetti property passed unanimously. Motion: H. Turner moved that when the Use and Management plan for the Picchetti property is reviewed in approximate- ly one year, staff make available cost figures for imple- menting the motion to amend on keeping the area open to the public, and restricting the buildings only. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VIII. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Report and Recommendations of the Organizational Use Subcommittee D. Wendin advised the Board that Director E. Shelley would not be present at tonight' s meeting and asked whether the Board felt that the memorandum (M-77-55) dated April 12 , 1977 regarding the Report and Recommendations of the Organizational Use Subcommittee should be considered at the meeting in E. Shelley's absence. K. Duffy said that she would be able to answer questions regard- ing the report since she was a member of the Subcommittee and urged the Board to consider the item at this time. It was the Meeting 77-15 Page nine consensus of the Board that the item be considered at this time. D. Wendin referred to page one, third paragraph, last sentence where a preferential fee structure is mentioned. He said that there was a possibility that use of District sites by large groups would incur costs to the District incrementally and that a fee structure related to these costs might have to be developed. Also groups from outside the District might be charged higher fees than District residents if use by such groups generated costs to the District. K. Duffy suggested that the last sentence on page one, third paragraph be deleted and inserted under section I. on page two, as item 4 ; also, that the word "preferential" be deleted so that policy statement 4 would read, "a fee struc- ture reflecting the adopted priorities may be desirable in the implementation of an organizational use program. " H. Turner asked whether this change would allow for charging a fee for use unrelated ,to marginal costs associated with such use. D. Wendin said that charging a fee not related to costs associated with use would be possible under special circumstances. R. Mark expressed concern that the impact of the organizational use policies on individuals was not clear and that there could be preemption of organizations over individuals. D. Wendin replied that the policy statements did not reflect that sort of preemption; however, because of the District' s inexperience with organizational use, if such a problem should occur, the Board could review policy statements and make changes if necessary. B. Green said that she was happy to see the completed organiza- tional use recommendations so that groups such as senior citizens organizations would now be able to use District sites. D. Wendin recommended that the last sentence on page one , para- graph three be added to 111. (1) , so that this section would read "Financial impact considerations on land management budget must receive high priority. A fee structure reflecting the adopted priorities may be desirable in the implementation of an organizational use program. " It was the consensus of the Board that this addition be made to the report. Motion: D. Wendin moved adoption of the recommendations con- tained in the memorandum (M-77-55) regarding Organiza- tional Use Policy with the following change : deletion of last sentence on page one, third paragraph and the addition of the following to 111. , (1) to read: Meeting 77-15 Page ten "Financial impact considerations on land management budget must receive high priority. A fee structure reflecting the adopted priorities may be desirable in the implementation of an organizational use pro- gram. " R. Bishop second the motion. Discussion: G. Jennings inquired about the statement which reads : "Public agencies should be given priority over private organizations. " B. Green responded that public agencies represent a larger segment of the pop- ulation, such as city park and recreation departments. D. Wendin said that the statemtot, should not be construed as a "bumping" mechanism but for setting rules for summer camp programs and other similar organizational functions. D. Jennings said that this kind of statement could dis- courage cities from providing their own facilities for recreation. H. Grench said that the District, in devel- oping organizational policies, has tried to make the sites available to city taxpayers through city recreational pro- grams. H. Turner said that these recommendations were to serve as guidelines to the relative importance of varied uses for sites. B. Green pointed out that in the same section number six referred to groups such as environmental education organizations would be given preference. The motion passed unanimously. IV. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS (continued) H. Turner suggested that since E. Shelley was not present, the letter from the City of Mountain View regarding the name change of the District be considered at the next meeting. It was the consensus of the Board that this item be continued at the next meeting at the discretion of E. Shelley. X. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS A. Tours of Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. K. Duffy told the Board that she has conducted four tours with prospective lessees for the Fremont Older House. She further said that none of the responses thus far had been generated by the ads but most of them had been as a result of reading the article in the newspaper regarding the house. B. California Park and Recreation Society First Annual Conference B. Green reported that she and H. Grench had attended a confer- ence sponsored by the California Park and Recreation Society. She explained that the first day of the conference primarily Meeting 77-15 Page eleven concerned state legislation and various speakers, such as senators and assembly members. The conference reviewed bills related to litter control, redistribution of Land and Water Conservation Funds, and recreational facilities for the handi- capped. Also discussed at the conference were problems related to this season' s drought and wildlife. XI. CLAIMS Motion: D. Wendin moved approval of the revised claims (C-77-11) dated May 25, 1977 as presented. Discussion: H. Grench called attention to check number 3178 listed on the revised claims sheet. He said the record should reflect that it is the District' s inten- tion to fund the Nellis purchase with the proceeds of the borrowing transaction with Stone and Youngberg, and that the $500 ,000 check should be viewed as a temporary advance out of District reserves. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unani- mously. XII. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9 :40 P.M. to discuss land negotiations. ._XIII. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11 :40 P.M. Phyllis Lee Recording Secretary