HomeMy Public PortalAbout19781101 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 78-24
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Special Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
November 1, 1978 375 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA
I. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by President Turner at 7 : 32
P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Nonette
Hanko, Edward Shelley, Harry Turner, Daniel Wendin and Richard
Bishop (arrived 7: 36 P.M. ) .
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Jon Olson, Craig Britton,
Anne Crosley, Del Woods, Cynthia DiGiovanni, Pat Starrett,
Phyllis Lee, Stanley Norton and Mike Foster.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of October 11, 1978
Motion: H. Turner moved approval of the minutes of October 11,
1978 with the following change: The paragraph pre-
ceding INFORMATIONAL REPORTS on page four should read
"Robert Augsburger, Director of Peninsula Open Space
Trust, said it was often difficult to articulate to
others what the District is. He felt the creative
emphasis should be on financing acquisition, rather
than the District's public image. He said it may be
necessary for the District to compromise and try new
approaches such as multi-use and to encourage private
ownership to preserve open space. " E. Shelley seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
R. Bishop arrived at 7 : 36 P.M.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no Oral Communications at this time.
Meeting 78-24 Page two
IV. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Hassler Health Home Property
H. Grench introduced report R-78-39 dated October 26 , 1978,
regarding the Hassler Health Home Property. He said he personally
would like the District to acquire both the Hassler and Edgewood
sites, but if he had to choose, he felt Edgewood was the
better property. He said staff was aggressively pursuing any
financial alternatives which would make it possible to acquire
both sites. He recommended the Board (1) delay a decision
on whether to proceed with the signing of the grant agreement
on the Hassler property until the State's appraisal is com-
pleted on the Edgewood site; (2) in the interim, explore
alternative funding sources for the San Carlos share with
concerned citizens, City Council members and City staff; and
(3) in the interim, seek solutions with the City for fire
and police protection of the site and other matters addressed
in the original District commitment.
R. Bishop said he would volunteer his help in talking to San
Carlos about the problem of fire and police protection.
D. Wendin pointed out that in 1976, when the District was
first being asked to help with acquisition of Hassler, San
Carlos was going to run the site, take title to the site .
and provide police and fire protection.
F. Britschigi, 345 Encina Avenue, Atherton, said he was
concerned about recreation being provided for the poor areas.
He said there was no recreational land in the North Fair
Oaks area.
Joseph Judge, 3335 Brittan Avenue, San Carlos, said he was
speaking on behalf of himself and Margeurite Pullen, President
of the Brittan Heights Condominium Assocation. He said they
had been continually disappointed in the San Carlos City
Council for various reasons, including refusing to meet with
the District and failing to proceed with the 7<., tax. He
supported District staff recommendations and said he hoped
Hassler could still be acquired.
Patricia Bennie, San Carlos City Councilmember, speaking for herself,
said the City of San Carlos was not in a financial position to incur any
indebtedness. She said Hassler was not within the city limits
and the City did not have the money to provide police and
fire protection to it. She added that the Council felt
acquisition of open space was the District's responsibility.
She said she felt it would be a waste of time for the Dis-
trict to try to open discussions with San Carlos regarding
any participation by the City.
Meeting 78-24 Page three
David P. Wolff, 3337 Brittan Avenue, ,No.8 , suggested that San
Mateo County might be asked if providing city services would
cost more than keeping the property in open space.
S. Norton said an assessment district could be created if
an appropriate area to be benefited could be established.
H. Grench pointed out that the annexation of Hassler to San Carlos for
private development may not be attractive since the property tax rev-
enue would be spread throughout a wider area under current law.
Richard Fairbanks, General Manager of the Ladera Recreation
District, said an engineer's report on the benefit of the
assessment district is required. He said an assessment
was not subject to Proposition 13 requirements because it
is not an ad valorem property tax.
A. Crosley referred the Board to three letters recently
received regarding the Hassler property, from Celia Hartness
dated October 26, 1978 ; from Robert Carlson dated October
31, 1978 and from David Wolff dated October 28, 1978.
Motion: H. Turner moved approval of the recommendations
contained in report R-78-39 dated October 26, 1978.
R. Bishop seconded the motion.
Discussion: K. Duffy said fire and police protection
greatly concerned her, since the District was not
in the police or fire protection business an this
need should be provided for now and in the future.
E. Shelley said he held out little hope for additional
funding and intended to vote no on the Hassler property
under present, circunistances. The motion passed unanimously.
V. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
R. Bishop introduced a supporter of the District from Redwood
City, Wim de Wit.
The Board recessed at 9 :20 P.M. and reconvened at 9 : 30 P.M.
A. National Park and Recreation Association Conference
H. Grench described the National Park and Recreation Associa-
tion and highlighted recent conference meetings and speeches.
He said some of the topics of discussion included the demand
for services versus diminishing resources , and a systematic
approach to getting grant funding. He said some agencies have
devised creative methods for raising money, such as Simi
Valley, which asked people to donate one month of tax savings
for a "cool summer program." He said a couple of special park dis-
tricts are sharing the cost of a federal-level lobbyist who
has made sure special districts are not forgotten when grant
programs are being established.
Meeting 78-24 Page four
VI. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9 :55 P.M. to dis-
cuss land negotiations.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11: 59 P.M.
Anne Cathcart Crosley
District Clerk