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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