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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19790711 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 79-19 AA, MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Regular Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S July 11, 1979 7 : 30 P.M. I. ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by President Shelley at 7 :40 P.M. Members Present: Daniel Wendin, Katherine Duffy, Richard Bishop, Edward Shelley, Barbara Green and Nonette Hanko Members Absent: Harry Turner Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Charlotte MacDonald, Jon Olson, Craig Britton, Eric Mart, Del Woods, Ellie Huggins, Stanley Norton and Sue Herda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Minutes of June 27 , 1979 E. Shelley stated Board consensus that the minutes be approved as presented. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS H. Grench advised the Board of the following written communica- tions : 1) a letter from the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club dated July 7, 1979, expressing disappointment at the Board' s action regarding the Regnart Road improvements , and 2) a letter from the Committee for Green Foothills dated July 5, 1979, ex- pressing disappointment at the Board' s action regarding the Reg- nart Road improvements. H. Grench suggested that the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Committee for Green Foothills be urged to write a letter directly to the City of Cupertino. R. Bishop felt that the Board should write a letter in response to the two letters clarifying the Board's reasons for their decision. E. Shelley stated the consensus that H. Grench draft letters to the Sierra Club and Committee for Green Foothills from the Pres- ident in behalf of the Board with copies to Cupertino . Meeting 79-19 Page Two i IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA E. Shelley stated Board consensus that an item, "Establishment of Temporary Personnel Review Committee for the Purpose of Expediting the Review of District Counsel" , be added to the agenda under the category of NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Robert Mark, 725 Cowper Avenue, Palo Alto expressed concern regarding the Board's decision to have H. Grench draft letters to the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Committee for Green Foothills regarding the Board' s stand on the Regnart Road issue, when in fact, H. Grench recommended the same thing that the Loma Prieta Chapter of the Sierra Club and the Committee for Green Foothills are recommending. In addition, he mentioned that the access problem at Rancho San Antonio is getting quite severe, and he felt the Board should do something about reestablish- ing public access to the unit. J. Olson noted that on the last Santa Clara County Board of Super- visers ' agenda there was approval to go to bid on the installation of the fencing between the County Park and the church property, and when that fencing is in place, the County will be opening Rancho San Antonio Park, and the public will have access from Crista Rey Drive. VI. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY H. Grench introduced Bob Beckus, the legislative consultant for the District, and asked that Bob address the funding issues in AB 8 and SB 186, and also SB 664, the bill by Neilson affecting title to the baylands. I Bob Beckus reviewed his activities in the legislature, gave a brief explanation of how his office is structured, outlined the other Districts he represents, and expressed his opinion of the progress of particular bills affecting the District. i The Board recessed at 8 :30 and reconvened at 8 :50. VII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Preliminary Approval of Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Use and Management Plan J. Olson introduced report No. R-79-29, dated July 5, 1979 re- garding Preliminary Approval of Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Use and Management Plan. E. Shelley asked what level of change is allowable before the report would have to be returned to the city of Palo Alto for reapproval. i i Meeting 79-19 Page Three J. Olson stated that there is a provision providing adminis- trative approval by the zoning director, and therefore minor changes wouldn' t have to go through the full process. He stated that on page 4 of the report, item number 5, the first sentence should read "Other connecting trails on the Preserve will be maintained and kept open and no new trails will be" . . . . E. Shelley suggested that staff incorporate longer loop trails, as the loop trails are very popular in the area. R. Mark urged the Board to include in concept a trail link from Stevens Creek Canyon to Skyline Ridge in the southwest portion of the preserve. He also suggested that a hiking stile be in- corporated at the property boundary fronting Skyline Boulevard. J. Olson stated that the City of Palo Alto staff was very much against the hiking stile as they felt focusing access at one point improved management. He said he agreed to some extent concerning the management obligation. J. Olson noted that under Agriculture (item #9) there should be an "Area D" added referring to the tree farm. C. Britton asked that the area next to the Sherrill property be considered for vineyards. D. Woods noted that he and the agricultural consultant considered the area and that the consultant concluded that the exposure wouldn' t be right for vineyard use. C. Britton said he felt that in the long term something might be worked out with the Sherrills allowing the Sherrills to use that area if it is found to be compatible. J. Olson requested that Section "D" be dropped and that the re- commendation be changed to read "It is recommended that the Board preliminarily adopt the use and management recommendations con- tained in this report. (Strike the remainder of the recommenda- tion. ) D. Wendin expressed concern over the addition of restrooms, and suggested that the restrooms be located at the Los Trancos park- ing lot rather than on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve side of Page Mill Road, due to the vandalism problems experienced on that preserve. H. Grench suggested that the possibility of having the restrooms either at Los Trancos or Monte Bello be included in the report so that no matter where they were finally located they would have received approval from Palo Alto. The Board concurred. R. Mark expressed concern over the fact that an EIR wasn't in- cluded with the report and asked that the Board include in the report, in concept, a trail link connection between Stevens Creek and Monte Bello Ridge, and reiterated his suggestion that the District install a hiking stile at Skyline. Meeting 79-19 Page Four J. Olson stated that there was much discussion of this issue with Palo Alto, and that if the plan were accepted by them, environ- mental documents would be subsequently generated. K. Duffy suggested that in section C item #2, the last sentence; "This may require some landscaping, " that the words "natural or native material" be added. J. Olson replied that the change would be made. N. Hanko expressed concern over the removal of the structure, the fireplace in particular, prior to research being done by a his- torical group with particular attention being paid to the possible changes that the fireplace went through as a result of the earth- quakes. J. Olson suggested that a request be made to the Palo Alto Histor- ical Society to evaluate the significance of the structures. D. Wendin requested that the question of the hiking stile on Sky- line be analyzed at the one year site review because of the poten- tial use in the future. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board preliminarily approve the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Use and Management Plan with the Board recommended changes. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Policies for Handling Legislative Matters Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board continue the item until the July 25 meeting. K. Duffy seconded. The motion passed unanimously. H. Grench reviewed a letter to Assemblymen Vic Calvo, and Bob Naylor with respect to SB 664, including an additional sentence recommended by Bob Beckus, stating that after the word "pockets," adding "the District' s legislative consultant, Bob Beckus, has informed us that it is not Senator Neilson' s intent to include these lands, however our analysis of the bill indicates that it would be included. " E. Shelley stated the consensus of the Board that the letter was satisfactory. C. Establishment of a Temporary Personnel Review Committee E. Shelley proposed that a committee be formed this year for the annual performance evaluation of the District' s Legal Counsel specifically, although it could be expanded to include a thorough review of all Board appointees. He felt a committee to gather and organize information, and to report to the Board, would be more efficient than the whole Board doing it. He proposed the committee consist of three Board members and that their report to the Board be a confidential report. Meeting 79-19 Page Five Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board approved the establish- ment of a temporary review committee. K. Duffy seconded the motion. Discussion: R. Mark asked that the Board consider expanding the committee to discuss the charges to cover legal services and that the report be made public. E. Shelley confirmed that they will look into how the legal services are purchased. The motion passed on the following vote: AYES: E. Shelley, K. Duffy, B. Green, R. Bishop and D. Wendin NO: N. Hanko E. Shelley stated that he proposed that the members of the committee be: D. Wendin, R. Bishop and E. Shelley. N. Hanko expressed concern regarding the structure of the committee and referred to past Palo Alto City Council experiences. She also said she felt a woman should be represented on the committee. D. Wendin stated that he would be out of town and wouldn' t be able to serve on the committee. E. Shelley recommended that N. Hanko serve on the committee. N. Hanko stated that it would be a pleasure to serve. E. Shelley stated the consensus of the Board that the committee appointments were confirmed. VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS A. H. Grench reviewed a letter being sent to Doc Mattison, Director, Parks and Recreation, San Mateo County, regarding the District' s position on Edgewood and, in particular, the proposed golf course. The Board made some suggestions for minor changes, and E. Shelley stated the consensus that the letter correctly stated the Board' s position. B. C. MacDonald reported that a price of $15 for an 8 x 10 print had been decided upon for the reprints of the Edgewood photos by Susan Sommers. IX. CLAIMS Motion: B. Green moved that the Board approve the Revised Claims No. C-79-15, dated July 11, 1979. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. X. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board recessed to Executive Session at 10 :30 P.M. XI. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 12 :55 A.M. Sue Herda Secretary m. i -44 CORRECTIONS TO MINUTES OF i i A. Minutes of Jul 11, 1979 N. Hanko requested that on page 5, the statement "N. Hanko expressed i concern regarding the structure of the committee and referred to past Palo Alto City Council experiences. She also said she felt a woman should be represented on the committee;' be placed after the vote on the motion. She also requested that the following be added; "N. Hanko stated that unless the committee is only to gather information, she opposed the committee concept and stated her concern that the entire Board be responsible for the review of appointees . " B. Green stated Hoard consensus that the minutes of July 11, 1979 be approved as corrected. CORRECTIONS MINUTES OF I 1