HomeMy Public PortalAbout19800326 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) !eting 80-5
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022
(415) 965-4717
Regular Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
March 26, 1980 375 Distel Circle, Suite D-1
Los Altos, California
I. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by President Barbara Green
at 7: 30 P.M.
Members Present: Daniel Wendin, Barbara Green, Edward Shelley,
Nonette Hanko, and Harry Turner.
Members Absent: Katherine Duffy and Richard Bishop.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, Steve Sessions,
Charlotte MacDonald, Kathy Blackburn, Pat Starrett, and Jean Fiddes.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. February 27, 1980
Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of the minutes of February 27,
1980 as presented. E. Shelley seconded the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.
III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
J. Fiddes noted the Board had received a letter, dated March 14, 1980,
from Rudd Crawford, the President of the Board of Directors of thet
Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District, stating that his Board
had voted unanimously to support the proposed MROSD amendments to the
Public Resources Code.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
The Board adopted the agenda by consensus.
V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Beez Jones, 16891 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, referred to the
meeting of February 27 , 1980 and asked how a Determination of
Public Necessity was made, what the required Board vote was on
such a matter, and how a price was established for property
involved.
Herbert A.Grench,General Manager Board of Directors:Katherine Duffy,Barbara Green,Nonette G.Hanko,Richard S.Bishop,Edward G.Shelley,Harry A.Turner,Daniel G.Wendin
Meeting 80-5 tge Two
C. Britton noted that the staff would prepare and present a
report to the Board indicating why the land involved was
important to the District and stated that a Public Hearing
was required by law.
H. Grench stated that a super-majority vote of the entire Board
was required to adopt a Resolution of Necessity.
C. Britton said that in a condemnation action, the normal
procedure was to have an appraisal made by both parties
involved. The parties would then try to agree on a price
for the property involved, and if they could not, a court
would establish the price.
VI. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Reschedulin of the Monte Bello Parking Lot Study Session
H. GFe_n6h introduced memorandum -80-29' dated March 17, 190.
N. Hanko stated that March 29, 1980 was not a convenient date for
D. Woods and three members of the Palo Alto Planning Commission
to attend the Monte Bello parking lot study session. She suggested
that the session be rescheduled for Saturday, April 12, 1980 .
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Special Meeting of March 29, 1980
be cancelled and that a Special Meeting be scheduled for
April 12, 1980 at 1: 00 P.M. for the purpose of reviewing
the Monte Bello parking lot plan. N. Hanko seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Long Ridge Open Space Preserve Parking and Trails
S. Sessions reviewed report R-80-9, dated March 19, 1980, regarding
possible signing and trail links near the Long Ridge Open Space
Preserve and presented slides of the area in question. He noted
that CALTRANS was willing to replace "No Parking At Any Time" signs
with limited parking signs (dawn to dusk) at areas identified by staff
and stated that CALTRANS does not have a sign in its inventory
specifically designed for a scenic corridor. He noted that hikers
can gain access to the site from roadside turnouts along Skyline
Boulevard and that the construction of additional trails and/or
any other improvements would not be consistent with the approved
Use and Management Plan for the Preserve.
Motion: E. Shelley moved the adoption of the recommendations
contained in report R-80-9 . H. Turner seconded the
motion.
Discussion: B. Green asked if staff would work through the
Legislative Committee to try to get a sign designed
that was more aesthetically consistent with a scenic
highway element. S. Sessions noted that the Legislative
Committee could be involved. The motion passed unanimously.
Meeting 80-5 Page Three
VII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Proposed Addition to Monte Bello O en S ace Preserve (Melton
Property
C. Britton introduced report R-80-6, dated March 17, 1980, regarding
the opportunity to purchase 17.5 acres of land as an addition to
the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. He noted that the property
was actually an 11.25 acre existing legal parcel and a 6.25 acre
vacant portion of an existing 13.8 acre improved residential site
and that the purchase price was based on the value of the undeveloped
site, the portion of the improved site, and the restrictions on
the remainder. He stated that the remaining area of the improved
site would be restricted under the terms of the agreement so that
no residential construction or subdivision could occur.
S. Sessions showed slides of the proposed acquisition and noted
that the property would be managed as a natural area. He reviewed
the use and management recommendations and recommended that the
site be withheld from dedication since it was an isolated parcel
with no public access.
Beez Jones asked if the District would seek to acquire neighboring
land if the Melton acquisition was approved by the Board.
H. Grench responded that there was always the possibility that the
District might seek to acquire more land in the area. He noted
that the Melton parcel was being considered now because it was
an opportunity purchase.
Beez Jones noted that the trail that ran under the power lines
was not open to the public since it crossed private property.
S. Sessions responded that if the property was acquired, the site
would be used by individuals who could gain access from adjoining
private properties with the permission of the property owners.
Motion: E. Shelley moved the adoption of Resolution 80-14 , a
Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of
Agreement to Purchase Real Property, Authorizing Officer
to Execute Certificate of Acceptance to District, and
Authorizing General Manager to Execute Any and All Other
Documents Necessary or Appropriate to Closing to the
Transaction (Melton Property) . H. Turner seconded the
motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board adopt the use and management
recommendations presented in the report, withhold the site
from dedication, and adopt Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
as the official name of the site. E. Shelley seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Meeting 80-5 e Four
B. Proposed Addition to Monte Bello Open Space Preserve (Swanson
Property)
C. Britton reviewed report R-80-7 , dated March 17 , 1980 , regarding
the opportunity to purchase 10 acres of land which would be dedicated
as open space land and added to the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve.
S. Sessions presented slides depicting the proposed acquisition
and noted that the property would be managed as a part of the
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve.
Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of Resolution 80-15, a
Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of
Agreement to Purchase Real Property, Authorizing Officer
to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of Grant to District,
and Authorizing General Manager to Execute Any and All
Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate to Closing
of the Transaction (Swanson Property) . B. Green seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board approve the interim use and
management recommendations contained in the report of
March 17, 1980 , designate Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
as the officical name of the site, and dedicate the site
as open space. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion
passed unanimously.
C. Proposed Addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (Williams
Property)
C. Britton reviewed report R-80-10 , dated March 20 , 1980, regarding
the purchase of the 32. 3 acre Williamsproperty. He noted that
the property would be acquired in two parcels and would become an
addition to the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. He stated that
the northern parcel of the property, Parcel A, contained 11. 3 acres
and was improved with a residence and that the southern parcel,
Parcel B, contained 21 acres and was the vacant Mount Melville parcel.
He noted that the purchase price for Parcel A was $205,000, and the
purchase price for Parcel B was $225,000 . Since the Board had approved
the two previous transactions on the agenda, he stated that it
would be necessary to allocate funds for this purchase from the
Opportunity Purchases budget category.
S. Sessions presented slides of the proposed acquisition and
reviewed the use and management recommendations for the property.
H. Grench stated that dedication had been a difficult question at
the staff level and that staff had decided to recommend that the
property be withheld from dedication because it was a small,
isolated, partially developed parcel and because of Proposition 9 .
He noted that if Proposition 9 should pass, the District might
be caught short of funds and might have to sell or trade portions
of the property.
Meeting 80- 5 age Five
Discussion then centered on the question of whether to dedicate
both parcels, or Parcel B only since it is one of the most obvious
viewpoints on Skyline Boulevard ,or to dedicate an appropriate
open space easement on the property.
N. Hanko suggested that staff return to the Board in six months
with pertinent information on the dedication of the property.
E. Shelley stated that there was an urgency to discuss dedication
because of Proposition 9 and noted that the visible part of
Mount Melville (Parcel B) should be dedicated before June 3.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that staff be directed to return at
a meeting prior to the June election with a recommendation
on dedication of an appropriate open space easement for
Parcels A and B separately. E. Shelley seconded the
motion.
Discussion: D. Wendin withdrew hismotion until the Board
H—ad decided to purchase the property.
Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of Resolution 80-16, a
Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of
Agreement to Purchase Real Property, Authorizing Officer
to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of Grant to
District, and Authorizing General Manager to Execute Any
and All Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate to
Closing of the Transaction (Williams Property-Parcel A)
H. Turner seconded the motion.
Discussion: Robert Fisse, 20225 Skyline Boulevard, a
neighboring land owner and a member of the South Skyline
Association, noted that the District should be aware of
of the problems associated with snow in the winter and
with the inadequate parking along Skyline Boulevard. He
felt it was a mistake to consider dedicating the Mount
Melville parcel,while thinking of selling the northern
parcel, since the northern parcel provided access to
Mount Melville off of Langley Hill Road. The motion
passed unanimously.
Motion: H. Turner moved the adoption of Resolution 80-17, a
Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of
Agreement to Purchase Real Property, Authorizing Officer
to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of Grant to
District, and Authorizing General Manager to Execute Any
and All Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate to
Closing of the Transaction (Williams Property-Parcel B) .
B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that staff be directed to return at a
meeting prior to the June election with a recommendation
on dedication of an appropriate open space easement for
Parcels A and B separately which would protect the
scenic vista on Parcels A and B. E. Shelley seconded the
motion.
Discussion: D. Wendin requested that District Counsel
advise the Board on the feasibility of dedicating an open
space easement on the property. The motion passed unanimously.
Meeting 80-5 Page Six
D. Wendin requested that the minutes indicate that the Board
did not dedicate the parcels.
Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board explicitly decide to
withhold the property from dedication tonight. D. Wendin
seconded the motion.
Discussion: E. Shelley stated he was concerned with
H. Turner' s approach in making the motion. H. Turner
responded that he had made the motion to get the Board's
explicit action in the minutes. N. Hanko requested
that H. Turner amend his motion to indicate that the
Board had withheld the property from dedication pending
a report from staff prior to the June election. -
Amended Motion: H. Turner amended his motion to state that the Board
explic tly decide to withhold the property from
dedication tonight contemplating consideration of the
decision after the Board reviews the report requested
by D. Wendin. The amended motion passed on the following
votes:
Ayes: D. Wendin, B. Green, N. . Hanko, and H. Turner.
Noes: E. Shelley.
D. Voter Education Program About the Possible Effects of
Proposition 9 on the District
H. Grench introduced report R-80-8 , dated March 18, 1980, regarding
a voter education program that would discuss the possible effects
of Proposition 9 on the District and C. MacDonald reviewed the
recommendations and extent of the program.
Beez Jones asked if the District was allowed to use taxpayers ' money
for the voter education program or to include discussion of
Proposition 9 in the minutes.
H. Grench responded that S. Norton had provided a ruling for the
Board stating that the Board could take a stand on such propositions
and could present factual, educational material on the effect the
proposition would have on the District.
H. Turner requested that the following changes be made in "Jaws II"
and the Open Space District:
1. Replace "will have the opportunity to" in the first para-
graph with "will choose whether or not to" .
2. Replace "such as windfall taxes on oil company profits"
in paragraph four with "such as petroleum-related windfall
tax revenues" .
D. Wendin requested that the words "in half" be deleted from the
first paragraph.
Discussion centered on whether the Rangers should distribute copies
of the "Jaws II" and the Open Space District statement on District
sites.
S. Sessions noted that the Rangers need to be well informed about
the effects of Proposition 9 on the District in order to respond
to questions from the public while in the field. He stated that
the distribution of material would be a responsive action on the
part of the Rangers when they were asked about Proposition 9 .
Meeting 80-5 F j Seven
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board approve the recommendations
contained in report R-80-8 with the minor modifications
recommended by H. Turner and D. Wendin in "Jaws II" and
the Open Space District. B. Green seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
K. Blackburn reported on the Western Interpreters Conference she
had attended and on the Bay Area Environmental Fair held on
March 14 in San Jose. She noted the District had an informational
booth set up at the fair. She also reported on the training
course to be held this spring for new docents and on proposed
plans for the celebration of Earth Day.
H. Grench presented a brief update on legislation of interest
to the District, including SB 1550, AB 2314, and AB 2938.
C. Britton reported that he, B. Green, C. MacDonald, and S. Sessions
had made a presentation on the District to the Santa Clara County
Planning Commission on March 20.
IX. CLAIMS
Motion: E. Shelley moved the adoption of the Revised Claims C-80-5,
dated March 26, 1980 . H. Turner seconded the motion.
N. Hanko abstained from item 870 . The motion passed
unanimously.
X. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board recessed to Executive Session at 9 :27 P.M.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11:20 P.M.
Jean H. Fiddes
District Clerk