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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19800603 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) ,eting 80-12 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415) 965-4717 Special Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S June 3, 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: 40 P.M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Daniel Wendin, Barbara Green Edward Shelley, Nonette Hanko, Harry Turner, and Richard Bishop. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, Steven Sessions , Charlotte MacDonald, Stanley Norton, and Jean Fiddes. II. EXECUTIVE SESSION The Board adjourned to Executive Session at 7 :41 P.M. The Board reconvened for the public meeting at 8 :05 P.M. S. Norton requested that the minutes reflect the fact that, prior to the public portion of the meeting, a twenty minute Executive Session was held so that District Counsel could explain certain legal matters to the Board concerning the state of title of the property and other related matters. He stated that there was no discussion during the Executive Session as to whether or not it would be appropriate to acquire the property. III. Possible Acquisition of Westbay Associates Property S. Norton introduced Henry E. Anthony, A. B. Driessel , and Mayor Brad Stamper, members of the East Palo Alto Municipal Council. C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-80-43 to H. Grench regarding the possible acquisition of the Westbay Associate parcels adjacent to Cooley Landing. He noted that the parcels totaled approximately 40 acres, 25 acres to the north of Cooley Landing and 15 acres to the south, and stated that the current option price for the two parcels was $130 ,000. He noted that he felt the purchase of the Westbay parcels was critical in order to keep the Cooley Landing marina project alive and to help secure,at a bargain purchase price, the 150 acre Leslie Salt property, a key area for the District' s Land and Water Conser- vation Fund acquisition grant of $500 , 000 . 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 80-12 age Two S. Sessions reviewed the management implications associated with the acquisition of the Westbay Associates property, in- cluding access, liability, and limited use and management of the site. He noted that present indications were that the property was not part of the Bayfront Trail system. Mary Gordon, 16 Roosevelt Circle, Palo Alto, noted that the trail had not been clearly defined at this time. Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos , asked about the depth of the water in the marina area and what benefit the property would have for the District, other than marina use. Jay Thorwaldson, 244 Robin Way, Menlo Park, responded that the marina project took advantage of a natural deep-water slough, and H. Grench noted that potential public use included a viewing area for the Bay and picnicking and that acquisition could protect the mudflats from potential future development and help the District acquire the Leslie Salt parcel. H. Grench noted, however, that he was recommending that the Board not proceed with the acquisition of the parcels because the District was not in the marina business , the price may be too high, and the District had no firm assurance that the purchase of these parcels would lead to the purchase of the Leslie Salt property at $300,000 . He suggested that if the Board did proceed with the purchase that they clearly indicate 1) that the action was made with the full expectation that the Leslie/ Cargill parcel would be offered to the District at $300,000; 2) that they wanted the East Palo Alto Municipal Council to pass a resolution giving firm assurance that the Council in no way expected the District to be involved in a marina project; and 3) that if and when a marina was developed, the parcels should be sold in order for the District to recover its money. H. Anthony noted that he did not want the District to be involved in the development of a marina and stated that the District was being asked to put the land in a holding pattern so that East Palo Alto could proceed with the marina project. He said that the council would indicate in writing the fact that they did not expect the District to be involved in the marina development. H. Anthony and A. Driessel discussed the importance of the marina project to the residents of East Palo Alto and noted that they anticipated that a county park would be developed, as well as an interpretive center, for East Palo Alto and surrounding community use. J. Thorwaldson noted the importance of the marina project to the acquisition of the Leslie Salt parcel. Motion: H. Turner moved the adoption of Resolution 80-25, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Assignment of Option Agreement, and Authorizing General Manager to Pay Funds Necessary to Extend Same (Baylands Park/Westbay Associates Property) . R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting 80-12 Page Three Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board authorize the President to write to the East Palo Alto Municipal Council on behalf of the District requesting that they pass a resolution giving firm assurance that they, the Council, in no way expect the District to be involved in a marina project. H. Turner seconded the motion. Discussion: N. Hanko requested that the wording of the motion be changed,in order to be more specific, to state that the District would not be involved in the develop- ment of a marina project. Amended Motion: D. Wendin amended his motion to state that the Board authorize the President to write to the East Palo Alto Municipal Council on behalf of the District requesting that they pass a resolution giving firm assurance that they, the Council, in no way expect the District to be involved in the development of a marina project. H. Turner concurred with the wording change. The motion passed unanimously. B. Green stated the Board's consensus that no other policy decisions had been made during the meeting. E. Shelley requested that the minutes indicate that he had supported the adoption of Resolution 80-25 with the full anticipation that Leslie Salt would follow through with their bargain sale offer of the salt pond. A. Driessel noted that the East Palo Alto Municipal Council could now pass a much stronger resolution regarding the timely acquisition of the Leslie Salt parcel by the District. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus that the Board's action had been taken with the full expectation and the assumption that the Leslie/Cargill parcel would be offered to the District for $300, 000 or less and that the District will work closely with the Municipal Council of East Palo Alto to accomplish this goal. Jay Thorwaldson stated that he had put up $3000, $2000 of which had come from two other individuals, for the first six month option and he noted that if the Board chose to repay the $3000 , he would repay the two individuals and contribute his own $1000 towards the formation of a non-profit corporation with the sole purpose of working toward the marina or to another agency from the community of East Palo Alto that would work toward the marina project. Motion: D. Wendin moved that in the event that the District completes the purchase of the Westbay property that the $3000 paid for the initial option will be returned to the optionee under that option. B. Green seconded the motion. Discussion: N. Hanko stated that she would abstain from voting on the motion since the Hankos and the Thorwaldsons were personal friends. The motion passed unanimously. IV. ADJOURNMENT The Board adjourned at 9 :30 P.M. Jean H. Fiddes District Clerk