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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19801022 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 80-23 1DL MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-11,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415) 965-4717 Regular Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S October_2_f 1980 I . ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by President Barbara Green at 7: 30 P .M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Edward Shelley, Nonette Hanko, and Harry Turner. Daniel Wendin arrived at 7:33 P.M. and Richard Bishop arrived at 7 :55 P.M. Personnel Present: Craig Britton, Steven Sessions , Charlotte MacDonald, Del Woods, Pat Starrett, and Jean Fiddes. II . WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS The Board considered a letter from Bob Young, 1065 Drake Court, San Carlos, a District docent, regarding the need to identify the serpentine soil area at the Edgewood site so that it would be excluded from any planned golf course at the site. He noted in his October 7, 1980 letter that there was a preponderance of wildflowers found on the serpentine soil and included a list of the wildflowers that had been identified. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus that the draft letter of response prepared by staff be sent to Mr. Young, noting that the Edgwood site would be developed and operated by San Mateo County. The Board felt Mr. Young should relay directly his concerns to San Mateo County officials. J. Fiddes indicated there were no additional written communications . III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA B. Green stated it might be necessary to continue Oral Communications to a later time during the meeting since Mr. Reed Sparks from the City of Cupertino was planning to address in the Board on a matter relating to Regnart Road, and Mr. Sparks was not yet in attendance at the meeting. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus that the agenda was adopted and that Oral Communications would be continued if necessary. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Glen Lyles , Recreation Superintendent for the City of Mountain View, addressed the Board on the asphalt road that had been built on District property at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve in connection with Santa Clara County' s Rancho San Antonio County Park and the negative effects the County's park would have on the Preserve and Deer Hollow Farm. He said there was a need for a master plan for the entire area, including Rancho San Antonio and Monte Bello Open Space Preserves, the County park, and Deer Hollow Farm. Discussion centered on what Phase I con- struction for the County park had been approved by the Board and 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 80-23 P Two whether theasphalt road on District property had been included in the Phase I plans . N. Hanko noted that a discussion of the issue warranted being a future agenda item. Interested citizens in the audience questioned the Board about the road construction, the type of people who would be frequenting the Preserve, and the effect increased noise would have on wildlife in the area. B. Green stated the Board's consensus that an item be placed on an agenda in the very near future regarding the review of the District' s and Santa Clara County' s plans for the Preserve and Park area. She noted the agenda item should include a review of the County's plans for Phase II and III , the type of construction necessary to prevent motorcycles from crossing the park's bi- cycle bridge, a review of traffic patterns in the area and possible effects on the Preserve, equestrian usage, and a definition and clarification of terms being used by the County, District staff, and the Board when discussing development. S. Sessions stated the County was planning to asphalt the unpaved portion of the bike path within the next few days. Board dis- cussion centered on whether the Board had approved a paved bi- cycle path as a part of Phase I construction. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus that S . Sessions should call County officials the following day to request that the County cease construction on Districtproperty until the Board had an op- portunity to discuss the issue further. B. Green stated that any members of the audience who wished to be notified of future meeting where agendized items relating to Rancho San Anotio Open Space Preserve and the County park were to be discussed should leave their name and address with the District Clerk. B. Green stated Oral Communications would be continued in order to allow Mr. Sparks to speak. V. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. District Contribution Toward Bear Creek Redwoods State Park C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-80-77, dated October 17, 1980 , regarding the need for the Board to adopt a formal resolution pledging $400 ,000 to assist in the purchase of necesary pro- perties for the Bear Creek Redwoods State Park. He noted the State was now considering requesting Federal contingency Land and Water Conservation Grant funds , which would be matched by local funds, for the acquisition and that the concept of com- mitting 10% of the project cost had been dropped. Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of Resolution 80-41, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpenin- sula Regional Open Space District Pledging Funds to Assist in the Purchase of Necessary Properties for the Establishment of the Bear Creek Redwoods State Park H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VI . NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Proposed Addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (Schroeder Property) S . Sessions introduced report R-80-57 , dated October 14 , 1980 , regarding the opportunity to acquire 11 . 6 acres of vacant land contiguous to the Mt. Melville area of the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. He reviewed the interim use and management recommendations for the parcel, showed slides of the acreage, and noted long range planning would include incorporating the property into a Skyline trail route. Meeting 80-23 age Three I C. Britton stated the terms of the purchase agreement called for an all cash transaction with escrow to close on or before October 31, 1980 . He said the purchase price for the land was $187,500 and staff was recommending that the Board allocate the $6 ,500 grant from the Committee for Green Foothills, received in November 1979 , toward the purchase price. He noted it was appropriate to use the grant funds to help acquire this parcel since the property was an important part of the Skyline trail connec- tion and since staff was recommending the property, along with the 32. 3 Mt. Melville area, be dedicated as open space because they created a usable open space unit. Nils Nilsson, a representative from the Committee for Green Foothills, said the Committee was delighted with the use of the money from the Skyline Memorial Fund and hoped the gift would encourage other groups to make such donations to help in the preservation of open space. N. Hanko asked if the house on the previously acquired Mt. Melville property would be dedicated through the Board' s action. C. Britton responded that the house would be on dedicated land, but could be moved, removed or trade under the ten-acre rule, and this would be a subject of a later report. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus that a letter of appreciation be sent to the Committee for Green Foothills and Mrs . Morris Stedman, in whose husband's name contributions had been made to the Skyline Memorial Fund, informing them of the use of the gift. N. Hanko noted it would be appropriate for the District, in accordance with its gift recognition policy, to have a memorial plaque or a section of a future trail on the property named for Mr. Stedman. Motion: H. Turner moved the adoption of Resolution 80-42 , 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 (Schroeder Property - Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve) . R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board approve the interim use and management recommendations made in the report, in- cluding the designation of the property as part of the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and specifically that this 11. 6 acre parcel along with the existing 32 . 3 Mt. Melville area previously undedicated all now be dedicated. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: H. Turner moved that staff be instructed to find some suitable way to memorialize the gift from the Committee for Green Foothills. D. Wendin seconded the motion. Discussion: After staff stated the Board had not yet officially applied the grant to the purchase price of the property, H. Turner withdrew his motion and D. Wendin concurred with the withdrawal. Meeting 80-23 Page Four Motion: H. Turner moved that the $6, 500 grant from the Committee for Green Foothills be applied to the purchase price of the property. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: H. Turner moved that staff be asked to find some appro- priate way to memorialize the gift from the Committee for Green Foothills . D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. H. Turner noted the dedication of a trail on the property would be an appropriate way to honor Morgan Stedman. N. Hanko discussed the work Mr. Stedman had done to further the environmental movements in the area and called him the "father of the preservation of Coyote Hill" . The Board recessed for a break at 8 :34 P.M. The Board reconvened for the public meeting at 8 : 40 P.M. B. Status of American Youth Hostel Proposal for Hassler Health Home Property S. Sessions reviewed report R-80-59 , dated October 17 , 1980, re- garding the request from the American Youth Hostel, Golden Gate Council of San Francisco to withdraw the $500 which had been committed to the District toward the Hassler environmental as- sessment to evaluate the retention of two of the health home buildings and the operation of a youth hostel on the site. He noted that Mark Ahalt, Hostel Development Manager, had requested that the $500 be used for study purposes in the future, if and when the District were to acquire properties that could be used for a hostel operation, N. Hanko indicated she would like to cooperate with the hostel organization in an attempt to develop a hostel plan that would service local people in the District, but noted the District should be approached with a possible hostel plan. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus that the Board indicate its willingness to cooperate with any chapter of the American Youth Hostel organization, but the Board was not prepared to address its role in youth hostels at this time. Motion: E. Shelley moved the recommendation contained in report R-80-59 , dated October 17, 1980 . H. Turner seconded the motion. Discussion: B. Green noted that the motion implied that S. Sessions would send a letter to the Golden Gate Council of American Hostels Inc. informing them of the Board' s action. The motion passed unanimously. C. Proposed Open Space Management Staffing Changes S . Sessions reviewed his report R-80-58, dated October 14, 1980 to H. Grench regarding his recommendations on Open Space Management staffing changes. He noted he was suggesting that a new, permanent full-time position of Associate Open Space Planner be created and that he be authorized to hire a temporary part-time peron for approximately six months to handle his section's writing needs. In addition, he was recommending that the Environmental Resource Planner position be elimated as a District staff position and that the Environmental Management Planner's title be changed to Open Space Planner. He said he was also working on a senior Ranger concept for the Ranger organization. Meeting 80-23 Page Five E. Shelley noted the word "annual" in S . SessionsIthird recom- mendation on page four of report R-80-58 should be changed to "monthly" . C. Britton reveiwed the recommendations to the Board contained in H. Grench's reprot, R-80-60 , dated October 17 , 1980 , regarding the planning staff changes. He noted that, in addition to the two recommendations contained in the report, the Board was also being asked to approve the revised Salary Pay Plan, which included the new full-time position and the recommended title change, at- tached to the report. Motion: E. Shelley moved the recommendations contained in report R-80-60 with the addition of " (3) Approve revised Salary Pay Plan. " N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. D. Endorsement of California Parklands Act of 1980 (Proposition 1) C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-80-75 , dated October 6, 1980 from H. Grench regarding the passage by the Board of a formal resolu- tion in support of Proposition 1 . Motion: K. Duffy moved the Board adopt Resolution 80-43 endorsing the California Parklands Act of 1980 (Proposition 1) . H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS C. Britton noted the Edgewood state college site was now locally owned public land, with the District having an open space easement on the property. C. Britton stated he attended a meeting of the South Skyline Association on October 16 , 1980 at which Bob Augsburger of the Peninsula Open Space Trust discussed the possibility of desig- nating the Skyline area as an area of national concern. He noted that such a designation would allow Federal money to be used to acquire scenic easements. B. Green said she had attended a meeting sponsored by the Committee for Green Foothills and People for Open Space on October 20 , 1980 . The purpose of the gathering was to meet with Representative Pete McCloskey who stated that the Skyline area would be a top priority for his time and efforts while in the area. C. Britton noted it might be beneficial for Representative McCloskey to meet with Skyline property owners to explain the possibilities for Federal aid and that it might be appropriate for the Legislative Committee to organize some type of meeting with Representative McCloskey while he was in the area. C. MacDonald reported the fourth issue of Openspace would be distributed on October 30 , and the theme of the issue was history in the District. S. Sessions gave a progress report on the solicitation of lease proposals for Picchetti and Thornewood, and he noted proposals were being prepared for the environmental assessment and building demolition for the Hassler Health Home site. Meeting 80-23 - -ge Six S . Sessions stated the Palo Alto City Council had approved the Monte Bello Trails Plan at their meeting of October 20 , 1980 . N. Hanko stated animosity had been expressed during the meeting against the Board' s action in regard to the Monte Bello parking lot and suggested Board members listen to a tape of the meeting. S. Sessions stated he would request verbatim minutes to dis- tribute to members of the Board. S . Sessions reported Channel 5 - Eye Witness News had filmed a news story at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve relating to the growing problem of domestic animals preying on wildlife in the foothills. N. Hanko stated the Palo Alto City Council had corrected the urban service area shown in Santa Clara County's General Plan, but the Palo Alto Planning Commission had, rather than not treating Stanford University as a separate entity as the Board had re- quested, adopted some regulations corresponding to the City's own zoning requirements for that area for the University. She felt staff should continue to state that Stanford should not be singledout when the plan was reviewed at the County level. C. Britton reported he had received information on the Santa Clara County study session on the General Plan on October 20 , 1980 . He noted three Supervisors were present and Stevens Creek Canyon had been dis- cussed as a part of the Park and Open Space element of the General Plan. The three supervisors agreed that the green line, representing possible parklands , should remain in Stevens Canyon as indicated on the map. H. Turner questioned S . Sessions about the reasons why groups from Hidden Villa had not been allowed to camp overnight in Windmill' Pasture. S . Sessions responded that a Board approved a Use and Management Plan for the area that had terminated camping in Windmill Pasture, and for that reason, he had made ar- rangements for the group to camp on Black Mountain. Discussion centered on allowing groups from Hidden Villa to camp in Windmill Pasture, and H. Turner requested that S . Sessions determine if any camping agreements were made by the District with the Duvenecks. H. Turner also requested that S. Sessions attend a meeting at Hidden Villa on Sunday, October 26 , 1980, to discuss the situation and stated he felt the District should be accomo- dating to Hidden Villa Ranch. D. Wendin noted the Windmill Pasture camping issue illustrated a lack of notice to people who would be interested in a certain agenda item and the related actions taken by the Board. He requested that the agenda for November 12, 1980 include the postponed agenda item on Public Hearings for Land Acquisitions for the purpose of a structual discussion of how to address the topic, rather than the merits of public notification. K. Duffy stated it may be necessary to have a special Board committee study the issue. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus that they would discuss the next steps to take on addressing the issue of adequate notification of Board actions to the public at the November 12 meeting. B. Green closed Oral Communications since Mr. Sparks was not present. CORRECTIONS TO MI14UTES OF 9,�)� 117S,�6 --2-3 II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. October 8, 1980 Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of the minutes of October 8, 1980 as presented. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motic,'i passed unanimously. B. October 22, 1980 N. Hanko requested the first sentence of paragraph one on Page Seven ,be corrected to read "N. Hanko commented on an ordinance passed by the Santa Clara County Planning Commission and on its way to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors which would release Stanford University from having to annex to a city once University land was within the city`s Urban Service Area" . B. Green noted the fifth paragraph on Page Three should refer to Mrs. Morgan Stedman, not Mrs . Morris Stedman. Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of the minutes of October 22, 1980 as amended. E. Shelley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. J 1 I i