HomeMy Public PortalAbout19810211 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 81-4
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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
February 11, 1981
I. ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by President Richard Bishop at
7 : 35 P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Daniel Wendin, Edward Shelley,
Nonette Hanko, Harry Turner, and Richard Bishop.
Member Absent: Barbara Green.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, Steve Sessions,
Jean Fiddes, Eric Mart, Susan Bayerd, and Joan Combs.
II. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
The Board adopted the agenda by consensus.
III . SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Resolution of Appreciation
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt Resolution 81-15 ,
Commending Assemblyman Dominic Cortese for His Assistance
to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and to
the Environment of Santa Clara County. K. Duffy seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
H. Grench said he would deliver the resolution when in Sacramento.
IV. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
Filling of Position - Secretary to the General Manager
H. Grench introduced report R-81-7 , dated February 4 , 1981, noting
that the vacancy allowed for the consideration of some organizational
changes.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board approve the job specification
and the filling of the position of Secretary to the General
Manager, with a salary range of 137-167 . E. Shelley
seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
V. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Formula for Allocating Proposition 1 Park Funds in San Mateo County
H. Grench introduced report R-81-9 , dated February 6 , 1981. He
noted that the formula allocates only 30 of San Mateo County funds
to the District, the same percentage the District received in 1976 ,
and which he felt was not in keeping with the intent of the legis-
lation. He said that the District had been talking with San Mateo
County officials to find a solution to the problem, and the County
has suggested seeking a joint project with the District, possibly
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 81-4 Page Two
helping to fund Hassler.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board authorize the General Manager
to pursue obtaining a commitment from San Mateo County on a
joint project, and failing that, to make a strong protest
when the matter comes before the Board of Supervisors.
E. Shelley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
B. Correction of Clerical Errors in Resolution 81-4
C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-81-18 , dated February 5, 1981,
concerning the correction of clerical errors in two sections of
Resolution 81-4.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt Resolution 81-16 , a
Resolution Correcting Clerical Errors and Ratifying and
Confirming Corrected Resolution 81-4 . H. Turner seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The discussion of Item 5 was deferred until the arrival of Hidden Villa,
Inc. representatives.
C. Proposed Addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve -
(Co2lon Property)
C. Britton introduced report R-81-8 , dated February 5 , 1981. He
said that 4 settlement had been made with the Coplons and the purchase
agreement called for a total purchase price of $1,000 ,000 , $600 ,000
in cash and $400 ,000 of that sum to be received by the sellers as an
8% , 5-year secured District note. He stated that there was also an
existing note in the amount of $400 ,000 that might be renegotiated if
authorized by thd Board. He said that if the note could not be re-
negotiated, the purchase would require a budget over-run of $600 ,000.
S. Sessions reviewed the interim use and management plans for the
property.
Motion : R. Bishop moved that the Board adopt Resolution 81-17 , a
Resolution 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 (Russian Ridge
Open Space Preserve - Coplon Property) , that the land be
dedicated as open space and that Russian Ridge Open Space
Preserve be adopted as the official name of the site. D.
Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
H. Turner requested that the record show his comment that
he would ordinarily have abstained on this vote, but
because a Board member was absent, he chose to vote in
order to get the proper number of votes and not frustrate
the rest of the Board.
Motion: R. Bishop moved the adoption of the interim use and manage-
ment plan and approval of the budget over-run. D. Wendin
seconded the motion. The motion passed on the following
vote:
Ayes: K. Duffy, D. Wendin, E. Shelley, R. Bishop, N. Hanko
Abstain: H. Turner
Meeting 81-4 Page Three
`^ ^ INFORMATIONAL `-- ----
Meeting 81-4 Page Four
Karen Nilssen, co-director of Hidden Villa, Inc. , stated that 60-70%
of all children in Hidden Villa's recreational and educational
program are from within the District. The remainder are low income
children from other areas who come on scholarships.
S. Sessions said the District has a responsibility as landowner,
and if the District allows an overnight program, it must provide
a safe environment. Part of this responsibility would be emergency
access.
N. Hanko said she felt that overnights at Windmill Pasture were
part of the agreement when the District accepted the gift, and felt
the District had a responsibility to provide safe access. She
added that there was a question of whether the agreement had in-
dicated camping at Windmill Pasture would continue, or be phased
out with the implementation of the Black Mountain facilities.
J. Black said it was his understanding that overnights were only
intended for Windmill Pasture, since Black Mountain is not usable
for Hidden Villa overnights.
D. Wendin stated that the documents which were signed by the
Duvenecks when making the gift in no way made a reservation which
would allow Hidden Villa, Inc. to continue its camping program for
more than a year. He added that the District accepted the gift
with no strings whatsoever, and to rely on an informal agreement is
inappropriate. In view of staff' s reservations, he recommended
the Board adopt a positive statement of intent to accommodate
Hidden Villa, and suggested a committee be appointed to work with
the Hidden Villa Board so that District staff is not obligated to
set policy.
N. Hanko said that guidelines are needed if the Board is to adopt
an amendment to the original agreement, and added she would like
the committee to be given an early deadline to return with some
guidelines.
K. Duffy said that the Hidden Villa program is the kind the District
should be encouraging, and said she felt the safety problem was a
separate issue.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board affirm Hidden Villa' s over-
night use of the Windmill Pasture area and that the Board
authorize the appointment of a committee to develop guide-
lines for the use of Windmill Pasture by Hidden Villa, Inc. ,
instructing the committee to make its recommendations to
the Board by the first meeting in March.
Discussion: D. Wendin questioned the meaning of "affirm"
and said he preferred "declare in principal that they accept
the proposal of Hidden Villa" .
R. Bishop suggested that the motion be worded to indicate
a willingness to work with Hidden Villa to provide a program
under which Hidden Villa would have sleepouts at Windmill
Pasture.
N. Hanko said the language used in R. Bishop' s suggestion was
acceptable, with the addition of the committee appointment.
Meeting 81-4 Page Five
R. Bishop restated the motion as follows: that the Board
indicate a willingness to work with Hidden Villa in order
to provide a program under which Hidden Villa would have
sleepouts at Windmill Pasture, and that a committee be
appointed to meet with Hidden Villa representatives and
work out the details. D. Wendin seconded the motion.
Discussion: D. Wendin said he did not feel it was necessary
to work out a permanent agreement for this year, and added
that he was concerned about adopting a program that will
accommodate the public as a whole, a point which the Board
needs to address.
The motion passed unanimously.
R. Bishop appointed D. Wendin, H. Turner, and N. Hanko as members
of the Windmill Pasture Committee and set the first meeting in March
for the committee ' s report.
Black Mountain Area
Discussion centered on whether camp stoves should be allowed at the
Black Mountain backpack camp.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that staff be authorized to implement the
backpack camp at Black Mountain as contained in the plan
previously submitted to Palo Alto as quickly as possible
consistent with the use of grant funds, and requesting
staff to return at an early date with their recommendation
on the use of camp stoves. N. Hanko seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
The Board recessed for a break at 10 : 00 P.M.
The Board reconvened at 10 : 05 P.M.
E. Thornewood Follow-up Reports
H. Turner reported that he and D. Wendin had met with Steve Stevick,
Executive Director of the Sierra Club Foundation, and that a letter
was coming to the Board reaffirming that the gift of the Thornewood
property came with no restrictions as to its use.
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the tabled motion of the meeting of
January 14 , 1981 be removed from the table. At the request
of the Board, J. Combs read the tabled motion:
"D. Wendin moved that the Board A) direct staff to
negotiate with Mr. and Mrs. Gano a proposal which meets
the following three points 1) meets the criteria adopted
by the Board for all proposals subject to whatever ground-
rules the Thornewood Proposals Review Committee adopts
concerning exceptions, 2) the exchange is for fair market
value, and 3) that the exchange maximizes the possibility
of obtaining a trail link to Portola Valley as part of
any ultimate acceptance of such a proposal; B) direct
staff to bring appropriate legal action to determine
whether or not the property may be exchanged under the
will; and C) direct the Thornewood Proposals Review
Committee to continue the process of reviewing lease
Meeting 81-4 Page Six
proposals to return with a ranking of those proposals
together with the criteria used for ranking so the Board
can make its own ultimate selection. "
H. Turner seconded R. Bishop' s motion, which passed on
the following vote :
Ayes : K. Duffy, H. Turner, R. Bishop, E. Shelley, D. Wendin
No: N. Hanko
The motion was carried.
N. Hanko, referring to the minutes of September 13, 1978 , said
the Board adopted by unanimous vote that the gift of the Thornewood
property be received and proposals solicited for the long term
use of the house. She added that she did not wish to consider
an exchange proposal .
Motion to Amend: D. Wendin moved that the motion on the table be
amended by deleting portions A and B. N. Hanko
seconded the motion. The motion to amend passed
unanimously, and the Board then voted on the
amended motion. The amended motion passed
unanimously.
motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board permit Mr. Gano to amend
his exchange proposal to a lease proposal. N. Hanko
seconded the motion.
Discussion: D. Wendin said he would like his comment in
the record that he did not think this motion was required,
as Mr. Gano had already presented a proposal before the
Thornewood Proposal Review Committee.
The motion passed unanimously.
VIII. CLAIMS
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board adopt the revised claims
C-81-3 , dated February 11, 1981. K. Duffy seconded. The
motion passed unanimously.
IX. CLOSED SESSION
The Board recessed to Closed Session at 10 :45 P.M.
X. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11:55 P.M.
Joan Combs
Secretary