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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19810513 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 81-13 0-e* 0 OWTE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Regular Meeting Board of Directors M I N U T E S May 13 , 1981 I . ROLL CALL President Richard Bishop called the meeting to order at 7 :04 P.M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Barbara Green, Edward Shelley, Nonette Hanko, and Richard Bishop. Harry Turner arrived at 7 : 20 P.M. Member Absent: Daniel Wendin. Staff Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, Steven Sessions, Charlotte MacDonald, Kathy Blackburn, and Jean Fiddes. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS J. Fiddes reported the Board had received the following written communications : 1) A letter, dated April 29 , 1981, from Representative Don Edwards and a letter, dated May 5 , 1981, from Representative Paul N. McCloskey, Jr. in response to R. Bishop 's letter and the Board's resolution regarding the elimination of Land and Water Conser- vation Fund grant funds ; 2) A letter, dated April 28, 1981, from Janie Killerman, President, League of Women Voters of the Los Altos-Mountain View Area regarding public notification procedures; 3) A copy of a letter from Thomas E. Harrington, 4201 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, dated May 7 , 1981, to Frederic H. Nichols , Chairman of the Palo Alto Planning Commission, requesting that the Commission reconsider the location of the District's proposed parking lot location at the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve at the Commission' s May 13 , 1981 meeting; and 4) Ten letters , dated April 23 , April 24 , and May 12 , 1981, from Harry H. Haeussler, Jr. , 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos re- garding: a) lands supervision and adequate patroling and protection of open space lands ; b) public input for land use planning and potential land purchases and the need for two public hearings before any decision is made; c) public notification and input for plans and use of District lands and having such items considered at two Board meetings; d) parking lot surfaces ; e) Monte Bello parking lot and proposed area for horse trailer parking; f) demolition of the structures on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve; g) gully erosion on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve; h) Monte Bello Open Space Preserve trail system and the trail connecting Rogue Valley to the Wildcat Loop Trail; i) permit parking for horse trailers at the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve and his being denied a parking permit for his horse trailer and the combination to the gate to get into the old barn area at the Preserve; and j ) allowing horses on the Stevens Creek Nature Trail or constructing a nearby trail that would accomodate horses. Meeting 81-13 Page Two R. Bishop requestea that letters relating to public notification be considered by the Public Notification Committee and that letters concerning the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve be taken into consideration at the meeting of May 27 , 1981. III . ADOPTION OF AGENDA N. Hanko requested that item five on the agenda, Proposed Coastal Conservancy Wetlands Enhancement Grant Application for the District's San Mateo County Baylands Reserve, be considered after item two in order for Brad Stamper from the East Palo Alto Municipal Council to be present for both items . R. Bishop stated the Board's consensus that the agenda was adopted with the one change requested by N. Hanko. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no Oral Communications at this time. H. Grench informed the Board that a member of the Los Altos City Council was planning to address the Board, but was not yet present. V. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY A. Spring Wildflowers RE the Open Space District C. MacDonald and K. Blackburn presented the District's new slide- show on spring wildfowers , a joint production effort of District staff and docents. K. Blackburn informed the Board of the death of Liz Holzhauser, one of the District's docents , noting Mrs . Holzhauser had desig- nated,prior to her death, that memorial gifts were to be sent to the District. N. Hanko suggested that the District staff consider producing a brochure on wildflowers found on District preserves. VI. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Roger Eng, Mayor of the City of Los Altos expressed his concerns to the Board regarding the parking problem on St. Joseph 's Avenue. He said the Los Altos City Council had directed the City 's staff to work with the District and Santa Clara County to alleviate the problem and said it was his hope the District would cooperate in the efforts. R. Bishop stated the District 's Board and staff have already been working on the problem of trying to alleviate the parking situation and said the District would continue to cooperate with the City of Los Altos and Santa Clara County on the matter. Greg Duban, 948 St. Joseph ' s Avenue, Los Altos, commended the District's staff on efforts they had undertaken to alleviate the parking problem on St. Jospeh ' s Avenue and said the problem of speeding should also be addressed. Drew Arvay, 2080 Madelaine Court, Los Altos , stated his concern that the parking problem on St. Joseph' s Avenue was not being solved. He noted residents had originally been promised that St. Joseph ' s Avenue would not be the access road to the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and that access was to be from Cristo Rey Drive. He said residents should be involved in the decision making process and that he thought there had been a consensus among the residents who attended the neighborhood meeting on the matter that permit parking should be introduced. He said more parking areas were needed nearer Deer Hollow Farm and the tennis courts with access via Cristo Rey Drive. Meeting 81-13 Page Three VII . NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Proposed Addition to the District' s San Mateo County Baylands Reserve (Lands of Leslie Salt Company) C. Britton introduced James Walton and William Lewis , representatives from Leslie Salt Company present at the meeting, and Brad Stamper, who represented the East Palo Alto Municipal Council . He reviewed report R-81-17 , dated May 5, 1981, regarding the acquisition of 148 acres north of Cooley Landing at the bargain price of $500 ,000 . He noted the total purchase price was $160 ,200 below the parcel 's appraised value and said the cash payment of $500 ,000 would be made out of the Previous Land Commitments budget category. S. Sessions reviewed a map of the area, showed slides of the site, and reviewed the interim use and management plans outlined in the report. He noted staff was recommending the parcel not be dedicated, that public access be temporarily restricted, that access be allowed on an individual basis through a permit system, and that a caretaker approach for the parcel be encouraged with the owner of the adjacent Cooley Landing. He said the salt pond was presently full of brine being processed by Leslie Salt and that staff was recommending the company be allowed approximately six months to complete the processing. E. Shelley asked why access to the parcel was restricted, and S. Sessions responded the boardwalk was fenced off, and individuals would have to cross private property to reach the parcel from University Avenue. N. Hanko asked S. Sessions to review possible trail alignments and access and questioned how the permit system would function. S. Sessions reviewed the trail alignment as indicated on the display map, noting access would be through the six acre parcel to be discussed as the next agenda item. He noted permits would be issued to individuals from the main office and said people would be warned that there was a parking problem in the area. H. Grench commented that planning for the area should include a master plan for the entire area from Dumbarton to Cooley Landing. He noted that there had to be some mitigation of safety hazards on the site before the restriction on public access could be lifted. Tom Kavanaugh, 1726 Spring Street, Mountain View, commented that the Board should not dedicate the land and that there should be a clarification of how exactly the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant money could be used and what were appropriate recreational uses of the land. R. Bishop extended the Board' s thanks to Mr. Walton for the sale of the property at less than market value, and H. Grqnch commended Leslie Salt Company for its enlightened and disposition of its land. Beez Jones , 16891 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, asked how Thornewood became a matching gift in the grant procedure. C. Britton explained that the value of the Thornewood property could be used under the grant procedures as a local matching gift for the Leslie Salt property. Meeting 81-13 Page Four Motion: H. Turner moved the adoption of Resolution 81-28, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance and Agreement to Purchase Real Property-Bargain Sale, 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 (San Mateo County Bayland' s Reserve - Lands of Leslie Salt Co. ) . N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board adopt the proposed interim use and management recommendations included in the report, allow Leslie Salt to pump the existing brine one additional time during the next six months, continue as described with the permit system for the site's use, and leave the parcel in a non-dedicated status . N. Hanko seconded the motion. Discussion: H. Turner requested he be able to amend his motion to includeunofficially naming the site as an addition to the San Mateo County Baylands Reserve. N. Hanko accepted the proposed change to the motion. The motion, as amended, passed unanimously. B. Proposed Coastal Conservancy Wetlands Enhancement Grant Application for the District 's San Mateo County Baylands Reserve C.Brit-tb—n introduced report R-81-19 , dated May 6, 1981, regarding the opportunity to submit a Wetlands Enhancement grant application to the California Coastal Conservancy for funds to acquire and enhance a six acre parcel and adjacent lands near the previously approved Leslie Salt Company acquisition. S . Sessions reviewed a map of the area, noting the six acre parcel would provide access to the Leslie Salt acquisition, and showed slides of the subject property. C. Britton provided background on the grant, noting that only a portion of the grant was for acquisition.sition. He noted that if the District was not able to acquire the property from the City of San Francisco that staff would work with the City of San Francisco to obtain at a minimum pedestrian and patrol access to the Leslie Salt parcel. N. Hanko asked if there were any restriction in the grant that would prohibit possible future development of a marina or related marina facilities . C. Britton responded that it was his under- standing that grant restrictions would only affect land the District acquired or enhanced with the grant money. T. Kavanaugh asked if there would be any connection to the property from the public roads of Fordham and Tulane, said staff should consider the parking and dumping problems on Fordham and Tulane, noted staff should work with the East Palo Alto Municipal Council to keep the Southern Pacific track open for potential industrial development on Bay Road, and asked about the estimated cost of the six acre parcel. C. Britton responded that he was not sure if there would be access from Fordham and Tulane because of the Southern Pacific ' s right of way in the area and said the $150 ,000 estimated acquisition costs were based on the sale of similar property for the purpose of the grant application, and a fee appraisal would be done before the District were to buy the land. Meeting 81-13 Page Five N.Hanko asked if there would be any problem opening the trail system in the area before the proposed 10 acre industrial park was developed. C. Britton responded the District might lease the necessary property if the 20 acres were not dedicated as open space, and H. Grench said he felt the trail system could be developed before the development of the industrial area by using alternate access. Motion: H. Turner moved the adoption of Resolution 81-29 , a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving the Application for California Coastal Conservancy Wetlands Enhancement Funds - San Mateo Baylands Reserve and the authorization for the General Manager to enter into necessary grant contracts for the acquisition and enhancement of the City of San Francisco parcel. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Stamper asked if the Board would like the East Palo Alto Municipal Council to send a resolution to the California Coastal Conservancy in support of the District 's grant application. R. Bishop requested that Mr. Stamper relay to Barbara Mouton, Chair of the Council, that the Board would appreciate their sending a resolution of support. The Board recessed for a break at 8:40 P.M. and reconvened for the public meeting at 8 :53 P.M. C. Review of Use and Management Plans for Thornewood, Los Trancos, and Russian "Ridge Open Space Preserves and the Use and Management Plan for Windy Hill Open Space Preserve S. Sessions introduced report R-81-20, dated May 8 , 1981, which contained a review of the Use and Management Plans for Thorne- wood, the Los Trancos and Russian Ridge Open Space Preserves and the proposed Use and Management Plan for Windy Hilll Open Space Preserve. D. Woods reviewed the proposed Use and Management Plan for Windy Hill in detail for the Board and showed slides of the area to illustrate various parts of the report. He noted that hang gliding and soaring were two special recreational activities that had historically occurred on the site and said staff was recommending the reinstatement of soaring at Windy Hill, with use to be conducted on a special permit basis for a six month maximum period. George Page, Vice President of the South Bay Soaring Society, explained the fundamentals of soaring and stated that the society' s members were covered by a $1, 000,000 insurance policy under the Academy of Model Aereonautics (AMA) and that the permit could stipulate that AMA membership was required to use the site for soaring. H. Grench clarified the six month permit being discussed, noting that the activities would be re-evaluated by staff in six months and staff would make a decision whether or not to extend the permit. He noted that if the activity did not work out, the permit would be terminated by staff, and the soaring enthusiasts could address the Board and request reinstatement of the permit. R. Bishop asked for a review of liability implications from Dis- trict's Legal Counsel and requested that staff action in setting up the permit system include input from Legal Counsel. Meeting 81-13 Page Six S. Norton stated his preliminary reaction was that if the associa- tion, acting as an intermediary, required that soarers carry insurance and name the District as an addition insured, then the District' s liability exposure would be minimized. H. Grench relayed comments he had received earlier in the day from Jon Silver, member of the Portola Valley Town Council, relating to hang gliding at Windy Hill. He said Mr. Silver stated that, when the Town Council was considering a request from hang gliders to be allowed to land at the Town Center, the Council decided, after talking with their legal counsel, not to grant permits be- cause of liability reasons; however, Mr. Silver added that the Council' s action at that time neither approved nor rejected the landing of hang gliders at Town Center. Gene Hilborn, 169 Wayside Circle, Portola Valley and a represen- tative of the hang gliding community, addressed the Board, noting that Windy Hill was a recognized hang glider launching area and this activity should be allowed to continue. R. Bishop noted the Board needed to make a policy decision on whether the District wanted to allow hang gliding on Windy Hill, and that if the decision was affirmative, the reinstatement of this use would require approval by the Town Council of Portola Valley since hang gliding was one of the conditional uses con- tained in the deed restrictions for the property. D. Wendin noted that staff needed time to work with all concerned parties to see if an acceptable plan for hang gliding could be accomplished before the Board made a policy decision on whether or not to approve use of the site for this activity. Richard Merk, P.O. Box 4052 , Woodside, Mary Lowe and Jane Ames of Portola Valley, and H. Haeussler spoke in favor of allowing hang gliding on Windy Hill. Sue Crane of Portola Valley reported on behalf of Nancy Robertson, Vice Mayor of the Portola Valley Town Council, that the Portola Valley Town Council was ready to include a discussion of hang gliding on a future council meeting agenda. R. Merk requested the sixth paragraph on page ten of the staff report be worded more positively to state that hang gliding would be permitted after certain problems and concerns were solved. H. Grench stated he did not vet feel ready to be so optimistic as to reword the staff recommendation on hang gliding. He noted that a landing area was just one problem that needed to be resolved and that other concerns included liability, user control, and spectators. H. Turner requested that the last sentence in paragraph six on page ten be changed to read "Staff will continue to work with representatives of the interested club and the Town of Portola Valley to explore whether there might be an acceptable plan" . R. Bishop suggested that members of the Board observe the hang gliding operations at Fort Funston and Ed Levin County Park to become more familiar with the activity. Meeting 81-13 Page Seven Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board delete the last sentence of the second to last paragraph on page ten and substi- tute the following statement: "Staff will work with representatives of the interested club and the Town of Portola Valley to seek and develop an acceptable plan for hang gliding. B. Green seconded the motion. Discussion: R. Bishop and E. Shelley spoke against the motion as worded since it prejudged that hang gliding was an appropriate and accepted use for the area. H. Turner requested that he be allowed to change the substitute sentence to read "Staff will work with repre- sentatives of the interested club and the Town of Portola Valley to seek to develop a plan for Board consideration. " B. Green concurred with the substitution. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board approve the Use and Manage- ment Plan for Windy Hill as amended. E. Shelley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. D. Woods noted the highlights of the review of the use and manage- ment plan for the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve. N. Hanko asked if it might be necessary to have the portable toilet facili- ties available at Los Trancos for more than ninety days and requested that the staff report back to the Board on the matter at the end of the ninety day period. E. Shelley pointed out that the provision of toilet facilities at a preserve was directly related to site emphasis and the Board should not set policy for the provision of facilities at Los Trancos without having resolved the entire question of site emphasis. H. Grench summarized the discussion noting that the Board was not asking staff to report back to the Board at the end of the ninety day period, but he stated that any Board member could re- quest such a report. S. Sessions reviewed the Use and Management Plans for Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and Thornewood. He stated that staff was recommending the dedication of the former Fine property at this time. He discussed the possible agricultural use of three to four acres of the western portion of the Thornewood site for grape cultivation, noting that staff was exploring the possi- bility with regard to suitability of land use and potential con- flicts with future trail alignment. Peter Keck and Polly Mullen of Woodside Vineyards, 340 Kings Mountain Road, Woodside, explained their winery' s operation and the potential use they planned for the Thornewood acreage. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board approve the Use and Management Plans for Thornewood and the Russian Ridge and Los Trancos Open Space Preserves. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board dedicate the former Fine property. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting 81-13 Page Eight D. Proposed Addition of Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve (Risley Property) C. Britton reviewed report R-81-18 , dated May 7, 1981, noting Mr. Nathaniel Risley was in attendance, and Mr. Risley commented on some aspects of the property the District was considering. C. Britton noted the 285 acres of land in two parcelswould become an addition to the Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve and said the 160 acre parcel would be purchased for $285,000 , while the 125 acre parcel would be conveyed to District by gift deed. S. Sessions showed slides of the area where the parcels were located and reviewed the interim use and management considerations. Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of Resolution 81-30 , 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, Authorizing Officer to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of Gift Deed to District, and Authorizing General Manager to Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate to the Closing of the Transaction (Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve - Risley Property) . K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: B. Green moved that staff be authorized to take title subject to the existing $50,000 deed of trust and permit a further budget overrun of $235 ,000 in the New Land Commitmentsbudget category in order to complete the purchase. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: B. Green moved that the Board approve the interim use and management recommendations contained in the staff report, designate Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve - Limekiln Canyon Area the unofficial name of the site, and withhold the 285 acre acquisition from dedication. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VIII . OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Issues and Questions from Site Emphasis and Program Evaluation Workshops R. Bishop, noting the lateness of the hour and the absence of D. Wendin, deferred , with the Board' s concurrence, the discussion of this agenda item to the next meeting of the Board, assuming all Board members would be present. Meeting 81-13 Page Nine IX. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS H. Grench reported on recent events he had attended including Walnut Creek' s Open Space Foundation's celebration, the fourth annual People for Open Space Retreat, which P. Starrett also attended, and the Friends of Hidden Villa Annual Meeting and Picnic. S. Sessions announced staff would be convening a public workshop on Wednesday, May 20 , 1981, beginning at 5 : 30 P.M. in the parking area at Picchetti for the purpose of gathering public input for the upcoming use and management plan for the Picchetti area. N. Hanko stated she felt one member of the Picchetti Winery Committee should attend the workshop. X. CLAIMS Motion: B. Green moved the adoption of the revised claims , C-81-10, dated May 13, 1981. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. XI. ADJOURNMENT Noting that there were no urgent items for the Closed Session and because of the lateness of the hour, the Board adjourned at 11:10 P.M. without holding Closed Session. Jean H. Fiddes District Clerk CORRECTIONS TO MINUTES OF II. ' APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. May 13, 1981 D. Wendin noted an error in the minutes of May 13, 1981, page six, aragraph 5. He did not make the statement attributed to him, as e was not present at the meeting. The minutes were corrected to read: "It was noted that staff. . . . . " Motion: E. Shelley moved the minutes of May 13, 1981 be accepted as corrected. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion carried, with D. Wendin abstaining.