HomeMy Public PortalAbout19810513 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 81-13
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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.