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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19810527 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) eeting 81-14 , V am 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 May 27, 1981 I . ROLL CALL President Richard Bishop called the meeting to order at 7 : 05 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 , Del Woods , Mary Gundert, Jean Fiddes , Charlotte MacDonald, Kathy Blackburn, Michael Foster, and Stanley Norton. II. CLOSED SESSION The Board recessed for a Closed Session on personnel matters at 7: 06 P.M. and reconvened for the public meeting at 7 : 36 P.M. III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. April 22 , 1981 Motion: E. Shelley moved the adoption of the minutes of April 22 , 1981 as presented. K. Duffy seconded the motion. Discussion: N. Hanko requested the words "previous proposed" in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph on Page Seven be changed to read "Los Trancos" . D. Wendin requested the second paragraph on Page Five be corrected to read "D. Wendin said that the Committee expected to return to the Board with an evaluation of the proposals , based on various evaluation criteria. If the Board wishes to encourage a certain objective, the Board would "weight" the proposals accordingly. " D. Wendin asked H. Turner if he had called a meeting of the Windmill Pasture Committee, and H. Turner said he had not. K. Duffy requested the words "two cisterns" in P. Obluda' s statement on Page Ten be corrected to read "one cistern" . The motion to adopt the minutes , with the corrections noted, passed unanimously, with B. Green ab- staining from the vote. B. May 2 , 1981 Motion: D. Wendin moved the approval of the minutes of May 2, 1981. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, with E. Shelley and B. Green abstaining from the vote. IV. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS j . Fiddes reported the Board had received the following written communications : 1) A letter, dated May 20 , 1981, from N. Timothy Hall , Professor of Geology, Foothill College, regarding the proposed geologic trail for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. 2) A letter, dated May 18 , 1981, from Irene S . Berg protesting the Herbert A Grench,General Manager Board of Directors:Katherine Duffy,Barbara Green,Nonette G.Hanko,Richard S.Bishop,EdwardG Shelley,Harry A Turner,Daniel G.Wendin Meeting 81--14 .:age Two demolition of the bay tree cistern at the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. 3) A letter, dated May 12, 1981, from Winter Dellenbach protesting parking lot location "L" on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. 4) A letter, dated May 17 , 1981, from Harry H. Haeussler, Jr. 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos, regarding the District' s responsibility to provide adequate parking space for people using District preserves. 4) Letters dated May 27 , May 25, May 26, and May 25, 1981 res- pectively expressing opposition to parking lot location "L" on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve from the following individuals : Mr. and Mrs . N. R. Moseley, 3830 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills ; William C. Barkow, 11384 Churton Avenue, Los Altos ; Mr. and Mrs . John French, 335 Golden Oak Drive, Portola Valley; and Mrs . Virginia McKim, 864 Cedro Way, Stanford. She noted that Mrs . McKim also expressed support for locating the parking lot in the old riding ring area in her letter. 5) A letter, dated May 27 , 1981, from Lewis C. Reed, Treasurer, Mid-Peninsula Trails Council, explaining the purpose of the organization and discussing the needs for horse trailer parking at the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. 6) A letter, dated May 22, 1981, from David and Barbara Leeson, 15300 Blackberry Hill, Los Gatos , regarding the proposed property exchange on the evening's agenda and their opposition to residential development of the District's parcel unless their interests in privacy and open space views were formally protected in the deed by covenants to run with the land. 7) A letter, dated May 26 , 1981, from Thomas E. Harrington, 4201 Page Mill Road, Los Altos, requesting that the Board relocate the proposed parking lot location "L" . V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA R. Bishop stated the Board's consensus that the agenda was adopted as presented. VI. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Barbara H. Crafford, 16830 Sheldon Road, Los Gatos , addressed the Board in behalf of the residents of Sheldon Road regarding several concerns the residents had with the operation and maintenance of the El Sereno Open Space Preserve. She distributed a letter, dated May 15 , 1981 and signed by seventeen Sheldon Road residents , that outlined the residents ' concerns . With the Board' s concurrence, R. Bishop directed staff to return to the Board at the meeting of June 24, 1981 with a staff report on the concerns discussed in the letter. VII . OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Addendum to Use and Management Plan for Monte Bello Open Space Preserve R.R.Bishop noted the agenda item had been continued from the meeting of April 22, 1981, that the Special Meeting of the Board held on May 2, 1981 had been a field tour of the site, and that staff had prepared an addendum to the Use and Management Plan for Monte Bello Open Space Preserve discussed at the April 22 meeting. Meeting 81-14 Page Three S. Sessions reviewed memorandum M-81-50, dated May 20, 1981, which was the addendum to the Use and Management Plan for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, report R-81-16 , dated April 17 , 1981. He noted that staff recommended that the proposed parking lot for the Preserve be situated in location "L" , that a pro- vision should be included in the proposed trail system for a connecting trail from Canyon Trail to the northeast portion of the Preserve, that the proposed Geology Trail was felt by staff to be an integral part of the trail system, that the flat area where the old barns were located should be used by equestrians on a permit basis for parking, and that staff was still recommend- ing the removal of the cistern and spring box located above the sag pond. H. Haeussler stated that adequate parking should be provided for Preserve users and that more consideration and parking areas for equestrians should be given by the District. Mark Schneider, Box 343, Star Route #2, La Honda, restated his opposition to the removal of the cistern and spring box above the sag pond, encouraged the Board to undertake a feasibility study on providing public transportation to the Preserve, and suggested that the District do some long-range planning on the total number of parking areas that would be needed if the District encourages the public to visit the Preserve. Glen Morris, 3278 Skyline Boulevard, said he felt the members of the public in attendance at the May 2 Special Meeting were not in favor of the removal of the cistern and spring box above the sag pond. Thomas Harrington, 4201 Page Mill Road, Palo Alto, stated he agreed the spring box should not be removed and expressed his opposition to situating the parking lot at location "L" . He said the location highly impacted his home and members of the public driving on Page Mill Road or hiking on the Preserve. He referred the Board to his written communication of May 25, 1981 and its attachments and discussed his opposition to location "L" based on safety, use, landscaping, handicapped use, and political factors. Mr. Harrington suggested the Board separate the loca- tion of the parking lot and the demolition of the spring box from the proposed Use and Management Plan for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve and prepare a separate report on these items, while approving the remainder of the plan. He noted the public interest would be better served if the Board did not take any action on the parking lot location at this time, and in response to a ques- tion from H. Turner, stated he could support locating a parking lot in locations "Fl" , "G" , and the"OK Corral" . Mr. Harrington stated he did not feel staff had properly evaluated the "F1" location he had proposed. Ellie Huggins, 824 San Francisco Court, Stanford, stated she had addressed the Palo Alto City Council at the May 25 meeting and had spoken in favor of allowing reasonable access to the Monte Meeting 81-14 Page Four Bello Open Space Preserve with parking located on the Monte Bello side of Page Mill Road. She noted that the Preserve could only, in her opinion, be accessed properly from the Monte Bello side of the road and asked that the District' s Board and staff interface with staff and members of the Palo Alto Planning Commission so that the matter could be resolved in the near future. William Spangle, 3240 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, stated the parking lot should be located on the south side of Page Mill Road, the District should take a position on how much parking would ultimately be provided in the area, it was time for the District to consider how to encourage people to use public transportation or chartered bus service for groups , visual aspects should be con- sidered with all other factors when evaluating a parking lot location, and said he hoped the District would not consider putting large parking areas on all of its open space areas. Virginia McKim, 864 Cedro Way, Stanford and an adjacent property owner to the Preserve, stated her opposition to parking lot loca- tion "L" because of safety and aesthetic factors, her support for locating the parking lot in the old riding ring area of the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, and her opposition to the demo- lition of the spring box. H. Haeussler stated the District should retain the spring box and asked if all the downed barbed wire would be removed from the Preserve. N. Hanko stated she hoped the Board would take some action at this meeting to start the discussions and exploration of public transportation possibilities with representatives from Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, and San Mateo County. D. Wendin suggested that the Board invite County transportation representatives to address the Board on long-range Planning and future funding for public transportation in the area. S. Sessions, in response to a question from D. Wendin, stated he had not seen any plans for the 'T '' location since it had been introduced by Mr. Harrington dur1 ing a field tour, and he noted the newly proposed location combined one-half of location "L" and one-half of location "F" . He stated staff had considered location "F" but had not recommended placing the parking lot in this location because of geographical and access factors. D. Wendin discussed the process that might be involved and the po- tential goal of directing staff to meet with staff members from San Mateo County and Palo Alto to discuss further possible loca- tions for the parking lot. He said the ultimate goal was for staff to recommend a location on which to do a site study, but noted staff needed to provide the Board with information regarding scheduling and cost analysis, including staff time and labor involved. Purusha Obluda, 31570 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills, expressed his opposition to the demolition of the spring box and the loca- tion of a parking lot on the Monte Bello side of Page Mill Road. Meeting 81-14 Page Five He noted locating the parking lot in the old riding ring area would allow for a compromise and said that if District represen- tatives were to meet with the Preserve ' s neighbors and discuss the parking lot location and their concerns, the matter could be resolved in 30-60 days. R. Bishop stated the Board should move ahead, make the area accessible to all members of the public, and approve the use and management plan, including the location of the parking lot, as presented by staff. He noted he did not feel that further study would allow the Board to make a better decision than they could make at this meeting and said a joint planning effort could bog down the matter. He urged the Board to approve the staff' s recommendations contained in the reports. N. Hanko, in response to a question asked previously by H. Turner, stated the Palo Alto Planning Commission had opposed situating the parking lot at location "G" because of the amount of cut and fill that would have had to occur and because the location dis- turbed a natural area overlooking the Stevens Creek watershed. N. Hankoshowed slides of the spring box and cistern above the spring box and encouraged the Board not to remove these structures. In response to a question from D. Wendin asking what it would take to secure the spring box and cistern, H. Grench stated the spring box could be covered and possibly filled with rock and the hole leading, into the cistern would have to be secured. He noted it was staff' s intention to try to minimize all hazards and insurance risks on the Preserve. Sam Jones, 16891 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, stated the cistern and spring box could be a valuable water source in the future and should be retained. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt the Use and Management Plan recommendations as contained in the staff report of April 17, 1981 and as contained in the addendum dated May 20, 1981 with the exception of the proposed parking lot "L" , direct staff to work with the City of Palo Alto planning staff and San Mateo County planning staff as appropriate for the purpose of recommending to the Board a parking lot which will accommodate public use of Monte Bello Preserve while protecting the visual integrity of Stevens Creek Canyon, and use the District adopted criteria for location of sites and recognized sites including F 1 as a basis for the study. D. Wendin seconded the motion. Discussion: R. Bishop spoke against the motion for the reasons he stated earlier in the meeting when urging the Board to accept the staff' s recommendations as presented. Motion to Amend: D. Wendin moved that the motion be amended to in- clude the statement that the Board reaffirms that the parking lot be located on the south or Monte Bello side of Page Mill Road, that the second part of the motion be amended to read "direct staff to work with the City of Palo Alto planning Meeting 81-14 Page Six staff and San Mateo County planning staff as appropriate for the purpose of recommending to the Board a parking lot on the south side of Page Mill Road in the frontage extending from sites G to L, inclusive, and specifically including Fl which will accommodate public use of Monte Bello Preserve while protecting the visual integrity of Stevens Creek Can- yon" , and that the following statement be added at the end of the motion "Staff to return at the June 24 meeting after preliminary discussion with staffs of Palo Alto and San Mateo County with a proposed schedule and cost estimate. " E. Shelley seconded the motion to amend. Discussion: H. Turner requested the following phrase "and explicitly state whether or not a compromise, in their opinion, could be reached" be added to the last sentence of the motion. D. Wendin and E. Shelley accepted adding the phrase to the motion to amend. The motion to amend passed on the following vote: AYES: K. Duffy, D. Wendin, B. Green, E. Shelley, and H. Turner. NOES: N. Hanko ABSTAIN: R. Bishop Motion to Amend: K. Duffy moved that the original motion be amended to state that the cistern and spring box be left intact. N. Hanko seconded the motion. Discussion: Discussion centered on methods that could be used to secure the cistern and spring box. Motion to Amend Amendment: K. Duffy moved that her motion to amend be amended to include the statement that the method of se- curing the spring box was left to staff discretion. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion to amend the amendment passed on the following vote: AYES : K. Duffy, D. Wendin, B. Green, E. Shelley, N. Hanko, R. Bishop NOES: H. Turner The amended motion to amend passed on the following vote: AYES: K. Duffy, D. Wendin, B. Green, E. Shelley, N. Hanko NOES: H. Turner ABSTAIN: R. Bishop Discussion: K. Duffy discussed the name changes noted in the staff re- port for the different areas of the Preserve and requested that staff continue the use of the name "Black Mountain Area" wherever appropriate. D. Wendin stated that when the District acquired the McNiel property that area would lend itself to equestrian parking, and therefore, the District should not have to make special provisions for volume equestrian parking in the parking lot along Page Mill Road. S. Sessions stated, in response to a question from D. Wendin, staff had not studied the McNiel area for equestrian parking. Meeting 81-14 Page Seven Motion to Amend: D. Wendin moved to amend the original motion such that the Board only approve the Geology Trail in concept and that a detailed plan of the trail be reviewed by the Board before actual construction. B. Green seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin stated the Board should be aware of the costs to construct the Geology Trail and noted he was very concerned about the area where the trail would be located. E. Shelley stated his opposition to the motion to amend, noting it was staff' s responsibility to see that a proper trail was constructed. The motion failed to carry on the following vote: AYES: B. Green and D. Wendin NOES: K. Duffy, E. Shelley, H. Turner, N. Hanko, R. Bishop H. Grench stated the State Department of Parks and Recreation was expecting to see the entire Monte Bello Development Plan, including the parking lot location and design and staff could not implement any part of the plan until the State approved the whole plan, including the parking lot. The main motion, as amended, moving that the Board adopt the Use and Management Plan recommendations as contained in the staff report of April 17 , 1981, and as contained in the addendum dated May 20, 1981 with the exception of the proposed parking lot L; that the Board reaffirm that the parking lot be located on the south or Monte Bello side of Page Mill Road ; that the staff be directed to work with the City of Palo Alto planning staff and San Mateo County planning staff as appropriate for the purpose of recommending to the Board a parking lot on the south side of Page Mill Road in the frontage extending from sites G to L, inclusive, and specifically including Fl which - will accommodate public use of Monte Bello Pre- serve while protecting the visual integrity of Stevens Creek Canyon; that the staff use the District adopted criteria for location of sites and recognized sites including F, as a basis for the study; that the cistern and spring box be left intact with the method of securing the spring box left to staff discretion ; and that the staff return at the June 24 meeting after preliminary discussions with staffs of Palo Alto and San Mateo County with a proposed schedule and cost estimate and explicitly state whether or not a compromise, in their opinion, could be reached passed on the following vote : AYES: K. Duffy, E. Shelley, H. Turner, N. Hanko, B. Green, D. Wendin NOES: R. Bishop Motion,: K. Duffy moved that staff mitigate the safety hazards on the site immediately. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Meeting 81-14 Page Eight VIII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Proposed Addition to Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve with Land Exchange - Sorahan Property C. Britton reviewed report R-81-22, dated May 27 , 1981, regarding the opportunity for the District to exchange the 44 acre former Duffy-Barnes parcel which had been withheld from dedication at the time of acquisition, for two separate parcels totaling 37 acres in a more critical open space area south of the Town of Los Gatos. He noted the District would retain an open space easement over 30 acres of the Duffy-Barnes parcels and would retain design review rights over any proposed development on the property. He said the District would not incur any out-of-pocket expenses in retiring the notes held by the Sorahans. He showed slides of the property, and discussion then centered on whether the District should have both design review and approval over any development undertaken by the Sorahans. K. Duffy, referring to the written communication from David and Barbara Leeson, asked C. Britton if he felt additional wording changes relating to design review and approval would be satis- factory to the Leesons. C. Britton responded the Leesons had not yet seen the final wording of the documents and that it wasn't known if it solved all of their questions. S. Sessions reviewed the use and management recommendations contained in the staff report, noting that staff was recommending the property be withheld from dedication at this time and be- come an addition to the Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve, Limekiln Canyon Area. D. Wendin stated the Public Notification Committee had discussed the approval of use and management recommendations and noted the Committee would be suggesting that such recommendations not be approved by the Board at the same meeting at which action was taken on an acquisition so as to allow members of the public to comment on the proposed use and management recommendations. Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution 80-31 Approving and Authorizing Acceptance of an Agreement to Exchange Interest in Real Property, Authorizing Officer to Execute a Grant Deed to the Property Being Released, 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, (Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve - Sorahan Property) , as amended by C. Britton, subject to ratification by the Sorahans. B. Green seconded the motion. Discussion: C. Britton read the changes recommended by S. Norton for the second section of Exhibit D: "DISTRICT shall have the right of Design Review and Approval as herein defined. . .Design Review is intended to provide a process for review and approval by the District. . . . . " and inclusion of a section (c) : "All such buildings, structures, planted or landscaped areas, paved areas and other improvements shall be constructed or installed in accordance with the plans as approved by the DISTRICT, provided that the DISTRICT' S approval shall not be withheld unreasonably. " The motion passed unanimously. Meeting 81-14 Page Nine Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board continue the use and manage- ment recommendations, except for the recommendation in Paragraph B relating to the cisterns, to the next Board meeting. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board withhold the property from dedication and adopt Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve - Limekiln Canyon Area as the unofficial name of the site. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Renewal of Agreement with the City of Mountain View for Deer Hollow Farm S. Sessions reviewed memorandum M-81-54 , dated May 21, 1981, regarding a six month interim extension of the current lease for Deer Hollow Farm so as to allow staff time to review and incorporate some proposed changes on the lease agreement with the City of Mountain View. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board approve a six month interim extension of the agreement with the City of Mountain View for the operation and maintenance of Deer Hollow Farm and that the Board conceptually approve possible changes to the agreement as discussed in the report. E. Shelley seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin stated he would support the motion as long as the Board would each year, have the agreement reviewed by staff in the use and management plans . H. Grench clarified that the Board was conceptually approving the proposed changes to the lease agreement, including the inclusions of the master plan document through the use and management review process. The motion passed unanimously. C. Revised Annual Claims List for 1980-81 M. Foster reviewed memorandum M-81-53, dated May 18 , 1981, re- garding changes in the 1980-81 annual claims list. Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board approve the revised annual claims list for 1980-81. N. Hanko seconded the motion and the motion passed unanimously. D. California 2000 Project Regional Conference C• MacDonald reviewed memorandum M-81-51 , dated May 21, 1981, regarding the request for the District to participate as a co-sponsor of the California 2000 Project Regional Conference to be held on Saturday, June 20 , 1981, at Golden Gate University in San Francisco. Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board agree to co-sponsor California 2000 Project Regional Conference and designate one or two Board members to serve as liaison and to represent the District at the Conference. K. Duffy seconded the motion. Meeting 81-14 Page Ten Discussion: Discussion centered on whether any members of the Board would be available to serve as liaisons and attend the conference. R. Bishop recommended the Board approve co-sponsorship and later determine if any Board members would be able to represent the District. He noted staff members might have to fill in as liaisons . Amended Motion: E. Shelley amended his original motion and moved that the Board agree to co-sponsor the California 2000 Project Regional Conference and if possible designate one or two Board members or staff members to serve as liaison and to represent the District at the con- ference. K. Duffy agreed to the seconding of the amended motion that passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS WITH NO ACTION REQUESTED A. Presentation of Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 1981-82 H. Grench asked if the Directors had any questions concerning the report R-81-21, dated May 21, 1981, which outlined the preliminary budget prepared by staff for the 1981-82 fiscal year, noting the Board would be requested to take action on the proposed budget at their next regular meeting. E. Shelley suggested that the Open Space Management staff prepare a five-year plan for staffing against which all requests for additional staff members in that section could be compared. He also recommended that a five-year plan for capital replacement of equipment be prepared. H. Haeussler stated he would like to see another ranger on the staff immediately and asked if any money had been budgeted for the repair of the Black Mountain Trail on the Duveneck property. S. Sessions responded no money had been allocated for development of trails on non-District property. Tom Kavanaugh, 1726 Spring Street, Mountain View, suggested the Board review the District 's current financial statement and monthly printouts at the next Board meeting. IX. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED, continued B. Issues and Questions from Site Emphasis and Program Evaluation Workshops Motion: N. Hanko moved the continuance of this agenda item to a future meeting to be set at the President' s discretion when all Board members were present. H. Turner seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously. R. Bishop polled the Board to determine if there were any members who did not object to having this agenda item discussed at a meeting when they were not in attendance. K. Duffy and H. Turner stated they did not need to be present when the item was discussed. X. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS H. Grench stated the District had received 23 contributions totaling $520 in memory of Elizabeth Holzhauser. Meeting 81-14 Page Eleven S. Sessions reported on the public workshop held on May 20, 1981 at Picchetti to gather input for the upcoming use and management plan for the Picchetti area. S. Sessions announced the Thornewood Proposals Review Committee would be meeting on Wednesday, June 3, 1981, at the District office beginning at 7 :30 P.M. XI . CLAIMS Motion: B. Green moved the approval of the revised claims C-81-11, dated May 27 , 1981. E. Shelley seconded the motion, and the motion passed unanimously. XII . CLOSED SESSION The Board recessed to Closed Session at 11: 50 P.M. XIII . ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 12 : 50 A.M. , Thursday, May 28, 1981. Jean Fiddes District Clerk