HomeMy Public PortalAbout19810624 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) -Meeting 81-16
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Regular Meeting
Board of Directors
M I N U T E S
June 24 , 1981
I . ROLL CALL
President Richard Bishop called the meeting to order at 7 : 38 P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Daniel Wendin, 'Barbara Green,
Nonette Hanko, Edward Shelley, Richard Bishop, and Harry Turner
who arrived at 7 :45 P.M.
Staff Present: Craig Britton, Steven Sessions, Charlotte
MacDonald, Pat Starrett, Jean Fiddes , and Michael Foster.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. June 10, 1981
Motion: N. Hanko moved the approval of the minutes of June 10,
1981 as presented. E. Shelley seconded the motion.
The motion passed unanimously.
III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
J. Fiddes reported the Board had received a letter, dated June 14 ,
1981, from Harry H. Haeussler, Jr. , 1094 Highland Circle, Los
Altos, commending the land management staff for the new trail
that had been constructed at the Rancho San Antonio Open Space
Preserve.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
R. Bishop stated the Board' s consensus that the agenda was adopted
as written.
V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications.
VI . OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Approval of Interim Use and Management Plan for Acquisition
of Tax Deeded Property near Lake Ranch, Santa Clara County
R. Bishop, summarizing memorandum M-81-64 , dated June 15, 1981,
stated the Board had authorized the purchase of the property
of the meeting of June 10 , 1981 and deferred the adoption of
the use and management recommendations, pending additional
public input. There were no comments from members of the public.
Motion: R. Bishop moved the approval of the interim use and
management plan for the tax deeded property near
Lake Ranch, Santa Clara County. K. Duffy seconded
the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
K. Duffy asked when the Public Notification Committee would present
its report to the Board, and N. Hanko stated the report would
be made at the July 22 meeting.
Meeting 81-16 Page two
B. Schedule and Process for Resolving Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
Parking Lot Location
S. Sessions reviewed memorandum M-81-69, dated June 18;: 1981, outlining
the schedule and process proposed by staff and based on discussions with
members of the planning staffs of San Mateo County and the City of Palo
Alto for resolving the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve parking lot
location. He noted the State Department of Parks and Recreation had
imposed a December 1, 1981 deadline for the submittal of plans and
specifications for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Development
Plan, including the parking lot, and said the project' s grant funding
would be lost of this deadline was not met.
E. Shelley asked if staff had investigated the possibility of requesting
a delay from the State for the submittal of the final plans, and C.
Britton responded the Department' s analyst had indicated the Depart-
ment would closely adhere to the schedule.
N. Hanko stated she had contacted the Planning Department staff at
the City of Palo Alto and would support the recommendations proposed
by District staff. She said she would propose some additional cri-
teria for Board adoption that she felt would be acceptable to City of
Palo Alto officials and that she hoped the Board could match sites G,
L, and Fl against the new criteria at the next meeting. She hoped
the Board would find site Fl an acceptable location for the parking
lot and refer it to the City of Palo Alto for approval at the next
meeting.
Motion: D. Wendin moved the Board adopt a modified locked-room
approach with the following four step process :
1) staff be directed to input changes to the criteria
at the July 8, 1981 meeting which could then be
discussed;
2) Board adoption of the criteria at the meeting of
July 22 , 1981;
3) At approximately the second meeting in August or
perhaps a Special Meeting, the Board would have
a joint meeting with the Palo Alto Planning Com-
mission with attendance by at least a couple
Palo Alto City Council members so they could be
heard and hear; and
4) At approximately the second meeting in September,
the Board would hold a second meeting with the
Palo Alto Planning Commission and not leave, no
matter what the hour, until a parking lot location
is selected.
N. Hanko seconded the motion.
Discussion: D. Wendin stated he had built lag time into
the process to allow for public input. R. Bishop noted the
parking lot would have to be designed and an engineering
study completed after a location was approved, and K. Duffy
noted approval would still have to be received from the Palo
Alto City Council after the proposed second meeting with the
Palo Alto Planning Commission. E. Shelley stated the Board
would need to know how much dirt would need to be moved for
a parking lot at the Fl location. Thomas Harrington, 4201
Page Mill Road, expressed his appreciation to the Board for
Meeting 81-16 Page three
their reconsideration of the location of the parking lot for
the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve and offered to present
to the Board a conceptual drawing of what a parking lot at
the Fl location might look like at their next meeting.
R. Bishop stated Mr. Harrington should present the conceptual
drawing of the parking lot to staff for their consideration.
D. Wendin requested he be allowed to offer a substitute motion.
Substitute Motion: D. Wendin moved that staff be directed to
work with the appropriate authorities at the City of
Palo Alto and San Mateo County to develop a meeting plan
that meets the following approximate schedule:
1) Input for revised criteria, if any, to this Board
at meeting of July 8 , 1981;
2) Final adoption of revised criteria, if any, by this
Board at meeting of July 22, 1981;
3) A joint meeting in early August, not later than
second week in August, with the Palo Alto Planning
Commission, with attendance by at least two Palo
Alto City Council members , to review lots against
adopted criteria (in the south frontage from "G"
to "Ll' ) ;
4) A similar joint meeting with attendance by City
Council members in early September, but not later
than second week of September, to choose a final
location to recommend to the Palo Alto City Council; and
5) A Palo Alto City Council meeting to approve proposed
location by end of September with a Special Meeting
of this Board to finally adopt location and direct
staff to complete plans.
N. Hanko seconded the motion.
Discussion: N. Hanko stated she had seconded the substitute
motion with the understanding there was some flexibility built
into the motion in order to allow the December deadline to
be met and noted she would like to see the Board recommend a
particular site, preferably Fl, to the Palo Alto City Council.
D. Wendin stated he intended the two joint meetings proposed
in the substitute motion to be official, publicly noticed
joint meetings and said the Board should not consider sites
when adopting the criteria, The substitute motion passed
unanimously.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that staff be directed to work with Mr. Harring-
ton who had offered to assist in the preparation of a pre-
liminary engineering design for the F 1 location. D. Wendin
seconded the motion.
Discussion: Discussion centered on the clarity of the
motion, and N. Hanko subsequently withdrew her motion.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board direct staff to prepare a
preliminary plan for the Fl lot, utilizing the volunteer
services of Mr. Harrington, by at least the first meeting in
August, and if expenditure of out-of-pocket funds beyond
nominal amounts is required, staff should make such a request
at the next meeting.
K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously,
Meeting 81-16 Page four
K. Duffy stated she felt a position statement from the Board was
necessary to explain the background and factors relating to the
selection of a parking lot location for the Monte Bello Open Space
Preserve. R. Bishop, with the Board's concurrence, appointed Direc-
tor Duffy to formulate a policy statement on the matter for the
Board' s consideration.
C. Request for Interim Signing for Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
N. Hanko introduced her memorandum M-81-67, dated June 15, 1981, re-
garding interim signing for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. She
noted the proposed interim signing was in keeping with the Board' s
approved development plan for the Preserve, that she had sent a copy
of the memorandum to the Palo Alto Planning Department, and that the
Department' s staff had indicated only an administrative approval for
the posting of the signs would be necessary.
E. Shelley stated he could not support N. Hanko' s recommendations since
the location of the main preserve sign must be located relative to the
parking lot and since undesireable use patterns might be encouraged.
H. Turner stated he disagreed with the recommendation of distributing
brochures about the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve at the Los Trancos
Open Space Preserve. D. Wendin stated he opposed encouraging people
to park at the Los Trancos parking lot and to cross Page Mill Road
to reach the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve and could not support the
signing recommendations.
Ellie Huggins, 824 San Francisco Court, Stanford, expressed her support
for the interim recommendations suggested by Director Hanko.
Purusha Obluda, 31570 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills, expressed his
support for Director Hanko' s recommendations and discussed safety
hazards on the Preserve, vandalism, and fire danger concerns in the
area. He encouraged the Board and staff to meet with the Preserve' s
neighbors and City of Palo Alto officials to discuss the fire danger
and possible solutions.
Mark Schneider, Box 343, Star Route #2, La Honda, discussed the vandal-
ism and destruction of the District' s fence at the Preserve and the
high fire danger.
E. Shelley requested the staff report back to the Board at the next
meeting on the status of the Black Mountain fire watch tower.
Motion : N. Hanko moved that a sign similar to the Saratoga Gap
District ownership sign be set back a few yards inside
the Preserve at the hiking stile entrance of Page Mill
Road. H. Turner seconded the motion.
Motion to Amend: K. Duffy moved to amend the motion to state
an informational sign stating the District's rules
and regulations be placed several yards in from Page
Mill Road on Canyon Road so as not to be visible from
Page Mill Road. B. Green seconded the motion to amend
which passed unanimously.
Meeting 81-16 Page five
The motion as amended passed on the following vote:
AYES: K. Duffy, B. Green, N. Hanko , H. Turner, and
R. Bishop.
NOES : D. Wendin and E. Shelley.
N. Hanko noted staff should inform the Palo Alto Planning Department
staff of the sign 's placement.
Motion: N. Hanko moved a Monte Bello site brochure containing
trail routes that now exist be provided at the Los
Trancos parking lot.
The motion was not seconded.
Motion: N. Hanko moved two small Monte Bello Open Space Preserve
signs be installed at the entrance to Canyon Trail and
the trailhead hiking stile entrances.
The motion was not seconded.
Motion: K. Duffy moved a directional sign indicating Canyon
Trail be placed near the hiking stile on Page Mill
Road. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion
passed on the following vote:
AYES : K. Duffy, D. Wendin, B. Green, N . Hanko,
H. Turner, and R. Bishop.
NOES : E. Shelley
Motion: N. Hanko moved to encourage docent leadersto plan for
fall and spring walks on the Preserve. H. Turner
seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Motion: D. Wendin moved to ask staff to return with an appropriate
budget modification resolution at the next meeting to
transfer the funds for the signs from open space acqui-
sition to open space management. E. Shelley seconded
the motion.
Discussion: Discussion centered on whether or not it
was necessary to transfer the funds from open space
acquisition. C. Britton suggested the Board allow
staff to report back as necessary if it was necessary
to transfer the funds from open space acquisition.
Substitute Motion: D. Wendin moved the Board direct staff to
return with a proposal for funding to implement the
Board's actions at the next meeting. E. Shelley
seconded the motion. The substitute motion passed
unanimously.
T. Harrington requested the fire hazard signs be placed on Page Mill
Road as had been done in previous years and noted he had seen indi-
viduals swimming in the cistern on the Preserve.
P. Obluda asked the Board to direct staff to address the items of fire
danger and safety hazards on the Preserve.
Meeting 81-16 Page six
D. Evaluation of Thornewood Lease Proposals
H. Turner reviewed the Thornewood Proposals Review Committee' s
report R-81-33 , dated June 18 , 1981, noting the Committee was
recommending the Gano, Pollard, and Means proposals for Board
consideration for the long-term lease and restoration project
of the Thornewood house and grounds . D. Wendin summarized the
three proposals and their differences and explained the buyout
provision.
Artemas Ginzton, 28014 Natoma Road , Los Altos Hills , questioned
the Ganosexception to the basic parameters of having only one
public tour of the Thornewood house per year, and N. Hanko
posed various questions to the three proposers on their respective
proposal.
Discussion centered on the developability of the adjacent lake
parcel the Ganos were offering to the District at a discounted
price from its estimated value and the importance of the lake
parcel to the District. E. Shelley stated he felt the parcel
was an important trail link from Wunderlich Park.
Jan Matser, 359 Tyrella Avenue, Number D, Mountain View, expressed
his concerns about leasing the Thornewood house and grounds to
the Ganos .
Tom Gano of Woodside and Frank Means of Mountain View explained
why they each felt their proposal should be accepted by the Board.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that staff be directed to negotiate a
lease contract with the Ganos following the general
criteria set out by the Board with two additional
criteria:
1) the discounted price, coupled with the 17 year lease,
be reasonable in view of the upfront dollars offered
by the Pollards ; and
2) the appropriate certification be obtained stating
that the lake parcel is developable.
H. Turner seconded the motion.
Discussion: E. Shelley and H. Turner stated the trail
link provided by the lake parcel was critical to the
District. T. Gano stated he would be willing to
negotiate with staff on the number of public tours
per year, and, in response to a question from R. Bishop,
said that, if the lake parcel was not developable, he
would be willing to negotiate the sale of the property
at a lesser value. R. Bishop called for a roll call
vote on the motion, and the motion passed on the
following vote :
K. Duffy-Aye
D. Wendin-Aye
B. Green-Aye
E. Shelley-Aye
N. Hanko-No
H. Turner-Aye
R. Bishop-Aye
D. Wendin requested staff return to the Board at the meeting of
July 22, 1981 with a schedule that would be followed in the
lease negotiations.
Meeting 81-16 Page seven
The Board recessed for a break at 10 :10 P.M. and reconvened at 10 :15 P.M.
VII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Response to Letter Regarding Problems at Sheldon Road Access to
El Sereno Open Space Preserve
S. Sessions reviewed memorandum M-81-70, dated June 24, 1981, relating
to access problems at Sheldon Road, showed slides to illustrate as-
pects of the staff report, and noted staff could include the opening
of Sheldon Road as a fire and patrol road in the 1982-1983 proposed
budget if attempts to negotiate a joint project with the County' s
Fire Department were unsuccessful. He stated four to six cars could
be accommodated at the roadside turnout on Montevina Road.
Barbara Crafford, 16830 Sheldon Road, Los Gatos, agreed with the
staff' s recommendations regarding proposed signing and flyer distri-
bution, but stated a stronger fence and gate were needed, the clearing
of the patrol road was essential, and additional ranger patrol was
needed in the area.
Eric Miller, 16930 Sheldon Road, stated the meadows were very popular
for camping and cooking and were a high fire hazard area. Marcia
Miller, of the same address, said the clearing of the fire land was
essential.
Discussion centered on the joint project with the County' s Fire
Department to open the fire road and the Fire Department' s responsi-
bility in the area. D. Wendin encouraged the Sheldon Road residents
to join with the District in proposing the joint project, noting that
such a project would be a less total expense of taxpayers ' money.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that staff be authorized to work with the
Sheldon Road residents to strengthen the existing gate and
fence, post District regulatory signs and "Fire Lane - Do
Not Block" sign where appropriate, allow the posting of the
"Private Road, No Parking" signs, and enlist the aid of the
neighbors in handing out informational flyers on an interim
basis. K. Duffy seconded the motion.
Discussion: K. Duffy expressed her concern about the "band-
aid " approach for alleviating the situation and said she did
not feel the T-post fence and gate were adequate.
S. Sessions said staff would be addressing the subject in
the Preserve ' s use and management plan scheduled for Board
review in September. R. Bishop stated Sheldon Road resi-
dents who signed the letter to the Board should be notified
when the use and management plan was going to be considered
by the Board. In response to a question from one of the
residents, S. Sessions said he would flag the meadows area
for patrol on July 4, but could not state that a ranger would
be stationed there over the holiday. S. Sessions stated he
would coordinate with the residents on the petition to Central
Fire, noting his target date for contacting the residents
would be thirty days from the meeting. The motion passed
unanimously.
Meeting 81-16 Page eight
B. Review of Use and Management Plan for Monte Bello Open Space
Preserve, Picchetti Ranch Area
S. Sessions reviewed the proposed use and management plan for the
Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, Picchetti Ranch Area as contained in
report R-81-32, dated June 17 , 1981. He noted the Board was being
asked to approve conceptually the recommendations in the report since
the final plan would be returned to the Board for review concurrent
with the Picchetti lease agreement.
K. Duffy requested item five of Status of Existing Recommendations be
amended to state "Landscaping is still recommended, but it is suggested
that it be coordinated into an overall landscaping plan for the lease
area. " (the word coordinated replaced the word incorporated) and an
e) "maintenance of restroom" be added to the provisions outlined in
item nine under New Use and Management Recommendations for the summer
camp program outlined by the City of Cupertino.
S. Sessions stated it was staff' s intention for the Stortzes to main-
tain the restroom when the summer camp program was not being operated
on the property and the restroom' s hours of use would be the same as
the Preserve' s hours. He stated, in response to a question from K.
Duffy, staff was planning to undertake the proposed fencing and signing
within the coming year.
Motion: N. Hanko moved the conceptual approval of the use and manage-
ment plan recommendations contained in the staff report
R-81-32. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed
unanimously.
R. Bishop stated the Board' s concurrence that, due to the lateness
of the hour, the Board would consider next the agenda items requiring
the uresence of the Controller, M. Foster.
C. Approval of Auditor for 1980-81 Fiscal Year
M. Foster reviewed memorandum M-81-62 , dated June 12 , 1981,
noting the District should try to maintain audit continuity
with Deloitte, Haskins and Sells for several years .
Motion: B. Green moved the appointment of Deloitte, Haskins
and Sells as the District' s auditors for the fiscal
year 1980-81. K. Duffy seconded the motion, and the
motion passed unanimously.
D. Adoption of Annual Claims Lists for 1981-82 Fiscal Year
M. Foster reviewed memorandums M-81-60 and M-81-61, dated
June 9 and June 12 , 1981 respectively , noting this was the
first time the debt service annual claims list had been
submitted for Board approval.
D. Wendin requested that future debt service annual claims
lists include the remaining debt service balance for each
acquisition.
Motion: D. Wendin moved the approval of the annual claims
list for 1981-1982 and the debt service annual
claims list for 1981-1982. E. Shelley seconded the
motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
Meeting 81-16 Page nine
VIII. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED, continued
E. Pilot Program for overnight Sleepouts at Rancho San Antonio
Open Space Preserve (Windmill Pasture Area) by Hidden Villa, Inc.
D. Wendin reviewed memorandum M-81-66, dated June 17 , 1981, re-
garding allowing sleepouts at the Windmill Pasture Area by
Hidden Villa, Inc. on a trial basis . He noted the Hidden Villa
Committee considered the program a pilot one, not a permanent
program, and the fact Hidden Villa was receiving special
consideration since the program did not accommodate the general
public. The report called for the program' s results to be evaluated
by staff and submitted to the Board by November, 1981 . D. Wendin
stated the word "campover" in the notification section of the
interim guidelines should be changed to "sleepover" .
Motion: D. Wendin moved adoption of the pilot program for over-
night sleepouts at the Rancho San Antonio Open Space
Preserve (Windmill Pasture Area) by Hidden Villa, Inc.
on a trial basis . H. Turner seconded the motion, and
the motion passed unanimously.
R. Bishop thanked the members of the Hidden Villa Committee and
the Thornewood Proposals Review Committee for their
efforts . It was clarified that the two committees would not
be disbanded at this time.
IX. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED, continued
E. Proposed Addition to Long Ridge Open Space Preserve (Bean Property)
S. Sessions showed slides of the proposed 14 acre acquisition near
Skyline Boulevard in San Mateo County, and C. Britton reviewed re-
port R-81-31, dated June 15, 1981. He noted a newly constructed four
bedroom house, an auxiliary building, and a generator shed were lo-
cated on the property and stated acquisition of the property would
give the District fee title to the road on the property, control over
the eventual running of PG and E lines on the property, and a loop
trail for the Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. He said since the house
was not occupied, there would be no relocation obligations and noted
the terms of the contract called for a purchase price of $325 , 000,
with $75,000 as down payment and the balance over five years at 10%
interest. C. Britton stated staff was proposing that the house be
leased for one year based on a current rental survey, thus allowing
staff time to determine the most advantageous method of handling
the improvements in the long term. S. Sessions reviewed the use and
management recommendations contained in the report, noting staff was
recommending the site not be dedicated as open space at this time.
Motion: B. Green moved the adoption of Resolution 81-36, a Resolu-
tion of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Agreement to
Purchase Real Property, Authorizing-officer to Execute Certi-
ficate 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 Long
Ridge Open Space Preserve (Bean Property) .
K. Duffy seconded the motion.
Meeting 81-16 Page ten
Discussion: D. Wendin stated he supported the acquisition,
but requested the minutes reflect the purchase was being made
to acquire only trail rights for the public and not to buy a
developed parcel. He encouraged staff to determine a creative
way, not only to recover the District' s investment in the
property, but to allow the removal of what he considered would
be a long term management problem. The motion passed
unanimously.
Motion: D. Wendin moved the Board approve in concept the use and
management plan, but defer adoption until the Board' s next
regular meeting, withhold the site from dedication, un-
officially name the site as an addition to the Long Ridge
Open Space Preserve, and authorize staff to immediately rent
the premises for one year pending a detailed study of the
long term disposition of the improvement. K. Duffy seconded
the motion, and the motion passed unanimously.
F. Amendment to District ' s Rules of Procedure (memorandum
M-81-63 , dated June 11 , 1981)
Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of Resolution 81-37,
a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Amending
Rules of Procedure. H. Turner seconded the motion.
Discussion: R. Bishop stated the resolution referred
to the increase in compensation from $50 . 00 to $75. 00
members of the Board would receive for each attendance
at public Board meetings . The motion passed unanimoulsy.
G. Follow-up on Issues and Questions from Site Emphasis and
Program Evaluation Workshops
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board defer this agenda item
to a future Board meeting to be set subject to the
President 's discretion. N. Hanko seconded the motion,
and the motion passed unanimously.
X. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
S. Sessions reported the District' s Rangers had helped fight a fire
that burned approximately 20 acres of land near the Rancho San Antonio
Open Space Preserve the previous week.
S. Sessions stated two additional tours had been added to the June 28 ,
1981 open house at the Fremont Older house in order to accommodate
interested members of the public. K. Duffy requested the staff issue
special invitations for the next Fremont older open house to officials
from the City of Saratoga, noting the City would be celebrating its
anniversary in the fall.
S. Sessions said the District' s trail improvement Coastal Conservancy
grant for Crittenden Marsh currently had a high rating for approval.
S. Sessions noted the District had 35 miles of road to maintain.
Meeting 81-16 Page eleven
C. Britton reported AB 597 was heard in the Assembly Ways and Means
Committee and Assemblyman John Vasconcellos had requested the removal
of the bill ' s section relating to a 4/5th vote to exchange land.
C. Britton stated he had recently visited three youth hostels along
the coast.
S. Sessions reported the Palo Alto Planning Commission, earlier in the
evening, had voted to allow chain link fencing around the residential
development on Page Mill Road to remain. He noted District staff had
sent a letter to the City objecting to the fence and that the City' s
Public Works Department had also objected to the request for the
fence to remain.
XI. CLAIMS
Motion: B. Green moved the approval of the revised claims, C-81-13,
dated June 24 , 1981. E. Shelley seconded the motion which
passed unanimously.
Xii. CLOSED SESSION
The Board recessed to Closed Session at 11 :45 P.M.
XIII, ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 12 : 30 A.M. , Thursday, June 25 , 1981,
Jean H. Fiddes
District Clerk
CORRECTIONS TO MINUTES OF
II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. June 24 , 1981
D. Wendin noted a typographical error on page 7 , paragraph 3 ,
which should read fire "lane" instead of fire "land" .
Motion : N. Hanko moved the adoption of the minutes of June 24 ,
1981 as corrected. B. Green seconded the motion. The
motion passed unanimously.