Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout19830112 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meetifig '83-' l, AA- MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415) 965-4717 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS JANUARY 12, 1983 MINUTES I . ROLL CALL President Duffy called the meeting to order at 7 : 37 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 , David Hansen, Charlotte MacDonald, Del Woods , Stanley Norton, and Jean Fiddes. II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES A) December 4 , 1982 Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of December 4 , 1982. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B) December 8 , 1982 D. Wendin questioned the wording "It seemed to be the consensus" in the last sentence on page three. K. Duffy, with the consensus of the Board, stated the sentence should be amended to read "There was a consensus to appoint a Criteria Committee at the second regular meeting of the Board in January if necessary" . Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of December 8, 1982 as amended. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with D. Wendin abstaining from the vote since he had not attended the meeting. III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS J. Fiddes stated the following written communications had been received: 1 letters favoring allowing dogs on District preserves from Betsy Crowder, Portola Valley; Karen R. Villere, Mountain View; and Yvonne Pendleton, Moffett Field; 2) letters favoring prohibiting dogs on District preserves from Lois Crozier Hogle, Palo Alto and Wildlife Rescue, Inc. of Palo Alto; 3) a letter, dated December 10, 1982 from Edward W. Ernst, Assistant District Securities officer, office of the Treasurer, San Francisco, stating the District' s recent note issue was not subject to prior investigation, report, and approval by the State Treasurer; 4) a letter from Charles R. Brown, Sunnyvale, complimenting the District on its work, suggesting an overnight campsite on the trail from Los Trancos/Page Mill Road to Saratoga Gap, and requesting the District try to get the City of Palo Alto to open Foothills Park to non-Palo Alto residents; Herbert A.Grench,General Manager Board of Directors;Katherine Duffy,Barbara Green,Nonette G.Hanko,Richard S.Bishop,Edward G Shelley,Harry A.Turner,Daniel G Wendin Meeting 83-1 Page Two 5) a letter, dated December 21, 1982 from Stanley Golden, Mayor, Town of Woodside,congratulating the District on its tenth anniversary; and 6) an announcement of the Bay Area Parks and Recreation Commissioners and Board Members Council installation dinner meeting on January 28 . The letters concerning dogs were directed to the Dog Committee, and K. Duffy requested staff inform Mr. Brown of the plans for a backpack camp on Black Mountain. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA R. Duffy indicated the agenda was adopted as presented by Board consensus . V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Phyllis Cangemi, 31 American Way, Menlo Park, speaking in behalf of The Hill Committee, addressed the Board on the topic of The Hill, a 38-acre property located in Menlo Park. She requested the Board 1) endorse the concept of the property as a managed open space preserve; 2) release staff members to survey the site to give advice regarding planning, development and management costs; 3) tour the property; and 4) consider a grant of approximately $250, 000 toward purchase of the property should an assessment district be formed. Ms. Cangemi stated she was in the process of preparing a written statement for the Board and asked the Board consider the matter as soon as possible. H. Turner requested the matter be placed on a future agenda in order for the Board to consider the endorsement and cash contribution requests . He noted staff should address the extent to which the site is consistent with District policies regarding acquisition of urban open space. President Duffy agreed to placing the matter on a future agenda, noting the matter should appear on the January 26 agenda if possible. Lewis Reed, representing the Midpeninsula Trails Council, stated he had met with Ellie Huggins regarding equestrian participation at the May 14 Celebration Day on Monte Bello Ridge and noted the Council was contacting various equestrian and hiking groups, as well as individuals, in order to expand the Council 's membership. Bob Fisse, Treasurer, South Skyline Association, questioned the Board about a statement in the new All-Site Brochure concerning the District being halfway to its goal of preserving the most critical areas in the greenbelt. H. Grench responded the statement referred to open space ac- quisitions in terms of the Board-approved Master Plan for the District, and H. Turner stated he would be willing to discuss the matter at greater length with Mr. Fisse. VI. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY T) Election of Board officers for 1983 K. Duffy reviewed memorandum M-83-01, dated December 13 , 1982 , regarding the election of new Board officers. T. Kavanaugh, referring to an editorial in the Peninsula Times Tribune, requested the Board consider casting their votes publicly, rather than by secret ballot. There was no support stated by Board members to change the current method for electing new officers by secret ballot. H. Turner questioned whether any Board member knew of a Board policy concerning the rotation of the Presidency. No Board member stated that there was such a policy, and K. Duffy noted it was her understanding the membership of the Board would vote each January on who the new Board President should be. Meeting 83-1 Page three The following officers were selected for 1983 : President - Barbara Green Vice President - Harry Turner Secretary - Nonette Hanko Treasurer - Daniel Wendin B) Resolution of Board of Directors , East Bay Regional Park District H. Grench presented the Board with A Resolution from the Fast Bay Regional Park District congratulating the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District on its Tenth Anniversary (see memorandum M-83-5 , dated December 30 , 1982) . B. Green requested staff draft a brief letter of thanks for the resolution in behalf of the Board. VII. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Final Adoption of Relative Site Emphasis Plan and Use and Management Plan Review Schedule D. Woods discussed the revisions to the Relative Site Emphasis Plan and Use and Management Plan Review Schedule as outlined in memorandum M-83-7 , dated January 3 , 1983 . Discussion centered on clarifying the meaning of the explanation state- ments for the dash and asterisk in the Plan for Relative Emphasis of District Sites. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus to include "for FY 83-84" at the end of each explanation statement. Motion: R. Bishop moved the Board adopt the revised Relative Site Emphasis Plan and 1983 Use and Management Plan Review Schedule with the modification that had been made. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Final Adoption of Interim Use and Management Plan for the Recent Addition to Manzanita Ridge open Space Preserve (Robin Property) D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-83-2 , dated December 23, 1982 , noting the staff had received no public comment on the actions taken by the Board at the December 8, 1982 meeting. Motion: K. Duffy moved the Board approve the interim use and management plan, including the name for the property, as contained in report R-82-47 for the addition of the former Robin property to the Limekiln Canyon Area of the Manzanita Ridge open Space Preserve. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. VIII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Proposed Addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (Lands of Crist - Exercise of option) C. Britton reviewed report R-83-2 ,dated January 7 , 1983, regarding the exercise of the option to acquire the parcel the District has been leasing from the Crists since October 1981. He noted the terms of the option call for a full purchase price of $260, 000 for the 102 acre parcel and said the land is an integral part of the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. He recommended dedication of the parcel, as well as the adjoining 120 and 40 acre parcels to the south,and noted staff was recommending reaffirmation of the interim use and management recommen- dations since the recommendations.had previously been adopted by the Board. Meeting 83-1 Page four Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution 83-1, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula. Regional Open Space District -Authorizing Exercise of option by Acceptance of Agreement to Purchase Real Property, Authorizing Officer to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of Grant to District, and Authorizing General Manager to Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate to Closing of the Transaction (Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve - Crist Property) . H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: D. Wendin moved the Board dedicate this property as open space, as well as dedicate the adjoining 120 and 40 acre parcels formerly owned by the Crists, name the site as an addition to the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, and reaffirm the interim use and management recommendations . H. Turner seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin stated he felt it appropriate to take final action on the use and management recommendations for this parcel since they had previously come before the Board. He noted, however, that if an isolated parcel had been involved such action would not be appropriate. The motion passed unanimously. B. Demonstration Burn - Chaparral Management Program D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-83-8 , dated January 6 , 1983 , regarding a helitorch demonstration burn by the California Department of Forestry on District property near the summit of Black Mountain. He noted the proposed burn area would be approximately 20-30 acres , not 2-3 acres as noted in the staff report, explained the reasons for burning the chaparral, and high- lighted the benefits that would result from conducting such a burn. He stated the exact date for the burn could not be established in advance because necessary burning conditions , noticing to neighbors , and C.D.F. requirements had to be met. Discussion centered on providing the public with adequate notice about the project since the burn would be visible from the urban area. D. Wendin suggested the Trails Council be approached to convey information about the burn to trail users in the area, and H. Turner suggested an informational packet be mailed to the press regarding the burn. Motion: K. Duffy moved approval of the request from the California Depart- ment of Forestry and staff to allow a demonstration helitorch burn under the State ' s "Chaparral Management Program" to be carried out in the immediate vicinity of the Black Mountain summit on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve when C.E.Q.A. and local fire agency jurisdiction requirements have been satisfied and immediate site neighbors have been informed. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. C. Dedication Status of District Lands H. Grench reviewed report R-83-1, dated January 4 , 1983 , regarding the dedication status of District lands and noted those parcels mentioned in the report for future dedication consideration would be included in the appropriate use and management plan reviews . H. Turner spoke in favor of dedicating the currently undedicated portions of the Coal Creek Open Space Preserve, and in response to a question from N. Hanko regarding the McCone and Gunetti parcels , H. Grench noted the Meeting 83-1 Page five District could now transfer dedicated land to Santa Clara County for parks and recreation use, although he noted the County was not as interested in the Gunetti site as it might have been in the past. He said the possibility of dedication for the parcels mentioned by Directors Turner and Hanko would be reviewed in conjunction with the appropriate use and management plan. Robert Mark, 609 Forest Avenue , Palo Alto, stated he felt the Board should not wait until a certain use and management plan was presented to dedicate a parcel of land as open space. Board members responded that Board policy called for such actions at the time of use and management plan review and that the January report was an overall informational report. In response to a question from T. Kavanaugh regarding the reasons for not dedicating the 40-acre Westbay Associates parcel, staff was directed to review the meeting records to ascertain whether the reason noted in the re- port for withholding the property from dedication was accurate. Staff was directed to place the item on a future agenda if the reason for not dedi- cating the property needed to be amended and, if the reason was accurate, to inform the Board as an informational report. Motion: K. Duffy moved the Board accept the report on the dedication status of District lands with the addition of the 120 acre and 40 acre Crist parcels as dedicated acreage. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. D. Consent to Transfer Promissory Notes -- Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-83-9 , dated January 7 , 1983 , regarding the dissolution of Skyline Ranch, Inc. and the assignment of the Note and deed of trust by the corporation to a liquidating trust being created. Motion: D. Wendin moved the Board consent to the Transfer of the Note and Deed of Trust by Skyline Ranch, Inc. and authorize the President of the Board to sign the form of consent. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. E. Program Evaluation for 1982-83 and Setting of priorities for 1983-84 H. Grench recommended this item be continued because of the anticipated length of the Closed Session. Motion: N. Hanko moved that Item 9 , Program Evaluation for 1982-83 and Setting of Priorities for 1983-84 be continued to the second Regular Meeting of January. E. Shelley seconded the motion. Discussion: K. Duffy suggested the Board also discuss a possible Board/staff workshop to "blue-sky" and discuss future District activities. The motion passed unanimously. IX. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS B. Green stated Betsy Bechtel had been elected Mayor of the City of Palo Alto. N. Hanko announced the Dog Committee would be meeting on Wednesday, January 19 , 1983 at 7 : 30 P.M. at the District office. K. Duffy said she had received an announcement for the forthcoming Special Districts Conference to be held in Southern California. Meeting 83-1 Page six Motion: R. Bishop moved the Board authorize the expenditures involved in sending the President or another Board representative selected by the President to the meeting. E. Shelley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. C. Britton informed the Board that Mr. Pennington intended to retain the two acres adjacent to the 21 acre parcel purchased from P.M. and Associates that was added to the Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve. C. MacDonald stated that reprinted Tenth Anniversary posters were available and said a new District slide show had been produced. D. Hansen briefed the Board on the status of Planning for Edgewood County Park, December storm damage , and staff discussions with P.O.S.T. regarding the possibility of P.O.S.T. trying to raise funding support for a planning study for Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. H. Grench elaborated on the proposed study, noting it would be more encompassing than a normal use and management plan, and that the amount of money that might be secured for the planning study would allow more recreational development and alternate forms of management than usually considered. He said P.O.S.T. , if successful, would give the District a grant for the study, therefore allowing the District to be in charge of the planning study. Board mem- bers responded that it was important that the District be in control of the study and potential uses but that the unusual aspects could be con- sidered. H. Grench stated he had copies of Governor Deukmejian ' s State of the State address and showed the Board adverse comments received from an anonymous member of the public that had been written on an All-Site brochure. X. CLAIMS E. Shelley questioned claims 3993 through 3997 . H. Grench stated possessory interest taxes had to be paid on ranger residences and that the District was splitting the cost of the taxes with the resident rangers for 1980 and 1981, noting that in the future, resident rangers would pay the entire amount. Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the claims 83-1, dated January 12 , 1983. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with N. Hanko abstaining from Claim 3947 to IBM. XI. CLOSED SESSION e Board recessed to a Closed Session on land negotiation, litigation, and personnel matters at 9 :33 P.M. XII. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11: 55 P.M. Jean H. Fiddes District Clerk Meeting 83-1 N4AA or 0 Aam MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-11,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415) 965-4717 SUMMARY OF JANUARY 12, 1983 REGULAR BOARD MEETING Special Orders of the Day - The following members of the Board were selected to serve as officers for the coming year: President - Barbara Green Vice President - Harry Turner Secretary - Nonette Hanko Treasurer - Daniel Wendin The Board received a Resolution of Congratulations on the District' s Tenth Anniversary from the Board of Directors of the East Bay Regional Park District. Final Adoption of the Relative Site Emphasis Plan Review Schedule - The Board adopted the revised Relative Site Emphasis Plan , as modified during the meeting, and the revised 1983 Use and Management Plan Review Schedule. Final Adoption of Interim Use and Management Plan for the Recent Addition to Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve (Robin Property) - The Board approved the interim use and management plan, including the name for the property, for the addition of the former Robin property to the Limekiln Canyon Area of the Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve. Proposed Addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (Lands of Crist - Exercise of Option) The Board adopted Resolution 83-1 authorizing exercise of the option to acquire the property, dedicated the property, as well as the adjoining 120 and 40 acre parcels previously acquired from the Crists, as open space, named the site as an addition to the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, and reaffirmed the interim use and management recommendations previously adopted for the property. Demonstration Burn - Chaparral Management Program - The Board approved the request to have the the California Department of Forestry conduct a demonstration helitorch burn on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve after CEQA and local fire jurisdiction requirements have been satisfied and immediate site neighbors have been informed of the activity. Dedication Status of District Lands - The Board accepted the report on the dedication status of District lands with the inclusion as dedicated land of the 160 acres acquired from the Crists. Consent to Transfer Promissory Notes - Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve - The Board con- sented to the transfer of the Note and relating Deed of Trust by Sk_y_T�ine Ranch, Inc. and authorized the President to sign the form of consent. Program Evaluation for 1982-83 and Setting of Priorities for 1983-84 - This agenda item was continued to the second Regular Meeting of January. Jean H. Fiddes District Clerk Herbert A.Grench,General Manager Board of Directors:Katherine Duffy,Barbara Green,Nonette G.Hanko,Richard S.Bishop,Edward G Shelley,Harry A.Turner,Daniel G.Wendin