HomeMy Public PortalAbout19840523 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 84-13
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022
(415)965-4717
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAY 23 , 1984
MINUTES
I . ROLL CALL
President Daniel Wendin called the meeting to order at 7 : 37 P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Daniel Wendin, Teena Henshaw,
Edward Shelley, and Richard Bishop. Harry Turner arrived at 7 :47 P.M.
Member Absent: Nonette Hanko.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, David Hansen,
Charlotte MacDonald, Jean Fiddes , Del Woods , Mary Gundert, and
Cecilia Cyrier.
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. May 9, 1984
Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of May 9 ,
1984. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed
4 to 0 with D. Wendin abstaining from the vote because
of his absence from the meeting of May 9 , 1984 .
B. May 12 , 1984
Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of May 12 ,
1984 . K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed
5 to 0.
III . WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
C. Cyrier stated the following written communications had been received:
A letter, dated May 9 , from Richard B. Baird, President of Sequoia
Audubon Society, informing the District that it has been chosen as an
award winner in Sequoia's First Annual Awards Program in the category
of "Open Space/Unique Ecosystem Preservations . " Awards will be pre-
sented June 14 at Sequoia's general membership meeting in San Mateo;
a letter, dated May 8 , from Glenn Lyles , Mountain View Parks Superin-
tendent, regarding the lease of the Crittenden Marsh area, stating he
would need to study the liabilities involved by checking with the
County as to when they expect to complete the Bayfront trails , and what
formal arrangements have been made for them to patrol this area;
a letter, dated May 13 , from Bob and Marge Rice of Los Gatos , expressing
their thanks to all who helped make the bus tour of District lands on
Saturday, May 12 so enjoyable and informative;
a letter, dated May 20 , from Charles E. Clement of Pescadero, citing
numerous reasons why the easement from La Honda Road to provide access
to the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve should be questioned as public
access , and indicating his belief that access should be from Skyline
Boulevard;
Herbert A.Grench,General Manager Board of Directors:Katherine Duffy,Nonette G.Hanko,Teena Henshaw,Richard S.Bishop,Edward G.Shelley,Harry A.Turner,Daniel G.Wendin
Meeting 84-13 page Two
a letter, dated May 18 , from Greer Sugden of Los Altos , commenting on
the operation of the High Meadow Ranch and the general problems
concerning the access to the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
through Ravensbury Avenue; and
a letter, dated May 22 , from Laura Anne Bryan, Attorney at Law,
representing Eric and Margaret Krebs, landowners adjacent to La Honda
Creek Open Space Preserve, stating that the Krebs have serious reser-
vations of any public access through their property to the Preserve.
D. Wendin stated he had been contacted by the Sequoia Audubon Society
congratulating the District on the award and that H. Turner had agreed
to represent the Board at the presentation on June 14 .
D. Wendin stated that communications pertaining to access to the
recently acquired property in the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
would be addressed at the time that agenda item was discussed and
that the other letters were referred to staff for appropriate action.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
D. Wendin stated the agenda was adopted by Board consensus.
V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications .
VI. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Adoption of Interim Use and Management Plan for Purisima Creek
Redwoods Open Space Preserve (Wilkins Property)
D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-84-52 , dated May 17 , 1984 , noting that
staff had not received any public comment concerning the use and
management plan; however, staff was recommending the inclusion of
items 9 through 13 , as listed in memorandum M-84-52 , to the interim
use and management recommendations listed in report R-84-21 , dated
April 13 , 1984 . The items include the installing of a pipe gate and
hiking-equestrian stile at Tunitas Creek Road entrance to the Preserve,
that the owner of the abandoned trailer on the property be requested
to remove it, that a motorcycle barrier be installed across the motor-
cycle path pioneered from Skyline Boulevard, and that the contractors
be allowed to remove already cut hardwood logs but that no new cutting
is to occur.
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board adopt the use and management
plan as contained in report R-84-21 and amended by memorandum
M-84-52 and dedicate the property as public open space.
T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
B. Adoption of Interim Use and Management Plan for La Honda Creek
Open Space Preserve (Collett Property)
D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-84-49, dated May 15 , 1984 , stating
staff had received phone calls and written communications concerning
protection of watershed from which the La Honda Vista Water Company
obtains its water, concerning access to property for public , and
concerning use of the existing easement that the District obtained as
part of the purchase.
Meeting 84-13 Page Three
In response to D. Wendin's question for clarification of the letter
from the attorney representing Mr. and Mrs. Krebs , C. Britton stated
he had received a phone call from a person in the attorney 's office
and said the Krebs ' concerns were what the District' s plans were for
public access to the property since the Norgard easement was not
usable at the present time, and whether the District anticipated
acquiring other property in the area. C. Britton said that alternate
access to the property was not an issue to be decided at this meeting.
Jim Warren of La Honda, a former resident of the area, expressed his
concern of the dangers involved in using the easement as ingress and
egress and said that the collapsed bridge never was a bridge in the
legal sense of the word.
Eric and Margaret Krebs , P.O. Box 384 , La Honda, asked if there were
plans to improve the access to the property at this time or if the
District was not encouraging use of the easement as access to the
property. Charles E. Clement of Pescadero requested that the District
do more than suggest that people seek permission from adjacent property
owners as access to the property and said the District should inform
people that the area was not open to the public. Linda Fischman, 148
La Honda Road, Woodside asked staff how they had obtained access to
the property during the negotiating process and requested that con-
sideration be given to privacy of the participants in the cystic
fibrosis program she directs on her adjacent property.
Staff responses to these concerns were that District did not at this
time plan any improvements to the easement; that the District was not
encouraging access to the property; and that staff had gained access
with permission to the property over Linda Fischman's property and
also via Bear Gulch Road.
D. Wendin asked for clarification of what the use and management plan
said regarding access to the property by the public and what would
people who call the office be told about access to the property.
D. Hansen reported that a third item under section E of the Interim
Use and Management Recommendations was to have been included and should
read: "The site should be open to hikers and equestrians who can gain
access from adjacent private property with permission of the owners . "
D. Hansen also said that people should be discouraged from going onto
the property since it is virtually landlocked unless they have per-
mission from an adjacent landowner. He said the intent at this time
is to seek other trail connections from Windy Hill Open Space Preserve.
Concerns regarding retaining privacy and feeling of safety if the area
is open to the public before the trail system was implemented on the
Preserve were expressed by Marc McGill representing the Benjamin and
Anita Reynoso family, 2312 Cheshire Way, Redwood City; June Genis ,
111 La Honda Road, Woodside; and Margaret Krebs . In response to Jim
Warren' s questions of the possibility of the District acquiring
adjoining properties by eminent domain, R. Bishop state that the
District preferred to deal with people on a voluntary basis . E. Shelley
noted that the former Collett property was not being dedicated as public
open space at this time.
Meeting 84-13 Page Four
Robert Fisse of the South Skyline Association asked if the boundary
plaques referred to in the use and management recommendations would
be placed along Old La Honda Road. D. Hansen said the plaques would
be property line plaques , and none would be placed along Old La Honda
Road.
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board tentatively adopt the use
and management recommendations in report R-84-22 including
withholding the site from dedication, with the addition that
the site should be open to hikers and equestrians who can
gain access from adjacent private property with the permission
of the owners and that inquiring members of the public will
be told this is the only means of access . T. Henshaw seconded
the motion.
Discussion: Discussion by the Board members centered on
public access to the property and the status of the existing
easement. R. Bishop stated that the public should not be
encouraged to use the easement because of the condition of the
bridge and that the only access to the property should be by
permission of adjacent owners . E. Shelley stated he would
support the motion as long as it was recognized that the
District was not giving up or jeopardizing the use of the
easement for the public in the future. D. Wendin stated that
he did not believe the problems would be as ominous as antici-
pated by the neighbors , that adjacent property owners should
contact the District if problems do arise, and that staff
should properly inform members of the public about the current
lack of public access to the property. The motion passed
6 to 0.
VII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Coal Creek Open Space Preserve Initial Use and Management Plan
D. Hansen introduced the initial use and management plan for the
Preserve as contained in report R-84-25 of May 8 , 1984 , and D. Woods
used the wall map to point out the sequence of features through the
Preserve that the slides would illustrate.
David Wexler, 100 Crazy Pete' s Road, Woodside, sought clarification
that the main access to the Preserve was via Skyline Boulevard and
that Crazy Pete' s Road was for ingress and egress by District patrol.
D. Hansen said that public vehicles were not allowed, although hikers
and equestrians were, and that staff would be negotiating a road
agreement with the adjoining owners.
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board tentatively adopt the initial
use and management plan for the Coal Creek Open Space Preserve,
including the transfer of the 23 acre former Fine property
from the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve to the Coal Creek
Open Space Preserve. H. Turner seconded the motion. The
motion passed 6 to 0 .
B. Proposed Addition to Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve of Lands of
Jenkins, Peninsula Open Space Trust, Guenther, and Lohr
C. Britton introduced staff report R-84-24 of May 14 , 1984 by pointing
out the parcels on the wall map and showing their relationship to the
recently acquired Quinn property. He noted that Robert Augsburger of
Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) had worked with staff on the trans-
action.
Meeting 84-13 Page Five
C. Britton discussed the four separate contracts that totalled rights
in approximately 233 acres of land at a total purchase price of $232 , 000 .
He said the 96 acre POST parcel is physically landlocked; the 54 acre
Jenkins parcel also included a Right of First Refusal agreement on the
remainder of Mr. Jenkins ' property if he ever decides to sell; and the
40 acre Guenther easement and the 30 acre Lohr easement transactions
are contingent on boundary line adjustments by San Mateo County.
D. Hansen reviewed the use and management section of the report and
indicated that access to the site will be via District lands or
private property and that boundary signs will be placed at appropriate
points. D. Woods showed slides of the area.
C. Britton, responding to Robert Fisse' s question, said that the proper-
ties are outside the District boundaries--as was true of the Quinn
property--but within the Sphere of Influence.
Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution 84-23 , a Resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Purchase Agreement,
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 (Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve - Jenkins
Property) . R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed
6 to 0 .
Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution 84-24 , a Resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Purchase Agreement,
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 (Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve -
Peninsula Open Space Trust Property) . R. Bishop seconded the
motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 .
Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution 84-25 , a Resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Purchase Agreement,
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 (Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve -
Guenther Property) . R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion
passed 6 to 0.
Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution 84-26 , a Resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Purchase Agreement,
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 (Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve - Lohr
Property) . R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed
6 to 0.
Meeting 84-13 Page Six
Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board tentatively adopt the use-and
management recommendations contained in the staff report,'
name the properties as additions to the Skyline Ridge Open
Space Preserve, and indicate its intention to dedicate the
District's interests in the properties as open space.
R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
C. New Safe Deposit Box
J. Fiddes presented memorandum M-84-51, dated May 16 , 1984 , indicating
that the District had the opportunity to acquire a new safe deposit box.
Motion: D. Wendin moved the adoption of Resolution 84-27 , a Resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Establishing Signatories for Entering Safe
Deposit Boxes (First Interstate Bank of California - Los Altos) .
H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 .
D. Scheduling of Special Meeting on June 6 , 1984
H. Grench, referring to memorandum M-84-50 of May 16 , 1984 , recommended
scheduling a Special Meeting on Wednesday, June 6 , 1984 , at 7 :30 P.M.
at the District office to consider the 1984-1985 salary survey data
and to conduct the annual performance evaluation of Board appointees
in Closed Session.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board schedule a Special Meeting for
June 6 , 1984, at 7 :30 P.M. at the District office for the
purpose of considering the 1984-1985 salary survey data and
holding performance evaluations of Board appointees .
E. Shelley seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 .
T. Henshaw was not present for the vote.
VIII . INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
D. Wendin reported that he and H. Turner had met on Tuesday, May 22
with Rosemary Young, President of Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) ,
and Robert Augsburger, Executive Director of POST, to consider the
committee structure for the Skyline Ranch Master Plan. D. Wendin
requested that he be permitted to appoint H. Turner and himself as
an interim committee to meet with POST representatives and said he
would place an item on a future agenda to report on the outcome of
the committee meetings. There was no objection.
C. MacDonald reported that 55 guests, or 30 percent of the invitees ,
attended the recent tour of District lands for public officials .
H. Grench reported on the Special District Finance Seminar, sponsored
by the California Special Districts Association, he had attended.
IX. CLAIMS
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board approve Revised Claims 84-10.
R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
X. CLOSED SESSION
The Board adjourned to Closed Session at 9: 27 P.M.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11:45 P.M.
Cecilia A. Cyrier
Secretary