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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19840725 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 84-17 Ail MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415) 965-4717 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS JULY 25, 1984 MINUTES I. ROLL CALL President Daniel Wendin called the meeting to order at 7:36 P.M. Members Present: Daniel Wendin, Teena Henshaw, Nonette Hanko, and Harry Turner. Directors Katherine Duffy and Richard Bishop arrived at 7:40 P.M. Member Absent: Edward Shelley. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, David Hansen, Charlotte MacDonald, James Boland, Del Woods, Mary Gundert, Alice Watt, Stanley Norton, and Jean Fiddes. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. July 11 , 1984 Motion: N. Hanko moved the approval of the minutes of July 11 , 1984. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 to 0. III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS There were no written communications IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA D. Wendin stated the agenda was adopted by Board consensus. D. Woods introduced Sandy Gimbal , the volunteer who had prepared the new District wall maps. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no oral communications. VI. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Review of Experimental Dog Program D. Hansen reviewed report R-84-36 of July 19, 1984 regarding the District's experimental dog program on the Fremont Older, Windy Hill , and Foothills Open Space Preserves. He noted that staff was very concerned about the program at the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve and was recommending that the program at this Preserve be discontinued within one year if there was not a significant decline in the number of off-leash incidents. He stated that if the Board was to adopt the program on an on-going or more permanent basis, it would constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act and that a Negative Declaration would be prepared for the program. J. Boland reviewed the chart entitled "Two Year Comparison of Dog Incidents" , noting the number of incidents involving dogs that had occurred on various preserves and referred to the letter attached to the staff report that had been sent to District neighbors of the Fremont Older and Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserves. In response to a question from T. Henshaw, he said no problems involving dog packs had been reported at the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve after the letter had been sent. Discussion centered on the possible increase in preserve users at the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve that might be contributing to the increase in dog incidents, the effectiveness Meeting 84-17 Page two of fines and the need to have an educational campaign about where dogs are and are not allowed. D. Wendin stated that the Board had expressed a consensus at their July 11 meeting that the report on the experimental dog program would be referred to the Dog Committee. He stated he felt the Committee should consider any changes in the program that would make sense, the staff's recommendations in the report, what publicity should be undertaken to let people know about the possibility of terminating the program on the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve, and the number and locations of meetings to be held by the Dog Committee to solicit public input. H. Turner suggested that the Committee have one meeting at which a status report on the program would be presented and public input or suggestions would be heard. D. Hansen stated staff intended to notify the following people about the Dog Committee meeting: all individuals who had submitted written communications concerning dogs during the past year and all the neighbors of the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. H. Turner suggested organized dog groups who had lobbied for the program should be notified of the meeting. N. Hanko requested the members of the Dog Committee receive copies of all letters that had been received during the past year concerning dogs, and R. Bishop stated he felt the Committee should also consider all letters and oral communications that were received by the Board at the time the initiation of the experimental dog program was being considered. There was no objection to R. Bishop's statement. D. Wendin suggested the Committee look into an interim mid-year report on the experimental dog program with particular emphasis on the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board refer the recommendations in the staff report to the Dog Committee for at least one meeting as the Committee should decide. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. D. Wendin, with the Board's concurrence, appointed K. Duffy to serve as the third member on the Dog Committee. K. Duffy asked to see a draft of the meeting notification letter prior to its distribution. R. Bishop stated the Dog Committee would plan on holding its initial meeting at the District office and would report back to the Board if more than one Committee meeting was necessary. B. Use and Management Plan Review for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve - Page Mill Road Area D. Hansen introduced the use and management plan for the Page Mill Road Area of the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve as contained in report R-84-35 of July 17, 1984, highlighting the backpack camp, grazing, and controlled burn portions of the report. D. Woods reviewed the use and management recommendations in detail , using slides to illustrate various points made in the report. R. Bishop raised the question of whether bicycles should be allowed on the Stevens Creek Nature Trail , and D. Woods responded that at this time none of the trails on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve are posted no- biking. He added the Midpeninsula Trails Council and the Trail Information Meeting 84-17 Page three and Volunteer Center would be sponsoring a Trail Use Forum on August 6. D. Hansen noted that any changes concerning trail use on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve would be presented to the Board for consideration prior to the Board's next scheduled review of the Preserve's use and management plan in 1986. Discussion centered on the equestrian crossing on Skyline Boulevard at the end of the new trail leading from the permit parking area. Members of the Board questioned whether it was safe for equestrians to cross Sky- line Boulevard at this point to reach the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. D. Woods showed slides of the type of traffic signs that had been installed, based on recommendations from CalTrans, to warn motorists of the crossing. It was suggested that signs be installed on the trail alerting equestrians and hikers of the crossing and advising them to use extreme caution, and N. Hanko suggested that flashing lights be installed to warn motorists of the crossing. D. Wendin stated that staff needed to be certain that they had not created an unacceptable level of risk by placing the crossing in its current location and that they had adequately warned users of the need to use extreme caution in crossing Skyline Boulevard. Beez Jones, 16891 Stevens Canyon Road, Cupertino, suggested the Board ask the County to reopen Lower Stevens Creek County Park, which she said was closed, and discussed the need for the District, Santa Clara County, Y, and local neighbors to meet and discuss illegal activities, parking, Patrol , and fire hazards. H. Grench stated he felt the neighbors should be the prime movers in trying to set up a meeting with County representatives regarding the County park and that the District could be involved in organizing a meeting to discuss problems at the end of Stevens Canyon Road. D. Wendin requested that staff elaborate on its plans for the meeting discussed in Item Three on Page Nine of the report. D. Hansen discussed the controlled burn section of the report. He said that staff had re-evaluated the controlled burn plan and needed to evaluate a fire management program on all District sites . He stated staff would be returning to the Board in three months to present a Fire Management Plan of Action that will provide general District guidelines and aid development and implementation of specific wildfire management plans. D. Woods said that staff had completed a grazing study and was recommending that grazing not be re-established on the Preserve. He noted that an environmental analysis of grazing on District lands was attached to the staff report and reviewed some of the findings in the analysis. N. Hanko suggested that a program be undertaken to remove the Baccharis vegetation on the ridgetop along Monte Bello Road. D. Wendin questioned staff about the status of a connecting trail from Canyon Trail to the Waterwheel Creek Trail . D. Woods responded that the alignment for the trail was almost totally laid out, but staff did not plan to move forward on the trail 's construction until 1986 when usage patterns of the other trails were better known. Lewis C. Reed, 225 Lindenbrook, Woodside, speaking in behalf of the Midpenin- sula Trails Council stated he and Sylvia Ferguson, who were the Council 's representatives for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, felt the use and management plan should be adopted as presented. Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board tentatively adopt the use and manage- ment recommendations for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve - Page Mill Road Area as contained in the staff report with the request that staff provide further amplification on Item Five on Page Three con- cerning the safety of the crossing and on Item 3f on Page Nine concerning specific plans for holding a planning workshop. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion gassed 6 to O. Meeting 84-17 Page four C. Request to Utilize Part of Picchetti Ranch Area for Riding Ring D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-84-66 of July 19, 1984 regarding the request from the Crippled Children's Society of Santa Clara County to use a small site on the Picchetti Ranch Area for a horseback riding ring. He noted the proposed area was immediately adjacent to the Society's Camp Costanoan and that the ring would be used as a part of the Camp's therapy program. He said that staff did not feel any permanent structures should be constructed on the site for the riding ring, since trail plans for the area had not been completed and that, at this time, an old trail/roadbed that has been used as a trail passes directly through the site. He also stated that, among other items in the proposed lease, the lease period would be for one year, be limited to a maximum of four horses at any one time, District staff would have site and design review for a temporary shelter and hitching rails that could be constructed, and the general public should continue to be allowed to use the area. Christine Fessler, speaking in behalf of the Society, showed slides depicting the various programs at Camp Costanoan and stated that ideally the Society would like to construct a riding ring structure on the site, would like more than a one year lease, and would prefer exclusive use of the area. H. Grench stated that staff needs more policy direction from the Board regarding how to treat proposals, such as the Society's, for special uses on District land and would be including this request in the forthcoming Program Evaluation and revised Action Plan report. Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos, spoke in favor of the Society's request and suggested they be allowed to have six horses , to build some kind of corral or fence, preferably not chain-link, and to have the option to renew the lease in the early spring so that they would have ample time to plan their programs. H Grench clarified for the Board that no type of fencing, chainlink or other- wise, was allowed in the proposed interim lease. K. Duffy spoke in favor of the Society's proposal noting that she would like to see the Society's representative return in the early spring to renegotiate the lease, that she did not feel anything in terms of trail development was going to happen in the area for quite a long period of time, and that the District should be lenient and allow the Society to have what they wanted on the site. Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board approve the lease attached to the staff report M-84-66 of July 19, 1984 and direct the President to execute the lease to allow the Crippled Children's Society of Santa Clara County to utilize a portion of the Picchetti Ranch Area as a riding ring under the terms and conditions outlined by the staff in the report and the attached lease, and that it was the sense of the Board that the Board members are receptive to modifications to the lease or to its renewal and extension and look forward to the opportunity to review further proposals. R. Bishop seconded the motion. Motion to Amend: K. Duffy moved to amend the motion to allow six horses at any one time and to allow the Society to construct temporary fencing if it is necessary for safety. The motion to amend died for lack of a second. Discussion: D. Wendin questioned H. Turner about the wording in his motion that was added on to the staff's recommendation, and H. Turner responded that he felt the members of the Board had expressed an attitude during the discussion that they would like to work together with the Society. R. Bishop stated the wording about the Board's receptiveness was ambiguous and noted it was not proper to bind the Board to some future action. Meeting 84-17 Page five Motion to Amend: D. Wendin moved to amend the motion by striking the extra wording "and that it was the sense of the Board that the Board members are receptive to modifications to the lease or to its renewal and extension and look forward to the opportunity to review further proposals". R. Bishop seconded the motion to amend. The motion to amend passed 6 to 0 The main motion, as amended, passed 6 to 0. Motion: H. Turner moved that it is the sense of this Board that the Board members would be receptive to proposed modifications of the agreement or to its extension. K. Duffy seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin expressed his opposition to the motion for lack of precision and because he did not favor making a special case for the Society. T. Henshaw stated she opposed the motion since the Board needed to address total planning for the area and the policy for use of District lands and facilities by neighborhood and other non-profit groups. N. Hanko stated she shared H. Turner's enthusiasm for the project, but said she would vote against the motion since the Board needed tDaddress the staff's need for policy direction relating to the criteria to be used to evaluate proposals in a standard manner. D. Wendin noted that the Society could return to the Board at any time to discuss any concerns or to make a request. H. Turner stated that he wanted to withdraw his motion before the Board, K. Duffy concurred, and D. Wendin accepted his request. D. Wendin requested the minutes reflect that the motion was withdrawn so as not to give the impression that the Board was against subsequent proposals from the Society that it might make. D. Minor Extension of District's Sphere of Influence and Annexation of Certain Parcels H. Grench reviewed in detail memorandum M-84-64 of July 25, 1984 concerning the proposed extension of the District's sphere of influence and the annexa- tion of three parcels in Santa Cruz County totalling 270.7 acres. He noted the sphere of influence extension and the annexation were located in an unusual peninsula of Santa Cruz County that is contiguous to San Mateo County on the west, Santa Clara County across Skyline Boulevard on the northeast and Highway 9 and Castle Rock State Park on the south. He said that the proposed extension of the District's sphere of influence included 739.7 acres of which 559.7 are owned by public or private non-profit entities, including Sempervirens Fund, Jikoji , and the Boy Scout Memorial Foundation and that the proposed annexation included 75.2 acres owned by the District, 182 acres owned by Sempervirens Fund and managed as part of Long Ridge Open Space Preserve, and 13.5 acres owned by Jikoji. He reported that the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission would refer the proposed extension of the sphere of influence and the annexation to Santa Cruz County staff who may choose to refer the matter to the Santa Cruz County LAFCO. H. Grench discussed the reasons he was recommending the Board request a waiver of fees from Santa Clara County LAFCO for the sphere of influence change and the annexation. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt Resolution 84-33, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Requesting Initiation of Annexation Procedures by the Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission - Midpeninsula Annexation, 1984. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to request the extension of the sphere of influence described in the staff report Meeting 84-17 Page six and that _ Board request a waiver of San,_ Mara County LAFCO fees for the extension of the District's sphere of influence and for the annexation for the reasons given in the report. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. VII. NEW BUSINESS WITH NO ACTION REQUESTED A. Spanish Translation of Candidate Statements H. Grench introduced memorandum M-84-65 dated July 13, 1984 regarding staff research on the question of providing Spanish-language election materials, including candidate statements. He noted that the Board's current policy called for the District to pay, if requested, for the Spanish-language transla- tion of candidate statements in a contested election and said the District was apparently no longer required by law to provide such translations. H. Turner and R. Bishop, citing a recent editorial in the Peninsula Times Tribune, stated that the District should no longer incur the expense of providing Spanish- language translations of candidate statements. Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board instruct Legal Counsel to confirm the new requirements of law as discussed in the staff report and that the General Manager place a resolution that would make the District's policy concerning Spanish language translations conform with Santa Clara County and San Mateo County election procedures on an agenda for consideration. D. Wendin seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS D. Hansen reported that the minutes for the first public meeting to solicit input for the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve Master Plan had been distributed to the Board. He stated that the Picchetti parking lot was open and functional , that the Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Association would hold two work days on District property, that 30 volunteers had participated in the trail work at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, and that a suspect accused of abducting two teenage boys had been arrested. D. Wendin expressed his concerns about the manner in which local papers had covered the first Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve Master Plan public meeting, noting that he felt the papers had not relayed the fact that the District and consultants were encouraging public input. It was variously suggested that either D. Wendin or Patrick Miller of 2 M Associates write a letter to the papers for publication prior to the next public meeting on the Master Plan. N. Hanko stated that the Palo Alto City Council had voted to explore the possibility of a youth hostel on the Arastra property. She noted that the District would be contacted regarding the formation of a citizens committee that would work with Palo Alto staff members on the development of a regional trail plan for the area that would pass through*Foothill Park and connect the Arastra property with District property. IX. CLAIMS Motion: D. Wendin moved the approval of the revised claims 84-13 of July 25, 1984. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. X. CLOSED SESSION H. Grench stated that a Closed Session would not be necessary afterall and the Board did not hold one. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:47 P.M. Jean H. Fiddes District Clerk CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES OF II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. July 25 , 1984 Motion: R. Bishop moved the approval of the minutes of July 25, 1984. N. Hanko seconded the motion. Discussion: N. Hanko stated that the word "through" in the last line in the third Informational Report should be replaced by the words "on the perimeter of. " The motion with that change passed 5 to 0 with E. Shelley saying he was abstaining since he had not been present at the meeting.