HomeMy Public PortalAbout19841010 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 84-22
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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022
(415)965-4717
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OCTOBER 10, 1984
MINUTES
I . ROLL CALL
Vice President Harry Turner called the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Teena Henshaw, Edward Shelley, and Harry Turner.
Richard Bishop arrived at 7:40 P.M.
Members Absent: Daniel Wendin and Nonette Hanko.
Staff Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, David Hansen, Stanley Norton, Charlotte
MacDonald, Joyce Nicholas, Del Woods , James Boland, and Emma Johnson.
II . WRITTEN' COMMUNICATIONS
E. Johnson stated the District had received a letter dated September 25, 1984 from
Vince Garrod, Trustee of the Garrod Trust, enclosing a check for a sign on Maisie's
Peak at Fremont Older Open Space Preserve and volunteering labor and equipment to
winterize the trails through the Garrod portion of the Preserve. The Board expressed
its appreciation and referred the matter to staff for action and a response.
D. Woods stated staff would draft language for the sign and submit it to the Garrod
family for approval .
III . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. September 26, 1984
Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of September 26, 1984.
K. Duffy seconded the motion.
Discussion: Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos clarified
his statements noted on page 3, paragraph 4 and page 5, paragraph 3,
saying that he had referred to retaining a stable but not specifically
High Meadow Stable.
K. Duffy questioned the meaning of the statement regarding the dump
truck in line 15, paragraph 2, page 5. She said she understood Mrs .
Fike's statement to mean that the dump truck will be used to remove the
remaining manure. H. Turner stated the Board's consensus that "remainder
will be cleaned out" should be substituted for "stalls will be cleaned
out" .
The motion passed 5 to 0.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
H. Turner stated the agenda was adopted by Board consensus.
V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications.
VI. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
A. Volunteer Recognition
J. Nicholas, Coordinator of Volunteer Programs, summarized memorandum M-84-82
dated October 3, 1984, noting that docents have given approximately 1 ,800 hours
in service to the District and that they are recognized annually in the spring.
She stated the District has additional volunteers who have made outstanding con-
tributions to the District including Sandy Gimbal , Max Meyer, Tom Williams and
many others and recommended the Board recognize their services.
Meeting 84-22 Page 2
Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board present Resolutions of Appreciation to
Sandy Gimbal , Max Meyer, and Tom Williams. T. Henshaw seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
Vice President H. Turner expressed the Board's thanks to all of the
volunteers and presented the certificate of appreciation to Tom Williams
who was present.
VII . OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve Use and Management Review
D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-84-83 dated October 3 stating that trail use and
designations and the disposition of High Meadow Stable had been reviewed at the
September 26 Board meeting. He read a precis of the minutes of the meeting that
the Board accepted as its decisions and directions to staff. He added that the
Board was being asked to adopt recommendations on the structures in concept only.
Brendan Leary, 938 Clark Avenue, #41 , Mountain View, addressed the Board as spokes-
man for various groups of runners including running clubs and high school running
teams. He said that runners were not aware a problem existed between runners and
other users nor that the District was considering restricting runners ' use of some
trails. He stated his strong objection to closing lower Wildcat Canyon and the
Farm area to runners.
D. Hansen summarized staff's recommendations which included producing a trail
etiquette brochure and attempting to resolve the problems without closing any
trails, hoping to have positive changes within eight months . He said if changes
don't occur, staff proposes closing Wildcat Canyon Trail to runners and building a
new trail in the vicinity of the Ranger Yard to bypass Deer Hollow Farm and one
from Mora Gate to the front of the Preserve.
D. Woods added that these trail alternatives would be studied and presented to
the public through workshop procedures.
D. Hansen stated that organized training by runners would probably have to be
restricted, and K. Duffy expressed her belief that it may be necessary to set
limitations on the school training sessions. T. Henshaw suggested they could
be scheduled at different times of the day. H. Turner suggested letters be sent
to schools encouraging them to restrict their use of the Preserve to 8-10 A.M.
Mr. Leary said runners clubs could be mobilized to promote awareness of the trail
conflict problems and suggested staff work with groups who in turn could work
with others to improve and enforce trail etiquette. E. Shelley noted that runners
should be involved in groups to promote communication similar to the equestrian
groups that use the Preserves .
Marshall Clark, 2090 Sunnyview Lane, Mountain View stated the Preserve is well-
known and attracts many users. He said runners should be aware of other users
and make every effort to use the Preserve properly. Robert Dowie, 24221 Dawn-
ridge Drive, Los Altos Hills observed that more than half the Preserve users are
runners and expressed support for an etiquette brochure.
Jerry Anderson, 1370 Chelsea Court, Los Altos lent his support to the etiquette
brochure and to contacting other runners . He said he supports an alternate
trail around Deer Hollow Farm but would not like to see runners restricted from
certain trails. K. Duffy said Deer Hollow Farm's program for children begins at
9:00 A.M. and stated her opinion that runners will have to be prohibited from
the trail through the Farm. Mr. Clark suggested having specific days for schools
to use the trails.
Sylvia Ferguson, 707 Continental Circle, Mountain View and H. Haeussler expressed
support for the etiquette brochure, and Mr. Haeussler volunteered to assist at
etiquette information tables set up at all the entrances to the Preserve.
Meeting 84-22 Page 3
E. Shelley suggested that schools inform the District when they would like to
train, that requiring permits for group activities is consistent with District
policy. H. Turner stated the Board's consensus to amend the use and management
recommendations, directing staff to define problems with runners and to ask schools
to develop use programs along with staff.
D. Hansen reviewed the portion of report R-84-41 dated September 20, 1984 that
pertained to the two residential structures on the Preserve. He said staff is
recommending that a portion of the upper house be designated a multi-purpose
facility to be administered by the District for occasional public or private
events that are compatible with the open space management program, the remaining
portion initially to be a caretaker rental unit after which it can be converted to
a ranger residence. He added that a ranger residence is recommended for a portion
of the lower house while the other portion would serve as a rental residence until
the City of Mountain View needs to use it for a Deer Hollow Farm residence. Addi-
tional recommendations are to allow the City to continue using the dressing room
area and swimming pool , to demolish the cabin as already decided and to fill the
upper pool . D. Woods added that the Board was being asked to adopt recommenda-
tions for the structures in concept only, with specific details on management
to be given to the Board in four to six months . H. Grench said staff would
return to the Board at its next meeting with the revised use and management plan
for adoption.
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board preliminarily adopt the use and manage-
ment plan for Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve as amended at its
meetings of September 26 and October 10 and direct staff to return to
the Board with language implementing the amendments. T. Henshaw seconded
the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
B. Final Adoption of the Use and Management Plan for the Addition to Windy Hill Open
Space Preserve Bowers Property
D. Hansen summarized memorandum M-84-79 dated September 28, 1984, noting that
escrow has closed on the 1 .3 acre property and that staff had received no public
input.
Thomas Low, 50 Skywood Way, Woodside, a member of the U.S. Hang-Gliding Associa-
tion, stated he would like to see Windy Hill approved as a hang-gliding site.
H. Turner responded that the Association must work with the Town of Portola
Valley for a landing site. C. Britton added that the District has a restric-
tion agreement with the Town, and hang-gliding is one of the conditional uses
that the District does not have the power to approve on its own and that approval
has to come from the Town. He added that the use and management being considered
at the present time is for the 1 .3 acre addition and not the whole Preserve.
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board adopt the interim use and management
plan contained in report R-84-38 and dedicate the land as public open
space. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
C. Amendment to Joint Powers Agreement for Los Gatos Creek Park Project
C. Britton reviewed report R-84-42 dated October 3, 1984 noting that a final
amendment to the Joint Powers Agreement is necessary to provide conformance
with the Settlement Agreement. He enumerated the changes contained in the report.
Discussion centered on the dispersal of any funds that may be left after the
purchase. T. Kavanaugh, 1726 Spring Street, Mountain View stated his opinion
that any money left should come back to the District's general fund. H. Grench
said that half the money belongs to Los Gatos and could be used for District
projects in the Los Gatos area with Los Gatos ' approval .
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board adopt Resolution 84-38, a Resolution of
the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Approving and Authorizing Execution of Amended Joint Powers Agreement
Meeting 84-22 Page 4
for Purchase of Real Property, Authorizing Officer to Execute Park,
Recreation, Scenic and Open Space Easement, and Authorizing General
Manager to Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate
to Closing of the Transaction (Los Gatos Creek Park) . E. Shelley seconded
the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
VIII . NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Management Agreement Between Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and the
State of California for Portions of Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
and Rancho Raymundo
D. Hansen summarized memorandum M-84-85 dated October 3, 1984 saying that the
Rancho Raymundo property is currently owned by Peninsula Open Space Trust but
current legislation authorizes the State to purchase the property as an addition
to its Burleigh Murray Ranch State Park if the State and District enter into a
management agreement. He said the agreement would make minor maintenance and
patrol of the parcels easier for each entity. H. Grench reviewed the history
of the acquisition of the Rancho Raymundo property and the negotiations and
legislation involved in the culmination of the agreement.
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board adopt Resolution 84-39, a Resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District Approving and Accepting Joint Management Agreement, Authorizing
Officer to Execute Same and Authorizing General Manager to Execute
Any and All Other Documents Necessary or Appropriate to Carry Out the
Terms of the Joint Management Agreement (Rancho Raymundo Property/
Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve). K. Duffy seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
B. Review of District's Legislative Program
H. Grench reviewed memorandum M-84-80 dated October 4, 1984. He said the Board's
Legislative Committee reviewed the Legislative Program in some detail . R. Bishop,
a member of that Committee stated that the Committee had discussed Proposition
36 and its effects on the District and recommended the Board take a stand on
the ballot issue. He added that the Committee is seeking ideas for future District
legislation projects. H. Grench stated the Committee will meet before the end
of the year to propose legislative action to the Board.
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board accept the report on legislation.
R. Bishop seconded the motion.
Discussion: H. Grench said that the East Bay Regional Park District had
introduced legislation allowing an increase in Board compensation and
suggested that if the Board desires to have compensation considered by
the District, it refer the matter to the Budget Committee since the
Committee has considered it in the past. He added that MROSD had taken
no position on this legislation. H. Turner stated the Board's consensus
to request the Budget Committee consider Board compensation.
The motion passed 5 to 0.
C. Resolution Opposing Proposition 36
H. Grench summarized memorandum M-84-84 dated October 4, 1984. He reported that
the Legislative Committee had preliminarily decided the District should take
a stand on the proposition so that its impacts on the District would be identi-
fied. He said estimates of initial loss are in the range of $500,000, to $1 million
with on-going losses in the future. He said the initial dollar loss could be
about the same as the District' s 1984-85 site development and site management
budget or the new lands acquisition budget.
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board adopt Resolution 84-40, a Resolution
in Opposition to Proposition 36. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The
motion passed 5 to 0.
Meeting 84-22 Page 5
D. Amendment of Policies Regarding Improvements on District Lands
C. Britton, referring to memorandum M-84-81 dated October 3, 1984 noted that
an increasing number of the Enterprise Subprogram's rentals will exceed the
$5,000 per year limit set by the Board's current policy due to upward trends in
fair market rentals. He noted the revision would permit leases without specific
Board approval which are one year or less and generate a total of $25,000 or
less in rents or equivalent over the term. He said two changes in the recommended
amendments are necessary: subparagraph (a) should refer to $25,000 anticipated
income, and the last paragraph should read "one year's full cash value of the lease
whichever is less without Board approval . . . ".
H. Grench stated that the policy was drafted for maximum Board control and that
the $25,000 figure represents current economics .
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board adopt the recommendations in memorandum
M-84-81 as amended. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed
5 to 0.
IX. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS` rx
C. Britton reported that the Guenther/Lohr addition to Skyline Ridge Open Space Pre-
serve was contingent upon lot line adjustments . He noted the agreement was valid
until October 23 but could be extended with a 30-day notice and requested the Board's
concurrence to extend the agreement for 120 days. H. Turner stated the Board's
concurrence.
C. Britton said the District has been notified by the Federal Government that the
agreement on Mt. Umunhum will soon expire, and they would like the District to extend
the agreement for another six months. H. Turner expressed the Board's concurrence.
D. Hansen reported that the bridge is now in between Shoreline Park and the District's
Stevens Creek Nature Study Area (Crittenden Marsh) .
H. Grench reported participating in a panel discussion on the parks and recreation
element of San Mateo County's General Plan and said he focused on cooperation between
the County and the District and the roles of each. D. Hansen will follow-up with the
Planning Commission.
H. Grench stated a joint meeting of the Board and Santa Clara County Parks and
Recreation Commission has been scheduled for November 8, focusing on the County's
Five Year Plan. The Board agreed to a 6:30 starting time for social communication
and a 7:00 P.M. starting time for the meeting. The location of the meeting has not
been finalized. K. Duffy requested an update on the County's Plan, and C. Britton
said it will be made available at the Board's next meeting.
D. Hansen said he attended a meeting held to encourage several agencies to support
Santa Clara County's application for Prop 18 funds for Sunnyvale's Baylands Park.
He offered District support if the Bayfront Trail is included. E. Shelley stated
that Mayor Freelen of Mountain View offered help to the District for the Bayfront
Trail .
D. Woods explained the background for the City of Cupertino's request concerning a
dedicated trail through Rainbows End subdivision in Cupertino. He said the trail ,
connecting to Fremont Older Open Space Preserve, had been aligned and dedicated prior
to contact with the District, that it is too steep and expensive to maintain, had no
regional significance and would not serve the general public. H. Grench said the
District could, however, meet the trail within the Preserve to allow the subdivision's
residents to continue into the Preserve, but reiterated staff's position that it
cannot recommend installation or maintenance by the District. E. Shelley stated
the Board's agreement with staff's position.
Meeting 84-22 Page 5
D. Amendment of Policies Regarding Improvements on District Lands
C. Britton, referring to memorandum M-84-81 dated October 3, 1984 noted that an
increasing number
Meeting 84-22 Page 6
E. Shelley reported the annual Deer Hollow Farm dinner was well attended by repre-
sentatives of the City of Mountain View.
R. Bishop said he and H. Turner will meet with representatives of the Governmental
Research Council of San Mateo County which is studying the District. H. Grench will
conduct a land tour for the group.
X. CLAIMS
Motion: R. Bishop moved approval of Revised Claims 84-18. T. Henshaw seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
XI . CLOSED SESSION
H. Haeussler asked the Board about its compliance with SB 2216. H. Turner said that
the law will become effective January 1 , 1985. S. Norton said he has not yet received
a copy of the chaptered version of the legislation and will report to the Board after
he has had a chance to study it.
The Board adjourned to Closed Session at 9:57 P.M.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 10:45 P.M.
Emma Johnson
Secretary
CORRECTIONS TO THE MINUTES OF
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
October 10, 1984
Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of October 10, 1984. T. Henshaw
seconded the motion.
Discussion: Thomas Kavanaugh, 1726 Spring Street, Mountain View, stated his
objection to the Board stating a consensus on the first, second, and third
Informational Reports and said he felt these items should be placed on a future
agenda for Board consideration and in order to allow public input. He noted no
Board action should be taken under Informational Reports. C. Britton explained
the reasons the three items had been presented to the Board under Informational
Reports at the previous meeting.
C. Britton noted the word "six" should be changed to "four" in the first sentence
of the second Informational Report concerning Mt. Umunhum.
The motion passed 5 to 0 with N. Hanko abstaining from the vote since she had
not been present at the October 10 Board meeting.