HomeMy Public PortalAbout19841024 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 84-23
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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-11,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022
(415)965-4717
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OCTOBER 24, 1984
MINUTES
I. ROLL CALL
Vice President Harry Turner called the meeting to order at 7:41 P.M.
Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Teena Henshaw, Nonette Hanko, Edward Shelley, and
Harry Turner. Richard Bishop. arrived at 7:43 P.M.
Member Absent: Daniel Wendin
Personnel Present: Craig Britton, David Hansen, Charlotte MacDonald, Jean Fiddes,
Del Woods, Alice Cummings, John Escobar, Ellis Wallace, and Stanley Norton.
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.
III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
J. Fiddes stated the Board had received the following written communications:
a letter, dated October 10, 1984, from Robert W. Naylor, Assemblyman for the Twentieth
District, reiterating and reinforcing his support for the proposal regarding an artists'
complex on the former Hassler Health Home property;
a letter dated October 9, 1984, from Greer W. Sugden, 22548 Ravensbury Avenue, Los Altos,
suggesting that High Meadow Stable be moved to the meadow to the east of its present
location in order to alleviate traffic problems and to allow electricity and water to be
brought in via Loyola, Encinal, through the District' s gate;
a notice, dated October 14, 1984, from William J. Berger, Jr. , Controller, County of
San Mateo stating the District's 1984-85 Property Tax Revenue had been estimated at
$1,493,633;
a letter, dated October 22, 1984, from Harry H. Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los
Altos, suggesting procedures the District could follow in complying with SE 2216, and
0
a letter, dated October 23, 1984, from Phyllis Cangemi, Whole Access Project, 517 Lincoln
Avenue, Redwood City, favoring a whole access trail in the Purisima Creek Redwoods
Open Space Preserve and offering their assistance for the trail project.
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 84-23 Page two
H. Turner referred the letter from Assemblyman Naylor to D. Wendin for preparation of
a reply. The other letters were referred to staff.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
C. Britton requested the addition of a Special Order of the Day for a staff introduc-
tion. H. Turner stated the agenda was adopted by Board consensus with the addition of
a Special Order of the Day.
V. SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
Lead Ranger John Escobar introduced Ellis Wallace who recently joined the District's
Ranger staff.
VI. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos, stated he had been able to obtain a
copy of SB 2216 without any difficulty. C. Britton responded that Legal Counsel had
been waiting for a chaptered version of the bill and said he had received the document.
Barbara A. Rogers, Councilmember for the City of Cupertino, addressed the Board on the
pedestrian easement at the Rainbow's End subdivision in Cupertino. She stated it was
the sense of Cupertino's City Council that the pedestrian easement should be retained,
that the Council would like to work with the Board in retaining the easement, and that
the District should be responsible for maintaining the easement. Discussion centered
on the history of the District's involvement in the Rainbow's End subdivision and efforts
to realign the easement so that it would serve more than the local neighborhood.
K. Duffy suggested members of the Board meet with members of the Cupertino Council to
discuss the District's activities both regionally and in the Cupertino area, as well as
discuss the pedestrian easement. T. Henshaw supported K. Duffy's comments, and H. Turner
appointed K. Duffy and T. Henshaw to a Board committee that would meet with members of
the Cupertino Council. The Committee was instructed to return to the Board within a
reasonable period of time, probably after the first of the year, if they felt there were
any matters that should be placed on an agenda for Board consideration. E. Shelley
stated he felt the Board should reaffirm its concurrence with the staff recommendation
that it could not recommend installation or maintenance of the pedestrian easement at
Rainbow's End by the District, pending any further Board action. There was no objection
stated by any member of the Board to E. Shelley's statement.
VII. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Final Adoption of the Revised Use and Management Plan for Rancho San Antonio Open
Space Preserve
D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-84-88 of October 19, 1984 and discussed the changes
staff was proposing to the Use and Management Plan with respect to access and
circulation and the structures on the site, including High Meadow Stable. In
response to a question from T. Henshaw, he stated that running events would be treated
differently at Rancho San Antonio, noting permits would not be issued for running
events at this particular preserve.
In response to a question from N. Hanko, D. Hansen stated the Board was still being
asked to approve the recommendations for the upper and lower houses in concept only.
N. Hanko stated she did not concur with this portion of the report since the staff's
recommendation was different from the conclusions reached by the Rancho San Antonio
Open Space Preserve Upper House Proposal Criteria Formulation Committee with respect
to letting the Boy Scouts use the upper house. She noted she would abstain from the
vote because of this item in the staff report. She stated she felt staff had not
communicated properly with the Boy Scout representatives, and in response, D. Hansen
stated he had left three phone messages for Mr. Horton and had sent him a copy of
the staff report.
D. Jamison, 10698 Mora Drive, Los Altos Hills, stated he had been in contact with
Mr. Horton and felt there had been some miscommunication.
Meeting 84-23 Page three
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board adopt the revised Use and Management Plan
for Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve as contained in report R-84-41
and as shown in memorandum M-84-88. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The
motion passed 5 to 0 with N. Hanko abstaining from the vote for the reason
noted above.
B. Acceptance of Los Gatos Creek Park Fence Bid
D. Hansen reviewed memorandums M-84-87 of October 18, 1984 and M-84-90 of October 22,
1984, noting only one bid in the amount of $114,864 from Central Fence of San Jose
had been received for the project. He noted that staff recommended the bid be
rejected by the Board and that the specifications for the fence project be modified
in order to allow for more bids. He said the modifications included a slight change
in the fencing alignment, the elimination of cementing all the posts, and the
extension of the construction time to 60 days. He stated memorandum M-83-90 contained
a revised time-table for the fence project.
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board reject the single bid submitted for the Los
Gatos Creek Park Fencing Project and direct staff to re-advertise the pro-
ject within the timeframe shown including the revisions considered in memo-
randum M-84-90. K. Duffy seconded the motion.
Discussion. H. Haeussler expressed his objection to not cementing all the
posts. The motion passed 6 to 0.
VIII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED
A. Proposed Addition to Windy Hill Open Space Preserve (Fiore Property)
C. Britton requested this agenda item be discussed after agenda item four since
there was not a map of the property in the Board Room.
B. Proposed Proposition 18 Grant Program Applications
D. Hansen reviewed report R-84-45 of October 18, 1984 concerning the two applica-
tions staff was proposing to submit for grant funds from the California Park and
Recreation Facilities Bond Act of 1984. He stated that one application was in the
amount of $166,000 for development of Purisiam Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve,
and the other was in the amount of $65,000 for development of the Kennedy Road Area
of the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. He said that staff had determined that
the two proposed projects qualified for Categorical Exemptions under CEQA at this
time, and had completed Notices of Exemption for the projects. He noted that staff
could later, based upon public workshops (particularly on the Kennedy Road area
project) review the CEQA criteria if warranted, and a minor amendment to the grant
project could be submitted.
C. Britton noted that all of the trails and parking areas proposed in the grant
applications had only been discussed in a general fashion in the Use and Management
Plans for the two sites involved; however, no land use decision was being made at
this time. He stated staff would incorporate the proposed projects in the normal
use and management review for each site which would be presented to the Board prior
to any grant award.
K. Duffy questioned staff about the current status of the Kennedy Road project.
D. Hansen responded that staff was planning to hold a public meeting on the project
in the early spring and that money had been included in the 1984-1985 fiscal year
budget for design and basic construction of the project.
Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of Resolution 84-41, a Resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving the
Application for Grant Funds under the Regional Competitive Program of the
California Park and Recreational Facilities Act of 1984 for Purisima Creek
Redwoods Open Space Preserve Public Access Project. H. Turner seconded the
motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
Meeting 84-23 Page four
Motion: N. Hanko moved the adoption of Resolution 84-42, a Resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving the
Application for Grant Funds Under the Regional Competitive Program of the
California Park and Recreational Facilities Act of 1984 for Kennedy Road
Area Public Access Project. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion
passed 6 to 0.
C. Proposed Addition to Windy Hill Open Space Preserve (Fiore Property)
C. Britton introduced report R-84-44 of October 18, 1984 regarding the proposed
acquisition of the 18.5 acre Fiore parcel adjacent to the northeastern corner of the
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve and to Corte Madera Creek southwest of Alpine Road in
Portola Valley. He noted the terms of the purchase agreement called for an all cash
payment of $57,000 at the close of escrow.
D. Hansen pointed out the location of the property on a wall map and reviewed the
interim use and management recommendations for the site. He stated staff was rec-
ommending the property become an addition to Windy Hill Open Space Preserve and that
the property be dedicated as public open space.
Harry Haeussler of Los Altos expressed his objection to the purchase of the property
since there were no trails proposed for the site. H. Turner responded that the
property was being acquired as open space which did not necessarily require active
recreational opportunities.
In response to a question from Thomas Kavanaugh, H. Turner stated the Town of Portola
Valley had been asked to assist in the purchase of the Fiore property, but had chosen
not to participate in this acquisition.
Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board adopt Resolution 84-43, a Resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Autho-
rizing Acceptance of Purchase Agreement - Bargain Sale, Authorizing Officer
to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of Grant to District, and Authorizing
General Manager to Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary or Appro-
priate to closing of the Transaction (Windy Hill Open Space Preserve - Fiore
Property) . R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board tentatively adopt the interim use and manage-
ment recommendations contained in the staff report, including the naming of
the property as an addition to the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, and indi-
cate its intention to dedicate the property as public open space. R. Bishop
seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
D. Use and Management Plan Review for Long Ridge Open Space Preserve
D. Hansen provided an overview of report R-84-43 of October 17, 1984 on the revised
use and management plan for the Long Ridge Open Space Preserve, and D. Woods showed
slides of the site to illustrate various points made in the staff report. He stated
that two new trail connections were proposed and staff would be preparing a brochure
for the site. He discussed the current status of the parking sign situation along
Skyline Boulevard and also noted that signs, similar to the sign at the equestrian
crossing between Monte Bello and Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve would be installed
at the two proposed equestrian crossings along Skyline. He stated that this eques-
train crossing signing had not been addressed in the use and management plan.
N. Hanko questioned staff about the elimination of the hiker/equestrian stile at the
trail (abandoned road) located along Skyline Boulevard near Jikoji and the improvement
of the lake by Jikoji. D. Woods responded that the stile had been eliminated because
of the terrain's steepness and that Jikoji and not yet started the lake restoration
because of the time that had been required to secure a use permit.
In response to a question from K. Duffy, D. Woods stated that staff has requested
Jikoji to keep its entry gate closed most of the time since stray vehicles have been
getting onto the Preserve's interior road system when the gate has been left open.
Meeting 84-23 Page five
Harry Haeussler questioned whether staff had contacted the County of Santa Clara
Parks Department regarding the possibility of putting in a 20 to 30 car parking
lot on the County's property across from Grizzly Flat. D. Hansen stated staff had
not contacted the County because there was not a current need for this type of
facility in the area and that the District's Site Emphasis Policy for the Long Ridge
Preserve did not envision that level of use.
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board tentatively adopt the revised Use and Manage-
ment Plan for Long Ridge Open Space Preserve. K. Duffy seconded the motion.
The motion passed 6 to 0.
E. Setting of Joint Meeting with Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Commission
C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-84-86 of October 17, 1984 noting that the date pro-
posed for the joint meeting with the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Commission
was Thursday, November 8, 1984 and that the meeting would be held at the La Hacienda
Restaurant, 18840 Saratoga-Los Gatos Road, Los Gatos. He distributed copies of
report R-84-8 of February 1, 1984 to the Board. H. Turner requested that the agenda
for the joint meeting include a map showing the location of the restaurant, and
T. Henshaw requested that staff brief the Board on any new information concerning the
Bayfront Trail prior to the meeting.
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board schedule a Special Meeting for 7 P.M.
Thursday, November 8, 1984 at La Hacienda Restaurant in Los Gatos for the
purpose of holding a joint meeting with the Santa Clara County Parks and
Recreation Commission to discuss cooperative efforts in connection with
the County's Five-Year Parks Acquisition and Development Plan. N. Hanko
seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
F. Acceptance of Bid - Bachtold Structures Demolition
D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-84-89 of October 18, 1984 regarding the bids received
for the demolition of the structures on the former Bachtold property. He stated
staff was recommending the Board accept the bid of $10,025 from S.G.S. , Inc. as the
lowest responsible bidder.
Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board accept the bid of S.G.S. , Inc. of $10,025
as the lowest responsible bidder and authorize the Assistant General
Manager to enter into contract to demolish the former Bachtold house and
ancillary structures, with the work to be completed as soon as possible and
as weather permits. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
IX. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
C. Britton reported escrow on the Novitiate property had closed on schedule on
Friday, October 19.
D. Hansen stated the backpack camp on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve was open and
that permits to use the camp could be obtained through the District office. T. Henshaw
questioned what type of publicity would occur to announce the opening of the backpack
camp and suggested it be featured in the next Openspace publication.
D. Hansen announced that the Dog Committee would meet at 7:30 P.M. on Tuesday, October 30
at the District office. He reported that the bridge across San Francisquito Creek had
been finished and that the Bayfront Trail from East Palo Alto to the District's land at
Crittenden Marsh could now be utilized by the public.
X. CLAIMS
E. Shelley questioned Claim 7580 from Keogh, Marer & Flicker, and C. Britton stated it
was for legal services rendered in the Hassler and Novitiate lawsuits, adding that the
bulk of the charge was for Hassler.
Motion: R. Bishop moved the approval of the revised claims 84-19. H. Turner seconded
the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
T. Henshaw requested staff report to the Board on the expenses incurred with respect to
Hassler since the District acquired the property.
Meeting 84-23 Page six
XI. CLOSED SESSION
The Board recessed to Closed Session on land negotiation and litigation matters at
9:04 P.M.
XII. ADJOURNMENT
The Board reconvened to adjourn at 10:40 P.M.
Jean Fiddes
District Clerk