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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19861022 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 86-26 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT OLD MILL OFFICE CENTER,BUILDING C,SUITE 135 201 SAN ANTONIO CIRCLE,MOUNTAIN VIEW,CALIFORNIA 94040 (415)949-5500 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS OCTOBER 22 , 1986 MINUTES I . ROLL CALL Vice-President Daniel Wendin called the meeting to order at 7 :32 P .M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Teena Henshaw, Richard Bishop, Daniel Wendin, Harry Turner, and Nonette Hanko. Member Absent: Edward Shelley. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, David Hansen, Mary Hale, Jean Fiddes, James Boland, Mary Gundert, Alice Cummings , John Escobar, Dennis Danielson, Stanley Norton, and Joan Combs . II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES October 8, 1986 Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board approve the minutes of October 8 , 1986 . T. Henshaw seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin noted that the word "work" in the second sentence in item E on page 4 should read "vote" . K. Duffy and T. Henshaw accepted the change as part of the motion. The motion to approve the minutes as corrected passed 5 to 0 with D. Wendin abstaining. October 14 , 1986 Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board approve the minutes of October 14 , 1986 . R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 with T. Henshaw abstaining. III . WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS J. Combs stated that the Board had received the following written communications : 1) a letter from Mark Winitz, 85 Main Street, Los Altos, dated October 14 , offering his assistance in exploring public education methods concerning trail use policies and trail etiquette; 2) a notice from the Bay Area Park and Recreation Commissioners ' and Board Members ' Council announcing their next meeting in San Leandro on Friday, November 7 ; and 3) a letter from the Peninsula Open Space Trust Skyline Ridge Task Force regarding the current planning for the Alpine Lake Environ- mental Education/observation area. 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 86-26 Page two D. Wendin stated that since Mr. Winitz was present at the meeting, no written response would be necessary. N. Hanko congratulated Mr. Winitz on his article in California Track & Running News which addressed the issue of trail courtesy. D. Wendin stated the Board' s consensus that no response was required for the second letter, and noted that the letter from the Task Force on Alpine Pond access would be considered with the first agenda item. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no Oral Communications . V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA D. Wendin stated that the agenda was adopted by Board consensus . VI . BOARD BUSINESS A. Access Facilities for Alpine Pond Area of Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve (Report R-86-96 of October 17 , 1986) D. Hansen noted that following the October 14 on-site meeting, the Board had requested staff to return with a timetable to complete an engineering feasibility study to construct an underpass between Russian Ridge and Skyline Ridge Preserves . He reviewed the con- sulting service analysis that had been distributed to the Board from Frahm, Edler & Cannis for a preliminary feasibility study. D. Hansen reviewed the positive and negative aspects of the planning alternatives for access facilities to the Alpine Pond area. He said staff had developed a sixth alternative that would continue with the plan for parking on Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, consider the feasibility of an underpass , and provide limited parking off the existing ranch road. He said that a pullout could accommodate vans and small buses , with access at the present entrance by permit only. T. Henshaw said such a plan would not be practical for schools involved because large buses , which schools generally have, could not be accommodated. Discussion centered on the positive and negative aspects of the proposed alternative 6 . R. Bishop stated that alternative 6 does not really answer the whole-access problem since it is limited to small buses and does not address the access of physically limited individuals in their own vehicles . D. Hansen said the plans and specifications must be submitted to the State by June 1987 after County approval, and, therefore, that the engineering drawings need to be completed by late January 1987 to submit to the County. Christy Holloway, representing the Peninsula Open Space Trust Skyline Ridge Task Force, reviewed the Task Force ' s letter and said she was heartened by the possible solution offered by alternative 6 , as the area would not be so disrupted. Meeting 86-26 Page three Phyllis Cangemi, 517 Lincoln Avenue, Redwood City, representing Whole Access , said the legal ramifications of alternative 6 should be checked with the State . K. Duffy said she would like to see the District pursue alternatives with CalTrans to a secondary access road, a four vehicle parking area, and an underpass . D. Wendin stated he supported alternative 6 as a short-term solution. He said that if Alpine Lake was to be a whole-access facility, the underpass was the only solution that would work and that he felt the cost was not out of line considering the public benefit. H. Turner said he felt that the cost of an underpass would purchase a substantial amount of open space and suggested possibly re- directing the focus of whole access to Horseshoe Lake . D. Hansen stated that shifting whole access to Horseshoe Lake might jeopardize the first grant. Motion: N. Hanko moved that staff be directed to return to the Board with a feasibility study for alternative 6 , and to discuss acceptable alternatives to the original plan with the State. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. Discussion: R. Bishop stated that he would support the motion, and said that he felt serious consideration should be given to shifting the whole-access trail to Horseshoe Lake. H. Turner said he opposed the motion because he was uncertain if it would provide an effective commitment to whole access . K. Duffy said she hoped alternative 6 would look at access to the lake from the ranch area, with a possible permit system to bring people into the ranch area. D. Wendin said he did not support opening up the ranch area and suggested directing staff to explore access off Skyline for the physically limited, and to explore with the State what is needed to save the project. N. Hanko withdrew her motion. Motion: D. Wendin moved that staff explore handicapped access to Alpine Lake off Skyline Boulevard, and explore with the State what might be necessary to salvage the grant, including ascertaining the legality of a permit system for the handicapped. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. Discussion: H. Grench suggested that staff return to the Board with a report at the November 12 meeting, which could be followed up on November 24 if necessary. The motion passed 6 to 0 . B. Proposed Addition to El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space PreserUe (Lands of Hosking) (Report R-86-97 of October 17, 1986) C. Britton distributed a recapitulation of the Hosking transaction and reviewed the terms of the existing and proposed transactions . The latter represented additional interests to be acquired by the District, plus a modification of the existing agreement. The Recap of the Current Transaction included land interests to be received at close of escrow, land rights to be received at close of escrow subject to defeasance, miscellaneous rights and reser- vations , and a financial recapitulation. Meeting 86-26 Page four C. Britton stated that at close of escrow on this transaction the District would take fee title to the entire property, except for 74 acres , and would be able to exercise ownership control. He said that the District would be able to retain a forester, develop a logging plan for the property, and specify the trees to be cut as required in the agreement. C. Britton stated that the total payment for the 2 , 117 acres was $1, 195 , 000 at close of escrow and $11, 475,000 in cash and notes over the next twenty years . M. Gundert showed slides of the property. D. Hansen stated that staff was proposing that the new acquisition areas would be open to the public by permit only due to the ongoing logging operation and lack of available parking. He noted that the interim recom- mendations contained in the report continued to reflect status quo management of the Hosking property and that an Initial Use and Management Plan for the site was scheduled for October 1987 . Kathy Kennedy-Miller, 16222 Skyline Boulevard, Woodside, congratu- lated the District on the proposed acquisition. N. Hanko noted that on page 10 of the report, under item 2, Proposed Agreement, the text should read "C-2 (74 acres) " in the 3rd line rather than "C-1 ." D. Hansen stated that the acquisition has staffing implications , and that staff recommended accelerating the Open Space Management staffing plan timetable and immediately hire an additional Ranger. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt Resolution 86-61, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Agreement for Transfer of Interest in 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 Appro- priate to Closing of the Transaction (El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve - Alan Hosking Property) . R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board tentatively adopt the Interim Use and Management Plan recommendations contained in the staff report, including naming the property as an addition to the Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve, and indicate its intention to dedicate the property as public open space. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . C. Proposed Zand and Kaman gar Additions to Thornewood Open Space Preserve Report R-86-93 of October 2, 1986 C. Britton explained the terms of the transaction and stated that the proposal before the Board involved a land exchange . He said that along with the purchase of 12 . 5 acre Parcel One is a second acquisition of 60 acres (Parcel Two) , ten acres of which would be subject to an open space easement, while the underlying fee and remainder of Parcel Two would be exchanged for Parcel One. Meeting 86-26 Page five D. Hansen stated that the District' s main interest in the property is in the trails and trail connections and said that staff recom- mended that Parcel One and the open space easement on Parcel Two be withheld from dedication at this time to allow for the potential sale or trade of land or trail rights in the entire Schilling Lake area. Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board adopt Resolution 86-62 , a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Agreement to Exchange 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 (Thornewood Open Space Preserve - Lands of Zand) . N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board adopt Resolution 86-63 , a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing 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 Appropriate to Closing of the Transaction (Thornewood Open Space Preserve - Lands of Kamangar) . N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . Motion: H. Turner moved that the Board tentatively adopt the Interim Use and Management Plan recommendations contained in the staff report, including naming the property interests as additions to the Thornewood Open Space Preserve, and indicate its intention to withhold the property interests from dedication as open space at this time . N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . vii . iNroRMATIONAL REPORTS H. Grench reported on the National Recreation and Parks Association Conference he attended the previous weekend in Anaheim. He said that the District' s Personnel Consultant, Gary Foss, had presented a talk at the Conference, which was very well attended and received. H. Grench reported that the President' s Commission on Americans Outdoors is in the process of finalizing its report to the President which would contain recommendations concerning park funding. H. Grench reported that Hennepin County in the Minneapolis area was one of the hosts for the upcoming Special Park District Forum in may and stated it would be a most relevant conference to the District. He said that he hoped at least one Board member would be able to attend. H. Grench stated that he intends to re-appoint Christy Holloway to serve on the Peninsula Open Space Trust Board for a second term. No objection was expressed. J. Boland reported that a serious problem with dog packs was occurring on the Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. He said that a letter will be sent to residents in the area and that staff had contacted the Department of Fish and Game concerning the problem. Meeting 86-26 Page six D. Hansen reported that the Trail Information and Volunteer Center' s recent trail building project at Stevens Creek County Park had attracted over 150 volunteer trail builders . N. Hanko congratulated the Ranger staff for notifing neighbors of a simulated airplane crash search and rescue exercise held at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. D. Wendin requested a $12 expenditure authorization for the Los Altos/ Los Altos Hills Volunteer Service Award Luncheon that he would be attending in behalf of the District. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board authorize the expenditure of $12 for D. Wendin to attend the luncheon. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . K. Duffy reported on the Los Gatos Discovery Hike and Picnic which was held October 18 at Los Gatos Creek Park and thanked the staff for its efforts in planning the event. H. Turner commented that the new All Site Brochure was an outstanding publication. T. Henshaw reported she had represented the Board at a Deer Hollow Farm event on Sunday, October 19 . VIII . CLAIMS Motion: D. Wendin moved the approval of Revised Claims 86-20 . T . Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . IX. CLOSED SESSION The Board adjourned to Closed Session at 10 : 25 P .M. S . Norton stated that no litigation matters would be discussed during the Closed Session. X. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn the meeting at 10 : 58 P .M. Joan Combs Secretary