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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19870225 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Meeting 87-04 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS FEBRUARY 25 , 1987 MINUTES I . ROLL CALL Vice President Katherine Duffy called the meeting to order at 7 : 35 P.M. Members Present: Teena Henshaw, Katherine Duffy, Nonette Hanko, Daniel Wendin, and Gerry Andeen. Members Absent: Richard Bishop and Edward Shelley. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, David Hansen, Mary Hale, Jean Fiddes, Del Woods, James Boland, Stanley Norton and Joan Combs . II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 11, 1987 N. Hanko stated that the motion referenced in the first sentence of the discussion section for the Motion to Amend on page 5 was made by D. Wendin. She further stated that the last sentence on page 5 required clarification. G. Andeen noted that the final phrase "acquisitions that are then annexed" should be deleted for clarity . Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board approve the minutes of February 11, 1987 as corrected. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 . III . WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS J. Combs stated that the Board had received the following written communications : 1) a letter, dated February 12, 1987, from Ray Hosler, 304 O'Connor Street, Menlo Park, concerning the poor condition of Purisima Creek Road. J. Combs said that a draft staff reply was included in the informational material distributed at the meeting. 2) A letter, dated February 11, 1987 , from Judith Milgram, 825 Cedro Way, Stanford, expressing concern about the removal of cattle from Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve; 3) a letter, dated February 10 , 1987 , from the Trail Use Committee of the Midpeninsula Trails Council, concerning trail usage standards and etiquette, and containing recommendations for Jones Trail in Los Gatos Creek Park; 4) a letter, dated January 28 , 1987 , from Harry Dean, Jr . , Board Chair, Whole Access , reiterating that organization ' s strong support for access to the Alpine Lake Area of Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve for persons with disabilities and advocating a parking area north of Alpine Road serving a trail/service road that would pass beneath Alpine Road to the Alpine Lake Area. Meeting 87-04 Page two D. Hansen said that the suggestions contained in the letter from Whole Access would be included in deliberations when the parking lot possibility at Alpine Road was presented to the Board. Discussion centered on the status of the grazing leases on Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve . D. Hansen stated that grazing on the Preserve would be considered on the March 25 or April 8 agenda . H. Grench suggested that the item be postponed until the April meeting as N. Hanko would not be present at the March 25 meeting, and she wanted to participate. K. Duffy stated the Board's consensus that the April 8 date was approved . IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Eric Thompson, Star Route 2, Box 415 , La Honda, addressed the issue of bicycles on trails, and suggested that bikes be allowed on District land, but restricted to access roads because of the possible dangers to other preserve and trail users . D. Hansen stated it would be several months before a trail standards policy was completed. Lewis Reed, representing the Mid- peninsula Trails Council, said the Council was now addressing trail usage and invited Mr. Thompson to attend the Council ' s meetings . V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA K. Duffy stated that the agenda was adopted by Board consensus . VI . BOARD BUSINESS A. Presentation of Proposed Youth Trail Corps Program (Report R-87-40 of February 19 , 1987) D. Hansen introduced Carol Norton, who has been organizing the effort to establish and fund the Youth Trail Corps . Ms . Norton reviewed the proposal that was being submitted to the Board, noting it involved an eight week program which would begin in the summer of 1987 , and asked for a declaration of support from the Board, and an opportunity for the Youth Corps to do a trail building project for the District. N. Hanko noted the proposal referred only to Santa Clara County . C. Norton said the proposal 's intention was to include southern San Mateo County, as well as northern Santa Clara County. D . Wendin said he would support the request for the program and suggested that staff prepare an appropriate letter. H. Grench said he hoped the Board would support the program, but recommended that a staff analysis be done for a proposed project on costs to the District as compared to other ways to have trail work done . Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board support the concept of the Youth Trail Corps Program and write a letter of support. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 . B . Revised Open Space Use and Management Planning Process (Report R-87-38 of February 18 , 1987) D. Hansen reviewed the four changes to the Revised Open Space Use and Management Planning Process tentatively adopted at the Meeting 87-04 Page three meeting of February 11, 1987 . Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt the revised open Space Use and Management Planning Process . T. Henshaw seconded the motion. Discussion: K. Duffy asked when determination of Conser- vation Management Units (CMUs) was made. D. Woods said that the determination was normally made at the time of acquisition, with the possibility of modification during the review process . D. Wendin suggested that the underlined sentence in the first paragraph on page 7 of the report be changed to read "When special use and management issues arise at other times, public workshops or neighborhood meetings will be considered to resolve the issues and possibly modify the existing Use and Management Plans" in order to emphasize that these are special issues that arise between normal reviews . N. Hanko included D. Wendin 's addition in her motion, and T. Henshaw, the seconder, agreed. The motion passed 5 to 0 . C. Annual Review of Relative Site Emphasis Plan and Use and Management Plan Target Review Schedule (Report R-87-42 of February 19 , 1987) D. Woods reviewed the changes in the Review Schedule, noting that three Preserves had been moved to a higher priority position: El Corte de Madera Creek, Russian Ridge, and La Honda Creek Open Space Preserves . He reviewed the design and planning priorities for implementation and funding for fiscal year 1987-1988 for all the preserves . K. Duffy stated she felt more visible District signing at the Picchetti Ranch Area was needed. D. Woods said that funds for a temporary sign had been budgeted. N. Hanko expressed concern about the feasibility of low priority projects being accomplished in fiscal year 1987-88, specifically citing the Russian Ridge grazing plan. She suggested that the grazing plan be assigned a higher priority. Discussion centered on the availability of maps and brochures for all District sites . D. Hansen stated that maps and brochures were available for all sites . D. Woods said that the 81-," x 11" maps were in the process of being revised, noting that while public use maps were not always available to the public, acqui- sition maps could be obtained. In response to D. Wendin' s suggestion that Section E of the report be replaced with actual wording about maps , D. Woods said that the Revised Open Space Use and Management Planning Process document clarified the availability of maps . N. Hanko suggested that this map clarification should also be included in the material adopted by the Board for the report under consideration. D. Wendin requested that Section E be revised to provide a succinct statement concerning the availability of maps . H . Grench said this could be considered in the second reading. Meeting 87-04 Page four T. Henshaw noted there was no indication of signing plans for Russian Ridge Preserve and said that she felt signing should be separate from the parking project. D. Woods responded that the signing element was part of the parking plan and that staff would return to the Board in May with the parking plan. Discussion centered on signing for the entire Skyline Corridor and the possibility of a workshop or a public field trip along Skyline Boulevard to consider the type of signing needed. Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board schedule a Skyline tour and agendize the topic of signing in conjunction with the tour . T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 . Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board tentatively adopt the Relative Site Emphasis Plan and the Use and Management Plan Target Review Schedule as contained in the staff report. D. Wendin seconded the motion. Motion to Amend: N. Hanko moved that the grazing plan be changed from a low to a high priority in Item 15, Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve . K. Duffy seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin stated that he opposed the motion to amend since the grazing plan would be returning to the Board as an agenda item, and when it returned would be an appropriate time to consider a priority change . T. Henshaw stated she opposed N. Hanko 's motion to amend because of what D. Wendin stated and because other projects were of higher priority . The motion to amend failed to pass on the following vote: Ayes : N. Hanko, K. Duffy, and G. Andeen. Noes : T. Henshaw and D. Wendin. The motion failed to pass .'' D. Woods reviewed the Use and Management Plan Target Review Schedule for 1987-1988 and noted that ten reviews and five workshops were scheduled for 1987 . K. Duffy called a recess at 9 : 15 P .M. The Board reconvened at 9 : 20 P .M. Motion to Amend: N. Hanko moved that the review of priority for the Russian Ridge open Space Preserve grazing plan in the Relative Site Emphasis Plan be considered and agendized at the same time as the grazing plan was considered by the Board at its first meeting in April . D. Wendin seconded the motion. Discussion: T . Henshaw said that she opposed the motion to amend for the same reasons she had given previously . The motion to amend passed 4 to 1. Discussion centered on brief periodic updates for the Board con- cerning project (s) progress on different preserves . D. Hansen stated that staff could, under Informational Reports , continue to keep the Board apprised of important happenings . The original motion passed 5 to 0 . D. Hansen distributed a set of maps showing the proposed Conser- vation Management Units discussed in the staff report and briefly reviewed the Units . J Meeting 87-04 Page five Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board tentatively adopt the Conservation Management Units list as included in the staff report. K. Duffy seconded the motion. Discussion: N. Hanko said that she would abstain from the vote since she had not had an opportunity to study the maps . The motion passed 4 to 0 with N. Hanko abstaining. D. Preliminary Action Plan for the Implementation of the Basic Policy of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for Fiscal Year 1987-1988 (Report R-87-41 of February 10 , 1987) H. Grench stated that the staff report contained a few refinements to the Key Projects and Activities that were considered at the previous meeting, as well as the lists of other Typical Projects and Activities and proposed staff resources . J. Fiddes stated that there were no changes in Key Projects and Activities , no substantive changes in Other Typical Projects and Activities , and no changes in staffing resources in the General Management and Program Support section of the report. C. Britton stated that there were no substantive changes from past years in the material for the Open Space Acquisition Program. D. Hansen noted that there were five new Other Typical Projects and Activities in the Planning, Design, and Development Sub- program. K. Duffy stated that the eleventh Other Typical Project and Activity was unclear and H . Grench suggested that the word "programs" be added after "implement. " D. Hansen reported that there were no new Other Typical Projects and Activities in the Operations, Maintenance and Volunteer Sub- program and that proposed staffing basically followed the Five Year Open Space Management Staffing Plan. He noted that, under Required Staff Resources for the subprogram, the Volunteer Coordinator' s required time should be "900" instead of 1000 , and K. Duffy noted that this position should be labeled as a one-half time position. M. Hale noted that the third Other Typical Project and Activity in the Public Affairs and Education Subprogram was new. N. Hanko said that she supported K. Duffy' s suggested change in process contained in the report on the method the proposed future year ' s Action Plan should be presented to the Board. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board direct staff to present Key Projects and Activities and other Typical Projects and Activities to the Board at the same meeting. K. Duffy seconded the motion. Discussion: K. Duffy requested that staff prepare a short document detailing the way Program Evaluation and Action Plan material are presented to the Board for consideration. The motion passed 5 to 0 . Meeting 87-04 Page six Motion: D. Wendin moved that the Board adopt the Proposed Preliminary Action Plan for Fiscal Year 1987-1988 as modified at the meeting. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 . E. The Effect of AB 2674 on MROSD (Report R-87-36 of February 12, 1987 and Report R-87-32 of February 4 , 1987) S . Norton reviewed the revisions in the Ralph M. Brown Act that were applicable to the District and said that the District' s Rules of Procedure already incorporated all the requirements . He stated that the Board 's Rules of Procedure required a few unrelated changes and requested that the Board authorize staff by motion to review the Rules and recommend changes . Motion: D. Wendin moved that staff be asked to review the Rules of Procedure and recommend any changes that might be necessary and that N. Hanko be appointed to a non- compensable committee of one to review the recommended changes prior to being presented to the full Board. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 . F. Process for Evaluating Proposed Redevelopment Projects (Report R-87-37 of February 12, 1987 and Report R-87-15 of January 15 , 1987) H. Grench reviewed the wording changes that had been incorporated into the new draft, including a paragraph indicating various factors that would be used in evaluating a proposed project. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt the proposed Process for Evaluating Proposed Redevelopment Projects . K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 . G. Subscription Rates of Agendas , Minutes and meeting Material (Report R-87-39 of February 17 , 1987) J. Fiddes reviewed the current subscription rates and said that, in light of postage rate increases , staff was returning to the Board with alternative subscription rates and was recommending future rate changes be set on a formula basis . N. Hanko said she felt that the rationale used previously in determining subscription rates was still good, that the District should relate costs to postage increase and that she supported the sixth alternative. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt Alternative Six in the subscription rates chart. D. Wendin seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin said that he supported adopting the formula based on the 1983 rate base with increases for postage. Motion to Amend: D. Wendin moved that the subscription rates be increased by the amount of the increase of postage from the 1983 base rounded to the nearest dollar . Discussion: K. Duffy noted that there may be some value to keeping the agenda subscription rate low. M-87-04 Page seven N. Hanko withdrew her original motion and D. Wendin withdrew his amended motion. Motion: D. Wendin moved that subscription rates remain at $10 for agendas only, and that agendas and minutes and full packets be set at the 1983 base plus increases due to postage rounded up to the nearest full dollar, with staff to advise the Board whenever there is a change in subscription rates . T . Henshaw seconded the motion. Discussion: Lewis Reed, 225 Lindenbrook, Woodside, said that when subscription rates were last discussed by the Board, the Board had indicated that it wished as many people as possible to receive agendas and minutes and the Board should take this into consideration in its decision. Kathy Kennedy-Miller, 16222 Skyline Boulevard, Woodside, said that because of the recent notification policy change, she felt agenda subscriptions should be dropped to $5 . The motion passed 5 to 0 . VII . INFORMATIONAL REPORTS M. Hale requested the Board's preferences for dates and times for an April San Mateo County tour for public officials . No specific date was selected, but April 10 and 24 were discussed. M. Hale said that Saturday, May 9 , was confirmed for the tour to be held for Santa Clara County officials . D. Hansen referred to the Letter to the Editor which appeared in the Los Altos Town Crier concerning motorbike activity . He said that the activity in question had not occurred on District property and that staff would respond to the letter. D. Hansen reported on the meeting with neighbors of La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve. T. Henshaw said that she had attended the meeting and that it had been productive . H . Grench reported that he had attended a Board of Trustees meeting of Peninsula Open Space Trust to discuss trends for the District. H. Grench read a letter from former Director Harry Turner thanking the Board and staff for the gift of a photograph. Kathy Kennedy-Miller asked for suggestions about how La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve neighbors could best communicate their concerns directly to the Board. N. Hanko suggested neighborhood meetings with some Board members attending as an effective means of dis- cussing concerns . D. Wendin said he felt that singling out a single neighborhood established a precedent, and recommended that G. Andeen and another Board member comprise a non-compensated committee to meet with Bear Gulch Road residents . K. Duffy appointed G. Andeen and T. Henshaw as a committee to explore how to keep communication going and to return to the Board with some ideas on how to formalize the communication process . Kathy Kennedy-Miller extended her thanks to T. Henshaw and staff members who attended the neighborhood meeting . Meeting 87-04 Page eight VIII . CLAIMS Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board approve Revised Claims 87-04 . T. Henshaw seconded the motion. Discussion: T. Henshaw questioned Claim 9638 and Claim 9635 . D. Hansen said that the first was rental for an exercise room at Mountain View Community Center for Ranger training and the second was for architectural services at Picchetti Ranch Area that would be reimbursed by the State. The motion passed 5 to 0 . IX. CLOSED SESSION There was no Closed Session. X. ADJOURMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10 :40 P .M. Joan Combs Secretary CORRECTION (S) TO THE MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 25 , 1987 : II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES February 25 , 1987 E. Shelley questioned the meaning of the sentence "The motion failed to pass" on page 4 under the first Motion to Amend, and the Board determined that the sentence was redundant and should be deleted. Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board approve the minutes of February 25 , 1987 as corrected. K. Duffy seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 to 0 with R. Bishop and E. Shelley abstaining from the voting because they were absent from the meeting.