HomeMy Public PortalAbout19890412 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) -116. AA, Meeting 89-09
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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
APRIL 12, 1989_
MINUTES
I . ROLL CALL
President Gerry Andeen called the meeting to order at 7 : 32
P .M.
Members Present: Gerry Andeen, Richard Bishop, Katherine
Duffy, Robert McKibbin, and Teena Henshaw. Edward Shelley
arrived at 7 : 34 P.M.
Member Absent: Nonette Hanko.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, David Hansen, Mary Hale,
Del Woods , James Boland, Mary Gundert, and Joan Combs .
II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
March 28, 1989
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board approve the
minutes of March 28 , 1989 . K. Duffy seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 .
III . WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
J. Combs stated that the Board had received a letter, dated
March 23 , 1989 from Eunice Butera, 8 Robert Place , Millbrae ,
expressing concern over trail conflicts on the preserves .
G. Andeen stated the Board' s consensus to mail the proposed
response to Ms . Butera.
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications .
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
G. Andeen stated that the agenda was adopted by Board
consensus .
Herbert Grench,General Manager;Board of Directors:Katherine Duffy,Robert McKibbin,Teena Henshaw,Edward Shelley,Nonette Hanko,Gerry Andean,Richard Bishop
Meeting 89-09 Pave two
VI . BOARD BUSINESS
A. Final Adoption of the Preliminarye and Management, s MAp a�g e Tle n t
Plan for the Alsberge Propiity-Addition to Mt. Umunhum
Area of Sierra Azul _qpe�S ace Prjese_Kye__jR,o qrt_ R-89-65
dated April 5, 1989)
D. Hansen said that escrow had closed on March 31 , and
no further public comment had been received. He said
that site cleanup, cabin demolition, and barn rental
will now be undertaken.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board adopt the
Preliminary Use and Management Plan for the
property, including the naming, as contained
in the staff report. T. Henshaw seconded the
motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 .
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board indicate its
intention to withhold the property from
dedication as public open space at this time.
T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion
passed 6 to 0 .
B. Authorization to Enter Into Agreement with County of
San Mateo for Underpass Encroachment on Alpine Road
(Report R-89-66 dated April 5, 1989)
D. Hansen said that the grading permit was contingent
upon the fulfillment of a list of conditions , including
requiring the District to execute an agreement with the
County to address the District ' s maintenance
responsibility and liability for the undercrossing. He
said that the District ' s Legal Counsel had reviewed the
agreement.
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board authorize the
President to enter into the agreement with
the County of San Mateo for the underpass
encroachment on Alpine Road. R. Bishop
seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to
0 .
C. Endorsement of the Bay Trail Plan for the San Francisco
Bay Area (Report R-89-64 dated April 5, 1989}�
D. Hansen said that staff had met with Susan Phillips ,
the Bay Trail Plan Project Manager for the Association
of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) , and had expressed three
concerns with the draft Bay Trail Plan and draft
Environmental Impact Report. He said that staff had
requested that some consideration be given to
emphasizing the alignment of the new flood control
levee; that Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area
and Ravenswoods Open Space Preserve be designated as
recreational areas , with wildlife habitat listed as a
secondary use; and that the alignment of the new trails
to be constructed at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve be
Meeting 89-09 Page three
clarified. He said that these concerns were being
taken into consideration and would be responded to in
the final Environmental Impact Report.
K. Duffy said that she felt concern about designating
the District ' s lands as recreational rather than
wildlife habitat . D. Woods said that such designation
appears to offer more options regarding trail
alignments and would not really affect wildlife
habitat. He added that the Bay Trail Plan has basic
policies protecting wildlife habitat that override
these designations .
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board adopt
Resolution 89-25 , a Resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District Supporting the Bay Trail
Plan for the San Francisco Bay Area. R.
McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion
passed 6 to 0 .
D. Progress Report on Formulation of Trail Use Policies
and Guidelines in Preparation for the May 18 Public
Workshop (Report R-89-67 dated April 5, 1989)_
D. Hansen reported that staff had been working
with consultant Jane Saltman for the past six months to
draft trail use policies and guidelines .
D. Woods discussed trail use profiles , categories of
trail users , public safety issues , and existing trail
conditions on the open space preserves . He said that a
public workshop will be held May 18 . In response to a
question from R Bishop, D. Woods said that draft
policies and guidelines will probably not be available
for public review before the May 18 meeting, but will
go to the Board for a full public hearing following the
workshop. R. Bishop requested a copy of the draft
policies and guidelines if they became available before
the workshop. D. Hansen said that the May 18 workshop
was intended to be a continuing part of the information
gathering process .
D. Woods gave a slide presentation of trail uses ,
conditions, and conflicts . He said that a safe
experience for all trail users was the primary
consideration in the formulation of trail use
guidelines .
J. Boland showed a videotape of a Channel 11 newscast
aired earlier this month showing trail use at Fremont
Older Open Space Preserve.
Jane Saltman reviewed the information she has gathered
from other public agencies, which are also experiencing
Meeting 89-09 Page four
problems with trail conflicts . She said that the
District is looking at trail use by all user groups
rather than focusing on a single group, as many
agencies are doing.
She listed three objectives of trail use policies : 1)
to provide an opportunity for open space appreciation
and exercise with maximum user safety and minimal
environmental impact; 2) to provide optimum conditions
for the observation and interpretation of open space
resources; and 3) to provide maximum protection of
environmentally significant and sensitive areas while
allowing access . G. Andeen suggested a fourth
objective should be to develop responsible trail users .
D. Woods said that a group of broad trail use policies
would be formulated, then narrower guidelines added to
aid in planning. He said that education, site
improvements , and regulation enforcement were the key
elements in making the program work.
E. Shelley said that he was concerned that liability
and safety factors might outweigh the basic purpose of
providing trails for all users . R. Bishop said that he
concurred with E. Shelley that decisions concerning
trail use should not be based solely on safety and
liability factors , but that the experience of visitors
to wilderness areas must also be considered as one of
the criteria when deciding on trail use.
T. Henshaw complimented staff efforts and the process
being used to develop trail use policies .
D. Woods said that a Review Committee meeting would be
held May 3, and a West Bay Trails Council meeting on
May 15. He said that recommendations on trail use
would be addressed when use and management plans were
presented, as many issues were unique to a particular
site. He said that staff was leaning in the direction
of providing a variety of trail uses on each preserve .
E. Shelley said that the density of use on a particular
trail or preserve was a critical consideration. D.
Woods said that staff is developing a checklist to be
used before removing a certain use from a particular
trail .
K. Duffy said that allowing dogs was one trail use, and
also suggested that educational programs for people who
receive citations might be investigated.
D. Woods introduced Jean Rusmore , Frances Spangle,
Gibson Anderson, and Hildegarde MacKay, who represent
various trail user groups and are assisting in the
Meeting 89-09 Page five
formulation of District trail use guidelines .
R. McKibbin said that he agreed with E. Shelley not to
make liability concerns an overriding issue, and agreed
with T. Henshaw concerning the process staff is
following to formulate trail use guidelines . He
expressed the Board' s appreciation to all the
volunteers who have contributed to that process .
VII . INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
H. Grench reported that the CPRS Annual Legislative
Conference would be held in Sacramento May 9 and 10 , and
suggested that the Board authorize expenses for any members
who wished to attend.
Motion: E. Shelley moved that the Board authorize expenses
for any member who wished to attend the
conference . K. Duffy seconded the motion. The
motion passed 6 to 0.
H. Grench said that the Friday evening informal gathering
would be held at the Not So Annual Regional Park and Open
Space District Conference in Marin, and said it offered an
opportunity for participants to talk to people from other
districts . He suggested authorizing Friday night lodging
and Saturday breakfast for those attending the gathering.
Motion: R. Bishop moved that members who wished to attend
the conference be reimbursed for Friday night
lodging and Saturday breakfast. T. Henshaw
seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 .
H. Grench said that the Budget Committee report, which was
approved at the last meeting, had been in error concerning
the Legal Counsel ' s compensation. He said the figure
should have been $64 , 000, not $60, 000 . R. Bishop said that
the current minutes should state that the intent of the
motion at the previous meeting was that Legal Counsel ' s
salary remain at $64 , 000 . R. McKibbin and T. Henshaw,
members of the Budget Committee, agreed that was the intent .
G. Andeen stated the Board' s consensus that this was the
intent.
H. Grench reported that the Russian Ridge annexation of the
former Stanford property had been unanimously approved by
Santa Clara County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO)
on April 12.
D. Hansen said that design approval for the Skyline Ridge
Open Space Preserve Land and Water Conservation Fund grant
trail project had been received from the State. He said
that the District has not yet heard if the Proposition 70
trails grant for Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve has been
approved.
Meeting 89-09 Page six
E. Shelley said that he and C . Britton had attended the
meeting of the Mountain View City Council , because the sale
of the surplus property in which the District is interest
was on the agenda for Council consideration. He said that
the item had been postponed until April 18 .
R. Bishop said that he was leading a Sierra Club hike on
April 22 , and invited interested Board members, staff, and
public to attend.
VIII CLAIMS
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board approve the
Revised Claims 89-07 . R. Bishop seconded the
motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 .
IX. CLOSED SESSION
There was no Closed Session.
X. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 9 : 35 P.M.
Joan Combs
Secretary