HomeMy Public PortalAbout19910508 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Open Space
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 91-12
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MAY 8, 1991
MINUTES
I . ROLL CALL
President Nonette Hanko called the meeting to order at 6:40
P.M. at the new office building at 330 Distel Circle, Los
Altos.
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Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Robert McKibbin, Teena
Henshaw, Ginny Babbitt, Nonette Hanko, Betsy Crowder, and
Richard Bishop.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, Michael
Foster, Ruth Blanchard, Jean Fiddes, and Kathleen Hart.
The Board toured the new office building with Rob Steinberg
and Ann Allwein from The Steinberg Group.
The Board recessed at 7 : 30 P.M. to return to the main office.
President Nonette Hanko reconvened the meeting at 7 : 40 P.M.
at the District ' s office at the Old Mill Office Center.
Additional Personnel Present: Mary Hale, Alice Cummings,
John Escobar, Del Woods, and Thomas Randall .
II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
April 23, 1991
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board approve the minutes of
April 23, 1991 . B. Crowder seconded the motion.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
April 24, 1991
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board approve the minutes
of April 24 , 1991. B. Crowder seconded the motion.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
K. Hart stated there were no written communications.
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications.
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
N. Hanko stated that the agenda was adopted by Board
consensus .
Meeting 91-12 Page 2
VI. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Exchange of Land to Effect Minor Lot Line Adjustment to
Northwestern Boundary of Foothills Open Space Preserve
C. Britton described the area of exchange and said there
would be no financial burden to the District. R. Bishop
noted that the trade was consistent with the District' s
Good Neighbor Policy.
C. Britton noted that sections five and six of the
resolution referenced the exchange of dedicated open space
involved in the transaction. He added that a unanimous
vote was required for such an exchange and requested a
roll call vote.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board adopt Resolution
91-19, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Approving and Authorizing Acceptance of an
Agreement to Exchange Interests in Real
Property, Authorizing Officer to Execute a Deed
for the Real Property Interest Being Released,
Authorizing officer to Execute Certificate of
Acceptance of Grant to District and Authorizing
General Manager, or Assistant General Manager,
to Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary
or Appropriate to Closing of the Transaction
(Foothills Open Space Preserve - Lands of
O'Reilly) . R. McKibbin seconded the motion.
The motion passed the following roll call vote:
K. Duffy - Aye, R. McKibbin - Aye, T. Henshaw
Aye, G. Babbitt - Aye, N. Hanko - Aye, B.
Crowder - Aye, and R. Bishop - Aye.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board tentatively adopt
the use and management recommendations contained
in the report, including naming the property as
an addition to Foothills Open Space Preserve and
indicate its intention to dedicate the property
as public open space. R. McKibbin seconded the
motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 .
B. Crowder was absent for the remainder of the meeting.
B. Budget and Architect's Fee for Remodel of 330 Distel
Circle Office Building (Report R-91-59 dated April�29 .
1991) - C. Britton explained that the $500, 000 figure
included in the 1991-1992 budget was an arbitrary amount
recommended by the Budget Committee, and that staff was to
return to the Board with a more refined estimate of how
much it would cost to remodel the building when more
Meeting 91-12 Page 3
information was available. He reviewed the status of the
design process and stated that the total budget
recommended for approval by staff and the Office Space
Committee was $900,000. He noted that actual costs would
not be known until bids were received for the project .
Discussion centered on alternatives to decreasing costs,
potential cost increases, and the size board room
required.
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board increase the
amount previously authorized for architectural
services for the design of the remodel of 330
Distel Circle to a total of $78, 000 . R. Bishop
seconded the motion. The motion was passed 6 to
0.
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board approve
increasing the budget for the remodel of the
building and occupancy costs associated with the
move of the administrative headquarters to 330
Distel Circle from $500,000 to $900, 000 with the
funds coming from the New Land Purchase budget
category. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The
motion passed 6 to 0 .
The level of Board involvement in the planning process was
discussed. H. Grench noted that the full Board would have
final approval of architectural plans and specifications,
and would need to authorize staff to put the project out
to bid. R. Steinberg suggested that after receiving
conceptual approval of their plans and design direction,
the Steinberg Group could come back to the office Space
Committee when more detailed plans are prepared. The
Committee could help with fine-tuning before the
architects prepared plans for the bid package. N. Hanko
stated the Board' s consensus that there should be one or
two meetings of the Office Space Committee to review the
plans as suggested by Mr. Steinberg.
C. Appointment of Peace Officer (Report R-91-57 dated May 8,
12111 - J. Escobar introduced Thomas Randall , the newest
District ranger.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board adopt Resolution
91-20, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Appointing Peace Officer - Thomas Randall. R.
McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion passed
6 to 0 .
D. Review of Comprehensive Use and Management Plan for
Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (Re �®rt _R-91�-60 dated
April 29 1�991 .D. Woods reviewed the staff report He
highlighted three issues from the Use and Management Plan
Meeting 91-12 Page 4
report: (1) Ridge Trail realignment; (2) resource
management issues relating to cattle and horse grazing,
and fire suppression; and (3) special activities . He
stated that staff wanted to expand the width of the Ridge
Trail segment to a minimum of a six feet. He stated that
tenants could not be found for an approved demonstration
cattle grazing program on unit 5 on the northern ridge.
He noted that a neighbor of the preserve had requested a
short-term grazing arrangement on Mindego Hill . D. Woods
stated that a grazing consultant had indicated that
grazing in this area would be acceptable, as long as
springs were fenced and a low number of cattle were grazed
for a short time. D. Woods said that the non-motorized
remote control gliders permit limit has been at 10 for
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve and there is user demand
for more areas where gliders are permitted. He said the
Borel Hill area at Russian Ridge looked satisfactory for
glider use, but a resource inventory indicates that
raptors are found in the same area. He said staff feels
it is premature to recommend glider use at Russian Ridge
until the impact on raptors is researched. In the
interim, he said Windy Hill permits will be increased to
25, and if there is a problem, staff would return to the
Board.
K. Duffy asked if the new trails would be built within the
time-frame of the grants received for the preserve. D.
Woods said they would, noting the delay in using the grant
money was to allow staff time to do projects in other
areas of the District.
M. Gundert showed slides of the improved parking area at
the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Alpine Road.
She said a restroom would be installed at the parking area
next month. She showed slides illustrating the recovery
of the tunnel entrance area, the new style signing being
used, preserve access points , future sites for equestrian
access and trails , and various trails.
A. Cummings explained that proposed draft District-wide
resource management policies had been applied to Russian
Ridge Open Space Preserve as a pilot project. She briefed
the Board on the preserve' s resource conditions.
D. Woods outlined the plan' s compliance with the
California Environmental Quality Act and explained the
Department of Fish and Game procedure for fee exemption.
A. Cummings explained the star thistle removal experiment.
R. McKibbin expressed his concern over allowing any
grazing on the preserve because of the high impact of
grazing, previous unauthorized grazing on the preserve,
and the staff time required to monitor such an
arrangement. N. Hanko said that she felt the Board should
follow the range management consultant ' s advice and noted
Meeting 91-12 Page 5
she had worked with the preserve neighbor to establish a
good relationship.
Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the Board amend the Use
and Management Plan to eliminate approval for
negotiation of a short-term grazing lease. G.
Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion failed
to pass on the following vote:
Ayes: R. McKibbin and G. Babbitt.
Noes : K. Duffy, T. Henshaw, N. Hanko, and
R. Bishop
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board approve the
Negative Declaration and Mitigation Measure
Monitoring checklist, tentatively adopt the
revised Comprehensive Use and Management Plan
for Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve as
contained in the report, and approve the
California Department of Fish and Game
Certificate of Fee Exemption. G. Babbitt
seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0.
R. McKibbin was absent for the remainder of the meeting.
E. Proposed Addition of Gastronics Incorporated Property to
the Mt. Umunhum Area of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve
(Report R-91-54 dated April 24, 1991)
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board adopt Resolution
91-21 , a Resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Authorizing Acceptance of Purchase Agreement,
Authorizing Officer to Execute Certificate of
Acceptance of Grant to District, and Authorizing
General Manager or Assistant General Manager to
Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary or
Appropriate to Closing of the Transaction
(Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, Lands of
Gastronics Incorporated) . T. Henshaw seconded
the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board tentatively adopt
the Preliminary Use and Management Plan
recommendations contained in the staff report,
including naming the property as an addition to
the Mt. Umunhum Area of Sierra Azul Open Space
Preserve, and indicate its intention to withhold
the property from dedication as public open
space at this time. T. Henshaw seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
F. Proposed Addition of the Peninsula open Space Trust
Property to the Cathedral Oaks Area of Sierra _hgq�10 en
Space Preserve (Report R-91-55 dated_April 23�1991)
Meeting 91-12 Page 6
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board adopt Resolution
91-22, a Resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Authorizing Acceptance of Purchase Agreement,
Authorizing Officer to Execute Certificate of
Acceptance of Grant to District, and Authorizing
General Manager or Assistant General Manager to
Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary or
Appropriate to Closing of the Transaction
(Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, Lands of
Peninsula Open Space Trust) . T. Henshaw
seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board tentatively adopt
the Preliminary Use and Management Plan
recommendations contained in the staff report,
including naming the property as an addition to
the Cathedral Oaks Area of Sierra Azul Open
Space Preserve, and to indicate its intention to
dedicate the property as public open space T.
Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed
5 to 0.
G. Final Adoption of the Preliminary Use and Management Plan
for the Nicholas Property Addition to the Mt. Umunhum Area
of Sierra Azu 58 dated
April 25,_1991U
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board adopt the
Preliminary Use and Management Plan for the
Nicholas Property Addition to the Mt. Umunhum
Area of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve and
indicate its intention to withhold the property
from dedication as public open space at this
time. G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The
motion passed 5 to 0.
VIZ. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
N. Hanko suggested that she and K. Duffy prepare the agenda for
the June 1 Strategic Plan for the Nineties workshop with the
help of a facilitator. She also requested that a moderator or
facilitator be hired to chair the meeting so that she could
participate.
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that K. Duffy and N. Hanko be
appointed as a committee of two to plan the agenda and
to arrange for a facilitator for the Board workshop on
the Strategic Plan for the Nineties. G. Babbitt
seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 .
T. Henshaw stated that she would report on her May 8 trip to
Sacramento for the California Parks and Recreation Society
Legislative Conference at the next Board meeting. She
Meeting 91-12 Page 7
said that she would contact N. Hanko regarding whether to place
this item on the agenda.
J. Escobar reported that Ranger Patrick Congdon was recovering
well and should be able to return to light duty within the
month.
VIII. CLAIMS
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board approve Revised
Claims 91-09 . G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The
motion passed 5 to 0.
Ix. CLOSED SESSION
There was no closed session.
X. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:07 P.M.
Kathleen Hart
Recording Secretary
CORRECTIO
N TO THE MINUTES OF MAY 8 1991
II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
May 8 , 1991
Teena Henshaw stated that the minutes should be corrected to
indicate she was not present at the beginning of the meeting to tour
the new office building, but that she was present when the meeting
reconvened at 7 : 40 P.M. at the District office.
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board approve the minutes of
May 8 , 1991 as corrected. K. Duffy seconded the
.motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 .
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