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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19910724 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Open Space MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Meeting 91-24 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jew 2 4 ,19.9.E MINUTES I . ROLL CALL President Nonette Hanko called the meeting to order at 7 : 35 P.M. Members Present : Katherine Duffy, Robert McKibbin, Teena Henshaw, Ginny Babbitt , Nonette Hanko, and Betsy Crowder . Richard Bishop arrived at 7 : 45 P .M. Personnel Present : Herbert Grench, Mary Hale , Jean Fiddes , Kathleen Hart , Del Woods , and Annette Coleman. II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES gtune 26 , 1991 B . Crowder said item E on page 4 under Motion should read "Deka Property Addition" , not "Long Ridge Property Addition" . Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board approve the minutes of June 26 , 1991 as corrected. G. Babbitt seconded the motion . The motion passed 6 to 0 . July 9 , 1991 Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board approve the _.__.�_.. minutes of July 9, 1991 . G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . Jul r�10 , 1991 H. Grench said the revised chart of priorities from the workshop should have been attached, instead of the memorandum from G. Ball . Motion : R. McKibbin moved that the Board approve_. pp the minutes of July 10 , 1991 as corrected. B . Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0 . III . WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS N. Hanko stated that the Board had received the following written communications : 1 . A letter dated July 3 , 1991 from Linda Kahn, 3051 Colonial Way #33 , San Jose , regarding limited access to El Sereno Open Space Preserve . She said that a draft response was attached for Board consideration. I I I Meeting 91-24 Page 2 2 . A letter dated June 27 from Robert Nellis , 22322 Regnart Road, Cupertino , on behalf of the Regnart Ridge Homeowners ' Association, requesting an amendment to the Fremont Older Use and Management Plan to allow trail access to the ridge trail from their adjacent open space land. She noted that staff ' s response to the letter was attached. G. Babbitt said that since the state of access at El Sereno is still problematic , she feels further response is necessary at this time. H. Grench said the draft response accurately represents the District ' s current position. R. McKibbin suggested pointing out the two access routes which are available . G. Babbitt suggested changes to alter the tone of the letter. N. Hanko agreed to make these changes , and to include a map. Referring to the letter from Robert Nellis , K. Duffy said Kathy Nellis had called her and apologized for the trail . D. Woods said the project has been field checked and the trail slope exceeds 20% in some places . He said the District standard is 7-10% slope , so the trail will have to be changed. K. Hart stated no additional written communications had been received. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Ranger Phil Hearin, 266 W. Campbell Ave. , Campbell , gave a report on the District Volunteer Program, highlighting a few of the many successful projects , including the July 20 project at Razorback Ridge on Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos , said he rode up Razorback Ridge earlier in the day and he complimented the volunteers on their work. He suggested trimming brush higher, with a pole clipper, for horseback riders and recommended a volunteer project on Hamms Gulch Trail . N. Hanko thanked P . Hearin for his report and urged all Board members to take part in volunteer projects . V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA N. Hanko stated that the agenda was adopted by Board consensus . VI . BOARD BUSINESS A. Selection of District Loao (Report R-91-94 dated July -18, 1991) M. Hale introduced Deborah Mills , who showed the Meeting 91-24 Page 3 Board refinements of the logo design based on decisions made at the last Board meeting. D. Mills displayed 10 different design variations . The Board agreed by consensus on a final logo design . A discussion followed on sign design. D. Mills displayed various type faces , including Optima, which is used on District stationary. She spoke in favor of consistent typeface on all District materials . The Board agreed by consensus to use consistent typeface , include hills on District signs , have all capital letters on the preserve signs , and to use a red tailed hawk as the bird on the logo. B . Response to Santa Clara County Grand JurLetter (Report R-91-90 dated July 13 , 1991) R. McKibbin recommended eliminating the last sentence of the second paragraph. After discussion, the Board agreed to change the second sentence in the second paragraph to " . . . . several major issues are being researched" . Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the Board approve the draft response as amended to the Santa Clara County Grand Jury' s report regarding access to the Mt . Umunhum Area of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve . B . Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 . C. Amendment to the Use and Management Plan for Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve and Authorization to Solicit Bids for Reconstruction Hollow -- Farm Access Bridae (Report R-91-91 dated July 10 , 1991) D. Woods reviewed the staff report, noting that the cost estimate for the replacement bridge is now $115 , 000 . He said that $70 , 000 had been budgeted for the project and reported that construction would start October 7 and go for 8 to 10 weeks . He discussed projects that will be deferred during the year from which additional funds for the bridge would be transferred. Discussion centered on the reasons the designated projects were being deferred . D. Woods noted that staff could return to the Board at a later date to request funding from the general fund if there was time to complete any of the deferred projects . Motion.: R. McKibbin moved that the Board adopt the amendment to the Use and Management Plan for the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve to allow for the reconstruction of the access bridge to Deer Hollow Farm Meeting 91-24 Page 4 and that the Board authorize staff to advertise for bids for the reconstruction of the access bridge in accordance with the plans and specifications presented. G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 . D. Preparation_ of Plans and Specifications for Public Access Improvements _ate Windy' Hill—men Space te Preserve (Report R-91-89 dad July 11 , 1991) Director McKibbin expressed concern about using funds budgeted for the El Corte de Madera dump cleanup for the Windy Hill project. D. Woods said our relationship with Mr. Hosking precludes preceding with the cleanup project at this time. K. Duffy said the Budget Committee should identify clearly how money is shifted in the budget and review which projects budgeted for were not completed. R. McKibbin said the Budget Committee will look at this matter. H. Grench suggested that the General Manager be instructed to return to the Board if additional funds were needed to complete any of the projects that staff thought would be deferred. B. Crowder said Portola Valley wants to know when the site plans for Windy Hill Open Space Preserve would be ready. D. Woods said plan preparation will take about 8 weeks , and staff will use the plans to seek grant funding. He said that the plan could not be submitted for building permits to Portola Valley without funding in place . Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board authorize staff to enter into a professional services contract with Callandar Associates to prepare plans and specifications for public access improvements at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve in an amount not to exceed $35, 000 . R. McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 . Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the Board direct the General Manager to return to the Board if additional funds were needed to implement deferred projects . T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. H. Grench, referring to the previous agenda item, said that the amendment to the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve Use and Management Plan technically required a second reading. The Board Meeting 91-24 Page 5 agreed o suspend a second reading for the item. E. OpenSpace Conference—(Report .R-91-87 dated July 8 , 1.9 91) Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the District co- sponsor the 1992 International Open Space Conference by making a $1000 contribution to it. G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 . F. Replacement on Finance Committee (Report R-91-93 dated-Jul 15 1991) Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board approve the replacement of Director McKibbin with Director Crowder on the Finance Committee. R. McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 . VII . INFORMATIONAL REPORTS R. Bishop reported that the Finance Committee had met the previous week and decided to arrange for a public poll to see what their attitude would be toward a fund-raising measure for the District. He said the committee discussed various methods of raising funds and are awaiting the result of legislation in Sacramento which would allow the passing of a fund raising measure by a majority vote, rather than 2/3 vote . N. Hanko reported on the successful Docent Appreciation Party held on July 20, which was attended by five Board members . N. Hanko thanked B . Crowder and R. Bishop for their efforts . N. Hanko said that she and S . Norton will be meeting with supporters of a new open space district in Santa Cruz County next week. N. Hanko said that Santa Clara County has decided on a redistricting plan based on census information, and the District should review the census data to determine if ward adjustments were necessary. She said she will work with J. Fiddes on the project . B . Crowder stated that she had attended a Woodside Town Council meeting regarding Teague Hill and the council had tentatively voted to have an advisory vote on the November ballot to determine whether the Council should form an assessment district to raise funds to purchase a portion of Teague Hill Open Space Preserve for up to three million dollars . B. Crowder reported she had received a call from a Portola Valley Planning Commissioner who runs on Windy Hill Open Space Preserve who said he meets illegal bicyclists on the Meeting 91-24 Page 6 preserve every night at supper time . He said he saw 11 in one hour on Hamms Gulch Trail , and some of them were very abusive. Discussion focused on specific patrols to curb the illegal bicycle use . N. Hanko said there will be a number of changes on the planning calendar and she will talk with D. Zucker and H. Grench about them. H. Grench reported that he and N. Hanko attended the Town of Los Altos Hills ' dedication of the Artemus Ginzton Trail on Saturday, July 13 . He said the Committee for Green Foothills newsletter, Green Footnotes contains an article on the Vidovich property. He noted he spoke to the Humanist Community at Stanford on "Open Space, How Much is Enough?" H. Grench requested that the written interim program evaluation for 1991-1992 be waived this year because of staff workload and an oral presentation be substituted . Motion : R. Bishop moved that the mid-year evaluation be done orally rather than through a written report. R. McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 . H. Grench reported that John Escobar has scheduled a meeting with Rubin Diaz , Assistant Sheriff of Santa Clara County, to talk about new and improved patrol procedures for the Mt . Umunhum area . H. Grench said the District has received support from various organizations for the Land and Water Grant application for the Saratoga Gap acquisition, noting most recently the Santa Clara County Parks Commission voted to support it . He said that Tom Nolan, President of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors noticed what the commission had done and had placed an item in support of the grant application on the Board of Supervisor ' s agenda. H. Grench said that he is attending meetings of the Local Government Task Force Committee for Santa Clara County which is focusing its attention on impacts of redevelopment projects on funding for local agencies . He said the task force committee will write a final report on this topic. H. Grench reported on an event planned for Sunday, August 11 involving the scow schooner Alma , a vessel restored by the National Park Service . He stated that he had been working on a task force organized by William Penn Mott , to draw other park agencies into the schooner event to showcase their own treasures and that the District could publicize an event at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve which would involve Fish & Wildlife, East Palo Alto, Menlo Park , and San Mateo County. He said that staff had suggested two additional events : Meeting 91-24 Page 7 dedication of a section of the Bay Trail and a bicycle ride across the Dumbarton Bridge. H. Grench gave a report on the District publications Connections , Volunteer Voice , and Walks and Hikes-. He discussed issues concerning writing, distribution, production, and graphics . The Board agreed to consider the issues raised at the Public Communications workshop scheduled for October . R. Bishop verified that there was an understanding that no drastic changes would be made in these publications without advising the Board. Annette Coleman reported on three minor accidents on the preserves . VIII . CLAIMS Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board approve Revised Claims 91-14 . R. McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 . Ix. CLOSED SESSION H. Grench announced that the potential acquisition of the Tymes property would be discussed in Closed Session. He stated that the property is Santa Clara County assessors parcel number 558-29-016, and the negotiators are LaRoy and Sharon Tymes . The Board recessed to Closed Session at 10 : 00 P.M. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10 : 40 P.M. Kathleen Hart Recording Seccretary