HomeMy Public PortalAbout19911009 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Open Space
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 91-30
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OCTOBER 9 1991
MINUTES
I . ROLL CALL
President Nonette Hanko called the meeting to order at
7 : 08 P.M.
Members Present: Robert McKibbin, Teena Henshaw, Ginny
Babbitt , Nonette Hanko, Betsy Crowder, and Richard Bishop.
Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, Mary
Hale, Jean Fiddes , David Topley, Sheryl Marioni-Cochran,
and Kathleen Hart.
II . APPROVAL OF MINUTES
N. Hanko noted that the vote for the second to last motion
on page 3 should be corrected to show that the motion
passed 6 to 1 , with N. Hanko voting no.
September 25, 1991
Motion: G. Babbitt moved that the Board approve the
minutes of September 25, 1991 as amended. R.
McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion passed
6 to 0. K. Duffy was not present for the vote .
III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
K. Hart stated that the Board had received 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 .
VI . BOARD BUSINESS
A. Proposed Addition of Vidovich Property to Rancho San
Antonio Open Space Preserve (Report R-91-118 dated
October 3 1991)
C. Britton described the settlement proposal on the
eminent domain action for acquiring 280 acres of the
Vidovich property adjacent to Los Altos Hills . He
showed on the map the 78-acre lower quarry area
Meeting 91-06 Page 2
which Vidovich proposes to develop with
approximately 24 home sites . He said there will be
no home sites on the ridge. C. Britton discussed
the seven main conditions of the proposed
settlement, including the potential formation of an
assessment district to help finance the purchase
price of $8 , 500, 000; $2 , 000 , 000 of the purchase
price is payable upon approval of the settlement
proposal. He said the settlement proposal calls for
escrow to close on December 31 , 1992 , after all
terms and conditions are met. He noted that the
District has an option to extend this deadline to
May 1, 1993, if necessary, for purposes of
completing the formation of an assessment district.
He said that all court actions are suspended, and
when escrow closes , they will be dismissed.
In response to a question from B. Crowder, C.
Britton said that the agreement calls for the
District to support the development proposed for the
quarry area in a manner acceptable to the District
and that the District would monitor the development
1 process.
Robert Johnson, council member, Town of Los Altos
Hills , congratulated the negotiators on a superb
job. He introduced Les Jones II , the new city
manager for Los Altos Hills , who will be working
with staff on issues connected with this property.
Rex Lindsay, Santa Clara Land Title, 50 W. San
Fernando, Suite 420 , San Jose , Mr. Vidovich' s
negotiator, said he enjoyed working with C. Britton.
Ry Smith, 23230 Ravensbury Avenue, Los Altos said he
had been exploring the possibility of forming an
assessment district in Los Altos Hills. He said
that assuming a 51% vote is needed for approval he
feels there a possibility for success.
R. McKibbin commended Ry Smith, Rex Lindsay, Craig
Britton, and others who have worked hard on this
agreement.
1 Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the Board adopt
Resolution 91-33 , a Resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District, Authorizing
Acceptance of Contingent 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
(Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve
Lands of Vidovich) . B. Crowder seconded
the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0 .
Meeting 91-06 Page 3
Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the Board reaffirm
the tentative adoption of the Preliminary
Use and Management Plan recommendations ,
including naming the property as an
addition to Rancho San Antonio Open Space
Preserve, and reaffirm its intention to
dedicate the property as public open
space. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The
motion passed 7 to 0 .
B. Coordinated Design (Report R-91-115 dated September
30, 1991)
M. Hale introduced Deborah Mills , who displayed the
new District pin, the final piece in the coordinated
design program.
D. Topley spoke in favor of using the California
state seal on District badges , noting Santa Clara
County park rangers , the Highway Patrol and other
law enforcement agencies use the seal . He said
field staff feels the seal is recognized by the
public as a symbol of authority, which would aid in
enforcement of District regulations .
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board adopt the
design for the District pin and approve
use of the California state seal for the
badge worn by District rangers . T.
Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion
passed 7 to 0 .
C. Amendment to the Use and Management Plan for Fremont
Older Oven Space Preserve to Accommodate a
Ne R-91-117 dated
October 1 , 1991)
G. Babbitt said this trail seemed to be getting top
priority and she questioned whether it impacted
other trails scheduled for construction. B . Crowder
expressed concern about building a trail for private
use. S. Marioni-Cochran said it would take one to
two days to build the approximately 300 feet of
trail on District property, adding that staff would
post private property signs at the edge of the
preserve and encourage the Regnart Ridge Homeowners '
Association to gate the trail . C. Britton said the
District would include a hold harmless clause in the
agreement with the association. R. McKibbin
commented that working on the trail was in keeping
with the District' s Good Neighbor Policy.
Motion: K. Duffy moved that the Board adopt the
amendment to the Use and Management Plan
for Fremont Older Open Space Preserve to
allow construction of a trail connecting
private open space lands owned by Regnart
Meeting 91-06 Page 4
Ridge Homeowners ' Association to the
preserve ' s public trail system. R.
McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion
passed 7 to 0.
VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
N. Hanko reminded the Board to turn in their questionnaires
by October 14 for the Public Communications workshop.
B. Crowder reported on the meeting she and C. Britton had
with the Woodside committee formed to support the Woodside
ballot measure to purchase the development rights for
approximately 70 acres in the Teague Hill Open Space
Preserve. She said that in response to chairperson Barbara
Sietle ' s request for a hike on the property, C. Britton,
with the help of several staff members , organized a very
successful informational hike for October 8 .
N. Hanko reported on the meeting she and C. Britton had with
the city manager of Palo Alto and three city council members
regarding a multiuse trail which would go through the
perimeter of Foothills Park and connect Los Trancos Open
Space Preserve to the Arastra preserve.
H. Grench said that there will be a Woodside candidates '
night Thursday, October 17 , where the Teague Hill development
rights purchase will be discussed. He reported R. Bishop
will attend as the District ' s representative.
H. Grench reported on his recent trip to Washington D.C. to
testify before the National Parks and Public Lands House
Subcommittee, in support of the Peninsula Open Space Trust.
He said the subcommittee was considering a bill for the
expansion of Golden Gate National Recreation Area to include
the Phleger property and two other associated bills .
H. Grench said that the California Office of Historical
II Preservation is giving an award to the District at a
reception on October 15. He said he, C. Britton, and C.
Bruins would attend. It was determined that N. Hanko would
also probably attend, and T. Henshaw said she could attend if
N. Hanko could not.
H. Grench reported that tapes and corresponding map are
available from Ken Fisher ' s history tour of Purisima Creek
Open Space Preserve with the docents.
B. Crowder said she continues to follow the proposal to run a
train across the Dumbarton Bridge. She said Tom Nolan was
the only committee member present at a recent meeting. She
said the train would go right by the proposed Bay Trail
alignment.
Meeting 91-06 Page 5
D. Tapley reported that over 200 people attended the
Thornewood tour. He said there had been a bicycle accident
at St. Joseph' s Hill open Space Preserve and an equestrian
accident on Purisima Open Space Preserve.
VIII . CLAIMS
Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board approve Revised
Claims 91-18 . G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The
motion passed 7 to 0 .
Ix. CLOSED SESSION
N. Hanko stated that the Board would meet with George Sipel
in closed session to discuss personnel matters .
The Board recessed to Closed Session at 8:10 P.M.
X. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10:55 P.M.
Kathleen Hart
Recording Secretary