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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 92-13
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 27 , 1992
MINUTES
I . ROLL CALL
President Robert McKibbin called the meeting to order at 7 : 34 P .M.
Members Present: Ginny Babbitt , Betsy Crowder, Kay Duffy, Nonette
Hanko, and Robert McKibbin .
Members Absent : Richard Bishop and Teena Hensbaw.
Personnel. Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton , Jean Fiddes , Mary
Hale , John Escobar, Del Woods , and Deborah Morvay-Zucker .
11 . ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications .
TIT . ADOPTION OF AGENDA
G. Babbitt requested that written communications be removed from the
consent calendar. B. Crowder requested that Revised Claims 92-10 be
removed from the consent calendar .
R . McKibbin stated that the agenda with these revisions was adopted by
Board consensus .
TV. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion : N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt the consent--
calendar, including approval of the minutes of the May
13 , 1992 Regular Meeting and authorizing the general
manager to enter into a license agreement with the
Sempervirens Fund and Stuart R(.,)istaczer to construct
and monitor a well at the head of the San Lorenzo
watershed (Report R-92-60) . G. Babbitt seconded the
motion . The motion passed 5 to 0 .
V. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
Written communications were received from Marcia E. Keimer, 475
Cervantes Road, Portola Valley, CA 94025, dated May 7 , 1992 and Jo
Laster, P.O. Box 488 , El Granada, CA 94018 , dated May 11 , 1992 ,
regarding the need for guidelines and restrictions for mountain bikes
on District trails . At R . McKibbin ' s request , D. Woods provided an
update on the development of trail use guidelines .
201 San Antonio Circle,Suite C-1 35 • Mountain View,California 94040 • Phone:(415)949-5500 • FAX:(415)949-5679
General Manager:Herbert Grench Board of Directors:Katherine Duffy,Robert McKibbi n,Teena Henshaw,G inny Babbitt,Nonette Hanko,Betsy Crowder,Richard Bishop
Meeting 92-13 Page 2
B. Crowder stated that she did not agree with the draft response
recommending that bikers consider using other preserves . H. Grench
suggested that the letter be changed to include the wording "Skyline ,
Monte Bello, and Los Trancos Open Space Preserves have trails that are
closed to bicycles . " R. McKibbin stated that the response- letters
were approved by Board consensus with this change.
VT . BOARD BUSINESS
A. Introduction of Spring 1992 Docent Class (Report R-92-59)
D. Gallagher introduced the volunteer members of the spring
docent training program. R. McKibbin welcomed the docent
trainees and thanked them for their valuable participation in the
program.
B. Preliminary Study for Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Assessment District No. 1992-1 (Vidovich Acquisition) (R--92-63)
Randy Leptien of Leptien, Cronin, and Cooper stated that, a
summary of his preliminary study was included in the Board report
and that the study would be presented at a public neighborhood
information meeting scheduled for June 9 at 7 : 30 p.m. He stated
that the study considered the following benefits : a) prevention
of adverse effects of development; b) views of undeveloped
hillsides; and c) proximity to recreation sources . He stated
that definition of the boundaries of the assessment district
included the following factors : a) distance of within about one
mile from the boundary of the proposed acquisition; b) physical
barriers , including Interstate Highway 280, Rancho San Antonio
Open Space Preserve and County Park, Foothill College, and Moody
Road; and c) that variations within the boundaries were due to
factors of access and size of properties . He stated that the
range of benefit to properties was quantified on a scale of 0.65
to 1 .00, with an assessment of $1 , 200 designated to a property
receiving a full 1 . 00 unit benefit determination. He said that
the total principal, amount to be assessed would be $965, 000 .
H. Grench recommended changes in the draft letter of notice of
the June 8 informational meeting. The Board approved the
changes .
K. Duffy stated that page 5, section 2 b. of the Engineer' s
Preliminary Study "Hidden Village" should be changed to "Hidden
Vill.a . " She also asked for an explanation of the assessment
district reserve funds . R. Leptien explained that a reserve fund
must be established to assure timely payments to bondholders in
case of default by property owners . H. Grench stated that
reserve funds were also set aside for recent note issues.
R. McKibbin asked if the public present wanted to comment on the
report . There was no public comment.
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Meeting 92-13 Page 3
C . Proposed Addition to Skyline Ridge pe_p _k _Space Preserve (Report R-
C . Britton stated that the property was known as the Big Dipper
Ranch and was located east of Alpine Road and Russian Ridge Open
Space Preserve, west of Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, and
adjacent to and north of Portola State Park. He stated that the
District would acquire a 7/15th interest in the 767 . 9-acre
property for a purchase price of $1 , 166 , 667 . He explained the
rights of the minor interest holders who would continue to hold
an 8/15tb interest in the property.
D. Woods showed slides of the property, featuring its prominent
ridge location, the richness and variety of vegetation on its
well-managed grazing lands , and the wildlife habitat provided by
its woodlands . He reviewed the preliminary use and management
recommendations for the property.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt Resolution 92-21 , 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
(Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve - Lands of Marjorie
Roth, as Trustee) , and Resolution 92-22, 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 (Skyline Ridge Open Space
Preserve - Lands of Alice Coehlo) . B. Crowder seconded
the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0 .
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board tentatively adopt the
Preliminary Use and Management Plan recommendations
contained in the report, including naming the property
as an addition to the Skyline Ridge Open Space
Preserve, and indicate its intention to withhold the
property from dedication as public open space at this
time. B . Crowder seconded the motion. The motion
passed 5 to 0.
D. Proposed Addition of the Corte Madera Partnership Property to the
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve (Report R-92-61)
C . Britton described the 194-acre property as the major portion
of a 200-acre parcel owned by Corte Madera Partnership. He
stated that a 6-acre developed parcel would be retained by the
Meeting 92-13 Page 4
sellers and that it would be one of five residentially developed
inholdings located within Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. He
stated that the total purchase price for the property, including
interest , was $8 , 000, 000 and explained the details of the
proposed payment schedule . C . Britton stated that the owners of
the residences would pay for road maintenance costs provided the
District did not use the road for public vehicular traffic other
than patrol use and site maintenance, and public trail use if
deemed feasible by the District . He stated that the sellers
would pay the first $25, 000 of the costs to demolish the
remaining structures on the property and would pay 5096 of costs
in excess of $25, 000 .
He explained provisions contained in the agreement for the
sellers ' protection because they would retain interest in the
property until the final payment was made by the District . He
stated that the property could not be dedicated until the final
payment was made by the District .
M. Gundert showed slides of the property including the structural
remains of the homestead ruin and stated that an engineer had
been consulted about the potential preservation of portions of
the structures for historical preservation .
Discussion followed about the possibility of retaining portions
of the structures for historical interpretation.
M. E. Pratt , 1136 Waverley Street, Palo Alto, asked for the basis
determining the potential development of 23 lots on the parcel .
C. Britton stated that the estimate was made on the slope density
III requirements of the Town of Portola Valley' s zoning and commented
that the appraisal was based on the potential development of five
lots .
George Goudy, 5070 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, stated that there
was no historical value to the structures on the property and
that they posed a potential hazard. fie also commented that the
driveway was a hazardous road that should not be used because
hikers and bicyclists could not be seen around its curves by
resident motorists . He stated that he and his wife would be
opposed to any use of the driveway other than patrol and
maintenance use by the District . He also stated that their
spring water rights should be preserved and asked if money would
be withheld from the sellers to assure road maintenance.
Dave Beare, 5050 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, stated his
opposition to the use of the road for walking. He asked about
provision for maintenance of the road beyond the driveway. He
stated his additional concerns about the road and the value and
privacy of his property.
C . Britton explained that the sellers would be responsible for
II the District ' s share of road maintenance. H. Grench stated that
Meeting 92-13 Page 5
neighbors and members of the public would be invited to
participate in the use and management plan process for property.
C . Britton reviewed the District ' s acquisitions history for the
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve and stated that District staff
would be investigating the potential for the formulation of a
benefit assessment district to assist with the acquisition of
this addition to Windy Hill Open Space Preserve .
B. Crowder suggested that staff monitor the town council ' s
discussion of an extension of Portol-a Valley' s utilities tax as
art alternative to formation of art assessment district.
Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board adopt Resolution 92-23,
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
(Windy Hill Open Space Preserve - Lands of Corte
Madera , A Partnership) . N. Hanko seconded the motion.
Discussion: S . Norton requested that the motion should
include "and the Board further authorizes the general
manager to agree to minor language changes , none of
which shall be material to the transaction as a whole. "
B. Crowder and N. Hanko agreed to include the wording
proposed by legal counsel in their motion. The motion
passed 5 to 0 .
Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board tentatively adopt the
Preliminary Use and Management Plan recommendations
contained in the report, including naming the property
as an addition to Windy Hill Open Space Preserve;
indicate its intent-ion to withhold the property from
dedication as public open space at this time; and
direct staff to investigate the formation of a benefit
assessment district to assist with the funding for the
acquisition. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion
passed 5 to 0 .
VIT . INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
G. Babbitt reported her attendance at the dedication of the restored
Grant Ranch foreman ' s cabin at San Antonio Open Space Preserve.
B. Crowder presented the budget for the 20th Anniversary events .
H. Grench stated that letters would be sent , if the Board concurred,
to legislators thanking them for recent visits in Sacramento and
indicating that Board members would arrange to take them on individual
District. tours during their summer recess. He obtained Board
Meeting 92-13 Page 6
consensus to send the letters .
H. Grench stated that the District received an invitation to have an
exhibit at De Anza College for De Anza Days on May 31 . He proposed
that the District have an exhibit at De Anza Days with more
preparation time next year instead. fie recognized staff and docents
who worked on the Grant house project .
C. Britton reported that escrow closed for the Green property.
VITI .CLAIMS
B. Crowder questioned claim number 2605, and staff stated the
explanation should have read "ranger office" instead of "ranger
residence. " B. Crowder requested a cumulative statement of payments
to The Steinberg Group for the new office building.
Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board approve Revised Claims
92-10 . G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion
passed 5 to 0 .
TX. CLOSED SESSION
C. Britton announced that Closed Session discussions fell under Santa
Clara County assessor ' s parcel numbers 544-07-013 , 544-05-015, -023 ,
024 , 026 , and -028 , owner Azzarello, and Santa Clara County assessor ' s
parcel numbers 517-16-010 and -007 , owner Antonacci . H. Grench
announced that personnel matters would be discussed. The Board
recessed to Closed Session on acquisition and personnel matters at
10 : 30 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11 : 10 P.M.
Deborah Morvay--Zucker
Secretary
CORRECTIONS TO MINUTES OF MAY 27, 1992
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
May 27 , 1992
N. Hanko stated that the date of June 8 in the second paragraph
of Item B on page 2 should be June 9 .
Motion: N. Hanko moved the minutes of May 27, 1992 be approved
as amended. B. Crowder seconded the motion. The
motion passed 7 to 0.