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Home My Public Portal About19921209 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Open Space MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Meeting 92-31 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS December 9, 1992 MINUTES I. ROLL CALL President Robert McKibbin called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. Members Present: Ginny Babbitt, Richard Bishop, Betsy Crowder, Nonette Hanko, Robert McKibbin, and Pete Siemens. Members Absent: T. Henshaw. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, Jean Fiddes, Malcolm Smith, John Escobar, Randy Anderson, Del Woods, Stanley Norton, and Deborah Morvay-Zucker. H. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no oral communications. III. SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY R. McKibbin honored Richard Bishop upon his retirement from the Board of Directors for 15 consecutive years of service to the District as Director of Ward 7. His fellow Directors commended his activity throughout the Bay Area community on behalf of greenbelt and trails establishment. Mo n: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt Resolution 92-60, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Honoring Richard S. Bishop. B. Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA With the consent of the Board, R. McKibbin appointed G. Babbitt Secretary Pro-tem in T. Henshaw's absence. N. Hanko requested that the written communication from Larry Arkwright be removed from the consent calendar. B. Crowder requested that the written communications from Linda Harris and Marcia Keimer be removed from the consent calendar. G. Babbitt requested that Revised Claims 92-21 be removed from the consent calendar. Open Space . . . for room to breathe 20th Anniversary 1972-1992 330 Distel Circle a Los Altus, California 94022-1404 Phone: 415-691-1200 - FAX: 415-691-0485 t t wnc*r.cl h4anager:Herbert Gre nc h Bwrd of(lire(torti Pete Sirmen,,Robert Mt K(bbin, leen,i f ien'haw (Irony Babbitt NonetI,�Hanker,Bets\C-rowler,Wim de Wit . ...._.................. _ Meeting 92-31 Page 2 i R. McKibbin stated that the agenda, as amended, was adopted by Board consensus. V. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board adopt the consent calendar as amended, including approval of the minutes of the November 18 Regular Meeting; approval of the license agreement for the Town of Portola Valley to remove two trees from Windy Hill Open Space Preserve and reroute Corte Madera Creek; approval of the Notice of Completion of Contract and Acceptance of Work for the barn restoration project at the Picchetti Ranch Area of Monte Bello Open Space Preserve; Resolution 92-61, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Dedicating Interests in Certain District Lands for Public Open Space Purposes; and adoption of the policy to reimburse employee license fees when the license is required and used for the exclusive benefit of the District. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. VI. Written Communications N. Hanko stated her approval of the response to the written communication dated November 11, 1992 from Robert J. Levy, 10802 Wilkinson Avenue, Cupertino, regarding the Districts listing in various directory publications. N. Hanko and B. Crowder recommended changes in the ri ncommunication from Tom Arkwri ht 1 Ba Hill Place Half Moon Ba response to the written Pog Y Y regarding his request for permission to take his do on Harkins Trail and requested enclosure of ear eq g g eq Pe g a copy of the Trail Use Guidelines with the letter. G. Babbitt suggested changes in the responses to letters from Marcia E. Keimer, 475 Cervantes Road, Portola Valley, dated November 24, 1992, and from Linda Harris, 1715 Lawrence Road, Santa Clara, dated November 16, 1992 regarding their experiences and concerns for the safety of trail users and conflicts between bicyclists and other users of District trails. Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board approve the responses with the changes suggested. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. VII. BOARD BUSINESS A. 1992-1993 Budget Review (Report R-92-124) G. Babbitt stated that the report included reductions presented by staff totalling 13% of the controller's projected 1992-1993 annual operating budget of $5,000,000. She presented the Budget Committee's recommendation to redirect $450,000 from lower priority budget items to a reserve fund, to redirect $21,150 to cover high priority items not previously included in the budget, and $28,850 to a fund to be distributed at the general manager's discretion. Also included in the Budget Committee's recommendation was a 10% reduction in the Directors' fees budget. H. Grench confirmed that adoption of the revised budget included final Board approval to hire a full time docent coordinator. I i Meeting 92-31 Page 3 Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board redirect $450,000 of the balance of the 1992- 1993 operating budget to a reserve fund, redirect $21,150 to cover the "E" items (high priority items, not previously included in the operating budget) specified in the program analysis, and redirect $28,850 to a fund to be distributed at the general manager's discretion. P. Seimens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. B. Proposed Addition of the Norton PLQMM to the Russian Ridge Qmn Space Preserve (Report R-92-130) C. Britton stated that the 32-acre property was part of a 47- acre parcel owned by George and Adele Norton and that the Nortons would retain the remainder of the parcel. He stated that the property, adjacent to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve and across Skyline Boulevard from Coal Creek Open Space Preserve, was a significant part of a continuous greenbelt stretching from Windy Hill Open Space Preserve to Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve and would provide a critical link in the Bay Area Ridge Trail. He explained that one unusual term in the agreement, the exclusion of all wheeled vehicles other than District vehicles and wheelchairs, was to remain in effect as long as George and Adele Norton used the home on the remainder of the parcel as a residence. C. Britton stated the terms of the bargain sale called for a total purchase price of$400,000 and for escrow to close by December 31, 1992. D. Woods showed slides of the property and reviewed the proposed use and management recommendations for the property. N. Hanko corrected the description contained in the report to state that Coal Creek Open Space Preserve was located across Skyline Boulevard to the east. Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board adopt Resolution 92-62, 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 (Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve - Lands of Norton, et al.). B. Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board tentatively adopt the Preliminary Use and Management Plan recommendations, name the property as an addition to the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, and indicate its intention to dedicate the property as public open space. B. Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. C. Policies Related to Site Naming, Gifts Policies. and POST Memorial Pro ram enort R_ 92-127) N. Hanko presented the Gifts Policy Committee recommendations directing staff to review commemorative recognition ideas proposed by Peninsula Open Space Trust's (POST) committee and prepare a list of the District's capital improvement projects for POST's Meeting 92-31 Page 4 memorial program. She said that the committee recommended to POST that an acknowledgement of the District be included in its promotional materials used for certain fund raising projects and that the committee would return to the Board with revised Site Naming and Gifts Policy recommendations at a later date. The committee recommendations also included suspending existing policies, considering requests on a case by case basis, and instructing the Gifts Policy Committee to outline a proposal for a i program to recognize District founders and other major contributors. Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board approve the Gifts Policies Committee's recommendations as outlined in the committee report. G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. D. Seasonal Trail Closures Information Re�rt (E=rt R-92-125) J. Escobar presented staff recommendations for trail closures to be approved by the general manager. R. McKibbin stated that the Board accepted the staff report by consensus. E. Authorization to Purchase Tractor (Report R-92-106) Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board authorize the expenditure of$29,973 for the purchase of a skiploader tractor from Nobel Ford of San Jose. G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. F. Cancellation of December 23 Regular Meeting agpM R-92-126) Motion: R. Bishop moved that the Board cancel the December 23 Regular Meeting. G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. G. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS R. Bishop noted a correction for the Notice on Intention to Amend Conflict of Interest Code of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District distributed December 4, 1992. He stated that the meeting date should be January 27, 1993 instead of 1992. N. Hanko stated that recommendations for President Bush's Thousand Points of Light Awards were due in December. R. McKibbin referred awards material to M. Smith and the 20th Anniversary Committee. P. Siemens reported that he and N. Hanko attended a South Skyline Association meeting, noting that attendees expressed concern that they were under-represented in the District and they were not receiving sufficient notification of proposed acquisitions and negotiations for easements. He reported that he attended the Not-So-Annual Regional Park and Open Space District Conference in Montereyand an Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act STEA meeting and Po Y � g recommended that the District pursue joint project application efforts for ISTEA funds. P. Siemens stated that he requested support from the Los Gatos Town Council for Sierra Azul access project for which the District was applying for state funding. He said that an El Sereno Open Space Preserve neighbor expressed concern to him about the potential loss of neighborhood i Meeting 92-31 Page 5 access where private owners have erected barriers and private property signs on public access trailheads. R. Bishop congratulated the Board and general manager H. Grench and expressed his appreciation for the District's accomplishments throughout his years of service as Director of Ward 7. H. Grench stated that the District retained its Standard and Poor's A+ rating and Moody's A-1 rating. He said the District will receive the funds from the note issue on December 15, 1992 and that the average rate of the bonds to be issued would be 6.09% over the life of the bonds. H. Grench read a note of thanks from Jefferey Ford of Burlingame that was received with a donation and noted that the District also received a $1,000 donation from Bob and Pat Brown following the Founders' Dinner. H. Grench reported that the District would host a meeting to be conducted by Jerry Meral, Executive Director of the Planning and Conservation League, on December 17. He stated that the purpose of the meeting was to confirm inclusion of certain Santa Clara County and San Mateo County area projects requests in the citizen initiative bond measure known as CALPAW 94. He stated that C. Britton would represent the District at the meeting and that he would attend a meeting of the Bay Area Open Space Council at which CALPAW 94 would also be discussed. He added that Vicky Moore of Greenbelt Alliance was organizing a meeting that he would attend to prepare recommendations to be presented to the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority interim board at its first meeting in February. H. Grench confirmed that the Board-management team relations review workshop would be Monday, January 11, 1993, from 3 to 8 p.m. C. Britton stated that agreements with the Town of Los Gatos Redevelopment Agency had been signed and the District's lawsuit against the Town of Los Gatos would be dismissed. He reviewed the Portola Park homeowner's association's request to electrify the access gate on Skyline Boulevard. R. Anderson stated that planning staff revised the Sierra Azul staging area grant application r � previously approved by the Board to request a $500,000 grant that would augment a District expenditure of $700,000, including $80,000 of in-house services for the acquisition of the Hogan, Liles, Hirschbaum, and Zelhart properties, if available, construction of trails and staging areas, and refurbishing of ranger residences. C. Britton stated that if the District was awarded the grant, staff would return to the Board for approval of specific project proposals and associated costs. He stated that Peninsula Open Space Trust's escrow for purchase of the Liles property had already closed and would be available for District acquisition. J. Escobar reported that the City of Mountain View approved the agreement with the District for dispatch services. He reported on a solo bicycle accident with injuries on November 8 and a felony hit and run injury accident on November 13 on Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Meeting 5 92-31 Page 6 Preserve involving three four-wheel drive vehicles and a collision with two bicyclists. He said the incident was being investigated by the California Highway Patrol. He reported a solo bicycle injury accident November 14 at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, a solo bicycle injury accident November 15 at Fremont Older Open Space Preserve, an off-trail solo hiker injury on November 22 at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, a solo bicycle injury accident on November 26 at Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, two solo bicycle injury accidents at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve on November 26 and December 5, and a solo bicycle injury accident on December 5 at Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve. M. Smith read a letter from Norma Jean Galiher received with a donation in the names of Arlene Azzarello and Pat McGuire, District docents. VIII. CLAIM C. Britton stated that the amount of claim number 3531 to Santa Clara Land Title for the Vidovich land purchase should be corrected to read $7,320,625. G. Babbitt questioned claim number 3519 and staff gave the status of the demolition project on the former Quane property. Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board approve Revised Claims 92-21 with the change in the amount of claim number 3531 to $7,320,625. B. Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. IX. CLOSED SESSION S. Norton announced that litigation matters to be discussed in Closed Session fell under Government Code Section 54956.9 (c), legislative bodies deciding to initiate litigation. X. The Board recessed to Closed Session on litigation matters at 9:15 P.M. XI. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:55 P.M. Deborah Morvay-Zucker Recording Secretary