HomeMy Public PortalAbout19930310 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Open Space
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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 93-06
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
March 10, 1993
MINUTES
I. ROLL CALL
President Betsy Crowder called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Ginny Babbitt, Betsy Crowder,- Wim de Wit, Nonette Hanko, Teena
Henshaw, Robert McKibbin, and Pete Siemens.
Personnel Present: Craig Britton, Jean Fiddes, Randy Anderson, John Escobar, Malcolm Smith,
Stanley Norton and Deborah Zucker.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
H. Hauessler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos, requested that the agenda items on Approval of
Agreement with Herbert Grench and 1992-1993 Salary Recommendations for Board Appointees
be removed from the consent calendar.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
C. Britton requested that the minutes of February 10, 1993 be added to the agenda for approval
on the consent calendar. B. Crowder stated that the agenda was adopted by Board consensus.
IV. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
The following additional requests were made to remove items from the consent calendar: N.
Hanko -,removal of Approval of Agreement with Herbert Grench; R. Anderson - removal of
Applications for Transportation Enhancement Funds (ISTEA) for the Saratoga Summit Gateway
Acquisition and Sierra Azul Staging Area Projects from the Consent Calendar; and G. Babbitt -
removal of the written communication from Wendy B. Prufer.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt the consent calendar, including approval
of minutes of February 10, 1993 and February 17, 1993 meetings; approval of
lead open space technician job classification, job specification for the full-time
position, salary range of step number 209 to 234 with corresponding salary of
$2,258 to $2,896, and staff authorization to fill two lead open space technician
positions; adoption of Resolution 93-06, a Resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing the Department
of General Services Administration of the State of California to Purchase
Certain Items for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, and
authorization to purchase of one full-size patrol truck and one mini pick-up
Open Space . . . for room to breathe 20th Anniversary - 1972-1992
730 Distel Circle - Los Altos, California 94022-1404 Phone: 41.5-691-1200 - FAX: 415-691-0485 &
Geoeraf,",in,yger:Herbert Grench Board ofDirectors:Pete Siemens,Robert McKibbin, reena f Ion shaw,Ginny Babbitt,No nette H a nko,Betsy Crowder,Win i de Wit
Meeting 93-06 Page 2
truck for a total cost of$32,000; and approval of Revised Claims 93-04. P.
Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
V. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
G. Babbitt recommended that patrol hours be added to the response letter to Ms. Prufer.
V1. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Approval of Agreement with Herbert Grench (Report R-9L&
For the record N. Hanko stated that the agreement was a personnel item and had been
under discussion in closed session for four months. She said that Board members, R.
McKibbin, B. Crowder, and P. Siemens worked diligently through the negotiations to come
to this agreement.
Harry Hauessler stated that the retirement package should have been discussed at a public
meeting prior to finalizing the agreement, and expressed his objection to the item being
placed on the consent calendar and to the terms of the agreement. Harry Block of Los
Altos Hills, and Richard Geiger, of Palo Alto, also expressed their objections to the terms
of the agreement.
B. Crowder stated that the agreement, as a personnel matter, had been discussed in closed
session with the approval of District counsel. S. Norton stated that discussion of the status
of the general manager of the district was the highest form of confidential discussion by the
Board protected by the Brown Act. B. Crowder stated that the terms of the agreement
were made between the Board and H. Grench and that the terms were consistent with other
similar agreements made between agencies and long-time employees. P. Siemens said that
the agreement was not inconsistent with other agreements made by other agencies in the
area and that he thought the consulting agreement with H. Grench was reasonable.
Motion: W. de Wit moved that the Board adopt Resolution 93-07, a Resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Approving, Ratifying and Confirming Agreement Between Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District and Herbert Grench. T. Henshaw seconded the
motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
B. 1992-1993 Salary Recommendations for Board Appointees (Report R-93-38)
B. Crowder stated that the 1992-1993 Budget Committee was recommending that the Board
approve a freeze on the salaries of the general manager, controller, and legal counsel for
the 1992-1993 fiscal year. j
Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the Board approve a freeze on the salaries of the
general manager, controller, and legal counsel for the fiscal year 1992-1993.
Meeting 93-06 Page 3
P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
C. Preliminary Action Plan for the Implementation of the Basic Policy of Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District for the 1993-1994 Fiscal Year (Report 93-32)
C. Britton stated that the preliminary action plan had been previously reviewed by the
Board and would be presented to the Board for final approval at the March 24 meeting. G.
Babbitt recommended that the words "lower priority" be deleted from the second key
project and activity in the Negotiations and Special Projects Subprogram. She also
recommended that the sixth item in the listing of other typical projects and activities for the
Negotiations and Special Projects Subprogram dealing with exploring additional methods to
protect open space lands for less than the total cost of fee acquisition become the
subprogram's fourth key project and activity.
D. Presentation of the Budget for Fiscal Year 1993-1994 (Report R-93-39), Controller's Report
on the Proposed Fiscal Year 1993-1994 Budget eport R-93-33); and Budget Committee
Report for Fiscal Year 1993-1994 (Report R-93-40�
C. Britton gave an overview of the proposed budget, noting that the Budget Committee had
directed staff to use last year's reduced operating budget figure of $4.5 million as a target
figure for the 1993-1994 operating budget. He said that this was an "interim" budget
pending the outcome of the state budget crisis and that the budget would be presented for
Board adoption at the March 24 meeting.
R. McKibbin stated that the 1992-1993 operating budget had actually been cut 18 per cent
from $5.5 million to $4.5 million.
C. Britton, R. Anderson, J. Escobar, M. Smith, and J. Fiddes briefed the Board on the
highlights of the proposed budgets for their respective programs.
R. Anderson stated that the largest of the planning projects included in the budget was the
Rancho San Antonio field office. He said that the project would be brought to the point of
readiness to go to bid and that it would be on hold until the state budget was approved.
In response to a question from R. McKibbin, R. Anderson stated that funding was included
for a new entry sign at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve.
J. Escobar stated that the operations service and supplies budget did not include a
contingency for unanticipated problems and that after the seasons' storm damage was
assessed the Board might be requested to approve additional funds.
M. Smith said that the public affairs program budget represented a seven per cent increase
over last year's budget. He stated that the budget did not include the costs associated with
a potential funding measure and that the Board would need to consider those costs at the
time it decided to go forward with such a measure.
I
J. Fiddes said that cost of living increases for general manager appointees were not
J,
Meeting 93-06 Page 4
included in the budget
t and that the Distri
ct had a tent
ative agreement to defer contract
negotiations with Local 715 until the state budget was approved. She stated that the salary
incentive awards program included in the budget might be placed on hold if the state budget
funds were reduced.
E. Informational Report on Longterm Funding_ tions eport R 93 41)
M. Smith presented an update on the local funding measures proposed for the year. He
said that the report also included information about the failure of other funding measures
and that for a District funding measure to succeed it would be necessary to incur costs for
adequate polling and consulting. N. Hanko requested that the Finance Committee be
apprised of additional funding measure activities throughout the District.
F. Applications for Transportation Enhancement Funds aSTEA) for the Saratoga Summit
Gateway Acquisition and Sierra Azul Staging Area Projects Report R 93 37)
R. Anderson stated that the District probably would not meet the April round of funding
deadlines for the Saratoga Gateway project because staff had not received necessary
information from CalTrans. He said the project might be submitted in August. He briefed
the Board on the amount of District matching funds that would be necessary for the
projects.
Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the Board adopt Resolution 93-08, a Resolution of
the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Approving the Application for Funds for the Transportation Enhancement
Activities Program Under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency
Act of 1991 for the Following Project: Saratoga Summit Gateway Acquisition
Project, and Resolution 93-09, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving the Application for
Funds for the Transportation Enhancement Activities Program Under the
Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 for the Following
Project: Sierra Azul Staging Area Project. P. Siemens seconded the motion.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
G. Babbitt announced that the Board's volunteer recognition event would be April 18 and the
docent recognition event would be May 22.
T. Henshaw reported on her slide presentation for the Sunnyvale Lions Club and said that she
would be making presentations to the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs.
R. McKibbin and C. Britton reported that their recent meeting and discussions in Sacramento
with Ralph Heim and with the California Park and Recreation District legislative committee
focused on legislation relating to funding measures. The Legislative Committee tentatively
scheduled a meeting for Thursday, March 25.
W. de Wit and P. Siemens reported on their attendance at the Special Districts Management
Meeting 93-06 Page 5
conference in San Diego.
W. de Wit briefed the Board on the meeting he, B. Crowder, N. Hanko, H. Grench, and C.
Britton had had with Representative Anna Eschoo.
B. Crowder said that she spoke to the Conservation Committee in Portola Valley and to the
Menlo Park Rotary Club. She said she would be on a panel at the California Park and
Recreation District Conference.
C. Britton said he had met with Jerry Meral of Planning and Conservation League Foundation
during his recent trip to Sacramento. He stated that in the meeting with Representative Anna
Eschoo, H. Grench suggested the appropriation of funds from the interest on the Land and Water
Conservation Fund and that Representative Eschoo would consider proposing legislation for that
purpose. C. Britton added that Audrey Rust of Peninsula Open Space Trust has asked that the
District participate in interim management of the Phleger property until the Golden Gate National
Recreation Area accepts management responsibilities. He said that details of that participation
would be outlined and presented to the Board at a later date.
R. Anderson reported on the invasive vegetation management work being done by California
Department of Forestry (CDF) work release program at Pulgas Ridge Open Space Preserve. He
said that CDF and Central Fire had proposed a controlled bum project for the fall on a District
preserve and he would report back to the Board when more details were available.
J. Escobar reported on three accidents involving a runner at Rancho San Antonio Open Spare
Preserve, a snow play related accident at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, and a bicycle
accident at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. He briefed the Board on the
disposal of toxic chemical defoliant left at La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve in 1990 and on
the City of Mountain View beginning dispatching services for the District on May 1.
J. Escobar also reported a recommendation from the uniform committee to change the color of
field staff uniform pants to green and that uniform allowances would be used to replace brown
pants. There was no objection to approve the recommendation from the members of the Board.
Vill. CLOSED. SESSION
The Board recessed to Closed Session on personnel matters at 9:17 P.M.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:15 P.M.
Deborah Zucker
Recording Secretary