HomeMy Public PortalAbout19930526 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Open Space
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
I
Meeting 93-11
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 26 , 1993
MINUTES
I. ROLL CALL
President Betsy Crowder called the meeting to order at 7 : 36 P.M.
Members Present: Robert McKibbin, Teena Henshaw, Wien de Wit,
Ginny Babbitt, and Betsy Crowder.
Members Absent: Nonette Hanko and Pete Siemens.
Personnel Present: Craig Britton, Jean Fiddes, Randy Anderson,
Malcolm Smith, Annette Coleman, and Emma Johnson.
II. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications.
III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
C. Britton requested that cancellation of the June 9 regular
Board meeting be added as a consent item. He noted, in lieu of
the regular meeting, that staff would hold a staff-public
workshop on the proposed revisions to Ordinance 83-1, Regulations
for Use of District Lands. W. de Wit requested that revised
claims be removed from the consent calendar.
Motion: G. Babbitt moved that the Board adopt the agenda as
amended. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion
passed 5 to 0.
IV. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion: G. Babbitt moved that the Board adopt the balance of
the consent calendar including the response to the
written communication dated May 5, 1993 from Dr.
Frederick Lloyd of Palo Alto Medical Clinic, the
response to the written communication dated May 14 ,
1993 from Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los
Altos, and the cancellation of the June 9 regular
meeting. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion
passed 5 to 0 .
V. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Presentation by Coalition of Open Space Advocates (Report R-
93-63
Linda Wagner, chair of the Ad Hoc Group to fund St.
Patrick' s Open Space said the group is looking to the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for help with the
group' s effort to preserve urban open space. She suggested
the District could be the facilitator and partner for
seeking funding and compromise.
Meeting 93-11 Page 2
Trevor 'rowes of the East Palo A. Historical and
Agricultural Society explained the need for urban open spacq
and echoed Ms. Wagner' s request for the District' s
assistance.
Annaloy Nikkum of the Coalition of Open Space Advocates
reported on the group' s efforts and the benefits of keeping
the specific properties as open space, and reiterated that
the District has skills and technical expertise that would
be helpful to the group.
Debbie Mytels of the Peninsula Conservation Center explained
the benefits to the District of becoming involved in the
pursuit of urban open space. She presented petitions signed
by Bay Area Action, Bay Area Land Watch, California Native
Plant Society (Santa Clara Valley Chapter) , Coastal
Advocates, Committee for Green Foothills, East Palo Alto
Historical & Agricultural Society, Friends of CalTrans,
Menlo Park Greens (California Green Party) , Green Party of
San Mateo County, Green Party of Palo Alto, Magic Inc, Unity
with Nature Committee, Peninsula Conservation Center, Ann
Schneider and Scott Norton, Burning Issues, Sierra Club
(Loma Prieta Chapter) , Menlo Oaks District Association, and
letters of support from Peninsula School, Ltd. , and Whole
Access requesting that the District undertake the
responsibility as the "lead agency" to set up a funding
mechanism (possibly an assessment district and/or a private
donation fund) so that money can be raised to purchase the
St. Patrick' s land and convene other public jurisdictions
and private agencies to create a solution that will preserve
and manage the property.
B. Crowder said that the District 's basic policy is to
acquire land outside urban service areas with high open
space value of a regional nature. She noted that staff had
met with the group and attended public hearings on the draft
environmental impact report for the former Mariani Ranch
property.
T. Henshaw said that the District cannot take on the task of
being a lead agency for the group, noting that there could
be many more groups requesting such assistance. G. Babbitt
said that, while the District is dedicated to preserving
open space, the financial and resource constraints make it
impossible to assume the role being requested. She
suggested the group talk to staff about possibilities.
C. Britton said that the District cannot be in a position of
telling other jurisdictions what policies to adopt, noting
that communities must make their own decisions about
development. He added that staff would meet with the group
and share ideas with them.
B. Crowder noted the Board's consensus that staff should
meet with the group, as requested, to provide possibilities
and ideas.
President Crowder called a recess at 8 : 40 P.M. and
reconvened the meeting at 8 : 50 P.M.
Meeting 93-11 Page 3
B. Workshop _Continued Discussion on fling of General
Manager 's Position (R-93-64)
Geoff Ball, facilitator for the workshop, said that the
Board's suggested changes to the list of characteristics and
proposed job description were incorporated into the report.
Additional minor wording changes proposed were discussed,
and straw votes were taken to determine whether to include.
The "Must" category was changed to "Most Important" and the
wording amended to read: "Something that, if the candidate
did not meet this criteria or have this characteristic in
significant degree, the candidate may not be considered.
The "Want" category was changed to "Highly Desirable" and
the wording amended to read: "Things that are very
important.
B. Crowder announced the concurrence of the Board that no
further action is required at this time on the filling of
the general manager ' s position.
VI . INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Coleman reported that there had been seven accidents on
District preserves during the past week, and that the trail work
at the former Vidovich property was complete. C. Britton added
that Whittemore Gulch and Peters Creek trails have been closed
due to the weather. After discussion, the Board agreed that
accident reports need not be detailed in the informational
reports portion of Board meetings.
W. de Wit reported on the California Park and Recreation
Society's legislative conference that he and C. Britton attended
in Sacramento.
B. Crowder reported she attended a Ridge Trail Multi-Use
Committee meeting. She said San Mateo County and the District
ranked high on the list of completed sections. She added that
she and R. McKibbin attended the docent recognition event and
that it was very nice.
C. Britton reported that he attended a meeting of the County Park
Manager ' s Association while in Sacramento and that they changed
the name to California Association of Regional Park and Open
Space Administrators (CARPOSA) . He said that the U. S.G.S. permit
to conduct testing at Windy Hill open Space Preserve has been
extended one month to July 15. He announced that the District
has completed a packet of information for supporters and friends
of open space to use in writing legislators about the state
budget legislation.
M. Smith reported on the event honoring Nonette Hanko and Artemas
Ginzton and open space art display at the Palo Alto Medical
Center. He said that the children's Art of Open Space project
was announced at the event. He added that the announcement of
the District's fire season was covered by KNTV.
J. Fiddes said that staff will use a time critical stamp to
indicate timely contents in mail sent to the Board. She reported
that a separate non-discrimination policy was not needed for the
Board and its appointees and referred the Board to the memo
Meeting 93-11 Page 4
distributed in C. Britton' s May 26, 1993 informational packet to
the Board.
VII. CLAIMS
W. de Wit asked about claim number 4244 to David B. Fisher and
claim number 4279 to Seafirst Bank. C. Britton said that claim
4244 was for existing litigation and 4279 was for a note payment
fee.
Motion: B. Crowder moved the approval of Revised Claims 93-09 .
G. Babbitt seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to
0.
VIII. CLOSED SESSION
C. Britton announced that land negotiation matters to be
discussed were (1) Santa Clara County assessor ' s parcel number
351-08-029, owner Peninsula Open Space Trust negotiated with A.
Rust; (2) San Mateo County assessor ' s parcel numbers 057-021-050,
068-032-050, 057-011-320, 057-460-010, -110, -130, -140, -150,
owner San Mateo County negotiated by R. Barrales; and San Mateo
County assessor's parcel numbers 085-110-010; 080-370-020, 080-
380-020 owner P. Grey, Estate negotiated by D. Fama.
The Board recessed to Closed Session on personnel and land
negotiation matters at 10: 00 P.M.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 10: 25 P.M.
Emma Johnson
Recording Secretary