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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