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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19940511 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Open Space MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Meeting 94-13 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS May 11, 1994 MINUTES I. ROLL CALL President Ginny Babbitt called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. Members Present: Ginny Babbitt, Pete Siemens, Robert McKibbin, Betsy Crowder, Teena Henshaw, Nonette Hanko, and Wim de Wit. Personnel Present: L. Craig Britton, Jean Fiddes, Malcolm Smith, John Escobar, Randy Anderson, Mary Gundert, Carleen Bruins, and Susan Dale. II. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were no oral communications. III. SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt Resolution 94-18, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Supporting the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority and Measure A on the June 1994 Ballot. R. McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board adopt the agenda. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. V. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board adopt the consent calendar including approval of minutes of April 1 and April 27 1994 responses to written communication from 3 Carol Olson, Los Altos Hills; Robert and Jane Duric, Mountain View; and Sarah Benedetti, Sunnyvale, and revised claims 94-09. R. McKibbin seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. VI. BOARD BUSINESS A. Appointment of Susan M. Schectman as District Legal Counsel and Approval of Retainer Agreement for Leizal Services (Report R-94-56) Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board approve the Retainer Agreement for Legal Services appointing Susan M. Schectman as District's Legal Counsel. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. 330 Distel Circle * Los Altos, California 94022-1404 * Phone: 415-691-1200 0 FAX: 415-691-0485 0 t3wrd of Directors:Pete Siemens,k, M(Kihbin, leena I9enshaw,Ginny Babbitt,Nanette Hank- Betsy Crowder,Wine de Wit Garner,d A4,umger:L.Cram;Britian I Meeting 94-11 Page 2 B. Brown Act Briefin,g�(Report R-94-57) S. Schectman presented the Board with a briefing describing a number of the most significant legislative changes to the Ralph M. Brown Act. She gave several examples, definitions, and guidelines of pertinent areas for items such as definition of legislative body, conflict of interests, what constitutes a meeting, the publics rights, closed session, and committee obligations. S. Schectman stated that she would return to the Board with a follow-up report on implementation of the Brown Act including standard forms for use in holding closed sessions. VII ORAL COMMUNICATIONS O President Ginny Babbitt acknowledged the arrival of a member of the public and learning that he would like to address the Board, she re-opened oral communications. Gene Gutt, 1013 Russell Avenue, Los Altos 94022, commented he was a frequent bicycle rider at Fremont Older Open Space Preserve and wanted to report on confrontations he has experienced with hikers and equestrians. He volunteered to work with the District in solving problems in this area. VIII. BOARD BUSINESS (Continued) C. Adoption of a Conce tual Exhibit Plan and Operational Alternatives for the David C. p p P Daniels Nature Center at Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve and Application for an Environmental Education Grant for Implementation of Phase I of the Exhibit Plan (Report R-94-59 M. Gundert detailed the process used to establish plans for Daniels Nature Center. She described and presented the phased plans which would first entail bringing utilities (electric and telephone) to the center, expanding the deck around to the back of the building, and installing a burglar alarm and shading covers at an estimated cost of $24,000. She said funding for these utilities and support system improvements had been included in the 1994- 1995 budget. She said Phase I would include hands-on educational exhibits, creating an interesting functional center and would cost between $43,000 to $51,000. Phase II and III would include trail side exhibits, animal life cycle workstations inside the center and a video camera for underwater video. Phase II would cost $35,000 to $47,000 and Phase III would cost $42,000 to $51,000 and an additional $6,000 to $10,000 for supplies and materials. She said that the total for all phases is $127,000 to $160,000. Directors Henshaw, Siemens, and McKibbin expressed support for the educational concept of the nature center. Dr. David Daniels, father of David C. Daniels, offered the District future support as the District neared Phase II of the project. M. Gundert reported on the opportunity to apply for an Environmental Education Grant Program to develop some of the site facilities, with monies coming from the personalized license plate fund. T. Henshaw commented in support of the center's usefulness to school children. W. de Wit, though supportive of the center, and B. Crowder stated their concerns with the costs for the center. Discussion focused on funding for the project. C. Britton noted that staff would seek a $15,000 state grant for Phase I development and noted that upon award of the grant or the i Meeting 94-11 Page 3 securing of other revenue sources, staff would return to the Board with a funding plan and request authorization to proceed with construction of Phase I improvements. He said that staff had set a goal that 50% or approximately $25,000 of the funding for Phase I should come from outside sources. Discussion also focused on providing some type of self-guided trail or exterior wall informational displays that visitors could enjoy, even if the center were closed. Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board accept and approve the Conceptual Exhibit PP Plan and Operational Alternatives for the David C. Daniels Nature Center; authorize staff to proceed with development of utilities and support system improvements for the Nature Center at the estimated cost of $24,000; adopt Resolution 94-19 a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District authorizing submittal of an application for the Environmental Education Grant Program for implementation of Phase I of the exhibit plan for the Nature Center; and authorize staff to proceed with design of the Phase I improvements to the Nature Center in anticipation of receiving Environmental Education Grant Program funds and/or other outside funding. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. President G. Babbitt called a recess at 9:27 P.M. and reconvened the meeting at 9:40 P.M. D. Program Evaluation for the 1993-1994 Action Plan for Implementation of the Basic Policy of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Report R-94-55) General Manager C. Britton and program managers R. Anderson, J. Escobar, M. Smith, and J. Fiddes highlighted progress during the 1993-1994 year. B. Crowder requested that this progress report include an annual summary of acreage acquired. Motion: R. McKibbin moved that the Board accept staff's program evaluation report. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. E. Avnointment of District Representative to Serve as Non-Voting Member of Santa Cruz County's Local Agency Commission's Special District Advisory Committee (Report R-94- 58) Motion: B. Crowder moved that P. Siemens serve as the District's representative to the Local Agency Formation Commission Special District Advisory Committee in Santa Cruz County. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. i VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS I C. Britton reported that Mr. and Mrs. Mort Levine had extended an invitation to brunch for Board members that included a tour of the Fremont Older house. C. Britton distributed District pens to each Board member. He announced a communication sub-lease offer from Cellular One at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. C. Britton reported the trail on the former Deka property at Long Ridge Open Space Preserve is now open to hikers and equestrians only. 1 Meeting 94-11 Page 4 C. Britton reported the Trail Center's tenth anniversary celebration will be on June 18 at Rengstorff Park. He said the Special District's Forum will be held in Vancouver on June 13-18 and asked if any Board members were interested in attending; R. McKibbin expressed his interest in attending. C. Britton reported that he had learned from Ralph Heim in Sacramento about the $500 million shortfall from monies to be received from the special districts augmentation fund. C. Britton reported that Proposition 180 is positioned last on the voter ballot. B. Crowder reported on the South Skyline Association's 25th anniversary event at Fogerty Winery and the Kings Mountain Association annual dinner. B. Crowder said that the Mayor of Portola Valley had sent her material concerning the District's agreement to undergrounding utilities as part of the Wind Hill Open Space Preserve parking lot project. R. McKibbin requested a list of VIP Tour attendees Saturday, May 14 which were distributed b � Y� Y Y M. Smith later in the evening. G. Babbitt reported she and her nephew participated in the city of Mountain View's parade. She reported that past volunteer Paul Josse is having an art show at Santa Clara Library at Holmstead through the month of May. P. Siemens reported he attended some sessions at a personnel conference on the legal ramifications of the information super highway. G. Babbitt reported that she and J. Escobar will be touring the buildings at Mt. Umunhum on Thursday, May 26. J. Escobar reported on two accidents at Fremont Older Open Space Preserve and at Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. J. Escobar encouraged Board members to let staff know if they would be attending the volunteer recognition event. R. Anderson reported the District had been recommended for funding for a Mitigation Enhancement Grant for Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve, but noted that actual award of the grant would depend on the amount of funding available. R. Anderson reported that the Dog Program Task Force has completed its research and will meet in July. M. Smith distributed itineraries for the Saturday, May 14, tour of District lands for Santa Clara County public officials. VIIl. CLOSED SESSION The Board recessed to closed session at 10:37 P.M. to discuss: A. Conference with Real Property Ne otg iator (Government Code Section 54956.8) Real Property: San Mateo County Assessor's parcels 076-350-150 & -240 Negotiating Parties: Corte Madera, a California Limited Partnership (Ted Walker and Andrew Schilling) Under Negotiations: Instructions to negotiator concerned price and terms of payment. I Meeting 94-11 Page 5 B. Public Employee Performance Evaluation (Government Code Section 54957) Title: General Manager Ix. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 11:21 P.M. Susan Dale Recording Secretary