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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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.
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VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
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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.
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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
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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.
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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