HomeMy Public PortalAbout19960626 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Regional Open Sj,. e
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 96-15
REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
June 26, 1996
MINUTES
I. ROLL CALL
President Nonette Hanko called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Members Present: Peter Siemens, David Smernoff, Mary Davey, Betsy Crowder, Nonette
Hanko, Teena Henshaw, and Wim de Wit.
Personnel Present: Craig Britton, Jean Fiddes, John Escobar, Sue Schectman, Randy
Anderson, Mary de Beauvieres, Michael Foster, and Malcolm Smith.
11. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
There were no oral communications.
III. SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board adopt the agenda. P. Siemens seconded the
motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
V. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
C. Britton announced that the Board had received a letter relating to agenda item 5, Final
Adoption of Trail Use Plan for El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve and
requested the item be removed from the Consent Calendar.
Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar including the
minutes of the June 12 Special and Regular Meeting; responses to written
communications from Robert Zatkin, 406 Maple Way, Woodside and Kent
Ferris, 370 Distel Circle, Suite A-100; agenda item 7, Authorization to
Solicit Bids for Picchetti Ranch Homestead House Restoration Based on
Determination that Recommended Action is Categorically Exempt from
,CEOA; agenda item 8, Cancellation of July 10 Meeting; and revised claims
96-12. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
VI. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. I - Authorization for the General Manager to Submit an
Application to the Town of Woodside for a Lot Line Adjustment to Create Four
Residential Parcels at Pintn Wag and aacallc9doW, a=] at Summit Snrinvc l
330 Distel Circle . Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 a Phone: 415-691-1200 * FAX:415-691-0485 e E-mail: mroscl@netcom.con, �b
Board of Directors:Pete Siemens,Mary C. Davey,Teena Henshaw,David T.Smernoff,Nonette Hanko,Betsy Crowder,Wim de'Wit
Genera/A tanager:L.Craig Britton
Meeting 96-15 Page 2
Part of the Process to Sell Surplus Proper y at Teague Hill Oren Space Preserve -
(R=rt R-96-72)
R. Anderson reviewed the staff report and presented a chronology of events to this
point. He stated that staff was requesting Board approval for a lot line adjustment to
create four conforming 10-acre lots of Pinto Way by incorporating approximately 4.5
acres of residentially zoned land from the Summit Springs area into one of the lots.
He noted that the Summit Springs area would remain as a single residentially-zoned
parcel of approximately 30-acres.
Marilyn Voelke, 55 Roan Place, said public money had been used to purchase this
land and she did not think the District has a favorable outlook of being able to
develop it. She said she did not know that little bits and pieces of land could be added
to a lot to make it the required size and thought it was wrong of the District to try.
She fully supports the purchase of open space, but asked if the District had considered
that this proposal would cost the Town of Woodside a lot of money. She urged
Board members to rethink their mission and that perhaps other ways can be found to
recoup the money.
N. Hanko said there are only two current Board members who participated in the
original action to acquire the property. She said the property owner who was selling
cq P I�rty F Perty g
it owned several parcels and they wanted to sell it all at one time, adding it had been
the position of the Board that it was a significant amount of money and they were
hoping to recoup some of the money that was spent through development of a portion
of the property.
Ms. Voelke raised the issue of fire safety. She said it is the Board§ duty to contact
I` the fire department, and she thought that they would oppose the proposal to extend
i` the road considerably with no alternate exit in the event of a fire.
Eric Broadbent, 30 Roan Place, said his family moved to the area last fall and found
out about the planned development when closing on their home. He said they were
concerned and considered not buying the property because one of the attractive
elements was that it backed up to open space, adding that as a family and a
neighborhood they are generally excited about the fact that there is open space. He
said if they have to share the burden by having development in their area he did not
think they were opposed to that in concept. However, looking at the steepness of the
road and the cost of each parcel, a developer will have to do substantial development
i
to sell it and make a profit. He expressed concerns regarding the lot line variance,
the expense the Town will have to go through, topography, added water through
septic systems and added erosion through building of roads and cutting of trees, and
said this now becomes something that they cannot support as a neighborhood.
Pauline Siedenburg, 10 Pinto Way, said the agenda was not received by many people
and they had not been notified of the November meeting. She said that at an informal
meeting when R. Anderson was going to announce this evening's muting, Enshallah
asked him not to. She cited the following issues: hillside drainage; fire and
,Meeting 96-15 Page 3
emergency hazard because of the deadend road; and the cost of the property will not
be recouped. She said the District will be paying a lot more than it has budgeted and
will not get as much as Enshallah says it will. She said she has supported open space
and would work to support fund raising. She said the District is tarnishing its image
by being developers and marketers of open space.
Joseph Lascola, 87 Patrol Road, said that during heavy rains in 1982 there was
damage in the area which the Town repaired. He said he had an additional creek this
year caused by the work that the District had done on the property. He said there has
been a lot of controversy with this property because of the higher elevations.
Jay Siedenburg, 10 Pinto Way, said there is a good reason the property is zoned 10
acre minimum because it is a fragile environment and not very suitable for building.
He said the ridge is the only place people can build. He described the ridge and steep
terrain and said gerrymandering the lot is very suspicious, adding this does not meet
the intent of the zoning ordinance and he did not think it was legal or that the Town
will agree. He agreed with previous speakers' concerns regarding drainage.
Russell Molari, 75 Roan Place, said there are foundation, fire, and ground movement
problems and said he was concerned about a single access road in the event of a
natural catastrophe. He said he was also concerned about the way the $142 million
homes would change the area. He said the neighbors need open communication with
the Board and he was the only person who knew about the decision to move from the
Summit site to the Pinto site and to look for four lots rather than three. He said
people will stop trusting the District and complained about the use of Enshallah. The
neighbors deserve to be talked to by the District, not a paid public relations firm.
Jim Milton, 710 Patrol Road, said he has supported environmental groups including
the District for the last 20 years. He said it seems the District has been fighting
corporations, but it is starting to look like what it is opposing while using tax dollars
and non-profit funds.
Eric Broadbent spoke again and said he felt that Enshallah representing the District
had hurt the process. He felt that information had not been fully expressed or maybe
even misrepresented. He said there are four or five constituencies: Enshallah who is
paid to move the process forward; the Town which needs to enforce its zoning
ordinances; the Board; those who are affected; and the larger community. He said
one of the points made at the recent meeting is that they as a neighborhood would like
to help the District find an alternative solution if there are other ways to fund this that
they could all get behind. Otherwise, he said they are looking at a battle and he
thought they wanted to avoid that.
Tom Shannon of Enshallah, asked that the record show that due to protests heard at
the neighborhood meeting the previous week, Ms. Steinberg wanted to report to staff
as to what the feelings were and give staff time to reconsider whether they wanted to
have this item on the agenda at this meeting. He said it was not intended that people
not be notified.
Meeting 96-15 Page 4
N. Hanko said T. Henshaw and she were the only Board members who voted on the
initial acquisition, noting she was the only Board member who voted against the idea
of separating part of the property for development, because she foresaw that it would
be a problem because the District acquires land for the purpose of preserving it. She
did not think people would understand why they were selling off part of the property,
though she respected the reasons the Board decided to do so. She said she liked the
idea of the trail on the ridge and felt the public would be alienated by having homes
there. She said she did not plan to support the lot line adjustment.
T. Henshaw said that at the time the property came up for sale she was against
acquiring it. After it was decided at that meeting that part of it could be developed
and the District could recoup some of the costs, she supported the acquisition because
part of the property was going to be sold. She said some of the speakers may not
recall that the sale was part of the original agreement and she understood their
concerns. She said she was relieved when Enshallah was brought into the process
because she thought finally part of this property could be sold, but appreciated people
sharing their concerns about Enshallah§ involvement. She hoped that it was not too
late for it to be a win-win situation as one of the speakers had stated.
B. Crowder said she was faced with the situation when she came on the Board. She
recalled the failure of Woodside§ measure to purchase the property and said it had
been discouraging to the Council and the Board. She said the District is faced again
with financial difficulties and this 600 acres has never been developed as a preserve,
mainly because the pending sale of a portion of the property. She said she would like
to find a solution and perhaps another vote in Woodside might work. Failing that,
she said that the District needs to recoup some of its cost of purchasing this parcel.
P. Siemens described a similar situation in Los Gatos. In that case, Los Gatos elected
to join with the District and pay about half of the property's cost for what is now St.
Joseph§ Hill Open Space Preserve. He said he understood the context under which
the land was purchased, but had questions regarding the gerrymandered lot line
adjustment. He said the property was probably zoned originally for 50-60 homes, so
four or five homes seems like a good compromise. He said there may be problems
with the land that the District is not aware of.
Discussion followed regarding notification of the public, both by the District and
Enshallah. P. Siemens said that the District works very hard to make the public
notice policy very open and has opened up the process as much as possible.
Staff informed the Board that the property could be sold as is, but to have four legal
parcels there would need to be a lot line adjustment that would have to be approved
by the Woodside Planning Commission.
W. de Wit asked if it might be worth trying another Town of Woodside measure to
raise $3.5 million so that the property would not have to be sold and developed.
Meeting 96-15 Page 5
In response, C. Britton said the amount would be lower, but he could not say if
another vote would turn out differently. He said the vote that fell short was an
advisory measure and if it were on the ballot now it would take a 2/3 vote to pass a
tax.
M. Davey said she empathized with the speakers and would like to see the parcels as
open space. However, all agencies are faced with an era of diminishing resources
and have to look to opportunities to increase the revenues to buy open space. She
said the District told people early on that this property would be developed, while the
majority will remain in open space. She said this is a forthright way to increase the
financial resources for the District and she would vote for the lot line adjustment.
B. Crowder said the District hired Enshallah because the District is an open space
district which has planners and land managers, but not developers or politicians on the
staff. She said she was sorry the speakers had had a bad experience with Enshallah.
C. Britton said staff would talk with Enshallah as it was important to make sure the
public has all the information that is available.
P. Siemens commented that he expected the property to net $2 million or less. The
process of selling it will take time, and if citizens can raise $2 million he would be
glad to take that into consideration.
Eric Broadbent said the neighbors would like a chance to investigate that possibility,
and if they had a chance to investigate that he felt they would be much less
antagonistic.
C. Britton said if the motion for a lot line adjustment passes there will be an
opportunity for the neighbors to bring forward a proposal of some type that would
raise money since the final approval could take months.
Pauline Siedenburg asked what options are available if the lot line adjustment was not
approved.
Discussion followed regarding options, including negotiations with a party interested
in trading other open space for the Summit Springs lot, or forming an assessment
district.
N Hanko said she would like to pursue the Summit Springs lot without getting more
involved in development plans for any of the sites.
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to
submit an application to the Town of Woodside for a lot line
adjustment to create four residential parcels at Pinto Way and one
residential parcel at Summit Springs. M. Davey seconded the motion.
The motion passed on the following vote:
Ayes: P. Siemens, B. Crowder, M. Davey, D. Smernoff, T. Henshaw
and W. de Wit
Meeting 96-15 Page 6
Noes: N. Hanko
S. Schectman said that when the Town is considering the District's request, the Town
could approve or deny four lots or conditionally approve it and cut it down to three
lots. She said that if they denied all of it, the two 35-acre parcels exist as legal lots.
President Hanko called a recess at 8:42 P.M. and the Board reconvened the meeting at 8:57 P.M.
All seven Board members were present.
B. Agenda Item No. 2 - .Authorization to Implement Four-Year Grassland Management
Action Plan for the Russian Ridge Q= Sp= Preserve Based on Determination that
Proposed Project is Categorically Exempt from CEOA - (RR=rt R-96-74,)
R. Anderson focused on the key aspects of the proposed action plan for grassland
management at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve.
Dave Wachtel, California Department of Forestry (CDF), talked about the
Department§ vegetation management program, which is a cost share program with
CDF paying about 80%. He said the liability is taken on by CDF and the District
could provide its share of the cost with either equipment or labor. He described the
process that would take place, including an environmental assessment and burn
prescription, and said if they start now, a burn could take place toward the end of
August unless there is a fire somewhere else that would take away equipment. He
said they would have to work with the air pollution district when establishing bum
days. He said others who have done burns for star thistle have found they have to do
it for three consecutive years.
Battalion Chief Craig Herrett addressed the operational issues of a burn and said this
would not be a large burn and would take 2-3 days, depending on the objectives.
Tamara Kan, who wrote the grassland management plan for Russian Ridge Open
Space Preserve, described the areas where actions will occur. In dealing with yellow
star thistle, Ms. Kan said there needs to be at least three years of management
because of the seed bank; goats could be used to graze large areas of concentration
but small areas would have to be sprayed or mowed prior to a burn. She said she
was not recommending several consecutive years of burning. Monitoring should take
place each year to see what the effect of the burn is on the thistle.
Following discussion of whether complete reports, including maps like the colored
one displayed, should be included in Board packets, N. Hanko stated that this is an
internal matter that would be discussed among Board members when they discuss
rules of procedure.
T. Kan showed where there is a population of bull thistle. She said the District could
talk to CalTrans about spraying or burning the thistles on the Skyline Boulevard right
of way.
Meeting 96-15 Pate 7
M Discussion followed regarding the herbicides which could be used. T. Kan said she is
not an expert, but it makes sense to use a more specialized type of herbicide than
Roundup.
D. Smernoff said his recommendation would be to try Garlon 4 first and then go to
something stronger if necessary. He thanked T. Kan for a thorough report which
included the option of biological control.
Battalion Chief Craig Herrett addressed concerns about the time of the burning and
said it depends on the objectives of the plan which will come from the biologist,
adding the prescription can change on a daily basis,
D. Smernoff said he was pleased with the plan because objectives are in place and
will be monitored.
B. Crowder expressed strong opposition to cattle grazing. The relative cost between
cattle and goat grazing was discussed. R. Anderson clarified that the idea of
studying cattle grazing further is not part of the grassland management plan; the vote
on the plan can either accept or eliminate cattle grazing. He said that staff felt it
should be looked at further and it was not something T. Kan had proposed.
D. Smernoff said he thought burning was something they should try, then grazing
with goats, hand pulling, mowing, disking, herbicides, with cattle grazing as the last
option.
Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board determine that the proposed project is
categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA) based on the findings contained in this report; and authorize
staff to proceed with tentative implementation of the Management
Action Plan recommended in the staff report. D. Smernoff seconded
the motion.
Discussion: P. Siemens asked if the recommendation to use Garlon 4 should be part
of the motion. R. Anderson proposed that if there is a reason to
explore this further, he would include it in the report for the final
reading of the plan.
J. Escobar pointed out that staff has been using Roundup applications
and his understanding was that if mitigation of the thistle was limited to
this one chemical, the Board was not limiting the use of Roundup in
other areas.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
Meeting 96-15 Page 8
C. Agenda Item No. 3 - Authorization for General Manager to Execute Fifth #4
Amendment to Agreement between District and City of Mountain View Extending
Deer Hollow Farm Agreement for 90 Days - (Revort R-96-71)
J. Escobar stated that staff would be returning to the Board in 30 to 60 days with a
three-year agreement between the District, City of Mountain View, and Santa Clara
County.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board authorize the General Manager
to executeg
the Fifth Amendment to the Agreement between the
City of Mountain View and the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District. P. Siemens seconded the motion.
Di J. Escobar clarified that this agreement allows for time to
Discussion:
complete the work on the multiple year agreement; the farm
would close on June 30 if this amendment were not approved.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
r were members of the public resent for agenda item 5 the Board agreed to
Since there
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cons g
consider this agenda item next.
D. Agenda Item No. 5 - Final Adoption of the Trail Use Plan for El Corte de Madera
Creek Open Space Preserve as an Amendment to the Preserve§ Comprehensive Use
and Management Plan - M=rt R-96-68)
It was noted that the letter from Mr. Robert Zatkin on this agenda item had been
received after the meeting packet had been mailed to the Board.
B. Crowder commented for the record that any mitigation Mr. Zatkin talked about
was actually being done by adoption of the Trails Plan because they are removing
unauthorized trails from the creek area.
Motion: D. Smernoff moved that the Board adopt the Trail Use Plan for El
Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve as contained in report R-
96-60 as an amendment to the Comprehensive Use and Management
Plan for the Preserve. B. Crowder seconded the motion.
Discussion: Berry Stevens, Redwood City, said he was a member of ROMP, and
congratulated the Board and the District for being progressive in
dealing with the concerns of his group and setting a good example for
other land management agencies.
Patty Ciesla, Palo Alto, said she was looking forward to working with
the District on using mountain biker volunteers to do some of the trail
work and she was very encouraged. She said mountain bike groups
Meeting 96-15 Page 9
i
agree that this is one of the most promising things going on in the area
and she thought it was a great thing.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
E. Agenda Item No. 6 - Authorization with Eugene R. Sheehan for $24.200 for Trail
Construction Services at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve - fR�port R-
96-73)
M. de Beauvieres stated that Mr. Sheehan would be covered under the District's
insurance policy and there will be no additional charge for this because the District
has an excellent risk management program. She said Mr. Sheehan charges $40 an
hour for trail layout and trail construction and the compensation amount in the
agreement for trail layout services should be changed to $40.00 per hour and the total
compensation amount should be changed from $24,000 to $24,200.
Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to
contract with Eugene R. Sheehan for $24,200 for trail construction
services at El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve. T.
Henshaw seconded the motion.
Discussion: D. Smernoff said he was concerned that Exhibit A - Scope of Services
stated that the trail width will be 5 feet and the maximum grade is
15%. He asked that Exhibit A, second paragraph, be modified to read,
"Trails shall generally be constructed to a width of five (5) feet, and a
maximum grade of 15'%." P. Siemens and T. Henshaw agreed that this
be added to the motion.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
President N. Hanko said the Board would next consider agenda item 4.
F. Agenda Item No. 4 - Authorization of the Issuance of Mid=insula Regional Open
Space District 1996 Refunding Promissory Notes in a Principal Amount Not to
Exceed $18.700 000* Authorization to Execute and Deliver a Site Lease, J�[Wect
Lease Purchase Contract, and Other Items Required to Allow for the Issuance and
Sale of$30.200.000 of MidWninsula Regional (,open Space District Authority 1996
Revenue Bonds: and Agproval of Agreement for Bond Counsel Services with Orrick
Herrington & Sutcliffe - W=rt R-96-69)
M. Foster said this had been a team effort over the last six months and introduced
Tom Lockard, principal with Stone & Youngberg, underwriter; and Anna Marie del
Rio from Orrick, Herrington and Sutcliffe. In addition, he said S. Schectman, C.
Britton, and J. Fiddes had worked very hard on this issue. He said this is the largest,
most creative, and most beneficial piece of financing the District has ever done. He
said there are three major components: (a) refinancing the 1988 notes of $10 million
and fixing the rate; (b) the paying of$9 million in land contract notes including the
Meeting 96-15 Page 10
Hosking notes; and (c) issuing new capital appreciation bonds and lease debt. The
key element was in forming the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing
Authority with Santa Clara County. He said the down side is that the debt service
will gradually rise each year for the next 20 years.
In response to a question from N. Hanko, S. Schectman stated that the definition of
Treasurer on page 4 of Resolution 96-24 means the Controller of the District. N.
Hanko suggested that it read "Treasurer; Controller." Ms. del Rio stated that the
wording would be changed to state that Treasurer means Controller, unless actions are
to be taken jointly by the Treasurer and the Controller, in which case Treasurer
would mean Treasurer of the District.
T. Lockard said they will know the bond rating later in the week and expected an A
rating from Standard and Poors. He said they might also get an insurance
commitment acceptable to the District.
C. Britton explained why some Board members received duplicates of some
documents and said that Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe had done some of the
copying.
N. Hanko said she wanted to be sure that there will be a procedural amendment in the
Rules of Procedure regarding appointments to the Authority in January.
Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board adopt Resolution 96-24 as amended, a
Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula, Regional
Open Space District Authorizing the Issuance of Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District 1996 Refunding Promissory Notes in a Principal
Amount Not to Exceed $18,700,000 and Providing for the Form,
Execution and Repayment of Said Notes. T. Henshaw seconded the
motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
Discussion followed regarding the interest rate. T. Lockard said the rate depended on
whether it was insured. He said it would be in the District§ interest to pay the
insurance providing conditions are not too onerous.
C. Britton commented on the site lease of the property and said the appraisal supports
the value of the single parcel being pledged for the lease.
N. Hanko, asked that the Board be provided with a schedule of dates and said she was
uncomfortable with the wording in the Official Statement regarding the District§
taxing power. Following discussion, it was agreed that if bond counsel was
comfortable with it that the wording in the section above Maturity Schedule on the
last line be changed to read, ". . . has the ability to levy taxes."
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board adopt Resolution 96-25, a Resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District Authorizing the Execution and Delivery of a Site Lease, a
Meeting 96-15 Page 11
Project Lease, a Purchase Contract and a Continuing Disclosure
Agreement, and Approving a Preliminary Official Statement and
Approving Certain Other Matters in Connection Therewith. B.
Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board authorize the President to execute
the Agreement for Bond Counsel Services with Orrick, Herrington &
Sutcliffe of San Francisco. B. Crowder seconded the motion. The
motion passed 6 to 0; W. de Wit was not present for the vote.
At 10:07 P.M., President Hanko called a recess so that a Special Meeting of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authority could be held.
At 10:28 p.m., the Board reconvened to continue the Regular Meeting. All seven
Board members were present.
VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
B. Crowder said she had met with Patrick Sanchez regarding the San Mateo County Trails
Plan for which an Environmental Impact Report is required.
M. Davey said the Rhus Ridge Road neighborhood
hborhood meetingregarding
parking went very
well
and she complimented staff. She said concerns were raised by residents about parking; staff
listened to concerns and promised to get back to them and schedule another meeting.
M. Davey said she and N. Hanko had arranged for Mary Stegner to view the Stegner
memorial bench. N. Hanko said M. Smith, C. Britton, and D. Danielson also attended the
picnic lunch and that she is preparing a scrapbook for Mrs. Stegner.
D. Smernoff said he had met with the South Bay Ad Hoc Trail Committee and NASA is
willing to move fences to give the Bay Trail a full width and provide an opportunity to get
that segment of the trail through out to the peninsula. He said NASA's also willing to give a
trail easement and maybe a bench and platform; a definitive answer from NASA is expected
by the end of summer.
W. de Wit said he took a visitor from Germany on a Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space
Preserve trail and encountered bikes on the hiking only section.
C. Britton reported as follows: 1. The Jarvis II initiative qualified for the November ballot.
2. A friend of the District gave a gift of $25,000 anonymously for the Nature Center. 3. A
tom turkey is approaching people at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve but will be
relocated. 4. Escrows closed on several properties including the POST (Liles) property and
the Wells and Cutten properties. 5. Byron Sheri bill to allow the one-half cent sales tax in
San Mateo County, SB 1838, passed on reconsideration of the committee with a Proposition
62 amendment, which means that any tax enacted in San Mateo County since the enactment
of Prop. 62 would have to go back to the voters for approval. San Mateo will have to
decide what they want to do about going back to the voters. 6. He had received an
Meeting 46-15 Page 12
invitation for the Josephine and Frank Duveneck Humanitarian Awards on September 28.
He said he would attend. T. Henshaw said she would also like to attend and would have her
school cover one-half of the cost. 7. He distributed copies of the planning staffs work
program, including staff assignments for each project.
J. Escobar talked about the large oak tree in Deer Hollow Farm which has lost major limbs.
has recommended removing the tree, adding staff will try to
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retain it through the dedication of the Grant cabin. He said the new oak trees are doing well
at Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve.
S. Schectman reported as follows: 1. Staff is continuing to work on the legal aspects of
the golf ball problem at Saratoga County Club; R. Anderson will meet with the manager of
the country club and they hope they can work out a mutually acceptable solution to the
problem. 2. The amicus brief in support of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority is
being prepared, adding that the Trust for Public Lands, the League of California Cities, and
other California counties are filing amicus briefs. 3. She said staff will send Board members
a report on the Jarvis initiative and its impact, if passed, on future assessment districts.
4. In regard to the Pezolli estate matter where the District had a chance to acquire 30 acres,
Diane Blackman worked hard on the matter and it is closed. In addition, Wilson Sonsini law
firm provided pro bono services and staff will prepare a letter thanking them. She said she
would include in her memo about the Jarvis initiative whether there is anything that would
preclude forming a financing authority.
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P. Siemens suggested giving Wilson Sonsini a District photo in appreciation for their work.
M. deBeauvieres gave a progress report on the construction of the Skyline field office. She
said the undergrounding project at Windy Hill along Portola Road is complete.
C. Britton said he and M. de Beauvieres had met with Mr. Neely at Windy Hill and will be
meeting with George Nader, planner from the Town of Portola Valley. C. Britton said he
thought there would be problems with completing the Windy Hill parking lot project this
year.
President N. Hanko adjourned the meeting at 10:57 p.m.
Roberta Wolfe
Recording Secretary
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