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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19960814 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Regional Open )ace ---------------------— MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT t SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING Meeting 96-17 BOARD OF DIRECTORS August 14, 1996 0 hUMTES I. ROLL CALL President Nonette Hanko called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Members Present: Peter Siemens, Mary Davey (arrived at 7:05 p.m.), Teena Henshaw, David Smernoff, Nonette Hanko, Betsy Crow' der, and Wirn de Wit. Members Absent: None. H. CLOSED SESSION N. Hanko stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session for the purpose of discussing Closed Session agenda Item 1. The Board recessed to Closed Session at 7:04 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at 7:07 p.m. The Board adjourned the Special Meeting at 7:30 p.m. and N. Hanko called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:34 p.m. III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos, asked about the delay in completing the undergrounding at Windy Hill. C. Britton said the telephone company has not completed its part of the project. I I Patty Ciesla, Box 3189, Stanford, repreienting ROMP, said they feel as though they have made big strides in their relations with the District. During development of the plans they came to understand each other's views. However, as implementation of the plan proceeds, they are concerned that a more explicit avenue for utilization of their input, labor and enthusiasm be developed. Ms. Ciesla said the group has organized itself to be a useful force in implementing the trail plan and has created a committee (consisting of herself, Nigel Ray and Berry Stevens) to work on the projects associated with ECDM. They also look forward to continuing their service to the District in the form of trail education stations and trail patrols. She said they are looking forward to a closer relationship with staff and would like to meet with them on a regular basis. The cycling community felt that the plan is good but,the on-site work does not follow what was presented at the meeting. J. Escobar said staff has spent considerable time with ROUT representatives. He said they are closing trails that are not going to be impacted by future construction. They are getting closer to a map that looks like the trail plan. Bulletin boards are in place on the site which includes a map showing interim trails and describing the construction site, including timing. The trail that is being constructed is more wandering and up and down than has been built in 330 Distel Circle . Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 . Phone:415-691-1200 * FAX:415-691-0485 * E-mail:mrosd@netcom.com 4D Board of Directors:Pete Siemens,Mary C.Davey,Teena Henshaw,David T.Smernoff,Nonette Hanko,Betsy Crowder,Wirn de Wit General Manager:L.Craig Britton Meeting 96-16 Page 2 the past. He said they anticipate volunteer projects in October and November and had discussed that with ROMP last night. As soon as Paul McKowan, the new Volunteer 4 Coordinator, is on board, they will be looking at dates for those projects, as well as plans for leadership training. N. Hanko asked J. Escobar to keep in mind that the community needs communication and to have the new coordinator get in touch with ROMP. B. Crowder said the alignment she had seen is very satisfactory and she was pleased with what has been done so far. She thanked Ms. Ciesla for keeping the Board informed. Tod McGee, Redwood City, said he did not speak for ROMP. During the first weekend when the bulletin boards were up at the trail- h_e spent twp hours d { answering questions about trail closures. Peoere upset that trails were closing in areas 4 and S when the construction was taking place in area 1. He requested that in M. Smith's updates about the new trails being built he include the rationale for trail closures. He agreed with B. Crowder that the new trails are much more interesting than in the past .He said good things are happening in area 1. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: T. Henshaw moved that the Board adopt the agenda. P Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to V. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR B. Crowder requested that the July 24 minutes be removed from the Consent Calendar and commented on the replies to written communications. She said the responses to Ms. Jo Barrett and Mr. Darren Bronson were excellent and she agreed with staff. n including Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar g oao . responses to written communications from Theresa Grieve, Start Route 2, Box 1990 7300 Alpine Road La Honda; Darren Bronson, 122 E. Creek Drive,#5, Menlo Park; and Jo Barrett, Vista Point Ranch, 12300 Skyline Boulevard, Los Gatos; agenda Item 4, Authorization to Solicit Bids for Removal of Dilapidated Structures and Nbris at Four Sites in Sierra Azul Onen Spy Preserve and Determination that Project is Categorically Exempt from =A; agenda Item 6, Final of Amendments to the District's Public Notification Policy and the Good Neighbor Policy; and Revised Claims 9&14. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion carried 7 to 0. VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 24. 1996 B. Crowder asked that paragraph 4, page 4, be amended to read, "B. Crowder said she did not want to spend any more money on the road." Also,-on page 6, last paragraph, the last sentence should read, "She said the realignment of the Bay Trail in the area of Redwood Shores was approved." MQUon: B. Crowder moved that the Board approve the July 24 minutes as amended. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 4 to 0 with Board Meeting 96-16 Page 3 members Davey, Henshaw and Smernoff abstaining. VH. BOARD BUSINESS A. Agenda Item No. 1 - Authorization to Apply to Town of Woodside for Lot Line Adjustment to Create Three. Rather Than Four, Residential Parcels at Pinto Way and One Residential Parcel at Summit Springs,; to Sign Formal Agreement with Town of Woodside Designating the Town as Lead Agency for Reviewing Project under CEQA; to Increase Proiect's Overall Budget by $15.500: and to Authorize General Manager to Contract for Additional Services and Fees from Brian Kangas Foulk Civil Engineers and Surveyors, William Cotton Associates and Town of Woodside - (RRport R-96-86). R. Anderson presented the staff report and stressed that they are proposing three, rather than four parcels at Pinto Way. He said the geotechnical studies,-for which they had requested additional budget, were necessary because of the concerns of neighbors regarding drainage. There would be additional soils testing on the Pinto Way parcel. R. Anderson informed Board members that it would be mid-fall before staff submits the application, perhaps 3 to 6 months, and the lots might be ready to be put up for sale in 6 to 9 months. He said the total budget requested is about $120,000. C. Britton responded to W. de Wit's question regarding whether the District would come out ahead on the sale of the land. He said the District had tried to sell the property "as is" and got no bids. Staff determined if they don't improve the marketability, the District won't have anything to sell. He said one thing in our favor is that the market has improved and the District might net as much as $1.5 million from the Pinto Way site alone. N. Hanko said she did not support the submission of the application to Woodside for a lot line adjustment. She would favor selling the parcel at Summit Springs, and she understood someone was interested without the District having to do anything. She said she still believes that the Pinto Way area offers a very fine trail system and she would hate to see houses take away from the experience that people now have. Even though the trail would not be removed, she did not think people would feel as comfortable with development all around. Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board: (1) authorize the General Manager. to sign a formal agreement with the Town of Woodside designating the Town as the lead agency for the purpose of review of this project under the California Environmental Quality Act; (2) authorize the General Manger to submit an application to the Town of Woodside for a lot line adjustment to create three residential parcels at Pinto Way and one residential parcel at Summit Springs; (3) increase the funds authorized to date for the project by $16,500 (from $103,153 to $119,653) and increase the current fiscal year budget for the project by $41,439 (from $43,800 to $85,239); and (4) authorize the General Manager to contract Meeting 96-16 Page 4 with Brian Kangas Foulk for up to $40,000 for civil engineering and surveying services; William Cotton Associates for up to $13,800 for geotechnical engineering services; and authorize up to $15,000 for permits and fees to the Town of Woodside. M. Davey seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 1. N. Hanko voted no. B. Agenda Item No. 2 - ScheduUng of Special Meeting Workshgg to Review Draft of Revised Basic P-ol icy-Qf the Mid2minsula Regional_ Q= Space District and District Mission Statement - (Report R-96-821 Following discussion, the Board agreed to hold the workshop on October 30 at 7:00 p.m. C. Britton informed the Board that Lisa Zadek had created the easily readable format of the draft proposal, which the Board appreciated. Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board: (1) determine that.the project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) based on the findings contained in the staff report; and (2) schedule a Special Meeting workshop on October 30 at 7:00 p.m. to review and amend, as necessary, the draft of the revised Basic Policy and the District mission statement. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. C. Agenda Item No. 3 - Authorization to Execute Agreement beN= City of Mountain View. the District, and County of Santa Clara and Site-Lease between the District and County for Deer Hollow Farm and Approval to Create and Fill Farm Maintenance Worker Position - (Lt=IJ R-96-Ul J. Escobar said the agreement keeps Deer Hollow Farm open for three more years with the District providing maintenance work, the City of Mountain View providing the educational program, and the County contributing $50,000 cash. In addition there is a significant contribution from Friends of Deer Hollow which is up to $13,000 this year. Staff has tried but could not reach an agreement with the County for a five year agreement. The operation will not change because of the agreement with the County. In addition, the new maintenance worker position could be incorporated into District staff if the Farm closes in the future. He said staff anticipates having the funds to cover the position for this fiscal year with no addition to the budget, which will be under $50,000 to begin with, but may reach that figure within the 3 year term of the agreement. J. Fiddes asked that recommendation 4 be amended to include, "and add to the District Position Classification Plan." T. Henshaw said she felt that Deer Hollow and Rancho San Antonio are the best buys the taxpayers have because of the three agencies working together. M. Smith said he will prepare a news release for the press. J. Escobar said he understood that the farm cooperative project has been nominated for a League of California Cities award. Meeting 96-16 Page 5 J. Escobar said there is a good pool of candidates for the Farm Maintenance Worker and the seasonal worker who is there now is very interested. He pointed out that this position would also clean and care for the District restrooms that are part of the farm. Harry Haeussler asked who buys the animals, who owns them, who is responsible for them, and who provides veterinarian services. J. Escobar said there is a special fund that pays for feed and purchase of animals. Most veterinarian services are donated. Animals are sold and that money goes into a separate revolving fund. Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board (1) authorize the General Manager to execute the Agreement Between the City of Mountain View, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and the County of Santa Clara; (2) authorize the General Manager to execute the Site Lease; (3) approve the creation of a Farm Maintenance Worker position; (4) approve the job specification for the Farm Maintenance Worker position and assign it a salary range of Step Number 213 to 238, with a corresponding monthly salary of$2,350 to $3,013 and add the position to the District position classification plan; and (5) authorize staff to fill the Farm Maintenance Worker position. D. Smernoff seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. C. Agenda Item No. 5 - Authorization for General Manager to Enter into an Agreement with ATC Environmental Inc. of Marina, California for $21,730 to Perform Asbestos and Lead-Based Paint Survey for Mt. Umunhum Facilities in Sierra Azul Ouen Space Preserve and Determination that Project is Categorically Exempt from CEOA - M=rt R-96-851. R. Anderson reviewed staff s recommendation and said if the scope of the study goes beyond this point, it will come back to the Board for approval. C. Britton stated that it is the strategy to get the District's Congressional delegate to help get the clean-up accomplished by the Federal government, Department of Defense budget. D. Smernoff asked about the large-range in quotes from consultants and whether the District is getting what they need from the consultant with the low bid. R. Anderson said they chose the consultant because they had the most experience and the best references for doing this work on military bases. It is hard to judge why some rates are so much higher. The recommendation is not based solely on price. Hairy Haeussler asked if there is a chance of getting the money back from the Federal government for the surveys. R. Anderson said the District will not recover the money for the surveys but hopes it is a good investment in terms of getting the government to pay for the cleanup which would cost much more than the surveys. Meeting 96-16 Page 6, M2tmn: P. Siemens moved that the Board: (1) determine that the recommended actions are categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act as set out in the staff report; and (2) authorize staff to solicit bids for removal of debris and structures in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. T. Henshaw seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS B. Crowder reported that she and W. de Wit had attended a meeting of the San Mateo County Alternative Funding Committee. The Senate bill has not passed and a group is trying to obtain private funding for County parks, including grants. She said the Sernpervirens Fund had given her and lean Rushmore a tour of the road that leads between Portola State Park and Big Basin. The District will eventually connect from Monte Bello all the way to the ocean. She also reported That the new signs regarding trails at the Picchetti area are excellent. J. Fiddes reported that the period for filing no papers for the three Board vacancies had closed. In Ward 4, D. Smernoff is unopposed. Staff will be coming back to the Board for his official appointment. In Ward 3, led Cyr filed. His signatures have not been checked. If he is qualified he will also be running unopposed and the Board would need to appoint him as well. S. Schectman will check the District's enabling legislation to find out when the Board is required to make appointments. J. Fiddes, said in Ward 7, two candidates have qualified, Tom Davids from San Carlos and Kenneth Nitz from Redwood City. J. Fiddes said there had been a staff retirement party for Marie McGough and 10 Combs. C. Britton said that the text of Mary Lou Lyon's talk at the Grant House dedication was included in the Board's packet. He said at the dedication he should have introduced Judy Law who coordinated the project and Carleen Bruins who handled the interpretive aspects of the history exhibit and the artifact acquitftibn.' As a follow up to Item 3 (Deer Hollow Farm), J. Escobar said the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors have it on their agenda for August 20. He added information on reports of aggressive coyotes at Windy Hill. B. Crowder suggested giving a District T-shirt to the person whose shirt was destroyed by a coyote. IX. ADJOILENNENT N. Hanko announced that she would be on vacation at the time of the next meeting and adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m. Roberta Wolfe Recording Secretary