HomeMy Public PortalAbout19961009 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Regional Open S#�e
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRI-Ci
Meeting
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
October 9,1996
I. ROLL CALL
Vice-President Mary Davey called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m.
Members Present: Teena Henshaw, David Smernoff, Mary Davey, Betsy Crowder, io".-C,
Peter Siemens.
Members Absent: Nonette Hanko and Wim de Wit.
Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Jean Fiddes, John Escobar, Malcolm
Smith, and Mike Williams.
II. CLOSED SESSION
M. Davey stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session for the purpose of
discussing Closed Session Agenda Items 1 and 2.
The Board recessed to Closed Session at 7:03 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at
7:04 p.m. The Board adjourned the Special Meeting at 7:15 p.m. and M. Davey call&' a,,e,
Regular Meeting to order at 7:31 p.m.
Additional Personnel Present: Carleen Bruins and Jodie Isaacs.
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Jessica Agramonte, 12150 Skyline Boulevard, Woodside; Lee Pitt, 12520 Skyline
Boulevard, Woodside; Dave Perrone, 316 Ridge Road, Woodside; and Al Bell, 12130
Skyline Boulevard, Woodside expressed their concerns about the plans for the developmenL
of the 284-acre property located off Skyline Boulevard by the Russian Orthodox Church ink
requested that the District considering purchasing this pristine open space before it is
developed.
B. Crowder requested that the Board place the citizens' request on a future agenda. M.
Davey said that the matter would be placed on the October 23 agenda.
IV. SPECIAL ORDER OF THE DAY
Audrey Rust, Executive Director, Peninsula Open Space Trust, showed a video and may
presentation on POST's three-year $28.5 million "Campaign to Save Essential Open
She said that $13.7 million had been raised to date and gave the members of the Board
copies of the case statement for the campaign.
330 Di5tel Circle . Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 . Phone:415-691-1200 . FAX:415-691-0485 * E-mail: mrosd@netcom coi'l
Board of Directors:Pete Siemens,Mary C. Davey,Teena Henshaw,David T.Smernoff,Nonette Hanko,Betsy Crowder,Wim de Wit
Genera/Manager:L.Craig Britton
Meeting 96-20 Page 2
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
C. Britton requested agenda item 7, Authorization for General Manager to Execute Right of
Enta with Ca.lTrans for Emergency Repairs to Star Route 84 Ci a Honda Road) be removed
from the agenda.
Motion: P. Siemens moved to adopt agenda as revised. D. Smernoff seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos, requested agenda item 4, Authorization
for General Manager to Execute Special Use Permits for the Windy Hill cyriders Inc. Hang
Gliding and Paragliding. Divisions, be removed from the consent calendar. C. Britton
requested the written communication from Paul Shleffar, 279 Sylvan Way, Redwood City,
and draft response be removed from the consent calendar, noting the letter was in response to
a staff survey and staff would respond to the letter.
Motion: B. Crowder moved to adopt the Consent Calendar including the minutes of
September 25, 1996 Regular Meeting; the responses to written communications
from Mr. Cliff Jenkins, President, South Skyline Association, 22400 Skyline
Boulevard, #25, La Honda; Mr. Tim Bratton, 10691 Mora Drive, Los Altos;
Ms. Marilyn J. Walter, 20 Coyote Hill, Portola Valley; agenda item 5,
Authorization for General Manager to Execute Permit to Enter for U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers Cleanup Project at Mt. Umunhum Area of Sierra Azul
Q= Space Preserve; agenda item 6, Ag=tance of$39.000 Bid from Mike
Tobar Excavation of Morgan Hill for Structures and Debris Removal Project
at Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve and Authorization for General Manager
Contract for Work; and Revised Claims 96-17. T. Henshaw seconded the
motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
VII. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: B. Crowder moved that the minutes of the September 25, 1996 Special and
Regular Meeting be pulled from the approved consent calendar. T. Henshaw
seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
B. Crowder requested that page three of the minutes be corrected to include her statement
that she recognized that the Portola Park Heights residents did not reside within the District's
boundaries, that they were not District voters nor supporting taxpayers, and that they might
want to consider annexingto the District. M. Dave stated that the minutes were approved
Y PP
by Board consensus with the requested addition.
VIII. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. 1 - Consideration of Resolution Supporting Proposition 204
M=rt R-96-100)
C. Britton reviewed the staff report. In response to a question from D. Smernoff, M.
Smith relayed information on the distribution of funds to the different programs in the
proposition.
Meeting 96-20 Page
3
Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board adopt Resolution 96-39, a Resoluti,,)%
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District Supporting Proposition 204 on the November 5, 1996 Ballot.
D. Smernoff seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
B. Agenda Item No. 2 - Consideration of Resolution On sing Proposition 218 (Lzet)ort
R-96-101)
C. Britton reviewed the staff report, focusing on the proposition's impact on
assessment districts.
Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board adopt Resolution 96-40, a Resolution
of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District Opposing Proposition 218 on the November 5, 1996 Ballot. P.
Siemens seconded the motion.
Discussion: H. Haeussler expressed his opposition to the Board
opposing Proposition 218. P. Siemens stated he opposed the 2/3 vote
requirement since it goes against the majority rule concept. The
motion passed 5 to 0.
C. Agenda Item No. 3 - Consideration of Endorsement of San Mateo County's Measure
T (RQQrt R-96-102)
D. Smernoff spoke in favor of Measure T, citing the impact the bypass would have
on coastal viewshed, trail corridors to the coast, and riparian and wildlife corridors.
He stated that the tunnel would help protect the entire San Mateo County coast from
further development.
B. Crowder stated she is strongly in favor of the tunnel, but was hesitant to support
the resolution since the project was too far from the District's Sphere of Influence.
She said Board members should individually support the tunnel, adding she did not
favor the Board taking a formal position in Measure T.
P. Siemens spoke in favor of the Board taking a position on Measure T, noting
CalTrans was pushing more development into the area by wanting to put in a
freeway. He said the District needs to support local communities to help them take
control back from the state and CalTrans.
M. Davey stated that the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council had voted to support Measure
T.
Peter Dreckmeier, 831 Sutter, Palo Alto, discussed the impact of the bypass road
proposed by CalTrans and spoke in favor of the tunnel alternative. He urged the
Board to endorse Measure T.
Meeting 96-20 0 Page 4'
Motion: D. Smernoff moved that the Board adopt Resolution 96-41, a
Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District Endorsing Measure T on the November 5, 1996
Ballot in San Mateo County. P. Siemens seconded the motion.
Discussion: B. Crowder stated that it was not within the Board's
purview to vote on endorsing Measure T, adding that she, as an
individual, strongly supports the tunnel.
The motion passed on the following vote:
Ayes: P. Siemens, D. Smernoff, M. Davey, and T. Henshaw
Noes: B. Crowder
D. Agenda Item No. 4 - Authorization for General Manager to Execute Special Use
Permits for the Windy Hill Skydders Inc. Hang Gliding and Para gliding Divisions
(R=rt R-96-103)
C. Bruins reviewed the staff report.
B. Crowder stated she would like to see the program expanded to include weekends.
She said the Town of Portola Valley had already agreed that hang gliding and
paragliding could occur on weekends. T. Henshaw said she also supported extending
the program to weekends.
J. Escobar explained the reasons staff did not support including weekends at this time,
noting the heavy use of the take-off area by picnickers and other preserve users on
weekends, the potential for use patterns to change in the area after the new parking
lot is completed, and the increased hang glider and paraglider use on weekends. C.
Bruins cited the heavy traffic on Skyline Boulevard and the increased potential for
accidents resulting from drivers distracted by the hang gliders and paragliders.
Thomas Low, representing the Windy Hill Skyriders, requested the Board extend the
special use permit to weekends for a trial period of one year or until the parking lot
opens. He noted that a permitted activity could be stopped very easily and requested
the same access to the preserve as other users get on the weekend. He cited other
public areas where hang gliding and paragliding is permitted and noted there had not
been any problems at these areas on the weekends. Mr. Low said more individuals
would fly if weekend use were allowed at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve.
H. Haeussler encouraged the Board to increase the number of fliers allowed on the
hill at one time from five to ten.
C. Britton reiterated the reasons noted by J. Escobar for not extending the permit to
weekends, adding that this was another special use and another potential user conflict.
He suggested opening the preserve for weekend use during the months of November
to March at designated times during the day.
Meeting 96-20 Page 5
4 Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to
execute the Special Use Permit for Hang Gliding and the Special Use
Permit for Paragliding with the addition that hang gliding and
paragliding would be permitted on weekends for a one-year trial basis
with an evaluation of the program in one year (October 9, 1997). B.
Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0.
IX. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
T. Henshaw said she attended the Hidden Villa recognition dinner on September 28.
D. Smernoff said he attended the Deer Hollow Farm recognition event on October 6, the
City of Mountain View's Commissioners' Dinner, and the El Corte de Madera trail workday
hosted by ROMP. He said B. Crowder also volunteered, and the next trail workday was
Saturday, October 12.
M. Davey reported on the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council retreat held on Saturday, October
5.
P. Siemens discussed the upcoming Los Gatos Creek Trail bridge dedication.
C. Britton thanked the Board for the staff recognition event; said the 1995-1996 audit is
forthcoming; reported the District will be switching accounts to Mid-Peninsula Bank by the
end of the month; and reported on meeting with Patrick Sanchez and Paul Romero to discuss
meeting with the park and recreation commissioners in each county next fiscal year with the
focus of the meeting being the District's Regional Open Space Plan.
J. Escobar said the Use and Management Committee met on October 2 to discuss rock
climbing and stated the committee's next meeting will probably be in January.
S. Schectman reported on two lawsuits against the District involving bicycle accidents. She
stated that the settlement on the Holmes matter would be on the Board's next agenda.
M. Davey complimented staff on the letters that are sent out from the District.
X. ADJOURNMENT
M. Davey adjourned the meeting at 9:02 p.m.
Jean H. Fiddes
District Clerk