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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 96-26
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
December 18, 1996
MINUTES
I. ROLL CALL
President Nonette Hanko called the Special Meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
Members Present: Pete Siemens, Mary Davey, Teena Henshaw, David Smernoff, Nonette
Hanko, Betsy Crowder, and Wim de Wit.
Personnel Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Malcolm Smith, Randy Anderson and
Kathleen Hart.
11. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Robert Wallace, 12881 Foothill Lane, Saratoga, stated he is on the Trails Policy Committee
for Almaden Quicksilver County Park. The committee has agreed to open all trails (mostly
old mining roads) to all user groups, including dogs on leash. There is one narrower trail
open only to hikers and dogs. Later they will open another trail to dogs on leash, horses,
bikers and hikers. This trail will come out on Ward Road which connects to the Open Space
District. There will be a parking lot and staging area built that can be used by both parks.
Mr. Wallace stated he would like to see that area kept open to dogs, and is giving the Board
this trails update in case it comes up for policy discussion.
Director Crowder said that Wim de Wit and Teena Henshaw were attending their last Board
meeting. She discussed their work on the Board and presented each with District memorabilia
gifts in appreciation of their work.
III. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board adopt the agenda. D. Smernoff seconded the motion.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
IV. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
B. Crowder requested that the claims be removed from the consent calendar.
Motion: T. Henshaw moved to adopt the Consent Calendar, including the response to Written
Communication from Mr. Mark G. Blaszczyk, 7453 Kingsbury Place, Cupertino. P.
Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
330 Distel Circle * Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 * Phone:415-691-1200 & FAX:415-691-0485 0 E-mail: mrosd@netcom.com 0
Board of Directors:Pete Siemens,Mary C.Davey,Teena Henshaw,David T.Smernoff,Nonette Hanko,Betsy Crowder,Wim de Wit
General Manager:L.Craig Britton
Meeting 96-24 Page 2
V. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. 1 - Final Adoption of Use and Management Plan Amendment for
Windy Hill Qg&n Space Preserve to Open Hamm's Gulch Trail and a Portion of Lost Trail
to Dop-s on Leash for a One-Year Trial Period and Recommendation on Monitoring o
Dog Use at the Preserve (Report R-96-132
Randy Anderson reviewed the staff report. Discussion focused on how the monitoring
program would work and the necessity to install signage.
D. Smernoff said he plans to support access now, but if compliance is poor during the year he
would be very hesitant to continue dog access. B. Crowder said Dr. Goudy called, reporting
that the law says the owner of an upper area of a watershed is responsible for contamination of
the lower area and that the contamination of riparian streams is illegal. She said that on
Saturday, while doing volunteer work.on Hamms Gulch Trail, she saw two unleashed dogs.
S. Schectman commented that there is not a sufficient connection between where the trail is
and where the springs are, and that staff concludes this use will not result in the contamination
of the water system, as covered in the report. M. Davey reviewed the staff report on the
location of springs and the trails, showing that the proposed access changes do not have the
potential to significantly impact the water supply.
Dr. Tom Okarma, 1651 Portola Ave., Palo Alto, expressed his opposition to the opening of
Hamms Gulch, reiterating the residents concern that dog access would adversely affect the
water quality of the neighbors, adding that the public health impact of dogs on Hamms Gulch
and adjoining open space is also a broader issue because they are watershed lands which drain
into Searsville Lake, used for irrigation and backup water supply. He said the proposal runs
counter to existing policies, procedures, and codes which protect the public's health and
wildlife environments.
John Carnes, PADS, 2755 La Honda Rd. #95, Woodside, said PADS is in agreement with the
procedure the District has identified to proceed with the one year evaluation period, adding
that PADS is looking forward to working with the District on the evaluation procedures and on
education of users.
Dr. Noel Thompson, 1131 Westfield Dr., Menlo Park, expressed his disappointment that more
areas had not been opened to dogs off-leash in this area.
Linda Cohen, 935 Scott St., Palo Alto, spoke in favor of more access for dogs.
Motion: W. de Wit moved that the Board amend the Use and Management Plan for Windy
Hill Open Space Preserve to:
1. Open Hamm's Gulch Trail and a portion of Lost Trail to dogs on leash for a
one-year trial period, with a delay of opening for one month to allow staff time
to do a preliminary evaluation and install signage.
41 Meeting 96-24 Page 3
2. Actively encourage compliance with District ordinances by installing clear
signage and by having the volunteer coordinator work with the dog owner
group, Peninsula Access for Dogs (PADS), to facilitate the presence of
volunteers on the preserves who promote responsible dog use.
3. Direct staff to take measures to assess the impact of dog use on the preserves
using methods outlined in board report R-96-132; give an interim report to the
board after approximately six months.
4. Direct the Use and Management Committee to reassess dog access on these trails
after approximately one year.
T. Henshaw seconded the motion.
Motion to Amend: B. Crowder moved to amend recommendation 2 to read:
2. Actively encourage compliance with District ordinances by installing clear
signage and by having the volunteer coordinator organize the presence of
volunteers to monitor compliance with leash law and dog feces removal.
Encourage the volunteer coordinator to work with dog owner group, Peninsula
II
Access for Dogs (PADS), to educate dog owners on responsible use of the
preserves.
P. Siemens seconded the motion to amend. The motion to amend passed 7 to 0.
The motion as amended passed on the following vote:
Ayes: N. Hanko, P. Siemens, T. Henshaw, M. Davey, D. Smernoff, and W. de
Wit
No: B. Crowder
C. Britton clarified that the six-month report would be an informational report to the Board,
not a formal agenda item.
N. Hanko clarified the opening would be expected about February 1.
B. Agenda Item No. 2 - Annual Report on Dedication Status of District Lands and Proposed
Dedication of 414.57 Acres of Land as Public Open Space at Long Ridge and Sierra Azul
Qen Space Preserves (Report R-96-131)
C. Britton said the District owns 41,249 acres of lands in fee, easements, and leases. He
reviewed the areas to be dedicated as public open space within Long Ridge and Sierra
Azul Open Space Preserves, bringing the total of dedicated District land to 27,672 acres,
70.18% of all District lands.
Motion: W. de Wit moved that the Board adopt Resolution 96-45, a Resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Dedicating
Meeting 96-24 Page•4 ►
Interests in Certain District Lands for Public Open Space Purposes. T. Henshaw
seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
VI. REVISED CLAIMS
B. Crowder questioned item 1335, asking where the weed abatement took place. J. Escobar
said the payment was for removal of acacia and other exotics at Pulgas Ridge Open Space
Preserve. She asked where Heather Heights Road Association mentioned in item 1342 is
located. C. Britton replied it is at Saratoga Gap.
Motion: B. Crowder moved approval of the Revised Claims. P. Siemens seconded the
motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
B. Crowder reported that she, M. Davey, and D. Smernoff attended a Bay Area Action
meeting held at Thornewood Open Space Preserve to discuss the Arastradero preserve. She
said Jim Stienmetz and helpers have been doing a splendid job of restoring Thornewood to a
livable condition.
D. Smernoff reported that the Arastradero project is coming along and that they have secured
the dismantling agreement with the City of Palo Alto and will continue to work on the
stewardship proposal.
M. Davey complemented the staff on the communications seminars held the last three weeks,
saying it was a valuable service to the District. She also expressed appreciation for the Board
field trip held along Skyline Boulevard, saying it was both scenic and instructive.
M. Davey attended the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council last week. She reported that they, like
most nonprofit agencies, are losing their government funding. They have cut their staff by
half, cut services, and moved their offices. They are looking for support from organizations to
which they belong. M. Davey requests that the Board consider a substantial contribution
through an agency membership, because of the service the Ridge Trail Council provides to our
two-county area.
W. de Wit said that he had many pleasant lessons from the Open Space District. He enjoyed
being a Board member for four years and is glad about the environmental education program
that has come about with the aid of Cheryl Solomon and Carleen Bruins.
T. Henshaw said she is leaving with mixed feelings, but any organization thrives on new
blood. She said she will follow from afar some of the issues coming up and thanked everyone.
N. Hanko said Directors de Wit and Henshaw would be missed, and then introduced and
welcomed Ken Nitz, the new Director from Ward 7.
Meeting 96-24 Page f
C. Britton reported that he met with Judith Steiner of Hidden Villa regarding alternative public
parking and other issues. He said he will attend a meeting at the Coastal Conservancy on
December 19, to discuss the possibility of having them widen their purview to include the
Ridge Trail.
C. Britton introduced D. Woods who showed some slides of the new trail out to Bald Knob on
the former Thysen property, next to Purisima Open Space Preserve. D. Wood said the mile
and one-half trail cost $20,000, took about 2,000 hours of staff time and took over a year to
build, due to the challenges and obstacles that had to be overcome.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 P.M.
y Kathleen Hart
Recording Secretary