HomeMy Public PortalAbout19970122 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) _______ _
Regional Open S,,ce
1
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 97-02
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
January 22, 1997
MINUTES
L ROLL CALL
President Mary Davey called the Special Meeting to order at 7:02 p.m.
Members Present: Mary Davey, David Smernoff, Nonette Hanko, Betsy Crowder, and
Ken Nitz. Jed Cyr arrived at 7:10 p.m. and Pete Siemens arrived at 7:15 p.m.
Personnel Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, John Escobar, and Mike Williams,
II. CLOSED SESSION
M. Davey stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session for the purpose of
discussing Closed Session Items 1 and 2.
The Board recessed to Closed Session at 7:03 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at
7:05 p.m. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:35 p.m. and M. Davey called the
Regular Meeting to order at 7:35 p.m.
Additional Personnel Present: Malcolm Smith, Julie McCullough, Jodi Isaacs, and Del
Woods.
in. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Richard Bourke, P. O. Box 7207, San Jose, asked if the District follows the trails master
plan adopted by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in November, 1996. He was
f that while the District might use the document as a resource and it
informed by staff g
not all bind
ing document o f
coincides in some ways with the District's trail plans, it is o legally g ,
Y
the District.
Mr. Bourke said he was concerned about the Woods Road trail and that he was never
notified that it would be opening. He asked if the District had a standard claim for damages
and was informed that they do. S. Schectman advised that while the Board was unable to
take action on the matter at this time, they could direct staff to become more familiar with
the situation and report back. Mr. Bourke said he would write a formal letter.
330 Distel Circle • Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 • Phone:415-691-1200
FAX:415-691-0485• E-mail: mrosd®openspace.org • Web site:www.openspace.org
Board of Directors:Pete Siemens,Mary C.Davev,led Cyr.David T.Smernoif, Nonette Hanko,Betsy Crowder,Kenneth C. Nitz , General Manager:!_.Craig Bottcr,
Meeting 97-02 Page 2
IV. SPECIAL ORDER OF DAY
Resolution Honorina Dianne McKenna
M. Davey introduced Ms. McKenna, who retired as a long-time and supportive member of
the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, and read portions of the resolution. She
presented the resolution and gifts on behalf of the Board to Ms. McKenna.
Ms. McKenna thanked the Board and talked about some of her memories of her dealings
with the District.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the board approve Resolution 97-03, a 'esolution of the
Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space 'Ui tsicp
Honoring Dianne McKenna upon her Departure from the Saarz,. ('Jaa County
Board of Supervisors. P. Siemens seconded the motion. Tb(-'. vi-mibon passed 7
to 0.
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion:. N. Hanko moved that the Board adopt the agenda. D. Smernoff geconded the
motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
V1. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highland Circle, Los Altos, requested that Agenda ltvpl , ,8p?rgv
of Aereement for Legal Services with the Law Offices of Turner and Mulcd t i Agenda
Item 5, Authorization to Contract with Callander Associates of San Mateo fog
PLQ= Plans and SMifications for Public Access Improvements at Windy LC4&L_Lpace
Preserve. be removed from the Consent Calendar.
Motion:. B. Crowder moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar including
approval of minutes of the December 11, 1996 Regular Meeting, the
December 18, 1996 Special Meeting, and the January 8, 1997 1 and
Regular Meeting; Agenda Item 4, Denial of Claim for ProMrl� ,�,, '�jj' (� Filed
d- :1
by Robert and Patricia Moshel; Agenda Item 6, Adoption_QLL4,, 4p��
Completion of Contract and Acceptance of Work PLr_fg_r_med !jyfl'�a
Construction for the Pic&hetti Ranch Homestead House Sid k 1 R c YA ion
Project; Agenda Item 7, Resolution Honoring Michael _W 1 _
Donor; Agenda Item 9, Authorization for Directors Cyr_and_l _jL4jq_Aq"n
1997 Special District Board Management Institute at
and Revised Claims 97-02. K. Nitz seconded the motion. The motion passed
7 to 0.
VI. BOARD BUSDTESS
A. Agenda Item No. I - Appointment of 1997 Board Committee.,- e rt R- 7
M. Davey presented her proposed list of appointments.
Meeting 97-02 Pa r,, 3
40
Motion: D. Smernoff moved that the Board approve the president's
appointments to standing and ad-hoc committees as contained in thy;
report and approve the appointment of Director Smernoff as an
alternate member of the Use and Management Committee. P. Siemens
seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
B. Agenda Item No. 2 - District Appointments to the Midpgninsula Regional QMn
SS,RM District Financing, Authority Governing Board - (Report R- 7-10)
M. Davey asked the Board to approve her proposed appointments.
Motion: N. Hanko moved that the Board approve the president's appointmew of
Director Siemens, Smernoff, and Cyr to serve on the governing Boai6
of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Financing Authorft,�,
K. Nitz seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
C. Agenda Item 3 - Approval of Agreement for Legal Services with the Law Offices k _
Turner and Mulcare - (Report R-97-12)
S. Schectman answered Mr. Haeussler's questions regarding billing.
Mo on: N. Hanko moved that the Board authorize the Board President to
execute the Attorney-Client Fee Contract with the Law Offices of
Turner and Mulcare. J. Cyr seconded the motion. The motion passed
f 7 to 0.
D. Agenda Item 5 - Authorization to Contract with Callander Associates of San Ma
for $19.698 to Prepare Plans and Specifications for Public Access Improvements at
Windy Hill QRen Space Preserve - (Report R-97-08)
Staff answered Mr. Haeussler's questions about completion of the project as it relates
to the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and about moving the existing access
easement.
Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to
contract with Callander Associates of San Mateo for $19,698 to prepare
plans and specifications for public access improvements at Windy Hill
Open Space Preserve. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion
passed 7 to 0.
E. Agenda Item No. 8 - Tentative Adoption of Amendment to Rancho San Antonio
Qp�n Space Preserve Use and Management Plan to Address Parking Issues at Rhus
Ridge Road Parking Area and Determination that Pr Actions ri ly
Exempt Under CEQA - (Lt=rt R-97- 09)
J. McCullough presented staff s recommendations and showed maps and slides of tt
area.
Meeting 97-02 Page 4
C. Britton explained the arrangement with the caretaker, noting that when the District
bought the property the current caretaker had had a long history with the former
owner. He said the neighbors like having him there because it gives them a feeling of
security, adding the District does not pay him, but there is an agreement for his use
of the land.
J. Escobar said staff has met with the caretaker and discussed modifying the
agreement to include monitoring of the parking lot as part of his responsibilities.
J. McCullough stated there would be 8 to 10 overflow parking spaces. It was hoped
that when the overflow lot is not open, additional cars would go to Foothill College
and carpool to the site.
M. Davey said she had received a copy of Rhus Ridge Road petition to give the
Sheriff jurisdiction to ticket those who park illegally and which all neighbors had
signed. She said it will be presented to the Town of Los Altos Hills.
C. Britton pointed out a faxed letter from the Alepins who are the neighbors
immediately adjacent to the parking lot, and informed Board members that mention of
the parking lot has already been removed from the new printing of the District maps.
J. McCullough said staff had initially discussed placing the fence to allow for more
parking in the area before the gate, but the neighbors were concerned about the
potential increase in number of users. In addition, it required some grading and
possibly putting the creek into a culvert.
B. Crowder said she was at meetings that J. McCullough held, and it seemed at the
last meeting that the neighbors that were there were more or less in agreement with
this proposal. She said she was surprised by Mr. Alepin's letter because he did not
object at the time.
Ronald Alepin, 11920 Rhus Ridge Road, Los Altos Hills, said his position at the
meeting was and continues to be in opposition to the increased parking. Mr. Alepin
said the District had encouraged increased use without any consideration of the impact
on the neighborhood and are now allowing for that increased growth and encouraging
more. He said the District has increased traffic without proposing a solution that will
manage overflow parking. He questioned the doubling of the amount of parking and
he hoped it will be monitored and enforced. He said estimates in terms of how many
people park do not reflect the number of people who turn away and do not park. Mr.
Alepin said he did not believe the petition will result in any sheriffs patrol. He said
the conditions he fears most are the fire season and a medical emergency.
When asked what his solution was, Mr. Alepin suggested having District staff on site
discouraging the use of the facility beyond its capacity. Coupled with enforcement,
he said this could bring usage back to its former level.
M. Davey referred to the staff report and asked which of the proposals Mr. Alepin
and his neighbors agreed to.
- - -- - - -----------
Meeting 97-02 page 5
Mr. Alepin replied he thought painting the curb is a good idea. He said the problem
is that the area is simply not capable of handling the volume and the District wants %c
create more without safety, security, emergency access and environmental
considerations, adding doubling the parking is not the solution. He said he was 100%
against creating the overflow parking area.
J. McCullough clarified that the overflow parking is intended to accommodate those
who now park on the road. She showed where the no parking signs would be placed.
Mr. Alepin said he had limited confidence in no parking signs, especially when they
relyon neighbors' enforcement. He added that if the amount of parking were not
g P g
increased and the Sheriff enforced the no parking regulations, the number of users
could return to earlier levels.
N. Hanko mentioned that the District owns the property on behalf of the public and
they have a right to use the lands. She said staff has come up with a compromise thai
meets most of the neighbors' problems. She asked if the interior parking lot could be
monitored by the caretaker and was informed that was part of the plan staff had
discussed with him.
C. Britton added that one of the problems with the Foothill College solution is that
neighbors do no want people walking on the road either. Staff is trying to find w y
that people would be guaranteed to find a parking space, adding there has been song
discussion with Hidden Villa. He said there have been other situations where the
solutions they are proposing here have worked. He said staff is recommending
everything they can think of to make the situation tolerable and while it is not pert,
it is the best given the circumstances.
Discussion followed about the possibility of deferring all or parts of the proposal uadl
the signs have been installed and there is a commitment from the Town regarding
patrols. In regard to the Sheriff patrolling the area, consensus was that they would
respond to calls from the neighbors and that once the word got out that people were
being ticketed they would stop parldng ille all .
J. Escobar said staff has had success in modifying peoples' behavior in other areas by
supplying the neighbors with fliers to put on cars warning people that violators of the.
no parking regulations would be cited.
Mr. Alepin said the District is shifting the burden to taxpayers. Staffing it with ila
own staff would seem to be the most honest and responsible approach.
Michael Marshall, Los Altos said he had lived on Rhus Ridge Road long ago. He
expressed concern about using the meadow as a parking lot. He believed this i .
wilderness area and that animals use the meadow. He also stated that contrary to
previous testimony, the Rhus Ridge area the District now owns had been a real party
spot under private ownership and the current use was not an increase over past �� :
Meeting 97-02 Page 6
H. Hauessler said he thought the neighbors would accept people walking on the road
if all parking was eliminated. He suggested using the lot on Moody Road owned by a
the Town.
D. Smemoff said he would like to add Item 9 to the recommendations on page 4 to
increase placing signs on cars by District staff, the caretaker, and the neighbors if
they are willing.
Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board determine that the actions are
categorically exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act
and tentatively adopt the amendment to the Rancho San Antonio Open
Space Preserve Use and Management Plan contained in the staff report
to address parking issues at the Rhus Ridge Road parking area, with
Item 9 added under Use and Management Plan Recommendations
regarding placing notices on cars by District staff, caretaker, and
neighbors if they are willing, and with implementation of Item 6
deferred until information is received with respect to enforcement of
parking regulations by the Sheriff. B. Crowder seconded the motion.
Discussion: J. Cyr said he would prefer that the issue of the overflow
parking come back to the Board as a separate item. Discussion also
focused on other alternatives for parking, including the parcel on
Moody Road and at Hidden Villa.
The motion passed 5 to 1. J. Cyr voted no. N. Hanko abstained.
Motion: P. Siemens moved to add item 10 that the overflow parking would be
deleted when other regional parking nearby becomes available. J. Cyr
seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
M. Davey said she would send a letter to the Town stating the Board's support of the
petition regarding Sheriff patrol.
VII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
B. Crowder reported as follows: 1. K. Nitz and she went to San Mateo County
Supervisors' swearing in ceremony. 2. She had worked with the volunteers at Pulgas Ridge
Open Space Preserve. 3. She described a hike with D. Woods on a trail that Les Ernest is
building on the Adobe Creek Lodge Open Space Easement next to Windmill Pasture Area of
Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve.
P. Siemens said he had received information on tire burning at Kaiser. C. Britton said staff
will bring it to the Board's attention when it becomes an issue.
N. Hanko reminded Board members of W. de Wit's January 23 retirement party.
M. Davey announced that she would be leaving Friday for Antarctica and would return
February 12.