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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 99-06
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
February 24, 1999
MINUTES
I. ROLL CALL
President Jed Cyr called the meeting to order at 6:38 P.M.
Members Present: Betsy Crowder, Nonette Hanko, Mary Davey, Jed Cyr, Ken Nitz, Peter
Siemens, and Deane Little
Members Absent: None
Personnel Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman
IL CLOSED SESSION
J. Cyr 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 6:38 P.M. and the Closed Session commenced at 6:39
P.M. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:20 P.M. and J. Cyr called the Regular
Meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. He noted that no reportable actions had taken place in Closed
Session.
Additional Personnel Present: Deirdre Dolan, John Escobar, Mary de Beauvieres, Jodi Isaacs,
Malcolm Smith, Randy Anderson, Michael Williams, Del Woods.
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Harry Haeussler, 1094 Highlands Circle, Los Altos, asked about the dirt work going on at the
new parking lot at Windy Hill. K. Nitz informed him that the Board had approved USGS looking
at fault areas there. Mr. Haeussler asked about the vandalism of fences reported in the monthly
field activity summary and said it looked like bikers. J. Escobar said they had just started
reporting vandalism in December and they did not know who did it.
Michael Marshall, Los Altos, talked about some pruning and cutting of trees on District land. He
suggested that they consult an arborist and provide more training to management and field people.
330 Distel Circle . Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 . Phone:650-691-1 200
FAX: 6.50-691-0485 . E-mail: mrosdreopenspace.org . Web Site:www.openspace.org 7
board ot'Diret tors;Pete Siemens,Mary C. Davey,lend(yr, Dex)e Little, Nanette Nanko, Betsy Crowder, Kenneth C. Nitz •C-ener.d Manager-L.Crait;Britton
Meeting 99-06 Page 2
J. Escobar replied that staff have consulted frequently with an arborist, and that 50,000 people
use the trail on a weekly basis. The trees at Rancho San Antonio were trimmed for safety
reasons.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion M. Davey moved that the Bo
ard adopt the agenda.
enda. K. Nitz seconded the motion.on.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
V. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board approve the Consent Calendar, including
approval of minutes of the December 14, 1998 Special Meeting; a reply to a
written communication from Joe Callan, General Manager, Saratoga Country
Club, P. O. Box 2759, Saratoga; agenda item 3,Final Adoption of an Amendment
to the Use and Management Plan for the Mt. Umunhum Area of Sierra Azul Open
Space Preserve for the Establishment of an Employee Residence in the Vicinity of
Hicks Road; agenda item 4,Authorization for the President of the Board or Other
Appropriate Officer to Execute the Notice of Completion and Acceptance of Work
for the Bridge Replacement Project at the La Honda Creek Op Space Open Preserve;
and Revised Claims 99-04. B. Crowder seconded the motion. The motion passed
6 to 0.
VI. BOARD BUSINESS
Agenda Item No, 1 - Tentative Adoption of a Comprehensive Use and Management Plan
Amendment for a Trail Use Plan for Study Area 2 of El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space
Preserve; and Determination that the Recommended Actions are Categorically Exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act—(Report R-99-34).
M. de Beauvieres presented the staff report and recapped the process of preparing the trail plan.
She reminded Board members of the amendments regarding Trail Segment 79 ("Devil's
Staircase"), Trail Segments 87 and 90 ("Outhouse Trail"), and Sierra Morena Trail.
N. Hanko said she was withdrawing her objection to Sierra Morena being a multi-use trail for
safety reasons and asked if staff had thought about any new trails that might be used for hiking
only once the parking lot was in place. M. de Beauvieres said this preserve is trail dense and,
because of use patterns that are already in place, staff probably would not look at a hiking-only
trail there.
K. Nitz asked if there were other technical trails in the preserve that have the same steepness. M.
de Beauvieres said there were some in the interior and pointed out one on the edge of the
preserve. J. Escobar said there are still quite a few trails with a 25% grade.
H. Haeussler asked if they could use Sierra Morena for hiking only and the one adjacent to it as
multi-use. He was informed that Trail Segment 81 was too steep.
Meeting 99-06 Page 3
Berry Stevens, 3265 Fair Oaks, Redwood City, member of ROMP, said he was disappointed with
staff intention to close Trail Segment 79 and strongly supported alternate 2. He suggested
keeping trails open until the new trail is ready for multi-use. He said the average trail grade is
16%.
M. de Beauvieres said staff would like to move forward with construction of trails before the
parking lot is constructed. Staff are anticipating that all new construction will be completed this
year.
Patty Ciesla, coach of the Stanford Cycling team, objected to staff's determination to close
Devil's Staircase and Outhouse. She said the graph misrepresented the steepness of the trails, and
said it would be easy to realign them to make them less steep. She didn't think there was
adequate evidence that trail closures would work, and said no one wants to obey the rules
because there is no good reason. She asked that the District give them some options to get out of
the parking lot. She asked if the District was listening to them and if they were doing the best by
the land.
Alan Taylor, 1836 Poplar, Redwood City, said he rode once a week. He said he rides Trail
Segments 87 and 90 and they are not that steep. In addition, the bedrock has been exposed for
years; it is an outcropping. He talked about the difference in quality of experience and objected to
the closing of any trails. He said the definition of a technical trail is subjective. He suggested
looking at who uses that part and make that part for them.
Mark Trail, 1017 Mallet Ct., Menlo Park, said he enjoys riding the trails slated to be closed. He
supported Sierra Morena trail being multi-use. He pointed out that if the interest is in trying to
get mountain bikers out of the area close to the parking lot, having a trail like Trail Segment 79 is
a good way to do that.
Tom Fernwood, 1158 Burgoyne St., Mountain View, said Devil's Staircase is a great trail and
does not show any more wear and tear than it did eight years ago. He thought that closing Trail
Segment 79 was a mistake.
Bill Davis, Mountain View, addressed Trail Segment 79, asking that M. de Beauvieres identify in
what way erosion has been a problem. He said he didn't think any maintenance dollars had been
spent. M. de Beauvieres replied they had not spent anything because it has not been an
authorized trail. She talked about erosion, stating that the Douglas fir roots are exposed. In six
years, there has been a significant change.
Patty Ciesla said erosion is natural and normal and the way it is occurring there is not harmful to
the environment.
J. Isaacs said the District has had a geologist working in that area but not specifically on mountain
biking issues. Santa Cruz mountains are known for landslides and are very unstable. She said she
was concerned for the cumulative effects.
J. Escobar said there is a maintenance issue on 30% slopes. He talked about constructing
g
drainage structures on 30% slopes, stating they would not last even one year.
Meeting 99-06 Page 4
Berry Stevens said he didn't think anyone questioned that there was exposed bedrock and 12"
diameter roots on Trail Segment 79. He did not think there had been changes in those in seven
years. He did not think maintenance was required. Alan Taylor echoed B. Stevens' comments.
John Ziesler(no card) said he was not sure it was appropriate to designate the entire trail as being
in the 30% range, but more appropriate to look at the average.
Motion: B. Crowder moved that the Board determine that the recommended actions are
categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as set out in
the staff report; amend the Comprehensive Use and Management Plan for El Corte
de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve to include the Study Area 2 Trail Use Plan
as contained in the staff report; and tentatively adopt the Study Area 2 Trail Use
Plan for El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve, including the
amendments contained in the staff report. K. Nitz seconded the motion.
Discussion: K. Nitz said the Methuselah Trail is another way into the preserve. He said he was
glad to have Sierra Morena as a multi-purpose trail. P. Siemens talked about
leaving Trail Segments 87 and 90 open. M. de Beauvieres said that, typically with
new trail construction, staff leaves trails closed to uses other than hiking for the
first year.
Amendment: N. Hanko moved to amend the motion to provide for leaving Trail Segments 87
and 90 open until the newly constructed trails have been in place long enough.
Second.; P. Siemens seconded the amendment.
Discussion: J. Cyr said the Ad Hoc Committee voted to leave the trails open for another
season; however, since then, there has been more evidence of rogue trail
construction. He was concerned that if compliance becomes a problem, the
alternative is to close trails to that use completely. D. Little said he hoped they
could appreciate that Board members have a larger responsibility to the entire
community and flora and fauna. In addition, he said threats of violations if trails
are closed made him more likely to vote for closure and for additional money for
enforcement.
Vote on amendment: The motion was defeated 5 to 2 (Directors Hanko and Siemens voting yes).
Vote on original motion: The motion passed 7 to 0.
Patty Ciesla responded to Board members, stating her remarks were not intended as threats.
There was a recess from 8:58-9:05 P.M.
VII. Agenda Item No. 2 -Proposed Addition of Foster Proper and Gift of Peninsula Open Space
Trust Proper to Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve; Determination that the Recommended
Actions are Categorically rically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act; Tentative
Adoption of the Preliminary Use and Management Plan Recommendations, Including Naming the
I
Meeting 99-06 Page 5
Property as an Addition to Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve; and Indicate the Intention to-
Dedicate the Properties as Public Open Space at this Time—(Report R-99-35).
D. Woods described the property, the road and water systems, and potential trail connections. He
said staff needed to master-plan the area and understand it better before opening it to the public.
There are invasive species on the land, including Scotch broom.
M. Williams outlined the terms and conditions of the acquisition.
Motion: K. Nitz moved that the Board determine that the recommended actions are
categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act as set out in
g Y P Q Y
the staff report, adopt Resolution 99-04, a Resolution of the Board of Directors of
the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of the
Purchase Agreement, Authorizing Officer to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of
Grant to District, and Authorizing General Manager to Execute any and all Other
Documents Necessary or Appropriate to Closing of the Transaction(Saratoga Gap
Open Space Preserve—Lands of Foster) and Resolution 99-05, a Resolution of the
Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Accepting
Gift of Real Property and Authorizing Execution of Certificate of Acceptance with
Respect Thereto (Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve -Lands of Peninsula Open
Space Trust); tentatively adopt the Preliminary Use and Management Plan
recommendations contained in the staff report, including naming the property as an
addition to Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve; and indicate their intention to
dedicate the properties as public open space at this time. M. Davey seconded the
motion. The motion passed 7 to 0.
VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
N. Hanko reported that: 1. M. Davey reported on her appearance at the Santa Clara County
Planning meeting on Stanford land. There will be another meeting on March 4. She asked if staff
would prepare a letter for that meeting. D. Woods said he would draft a letter. 2. The Coastal
Advisory Committee met last night and all ten members were present. They selected three at-
large members from among 19 applicants. The next meeting is on March 9, 7:30 p.m.,Half Moon
Bay Community Center.
S. Schectman agreed with P. Siemens regarding non-voting alternates, stating the committee
could accomplish the same thing without them if they can't vote. She said it was a policy issue.
The committee can have whatever they want if they are willing to live with the legal issues.
N. Hanko said Toni Danzig, Chris Thollaug, and Bill Cook were appointed to the advisory,
committee.
B. Crowder commended R. Anderson for his reply to the letter from Saratoga Country Club.
D. Little said he and C. Britton went to the Special District Institute presentation on Thursday
and Friday. The topic was"Introduction to Government".
Meeting 99-06 Page 6
J. Cyr said he understood that the presentations by J. Escobar and G. Baillie were well received at
CPRS.
C. Britton reported that: 1. The high point of the Special District Institute for him was getting to
know D. Little better, and it was a worthwhile institute. 2. M. Smith and he attended a press
conference Monday at the Presidia Sen. Boxer and Cong. Miller announced a $2.3 billion annual
program for Land and Water. 3. Audrey Rust invited him to the three retreats POST is having.
4. Board members agreed that staff could discontinue the summary staff has prepared after each
Board meeting.
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
At 10:00 P.M. the meeting was adjourned.
Roberta Wolfe
Recording Secretary