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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 03-03
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
February 12, 2003
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
I. ROLL CALL
President Nonette Hanko called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Mary Davey, Larry Hassett,Ken Nitz, Pete Siemens,
Nonette Hanko, and Deane Little(arrived at 5:50 p.m.)
Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, John Maciel, Duncan Simmons, Michael
Williams and John Escobar
H. CLOS
ED ED SESSION
N. Hanko stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session to discuss Closed
Session Agenda Items 1, 2, and 3.
The Board recessed to Closed Session at 5:36 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at
5:36 p.m. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:30 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
M. N. Hanko called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:32 p.m. She announced that the
Board had discussed Closed Session Agenda Items 1, 2, and 3 in Closed Session and that
no reportable actions had taken place.
Additional Staff Present: Sally Thieifoldt, Cathy Woodbury, Matt Freeman, and
Cindy Roessler
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Paul Nam, 19863 Portal Plaza, Cupertino, President of ROMP, thanked M. Freeman and
J. Escobar for attending their January 27 meeting. He talked about M. Freeman's
presentation and said he looked forward to better things to come out of the experience.
330 Distel Circle - Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 - Phone: 650-091-1200
Fax: 050-091-0485 - E-mail: mrosdrtopenspate.org - Web site:www.openspace.org � `ti.i �FAEEsr
Mmrd of Diret for Pete Siemens,Mary C. Davey, led Cyr, Deane Little,Nonette Hanko,Larry Hassett, Kenneth C. Nitz - GeneraI Manager:L.Craig Britton
Meeting 03-03 Page 2
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: J. Cyr moved that the Board adopt the agenda. P. Siemens seconded and
the motion passed 7 to 0.
VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion: J. Cyr moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including
Agenda Item 3, Authorize General Manager to Enter into an Amendment
to the Contract with Precise Mailing, Inc. of San Mateo for an Amount not
to Exceed $5,000 for Mailing Services for the Remainder of Fiscal Year
2002-2003; Agenda Item 4, Adopt Resolution Authorizing the Issuance
of District Credit Cards and Related Borrowing Funds in the Amount of
$22,000 and Rescind Resolution 99-44; and Revised Claims 03-03. M.
Davey seconded the motion. The motion passed 7 to 0. N. Hanko
abstained on Claim#5207.
VH. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. I —Adopt Resource Management Five-Year Strategic Plan;
Determine that the Recommended Actions are Categorically Exempt from the
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as Set Out in this Report; Approve
the Resource Management Five-Year Strategic Plan and Accept the Associated
Worktable—(Report R-03-22).
C. Roessler reviewed the report and stated that at the February 6 Use and
Management Committee meeting, two main things were discussed:
• Some of the concern about doing more resource management could be met
by a resource planner position—Committee recommended that the Board
consider that position. She noted that the position is not currently in the
action plan or the budget.
• Program for more early detection of new weeds that may become invasive
—Committee recommended it be brought back to the full Board for
discussion.
C. Britton added that what the Committee was hearing from the Board was that
they wanted a more aggressive resource management plan than the one planned.
That is why staff recommended the resource planner position, because they could
get a number of planning projects done including grasslands management. The
idea of the strike team was a good one, but staff would like to come back to the
Board with a program. It would be included in this year's action plan, not the
five-year strategic plan.
N. Hanko said there was a place under the first goal of Goal No. I to include the
issues of grasslands, bringing neighbors into the program, and other issues
identified by the Use and Management Committee. She thought that though the
Meeting 03-03 Page 3
plan included an impact study on the existing wildlife and vegetation when
considering the removal of exotics, the study should take place before years 3 and
4, as shown in the plan. She asked that the Board consider amending Goal No. 1,
Goal No. 4, Implementation Actions -Prepare subject-specific resource
management policies and guidelines. Under year 1, tasks under Goal 4, she asked
that staff add the words, "Work with the Use and Management Committee to
identify and prioritize other policies and guidelines for Board consideration and
adoption." This would make it clear that all policies come to the Board for
adoption.
Discussion followed regarding ways of getting other Board Members' ideas to the
Use and Management Committee and staff. S. Schectman said that in light of the
Brown Act, having a workshop would be the best idea. Board Members
discussed whether to have the workshop before or after the priority list goes to the
Committee.
D. Little expressed his opinion that the District has, in the past, under-funded the
area of resource management, and it has been less of a priority than other issues.
He cited the District's Mission Statement regarding protecting and restoring the
natural environment and said the District spends less on that than on the other
two. He talked about his frustration during the Committee meeting. He said the
Committee agreed to the idea of hiring another planner, but it was with the
understanding that the District staff would prioritize the idea of starting a new
program now rather than later to try to detect emerging problems and address
them. He thought the conclusions and recommendations in the report basically
reflect staffs recommendations and not the Committee's recommendations. He
said that while the District's lands are very beautiful, they do have invasive
plants. He thought it was time to change policy regarding how to respond to
emerging invasives.
L. Hassett said that though he missed the Committee meeting, he would take
pretty much the same stance on the issue as D. Little. He recommended that the
Board consider the Use and Management Committee's recommendations rather
than staffs.
D. Little explained how the strike force would be organized. He said he would
like the resource planner to have significant experience as a field biologist.
C. Roessler said a resource planner would do master planning, work with the
Board on undefined policies, and help develop a strategy for invasive plant
control.
P. Siemens said he could support there being another person, but it should be a
field person. He thought the strike force idea needed another component—
looking at old plants in new places as well as new plants in old places.
C. Roessler described the invasive plant control taking place now and said two
District-wide surveys have been done already. She talked about the Tamara Kan
reports and the priorities she had set up, which staff uses in their strategy. She
Meeting 03-03 Page 4
clarified that staff is working on these projects, they do have the preserves
mapped, and they are working on putting the information on GIS.
P. Siemens said he agreed the District needs to be more aggressive, but he did not
see how hiring another office person would help.
C. Roessler said it would address some other concerns of the Board such as
getting the master plan done sooner and making sure that staff bring the policies
to the Board to address. She thought there was more homework needed before
deciding what is going to be invasive, how to set criteria, and how to create a
strike team to address the issues.
P. Siemens said he would prefer to see that done by a consultant, and then if the
District needed to hire more staff, the new position would be in the field.
L. Hassett commented that, as a member of the coastal committee, he was aware
that the District has been criticized for not doing enough as far as managing lands.
He suggested that the job description of the person to be hired be sent to the Use
and Management Committee.
D. Little reiterated that he would like to see whoever the District hires have
significant field biology experience and spend a lot of time in the field. Perhaps
there needed to be a planner and a consultant. He described his ideal person for
the job.
C. Roessler talked about what they were doing about star thistle and said it was a
regional issue.
P. Siemens suggested that the budget committee add the budget necessary so that
staff could hire a consultant now and a staff position later.
K. Nitz said Goal 5 was to update Tamara Kan's work by hiring a consultant to go
out and look at the invasive problem. He suggested that could be expanded to be
overall, not just on or near trails, and could be done in year one.
M. Freeman provided background on staff efforts to identify non-native species.
C. Britton urged the Board not to return the matter to the Use and Management
Committee because every Board Member has an interest in and opinion about the
program. He said he would rather have the whole Board consider these issues.
He talked about the process of putting together the report and recommendations.
He said he thought it was staff job to come to the Board and say how they are
going to respond to this and not just drop everything and respond to it in a manner
of trying to spend money. He said the Board should also consider what would
drop off the list if they added projects.
N. Hanko said she thought the goals stated were very good. She suggested that
the plan come to the full Board in the form of a workshop with the appropriate
Meeting 03-03 Page 5
consultants and speakers present. She thought that even if the Board could not
agree on adding a staff position tonight, they could agree on adopting the plan.
J. Cyr said he thought the basic pieces are in place and it was clear to him what
staff was proposing in the five-year plan.
D. Little disagreed with the idea of approving the plan as is. He said it did not
reflect the view of the Committee and is a status-quo approach. He said no one
was proposing throwing money at the problems randomly. He felt that it would
not take a year to plan an experiment. He was concerned about putting it off for
another year. If the Board approved the plan tonight, he would like to see it
amended to strengthen it. However, he would prefer that it either go back to the
Committee or to a Board workshop.
C. Britton said he was suggesting that if the Board wanted to look at the plan and
accelerate some projects, that can be done as part of the work plan. He suggested
tabling this item for a few minutes because someone in the audience was there for
Item 2.
Motion: J. Cyr moved to table Agenda Item I temporarily and consider
Agenda Item 2. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion
passed 7 to 0.
B. Agenda Item No. 2- Adopt Resolution Authorizing Purchase of the Thompson et
al Property; Determine that the Recommended Actions are Categorically rically Exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act (CAA) as Set Out in this Report;
Tentatively Adopt the Preliminary Use and Management Plan Recommendations
Contained in this Report, including Naming the Property as an Addition to
Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve—(Report R-03-20).
M. Williams presented the staff report and showed the location of the property on
a map. He showed photos of the property. He said there were no below-ground
tanks on the property.
C. Britton answered questions regarding Section 6 of the resolution. He said it
was a standard part of all resolutions regarding purchase of property. Discussion
followed regarding changing the wording so that it would be more easily
understood.
Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board determine that the recommended
actions are categorically exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set out in the staff report;
adopt Resolution No. 03-04, 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
Meeting 03-03 Page 6
(Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve—Lands of Thompson et. al.);
tentatively adopt the Preliminary Use and Management Plan
recommendation contained in the report, including naming the
property as an addition to Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve; and
indicate their intention to withhold the property from dedication as
public open space. P. Siemens seconded the motion. The motion
passed 7 to 0.
N. Hanko returned the to Agenda Item 1.
Motion- J. Cyr moved that the Board determine that the recommended
actions are categorically exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act(CEQA) as set out in the staff report;
approve the Resource Management Five-Year Strategic Plan and
accept the associated worktable; and approve inclusion of the new
Job Classification of Resource Planner in the Planning
Department's 2003-2004 Action Plan Budget contingent upon the
State budget process resulting in no additional loss of property tax
revenue to the District. N. Hanko seconded the motion.
Discussion. D. Little suggested that when the District is hiring resource
planning staff they try to find employees with significant field
biology experience. He said he thought it was important for the
five-year plan that it reflects the Use and Management Committee
desires. He suggested that the District hire a consultant
immediately this year and probably on a recurring basis, maybe
every few years or every couple of years, to identify emerging
resource problems and opportunities such as invasive plants,
endangered species, plant pathogens, and naturally resistant
populations of native species. Project planning to begin this task
should be prioritized as soon as possible and remedial actions
suggested by the consultant to address emerging problems should
be undertaken promptly by staff and volunteers so that this
consultant would be hired for the purpose of identifying the
problems here and now, 2003, on our lands.
N. Hanko asked the General Manager if he felt that this is an issue
that he would be supportive of if the Board approved the
recommendations tonight, or did he need time to talk to the staff
and work out their priorities and then get back to the Board on it.
C. Britton said he would rather see some way staff could integrate
the plan into something that they are already doing, such as the
Tamara Kan study, rather than just hire a consultant to go out and
look around. He said staff s recommendation, which is the one
they would put in the action plan, was for staff to come up with a
plan for them to deal with a basic plan for an outbreak survey of
some kind. He asked for clarification from D. Little on whether he
Meeting 03-03 Page 7
was actually talking about an amendment to the resource
management plan or the action plan.
D. Little said it did not matter where it happened. It would direct
the staff to identify a consultant and hire a consultant with the
charge of identifying emerging problems and opportunities, and
coming up with a quick action plan for addressing them.
C. Britton recommended putting it in the action plan so that staff
could go back to the Administration and Budget Committee with
the recommendation.
Board Members discussed wording for the amendment.
C. Britton said C. Woodbury had informed him that in the open
space planning department action plan, in the planning and
geographic information, there is already a key project number 4
which has to do with a regional information inventory. He said
staff could add a bullet point in there and make sure more money
was budgeted there.
Following further discussion, J. Escobar offered some historical
perspective on the matter and told why he thought it illustrated the
need for a resource planner. He said the District has lagged behind
in the planning end of things, and that is where there is a need to
catch up
D. Little repeated his suggested amendment.
C. Britton said the job specification for the resource planner had
not yet been written. If the Board approved the position, staff
would put it in the budget and then it would come back to the
Board.
After further discussion, D. Little said he was proposing that as an
amendment to recommendation 4. He added that, with regard to
recommendation 2, he did not feel that 15 percent annual growth
was really a sufficiently aggressive strategy towards resource
management considering the problems they face. He thought it
was time that the District goes beyond the experimental stage and
either hire contractors or hire staff to more aggressively attack the
problems. He said he would like to see perhaps a minimum of 15
percent, but would personally like to see them grow 50 percent for
the next couple of years and then 15 percent.
Amendment: D. Little moved that wording in the five-year plan is changed to
say a minimum of 15 percent. P. Siemens seconded the
amendment. The motion to amend passed 7 to 0.
Meeting 03-03 Page 8
Vote on motion: The motion passed 7 to 0.
C. Britton clarified that the resource planner recommendation was in the first
report from the Committee, and he had pulled it out. J. Escobar said that staff
committees met on the resource management plan over three years ago, and
within the first three or four meetings they were discussing this position.
Motion: J. Cyr moved that the Board approve inclusion of the new Job
Classification of Resource Planner in the Planner Department's
2003-2004 Action Plan and Budget, contingent upon the State
budget process resulting in no additional loss of property tax
revenue to the District. L. Hassett seconded the motion. The
motion passed 7 to 0.
Motion: D. Little moved that the Board direct that the District should hire a
consultant immediately and on a recurring basis to survey district
lands to identify emerging resource problems and opportunities
and to develop a priority list for staff action. P. Siemens seconded
the motion.
Following discussion, D. Little reworded his motion.
Reworded Motion: D. Little moved that the Board shall direct the staff, in this
year's action plan, to propose hiring a consultant to identify
emerging resource problems and opportunities and to develop a
priority list for action on those problems and continue the project
annually. The motion was previously seconded by P. Siemens.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
C. Roessler said that annually they review and report on what they accomplish,
then prepare the action plan. Feedback from the Board would be included.
N. Hanko suggested that Board members ask the Use and Management
Committee to come up with the ideas they think should be explored with the staff,
then bring those ideas back to the full Board to decide whether to have a
workshop or just give direction to staff.
C. Britton suggested that Board members forward their ideas in writing to him.
J. Escobar said staff would not have a job description for the Resource Planner
position until closer to the time they would hire that person, probably in the fall.
N. Hanko asked D. Little, as chair of the Use and Management Committee, to
follow up on the concerns expressed by the Board at this meeting, and repeated
her interest in grasslands management.
Meeting 03-03 Page 9
VIIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
M. Davey: 1. She attended the State of the District meeting last week and said it was an
exhilarating afternoon. She thanked staff. 2. She talked about the Planning Commission
meeting on February 6 regarding proposed open space for Stanford land. Action was
postponed until March 6. N. Hanko said she would attend that meeting. M. Davey gave
a list of four major points the Stanford Strategy Committee wanted to make to C. Britton
and said she hoped the District would comment on them.
D. Little said that while hiking on Rhus Ridge Road he was startled by a bobcat in a tree.
He was struck by how calm this wild animal was in the presence of humans and felt this
was one of the gifts that the District gives to the animals that live on its preserves.
L. Hassett talked to Mary Zvirblis who lives on Old La Honda Road and has been
instrumental in fostering Thornewood Open Space Preserve issues. She brought to his
attention that there is a tendency for dog sitters(private companies that take care of dogs)
to use the preserve, and often in groups of five or six at a time, sometimes more. He
suggested that perhaps there should be a limit to the number of dogs one person could
bring at one time. He said he saw a that a trend that some local cities are taking in
banning dogs in certain parks is creating tremendous pressure on the District's preserves.
C. Britton said staff would look at this issue. L. Hassett suggested that signs or brochures
telling users why certain rules were in effect would be a good idea.
P. Siemens: 1. He and his wife had hiked to the tafoni formations and were impressed
with the location and quality of the work done on the observation area.
2. He and Mr. Schwarderer took some pictures from Mt. Umunhum. He described the
views.
N. Hanko reported that she is now in the Internet and told them her email address.
C. Britton: 1. He reminded Board and staff members about the"sneeze" button on the
microphones. 2. PCL will hold their annual legislative symposium on April 26 at
Sonoma State University. 3. It was mentioned in FYIs that the Bay Area Open Space
Council has given the easement stewardship award to Wilson and Sue Cooper who are
District volunteers. The award will be given at their annual conference in September.
4. J. Maciel provided a synopsis of a court case concerning citation of a bicyclist and it
was included in the FYIs. He said he thought staff did a great job. 5. He mentioned that
in these tight budget times, agencies are starting to talk about who might manage what.
He said when they had the opportunity to manage Rancho San Antonio County Park, it
created quite a discussion on the Boards part. He will meet with N. Hanko to consider
whether there should be an hoc committee that they can fill in on what staff is discussing.
S. Thielfoldt provided an update on training which had included trainings in risk transfer,
making PowerPoint presentations, and ergonomics.
S. Schectman: 1. When the Board was considering the legislative program at the last
meeting they got some comments from staff about the police jurisdiction issue. Board
members asked her to talk to legal counsel from East Bay. She did so, and their legal
Meeting 03-03 Page 10
counsel was fully supportive of the proposed legislation and saw no problem with it. 2.
She talked about a positive California Supreme Court decision on antiquated
subdivisions. 3. She asked if the Board was interested in a workshop regarding the
Brown Act. Board Members expressed interest. N. Hanko said they need policies that
cover email.
J. Escobar: 1. He said he had talked to the chief of public safety for East Bay Regional
Park and he concurs that there is no problem with the proposed legislation. 2. He talked
about the discussions that took place at the Cuesta la Honda Guild Homeowners
Association meeting he had attended. He talked to people about the annexation and
heard there was a campaign going on to oppose it. He is working with the chair of the
HOA to set up an informational meeting about the annexation. He said he thought there
was a lot of misinformation being distributed. 3. He and Paul McKowan will be
attending the California Parks and Recreation Society District IV awards dinner next
week. One of the District's volunteers will be receiving an award.
J. Maciel: 1. He reported that Richard Carlson and John Lloyd, new District rangers,
will soon be graduating from Santa Rosa academy. 2. Two more candidates for ranger
will be moving through the process. 3. Interviews for maintenance construction
supervisor for Foothills took place today. 4. The Rancho handball courts are down and
the tree is doing well. The contractor is now laying out the trail alignment. Staff is
taking bids for an arborist who will do some corrective pruning under the guidance of a
horticulture specialist on site.
nexcellent at the annual workshop of the
M. Davey: 3. C. Britton made a p
Ba Area Rid a Trail and will make another one at a seminar tomorrow regarding multi-
use g
Y g
use trails. C. Britton clarified that the seminar was on stewardship of public lands and
competing priorities for open space.
J. Cyr reported that his eighth grandchild was born two days ago.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:56 p.m., the meeting was adjourned.
Roberta Wolfe
Recording Secretary