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Regional Open ice
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MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Meeting 03-14
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
June 25, 2003
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
L ROLL CALL
President Nonette Hanko called the meeting to order at 5:42 p.m.
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Mary Davey, Ken Nitz, Pete Siemens, and Nonette Hanko
Members Absent: Larry Hassett and Deane Little
Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Mike Williams, John Escobar, Tom
Trapp, Cathy Woodbury, Del Woods, and Tom Fischer
11 CLOSED 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 5:45 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at
5:43 p.m. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:25 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
III. N. Hanko called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:33 p.m.
N. Hanko called for a rollcall
Board Members Present: Jed Cyr, Mary Davey, Ken Nitz, Pete Siemens,Nonette Hanko,
Larry Hassett, and Deane Little
N. Hanko 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: John Maciel, Sally Thielfoldt, Ana Ruiz, Cindy Roessler,
Gordon Baillie, and Sandy Sommer
330 Distel Circle • Los Altos, CA 94022-1404 • Phone: 650-691-1200
Fax: 650-691-0485 • E-mail: mrosdGopenspace.org + Web site: www.openspace.org CJE.
Soars(of Directors: Pete Siemens,Mary C.Davey,led Cyr, Deane Little,Nonette Hanko, Larry Hassett, Kenneth C. Nitz « General Manager:L.Craig Britton
Meeting 03-14 Page 2
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS—There were none.
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board adopt the agenda. K. Nitz seconded and
the motion passed 6 to 0.
VL ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including
minutes of the Special and Regular Meeting of May 14, 2003; Agenda
Item 6, Authorization to Contract with Shoreline Printing for Printing
Services for Fiscal Year 2003-2004, With an Option to Extend the
Contract for Fiscal Year 2004-2005, Authorize the General Manager to
Enter into a Contract for Printing Services with Shoreline Printing for
Fiscal Year 2003-2004 for an Amount Not to Exceed $100,990 With an
Option to Extend the Contract to Fiscal Year 2004-2005 Subject to Further
Board Approval; Agenda Item 7,Authorization to Pay the California
Joint Powers Insurance Authority(CJPIA) for the Primary Deposits for the
2003-2004 Liability Program and the 2003-2004 Workers' Compensation
Program, Authorize Payment to CJPIA in the Amount of$78,803 for the
2003-2004 Liability Program Primary Deposit, Authorize Payment to
CJPIA in the Amount of$80.03 8 for the 2003-2004 Workers'
Compensation Prop—ram Primary Deposit; and Revised Claims 03-12. P.
Siemens seconded the motion. The motion passed 6 to 0. N. Hanko
abstained on Claim#5980.
VH. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. 1 —Authorization to Execute a Contract with Shelterbelt
Builders, Inc., for Consulting Services to Study Additional Methods for Invasive
Plant Management,Determine that the Recommended Actions are Categorically
Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as Set Out in this
Report, Authorize the General Manager to Execute a Contract with Shelterbelt
Builders, Inc., in an Amount Not to Exceed $30,000 to Study Additional Methods
for Invasive Plant Management—(Report R-03-60).
C. Roessler presented the staff report and outlined major tasks. She added that
some sites would probably have to be surveyed again in the spring. She said the
consultant would provide information on each of the tasks and there would be an
educational workshop with the Board as part of the contract. No brainstorming
session on policies is scheduled.
C. Roessler reviewed the schedule of qualifications of the consultants, including
their experience, and talked about the staff of the company.
Meeting 03-14 Page 3
Responding to concerns about the company being located in Berkeley, C.
Roessler said it was important to work out a schedule with them. She added that
some of the consultant's staff lives on Skyline and she did not think it would be a
problem.
C. Roessler informed the Board that it was not possible to survey 50,000 acres for
$30,000. Staff needed to prioritize. She said staff would use the consultant's
professional advice regarding priorities.
C. Roessler said staff has a list of invasive plants, and some of it is by preserve.
D. Little said he would like the District to think about committing more money
next year to make sure staff can do an extensive survey. He talked about plants
that he had not seen before that he had noticed during his hikes. He said he would
like to tap into ranger, OST, and docent databases to keep track of what they see.
C. Roessler explained the form that is currently used and how information is
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entered into the system. She said staff would be getting professional advice on
setting priorities. She added that the project is on invasive plants only.
Motion: J. Cyr moved that the Board determine that the recommended
lif actions are categorically exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as set out in the staff report;
and authorize the General Manager to execute a contract with
Inc., in n amount not to exceed 30 000 to
Shelterbelt Builders a $
develop an invasive plant management program including research
of existing conditions, outline of relevant alternative control
methods, and recommendations of overall long term strategy to
meet the District's mission within available budget and labor
resources. D. Little seconded the motion.
Discussion: D. Little said he would like staff to think about what it would take
next year to do an extensive survey.
Vote: The motion passed 6 to 0.
N. Hanko noted a letter received from Ruth Waldhauer talking about C.
Roessler's work.
C. Roessler said the consultant would make a presentation to the Board toward the
end of summer.
B. Agenda Item No. 2-Approval of Categorical Exemption for Revised Project and
Authorization to Solicit Bids to Construct the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)-Funded Grabtown Gulch Trail Repairs at Purisima Creek
Redwoods Open Space Preserve; Approve a Categorical Exemption in accordance
Meeting 03-14 Page 4
with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEM and Adopt the CEQA
Findings as Set Out in this Report, Authorize Staff to Solicit Bids to Construct the
FEMA-Funded Grablown Gulch Trail Repairs at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open
Space Preserve—&eport R-0"-58
A. Ruiz presented the staff report.
C. Britton referred to a letter from a woman who lives in Kings Mountain and her
concerns regarding the funding of this when the schools are in such financial
trouble.
Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board approve a Categorical Exemption
in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act
(CEQA), and adopt the CEQA Findings as set out in the staff
report; and authorize staff to solicit bids to construct the FEMA
funded Grabtown Gulch Trail repairs at Purisima Creek Redwoods
Open Space Preserve. M. Davey seconded the motion.
Discussion: A. Ruiz said the 6 ft. wide bridge is 45-46 feet long. S. Schectman
said that it met the CEQA definition for a categorical exemption.
A. Ruiz said notices were placed on signboards in the preserve. S.
Schectman stated that there is no definition of what minor means
but the examples in the guidelines of other projects that are
considered to be minor accessory structures indicate that this
would clearly fall within the scope of a project that they consider
minor. A. Ruiz said the footings would be part concrete and part
Styrofoam. The Styrofoam would be encased in concrete.
Vote: The motion passed 7 to 0.
C. Agenda Item No. 3-Proposed Lease and Property Management Agreement with
Peninsula Open Space Trust for the Former One-Half Interest Hunt Property
Located Adjacent to Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve(Santa Clara
County Assessor's Parcel Number 544-35-009). Determine that the
Recommended Actions are Categorically Exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as Set Out in this Report, Authorize the
General Manager to Sign the Lease and Management Agreement with Peninsula
Open Space Trust and. Subject to Approval by the General Manager and General
Counsel, to Approve Minor Revisions to the Agreement Which do not
Substantially Change any Material Terms of the Agreement: Tentatively Adopt
the Preliminary Use and Management Plan Recommendations Contained in this
Report— eport R-03-56)
T. Fischer outlined staffs recommendations.
I
Meeting 03-14 Page 5
T. Fischer agreed that this was sort of an odd parcel. He said the access road
comes from Highway 17.
C. Britton pointed out the reason it did not come to the District directly is that
POST needs to hold it for two years because it was a gift. He added that T.
Fischer got a call from a Brush Road neighbor regarding paying for use of the
roadway.
T. Fischer said they know who the other half-owner is and he is also the owner of
the other parcels that straddle this property. He said they need to work with him.
Regarding enforcement of the District's ordinances on the property, J. Maciel said
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the District needs to work that out with the other property owner. S. Schectman
said we are managing POST's half-interest, and we are allowed to enforce our
ordinances on lands that we manage. C. Britton said the District has looked at
partial ownerships in the past, and any partial interest holder can apparently do
whatever they want as long as they are not interfering with the other owner's
interest. T. Fischer said the other owners are very quiet people.
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;
authorize the General Manager to sign the Lease and Management
Agreement with Peninsula Open Space Trust and, subject to
approval by the General Manger and General Counsel, to approve
minor revisions to the agreement which do not substantially
change an material terms of the agreement; and tentatively adopt
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the Preliminary Use and Management Plan recommendations
contained in the staff report. P. Siemens seconded the motion.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
D. Agenda Item No. 4- Application to California State Coastal Conservancy's San
Francisco Bay Conservancy Grant Program for Assistance with Acquisition of the
Presentation Center Property Addition to Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space
Preserve: Determine that the Recommended Actions are Categorically Exempt
from the California Environmental Quality Act as Set Out in this Report; Adopt
the Attached Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District Approvin the he Application and Assurances for Grant Funds
from the San Francisco Bay Conservancy Program for the Presentation Center
Property Addition to Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve—(Report R-03-
61 .
D. Woods showed pictures of the property and presented the staff report. C.
Britton showed where the Mellots parcel was located. D. Woods talked about the
network of trails that surround Webb Creek and extend through the Mellots
property continuing on toward Lexington.
Meeting 03-14 Page 6
Motion: P. Siemens 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. 03-22,Resolution of the Board of Directors
of the Midpeninsula.Regional Open Space District Approving the
Application and Assurances for Grant Funds from the California
State Coastal Conservancy, Presentation Center Property
Acquisition. J. Cyr seconded the motion.
Discussion: D. Woods answered questions regarding habitat protection.
J. Cyr suggested a correction to the first sentence of the last
paragraph on page I of the report so that it would read, retreat
and conference facility is located."
Vote: The motion passed 7 to 0.
E. Agenda Item No. 5- Authorization to Conduct a Controlled Bum at Russian
Ridge Open Space Preserve, Authorize the General Manager to Prepare for, and
Conduct, a Controlled Bum at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve—(Report R-
03-61).
J. Maciel said the three District coordinators were C. Roessler, D. Sanguinetti,
and G. Baillie.
G. Baillie provided an overview of the project and a history of burns during the
last couple of years. He said the size and location of the bum were a joint
logistics decision with CDF.
C. Roessler said she would research whether Harding grass is hallucinogenic.
G. Baillie said the City of Sunnyvale and Santa Clara County fire crews were both
at the Rancho de Guadalupe fire.
C. Roessler said that whether burning kills the seeds that have already fallen
depended on the kind of bum and the seed. She talked about follow-up treatment.
Regarding whether there are fire poppies in that area, C. Roessler asked for more
information on the plant. She said the bum is primarily for Harding grass. She
said Harding grass does not Just spread by seed but also by rhizomes. She talked
about the results of an experiment at Pulgas Ridge where staff mowed Harding
grass then sprayed with herbicides.
G. Baillie said he thought that next year staff would probably go back to the south
end and re-bum there.
Meeting 03-14 Page 7
J. Maciel said that that the permit with CDF only acknowledges the proposed bum
area. In order to expand the bum area, staff will need to put in a project scope.
G. Baillie added that Board Members would be welcome to observe the bum.
Motion: D. Little moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to
prepare for, and conduct, a controlled bum at Russian Ridge Open
Space Preserve. L. Hassett seconded the motion. The motion
passed 7 to 0.
VUL INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
P. Siemens attended Don Weden's retirement party. He said J. Cyr read the District's
resolution. He talked to Jim Beall who said he would run for an Assembly seat.
J. Cyr: 1. He said the Weden retirement was a wonderful event. 2. The City Council of
Sunnyvale will take up a proclamation regarding the coastal annexation.
L. Hassett: 1. He said the Board met June 5, the EIR was certified on the 6h, and he
signed papers for the purchase of Ocean Shore Hardware on the 6 1h. He talked about the
store clientele which included members of PMAC. 2. He had a call from the Trues and
he met with them at Russian Ridge. C. Britton said they have replaced the photographs
they were talking about. 3. Woodside has their resolution scheduled for July 8. 3. July
4 is Bill Cook's barbecue.
M. Davey: 1. She was going to a conservation easement workshop in Woodside. 2. She
was going on a hike with Paul Billig, one of the District's volunteers. 3. She talked
about D. Weden's retirement party and said that many conservation groups have asked
him to serve on their boards. 4. She announced that at the Hidden Villa annual meeting,
they honored Joan Baez, Paul and Liz Nyberg, William S. Johnson, and Terri Lobdell. 5.
The Board of Supervisors passed the Stanford land open space usage, and they were all
disappointed on several issues.
K. Nitz had attended the Special Districts Forum and thought it was great.
D. Little: 1. He also attended the Special Districts Forum and thought it was an excellent
conference. 2. He had noticed that Italian thistle along trail edges is infested with beetle
and fly larva. 3. He had noticed that at Monte Bello, 50 percent of bikers are not
wearing helmets. He had talked to one biker. 4. He said he was trying to learn native
and non-native plants and had pictures of some he had questions about.
N. Hanko: 1. She reported on the Stanford land matter. She talked about the comments
of the District Supervisor and follow-up regarding the gateway ordinance. 2. She had
received a letter from Gil Anda regarding the annexation. She asked staff to reply. 3.
She was putting together a scrapbook of the conference. She said it was very good. She
talked about the people she met there. 4. She encouraged Board members to attend the
Meeting 03-14 Page 8
Bill Cook July 4 barbecue. She had a letter from Bill Cook regarding his support for the
annexation.
C. Britton: 1. He said he thought the networking was excellent at the Special Districts
conference. He talked about a District in Victoria and their biking policies. He had
packets for next year's event. 2. He passed out a brochure that was handed out at the
Filoli event regarding oaks within the District boundaries. 3. The clippings contained an
item about the Presentation Center from their brochure with a picture of T. Fischer and
M. Williams. 4. He talked about a clipping from the Mercury News. 5. There will be a
Use and Management Committee meeting at 5:00 P.M. tomorrow. 6. The FYIs
contained a letter from the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council suggesting dates for dedication
of the trail from Lexington to Almaden Quicksilver Park. 7. He reported on the progress
of the District book and said he would read the draft text to look at details and history.
S. Thielfoldt gave an update on training including Access data base and the building's
alarm system.
J. Escobar: 1. On June 5 and 7, staff did a user survey at ECDK and they will be
supplying the Board with a summary. 2. He said he had been offered and had accepted a
position with East Bay Regional Parks. July 25 would be his last day with the District.
C. Britton commented on others who have left the District and gone to other agencies.
He wished J. Escobar the best.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
At 9:22 p.m., the meeting was adjourned. At 9:30 p.m., the Board returned to Closed
Session to complete discussion of Closed Session Agenda Items 1, 2, and 3 and the
Special Meeting concluded at 10:11 p.m. No reportable action was taken.
Roberta Wolfe
Recording Secretary