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Home My Public Portal About20031112 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) Regional Open Space ------------------------ MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT BPA i lNi; JO YI-APS OF OPEN SPA(�I: V[�ESFVVA'1'10N Meeting 03-25 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS BOARD OF DIRECTORS November 12, 2003 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING I. ROLL CALL Vice President Mary Davey called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Members Present: Jed Cyr, Mary Davey, Larry Hassett, Ken Nitz, and Pete Siemens Members Absent: Deane Little and Nonette Hanko Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sue Schectman, Sally Thielfoldt, John Maciel, Cathy Woodbury, Sandy Sommers, Matt Freeman 11. CLOSED SESSION M. Davey stated that the Board would adjourn to Closed Session to discuss Closed Session Agenda Items I and 2. The Board recessed to Closed Session at 5:31 p.m. and the Closed Session commenced at 5:31 p.m. The Board concluded the Closed Session at 7:35 p.m. No reportable action was taken. REGULAR MEETING 111. M. Davey called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:36 p.m. She announced that the Board had discussed Closed Session Agenda Items I and 2 in Closed Session and that no reportable actions had taken place. 33o Distel Circle 650-6gi-i2oo info@openspace,org BOARD Of DIRECTORS:Pete Siemens,Mory Davey,Jed Cyr, GENERAL MANAGER: Los Altos CA 94022-1404 650-6gi-049S fax wwwopenspace,org Deane I ittle,Nonette Hanker,Lorry Hossett,Kenneth C.Nitz L.Craig Britton Meeting 03-25 Page 2 Additional Staff Present: Cindy Roessler, Doug Vu, Mike Williams, Del Woods, Mike Foster, and Ana Ruiz IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS-There were none. V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: K. Nitz moved that the Board adopt the agenda. P. Siemens seconded and the motion passed 5 to 0. VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR J. Cyr commended staff for the quality of the report and the map for agenda item 6. Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including minutes of the October 21, 2003 Regular Meeting; draft responses to letters from Ms. Carrie Martin, President, Brush & Old Well Mutual Water Company, 20732 Brush Road, Los Gatos, 95033; Mr. Peter Donohue, 808 14' Avenue, Menlo Park, 94025; Mr. Mark Williams, i-nswmsmd(aol.com, Menlo Park; Agenda Item 5, Approval of the Second Amendment to Communications Tower Lease Between the County of San Mateo and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve; Determine that the Recommended Actions are Not a Project for Purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as Set Forth in this Report; Authorize the President of the Board of Directors to Execute the Second Amendment to Lease Between the County of San Mateo and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve; Agenda Item 6, Approve the Preliminary Use and Management Plan as Set Out in the Attached Closing Memo for the Edes "Redwood Park" Property Addition to Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve; Agenda Item 7, Approval of Adoption of Resolution to Amend Section 1.80 of the District's Rules of Procedure Regarding Appointment of Voting Alternates to Committees of the Board; and Revised Claims 03-19. K. Nitz seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. VII. BOARD BUSINESS A Agenda Item No. I -Proposed Addition of Santa Clara County Assessors Parcel Numbers 562-06-009 (James Property), as an Addition to Mt. Umunhum Area of Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve; Determine that the Recommended Actions are Categorically Exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) as Set Out in this Report; Adopt the Attached Resolution Authorizing Purchase of the James Property; Tentatively Adopt the Preliminary Use and Management Plan Recommendations Contained in this Report, Including Naming the Property as an Addition to the Mt. Umunhum Area of the Meeting 03-25 Page 3 Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve; Indicate Your Intention to Withhold Dedication of the Property as Public Open Space at this Time - (Report R-03- 115) D. Woods showed a map and slides of the property including the Loma Prieta Road crossing. He said the few residents who live in the area use the road. There are no sedimentation problems on this section of the road, and there are no formal road agreements. M. Williams reviewed the terms and conditions of the purchase. He said the property is vacant except that there is a cleared house site. No restoration of the site is required. Motion: K. Nitz 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. 03-41, Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing Acceptance of Purchase Agreement, Authorizing Officer or the General Manager to Execute Certificate of Acceptance of Grant to District, and Authorizing General Manager to Execute Any and All Other Documents Necessary of Appropriate to Closing of the Transaction (Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve-Lands of James); tentatively adopt the Preliminary Use and Management Plan recommendations contained in the report, including naming the property as an addition to the Mt. Umunhurn Area of the Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve; and indicate their intention to withhold dedication of the property as public open space at this time. L. Hassett seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. B. Agenda Item No. 2 - Approve "Mid-Year" Amendments to the 2003-2004 Fiscal Year Budget; Accept the District Controller's Mid-Year Financial Report; Approve the Attached Resolution Implementing an Amendment to the 2003-2004 Fiscal Year Budget in Accordance with the Administration and Budget Committee - (Report R-03-117). S. Thielfoldt thanked D. Woods for his help with the report and answered questions. P. Siemens commented that since the District is reprogramming $340,000 interest money into the basic operating budget, that will change the percentage that is spent on operating costs versus land acquisition. D. Woods said the District came into the year with a zero percent increase in operating expenses, and this brings the increase to 2.5%. M. Foster estimated that when the year is done, the District operating expenses would be at about 45% of tax revenue, which is well within normal bounds. C. Britton noted that the District was spending the savings that it was getting by the debt refinancing. There is Meeting 03-25 Page 4 actually no shift of funds. In fact, the savings not only covers the money proposed to be added to the this years budget, but also adds money to the acquisition fund. Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board accept the District Controller's Mid-Year Financial Report; and adopt Resolution No. 03-42, Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Adopting Amendments to the Budget for Fiscal Year 2003-2004. J. Cyr seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. C. Agenda Item No. 3 - Update on Resource Management Program; Review Status of Resource Management Program; No Formal Board Action is Required- (Report R-03-116). C. Roessler gave a PowerPoint presentation of the status of the program. The report included the following: ■ Invasive Plant Control Program: - Priority survey areas included Bear Creek, Long Ridge, Big Dipper, La Honda, Loma Prieta, and Saratoga Gap. Sections of Monte Bello, Thornewood, Skyline, and Russian Ridge are next priority. Others need surveying but are not in the highest priority category. The surveys will be complete by April 1. The consultants are dealing with the issues raised by Dir. Little. ■ Restoration: • Tree Farm - L. Hassett commented that he was so pleased with the work and how sensitive they had been to Horseshoe Lake. • Pulgas Ridge - taking out eucalyptus and planting chaparral shrubs. • Old Page Mill Road • Jacques Ridge - salvaged 60 native grasses and bulbs, will be planting acorns in at 36 different sites. • Russian Ridge grasslands - priority is to get rid of Harding grass. • Rancho San Antonio grasslands - star thistle still a problem. K. Nitz asked that staff look into increasing release of biocontrol agents that are already present there. L. Hassett agreed. • Front Meadow restoration - planting native grass plugs. • La Honda grassland - removed wooly distaff thistle, a new potentially aggressive weed. • Big Dipper grassland - purple star thistle. She talked about the effect of grazing in this area. J. Cyr said he hoped all this information is plugged into a database. C. Roessler talked about how information is collected and recorded. Meeting 03-25 Page 5 ■ Feral Pigs - 283 pigs trapped so far, rangers are now assisting in this program. ■ Resource Management Days - C. Roessler talked about how the extra hours allotted to this program were being used, and the use of volunteers in the program. She said she tries to incorporate education into the days' activities. C. Woodbury provided an update on the hiring of the Resource Planner, noting that staff is presently interviewing candidates. P. Siemens commended them for working with field staff. No formal action by the Board was required. D. Agenda Item No. 4 - Notice of Contract Completion for Construction of the Parking and Staging Area at the Jacques Ridge Entrance to Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve; Authorize the General Manager to Execute the Notice of Contract Completion for the Jacques Ridge Staging Area Project - (Report R- -11 03 3). D. Vu showed pictures of the project before, during, and after construction. He did not know et whether the Count would charge for their parking lot. C. Y Y g p g Britton said the Count did charge in all their other lots. e County g 1 e signs along Hicks Road pointing to the P. Siemen s suggested that there should b g P g gg g District and County facilities after the County completes its portion. K. Nitz added that there should be signs telling people to bring water when they hike there. C. Woodbury said the signage is being reviewed by the staff committee. Motion: P. Siemens moved that the Board authorize the General Manager to execute the Notice of Contract Completion for the Jacques Ridge Staging Area project. J. Cyr seconded the motion. The motion passed 5 to 0. VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS K. Nitz: 1. He went to the Jacques Ridge opening and said it was well attended. 2. He hiked Wunderlich Park and said there were lots of acorns there. L. Hassett. 1. He said the Skyline tree farm removal has been amazing to watch. 2. The chestnut harvesting has been intense this year. J. Cyr: 1. He complimented staff on the Jacques Ridge event. 2. He also attended the tenth anniversary celebration of the San Francisquito Creek. He said the group is looking for a place to locate their plant promulgation facility. 3. People he had talked to on hikes had asked if the District could indicate elevations at key junctions on trail maps. 4. He echoed L. Hassett's comments regarding the Christmas tree farm restoration. L. Hassett commented that this project was so much better done than the one at Partridge tree farm. Meeting 03-25 Page 6 5. He went to the Autumn Fest at Picchetti on November 1 and complimented staff on the event. Beall P. Siemens: 1. The Autumn Fest was a great event. 2. He talked to Jim B ea at the Jacques Ridge dedication. . and C. Britton had met with J. Simitian earlier t on. 3 He J. Cyr,y in the day. i letter indicating an A rating from Standard and C. Britton: 1. The FYIs contained a €� g Poors• a letter of thanks from the Ridgeregarding Trail Council re ardin the Sierra Azul to Lexington Reservoir dedication; a letter regarding a conservation easement on the Ferns property in Los Altos Hills; the District's submittal letter to LAFCo; and information and text of the Local Taxpayers and Public Safety Protection Act initiative the League of California Cities is sponsoring. 2. Gerry Andeen, former Board Member, spoke to the Menlo Park City Council regarding a resolution of support for the District's coastal protection program. 3. P. Siemens and he went to the Special Districts meeting where they talked about the State budget and about joining LAFCo in Santa Clara County. They will meet again in January. 4. He talked about the meeting with assemblymember J. Simitian. 5. He estimated that the District land was currently worth $500 million, and the District had paid $200 million. 6. He announced that he had become a grandfather on Tuesday. J. Maciel said staff had received the first bill for water resources (dam safety) at Horseshoe Lake, and it had increased from $1,600 to $6,700. Staff was checking into this increase. IX. ADJOURNMENT At 9:26 p.m., the meeting was adjourned. Roberta Wolfe Recording Secretary