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HomeMy Public PortalAbout19810910 - Agendas Packet - Board of Directors (BOD) - 81-22 Meeting 81-22 Al MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415) 965-4717 N 0 T I C E SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thursday Council Chambers September 10, 1981 Los Gatos Civic Center 7: 30 P.M. 110 East Main Street Los Gatos, California A Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District will be held on Thursday, September 10, 1981 at the above address in Los Gatos for the purpose of considering the following agenda. A G E N D A (7: 30) ROLL CALL (7 : 30) 1. Proposed Acquisition of a Portion of the Novitiate Property for Los Gatos Creek Park -- D. Wendin a. Staff Presentation b. Public Comment (9 : 30) 2 . Scheduling of September Meetings -- H. Grench (9: 40) INFORMATIONAL REPORTS CLAIMS ADJOURNMENT Herbert A Grench,General Manager Board of Directors:Katherine Duffy,Barbara Green,Nonette G.Hanko,Richard S.Bishop,Edward G.Shelley,Harry A Turner,Daniel G.Wendin Read into the recor' the Special Meeting of Sept. 1981 725 Cowper Street Palo Alto, Calif. 94301 Sept. 9, 1981 Board of Directors Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 375 Distel Circle, Suite D-1 Los Altos , Calif. 94022 1 am unable to attend your special meeting of September 10. 1 wish to state my support for the acquisition of 300 acres for Los Gatos Creek Park. If the property cannot be acquired through negotiation, I urge you to proceed with the resolution of public necessity. Sincerely, Dr. Robert Mark Read into the rec* at the Special Meeting c September 10 , 1981 Mrs. John Lincoln 58 Alpine Avenue Los Gatos, CA 95030 September 9, 1981 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 375 Distel Circle Suite D-1 Los Altos, CA 94022 Dear Board of Directors: I am very much in favor of the acquisition of the Novitiate property as open space and wish to express my strong support of the concept. It has always been my hope that the hills and background of Los Gatos would be preserved as a park. More than anything else, it is our hills that make our Town beautiful and give it its unique charm. The preservation of these hillsides would mean a great deal to our Town. Sincerely, 3 `G�-z...v�,., Mrs. �John Lincoln Read into the rec at the Special Meeting �� of September 10 , 1 161 Af)? sb ..A{..t�a�- - Mel . .00 dr 0-1 c� 4"Ov�� R-81-38 V 6, (Meeting 81-22 September 10 , 1981) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT REPORT September 4 , 1981 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager PREPARED BY: C. Britton, Land Acquisition Manager SUBJECT: Joint Acquisition Project With The Town of Los Gatos For Los Gatos Creek Park (Lands of the California Province of the Society of Jesus) . Introduction: On April 8 , 1981, you adopted Resolution 81-26 approv- ing and authorizing execution of a Joint Powers Agreement with the Town of Los Gatos for acquisition of the subject property (see report R-81-13 of April 1, 1981) . On April 20 , 1981, the Town of Los Gatos adopted Resolution 1981-89 approving and authorizing final execution of the Joint Powers Agreement. Additionally, at the same meeting, the Town adopted Resolution 1981-90 finding and determining that the public interest and necessity required the acquisition of the property, as a prelude to the filing of an action in eminent domain. Subsequently, the Superior Court for Santa Clara County found that the Town did not have jurisdiction to condemn property outside the Town City limits. This judgment is still subject to the possibility of appeal. Discussion: Although the District has formally indicated its willing- ness to cooperatively purchase this property with the Town as early as October 11 , 1978 (see report 78-22 of October 4 , 1978) , you have not had the opportunity to conduct a hearing in the Los Gatos area to gather further information and public input. As has been your policy in the past, such projects have provided the opportunity for local hearings and public opinion. This project involves three major questions which would make ideal topics for the receiving of public testimony and consideration: I. Is the subject property desirable for public open space? This 300 acre portion of the Novitiate property is located adjacent to the Town limits at the northern end of Lexington Reservoir in an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County. Owned by the Catholic Church and presently part of the Los Gatos Novitiate, the property contains three grassland hills that serve as the dominant scenic backdrop for the Town and form prominent landmarks visible from State Highway 17 . Residents have enjoyed hiking and jogging on the property and have expressed great interest in its preservation as open space and parkland. Due to its location adjacent to a reservoir recrea- tion area with easy access to a State highway, such a property R-81-38 Page two would not only attract local visitors, but would be readily accessible to residents of the entire midpeninsula, giving such an acquisition project regional significance. A. Description of the site (1) Location and Boundaries Located to the east of State Highway 17 , three quarters of a mile south of the Los Gatos Town center, the property is bounded by Lexington Reservoir to the south, the Sacred Heart Novitiate to the northwest, and the Sisters of Charity land to the east. Lexington Reservoir is owned by the Santa Clara County Water District and managed as a 634 acre recreational area by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department. Activities include sailing, power boating, water skiing, and fishing. In addition, the District has acquired an extensive open space complement to the water recreation area encompassing more than 780 acres. District lands are typically used for hiking and riding trails , in- formal picnicking and related low-intensity recreation- al activities normally associated with public open space lands (see the map attached) . (2) Topography, Geology, and Natural Landscape Elevations on the site range from a high point of 1 ,293 feet at the summit of St. Joseph' s Hill to a low of 400 feet at the western boundary along Los Gatos Creek. The project is located in a seismically active area. The San Andreas Fault lies two miles to the south, and the Shannon Fault is two and a half miles to the north- east. The epicenter of the Los Gatos earthquake of 1973 , with a magnitude of 4 .0 on the Richter scale, was located just one mile from the site. Soils range from moderately fertile types used for dry- land grape cultivation to severely eroded types exhibiting rapid runoff and high erosion hazard, making them suitable only for wildlife habitat, recreational use and watershed protection. The project area contains knolls of untended vineyards which are gradually being invaded by brush. The moderate to steep slopes ranging from 15% to 50% support chaparral communities interspersed with pockets of eucalyptus-oak-madrone woodland. The disturbed vegeta- tion reflects the earlier agricultural and institutional use of the property. Wildlife associated with this type of terrain (and mixture of ecologically disturbed plan communities) includes coyotes, black-tailed deer, gray fox, and red-tailed hawk. No rare or endangered species of plants or animals are known to exist on the property. R-81-38 Page three B. Planning Considerations The property is located within an unincorporated area of Santa Clara County. The current zoning is A-20S, a low density agricultural zoning, allowing one residential unit on a site varying from 20 to 160 acres depending on slope. The Santa Clara County General Plan designation is "education" which may further limit agricultural or residential development. A preliminary slope density matrix indicates that a maximum of three sites could be developed. Under the County General Plan, open space and park use and development would be a conforming use. Portions of the property are rated in the highest composite scoring on the District ' s Master Plan. Ordinarily, this property would not be annexed into the Town, as it lies outside its Urban Service Area, and there is no interest on the part of the Town in having this property develop within its jurisdiction. However, it would be desirable to annex this property after acquisition to facilitate planning, development, operation, maintenance, and patrol of the anticipated open space and recreational area. C. Relationship to Regional Trails Trails on the property would connect with the Lexington Reservoir recreational area and with streets leading to the center of the Town of Los Gatos three quarters of a mile away. Both the MROSD Draft Trails Plan and the Santa Clara County Master Trails and Pathways Plan show a junction of five regional trails at the north end of Lexington Reservoir. D. Current Use and Development The Sacred Heart Novitiate and winery adjoin the project area to the northeast. This use was established in 1886 by the Jesuits on an initial 39 acres where the buildings now stand adjacent to the project area. Originally managed as an instructional facility and winery, the Novitiate , in recent years , has ceased to operate as an instructional facility. The winery currently operates at 300 of capacity, the vineyards are no longer cultivated, and the remainder of the buildings serve as a retirement home and administrative center. The proposed project would not include any of the developed area, and the steep slopes behind these existing facilities would tend to provide a natural barrier between public and private use. These private facilities would be situated on approximately 40 acres of land remaining in the Novitiate holdings. The property is currently used by a large number of joggers and hikers who move through the area with permission of the owners on a trail connecting the Town Center to the Reservoir. R-81-38 Page four II . Should public acquisition of this property be actively pursued, including the exercise of the power of eminent domain, if necessary? A. Results or Benefits Expected The project area would be used as a local park by resi- dents of Los Gatos , whose town center is just five miles away, and by recreationists who presently come to Lexington Reservoir from the Santa Clara Valley/San Jose area and from the coast side at Santa Cruz. It would expand the reservoir recreation area by providing trails for visitors who wish to hike or jog in a more remote environ- ment than provided at the reservoir itself. Five schools are within two miles of the project area, which makes the site a potentially valuable field study area. B. Threat of Development The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has agreed to participate in the acquisition and subsequent manage- ment of the project. Both the Town and the District feel that immediate acquisition is necessary because of the threat of the property being sold for residential development. As mentioned above , the winery is operating at reduced capacity, the original instruction facility has been reduced in use to a retirement and administrative center, and vineyard cultivation has been abandoned. This leaves the project area vacant and devoid of active use, increasing the likelihood of sale for development. The Jesuits own other lands in the vicinity of the subject property, and have sold or entered into contracts to sell some of these properties. The main purpose for the sale of these lands has been to raise money for the endowment of the retirement facilities now operated on the adjacent lands. The adjacent Sisters of Charity property has been for sale and been actively marketed over the past several years. Sale of that property necessitates the building of an access road from Alma Bridge Road across the project area to serve the existing buildings on the Sisters' property. The development of this major thoroughfare and necessary utilities would greatly enhance the accessi- bility and developability of the subject property. This action might also trigger a reassessment and increase the property taxes which would put further pressure on the Jesuits to sell the property for development, subject to legislation implementing the principles of Proposition 13 . In the past, the Jesuits have been careful to protect the allowable density and developability of their lands and to such ends have appeared at both Town Council and County Board of Supervisors meetings. The ultimate test is the cost of running their current facilities both now and in the future and assuring themselves that their land investments will provide the necessary income, either through sale or development to endow these costs. R-81-38 Page five C. Previous Acquisition Efforts The subject of acquisition of the Novitiate property began in 1971 , when the Town ' s Park Commission recom- mended to the Town Council that the property be acquired. The Town, with the assistance of the District, has been working with the Novitiate representatives since 1978. At that time , the Town applied for a federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant to supplement Town and District funds for the purchase of this critical open space and park property. The two agencies have had the property appraised, made the required written offers , and held numerous meetings in an attempt to conclude this acquisition project. The Town and District were care- ful to consult the Jesuits every step of the way, including personal contact and agreement for grant submittal, and personal contact during the appraisal process. At no time during this process was either agency discouraged from the acquisition efforts. However, during that three year pro- cess , we were never advised of the Jesuits' asking price for the property. During that time , every effort was ex- tended to negotiate with the Jesuits for the purchase of the property, including personal contact from members of your Board and letters from the President of your Board and the Town Mayor. It was only after exhausting all possibilities that the owners wrote a letter stating that the property was "not for sale. " The critical nature of this parcel , including its proximity to existing recreational facilities , highly visible -topo- graphy, and location in relation to existing regional and local trails , required that further action be considered. Because the project was initiated by the Town, and since the Land and Water Conservation Fund project was technically the Town 's ,the action outlined in the introduction of this report was taken. D. Eminent Domain Defined "Eminent domain" is the inherent power of government to de- vote private property to public use upon payment of just and fair compensation. It is inherent in the sovereignty of the state because it is an essential power for the achiev- ment of the ends of our organized self-government. It is a power of constitutional authority, recognized in both the United States and California constitutions, which make it subject to the requirement that just and fair compensation be paid for all private property acquired for public use. The California Legislature has sensibly and specifically enacted statutes which set forth the preservation of open space as a recognized public use, for which the eminent domain power may be exercised. The legislature has also enacted a fairly lengthy set of formal legal procedures which must be followed to exercise the eminent domain power , M-81-38 Page six in order to ensure that the rights of the owner of private property are respected in full and that fair and just compensation is paid for all property so acquired. The formal legal procedures, and the case law which has grown up around them, require the filing of an action in court and a determination by the court of what is the "market value" to be paid for the property. Court decisions and subsequent statutes have defined "fair market value" as the highest price that would be agreed to by a seller, willing to sell but under no urgent necessity to sell, and a buyer who is ready, willing and able to buy but under no urgent necessity for buying, assuming that both buyer and seller are aware and informed of all possible uses for the property. As so defined, "fair market value" obviously incorporates a substantial degree of subjective judgment. Private owners, whose property a governmental agency seeks to acquire, there- fore traditionally do whatever they can to draw attention to their property and to increase the sense of importance attached to it, in order to lend the maximum support to their contentions in court as to the high price an informed seller and buyer would be willing to agree upon for their property. III. When and if the subject area is acquired for public open space and recreation, what are the potential and proper uses for the property? A. Potential Use and Management The location, only five minutes from the Town Center of Los Gatos , makes this property a prime, easily accessible recreational area for local residents. Five schools are within two miles of the site , making it a potentially valuable field study area. The project area would become a low development park and open space complement to the Santa Clara County reservoir recreational area. The acquisition would be a cooperative effort with the Town of Los Gatos. Initially the site would be kept in its present state as minimally developed open space with recreational opportunities afforded by existing roads and trails. As funds become available, development of park facilities could include picnic areas and an expanded trail system. Specific use and management recommendations would be made after further public meetings and input nearer to the time of actual acquisition. Environmental impacts associated with the project would be overwhelmingly favorable since the land would be protected from development and responsibly managed by a park agency to reverse any existing trends towards environmental de- gradation. Visitor impacts would be mitigated by establish- ing a regulatory presence in the park through patrol by Town police and District rangers. R-81-38 Page seven The property is currently used by a large number of joggers and hikers who move through the area via a route connecting the Town center to the reservoir. Subsequent to acquisition, such use would be allowed to continue. In order to facilitate movement through the park, directional trail signs and regulatory signs would be installed within a year after acquisition. B. Environmental Impact of Proposed Action The major sociological impact of the project would be a beneficial one of providing a locally and regionally accessible recreational area open to the public free of charge and within five minutes of the center of the Town of Los Gatos and ten minutes from the City of San Jose. The bulk of the site, especially St. Joseph' s Hill, forms a highly visible landmark for travellers on Highway 17 . The property also serves as a dominant scenic backdrop for the Town of Los Gatos. Residents are especially anxious to keep the property as open space if for no other purpose than for this passive use as part of the scenic landscape surrounding the Town. The property has a history of ecological disturbance through agricultural and institutional use. The cultivation of grapes and subsequent abandonment of the vineyards has resulted in the invasion of brushland plants and star thistle into the former grassland areas. Particularly notable also are groves of mature eucalyptus trees as well as individual trees scattered throughout stands of native woodland. Unless a road is constructed on the property to serve the Sisters of Charity holdings , vehicles would not be allowed on the site. Access to the site would be via State Highway 17 and Alma Bridge Road to a public parking and staging area, in addition to local neighborhood access on foot. No vehicles , other than for patrol purposes , would be permitted on the project area. Access would be on foot, horseback or bicycle only. General visitor use impacts would be minimized by regular patrol. C. Future Potential Under the Joint Powers Agreement approved by both agencies , the property would remain as a low-intensity recreation open space supplement to existing nearby recreation areas and other public lands. As long as the property was devoted to this use, the District would provide the primary maintenance, operation and patrol of the property. R-81-38 Page eight However, the Town could, through any process of its choosing, but subject to District review and concurrence, develop the property as a more traditional "park" . It is assumed that this process would involve extensive public hearing and comment. At such time as the property was developed as a "park" , the Town would assume all responsi- bility for operation , maintenance and patrol , but subject to a restrictive easement held and monitored by the District. The property would be "dedicated" park and open space land (see Sec. 38440 , et seq. of the Government Code and Sec. 5540 of the Public Resources Code) . Reference to the executed Joint Powers Agreement is recommended for specific terms and conditions. Recommendation: It is recommended that you schedule consideration of a resolution finding and determining the public necessity of acquiring the subject property for a Special Meeting at the District office on Tuesday, September 29 , 1981 . a \ Schkjlr -M AIN 11 i .' 1 �t�`,roa , + ��H \ s r , — o0 1 ` •- l eo noss�" J ELL 4 �• )���,.I J �,j� 4U0�� - - ^ �1 1.. 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Trails � ,f� j �j �zo _ Plan, 1978) Y Proposed Trails in Scale Scale 1" = 2000 ' North ` �, Icy\ -) ,� - _Jd_ ,�, tv�,a�, •< \- � - - - a . .. �r"� ��.rsL��'.•�-�...r.�`..\ .'�, \S-1 rau s.nrn�`1�-rr�� ten.r� � ,-_ _ _ . . M-81-93 (meeting 81-22 September 10, 1981) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MEMORANDUM September 1, 1981 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager SUBJECT: Scheduling of September Meetings At this point, you have cancelled the September 9 Regular Meeting and scheduled Special meetings for September 10 and 16 , in addition to your September 23 Regular Meeting. I suggest that the second Special Meeting be scheduled at the District office for Tuesday, September 29 rather than September 16 . This would allow more time for preparation of agenda materials. '"7 03 Ha✓uaM-- ,, c C' Cl s y Modam , M VJ-Ocs 1c'�SU-Q- o< Tines to A�O and AMVA ape, ope4cn,1c cAt,u Ace � C Ao fD - bo- 5v, ( � to lov? 4w -,rw sw "At f .T_ said � a sr:S S 1�`� x de MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNiA 94-,22 (415) 965-4717 August 28 , 1981 Honorable Marz Garcia Room 4057 State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Garcia: Assemblyman Byron Sher has introduced in our behalf AB 597 relating to regional park and open space districts. There are four such districts in the State operating under Public Resources Code Section 5500 et seq. ; namely, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, the Marin County Open Space District, the East Bay Regional Park District, and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. The bill has the support of all four districts. The bill has now moved to the Senate floor, and we would greatly appreciate it if you would manage the bill to achieve Senate concurrence. Our own district boundaries encompass about 330 square miles, in- cluding 15 cities and unincorporated area in northern Santa Clara and southern San Mateo Counties. In the time since the District was formed in 1972 to provide a regional greenbelt for public use, we have acquired about 10, 000 acres of land, and we manage this resource in close cooperation with the counties. The bill is basically a housekeeping measure which would accomplish the following things: (1) It would update and bring the portions of the District's legislation having to do with nominations and elections into conformity with the California Elections Code. This would aid the counties' Registrars of Voters and the dis- tricts in conducting elections. (2) It would allow dedicated district lands to be transferred to another governmental entity for Park or open space purposes, while maintaining the strict requirements for release from dedication. Such a change would allow trans- fers to be made where the lands could be operated more efficiently or effectively by the county; for example, where the county already has a contiguous park facility. Incidentally, there are three ways of releasing lands from dedication: a majority vote of the electorate of the district, a unanimous vote of the district's board of directors (limited Herbert A.Grench.General Manager Boardof Directors:Katherine Duffy,Barbara Green.Nonette G t1anko,Richard S Bishop.Edwd G Sh,;'ey H3•ry A Turner.Daniel G Wenjin Honorable Marz Galka Page Two to trading up to ten acres per year for land contiguous to district holdings) , and a resolution adopted by two-thirds of the board and a concurrent resolution of the Legislature. (3) It would update the maximum interest rate allowed on district notes to the 10% figure allowed by the Government Code, which overrides our code in any event, and would cross-reference our rate to that allowed by the Government Code for future changes. In one instance of an installment purchase of land, a title company did not necessarily agree that the Government Code was overriding, and we encountered considerable delay in closing escrow. (4) It would allow a seven member board to borrow money or enter into installment purchases with the affirmative votes of five members rather than the six votes now required. This require- ment would still constitute more than a simple majority. We have found installment purchases to be a very effective way of acquiring land before its value escalates further and before it is lost to development, particularly since so many land- owners would prefer to receive time payments. There has not been a dissenting vote on our board in the eighteen debt transactions into which we have entered. However, there has been trouble at times in six board members being able to attend the critical meeting because of illness or out-of-town business or vacations. Some negotiated transactions have a very short time available for board action. A district is, of course, restricted by law in the total amount of debt which can be authorized by the board. Four votes would continue to be required for five member boards. (5) It would make clear that when the district acquires an open space easement and the easement is dedicated for open space, the lands shall be deemed to be enforceablv restricted and assessed accordingly. At this point, although it is clear that a district can acquire such easements, it is not clear to the assessors that the property is to be assessed taking the easements into account, as the assessors do for easements granted to cities, counties, or non-profit land conservancies. We stand ready to answer questions you have. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, Herbert Grench General Manager HG:ej cc: B. Sher M.R.O.S.D. Board of Directors R. Beckus All, Xh I — 0 400,M, MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 941,22 (415) 965-4717 August 28 , 1981 Honorable Marz Garcia Room 4057 State Capitol Building Sacramento, CA 95814 Dear Senator Garcia: Assemblyman Byron Sher has introduced in our behalf AB 597 relating to regional park and open space districts. There are four such districts in the State operating under Public Resources Code Section 5500 et seq. ; namely, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, the Marin County Open Space District, the East Bay Regional Park District, and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. The bill has the support of all four districts. The bill has now moved to the Senate floor, and we would greatly appreciate it if you would manage the bill to achieve Senate concurrence. Our own district boundaries encompass about 330 square miles, in- cluding 15 cities and unincorporated area in northern Santa Clara and southern San Mateo Counties. In the time since the District was formed in 1972 to provide a regional greenbelt for public use, we have acquired about 10, 000 acres of land, and we manage this resource in close cooperation with the counties. The bill is basically a housekeeping measure which would accomplish the following things: (1) It would update and bring the portions of the District's legislation having to do with nominations and elections into conformity with the California Elections Code. This would aid the counties' Registrars of Voters and the dis- tricts in conducting elections. (2) It would allow dedicated district lands to be transferred to another governmental entity for Park or open space purposes, while maintaining the strict requirements for release from dedication. Such a change would allow trans- fers to be made where the lands could be operated more efficiently or effectively by the county; for example, where the county already has a contiguous park facility. Incidentally, there are three ways of releasing lands from dedication: a majority vote of the electorate of the district, a unanimous vote of the district' s board of directors (limited Herbert A Grench,General Manager Board of Directors:Katherine Duffy,Barbara Green,Nonette G Hanko.Richard S Bishop.Edward G Sne:Tey Ha-,yA Turner Daniel Wendm Honorable Marz Gar, .a Page Two to trading up to ten acres per year for land contiguous to district holdings) , and a resolution adopted by two-thirds of the board and a concurrent resolution of the Legislature. (3) It would update the maximum interest rate allowed on district notes to the 10% figure allowed by the Government Code, which overrides our code in any event, and would cross-reference our rate to that allowed by the Government Code for future changes. In one instance of an installment purchase of land, a title company did not necessarily agree that the Government Code was overriding, and we encountered considerable delay in closing escrow. (4) It would allow a seven member board to borrow money or enter into installment purchases with the affirmative votes of five members rather than the six votes now required. This require- ment would still constitute more than a simple majority. We have found installment purchases to be a very effective way of acquiring land before its value escalates further and before it is lost to development, particularly since so many land- owners would prefer to receive time payments. There has not been a dissenting vote on our board in the eighteen debt transactions into which we have entered. However, there has been trouble at times in six board members being able to attend the critical meeting because of illness or out-of-town business or vacations. Some negotiated transactions have a very short time available for board action. A district is, of course, restricted by law in the total amount of debt which can be authorized by the board. Four votes would continue to be required for five member boards. (5) It would make clear that when the district acquires an open space easement and the easement is dedicated for open space, the lands shall be deemed to be enforceablv restricted and assessed accordingly. At this point, although it is clear that a district can acquire such easements, it is not clear to the assessors that the property is to be assessed taking the easements into account, as the assessors do for easements granted to cities, counties, or non-profit land conservancies. We stand ready to answer questions you have. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, ki Herbert Grench General Manager HG :ej cc: B. Sher M. R.O.S.D. Board of Directors R. Beckus Claims 81-18 September 10, 1981 Meeting 81-22 Revised MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT C L A I M S # Amount Name Description 2453 69. 80 Bay Microfilm, Inc. Paper 2454 70. 83 Carolyn Caddes Publicity Photo 2455 750. 00 California Advocates, Inc. Legislative Services-Aug. 2456 213. 00 Communications Research Co. Equip. Maintenance-August 2457 4 . 88 Pete Ellis Dodge District Vehicle Expense 2458 7. 40 Excel Pool & Patio Water System-Saratoga Gap 2459 830. 00 First American Title Guarantee Prelim. Title Reports 2460 92 . 97 Hipp Welding Signing Supplies 2461 9. 31 Hubbard & Johnson Construction Supplies Skyline Cabin 2462 380. 81 Mobil Oil District Vehicle Expense 2463 255. 95 Multiplex Slide Storage Cabinet 2464 47. 70 Stanley Norton July Expenses (phone,. copies) 2465 174. 37 PG&E Utilities-7400 St. Joseph 2466 690. 96 Pacific Telephone Telephone Service 2467 5. 00 City of Palo Alto Utilities 2468 9. 59 Peninsula Blueprint Service Bluelines 2469 52. 72 Pitney Bowes Postage Meter Rental 2470 70. 51 Rancho Hardware & Garden Shop Misc. Field Supplies 2471 202. 45 Shell Oil District Vehicle Expense 2472 23. 00 Specialty Towing Vehicle Towing 2473 157. 00 Title Insurance & Trust Preliminary Title Report 2474 150. 00 U.S. Postmaster Postage-OPYNSPACE Newsletter 2475 163. 12 Union Oil Company District Vehicle Expense 2476 464. 34 Xerox Corp. Xerox Supplies 2477 143. 75 Monta Vista Garden Center Field Construction Supplies 2478 104 .10 John Pound Private Vehicle Expense 2479 49 .00 Del Woods Private Vehicle Expense 2480 175.00 Jon C. Cummings Site Analysis-Monte Bello Parking Lot 2481 390 .00 UC Berkeley-Extension Training Course - D. Camp and J. Escobar ?482 200 .00 Assn. of Bay Area Governments Training Course - Gundertt and Watt Claims 81-18 Revised September 10, 1981 Meeting 81-22 Page Two # Amount Name Description 2483 40 .22 Charlotte MacDonald Private Vehicle Expense 2484 33.00 Pat Starrett Private Vehicle Expense 2485 187. 16 Harfst Associates, Inc. Computer Services 2486 80 .00 Stanley Norton August Expenses (phone, copying, out-of-town meetings? 2487 30 . 00 Calif. Park & Recreation Land Manager Recruitment Ad Society 2488 127. 58 Petty Cash Private Vehicle Expense , Postage , and Meal Conferences