Loading...
HomeMy Public PortalAbout19830126 - Agenda Packet - Board of Directors (BOD) - 83-02 .,:. -Meeting 83-2 ".I If MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415) 965-4717 Regular Meeting Wednesday Board of Directors 375 Distel Circle, D-1 January 26, 1983 Los Altos, California A G E N D A (7:30) ROLL CALL APPROVAL OF MINUTES (January 12, 1983) WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS ADOPTION OF AGENDA ORAL COMMUNICATIONS OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED (7:45) 1 . Program Evaluation for 1982-83 and Setting of Priorities for 1983-84 -- H. Grench (8:25) 2. Notice of Determination for a Negative Declaration for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Demonstration Burn -- D. Hansen NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED (8:30) 3. "The Hill" Committee Requests -- H. Grench (8:50) 4. Authority to Negotiate for the Purchase of Surplus Federal Real Property Located on Mt. Umunhum and Mt. Thayer Resolution Authorizing the Commencement of Negotiations for Acquisition of Certain Surplus Real Property Located Within the District Boundaries (Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve - Federal Surplus Real Property (Almaden Air Force Station) Mt. Umunhum and Mt. Thayer) (8:55) 5. Los Trancos Open Space Preserve Use and Management Plan -- D. Hansen (9:15) 6. Review of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Progress Report -- N. Hanko, H. Turner, D. Wendin (9:25) 7. Appointment of Board Committees -- B. Green (10:35) 8. Revision of Authorized Signatories for District Accounts and Safe Deposit Box J. Fiddes (10:40) 9. Renewal of Investment Authority -- H. Grench (10:45) INFORMATIONAL REPORTS TS CLAIMS CLOSED SESSION (Land Negotiation, Litigation, and Personnel Matters) 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 Meeting 83-1 ofe MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT I 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE 0-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022(415) 965-4717 4 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS JANUARY 12, 1983 MINUTES I. ROLL CALL President Duffy called the meeting to order at 7 :37 P.M. Members Present: Katherine Duffy, Daniel Wendin, Barbara Green, Edward Shelley, Nonette Hanko, Harry Turner, and Richard Bishop. Personnel Present: Herbert Grench, Craig Britton, David Hansen, Charlotte MacDonald, Del Woods, Stanley Norton, and Jean Fiddes. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A) December 4, 1982 Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of December 4 , 1982. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 1 B) December 8, 1982 D. Wendin questioned the wording "It seemed to be the consensus" in the last sentence on page three. K. Duffy, with the consensus of the Board, stated the sentence should be amended to read "There was a consensus to appoint a Criteria Committee at the second regular meeting of the Board in January if necessary" . Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the minutes of December 8 , 1982 as amended. B. Green seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with D. Wendin abstaining from the vote since he had not attended the meeting. III. WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS J. Fiddes stated the following written communications had been received: 1) letters favoring allowing dogs on District preserves from Betsy Crowder, Portala Valley; Karen n F,. Villere, Mountain View; and Yvonne Pendleton, Moffett Field; 2) letters favoring prohibiting dogs on District preserves from Lois Crozier Hogle, Palo Alto and Wildlife Rescue, Inc. of Palo Alto; 3) a letter, dated December 10, 1982 from Edward W. Ernst, Assistant District Securities Officer, Office of the Treasurer, San Francisco, stating the District' s recent note issue was not subject to prior investigation, report, and approval by the State Treasurer; 4) a letter from Charles R. Brown, Sunnyvale, complimenting the District on its work, suggesting an overnight campsite on the trail from Los Trancos/Page Mill Road to Saratoga Gap, and requesting the District try to get the City of Palo Alto to open Foothills Park to non-Palo Alto residents; Herbert A.Grench,General Manager Boardof Directors:Katherine Duffy,Barbara Green,Nonette G.Hanko.Richard S Bishop,Edward G.Shelley,Harry A Turner,Daniel G Wendin Meeting 83-1 Page Two 5) a letter, dated December 21, 1982 from Stanley Golden, Mayor, Town of Woodside,congratulating the District on its tenth anniversary; and 6) an announcement of the Bay Area Parks and Recreation Commissioners and Board Members Council installation dinner meeting on January 28. The letters concerningdogs were directed to the Dog Committee, and K. Duffy requested staff inform Mr. Brown of the plans for a backpack camp on Black Mountain. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA K. Duffy indicated the agenda was adopted as presented by Board consensus. V. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Phyllis Cangemi, 31 American Way, Menlo Park, speaking in behalf' of The Hill Committee, addressed the Board on the topic of The Hill, a 38-acre property located in Menlo Park. She requested the Board 1) endorse the concept of the property as a managed open space preserve; 2) release staff members to survey the site to give advice regarding planning, development and management costs; 3) tour the property; and 4) consider a grant of approximately $250, 000 toward purchase of the property should an assessment district be formed. Ms. Cangemi stated she was in the process of preparing a written statement for the Board and asked the Board -consider the matter as soon as possible. H. Turner requested the matter be placed on a future agenda in order for the Board to consider the endorsement and cash contribution requests. He noted staff should address the extent to which the site is consistent with District policies regarding acquisition of urban open space. President Duffy agreed to placing the matter on a future agenda, noting the matter should appear on the January 26 agenda if possible. Lewis Reed, representing the MidpeAinsula Trails Council, stated he had met' with Ellie Huggins regarding equestrian participation at the May 14 Celebration Day on Monte Bello Ridge and noted the Council was contacting various equestrian and hiking groups, as well as individuals, in order to expand the Council 's membership. Bob Fisse, Treasurer, South Skyline Association, questioned the Board about a statement in the new All-Site Brochure concerning the District being halfway to its goal of preserving the most critical areas in the greenbelt. H. Grench responded the statement referred to open space ac- quisitions in terms of the Board-approved Master Plan for the District, and H. Turner stated he would be willing to discuss the matter at greater length with Mr. Fisse. VI. SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY A) Election of Board officers for 1983 K. Duffy reviewed memorandum M-83-01, dated December 13 , 1982 , regarding the election of new Board officers. T. Kavanaugh, referring to an editorial in the Peninsula Times Tribune, requested the Board consider casting their votes publicly,- rather than by secret ballot. There was no support stated by Board members to change the current method for electing new officers by secret ballot. H. Turner questioned whether any Board member knew of a Board policy concerning the rotation of the Presidency. No Board member stated that there was such a policy, and K. Duffy noted it was her understanding the membership of the Board would vote each January on who the new Board President should be. Meeting 83-1 Page three The following officers were selected for 1983: President - Barbara Green Vice President - Harry Turner Secretary - Nonette Hanko Treasurer - Daniel Wendin B) Resolution of Board of Directors, East Bay Regional Park District H. Grench presented the Board with A Resolution from the East Bay Regional Park District congratulating the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District on its Tenth Anniversary (see memorandum M-83-5, dated December 30, 1982) . B. Green requested staff draft a brief letter of thanks for the resolution in behalf of the Board. VII. OLD BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Final Adoption of Relative Site Emphasis Plan and Use and Management Plan Review Schedule D. Woods discussed the revisions to the Relative Site Emphasis Plan and Use and Management Plan Review Schedule as outlined in memorandum M-83-7 , dated January 3, 1983 . Discussion centered on clarifying the meaning of the explanation state- ments for the dash and asterisk in the Plan for Relative Emphasis of District Sites. B. Green stated the Board' s consensus to include "for FY 83-84" at the end of each explanation statement. Motion: R. Bishop moved the Board adopt the revised Relative Site Emphasis Plan and 1983 Use and Management Plan Review Schedule with the modification that had been made. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. B. Final Adoption of Interim Use and Management Plan for the Recent Addition to Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve (Robin Property) D. Hansen reviewed memorandum M-83-2, dated December 28, 1982, noting the staff had received no public comment on the actions taken by the Board at the December 8, 1982 meeting. Motion: K. Duffy moved the Board approve the interim use and management plan, including the name for the property, as contained in report R-82-47 for the addition of the former Robin property to the Limekiln Canyon Area of the Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve. H. Turn er er seconded motion.the h i n The motion passed ssed unanimously'. VIII. NEW BUSINESS WITH ACTION REQUESTED A. Proposed Addition to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve (Lands of ' Crist - Exercise of Option) C. Britton reviewed report R-83-2,dated January 7, 1983, regarding the exercise of the option to acquire the parcel the District has been leasing from the Crists since October 1981. He noted the terms of the option call for a full purchase price of $260,000 for the 102 acre parcel and said the land is an integral part of the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. He recommended dedication of the parcel, as well as the adjoining 120 and 40 acre parcels to the south,and" noted staff was recommending reaffirmation of the interim use and management recommen- dations since the recommendations-had previously been adopted by the .. Board. Meeting 83-1 Page four Motion: D. Wendin !rr.oved the adoption of Resolution 83-1 a Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional open Space District -Authorizinct Exercise of Option by Acceptance of Agreement to Purchase Real Property, 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 (Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve - Cris t Property) . H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Motion: D. Wendin moved the Board dedicate this property as open space, as well as dedicate the adjoining 120 and 40 acre parcels formerly owned by the Crists, name the site as an addition to the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve, and reaffirm the interim use and management recommendations. H. Turner seconded the motion. Discussion: D. Wendin stated he felt it appropriate to take final action on the use and management recommendations for this parcel since they had previously come before the Board. He noted, however, that if an isolated parcel had been involved such action would not be appropriate. The motion passed unanimously. B. Demonstration Burn - Chaparral Mana ement Pro gram 9 — - D. Hansen r !viewed' memorandum M---8T--8; - dated January 6, 1983 , regarding a helitorch demonstration burn by the California Department of Forestry on District property near the summit of Black Mountain. He noted the proposed burn area would be approximately 20-30 acres , not 2-3 acres as noted in the staff report, explained the reasons for burning the chaparral, and high- lighted the benefits that would result from conducting such a burn. He stated the exact date for the burn could not be established in advance -because necessary burning conditions, noticing to neighbors, and C.D.F. requirements had to be met. Discussion centered on providing the public with adequate notice about the project since the burn would be visible from the urban area. D. Wendin suggested the Trails Council be approached to convey information about the burn to trail users in the area, and H. Turner suggested an informational packet be mailed to the press regarding the burn. Motion,: K. Duffy moored approval of the request from the California Depart- ment of Forestry and staff- to allow a demonstration helitorch burn under the State ' s "Chaparral Management Program" to be carried out in the immediate vicinity of the Black Mountain summit on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve when C.E.Q.A. and local fire agency jurisdiction requirements have been satisfied and immediate site neighbors have been informed. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. C. Dedication Status of District Lands H. Grench reviewed report R-83-1, dated January 4, 1983 , regarding the dedication status of District lands and noted those parcels mentioned in the report for future dedication consideration would be included in the appropriate use and management plan reviews. H. Turner spoke in favor of dedicating the currently undedicated portions of the- Coal Creek Open Space Preserve, and in response to a question from N. Hanko regarding the McCone and Gunetti parcels, H. Grench noted the Meeting R3-1 Page five District could now transfer dedicated land to Santa Clara County for parks and recreation use, although he noted the County was not as interested in the Gunetti site as it might have been in the past. He said the possibility of dedication for the parcels mentioned by Directors Turner and Hanko would be reviewed in conjunction with the appropriate use and management plan. Robert Mark, 609 Forest Avenue, Palo Alto, stated he felt the Board should not wait until a certain use and management plan was presented to dedicate a parcel of land as open space. Board members responded that Board policy called for such actions at the time of use and management plan review and that the January report was an overall informational report. In response to a question from T. Kavanaugh regarding the reasons for not dedicating the 40-acre Westbay Associates parcel, staff was directed to review the meeting records to ascertain whether the reason noted in the re- port for withholding the property from dedication was accurate. Staff was directed to place the item on a future agenda if the reason for not dedi- cating the property needed to be amended and, if the reason was accurate, to inform the Board as an informational report. Motion: K. Duffy moved the Board accept the report on the dedication status of District lands with the addition of the 120 acre and 40 acre Crist parcels as dedicated acreage. H. Turner seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. D. Consent to Transfer Promissory Notes -- Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve C. Britton reviewed memorandum M-83-9 , dated January 7 , 1983, regarding the dissolution of Skyline Ranch, Inc. and the assignment of the Note and deed of trust by the corporation to a liquidating trust being created. Motion: D. Wendin moved the Board consent to the Transfer of the Note and Deed of Trust by Skyline Ranch, Inc— and authorize the President of the Board to sign the form of consent. N. Hanko seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. E. Program Evaluation for1982-83 and Setting of priorities for 1983-84 H. Grench recommended this item be continued because of the anticipated length of the Closed Session. Motion: N. Hanko moved that Item 9 , Program Evaluation for 1982-83 and Setting of Priorities for 1983-84 be continued to the second Regular Meeting of January. E. Shelley seconded the motion. Discussion: . K. Duffy sugg6sted the Board also discuss a possible Board staff workshop to "blue-sky" and discuss future District activities. The motion passed unanimously. IX. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS B. Green stated Betsy Bechtel had been elected Mayor of the City of Palo Alto. N. Hanko announced the Dog Committee would be meeting on Wednesday, January 19, 1983 at 7 :30 P.M. at the District office. K. Duffy said she had received an announcement for the forthcoming Special Districts Conference to be held in Southern California. Meeting 83-1 Page six , Motion: R. Bishop moved the Board authorize the expenditures involved in sending the President or another Board representative selected by the President to the meeting. E. Shelley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. C. Britton informed the Board that Mr. Pennington intended to retain the two acres adjacent to the 21 acre parcel purchased from P.M. and Associates that was added to the Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve. C. MacDonald stated that reprinted Tenth Anniversary posters were available and said a new District slide show had been produced. D. Hansen briefed the Board on the status of Planning for Edgewood County Park, December storm damage, and staff discussions with P.O.S.T. regarding the possibility of P.O.S.T. trying to raise funding support for a planning study for Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve. H. Grench elaborated on the proposed study, noting it would be more encompassing than a normal use and management plan, and that the amount of money that might be secured for the planning study would allow more recreational development and alternate forms of management than usually considered. He said P.O.S.T. , - if succ6ssftl, would give the District a grant for the study, therefore allowing the District to be in charge of the planning study. Board mem- bers responded that it was important that the District be in control of the study and potential uses but that the unusual aspects could be con- sidered. H. Grench stated he had copies of Governor Deukmejian's State of the State address and showed the Board adverse comments received from an anonymous member of the public that had been written on an All-Site brochure. X. CLAIMS E. Shelley questioned claims 3993 through 3997. H. Grench stated possessory interest taxes had to be paid on ranger residences and that the District was splitting the cost of the taxes with the resident rangers for 1980 and 1981, noting that in the future, resident rangers would pay the entire amount. Motion: E. Shelley moved the approval of the claims 83-1, dated January 12 , 1983. R. Bishop seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously with N. Hanko abstaining from Claim 3947 to IBM. XI. CLOSED SESSION The Board recessed to a Closed Session on land negotiation, litigation, and personnel matters at 9 :33 P.M. XII. ADJOURNMENT The Board reconvened to adjourn at 11:55 P.M. Jean H. Fiddes District Clerk Claims 83-1 - Iteting 83-1 January 12,1983 i Revised MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT C L A I M S u Amount Name Description 3916 $ 3,015.87 Karl Bell Debt Service-Liebelt Property 3917 50,000.00 Title Insurance and Trust Land Purchase-Crist 3918 306.40 Betsy Bechtel Printing Reimbursement and loth Anniversary Coordinator's Fee-Dec. 3919 291.60 Eleanor Huggins Printing Peimbursen-ent and 10th Anniversary Coordinator's Fee-Dec. 3920 110.44 Jim Boland Meals and Lodging Expenses for Training Seminar-Boland, Watt,and Cundert 3921 815.00 California Advocates,Inc. Legislative Consultant Fee-December 3922 135.92 CA Safety and Supply Co. Ranger Uniform and Flares 3923 50.00 State of CA Investigation,Review,and Report-Re: Promissory Notes 3924 61.66 CA Water Service Water Service-Rancho San Antonio 3925 20.77 R. Cali and Bro. Supplies for Ranger Yard 3926 43.30 Jack Chin Materials and Expenses for loth Anniversary Slide Show 3927 78.79 Clark's Auto Parts " Vehicle Repairs and Generator Battery for Bean House 3928 6.92 Comwrcial Wholesale Products,Inc. Shop Supplies 3929 218.11 Cmnminications Research Co.. Radio Maintenance Service and Vehicle Antenna 3930 530.40 Contemporaries Tenporary Trail Construction Aide- Windy Hill Open Space Preserve 3931 300.00 Susan Cretekos Windmill Pasture Patrol Services-Dec. 3932 43.05 Crest Copies Map Duplication 3933 140.56 H.S. Crocker Co. , Inc. Office Supplies 3934 19.71 The Dark Room Photo Processing 3935 33.60 Katherine Duffy Reimbursement for Mileage and Parking- Note Signing in San Francisco 3936 700.00 Department of Parks anal Recreation Training Seminar-Patrick Congdon 3937 100.00 First American Title Insurance Co. Preliminary Title Report 3938 800.00 Foss and Associates Personnel Consulting Fees-Nov.and Dec. 3939 1,022.00 Frahm, Edler, and Cannis Consulting Services-Acquisition 3940 49.01 Frick Gallagher Shop Equipment 3941 69.40 Philip Gagnon Calligraphy 4 _ alms 83-1 Page 2 Meeting 83-1 �r Amount Name JanuaryIs�tion 3942 $ 275.70 Herbert Grench �F Out-of-Tc��m Tsetin g Expenses and Conference Registration 3943 3,124.00 Flinn, Gray, and Herterich Yearly Insurance Premiums 3944 83.32 Peter and Lucia Hamnar Reimbursement for Maintenaznce and Repair-Bean House 3945 35.00 Helms ng's Carburetor and Electric District Vehicle Expense Service 3946 6.97 Hubbard and Johnson Field Supplies 3947. 165.62 IBM Service Agreement and Supplies 3948 79.84 Jacobs Bros. Erosion Control Materials Monte Bello Open Space Preserve 3949 24.00 Landscape Architecture Subscription 3950 110.00 Las Palmas Pool Service Temporary Pool Service-Rancho San Antony 3951 55.00 League of CA Cities Legislative Bulletin-Subscription 3952 18.50 Leisure Sights and Sounds,Inc. Learning Cassettes-D. Hansen 3953 326.75 Los Altos Garbage Co. Garbage Service-Nov. and Dec. 3954 6.92 Los Altos Stationers Miscellaneous Office Supplies 3955 350.64 Minton's Lurber and Supply Ha.rdware,Pluabing,and Shop Supplies 3956 168.67 Nbbil Oil Gas for District Vehicles 3957 390.00 Monterey Bay Training Consortium Seminar-J.Boland,A.Watt,M Gundert 3958 95.62 National Mailing Services Mailing for All-Site Brochure 3959 37.20 Stanley R. Norton Telephone and Copy Expenses-Novmmber 3960 409.98 Orchard Supply Hardware Miscellaneous Plumbing and Shop Supplie::, 3961 7,889.38 Orrick,Herrington and Sutcliffe Legal Services for 1982 Negotiable Promissory Note 3962 342.68 PG and E Utilities 3963 1,813.54 Pacific Telephone Telephone Services-Nov. and Dec. 3964 31.95 Patton Bros., Inc. Road Repairs-N,onte Bello Road 3965 883.86 Peninsula.Oil Co. Gas for District Vehicles 3966 21.30 Petals Please Flowers-10th Anniversary Dinner 13967 40.00 U.S. Postmaster Mailing Permit for 1983 3968 137.39 Redwood Trade Bindery Brochure-Mante Bello Open Space Brochure. 3969 21.10 Reliance Western Distributors Bins-Ranger Yard 3970 39.72 Research Institute of America Subscription 3971 4,664.00 Rogers,Vizzard,and Tallett Legal Services-November 3972 28.12 San Jose Art Supplies for Land Manageumnt 3973 7.75 Saratoga Horticultural Foundation Book 3974 129.93 Stevens Creek Quarry, Inc. Road Repairs-Rancho San Antonio"' . 3975 225.62 Sears, Roebuck and Co. Water Heater Replacement-Rancho San Antonio Ranger Residence Revised Claizzs 83-1 Page 3 , . . ieting 83-1 Amount Name "an�y,3A �i tion 13976 $ 672.04 Shell Oil Co. Gas and Repair for District Vehicles 13977 19.02 David Topley Reinburseme:nt-Shop Supplies ',3978 200.00 U.C. Regents Records Manageimt Workshop-J. FiddesA E. Johnson '3979 42.00 The Times Newspaper Subscription 3980 500.00 U.S. Postmaster Postage for Meter 3981 90.59 Union Oil Co. Gas for District Vehicle 3982 480.08 Valley Stake and Supply Fencing Material 3983 48.41 Rich Voss Base Rock Delivery 3984 7.64 Willis Photo Lab Coyote Point Exhibit Slides 3985 1,061.13 Xerox Corporation Xerox Supplies, Maintenance and Installment Payment for Nov.and Dec. 3986 58.58 ZZZ Sanitation Co. Portable Toilets-Los Trancos 3987 902.47 H.arfst Associates Computer Services August, September, October, and November 3988 7,502.75 County of San Mateo Services for District Election 989 18.89 Mary Gundert Office Supplies 3990 **150.00 U.S. Postmaster Postage for Meter 3991 50.00 Petty Cash Petty Cash Advance 3992 6,107.27 Stone and Youngberg Printing Services for 1982 Negotiable Promissory Note 3993 ^k*150.00 U.S. Postmaster Postage for liter - P994 *�'�%'�*213.36 David Camp Partial Payment 1980 & 81 Possessory Interest Tax 995 173.52 James Boland Partial Payment 1980 & 81 Possessory Interest Tax 996 100.24 John Escobar Partial Payment 1980 & 81 Possessory Interest Tax 3997 490.39 Eric Mart Partial Payment 1980 & 81 Possessory Interest Tax �998 ,000.00 Edward and Linda Zabel Debt Service-Zabel Property Leo and Ruby Zabel �999 43,757.00 Stanley R. Norton Litigation Legal Services-7/20/82 to 12/31/82 �00 268.27 Petty Cash Private Vehicle Expenses,Miscellaneous Office Supplies,Miscellaneous Shop Supplies,Local Meal. Conference,Postage, and Subscription Reimbursement *Emergency Check 12-21-82 **Smrgency Check 12-20-82 ;December_ 8,1982 Claim 3905 for $3,750.00 ^�'^Emergency Check 12-21-82 was for Principal payment only• Current '16-WHcEmergency Check 01-06-83 claim is for Interest payment inadverteZltly j onritted. % ' c*Emergency Check 01-07-83 -Ali MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Date: January 26, 1983 To: The Board of Directors From: Harry Turner Regarding: Requests by The Hill Committee in its letter of January 20, 1983 I am keenly aware that The Hill Committee is asking the District to take actions that are beyond its fundamental goals for the preservation of regional open space. The possible consequence of repeated commitments of our limited resources to acquisitions of extremely expensive urban open space would be an impairment of our ability to achieve the purposes for which the District was created. We all know that our policies do allow for occasional departures from our primary mission that involve acquisition of urban open space. In this case I believe that an arrangement can be structured that will be consistent with all of our policies and that will assure a cost-effective use of the judicious commitments that we make. I do support the essence of the Committee's requests, and I submit the following recommendations to you for your review and approval. 1. Endorsement. The District Board should endorse and support the efforts of local constituencies and political leadership in the vicinity of The Hill to assemble the resources and to buy the full fee title of the entire property from a willing seller at a mutually agreed upon fair market price. Note that the City Council of Menlo Park, which has a sphere of influence over the unincorporated area containing The Hill has recently denied a similar request for endorsement. Themost •st likely specific result of this endorsement will be encouragement to circulators of petitions to create a 5000 home Benefit Assessment District in an area involving portions of Menlo Pa rk, Atherton, and San Mateo County. This action would be consistent with a basic District policy to be an advocate for encourage ace open s and to a other entities to P P g preserve it. 2. The Grant. As to amount I suggest that the Board specify gg P Y an amount in the range of $100,000 to $250,000, according to what it believes will be the most cost-effective use of District funds. This range corresponds to a cost per acre range of $2600 to $6600, I . The Hill Committee R !st 2 amounts that straddle the current acquisition prices being paid by the District. In return for the grant the District should receive an open space easement over the entire 38 acres. I believe that this appropriation will be money well spent and consistent with our exception policy for the following reasons: Uncommon public support. By policy, the District includes the amount of public support for an acquisition among the factors q that affect its land acquisition decisions. There has been persistent, broad support for the objective of keeping The Hill in open space. The first attempt to do so failed, not because P of lack of support, but because of the financing method selected. The second Menlo Park election demonstrated a near-majority support for the project. I assure you that today a substantial area of Menlo Park strongly supports its preservation. The one exception is unincorporated Sharon Heights where the support level is not uniform and many residents are wary of abuse of the site and of their privacy and security if The Hill continues undeveloped. However, on balance the public support is extensive and enthusiastic. This claim will be tested once again by the petition circulators. If they fail, our expectation that the public support is sufficient to justify the grant will be denied. For this reason the award of the grant should be contingent on a successful formation of a Benefit Assessment District. Regional attraction for nature study. The Hill does provide an array of three native California biotic communities in one compact area. This uncommon feature makes it an area for nature study that can appeal throughout the entire region. It is reasonable to foresee the District docent program including The Hill in its regular activities. The San Mateo County Audubon Club advocates preservation of The Hill for bird study. Regional access. There is easy automobile access to the site from throughout the District's region. Unusual natural value. The open space has uncommon beauty and appeal. This Hill provides "room to breath" close to the urban congestion. As to purposes for which the grant can be applied, I suggest that: - the seller must be willing; - the entire 38 acres must be acquired; and - the use of the property must be publicly accessible open space. 3. Property Management. I recommend that we advise The Hill Committee to look first to Menlo Park for management of the property. This would be consistent with the principle that government is better i The Hill Committee 1 iest 3 when it is administered locally where information travels short distances and is not pubject to distortion or incompleteness, and where local elected officials are readily accessible to the property's neighbors. A proper role for the District would be to assist in preparation of the use and management plan for The Hill. Implementation of the plan should be the responsibility of a local jurisdiction. 4. Governmental relations. We should be aware that this property is in Menlo Park's sphere of influence and that the Council has just awarded a building permit for the property. Our actions should include letters directed to Menlo Park and to the County that inform them of our actions and of our reasons for taking them. 5. Public information. It is important that we clearly explain that our actions are consistent with our established, previously existing policies regarding exceptional acquisitions of urban open space. We should strive to avoid the possible misinterpretation that we are embarking on a new policy to participate in undeveloped land acquisitions in urban areas throughout the District. Summary The Hill is a unique open space opportunity within the District's area of responsibility. The Hill is undeveloped land with "unusual characteristics of sufficient natural value and importance to transcend its relevance to the immediate locality." If we take the steps I have outlined here, we will be cost-effective with our limited funds and we should be able to avoid making future grants to acquire parcels of urban open space that do not satisfy our policies. 4WV I WPTTTEN COMMUNICATION Meeting 83-2 ' Jan. 26 , 1983 HENRY R. HAYES 633 OLD LA HONDA RD. WOODSIDE. CALIF. 04062 -T-4,v- /g r9Q3 375 /01 r rC4 ci kC,� E. 4L7c'J; �� /f►T�C N'9rci+/ p� 7,Y'c� ?-��� C�7�n /YI/7T��. �"v�.�pc✓%v'�' )/D!/�2 /YI�:7�it+•�'i of .�.as7 DC-•�C`yI/,3�,,�, •¢T �.,�h�icrf �/ov vEQy' /•�/�v�y Ar-���� Fo ���c �t, vn .-un•rry �v s�7c-•g•� �Bo✓�' mY Ceve6,gAl p✓E- TlfE ��G�'C D 1C ,%t�! Tr�/�+d-C-. 'l,�q ail///t/'�y /Fr.LC �� e, - 0 c Ctv/t�4J. ON 7�vers /,,V �4 �'v,a�r� �r,5�rc6 OI�E wig. .3z ���� 7-C ydv i.V E.r74,3,4,4;y- /�6 7. �J' ��u ld�C /1/G'�r✓ f✓Et.G- /�[.e.•/!-�2�, i1��.4� �¢Q� 11�� Pv �P�N F�.r� x�Gr T ��viNG rev G � n,��� sc�i^✓ +t : ��Qcc s wr t6- 7-A 41AA' � 1,V CA.v!>/Me;' OFF-, 6AD t✓dr2ie. I✓.4 S �44kcP w&0 /A/.IWC- />A 4 7- C l� ivDr psH.o 1944'V leIf>' 56,4,e�r v G N �c - �/,`[ �1rJ��hlvii�! '42c.-4 A/EG4tDE4) 75e-4- SOQT Or- woAK rs ABovT Sty -4M� . Aryc,�f•r D��-�S o V' q-lc�E-i y �-�►/D Cy�2.c-..¢_-7�� ci��-�.c�-�'�- �v ��- %�i�V�N� AA--o %,� e,r i�/q /f�//� f32 �✓ i✓ h��ri � 7c J'C--A/d T5bq--V ,C%ay-k 4k b cr/72:5-S-. ?;L`9-11V1A rr A►.QY A5,. -40AIF B V A J-iNs h6 11kA10A�1--4 OA Z Y • 7 o To G✓.62kt �d rr -5'/-G-.2 70 v C-'T �C � IN✓c�i�V�/V S 2>O U f3 etc v.2 >� dJ-.F' i17 f 2 .�EP2E5 F,�S Se7eSl' IA-- rv,3-i7.4Tri�3t, r•trv�ct'i7 8Y 'All-jr ic�OrL'S.t/pGk-o�h3vE�a xivrr>yQ^r)A-4j �r!ny rH47 644S ,. J3C vr61 3S tTs 4r O4:; A"1, y f- C ,e. o� s-�� ,� - rl .Z7p�t.S :¢ A1c) 7 ►v,NS' �f�CM �o ��T,y ,f��v�� d� i Gl Th�i�? vvr�Ct�2C,p /3-T //e7M 6 !7 S��ve.hD �e fir,��� - • •s'v c-C7` HENRY R. HAYES 633 OLD LA HONDA RD. WOODSIDE. CALIF. 04062 ��: i szfE= Dpr� �•'vJ:-�,ryyLT7'c':-f f b`c7cAcJ7) , 7�0 4 r ' 7sytS'r /;-a-c N0T ?'NC C,�}�:rr v� 0 f/,2 r2 c-G i CAI G iv y �,�-�.�,%=s� /-Zc�7 vC-�¢ G4-✓ f3o' J-&A/'7 0 V 7 ov 7cr2�INF4 1/A,�5 YAKS 0417 ��vo p•�cTF,v ©y A A112 4 4An Tv A Po lNr fL F 1 /ffi�e �f3 d E G?CT�I�L D O[! C� SEA 711�/N/NC, L7tJM,iUtY' 1/C- 'o,& /�✓L K %r5lE FA!•[-- 4 spc// ?Coo C-ciJ /-hv p QGT/L< CUM/IN/}/1/,p ► �f/�1-.7'�S'�EdZ r y 6f/d' ol'U i� cif/ �/ic� �{E #,4��" fix! % cAl% 4,vp / � wrrtJGy <i'NG�Zcc �CCs�'i�-�-G�Lv �,�yE.-,5`9�y.c14 7$f A-7. 7 �:A cti�/Hn��/.) /3G�p cV �.aZ F ?w C7 i//���; 01� 7Q1}./N/!V�' /'� r•- CA Ty �E?Q�J V,4JS r, z-- ►oOvos- 0 �-- � b ({�uG•�-t.2 h�1 A DOS SSA-�/'0 .4 i�/�'' `� c� � � Ivti►,-r r,2A5 AAc- TN a2,,v)j !rt'D►Y� \ Y ' Pv�r ti oti 1 Z �N A 714 Lz-f= , A'F7r6A- Att.~ ► �' j 'A a0w1U M6 POC. Js 7H6AJ t Jv`i' 7'O -ry per t_. aCVs' jZr=,'L�e✓G Tti6vvi _ )H6 76�t /N r2G-„(�C'NUrNS' !G k/HjJ;W AN40 1MMD e4P_' -Tc-NT' To pjrC - 0 Ami) Si0 Y 570, AM.D TNT! `C - J N c R.1F� /�f irlGltitiC`�6�:t►IV4 jr�t' 1'`lJh�•..�i~ / 13AcFt GZ2 l...E>F'T 7-v $l12,J5 P,L9>�GlJ l�? � Cy,b:r16 /3 r F d,3" 2r& as 3^ OIL .. ,1-., _. . . _.._..r......_.._-.. --. -- HENRY R. HAYES 63:3 OLD LA HONDA RD. WOODSIDE, CALIF. 94062 . l0 TiyF t7 D C cvsn n 111•71f-c A 7A,+1,VlAr6 i4d�cA J oto�. 36 56C�2� 7=-�torri riftlfCt�rF/` !►L/�7�FfC i}n/D k�q SCNiylj�-Y f� ���+�t T�%G'rL.F��LEN 7 13y 4;�qqeC Tad OFF�G kv-11 AI 4 AoO !.r RV1vfv1A1 7-AER.E J'ht00" Ff! !J N OT S j>E,ti/T wq /AND /-p � 7;;f-6r1V60' A.11 i9,�-crt�4 fdfl �vy� 7,q i/V/A/q AgF �S%Rlj�./oitf �E= NE,c,�- �G2 TrSf[ Dl�r✓1/G7 !v R6 :�,�dtF- --• z•IN 4 ?IStE Po/le- Jv, cvE�.Q -4-i✓ //��i i��l�, .43R� .ai4ft�� Q7iI� ft[- !/Ic5'tt�I LJT�/ IAI ?U /A&N'Tr E t/ %!�E�7N J 6-F.ft� Tl� y R �� 7' Gf�7 L • r2�' OF - v �d y/ 00 s'z s t>�J' ,�7-G W i'�/cf�' �•a vcs '�.Qcv��-j- �p�� /'C,, tAALc-t,-y / 911vsr ,�vr,vr vv7 ih�AT Thl� PPE-7 ��vi,1r4 t3FZe-��� z sn�ct��.�.y� •4,Z.� ?�y ?'Em/�e,�Cn,'�` C c�vE � 4ND D7hxG-2 4 ,-/r F. Y wave �I --gym ,ap,) p :WRITTEN COMMUNICATION Meeting 83-2 L,Of At--TU.T C .4- Q VOZZ Jan 261 1983 1/71aw �. �jo uocry a�•:��f ovr Ja•�ua-ey 9 99`3 , Uh r a�2Af ,A-QP-,i,rf�' ea- eff n-wf o�r"sue r©`2 144e 19 , 'ff�n� oto9.r ovi 0/yos-ems I-vh -e q I'!x e� or /z©�, ��.�► will �.°r:�r sz, 4 � /fie j�Le 4.P c ae�l c2j f Evil R,/i i`7 y� za,u-e.r AeC . �_e. r �rce,-•Zea�� e Q-vr cz.� fe,.� �at,- spa. 2/-4,-r OL, e a� a s-e v G &v el/ ce'D Gvlz-ew �.ci er.L l c As? 0 � F do 3 1` R-83-4 (Meeting 83-2 January 26 , 1983) 'vie MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT REP ORT January 20 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager PREPARED BY: C. Britton, Land Acquisition Manager SUBJECT: Authority to Negotiate for the Purchase of Surplus Federal Real Property located on Mt. Umunhum and Mt. Thayer Discussion: On January 27 , 1982 , you adopted Resolution No. 82-3 authorizing the General Manager to pursue a public benefit discount conveyance of the surplus Federal property commonly referred to as the Almaden Air Force Station on Mt. Umunhum and Mt. Thayer (see memorandum M-82-12 dated January 22 , 1982) . ' The- two areas under consideration are shown on the 'attached map. By letter dated December 8 , 1982 , copy attached, the District was officially advised that the discount conveyance request was denied; however, that same letter encouraged a negotiated purchase cf this property b the g g Y P Y Y District. The subsequent meetin with members of the Real Property a q Y P Representatives (disposal branch) for the Federal Government re- vealed that a resolution authorizing the commencement of negotiations and designation of the responsible person is required before pur- chase discussions can commence. The passage of such a resolution does not obligate the District to purchase the property, as this authority would only be approved by you upon acceptance of a purchase agreement. Finalization of the transaction would come before the Board in a manner similiar to other land purchase decisions. Recommendation: I recommend that you adopt the accompanying Reso- lution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Authorizing the Commencement of Negotiations for Certain Surplus Real Property Located Within the District Boundaries. (Manzanita Ridge Open Space Preserve - Surplus Federal Lands [Almaden Air Force Station] on Mt. Umunhum and Mt. Thayer) . 1982 Q Ge I Services Administration—Regior - ` i 525 —arket Street San Francisco, GA 94105 g DEC a � Mr. Herbert Grench General Manager Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (MROSD) 375 Distel Circle, Suite D1 Los Altos, CA 94022 Dear Mr. Grench: This letter is to advise you that your application for a public benefit discount conveyance for the surplus former Almaden Air Force Station, is hereby denied for the following reason: Current Federal policy relating to the disposal of surplus real property is predicated upon the need to increase revenues to help defray the public debt and thus it has been determined that public benefit discount conveyances will only be made on a highly selective basis. Donations of property will be strictly limited to proposals demonstrating exceptional merit and reflecting the highest and best use of the property. However, we wish to bring to your attention that the subject property could be acquired from the Federal Government through a negotiated sale at fair market value. With this in mind we would like to offer the property to you on a priority, negotiated basis. Such negotiated sale would satisfy the requirements of the public policy and would represent the highest and best use of the property. Additionally a negotiated sale would accommodate MROSD's program needs, while at the same time securing proceeds which could be made available to help reduce the national debt. We are certain you would heartily endorse these sentiments and we look forward to hearing from you at your earliest opportunity in order to begin negotiations and follow them through to a happy and fruitful conclusion for both the benefit of the Federal Government and the citizens of northwestern Santa Clara County and southern San Mateo County. Sincerely, ARLIN M. TIMBERLAKE Acting Chief, Disposal Branch Real Estate Division Public Buildings and Real Property cc: Mr. Robert Augsburger, Executive Director, Peninsula Open Space Trust Mr. John D. Cherry, Acting Associate Regional Director, Planning & Recreation Services w RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT AUTHORIZING THE COMMENCEMENT OF NEGOTIATIONS FOR ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN SURPLUS REAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT BOUNDARIES (MANZANITA RIDGE OPEN SPACE PRESERVE - FEDERAL SURPLUS REAL PROPERTY [ALMADEN AIR FORCE STATION] MT. UMUNHUM AND MT. THAYER) The Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District does resolve as follows: Section One. That the General Services Administration of the United States Government has declared surplus to its needs real property located at the summit of Mt. Umunhum and Mt. Thayer in the County of Santa Clara, within the District Boundaries. Section Two. That the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has expressed an interest in acquiring title to the surplus property. Section Three. That the General Manager of the District, or designee, is hereby designated to negotiate for the acquisition of the surplus real property on Mt. Umunhum and Mt. Thayer. Section Four. That the negotiating authority designated herein does not preclude the pursuit of a public benefit discount con- veyance should such a possibility be reinstated. •:'t•:' J,'. if,S JJ:1•::+• :`.a•: f..:Sti }',.,',ti.M:.•:.�.•.•.•.•.•...........•.-.•: J r: '•}:;'. t:;: ,•, ,rrr '✓ 1 - ^ � r `� ) L/ SITE MAP LSMLA©S Cherry: PROPOSED ADDITION TO t / MANZANITA RIDGE �\ -' �\ OPEN SPACE PRESERVE 1 \ -rah . (Almaden Air Force Station) ;5:: �-- ( interest) Scale 1" = 2000 ' ANortn - �;a -� , �l '✓^� �\ :J � }1 �1�. J�?5449�\ .��' C�l/T 1� n-L.t ��. _ y� f�`-`^��\. i�,,• �Js' �--: li. J i� L /I.l � �'��`�+ `"`�`� �pry,' a '�� `/�' � /.� �-�.✓� - — 1 � + �� round o '"��g Re t r z e_��"" PS' ��. x►iD°^ '�'f�_^�� Kt 14-T THAY _ WILL ... �o�o-�-�vE. , AREA o ,.rFX. Gatos� � J �' }�/ j ALMA°EN � } \ 1\ I✓ '��` _ f�. �1LExrN°fON 3 •�3RVC0E`TMM A.c»F, .A /%) \ r !f 1aLi r ya .AldercroR �. a8s t.�j�l � •� % i,' LS r--���.. J��l'Jr �i�'13--:.; ,•Chemeketa Park iolai,M%i. e �i '.i �`•-_�I. i�; / /��\ �1 ���i !/�', l�/ W00� 40 °r s ouac+ _ P ��� � � /� .�� ��� r"�� \ 1 Ifl /•/, `t ,3'�+'' '.::. tS�a S Ut Holy�'C.? "' i .o�. o*�`� _ �•`'`��/ ' /r// ��,....� ` ' I� � //\�� Co 12.5 rA City4.7 °.i,�.I Aus,.,Aw � B IN•rc•r0 b,ry� ._� ' �,-, / '��� ��• <'*4 �.�,. ' ���%e�PJ=�P—'�,:•::^�'' C� % —::-rr. r—.-n; C- -....- - ..................................................... .. M-83-11 (January 26, 1983 Meeting 83-2) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MEMORANDUM January 13, 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager SUBJECT: Program Evaluation for 1982-83 and Setting of Priorities .0 for 1983-84 Discussion: This agenda item has been continued from your meeting of January 12, 1983, and the evaluation materials (memorandum M-83-3 of December 21, 1982) were included in your packet for the January 12 meeting. Please contact the office if you need another copy of the evaluation materials. Recommendation: After discussion and possible modification, I recommend that you accept the program evaluation for the first part of 1982-83 and that you tentatively adopt the key projects and activi- ties for 1983-84. f M-83-13 (Meeting 83-2 January 26, 1983) i MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MEMORANDUM January 17 , 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager RESPONSIBILITY AND PREPARATION: D. Hansen, Land Manager; A. Watt, Environmental Analyst SUBJECT: Negative Declaration for the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Demonstration Burn Background: At our January 6, 1983 meeting, you approved the g Y Y g Y _ P request for a demonstration burn conducted by the California Department of Forestry on Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, subject to compliance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and local fire agency jurisdiction requirements (see memorandum M-83-8 of January 12 , 1983) . CEQA Guidelines for project evaluation indicate that if a project is not exempted by the Guidelines, the Lead Agency shall conduct an Initial Study to determine if the project may have a significant effect on the environment. If the project does not have a significant effect, a Negative Declaration is prepared. If any aspects of the project, either individually or cumulatively, may cause a significant effect on the environment, then an Environmental Impact Report must he prepared. You approved a Negative Declaration for the District' s previous burn, which encompassed significantly larger acreage than the proposed project (see report R-80-55 , dated October 2, 1982) . We feel that, despite the diminished acreage, this may not be an exempt project and, therefore, an Initial Study was prepared. Discussion: An Initial Study, which provides an environmental inventory for evaluating the potential impacts on the environment from the 7 project is attached. proposed P The Initial Study indicates the following impacts could be expected: A. Potential Beneficial Impacts 1 . Reduction of fire hazard 2 . Improved health and increased diversity of vegetation 3 . Improved health and increased diversity of animal population 4 . Improved aesthetics M-83-13 Page two B. Potential Negative Impacts - Short term 1 . Visible smoke and flame for burn, which may create concern from people who see it, 2. Smoke fumes during burn could present possible hazard to people who are sensitive to poison oak fumes or particulates, 3 . Smoke may create a traffic problem along Page Mill Road and Skyline Boulevard, 4 . Preserve restrictions - Preserve visitors will be restricted during burn, 5. Wildlife - Preserve wildlife will be disrupted, 6 . Hazard to adjacent property of escaped fire, 7 . Spectators could create traffic problems. C. Potential Negative Impacts - Longer term 1 . Visual - fire scorch 2 . Soil erosion The short term negative impacts are potential only during the burn period. Mitigation measures include public notification of the burn, pre-burn preparation, and time and method of the burn. The longer term potential impacts are proposed to be mitigated by the type of burn prescription which allows a "cool" fire, and the time of the year in which plants begin to grow after the rain, which will reduce the visual impact and mitigate possible soil erosion problems. The alternatives to the project are: fuel reduction by mechanical methods, by manual methods, by using browsing animals, or no project. Conclusion: The effects of the proposed project on the environment, both short term and long term, are not expected to be significant impacts, based on the data and mitigation measures identified in the Initial Study. Therefore, staff has determined that a Negative Declaration is warranted for the project. A Notice of Preparation for this Negative Declaration was posted on the project site, mailed to adjacent property owners, and published in a local newspaper. Recommendation: I recommend that, contingent upon evaluating any public comment on the proposed Negative Declaration and Initial Study, you approve the attached Negative Declaration for the project. Staff will file a Notice of Determination with the respective County and City clerks stating that the District has determined that the project will not have a significant effect on the environment and that pursuant to the provisions of CEQA, no E.I .R. has been prepared. MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT NOTICE OF DETERMINATION FOR A NEGATIVE DECLARATION The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is filing a Notice of Determination for a Negative Declaration in compliance with section 15080 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) . Project Title: Monte Bello Open Space Preserve Demonstration Burn Contact Person: David Hansen, Land Manager Telephone: (415) 965-4717 Project Location: Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, approximately 7 miles southwest of 1-280 within the limits of the City of Palo Alto Project Description: Approximately 30 acres in a 50 acre area of the 2500 acre Preserve will be burned in a controlled manner to reduce an existing fire hazard and protect the natural resources. The intention is to break up expanses of chaparral and reduce accumulations of dead fuel in order to lessen the intensity, spread and resistance to control of potential wildfires. The project will be conducted as a demonstration of the helitorch burning technique by the California Department of Forestry. The project will reduce the buildup of hazardous fuel along a public trail and thus increase public safety. It will improve the health and diversity of plant communities, providing im- proved wildlife habitat. This is to advise that the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District approved the above described project at its meeting of January 26 , 1983, and made the following determi- nation regarding the above described project: The project is not growth indicative, and the environmental impacts are either of short term, i.e. : the duration of the burn, or have adequate mitigation measures, as identified in the Initial Study. The project is not expected to have significant impact, and there- fore, a Negative Declaration is warranted. Notice Dated M.R.O.S.D. (By) Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Initial Study PART I A. Name, location, and brief description of project: Demonstration Burn - Monte Bello Open Space -Pr eserve Fire Management Plan to be implemented on 30 acres of the 2500 acre Montg Bello Open Space Preserve located on Paae Mill Road, some 7 miles southwest of I-280 within the limits of the City of Palo Alto B. A Description of the environmental setting: The 30 acres are located along the Black Mountain Trail ridge approximately 50 acres of Chaparral and mixed wnadIand C. The project is/is not compatible with existing zoning and general plans. If not, please explain below: N/A D. For identification environmental effects, see attached checklist. (PART II) E. For a discussion of any potential significant effects and ways to mitigate them, if any, see attached sheets. F. Recommended Action: X Negative Declaration Environmental Impact Report G. Persons who prepared this Initial Study: Alice Watt Date: 1/10/83 H. Name and Address of proponent: Midpeningula Regional Open Space District; 375 Distel Circle, Suite D-1 , Los Altos , _CA 94022 i Appendix C (coast . Page two ' PART II Identification of Environmental Impacts : (Explanations of "yes" and "maybe" answers are included on attached sheets) 1. Geology. Will the project: YES MAYBE NO a. result in an increase in wind or water erosion of soils, either on or off site? X b. be located on or adjacent to a known earthquake fault? X c. disrupt the soil causing substantial erosion, silta- tion or land sliding? X d. cause destruction or modif- ication of any unique geologic feature? x 2. Water. Will the project: a. be located in a known flood plain? .X._ b. involve alteration(s) of a streamcourse or body of surface water? X C. change the quantity of ground waters either through direct additions or withdrawals, or through interception of an acquifer by cuts or excava- tions? X d. change_: absorption rates, drainage patterns, or the rate and amount of surface water runoff? X e. involve discharge into; or alteration of, any surface water resulting in reduced water quality, including but not limited to, increased turbidity or dissolved -oxygen? X 3. Air. Will the project result in: a. substantially increased air emissions or deterioration of ambient air quality? X Pa. three Appendix C (cont.) YES MAYBE NO b. the creation of objectionable odors? X C. alteration of air movement, moisture or temperature, or any change in local or re- gional climate? X d. the creation of dust ,smoke or fumes or the application of potentially hazardous ma- terials such as herbicides or pesticides? 4. Plant and Animal Life. Will the project: a. result in the removal or dis- turbance of any rare or endangered plant or animal? X b. reduce the acreage of any ag- ricultural crop? X C. result in the removal of substantial amounts of vegetation? X d. alter the ecological balance of an environment unit, either on or off site? X e. significantly affect a breeding, feeding, or esting area? X f. change the diversity or numbers of any species of plant or animal? X 5. Natural Resources. Will the project: a. involve the removal or depletion of on-site rock, sand, gravel, trees, oil or minerals? X 6. Permit Application. Will the project: a. require the approval of any federal, state, regional or local agency or district? - If yes, list below: X Burn permit from the City of Palo Alto 7 . Noise. Will the project: a. increase ' rease ambient noise levels, either on or off-site? X y Page four Appendix C (cont. ) 8. Circulation/Traffic. Will the project: YES MAYBE NO a. generate substantial additional traffic in the area? X b. generate the use of off-road vehicles of any kind excepting ranger patrol vehicles? X C. require alterations to present circulation patterns? X d. have substantial impact on existing road systems? X e. affect existing parking facilities or create a demand for new parking facilities? X f. increase traffic hazards for motor vehicles? bicyclists pedestrians? X 9. Public Services . Will the project: a. substantially affect a public water supply or sewage disposal system? X b. result in a need for increased fire or police protection? X C. cause groundwater pollution as a result of new septic systems? X d. require the expansion or extension of any public utility? X e. require any public service currently operating at or near capacity? X 10. Energy- Will the project: a. cause the use of substantial amounts of ' fuel or energy? X 11 . Land Use. Will the project: a. result in substantial land use changes that would adversely affect the population either on or off site? X b. serve to encourage development of presently undeveloped areas , or increase development intensity of already developed areas? X� c. vary from adopted and community or county policy? X I Page five YES MAYBE NO d. involve lands currently protected under the Williamson Act or an open space easement? x 12. Sociocultural. Will the project: a. result in an alteration of an historic, archeological or paleontological site, structure, object? x b. require the relocation of people or businesses currently on site? x C. obstruct scenic views or create an esthetically offensive site? x t Potential Significant Effects and Mitigation Measures A. Potential Beneficial Impacts 1 . Reduction of fire hazard 2 . Improved health and increased diversity of vegetation 3 . Improved health and increased diversity of animal population 4 . Improved aesthetics B. Potential Negative Impacts - Short term 1 . Visible smoke and flame during burn, which may create concern from people who see it, 2 . Smoke fumes during burn could present possible hazard to people who are sensitive to poison oak fumes or particulates , 3. Smoke may create a traffic problem along Page Mill Road and Skyline Boulevard , 4 . Preserve restrictions - Preserve visitors will be restricted during burn , 5. Wildlife - Preserve wildlife will be disrupted, 6 . Hazard to adjacent property of escaped fire , 7 . Spectators could create traffic problems . C. Potential Negative Impacts - Longer term 1 . Visual - fire scorch 2 . Soil erosion The short term negative impacts are potential only during the burn period. Mitigation measures include public notification of the burn, pre-burn preparation, and time and method of the burn. The longer term potential impacts are proposed to be mitigated by the type of burn prescription which allows a "cool" fire, and the time of the year in which plants begin to grow after the rain, which will reduce the visual impact and mitigate possible soil erosion problems. The alternatives to the project are: fuel reduction by mechanical methods, by manual methods, by using browsing animals, no project. a ______ STATE JURISDICTION ,'' -- +8p° (State Responsibility Area) • - � la a ' f a" ; , COMPLETED BURN AREA � \` ✓'' pn rsoo� ��`\ �--� ILo,, (Winter 1981) �.� _ jl`-' �'tf If - ::: r t ✓✓✓ j N .� :D�nstrCat M • .,* �` •i1 y., �J11,,�,..SR ' t', :•. v: r;:•..• / � //_\\ ' �J'lliil Ar'ec'3. lag H vronosed Lurn Area• ` I/ � ,� �`....J ,Y ; ,� � ._ c ') l ..�- ti- ��.\, •�; F.... Gleenlee Plan -(C-`;' F�'1 ) ?� F,axyer � L �' BMA 115 � W CITY OF PALO ALTO JURISDICTION AREA-�;��_` � �;r�� ��� 4•+- =�,� : . �" -_\' `\ [""' )y STATE JURISDICTION ° Responsibility Area)' ? o �` +k� (State � -`'�"' �;n� � - � i '°• a`<< .��S�-- iv •+ LZ Chaparral Management Plan MONTE BELLO Aj OPEN SPACE PRESERVE '2000' North �`'"' �` D J Q �.. � � �, `�.�' :111( STATE JURISDICTION + State Responsibility Area D.nmf"iC'6 M-83-14 (Meeting 83-2 Jan. 26 , 1983) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MEMORANDUM January 21, 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager SUBJECT: "The Hill" Committee Requests Introduction: At your meeting of January 12 , 1983 Ms. Phyllis Cangemi presented some requests to the District in connection with efforts to preserve "The Hill" in Menlo Park. Attached is her follow-up letter dated January 21, 1983 . On January 12 , staff was asked to report as soon as possible and at least pre- liminarily on how the requests would be viewed in the context of Board policy on the acquisition of urban open space. The letter from Ms. Cangemi regarding regional significance of The Hill" was not received early enough for staff to analyze and take into consideration in a staff report for your packet. Rather than report without the benefit of those points, the staff report will be completed and transmitted separately. The Hill Committee 910 Continental Drive Menlo Park, Co. 94025 January 20, 1983 Board of Directors Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 375-D Distel Circle Los Altos, Ca. Dear Directors; As you may know, there has been a ten-year long controversy concerning the use of the 38-acre property, known as The Hill, at the western and of Valparaiso Avenue in Menlo Park. The question over whether to develop or to preserve the land for Open Space has yet to be resolved. As I stand before you today, the status of The Hill remains to be determined by the citizens of Menlo Park, Atherton, and unincor- porated San Mateo County west of El Camino Real in Menlo Park and Atherton (see attached map). The owner, Blackwell Homes of Campbell, Cal., has agreed to sell the property to the community for an Open Space Park at "a fair market value" on the undeveloped land. The exact cost, which has not yet been determined, has been estimated to be somewhere between $3 to $5 million. As you may know, there were two attempts in the past to purchase the property for Open Space and both failed, though only narrowly. The first, a bond issue in 1973 achieved 59% of the needed two-thirds, and the second, a tax-override in 1974, received 46% of the necessary 50%. Unfortunately, a substantial body of citizens directly affected by the result were excluded from participation in the vote because the are no Menlo t P s y 1 ark residents, in whose ,jurisdiction The Hill lies. Perhaps if the vote had been by a "zone of benefit", The Hill would have been saved for Open Space 10 years ago and at a much lower price. The present plan proposes the formation of an assessm ent ment district P P i tract ,that would straddle the three ,jurisdictions of city, town, and county lands in the vicinity of The Hill. (The enclosed map showing proposed ro sed boundaries for this district, and a draft of the "fact sheet" prepared by the assessment attorney, along with a preliminary plan of the pre- serve accompany this presentation.) Admittedly, this is an ambitious project. The realities of cost and the involvement of three distinct political (and lifestyle) communities make such a plan difficult to fashion. The success of such an undertaking would depend on a great deal of commitment by the citizens of the three ,jurisdictions, based on a deep appreciation of the intrinsic value of preserving for the community, such an "unprofitable" resource as Open Space, particularly in an area where land is at a premium, and the pressure to develop is so great. continued.... . t A• PETITION FOR THE ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS PURSUANT TO SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSMENT BOND ACTS, AND WAIVER OF PROCEEDINGS UNDER DIVISION 4 OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE THE HILL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT To the Honorable Town Council To the Honorable Board of Town of Atherton Supervisors Atherton, California County of San Mateo San Mateo, Ca l i f orn i s To the Honorable City Council City of Menlo Park Menlo Park, California Honorable Council and Board Members: The undersigned respectfully petition and show that: 1. They are the owners (as shown on the Assessor's Roll, or in the Assessor's records, of the County of San Mateo, on which general taxes are collected) of lands constituting assessable property within said County and to be further described as provided by law in these proceedings. 2. You undertake special assessment proceedings and issue assessment bonds for the proposed acquisitions and improvements described in Exhibit "A" attached hereto. 3. You assess the costs of said acquisition, together with the incidental expenses of said proceedings, upon the proposed direct benefit thereby, the boundaries of which shall be determined in the manner prescribed by applicable law. 4. The taking of proceedings under Division 4 of the Streets and Highways Code in regard thereto is hereby waived. Dated: , 1982 Respectfully submitted, Assessor's Parcel No(s). : Owner(s) Print Name(s) Signature(s) of Owner(s) - Board of Directors Page 2 January 20, 1983 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District These efforts need the support and encouragement of all of us, particularly those individuals and organizations who have shown themselves to be responsible advocates for the preservation of Open Space in the Bay Area. I have come tonight to ask the board to consider three main requests: 1.) I am asking the board to consider an official endorsement of the community effort to purchase the property in Menlo Park known as The Hill from its owner, Blackwell Homes, for preservation as (a managed) Open Space. 2.) I am asking the board to consider a grant of $250,000 toward the purchase of the property should the formation of the assessment district be successful. 3.) I am asking the board to consider very seriously the acceptance of The Hill Open Space Preserve into the Midpeninsule Regional Open Space District; this acceptance being contingent upon a satisfactory arrangement between the district and the community purchasing the property regarding the management of this property. I have read the MROSD Master Plan and will attempt to use it as a guide in my presentation to the board. I hope that this approach will be of help in deciding on a course of action that will be in the best interests of all. The important point to highlight is that The Hill possesses characteristics which would qualify it as an Urban Open Space of special and regional significance: 1.) It is a unique and sizable (38 acre) piece of "Native California" in the urban setting. 2.) The Hill is extremely accessible, both locally and regionally. Locally, it can be reached in minutes by foot, bicycle, bus, or car. Regionally, The Hill is within minutes of Highway 280. There exists as well the "potential" for a trail hook-up with "The Loop" system (Alpine, Portola and Sand Hill Road Trails) described in Rusmore and Spangle's book, Peninsula Trails (see enclosed map). 3.) It is a microcosm of rich, natural diversity, both of vegetation and small wildlife, particularly birds. The Hill has elicited excitement from virtually every environmentalist and nature lover who has seen it. They have all expressed the concern that this "rare gem" be preserved as a small (in Open Space terms)yet exceedingly rich, natural habitat. continued..... I PETITION FOR THE ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS PURSUANT TO SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSMENT BOND ACTS, AND WAIVER OF PROCEEDINGS UNDER DIVISION 4 OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE THE HILL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT To -the Honorable Town Council To the Honorable Board of Town of Atherton Supervisors Atherton, California County of San Mateo San Mateo, California To the Honorable City Council City of Menlo Park Menlo Park, California Honorable Council and Board Members: The undersigned respectfully petition and show that: 1. They are the owners (as shown on the Assessor's Roll, or in the Assessor's records, of the County of San Mateo, on which general taxes are collected) of lands constituting assessable property within said County and to be further described as provided by law in these proceedings. 2. You undertake special assessment proceedings and issue assessment bonds for the proposed acquisitions and improvements described in Exhibit "A" attached hereto. 3. You assess the costs of said acquisition, together with the incidental - expenses of said proceedings, upon the proposed direct benefit thereby, the boundaries of which shall be determined in the manner prescribed by applicable law. 4. The taking of proceedings under Division 4 of the Streets and Highways Code in regard thereto is hereby waived. Dated: , 1982 Respectfully submitted, Assessor's Parcel No(s). : Owner(s) Print Name(s) Signature(s) of Owner(s) - Board of Directors Page 3 January 20, 1983 Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 4.) Because of its accessible location and its rich ecological diversity, The Hill possesses exceptional potential for educational purposes to school and field trip groups in the entire area. 5.) Scenic Preservations The first thing that strikes most people about The Hill is its beauty. From its base, The Hill provides the scenic backdrop to an entire community, and is, in fact, an integral part of the character of that community--so much so that one could hardly imagine University-Menlo Heights without The Hill. In addition, The Hill provides a scenic view for the traveler as he/ she drives through this rustic community along the Alameda de las Pulgas. From its summit, there are breathtaking views (almost a 3600 sweep) of the entire Bay Area, from San Francisco to San Jose, from the Bay and the Diablo Range to the east, and from Skyline and the Santa Cruz Range on the west and southwest --on a clear day, one can see such distant sights as the Golden Gate Bridge and Mount Umunhum. As if this were not enough, the views from various sites on the summit provide rich vistas of the varied and esthetically pleasing terrain of The Hill itself. Other criteria stated in the Master Plan may be applied to The Hill as well: 1.) Open Space for the Protection of Public Health and Safety: There has been serious concern expressed over the potential hazards to the neighboring communities from increased flooding, landslide danger to life and property from building on unstable soil, and decrease in air quality both from removal of vegetation and increased traffic. There is also the concern over the added mental stress to the community from increased population density and traffic. 2.) Open Space for Guiding.Urban Form: The Hill, as an undeveloped area, serves as a natural buffer between three communities. It gives them a "breathing space"; at the same time it offers all three a "common ground". It also functions as a "traffic plug" - a built-in prote tion against a possible access route(through quiet residential streets between the peninsula's two main arteries, Highways 101 and 280. Other important factors to be considered in this matter are: 1.) Strong past and recent public support for The Hill's preservation as an Open Space, particularly if it were properly managed by a responsible body (for the majority of Sharon Heights residents, responsible, credible management is the absolute key to their willing participation in the purchase effort). continued..... JHHW:SRC:cp 10/08/82 5355C F The acquisition of the property commonly known as "The Hill", comprising approximately 38 acres and situated at the end of Valpariso Avenue and bounded generally by Sharon Heights in Menlo Park, University Heights in San Mateo County and the City limits of the Town of Atherton, said property to be held and used as open space, together with the acquisition of all lands, easements, permits and licenses and the construction of all work necessary to complete and accomplish the above-described acquisition. EXHIBIT "All THE HILL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT Board of Directors Page 4 January 20, 1983 midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 2.) "Composite Open Space Importance of the Area Involved": Protection of Natural Vegetation. . .. . . . .. ... . .. . ... . .. .. . . . . ..15% Protection of Wildlife.. . .... ... . ... . ........ .... . . ..... . ... ..15% / Outdoor Recreation. .. ... . .. ........r.... . ...... . . . .... .... .. . .20%o Low Intensity Recreation (10%)1/ Intensive Recreation (5%) Wilderness Experience (5%)✓ Guiding Urban Form.. .... .. ..... . . . . .. . .... .. .. ... ... .... .. ... .25 Scenic Preservation. . ...... . . .... ...... . ..... ........... ......20% Scenic Backdrop (15%) POO' View from Scenic Roads and Highways (5%)to-' Protection of Agriculture.. ....... .......................... ...5 Total 100% too--- HILL Total. .. ... . . . .......90% V 3.) "Costs of Acquisition" - The Hill Benefit Assessment District, a special partnership of the citizens of the three communities, would be the major contributor to the purchase of a (possibly) otherwise too costly venture for the District to consider. 4.) "Net Costs of Maintenance" - The community partnership is making provisions for a special endowment fund to go toward the "development" and maintenance of The Hill Open Space Preserve. 5.) "Degree of Threat of Loss to Development" - The Hill is under immediate threat of development. The owner, Blackwell Homes, has been granted a permit to build, and plans to do so in the spring unless the community can "raise the money to buy the property". 6.) "Location of the Area Involved Relative to Other Publicly-owned Open ands Including Those of the MRPD."' (See map and note e Space ce P L 9 H Open n Space Preserve to Highway 280 as well as trail of The ill proximity 9 Y P Y P P link potential.) 7.) "Initiative or Willingness of the Owner(s) to Negotiate Acquisition Terms." Current owner, Blackwell Homes, has reversed a previous position and is now a willing seller. 8.) "Prospects for Preservation Action by other Agencies." None. 9.) "Opportunities for Joint Actions with Other Agencies." That is not yet known, but opportunities for ,joint actions with the community purchasing the property would appear favorable. I would like to thank the board in advance for its consideration of this mattery on behalf of myself, the community, and The Hill Committee. Yours truly, Phyllis Cangemi r PETITION FOR THE ACQUISITION AND CONSTRUCTION OF IMPROVEMENTS PURSUANT TO SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSMENT BOND ACTS, AND WAIVER OF PROCEEDINGS UNDER DIVISION 4 OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE THE HILL ASSESSMENT DISTRICT To the Honorable Town Council To the Honorable Board of Town of Atherton Supervisors Atherton, California County of San Mateo San Mateo, Ca l i f orn i s To the Honorable City Council City of Menlo Park Menlo Park, California Honorable Council and Board Members: The undersigned respectfully petition and show that: 1. They are the owners (as shown on the Assessor's Roll, or in the Assessor's records, of the County of San Mateo, of which general taxes are collected) of lands constituting assessable property within said County and to be further described as provided by law in these proceedings. 2. You undertake special assessment proceedings and issue assessment bonds for the proposed acquisitions and improvements described in Exhibit "A" attached hereto. 3. You assess the costs of said acquisition, together with the incidental expenses of said proceedings, upon- the proposed direct benefit thereby, the boundaries of which shall be determined in the manner prescribed by applicable law. 4. The taking of proceedings under Division 4 of the Streets and Highways Code in regard thereto is hereby waived. Dated: , 1982 Respectfully submitted, Assessor's Parcel No(s). : Owner(s) Print Name(s) Signature(s) of Owner(s) - I MENLQ 6jRTON Serving Menlo Park, Atherton,.Portolo Valley & Woodside for 58 Years Newsroom: 361-1155 Classified: 326-5M Display Advertising: 361-1045 Circulation: 367-7444 Vol.59,No.4 640 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park,.CA 94025 Tues.,Jan 26,1982 25c Per Copy-12 Per YOU H�II s Bes Prallsed At Forum Residents concerned about the Two biologists,an environmental. future of"The Hill,"a 33-acre parcel ist, and representatives of two open of undeveloped land in Menlo Park space groups made their presents- that is rich in animal and plant life, tigus to approximately 91 people at met Sunday night at a community St: 's Fapiscopal Church in forum to hear its beauty extolled Menlo Park. Moderator Phyllis and determine what can be done Cangemi of Menlo Park organized the to preserve it. meeting to gather support for the eventual purchase and conversion of The Hill into a permanent open space preserve. "The Hill cannot sit in limbo any longer," Cangemi said. "Motor. cycles and four-wheel drive vehicles will continue to tear it up. It has been badly damaged and over a long period of time, the wildlife won't survive." Cangemi said that the purpose of the forum was to convince people that the land is "special enough and extremely accessible and can be managed for something besides de. velopment." The current owner of the prop. erty located at the western end of Valparaiso Avenue is Blackwell Homes of Campbell, and its assessed value is g"d.9 million, according to the draft environmental impact re- port on the proposed development of The Hill. Blackwell Homes has said, however, that the parcel is not for (Please turn to page 12) 12—Menlo-Atherton Recorder,Menlo Park,Calif. Tuesday,January 26, 1982 The Hill (Continued from page 1) with it." sale at any price. Harry Turner, who serves as the Harry Turner, district director of MROSD director for Menlo Park, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Atherton, Portola Valley, East Palo Space District (MROSD), said-that Alto and Woodside, said the job of his organization would not attempt the open space district is to `find to buy the parcel because it does property of regional significance and not conform to district acquisition benefit and to go where cities and guidelines. The open space district counties don't go" in terms of pre- owns and manages more than 10,000 serving open space. acres of Peninsula land for public He suggested a "multi-party ap- use purchased for an average of proach" comprised of private dona- $3,000 per acre during the last 10 tions, federal grants and participa- y�, tion by Menlo Park, Atherton and The Hill is home for a myriad San Mateo County governments in of bird and insect species as well as attempting the land's purchase. The more than 30 varieties of flora which Midpeninsula Regional Open Space live in delicate, interdependenj ba- District might contribute between lance, according to biologist Susan $50,000 and $100,000 towards the Sommers, who made a recent field acquisition under such circumstances, survey of the'area. he said. Menlo Park environmentalist Linda "We need the leadership from the Wagner described how the topog- Menlo Park City Council. No other raphy of the parcel creates a unique agency will come in without leader- micro-climate for a wide diversity ship from them. Personally, I'd like of plant life. to see the Hill saved, said Turner, "Even though none of the plants a Ladera resident. is rare, their occurrence together on Apart from its high cost, Turner 38 acres is rare,"Wagner said. said the district could not consider The Hill's floral diversity provides buying•The Hill because it does an important educational tool for not meet the districts acquisition people to understand the patterns criteria' in nature she said. He said the criteria used include Stanford University biologist the land's: Bruce Wilcox warned that the ex- — value as a trail link to other tinction rate of various species Is open space preserves and parks; known to accelerate when surround- scenic value to the region; ed by man-made development. — Importance as a habitat for Wilcox said that his research of endangered plants or animals; butterflies on nearby Jasper Ridge — historic or archaelogical and in Edgewood Park has shown significance. that development increases the pres- Turner said that the open space district would contribute its sure towards extinction because it disrupts the distribution patterns of tine tion plans the development of acquasi. uisi- the insects. ans by other interested parties. "There are probably dozens of The final speaker of the evening species in these grasslands alone was Robert Augsburger, executive that are going extinct because of director of the Peninsula Open mnn's monkeying around with the Space Trust, a non-profit land population structure,"he said. conservancy that works with the He said that biologists don't Midpeninsula Regional Open Space know precisely how extinction oc. District, public agencies and private curs "but the answer is that If you individuals towards the preservation don't know, you don't fool around of open space. ................. ana C,,•..a,it.._-n , rolrter- aeu .,.. ... b ._. .. , panelists at a nuclear anus P into a nuclear exchange. tiques of would favor a "moderate, non- Farley said he supports negotia- etion forum held�ednesdairtals Holy commendedrecomme ded alternnativess race,and sees a nee lions between the United States and planned Trinity P The church had planned to have threatening,defensive military estab park. an advocate of nuclear weapons on 1rshment.er round of the arms race the Soviet Union. The Soviets "are The Menlo Park City C SecutAW "is not necessarily ac the panel but at the last minute, a Anothwill result u "greater military concerned about nuclear war in the curon1ding weapons and spendingsame way we are for the most basic has authorized a $8,� cit' mone on military protina►ns;' said representative from Lawrence Liver• arsenals--nuclear and non-nuclear— "he said. traffic study to help evaluate t. y senior research more Laboratories wasn't able to on all sides,and we will be less secure reason eo U Sf reservation," �1r;renre�'only into pact of proposed developmen Dr. Philip Farley, attend. than if we proceeded with more ' associate of the Stanford Arms ..�,e have to look with great agreements that can be verifKd;' establish a data base for the pi Control program, who opened the glamorous new moderation,"he said. he said but "to fail to'work with don of environmental impa second of three sessions on world skepticism at g •> them where there are things that can ports.The study would be condu< be done concretely isn't punishing efflizens • �� them, it's punishing ourselves city staff and volunteers at 2: � �� ave to stop object- sections. Fortraffic coos ailtru IinTo Pres and you do not h St 99 9 ossibilit• of In to what they do on human another 39 intersections, the c explore the p } g the Recorder, might P hire a private firm that spe+ tatted last Monday by putting u a barrier at the site to rifhts." By STUART GORDON said `•that property is not for sale P g P and keep out us. For the purposes o[our economy, ur traffic data gathering. control loitering P A combination of monic i Local residents who oppose de at any price. to authorized motor vehicles. the image of the U.S. in the world, �pment of "The Hill" are spear• „We bought the property The Sharon Heights Homeown and even from the narrowest security the city's gas tax account ant .ding a movement to purchase view, "the U.S. will be better off improvement fees account v parcel at the �vestem develop homes there ," he ers Association has complained about race,"be concluded. the cost of the study, ac that 39-acre p what we intend to do, teenagers driving motorcycles and without an arms end of Valparaiso Avenue in Menlo firmly. to Lauren Mercer, director o. Park and turn it into a permanent Blackwell said he had not yet loitering on The Hill. The result, Dave McFadden said he agrees Works and City Engineer. the group of they say, has been increased vandal• nuclear weapons are not a good The traffic improvement open space reserve been approached by ism and burglaries in Sharon Heights. defense, but he is also act of�the Phyllis Cangemi Of Sterling Ave- residents about purchase of the -r hue said sha is working with mem Association President Les Barr}' about the economic imp mart' purpose of developers ng in r property. Reagan administrations proposed man' p P burs id the University Heights Cangemi also said the group (Please turn to page 12•) defense build-up. traffic improvements made n Homeowners Association, a group The Soviets "are going to stay by increased traffic generate "even development. opposing development of The purchase Hill, �M�M even with the U.S.,_" he said, .ough the primary' to raise the money to p ar"` � � - account is to funs the property from the present bell. ;ments, it could .i er, Blackwell Homes of Camp '[fie studies to d The group is looi:!ng to raise the nproven-writs need money from a combination of cor —,•- -^�- --" '� ercer said. porate and individual sources in the v� _ _ - - — ' stages of the traf' community,Cangemi said. l Although the movement is in its �>Pt O - nT H G?T©N ; F- , paid for by increa. "�`� charges developer.: initial stages, it has gathered a lot fc ��- f support from area residents, she and rezoning app IS1 aid. Aid."We are still in the feeling-out i — (' �,,J i stage to see just how much interest bet .. •(' - y - 1 a n s e I there might be for this idea," she d�a�} - ? r: -- `�. n'� said. a the Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley 8 V`loodside for 58 Years w n'�I The assessed value of the prop- —. �'4 erty is $2.9 million, according to the aga draft environmental impact report 1 Newsroom: 361-1155 Classified: 361.10�5 Display Advertis;ny: 361 1045 Circuiation:3jZ PE`Ycar ' on the development protect pre pr` Vol. 58, No. 50 G40 �,lenlo Ave., ltilenlu Park, CA 94025 Tues., Dec. 15, 1981 25c Per Copy— � ^ pared by George S. Nolte and As- CO "` 4 :r!!► sociates of San Jose. dos t� ter .-•-• ,-�, --� "', :,' Efforts to purchase the property, the ,"a'�,&%A rvaclon ana Develop extension critical, he said, because a however,might prove futile. ,vent Commission(BCDC). several Peninsula cities now use the ) R ` � Developer Jack Blackwell, con Marsh dump. The plan to keep the dump open �,rr would also extend the life of the • ` In this issue public dumping facilities by about , Y., Y 18 months. % fi k Knoll kindergarteners got afirst-hand The dump is set to close to the Animal Wonder Oa „ ,r]-,►....At,a� ►ica 11SA. For Pictures, public Dec.31,19i52. � �,a, i f • . . Tuesday, December 15. 1981 r; The Hill - (Continued from page 1) "We've tried to keep unauthor- for San Mateo and Santa Clara coun- ing to get pledges from corporations 4 said development is seen by mem. lzed vehicles off the property in ties, the Trust has acquired about and individuals before approaching bers as a way to eliminate the prob- lem. the past, but it hasn't worked. We ll00 acres valued at approximately Blackwell Homes about the pur-. put up large wood posts with cables $5 million for open space reserve, chase of the property. yr� Cangemi said some sort of fenc- stretched between them, but they Land acquisitions have come "We will be trying to raise what ing might also correct the problem were all torn out by vandals or the through gifts, as well. Some of the ever it takes to properly recom- while the development project goes cables cut," he said. J_ money for its purchases came from pense the present owner for the through the City of Menlo Park's Cangemi said she and other resi- resale of acquired land to public land,"she said. approval process. dents have met with members of agencies. The group has already received' Cangemi suggested the commun- the Midpeninsula Regional Open "On several different occasions a pledge of a $100,000 grant for pur- ity might pay the'cost of fencing the Space District, a public agency, we've approached Blackwell Homes chase of the property for open space, area i and the Peninsula Open Space • . .to determine whether or not she said. She refused to disclose the Blackwell called the fencing idea) rust, a private non-profit cork it might be possible to acquire the donor's identity. 11( "a losing proposition." poration in Menlo Park. ,It- property from them, and we were Cangemi emphasized that as part "We elf then, and still do, that a ]Tarry Turner, a member of the advised that the property was not of "a properly managed open space public acquisition of that property district's board of directors, said he for sale,"Augsburger said. reserve," problems involving unau- would have to be a multi park az. advised Cangemi that "it would He said the Trust "is not playing thorized vehicles and loiterers could rangement - in other words, have be feasible to manage that property advocate" in the issue of The Hill's be controlled. t- as a park in an undeveloped state. . , development. In IM and 1974, two city bond several sources of funding - and And the district would be quite "Our role in that issue is to at- f need the initiative and leadership willing to tend its advice and ex- p elections were held to purchase the of the Menlo Park City Council. tempt to facilitate a resolution of the site for open space. Both times the pertise for developing such a man- conflict by working with both sides. proposals failed to gain the support j I don't think any public- agency agement plan." ,� It's not our role to say that property of the required two-thirds of the would enter Menlo Park sphere Turner said the district had been developed," he said. Menlo Park electorate. of influence without the active shouldn't be develo ' --• support of the council." contacted in 1976 by opponents of But, Augsburger admitted, "by The project proposed by the The Hill's development for advice our very activities we are obviously developer calls for the building Responsibility for supervision of on developing strategies for keeping P space advocates." nC,r an open space reserve at the sight p' g open s ac 75 five single-family homes and would depend on who owned he the property open space. �. Cangemi said she will be attempt- 75 townhouses on the site. a new Redwood City Blood property and subsequent arrange- At the time, he noted, the crea- ave a q floe of an open space reserve did not PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE g pint of blood. In at meets with other parties and agen- have the support of the Dienlo Park RECYCLE! LEGAL NOTICE nt administrator of Sequoia cies. t of the Peninsula Memorial "In principle,it mi h be the �1en- t The City of Menlo JOINT Pt1Rt.Ir. HEARING g to keep it undeveloped,"said Turner, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the San Mateo the Blood Bank, and Mario to Park Parks and Recreation Com- who was elected to the board from Park has a free curb- County Board of supervisors and the San Matoo rood City station, a branch of mission, the Count),of San Mateo or, e pick-up service County Community Development January 1 sloe will } residents in the MenloItlel Park, Wood- Hole a joint public hearing on January 12, 1982, s, will be open every Tuesday possibly but not likely, the Mid- side, Portola Valley and Atherton for all your recycl- at 11 a.m. in the Chambers of the Board of Super- peninsula Regional Open Space Dis- area, abler - glass, metal, visors, 401 Marshall Street, Redwood City, Califor- and newspaper. nm said hearing may be person d from time to trict,"he said. �{^ The district's area of concern in- time until completed. Any person desiring the op- The noted,however,that the group tpor I.unny ity to be heard will be afforded an oppor- h P eludes preservation of open space For picket tunny to ao so. opposing development "really hasn't along Skyline Ridge and the edge schedule informs The purpose of said hearing is to consider the Re- decided yet what they are going to of the developed urban areas. 4-" tion, call 858-3470. proposed amendment to the East Palo Alto Re- try to do." development Plan, hereinafter caned "Plan. C �' Peninsula Open Space Trust has Said Plan was adopted by San Mateo County e` The district has never taken an advised the groupon sources of fund- ordinance No. 2087 on March 23. 1981. The i Official stand on development Of Plan, also known as "Redevelopment Plan," The Hill. mg for such a land purchase,accord- PUBLIC NOTICE authorized the undertaking of a redevelopment ing to director Robert er.Au sber U project pursuant to the California Community Floor "But we have willingly lent our g g FICTITIOUS BSINESS Redevelopment Law. Since its inception in 1977 as ri- The . advice t0 people looking f0[ ways' P P NAME STATEMENT general objectives of said Redevelopment vering Specialists g y vate land conservancy organization (File No.46385) Plan have not changed as a result of these amend- eYlft The following person is ments. The purpose of the amendments to the - TeX Postponement — doing business as: Redevelopment Plan are to include the area de- ,;inn of A�mstrnna_flfln�_- e, �, ,_ ,, ._� PUBLIC NOTICE Boaters Supply _ scribed below for mixed residential/commerclai r T—--- MENLO - ATHERTON Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley & Woodside for 58 Years Newsroom: 3611155 Classified:. 361-1045 Display Advertising: 361-1045 Circulation:367-7444' Vol. 59, No. 3 640 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025 -fues.,Jan 19, 1981 ` 25c Per Copy-12 Per Year Local Landslide Risk ' t. )ersaIly . MC ................................... .h Y A �p k F Y ea a. v 1 Debbie Wright of Menlo Park stands beside a fissure on The Hill, a 38-acre parcel at the western end of Valparaiso Avenue that is the target of a con- troversial townhouse development. The rift is the result of erosion caused by the killer storm that lashed the Bay Area Jan, 11. Wright is a member of a group that claims the soil on the Hill is not stable enough to build on. MENLO - ATH ERTO�' ,�, ' f � Lf/ - Arving Menlo Park & Atherton for 58 Years °p° '� *•�• 115 Charter Street, Redwood City, CA 9406-3 Tuesday, May 6, 1982 25c Per Copy — $12. Per Y NT sus b rc� .Y._l k`,. �7° t J, irds on 'The Hill" Susan Sommers (left) and Debbie Wright investigate the meadow plants that serve as food for b in Menlo Park.Wright is taking a "bird census"at the 38-acre West Menlo site. Bird Census Takes Place on 'The Hill' From the way Debbie Wright stays glued to her bino- Rockman said. culars, people who spot her on her early morning walks The Hill is owned by Blackwell Homes of Campbell. Black- on "The Hill"might think she is there to count birds. well wants to build homes s a lng-running rthere, but many oversy over its MenloPark She is. The Audubon Society is doing a "bird census" at residents including new Mayor Gerry Andeen would like Edgewood Park and several Menlo Park residents de- to make a park of it. Blackwell id Fd the firm is cided to do the same on The Hill. The 38-acre plot west A spokesman the bird censusas long as no or vehicles of the Alameda de las Pulgas is not a park —it's owned happy o permit by a developer,—but the birds don't seem to care. are driven onto the Hill,and no garbage is brought in. "The Hill happens to be, for the size that it is, extraordinary in its capacity to attract migrating birds," Phyllis Cangemi of Menlo Park said. She called it "a major flyway for migrating birds." ie The Sequoia Chapter of the Audubon Society is taking a bird census so it can supply specific information to San Mateo County and community planning agencies about how development could effect birds. In the long run Cangemi said, the data may be used in national efforts to create treaties with neighboring countries about protection of migratory bird habitats. The United States has treaties with Mexico, Canada, Japan and the Soviet Union about hunting limits for migratory birds, but there is nothing in writing about preserving the food and nesting places of the birds. The issue is very complicated, since development in one area can effect a separate plot's bird population, by cutting down on insects, changing water supply, or In other ways. "When there's no food, birds go some- lace else," Sequoia Audubon chapter president Wilma ' MENLO - ATHERTON i Serving Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley & Woodside for 58 Years t Newsroom 361-1155 Classified 361-1045 Display Advertising 361-1045 Circulation 367.7444 Vol. 58, No.48 640 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park, Ca. 94025' - 'Tues., Dec. 1, 1981 1 25c Per Copy—$12 Per Year Tough Questions Raised over `Me Hill' The Menlo Park Planning Com- that information in order to make with the claystone soil of The Hill.: mission has recommended that the a viable decision.I just feel the con- The process, called lime stabiliza- consultants writing the final en- sultant should incorporate as many tion, has been used in other Cali- vironmental impact report (EIR) sources of information as possible fornia cities on similar sites. on development of "The Hill" in the final EIR,"he said. The commission also suggested take a closer look at soil stability, The commission also asked the that the final EIR should include storm drainage, sewer capacity and consultant to include a definitive information on where and how suc- the city's legal liability in the project. statement on whether building on cessful lime stabilization has been The commission closed its dis- the site contains "an acceptable in other cities. cussion of the draft EIR last Monday amount of risk." Walnut Creek is one city that and probably will not take up the "We would like to know what has used the lime stabilization issue of The Hill's development again is meant by an acceptable degree process in the past in development. until the final EIR is prepared. of risk," said Commission Chair- According to Terry McCloud, man Ivan Odom. "We would like a Walnut Creek Building Official Commissioners made several sug- and Chief of Code Enforcement, gestions to the consultants preparing to hear it stated that building on the final EIR, George S. Nolte and The Hill contains a normal level of the Process requires close monitor- Associates of San Jose. risk, that it's a safe and sound ing. Failure to locate a layer of Bent- Commissioner Wynn Dahlgren prospect." recommended that the final docu- The greatest hazard posed by onite (a highly expansive clay soil) ment should include the results of building on the site, Odom noted, at the site resulted in approximately soil stability studies on The Hill is the expansive quality of the $I million damage at one develop- done by Stanford University and the claystone soil which could cause ment,he said. U.S. Geological Survey. shifting and cracking of strut- The commission,concerned about He said the consultant and the tures. future damage from soil expansion, city have not looked at those studies, Carol Thompson, a representa- requested the final EIR contain a which could shed light on whether five of the consulting firm,said the statement on the city s legal-liability it is definitely safe to build on The draft EIR already contains a declara- in the event of a lawsuit involving Hill lion that building on The Hill in- homeowners. "I think the commission needs volves an "acceptable level of risk— Commissioners suggested the con- in other words, no greater level of sultant include background about the risk than building anywhere else in history of similar litigation in other Menlo Park —provided the mitiga- California cities and the outcome. lions suggested in the EIR are ob- Chairman Odom said, "We've al- served and carried out." ways been assured by the city attor- The commission, she said, is ney that the city would not be sub- apparently looking for a "more ject to retrospective legal action, clearly defined statement." would not be liable." One of the mitigations suggest- Commissioner Jack Morris said ed in the EIR involves mixing lime (Please turn to page 6.) 6—Menlo-Atherton Recorder,Menlo Park,Calif. Tuesday,December 1, 1981 The Hill (Continued from page 1,) The proposed Blackwell town- the property since 1980. Previously, he thought the draft EIR did not houses to be built on The Hill will it held an option on the property. "sufficiently address the problem probably sell for from $400,000 to The assessed value of the proper- of storm drainage" for the propos- $450,000 each. Because of the finite ty is$2.9 million, according to the ed development. sewer capacity, The Hill develop- draft EIR. '"Me final document needs to ment as proposed could preclude John Higham, president of the be more specific about run-off the construction of more afford- University Heights Homeowners amounts from storms.That informa- able housing in Menlo Park. Assocatiop, a group that opposes tion could be used to help decide Commissioner Raymond Smith, development of The Hill,said he is whether additional mitigation mea- an architect with Kingsford Jones, "more optimistic" that The Hill sires are needed,"he said. a Menlo Park firm,said the develop- will not be developed, after last Morris said the consultant sould erg$ building site plan in the draft Monday's Planning Commission consider the design of a storm EIR "is not designed in accordance meeting. drainage system capable of handling with the states 1978 Solar Rights "The question of whether The run-off from a 25-, 50- and 100-year Act." Hill can be developed seems to be sue• "The EIR has to address the still totally up in the air.I feel there The draft EIR only considered fact that the project is non-con- may be a high probability that no the design of a drainage system for forming with that section of the building will occur on The Hill," a 14year storm,or the kind of severe California code,"he said. he said. storm one might expect to occur The Solar Rights Act requires once every ten years. structures on all subdivisions be Morris noted there has been prob- situated so as to take advantage of lems with flooding of homes located "passive solar heating,"Smith said. rat the bottom of The Hill after storms. Bill Bocook,an architect with "The EIR didn't consider whose Hornier Associates of Palo Alto, responsibility it is to maintain and the firm that designed the Black- upgrade storm drainage ditches on well townhouseo for The Hill, The Hill. Whose jurisdiction would said he had not "looked into the that be,the city's or the county's?" claim" that the building site plans Commissioner Dahlgren also sug- are in violation of state code. gested the consultant study the ef- `But,even if they are,it would fect of the proposed development only be a matter of shifting the on the city's limited sewer capacity. orientation of some buildings slight- "A major development of this ly+"he said. typehas to be equated with the Blackwell Homes of Campbell housing element of the city's has proposed building 8o units on General Plan. Does the develop- 88 acres of The Hill located at the ment address these goals or not?" west end of Valparaiso Avenue. he asked. Blackwell Holmes has owned The Peninsula Times Tribune Action line......... .. E 2 Business. ....... 2-'�] comment... ..... :. ., _ o hlcrday Letters.............. .. . c Dec. 7, 1?8' Obituaries............... C 3 f 3a�• F a f1{ iil i r 6 i _) £ A 9 u� CI Times Tribune staff photo by Jean Dixon Val Clean-up crew loft JDebbie Wright was one of several neighborhood residents living near the hill at the west end of Na Valpariso Avenue in Menlo Park who combined efforts Saturday to clean up the area. The hill often is littered with trash and debris, but neighbors are protesting development of the hill and want it to remain as open space. C ' 8594C JHHW:SRC:rjj 01/10/83 01/11/83 :elr 01/13/83 SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FINANCING In I ' ACQUISITION •OF "THE HILL" FOR AN OPEN SPACE PRESERVE i WHAT ARE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS? A special assessment ..is a one time charge levied against a parcel of property to pay for the construction or acquisition of public improvements } particularly benefiting that property. WHO LEVIES THE ASSESSMENTS? It is proposed that the City Council of the City of Menlo Park or other appropriate public agency levy the assessments, after a public hearing, notice of which is mailed to each property owner and published and posted. HOW IS THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED TO DO THIS: The City Council obtains such authority only if petitions requesting the Council to undertake the special assessment proceedings are signed by the owners of in area of lands propose to assessed. at least 60% d bd. III — l I A WHAT ARE THE PROCEEDINGS UNDER DIVISION 4 OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE, AS MENTIONED IN THE PETITION? These are preliminary actions undertaken by the Council to prepare preliminary cost estimates, assessments, and land valuations and to give the property owners opportunity to protest and, by majority protest, to stop the project entirely for a period of at least one year. If a majority protest is not made, the City Council may proceed with the assessment process. The petition, if signed by the requisite number of property owners, substitutes for these preliminary actions. The advantages of the petition method are that time and money are saved and, further, the City Council is given some assurance that there is substantial support for the project prior to committing the City to the costs and expenses involved in undertaking special assessment proceedings. i � | � � � IF PROPERTY OWNER SIGNS THE PETITION, DOES HE OR SHE LOSE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST AT THE PUBLIC HEARING? | / No. The petition merely gives the City Council authority to start the | proceedings. Before the public hearing, written protests may be filed by any ' property owner, whether or not he or she signed a petition. If written protests are | filed by owners of 5O� or more in area of lands to be assessed, the City Council can | -~ ! finalize The-project nly by--- the affirmative vote of at least 4 of its 5 members' || � HOW ARE THE AMOUNTS OF THE ASSESSMENT DETERMINED? �| ,The total estimated cost of the project, including estimated acquisition � costs, consultants/ fees, bond printing costs and all other incidental expenses, are calculated by a consultant designated by the City Council for the project. � � The consultant then dewelops a recommended method of spreading the costs � over the properties benefited. The purpose is to charge each property in � accordance with the relative benefit it receives as compared to all other � � properties being assessed' � | The City Council , after the public hearing, makes the final determination. � � . 0DE5 IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF PROPERTY IS IMPROVED OR VACANT? � Not generally. A special assessment is levied against land only. Thus, two � similarly situated parcels would normally be charged the same amount even if one is � improved and the other is not. The theory i,� that it is the land that is being � / benefited, by having the improvements available to it. WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED COSTS OF THE PROJECT? � While the exact cost of the project is not yet determined, a preliminary � �i �� OOO OOO This t would include the estimate of the total project cost s , , ' s amount| � -- -- -- -- ' dadministration � cost of purchasing the property, consultants' an fees and the costs � | of preparing and issuing the bonds' Under present bond market conditions, and given ' the ' s - s��� of the assessment district, this would result �n an average ' e propo eo , n If this t �s allowed to gm to ' assessment of roughly $700 per property' s assessment ' | bond" over a period of approximately 20 years, the annual payment of principal and � / interest would be about $90 to $lOO. ' PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE ONLY ESTIMATES - IF THE PROJECT COSTS INCREASE, / THE AMOUNTS TO BE ASSESSED WILL ALSO INCREASE. BY LAW, YOU WILL BE GIVEN WRITTEN � ` NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED TOTAL PROJECT COST AND THE PROPOSED AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENT TO � | YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST AT A PUBLIC HEARING HELD � | FOR THAT PURPOSE. � 1 � � � � . � | � . � | ' 2 | � ( | . / WHEN WOULD THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF THE ASSESSMENT BECOME KNOWN? Until the time of the public hearing, all proposed assessments will be based on the estimated costs of the project. Each property owner, in the mailed notice of public hearing, will be notified of the amount of the proposed assessment against his or her parcel . Assessments cannot be increased without a second noticed public hearing. Thus, the consultant will make every attempt to make the estimates generous enough to insure that actual costs will come in under the estimate. HOW ARE ASSESSMENTS PAID? As stated above, a special assessment is in the nature of a one time charge to pay for a particular improvement. If the property owner desires and is able, the i assessment may be paid in cash•, all or in part, during a 30-day, period following the finalizing of the assessments after the public hearing. I If the owner chooses, the assessment may "go to bond". This means that the assessment would be paid over a period of time with interest. Each annual payment of principal and interest would be included in the County' s tax bill or would be specially billed by the City. This depends`,-on which type of assessment bond the City Council chooses to issue for this project'. • CAN THE ASSESSMENT BE PAID OFF IN THE FUTURE AFTER IT HAS GONE TO BOND? Yes. The exact amount will depend onTthe particular type of bond issued. Generally speaking, however, the amount required to pay off the assessment will include the then remaining principal amount of the original unpaid assessment plus 5% of that amount, plus interest on the then unpaid principal amount for a period of up to 6 months. I DOES THE ASSESSMENT HAVE TO BE PAID OFF IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD? Not by law; the assessment lien remains on the land until paid, no matter if ownership changes. Thus, the assessment can be passed on. However, many lending institutions, if financing or refinancing improvements on the property, require that the assessment be paid off as a condition of a new loan. IF THE ASSESSMENT GOES TO BOND, WHAT IS THE TERM OF PAYMENT AND WHAT IS THE RATE OF INTEREST? This will depend on the special assessment bonds which the City will issue to finance the assessments that go to bond. Generally, such bonds mature over a period of 15 to 20 years. 3 The interest rate will be the same as the City will pay on its bonds. By law, the rate cannot exceed 12%. The actual rate will be determined by a sale of the bonds and the best bid for them. The municipal bond market has been holding relatively steady in recent months. Under present market conditions, an interest rate in the 10% to 12% range could be predicted. i I I I I I I I I I I I I i i 4 I qs0 ( Q°Q 0°s� P P T � � .`. �P gE(gy/ caPOVINq S O O�HUgTF No Oyu iv y' F° FF F JfF a> ONO o � so 1 q YfNLO-AYNEflON p / N l I q q R `.P, lNR aUSrih4�Q q V� P c rF F v P Pam ,�v �Jc` r Q��re O ft ,5�� OO �ST.PAT A V y ` S ♦ P , 4 W O� 2 � �! - � S R q t lh al` sO Eel J� P 9 Q ATHERw000 l OR Q' P f v ?�" a 00 Q' , I�ANC E REwN r PP q( AMELLIA AVE N Q SOP U (N FOF O �°r4" gf. rM/l 3 NAFNI SANAN LEM P / Q O T OREA ° qy ,, s 9 4� yrgaa�`•T—�0, �o ISrO N lFw N R / � So / � �i/ y F(B v O Nq0 qy ST O(N N Q >� 9qh� C� rAN Y.S�jDLOcrc ON N o A AVE 9 rr9 ly ym, •` a� lh J/rENio C P a scNo P +� ¢ E O J� Rf rwsn! STE���N111Y111 moor O s r qyo S w+ oe o Rr e�'s r N Q' S ID Q P y 4 P ATN TO Or9 p Q0 fNLO �v��, ., (,y\\ � 9c/y r q F O r m� SOQ P° 1� >� q/CRq of/T 4. •1,' E f � .. ,_,yy'i�� o `�" l l0 I �Pti-ti�j�y7!•�T�j i P '9L 4 OT PLO 0 g OSF. ST f C �Q�� 41• V�v "l i;¢J 90/ Z �q pOv�1 OF Tyi.F? SHIP lgTN OP�Q r Or Lo CK UkCLUE SE.JOSEPH SAg :1'�r : r r N ( F Aolw �� r r e° •r,�.e (I, O P FU YF R � v � Cq -.r.RAr SR Q Q P � '•��lr JT r4 K71�`� c,p v 9qY q /+p Olq AY T f`I PAR Z ry 'VOq.T q a N ti i o0 0�" 4 r ti� OQ r �� wrn cw N ,•• J P o yPy r� iq c r pRADO5E0 /NN � > 'v + 4 �" o Q o o �/ •:'�; ' ____,.• ,yr(., y D PF � � •. ti � Flh Cr PS.,t >�. t, ,p aPe RO 1 , �7' / r3,,,li�R: ! OQv ( i •A\ yi A i.- RO .. SP ,�� ''• - F sN cfN J"3jL1 Y G VEFEA r �e` s � o� ~` � �eP, °ai q 4P�S A � � �• , 00,� /TZFROy/ q Jr T Nqy I q�'t'qT� = q 9 ON p��� E``' 3 � 2 TN 4 O� P `P 00 TTF 5 RV NttLV/E q .,AAo m 2 M00 UON fr C �•1\<'• " f9y 6AYF D$AR i C �P(.y V a SQ n` SINFO AI+l NOSIIrAL O l N A, / 0 P V µFOAD S� OP LAS LOWFAS P'f � `r`' M � CT f A � da RhFYo `'1° p �••.8(ES hrr H.., FA �r? <; L AS v L�� �� d :j S DDDnnn Y Av W S / �� � tiP ti ro � P >4, FOCEw Ov o� ORR KE OHO/R ( G7 -\�\ Hlll OE- 1gr OP1` oPe- ,P r a``' DR\S 2 0Q 25' O rARR n vsfuY ! q(JyR� y MED A p 9 4 T CT or V Q� > . l U DE L f oPr oPr A f gR00N WAY ,� r s Frc O LN Stanford His ta�Q FRO AYMI E R �. ( 0 3 WAY M • • �, ° s�^°°moo°� a� m` ,P 3` cAfFA O j &Medicai,: ? TS. \ / i VI R SERVO MA 0 AVE P Qom`~ SSP Q C P a I A¢U � S c' uLo rP Sq re oti° P I LZ 9 Sf i qqq D C� rR�a l+v r v��� 10 ~ c LAENr ADAG r�0 Stan for 0 a J Q HOOVER i TRINIT7, • PO �Sa� No W VN �~ a` t�La4 ` Golf rse r ��sr ANON HEIGH?$ +10 ATN C i a c, P P QON r T ST c Z PP" ou a couwre cw CHINA A t�`'_-�° R4 OrP A" ,� KS E r` y ANON ` ! Karon J `< rk� J MIS p o ALL Q f / $ISN/YgU �e a• N Uhs p sNARo so�rnwc�c �- L� Laguni P p I„ yf G y �\ILL Y ' OR LN Oq9 `,``\ eRPNNEP ARA 8 1,ak AMP �qo S '�' SSM I •� JAL N S r PNOER50 y �+ S.P.RAILROAD STATIO FORO P'AW' Oa Cq MENLO PARK (see i.set map also) WALLESEY TO SLAG BRANN ABA STANFORD LINEAR ACCI y crow POINTS OF INTEREST STANFORD RESEARCH It istrict 90 G 42-61d STANFORD SHOPPING CI Ir 00 p0 a ALLIED ARTS SUNSET MAGAZINE J\ I BELLE HAVEN OFFICE of PUBLIC p Ah-55r U.S.GEOLOGICAL SU T d r c ° m P � V o G Q • O Cr-Ivc G }T�ll • Q o a N O �4 - f Qr e 0 a Q0 • n � a Q d` o � e e p0{�n�lC► 1 �rhl 1 L1�1 �'1 W► ��� �OO 04 TIIF. N i SANTA CRUZ AVE ! -Stanford h"�- Menlo dark D s Wood.ide1 < SAN ;C cutr,arw y� '\p � LVMu PIOtNG / N 0 0 i l /� 3rsOr'P� ��• '. 1 t , � frwtciaquifo��:' Z o � Laden d 2 .� 4 J Srareuilfe ShoppmRO 1 Lake Center l t ti1�,2 t I \ a 1 as \\■ henterR Porto4 VJley �_. • Alpine s� R Inn rF � F \\ Center; Pvk i " _1( I LOS TRANCOS RD "The Loop"—Alpine, Portola and Sand Hill Road Trails I i r M-83-14A (Meeting 83-2 Jan. 26 , 1983) • MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MEMORANDUM January 24 , 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager SUBJECT: "The Hill" Committee Requests Introduction: At your meeting of January 12 , 1983 Ms. Phyllis Cangemi presented some requests to the District in connection with efforts to preserve "The Hill" in Menlo Park. You have received her follow-up letter dated January 20 , 1983 (see �W,83=14 dated January 21, 1983) . on January 12 staff was asked to report as soon as possible and at least preliminarily on how the requests would be viewed in the context of Board policy on the acquisition of urban open space. Discussion: The most relevant Board policy is found in the following District Master Plan Open Space Acquisition Policies statement regarding Urban Open Space of Regional Significance: The District believes that the preservation of urban open space is basically the responsibility of local jurisdictions. The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District was established to acquire open space lands in the foothills, mountains and baylands outside the urbanized area. There may arise, however, exceptional circum- stances under which the MROSD mad consider possible acquisition of "urban open space of regional sig- nificance, " that is, undeveloped or essentially undeveloped land within the urbanized area having unique or unusual characteristics of sufficient natural value and importance to transcend its relevance to the immediate locality. An urban open space might be considered regionally significant for a number of reasons. It might serve as a key trail link between major open space areas; have exceptional scenic or recreational value to the entire region; provide a habitat for unique or endan- gered flora or fauna; or it might contain features of special geologic, archaeologic or historic interest. Conclusion: After comparing the characteristics of "The Hill" with this Master Plan statement (but without an in-depth study) , the following conclusions have been reached: M-83-14A page 2 (1) There are no known unique or unusual characteristics of suffi- cient natural value and importance to transcend its importance to the immediate locality. (2) "The Hill" does not serve as a key trail link between major open space areas. The property shown in Ms. Cangemils letter is in fact at least one mile from Sand Hill Road, the nearest potential link to District lands. (3) It does not have scenic or recreational value to the entire region but does serve strongly as open space of local significance to three separate communities. (4) It does not to our knowledge provide a habitat for unique or endangered flora or fauna. (5) "The Hill" does not to our knowledge contain features of special geologic, archeologic, or historic interest. Previous Board discussions of specific proposals !aided me in inter- prbting Board policies and reaching the conclusions herein. These conclusions as to regional significance of the site do not deni- grate the considerable value of this lovely area as locally oriented open space. "The Hill" seems to fall in the same category as several other valuable local open space areas, such as the Kite Hill property in Woodside, the property along Adobe Creek in Los Altos, and creek- side property in Monte Sereno, for which funding has been requested over the years. Recommendation: I recommend that you support the local communities ' efforts to preserve "The Hill" as permanent open space but that due to the land not qualifying under guiding District acquisition policies, you do not appropriate any District funds for acquisition or maintenance of the property. 01/10/83 . +� 8594C JHHW:SRC:rjj 01/11/83 :elr 01/13/83 ' III SPECIAL ASSESSMENT FINANCING ACQUISITION •OF "THE HILL" FOR AN OPEN SPACE PRESERVE WHAT ARE SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS? A special assessment -:is. a one time charge levied against a parcel of property to pay for the construction or acquisition of public improvements particularly benefiting that property. WHO LEVIES THE ASSESSMENTS? It is proposed that the City Council of the City of Menlo Park or other appropriate public agency levy the assessments, after a public hearing, notice of which is mailed to each property owner and published and posted. HOW IS THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZED TO DO THIS: The City Council obtains such authority only if petitions requesting the Council to undertake the special assessment proceedings are signed by the owners of at least 60% in area of lands proposed to be assessed. . f WHAT ARE THE PROCEEDINGS UNDER DIVISION 4 OF THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS CODE, AS R' MENTIONED IN THE PETITION? G These are preliminary actions undertaken by the Council to. prepare e4 preliminary cost estimates, assessments, and land valuations and to give the 1 property owners opportunity to protest and, by majority protest, to stop the project entirely for a period of at least one year. If a majority protest is not made, the City Council may proceed with the assessment process. The petition, if signed by the requisite number of property owners, substitutes for these preliminary actions. The advantages of the petition method are that time and money -are saved and, further, the City Council is given some assurance that there is substantial support for the project prior to committing the City to the costs and expenses involved in undertaking special assessment proceedings. w -- IF A PROPERTY OWNER SIGNS THE PETITION, DOES HE OR SHE LOSE THE RIGHT TO PROTEST AT THE PUBLIC HEARING? No. The petition merely gives the City Council authority to start the proceedings. Before the public hearing, written protests may be filed by any property owner, whether or not he or she signed a petition. If written protests are filed by owners of 50% or more in area of lands to be assessed, the City Council can finalize the project only by the affirmative vote of at least 4 of its 5 members. HOW ARE THE AMOUNTS OF THE ASSESSMENT DETERMINED? The total estimated cost of the project, including estimated acquisition costs, consultants' fees, bond printing costs and all other incidental expenses, are calculated by a consultant designated by the City Council for the project. The consultant then develops a recommended method of spreading the costs over the ' properties benefited:. The purpose is to charge each property in accordance with the relative benefit it receives as compared to all other properties being assessed. The City Council , after the public hearihg, makes the final determination. DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF A PROPERTY IS IMPROVED OR VACANT? Not generally. A special assessment is levied against land only. Thus, two similarly situated parcels would normally be charged the same amount even if one is improved and the other is not. The theory i,� that it is the land that is being benefited, by having the improvements available to it. WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED COSTS OF THE PROJECT? While the exact cost of the project is not yet determined, a preliminary estimate of the total project cost is $5,000,000. This amount would include the - cost of purchasing the property, consultants' and administration fees and the costs of preparing and issuing the bonds. Under present bond market conditions, and given the proposed size of the assessment district, this would result in an average assessment of roughly $700 per property. If this assessment is allowed to "go to bond" over a period of approximately 20--years, -the annual payment of principal and interest Would be about $90 to $100.* PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE ONLY ESTIMATES - IF THE PROJECT COSTS INCREASE, THE AMOUNTS TO BE ASSESSED WILL ALSO INCREASE. BY LAW, YOU WILL BE GIVEN WRITTEN NOTICE OF THE PROPOSED TOTAL PROJECT COST AND THE PROPOSED AMOUNT OF ASSESSMENT TO YOUR PROPERTY AND YOU WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROTEST AT A PUBLIC HEARING HELD FOR THAT PURPOSE, 2 WHEN WOULD THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF THE ASSESSMENT BECOME KNOWN? Until the time of the public hearing, all proposed assessments will be based on the estimated costs of the project. Each property owner, in the mailed notice of public hearing, will be notified of the amount of the proposed assessment against his or her parcel . Assessments cannot be increased without a second noticed public hearing. estimates generous enough Thus, the consultant will make every attempt to make the es � g 9 to insu re that act ual costs will came in under the est imate. mate. HOW ARE ASSESSMENTS PAID? As stated above, a special assessment is in the nature of a one time charge to pay for a particular improvement. If the property owner desires and is able, the assessment may be paid in cash., all or in part, during a 30-day period following the finalizing of the assessments after the public hearing. If the owner chooses, the assessment may "go to bond". This means that the assessment would be paid over a period of time with interest. Each annual payment of principal and interest would be included in the County`s tax bill or would be specially billed by the City. This depends'on which type of assessment bond the City Council chooses to issue for this project. � + i a CAN THE ASSESSMENT BE PAID OFF IN THE FUTURE AFTER IT HAS GONE TO BOND? Yes. The exact amount will depend on,the particular type of bond issued. Generally speaking, however, the amount required to pay off the assessment will t include the then remaining principal amount of the original unpaid assessment plus 5% of that amount, plus interest on the then unpaid principal amount fora period of L up to 6 months. . r f DOES THE ASSESSMENT HAVE TO BE PAID OFF IF THE PROPERTY IS SOLD? Not by law; the assessment lien remains on the land until paid, no matter if ownership changes. Thus, the assessment can be passed on. However, many lending institutions, if financing or refinancing improvements on the property, require that the -assessment be paid off as a condition of a new loan. j t IF THE ASSESSMENT GOES TO BOND, WHAT IS THE TERM OF PAYMENT AND WHAT IS THE RATE OF INTEREST? f i I This will depend on the special assessment bonds which the City will issue to finance the assessments that go to -bond. Generally, such bonds mature over a 3 period of 15 to 20 years. 3 The interest rate will be the same as the City will pay on its bonds. By law, the rate cannot exceed 12%. The actual rate will be determined by a sale of the bonds and the best bid for them. The municipal bond market has been holding relatively steady in recent months. tinder present market conditions, an interest rate in the 100 to 12% range could be predicted. i i i 4 \ d ,,, ♦ � � r 1, ( �' --r�' -� _�, - J" -•�.. Y+YIO-AINFIrPM � •/ Y Y' r r• 'rr � Q c ,y .� e��tRl h �G /-- �i �ti '.Q Q— +�Y�1' a'" ♦r � r ri. FfQ' q �, � rr ♦ r y�/A iF..hrt1 1C H�S r �VtfF�% f f y V4 �, ..♦ 1N iR o`' i jL C �c i�f tl ' r, �r I�- �' ♦� � (N /�N�` ; f .. L.x. t ♦ s., �,s� •� ,, �,UU4jf?y`�`• 'p pR F,1, I t a�t{, nirw ^a , /' .i" ,1 51T nf' •� b� f n , „�� Y ,P•cf � t�` <�, „t� ,,r �( 4, 1L"1 f' c R ."� J �� ur cSP J R � r+! J Q r �t�, �,j' o;' .� � 1. i. Q'• `l' 4 ,� h � 'Sn( J rt° / a? R, r� � � Aft1ERY0EH1 H e, pP T Q Fq r T Ir cR � � 1r O n C(r 1- 9 i y NAlNr 1� AYEII IA AVE � ,,� (N pF 0 + � 4 +' •Ei l � .re+( r 1� ''� � hah = r, ♦ / J[tt+► wA.vr.\ JF 4 n; rJriy / rn Rf� 4N i C/ .!. IId+/n p/'Q�f, l y n r r 4 1rr*14 (� �� 4�Q° /,( H( ♦ h tiv r ti/ y i t O 4ly' 1"r/ !^ + r ♦ F h ,♦ . n y�h fir, fl (b A! R W+I' V r' 41 rArr r u.s. °t:rc •r 011 M 0� s Z� /�¢ 0+ �` A r coil urvn sun Hoar OO sa arm ♦ ?N �n S O .,i4 w pro v 5 + q 4, F q�M J` � s � l 1 A•, � lC `, .cE `� f . F � A+� '�• �9 � � � T � rt mp v p A or"A.e. '♦. 1 :'ti � x a A I '♦rqC � a ��° rHta °�a4+ ti . sr '•k fJ rvnire� o ., � Y � f ^ {C�y r' � (O rl � `p Q° �� ,� �•`/C 4 ;qJ/T / f = � i.. ♦ /ti °° ( 0• y !y \ o � + � r 4 ` ' ' `% '`�. a` / Dftt` < A` ,� `° O � At/J Y �,(�.•�;�� +° �, 4, Jl J .�;,t" 'tee ♦� � a �'t0 Crrtctuf sr.JOSIM'f $ T f�`�t �, � , •4 . ., r o� � AF/ F Ur•t !ti Tee c; `us,� t ,�'�r /��, g` Y v. �T ������ L ,,*IHFa` a, •, F/Q\ ileP 1(VRt e�MEN a�rtt AoZvr '.��, �Ur e° t!l•.Ar ��'. �. f i ti s� Ff r �f ♦! rOh r' °� < . A �� @ rrr r PA p � YF A }' � C�a •r.�Ar q d..� r ,.. . % r c°' m 4, t, ��•`fl ��'' ++ •r ` . e. 1 a � / Ty 'y , f` � n N �F=l .`, ec' '� aa' �° Qa ra �`' �• CC / PEA •� '`♦ >< N ti > 00 0 `• etie- oQ N � a° r� r � � pRADOSE � rah. � > � > t � ., °� e �' e° ,�� %�A♦Jr Mo �• ���,: r hr0'•,, �r !' OF C'' �`qZ' , � IN V �,� t a4• T r 4' 'D a° NO.y A � /�• °�roJr ��` r C�' Nl � yQ "fRTS� �YB q �i }° tis � c° ,L42' r '',. SH m cEN f Y^'`t����•!1'�' ..•T'L A A tP"�'4 •,� ♦ � ',�� ° � 5 T� N L°� `>' Oe, * � °e, � Vrfr[, r T 4.'tJ�l' ♦ + @ ~i �At �S � O•.. / � ,• ,� r� A A l Q. 4/FO _ qN ,r L N�uL ti � 4 1 o r °o rlP Ac Nruva c" 4° srrrAt At tx NCO fh l^ c l C ��GK �4 hJ0 4yF OS Aa a A Q Fr /i�P a�a ,r ,/ wrox°�} HosxrAt LAS 10YrlAS_ •, `�►�w � yF �Pe L�Q/ GAF 'r �, ,� Of `` ZP ♦�� •�°�`� yq •z � •r`` "' "' o� 2¢ r 3' u!I,. _% � Ct +3 9 q C 0 � [r ♦ Hi 4 tZ � a4• 4 L AS -o L v V �� p � ? ~ R p0• � a'" y`' Qf ti .y �. a qk Fla Q r ° ,pftOft �l sot[ Y W O Ai CF rEx A D eo*� Sir" +� 0 i Y ?° �G! Hp� ��4°>(,• ,♦ 'e° e° qN ,` /J p :r '!' �f 4 ' 3 r\� A-♦ � R�'1P o~ a° `�+ r �� FOCEx p0�°Q OAap1(EAP oPCiA � r •� �, I .•'t� `� 9/ fffLL. OEa °4cQ� ore c J/ ` OP�o °e 4�Q F' �Q� Q M t rAxrr R us[uY r f 'GUt \ (JN � •� r° q1 Tc v 't t r pZ. Pa- S Y Ep A is r x 1 PaODK xp.Y CT h °; rrc > eo ( Lh ( 1 Stanford Hos taco aay a r[o AY sJ,• R o ti o n� > E' i t `. _�� �. �, .r Q° a'" >!p R • R[R�, o� &Medicai,:t _ s O ftI. A Z1 y a c Q i VIA LA to U T � ,r< Q4 °�° r rf c� i �� 1 9JSf f q y 4p Q p R ' 4D > Ll aQ �0fa 14" aQe e R R c V o n r GT fr aW *LAERT AOAJ to Stanfor ° HOOVE �� iAINITT-C o ° R i is c e r ' tilt • _ c, `PE o w \ri" Q~ i ��` a colic Irso [r < m /~yS Q NANO X NEIGNlf tQl,R ' ,• • .� / ♦T` otr A couwr[r ctut . a° R� B� >ar Q AROMcr(IH 21' ( r EIIINA r �. J .e t a o AL A • - r f Shiron r� rp ArFs 4 t . om r,•,� 11ywR�i)�] "yr `� y r ,,. =^'fit p< �4 Ys� l �� / w Sr,SNFy Q .FrMOK Ilh,r n LrA:e° orrr.vc C s _ r-- a S.':•,•rt� a OU p� > /MR ire �1, �ia�T1111 Sy �'}TMpA yJ D \ R \\ "ucP ba k •ta "is.l] A M P /► �/� �N/LL A' �JtA LN m } DR BAa Nt + Pap * \, RRA A `\A i • .. �� S r pNDERSp s e C ..•.r.y' -- - — 5.P.RAILROAD S' a �yy0 xni rROrtSLOf( a ',r �°A°rAAt� ak �+ MENLO PARK t,rcl.,RtLIEAR xALLESEY TO SLAC♦', DPpft p �F. STANFORD LINEAR — d� � icf yQ srnwl POINTS OF INTEREST STANFORD RESEA 42.61d STANFORD SIIOPP P�4 0: ALLIED ARTS SUNSET MAGAtINI DELLS IIAVEN OFFICE of PUBLIC nr 54r U.S.GEOLOGICAL � � I tt( r k f P�f Nay P I-�.1 '—•t�j'�a14 a i, { Ll a `f 41 l ' 00 Ni LL 0 I&EADOw ,E P � • y P l � 7 2zi O � L -f Ta z x ' F 0 J _ 1�uTL L(AP I-S AGS E E 5 F-aV-E TAM N. SANrACRI/ZaVF�i� S�nfo.d ---- t / w t __..- '�Er�al�c ' T i _ c Is (` t ••.�f•- .cu rµd Z 1 Woodd cc -12 Y � t�..e a. •t�� p St�rlMd �� c �. r0, $ t t..drr. - 9T 4 9 0(,y f ^a, o f Sra•rvi!!� sh.AO'^Rv Croyl� ! tcar lJ, t !. Q t�z t qk ` cc a ¢ \ of� e c � ! z\\A hnppin(` Pprt.,1.t'r❑ry i 12 C-11 11- , < LOS TRAHCOS R7 "The Loop"—Alpine, Portola and Sand Hill Road Trails Itro Showingforpen S- pacelon V a l!•. , .�. f � 4•: �a. ;,:; .r.. ;'Y. ''s .�• '7.'.5 . .i �: ' * .;x f,... •.► .,a,- , ' By JOHN IKEDA �:+J � t"negative iinpact-of the housing project ton the siunoun• eland.'He said the•proposed project is compatible The public hearing session regarding the proposed ding neighborhood. The most common concern ex� with the existing zoning requirements. - velopment of the Sharon Hills (the Hill) project pressed was that the proposed extension.of Valparaiso Heiss addressed three of the Issues—soil,traffic,and ted past midnight as more than 30 citizens from would turn the street Into a major expressway for storm drainage — which have concerned local residents ound the area came to voice their opinions at last motorists traveling between Sand Hill Rd. and HIgh- ever since the project was first proposed. ? i�ek's planning commission meeting in Menlo Park. way 101. "If the Hill Is permitted to have through ac- He said that studies show the proposed construction Public sentiment ran nearly three to one against cess," said Bill Wagstaffe, who lives on Valparaiso, "it methods will adequately mitigate the soil problems ex. e currently proposed project, which if developed, will provide a conduit to carry traffic from the Hill perienced in nearby Sharon Heights. The problems ill.result in the construction of 80 housing units on a east and west," He said a Valparaiso extension would caused by the expansive clay soil found on the Hill J acre hill west of Valparaiso. add substantial traffic to an already overloaded street. will be eliminated by lime treatment and special con- Residents from Atherton,Menlo Park,and the unin- At least 10 other residents agreed with Wagstaffe. struction methods said Heiss. He said the developers rporated University Heights area opposed the project And traffic congestion Is only part of the problem they "have gone far-beyond ordinary care" to assure sound 1-r a variety of reasons. said. The Increase in traffic would pose a serious threat housing construction. There was the question of open space versus develop• to the children who attend one of the five schools in The proposed storm drainage system will eliminate sent. Reginald Rice said the Hill "is rustic and bu• the area said Wagstaffe. overland water flow even during severe storms said He said the street, which does not have clearly Helss. He said the developer is also working with the *lie," and that development would destroy these p� ,sillies. The open woodland on the western facing marked crossings or stops Is difficult to cross, even for city to reduce any traffic problems. �t adults. "There's no way for a child to get across the Roy Davenport like Heiss, said he wants to see the ope is very special said Debbie.Wright, who said she „ ,t ,+ 'as afraid that the developer would not replace the oak street, said one woman. Hill develop. Approve building immediately, Daven- ees that would be lost If.construction took place. In addition, the extension of Valparaiso would ruin Port told the planning commission. He said that the 12- PM These park-like qualities of the Hill are very Impor• the value of the remaining open space said Environ• acres that the developers have promised to donate to ,,nt to some of the nearby residents. "The Hill re-, mental Beautification Commission,member Neil Mae- the city are enough. "We sure don't need any 38•acres," resents Menlo Park as it was 15A years ago, said bivenort.said Linda neale. The current proposal for the housing project In- P . 0 ''agner. "The value of the land without housing is in. eludes plans to donate nearly 12 acres of the site for an He said even If Menlo Park needed the entire Hill, lculable.•' She said the planning commission must' open space park. The extension of Valparaiso would cut the city could not afford a park. eigh her sense of the Hill's value undeveloped, against, this park in two said Macneale. He said two six-acre Duncan Madison agreed with Davenport. He said fe value of the land to the developer. plots are less valuable as a park than one 12-acre site. Proposition 13 passed because voters wanted elected Including Phyllis Cangemi believe The grading and drainage requirements of the Valparaiso officials to spend tax money wisely. And many people, extension would ruin the open space said Macneale. He said buying the Hilt from the present developers in `'e value of open space is high. She said people need order to preserve it as open space will cost millions of ;2 ,pen space in order to maintain a peace of mind."Peo- Some people questioned �e logic of building homes dollars. "I am reluctant to support buying a park when Ole feel so crowded in they can't take it anymore" said on the Hill which will cost hundreds If thousand's of we're already having problems with existing parks," i`'angemi. "I'm not against development," she said,"but dollars when completed. "There are already a glut of said Madison. must be done in a rational manner which pays heed to these types of homes on the market," said Muth Around 90 citizens came to watch the planning e quality of life of the people who already live there." Henry.One realtor asked,"why build more?" commission meeting which was held in the Menlo Park JIA A less esoteric benefit of the Hill was championed by Not everyone at the meeting wanted to have develop. city council council chambers. VIP one woman who said she' regularly takes her grand- ment on the Hill permanently halted.Bill Heiss,of JMH, Supporters of open space applauded each time one enjoy the view and nature. She said if-the Hill was -&;civil engineering, land planning and surveying com- of their allies finished addressing the planning com- it would be "a sad commentary to posterity pary,defended the project, mission, and occassionally hissed when someone spoke That this city can't leave open space." "This piece of land is not open space,"it's residen• out in favor of development. Residents of the �*ea also objected to the potential tial," said I)eiss,who represents the developers who own The relatively orderly meeting was disrupted once by �- Steve Catalano, who accused the,planning.commisslon '�— After, the public hearing was closed, planning com. members of being corrupt, and "on the take.' In an ;;fission member Robert Jacobs asked the public why unsubstantiated, yet forceful and articulate speech„ all You trespassers think that the developer does not Catalano asked the planning commisslod'for the Identity have the right to do with his property what yod do with of the people behind the development — "the Man. Your property." hattenizatlon of Menlo Park." `-� Jacobs told the public that they could not buy the He said the development proposed for the Hill will Nil with words or emotions. "You must have hard i be"an enclave for the rich and powerful,"and will not green cash to buy,"he said. '" '1.,a'ds 4�,.- .•,,• ,„.;; � 1 r broaden the housing stock in Menlo Park, t; y,.�' :As the meeting moved past the midnight hour .` I-After exceeding the five minute time limit Imposed 'p planning commission member Douglas But moved to DQ ittby planning chairman Ivan Odom to facilitate the pro. carry the meeting to Sept. 27. The rest of the com• it"gross of the meeting,-Catalano Initially refused to sit mission agreed, and the topic will be discussed ex. s down. "Maybe I feel like disrupting this meetinc," he rl,i•lvPiv !11 lhh+ •1•110 011 1,,., 4r . AM te by.- J vo The 'Hill's . j$Y ROBYNE MARTIN though many had advice for the council if construction were approved. - Final okay of the environmental impact report and the rezoning for the Sharon Hills condominium Emotional testimony turned angry as the hea ex- ring centered on whether Valparaiso Avenue should be + development passed by a 3-2 vote of the Menlo Park City p Council at its Nov. 9 meeting. The milestone vote is the tended into the site. ' '! culimination of at least Ill years of debate on use of"the Homeowners below the site and along Valparaiso Avenue argued that the traffic created by the new homes hill." o it i d t i l V d all would wou a come own Valparaiso and into a major,- " , � The 38-acre parcel at the western end of Valparaiso • , s Avenue was also rezoned from the standard residential thoroughfare. Y_ , --� zoning to a special category allowing for the clustering of '- townhouses. Homeowners in Sharon Heights contended children in ' Mayor Gerry Andeen' and Councilwoman Kay Paar the area would be endangered by traffic if diverted into _ their neighborhood.They appealed to the council to open j dissented on both votes. Valparaiso across the site so some of the traffic would r The next steps toward constructioq_of the housing move awav from Sharon Heights. `', t tract are the approval of the conditional development ' permit, including mitigation measures,and the approval The planning commission had recommended _+ -�_ of the development plans. Both steps were scheduled for Valparaiso not be extended, principally because the ` council discussion this week. streets in Sharon Heights were deemed adequate to 'a The council approved to the letter the recom-. handle the new traffic. Another reason the commission .X mendations passed in September by the planning com- decided not to recommend the extension was theuse of the mission. Iphd over which the new road would be built. Voting came after an hour of discussion by the council,including an emotional appeal by Andeen not to According to the developers'plans,almost 12 acres of s proceed toward development. Both Paar and Andeen roen land would be left in a natural state on the steep face criticized the EIR and noted several examples in which of the hilt below the tract of proposed housing. If the road the report was vague or misleading.Councilmember Billy were extended,said planning commissioners,the value of . Ray White mentioned that criticism of the report had been the open land as a natural park would diminish. heavy, but, "it is adequate enough for me." At its meeting lastweek the council did not vote on the- Paar compared the report to an earlier EIR ruled specific development plan for the project. Therefore the inadequate by the Superior Court. decision on Valparaiso will come at a later meeting -,.•> "This is basically,the same project and basically the same report.That report failed in the courts,and I'm sure .r= � �. we're opening ourselves up for another lawsuit,"she said. ,mw Before votingon rezoning, Andeen reminded the , g 'Hill' Purchase plan council"this is the place to stop,if you ever want to have the hill as open space." Councilmembers Douglas Dppen and Peg Gunn were meeting next Thursday: sparing in their comments, saying that they had heard and studied enough evidence on which to decide. • Before council discussion, the officials heard three One of a series of meetings in homes to discuss the=- . - hours of public testimony from residents of Menlo Park, proposed assessment district to purchase"The Hill"•is set: Atherton and the unincorporated area of University for Thursday, Nov. 18, at 8 p.m. at 1145 Rosefield Way; ; , Menlo Park. . -1 tr site.Heights which 3s lust below the proposed construction st For more information call Eileen Norback at 32S354T.'' � _ Most speakers were against the proposed project, .r. t •r' Wel. t/12_t! $z- � � ■ � - - - .- --ram.�` f _.; Ownter of In By Phyllis Brawn } '� chased the property to develop it and that 'w e bought thepropety foi7mes Tribune staff r deveian-X• would not consider selling The Hill ment, he said. If the community wanZsz lMENLO PARK --� Aft r months of ar- under any circumstances to and has the capacity to buy it.I R iil sell � guing for the right to build on his proper- But this week Blackwell changed his• it. in the meantime, we are ty,the owner of The Hill said this week he mind. g with our plans to develop the propeerttyy i' ,,,,would be willing to sell,the land instead of "Blackwell Homes would be willing to, Blackwell said the fair^market'velue develop It. - - ,�2, ,�! , sell The Hill for its fair market value pro would be determined by an appraisal ac Jack Blackwell.•owner; of,-Blackwell: viding the (interested) group demanstrat- ceptabie to his firm. ,�, •r;,�:.. Y Homes of Campbell, said he``would sell' ed the financial ability to purchase the ; The Hill is a 3$acre,oak covered knolfr The Hill to any party that canitow'it has property,"he said. at the western end of Valparaiso Avenue. e;the money to buy ft.= '� ,;� ,;r Blackwell stressed that,while he Is will-; Blackwell has proposed bullding_75 town ing to sell the land,he Is proceeding with=- ;-1 _�.: _ r K� ,,, '.In the past BIackw d ,he ur- e1l'sgI p plans to develop it. + t R;• Please see HILL, -8 + .4..: . .�. .. _ _ .'t � ^ Y�- .. ■!.� •q f ,ems.ii �' �::� � �� chase the land and make it into . -an opta-space park.. - - < The proposed assessment district Continued from A-1 would encompass parts of Ather- - ton, Menlo Park and unincorporat- v,!houses and five single-family ed San Mateo County adjacent to ' homes on the site. The Hill. Those living within the j -The Menlo Park City Council re- district would be assessed a•yearly fee to pay for the land. 4.cently approved that proposal.. The value of The Hill's undeve- Some of The Hill's neighbors, loped land has not been assessed �T however, do not want to see the for some time. The full cash value a ,land developed, They are circulat-..--.of the land when developed with •t•% ing a petition to establish a special homes has been estimated at ap- assessment district that would pur- proximately$32,375,000:• • ' r� ik, i r�' q11''��1 I �'!� r J� �!•. 'y(d t 1, 1 '' {r '�; y ,�1��^ ti;r�rl �•- .S l C1 } + �, i .r II' I • '� Y h n. ', X^ 11 � `mow 4 t�,I � 1.��, ,�jr�,` t�,;,�,�/,y�� �i i4: [`I+'l;` 5 ; � 'V}i I , ••v 1 f>wr,• ,11•!" �' } ' s rf I i f,„at{.,r�I 4' �.I �.rA ' .. � �.1 '. � II; t ./, �+►• /7y{�S.t :'�"" 3� .���wj 1< Il i �fi,i rl, � ✓ i �•'�.1� :frt',,�(,fgl .r•y+ •!. •`ii5'q i .i. n .1 '�i ,i. 1 nil, B .I `r•, �.. Atli. a yr J. . '1.. .. •, �. _ ... i 1 ..w...o ._1i 1 - -.� -K l ». 7iM•+aw^K w'-•.�+v� w+a. � Mill condos move ahead; council wants Stanford meetin' BY ROBYNE MARTIN tersection of Valparaiso Avenue and Alameda de las summary of public comments made at council meek. Fy Pulgas. Blackwell Homes will also be responsible for The 111erilo Park City Council would like to make a formal (, Another step toward construction of condominiums on some development of an open-space section .of the presentation to the Palo Alto City Council regarding the the parcel known as"the Hill"was approved by the Menlo property, which would be deeded to the city as a park. proposed development. trj Park City Council last week. The Tentative Subdivision At the same meeting, the council appointed Yolanda Councilmember Peg Gunn sent a letter to Stanford ! Map of a proposed 80-unit townhouse development was Irigon to the Arts Corr#nission. Iron, who lives on Del University President Donald Kennedy, asking him to approved 3-1 with Councilmember Jack Morris aissen- Norte Drive; was the only applicant for the position. meet with representatives from Menlo Park. ting, In other action, the council returned to the Planning "We weren't getting any response from the planning ' .Morris said he disagreed with the Planning Com- Commission a denial of a Use Permit to allow residential level, so we decided to go to the president," Gunn said. mission's findings relative to the proposed subdivision property at 612 Cambridge to be used as a commercial Gunn hopes such a meeting would convince Stanford and called them "inconsistent with the development parking lot. The lot would serve the adjacent Oasis and Palo Alto planners of the overwhelming disapproval permit issued by the city."Councilmember Kay Paar was restaurant which fronts on El Camino Real and has of the development displayed by Menlo Park citizens at absent. always had a parking problem. The•restaurant and a meetings last month. The land in question lies between Sharon Heights, the neighboring apartment building currently violate city Also scheduled for Jan. 25 is a discussion of a street }� Town of Atherton and University Heights at the western standards for parking, and the Use Permit would make tree maintenance assessment district. This topic has end of Valparaiso Avenue. f' both buildings comply. plagued tl;e city staff for four years. City-owned street The conditions accompanying the approval included .At next week's meeting, the council will review public trees have gone without proper pruning and care because ; some permanent improvements on Valparaiso Avenue. comments made about the proposed Stanford West the city's zero-based budgeting has allocated no funds for Also,if the city decides ever to extend Valparaiso Avenue development.The high-rise student-staff housing complex a maintenance crew. through the parcel, the street would need to be widened is proposed for land adjacent to Stanford Children's Voters turned down a measure on last Novem� between Altchul Avenue and Alameda de las Pulgas. Hospital, across San Francisquito Creek from Menlo ballot that would would have funded such services. Now the council will discuss raising money by assessing each The developer, Blackwell Homes of Campbell, is Park. required to pay half the cost of a traffic signal at the in- The council asked the staff last month to prepare a, parcel in the city. 1,,,- . . �` '�. ..9: .:.� ,.a•'lY'I d.;:, ,.Iti. ' -�. ...:..,..�: r •r•""�" �':�"�..• 't �... ...........�..q.�.,.�r,,. i t J r, i ��i III,—.. _.-_ •���,� ..k � 'Ij' .� ,.r. �' � tf �l� .v.nb r. � t '� ,� :�3 H, •'',•. i �I �q{�� •w •t �+, , .,a,'•�•I d: f ''" y ' .. ��rji I � .,b•G� F Il t�'� 1 ;�� �'� ,r� t � i•' i y''..i i 1' •• �. tiq,M� I ,, :i:y � 1. 'il t!' r'1 �y% � , ` r `•� 'ir�i'I 1'i; i '• ,tY y:i ,I rt r' �'./• ,I 'lll, ,i F , '•1� ,r ; is „:. t• " h� t 't: �` .. 1:*,iMl + j•I���i�i •N I + `�i 'f !3�' '-�•,1" .a.r. �� 'r' ��f1 ��•. �'Ir• �•'•.4•I{' •I'. " .�' '3'�5.1� �}r � I ^ L} ,,� S �I,� ,. � ' r �i r.�•:•�1. 1 � 1 �4'��`jj.� � ..'�% �t� 1 � � 4 F.�,�,}� }'� .i{i 1 1 ,. S rr' �„��•. ) II �� F :,,� �',rl,�•�y' K� +�I', i '�. i. �i •, I y ��r ,j'� �J '1 S r �n,•r.�i• �t •� . �, •/"}�:I�� �,1' �,'�1 �vl 5 . i 1 yy,1 1.�� K r �" ,, , •'u'�' .1 •�,Y,aw+ ;,. �1:�r�� poop , �'!'+Ib'r.._:'�'� ' L.�._��"y ' a- '_.. :.,- rs_w,.,.a '(`�„F. .,. ... .- • -__ - -._..- - 1 Ive— t�Y SG q wt DG. �'-tow�P Y) 1 ,jah. I1T3 Conservation Notes Birding Classes Choices Two classes of interest to birders will be or -,he Hill offered by Sequoia Adult School during the Winter quarter. Residents of the west Menlo Park-Atherton area now have a last chance to choose the fate of The Hill, which lies at the end of WINTER BIRDS OF THE BAY AREA--AN INTRODUCTORY Valparaiso Avenue. Though the Menlo Park CLASS FOR BEGINNERS Council on Nov. 16 approved the owner's application to build 77 townhouses and 3 Class sessions will cover general natural history application family homes, the owner has indicated nd identification of common wintering land and single would be y home to sell owner he could -ater birds to be seen in the Bay Area. Nine lec- get the fair market value, which is estimated -ures and five field trips. Starts January 12. as probably over its last assessment of $3 ectures: Senior Centayser 7:30-9:30 at the San Carlos million and under a maximum of $10 million. Senior Center Field Trips: Sundays 9 A.`1 to noon unless indicated A petition to form an assessment district for its purchase and maintenance as managed public open space is now being circulated under the leadership of SAS member Phyllis Cangemi. The proposed district wilb, include toe area west of El Camino Real between _ Stockbridge Ave. on the north and San Francisquito Creek and Sand Hill Road on the south as far as Highway 280, and comprise parts of Menlo Park, Atherton and unincor- porated County, including roughly 5,000 BIRDS THROUGH THE SEASON--WINTER 1983 households in its boundaries. A locture-field trip series for more advanced Besides other arguments against the birders. Sessions will include information on develooment, such as greatly increased bird behavior, distribution, natural history, lo- traffic, dangers from unstable soils, and cal -esearch projects as well as help on special drainage problems, loss of a prime birdinc( bird identification problems. Nine lectures and area would be of pa. five field trips. Starts January 10. Audubon members. Those owning property in Lectures: Mondays 7:30-9:30 PM at Menlo Atherton t:.e proposed assessment district boundaries High Sch-)ol (Teachers Lounge) s who have not already done so are asked to Field Trips: Saturdays, 9 A1.1 to noon unless-- - sign petitions for transmittal to the • otherwise indicated. Board of Supervisors and the City Councils of Atherton and Menlo Park. They can be Maryann Danielson will be the instructor. The obtained from Phyllis Cangemi, 1331 Ameri- fee for each class series is $35 with registra- can Way, Menlo Park, tel. 325-6971. Any tion taking place at the first class meeting. members willing to help circulate the For additional information call the Sequoia petitions will be welcomed. Adult School (415) 369-6809 or'the instructor Ruth Smith (415) 342-6919. pp V H t7 N c-5 G V ✓` ,y6.2 - >ysts H+U 9 O :a. G q Z OFFSCEFS Prrs:de Richard B. Baird 574-106nt - .�-. Vice Pres E.P, iao Elhany 34) 34l9 The Sequoia Nevslettar is paDlished ninthly except July o W T Jean Durlck 343-8381 and August. Send inforcatlon to all offices and chair- Secretary Treasurer Frani J. Collins 349-050? parsons (includin� exchange bulletins) [o P.O. Box 1131 Q }{C DI Treasurer Burlingame, Ca 94010. Subscription to the Sequoia 8evs- Past Prea Lisa lt.iI an 36b-343G lecter separately is $3 per year. f \ - i`-ee-year Te rub Ending �• J.yne '83 Myr-cle Johnson 728-7916 , Donna Klrsacko 592-7883 .1 Jane 184 Frank All.. 344-9339 FThe:SfQU01A NEWSLETTER deadline ie th¢ let o6 the �592-9239 h d0a the 6ettoming tnenth. Juze 's5 Georgia Perkins 593-7815 �! a Ruch SmIth, M.D. 322-5279 Field TripsTTEES NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY- (weekend) Kathy Craves 363-0037 - „erTlbership Application '' '? "`'►- ~ (a id week) Jean All.. 144-9339 Cenbership Jean Allen 344-9339 YES,„-, ,,n,as u mcmhr. n the N.r o .1 Audubon Soocr,and m7 -e O Hospitality (uca(Chapter.Start my aub(rnp(� to Audubon r,tula,ne and trod m7 0 -4 1 Lee Silli.an 692-2070 FSnDnCe Fra ak Allen 344-9339 mernhe,lh,p card (cl-pter U517) rn s 0` `•`/�. Land Acquisition N�_ . . .. -_..__ _-. __—_w, C _ Charles Se_. 697-5601 -- - 0 r, loos rvation - open Progre am John SiIli-- 692-200 t�,.\ 5r..r - Lp_-__ y .--4 - Vilna Rockaan 366-3-3. "4 V \II\IXI g•Iln', \ 1,••u\1.1•'I:I t- _ L �'' Publicity Jerry Perkins 593-7815 Coastal Bill Johnson 728-7916 OInL,J-4 S;S 00 O(.+.nd..u,e'S_S.`,l` OSo.7rsJSN 00 X na Lh:ise�as bird Coune 0ha J.r S a;q` Cll+.+3\.1•.l' O\rn..n(',n;r•e'StT tC h a oc 4-9339 ❑F..vn•09000 O Ot.lr/51.SV A` Srn,+C.n,r 't m C Fraa i. Allen 34 O --< . 755-7:21 Oti.,L,.,ny SIS\C ❑law„7 Lf</S:0.V\C F.,n�h/Sry Al 7 Se-cala Audubon Soeleey A1..A..L 1•+3 __ ,•.L..e d. o-O y Activities, Sequoia A-duDOM1.... 3;4-4577 < as Pa�e sird Al—C................ 8-3-2211 •.M..,--•.'.,• N M ca \.f�.,n.lA:.1.:t....4.<.ry-9iU T6•d 5.rn.e.�Y,\\ 1V:1 7tY�"l yell .. - `✓ .. �"` _ LA -40 mahk aplm .f.aA W►.�„ -" �— _ : i_ 40 A r # 3� TX is 611 k iw iFt T 1 i-1-1 E3 t 1 fil M r& at gt AIM 9 AL. Ea it •---- A -1 ti 1IF 7 3K TE a t MI!8 � }?;b iait 315- 0 E. • off) - t: _- ::1' _ mw 31`Aptw r, 94U, -k r . .. � i"f•� lid�1=,1� + � !� f'Q7 -F fp l�C( ;�rr.X�#i`C� i� _! �:t-� �f rr�w i4 lU-1't���•`-!•�-':' _ :__ er'3� .Hi0A� 'At7 *E All 0f�llttiVI � R ' 1'i of �+� V.M, 31 , a a Zfil -Y, 0.P OR £UP�Fr , �-}-�$� ur�1�15Ks • �'��C7 �! �W � � + �'] ®}i 6rt`raR - i 4-: 9 111 M ' !t A fft ik �- v:':..•t', i3 6J N5 GF �J 1� • ---_.—. fl' fft 11l .11 `J {t7 fiT ' - -`• ' 4 or-2. t0, ag wtr�.EFw0, �fk Jc 0- €1;#tfr-i-A@a » toA • =AWE I � 1 z� ��.U �� ' � kx4 fv � ' IN1irx19 A-0 1 �. �a"c,jt.$ �t �>� � p P, I 1� tom] � + k"t�&1� ;~t r.`•�1 '�`• iLx.� � �'�:';�i5�' �i � --:��- t ?$ � E1 � Or M Afi;" I l PI (1131.E R14 M. c M9c ;I —3 IN i% f`FB '!;¢ q ira tQ 1 OA --"'15 ' 11 — .. f H� 7�.�{, q L [� lil. Tit 7yfT�- 3'�7C•i p-k�3 7YI l` / -L }- f�}- t. ;���{• `:1> ;,r �1 i'I'fi I l #Ali fr' Cti mwA—VrM - a �- s q R XT e 4 ;] 1 �'!!ut' A on SLR 6; P1 7A A 3 Z • ;�S- • M O�5il j ���- I rli , ;1 • R ik f,'t - ' W,, Eh FI • L It+--8 'M tY] a fr a 54 � ' �r;r5 91x M 5f►J-V E M M I-A OJ . i� r�qu1` otg�yytfttVt- aq�/fr 1 � 1 Iµ�Sgay 'p1; i� ��;�pli�f§{f%��_7m,#a'I RA Ali ilj H 1 ' n It-7B • -k%� 'LI_ I 1 El`•J +� W 'tSTi'1•/J: ��.T 1 l� o lac ' 6f Vt-tk rk 1 1 92EhTvfta zWmN�—� � f7yaja-k_ • r "s'r� (�� >�1 fi��31� � 4f;i� �6 1 •• � I . - �!f#}�31ti§��C—9.?:. #'��r C��1' ' �� , �`l t .• :-.- =';% ' M hx- l 7-s 1 W 9:6f#V C6:E e 0 ' M All 3t;--t .%W,A = M tf-I C;(P E13 7G 49 M IP 3K n I ( # -A 19-;f,b Pa tG:6- -P--fir$;k ba fQ T N 3K ,t1LL�� • -igz�a- �1V, M I-, c�70 •--------• ��. 9+ aAvm )iifIhis3�ta3_ttpN�4-6��t,,�2� - _.••''t!; %TS`3+i• m WA T-th I 1� PJ ' :'W 0 TJ EIlr • !1 �G-_'!F� a� • 1�/t I".� y�� �1 11���} .ram y _ .�• �7, L y�t��p g� _� Fp fie. .- ;�='-:- '✓ M t +kt FI �� ' a A i% 5+ 4 7t M N 9z VJ TAT•N R pu 0d� ' �� • Ti— ' TCL -F �• �sr.� q r 7��{ f3'gI Ei`) P- 'c •}�yC / ll f(ri lFf o M -5•fE �1"F�a�B 0 ft Is st-,+G E -k- i�?`st tb a TH 19� eats A n� -AEK-'tt-m N J_[.R V (7 W is�}�, R A 9i `- /, ova- �31 .ta YP.Jr.� - • YI' jtt�'1 fir+1"f [7J t f4 C7J m om ' fti ' ip, • jc L(O, FLU it fA K a n >ff 0 a Alf la �E • � aR - ^x. _. •`ffl -t•� - i aZ# r bu `�} 1 1 LEI L— � � c> th += M A X M!r a VE; fL�" .. .77., " -- •.�t< VE�Efbf ' Meft "1 AP9I;iMmA 3`Ti;t� " 1-a fa M M A • A kl� VE • 1: f — Ali fft 2i ��� Fes, n ..•-. ... .• _ ^..^. .. .•.o.. ......•. ► •.T �' - - •_- - ._ - MENLO - ATHERTON Serving Menlo Park, Atherton,.Portola Valley 8 Woodside for 58 Years Newsroom: 361-1155 Classified: 326-5580 Display Advertising: 361-1045 Circulation: 367-7444 Vol. 59, No.4 640 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025 Tues.,Jan 26, 1982 25c Per Copy-12 Per Year Hill's Beau� Praised At Forum f �I i Residents concerned about the Two biologists, an environmental- { future of "The Hill," a 38-acre parcel ist, and representatives of two open i of undeveloped land in Menlo Park space groups made their presenta- that is rich in animal and plant life, tigns to approximately 75 people at met Sunday night at a community St. Bede's Fspiscopal Church in forum to hear its beauty extolled Menlo Park. Moderator Phyllis and determine what can be done Cangemi of Menlo Park organized the to preserve it, meeting to gather support for the eventual purchase and conversion of The Hill into a permanent open space preserve. "The Hill cannot sit in limbo any longer," Cangemi said. "Motor- cycles and four-wheel drive vehicles will continue to tear it up. It has been badly damaged and over a long _ period of time, the wildlife won't survive." Cangemi said that the purpose of the forum was to convince people that the land is "special enough and extremely accessible and can be managed for something besides de- velopment." The current owner of the prop- erty located at the western end of Valparaiso Avenue is Blackwell Homes of Campbell, and its assessed value is $2.9 million, according to the draft environmental impact re. Port on the proposed development of The Hill. Blackwell Homes has said, however, that the parcel is not for (Please turn to page 12) i 12—Menlo-Atherton Recorder,Menlo Park,Calif. 'Tuesday,January 26, 1982 The Hill (Continued from page 1) with it." sale at any price. Harry Turner, who serves as the Harry Turner, district director of MROSD director for Menlo Park, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Atherton, Portola Valley, Fast Palo Space District (MROSD), said-that Alto and Woodside, said the job of his organization would not attempt the open space district is to "find to buy the parcel because It does property of regional significance and not conform to district acquisition benefit and to go where cities and guidelines. The open space district counties don't go" in terms of pre- owns and manages more than 10 00o serving open space. acres of Peninsula land for public He suggested a "mufti-party ap- use purchased for an average of proach" comprised of private dona- $3,000 per acre during the last 10 tions, federal grants and participa- years, tion by Menlo Park, Atherton and , The Hill is home for a myriad San Mateo County governments in of bird and Insect species as well as attempting the land's purchase. The more than 30 varieties of flora which District i trio migsulaht Regional Open Space live in delicate, interdependent ba- $50District might contribute between lance, according to biologist Susan �� and ��+� towards the a Sommers, who made a. recent field •acquisition under such circumstances, survey of the area. he said."We need the leadership from the' Menlo Park environmentalist Linda Menlo Park City Council. No other Wagner described how the topog- agency will come in without leader- , raphy of the parcel creates a unique ship from them. Personally, I'd like micro-climate for a wide diversity to see the Hill saved," said Turner, of plant life. ' a I,adera resident. "Even though none of the plants Apt from its high cast, Turner Is rare, their occurrence together on 38 acres is rare,"Wagner said. said the district could not consider buying.The Hill because it does The Hill's floral diversity provides not meet the district's acquisition an important educational tool for criteria. people to understand the patterns He said the criteria used include in nature,she said. the land's: Stanford University biologist _ value as a trail link to other Bruce Wilcox warned that the ex- open space preserves and parks; tinction rate of various species is _ scenic value to the region; known to accelerate when surround- _ Importance as a habitat for ed by man-made development. endangered plants or animals; Wilcox said that his research of _ historic or archaelogicai butterflies on nearby Jasper Ridge significance and in Edgewood Park has shown Turner said that the open space that development increases the pres- district would contribute its exper- sure towards extinction because it Use to the development of acquisi- disrupts the distribution patterns of tion plans by other Interested parties. the Insects. The final speaker of the evening "There are probably dozens of was Robert Augsburger, executive` species in these grasslands alone director of the Peninsula Open that are going extinct because of Space Trust, a non-profit land mans monkeying around with the conservancy that works with the population structure, he said. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space said that biologists don't He � know precisely reci sel how extinction oc- District, public agencies and private reservation curs "but the answer is that if you individuals towards the p don't know, you don't fool around of open space. ..'..... r . ...... ... �, .... .. . tsnnrlrsls at a nuclear am►s pri►tu,, iota a nuclear cxcnunbu. would favor a "moderate, non• Turley said he suPportS negota- atl;;�; •':'.rum hrld \Vr,lnr5d;ty at}loly tiryues of the current arms race,and secs a uevu w► « �.�..,, Planned .1,rin}ty 1pi up;,l l:harclt in Man1u rtc'0h'11ttchurch1Shndt,pinnni, to h;tvc threatrnin{ defcn.ivu utllllury estnl► Dons between Uu: Unllyd Stnte+a and Park. Mother round of the amrs race, tite Soviet Union. The 5avtubr "nro 1-hp Menlo lark City Sec,ht.iLV "Is nul acre:utrily ac art advocate of nuclear weapuus on Usluuc ut." the panel but at the last n►ittule, a will result in "gre"Wr military concerned about nuclear war in the has authoriz•d a $,_n 000 ci curnuletlnl; We, and sprndin► P' samr way we arc for the most basic money on military prugruns," :mid rc'Prru,utativr from l.awrrnre liver• al se n;tls- nuclear and no,►•tlucivar- traffic sludy to h,1P evaluate ! y 4 nior research more Laboratories wasn't able on all sides,and we will be less secure reasonl of,Sf will "enter�'Only Into pact of proposed devclopme Dr. Philip }nr1 e verifk.d;' associate (if the Stanford Anus attend' Treat than if we prorcrded with more agreements that can be establish a data base for the ' who opened thr. "1l'e have to look with b moderation, he said. tion of environmental imp Control program, p' ticism at glamorous new he said, but "t^ fail to work with second of three sessions on world skeP 0�sF them where there arc things that can ports. unishing The stud would be condt ' Q:S� •p � � he done concretely isn't p y Uizens a -an ` (�� � �p them, it's punishin ourselves . . cit staff hnd volunteers at T 1 ® � ` � and you do not have to stop object- se tions. [�or lrafiic cotI ^k5ihilily of In to what they do on human another 39 intersections, the 'might ex lore the P g a private firm that sp' tatted last Monday by the}recorder, mtti f ri:11 here P By STUART GORDON Putting t: a barrier at the site t^ } in traffic data gathering. ( said "tt,at Property is not for sale P G P A combination of morti Local resident., ,vho oppose dr• control loitering and keep out u:. L'in t'.:e purposes of our tile world, ', at any price. authorize}motor vehicles. the intagr of the U.S. in the world, 'i`e bought the Property to slid even from the narrowest security the cit}•'s gas tax account ;,rs potent of "The hill" are spe;rr. The Sharon Heights Homeown improvement fees account .ding a movetttertt to purchase develop homes there and that's view, "the U.S. will be better oft the cost of the study, a that 36•acre parcel at the western what we intend to do," he said to Association has complained about without an arms race,"he concluded. teenagers driving motorcycles and Dave AlcTadden said he agrees to Lauren \tercel, director end of Valparaiso Avenue in Menlo firmly. good Works and City Engineer. Park and turn it into a permanent l3 ackw�ell said he had not Yet loitering a' has been�Inlcreased vandal- nuclear weapons are not a g The traffic improvement open space reserve. been approached by the group °f ism and burblaries in Sharon Heights. defense, but he is also con the Phyllis Cangemi o[ Sterling Ave- residents about purchase of the ro osed Association President Les Barry about the economic imp collectedrf o�of assisting ring pers f it nue said she is working with mem- ro etty• Reagan administrations p P mar)' p P group Please turn to page 1:.) defense buildup. traffic impru`ements made bcrs of the Univrrstt}' lIe►glas P Cangemi also said the gr P phe Soviets "arc going to stay Homeowners Association, a group g g by increased traffic generatj even with the U.S.," tee said, "even development. opposing dcreloprnent of I purche hase ♦a. . "" •• ough the primal} to raise the money to t account is to fu� the pro Perty from the present own ;mcnts, it could er, Blackwell Homes of Campbell. 'Eric studies to The group is 10o:.rtt9 to raise the .,�.� _ _- J nprovei.wnts nee+ money from a combination of cor _ _ -.--- - � t� »= "--- - _ -- -�--- creel said. porate and individual sources in the �•_� .� stages of the trz community,Cangemi said. TM__ p ��I i�. '�1-•�C�T© � �� paid for by incre Although the movement is in its :r �^ t 4•i V L0 - i"1 ► ►: � � � u- -•, J charges develoPc initial stakes, it ha:; {;athcred a lot . �e r; , _ 1 //"j". 3 , r-'-' and rezoning a{: f support from area residents, site - .� 1, f tticl. raid. c ` "16e are still in tite feeling out -~- stage to see just Itow much interest : there might be for this idea," site d:u tl la Valley 8 ^/oodside or 58 said. `' S Menlo Park, n, Porto t Years, Atherto �s.� prop- chi erving _.' The &_,se:;svd value of tilt ro N, -�cr: = _ err}' is �2.9 million, according to the agu c==-�z=�z' "" environmental impact report Nowsroom: 3M1b5 Cl;,sshticd: 3,1.10»5 Display Advertising: 361 loib Circuiation:3'Z p`f Year draft on the development project Prs. �'v' Jot. 58, No. 5G G4U t:'enlo Ave., A'lenlu Park, CA G4U25 Tues., Dh:c. 15, 1981 25c Per Copy- pared by Ueurge S. Nolte and A duyy _ 4 sociates of San Jose. a '( ! r ,r •. Efforts to purchase the propert}•, ,a " r r;J. ;; �..� y .• Y, the DL," FF v9Lmrvation ana lkvelop• extension critical, he said, because i r s ; however,might prove futile. ` �' ii F.,. ;: { ', Developer Jack Blackwell, CO"• rnent Cornmissiun (13CUL). several Peninsula cities now use the a ¢+ l �} r Marsh dump. i�. `j ? Tl: •.. "'r;; 1", t1 F '` . ____._—�----- The Plan to keep the dump open __ --- would also extend tile life of the i t�1a� issue public dumping facilities by about n 18 months. a first-hand The dump is set to close to tie �� ><��s'� L ,� ►,, „M;r;l Anima! bVo��der Oak Knol%l/kind�Aflf" 11SAers 9°For pictures, public Dec.31,135?. - t ' �R� *�,:, y � Tuesday, December 15, 1991 The Hill i :r (Continued from page 1) "ti4'e'vr, tried to keep unauthor. for San Mateo and Santa Clara cnun- ing to get pledges from corporations t ized vehicles off the property in ties, the Trust has acquired about and individuals before approaching I•�`'. 4 r �tr>r said development is seen by morn• rift T bets as a way to eliminate the prob- the past, but it hasn't worked. We 1100 acres valued at approximately Blackwell Homes about the purg lem Put up large it posts with cables $5 million for open space reserve. chase of the property, ^' C stretched between them, but they Land acquisitions have come "We will be trying to raise what, L Cangemi said some sort of fenc• were all torn out by vandals or the through gifts, as well. Some of the ever it takes to properly recom G J it's:. 'i ing might also correct the problem cables cut," he said. ,� money for its urchases came from while the development project goes P pence the present owner for the �I Cangel;ii said she and other resi• resale of acquired land to rr' �" through the City o[ Menlo Park's q public land,"she said. dents have met with members of agencies. -� approval process. The group has already received" the Midpeninsula Regional Open ' On several different occasions a pledge of a $100,000 grant for pur• s Cangemi suggested the commun- P P g ity might pay'thCcost of fencing the Space District, a public agency, we've approached Blackwell Homes chase of the property for open space, •J, area. I and the Peninsula Open Space to determine whether or not she said. She refused to disclose the Blackwell called the fencing idea 'crust, a private non-profit cor- it might be possible to acquire the donor's identity. "a losing rci osit10n." poration in:Menlo Park. property from them, and we were Can genii g F P g ml emphasized that as part i "We e!t then, and still do, that a harry 'Turner, a member of the advised that the property was not of "a properly managed open space r district's board of directors, said he for sale," Au sbur er said. pubiic acquisition of that property g g reserve," problems involving unau- adLised Cangemi that "it would He said the Trust "is not playing thorized vehicles and loiterers could •�;, ys}� ^Yn would have to be a multi party ark be feasible to manage that property advocate" in the issue of The Hills be controlled. rangement — in other words, have i' several sources of funding — and as a Park in an undeveloped state. . . development. In 1973 and 1974, two city bond And the district would be quite "Our role in that issue is to at- elections were held to purchase the need the initiative and leadership willing to lend its advice and ex- tempt to facilitate a resolution of the site for open space. Both times the -4e of the Menlo Park City Council. pertise for developing such a man• conflict by working with both sides. proposals failed to gain the support r "I don't think any public agency agement plan," ,� It's not our role to say that property of the required two-thirds of the <t,s �.,.• ,r; would enter Menlo Parks sphere Turner said the district had been shouldn't be developed,"he said. Menlo Park electorate. of influence without the active contacted in 1976 by opponents of But, Augsburger admitted, "by The project proposed by the -•••. support of the council." The Hill's development for advice our veryactivities we are obviously developer calls for the building Responsibility for supervision of on developing strategies for keeping open space advocates." of five single-family homes and elrs an open space reserve at the sight the property open space. �l. Cangemi said she will be attempt- 75 townhouses on the site. would depend on who owned the new wood City Blood property and subsequent arrange At the time, he noted, the creak PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLTC NOTICL ave a c of blood. in at- menu with other attics and a en• tion of an open space reserve did not �/ p g have the support of the Menlo Park RECYCLE!CLE! LEGAL NOTICE t administrator of Sequoia cies. t, JOINT PIjRLIC HEARING of the Peninsula Memorial "In principle,it might be the Men. Councril The City of Menlo NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the sari Mateo P P g to keep it undeveloped,"said Turner, Park has a free curb- County Board of Supervisors and the San Mateo Le Blood Bank, and Mario to Park Parks and Recreation Com• w•ho was elected to the board from pick-upservice County Community Development ComRisslon will d City station, a branch of mission, the Count),of San Mateo or r side y residents in the Menlo Park, Wood- hold a joint public hearing on January 12, 1982, Nill be open every Tuesday possibly but not likely, the ltid- side, Portola Valley and Atherton for all your recycl at 11 a.m. In the Chambers of the Board of super- able, — glass, metal, visors, 401 Marshall Street, Redwood City,Califor- nia; said hearing may be continued from time to - trict,"he said. .{- and newspaper. ,Ime until completed. Any person desiring Ilia up. He noted,however, that the roll ) ThC dtStrlCt'S area Of COOCfrtt in. porlunity to be heard will be afforded an oppor• group eludes preservation of open space For pick-up• tunity to do so. opposing development "really hasn't along Skyline itidtre and the edge schedule informs• 'rha purpose of said nearing Is to consider the decided yet what the rite oin to 1- proposed amendment to the East Palo Alto Re- y going of the developed urban areas. 4' tion, Call 858-3470. development Plan, hereinafter called "Plan." try to do, .V Peninsula Open Space 'Trust has Said Plan was adopted by San Mateo County The dIS1CiCt hcLS never taken an Ordinance No. 2087 on March 23, 1981. The 3dvisl d the group On sources Of fund- Plan, also known as "Redevelopment Plan••' official stand on development of ing for such a land purchase,afford- PUBLIC NOTICE authorized the undertaking of a redovelopment The Bill. 4-' in to director Robert Au sber er. project pursuant to the California Community Floor "But we have willingly lent OUC g g g FICTITIOUS BUSINESS Redevelopment Law. Since its inception in 1977 as pri- NAME STATEMENT The general objecllvei of said Redevelopment advice to people looking for ways Plan have not changed as a result of these amend- -ring Specialists p vale land conservancy organization (File No.46 era - _ Tax PO' t vfltl8nl8DT� The ibusin business person is Rents. op purpose of the nclude t amendments to the do business as: Redevelopment Plan are t0 Include the area da• -�_.__. . ,. -- i PUBLIC NOTICE .nn�,.,-.s.�;�"e, ar•rIbed helow for mixed ra:;dontlal/enlrLm_e.rrlal MENLO - ATHERTON ,p 9_ C�C" � 17 to` �'6..i;�,J.3•>v'". tam �`�..'.. - Serving Menlo Pork, Atherton, Portola Valley & Woodside for 58 Years Newsroom: 361-1155 Classified: 361-1045 Display Advertising: 361-1045 Circulatio�n:36..... Year 12 Per Vol. 59, No.3 640 Merlo Ave., F.1enio Park, CA 94025 Tues.,Jan 19, 1981 25c Per Ca Y— r oval Landsl i('s� Risk ? VIA 1 � { �• 4 �.M I r .'t p'".8 s ,fir (!sue y � r T• .r*�, �... j YiA } ARv �Cj'[,�•q'ETC:� <a X+ .R�,;,. - r- P ���h�•- . , ��►��ti�' 4• },jai �..e.' �- yye�tt ..�, ,•� �. F .,� � � ,y�p��_rr U r s`� •�ern-o-_.'I_ a�y�� q.j-.- p�"4'yu II �^17 r� • S h Y i.�� Y+"iw- i.��'esT'� ,3 .i.*i:� Debbie Wright of Menlo Park stands beside a fissure on The Hill, a 38-acre parcel at the vvestern end of Valparaiso Avenue that is the target of a con- troversial townhouse development. The rift is the result of erosion caused by the killer storm that lashed the Bay Area Jan. 11. Wright is a member of a group that claims the soil on the Hill is not stable enough to build on. MENLO - ATHERTON Serving Menlo Park. Atherton, Portolo Valley 8 Woodside for 58 Years Newsroom 361-1155 Classified 361-1045 Display Advertising 361.1045 Circulation 367-7444 Nol. 58, No.48 640 Menlo Ave., Menlo Park, Ca. 94025' 'Tues., Dec. 1, 1981 .25c Per Copy—$12 Per Year ToughQ uestions Reised over `The Hill The Menlo Park Planning Com- that information in order to make with the claystone soil of The Hill.: mission has recommended that the a viable decision.I just feel the con- The process, called lime stabilitya- = consultants writing the final en- sultant should incorporate as many tion, has been used in other Cali- vironmental impact report (EIR) sources of information as possible fornia cities on similar sites. on development of "The Hill" in the final EIR,"he said. The commission also suggested take a closer look at soil stability, The commission also asked the that the final EIR should include storm drainage, sewer capacity and consultant to include a definitive information on where and how suc- the city's legal liability in the project. statement on whether building on cessful lime stabilization has been The commission closed its dis- the site contains "an acceptable in other cities. amount of risk." Walnut Creek is one city that cussion of the draft EIR last Monday „ the We would like to know what and probably will not take up has used the lime stabilization process in issue of The Hill's development again is meant by an acceptable degree P the p development past in develo men until the final EIR is prepared. of risk," said Commission Chair- According to Terry McCloud, p p man Ivan Odom. "We would like a Walnut Creek Building Official Commissioners made several sug- and Chief of Code Enforcement, gestions to the consultants preparing to hear it stated that building on the final EIR, Gorge S. Nolte and The Hill contains a normal level of the process requires close monitor- Associates of San Jose. risk, that it's a safe and sound thg Commissioner Wynn Dahlgren prospect." recommended to locate a layer of Bent- Commissioner that the final docu- The greatest hazard posed by onite (a highly expansive clay soil) ment should include the results of building on the site, Odom noted, at the site resulted in approximately soil stability studies on The Hill is the expansive quality of the $1 million damage at one develop- done by Stanford University and the claystone soil which could cause ment,he said. U.S.Geological Survey. shifting and cracking of struc- The commission,concerned about He said the consultant and the tures• future damage from soil expansion, city have not looked at those studies, Carol Thompson, a representa- requested the final EIR contain a which could shed light on whether five of the consulting firm,said the statement on the city s legal liability it is definitely safe to build on The draft EIR already contains a declara- in the event of a lawsuit Involving Hill tion that building on The Hill in- homeowners. "I think the commission needs volves an "acceptable level of risk— Commissioners suggested the con- in other words, no greater level of sultant include background about the risk than building anywhere else in history of similar litigation in other Menlo Park —provided the mitiga- California cities and the outcome. tions suggested in the EIR are ob- Chairman Odom said, "We've al- served and carried out." ways been assured by the city attor- The commission, she said, is ney that the city would not be sub- apparently looking for a "more ject to retrospective legal action, clearly defined statement." would not be liable." One of the mitigations suggest- Commissioner Jack Morris said ed in the EIR involves mixing lime (Please turn to page 6.) 6—Menlo-Atherton Recorder,Menlo Park,Calif. Tuesday,December 1, 1981 The Hill (Continued from page 1.) The proposed Blackwell town- the property since 1980. Previously, he thought the draft EIR did not houses to be built on The Hill will it held an option on the property. "sufficiently address the problem probably sell for from $400,000 to The assessed value of the proper- of storm drainage" for the propos- yKtl00 each. Because of the finite ty is$19 million,according to the ed development. sewer capacity, The Hill develop- draft EIR. "The final document needs to mart as proposed could preclude John Higham, president of the be more specific about run-off the construction of more afford- University Heights Homeowners amounts from storms.That informa- able housing in Menlo Park. Assocatiop, a group that opposes tion could be used to help decide Commissioner Raymond Smith, development of The Hill, said he is whether additional mitigation mea- an architect with Kingsford Jones, "more optimistic" that The Hill sures are needed,"he said. a Menlo Park firm,said the develop- will not be developed, after last Morris said the consultants Mondays Planning Commission er$ building site plan in the draft g consider the design of a storm EIR "is not designed in accordance meeting. drainage system capable of handling with the state's 1978 Solar Rights "The question of whether The run-off from a 25-,50• and 100-year Act." HiII can be developed seems to be storm. "The EIR has to address the still totally up in the air.I feel there The draft EIR only considered fact that the project is non-con- may be a high probability that no the design of a drainage system for forming with that section of the building will-occur on The Hill," a 10•year storm,or the kind of severe California code,"he said. he said. storm one might expect to occur The Solar Rights Act requires once every ten years. structures on all subdivisions be Morris noted there has been prob- situated so as to take advantage of lems with flooding of homes located "passive solar heating,"Smith said. gat the bottom of The Hill after Bill Bocook,an architect with storms- '"Me EIR didn't consider whose Hoover Associates of Palo Alto, responsibility it is to maintain and the firm that designed the Black. upgrade storm drainage ditches on well townhouses for The HUI, .The Hill. Whose jurisdiction would said he had not `looked into the that be,the city's ty i 's or the coup 's?" claim" that the building site plans Commissioner Dahlgren also sug• are In violation of state code.ges .+ But even If the e consultant studythe ef- Y are, it would tad the only be a matter of shifting the fact of the proposed development Y g on the city's limited sewer capacity. orientation of some buildings slight- "A major development of this ly,"he said. type has to be equated with the Blackwell Homes of Campbell housing element of the city's has proposed building 80 units on General Plan. Does the develop- 38 acres of The Hill located at the went address these goals or not?" west end of Valparaiso Avenue. he asked. Blackwell Homes has owned ���. r -• ,r '',�' �f''Cr r��\�!f�,l� `jam _ ����` .K^ / 1a.i �y. •.�' .J •jr - .r �tll �i .�`;� �..w �rifhft F, %i r£.i. v a4 k � A�h��rton for 5� Years - � ruing Menlo Par, _ __- 115 Charter Street, Redwood City, CA 940663 Tuesday, inlay 6, 1982 25c Per Copy — S12. Per Y .r-il•-M� �y4' ,t . R .. '. r '� .'r r...'.�y ' r�• r r�� J`��' •►„�'�+y,",T }r=y' . • �s t�)•k l�Tl 'B'' ,r•` � .` '•.1� � -. � ��,\� .1 �t T`��4�. }?r•w�.•�7.r". \�,.it+w. fa'w..�k ,t!�- �!.Est � �`.�. rs�� .1 w��;Z.1`�. 6�i�iE� f�;.�,,���s•r�'t .. �.`' . i 'lf' '.'�f .'t*'• �� ^� A� .•err` 1� ����+�'X:��y�'�,Ka.Y�'M'�+.r� `� Q. -4 '• yN�4 '', l 1 N Yi � F�r ���'�� � a� ��''•�4��=�1+'S.. �,� ����sx a ' ; +}t 1 �, - q♦ ���IIr��� ram. _ Z 't � �,+• .�• s J IL K- vct A _ ... r `.G. .f e as food for birds on 'The Hill" Susan Sommers (left) and Debbie Wright investigate the meadow Menlo stethat sery in Menlo Park.Wright is taking a 'bird census" at the 38 a Bird Census Takes Place on 'The Hill' s, From the way Debbie Wright stays glued to her bino- Rockmart said. by culars, people who spot her, hens her early tlo count bigds. There isalHill ong-run ingcontlro e`rsyloHerntsfuture Black- on "The Hill"might think well wants to build homes there,but many Menlo Park She is. The Audubon Society is doing a "bird census" at residents including new Mayor Gerry Ari a would like Edgewood Park and several Menlo Park residents de to make a park okemanf foit.r Blackwell said Friday the firm is cided to do the same on The Hill. The 38-acre plot west A`s to permit the bird census, as long as no vehicles of the Alameda de las Pulgas is not a park —it's owned happare driven onto the Hill,and no garbage is brought in. by a developer,—but the birds don't seem to care. "The Hill happens to be, for the size that it is, extraordinary in its capacity to attract migrating birds," Phyllis Cangemi of Menlo Park said. She called it "a major flyway for migrating birds. The Sequoia Chapter of the Audubon Society is taking a bird census so it can supply specific information to San Mateo County and community planning agencies about how development could effect birds. be used ' In the long run Cangemi said, the data may in national efforts to create treaties with neighboring countries about protection of migratory bird habitats. J The United States has treaties with Mexico, Canada, - 1 Japan and the Soviet Union about hunting limits for migratory birds, but there is nothing in writing about preserving the food and nesting places of the birds. The issue is very complicated, since development in one area can effect a separate plot's bird population, by cutting down on insects, changing water supply, or in other ways. "When-there's no food, birds go some- lace else," Sequoia Audubon chapter president Wilma . . C S&R F+-y-d a Y. . 'w� s.. . The Peninsula Times Tribune J : . . . 4 +, [CD Action I r �. .. r:n ._ i3 sin 'S.u �5 i < CommF•nt........... .....1 8 s Letters............... .. .. r a ' � 1 P.c u Dec. ?: t?E, obttuarfes...... ........46 Et I � k \ * T` s- F' » o A;,�' TW � y 9 t VA ,� fig�.,di���� Cl Times Tribune staff photo bV Jean Dixon ai Clean-up crew it. 'Debbie Wright was one of several neighborhood residents living near the hill at the west end of a Valpariso Avenue in Menlo Park who combined efforts Saturday to clean up the area. The hill 'often is littered with trash and debris, but neighbors are protesting development of the hill and want It to remain as open space. R-83-3 (Meeting 83-2 January 26 , 1983) i . MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT REPORT January 6 , 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager RESPONSIBILITY AND PREPARATION: D. Hansen, Land Manager; D. Woods , Open Space Planner; M. Gundert, Associate Open Space Planner SUBJECT: Los Trancos Open Space Preserve Use and Management Plan Introduction: The use and management plan for the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve was last presented to you at your May 13, 1981 meeting (see report R-81-20, dated May 8, 1981) . According to the Annual Review of the Relative Site Emphasis Plan and the Use and Management Plan Review Schedule presented to you at your December 8 , 1982 meeting (see report R-82-48 , dated November 30, 1982) , sites like Los Trancos that are not highly emphasized will generally be re- viewed every two years. Thus, the next anticipated review for Los Trancos would be in 1985. I. Site Description and Use The Preserve is 274 acres in size, all of which is dedicated as public open space. Since the last review, there have been no additions to the Preserve. The site is bounded by Page Mill Road to the south and east, Foothills Park to the northwest, and private property to the north and southwest. Monte Bello Open Space Preserve borders the site to the south and east. Primary access to the site is from the parking area located on Page Mill Road. Prior to construction of the adjacent Monte Bello Open Space Preserve parking area, spring season weekend parking would frequently overflow onto Page Mill Road. However, it is anticipated that the additional parking area will eliminate the overflow problem. Pedestrian cross traffic between the Los Trancos and Monte Bello Open Space Preserve over Page Mill Road is expected to increase, due to the close proximity of the two parking areas . Visitor use on the Preserve continues to be greatly enhanced by the presence of the District ' s docent program. Docents continue to provide interpretive walks on the San Andreas Fault Trail every Sunday on a public drop-in basis, as well as Saturday wildflower walks during the spring months. In addition to the regularly scheduled events on the site, special hike requests for school groups, Scout outings, and clubs are accommodated by the docents. The Environmental Volunteers also lead hikes on R-83-3 Page two the site' s trails . Finally, many groups, such as school groups, use the site without such assistance. In April 1982 , as a part of the Trail Days activities sponsored by the Sempervirens Fund, twelve volunteers performed trail maintenance work and installed trail markers on the Preserve. A combination lock on a small gate was installed at the north end of the Preserve along Page Mill Road to allow a neighboring equestrian to enter the property. II. Planning Considerations Los Trancos Open Space Preserve is located in both unincorporated San Mateo County and the City of Palo Alto in Santa Clara County. The land is zoned Resource Management in San Mateo County and Open Space within Palo Alto; both zones are designed to protect the integrity of open space lands. Because Los Trancos Open Space Preserve is situated between Palo Alto ' s Foothills Park and the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve, and due to the completion of the Monte Bello Preserve trail system, the site has taken on a greater regional significance, making it potentially possible for visitors to hike or ride from Palo Alto ' s Arastra property to the Skyline area preserves. In the spring, the City of Palo Alto will begin the planning process on developing a Master Plan for the Arastra property. District staff should work with Palo Alto in developing a regional trail network which would involve the City' s Arastra property and Foothills Park, as well as the District' s Los Trancos and Monte Bello Preserves and other contiguous public lands. Admission of Palo Alto non-residents on regional trails through Palo Alto park lands may require change of policy by the City Council. III. Use and Management Recommendations The following discussion and recommendations focus on existing use and management recommendations contained in the last use and management plan (report R-82-48) and on proposed use and management recommendations for the next two years. A. Access and Circulation Access to the Preserve has been greatly enhanced by the construction of the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve parking area across Page Mill Road from the existing Los Trancos lot. The Monte Bello lot opened in November 1982 , eliminating overflow problems which have been occurring more and more frequently over the past few years. On spring weekends, however, when use of this area is at its highest, it is anticipated both lots will be filled to capacity or near capacity. Due to development of the trail system on the Monte Bello Preserve, the nature of the Los Trancos Preserve has become a regional link between Foothills Park and the Skyline area parks and preserves. Trails are being proposed to connect the Los Trancos trails with the Monte Bello trail system, and staff should work with Palo Alto staff to seek a con- nection between Foothills Park trails and the Preserve. R-83-3 Page three New Use and Management Recommendations 1 . Several sections of the Franciscan Loop Trail suffer from poor drainage in the wet months. A bridge or culvert should be installed and the trail pad raised at two other points to correct the problem. The projects are potential volunteer projects which could possibly be completed in conjunction with Trail Days. Cost for materials is estimated at $600. Funding will be included in the FY 1983-84 budget preparation. 2 . A trail connecting Canyon Trail on the Monte Bello Preserve with the Franciscan Loop Trail on Los Trancos should be defined, and a stile constructed on Page Mill Road. This project could be completed by volunteers in conjunction with the 1983 Trail Days. Estimated cost of this project is $200 and was included in FY 1982-83 budget preparation. B. Signing Existing Use and Management Recommendations 1 . The lower loop trail should be signed, making signing consistent with the style of District trail signs. Status: Signing of the existing trail system was com- pleted in August 1981 . 2 . The trail markers along the Earthquake Fault Trail should be replaced with similar markers. Status: New trail markers were installed by volunteers in spring 1982 in conjunction with "Trail Days" . New Use and Management Recommendations 1 . A new wooden map sign should be prepared at the Preserve entrance to indicate connecting trails to the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. Cost is estimated at $75 and will be included in FY 1983-84 budget preparation. 2 . Due to the close proximity of the Monte Bello and Los Trancos parking areas and the resulting increased pedestrian cross traffic between the Preserves , a request for atraffic warning sign has been made to the City of Palo Alto. The recommendation for an equestrian crossing sign was dropped at the time of the last review, due to decreased equestrian traffic, but will now be reinstated to provide safe eques- trian crossing near Canyon Trail. Staff has met with a traffic engineer from Palo Alto to discuss the signs and is awaiting Palo Alto' s consent and notification of in- stallation dates. 3. Trail signs should be installed along the connecting trails between Los Trancos and Monte Bello Preserve. Cost of this project is $50 and will be included in FY 1983-84 budget preparation. 4. A wildland sign should be installed at the new stile along Page Mill Road. Estimated cost is $25 and will be included in FY 1983-84 budget preparation. R-83-3 Page four C. Brochure New Use and Management Recommendations 1 . The site brochure should be updated to reflect the connecting trails when they are completed. Cost of redesign will be approximately $50 and will be included in FY 1983-84 budget preparation. D. Structures and Improvements Existing Use and Management Recommendations 1 . Temporary restrooms should be installed during the spring months due to increased use of the Preserve. Status and Recommendation: Two restrooms were installed during the spring of 1982; one was removed after the wild- flower walks ended in June. ' The second restroom was left at the request of the docents. Upon installation of the restrooms on the Monte Bello Preserve, the temporary restroom will be removed. Until then, however, the portable restroom should remain. 2 . An old concrete and wood cistern no longer of use should be filled. Status: The cistern filling is scheduled for spring in conjunction with other Page Mill Road area work. Cost is estimated at $750 and was included in FY 1982-83 budget preparation. 3. Construct a memorial bench. Status: The Flora Lamson Hewlett Memorial Bench was installed in Fall 1982. The bench is adjacent to the San Andreas Fault Trail at Station No. 4 . 4. The perimeter fence should be replaced with split rail. Status: Split rail fencing was installed from the service gate to the split rail fencing opposite Canyon Trail. The project was completed in Fall 1981 . 5 . The equestrian stile near the service gate should be removed and a new equestrian stile installed on the Los Trancos Preserve opposite the entrance to Canyon Trail on Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. A standard log- type equestrian stile will be installed, but may need to be modified with a combination lock ar,I gate if motorcycles enter the Preserve from this point. Status : This project will be completed in conjunction with defining the connecting trail opposite the Canyon Trail entrance to Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. New Use and Management Recommendations 1 . The double split rail fence around the parking lot should be modified to a single split rail design to be consistent with the style of fencing around other District parking areas. A handicapped stile would be incorporated into the design. Existing materials will be utilized. 2. The water box located on a knoll in the northern area of the Preserve should be filled with gravel to eliminate the hazard potential . R-83-3 Page five 3 . A broken telephone pole should be removed from alongside the roadbed leading up to the former Guiffre property from the perimeter trail. 4 . District staff should explore the possibility of under- grounding the existing low voltage power lines across the Los Trancos and Monte Bello Open Space Preserves. 5 . Siltation around the bumper guards in the parking area and settling of the actual parking lot have begun to cause drainage problems. Surfacing the parking area with baserock similar to the surface on the Monte Bello parking area would curtail further degradation of the lot. Cost of this project is estimated at $500-$750 and will be included in FY 1983-84 budget preparation. 6. A culvert should be installed in the drainageway on the trail leading to Station One from the parking lot. Cost is estimated at $100 and will be included in FY 1983-84 budget preparation. E. Natural Resources and Agricultural Management Existing Use and Management Recommendations 1 . Due to increased use of the knoll areas as vista points , signs of concentrated usage are becoming evident. Seeding of the area and the proper use restrictions should apply until stabilization of the site occurs and the knolls return to their natural condition. Status: The seeding of the knoll areas will be conducted in early spring in coordination with seeding around the Monte Bello parking lot. New Use and Management Recommendations 1 . Poison oak and coyote brush are beginning to obscure several of the interpretive features along the San Andreas Fault Trail. The encroachment of the brush into the sag ponds is reducing the effectiveness of the area as an interpretation feature. The brush should be removed from the sag ponds visible from the parking area and at Station 7 to enhance their educational value. F. Visitor and Site Protection District Rangers patrol the Preserve on a regular basis . In addition, the docents provide a presence on the site with their regularly scheduled events and keep District staff informed as to out-of-the-ordinary events. There is occasional nighttime use of the parking area, including a suicide which occurred in the fall of 1982 . In general, the Preserve has few use problems, even though use has increased substantially over the past few years. Recommendation: I recommend that you tentatively adopt the revised use and management plan for the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve as contained in this report. M-83-15 (14abtirig 83-2 A, January 26, 1983 0 OWW MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT January 21, 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager PREPARED BY: C. MacDonald SUBJECT: Review of MROSD Progress Report Background: At your meeting of November 17, 1982 , you established a committee to review the text of a proposed Progress Report that the District plans to mail to all District residents in cooperation with the Peninsula Open Space Trust. The commi- ttee was to report its findings and recommendations to the Board for its final approval. The Committee, made up of Directors N. Hanko, H. Turner, and D. Wendin, met on January 20, 1983, and gave its approval to the basic content of the attached text. Recommendation: I recommend that you review the draft text approved by the committee and that you give it your approval with the understanding that some deletions and minor editorial chages may still be made as long as they do not change the basic factual content of the report. i Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST mailing permit) 3QO0 San Hill Road Menlo Park, CA 94025 DISCOVER YOUR MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT! The Residents at 1021 Any Street Midpeninsula, CA 9. . . . . . zip 5� • Open space is our green backdrop of hills ; i it is rolling grasslands , cool forests in the Coast Range, orchards and vineyards in the sun. It is the patch of grass between communities where children can run. It is uncluttered baylands where waterbirds wheel and soar, where blowing cordgrass yields its blessing III of oxygen, where the din of urban life gives way to the i soft sounds of nature. It is the serene, unbuilt, unspoilt earth that awakens all our senses and makes us whole again . CELEBRATE OPEN SPACE! i THE PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST INVITES YOU TO JOIN IN CELEBRATING THE LOTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT The MROSD is YOUR public agency, created by the voters in 1972 to . provide open space for public recreation I . protect some of the midpeninsula' s unspoiled natural areas *preserve "room to breathe" today-- and for future generations I DISCOVER OPEN SPACE! YOUR NATURAL HERITAGE. . . YOUR OPEN DISTRICT What is it? The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is the outgrowth of a grassroots citizens ' movement to preserve a public greenbelt in the hills and baylands of the midpeninsula. It was created in the 1972 general election by an overwhelming majority vote in northwestern Santa Clara County. In 1976 , again as the result of citizen action, the southern part of San Mateo County voted to join the District. The District's boundaries now encom- pass 15 cities and extend from San Carlos to Los Gatos and from the Skyline to San Francisco Bay. The sole purpose of this independent special district is to acquire and preserve open space lands outside the urbanized, areas of the midpeninsula for the use . and enjoyment of the public. The District now owns more than- 13 , 000 acres of land in 19 open space preserves in the two counties . These close-'to-home par'klands are remnants of the midpeninsula's original wilderness, providing a haven - foo-,,many species of wildlife and recreational space for many thousands of people. How is it financed? The District's primary source of revenue is a share of the total property tax collected within the District and is equivalent to about 1. 71� per $100 of full cash value as assessed on real and personal property. This will bring the District approximately $ 9 '3 . 8 million in basic tax reve- nues during the 1982-1983 fiscal year. The District' s current cost in basic property taxes to the average homeowner is about $12 per year plus about $2 more in special debt service taxes that decrease annually until the debt is paid off in seven years. MROSD has worked consistently to stretch local tax dollars with federal and State grant funds and with gifts or bargain sales of land. These efforts have increased the District' s pur- chasing power by more than one third, making the net cost about $2 , 000 per acre of open space. What are the benefits? All of us benefit from the preservation of open space lands on the midpeninsula. The preserves of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, for example ; e give us places for outdoor recreation, nature study, or simple relaxation--places where we can renew our feelings of kinship with the land merely by setting foot on it; * preserve the quality of our environment: more open space means more clean air,,- more unpaved ground for water to seep through, more oxygen-supplying plants , and more space per person: more room to breathe! 6 protect us from natural hazards by preventing the devel- opment of areas subject to extreme earthquake damage or soil erosion; •help save our scenic backdrop of hills and baylands that make the midpeninsula such a special place to live ; 0 preserve--as a by-product of open space preservation-- some of the early landmarks that keep our regional history alive, o continue some of the original agri—cultural uses of the land through leases for grazing and the cultivation of crops ; * save our local tax dollars ! It is simply less expensive to maintain the hills as public open space than it would be to supply them with urban services. TEN YEARS OF PROGRESS -- SOME HIGHLIGHTS November 7 1972 --A grass-roots citizens' movement pays off as the MidP eninsula Regional Park District is swept into being by an overwhelming majority vote in northwestern Santa Clara County. 1973 --The new District' s elected Board of Directors sets up shop in loaned office space, borrows operating funds from the County against future tax revenues, and hires a General Manager. 1974 --The Board adopts a Basic Policy and action plan and begins developing a Master Plan to guide its major activity, the acquisition of open I� space lands for the public. The District makes its first major purchase of land, 393-acre ianch` near Los Altos, (the nucleus of today' s popular Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve) . The first major gift of land, becomes the Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve. 1975--The District hires its first Land Manager and Ranqer, and begins working .with citizen groups in plan- ning for the use and development of the open space preserves. 1976--Southern San Mateo County votes to join the District, again as the result of citizen action. The District' s boundaries now encompass 15 cities and extend from San Carlos to Los Gatos and from Skyline -Boulevard to San Francisco Bay. Mid peninsula Regional Park District changes its name to Midpeninsula Regional Open Sapce District to convey its role more clearly in the preservation of close-to-home wilderness. A training program for Docents (volunteer nature interpreters) is initiated to meet the growing public demand for activities on Dis- trict lands. 1977--The 'District has acquired eight open space preserves totalling 5, 300 acres, and its Ranger staff has grown to five members. Frank and Josephine Duveneck donate the 430-acre Wind- mill Pasture Area of their Hidden Villa Ranch to MROSD. The Peninsula Open Space Trust is created as a private, non-profit foundation set up to receive gifts toward open space preserva- tion. 1978--Proposition 13 deals the District a blow, with the immediate effect of reducing property tax revenues to 46 percent of the previous year' s level, necessitating an austerity program of expenditure while the State Legislature considers aid to local agencies. 1979--With aid from the State of California, the Dis- trict' s funding is brought up to about 70 percent of its pre-Proposition 13 level, enabling MROSD to continue its land acquisition program without q P g back n its already small staff. cutting b o Y g 1980--The District pools its financial resources with San Mateo County to make possible the joint purchase of the 477-acre Edgewood State College Site (now the Edgewood County Park) , an area where several rare and endangered plant species survive in the serpentine soils. The District' s Docents put in nearly 3000 volunteer hours introducing visitors to the wonders of open space through hikes and nature walks on the preserves. s 1981--By the end of this year, the District has passed the 10,000 acre mark during the most active acquisition period in . its short history. An outstanding addition is the 537-acre Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, the gift of Corte Madera Associates to the Peninsula Open Space Trust, which in turn sells the land to MROSD at less than half its market value. The proceeds enable P.O.S.T. to set up a revolving fund for future purchases of open space lands. The District also acquires its first parcels of baylands, one of them another bargain sale from P.O.S.T. 1982--By the time of its 10th Birthday, the District . owns and manages 19 open space preserves s total- ling 13,000 acres. Its Ranger staff has grown to 10 members, its office staff to 13, and its Docent corps to 60 volunteers. "Celebrate Open Space! ", a six-month series of events in observance of the District' s 10th Anniversary begins with the opening of an extensive new trail system on the 3000-acre Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. 1983--"Celebrate Open Space" continues, with a wide variety of activities culminating in 'a' " giant celebration near the top of Black Mountain on May 14th. A brochure showing all District- sites and complete schedule of special events is available at the MROSD office. YOUR OPEN SPACE PRESERVES COME DISCOVER WHAT THEY HAVE TO OFFER! • Grassy meadows to picnic in, wooded trails to explore, windy hills to fly kites from: these are just a few of the recreational possibilities open to you on the 19 __ public preserves of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. • Equestrians will find many miles of horse trails on the Fremont Older, Los Trancos, Monte Bello, and Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserves . The wildflowers that bloom in the spring put on elegant shows every year at the Los Trancos and Monte Bello Preserves and at San Mateo County's Edgewood Park, a joint acquisition by the MROSD and San Mateo County. Contact the District. office for a schedule of Docent-led walks in these areas. • The special world of the salt marsh -- awaits visitors to the Stevens Creek Shoreline Nature Study Area�!.at the edge of San Francisco Bay in Mountain View. The purchase of this unique area for the public was the result of cooperation between MROSD and the Peninsula Open Spacp Trust. • Dees Hollow Farm, a small WoXking homestead on the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve, is a favorite destination for family groups, hikers and joggers. The trail to the farm is accessible to wheelchairs , and bicycle paths connect the preserve with Santa Clara County 's neighboring Rancho San Antonio County Park. • The fascinating geology of the San Andreas Fault comes alive for visitors to the popular "Earthquake Trail" on the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve-The District's Docents conduct quided tours of the 0 .6 mile- long trail every Sunday at 2 :00 p.m. There is no charge for the tour and no advance reservations are necessary. * Landslides , live oaks, and ladybugs are just a few of the natural wonders you'll see when you walk the new Stevens Creek Nature Trail on the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. Explore the trail on your own any day or with a Docent at 10: 00 a.m. on the thiid Saturday of each month. The first segment of this trail is accessible to the physically limited. • Special Docent tours of these and other open space areas may be arranged for groups of five or more. Please contact the MROSD office for details. • All the preserves are open J4—WQI1R"fiQW0FWithout fee to the public from dawn to dusk 365 days of the year. As remnants of the midpeninsula's original wilderness , the preserves are not "parks" in the usual sense of having ball fields , barbeque pits, or even trashcans. The most highly-developed preserves boast gravel parking areas, rest rooms, well-marked trail systems, and detailed site brochures. The least developed of the preserves are iden- tified only by small MROSD boundary plaques, but their unmarked roads and trails are open to visitors . Many pre- serves have limited or even non-existen -, parking facilities. Access to these areas will be improved as the District grad- ually assembles the pieces of a regional greenbelt linking District lands with each other and with State and county parklands . o Motor vehicles, fires, or firearms are not allowed on open space preserves, but there are planned future facilities for overnight camping. Visitors are asked to leave their pets at home so that wildlife can be observed under natural conditions. THESE ARE YOUR PUBLIC LANDS! COME OUT AND ENJOY THEM! Contact the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District for a brochure showing all District sites or for other detailed inform&on about the open space preserves. The District offices are at 375 Distel Circle, Suite D-1, Los Altos, CA 94022 . The phone number is (415) 965-4717. THE PENINSULA OPEN SPACE TRUST -- A PARTNER IN THE PRESERVATION OF OPEN SPACE Organized in 1977 , the Peninsula Open Space Trust is a non- profit land conservancy dedicated to the ideal of private and public preservation of open space in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. Patterned after the long-existing and successful regional land conservancies of New England, the Trust works to preserve and enhance the farms , ranches, forests and recreational open space of the San Francisco Peninsula. Working cooperatively with the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, P.O.S.T. has . . . . . . (the actual text of this section will be supplied by P.O.S.T. , which plans to insert a pre-paid return envelope for membership information and donations. ) i i M-83-04 (Meeting 83-02 Jan. 26, 1983) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MEMORANDUM January 14, 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager SUBJECT: Appointment of Board Committees Introduction: Recently I sent you a report regarding appointment of Board Committees Treport R-82-46, dated November 19, 1982 is attached) to help you prepare for your January 26 meeting. Discussion: Since the November 19 report, President Duffy appointed Directors anco, TuFner, and Wendin to the Progress Report Review Committee. On December 8, 1982 you discussed the possibility of forming a committee to formulate or review proposal criteria and make recommendations to the Board for use of the upper house on Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve. I recommend that a committee be formed to formulate criteria with staff assistance for Board review. This committee might be called the Rancho San Antonio Open Space Preserve Upper House Proposal Criteria Formulation Committee (RSAOSPUHPCFC for short). Recommendation: As stated in my November 19 report, I recommend that you appoint the Budget and Legislative Committees for 1983 and make any other Committee assignment adjustments you wish. I also recommend that you formally disband with thanks the Redistricting, Windmill Pasture Liaison, and City Annex ti n. Procedures Committees. I further recommend that you determine that the July 14 amendments to the Open Space Use and Management Planning Process satisfied the Structures Committee assignment regarding combining various site use policies. Additionally, I recommend that you form the RSAOSPUHPCFC and that pursuant to your Rules of Procedure, the President appoint its members with Board consent. R-82-46 (Jan. 2 , 83-2 1983) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT REPORT November 19, 1982 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager SUBJECT: Appointment of Board Committees Introduction: Your Rules of Procedure call for appointment of members of the Budget and Legislative Committees at the first Regular Meeting following the election of officers. The Rules also name the Treasurer as a member of the Budget Committee. The presiding officer makes committee assignments with the consent of the Board. These appointments to standing committees in past years have also led to discussion of membership and assignments of ad hoc committees . This report gives information on committee status which should be useful to you in your deliberations . You considered a similar report on January 27 , 1982 (see report R-82-04 of January 14 , 1982) . This item will be on your January 26 , 1983 agenda, but in response to a request last January the report is being submitted early to give you more time to consider committee assignments. Standing Committees: The 1982 membership of the standing committees is noted below along with comments : Budget Committee H. Turner (as 1982 Treasurer) K. Duffy D . Wendin This Committee has dealt extensively with finance, budget, and salary matters . It will be involved in the 1983-84 budget formulation after the tentative new Action Plan is approved. Legislative Committee R. Bishop B. Green H. Turner The purpose of this Committee and its functions with respect to Board and staff are set forth in considerable detail in the "Policy on Legislative Committee" , adopted by the Board on August 10, 1977 , and in "Policies for Handling Legislative Matters" , adopted by you on July 25, 1979 . The Committee will be meeting November 30 , 1982 to formulate the Legislative Pro- gram for 1983-1984 . R-82-46 Page two Ad Hoc Committees: The 1982 membership of the ad hoc committees is noted below along with comments: Picchetti Winery Proposals Committee R. Bishop K. Duffy N. Hanko The Picchetti Winery Proposals Committee was assigned the task of reviewing proposals and continued to meet regarding the accepted proposal . The Committee had completed its work and was disbanded on October 27 , 1982 when you approved the lease. Thornewood Proposal Review Committee E. Shelley H. Turner D. Wendin This Committee was formed on December 10, 1980 to review proposals for the use of the Thornewood house and continued to meet regarding the accepted proposal . The Committee had completed its work and was disbanded on ,November 10 , 1982 when you approved the lease . Dog Committee R. Bishop (Chair) B. Green N. Hanko A Committee which is to study the question of whether dogs should be allowed on District lands was established some time ago. The Committee has scheduled its second meeting for December 15, 1982. I hope the Committee can complete its assignment soon so that Open Space Management staff committee support can be directed toward the Structures Committee. Structures Committee K. Duffy N. Hanko E. Shelley As soon as the Dog Committee completes its work, I plan on focus- sing Open Space Management committee support on helping the structures Committee (a.k.a. Site ' Use Committee) complete its assignments from the Board. According to my records, the following items are the only work left tha you have specifically assigned to the Committee: (1) Combination of various policies regarding use of District properties into a single document. (See Minutes of May 10 , 1978 meeting. ) Comment: The Open Space Use and Management Planning Process Amendmiints that you adopted on July 14 , 1980 included a new section listing the various policy statements relating to the use and management planning process. I believe that this listing put sufficient order to the policies and that no Page three R-82-46 combining needs to be made at this time, considering the considerable effort it would take compared to the marginal benefits accrued. You could determine that the July 14 amend- ments satisfied the Committee assignment. Such determination would not preclude review and combination of two or more policies in the future, at the initiative of Board or staff. (2) Policies regarding disposal or demolition of structures -- (a) timeline for disposal or demolition of structures, and (b) the options of how to dispose of District property, noting the example of the former Bean house in terms of how and when the District might dispose of the house and the underlying turf. (See Minutes of December 16 , 1981 meeting and clarification in Minutes of January 13 , 1982 . ) Comment: This is a pressing assignment and should be completed without further delay. Redistricting Committee N. Hanko B. Green D. Wendin A Redistricting Committee was appointed on November 23 , 1981 to review the 1980 census data and recommend any necessary ward boundary adjustments to the full Board. The Committee reported to you on April 28 , 1982 and thereby completed its assignment. Office Space Committee E. Shelley (Chair) K. Duffy B. Green On January 28 , 1981 a Committee was appointed to review the long term location of the District office and the question of buying versus renting. The Committee has not yet met but should soon for advanced planning purposes. Windmill Pasture Liaison Committee N. Hanko H. Turner D. Wendin This Committee was established on February 11, 1981 to work with Hidden Villa representatives for allowing Hidden Villa sleepouts at Windmill Pasture. The Committee reported to the Board on June 24, 1981 but was not disbanded. The Committee could now be dis- banded since the pilot program has been successful, is being continued, and will be reviewed in connection with the use and management plan. City Annexation Procedures Committee K. Duffy N. Hanko At your meeting of January 13 , 1982 , you appointed a City Annexa- tion Procedures Committee. This Committee was requested to study and report back to the Board on the proposed changes in LAFCO' s Urban Service Area and Annexation Processes. The report was made R-82-46 Page four in February, and the Committee ' s work was thereby completed (although the Committee was not officially disbanded) . Public Transportation Committee B. Green N. Hanko The Public Transportation Committee was formed on April 14 , 1982 to determine how to approach the matter of public transportation to the park and open space areas and to return to you with a plan of attack. Since you have now heard presentations by officials from both county transit districts, I expect the Committee to call a meeting. Progress Report Review Committee This Committee was established on November 17 , 1982 to review the material to be published in the District' s Tenth Anniversary Progress Report and to make recommendations to you for your action. Presi- dent Duffy is in the process of appointing Committee members. Other Committee Assignments K. Duffy and H. Turner were appointed Board representatives on the Picchetti Winery and Thornewood Restoration Committees. Recommendation: I recommend that you appoint the Budget and Legislative Committees for 1983 and make any other committee assignment adjustments you wish. I further recommend that you formally disband with thanks the Redistricting, Windmill Pasture Liaison, and City Annexation Procedures Committees. Finally, I recommend that you determine that the July 14 amendments to the Open Space Use and Management Planning Process satisfied the Structures Committee assignment regarding combining various site use policies. M-83-12 (Meeting 83-2 January 26 , 1983) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MEMORANDUM January 17 , 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: H. Grench, General Manager SUBJECT: Revision of Authorized Signatories for District Accounts and Safe Deposit Box Discussion: In accordance with the Rules of Procedure and as a follow-up to the Board election of officers for 1983 , it is necessary to revise the authorized financial instrument signatories for the District' s accounts and safe deposit box and inform the appropriate financial institutions of the signatory changes. Recommendation: It is recommended that you adopt the following resolutions : (a) Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Establishing Financial Instrument Signatories of the District for Santa Clara County Accounts (b) Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Approving Certificate of Authority of Officers (First Interstate Bank of California) (c) Resolution Authorizing Signing and Endorsing Checks and Other Instruments for Savings Account (First Interstate Bank of California - Los Altos) (d) Resolution Authorizing Signing and Endorsing Checks and Other Instruments for Checking Account (First Interstate Bank of California - Los Altos) (e) Resolution Establishing Signatories for Entering Safe Deposit Box (First Interstate Bank of California - Los Altos) RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT ESTABLISHING FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT SIGNATORIES OF THE DISTRICT FOR SANTA CLARA COUNTY ACCOUNTS WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District has passed Ordinance 79-2 , dated November 14 , 1979 changing the signatories authorized to make disbursements on behalf of the District, NOW THEREFORE, the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District does resolve as follows: Section 1. The signatures of the present holders of said offices are as follows, and the Director of Finance of Santa Clara County is authorized to make disbursements in an amount less than $50,000 on behalf of the District based on any two signatures as set forth below: President Vice President Treasurer Barbara Green Harry A. Turner Daniel G. Wendin General Manager Assistant General Manager District Clerk Herbert Grench L. Craig Britton Jean H. Fiddes Section 2. The signatures of the present holders of said offices are as follows, and the Director of Finance of Santa Clara County is authorized to make disbursements in an amount of $50 ,000 or greater on behalf of the District based on any two signatures as set forth below: President General Manager Barbara Green Herbert Grench or or Vice President Assistant General Manager and Harry A. Turner L. Craig Britton or or Treasurer District Clerk Daniel G. Wendin Jean H. Fiddes Section 3. Resolution No. 82-4 dated January 27 , 1982 , giving the most recent list of authorized signatories, is hereby superseded as of this date. RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MID- PENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT APPROVING CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS (FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA) WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District adopted the following resolutions: a) Resolution No. 77-30 adopted July 13 , 1977 , approving, authorizing, and directing the execution of an agreement with United California Bank to act as paying agent on behalf of the District for the issuance of $4, 600, 000 principal amount of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Negotiable Promissory Notes, Series Al and b) Resolution No. 81-40 adopted July 8 , 1981 supplementing former resolution and approving, authorizing, and directing the execution of an agreement with First Interstate Bank of California to act as paying agent on behalf of the District for the issuance of $500 ,000 principal amount of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Negotiable Promissory Notes (Windy Hill Open Space Preserve - P.O.S.T. Property) ; and c) Resolution 82-57 adopted December 8 , 1982 approving, authorizing, and directing the execution of an agreement with First Interstate Bank of California to act as paying agent on behalf of the District for the issuance of $6 ,000,000 principal amount of Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Negotiable Promissory Notes, Series A; and WHEREAS , First Interstate Bank of California has requested that the Board of Directors designate those officers of the District who have been duly elected or appointed to sign written instructions and consents on behalf of the District; NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District does hereby adopt the Certificate of Authority of officers attached hereto as Exhibit A designating those officers of the District who are authorized to sign written instructions and consents on the District' s behalf. This reso- lution supersedes Resolution 82-5 adopted on January 27 , 1982 and Resolution 82-10 adopted on February 10 , 1982 . (b 2) EXHIBIT A CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY OF OFFICERS Public Agency Name Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Address 375 Distel Circle; Suite D-1; Los Altos, CA 94022 To: First Interstate Bank of California Corporate Trust Department 405 Montgomery Street San Francisco, CA 94104 The undersigned, Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, hereby certifies, that by resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of this Public Agency, the officers named upon this certificate have been duly elected or appointed are now acting and are qualified to sign written instruc- tions and consent as provided in the By-Laws, etc. , on behalf of this Public Agency, that the specimen signatures appearing opposite the names and titles are the genuine signatures of such officers and that said resolutions electing or appointing these officers are now in full force and effect. You are further authorized to recognize these signa- tures until you receive our written instructions to the contrary. Barbara Green President, will sign Daniel G. Wendin Treasurer, will sign Herbert Grench General Manager, will sign L. Craig Britton Assistant General Manager, will sign Jean H. Fiddes District Clerk, will sign In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Public Agency This Day of 19 By Secretary of the Board FIRS'' INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFOT Z� (cl) RESOLUTION NO. RESOLVED - that any of the officers of this District named below are hereby authorized to deposit the funds of this District with First Interstate Bank of California and to accept from said Bank, as evidence thereof, its Regu- lar Savings Passbook, and that all subject deposits will earn interest at the Bank' s prevailing interest rate. RESOLVED - further, that the (District Title Only) Treasurer, President or Vice Pres. or the (District Title Only)General Manager, Assistant General Manager or (District Title Only) the District Clerk of this District and authorized to withdraw funds from said account, as authorized by Ordinance 79-2. SQLVED - further, that the funds of this District deposited in First Inter- state Bank of California shall be subject to the bylaws , rules, regulations, and practices of the Bank in force from time to time and subject to any and all service charges now or hereafter established by said Bank, that each of said officers shall be and is hereby authorized to endorse checks, drafts, and other orders for and on behalf of this District for deposit or, if such orders, checks� or drafts are presented unendorsed for deposit to this account, said Bank is authorized to supply the required endorsement. This District agrees that all sums at any time in this account shall be subject to Right of Offset for liabilities of this corporation to said Bank. RESOLVED - further, said officers are authorized from time to time to make withdrawals from the account and any checks, drafts, or other orders issued by said Bank in payment of funds on deposit therein may be delivered by said Bank to such officers or any of them. RESOLVED - further, that the authority conferred hereby shall extend and apply to any and all existing Regular Savings Accounts for Local Public Agencies as well as all Regular Savings Accounts for Local Public Agencies hereafter accepted by First .Interstate Bank of California and that said Bank shall have the right to change the rate of interest with or without written notice and to limit the amount that may be on deposit at any one time. I certify that the foregoing is a full, true , and correct copy of reso- lution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the District, whose name appears below, at a meeting of said Board legally and regularly held on 19 , a quorum being present and acting, and that said resolution has not been amended or rescinded and is now in full force and in effect; and that the signatures appearing on the attached card are the signatures of the persons who are authorized by said reso- lution to sign for and on behalf of said District. IN WITNESS HEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said District on 19 Signature District Clerk - Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Supersedes Resolution No. 82-6 0 N w CORPORATION TIME CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT TAXPAYER iaflrr1FnNG,NO TIME CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT TIME DEPOSIT—OPEN ACCOUNT 94-2231873 TIME DEPOSIT—OPEN ACCOUNT NAME OA:E RESOLUTION NO. 83- IMidpeninsula Pegianal Cpen Space District ESOLV D that arty of the officers or this ereby AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES this ' r to deposit the funds of with FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA ndtto accept from said Bank.as evidericsthereof.ft 4• Time Certificates of Deposit t?1ret t` to determine and fix the amount of each Such deposit;and to&ores with said 1 Bank for and on behalf of this coi areeren,as to the rat 1lnterestjif any,on said Certificates Of Deposit thereof and to endorse Said certifiOatSa art behalf of thl r' s oan and&A renewals 2 5 Of Certificates of which authority shall extend to any and aft renewals Deposit. RESOLVED,further,that: th. �IteasilrFs 3. 6. oiany(Iiiiied President en ral bn gera � x General PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT or the tbartserate.Ml�a�y.>�1c n ni S'f'r TO F T INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA AatrrC+ atitra S�iSt�ntry/p �� ,-i,•r n,^rt: of this Osiperelien are authorized to withdraw Sit Mir rporatfon from Said aceounTie!srscrthenn�esd in _ California 9 RESOLVED,further,that any officers of this r r''`named above are hereby authorized to deppoy t ma funds of The undersigned or it of the co-portners of the business conducted under the name a this corporation with said Bank in the form of a Time Deposit-Open Account and to agree with acid Bank as to the rate al interest,and the notice of withdrawal thereof. RESOLVED,further,that notwithstanding the foregoing•any check,draft,or other instrument issued by said Bank In and mutually agree that any of dividuals named above ore author' to deposit funds of this business Paeymentof any Certificateof Deposit or any Time Depeait-Opana^",,,Sant�r�,ary e. ndorsed in favorotany bank by anyot with you and to accept as evidence th f your CertificotroF De and fo agree with you as to the rota paraom named above or by any other employee or agent of Ihi either;n writing or by stamp and either with or without the designation of the person so endorsing. of interest and maturity thereof and to en a said certificor .We further agree that any of the individ- RESOLVED,further,thatthe authority conferred hereby shall extend and apptytoany and atlexistingCertificatesa! vole Homed above ore authorized to deposit fu of th siness with you in the form of o Time Deposit Deposit Issued by said Bank and now hold by this corporation as well as all Certfficatasot Deposit hereaheriswed —Open Account and to agree with you as to the of interest,if any,and the notice of withdrawal Ban n t atsol authority shall remain in force untilwnttennoticeof the revocation thereof by the Board ofDirect " thereof.You shall have the right to change th to of r ast or repay tfia deposit upon 34 days written this ' 's atl have been received by said Bank at the Office which issued the Certificates of Deposit hold Dy this notice to the undersigned. corporation at the time of such revocation. RESOLVED.turther.that the authority Con tarred hereby shall extend and apply 10 any and all existing Time Deposit- above a are is lauthorized ly agreed tta withd funds from said Time Deposit—Op account a individuals Homed Open Accounts hereafter accepted by FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA.and that said Bank shall have the I/WE ACKNOWLEDGE CEIPT OF A COPY OF FIRST INTERS TE BANK'S CURRENT �right to change the rate of interest or repay the deposit upon 30 days written notice to the undersigned.nlc� ilf' r het the foregoing Is a full,trua and correct COpyofaresolutiondut ado t Bo otOirectorsottns SCHEDULE OF A UNT FEES AND RATES.� � fi Y R ard wseeeuen,whose name appear below,at a meeting of Said Board of Directoreof t���C hosenameappSars Ivat a meeting of said Board legally and regularly held on�c3ntlaT�_ F a quorum being present and acting,and that said resolution has not been amended or rescinded and is now in fug force and effect;and that the signatures appearing on tneother side of this card Braille signstureSOf the Persons who are authored by Said resolution to sign for and on behalf of said corporation. 17 IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and the seat of said r siorga•eha, On rig CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT S TDAANUMBER NUMBER DATE NUMBER DATE E A RATE % L NOTia 1S 1 px RECKaRED DAYS ' TO.104 2/82 Supersedes PoSOIU'tion 82-6 ro RESOU)TIM NO.' 83- Checking'ACCt. . lw�—Rinsula a _ 1 Open Space Dist: .'019 0 Iaegional Open S Ic:e District 630198001 •-� ►'OY.,4.tf M M.KI.S W,YO,tt0 or Twq Cotutw To us•>M uca..r RESOLVED,that funds of this corporation be deposited in FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF CALIFORNIA(Bank) subject to the term$of this signature card,the rules of the Bank.Including all amendments of additions thereto. Barbara Green all applicable taws and regulations and the practices of the Bank in force from time to time.and all service charges now or hereafter established,and that Harry A. Turner -Treasurer Or iderit Treasurer , Daniel G. Wendin xM or General Manager « Asst. General Manager lor Adm Asst./District Clerk Gen. ___J Herbert Di,frrs.f Qs p�a d thexar her by pulh�rleegd�to stqn chec s,dr is r Ocsher orders for and on behalf of this . Or�tl,ts - r x�v-dt _IM e- S —97.4nd Ass(. Gen. . ihat_rach or them be and he rs here$,authorized t6 endorse cnebks,drafts and other orders for and on behalf of this sseq.utrekiaifor deposit,encashment or otherwise,and said Bank is hereby authorized to honor and pay on �.T..t.. ... account any and all checks, drafts or other orders signed and/or endorsed in accordance herewith,or it Adm.Asst.f, presented unendorsed for deposit to this account,to supply the required endorsement.This .i r`agte$s Dl$trlc .. erk that any sums at anytime in this account shall be subject to RIGHT OF OFFSET for tiabitities of This tw.pe+atwrrin►r -} to said Bank to the extent legally permissible,and agrees further to pay said Bank on demand the amount of any M[T OVERDRAFTS on said account,and ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF A COPY OF FIRST INTERSTATE BANK OF "c.t.... CALIFORNIA'S CURRENT SCHEDULE OF ACCOUNT FEES AND RATES. RESOLVED further,that Bank is authorized to: ®MAtL all statements and vouchers to the last address on file with Bank. aTo. ,"`--'-t»Public Agency Concerned with Aoqui ,t.t.�.K [HOLD all statements and vouchers until called for.if not called for •t,$� Of Land 965-47I7 within 30 days,Bank Is authorized to mail statements. �t S�T'r c'E to..ean.00.[u a,TY All responsibility for loss In mail or In transit is assumed by this eerpararierr. [T„` a CO°t I HEREBY CERTIFY that the above Resolution Is a full, true and correct copy of a Resolution duly 375 Distel Circle Suite D-1, Los Altos, CA 94022 a,wnY[Yr Y.,w,w.00.at[ adopted by the Board of Directors of NITT c�pPrt i nstTl a R�rl�tlaL�.11 [,r .*.•. =„a„a Space Distr ci-- Same o' i,tCOYMT,O.Y[NY rY1TY q.pK[[..MNr at a meeting of said Board regularly held on .Tan 11 A�� tg-p—and that the o[.f,,K7on0 ... signatures appearing on the reverse hereof are the signatures of the persons duly authorized to sign on behalf of r Y.,.ppK[o.Y [Y.tpr[.,ocnr salJ24 inaccordance with the above Resolution. --�� 94-2231,:Kw,gYYUY[[773. WITNESS my hand and the seal of the said eopsm*9* BANK USE ONLY, ` wn a.[nta. . .a xonw o[,o[rY. wn TYq cw.0►tt[rvan wn cwuo. crtt[ �sEaL� , Supersedes Resolution No. 82-7 ooasl zret CORPORATION I 777 SAFE DEPOSIT BOX CONTRACT DATE RENTED ., ; sox NUMOER ,• _. .,: ': '' t , ; 4 4, CORPORATION , , .1� . TERMS AND RENTING A SAFE DEPOSIT BOXt° ,y a v NAME OPT Prablic Agercy "ea. " .,„. RATE i i THIS PARAGRAPH LIMITS THE BANKS LIABILITY. BANK IS A BAILEE FOR H MidpIRE AND 15 OBLIGATED ONLY TO USE jx �insula Regional Open Space Di3tr2G'� w' s "ORDINARY CARE IN PREVENTING THE OPENING OFA SAFE DEPOSIT BOX BYANY UNAUTHORIZED PERSON,AND STREET ADDRESS City : .. ZWCODE • MOMONE ,�,... `i"'yr IT IS EXPRESSLY AGREED THAT THE BANK SHALL BE UNDER NO FURTHER LiABILITY TO.RENTER WITH'RESPECT• 375 Distal Circle, Suite D-1, Los Altos,`CA 94022 ", 96S-4717 THERETO,THE OPENING OF BOX BY ANY UNAUTHORIZED PERSON SHALL NOT BE PRESUMED FROM THE LOSS OF ANY PROPERTY ALLEGEDtY DEPOSITED IN THE BOX.IF INSURANCE PROTECTION IS DESIRED ON THE CONTENTS RM=cN MOM- r OF THE BOX,IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE RENTER CONTACT AN INSURANCE COMPANY, y-" RESOLVED.that a safe deposit box shall rt r I r to f I 'f r i c tf with the terms and .I4" �� ri Conditins prescribed r,be and they �r 2. The Renter or Any other person duly Authorized by Renter or by law(such as a legal representative of the renter), p by said 8ank.gand tha g r upon presentation of proper identification and upon establishment of right of access to Bank's sotisf are(he is)here authorized to sign the Bank's regular form of contract on behalf of thisesulrRsaairsi. 1C a actlart h . 9ancY , s oil 1449 1ADS tOS t„have access the box in the Bank's vaults during Bank's business hours established from time to time,iubject to - No RESOLVED that access to said safe deposit box No in t -4 the terms and conditions contained herein. e,OFFICE.First interstate Bank of California shall be to any one ) the following,jointly. t t 3, The Renter shall not use the box nor permit the box to be used for the deposit of an liquid or roe of on"- P Y 4 property*N explosive,dangerous or offensive nature,or any property the possession of which is prohibited by low,or.public TYPE NAMES SIGNATURE i ' .A, '`. regulation or which may become a nuisance to the Bank or to an of its renters.If the Bank has reason to believe:. that the Renter has deposited or permitted to be deposited within the box any item proscribed in the preceding': ] Barbara Green President � �"�" * P P p t sentence,the Bank shall then hove the right without prior notice to the Renter to forcibly open the box and remove y`and'Inventory the contents. e. 2 Daniel G. Wendin, Treasure in the event of the death of any person having access to the box,the surviving person or persons also entitled to ,. & ry access shall notify the Bank immediately of such death,and,thenceforth,access to the box shalt only be allowed = 3 ti t pursuant to the laws,rules,and regulations relating to inheritance and succession taxes. Renter,or proper agents or representatives;will not be permitted to enter the vault,unless in the presence °r 4 L. Craig Britton ASSt.Gen. 14qr. 'of a Bank employee.The Bonk may refuse to permit more than two persons to enter the vault at any onetime,And 2P may refuse to allow such persons to remain in the_vouit longer than is necessary for opening or closing the box,and 5Jean H. Fiddes,AdITI.ASSt/1)1St.Cle k # " ,may require such persons to carry their boxes to rooms or desks provided outside. #x) f' if by any act of,or process against,the Renter,one or more co-renters,or other person entitled to access,the Bank f FURTHER RESO ED at IJte some persons,acting in the some manner,shall have authority to sign the Bank's release an t t behalf of this t s ould this box be surrendered. r , :t s orbidden to allow the box to be opened,Then access to the box may be prevented by Bank until such act or � process is annulled he-Bonk-reservertheTighrto-'terminate-+e renting-vnd passesstamafa bmr arAnylfmr ar to ad(usrthe,remaivate i hereby certify that the above is a full,true and correct copy of A resolution duly adopted by the Board of Directors of'" yr `at the expiration of any term,upon its notice mailed to the address of,or otherwise delivered to,the Renter,to his M1C omi Sella Reicnal at a meeting of said Board,regularly held on_JanUarY 26 S t � "outhorized agent,or to any legal representative.Renter may terminate this agreement at any time,upon written s: Ce District ` `noNte to Bank,without right of refund. t,, t � v 19- nd thapt the signatures appearing above ore the signatures Of the persons•duly outhorized to sign on behalf of> t B, AU rentals ore payable in advance.in the event the rent is delinquent,the Bonk may refuse access to the box until said yreTn accordance with the Abo e r olution. ;x ` q Y .k N WITNESS my hand and the seal of said . i i ffia overdue rent is paid.If the Renter of the box at the expiration of any term or upon the earlier termination as „ ' LS C er "; t ,above provided shall not renew such renting and shall fail to give up possession of the box,the Bank shall have Supersedes Resoluti n No. 82-8 # c�= !k+a right to forcibly open the box of such Renter and to remove and dispose of the contents thereof at the time and i/we agree to notify you of the death of any person having the right of access to said box before seeking access after the 1 the manner prescribed by law. •« - P Pi= fih Renter will surrender the box of the ex Italian #t H death of such other arson. of the term or upon any earlier termination thereof,in os good The undersigned hereby rents the above numbered Safe Deposit Box subject to terms and conditions printed on the reverie< order as when rented,reasonable use thereof only excepted,and pay upon demand to the Bank the expense pense of hereof and on the reverse of the current and any subsequent rental receipt issued ro the undersigned,to which Jhe .k ) g bN repairi as may be rendered necessary by the Renter's own,or his agent's act or neglect,including cost undersigned agrees. Receipt of a copy of the current rental receipt and of two keys to said Safe Deposit Box is hereby;, ,.of lost immediate st keys and forcing fee if necessary:If one or both keys are lost notice should be given to the Bank. , Acknowledged. x' , 6YA 619ning below,'the Renter acknowledges having read these terms and conditions and having received a copy TO ` a The Bank[Jtis not authorized to charge the company checking account No.° for v r thereof,and here6Y agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions,and any subsequent amendments thereto as rent on said safe deposit box,when due. Set forth,in the rental receipt covering said box. Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Ptzdll0 ene t BY r (tITLEt + =,e SIGNATURE SIGNATURE � 9 t. BY t (TITLE) DATED SIGNATURE SIGNATURE { SURRENDER OF SAFE DEPOSIT BOX NO. DATE • 3 I/we hereby certify that all property placed in the above numbered safe deposit Ifox has been duly-and lawfully ) r s�cNATURE SIGNATURE withdrawn therefrom:all liability of First Interstate Bank of California therefor is herebyreleased and discharged. t; , SIGNATURE BY BY - SIGNATURE y SD 119 7/81 OBTAIN SIGNATURE(S)ON REVERSE M-83-10 (Meeting 83-2 January 26, 1983) MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT MEMORANDUM January 11, 1983 TO: Board of Directors FROM: M. Foster, Controller SUBJECT: Renewal of Investment Authority Discussion: My authority to invest temporarily idle funds expires on January 27 , 1983 according to the provisions of Resolution 82-9 (see memorandum M-82-5 , dated January 15, 1982) . The District continues to benefit from the ability to maintain its own direct investment program. Recommendation: I request that you extend my investment authority for another year by adopting the attached resolution. The wording and content of the resolution are the same as you adopted last year. The Investment Goals and Guidelines listed in Exhibit A have been updated to include provision for the required 1982 Negotiable Promissory Note funds and a slight change to the definition of an acceptable bank or savings and loan. RESOLUTION NO. RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE 14IDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN BOARD EMPLOYEES TO INVEST TEMPORARILY IDLE FUNDS IN SECURITIES ALLOWED BY GOVERNMENT CODE WHEREAS, the District needs to maximize its yield on temporarily idle funds in order to help meet land acquisition objectives; and WHEREAS, Government Code, Sections 53630 et seq. authorize the District to invest inactive funds in securities currently yielding interest rates higher than the Santa Clara County Fund; and WHEREAS, the District can improve its yield on temporarily idle funds without sacrificing financial safety or flexibility; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED as follows: Section One. The Board of Directors of the Mid- peninsula Regional Open Space District does hereby authorize the Controller, or in his/her absence, a District employee authorized to act on his/her behalf, to invest temporarily idle funds according to the Investment Goals and Guidelines attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and by reference made a part hereof. Section Two. Before any particular investment the Controller shall consult with the General Manager, or a District employee authorized to act in his/her behalf, to determine anti- cipated cash flow needs of the District. Section Three. This Resolution supersedes Resolution No. 82-9 adopted January 27 , 1982 . This Resolution shall no longer be in effect as of January 26 , 1984, unless extended in time, and inactive funds shall then be deposited in the Santa Clara County commingled investment fund. Exhibit "A" Investment Goals and Guidelines GOALS Goal 1 . Capital Preservation Temporarily idle funds shall be invested in a conservative manner such that funds can always be withdrawn at, or just below, full invested value. Investments that offer opportunities for signi- ficant capital gains and losses are excluded. Goal 2 . Liquidity Temporarily idle funds will be managed so that normal operating cash needs and scheduled extraordinary cash needs can be met on a same day basis. Investments will be sufficiently liquid to provide a steady and reliable flow of cash to the District to insure that all land purchases can be made promptly (within two weeks) . Goal 3. Income Temporarily idle funds shall earn the highest rate of return that is consistent with capital preservation and liquidity goals and the Government Code. GUIDELINES 1 . Determination of Idle Funds. The Controller will prepare a complete cash flow projection prior to all investment decisions. This cash flow projection will be reviewed and evaluated by the General Manager. The General Manager is responsible for desig- nating the maximum amount of funds available for investment in each month. 2. Contingency Reserve. A contingency reserve of between $500,000 and $2,000 , 000 shall be maintained with the Santa Clara County Treasurer. The General Manager is responsible for determining the size of this contingency reserve. At all times this con- tingency reserve will be sufficient to satisfy the requirements for a 1982 Negotiable Promissory Note Fund. 3. Non-Invested Funds. Idle District funds not otherwise invested or maintained with the 1982 Negotiable Promissory Note Paying agent will be deposited with the Santa Clara County Treasurer. 4. Selection of Investments. The Controller is responsible for selecting specific investments that fit within the amounts and maturities designated by the General Manager. The Controller is also responsible for directing security transactions . 5 . Investment Instruments. Investments shall be limited to those allowed by the Government Code. 6. Diversification. Investments other than insured or collateralized deposits at banks and savings and loan associations shall be diversified. 7 . Marketability. For investments other than deposits, the breadth of ownership and number of securities outstanding will be suf- ficient to establish a secondary market in which investments can be readily converted to cash without causing a material change in their market value. 8. Acceptable Banks. Bankers ' Acceptances and Negotiable Certificates of Deposit may be purchased only from banks and savings and loan associations with over ,.$300 ,000 , 000 of deposits and reporting profitable operations. 9. Acceptable Collateral. Securities collateralizing bank or savings and loan deposits must be rated "A" or higher. 10. Investments in Name of District. All investments purchased shall stand in the name of the District. 11 . Reporting. The Controller shall report all security trans- actions to the Budget Committee no later than the next Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors after any transaction has been made. The Controller shall submit a complete listing of the investment portfolio to the Budget Committee by the fourth Wednesday of each month. 12. Wiring of Funds. Wiring of funds from the District bank account for purchase of investments shall in each instance require prior written authorization of check signatories authorized by the applicable Board resolution. Authorization shall specify the destination of the wired funds and the security to be purchased. 13 . Purchase of Securities through Bank. The Controller is authorized to purchase securities through the investment department of the District' s bank. The Bank shall be instructed in writing to only purchase securities in the name of the District and that all matured funds shall be returned to the District' s bank account. MIDPENIllZULA REGIORAL OPEN SPACE DIS`1"I'.ICr I TO: BOARD OF DIRECTORS FROM: H. GRENCH, GENERAL MANAGER SUBJECT: F.Y.I. DATED: JANUARY 21, 1983 I y MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA W22 (415)965-4717 January 17, 1983 Planning Commission City of San Carlos 666 Elm Street San Carlos, CA 94070 Subject: Benedetti Lands Development Plan Dear Commissioners: We have reviewed the proposed Plan of Development and the proposed amendments to both' the Land Use Element and Open Space Element of the San Carlos General Plan, and we have the following comments and concerns. A. The Plan We are concerned with the intensity, size and location of the units proposed. As the EIR adequately points out, there will be significant environmental impacts if this project is implemented. 1) Visual Impacts - The siting of the units along the 'ridgeline will be highly visible from all surrounding properties, in- cluding the San Francisco watershed lands, Interstate Highway 280, the proposed open space of the Hassler property and many existing residential areas of the San Carlos western hills. None of the potential mitigation measures would avoid transforming the essential natural open space character of the site to an urban development character. A project having less visual impact on the site would be palatable to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District if the number and size of the units were drastically reduced and clustered around street ends off Los Vientos Way and Brittan Drive. None�of the proposed plan alternatives as shown in the EIR are satisfactory alternatives to us as depicted. 2) Vegetation and Wildlife - The project would result in sub- stantial loss of native vegetation and wildlife habitat and would create a wedge of intense development between the Hassler and San Francisco watershed lands. 3) Hydrology and Drainage - The project and the proposed grading, increase in impervious surfacing, introduction of irrigation and non-native plant species would have profound effects, not only on the hydrologic system of the Benedetti property itself, but also on the Hassler property at the lower elevations and to the south of the Benedetti land. The geology and soils of the site may in fact increase sub- Herbert A.Grench,General Manager Board of Directors.Katherine Duty,Barbara Green.Nonette G.Hanko,Richard S.Bishop,Edward G Shelley.Harry A.Turner,Daniel G Wendin Page two stantially in instability with the amount of development proposed and threaten properties downstream from the site during times of major storms or earthquakes. B. General Plan Amendments We object strongly to the proposed deletion of the open space designation of the property from the open space element of the General Plan. While we do not object to some limited compatible develop- ment of the land, we feel the bulk of the land as a necessary natural part of the surrounding open space lands should remain undeveloped. The property should be retained under a zoning designation such as the Resource Management classification used by San Mateo County and proposed for surrounding County lands. In summary, the Midpeninsula. Regional Open Space District requests that you deny the proposed plan due to the substantial visual, hydrologic, and habitat loss impacts, and the imposition on the surrounding lands by driving a development wedge into the open space lands currently surrounding the property on three sides. Very truly yours, Herbert Grench General Manager HG:jc cc: Board of Directors a IV MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94022 (415)965-4717 January 13, 1983 Mr. Charles R. Brown Box 2193 Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Dear Mr. Brown: The Board of Directors received your recent letter at its Regular Meeting last night. I want to inform you that a backpack camp located on Black Mountain is being planned, and reservations would be required for use of the camp once it is established. Thank you for sending your comments to the Board. Sincerely, Herbert Grench General Manager HG:ej cc: MROSD Board of Directors 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 ah AA. MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT 375 DISTEL CIRCLE,SUITE D-1,LOS ALTOS,CALIFORNIA 94422 (415)965-4717 ,y January 13 1983 Board of Directors East Bay Regional Park District Attn: Mr. Harlan Kessel, President 11500 Skyline Boulevard Oakland, CA 94619 Dear President Kessel and Members of the Board: Thank you so much for your resolution congratulating this District on the occasion of our Tenth Anniversary and for the help and encouragement you've given to us over the years. We look forward. to continuing to work with you in the future. Sincerely yours, ! Barbara Green � • President Board of Directors BG:ej cc: MROSD Board of Directors 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 i ►. Claims 83-Z Meeting 83-2 January 26,1983 Revised MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT C L A I M S # Amount Name Des*cri Lion 4001 $ 405.00 Alfred H. Truesdell and Debt. Service-Rongey Property Karen Truesdell 4002 12.00 Amerigas Oxygen/Acetylene Refill 4003 22.31 James Boland Reimbursement-Ranger Uniform 4004 61.22 CA Water Service Water Service-Rancho San Antonia 4005 60.17 The Dark Room Photo Processing 4006 20.00 East Bay Regional Park District Training-D. Sanguinetti and D. Danielson 4007 14.09 Ewert's Photo Slide Mounting Kit 4008 120.00 Jean H. Fiddes. Reimbursement-Purchasing Conference Registration 4009 150.00 Fire and Land Management Burn Consultation Services4bnte Bello Open Space Preserve 4010 1,149.25 First American Title Insurance Co. Prelims nary Title Reports and Escrow Fee 4011 3,409.35 Frahm, Edler and Cannis Consulting Services-Acquisition 4012 17.45 Jacobs Bros. Freight Charge 4013 6,416.99. Jeffries Banknote Conpany Coupon Book Printing-1982 Negotiable Promissory Note 4014 17.50 Enna. Johnson Reimbursement-Subscripton 4015 21.00 Management Learning Laboratories Training Cassettes-D. Hansen 4016 36.88 Norney's Miscellaneous Office Supplies 4017 55.27 The Hub Schneider's, Inc. Ranger Uniforms 4018 27.50 Las Palmas Pool Service Temporary Pool Maintenance 4019 180.00 Lauren Langford Typesetting-All-Site Brochure 4020 196.49 Joyce Nicholas Reimbursement-Open Space T-Shirts. for 4021 141.67 Orchard Supply Hardware Miscellaneous Shop and Field Docents. Supplies 4022 2.19 Palo Alto Utilities Utilities-Electricity 4023 370.02 PG and E Utilities-Electricity 4024 1,138,03 Peninsula Oil Co. Gas for District Vehicles 4025 160.00 The Regents of the University of CA Training Seminar-D. Hansen 4026 4,000.00 Kurt L. Reitman and Associates Appraisal Services 027 3,925.22 Rogers, Vizzard and Tallett Legal Services-December y028 169.24 S & W Equipment Co. Field Supplies Parts and Maintenance 4029 37.75 San Jose Art Drafting Supplies Claims 83-2 Page 2 Meeting 83-2 Revised Jan 26., 1983 Amount Name De cripption 4030 $ 160.00 County of San Mateo Density Matrix Study '4031 3,301.50 Scribner Graphic Press Inc. Printing-10th Anniversary Poster.and All-Site Brochure 4032 22.81 Sears Equipment Repairs 4033 85.00 Sids Custom Upholstery District Vehicle Maintenance 4034 17.42 Sign of the Times Trail Sign-Rancho San Antonio 4035 40000.00 Ware, Fletcher, & Freidenrich Legal Services-Ccmt nication Leases 4036 81.94 West Coast Shoe Co. Ranger Uniforms 4037 92.50 Willis Photo Lab : Duplicate Slides 4038 194.11 Xerox Maintenance Agreement 4039 58.58 ZZZ Sanitation Co. Las Trancos Portable Toilets 4040 58.00 Bruce Hulberg Plate Consultant-Mileage Reiirbtwsement 4041 . 175.93 Charlotte MacDonald Reimbursement-Printing of loth Anniversary Schedule of Events 4042 224.99 Petty Cash Printing,Private Vehicle Expenses, Local Meal Conferences , Prints and Slides ,Miscellaneous Office Supplies , Film,Duplicate Keys for Rental, and' Postage .t Claims 83-2 Meeting 83-2 January 26,1983 MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT C L A I M S # Amount Name Description 4001 $ 405.00 Alfred H. Truesdell and Debt Service-Rongey Property Karen Truesdell 4002 12.00 Amerigas Oxygen/Acetylene Refill 4003 22.31 James Boland Reimbursement-Ranger Uniform I4004 61.22 CA Water Service Water Service-Rancho San Antonio 14005 60.17 The Dark Room Photo Processing 4006 20.00 East Bay Regional Park District Training-D. Sanguinetti and D. Danielson 4007 14.09 Ewert's Photo Slide Mounting Kit 4008 120.00 Jean H. Fiddes Rei.rrbursement-Purchasing Conference Registration 4009 150.00 Fire and Land Management Burn Consultation Services-Monte Bello Open Space Preserve 4010 1,149.25 First American Title Insurance Co. Prelindnary Title Reports and Escrow Fee 4011 3,409.35 Frahm, Edler and Cannis Consulting Services-Acquisition 4012 17.45 Jacobs Bros. Freight Charge 4013 6,416.99 Jeffries Banknote Coupany Coupon Book Printing-1982 Negotiable Promissory Notes 4014 17.50 Emma Johnson Reimbursement-Subscripton 4015 21.00 Management Learning Laboratories Training Cassettes-D. Hansen 4016 36.88 Norney's Miscellaneous Office Supplies 4017 55.27 The Hub Sclmeider's, Inc. Ranger Uniforms 4018 27.50 Las Palmas Pool Service Temporary Pool Maintenance 4019 180.00 Lauren Langford Typesetting-All-Site Brochure 4020 196.49 Joyce Nicholas Reimbursement-Open Space T-Shirts for 4021 141.67 Orchard Supply Hardware Y&scellaneous Shop and Field Docents Supplies '4022 2.19 Palo Alto Utilities Utilities-Electricity 4023 370.02 PG and E Utilities-Electricity 4024 19138.03 Peninsula Oil Co. Gas for District Vehicles 4025 160.00 The Regents of the University of CA Training Seminar-D. Hansen 4026 4,000.00 Kurt L. Reitman and Associates Appraisal Services 4027 3,925.22 Rogers, Vizzard and Tallett Legal Services-December 4028 169.24 S & W Equipment Co. Field Supplies Parts and Maintenance 4029 37.75 San Jose Art Drafting Supplies Claims 83-2 Page 2 Meeting 83-2 January 26. 1983 r: Amount Name De cra�ption 4030 $ 160.00 County of San Mateo Density Matrix Study 4031 3,301.50 Scribner Graphic Press Inc. Printing-loth Anniversary Poster.and All-Site Brochure 14032 22.81 Sears Equipment Repairs 4033 85.00 Sids Custom Upholstery District Vehicle Maintenance 114034 17.42 Sign.of the Times Trail Sign-Rancho San Antonio + 4035 4,000.00 Ware, Fletcher, & Freidenri.ch Legal Services-Communication Leases 4036 81.94 West Coast Shoe Co. Ranger Uniforms ' 14037 92.50 Willis Photo Lab Duplicate Slides 4038 194.11 Xerox Maintenance Agreement j 4039 58.58 ZZZ Sanitation Co. . Los Trancos Portable Toilets r . 4040 58..00 Bruce Hulberg Planning Consultant-Mileage Reinbuorsement