HomeMy Public PortalAbout20171115 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
November 15, 2017
Board Meeting 17-29
*Approved by the Board of Directors on December 6, 2017
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Menlo Park Senior Center
100 Terminal Ave.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING – STUDY SESSION
District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth called the special meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and recessed
the meeting due to a lack of quorum.
Vice-President Riffle called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District to order at 6:20 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, and Yoriko Kishimoto
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner,
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Chief Financial
Officer/Administrative Services Director Stefan Jaskulak, Acting
Assistant General Manager Christine Butterfield, District Clerk/Assistant
to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Planning Manager Jane
Mark, GIS Administrator Casey Hiatt, Natural Resources Manager Kirk
Lenington
1. Open Space Vision Plan Overview (R-17-124)
Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington provided an overview of the Open Space Vision
Plan and the process used to develop it, including numerous public engagement workshops,
Community Advisory Committee, individual preserve visitor interviews, and online MindMixer
forum.
Director Harris arrived at 6:23 p.m.
President Hassett arrived at 6:25 p.m.
Meeting 17-29 Page 2
GIS Administrator Casey Hiatt summarized the work completed as part of the planning and
analysis processes for the Vision Plan, such as studying how the District can support agriculture
on the Coast, mapping sensitive species and habitats, and opportunities for public access. Much
of the information is included in the Conservation Atlas, which resulted from the Vision Plan,
and is used to help inform much of staff’s natural resources and preservation work today.
Director Kishimoto arrived at 6:31 p.m.
Mr. Lenington explained how goals were created from each of the five Vision Plan themes to
further focus the work of the Vision Plan. From the goals, staff developed a comprehensive list
of possible actions or projects to implement the goals for each theme. After further refinement of
the priority actions at public deliberation and Board meetings, a final list of 54 priority action
was compiled, and the top 25 portfolios were identified for inclusion in the Measure AA ballot
language.
Planning Manager Jane Mark provided an overview of implementation actions the District has
undertaken since Measure AA was approved by the voters in 2014. Staff worked with the Board
to prioritize over 60 projects within the top 25 portfolios for implementation within the first five
years of Measure AA implementation. The Board will periodically revisit the five-year project
list to update it, and reprioritization is planned for early 2018. Ms. Mark summarized completion
of numerous Measure AA projects since June 2014 to support land conservation, natural resource
protection & preservation, and public access & education.
Director Riffle inquired how often similar presentations could be provided to the Board.
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz suggested similar presentations may be provided at least
every four to five years prior to Board creation and approval of the five-year project
prioritization list.
General Manager Steve Abbors also suggested similar presentations would be helpful for any
newly elected Board members and staff members, as needed.
Director Harris requested clarification on the creation of the five-year project list and whether it
is a new project list or a reprioritization of projects.
Ms. Mark explained completed projects would be removed from the prioritized project list, and
projects on the six to ten year priority and “parking lot” list may be prioritized into the five-year
list.
Director Kishimoto spoke regarding the increased cost of several of the Measure AA projects
and cautioned against spending large amounts of the Measure AA funds on a few projects
relatively early in implementation. Additionally, Director Kishimoto spoke in favor or reserving
funds to complete projects throughout the 30 years of implementation and the need to fairly
allocate funds to all 25 projects. Finally, inflation will continue to increase the cost of the
projects, so the 2014 estimates should be compared against current costs.
Director Siemens requested an update on all portfolios to better understand how much of a
portfolio’s allocated funds have been spent in contrast to the amount of work remaining to
complete the projects within a portfolio.
Meeting 17-29 Page 3
Public comment opened at 7:04 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:04 p.m.
President Hassett adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 7:04 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING
President Hassett called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
to order at 7:08 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto
Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner,
Controller Mike Foster, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Chief
Financial Officer/Administrative Services Director Stefan Jaskulak,
Acting Assistant General Manager Christine Butterfield, District
Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Assistant
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, and Finance Manager Andrew Taylor
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No speakers present.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
VOTE: 7-0-0
President Hassett announced that the closed session item following the special meeting related to
real property negotiations have shifted for the other party from the Amah Mutsun Land Trust to
the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band, with the negotiating party to be Tribal Chairman Val Lopez. The
remaining details related to the closed session item are the same.
REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
President Hassett reported the full Board met in closed session on November 6, 2017 to discuss
the appointment of an interim General Manager, pending the recruitment for the permanent
position. The Board voted 6-1, with Director Harris dissenting, to appoint Ana Ruiz as Acting
Meeting 17-29 Page 4
General Manager for the period between General Manager Steve Abbors’s retirement at the end
of the year, and the conclusion of the recruitment process.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public comment opened at 7:18 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:18 p.m.
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to approve the
Consent Calendar.
VOTE: 7-0-0
1. Approve November 8, 2017 Minutes
2. Award of contract for demolition of an unoccupied structure at 16075 Overlook
Drive in El Sereno Open Space Preserve (R-17-126)
General Manager’s Recommendation:
1. Authorize the General Manager to enter into contract with Cal Excavation and
Underground Inc., of Hughson, California for a not-to-exceed base contract amount of
$103,285.
2. Authorize a 15% contract contingency of $15,493 to be reserved for unanticipated issues,
thus allowing the total contract amount not-to-exceed $118,778.
President Hassett inquired if any funds are included in the contract for land recontouring and
rehabilitation.
Land and Facilities Supervisor Omar Smith explained the original slope of the hillside is
unchanged, but some recontouring will be done at the deck. Minimal disturbance of the hillside
is expected, and reseeding and remulching of the hillside is included in the contract.
3. Award of Contract with Waterways Consulting, Inc., for the preparation of
construction level documents for road infrastructure improvements at Russian Ridge,
Monte Bello, and Tunitas Creek Open Space Preserves (R-17-125)
General Manager’s Recommendation:
1. Authorize the General Manager to enter into a professional services contract with
Waterways Consulting, Inc., to prepare construction level documents for road
infrastructure improvements, for a base contract amount of $49,247.50.
2. Authorize a contingency of $7,387.50, to cover unforeseen expenditures, for a not-to-
exceed total contract amount of $56,635.
BOARD BUSINESS
Meeting 17-29 Page 5
4. Annual bond disclosure training for the members of the Board of Directors,
members of the Disclosure Working Group, and Contributors (R-17-127)
Chief Financial Officer Stefan Jaskulak introduced Jacquelynne Jennings partner with the
District’s disclosure counsel Schiff Hardin who presented the annual training on Bond
Disclosure obligations, responsibilities, and potential liabilities of members of District staff and
members of the Board of Directors to the Board members of the Disclosure Working Group.
Public comment opened at 8:12 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 8:12 p.m.
No Board action required.
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDA
• Tenant Notification Regarding Cannabis Cultivation
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
No committee reports
B. Staff Reports
General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner provided an update on the Gullicksen property neighboring
the Saratoga Gap Open Space Preserve reporting Mr. Gullicksen entered a no contest plea
regarding the charges of trespassing and was ordered to pay restitution to the District.
Additionally, Mr. Gullicksen must stay off the District’s property.
C. Director Reports
The Board members submitted their compensatory reports.
President Hassett adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District into closed session at 8:15 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54956.8)
Property: Santa Clara County Assessor’s Parcel Number 562-08-003
Agency Negotiator: Michael Williams, Real Property Manager
Negotiating Party: EkOngKar Singh Khalsa, Executive Director, Amah Mutsun Land
Trust
Under Negotiation: Conservation Easement
Meeting 17-29 Page 6
President Hassett adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 9:50 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk