HomeMy Public PortalAbout20170111 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
January 11, 2017
Board Meeting 17-01
*Approved by the Board of Directors on January 25, 2017
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Administrative Office
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION
President Kishimoto called the special meeting to order at 6:01 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,
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Real Property Manager Mike
Williams, Legislative/External Affairs Specialist Joshua Hugg
1. CLOSED SESSION: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title of Employees: General Manager
2. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to 54956.9(b): (one potential case)
Public comments opened at 6:01 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comments closed at 6:01 p.m.
The Board convened into closed session.
The Board returned to open session, and President Kishimoto continued the closed session to the
close of the regular meeting at 6:27 p.m.
Meeting 17-01 Page 2
SPECIAL MEETING
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,
District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, and
Legislative/External Affairs Specialist Joshua Hugg
President Kishimoto called the special meeting to order at 6:31 p.m.
President Kishimoto reported the Board met in closed session, and no reportable action was
taken.
President Kishimoto presented a proclamation to retiring Assemblymember Rich Gordon in
Appreciation for his support of the District
Assemblymember Rich Gordon thanked the District’s Board and staff for their years of
friendship and service.
The members of the Board of Directors and General Manager Steve Abbors individually thanked
Assemblymember Gordon for his exemplary years of public service and service to the District.
President Kishimoto adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 6:50 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
President Kishimoto called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District to order at 7:05 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,
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Chief Financial Officer/
Administrative Services Director Stefan Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant
to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Planning Manager Jane
Mark, Legislative/External Affairs Specialist Joshua Hugg
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Meeting 17-01 Page 3
No speakers present.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
VOTE: 7-0-0
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public comment opened at 7:06 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:06 p.m.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to approve the Consent
Calendar.
VOTE: 7-0-0
1. Approve December 14, 2016 Minutes
2. Approve Claims Report
3. Agreement with Esri for GIS (Geographic Information Systems) Software Licenses
(R-17-03)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the General Manager to enter into an Esri Small
Municipal and County Government Enterprise License Agreement for the total amount of
$114,189 to access a comprehensive suite of GIS software licenses.
BOARD BUSINESS
4. Election of the Calendar Year 2017 Officers for the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District Board of Directors (R-17-04)
President Kishimoto called for nominations for Board President.
Director Siemens nominated Director Hassett for President and Director Kishimoto seconded the
nomination. No further nominations were presented.
MOTION: Upon motion by Director Cyr, seconded by Director Hanko, the nominations for
Board President were closed.
VOTE: 7-0-0
By a vote of 7 to 0, the Board elected Director Hassett as Board President for Calendar Year
2017.
Meeting 17-01 Page 4
President Hassett called for nominations for Board Vice President. Director Hanko nominated
Director Riffle for Vice President and Director Harris seconded the nomination. No further
nominations were presented.
MOTION: Upon motion by Director Cyr, seconded by Director Siemens the nominations for
Board Vice President were closed.
VOTE: 7-0-0
By a vote of 7 to 0, the Board elected Director Riffle as Board Vice President for Calendar Year
2017.
President Hassett called for nominations for Board Treasurer. Director Kishimoto nominated
Director Cyr for Board Treasurer and Director Riffle seconded the nomination. No further
nominations were presented.
MOTION: Director Siemens moved, and Director Harris seconded the motion to close the
nominations for Board Treasurer.
VOTE: 7-0-0
By a vote of 7 to 0, the Board elected Director Cyr as Board Treasurer for Calendar Year 2017.
President Hassett called for nominations for Board Secretary. Director Kishimoto nominated
Director Siemens for Board Secretary and Director Harris seconded the nomination. No further
nominations were presented.
MOTION: Upon motion by Director Cyr, seconded by Director Riffle, the nominations for
Board Secretary were closed.
VOTE: 7-0-0
By a vote of 7 to 0, the Board elected Director Siemens as Board Secretary for Calendar Year
2017.
5. Filling the Volunteer Ombudsperson Role with a Pool of three Qualified Volunteers
(R-17-05)
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz presented the staff report describing the creation of the
ombudsperson role following the 2004 Coastal Area Annexation. Ms. Ruiz explained in the most
recent recruitment three applications were received, and all applicants demonstrate a willingness
and capability to serve as the District’s ombudsperson. The involvement of the ombudsperson
has diminished over the past couple of years as fewer problems have arisen. The three
applications were reviewed by the Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs Committee (LFPAC)
and recommend appointing the three applicants to serve in the Volunteer Ombudsperson Role.
Ms. Ruiz described the qualifications of each of the three applicants.
Director Siemens inquired regarding the process for the three individuals filling the
ombudsperson role to respond to inquiries from the public.
Meeting 17-01 Page 5
Ms. Ruiz explained a procedure will be developed in coordination with the appointed individuals
and District staff to ensure the needs of the public are met.
Public comment opened at 7:27 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:27 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to appoint Lisa
Zadek of Half Moon Bay, Kristen Yawitz of Belmont, and Bob Rosenberg of San Jose to serve
as a pool of volunteer ombudspersons.
VOTE: 7-0-0
6. Legislative Items for 2017 (R-17-06)
Legislative/External Affairs Specialist Josh Hugg discussed several pieces of legislation for the
Board of Directors to consider for possible action.
• Correction of a language inconsistency in Public Resources Code Section 5544.2
General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner provided additional information related to AB 612 to resolve a
language inconsistency in Section 5544.2 of the Public Resources Code. The language needs to
be resolved to reflect the intent of the original legislation that extended the rate of Midpen’s
indebtedness to 30 years implemented in Section 5544.2 through the passage of AB 612.
By consensus the Board directed staff to pursue legislation to correct the language inconsistency.
• Possible increase of Board compensation
Mr. Hugg explained Board members in the past have suggested a modification to current
compensation amounts and criteria. This will require additional scheduled Board deliberations to
determine the change desired (if any) and the appropriate approach to pursue.
President Hassett inquired regarding the process used by East Bay Regional Parks District
(EBRPD) used to update their compensation.
Mr. Hugg explained the change for EBRPD only applied to that agency.
The Board discussed whether the item should be discussed by LFPAC or an ad hoc committee.
By consensus, the Board directed staff to research the item and bring it to LFPAC for discussion.
• Pursuit of a parks bond similar to AB2244 related to the definition used to identify
disadvantaged communities.
Mr. Hugg described and defined disadvantaged communities (DAC) and severely disadvantaged
communities. Due to the high median income of the Bay Area, many of the District’s
Meeting 17-01 Page 6
disadvantaged communities (SDAC) do not qualify for state funding opportunities. Changing the
definition to better acknowledge the cost of living landscape across California by using the
county median income as the reference would help level the playing field and expand funding
eligibility in high-cost regions like Silicon Valley. Under the proposed change, the District
would gain an additional six eligible DAC census tracts and eleven SDAC census tracts.
General Manager Abbors explained a change to this definition would help the District leverage
Measure AA funds to better serve the disadvantaged communities in the District.
Director Siemens inquired if any legislation addressing this issue currently exists.
Mr. Hugg explained the definition was created by Proposition 84 and would therefore require
voter approval to amend the definition. However, the District could pursue individual legislation
on this topic on a case-by-case basis, including two upcoming 2018 bond measures.
Director Harris provided comments regarding the level of funding that goes to Southern
California due to its higher percentage of urban communities.
By consensus, the Board directed staff to pursue opportunities related to this issue.
• Pursuit of design-build authority for the District related to some of the District’s capital
projects.
The District is not currently eligible for design-build authority. Mr. Hugg described the
difference between the design-build and design-bid-build processes. If the District was eligible to
use the design-build process, some projects may be completed more expeditiously and cost
effectively. Depending on the project, the District would still be able use the design-bid-build
process as needed.
• Enhancement of Authority to Pursue Potential Acquisition of Lands in the Guadalupe and
Los Gatos Creek Watershed.
Staff is working to draft legislation that will enable the District to acquire and protect important
natural resource lands in Guadalupe and Los Gatos Creek Watershed. The General Manager is
seeking Board approval to allow the District to sponsor legislation that will enable it to acquire
and protect important natural resource lands in this critical watershed.
By consensus, the Board directed staff to pursue legislation related to this opportunity.
Public comment opened at 7:58 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:58 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to direct the General
Manager to pursue the legislative priorities as outlined in the staff report and to provide the
Board with updates throughout the year and seek future Board approvals as necessary in
accordance with Board Policy 1.11 “Positions on Ballot Measures and Legislative Advocacy.”
Meeting 17-01 Page 7
7. Options for Filling a Vacancy on the Measure AA Bond Oversight Committee (R-
17-07)
District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth provided the staff report
describing two options for the Board to fill a vacancy on the Measure AA Bond Oversight
Committee. The Board may consider pursuing a recruitment effort similar to the one done in
2015 or fill the vacancy from a list of applicants previously considered by the Board.
Director Riffle suggested filling the vacancy from the previously considered applicants and
asked staff to provide the applications for the candidates for the Board to review.
President Hassett asked staff to please also provide a list of the current Committee members and
the applicants being considered, so the Board could see which wards were already represented on
the Committee.
Public comment opened at 8:12 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 8:12 p.m.
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to direct staff to send
the applications for the candidates previously considered to fill a vacancy on the Measure AA
Bond Oversight Committee, and the Board would appoint a new member to the Committee at its
next regular meeting on January 25, 2017.
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
• Summary of the December 13, 2016 Facilities Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
Director Siemens provided comments on the minority recommendation stating his concern is
related to using the additional space as commercial rental space. Additionally, the Board may
want to consider having a charrette related to the design of the building, including basic design
principles and criteria.
Director Kishimoto provided comments related to the ability of additional office space to pay for
itself in rental revenue.
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Cyr reported the LFPAC met on December 20, 2016 to discuss proposed updates to the
Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and on January 10, 2017 to discuss proposed signage
guidelines for redwood memorial groves in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve.
B. Staff Reports
Meeting 17-01 Page 8
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz reported she met with City of East Palo Alto staff related to
work at Cooley Landing.
C. Director Reports
The Board members submitted their compensatory reports.
Director Riffle commented on a recent article discussing the importance of connecting lands and
wildlife corridors.
ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION
President Hassett adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District and reconvened into closed session at 8:40 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
The Board of Directors returned to open session at 9:12 p.m.
General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner reported the Board met in closed session and the Board gave
its approval for a $72,000 payment to Shelly Lewis as part of a settlement and release agreement
regarding her employment and separation from service with the District. The vote was seven in
favor, none opposed, none abstaining.
ADJOURNMENT
President Hassett adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District into closed session at 9:14 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk