HomeMy Public PortalAbout20170222 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
February 22, 2017
Board Meeting 17-05
*Approved by the Board of Directors on March 8, 2017
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Administrative Office
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING – STUDY SESSION
President Hassett called the special meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete
Siemens
Members Absent: Jed Cyr and Nonette Hanko
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner,
Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse, Legislative/External
Affairs Specialist Joshua Hugg, District Clerk/Assistant to the General
Manager Jennifer Woodworth
1. District Lobbyist Legislative Update for 2017 (R-17-22)
Ralph Heim, Russell Noack, and Julee Malinowski-Ball from Public Policy Advocates provided
a legislative briefing. Mr. Heim described the current makeup of the California Assembly and
Senate, bills recently introduced in both houses, the governor’s budget, and potential pension
reform bills. Mr. Noack summarized the various bills the District is sponsoring, transportation
funding bills, and the differences between the competing park bond measures currently before
the legislature. Ms. Malinowski-Ball described water policy and climate change efforts being
pursued in the California legislature, including continuing water conservation, groundwater
management efforts, and reauthorization of cap and trade.
Director Riffle asked if there was an update on available federal funding for the District.
Mr. Noack reported legislative staff is monitoring federal changes and more information may be
known after the California legislative leadership unveils its environmental package. Additionally,
California officials are preparing to respond to federal actions as necessary.
Meeting 17-05 Page 2
Director Kishimoto requested additional information regarding the opposition to design-build.
Mr. Noack explained opposition typically relates to the size of the project, but recognition has
grown that some smaller projects may benefit from the process while still protecting organized
labor.
Director Siemens inquired if the California Special Districts Association has signed on to support
the design-build bill.
Mr. Noack reported additional special districts might want to be included in the bill and provide
their support. However, Mr. Heim reported it is unlikely a design-build bill to include all special
districts would be approved.
Public comments opened at 6:57 p.m.
Steve Gibbons, member of the Field Employees Association, thanked Public Policy Advocates
for coming. Mr. Gibbons asked about the relationship of the District continuing to be an
environmental leader and conservation efforts may influence pension reform in the future.
Mr. Heim discussed the ongoing issue that some agencies in California are in danger of
bankruptcy related to their unfunded liabilities. However, Mr. Heim does not currently see a
conflict between the two issues. Pension reform may be partially decided by the judiciary and not
in the legislature.
Public comments closed at 7:02 p.m.
President Hassett adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 7:03 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
President Hassett called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
to order at 7:04 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete
Siemens
Members Absent: Jed Cyr and Nonette Hanko
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner,
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Assistant General Manager Kevin
Woodhouse, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services
Stefan Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer
Woodworth, Human Resources Supervisor Candice Basnight, and
Assistant General Counsel Hilary Stevenson
Meeting 17-05 Page 3
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No speakers present.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Harris moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Cyr and Hanko absent)
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
• Introduction of Staff
O Melanie Askay, Grants Specialist
CONSENT CALENDAR
Director Harris pulled Agenda Item 3 from the Consent Calendar.
Public comment opened at 7:10 p.m.
No speakers.
Public comment closed at 7:10 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to approve the
Consent Calendar, with the exception of Agenda Item 3.
VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Cyr and Hanko absent)
1. Approve February 8, 2017 Minutes
2. Approve Claims Report
3. Memorial Grove Signage Plan Proposed by Save the Redwoods League Associated
with an Existing Partnership at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve (R-17-20)
Item 3 was heard after the Consent Calendar.
Director Harris requested additional information regarding the history of the program and
commented on the donation requirements for the memorial program.
Planner I Alicia Halpern explained the memorial grove was included in the title for the land
acquisition. The acquisition was purchased in partnership with the Save the Redwoods League.
Director Riffle spoke on behalf of the members of the Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs
Committee and explained the Committee felt the signage plan was honoring the District’s
commitment to the Save the Redwoods League and would be a less intrusive and less expensive
way for the program to continue.
Meeting 17-05 Page 4
Public comment opened at 7:16 p.m.
Jennifer Verhines of the Save the Redwoods League thanked the Board for the District’s
continued partnership.
Public comment closed at 7:17 p.m.
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to:
1. Approve the Memorial Grove Signage Plan at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space
Preserve to minimize individual donor signage and install a centralized recognition signboard
based on a Committee-selected design option.
2. Authorize the General Manager to enter into a sign maintenance and replacement agreement
with Save the Redwoods League.
VOTE: 4-1-0 (Director Harris dissenting; Directors Cyr and Hanko absent)
4. Approval of Amendments to the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual (R-17-
23)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Adopting the Amended Personnel
Policies and Procedures Manual.
BOARD BUSINESS
5. Adoption of a Use and Management Plan Amendment for El Sereno Open Space
Preserve Designating All Trails Open to Dogs On-Leash Except for a Trail Segment Over
San Jose Water Company Property (R-17-21)
Senior Planner Tina Hugg provided the staff presentation describing the project and proposed
implementation measures.
Public comment opened at 7:25 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:25 p.m.
Director Riffle spoke regarding Planning and Natural Resources Committee’s review and
discussion of the item, including the proposed access area meeting the District’s criteria for
allowing dog access.
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to:
1. Determine that the recommended actions are categorically exempt under the California
Environmental Quality Act, as set out in the staff report.
2. Adopt a Use and Management Plan Amendment designating all trails at El Sereno Open
Space Preserve open to dogs on-leash, except a 0.3-mile portion of the Aquinas Trail over
San Jose Water Company property.
VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Cyr and Hanko absent)
Meeting 17-05 Page 5
6. Restructuring of Human Resources within Administrative Services, and related
changes to the Classification and Compensation Plan (R-17-24)
Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse described the proposed restructuring of the
Human Resource Department as recommended by the Financial and Operational Sustainability
Model and subsequent departmental organization study. Mr. Woodhouse reviewed each of the
departmental study’s recommendations and provided the proposed organizational chart. Finally,
Mr. Woodhouse described the fiscal impact of the proposed department reorganization.
Director Harris inquired if the proposed intern position would be a temporary or ongoing
position.
Mr. Woodhouse explained several departments have interns, who cannot work for more than
1,000 hours due to CalPERS restrictions.
Director Kishimoto inquired regarding the ongoing workload need for the recruitment analyst
positions.
Mr. Woodhouse explained recruitment for newly created positions will level off, and recruitment
needs will continue for vacancies created by natural attrition.
Public comment opened at 7:57 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:57 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Harris seconded the motion to accept a report on
the classification recommendations for the Human Resources Division and adopt a resolution
amending the District’s Classification and Compensation Plan to add a Human Resources
Manager.
VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Cyr and Hanko absent)
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Riffle reported the Action Plan and Budget Committee met on February 21, 2017.
B. Staff Reports
Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan Jaskulak reported the
Measure AA Bond Oversight Committee met to review and discuss the sample expenditure
documentation.
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz spoke regarding the Board’s retreat scheduled for February
23, 2017.
Meeting 17-05 Page 6
Mr. Abbors commented on his recent article in Open Space Views regarding the why behind the
District’s work.
C. Director Reports
The Board members submitted their compensatory reports.
Directors Kishimoto and Riffle reported their attendance at the State of the Valley event.
ADJOURNMENT
President Hassett adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District into closed session at 8:11 p.m.
SPECIAL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION
President Hassett called the special meeting to order at 8:15 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete
Siemens
Members Absent: Jed Cyr and Nonette Hanko
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner, Real
Property Manager Mike Williams, Senior Real Property Agent Allen
Ishibashi, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Assistant General
Counsel Hilary Stevenson
1. CONFERENCE WITH REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATORS (Government Code
Section 54956.8)
Property: City of Campbell, Assessor’s Parcel Number 412-32-014
Agency Negotiator: Allen Ishibashi, Senior Real Property Agent
Negotiating Party: Brent Dressen, Colliers International
Under Negotiation: Fee Title
Public comments opened at 8:15 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comments closed at 8:15 p.m.
The Board convened into closed session.
Meeting 17-05 Page 7
ADJOURNMENT
President Hassett adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 9:03 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk