HomeMy Public PortalAbout20171011 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
October 11, 2017
Board Meeting 17-25
*Approved by the Board of Directors on October 25, 2017
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Administrative Office
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING – STUDY SESSION
President Hassett called the special meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: Nonette Hanko, Cecily Harris, Yoriko Kishimoto
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, Assistant General Counsel Hilary
Stevenson, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Chief Financial
Officer/Administrative Services Director Stefan Jaskulak, District
Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Public
Affairs Manager Christine Butterfield, Visitor Services Manager Michael
Newburn, Management Analyst II Gordon Baillie, Docent Program
Manager Renee Fitzsimons, Volunteer Program Manager Paul McKowan,
Docent Program Coordinator Jennifer Williams
1. Docent and Volunteer Programs Structure Study – Review of Draft Report (R-17-113)
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz provided opening comments discussing the impetus of the
Volunteer and Docent Programs Structure Study and its place in the previous and current fiscal
years’ action plans. Any implementation of the study’s recommendations can be implemented as
directed by the Board of Directors and in line with the District’s 2015 Financial and Operational
Sustainability Model. Staff will return to the Board for acceptance of the report at the December
13, 2017 Board meeting and asks that Board members submit any written comments to staff on
or before November 15, 2017.
Director Harris arrived at 5:02 p.m.
Visitor Services Manager Michael Newburn provided introductory comments and summarized
the process used by District staff and the consultant, Conservation by Design, to develop the
Meeting 17-25 Page 2
study and recommendations. Mr. Newburn introduced Ms. Rici Peterson of Conservation by
Design to present the results of the Docent and Volunteer Programs Structure Study.
Ms. Peterson described the method used for gathering input, including an online survey sent to
current and previous volunteers and docents, interviews of current staff, meetings with members
of the District’s Management Team, and conducting focus groups comprised of current docents
and volunteers. The project team also interviewed members of the District’s peer agencies that
have similar programs and met with the Board’s Diversity Ad Hoc Committee. Ms. Peterson
described five challenges identified by the study: a need for a Districtwide communication plan
for external messaging; undefined goals and success targets; unclear roles and responsibilities;
undervaluing interpretive communications; and insufficient evaluation and quality control of
“unpaid staff.” Ms. Peterson outlined various recommendations designed to address each of the
five challenges previously identified, including a Districtwide Interpretive Master Plan for
messaging that addresses content, consistency, and control; improving the visitor experience;
augmenting staff levels; and a greater focus on staff and volunteer training and performance.
Director Riffle inquired regarding any unique challenges the identified by the study.
Ms. Peterson stated the widespread and complexity of the District’s preserves present challenges
to the program, including geographic locations, populations served, natural resources found on
the preserves, and the various histories of the preserves.
Director Riffle requested additional information regarding the Interpretive Master Plan and
preserve-specific interpretive plans.
Ms. Peterson and Melanie Pierson of Conservation by Design described the overall message that
could be developed for all of the District’s preserves, and preserve-specific plans would be
unique to the visitors that visit each of the preserves and the unique opportunities and
experiences provided by each of the preserves.
Public comment opened at 5:51 p.m.
Debbie Mytels, District docent, described her wonderful experiences as a docent and stated that
many docents may want an opportunity to weigh in on the recommendations in the report.
Additionally, Ms. Mytels expressed concern regarding the rigid nature of program as described
in the recommendations.
Kathryn Green, District docent, spoke in favor of the District’s mission and values and thanked
the District for considering resources to the docent and volunteer programs. Ms. Green stated her
support for the District and raising the bar for the docent program. Ms. Green described her
ability to grow and share information as a District docent as her knowledge grows, which is
possible because she is not required to follow a script at the District allowing for flexibility. Ms.
Green spoke in favor of maintaining flexibility in the docent program.
Ms. Peterson responded to Ms. Green’s comments including maintaining flexibility for docents.
Any themes developed would be done in partnership with volunteers, docents, the Board,
management staff, etc. Themes are not designed to be scripts but are general concepts to be
shared.
Meeting 17-25 Page 3
Marilyn Bauriedel, District outdoor activity docent, spoke regarding the familial nature of the
docents and spoke in favor of maintaining flexibility in the docent program structure.
Jayita Bhojwani, District docent, spoke in favor of the docent program and requested additional
time for docents to review of the report and provide feedback. Ms. Bhojwani spoke in favor of
additional training but stated she hoped the collegiate nature of the docents continue, where they
can learn from each other and are treated equally.
Jan Hintermeister, District docent, spoke in favor of the empowerment currently felt by docents
once they have been training and expressed caution about making too many changes that could
potentially damage the program.
Vivian Neou, District docent, spoke highly of the District’s current docent program and stated
her support for Docent Program Manager Renee Fitzsimons receiving additional support as
recommended by the report. Ms. Neou expressed anger regarding Recommendation 32 and her
belief that it points to racial profiling. Finally, Ms. Neou spoke regarding visitors that utilize the
preserves for exercise and stated that for those visitors the interpretive elements may not be
necessary for all docent-led hikes.
Ms. Peterson provided additional information regarding the background behind
Recommendation 32 explaining large groups present challenges, and the statements regarding
people of color belonged in a different area of the report. The two sections were incorrectly
compounded. Ms. Peterson apologized for the mistake and stated she would correct the report to
accurately reflect the information provided by staff.
Mary Bernstein, District docent, spoke highly of the District’s current docent program. Ms.
Bernstein expressed concern that the information provided by docents would be changed into a
marketing campaign.
Ms. Peterson explained the use of themes is not meant to be propaganda but is designed to help
visitors connect to the preserves. The content presented by the docents would not be changed,
but the techniques utilized would be more consistent across the District.
Public comment closed at 6:24 p.m.
Director Harris spoke in favor of maintaining the fun of the program and inquired regarding the
purpose of the project.
Mr. Newburn spoke regarding the origin of the project, including seeking additional direction for
the program and questioning if any improvements were needed for an already highly functioning
program, such as ensuring everyone has received training, helping the program grow, etc.
Director Harris inquired regarding the term “high priority preserve.”
Docent Volunteer Program Manager Renee Fitzsimons referred to the 2009-2011 Interpretive
Preserve Program and the process used at that time to identify priority preserves.
Director Cyr spoke in favor of connecting with visitors in a natural way throughout the District’s
preserves and their visitors.
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Director Siemens spoke in favor of having individual preserve plans that incorporate
Districtwide themes, but these would be suggestions and not required content for docent hikes.
Director Riffle suggested additional work is required before the report is finalized. The goal of
the project is to connect more people to the District’s preserves, which can be done with a
combination of District staff, volunteers, and docents. Director Riffle suggested the docent
program could use refinement but not reinvention.
General Manager Steve Abbors spoke in favor of helping align the District’s volunteer and
docent programs with the mission and goals of the District, while maintaining the independence
and creativity of the program and its docents. The District is also here to serve all of its preserve
visitors and is constantly evolving to meet their needs.
President Hassett adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 7:00 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
President Hassett called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
to order at 7:09 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: Nonette Hanko, Cecily Harris, Yoriko Kishimoto
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, Assistant General Counsel Hilary
Stevenson, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Chief Financial
Officer/Administrative Services Director Stefan Jaskulak, District
Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Public
Affairs Manager Christine Butterfield
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No speakers present.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
VOTE: 4-0-0 (Directors Hanko, Harris, and Kishimoto absent)
Director Harris arrived at 7:10 p.m.
SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
• Proclamation to Honor the Retirement of Michael Newburn
Meeting 17-25 Page 5
CONSENT CALENDAR
Public comment opened at 7:17 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:17 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Harris seconded the motion to approve the Consent
Calendar.
VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Hanko and Kishimoto absent)
1. Approve September 27, 2017 Minutes
2. Claims Report
BOARD BUSINESS
3. Mount Umunhum Preview Events and Grand Opening Celebration Summary (R-
17-115)
Public Affairs Specialist II Peggy Gibbons provided an informational report on the District’s
efforts for the Mount Umunhum Preview Events and Grand Opening Celebration.
Director Cyr shared positive comments he has heard from his friends commending staff on their
work for the grand opening and the entire summit.
Director Harris inquired whether other lessons were learned as part of the process.
Public Affairs Manager Christine Butterfield commented on the importance of communication,
the importance of identifying staff and resource needs early, and an understanding that standard
services in other areas of the District may be affected as additional resources are committed to a
preserve opening.
Public comment opened at 7:38 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:38 p.m.
No Board action required.
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
• Work Order and Asset Management System
• Youth Engagement Strategy in Fiscal Year 2017-18
Meeting 17-25 Page 6
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
No Committee reports.
B. Staff Reports
Chief Financial Officer Stefan Jaskulak reported the District’s audit is almost complete and
issuance of a new tranche of bonds is scheduled for Board approval on November 8, 2017.
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz reported SB793 was signed by the Governor. The design-
build process is very different from the District’s current contracting process, and staff will be
attending training on the process and learning from other agencies that already use design-build.
Ms. Ruiz also commented on staff’s attendance and presentations at a recent meeting of the
Santa Cruz Mountain Stewardship Network.
C. Director Reports
The Board members submitted their compensatory reports.
Director Harris commented on the current air quality in the area and spoke in favor of staff
wearing masks and avoiding the poor quality air.
President Hassett adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District into closed session at 7:56 p.m.
CLOSED SESSION
1. CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL-ANTICIPATED LITIGATION
Significant exposure to litigation pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9(b) (one
potential case)
Public comment opened at 7:56 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comment closed at 7:56 p.m.
The Board went into closed session at 7:56 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
President Hassett adjourned the meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District at 9:02 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk