HomeMy Public PortalAbout20070509 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
Meeting 07-10
REGULAR and SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
May 9, 2007
AMNENDED
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
I. ROLL CALL
President K. Nitz called the special meeting to order at 6:33 p.m.
Members Present: Ken Nitz, Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Curt Riffle,
Pete Siemens, L. Hassett, and Mary Davey
Members Absent: none
Staff Present: Craig Britton, Sally Rice
II. CLOSED SESSION
K. Nitz stated that there were no reportable items from the Closed Session regarding
Item 1.
REGULAR MEETING
III. K. Nitz called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:32 p.m.
Additional Staff Present: S. Schectman, M. Williams, R. Jurgensen, J. Maciel,
M. Manning, C. Beckman, D. Simmons, M. Freeman,
K. Lennington, and S. Cousins
IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS There were none.
V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: L. Hassett moved to adopt the Agenda. P. Siemens seconded the motion.
The motion passed 7 to 0.
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VI. ADOPTION OF CONSENT CALENDAR
M. Davey stated that she would be recusing herself from Revised Claims numbered 6856,
6900-R, and 6901-R. N. Hanko stated that she should voluntarily abstain herself from
Revised Claims 6856, 6898, 6900-R, and 6901-R.
Motion: J. Cyr moved that the Board adopt the Consent Calendar, including
Revised Claims 07-08. C. Riffle seconded the motion. The motion
passed 7 to 0 on Agenda Item 4. The Revised Claims 07-08 passed 5 to 1
on Revised Claim numbers 6856, 6900-R, 6901-R with a recusal from M.
Davey and an abstention from N. Hanko; Revised Claim number 6898
passed 6 – 1 with N. Hanko abstaining, and the remaining Revised Claims
passed 7 to 0.
VII. BOARD BUSINESS
A. Agenda Item No. 1 – San Francisquito Creek Watershed Road and Trail Erosion
Inventory Informational Report – (Report R-07-47).
M. Freeman gave a brief introduction giving an overview of the staff presentation.
He included information that the District has three critical watersheds in the open
space; that Tim Best had finished work on the San Francisquito Creek project;
and that staff was beginning to have a working relationship with County agencies.
He then asked M. Manning to provide some information.
M. Manning gave background information on the San Francisquito Creek and
gave a PowerPoint slide presentation. She said it is a sediment-impaired creek.
The District received a $200,000 grant to reduce sedimentation. She said that
there were five District Preserves in this watershed. She then introduced Tim
Best, who did the road and trail erosion inventory for the District.
Mr. Best continued the PowerPoint presentation and told how he had evaluated
the road and trail conditions, developed a plan to fix the problems and set
priorities. His field based inventory covered three areas; (1) stream crossings; (2)
trail drainage; and (3) landslides. The data collection included documenting the
location of each site using GPS, noting the site characteristics, the potential
impact, looking at treatment prescriptions and determining if the treatment
priority was low, moderate, or high. He then showed slides of high priority sites.
Mr. Best said he prepared an inventory report, working closely with District
Planning and Field staff. He reviewed the treatment prescriptions which included
how to fix or repair sites and looking at consistency. He showed a map showing
areas that need work. Mr. Best reviewed the types of problems and issues stating
that there are 58 culverts and stream crossings, with damage including rusting,
undersized, and/or poor alignment.
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K. Nitz asked if it is possible to insert a new pipe into existing pipe and Mr. Best
said it is; however they would need an engineer to do the work, but he added that
there were other issues involved. Mr. Best said that there were plugged culverts,
outlet erosion, and diversion. He said they could be fixed by cleaning, upsizing
culverts, or removing culverts that are not needed. He described different types of
fixes and showed slides of examples.
Mr. Best said that over 34 miles, there were 192 inventory sites throughout five
District preserves. He gave a breakdown of costs of the moderate-high sites and
showed high priority trails and the costs of repairing them. He said that most of
the District trails are doing really well and that treating many sites early on will
save money in the long term.
K. Nitz thanked Mr. Best for his very thorough report.
N. Hanko referred to the draft report and asked detailed questions about the trail
alignment shown on the Los Trancos map. C. Beckman described how the trail
would be aligned. Mr. Best said he showed his recommendation, but left the
District crew to determine the best place for the alignment.
L. Hassett asked what Mr. Best’s familiarity of the Searsville Lake and dam. Mr.
Best said he was not familiar with those areas. L. Hassett said that they have
records showing a major siltation problem. The records show that there is high
siltation during earthquakes and low siltation in other years. Mr. Best said that
erosion is not constant, it is episodic and occurs most during earthquakes and
large storm events. He said the plan looks toward designing for big storm events,
or a “50-year” event.
L. Hassett asked about county roads, such as Alpine Road and C. Britton said that
Public Works have not responded. He added that he thought the District would
get money from the county for bicycle trails, adding that it has been a problem for
15 to 20 years.
K. Nitz asked if they would receive any funds from FEMA. M. Freeman said a
small amount of $50,000 was allocated, but for a different area.
C. Riffle stated that the District is responsible for a small portion of the watershed
area overall and M. Freeman agreed that this was true. C. Britton noted that other
adjacent agencies will be forced to do something, and that by the District taking
the lead, the other agencies will follow.
C. Riffle asked if now that the District has this data, can we apply for more grant
funds. M. Freeman said they could and that K. Lennington was applying for grant
money for these projects.
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C. Riffle asked how the data is used to make projects. M. Freeman said that there
were limited financial and staff resources and that there are factors that need to be
looked at to choose projects, including looking at the budget and determining the
priority projects.
C. Riffle asked Mr. Best if he assumes the type of trail usage on a trail. Mr. Best
replied that the base assumption is that the trail will receive its current usage;
however he will ask District staff if usage might change. If change is anticipated,
he will adjust his determination.
J. Cyr said that this was a superb report. He said that there are different types of
soils and thought that was a critical element in the study to be considered. Mr.
Best said that was true. He used trails at El Corte de Madera trails as an example
which are mostly sand, and when trails there erode, they become like beach sand;
and at Windy Hill the soil is clay and ruts easely.
M. Davey asked about Windy Hill trails with ruts, and Mr. Best said that some
erosion is due to use; however he didn’t think increasing the trail grade would be
wise.
N. Hanko asked if Mr. Best will be making recommendation on the best type of
use of trails, and would he prescribe those uses? Mr. Best said he could
recommend removing a trail or relocating the trail, but would not really be
recommending usage of trails.
K. Nitz said that he thought Sausel Pond at Windy Hill was a problem. Mr. Best
said he saw the area in the summer and didn’t notice any problems.
K. Nitz asked if Mr. Best knew about sediment in Shilling Lake at Thornewood.
Mr. Best said that there were a lot of landslides causing problems there.
P. Siemens asked how long it took to work on the report. Mr. Best said it took
about eight months to prepare.
M. Manning handed out discs of the report to the Board.
C.Britton thanked Mr. Best and said he appreciated his work and the value it has
for the District.
The Board thanked Mr. Best and staff. No official Board action was required.
B. Agenda Item No. 2 – San Gregorio Creek Watershed Fisheries Assessment
Informational Report - (Report R-07-59).
M. Baldzikowski presented the staff report about the San Gregorio Creek
watershed fisheries assessment and gave a PowerPoint slide presentation. He
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showed slides for salmon habitat requirements and reviewed the life-cycle (there
is a 3-year cycle). He explained that salmon are an indicator species showing the
health of a river.
M. Baldzikowski showed a map of the watershed area, which includes 520 miles
and 30,000 acres, including approximately 10,000 acres located on District
preserves. He said that the fisheries assessment took place at La Honda Creek
Open Space Preserve. This area is a top 10 critical area designated by the Federal
government, and a priority watershed identified by both the State and Federal
governments.
M. Baldzikowski said that seven and one-half miles were assessed and a three-
mile area was assessed (lower section of the creek). He said that steelhead trout
were found throughout the assessment areas, and that Coho salmon were found in
2005. He showed detailed pictures of the different look and details of the streams,
and he described how the food system worked and the biology of a healthy
stream. He also showed an area with a slide and gave recommendations on how
to restore and prevent further damage to the area. He also gave recommendations
on how to maintain healthy streams.
J. Cyr said that this showed fantastic cooperation with the Department of Fish and
Game. He asked if a channel is opened would the fish spawn above where they
had previously spawned. M. Baldzikowski said that the fish would use the first
available habitat. The fish go to the same place, but some fish do stray and go to
new or different places.
J. Cyr asked if high stream flow would clean out some of the sediment and M.
Baldzikowski said it would.
N. Hanko said that she liked to have maps included with reports and requested
that staff include the maps that are presented before the Board.
C. Riffle said that this was a good report and liked it that the District was sharing
the information with other agencies. He asked if the information will also be
shared with the District’s neighbors. M. Baldzikowski said that the information
with the Department of Fish and Game will be shared. K. Lennington added that
other agencies will work with the private land owners. C. Britton said that it is
important for the District to work with other agencies as the District does not have
any regulatory powers.
N. Hanko asked if presenting this meeting could qualify under the Good Neighbor
Policy if the District had an informational meeting on the coast side. S.
Schectman said that the information will be part of the master plan. M. Freeman
said that the drafted master plan for the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
will be before the Board in December 2007.
Meeting 07-10 Page 6
K. Nitz asked that the three final slides of the presentation be made part of the
Minutes for this meeting (see Attachment A). He asked why only the area at La
Honda Creek was done and not El Corte de Madera. M. Baldzikowski said that
the focus of this report was on La Honda Creek. K. Lennington further explained
the purpose of the study and monitoring of the La Honda Creek area.
K. Nitz said he had read some materials about cattle and asked if it is okay for
cattle to be near the rivers and streams. K. Lennington said that East Bay
Regional Parks had authored that material and that they generally do not want
cattle in streams.
The Board of Directors accepted the report and thanked staff for presenting the
information. No further Board action was needed. C. Britton added that the
information was very well done.
C. Agenda Item No. 3 –Program Evaluation for the 2006-2007 Action Plan for the
Implementation of the Basic Policy of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District – (Report R-07-61).
C. Britton gave a brief preview stating that the District had a terrific year. He said
that staff used the Action Plan as a basis for the budget, and that this annual
review will show that the District is a very active agency.
1. Real Property Department. M. Williams, the Real Property Manager,
reviewed the major high points for his department, including their success
in receiving grants of over $6 million and receiving gifts of $17 million.
He said that the Hanson exchange project was a major achievement. One
the highlights of the Property Management program was the letter of
intent of a long-term lease with the Picchetti Winery tenant.
C. Riffle referred to page 3 and asked what the Redwood Park paper
subdivision is. M. Williams explained the meaning. C. Riffle asked about
the land swap area for the Hanson Permanente property, and C. Britton
answered and explained where the land swap occurred.
N. Hanko made a statement about it being a very productive year and she
congratulated M. Williams.
J. Cyr said he would like information on McCarthy. He also referred to
page 6, the Picchetti lease, and asked when the negotiations will be
completed. M. Williams said that he expected the lease to be signed by
the end of summer, adding that the current lease will expire in the fall.
P. Siemens thanked staff for the closure of the easement work. M.
Williams said that M. Reeves did that work and should be given the credit
for it.
Meeting 07-10 Page 7
2. Planning Department. M. Freeman, Planning Manager, started by saying
that this had been a transitional year for the Planning Department. They
had three new hires and four promotions.
M. Freeman’s major points included getting a good foundation for the
Grazing Policy, noting that it has been a successful process. They had
completed the fencing project at the Big Dipper/Silva property. The
master plans are moving forward, albeit slowly, and the outreach efforts
have been successful; adding the combined acreage for the master
planning encompassed 24,000 acres within the District. The Thornewood
project required extensive engineering and there were a number of
outreach efforts by staff. This project had received a $200,000 grant. He
said that staff had completed the Dusky Footed Woodrat trail at Pulgas
Ridge and the Picchetti winery building upgrade.
L. Hassett said that this had been an outstanding year for M. Freeman and
gave his compliments on the Thornewood project.
K. Nitz said that the District’s public outreach efforts were working and
gave an example from a hike he had taken and when he met other hikers
who had complimented District staff.
N. Hanko complimented M. Freeman saying that he is an exceptional
planner and it has been exciting to see him grow in his job.
M. Davey thanked M. Freeman for his work.
J. Cyr reiterated the other Board members appreciation of M. Freeman,
adding that he sees the outreach as being very positive for staff and for the
District.
3. Operations Department. J. Maciel, Operations Manager, said that the
high points for his department included the collaboration his staff had with
other District departments, adding that this had been a very productive
year. Getting approval for upgrading the radio system is a big step. The
Resource Management program under C. Roessler’s management has
shown tremendous growth. He said that the Maintenance Manual was also
moving forward.
N. Hanko thanked J. Maciel for handling the Los Trancos project and
bringing it in on time. She noted that the language on page 4, section A
had not been changed. C. Britton replied that the language change is
shown in the 2007-2008 Action Plan.
Meeting 07-10 Page 8
J. Cyr referred to page 3, the Radio contract, and asked about the cost. J.
Maciel said that staff had negotiated for a new contract to include the
previous contract which will save the District $50,000.
M. Davey thanked J. Maciel for his years of service with the District.
4. Public Affairs Department. R. Jurgensen, Public Affairs Manager, gave
many high points for the department, including the Driscoll land hiking
tours; partnering with the Ridge Trail Council; and designing a visitor
survey. He said that they had produced 46 press releases, 7 of which were
for Resource Management projects or subjects. The Good Neighbor
Policy is 95% completed. His staff worked on the Special Park District
Forum in partnership with East Bay Regional Parks. Staff had prepared
for the polling; helped with the Initiative, and hired a lobbyist in
Washington, DC to advocate for Mt. Umunhum. They had looked into
having a task force to look at the Volunteers working on their own. They
had looked at geo-caching on District lands. Under the Volunteer and
Docent programs, there were 40 new trail patrol volunteers, and the
Spaces and Species program had targeted new schools, focusing on coastal
schools.
P. Siemens asked about the word usage of “backgrounder” on page 7,
paragraph 5. He asked if R. Jurgensen was keeping track of information
and a history of who did what. C. Britton gave an update that the Federal
Government agreed to the clean-up; however they made it a part of FUD;
however this is not a FUD project. He said the lobbyists have researched
this and came up with a strategy to get funding, but the District needs to
do some background work.
N. Hanko thanked R. Jurgensen for his work on the Good Neighbor
Policy.
K. Nitz asked if the Board can help with the Preserve survey. R.
Jurgensen said that was difficult as there were no written questionnaires.
At later stages there will be kiosks, and at those the Board is welcome.
M. Davey thanked him for a good year.
J. Cyr said that he had seen more positive press this year. He noted that
the same commentary shows up in two places, #2 at the top “Docent
program”, and the same information shows up at #1 at the bottom.
5. Administration Department. S. Rice, Assistant General Manager, gave
some brief highlights, including recruitments, elections, and budgets. She
said they were almost done with the Personnel Manual.
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A. Legal Services. S. Schectman, General Counsel, said that this had
been a successful year for litigation, including Fogarty, Saratoga
Country Club, and the coastal lawsuit.
P. Siemens asked about the Saratoga issue, a joint feasibility study,
and asked if someone was hired for it. S. Schectman said there
was, Jacoby and Associates, and that the District was cost-sharing
with the country club.
J. Cyr stated that the selection of outside counsel has been hugely
beneficial and the success rate shows that.
The Board thanked staff for the information. No Board action was required.
D. Agenda Item 4 – Approval of Agreement with City of Mountain View to Provide
District Radio Dispatch Services; Authorize the General Manager to Execute a
New Six-Year Agreement With the City of Mountain View to Provide District 24-
Hour Radio Dispatch Services; Authorize the General Manager to Approve
Expenditures for Such District Radio Dispatch Services in an Amount Not to
Exceed $80,000 in Fiscal Year 2007-2008; Approve a Six-Year Funding Plan for
District Dispatch Services from 2007 to 2013 for a Total Amount of $737,740,
Contingent Upon Future Approval of Budget Expenditures After Fiscal Year
2007-2008; Authorize the General Manager to Make Necessary or Appropriate
Revisions to the Agreement, Subject to Approval of the General Counsel,
Provided There are No Material Changes to the Terms and Conditions of the
Agreement – (Report R-07-58).
J. Maciel gave a brief report.
Motion: M. Davey moved that the Board approve the agreement with City
of Mountain View to provide District radio dispatch services;
Authorize the General Manager to execute a new six-year
Agreement with the City of Mountain View to provide district 24-
hour radio dispatch services; Authorize the General Manager to
approve expenditures for such District radio dispatch services in an
amount not to exceed $80,000 in fiscal year 2007-2008; Approve a
Six-Year Funding Plan for District dispatch services from 2007 to
2013 for a total amount of $737,740, contingent upon future
approval of budget expenditures after fiscal year 2007-2008;
Authorize the General Manager to make necessary or appropriate
revisions to the Agreement, subject to approval of the General
Counsel, provided there are no material changes to the terms and
conditions of the Agreement. P. Siemens seconded the motion.
Discussion: C. Riffle asked if the City of Mountain View would be able to
work with the new District radio system when it is ready. J.
Meeting 07-10 Page 10
Maciel said they would be ready for it. C. Riffle said that the
agreement was a lot of money and asked if the Sheriff department
provided dispatch services. J. Maciel said that both Santa Clara
County and San Mateo County were contacted and neither was
interested in bidding on the contract. C. Britton added that the
District received the best price possible.
Vote: The motion passed 7 to 0.
VIII. INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
P. Siemens said his compensable meeting was tonight’s Board meeting.
L. Hassett said his compensable meeting was tonight’s Board meeting. He said he would
attend the Invasive Wildlife Resource workshop at Rancho San Antonio on May 10th. He
attended a meeting at Jasper Ridge and saw areas that the public does not get to see.
C. Riffle said his compensable meeting was tonight’s Board meeting.
N. Hanko said her compensable meetings included the May 8th Good Neighbor Policy
meeting and tonight’s Board meeting. She announced that she would not be able to
attend the Louis Hogle event.
J. Cyr said his compensable meetings were the May 8th Good Neighbor Policy meeting
and tonight’s Board meeting. He said he liked the size of the wall maps at tonight’s
meeting. On April 29th he went on the Fremont Older tour. On May 4th he hiked at
Russian Ridge and said the trails were muddy. He said that he would like to spend time
at the weed field course and asked if that was possible. C. Britton said it might be
difficult, but he should call the office.
M. Davey said that her compensable meeting was tonight’s Board meeting. She asked
about an event on May 24th and C. Britton said that it had been cancelled.
K. Nitz said his compensable meetings were the May 8th Good Neighbor Policy meeting
and tonight’s Board meeting. He said he had hiked at Thornewood and at Pulgas. He
complimented the brushing at Pulgas. He asked why the Coyote brush at Windy Hill had
been cut and J. Maciel said that District staff had not done that work and they are
researching who did.
C. Britton said that he and R. Jurgensen had gone to Sacramento today and that they had
witnessed a unanimous vote in the Assembly Committee on the District’s bill (AB697).
He and M. Williams had met with POST staff to look at how to use grants to move along
trail development to the San Mateo coast. Regarding the ants at Jasper Ridge, he said
that C. Roessler and K. Lennington went to Jasper Ridge and that they will be looking at
that project. He announced that the Focus Group date is May 24th and that there is one
opening. It will have two sessions in Redwood City at 5:00pm and 8:00pm, and he asked
Meeting 07-10 Page 11
which Board members would like to attend at which time. He said that focus group
members will be paid $75.00 for their time.
S. Schectman said that in the Coast appeal, the plaintiffs’ motion to dismiss the District’s
cross-appeal was denied. She said that staff had developed a map showing a 500-foot
buffer for any District projects nearing a Board member’s residence so that they can be
compliant under FPPC rules.
IX. ADJOURNMENT
At 11:07 p.m., the Regular meeting was adjourned. K. Nitz announced that the Special
Meeting Closed Session would reconvene immediately. The Board members reconvened
the Special Meeting at 11:07 p.m. The Special Meeting Closed Session was adjourned at
11:30 p.m.
Lisa Zadek
Recording Secretary
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A: PowerPoint Slides for Agenda Item 2
Revised Claims 07-08
Meeting 07-10 Page 12
ATTACHMENT A
[PLEASE ASK MATT BALDZIKOWSKI FOR POWERPOINT SLIDES]