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Home My Public Portal About20130814 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) August 14, 2013 Board Meeting 13-19 *Approved by the Board of Directors on August 28, 2013 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Administrative Office 330 Distel Circle Los Altos, CA 94022 August 14, 2013 APPROVED MINUTES* SPECIAL MEETING – CLOSED SESSION I. CALL TO ORDER President Cyr called the Special Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors to order at 6:33 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Jed Cyr, Yoriko Kishimoto, Pete Siemens, Nonette Hanko, Larry Hassett, Cecily Harris, and Curt Riffle Members Absent: None Staff Present: Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner, and Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington No action was taken by the Board. President Cyr adjourned the Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 7:03 p.m. REGULAR MEETING – REGULAR SESSION I. CALL TO ORDER President Cyr called the Regular Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors to order at 7:03 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Meeting 13-19 Page 2 Members Present: Jed Cyr, Pete Siemens, Nonette Hanko, Larry Hassett, Curt Riffle, Cecily Harris, and Yoriko Kishimoto Members Absent: None Staff Present: Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner, Administrative Services Manager Kate Drayson, Senior Management Analyst Lynn Tottori, Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington, Senior Resource Management Specialist Cindy Roessler, Planner III Gina Coony, Public Affairs Manager Shelly Lewis, Real Property Specialist Elaina Cuzick, Volunteer Program Manager Paul McKowan, Management Analyst III Gordon Baillie, Slender False Brome Specialist Ellen Gartside, Assistant General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Acting Planning Co-Manager Meredith Manning, and District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth III. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner reported a closed session was held on July 10, 2013 pursuant to Government Code Section 54956.9 (d)(1) – Existing Litigation. General Counsel Schaffner reported no reportable action was taken. IV. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Hans Luemers spoke in favor of the Santa Cruz Great Park and encouraged the District to be involved in this project. V. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to adopt the agenda. VOTE: 7-0-0 VI. CONSENT CALENDAR Motion: Director Harris moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to approve the Consent calendar. VOTE: 7-0-0 Agenda Item #1 – Approve Minutes of the Special and Regular Board Meetings June 26, 2013 July 10, 2013 July 23, 2013 July 24, 2013 Agenda Item #2 – Approve the Revised Claims Report Meeting 13-19 Page 3 Agenda Item #3 – Written Communications J. Harden G. Azevedo L. Levin L. Paton Oddny J. Monge VIII. BOARD BUSINESS Agenda Item #4 – Authorization of an Amendment to the Contract with Art Hall, Bee Consultant, for Completion of Beehive Removal at the Hawthorn Mansion (R- 13-69) Planner III Gina Coony presented the staff report and an update on the removal of numerous beehives and relocation of bees from the Hawthorn Mansion. Public hearing opened at 7:13 p.m. No speakers present. Public hearing closed at 7:13 p.m. Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Hanko seconded the motion to authorize the General Manager to execute a $5,000 amendment to the contract with Art Hall, Bee Consultant, for removal of beehives at the Hawthorn Mansion on Windy Hill Open Space Preserve. VOTE: 7-0-0 Agenda Item #5 - Status Report and Staff Recommendations on the Future Implementation of the Slender False Brome (SFB) Integrated Pest Management Program and Reimbursement Plan (R-13-67) Slender False Brome Specialist Ellen Gartside provided the staff report, including an update on the Slender False Brome Management Program. Public hearing opened at 8:05 p.m. No speakers present. Public hearing closed at 8:07 p.m. Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Hassett seconded the motion to (1) approve incorporation of the SFB Program into the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (District) Integrated Pest Management Program including environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act; and (2) approve a refocus of the SFB Program in which the District will focus its funding and staff resources on District preserves and Meeting 13-19 Page 4 on private parcels from which SFB could potentially re-infest District preserves, while encouraging partners to control SFB on other properties. VOTE: 7-0-0 IX. COMMITTEE REPORTS Director Hanko reported on the last Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs Committee meeting that two memorial bench requests did not fit Board policy and that draft responses from the Committee to each requestor were approved. The Committee will be looking at other possible ways of recognizing people that do not involve benches. Also, as part of another item, the Committee requested that the signs for the Audrey’s Way Commemorative Site, which are being designed and donated by Peninsula Open Space Trust, be clearly marked and noted as such. X. STAFF REPORTS Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington reported that he, Clayton Koopmann, Brian Malone, and Elaina Cuzick toured grazing properties managed by potential tenants for the McDonald and Driscoll ranch properties. Natural Resources Manager Lenington reported the Hicks Flat project construction will be starting the first week of September and should be finished by mid-October. The Watershed Protection Program El Corte de Madera is also about to begin now that permits have been obtained. Mr. Lenington reported on his attendance on a meeting he attended regarding California State Assembly Bill 904 which would create a change in timber operations rules. The bill would streamline the permitting approach allowing logging to continue in perpetuity once the permit was approved for a property. The legislation still moving through the legislative process, but the proposed amendments to the bill have not yet addressed the District’s concerns. Natural Resources Manger Lenington recommended continued opposition to bill. Finally, Natural Resources Manger Lenington stated that he will be providing a FYI report to the Board at the August 28, 2013 Board Meeting. Real Property Specialist Elaina Cuzick reported that the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors approved a $225,000 contribution to the 11-acre Lobner property, which is an addition to the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. Real Property Specialist Cuzick also reminded the Board members that a Planning and Natural Resources Committee meeting regarding the Bear Creek Stables will be held on August 27th, and a full Board Workshop regarding the Driscoll Ranch and Event Center will be held at Elkus Ranch on September 10th. Public Affairs Manager Shelly Lewis provided copies of the posters being used as advertisements in Samtrans vehicles for the next three months. Public Affairs Manager Lewis reported District staff visited Yahoo headquarters in Sunnyvale to provide information at their Employee Health Expo about healthy living and activities. Also the District hosted Facebook Intern Volunteers who participated in a volunteer project at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. Village Harvest, a local non-profit organization, visited the Saratoga Gap Pear Orchard where they harvested over 1,300 pounds of fruit and donated it to local food banks. Ms. Lewis displayed the advertisements being run in the current issues of the Bay Area Parent and Peninsula Parents publications. Finally, Meeting 13-19 Page 5 Ms. Lewis reminded the Board that the Founders’ Day Event will be held on September 14th, 2013. Co-Acting Planning Manager Meredith Manning provided updates on the Mindego Gateway parking lot and the Audrey Rust Commemorative Site. Co-Acting Planning Manager Manning reported the Santa Clara County Planning Commission has approved the permits for the El Corte de Madera Phase Two Trail. A pre-bid tour for the Peters Creek Bridge will be held later this month. Finally, Ms. Manning reported that the boathouse at Cooley Landing burned down on Monday night. Administrative Services Manager Kate Drayson reported on the progress of making District operations more “green” including the future installation of surge protectors with motion sensors, the removal of department standalone printers in favor of the more cost- effective large Sharp printers, and a future energy audit for the Administrative Office to determine other possible ways of decreasing energy use. Management Analyst II Gordon Baillie reported that the Operations Department has just finished two days of Ranger interviews, and the skills assessment for continuing applicants will be held on August 27th. Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz reported that General Manager Steve Abbors and Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse attended a meeting of the State Park Partners Coalition in Sacramento with the goal of creating opportunities for partnerships, specifically related to water and natural resources. Assistant General Manager Ruiz reported she has been working with District staff to compile information for the Santa Clara County Local Area Formation Committee Service Review, which will be going to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors at the end of August. Finally, Ms. Ruiz and Real Property Manager Mike Williams met with State Senator Jerry Hill’s office on August 5th regarding the Driscoll Ranch and Event Center. Senator Hill asked the District to continue to work with residents and citizens to determine which uses meet the District’s mission and goals and can continue at the site. XI. DIRECTOR REPORTS Director Kishimoto inquired as to the status of the District’s qualification for a District Transparency Certificate of Excellence issued by the Special District Leadership Foundation. District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth reported that she is working with General Manager Abbors to determine what requirements the District already meets and what steps and actions will need to be taken to meet the remaining requirements. Director Kishimoto brought to the Board members attention the septic system ordinance being considered by Santa Clara County that could affect the properties surrounding Lexington Reservoir. Director Harris reported she made a presentation to the San Mateo County Special District Association to describe the District’s mission, purpose and goals, and the organization’s next meeting will be held on October 29, 2013. Director Hassett reported he attended the South Skyline Summer Picnic. Meeting 13-19 Page 6 President Cyr reported he attended a meeting with Assistant General Manager Ruiz, Natural Resources Manager, Planner III Matt Baldzikowski, and Big Creek Lumber to discuss California Assembly Bill 904. The Board submitted their compensatory forms to the District Clerk. XII. ADJOURNMENT President Cyr adjourned the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 8:43 p.m. __________________________________ Jennifer Woodworth District Clerk