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Home My Public Portal About20140709 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) July 9, 2014 Board Meeting 14-16 *Approved by the Board of Directors on July 23, 2014 REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Administrative Office 330 Distel Circle Los Altos, CA 94022 July 9, 2014 APPROVED MINUTES* I. CALL TO ORDER President Harris called the Regular Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors to order at 7:02 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens Members Absent: None Staff Present: Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner, Public Affairs Manager Shelly Lewis, Real Property Manager Mike Williams, Real Property Specialist Elaina Cuzick, Rangeland Specialist Clayton Koopman, and District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS No speakers present. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to adopt the agenda. VOTE: 7-0-0 V. CONSENT CALENDAR Director Kishimoto pulled item number 3 from the Consent Calendar. 1. Approve Minutes of the Special and Regular Board Meetings of June 25, 2014. Meeting 14-15 Page 2 2. Approve the Claims Report 3. Professional Services Contract for the Hendrys Creek Stream Channel Restoration Project (R-14-93) Item 3 was heard after the Consent Calendar. Real Property Manager Mike Williams provided a staff report describing the Hendry’s Creek property and its location. Mr. Williams summarized the background of the project, the District’s partnership with the Peninsula Open Space Trust, and the District’s transactions with various regulatory agencies related to the Hendrys Creek property. Finally, Mr. Williams described the proposed contract with Ascent Environmental and proposed next steps for the project. Director Kishimoto questioned whether Ascent Environmental was chosen using a sole source method. General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner explained that the vendor was chosen from a pre-qualification list approved by the Board in July 2013, which list was compiled using a competitive bidding process. Public hearing opened at 7:21 p.m. A member of the public inquired whether the purpose of the study is to determine how the property will be treated. Mr. Williams explained that the study is being conducted to determine how to move forward with restoration of Hendrys Creek. Public hearing closed at 7:24 p.m. Director Siemens inquired if the property could potentially be the site of future trails in the area. Mr. Williams explained that no trails are currently planned for the property due to its location and geographical features. Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Hanko seconded the motion to authorize the General Manager to enter into a professional services contract with Ascent Environmental, Inc., of Sacramento, CA, for $35,000 plus a contingency of $5,000, for a total contract amount not to exceed $40,000, to complete the California Environmental Quality Act review process for the Hendrys Creek Restoration Project at Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve. VOTE: 7-0-0 4. Certification of June 3, 2014 Election Results – Ballot Measure AA (R-14-91) General Manager’s Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Declaring Canvass of Returns and Results of the Special District Election held on June 3, 2014 for the purpose of submitting to the voters Measure AA. Meeting 14-15 Page 3 5. Resolution Declaring Intention to Reimburse Expenditures from the Proceeds of General Obligation Bonds (R-14-92) District Controller’s Recommendation: Adopt a Resolution Declaring Intention to Reimburse Expenditures from the Proceeds of General Obligation Bonds. Public hearing opened at 7:08 p.m. No speakers present. Public hearing closed at 7:08 p.m. Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. VOTE: 7-0-0 VI. BOARD BUSINESS 6. Interim Grazing License for the Apple Orchard Grazing Unit at La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve (R-14-94) Real Property Specialist Elaina Cuzick presented the staff report describing the location of the Driscoll Apple Orchard property located at La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve, its geographical features, and the search for viable cattle crossings on the property from the Driscoll Ranch. Ms. Cuzick outlined the reasoning used to choose Wilson Cattle Company as the recommended vendor in which to enter into the interim grazing license based on the lack of viable cattle crossing to access the property, existing infrastructure on his property, and his previous experience of grazing the property. Finally, Ms. Cuzick summarized the terms of the Interim Grazing License. Director Kishimoto inquired if seasonal grazing is an option for the property. Clayton Koopman, Rangeland Specialist, explained that year round grazing is preferred for the property because Mr. Wilson will be able to rotate the cattle as needed to prevent overgrazing. Director Riffle inquired if the property is planned to be opened for public access. Ms. Cuzick explained that the property is not currently included in the La Honda Creek Master Plan, but will be included in the future and potential public access will be considered at that time. Public hearing opened at 7:40 p.m. Mr. Wilson of Wilson Cattle Company spoke describing his experience grazing the Driscoll Apple Orchard property. Public hearing closed at 7:41 p.m. Meeting 14-15 Page 4 Motion: Director Hassett moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to (1) Determine that the recommended actions are categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act, as set out in the staff report (2) Authorize the General Manager to execute an interim grazing license to Wilson Cattle Company for the Apple Orchard Grazing Unit based on the terms and conditions set forth in the interim grazing license. VOTE: 7-0-0 VII. COMMITTEE REPORTS No committee reports provided. VIII. STAFF REPORTS District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth reminded the Board that the nomination period for the Biennial District Election begins on Monday. Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse reported that eight consultant firms attended a pre-meeting for the Financial and Operation Study held yesterday. IX. DIRECTOR REPORTS The Board submitted their compensatory forms to the District Clerk. Director Siemens commented on the certification of the Measure AA election results. Director Riffle reported that he spoke the newest class of District docents and their role in reaching out to visitors to District lands. The Board members expressed their interests in seeing the election results mapped out by precinct to better understand how the constituents in the District voted. Director Kishimoto reported that she attended Ira Ruskin’s memorial service and commented on his service to the state and the District. Director Hassett reported that he met with new Executive Director of the Committee for Green Foothills and discussed potential partnerships with that organization. XII. ADJOURNMENT President Harris adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in honor of Former California Assemblymember Ira Ruskin at 8:12 p.m. ________________________________ Jennifer Woodworth, CMC District Clerk