HomeMy Public PortalAbout20141028 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
October 28, 2014
Board Meeting 14-30
*Approved by the Board of Directors on November 12, 2014
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Historic Adobe Building
157 Moffett Boulevard, Mountain View 94043
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING – STUDY SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
President Harris called the Special Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Board of Directors to order at 9:17 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto,
Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz,
Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse, General Counsel Sheryl
Schaffner, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Natural Resources Manager Kirk
Lenington, Real Property Manager Mike Williams, Operations Manager
Michael Newburn, Human Resources Supervisor Candice Basnight,
Public Affairs Manager Shelly Lewis, Administrative Services Manager
Kate Drayson, and District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth
III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Frank Bakonyi, expressed his interest in the Bear Creek Stables and the decision making process
of public agencies.
IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Hanko seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
VOTE: 7-0-0
Meeting 14-30 Page 2
III. BOARD BUSINESS
1. Annual Review of the Strategic Plan Goals and Objectives to Guide the District’s
Focus for FY2015-16 (R-14-136)
General Manager Steve Abbors provided comments regarding the Board’s annual review of the
Strategic Plan, the ongoing Financial and Operational Sustainability Model Study (FOSM),
upcoming Board study sessions, and the agenda for the day’s workshop.
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz provided the staff presentation outlining emerging issues
the District will face in the coming year and how the District can adapt to those changes. Ms.
Ruiz described the environmental scan completed by District staff to identify emerging issues
and outlined major takeaways from the completed environmental scan. These include additional
attention to working with diverse populations in the public to provide District benefits, need for
added staffing and streamlining District processes to complete Measure AA projects, response to
statewide drought conditions by preserving current water rights and seeking new water sources,
and evaluation of workplace practices and staff facility needs.
Director Riffle provided comments on the District’s ability to engage members of the public and
respond to the public’s need for District services. Director Riffle also suggested the Board must
also adapt to the changing issues.
Mr. Abbors commented that the Board will be having another retreat in January to discuss Board
governance issues as suggested by Director Riffle.
Director Harris provided comments regarding continuing public engagement through traditional
and emerging forms of communication in order to reach various generations and cultural
demographics.
Ms. Ruiz summarized key categories of the Action Plan for FY2015-16 including Measure
AA/Vision Plan Priority Projects, implementation of FOSM recommendations, and policy
development.
Director Riffle expressed his concern that the District is focusing too much on examining
internal processes, but as the District is becoming more known in the public and there continues
to be a need for public outreach and engagement.
Ms. Ruiz and Mr. Abbors explained that the key categories being summarized today largely fall
within the third goal of the Strategic Plan, “Strengthen organizational capacity to fulfill the
mission.” Continued public outreach and engagement are within the first and second goals of the
Strategic Plan, to which staff suggests minimal edits.
Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse summarized proposed edits to the Strategic Plan
as suggested by staff.
Director Riffle suggested staff return with a progress report in future years, so the Board can
gauge how successfully the District is implementing the Strategic Plan.
Meeting 14-30 Page 3
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Riffle seconded a motion to adopt the
proposed changes to the Strategic Plan, as amended by the Board, to effectively respond to
changes in the surrounding environment.
VOTE: 7-0-0
The Board of Directors recessed at 11:29 a.m. and reconvened at 11:53 a.m. with all Directors
present.
2. Proposed 2015 Master Calendar for Board and Committee Meetings (R-14-133)
District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth provided the staff report summarizing various reasons for a
Board adopted Master Calendar to assist with scheduling meetings and accommodating Board
member and staff schedules.
The Board discussed whether there exists a need to schedule additional meeting in November
and December of 2015.
Ms. Woodworth explained that additional meetings have not yet been scheduled for November
or December because Board policy states that the second meetings in November and December
will be canceled unless the Board President determines that additional meetings are needed. Ms.
Woodworth explained that she can work with the incoming Board President in January to
determine if additional meetings are needed.
The members of the Board requested the District Clerk schedule additional meetings for
November and December, which may be canceled at a later date if not needed.
Public hearing opened at 12:28 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public hearing closed at 12:28 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to adopt the 2015
Master Calendar for Board and Committee Meetings, with the understanding that additional
meetings will be scheduled in November and December to be held as necessary.
VOTE: 7-0-0
The Board recessed at 12:32 p.m. and reconvened at 12:43 p.m. with all Directors present.
3. Proposed Study Issues Process (R-14-132)
District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth summarized the proposed Study Issue process described in
the draft Board policy.
The Board of Directors discussed the pros and cons of the proposed study issues process and
requested staff return with a revised policy at the Board retreat planned for January 2015.
Meeting 14-30 Page 4
Public hearing opened at 2:03 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public hearing closed at 2:03 p.m.
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Hassett seconded the motion to direct staff
return to the Board at the January 2015 Board retreat with a revised policy to include address the
comments and concerns raised by the Board.
VOTE: 7-0-0
X. ADJOURNMENT
President Harris adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 2:11 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, CMC
District Clerk