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Home My Public Portal About20140114 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) January 14, 2014 Board Meeting 14-02 *Approved by the Board of Directors on February 12, 2014 SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Hillview Community Center – Social Hall 97 Hillview Ave. Los Altos, CA 94022 January 14, 2014 APPROVED MINUTES* SPECIAL MEETING – STUDY SESSION I. CALL TO ORDER President Harris called the Special Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors to order at 6:07 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Larry Hassett, Cecily Harris, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens Members Absent: Yoriko Kishimoto Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Assistant General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington, Real Property Specialist Sandy Sommer, GIS Coordinator Casey Hiatt, and District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth III. PUBLIC COMMENTS None IV. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA Director Cyr moved, and Director Siemens moved to adopt the agenda. VOTE: 6 – 0 (Director Kishimoto absent.) Meeting 14-02 Page 2 V. BOARD BUSINESS Agenda Item #1 – Vision Plan Board Workshop to review the results of Public Deliberations from Phase 4, “Deliberating” (R-14-18) Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington introduced the District staff members that assisted with the development of the Vision Plan and provided a brief description of the purpose of the Vision Plan. Mr. Lenington also described the process for the meeting this evening. Real Property Specialist Sandy Sommer summarized the various methods used by the Vision Plan team to gather public input, including the online MindMixer forum, public deliberation meetings, and the Community Advisory Committee. Mr. Lenington described public input received regarding the Vision Plan goals and the goals that rated highest within the Vision Plan themes. Public hearing opened at 6:29 p.m. Hans Luemers of Woodside expressed his opinion that more areas District land should be opened for public access. Edward Reyes asked for the Board’s opinion on opening District lands to for public access in the future. Mr. Abbors explained that throughout the District’s history, its primary focus has been acquisition. In order to determine the District’s direction moving forward, staff initiated the Vision Plan process to help inform the Board in their decision making process. Mr. Abbors explained that the public’s input received through the Vision Plan process has shown that the public is now concerned with increasing public access. Mr. Reyes asked how members of the public can assist in achieving the goals of the Vision Plan. Mr. Abbors explained remaining engaged in the process is key to assisting the District to achieve the Vision Plan goals. Judy Grote of La Honda expressed her concerns regarding increased fuel load in the area. Ms. Grote also urged the Board to keep the land as open space and decrease fuel load. Public hearing closed at 6:45 p.m. Ms. Sommer described the process used by staff to analyze public input received, which in turn led to the Vision Plan’s Tier 1 Priority Actions. GIS Coordinator Casey Hiatt displayed and explained a map which visually summarizes the highly rated priority actions based on public input received and the priority actions’ ability to accomplish the Vision Plan’s goals. Ms. Sommer described the Tier 1 Priority Actions for each of the various subregions. Meeting 14-02 Page 3 Director Hassett expressed his concerns regarding including the reopening of Alpine Road due to constraints created by San Mateo County owing the area. Mr. Hassett stated that by including this in the list of top tier priority actions may lead to the District having to take on the responsibility for repairing Alpine Road. Mr. Abbors explained that District staff has discussed the matter with San Mateo County and explained that there are numerous issues to be resolved before Alpine Road can be reopened, including which agency has the responsibility for repair work. Director Harris inquired as to what will be done with the remainder of the priority actions that are not included in the top tier of priority actions. Mr. Lenington and Ms. Sommer explained that the Tier 1 Priority Actions assisting in directing the District’s future projects but is not an exclusive list of future District projects. The District will continue to act on opportunities as they arise. Director Siemens commented that the District’s process for creating Use and Management Plans for the District’s preserves may need to be updated in order to allow for the priority actions to be implemented in a timely manner. Public hearing opened at 7:39 p.m. Charlie Krenz expressed his interest in more multi-use trails and trails for use by mountain bikers. Jack Escallier inquired as to how much emphasis will be placed on feasibility when determining when priority actions will be completed. Mr. Abbors responded that those projects that may be completed relatively quickly may be implemented sooner than others, but those determinations will be made throughout the implementation phase. Hans Luemers commented that the public is often ignorant as to which public agency owns a specific piece of land and encouraged the District to work with other agencies. Mr. Abbors commented that the District and other agencies work together as often as possible. Bruce Noble a resident of Woodside commented on the priority actions that include the Alpine Road connection and Driscoll ranch. Ray Cowan of Mountain View commented that repairing Alpine Road may alleviate traffic on other nearby roads. Yvonne Tryce spoke regarding Hawthorns stating that she would like one of the buildings to be used for a nature center. Public hearing closed at 7:49 p.m. Meeting 14-02 Page 4 The Board recessed at 7:50 p.m. and reconvened at 8:00 p.m. with Directors Cyr, Hanko, Harris, Hassett, Riffle, and Siemens present. Chris Bui facilitated a discussion of the Tier 1 Priority Actions using keypad voting machines. Director Siemens commented that many of the priority actions involve capital improvements and will not be replacing the day-to-day activities of District staff and management of District lands. Director Harris suggested including Priority Action #18 (Saratoga-to-Sea Trail and Wildlife Corridor). The Board was polled and supported the inclusion of Priority Action #18 in the discussion of Tier 1 Priority Actions at the Board meeting on January 29, 2014. Director Cyr suggested including Priority Action #25 (Major Roadway Signage). The Board was polled and supported the inclusion of Priority Action #25 in the discussion of Tier 1 Priority Actions at the Board meeting on January 29, 2014. Director Hassett suggested including Priority Actions #8 (Sierra Azul: Fire Management) and #40 (Skyline Region: Fire Management and Forest Restoration Projects). The Board was polled and supported the inclusion of Priority Actions #8 and #40 in the discussion of Tier 1 Priority Actions at the Board meeting on January 29, 2014. Director Hanko suggested including Priority Action #21 (South Bay Foothills: Family Nature Play Program). The Board was polled and did not support the inclusion of Priority Action #21 in the discussion of Tier 1 Priority Actions at the Board meeting on January 29, 2014. Director Riffle suggested including Priority Action #39 (Skyline Ridge: Education Facilities – Trails and Wildlife Conservation Projects). The Board was polled and supported the inclusion of Priority Action #39 in the discussion of Tier 1 Priority Actions at the Board meeting on January 29, 2014. Director Riffle suggested including Priority Action #30 (Rancho San Antonio: Interpretive Improvements, Refurbishing and Transit Solutions). The Board was polled and supported the inclusion of Priority Action #30 in the discussion of Tier 1 Priority Actions at the Board meeting on January 29, 2014. Mr. Abbors stated that at the meeting on January 29, 2014 the Board will be voting on the final list of top tier Priority Actions. Meeting 14-02 Page 5 VI. ADJOURNMENT President Harris adjourned the Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 9:24 p.m. ______________________________ Jennifer Woodworth, CMC District Clerk