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Home My Public Portal About20140423 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) April 23, 2014 Board Meeting 14-11 *Approved by the Board of Directors on May 14, 2014 SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Administrative Office 330 Distel Circle Los Altos, CA 94022 April 23, 2014 APPROVED MINUTES* REGULAR MEETING I. CALL TO ORDER Vice President Siemens called the Regular Meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors to order at 7:10 p.m. II. ROLL CALL Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens Members Absent: Nonette Hanko and Cecily Harris Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner, Public Affairs Manager Shelly Lewis, Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington, Acting Operations Manager Michael Newburn, Skyline Area Superintendent Brian Malone, Acting Support Services Program Administrator Michael Jurich, Contingent Project Manager Aaron Hébert, and District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth III. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS No speakers were present. IV. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to adopt the agenda. VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Hanko and Harris absent) Meeting 14-11 Page 2 V. CONSENT CALENDAR 1. Approve Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of April 9, 2014, as amended. 2. Approve the Claims Report 3. Approval of Agreement for Legislative Consulting Services (R-14-71) General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the General Manager to execute a Consulting Services Agreement with Public Policy Advocates, LLC, to provide California legislative and advocacy services for an amount not-to-exceed $28,000. Director Riffle inquired whether the District should research other firms for this service. General Manager Steve Abbors reported that Ralph’s price is still well below market value and Mr. Heim is providing more services now than ever. Public hearing opened at 7:15 p.m. No speakers present. Public hearing closed at 7:15 p.m. Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Hanko and Harris absent) VI. BOARD BUSINESS 4. Resolution Supporting Assembly Bill 2193, Habitat Restoration and Enhancement Act (R-14-74) Natural Resources Manager Kirk Lenington described the purpose of Assembly Bill 2193 and introduced Jeremy Dennis of Assemblymember Rich Gordon’s District Office. Jeremy Dennis, District Director for Assemblymember Rich Gordon, provided a brief history of the bill and continued efforts at streamlining state permitting processes for projects related to urban stream restoration, coastal watershed restoration, and inland river restoration. Mr. Dennis also provided an update on the current status of AB2193 in the State Assembly. Public hearing opened at 7:26 p.m. No speakers present. Public hearing closed at 7:27 p.m. Meeting 14-11 Page 3 Motion: Director Hassett moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to adopt a Resolution supporting Assembly Bill 2193, which would make substantive improvements to the permitting process for small-scale and voluntary ecosystem restoration projects. VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Hanko and Harris absent) 5. Consideration of Memorial Trail Request for Bo Gimbal (R-14-70) Skyline Area Superintendent Brian Malone presented the staff report describing the numerous volunteer hours Bo Gimbal donated to the District making him the most productive volunteer in the District’s history. Mr. Malone explained that Mr. Gimbal contributed his time and talents to many projects, especially related to trail construction and maintenance. Finally, Mr. Malone described the location of the trail proposed for naming after Mr. Gimbal in the Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve. Director Riffle inquired if any events are planned to commemorate the naming of the trail. Mr. Malone commented that if approved by the Board, the District will plan a commemorative event in the future. Director Hassett shared comments on the many contributions Mr. Gimbal made to the District through volunteering time, mentoring District staff, and building many trails. The members of the Board shared personal experiences and memories of working with Mr. Gimbal and expressed their great appreciation for his efforts. Public hearing opened at 7:39 p.m. Sandy Sommer, Mr. Gimbal’s daughter, thanked the District and Board of Directors for honoring her father and his contributions to the District. Public hearing closed at 7:42 p.m. Motion: Director Hassett moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to approve the Legislative, Finance, and Public Affairs Committee recommendation to name a trail in Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve the “Bo Gimbal Trail” as a memorial to Bo Gimbal for his contributions to the District and the region. VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Hanko and Harris absent) 6. Authorization to Purchase Capital Equipment for the Operations, Public Affairs and Real Property Departments at a Total Cost Not to Exceed $740,000 (R-14-72) Acting Support Services Program Administrator Michael Jurich presented the staff report outlining where the new vehicles proposed for purchase will be utilized and those that will be replacement vehicles. Mr. Jurich provided a list of the vehicles the District currently owns, the current uses of those vehicles, and where the vehicles are assigned among the District’s offices. Finally, Mr. Jurich explained that the District will be using the State of California Department of Meeting 14-11 Page 4 General Services contracts or other approved cooperative procurement contracts to purchase the vehicles described in the General Manager’s recommendation. Director Riffle inquired if the District has investigated purchasing fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles. Mr. Jurich explained that the District has purchased two hybrid vehicles for administrative staff use, but currently hybrid vehicles are unable to meet the demands of field staff to frequently travel off-road and carry heavy loads. Public hearing opened at 8:00 p.m. No speakers were present. Public hearing closed at 8:00 p.m. Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to: 1. Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the State Department of General Services and associated contract dealers for three patrol vehicles, two administrative vehicles, and two maintenance vehicles, for a total cost not to exceed $350,000. 2. Authorize the General Manager to execute a purchase contract with the State Department of General Services and associated contract dealers for one excavator and one ten wheel dump truck for a total cost not to exceed $390,000. VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Hanko and Harris absent) 7. Harkins Bridge Replacement (R-14-76) Contingent Project Manager Aaron Hébert described the current state of the Harkins Bridge, its current uses and location in the Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. Mr. Hébert described various types of bridges the District could use to replace the Harkins Bridge, including concrete arch, railcar, I-beam, and prefabricated truss. Mr. Hébert described the next steps for the project from engineering design, permitting, and construction of the bridge. Additionally staff will return to the Planning and Natural Resources Committee in approximately six months with railing alternatives and to provide an update on the project. Mr. Hébert explained that staff and the Planning and Natural Resources Committee are recommending use of a prefabricated truss bridge due to the location of the Harkins Bridge site, and it is the environmentally preferred alternative. Director Hassett inquired how much engineering design work is required for a prefabricated bridge. Mr. Hébert explained that due to the Harkins Bridge being located in an environmentally sensitive area, engineering services are required to address the site location, the footings, the hydrology, geotechnical services, permitting process, etc. Director Riffle inquired if the current Harkins Bridge is useable by vehicles and whether it should be replaced sooner than initially planned. Meeting 14-11 Page 5 Mr. Hébert explained that the bridge was examined by an engineer in 2011 and currently has a 6,000 pound rating and is primarily used by hikers, equestrians, and cyclists. Mr. Hébert also explained that staff has submitted an aggressive schedule for replacement, but delays could occur during the permitting process involving various regulatory agencies or during the building process related to weather. Public hearing opened at 8:30 p.m. No speakers were present. Public hearing closed at 8:30 p.m. Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to approve the Planning and Natural Resources Committee’s recommendation that a prefabricated truss bridge is the preferred option to replace the Harkins Bridge in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Hanko and Harris absent) VII. STAFF REPORTS No staff reports provided. VIII. DIRECTOR REPORTS The Board submitted their compensatory forms to the District Clerk. Director Kishimoto reported that she made a presentation to the Palo Alto City Council earlier in the week. Director Riffle reported that he spoke at a Mountain View City Council meeting earlier in the week. The Board members thanked staff for their efforts related to the Mt. Umunhum groundbreaking event earlier in the day. IX. ADJOURNMENT TO CLOSED SESSION Vice President Siemens adjourned the Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District into a closed session at 8:37 p.m. in the Long Ridge Conference Room CONFERENCE WITH LEGAL COUNSEL – EXISTING LITIGATION. (GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54956.9(d)(1)) Name of Case: Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District v. County of Santa Clara, et al. (Lehigh Quarry CEQA Matter) California Sixth District Court of Appeals Case No. H040839 Meeting 14-11 Page 6 X. ADJOURNMENT Vice President Siemens adjourned a Closed Session of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 10:35 p.m. ________________________________ Jennifer Woodworth, CMC District Clerk