HomeMy Public PortalAbout20150812 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)Board Meeting 15-21
*Approved by the Board of Directors on August 26, 2015
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
APPROVED MINUTES*
CLOSED SESSION
The Board of Directors convened into closed session at 6:42 p.m. in the Long Ridge Conference Room.
1. CLOSED SESSION: PUBLIC EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATION.
Government Code Section 54957(b)(1)
Title of Employees: General Manager
CLOSED SESSION: CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS.
Government Code Section 54957.6
Agency designated representatives: Board of Directors
Unrepresented Employees: General Manager
ADJOURNMENT
President Siemens adjourned the Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 6:59 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
President Siemens called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
to order at 7:00 p.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: Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse, General Counsel Sheryl
Schaffner, Senior Real Property Agent Allen Ishibashi, Natural Resources
Meeting 15-21 Page 2
Manager Kirk Lenington, Controller Mike Foster, and District Clerk
Jennifer Woodworth
President Siemens reported the Board met in closed session, and no reportable action was taken.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No speakers present.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
VOTE: 7-0-0
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approve July 22, 2015 and July 30, 2015 Board Meeting Minutes.
2. Approve Claims Report
3. Amend Contract with Balance Hydrologics, Inc. (R-15-113)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Approve a contract amendment with Balance Hydrologics
Inc., increasing the contract by $39,840, for a total amount not to exceed $64,840 to continue and
expand the Water Resources Inventory Study underway at the Bear Creek Redwoods Open
Space Preserve.
4. Acceptance of Conservation Easements over three Los Trancos County Water
District Parcels, two located in unincorporated San Mateo County (Assessor Parcel
Numbers 080-071-010 and 080-060-580) and one located in the Town of Portola
Valley (Assessor Parcel Number 080-241-410) (R-15-117)
General Manager’s Recommendations:
1. Determine that the recommended actions are categorically exempt from the California
Quality Act, as set out in the staff report.
2. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the acceptance of two conservation easements over three
Los Trancos County Water District parcels.
3. Adopt the Preliminary Use and Management Plan, as set out in the staff report.
4. Withhold dedication of the Los Trancos County Water District Parcels as public open
space.
Motion: Director Hassett moved and Director Harris seconded the motion to adopt the Consent
Calendar.
VOTE: 7-0-0
BOARD BUSINESS
5. Approval of Revised Statement of Investment Policy and Authorization to Purchase
Securities through Stifel, Nicolaus & Company (R-15-116)
Meeting 15-21 Page 3
District Controller Mike Foster explained the current investment policy not consistent with the
District’s new cash position based on the general obligation bonds. Mr. Foster explained that the
District’s funds are divided into four separate accounts – Hawthorns fund, retirement and
medical, Board-committed reserves, remaining general fund reserve.
Director Riffle requested copies of new reports in approximately six months for the Board to
review and receive additional information as needed.
Mr. Foster suggested possibly returning on a quarterly basis with a report starting in December.
Public comments opened at 7:16 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comments closed at 7:16 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to adopt
resolutions approving the proposed revised Statement of Investment Policy and the trading of
securities through the investment department of Stifel, Nicolaus & Company
VOTE: 7-0-0
6. Establishment of the Measure AA Bond Oversight Committee and adopting
Committee Bylaws (R-15-112)
District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth provided the staff presentation summarizing the roles and
responsibilities of the Bond Oversight Committee and the schedule of dates for recruiting
potential committee members. Ms. Woodworth described the next steps in the process following
the close of the application period in December including possible creation of additional
selection criteria and options for interviewing and selecting committee members.
Public comments opened at 7:40 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comments closed at 7:40 p.m.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Hanko seconded the motion to approve a resolution
forming the Measure AA Bond Oversight Committee and approve the draft bylaws for the
Measure AA Bond Oversight Committee, as amended.
VOTE: 7-0-0
7. Approval of Salary Adjustments and Revised Employment Agreements for Board
Appointees General Counsel and District Controller (R-15-118)
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to continue the
item to the following Board meeting.
Meeting 15-21 Page 4
ROLL CALL VOTE: 2-5-0 (Directors Hassett, Cyr, Hanko, Siemens, and Harris voted
against.)
Motion fails.
Public comments opened at 7:49 p.m.
No speakers present.
Public comments closed at 7:49 p.m.
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Hassett seconded the motion to adopt
resolutions approving the salary adjustments recommended by the Board Appointee Evaluation
Committee and authorizing the Board President to execute revised Board Appointee
Employment Agreements for the District Controller and General Counsel.
VOTE: 5-1-1 (Director Kishimoto voted against, Director Riffle abstained.)
Director Kishimoto requested her reason for voting no be included in the record. Director
Kishimoto stated that she was voting against the motion because she feels it is important to adopt
all three employment agreements at one meeting.
8. Approval of Contract with Geocon Inc. for Environmental Consulting and
Hazardous Waste Disposal Services at the former Driscoll Ranch area of La Honda Creek
Open Space Preserve (R-15-121)
Natural Resources Kirk Lenington described the location of the hazardous waste materials
located on the property at Driscoll Ranch Site 16 and the types of debris discovered. Mr.
Lenington summarized the process currently being used to segregate the hazardous materials and
proposed disposal plan for the hazardous materials.
Public comments opened at 8:05 p.m.
Mike Bushue requested further information regarding the penalty assessed against the contractor.
Mr. Lenington explained that due to the size of the machinery being used it, is difficult for it to
be moved; therefore, it is in the District and contractor’s best interest to act as quickly as possible
to complete the work.
Public comments closed at 8:07 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Hanko seconded the motion to authorize the
General Manager to enter into a professional services contract with Geocon Inc. for a total
contract amount not to exceed $69,000, which includes the project proposal amount of $60,000
and a fifteen percent contingency amount of $9,000 to perform environmental consulting and
hazardous waste disposal services at the former Driscoll Ranch area of La Honda Creek Open
Space Preserve.
VOTE: 7-0-0
Meeting 15-21 Page 5
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Riffle reported on the August 11, 2015 Planning and Natural Resources Committee
meeting.
B. Staff Reports
Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse reported Governor Brown signed AB495, which
increased the General Manager’s contract authority from $25,000 to $50,000. Staff will bring
forward recommended revisions to the associated Board Policy later this year before the law
takes effect January 1, 2016.
General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner reported the District has received the settlement funds from
Arcadis, which funds will be added to the general fund after the District reimburses Carl Warren
& Company for the payment made to a neighbor of the property.
District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth provided information related to the Special District
Leadership Foundation’s District of Distinction certification related to upcoming training
opportunities for Board members. The Board decided not to require all Board members attend
the Governance Foundations training and pursue the District of Distinction certification at this
time.
C. Director Reports
The Board members submitted their compensatory reports.
Director Harris reported the City of San Carlos is bringing a bond measure to the voters to
purchase the Black Mountain property. Director Harris stated she will be bringing a letter or
resolution of support to the Board to consider at a future Board meeting.
Director Riffle provided comments on the District’s recent Legislative Lunch. Director Riffle
also reported he will be meeting with Committee for Green Foothills, Latino Outdoors, and
District staff to discuss increasing diversity in decision making relating to outdoor education.
Director Kishimoto reported that she and General Manager Steve Abbors presented to the
Cupertino City Council regarding Measure AA. Ms. Kishimoto also attended a meeting
regarding Stevens Creek related to restoring the fish flow in that creek.
ADJOURNMENT
President Siemens adjourned the regular meeting at 8:37 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, CMC
District Clerk