HomeMy Public PortalAbout20151022 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)Board Meeting 15-26
*Approved by the Board of Directors on November 18, 2015
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
Thursday, October 22, 2015
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
President Siemens called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
to order at 10:02 a.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Cecily Harris, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto Curt Riffle, and
Pete Siemens
Members Absent: Nonette Hanko
Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz,
Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse, General Counsel Sheryl
Schaffner, Senior Management Analyst Lisa Tulee, District Clerk Jennifer
Woodworth
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
No speakers present.
BOARD BUSINESS
General Manager Abbors provided opening comments summarizing the agenda topics for the
retreat.
Director Hanko arrived at 10:12 a.m.
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz presented information regarding the District’s efforts
related to diversity awareness, outreach, and integration.
Meeting 15-26 Page 2
Director Kishimoto provided comments in support of a Visitors Center at Cooley Landing.
Director Riffle suggested possible formation of an advisory committee to study diversity.
Directors Kishimoto and Harris expressed their support for a Visitor Usage Survey and reaching
out to the District’s constituents.
Directors Harris and Hanko expressed their concerns regarding adopting a Board policy on
diversity.
Directors Hassett and Cyr expressed their opinions that continued outreach at schools and
internship opportunities will help increase interest in the District.
Ms. Ruiz provided information describing opportunities for members of the Board of Directors
to perform outreach, including connecting with community leaders, speaking with local elected
officials, and speaking at partner and community events.
Members of the Board expressed their support for increasing Board outreach efforts.
Mr. Abbors suggested Public Affairs staff can meet with the Board members individually to help
determine what types of outreach efforts each would like to engage in.
The Board directed staff to research the topic of providing information to potential Board
members regarding Board member outreach opportunities.
Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse provided comments regarding the District’s
response to the drought and current District work on the San Mateo Coast.
Director Hanko expressed her concerns regarding the effects fog harvesting on the water cycle
and redwood trees.
Mr. Woodhouse explained District staff is working with United States Geological Survey
(USGS) to study fog harvesting and can forward any information or data received as a result of
the study to the full Board.
Director Hassett expressed his opinion that the District be more vigilant regarding marijuana
grow sites, including partnering with other agencies, due to the negative effects of grow sites on
the environment.
Director Hassett expressed his opinion that the District can do a better job of informing coastal
communities of the District’s commitment to work with residents there and past efforts in the
area.
The Board recessed at 12:11 p.m. and reconvened at 12:26 with all directors present.
Ms. Ruiz presented information describing the current District guidelines, which promote low
intensity use of preserves, and suggested potential adjustments the Board may consider, such as
larger signs, interpretive centers, restrooms, picnic tables, etc.
Meeting 15-26 Page 3
Director Hassett provided comments concerning the role of the District as it relates to the roles
provided by other local park agencies. Director Hassett spoke in favor of keeping the intensity
levels similar to their current state with the exception of shade structures or restrooms where
required.
Directors Harris and Riffle spoke in favor considering moderate intensity uses in preserves,
where appropriate, such as occasional picnic tables, shade shelters, and trash cans.
Director Kishimoto spoke in favor of opening more trails to dogs and spoke in favor of continued
low intensity uses for the District preserves, including gravel parking lots, restricting trash cans.
Director Cyr spoke in favor of larger signs at the preserves to help visitors locate and orient
themselves at the preserves.
Director Hanko stated that any adjustments should be studied on an individual basis for each
preserve based on its level of use.
Director Siemens expressed his concerns regarding trash cans and more intense uses at the
preserves.
Ms. Ruiz presented key elements and takeaways from this year’s environmental scan, including a
strong emphasis on building internal systems, providing adequate staff capacity, completing
organizational restructuring, and making decisions on staff facilities to establish the District’s
new business model. Ms. Ruiz explained additional staff time is largely devoted to major
Measure AA projects, namely Mt. Umunhum, Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, and
La Honda Open Space Preserve.
Mr. Woodhouse described District achievements and progress related to the current language
included in the Strategic Plan. Mr. Woodhouse then summarized proposed edits to the Strategic
Plan as suggested by staff.
The Board of Directors reviewed the proposed edits to the Strategic Plan and made further
suggested edits to the language.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Harris seconded the motion to adopt the proposed
changes to the Strategic Plan, as amended by the Board.
VOTE: 7-0-0
ADJOURNMENT
President Siemens adjourned the Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 3:11 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, CMC
District Clerk