HomeMy Public PortalAbout20150422 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)Board Meeting 15-10
*Approved by the Board of Directors on June 24, 2015
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Administrative Office
330 Distel Circle
Los Altos, CA 94022
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING – STUDY SESSION
CALL TO ORDER
President Siemens called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District
Board of Directors to order at 5:03 p.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 Kevin
Woodhouse, General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner, Operations Manager
Michael Newburn, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Public Affairs Manager,
Shelly Lewis, Natural Resources Kirk Lenington, Real Property Manager
Mike Williams, Clayton Koopmann Resource Management Specialist I,
and Interim District Clerk Kim Marie Smith
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None.
BOARD BUSINESS
1. Conservation Grazing Program Overview 2015
Clayton Koopmann Resource Management Specialist I, provided the Board of Directors an
informational presentation summarizing the District’s Conservation Grazing Program proving
the Board an update, status, and program issues anticipated for FY2015-16.
Meeting 15-10 Page 2
Mr. Koopmann stated that the District has a commitment through its mission to protect the
diversity and integrity of natural resources for their value to the environment and people.
Mr. Koopmann reviewed the grazing policy and discussed in detail the preserves grazed, the type
of infrastructure improvements needed on certain properties, the type of animal grazing on the
property, water supply and which preserves proposed for grazing in the future. Director Harris inquired regarding the District’s total acreage in San Mateo County and the percentage grazed. Mr. Koopmann explained the District currently owns and manages approximately 36% of grassland in San Mateo County, and the land the District owns and manages is largely grazed except for Russian Ridge, Windy Hill, and parts of Skyline.
Mr. Koopmann then discussed the ongoing drought and its impact on the Conservation Grazing
Program. In order to alleviate some of the issues caused by the drought and minimize the
impacts to the natural resources, most of the tenants have been stocking the properties extremely
light, anywhere from 30 to 50% of normal. The tenants have also changed their grazing pattern
and are grazing seasonally due to a lack of water. Director Riffle stated that the District should have a plan to help assist the grazing tenants due to the drought. Kirk Lenington, Natural Resources Manager, stated staff is studying off stream storage to store water. Mr. Lenington also stated that capturing rainfall from roofs or fog harvesting may be another option that staff will explore. Mr. Koopmann explained predation is another significant issue. In the last 3 years tenants have lost livestock from predation, primarily from mountain lions, but coyote predation also occurs on the smaller livestock. Between the years of 2012 and 2015 there have been 15 confirmed killed cattle from mountain lions, and grazing tenants were compensated for their loss of livestock for a total of $11,724. Mr. Koopmann explained the District will be developing a policy late this year or early 2016 regarding mountain lions. As part of the policy staff will address predation on livestock and the District’s response Mr. Koopmann provided a briefing on infrastructure and stated grazing tenants have contributed $180,000 of infrastructure in exchange for rent credit. The District has also budgeted $500,000 in FY2015-2016, for grazing related infrastructure projects. Mr. Koopmann then described the Public Recreation and Grazing program and stated that due to the recovery permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Mindego Hill will be the first preserve with grazing and public recreation. The USFWS and the CDFW have recognized the benefit of livestock grazing to manage critical habitat. It is estimated that in November 2015 livestock grazing will be reintroduced and public access is estimated to be opened in the spring of 2016. Director Siemens asked Doniga Markegard, a District tenant if she would like to make any comments. Ms. Markegard spoke regarding the drought stating it is a significant issue for ranchers. She has been taking drought proofing measures for water infrastructure on POST land but has not been able to do any improvements on District land as of yet. Ms. Markegard stated that the process is much faster to work with private owners than the District, but she will be meeting with District staff in the summer to discuss the issue.
Director Riffle commented that going forward the District should encourage agricultural grazing
program in San Mateo County and also work with POST.
Meeting 15-10 Page 3
ADJOURNMENT
President Siemens adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 6:58 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING
CALL TO ORDER
President Siemens called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open
Space District to order at 7:08 p.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 Kevin
Woodhouse, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel
Sheryl Schaffner, Operations Manager Michael Newburn, Planning
Manager Jane Mark, Public Affairs Manager Shelley Lewis, Cydney
Bieber Web Administrator, Peggy Koenig Public Affairs Specialist,
Lisa Bankosh Planner III and Interim District Clerk Kim Marie Smith
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
None
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Kishimoto moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to adopt the
agenda.
VOTE: 6-0-0 (Director Hanko absent.)
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approve the Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting of April 8, 2015.
2. Approve Claims Report
3. Amendment to Geotechnical Investigations Agreement with Haro Kasunich and
Associates Inc. for a Total Authorized Amount of $51,990 (R-15-66)
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the General Manager to amend the existing
agreement with Haro Kasunich and Associates Inc. to increase the agreement amount by $26,990
Meeting 15-10 Page 4
for a total not to exceed amount of $51,990, to include additional geotechnical investigations,
design, and construction oversight associated with the La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
Watershed Protection Program, Driscoll Ranch Roads sediment reduction project.
4. Approval of Agreement for Legislative Consulting Services (R-15-69)
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 during Fiscal Year 2015-16 for an amount not-to-exceed $28,000.
Item number 4 was heard following the adoption of the consent calendar.
Director Harris expressed her disappointment with the services that has been provided by the
consulting firm and her concern for the length of years the District has been under contract
with the consultant. Director Harris asked if the contract had been advertised for bid.
Shelly Lewis, Public Affairs Manager stated the contract was issued as a sole source consultant
since relatively few consultants provide this type of service to Special Districts. In addition,
Ralph Heim and his associates have been working with the District since 1983 and has been an
advocate for emerging policy issues. Also due to the length of years the District has working
with the District a discounted rate was obtained.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Riffle seconded the motion to authorize the General
Manager to execute a Consulting Services Agreement with Public Policy Advocates, LLC, to
provide California legislative and advocacy services during Fiscal Year 2015-16 for an amount
not-to exceed $28,000.
VOTE: 6-0-0 (Director Hanko absent.)
Motion: Director Cyr moved and Director Harris seconded the motion to adopt the Consent
Calendar with the exception of the agenda number 4.
VOTE: 6-0-0 (Director Hanko absent.)
BOARD BUSINESS
5. Update and Preview on the Web Site Redesign (R-15-70)
Cydney Bieber, Web Administrator, provided a demonstration of the newly reformatted web site,
which is currently in progress and scheduled for release in mid-May. Ms. Bieber showcased
several new features along with some design changes to make the website more functional and
easier to navigate.
6. Contract Award for Landscape Architecture Services for Alma College Site
Rehabilitation Plan (R-15-68)
Lisa Bankosh, Planner III provided a presentation on the former Alma College site stating the
site is a historic district currently listed on the Santa Clara County Heritage Resource Inventory
Meeting 15-10 Page 5
and is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The former Alma College
site is located at a future access point for Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, and as
such its disposition is critical to opening the preserve to the public. Design and planning
assistance from a historic landscape architect, with support from an architectural historian and
structural engineering consultants, is needed to develop a concept for cultural landscape
rehabilitation and identify partnership opportunities for reuse of the historic structures. PGA
Design Inc. was identified as the most qualified given their prior experience and expertise in the
field of historic landscape architecture.
Director Harris inquired if the District is unable to find a partner whether the structures will be
stabilized.
Ms. Bankosh explained this is one of the options until a future partner is identified.
Motion: Director Riffle moved and Director Harris seconded the motion to authorize the
General Manager to enter into a professional services contract with PGA Design, Inc., for an
amount of $133,775 to develop a cultural landscape rehabilitation plan and identify
partnership opportunities for the former Alma College site and authorize an additional
contingency of $16,225 to cover unforeseen requirements, for a total not-to-exceed potential
contract amount of $150,000. VOTE: 6-0-0 (Director Hanko absent.)
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Director Riffle provided information on what was presented at the April 14, April 21 and April
29 Planning and Natural Resources Committee meetings.
Director Siemens reported the Board Appointee Evaluation Committee will be meeting next
week.
B. Staff Reports
Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse reported two Rangers will be graduating on April
24 from the academy. In addition, the District has completed the annual hiring of ten Seasonal
Open Space Technicians. Furthermore, Mr. Woodhouse reported he is serving as the District’s
representative for Stewardship 5.0 to build a tight-knit regional partnership through the entire
Santa Cruz Mountains.
Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz reported she and Director Siemens attended a Historical
Heritage Commission meeting in Santa Clara County. County Planning staff recommended that
the Historical Heritage Commission not make a formal recommendation to the Board of
Supervisors at this time but to take more of a deliberate careful informative process before
recommending the Mt. Umunhum Radar Tower for listing the property on the Heritage Resource
Inventory which the District also supports. Ms. Ruiz stated the District will be working with
Santa Carla County to conduct a site tour of Mt. Umunhum with the commissioners followed by
Meeting 15-10 Page 6
one or two workshops to talk about the criteria that the county uses to consider eligibility for
listing and forwarding the analysis to the Board of Supervisors.
General Manager Abbors reported the District has responded to the Civil Grand Jury’s request
for following up on the “Will Implement” and “Will Study” type responses to the 2013-2014
Grand Jury Reports, providing them with the information on the status of implementation and
noted that he will be seeking the voluntary Special District Leadership Foundation Special
District Administrator Certification by the end of the year.
General Counsel Sheryl Schaffner expressed her appreciation to the Public Affairs Department
for their work in the public outreach program.
C. Director Reports
Director Harris gave a briefing on the Redwood City San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce
Annual Progress Seminar.
Director Harris reported that per the recommendations of the Public Affairs Manager Shelly
Lewis she wrote a 250 word essay about the earth in the April issue of the Half Moon Bay
Review.
Director Cyr reported he recently hiked the Santa Teresa County Park and also joined district
staff on April 15 for a wildflower hike lead by Sr. Resource Management Specialist Cindy
Roessler.
Director Hassett reported that he will be attending the May 7 Ancient Oaks Trail ribbon cutting.
Director Hassett reported that he attended the PMAC meeting.
Director Hassett reported that on May 14 he will be hiking with Tom Stienstra in El Corte De
Madera.
The Board submitted their compensatory forms to the District Clerk.
ADJOURNMENT
President Siemens adjourned the Regular Meeting at 8:53 p.m.
________________________________
Maria Soria
Deputy District Clerk