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HomeMy Public PortalAbout20161116 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD) November 16, 2016 Board Meeting 16-29 *Approved by the Board of Directors on December 14, 2016 SPECIAL MEETING BOARD OF DIRECTORS MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT Costaño Elementary School 2695 Fordham St. East Palo Alto, CA 94303 November 16, 2016 APPROVED MINUTES* SPECIAL MEETING President Kishimoto called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to order at 7:04 p.m. ROLL CALL Members Present: Jed Cyr, Nonette Hanko, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto and Curt Riffle Members Absent: Cecily Harris and Pete Siemens Staff Present: General Manager Steve Abbors, Assistant General Manager Ana Ruiz, Assistant General Manager Kevin Woodhouse, Chief Financial Officer/ Administrative Services Director Stefan Jaskulak, Assistant General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Planner III Gretchen Laustsen, Real Property Manager Mike Williams, Land and Facilities Manager Brian Malone, Public Affairs Manager Shelly Lewis ORAL COMMUNICATIONS No speakers present. ADOPTION OF AGENDA Motion: Director Riffle moved, and Director Hassett seconded the motion to adopt the agenda. VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Harris and Siemens absent) CONSENT CALENDAR Public comment opened at 7:05 p.m. Meeting 16-29 Page 2 No speakers present. Public comment closed at 7:05 p.m. Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Hassett seconded the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Harris and Siemens absent) 1. Approve November 1, 2016 and November 9, 2016 Minutes 2. Approve Claims Report BOARD BUSINESS 3. Acceptance of a Public Trail Easement between the City and County of San Francisco and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve in Exchange for a Quitclaim of Open Space Easement over City and County of San Francisco lands located between University Avenue and the Preserve in the Cities of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park (San Mateo County Assessor Parcel Numbers 063-590-060, 096-230-150, 093-590-030, 093-590-050, and 093-590-060); an Amendment to the Comprehensive Use and Management Plan to include the Public Trail Easement; a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of East Palo Alto on the management and operation of the trail; and Certification of the Initial Study, Mitigated Negative Declaration and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. (R-16-146) Real Property Manager Michael Williams described the Ravenswood Bay Trail project purpose to complete a gap in the San Francisco Bay Trail and open 80 miles of continuous Bay Trail, and improve access for East Palo Alto residents to the Bay Trail, Ravenswood Preserve, and Cooley Landing. Mr. Williams described the location of the Bay Trail gap area and the history of the project, including public and agency coordination meetings. Director Harris arrived at 7:14 p.m. Mr. Williams described the conceptual trail alignment to provide a buffer to the neighbors in the University Village neighborhood and as part of the Ravenswood Four Corners Specific Plan will include a proposed multi-modal road in the future. The trail easement terms and management include District patrol, enforcement, trail construction and repair; user access for hiking, biking, and/or jogging and will be accessible to persons with mobility impairments; and trail hours will be from 5:00 am to 10:00 p.m. Planner III Gretchen Laustsen provided an overview of the trail planning process, proposed trail alignment, and environmental review of the proposed trail. Ms. Laustsen described constraints of the trail design and feasibility of the construction. The District completed an environmental review to evaluate potential physical environmental effects of project implementation and to inform the public and decision makers of potential environmental impacts. The findings of the environmental review showed that when mitigation measures are implemented, there will be no significant environmental impacts associated with implementation. Ms. Laustsen described the Meeting 16-29 Page 3 proposed amendment to the Comprehensive Use and Management Plan for the Ravenswood Open Space Preserve. Mr. Williams described the next steps and funding sources for the project. Director Hanko spoke in favor of the project. Director Riffle requested additional information related to the cost of the project. Ms. Laustsen explained a significant portion of the costs are associated with building a bridge and board walk over the wetland area. Director Riffle requested additional information related to District patrol of the trail. Mr. Williams explained the District will conduct daily patrol of the trail and will contact the East Palo Alto police if needed for an emergency. Additional details will be determined as part of the negotiation process for the Memorandum of Understanding. Additionally, solar-powered gates have been proposed for either end of the trail segment. President Kishimoto requested additional information if the Bay Trail will be connected to University Avenue near the University Village neighborhood. Mr. Williams stated that in the future, the proposed multi-modal road may connect the neighborhood to the Bay Trail, but it is not a part of this project. Also the SFPUC owns the pathway through the neighborhood, and the District has offered to help with negotiations if requested by East Palo Alto. Public comment opened at 7:49 p.m. A member of the public requested additional information regarding the proposed multi-modal road. Mr. Williams explained the proposed road was approved as part of the Ravenswood Four Corners Specific Plan, and the proposed trail extension was designed to be compatible with the proposed road. Alfredo DeLoa spoke regarding ongoing construction near the wetland area and the debris being found there. Mr. Williams explained that construction is not a part of the project and is not located in the project area. Thomas Maa expressed his concern about having direct access to the trail from the neighborhood and that it may lead to more cars being parked along the neighborhood streets. Mr. Williams explained there are no trail access points from the University Village neighborhood included in this project. Public comment closed at 7:54 p.m. Meeting 16-29 Page 4 Directors Hassett, Cyr, and Kishimoto spoke in favor of the proposed trail, and thanked District staff and community members for their work on the project. Motion: Director Hanko moved, and Director Kishimoto seconded the motion to: 1. Adopt a Resolution approving the Initial Study, Mitigated Negative Declaration, and Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting Program in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. 2. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the General Manager to accept the Public Trail Easement from the City and County of San Francisco, to quitclaim the Open Space Easement to the City and County of San Francisco, and to execute all other documents needed for this transaction. 3. Approve an Amendment to the Comprehensive Use and Management Plan as recommended, and designate the property interests conveyed to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District as an addition to Ravenswood Open Space Preserve. 4. Authorize the General Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of East Palo Alto on the management and operation of the trail. 5. Indicate the intention to withhold dedication of the Public Trail Easement at this time. VOTE: 6-0-0 (Director Siemens absent) INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM • Neighborhood Public Meeting Survey – Summary of Results INFORMATIONAL REPORTS A. Committee Reports Director Cyr reported the Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs Committee meeting yesterday to review and discuss proposed changes to the District’s housing policy. B. Staff Reports No staff reports. C. Director Reports The Board members submitted their compensatory reports. ADJOURNMENT President Kishimoto adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 8:01 p.m. ________________________________ Jennifer Woodworth, MMC District Clerk