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