HomeMy Public PortalAbout20220413 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
April 13, 2022
Board Meeting 22-11
*Approved by the Board of Directors on April 27, 2022
SPECIAL AND REGULAR MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, April 13, 2022
The Board of Directors conducted this meeting in accordance with California Government Code
section 54953(e) and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Resolution 21-33. All Board
members and staff participated via teleconference.
APPROVED MINUTES*
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT – CLOSED SESSION
Director Riffle called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 5:01 p.m.
Motion: Director Hassett moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to appoint Director
Riffle to serve as President Pro-Tempore for the special and regular meeting.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Kersteen-Tucker and Kishimoto absent)
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Karen Holman, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: Zoe Kersteen-Tucker and Yoriko Kishimoto
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Susanna
Chan, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan
Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer
Woodworth
District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer Woodworth announced this meeting is
being held in accordance with Government Code section 54953(e) and Midpeninsula Regional
Open Space District Resolution 21-33, allowing Board members to participate remotely. The
District has done its best to conduct a meeting where everyone has an opportunity to listen to the
meeting and to provide comment. The public has the opportunity to comment on the agenda, and
the opportunity to listen to this meeting through the internet or via telephone. This information
can be found on the meeting agenda, which was physically posted at the District’s
Administrative Office, and on the District website. Ms. Woodworth described the process and
protocols for the meeting.
Meeting 22-11 Page 2
1. CONFERENCE WITH LABOR NEGOTIATORS (Government Code Section
54957.6)
Agency designated representatives: Ana Ruiz, General Manager, Brian Malone, Assistant
General Manager, Jack Hughes, Liebert Cassidy Whitmore
Employee organization: Midpeninsula Rangers Peace Officers Association
Public comment opened at 5:08 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments were submitted for the closed session item.
Public comment closed at 5:08 p.m.
The Board convened into closed session at 5:08 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
President Pro-Tempore Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 6:43 p.m.
REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA
REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Vice-President Kishimoto called the regular meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space
District to order at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto, Curt Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: Karen Holman and Zoe Kersteen-Tucker
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Susanna
Chan, Chief Financial Officer/Director of Administrative Services Stefan
Jaskulak, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer
Woodworth, Public Affairs Manager Kori Skinner, Public Affairs
Specialist Natalie Jolly
Vice-President Kishimoto announced this meeting is being held in accordance with Government
Code section 54953(e) and Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Resolution 21-33,
allowing Board members to participate remotely. The District has done its best to conduct a
meeting where everyone has an opportunity to listen to the meeting and to provide comment. The
public has the opportunity to comment on the agenda, and the opportunity to listen to this
meeting through the internet or via telephone. This information can be found on the meeting
agenda, which was physically posted at the District’s Administrative Office, and on the District
website. Vice-President Kishimoto described the process and protocols for the meeting.
Director Holman joined the meeting at 7:02 p.m.
Meeting 22-11 Page 3
CLOSED SESSION REPORT
General Counsel Hilary Stevenson reported the Board met in closed session, and no reportable
action was taken.
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Ms. Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Craig Gleason provided comments in support of the District’s rangers using electric motorcycles
because they enable rangers to efficiently traverse the entire trail system and improve emergency
response times. Mr. Gleason supported expanding the electric motorcycle program.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
Motion: Director Siemens moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to adopt the agenda.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 6-0-0 (Director Kersteen-Tucker absent)
CONSENT CALENDAR
Vice-President Kishimoto left the meeting at 7:08 p.m.
Public comment opened at 7:09 p.m.
Ms. Woodworth reported no public comments had been submitted regarding the Consent
Calendar items.
Public comment closed at 7:09 p.m.
Motion: Director Cyr moved, and Director Siemens seconded the motion to approve the Consent
Calendar.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 5-0-0 (Directors Kersteen-Tucker and Kishimoto absent)
1. Approve the March 23, 2022 Board meeting minutes
2. Approve Claims Report
3. Report from the Bond Oversight Committee to the Board of Directors for the
review period from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021
Bond Oversight Committee’s Recommendation: The Bond Oversight Committee recommends
that the Board of Directors accepts this report.
Director Riffle thanked the members of the Bond Oversight Committee for their work on the
Committee and for staff support to the Committee.
Meeting 22-11 Page 4
Bruce Tolley, Chair for the Bond Oversight Committee, thanked staff for their support of the
committee.
BOARD BUSINESS
4. Board Liaison Appointments (R-22-48)
Ms. Woodworth provided the staff presentation describing the Board’s current liaison
assignments for external organizations and suggested external organizations where the Board
could appoint a liaison. Ms. Woodworth reviewed various topics for the Board to consider
regarding the topic, including the role of staff and the Board and frequency of meeting
attendance.
Vice-President Kishimoto re-joined the meeting at 7:15 p.m.
President Pro-Tempore Riffle suggested there may be additional organizations that the Board
members are not currently assigned as a representative that may be helpful to have a
representative. Alternatively, Board members may want to learn about additional organizations
where they can choose to attend meetings and learn more about those organizations’ projects.
Director Holman commented Board members will need to determine if they have capacity to
attend additional meetings, and it will be helpful to know how often the meetings are held by the
external organizations.
Director Hassett suggested adding the Kings Mountain and South Skyline Neighborhood
Associations to the list because these represent direct neighbors to many of the District’s
preserves. Director Hassett suggested the District can join these organizations in order to help
facilitate communication.
Director Cyr suggested this item should return to the Board for consideration in January due to
higher priority projects.
Director Holman suggested adding the Audubon Society to list of external organizations.
Vice-President Kishimoto spoke in support of Board members monitoring the agendas for the
external organizations and in support of having an open space representative on the Association
of Bay Area Governments.
President Pro-Tempore Riffle stated the information on the various organizations can be
presented to the Board in January. Additionally, President Pro-Tempore Riffle suggested the
Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs Committee could review the list prior to January to
make a recommendation to the Board on organizations where a Board liaison could be helpful.
Director Holman suggested the Board liaison role could help facilitate communication between
the organizations, such as inviting members of other organizations to speak to the Board of
Directors.
Meeting 22-11 Page 5
Public comment opened at 7:44 p.m.
Bruce Tolley commented that providing additional criteria to the Committee and staff would be
helpful to help guide the discussion.
Public comment closed at 7:45 p.m.
Motion: Director Riffle moved to refer the topic to the Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs
Committee to review and consider before making a recommendation to the Board of Directors
regarding liaisons to external organizations prior to the end of the calendar year.
Motion fails due to lack of a second.
Director Kishimoto suggested external organizations that would benefit from a Board liaison
could be raised on an individual basis at a future meeting.
5. Oral Update on Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District 50th Anniversary
Ms. Skinner provided the staff presentation describing the feedback and engagement resulting
from the District’s media campaign. Ms. Skinner reviewed the various outreach efforts through
media, partner and sponsor engagement, community events, etc. Outreach campaigns include
#SpottedAtMidpen, “50 Stories for 50 Years” profiles, community service days, etc.
Public Affairs Specialist Natalie Jolly provided an overview of the District’s Bayside Family
Festival event planned for April 30, 2022 at Ravenswood Open Space Preserve. Ms. Jolly
reviewed the District’s partners, hikes and activities planned, and performances for the event.
Finally, Ms. Jolly described the logistics and planned schedule for the event.
The members of the Board requested and received clarification regarding the logistics for the
Bayside Family Festival.
Public comment opened at 8:08 p.m.
No public comments were submitted for this item.
Public comment closed at 8:08 p.m.
No Board action required.
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDA
• On-Leash Dog Access at Lower La Honda Creek Open Space Preserve
INFORMATIONAL REPORTS
A. Committee Reports
Meeting 22-11 Page 6
Director Holman reported the Legislative, Funding, and Public Affairs Committee met on April
12, 2022 to review and discuss proposed updates to the Public Contract Bidding, Vendor and
Professional Consultant Selection, and Purchasing policy.
Director Hassett spoke in support providing a level playing field for vendors that live within the
District’s boundaries.
B. Staff Reports
Public Affairs Manager Kori Skinner displayed a clip from the recent Open Roads with Doug
McConnell that highlighted La Honda Open Space Preserve.
C. Director Reports
Director Cyr reported he attended a meeting of Valley Water’s Water Commission on April 13,
2022 where the agency’s response to the drought was discussed.
Director Kishimoto reported she attended a meeting of the San Francisco Bay Conservation and
Development Commission meeting on April 6, 2022 and a meeting of Santa Clara County
LAFCO on April 6, 2022.
President Pro-Tempore Riffle reported he recently attended a webinar from the Center of
Biological Diversity on conservation grazing.
ADJOURNMENT
Vice-President Yoriko Kishimoto adjourned the regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District at 8:24 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk