HomeMy Public PortalAbout20211201 - Minutes - Board of Directors (BOD)
December 1, 2021
Board Meeting 21-32
*Approved by the Board of Directors on December 15, 2021
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT
Wednesday, December 1, 2021
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
President Riffle called the special meeting of the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District to
order at 5:00 p.m.
President Riffle 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.
President Riffle described the process and protocols for the meeting.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Jed Cyr, Larry Hassett, Yoriko Kishimoto, Zoe Kersteen-Tucker, Curt
Riffle, and Pete Siemens
Members Absent: Karen Holman
Staff Present: General Manager Ana Ruiz, General Counsel Hilary Stevenson, Assistant
General Manager Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager Susanna
Chan, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager Jennifer
Woodworth, Planning Manager Jane Mark, Senior Planner Gretchen
Laustsen, Senior Planner Tina Hugg, Capital Projects Field Manager
Bryan Apple,
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
District Clerk Jennifer Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Meeting 21-32 Page 2
Rebecca Holland submitted comments in support of providing adequate equestrian parking,
specifically along Verde Road.
Anne Uecker expressed concern regarding high newt mortality near District preserves and stated
the District needs to take more action to protect against newt mortality.
BOARD BUSINESS
1. Purisima-to-the-Sea Regional Trail and Parking Area Feasibility Study –
Opportunities and Constraints Analysis and Project Vision and Goals (R-21-147)
Senior Planner Gretchen Laustsen provided the staff presentation describing the conceptual
Purisima to the Sea Trail and the specific area included as part of the current projects, including
public access and parking area. Ms. Laustsen described the project timeline, including the
deadline to receive grant funds from the Coastal Conservancy.
Mark Brandi with District consultant SWCA presented information regarding the multimodal
access study, including an analysis of opportunities and constraints for the project. Mr. Brandi
reviewed public comments and concerns that are guiding and being addressed = as part of the
analysis. Mr. Brandi described the various physical, cultural, biological, and safety attributes and
considerations of the project that are being studied as part of the analysis.
Ms. Laustsen reported District staff scouted various trail options to address multiple concerns
and factors, such as grazing operations, cost of building, elevation, etc. Ms. Laustsen reviewed
the proposed project vision and goals and proposed strategies for accomplishing the goals. Next
steps for the project include completing technical assessments, continued further trail scouting,
and development of a conceptual parking area.
Patrick Golier, transportation planner with the District’s traffic consultant, described the remote
location of the project, which leads to many visitors driving to the preserve and therefore parking
shortages. Mr. Golier explained the purpose of the multimodal study seeks to evaluate existing
parking resources and public access, understand visitor behavior and patterns, improve
multimodal access, etc., and provided findings from the preserve visitor survey related to parking
and modes of access. Potential improvements, such as transit or shuttle service, parking capacity
enhancements, and education/outreach, can help address the parking concerns raised by visitors.
Director Kishimoto requested and received additional information related to the conceptual
parking area. Additionally, Director Kishimoto spoke in support of a transit shuttle, especially on
the weekends, but stated that the shuttle site may be comprised of smaller parking areas.
Director Kersteen-Tucker suggested multiple trail alignment options may be preferred to allow
for a scenic and also a more direct trail route. Director Kersteen-Tucker stated multiple parking
areas may be preferred to a single large parking lot.
Director Hassett expressed concern regarding the safety of pedestrians crossing Highway 1.
Director Siemens spoke in support of providing adequate parking for vehicles and equestrian
trailers in the parking area.
Meeting 21-32 Page 3
Senior Planner Tina Hugg stated that based on traffic counts and data gathering, the demand for
the parking area is high.
President Riffle stated the proposed trail is a regional connector trail, so visitor use may differ
than at other preserves where visitors only stay a few hours.
At 6:20 p.m. the Board of Directors, District staff, and members of the public participated in a
public workshop. The Board reconvened the special meeting at 6:47 p.m.
The project team summarized the feedback received from the public in each of the breakout
groups. Feedback included:
- maximize parking to address public interest in the trail
- ensure riparian setbacks are adhered to and installation of tree screens for the parking area
- minimize impacts on agricultural operations
- ensure rail and roadway safety
- creation of a shuttle drop-off area
- enhance regional trail connections
- plan needed for emergency vehicle access
- desire for a longer trail ride experience
Public comment opened at 7:04 p.m.
Ric Barker spoke in support of expanding parking for the preserve and stated the regional trail
connections will be helpful for commuting.
Henry Magnuski provided comments in support of camping sites to allow visitors to complete
multi-day regional trail hikes, such as the Bay to the Sea Trail.
Ron Sturgeon spoke in support of protecting agricultural lands, and parking areas should not be
located on land protected by a conservation easement. Additionally, Mr. Sturgeon stated there is
already a large parking lot on the South Cowell property.
Thomas DeMeo spoke in support of continuous trail access for equestrian and bicycle use and
spoke in support of regional trails to allow visitors to be off of roadways.
Ms. Woodworth read the submitted comments into the record.
Howard Higley provided comments suggesting the District partner with Peninsula Open Space
Trust or Caltrans for funding, pursue a dual use underpass option to enhance wildlife crossing
and pedestrian trail access, and install a camera to assess vehicle-wildlife mortality.
David Evans supported recreational bicycle access the full length of the proposed trail.
Teri Baron expressed support for equestrian parking in the area to allow equestrian access to the
preserve and suggested the District ask users about this in any upcoming surveys.
Mike Liebhold inquired regarding additional parking near the Skyline end of the proposed trail,
plans for increased visitor traffic and parking on Tunitas Creek next to Grabtown Gulch, and
future plans for connecting to the San Francisco Bay Trail.
Meeting 21-32 Page 4
Director Holman joined the meeting at 7:15 pm.
John Boothroyd inquired if the District plans to convert the Bald Mountain Trail to bike and
equestrian access.
Public comment closed at 7:17 p.m.
Director Cyr expressed concern regarding the carrying capacity of the parking area and potential
negative impacts on those living in the area.
Director Kersteen-Tucker suggested the following edits to the project vision and goals.
Purisima-to-the-Sea Trail and Parking Area Project Vision
…Complete the multi-use Purisima-to-the-Sea trail connection and multi-modal access and
parking area using ecologically sensitive design and management.
Goal 1: Physical Attributes
Develop the regional Purisima-to-the-Sea Regional Trail to accommodate low-intensity
recreation by multiple user groups, provide ecologically sensitive public access to scenic
viewpoints, and provide improved multi-modal Preserve access with access and multi-modal an
appropriately sized and programmed parking area.
Goal 3: Biological Attributes
Manage, protect, and interpret natural resources, habitats, sensitive species, and connectivity, and
provide public access in an ecologically sensitive manner.
President Riffle suggested the project vision should also address the District’s respect for its
neighbors and its role as a member of the coastal community.
Motion: Director Kersteen-Tucker moved, and Director Cyr seconded the motion to
1. Direct staff to revise the project vision and goals in accordance with the Board’s
suggestions and bring the language for Board approval at a future Board meeting.
2. Direct staff to move forward with developing a conceptual parking lot design in
accordance with results of the multimodal access study and in conjunction with other multimodal
access initiatives.
ROLL CALL VOTE: 7-0-0
ADJOURNMENT
President Riffle adjourned the special meeting of the Board of Directors of the Midpeninsula
Regional Open Space District at 7:50 p.m.
________________________________
Jennifer Woodworth, MMC
District Clerk