ROLL CALL

Chairperson Alex Kennett called the regular meeting of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Open Space Authority Administrative Office, 6830 Via del Oro, Ste 200, San Jose, CA.

Members Present

Alex Kennett, Jim Foran, Virginia Holtz, Sequoia Hall, Craige Edgerton, Mike Potter, Garnetta Annable arrived at 6:33.

Members Excused Absent

None

Staff Present

Patrick Congdon, General Manager

William Parkin, Legal Counsel

Lauren Crook, Clerk of the Board

Kevin Lurie, Accountant

Lark Burkhart, Public Information Specialist

Public Present

Greg West

Paul Kaymark , Charles Fedak and Associates

CONVENED TO CLOSED SESSION

6:30 P.M.

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION

7:18 P.M.  There were no reportable actions.

OPEN SESSION

Chairperson Alex Kennett called the regular meeting of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) to order at 7:18 p.m.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

None

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

G. Annable made a motion to put agenda item 5 before item 4.  V. Holtz seconded the motion.  The motion passed 6-0. (M. Potter was not present for the vote.)

C. Edgerton moved to adopt the agenda as amended. J. Foran seconded the motion.  The motion passed 6-0. (M. Potter was not present for the vote).

MINUTES

Approval of December, 14 2006 Minutes

G. Annable moved to approve the December 14, 2006 minutes.  V. Holtz seconded the motion.

The motion passed 7-0.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

None

Agenda Item #1: Election of Board Officers

A. Kennett called for nominations for Chairperson.

G. Annable moved to nominate J. Foran for Chairperson. 

V. Holtz moved to close the nomination period.  C. Edgerton seconded the motion.  The motion passed 7-0

Motion approved 7-0

A. Kennett called for nominations for Vice Chairperson.

C. Edgerton nominated M. Potter for Vice Chairperson.

G. Annable nominated S. Hall for Vice Chairperson. 

M. Potter declined the nomination for Vice Chairperson.

G. Annable again nominated S. Hall for Vice Chairperson. 

C. Edgerton moved to close the nomination period.  V. Holtz seconded the motion.  The motion passed 7-0

Motion passed 7-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Agenda Item #2: Acceptance of the 2005/06 Audit Report.

K. Lurie introduced the item stating that Paul Kaymark from Charles Z. Fedak & Company would present the Audit Report for 2005/2006 fiscal year. 

P. Kaymark presented the FY 2005/2006 Audit Report to the Board.

Board questions and discussion ensued.

K. Lurie distributed the Management Report prepared by Fedak & Company.

C. Edgerton thanked staff for the clear and concise reporting of the annual budget.

Motion:  M. Potter made a motion to approve Resolution 07-01 adopting the Audit Report for FY 2005/2006.  A. Kennett seconded the motion.

Motion passed 7-0

Agenda Item #3: Direction and authorization to legal counsel regarding amendments to enabling legislation.

B. Parkin stated that he had talked to Assemblyperson Laird’s office said that the deadline for submitting changes was January 18, 2007.  He said that if the Board approved the changes, he would hand deliver the documents to Assemblyperson Laird’s office.  He noted that within the Board’s agenda packet information was a draft copy of the letter that would be part of the documents given to Assemblyperson Laird’s office.  He also reviewed some minor changes to the letter. 

M. Potter recommended another change on the 2^nd page, 2^nd paragraph to clarify that the election does not always fall in March and has been moved to June.

Motion:  A. Kennett moved to approve resolution 07-02.  M. Potter seconded the motion.  The motion passed 6-1.

G. Annable voted against stating that she objected to moving the election to November.

Agenda Item #5, moved to Item #4 as amended in the approval of the Agenda:  Authorization to Negotiate with Property Owner Harry Marx, APN# 841-77-011 – Nielsen Ranch – Upper Coyote Study Area.

P. Congdon introduced the item stating the Authority would like authorization to negotiate with Harry Marx, owner of APN# 841-77-011.

Motion:  G. Annable moved to adopt Resolution 07-04.  She noted that the Board approved a resolution at their June 22, 2006 meeting that mentioned the parcel in detail and the motion intended to include this parcel.  A. Kennett seconded the motion.  The motion passed 7-0.

Agenda Item #4, moved to item #5: Authorization to enter into a Purchase Agreement for the Acquisition of two parcels of land, 841-77-003 and 898-27-028, totaling 574 Acres (Doan Ranch) from Harry Marx – Upper Coyote Study Area

P. Congdon stated that the item was intended to ask for Board approval to enter into a purchase agreement for two parcels of land, 841-77-003 and 898-27-028, totaling 574 Acres known as the Doan Ranch.  He stated that the total purchase price is $2,791,464.44.  He reviewed the highlights of the property, which were included in the board report. 

Motion:  G. Annable moved to approve resolution 07-03 with the understanding that the General Manager would request a purchase agreement for the Nielsen Ranch when submitting the purchase agreement for the Doan Ranch properties.  A. Kennett seconded the motion. 

P. Congdon said that the Authority would be trying to secure additional funding to help offset the cost to the Authority.

J. Foran stated that he felt this was a worthy acquisition by the Authority.

The motion passed 7-0.

CONSENT CALENDAR

No items on Consent Calendar

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

CAC Committee Update (from liaisons)

No report

Agricultural Project Update

As above.

Acquisition Policy Committee

None

Acquisition Committee

None

Use & Management Committee

None

Administration & Budget Committee

A. Kennett noted that the committee met and discussed  pending CAC applications saying they would review them further.

General Manager’s Report

P. Congdon stated that the Llagas Creek Loop Trail at Rancho Canada del Oro has been completed.  He stated that two picnic tables will be installed in the next week or so and the new trail will be dedicated after the installation.  He stated that the abutments have been constructed for the 80’ bridge and field staff will install the bridge the week of January 22.

He noted that staff held a public workshop for a staging area at the east foothills properties.  He noted that nearly 50 people were in attendance.  He said the second workshop would be held on Saturday at the Milpitas Community Center.

He said that a couple of years ago, a hang gliding group had requested a special permit to use Palassou Ridge for hang gliding and the Authority gave them a limited permit to see how the activity would affect use on Authority land.  He noted that the experiment has been a success and the information that the Authority was able to obtain about use of the site has been invaluable.  He said the group was interested in a more permanent use of the site and he was in the process of reviewing the information before making a decision.

Legal Counsel Report

B. Parkin stated that he had no report.

Board Member Reports

G. Annable acknowledged Greg West’s role in the Measure B success for County Parks.  She asked that he urge the Parks director become a fiscal partner in the Doan Ranch acquisition.

A. Kennett thanked the staff and the board for their support during his two years as chairperson of the board.

V. Holtz requested a future agenda item to have a study session regarding the Authority’s role in the Coyote Valley Specific Plan.

M. Potter thanked A. Kennett for his service as Chairperson.

C. Edgerton stated that the new whole-access trail was very nice and a great addition to the Authority’s trail system. 

C. Edgerton resigned his position as board member on the Open Space Authority board, effective Monday, January 15, 2007.  He noted he has very much enjoyed his service on the Board.

G. Annable asked that the board receive the boundary map for District 7.

J. Foran thanked A. Kennett for his chairmanship for the past two years.  He also thanked C. Edgerton for his service on the board.

G. Annable stated that she was very hopeful for the Authority’s potential partnership with the Silicon Valley Land Conservancy with C. Edgerton as the executive director.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at  9:06 p.m.