ROLL CALL

Chairperson Jim Foran 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, Mike Potter, Garnetta Annable.

Members Excused Absent

None

Staff Present

Patrick Congdon, General Manager

William Parkin, Legal Counsel

Lauren Crook, Clerk of the Board

Lark Burkhart, Public Information Specialist

Public Present

Greg West arrived at 8:02 p.m.

CONVENED TO CLOSED SESSION

6:30 P.M.

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION

7:35 P.M.  There were no reportable actions. Closed Session will reconvene after open session.

OPEN SESSION

Chairperson Jim Foran called the regular meeting of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) to order at 7:35 p.m.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

None

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

A. Kennett moved to adopt the agenda

B. Parkin asked that Item #1 be continued to a future meeting.

A. Kennett accepted the amendment.  J. Foran seconded the motion.  The motion to approve the amended agenda passed 6-0.

MINUTES

No Minutes for approval

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

None

NEW BUSINESS

Agenda Item #1: Approve entering into a purchase agreement for 128 acres (referred to as the Nielsen Ranch) from Harry Marx – APN# 841-77-011 – in the Upper Coyote Study Area.

This item was continued to a future meeting (see amendment to approval of the agenda).

Agenda Item #2: Acknowledge resignation of Director Edgerton, determine whether to fill vacancy by election or appointment, direct staff on how to proceed with filling the vacancy.

Motion:   A. Kennett made a motion to approve filling the vacancy by appointment.  S. Hall seconded the motion.

S. Hall stated that he supports appointment rather than an election as it saves the Authority a substantial amount of money.  Directors Kennett and Foran agreed.

L. Crook stated she would publish a public notice and post a notice of the vacancy in various places within District 7. 

B. Parkin noted that the timeline for filling the vacancy was very short and that the Board must fill the vacancy within 60 days of the resignation date which would make the deadline March 15, 2007. 

L. Crook stated that the Chairperson would need to appoint members of the Board to a Nominating Committee for review of Letters of Interest.

Motion passed 6-0

Agenda Item #3: Determine Board Member Committee Meeting Assignments for 2007.

J. Foran stated that the Executive Committee and the Public Use Committee were no longer necessary and that they should be disbanded.

J. Foran noted that the Use & Management Committee members were currently Garnetta Annable, Sequoia Hall, and Virginia Holtz.  He asked which members would like to remain on the Committee.

S. Hall stated he would like to remain on the Committee.

V. Holtz said she would like to remain on the Committee.

J. Foran asked P. Congdon if he has a purpose statement for the Committee.

P. Congdon stated that there was nothing in writing but the discussion revolves around modifying or creating policy that has to do with the use and management of Authority lands.

J. Foran appointed the following members to the following committees:

Use & Management Committee:  G. Annable, M. Potter, V. Holtz

Acquisition Committee:  G. Annable, A. Kennett, J. Foran

Administration & Budget Committee:  A. Kennett, S. Hall, J. Foran

CAC Liaison:  G. Annable, A. Kennett, V. Holtz (alternate)

Acquisition Policy Committee:  J. Foran, M. Potter, G. Annable

J. Foran appointed G. Annable, M. Potter and J. Foran to the Nominating Committee for appointment of the new director.

S. Hall asked that the Board meet to discuss the Authority’s general vision. 

P. Congdon stated that since C. Edgerton’s resignation, a staff member or board member should be named to represent the Authority for the Santa Clara County Habitat Plan.

S. Hall asked that an agenda item be added to the next meeting to discuss board liaison appointment.

CONSENT CALENDAR

No items on Consent Calendar

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

CAC Committee Update (from liaisons)

S. Hall noted that Dorsey Moore was appointed the new chairperson of the CAC and Dave Poeschel was voted as the Vice-chairperson.  He stated that they discussed their involvement on the speakers bureau as coordinated by Lark Burkhart.

L. Burkhart noted that the CAC also discuss the Agricultural Lands Survey process.

Agricultural Project Update

See above.

Acquisition Policy Committee

None

Acquisition Committee

None

Use & Management Committee

P. Congdon stated that discussion included the disposition of the Moore residence.  P. Congdon stated that disposition of the property may come to the Board as early as the next meeting.

Administration & Budget Committee

No report.  P. Congdon noted that the next meeting was critical as the budget cycle for FY 07-08 was underway.

General Manager’s Report

P. Congdon handed out a book to each board member titled Last Child in the Woods; he noted that staff has been constructing an 80 ft. bridge over Llagas Creek and it would be installed during the coming weekend; he stated that the whole access trail was complete, picnic benches have been installed and that L. Burkhart was working on the details of the opening of the trail; he mentioned that he attended a green visioning meeting for the Bay Area.  He said that the meeting was productive and that the GIS work that was done during the meeting was very helpful.  He said that the end result would create a visioning map for preservation projects in the future.  He said he thought it might be completed in the next year.

Legal Counsel Report

No report.

Board Member Reports

A. Kennett noted that Al Gore would be attending the Joint Venture Silicon Valley meeting on February 2.

V. Holtz noted that she attended a Habitat Conservation Plan meeting the previous Tuesday.

J. Foran noted that the board would reconvene to closed session at 8:30 p.m.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 8:57 p.m.  There were no reportable actions from closed session.