ROLL CALL/ CONVENED TO CLOSED SESSION

Chairperson Jim Foran called the regular meeting of the Santa Clara County Open Space Authority (OSA) to order at 6:34 p.m. at the Open Space Authority Administrative Office, 6830 Via del Oro, Ste 200, San Jose, CA.  He directed the Clerk to take Roll Call.

Members Present

Jim Foran, Virginia Holtz, Garnetta Annable, Sequoia Hall, Mike Potter

Alex Kennett, Kalvin Gill

Members Excused Absent

None

Staff Present

Patrick Congdon, General Manager

Bill Parkin, Legal Counsel

Lauren Crook, Clerk of the Board

Josh Lazarus, Open Space Planner

Lark Burkhart, Public Information Specialist

Public Present

Matt Freeman, Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association

Yves Zsutty, City of San Jose

Dave Smith, Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association

John Hesler, Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association

Lynn Paulson, Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association

Walter Moore, Executive Vice-president, POST

Andrés Quintero, aid to San Jose City Councilmember Forrest Williams

RETURN FROM CLOSED SESSION

7:00 P.M.   No reportable actions.

OPEN SESSION

Chairperson Jim Foran called the open session of the regular meeting of the OSA to order at 7:03 p.m.

PUBLIC PRESENTATIONS

There were no public presentations

ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA

 A. Kennett moved to adopt the agenda.  V. Holtz seconded the motion. 

The motion passed 7-0.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of November 8, 2007

G. Annable moved to approve the minutes of November 8, 2007.  V. Holtz seconded the motion.  The motion passed 6-0; S. Hall abstained from the vote as he was not present at the November 8, 2007 meeting.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS

L. Crook stated that a board member had received a letter from Nancy Pyle, Councilmember for the City of San Jose supporting the Santa Teresa Ridge Neighborhood Association’s efforts to preserve Santa Teresa Ridge.  She distributed copies of the letter to all board members. 

NEW BUSINESS

Agenda Item #1: Approval of City of San Jose – 20% Funding Application for Albertson Parkway Project

Y. Zsutty greeted the Board.  He distributed three pieces of documentation: Trail County 2007, Trail Facts, and Albertson Parkway – OSA Grant Request.  He stated that the City of San Jose was requesting $400,000 for construction of a trail in the Albertson Parkway corridor.  He stated that the purpose of the project is to enhance the trail system to Santa Teresa Park and to appropriately memorialize Mr. Gary Albertson.

Motion:  V. Holtz made a motion to approve Resolution 07-45, 20% Funding application from City of San Jose for Albertson Parkway project with an amendment to the Resolution to read in the third Whereas:

Now, therefore, be it resolved, the Board of the Authority authorizes the General Manager to enter into a 20% Funding Program Agreement with the City of San Jose to fund trail improvements on parcels 704-18-061 and 704-18-078.  A. Kennett seconded the motion.  The motion passed 7-0.

P. Congdon asked that agenda Item #2 be continued until Walter Moore from POST arrived.

Agenda Item #3: Discussion Regarding Authority’s Interest in Accepting 13 Acres of Land from Pacific Gas and Electric as Mitigation for the Metcalf to Moss Landing Reinforcement Project.

P. Congdon introduced the item stating that the Authority had the opportunity to accept 13 acres of land from PG&E as mitigation for the Metcalf to Moss Landing Reinforcement Project. He noted that PG&E would be purchasing the land from Castle and Cook and transfer management to the Authority.  He said that the Authority would receive an endowment for the management of the lands. 

He asked the Board for their input regarding moving forward on the project.

Board discussion ensued.

The Board authorized the General Manager to continue to move forward with the project. 

Agenda Item #2: Authorization to enter into an Assignment of Purchase Agreement with Peninsula Open Space Trust for the Acquisition of 868 acres known as the Blair Ranch – Western Watershed Study Area, Parcel APN 742-23-002 and Portions of Parcels 742-23-001 and 742-24-005

P. Congdon introduced Walter Moore, the Executive Vice-president of the Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST). 

P. Congdon continued by giving a presentation with details of the property.

He stated that the Blair property is approximately 990 acres and the POST/OSA purchase is for approximately 868 acres.  He noted that the family will retain 122 acres.  The total purchase price for the property is $8,680,000.  He said the Authority would pay half of the purchase price and POST would pay for the other half. 

Walter Moore greeted the Board.  He stated that POST has been working towards protection of open space for 30 years.

He stated that the Blair property is an extraordinary piece of property and has been identified as part of an incredible corridor that includes an area down to Madonna County Park that POST feels is in need of preservation.  He noted that POST has identified the Open Space Authority, with Patrick Congdon as General Manager, as a strong partner in conservation.

He stated that the structure of the financing with this particular project is emblematic of other like projects.  He said that working with a strong partner such as the Open Space Authority allows POST to bring together other partners like the Moore Foundation and the Coastal Conservancy to create a funding package that allows for grants and loans that makes the purchase possible.

J. Foran thanked W. Moore for POST’s assistance in the project.

M. Potter asked W. Moore if the Blairs were willing sellers.

W. Moore stated that the Blairs were very pleased with the project and fully support the sale and transfer of their property to the Open Space Authority.

G. Annable acknowledged P. Congdon for his diligent hard work in bringing the project to such a successful conclusion.

Motion:   V. Holtz made a motion to approve Resolution 07-46 authorizing the General Manager to enter into an Assignment of Purchase Agreement with Peninsula Open Space Trust for the Acquisition of 868 acres known as the Blair Ranch – Western Watershed Study Area, Parcel APN 742-23-002 and Portions of Parcels 742-23-001 and 742-24-005.  M. Potter seconded the motion.  The motion passed 7-0.

Agenda Item #4: Discussion Regarding Status of Land Preservation Efforts on Santa Teresa Ridge – South San Jose

P. Congdon introduced the item stating that both he and John Hesler, president of the Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association, would each be giving a presentation on the status of development and opportunities for preservation on Santa Teresa Ridge.

J. Hesler gave a presentation about the background of Santa Teresa Ridge.  He stated that there were approximately 1,500 acres to be preserved.  He noted that the 2020 Task Force Report ranked Santa Teresa Ridge as a #1 priority for preservation.

He stated that preservation of Santa Teresa Ridge would promote numerous trail connectivity opportunities and preserve significant viewshed.  He noted that the area has been identified as serpentine grassland and habitat for Bay Checkerspot butterfly.

He stated that the Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association hopes that the Open Space Authority Board would begin negotiations to acquire the 27-acre Sanchez/Sanfilipo property.

P. Congdon stated that he recommends that the Authority should enter into discussion and negotiations with the property owner.  He stated he’d like to meet with other agencies to begin preparing a detailed plan for understanding the Santa Teresa Study Area.

G. Annable suggested that the neighborhood association begin outreach to other agencies to assist in the preservation of the area.

V. Holtz concurred that an effort should be made to get other stakeholders involved.

A. Kennett asked that staff put an item on a future agenda to begin negotiations with the property owner.

Other Board members concurred.

Councilmember William’s aid, Andres Quintero, greeted the board and stated that Councilmember Williams lends his full support to the Santa Teresa Foothills Neighborhood Association and its efforts to preserve Santa Teresa Ridge.

P. Congdon stated that he would add a business item on the next regular meeting agenda asking for authorization to negotiate with the property owner of the 27-acre parcel.

CONSENT CALENDAR

No items on Consent

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

CAC Committee Update (from liaisons) &

Agricultural Project Update

 G. Annable stated that the Committee met in November.   They discussed the 20% Funding policy that states that applications needed to be received 90 days prior to approval and that that didn’t seem realistic. 

Acquisition Committee

No report.

Use & Management Committee

No report.

Administration & Budget Committee

J. Foran stated that the Committee met and an item will be on the next agenda regarding the OSA Investment Plan.

Agriculture and Conservation Mitigation Workshop Committee

J. Foran has a meeting scheduled for December 19^th.

General Manager’s Report

P. Congdon reported that a number of projects that staff has been looking at.  He noted that he looked at a report on the UTC property clean up.  He stated that staff did not comment on the report as it did not address land use; he stated that he attended a conference put on by the Bay Area Open Space Council regarding where the next 1,000,000 acres will be preserved.  He stated that this multi-agency focus project has developed a priority list of areas to be preserved.  He stated that several south county projects are on the list.

P. Congdon stated that staff has been looking into new office space.  He noted that the current office lease will expire at the end of August 2008 however there were problems with smoking within the building and so staff was looking at other office options.

Legal Counsel Report

William Parkin stated that he had no report.

Board Member Reports

Kalvin Gill stated he had no report.

Mike Potter stated that he had no report

Virginia Holtz stated she had no report

Alex Kennett stated that he attended Assembly member Laird’s lunch.  He noted that water use was on the agenda. 

He suggested that the Board attend another farm tour as there were more areas to visit.

Sequoia Hall stated that he attended the HCP meeting regarding finances. He summarized the other aspects of the meeting.

P. Congdon stated that staff is continuing to work with the HCP task force to further define the Open Space Authority’s role within the HCP.

Garnetta Annable stated she would not be attending the 2^nd board meeting in January and would also miss the CAC meeting.

Jim Foran reported that he attended a meeting of the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council. He said he will be attending a meeting of the South Bay Salt Pond Committee.

Adjournment

Meeting was adjourned at 9:51 p.m.