View from Russian Ridge Preserve to Mindego Hill by Karl Gohl

Board Meeting

7:00 PM

The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District (Midpen) Board meetings are held in person at the District’s Administrative Office, and by teleconference pursuant to Government Code Section 54953.   

PUBLIC ATTENDANCE OPTIONS 

  1. In person at the Midpen Administrative Office: the Board Room is open to the public during meetings of the Board of Directors.  
  2. Remotely via Zoom:  Join the meeting conference by clicking this link:  https://openspace.zoom.us/j/84857588083 
  3. By phone:  dial (669) 900-6833 or (346) 248-7799 and enter the Meeting ID:  848 5758 8083 

SUBMITTAL OF PUBLIC COMMENTS 
Members of the public may submit written comments to be provided to the Board, or register to make oral comments, as follows: 

  • Written comments may be submitted via the public comment form at: https://www.openspace.org/public-comment.  
  • Requests to provide oral comment must be submitted prior to the time when public comment on the agenda item is closed as follows: 
    • In-person attendance: submit a request via the paper-based public comment form at the meeting.   
    • Remote attendance: submit a request through the public comment form at: https://www.openspace.org/public-comment. 
  • Any comments received after the deadline will be provided to the Board after the meeting.  
Agenda
0 - 20260211_BOD_Agenda_26-05.pdf
Agenda Packet
1 - 20260128_BOD_Minutes_DRAFT.pdf
2 - 20260211_Claims.pdf
3 - 20260211_AnnualOmbudspersonReport2025_R-26-14.pdf
4 - 20260211_ContractAmendmentWithVollmar_R-26-15.pdf
5 - 20260211_AwardofContractforMicrosoftCorpEnterpriseAgreement_R-26-16.pdf
6 - 20260211_PublicSignatureEvent_R-26-17.pdf
7 - 20260211_BoardPolicy2.01Revisions_R-26-18.pdf
8 - 20260211_BoardPolicy1.05Revisions_R-26-19_REVISED.pdf
Meeting Agenda

7:00 REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE MIDPENINSULA REGIONAL OPEN SPACE DISTRICT  

ROLL CALL

ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
This portion of the agenda is for members of the public to comment on items not on the agenda; however, the Brown Act (Open Meeting Law) does not allow action by the Board of Directors on items not on the agenda. Individuals are limited to one comment during this section. 

ADOPTION OF AGENDA

SPECIAL ORDERS OF THE DAY
Introduction of Staff  
• Alex Reep, Government Affairs Specialist I

CONSENT CALENDAR
All items on the Consent Calendar may be approved without discussion by one motion. Board members, the General Manager, and members of the public may request that an item be removed from the Consent Calendar during consideration of the Consent Calendar. 

1. Approve the January 28, 2026 meeting minutes

2. Claims Report  

3. Annual Ombudsperson Summary Report for Activities from January through December 2025 (R-26-14)
Staff Contact: Lori Low, Public Affairs Manager, Public Affairs Department
General Manager’s Recommendations:  
1. Review and accept the annual report from the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Ombudspersons regarding Ombudsperson inquiries received in 2025.
2. Accept the resignation of Ombudsperson Kristen Yawitz.
3. Extend the term of Ombudsperson Lisa Zadek through December 2026. 

4. Contract Amendment with Vollmar Natural Lands Consulting to include surveys of Western Pond Turtle at Cherry Springs Pond in Sierra Azul Open Space Preserve as part of the Districtwide Survey and Assessment of Sensitive-Status Herpetofauna (Amphibians and Reptiles) Species (R-26-15)
Staff Contact: Marianne Rogers & Sherilyn Reinhart, Acting Resource Management Specialist I, Natural Resources Department
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the General Manager to execute a contract amendment with Vollmar Natural Lands Consulting in the amount of $20,000 for additional biological consulting services at Cherry Springs Pond to support the Districtwide Herpetofauna and Aquatic Habitat Assessment project, for a new contract amount not-to-exceed $267,282. 

5. Award of Contract for Microsoft Corporation Enterprise Agreement (R-26-16)
Staff Contact: Owen Sterzl, IT Program Administrator, Information Systems & Technology Department
General Manager’s Recommendation: Authorize the General Manager to enter into a 5year Microsoft Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft Corporation via license service provider SHI International Corp through a cooperative purchasing agreement with the California Department of Technology to renew Microsoft licenses for an amount not-toexceed $871,919.

BOARD BUSINESS
Public comment on agenda items is received at the time each item is considered by the Board of Directors.

6. Public Signature Event (R-26-17)
Staff Contact: Eleanor Raab, Public Affairs Specialist I, Public Affairs Department Natalie Jolly, Public Affairs Specialist III, Public Affairs Department
General Manager’s Recommendation: Review the concept and initial planning for a Public Signature Event to increase in-person outreach and deepen community connections, with a budget not to exceed $30,000. 

7. Revisions to the Board Policy 2.01 Guidelines for Board/Staff Working Relationship (R-26-18)
Staff Contact: Brian Malone, Assistant General Manager, General Manager’s Office
General Manager’s Recommendation: Approve the proposed revisions to the Board Policy 2.01, Guidelines for Board-Staff Working Relationships, to clarify the interactions by Board members when acting in a volunteer capacity and accurately describe the General Manager’s administrative oversight of the staff performance evaluation process. 

8. Revisions to Board Policy 1.05 Board Correspondence (R-26-19)
Staff Contact: Maria Soria, District Clerk/Assistant to the General Manager, General Manager’s Office  
General Manager’s Recommendation: Review and approve revisions to Board Policy 1.05 Board Correspondence. 

INFORMATIONAL REPORTS – Reports on compensable meetings attended. Brief reports or announcements concerning activities of District Directors and staff; opportunity to refer public or Board questions to staff for information; request staff to report to the Board on a matter at a future meeting; or direct staff to place a matter on a future agenda. Items in this category are for discussion and direction to staff only. No final policy action will be taken by the Board.  

A. Committee Reports
B. Staff Reports
C. Director Reports 

ADJOURNMENT

*Times are estimated and items may appear earlier or later than listed. The Agenda is subject to a change of order.  

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the District Clerk at (650) 691-1200. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the District to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

Written materials relating to an item on this Agenda that are considered to be a public record and are distributed to Board members less than 72 hours prior to the meeting, will be available for public inspection at the District’s Administrative Office at 5050 El Camino Real, Los Altos, California 94022. 

Recording

Regular Meeting agendas are posted 72 hours prior to the meeting. Special Meeting agendas are posted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

Unless otherwise noted, all meetings take place at the District Administrative Office - 5050 El Camino Real, Los Altos, CA 94022

Meeting minutes are generally available two to four weeks after a Board meeting. Please note that formal meeting minutes are not taken at Committee meetings or some Special Meetings of the Board (that is, study sessions or public workshops). See Midpen meeting minutes.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the District Clerk at clerk@openspace.org or 650-691-1200. Notification 48 hours prior to the meeting will enable the District to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to this meeting.

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