FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 14, 2022
Contact: Natalie Jolly
650-691-1200, njolly@openspace.org
Midpen board appoints new Bond Oversight Committee members
Los Altos, CA— At its regular meeting on October 12, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District board of directors appointed three new Measure AA Bond Oversight Committee members to serve four-year terms. Robert “Curtis” Cole, Kit Gordon and Steven Permut will join existing members Paul Betlem, Brian Cilker, David Emery and Bruce Tolley, all of whom are District residents, to form the seven at-large members committee.
Approved by voters in 2014, Measure AA is a 30-year, $300 million general obligation bond. When the public approved Measure AA, they also approved an ongoing review of expenditures through a Bond Measure Oversight Committee. The responsibilities of the committee include:
• Review plan expenditures on an annual basis to verify conformity with the expenditure plan.
• Review District’s Annual Audit and Annual Accountability Report and present the committee’s findings to the board at a public meeting.
• Review any proposed amendments to the expenditure plan.
"Many members of the public came forward with interest to serve in this important role,” Midpen General Manager Ana Ruiz said. “Public oversight of bond expenditures is an important component of Midpen’s commitment to transparency and fiscal responsibility. We are grateful for their eagerness to donate their time and talents and welcome the new members as they join existing committee members in reviewing our Measure AA bond fund expenditures on behalf of the public.”
Midpen’s $84 million budget is scheduled to fund 95 key projects for the fiscal year running July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. Over a quarter of the projects included in the FY23 Capital Improvement and Action Plan section of the budget are eligible for reimbursement through Measure AA, furthering Midpen’s work to meet the community priorities articulated in our Vision Plan.The Bond Oversight Committee does not oversee any other District financial information nor does it set policy or provide input or direction on projects, budgets, work plans, or financial matters pertaining to other District funds.
For more information about the Measure AA Bond Oversight Committee and the Accountability Reports, please visit openspace.org/BOC.
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The Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District’s mission is to acquire and preserve a regional greenbelt of open space land of regional significance in perpetuity, protect and restore the natural environment and provide opportunities for ecologically sensitive public enjoyment and education. On the San Mateo County coast, our mission also includes preserving agricultural land of regional significance and rural character and encouraging viable agricultural use of land resources. Midpen has successfully protected more than 70,000 acres of public open space land in the Santa Cruz Mountains region since 1972.