[00:00:01]
[OPEN SESSION]
I'D LIKE TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT THIS NOVEMBER 21ST, 2023.WE'RE BEGINNING TODAY AT 1:06.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?
[ROLL CALL]
YES. PRESIDENT. WAESPI.NOW, PLEASE JOIN ME IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
DIRECTOR SANWONG, WOULD YOU LEAD US? PLEASE STAND. HERE WE GO.
AND REMEMBER, ECHOLS, WOULD YOU DO THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT FOR US, PLEASE?
[LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT]
SURE. WE HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE ON THE UNCEDED LANDS OF THE OHLONE PEOPLE, AND THAT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED WITHIN THE TERRITORY, WHICH IS THEIR TRADITIONAL, ANCESTRAL AND SHARED HOME.SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, THE OHLONE PEOPLE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO LIVE IN RECIPROCITY WITH NATURE, UNDERSTANDING THE SEASONS AND CYCLES OF THE NATURAL WORLD, MANAGING RESOURCES FUNDAMENTAL FOR SURVIVAL, AND IMPORTANT TO CULTURAL PRACTICES, ALL WHILE PASSING DOWN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE.
WE HONOR WITH GRATITUDE THE LAND ITSELF, THE WILDLIFE LIVING IN THESE LANDS, AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STEWARDED IT SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL AND WHO CONTINUE TO REMAIN DEEPLY CONNECTED TO IT TODAY.
JOIN US IN CELEBRATING NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH AS WE HONOR TRUTH AND HISTORY AND AWARENESS OF CONTEMPORARY ISSUES FACING THE NATIVE COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE EAST BAY, THE NATION, AND THE WORLD, THE PARK DISTRICT STRIVES TO PROMOTE ACCURATE AND HOLISTIC DEPICTIONS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN OUR PUBLIC AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR NATIVE VOICES, AS WE ASK OTHERS TO JOIN US IN LEARNING ABOUT CALIFORNIA NATIVE PEOPLES FROM CALIFORNIA NATIVE PEOPLES, PLEASE VISIT THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE FOR PROGRAMS AS WE CELEBRATE NOVEMBER NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH.
[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA TO HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
HEARING NONE. THE AGENDA IS APPROVED.
WE. OUR NEXT ITEM IS SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, AND I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ONE AT THIS POINT.
WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
COMMENTS? THANK YOU.I'M AN ADMIN ANALYST HERE AT PERALTA OAKS IN THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT FOR BUSINESS SERVICES.
AND TODAY I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU WE STILL HAVE A PURGE FILING.
IT'S WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BOARD.
AFSCME FILED AN UNFAIR PRACTICE CHARGE ON AUGUST 26TH, 2022, AND THE CHARGE WAS FOR BAD FAITH BARGAINING, INTERFERENCE, DIRECT DEALING, AND UNILATERAL IMPLEMENTATION.
I'VE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR A LONG TIME NOW.
I DON'T KNOW WHY, I USUALLY MESS IT UP.
DIDN'T TODAY, BUT I'M KIND OF FLUMMOXED BY THIS WHOLE THING.
AND I'M LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU THANKING ME FOR? I DON'T EVEN KNOW ANYMORE.
I'M DETERMINED TO KEEP DOING IT UNTIL I HEAR SOMETHING.
AND SO YOU WILL NEVER FORGET IT, WHICH I THINK YOU PROBABLY WON'T, BUT I'LL KEEP COMING ANYWAY.
ANY OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS? EVERYONE KNOWS HOW WE CAN GET PUBLIC COMMENTS TO US.
I NEED TO CHECK AND SEE IF THERE'S ANYBODY.
[00:05:03]
OKAY. OKAY.[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO, I DON'T SEE. WE HAVEN'T BEEN TOLD ABOUT THAT.OKAY, WE'LL MOVE TO THE BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD.
OUR CONSENT CALENDAR CONTAINS 11 ITEMS.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS OR ANY BOARD MEMBERS? ANYBODY WANT TO PULL ANY ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION OR.PRESIDENT WAESPI, WE DID HAVE SOME QUESTIONS.
I DON'T KNOW. DIRECTOR ROSARIO AND DIRECTOR MERCURIO, DID YOU HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS TOTALLY ANSWERED? DIRECTOR ROSARIO. YEAH, I HAD ALL MY QUESTIONS ANSWERED, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE COMMENT ON ITEM NUMBER FIVE.
MY COMMENT THAT WE'RE BUYING THESE VEHICLES..
JUST FOR THE RECORD, LET'S ITEM NUMBER FIVE IS AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE THE SEVEN FORDS.
AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE SEVEN FORD TRUCKS FROM DOWNTOWN FORD SALES.
AND THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $310,000 226.
AND MY COMMENT IS BASICALLY THAT YOU KNOW, JASON WAS VERY HAPPY TO GIVE ME THE THE DETAILS OF WHY IT'S SO DIFFICULT TO GET ELECTRIC VEHICLES FOR OUR FLEET.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK OPERATIONS AND, AND EACH PARK TO LOOK AT THEIR LOOK AT THEIR LOOK AT THEIR UNIQUE PARKS AND HOW THEY OPERATE AND SEE IF THEY CAN INCORPORATE ELECTRIC BIKES IN THEIR OPERATION.
SHE FOUND A TRAILER, WE PUT IT TOGETHER, AND WE USED THAT FOR OUR STUDENT LABOR TO CLEAN RESTROOMS AND DO LITTER PICKUPS IN IN THE CANYON.
IT'D BE EVEN EASIER WITH ELECTRIC BIKES.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M ASKING STAFF TO LOOK AT THEIR OPERATIONS TO SEE IF THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.
THANK YOU. GREAT, GREAT IDEAS, BY THE WAY.
ANY. JOHN. CAN I CAN I JUST ASK A QUESTION ABOUT NUMBER EIGHT? BECAUSE I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT.
TELL US WHAT NUMBER EIGHT IS FOR THE AUDIENCE.
EXCUSE ME, WITH THE CITY OF EMERYVILLE TO PASS THROUGH THE GRANT FUNDS FOR THE POWELL STREET PROJECT AT MCLAUGHLIN EASTSHORE STATE PARK IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 480,000.20. AND THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, IT'S A IT'S A SLIVER OF LAND THAT WILL BE IMPROVED WITH LANDSCAPING AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS, I THINK.
AND I'M JUST WONDERING WHO DOESN'T SAY IN THERE WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING THIS ONCE IT'S COMPLETED? GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD.
DAVID CALDWELL, ACTING GRANTS MANAGER.
YES. AS FAR AS THE LONG TERM MAINTENANCE, I WILL HAVE TO LOOK THAT UP AND I CAN GET BACK TO YOU.
BUT I DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE DETAILS IN MY NOTES.
COLIN, I HAVE A COMMENT ON ITEM NINE.
ALL RIGHT. ITEM NINE IS AUTHORIZATION TO APPLY FOR GRANT FUNDS FROM THE CDC FOUNDATION FOR SWIMMING AND WATER SAFETY TRAINING PROGRAMS IN EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, IN AN AMOUNT UP TO $125,000.
THANK YOU. SO FOR MY COLLEAGUES, WHAT'S NOT IN OUR BACKGROUND MATERIAL IS THAT THIS PROGRAM AND SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN EAST COUNTY ARE BEING PUT TOGETHER, PROMOTED AND ADVANCED BY OUR AQUATIC TEAM.
PETE DE QUINCY IN PARTICULAR REFLECTS THE NOW MULTI SEASON SHUTDOWN OF THE CONTRA LOMA LAGOON, WHICH AS WE ALL KNOW, IS A RESOURCE FOR, YOU KNOW, THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF EAST CONTRA COSTA RESIDENTS AND ESPECIALLY A SOURCE OF WATER SAFETY TRAINING FOR YOUTH IN EAST CONTRA COSTA.
SO WHAT PETE AND MANAGEMENT AND THE AQUATICS TEAM AND THE LIFEGUARDS HAVE DONE IS REACHED OUT TO LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS OUT THERE AND OTHER UNDERUTILIZED SWIM FACILITIES LIKE AMBROSE AND PUT TOGETHER WATER SAFETY PROGRAMS WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF CONTINUING OUR ROLE IN THIS IMPORTANT FACET OF EAST CONTRA COSTA WATER SAFETY PROMULGATION
[00:10:07]
AND KEEPS OUR FOLKS EMPLOYED WHILE THE LAGOON IS SHUT DOWN WHICH IS ALSO IMPORTANT.SO IT ISN'T IN THE BACKGROUND, BUT THIS IS REFLECTIVE OF THOSE EFFORTS, CONTINUING EFFORTS.
AND I, ON BEHALF OF THE MY CONSTITUENTS OF EAST COUNTY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE WHAT THE PARK DISTRICT IS DOING IN PUTTING THESE PROGRAMS TOGETHER WITH PARTNER GROUPS OUT THERE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? I WOULD JUST WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON NUMBER TWO, THE AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER IN A CONTRACT FOR SERVICES WITH THE CIVIC CORE AND THE AMOUNT OF $462,903, I HAD SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.
I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR ANSWERING THEM PROPERLY.
I THINK THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE ARRANGEMENT WE'RE MAKING WITH CIVIC CORE.
WE'VE HAD A 40 YEAR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.
I THINK WE'RE DOING GREAT, GREAT WORK WITH THEM.
AND WE'RE GETTING GREAT WORK OUT OF THEM, TOO.
SO I THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR PARTICIPATING IN THAT, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO US PASSING THIS.
AND I WILL AGREE WITH DIRECTOR COFFEY THE LIFEGUARD SERVICES AND PETE DE QUINCY IN IN PARTICULAR DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF CHANGING DIRECTION WHEN CONTRA LOMA CLOSED.
WHAT DO YOU DO? YOU'VE GOT AT LEAST.
AND THE NEED OF THE COMMUNITY TO BE HAVE SOME OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAMS. AND PETE AND HIS CREW JUST TURNED ON A DIME, MADE THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH AMADOR RECREATION AND NOW THE HIGH SCHOOLS.
AND IF YOU LOOK IN THE IN THE DOCUMENTS PROVIDED IN THIS, THIS ITEM, YOU KNOW, IT'S IT'S AMAZING THE LEADING CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL INJURY TO CHILDREN AGED 1 TO 14 IN THE UNITED STATES IS DROWNING.
SO THERE'S STILL A GREAT, GREAT NEED FOR TEACHING.
AND THAT'S A WHOLE SUBJECT IN ITSELF, HOW TO DROWN.
PROOF YOURSELF AND YOUR CHILDREN AND YOUR FAMILY.
SO ONCE AGAIN, COMPLIMENTS TO EVERYONE.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT WANTED TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM? I DO NOT HAVE ANY CARDS.
OKAY. HEARING NONE, I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SO MOVED. MOVED BY DIRECTOR ECHOLS AND SECONDED BY MEMBER MERCURIO.
IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
CONSENT. CALENDAR PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[GENERAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE]
GENERAL COUNSEL'S OFFICE FOR A PUBLIC HEARING.WE WERE BRINGING THIS ITEM TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBER COMPENSATION ANNUALLY.
AND IN RECOGNITION OF THE FACT THAT A LOT OF THE WORK YOU DO IS UNFORTUNATELY UNPAID.
AS YOU KNOW, BOARD MEMBER COMPENSATION IS SET BY STATE LAW, AND IT'S LIMITED TO ESSENTIALLY A PER MEETING AND PER DAY PAY RATE. CURRENTLY, THAT PAY RATE IS IS $121 PER DAY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT'S THAT'S JUST THE FUNCTION OF THE STATUTE.
AND ALSO COMPENSATION IS FURTHER LIMITED FOR BOARD MEMBERS BY THE NUMBER OF MEETINGS THAT YOU ARE QUALIFIED TO BE COMPENSATED FOR.
THAT NUMBER IS A MAXIMUM OF TEN PER MONTH.
SO PRIOR TO 2019, THERE WAS JUST $100 SET RATE OF COMPENSATION FOR BOARD MEMBERS, AND A LAW WAS PASSED THAT ENABLES THE BOARD TO INCREASE BOARD MEMBER COMPENSATION BY UP TO 5% PER YEAR.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO RAISE YOUR COMPENSATION THIS YEAR, STARTING FOR NEXT YEAR, THE PAY PER DAY OR PER MEETING WOULD BE $127.32. AND AGAIN, THAT'S REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY HOURS YOU SPEND THAT DAY OR HOW MANY MEETINGS YOU ATTEND.
[00:15:07]
SO WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU ADOPT THIS 5% INCREASE.AND IN LIGHT OF THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT EACH OF YOU SPEND ON PARK DISTRICT BUSINESS, AND ALSO IT'S IMPORTANT TO MAINTAIN THIS STATUTORILY PERMITTED COMPENSATION RATE IN ORDER TO INCENTIVIZE OTHER PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN SERVING AND DOING THIS PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THE BOARD.
AND THERE WERE YEARS HERE BEFORE I ARRIVED THAT WHERE COMPENSATION WAS NOT INCREASED.
AND I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU JUST DO THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS.
AT LEAST CONSIDER IT IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M AVAILABLE TO ANSWER THEM.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. I'LL.
YEAH. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I THINK THE RACE IS JUSTIFIED, BUT.
I'M NOT THAT I'M NOT RUNNING IN 2024.
IS THAT ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS OR LIMITATIONS TO BE BEING A MEMBER ON THIS BOARD IS COMPENSATION.
IF YOU HAVE A JOB, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE FLEXIBILITY.
AND AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT YOU KNOW, IT ALMOST IT ALMOST SELF-SELECTS FOR PEOPLE FOR BEING RETIRED.
SO. THANK YOU, JOHN, IF I MAY.
SO I DID A LITTLE CHECKING AROUND ABOUT INFLATION.
AND SO I FOUND, I FOUND A PLACE THAT YOU CAN PROJECT OUT VALUES, AND SO IF THE $100 THAT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE TO THIS POSITION IN 1980 WOULD BE WORTH $369 TODAY.
AND IT'S INTERESTING THAT ACTUALLY AMOUNTS TO ALMOST EXACTLY 3% A YEAR, WHICH IS KIND OF A STANDARD.
SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT OUT THERE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING IS I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS.
IT REALLY ONE WAY ANOTHER WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS IT'S NOT US, IT'S THE POSITION.
SO THAT'S A COUPLE OF THINGS I WAS THINKING ABOUT.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION TO APPROVE IF THERE IS ONE.
DIRECTOR WAESPI. PARDON ME COLIN, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
AND ALSO, JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC HEARING.
AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY WHEN HE WANTS TO SPEAK AND THEN CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
AND THAT IS THAT PHILOSOPHICALLY, I WOULDN'T SUPPORT ANY STIPEND RAISE FOR US THAT EXCEEDS WHAT OUR WORKFORCE IS GETTING IN THE LAST YEAR OF THEIR CONTRACT, WHICH I BELIEVE IS 3%.
AND SO IF THERE WAS A MOTION TO RAISE OUR STIPEND, THE FULL 5%, I'M IT'S NOT LIKE I OBJECT TO IT.
IT'S JUST I WOULD VOTE NO ON PHILOSOPHICAL GROUNDS.
BUT I WOULD SUPPORT A 3% RAISE IN THE STIPEND TO REFLECT THE RAISE OUR WORKFORCE IS GETTING IN THE LAST YEAR OF THE AFSCME CONTRACT. AT 3%, 3% WOULD BE A $3.6 RAISE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT ON WHERE I WOULD BE AT WITH THIS MEASURE.
GREAT. AND I WILL COMMENT ALSO THAT I FEEL THE EXACT SAME WAY AS DIRECTOR COFFEY AND I VOTED THAT WAY EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD AND OTHER BOARDS ALSO, SO I WILL BE VOTING OPPOSED IT AGAINST IT.
BUT I UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THAT IT'S IT'S TRIVIAL IN THE GREAT REALM OF THINGS, BUT IT IS A MORAL OBLIGATION I'M GOING TO ACCEPT. SO DO WE HAVE A OR, PARDON ME.
I OBVIOUSLY OPENED UP THE PUBLIC HEARING BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.
IS THERE ANYTHING FROM THE PUBLIC? NO. THIS SUBJECT.
ANYBODY IN THE ROOM.. STAFF ON THIS OR ANY AUDIENCE MEMBERS?
[00:20:02]
OKAY. HEARING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING, AND I'LL ACCEPT A MOTION TO ACCEPT THIS PROPOSAL.DIRECTOR MERCURIO PROPOSER MAKES THE MOTION.
SECOND. DIRECTOR ROSARIO SECONDS.
THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AND WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS AND THE TEEN ECO ACTION
[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]
PROGRAM UPDATE, BUT I THANK YOU SO MUCH, DIRECTOR WAESPI, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, DOCTOR ALVAREZ.I COULD JUST USE MY OUTDOOR VOICE.
IT WAS PART OF THE INTERVIEW PROCESS.
AND SHE'S BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT SIX YEARS, ALMOST SEVEN YEARS.
MEGAN WORKS OUT OF OUR TIDEWATER FACILITY.
ONE WORK GROUP OF SIX FULL TIME STAFF.
SHE'S NOT SHE'S HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO LET THE BOARD KNOW THAT THIS PROGRAM ALIGNS WITH THE DISTRICT'S GOAL OF IMPROVING ACCESS TO PARKLANDS AND OUTREACH TO UNDERREPRESENTED GROUPS.
SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING US TODAY.
SANDY. I'M JUST GOING TO PULL UP THE PRESENTATION REAL QUICK AND THEN I CAN START.
ONE MOMENT WHILE WE GET THAT UP.
HELLO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GENERAL MANAGER, STAFF AND PUBLIC.
MY NAME IS MEGAN SECCOMBE AND I AM A RECREATION COORDINATOR AND ACTING RECREATION SUPERVISOR.
THE TEEN ECO PROGRAM WAS FOUNDED IN 2007 AND IT IS IN ITS 16TH YEAR.
THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON OUTDOOR RECREATION, INTERPRETATION, SERVICE LEARNING, STEWARDSHIP AND CAREER ORIENTATION WITHIN THE PARK DISTRICT AND IN THE OUTDOOR FIELD.
THIS COLLABORATIVE PROGRAM SERVES UP TO 17 TEENS EACH WEEK.
CURRENTLY, WE SERVE BAY POINTE, OAKLAND, HAYWARD, AND RICHMOND COMMUNITIES.
[00:25:02]
COMMUNITIES THAT FOSTER MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS TO THEIR PARKS.WE ENGAGE YOUTH WHO HAVE BARRIERS TO THEIR PARKS.
WE EQUIP YOUTH WITH BIKES, BOATS, FISHING RODS, GLOVES AND LITTER GRABBERS, AND WE EMPOWER YOUTH WITH A SENSE OF OWNERSHIP OF THEIR REGIONAL PARKS AND THE TOOLS TO PREPARE FOR A JOB IN THE OUTDOOR FIELD.
WE THANK THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION FOR THE FOR GENEROUSLY FUNDING THIS PROGRAM.
THIS MADE THE PROGRAM MORE COMPETITIVE ACROSS THE BOARD WITH OUR APPLICANTS.
WE DO A TOUR OF MERRITT COLLEGE'S CAMPUS AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM FOR OAKLAND WEEK SO TEENS CAN EXPLORE EDUCATION OPTIONS FOR A CAREER OUTDOORS.
FROM HAYWARD TO OFFER A FULL DAY FOR THE TEENS AT THEIR LOCAL PARK AT HAYWARD SHORELINE.
SO FOR RECRUITMENT, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MARKETING THE PROGRAM, COLLECTING APPLICATIONS AND INTERVIEWING THE YOUTH WITH OUR NATURALISTS AND RECREATION LEADERS.
IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE PLANNING PHASE AND THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT THEIR PARTICIPANTS WANT TO EXPERIENCE IN THEIR PARKS, TO CREATE IMPACTFUL EXPERIENCES AND PROGRAMING OVER TIME, IT IS CRUCIAL TO BUILD THESE CONTINUOUS PARTNERSHIPS.
AREA ONE IS OUTDOOR RECREATION SKILL BUILDING.
WE GO BIKING, CANOEING, FISHING, HIKING, KAYAKING, AND SWIMMING.
AREA TWO IS NATURAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY.
INTERPRETATION. WE LEARN ABOUT BIRDING, BOTANY, ECOLOGY, NATIVE PEOPLES AND WATERSHEDS.
AREA THREE IS SERVICE AND STEWARDSHIP PROJECTS.
WE DO INVASIVE PLANT REMOVALS, LITTER PICKUP, MULCHING, PLANTING AND SHORELINE CLEANUPS.
AREA FOUR IS CAREER ORIENTATION AND JOB SKILLS.
WE FEATURE LUNCHTIME PRESENTATIONS FROM A VARIETY OF DISTRICT STAFF AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNER PARTNERS AGENCY STAFF, SO THAT YOUTH CAN LEARN ABOUT THE RICH DIVERSITY OF JOBS HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT AND WITH THEIR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
AFTER ALL, HOW MANY OF US STARTED AS SEASONAL STAFF? WE HAVE HIRED SIX PART TIME POSITIONS TO DATE FROM THIS PROGRAM, AND ONE OF THOSE TURNED INTO A FULL TIME POSITION WITH THE DISTRICT HERE, AND THEY CURRENTLY WORK AS A PARK RANGER. WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK ON OUTREACHING IN HOPES OF RECRUITING MORE CANDIDATES INTO SEASONAL POSITIONS, WHICH HELP THEM TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AND GROW.
SEASONAL POSITIONS CAN ALSO LEAD TO FULL TIME POSITIONS WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
EVERY YEAR WE DO GENERALLY SEE A POSITIVE CHANGE IN EACH AREA.
[00:30:01]
THIS CHANGE TO ALMOST 100% IN THE POST SURVEYS, WHICH IS AMAZING.THE MOST LASTING IMPACTS, THOUGH, CANNOT BE MEASURED WITH A LIKERT SCALE ON AN EVALUATION FORM.
PARTICIPANT QUOTES AND COMMENTS REALLY GIVE US A BETTER PICTURE ON THE IMPACTS OF THIS PROGRAM.
I WOULD LIKE TO LET THE TEENS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES AND SHARE SOME QUOTES FROM THEIR EVALUATIONS.
FROM A CITY OF RICHMOND'S COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT PARTICIPANT, AND I LEARNED THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE AND FUN, AND THAT TEEN ECO MAKES ME FEEL SOMETHING OF MYSELF. SO THAT'S WHY I HOPE I CAN GO NEXT YEAR, FROM AN AMBROSE TEEN CENTER PARTICIPANT.
AS THE SURVEY RESULTS CONVEY, THIS IS A HIGHLY IMPACTFUL PROGRAM AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ADAPT TO THE SHARED NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND THE DISTRICT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? DEE. YEAH, THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM.
HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN THE WHAT'S OUR OTHER, THE NATURALIST RUN OR IS IT THE SAME THE JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM? RICHMOND RANGER? YEAH. RICHMOND RANGERS.
OAKLAND. IS IT DIFFERENT OR THE SAME? THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
SO TEEN ECO ACTION PROGRAM IS A SPECIALIZED SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM THAT TYPICALLY ONLY RUNS DURING THE SUMMER SEASON, WHILE THE RICHMOND RANGERS AND LIKE PERALTA, HACIENDA, THE OAKLAND RANGERS AND ALSO THE TILDEN RANGERS PROGRAMS TYPICALLY RUN YEAR ROUND, MAINLY THROUGH THE SCHOOL YEAR FOR ESPECIALLY ADVENTURE CREW, WHICH ENDS AROUND JUNE.
SO THERE IS YOU KNOW, IT'S A LONGER LIKE ONE OF THOSE LONGITUDINAL IMPACTFUL PROGRAMS, SORRY.
THEY APPLY AND THEY TURN IN AN APPLICATION.
AND THEN WHEN THEY'RE WITH YOU FOR THE WEEK, ARE THEY GOING HOME EVERY DAY OR ARE THEY CAMPING OUT? REALLY GOOD QUESTION.
AND SO THEY'RE EXPECTED TO MEET AT THEIR CENTER.
SO THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER PARTS OF THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE PARTNERS.
THEY PROVIDE LIKE A CENTER LOCATION FOR THE PROGRAMING.
SO THEY'LL MEET AT THE CENTER BEFORE THE START OF THE PROGRAM.
THEY SIGN IN, WE GET ON THE BUS, WE GO TO THE PARK OR WHERE WE'RE GOING FOR THE DAY.
TYPICALLY, THESE ARE PARKS THAT ARE IN THEIR BACKYARD BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT'S REALLY BENEFICIAL.
IT'S LIKE CLEANING UP YOUR OWN BACKYARD.
VERY COOL. I JUST WANTED TO I'VE WORKED WITH BROTHERS ON THE RISE AND IN PARTICULAR, CESAR BARRAGAN.
YES. AND PLEASE SAY HI TO THEM.
I WILL THEM THROUGH FRIENDS OF SAUSAL CREEK.
THAT'S AMAZING, AND I DEFINITELY WILL LET HIM KNOW.
YEAH, WE HAD TO GOT TO PARTNER WITH HIM WHEN I ACTUALLY WORKED WITH CITY OF OAKLAND.
AND I'VE ACTUALLY PARTNERED WITH TEEN ECO AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER FROM THE OTHER SIDE.
THAT'S HOW LONG THIS PROGRAM'S BEEN GOING, AND IT'S JUST REALLY IMPACTFUL.
I CAN SAY FROM BOTH SIDES NOW THAT I'M COORDINATING IT.
AND BEFORE WHEN I GOT TO PARTICIPATE IN IT AS A COMMUNITY PARTNER.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, REALLY.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL PROGRAM.
SO OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW ABOUT THE THE STUDENTS WHO COME AND WORK WITH US.
I'M JUST WONDERING IF WE WOULD GET THAT THROUGH THE PARTNERS.
YEAH, THAT'S A THE PARTNERS TRACK THAT.
[00:35:04]
NOEL MENDEZ, WHO I WAS COORDINATING THE PROGRAM WITH.I WAS ACTUALLY JUST TALKING WITH JULIE THIS MORNING ABOUT HOW IT WOULD BE GREAT TO FIND A WAY TO TRACK YOU KNOW, WE DEFINITELY TRACK APPLICANTS THAT COME THROUGH OUR LEADERS IN TRAINING, TEEN ECO CO-OP OR ANY KIND OF OUR PROGRAMS LIKE THAT SO THAT WE KNOW THAT WE'RE HIRING THOSE REC LEADERS.
THEY ARE GOING TO GET PRIORITY TO GET AN INTERVIEW, AT LEAST BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN IN ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS. WE WANT TO GIVE THEM THAT OPPORTUNITY, BUT IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT IF WE COULD TRACK THAT AT A BIGGER LEVEL.
SO SOMETHING TO WORK ON WITH THE PARTNERS.
YEAH. SO I'M WONDERING, SINCE THEY'RE DOING THIS WORK, DO THEY GET PAID OR IS IT JUST A PURE TRAINING PROGRAM OR HOW DOES THAT WORK? THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.
AND SO IT IS VOLUNTEER SERVICE.
AND SO IT GETS PRORATED IF THEY DON'T COME FOR A DAY, IT'S JUST LIKE A JOB.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST WE WORK WITH THEM.
UNLESS THEY WERE LIKE REALLY SICK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
YEAH, YEAH. YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE DO HAVE REPEATS IN THE PROGRAM.
I'M CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO TURN AWAY A CANDIDATE IF THAT'S WHO OUR PARTNER IS OUTREACH TO.
BUT WE DO AIM TO GET NEW RECRUITS INTO THE PROGRAM.
AND WITH THE AGE PARAMETERS THAT ENDS UP HAPPENING.
YOU KNOW, WE GET THE TWEENS WHEN THEY BECOME TEENS AND THEN THE TEENS AGE OUT, BUT DEFINITELY A PRIORITY THAT WE'LL HAVE WITH THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHEN WE'RE WORKING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PARTICIPANTS THAT ARE OLDER, LIKE ON THE CUSP OF TURNING 18, THAT THEY REALLY GET A PRIORITY OR A TIME FIRST BECAUSE THEY AREN'T GOING TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY AGAIN. SO IT'S DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE USING TO KIND OF WEIGH THE HOW TO CUT IT DOWN.
BECAUSE JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, WE HAD ABOUT 40 APPLICANTS THIS YEAR FOR HARD.
SO IT WAS REALLY HARD TO CUT DOWN TO THOSE 17 POSITIONS.
SO DO YOU DO JUST ONE SESSION IN THE SUMMER OR ARE THERE MORE THAN ONE SESSIONS? SO WE DO FOUR SESSIONS.
SO WE DO. WE ACTUALLY SERVE WARDS ONE THREE.
THAT'S VACANT FOR WARD TWO, WARD AND WARD SEVEN.
WE WORK WITH HAYWARD COMMUNITIES AND THAT CAN BE CASTRO VALLEY, HAYWARD, EVEN SOMETIMES FREMONT.
SOMETIMES THE TEENS WILL COMMUTE.
AND THEN OUR BAY POINT PARTNER IS AMBROSE TEEN CENTER FROM AMBROSE PARKS AND RECREATION.
OH, OKAY, I SEE OKAY, SO IT'S ONE SESSION PER.
YEP. SO IT'LL BE FOUR WEEKS OF SPECIALIZED CAMP AND EACH ONE GETS A WEEK.
SO I GUESS THAT WAS A ROUNDABOUT ANSWER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ENLIGHTENING.
BUT I HAVE TO MAKE SURE WHEN I'M, WHEN I'M TALKING TO FOLKS OUT THERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS. AND I SAY THAT AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE HOPING THEY DON'T ASK ME TOO MANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE I KNOW IT TO BE TRUE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS.
AND NOW I KNOW, LIKE ANOTHER DETAIL, ANOTHER GREAT PROGRAM THAT I CAN I CAN TALK TO FOLKS ABOUT AND LET THEM KNOW THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS TO GET INVOLVED WITH NOT ONLY OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT JUST THE GENERAL IDEA OF BEING OUT IN NATURE. I ALSO LIKE THE IDEA THAT IT GOES INTO CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, THAT AMBROSE DISTRICT IS IS IN IT TOO.
AND SO IT COVERS A HUGE A HUGE AREA AND DIFFERENT AREAS.
AND WHY AM I FORGETTING THE LAST ONE? AND UNTIL THE NATURE AREA, VERY IMPORTANT ONE FOR RICHMOND.
SORRY. JUST HAD A LITTLE BIT OF BRAIN FART.
REALLY IMPORTANT INSIGHTS AND PROGRAMING IN TERMS OF ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE AND ALSO SHOWING THEM SOME DIFFERENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS THINK ABOUT THIS.
MY, MY FIRST JOB WAS AS A LIFEGUARD AND SWIM INSTRUCTOR.
SO I APPRECIATE PRESIDENT WAESPI'S EARLIER COMMENTS.
[00:40:03]
YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT TEACHING PEOPLE HOW TO SWIM, BUT TO PREVENT FROM DROWNING.AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY SOMETHING TO TO CELEBRATE AND TO INTRODUCE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.
SO I HAVE A COMMENT TO MAKE, AND IT HAS MORE TO DO WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS.
I KNOW I MENTIONED THIS TO THE CONSULTANT THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH FOR THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
I DO THINK THAT A VERY LARGE CHAPTER IN THAT STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER, THE NEXT CENTURY STRATEGIC PLAN DOES NEED TO BE ON YOUTH PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYMENTS, BECAUSE I KNOW BEING ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, WE'VE RECEIVED PRESENTATION ABOUT SOME OTHER PROGRAMING REGARDING YOUNG PEOPLE, AND IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT PROGRAMS, BUT IT'S VERY PIECEMEAL.
AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE US BRING THAT TOGETHER IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY SO THEY CAN REALLY THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE OUR GOALS WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES? WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OPPORTUNITIES? WHERE ARE SOME OF OUR GAPS? SO I REALLY HOPE THAT, AS YOU KNOW, BRIAN HOLT AND THE STRATEGIC PLANNING TEAM PUT THAT TOGETHER, THAT WE DO HAVE A VERY COMPREHENSIVE CHAPTER.
WE MAY NOT SOLVE EVERYTHING IN REGARDS TO YOUTH PROGRAMING AND EMPLOYMENT, BUT I THINK THAT THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO, BECAUSE I DO SEE THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PIECEMEAL PROGRAMS THAT ARE HAPPENING.
BUT IT'S REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES.
AND THEN THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, A SECOND PART OF THAT CHAPTER.
AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO CONTINUE TO, TO BRING THAT ALL TOGETHER.
SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR COMING TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. I AGREE WITH EVERYONE.
IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, GREAT OUTREACH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS OF THE CLOSED SESSION.
SO WE'LL BOY WE'LL MOVE TO BOARD COMMENTS.
[BOARD COMMENTS]
AND LET'S START WITH DIRECTOR MERCURIO.SO ON NOVEMBER 7TH I WENT TO THE BOARD MEETING OBVIOUSLY.
BUT LATER THAT, LATER THAT EVENING, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TO THE ALAMO MUNICIPAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND GAVE THEM A GOOD KIND OF THE THE STANDARD POWERPOINT THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED THAT GETS TWEAKED FROM AGENCY TO AGENCY.
BUT THEY WERE REALLY APPRECIATE APPRECIATIVE OF IT.
AND COMMENTED THAT THEY LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE DISTRICT.
AND TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THEM.
ON NOVEMBER 8TH, I MET WITH ANNA PORTER, WHO IS ASSOCIATED WITH A RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY IN WALNUT CREEK CALLED THE WAYMARK, AND SHE RUNS WHAT THEY CALL THE RAILS TO TRAILS EXPLORER CLUB, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO LEARN ABOUT.
THE DISTRICT, AND HOW THEY MIGHT USE THE DISTRICT'S RESOURCES TO PROVIDE PLACES TO RECREATE BY THE NOT ONLY THE MEMBERS THAT LIVE IN, THAT THE RESIDENTS THAT LIVE IN THEIR PROJECT THERE, BUT ALSO THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
BECAUSE THERE'S THIS CLUB IS OPEN TO ANYBODY.
ON NOVEMBER 9TH, I WAS WITH DIRECTOR ROSARIO UP ON OFF OF GRIZZLY PEAK BOULEVARD.
I GUESS THAT WAS RIGHT BY RIGHT NEAR FISH RANCH ROAD.
I THINK YOU PROBABLY HAVE MORE DETAIL ON THIS ABOUT THIS THAN THAN I WOULD HAVE, BUT IT'S A RESTORATION PROJECT THEY'RE DOING WITH ENTIRELY WITH VOLUNTEERS, AND IT'S JUST STRIKING WHAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO IN JUST A FEW YEARS.
AND I THINK THERE'S SOME LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM WHAT THEY'VE DONE THERE.
I GUESS YOU KNOW THE MOUNT DIABLO BEACON AND TRADITIONALLY WAS ONLY LIT ON PEARL HARBOR DAY.
NOW, IN RECENT YEARS, IT'S BEING LIT ON MEMORIAL DAY AND VETERANS DAY.
AND THEY PUSHED THE BUTTON AND THE BEACON LIT.
BUT IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TO TALK TO A FEW OF THE VETERANS THERE AND AND MAKE A CONNECTION.
[00:45:05]
ON NOVEMBER 13TH, I MET WITH KIM HUDSON WITH A NONPROFIT CALLED EARN AND LEARN, WHICH I'M KIND OF EXPLORING WAYS THAT THEY MIGHT WORK WITH US TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND 11 ON NOVEMBER 14TH, I WORK I ATTENDED THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE BY ZOOM ON NOVEMBER 16TH.I ATTENDED THE CONTRA COSTA COUNCIL NAVY LEAGUE DINNER.
THE NAVY LEAGUE IS AN INTERESTING GROUP.
AND SO THAT'S A WHOLE NOTHER IDEA.
AND THERE'S A, THERE'S A GENTLEMAN THERE THAT KIND OF COORDINATES ALL THAT, AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING OUT AND HIKING WITH THEM IF I CAN KEEP UP WITH THE MARINES, I DON'T KNOW.
I DON'T KNOW, I'M WORKING HARD ON THAT.
YEAH. YOU KNOW WHAT I WON'T CARRY? I WON'T WEAR MY PACK WHEN I GO WITH THEM ON THAT DAY.
NOVEMBER 17TH EAST BAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL BOARD MEETING BY ZOOM.
AND THEN FINALLY YESTERDAY WE HAD THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
I'LL GO NEXT SINCE WE'RE MISSING OUR LEADER IN CHARGE.
WE'LL GO IN THIS THIS THIS SEQUENCE HERE.
OKAY. GOSH, YOU'RE YOU'RE QUITE BUSY SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
SO THAT MIGHT BE WHY I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A SHORTER LIST, AND THAT'S FINE.
SO NOVEMBER 8TH, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE SOME MEMBERS OF THE ZONE SEVEN STAFF TO THE SHADOW CLIFFS INTERPRETIVE PAVILION BECAUSE I REALLY WANTED THEM TO SEE THE RELIEF THAT WE HAD DESIGNED FOR THE PAVILION, BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY WONDERFUL RELIEF THAT WE HAVE SHOWING THE ALAMEDA CREEK WATERSHED.
AND I KNOW THAT THEY HADN'T HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT.
SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH SOME MEMBERS OF ZONE SEVEN STAFF.
SO NO NO ACTION ITEMS QUITE YET ON THAT CHAIN OF LAKES PIPELINE I CAN SHARE.
ON NOVEMBER 14TH, I DOUBLED UP.
I CAME IN TO MEET WITH THE LAND ACQUISITION TEAM, AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES WITHIN THE WARD FIVE GEOGRAPHY.
AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT, WE HAD THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING HERE IN THE BOARDROOM.
AND THEN ON THE 16TH OF NOVEMBER, I HAD MY 1 TO 1 MEETING WITH OUR GENERAL MANAGER, SABRINA, AND I ASKED HER TO MEET IN SAN RAMON, ACTUALLY, WHICH IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS TIME WE MET WITH ASD, WE ALSO STARTED THE MEETING IN SAN RAMON TO TALK ABOUT THE TASSAJARA CREEK TRAIL.
THIS TIME, I WANTED TO TALK WITH SABRINA ABOUT THE IRON HORSE TRAIL AND SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT WHERE THE TWO COUNTIES, ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, MEET UP AT THE SAN RAMON DUBLIN BORDER.
WHERE I GOT TO ALSO POINT OUT THE PAVEMENT AND THE PAVING.
AND THE QUALITY OF THE PAVING IS DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTIES, AND I WON'T SHARE WHICH ONE MIGHT LOOK SMOOTHER THAN THE OTHER, BUT IT WAS A GOOD CHAT ABOUT SOME OF THE DIFFERENT TRAIL CONFLICTS AND INCREASE USAGE ALONG THE IRON HORSE TRAIL.
SO LET'S SEE, FIRST OF ALL, ON THE 15TH OF NOVEMBER I HAD MY ONE ON ONE WITH OUR GENERAL MANAGER.
WE WENT FOR A LONG WALK OUT BY INSPIRATION POINT ON THE NIMITZ TRAIL.
COVERED A LOT OF GROUND, LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY.
SORRY, I DIDN'T REALLY MEAN TO DO THAT, BUT AND THEN LET'S SEE, ON THE 16TH OF NOVEMBER PARTICIPATED IN THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION BOARD MEETING WITH PRESIDENT WAESPI AND OTHERS AND VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK THEY'RE DOING, AND IN PARTICULAR, SORT OF THE VISION MOVING FORWARD FOR NEXT YEAR, IN ADDITION TO EVERYTHING AROUND THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS.
SO EXCITED TO TO WORK WITH THEM ON THAT.
AND THEN ON YESTERDAY ATTENDED THE PRE BOARD MEETING AND HERE I AM TODAY.
[00:50:02]
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.LAST TWO WEEKS FOR ME HAVE BEEN ALL FAMILY.
MY DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER FROM ALABAMA ARE VISITING, AND I'VE BEEN INTRODUCING MY SIX MONTH YEAR OLD GRANDDAUGHTER TO BAY TRAIL, THE IRON HORSE, THE BAY POINT MARTINEZ SHORELINE.
SO SHE'S LEARNING ALL ABOUT OUR TRAILS AND THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE FOR THE COMING WEEK.
I DID SPEND A COUPLE OF DAYS UP IN SACRAMENTO AT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONVENTION, APPOINTED BY CONGRESSMAN GARAMENDI, AND A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES WERE WERE UP THERE.
AND THAT WAS WHAT OUR SATURDAY NIGHT TURNED OUT TO BE.
BUT IT IS A WONDERFUL COUNTRY THAT WE CAN DO THAT.
AND WAS IT YESTERDAY? WE THINGS KIND OF MESH.
I ATTENDED FOR THE DISTRICT, THE CONTRA COSTA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION AND THE PRIMARY SPEAKER FOR THE CONTRA COSTA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION.
YESTERDAY WAS ANA ALVAREZ, SPEAKING ON THE 30 BY 30 INITIATIVE AND THE PARK DISTRICT'S PRIMARILY HER ROLE ON THE COORDINATING PARTNERSHIP COUNCIL, AS ANA WAS APPOINTED AND RECENTLY REAPPOINTED BY SECRETARY CROWFOOT AND ANA'S PRESENTATION ON 30 BY 30 WAS VERY WELL RECEIVED BY THE GROUP.
EVERYONE WAS VERY APPRECIATIVE AND WANT TO GET INVOLVED AND HAVE SOME FOLLOW UP.
SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR REPRESENTING THE PARK DISTRICT.
I WAS IN PARTICULAR PROUD OF WHAT YOU'VE DONE AND WHAT YOU WERE ABLE TO PRESENT TO THAT GROUP.
GREAT. THANK YOU. DEE. BUCKLE UP.
OKAY. AFTER THE 11TH BOARD MEETING ON THE SEVENTH, ON THE FOLLOWING DAY, 11 EIGHT, I ATTENDED THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION MEETING AT WASHINGTON HOSPITAL.
AND THE PRESENTATION THERE WAS JUST FABULOUS.
AND THEY WERE ABLE TO STEAL AWAY A HIGH PROFILE SURGEON FROM THE MILITARY, DOCTOR CONAWAY, WHO'S, WHO'S BUILT A TRAUMA ROOM TRAUMA CENTERS IN, IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
AND THEN ON THE ALSO ON THE EIGHTH I ATTENDED THE ALAMEDA COUNTY MAYOR'S CONFERENCE AT CAL STATE EAST BAY, AND THEY HAD A GREAT PANEL OF EDUCATORS, INCLUDING MAYOR SALINAS FROM HAYWARD.
PRESIDENT CATHY SANDEEN OF THE CAL STATE UNIVERSITY, EAST BAY, CHABOT COLLEGE PRESIDENT JAMAL CROOKS AND HAYWARD UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT JASON RAYMOND.
AND THAT WHOLE PANEL WAS ABOUT HOW THESE THESE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN, IN HAYWARD CAN COLLABORATE TO MAKE THE ENTIRE AREA EVEN BETTER AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THE OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE, IN THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.
SO IT WAS A VERY VERY ENLIGHTENING.
AND THEN OH, I MENTIONED I WANT TO MENTION ON THURSDAY 11 NINTH, I ATTENDED THE LAKE MERRITT BREAKFAST CLUB FOR WE HAD A VETERANS DAY SPECIAL.
AND WE HAD A SPEAKER WHO WAS THE INTERIM CHANCELLOR FOR THE PERALTA COLLEGES, AND SHE IS A RETIRED COLONEL, AND SHE WAS THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN, AN OFFICER, TO BE IN CHARGE OF LOGISTICS, AND HER HER AREA OF OPERATION WAS THE SUNNI TRIANGLE IN IRAQ THROUGH TWO TERMS. AND AND SHE WAS NOT ONE TO SHY AWAY FROM.
SHE, SHE LED, AS THEY SAY LED OUT THERE OUT IN FRONT.
SHE WENT OUT ON PATROLS WITH HER, WITH HER, WITH HER TEAMS. SHE I MEAN, SHE IT WAS SHE'S JUST SOUNDS LIKE AN INCREDIBLE, INCREDIBLE WOMAN.
AND WE ALL SALUTED HER AND IT WAS A GREAT INSPIRATIONAL SPEECH.
[00:55:02]
I MET WITH CONSTITUENTS LAUREN HO AND AND SCOTT BARBARRO AND TO TALK ABOUT.AND I WAS CORRECTED BY SCOTT THAT I MISSPOKE WHEN ABOUT THE THE BENCH TRAIL NOT BEING PART OF THE PROGRAM, THE ALTERNATE DAY PROGRAM, BIKES AREN'T ALLOWED ON THAT TRAIL, ON ON THE ON THE DAYS THAT EQUESTRIANS ARE OUT THERE.
BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE ARE ADVOCATING FOR THAT, THAT TRAIL TO BE HIKERS ONLY OUTSIDE OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE PILOT PROJECT.
THEY USE HOUSEHOLD VINEGAR AND THEY AND THE UKES THAT WERE REMOVED FROM THAT AREA AS WELL.
THEY JUST SUCKER BASHED AS SOON AS THE SUCKERS POPPED UP, JUST CUT OFF.
AND IT LOOKS INCREDIBLE WHAT THEY CAN DO.
AND I THINK ONE OF THE CHALLENGES WHEN I WAS A SUPERVISOR, I WAS TRYING TO USE VINEGAR AS AN HERBICIDE, BUT IT WASN'T LISTED AS HERBICIDE.
SO YOU I JUST COULDN'T PURCHASE IT AS A HERBICIDE BECAUSE IT WAS A FOOD PRODUCT.
BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY GET INTO.
IT'S A NON HERBICIDE FOOD PRODUCT THAT WE CAN USE TO, TO DO WEEDS.
AND THE FACT THAT AND I'M GOING TO MAKE A PITCH FOR MY PARK RANGER/VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR POSITION.
WE COULD DO SPECIAL PROJECTS LIKE THIS ALL OVER THE PARK DISTRICT AND IN A NICE HOLISTIC WAY.
AND THEN ON THE 12TH, I ATTENDED THE ANNUAL CLAREMONT CANYON MEETING, AND GOT TO MEET THE NEW FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF OAKLAND AND AND THEY HERALDED THEY'RE GETTING VERY CLOSE TO THEIR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN.
AND OF COURSE, I'M BEING WE'RE BEING LOBBIED TO JOIN THE MOU WITH THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT MOU.
AND THEN ALSO LOOK AT THE PROPERTY AT AT STONE AT THE STONE WALL AND THEN HAD MY ONE ON ONE ON THE 13TH WITH SABRINA. THAT WAS VERY PRODUCTIVE AND VERY NICE.
WE ACTUALLY HAD BREAKFAST AND THEN ON THE 14TH, I ATTENDED THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AT PERALTA OAKS.
AND OH, MY GOD, I LEARNED SO MUCH.
AND AND THEN THERE'S THIS CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.
THEY ONCE THEY GET THE APPRENTICESHIPS, THEN THEY THEN THEY GET BENEFITS PAID BENEFITS, AND THEY GO ON JOBS AND THE TRADES THEMSELVES ARE ACTUALLY SUPPLYING THE TEACHERS.
AND SO IT'S REALLY AN INCREDIBLE PROGRAM.
AND THEN I ALSO LEARNED HOW ABOUT PLAS, A LOT MORE ABOUT PLAS AND HOW FLEXIBLE THEY ARE.
I KNOW WE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT DIVERSITY IN THE TRADES.
IT TURNS OUT THAT OUSD, WHICH IS OAKLAND UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT, ALAMEDA COUNTY, AND THE PORT OF OAKLAND AND OTHERS HAVE HAVE STIPULATIONS IN THEIR CONTRACTS FOR PLAS THAT YOU CAN THAT I THINK LIKE 40 OR 50% OF THE, THE EMPLOYEES HAVE TO BE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY OR THE CITY OR WHATEVER THE CONTRACT IS, BUT THEY'RE INCREDIBLY FLEXIBLE, AND THEY PROVIDE PORTABLE BENEFITS FOR WORKERS THAT ARE IN THE UNION.
[01:00:05]
AND ABIDE BY THE PLA.BUT IT'S I, IT WAS JUST MIND OPENING.
AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WERE INVOLVED IN THAT WERE JUST SO ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT ABOUT IT.
SO I WAS, I WAS REALLY HAPPY I WENT AND THEN ON THE 15TH.
16TH. I ATTENDED ANOTHER LAKE MERRITT BREAKFAST CLUB AND WE GOT TO MEET WITH THE.
IT'S A BREAKFAST CLUB, BUT WE HAVE GREAT.
I MEAN, THIS IS GREAT SPEAKERS.
THE GUEST CURATOR FOR THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM LOCATED IN OAKLAND PATRICIA WILLIAMS, AND SHE DID THE EXHIBIT FOR DOCTOR MARCUS WILLIAMS FOSTER, WHO WAS ASSASSINATED IN OAKLAND BACK IT'S BEEN 15, 20 YEARS AGO NOW. BUT HER JOURNEY ABOUT HOW HOW SHE BECAUSE SHE WAS OBVIOUSLY BEYOND HER TIME AND HOW SHE RESEARCHED AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE EXHIBIT TOGETHER.
BUT THAT EXHIBIT IS OPEN DECEMBER 6TH.
SO IT'D BE A GREAT PART OF OAKLAND HISTORY AND THEN ON THE 20TH ATTEND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THEN AND THEN TODAY I'M HERE, AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A SHOUT OUT FOR ON THE ON THE SEVENTH I ATTENDED THE WASN'T THE SEVENTH, IT WAS THE THIRD. I ATTENDED THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE MERRITT COLLEGE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABLE BOARD, AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THEY'RE LOOKING FOR INSTRUCTORS TO TEACH.
AND, YOU KNOW, JIM O'CONNOR STARTED A.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECH CLASS THAT COULD LEAD TO A POSITIONS IN THE PARK, WHICH THEY'VE SUCCESSFULLY, I THINK SIX PEOPLE HAVE GONE INTO, FOUR, PARK DISTRICT AND TWO OTHER PARK AGENCIES.
SO THEY NEED AN INSTRUCTOR TO TEACH THE OPERATIONS PART.
DAVE ZUCKERMAN, WHO IS OUR, IF YOU REMEMBER DAVE HE'S TEACHING THE ENVIRONMENTAL SIDE.
SO THEY'RE LOOKING FOR AN OPERATIONS INSTRUCTOR.
SO MINIMUM REQUIREMENT IS A BACHELOR'S DEGREE.
SO IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED, IF YOU'RE WORKING OR RETIRED, SPREAD THE WORD.
LET ME KNOW AND I'LL GET YOU IN TOUCH.
I'M HERE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YOU CAN UNBUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELTS.
WE'RE GOING TO WEIGH YOU IN AT THAT OAKLAND BREAKFAST CLUB HERE PRETTY SOON.
AND, I TOO HAD MY ONE ON ONE WITH SABRINA ON THE 14TH.
WE HAD A GREAT HIKE IN LAKE CHABOT AND TALKED ABOUT SOME SOME ISSUES AT TRAIL OR RESILIENCY FROM THE NEW SET OF STORMS. WE'RE STILL RECOVERING FROM THE LAST ONES, AND SHOULD BE A BIG, BIG YEAR THIS YEAR.
ON THE 16TH, I ATTENDED THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION LUNCHEON AND RETREAT.
AS AS DIRECTOR ECHOLS SAID, A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE CHOMPING AT THE BIT TO DO GREAT THINGS.
NOT WITHOUT NOT WITHOUT ITS DRAMA IN THE PARK DISTRICT.
BUT WE GOT A SPECIAL EVENT DOWN AT QUARRY LAKES PARK.
CHHATH PUJA IS A CELEBRATION BY A SECT OF THE HINDU RELIGION THAT.
MOSTLY PRESIDES IN PROVINCES IN INDIA AND NEPAL.
AND THEY CELEBRATE THE BOND BETWEEN HUMANS AND NATURE AND THE POWER OF FAITH AND PERSEVERANCE BY OFFERING PRAYERS, AND THEY GET IN THE THEY, THE ONLY DIFFERENCE OF ANY OTHER CELEBRATION OR OBSERVANCE IS IN THIS BELIEF SYSTEM.
YOU NEED TO BE IN THE WATER AT SUNSET OF THIS OBSERVANCE, AND THEN ALSO IN THE WATER ON THE SUNRISE THE NEXT MORNING.
AND THERE'S LOTS OF FOOD AND DEBORAH, COULD YOU GO TO A NEXT SLIDE OR TWO? BUT EVERYBODY IS DRESSED JUST INCREDIBLY THE SUNSET IS GORGEOUS.
THE OFFERING OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES AND PEOPLE DRESSED UP.
I, YOU KNOW, I LOBBY FOR THIS.
I, I'M, AS YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE COME BEFORE OUR BOARD AND TALKED ABOUT THIS.
I THINK IF WE CAN GET THE ORGANIZATIONAL END OF IT DOWN, IT'S JUST A GREAT CELEBRATION.
THESE ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY THANKFUL.
I THINK I SAT AT THE EXIT GATE, AND IT'S A VERY NARROW EXIT GATE COMING OUT OF THE SWIM CENTER.
[01:05:06]
BUT EVERY SINGLE PERSON WAS VERY THANKFUL AND THANKING US IN THE PARK STAFF OF WHAT A GREAT JOB THAT IT WAS.SO I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU.
DID WE GIVE THEM PERMISSION? SORRY TO ENLARGE THE.
YES. YES. THE WE WE WORKED WITH THEM.
YOU KNOW, THEY FEEL THEY COULD DO 10,000 PEOPLE IF THEY, IF THEY HAD THE ABILITY.
WE OF COURSE SAY, WHOA, HOLD ON.
WE, WE NEED TO GET THINGS ORGANIZED HERE.
AND AND THERE WAS LOTS OF COMPROMISES ALONG THE WAY.
AND I'D LIKE TO THANK STAFF FOR ALL THAT, BUT THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM IF YOU SAW THE PHOTOS.
NOBODY GETS IN THE WATER ABOVE THERE.
SOME OF THE REAL PURITANS OR THE PILGRIMS GET OUT THERE TO THEIR KNEES, BUT THAT'S IT.
AND I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE, YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE OBSERVANT.
IF ONE OF YOUR REPRESENTATIVES OR ONE OF YOUR PEOPLE IS IN THE WATER AND YOU TOUCH THEM.
AND SO PEOPLE HAD SAID, I'M NOT GETTING IN THAT.
I'M NOT TAKING MY MY SHOES OFF AND GET IN THAT WATER.
YOU COULD TOUCH THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU AS LONG AS ROSS WAS IN THE WATER.
IF WE WERE ALL TOUCHING ROSS, WE WERE OBSERVANT AND, YOU KNOW, QUIRKY STUFF.
BUT IT WAS COOL AND EVERYBODY LOVED IT AND EVERYBODY HAD A GREAT TIME.
AND I DID FOLKS GENEROUSLY GAVE ME FOOD AND DESCRIBED SOME OF THE CUSTOMS TO ME.
IT WAS, IT WAS GREAT. WHAT ELSE? YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE PRE BOARD MEETING.
OH, AND I WOULD BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T MENTION THAT BEFORE THIS MEETING TODAY WE HAD A CEREMONIAL OR NOT A CEREMONIAL, A VERY OFFICIAL COIN FLIP TO SEE WHO WOULD BE THE NEW SECRETARY, THE INCOMING SECRETARY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
JOHN AND OLIVIA WERE ELECTED AT THE SAME TIME.
SO THEY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF SENIORITY.
SO WE WE HAD A CEREMONIAL COIN FLIP.
WE WANTED TO DO A SWIM AT ROBERTS OR A TRIATHLON OR A TRIATHLON, BUT IT TIME WAS OF CONCERN.
AND AS IT TURNED OUT, JOHN MERCURIO WILL BE THE INCOMING SECRETARY OF THE BOARD.
SO CONGRATULATIONS, JOHN, AND THANK YOU FOR GOING ALONG WITH OLIVIA.
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.