Jan 16, 2024 Board of Directors Meeting

[00:00:04]

WE'RE READY. OKAY.

GOOD MORNING, EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO THE CLOSED SESSION OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

ON THIS 16TH DAY OF JANUARY, WE'RE BEGINNING TODAY AT 11:07.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?

[ROLL CALL]

DIRECTOR ECHOLS.

PRESENT. DIRECTOR CORBETT.

HERE. DIRECTOR ROSARIO.

HERE. DIRECTOR COFFEY.

HERE. DIRECTOR MERCURIO.

HERE. DIRECTOR SANWONG.

HERE. PRESIDENT WAESPI.

HERE. GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.

HERE. GENERAL COUNSEL BOURGAULT.

HERE. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE WAITING ROOM TO SPEAK? NO, PRESIDENT WAESPI. THEN LET'S FOREGO THE RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR TALKING WITH US, AND LET'S ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION.

[CLOSED SESSION ITEMS]

NO, THERE ARE NONE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

WE ARE ADJOURNED.

GOOD. WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON, AND WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 16TH MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.

WE'RE BEGINNING TODAY AT 1:12.

WELCOME, EVERYONE.

MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?

[ROLL CALL]

DIRECTOR COFFEY.

HERE. DIRECTOR ECHOLS.

PRESENT. DIRECTOR MERCURIO.

HERE. DIRECTOR ROSARIO.

HERE. DIRECTOR CORBETT.

HERE. DIRECTOR SANWONG.

HERE. PRESIDENT WAESPI.

HERE. GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.

HERE. GENERAL COUNSEL BOURGAULT.

HERE. THANK YOU, AND MEMBER CORBETT, WOULD YOU LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE? YES. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

THANK YOU, AND MEMBER SANWONG, WOULD YOU DO THE NATIVE AMERICAN ACKNOWLEDGMENT, PLEASE?

[LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT]

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 AND WHO CONTINUE TO REMAIN DEEPLY CONNECTED TO IT TODAY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

SO NOW WE'LL MOVE TO THE ANNUAL ROTATION OF BOARD OFFICERS.

[ANNUAL ROTATION OF OFFICERS]

HMM, I'M SUPPOSED TO TALK OF MY EXPERIENCES FROM LAST YEAR.

WELL, LAST YEAR WAS WAS AN INTERESTING YEAR.

IT WAS AT TIMES A FUN YEAR AND AT TIMES EXCITING.

IT WAS MY HONOR TO BE THE PRESIDENT, AND I WANT TO THANK ALL THE STAFF, ESPECIALLY THE CLERK'S OFFICE AND HER STAFF AND ALL STAFF MEMBERS FOR FOR A GREAT YEAR, AND THAT'S IT.

THAT WAS FUN. THANKS.

I DON'T HAVE A LONG SPEECH.

SO I WANT TO THANK THE OUTGOING BOARD OFFICERS, AND YOU ALL PROMOTED UP ONE POSITION, AND IT ALSO SAYS I'M SUPPOSED TO SAY FAREWELL TO THE OUTGOING OFFICERS, WHICH I ASSUME IS THE I'M THE ONLY OUTGOING OFFICER.

SO I'LL SAY GOODBYE TO MYSELF A LITTLE LATER.

SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO NOW IS ACKNOWLEDGE.

I MEAN, SO WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IS I'M GOING TO PASS THE GAVEL, BUT BEFOREHAND, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND WELCOME AND WISH THE BEST OF LUCK TO OUR NEW PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR ECHOLS, AND OUR NEW VICE PRESIDENT, DIRECTOR CORBETT AND OUR TREASURER, DIRECTOR MERCURIO AND OUR SECRETARY DIRECTOR SANWONG.

SO WELCOME ABOARD AND GOOD LUCK.

IN THE NEXT YEAR.

I'M TOLD I NEED TO CEREMONIOUSLY PASS THIS GAVEL.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS A FORWARD PASS LIKE IN FOOTBALL OR JUST TO GIVE YOU THIS.

THAT'LL DO. OKAY.

THANK YOU. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH DIRECTOR WAESPI, FOR YOUR EXCELLENT LEADERSHIP OVER THE PAST YEAR.

IT HAS BEEN REALLY QUITE AN INTERESTING YEAR, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOUR DEEP KNOWLEDGE AND DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN THE PARK DISTRICT AS WELL

[00:05:05]

IT REALLY MADE IT MUCH MORE ENJOYABLE FOR FOR ALL OF US, AND YEAH, IT WAS AN EVENTFUL YEAR.

WE WENT FROM A DROUGHT TO 13 ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS, AND WE ROLLED OUT THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, LARGE SCALE FUELS REDUCTION PROJECT.

THE CARBONATOR THAT WE'RE ALL VERY EXCITED ABOUT AND WITH 360 ACRE PROJECT IN ANTHONY CHABOT PARK AND ACQUIRED THE 768 ACRE FINLEY ROAD AND THEN ALSO THE VARIOUS IMPROVEMENTS OF ROBERT'S POOL REPLACEMENT, WHICH I KNOW IS SOMETHING NEAR AND DEAR TO YOUR HEART, AS WELL AS TYLER RANCH STAGING AREA, GRAND OPENING AND THE DOOLITTLE BAY TRAIL EXPANSION.

SO IT'S BEEN A BUSY YEAR AND ACCOMPLISHED A LOT, AND I AM REALLY EXCITED AND PLEASED TO BE COMING IN AS YOUR NEW PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD.

I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING CLOSELY WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD, AS WELL AS WITH MANAGEMENT AND REALLY EVERYBODY HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC. WE HAVE A WE HAVE A ANOTHER VERY EXCITING YEAR.

I MEAN, WE DON'T EVEN THE YEAR IS ONLY JUST BEGUN, BUT WE ALREADY KNOW THAT WE HAVE ON TAP OUR 90TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

SO THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG DEAL.

WE'RE GOING TO BE REALLY DIGGING INTO OUR NEXT DISTRICT PLAN AND GETTING THAT UNDERWAY, AND AS WELL AS I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR NEW EQUITY OFFICER AND REALLY CENTERING DIVERSITY AND EQUITY IN OUR WORK, AND REALLY, THAT'S JUST THE BEGINNING OF IT.

SO I'M EXCITED.

I HOPE YOU'RE EXCITED, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYBODY.

OH, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL FOR DIRECTOR WAESPI.

[LAUGHTER] MOST IMPORTANTLY, YOUR SCRIPT.

YEAH, YOUR SCRIPT, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO FORGET THAT EITHER.

SO WHO HAS THE PHOTOGRAPH? OH, I SEE RIGHT THERE.

OH, IT'S WELL HIDDEN.

OH, WOW. OKAY.

SO THIS IS THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL PHOTOGRAPH.

WELL, YOU CAN OPEN IT, BUT IT'S OF ONE OF YOUR FAVORITE PARKS, I UNDERSTAND.

WOW. BEAUTIFUL.

OH, YES IT IS.

HERE WE ARE.

RHINEHART REDWOOD PARK.

YEP. ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH I APPRECIATE THIS.

YOU'RE WELCOME VERY MUCH. GOD, WHAT A NICE PICTURE.

THANK YOU. OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, DENNIS.

OKAY, NOW, WITH THAT, ON TO OUR AGENDA, WE'LL START WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA FOR TODAY'S MEETING.

[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]

A SECOND. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SANWONG.

OKAY. SO WE.

SO, FIRST OF ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.

AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. WE'RE GOOD, AND DID WE ALREADY DO THIS THE SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS OR DO WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS

[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]

COULD WE DURING OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATION, TAKE A PICTURE OF THE BOARD MEMBERS AT THE DAIS, OR DO YOU WANT TO DO THAT? OH, SURE. NO.

WHY DON'T WE GO AHEAD AND DO THAT? SURE. GET ALL THAT DONE RIGHT NOW.

WAIT. WHAT ARE WE DOING? OH, OKAY.

OH. THANK YOU.

[00:12:19]

[PUBLIC COMMENTS]

I DO NOT SEE ANYONE IN THE IN THE ZOOM WEBINAR ROOM, SO PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED ONE OF THREE WAYS VIA EMAIL TO PUBLIC COMMENTS AT EBPARKS.ORG, VIA VOICEMAIL AT (510) 544-2016 AND LEAVE A MESSAGE WHICH WILL BE TRANSCRIBED AND GIVEN TO THE BOARD AND MADE A PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD, OR SIMPLY BY JOINING THE MEETING VIA THE ZOOM LINK, WHICH IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA WHICH WAS POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.

THE SUBMISSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS HAS BEEN NOTICED ON THE AGENDA AND IN THE BOARD PACKET, WHICH WAS POSTED ON FRIDAY, JANUARY THE 12TH.

ALL EMAILS RECEIVED PRIOR TO DEADLINE ON MONDAY, JANUARY THE 15TH, AND BECAUSE IT WAS A HOLIDAY, WE DID TAKE A LOOK AT IT AGAIN TODAY.

THEY HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO THE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE TEAM.

ANY EMAILS THAT HAVE COME IN AFTER THIS DATE WILL BE ORGANIZED AND GIVEN TO THE BOARD AFTER THIS MEETING, AND WE DO HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENTER AND THAT IS RENEE PATTERSON.

YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MA'AM.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.

MEMBERS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD.

MY NAME IS RENEE PATTERSON, AND I WORK HERE AT PERALTA OAKS.

I'M HERE TODAY TO REMIND YOU THAT WE STILL HAVE A PERBS FILING OUT THERE WITH THE PERBS IS STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BOARD.

WHERE AFSCME FILED AN UNFAIR PRACTICE CHARGE ON AUGUST 26TH, 2022.

THAT CHARGE IS FOR BAD FAITH, BARGAINING, INTERFERENCE, DIRECT DEALING AND UNILATERAL IMPLEMENTATION, AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN I DON'T COME TO THIS BOARD MEETING, BECAUSE THAT WILL MEAN THAT SOMETHING HAPPENED, BUT NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE TOLD ME, OH, IT COULD TAKE FOUR YEARS OR WHATEVER, BUT I'M JUST SORT OF ASTOUNDED BY THIS WHOLE THING THAT NOT ONE LITTLE THING HAS HAPPENED WITH IT THAT I KNOW OF, AT LEAST.

SO AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES BEFORE, I'LL JUST KEEP COMING TO THE BOARD MEETING AND REMINDING YOU, REMINDING EVERYBODY, ANYBODY THAT'S LISTENING THAT WE HAVE A PERBS FILING OUT THERE AND WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR SOME KIND OF SOMETHING TO HAPPEN WITH IT.

[00:15:04]

THANK YOU.

OKAY. I BELIEVE WE.

ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM OUR GENERAL COUNSEL FROM CLOSED SESSION? NO PRESIDENT ECHOLS. NO ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, HAVE WE RECEIVED ANY REQUESTS

[CONSENT CALENDAR]

I DON'T KNOW IF THE BOARD HAS ANY.

NOW, DOES ANYONE HAVE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS THEY'D LIKE TO RAISE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I HAD THE RIGHT ONE.

I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT ON THAT WOULD BE ITEM 12.

I'M SORRY, AND THIS IS JUST AND THIS WAS CLARIFIED FOR ME BY MY QUESTION WAS THAT THIS IS A NUMBER 12 ITEM 12 APPROVED PRE-QUALIFIED GENERAL CONTRACTORS AND APPROVED SELECTION OF METRO CONTRACT GROUP AS THE FURNITURE DEALER FOR THE APPROVED PERALTA OAKS NORTH PROJECT.

2955 PERALTA OAKS COURT, AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS THIS APPROVAL TODAY WAS STRICTLY FOR THAT PARTICULAR CONTRACT, THE FURNITURE CONTRACT, AND THAT THERE IS STILL A WINDOW OPEN FOR IF WE CHOOSE TO INSERT A PLA INTO THE PROJECT.

SO I WANT TO THANK REN FOR THAT, FOR THAT INFORMATION, BUT THE ONLY COMMENT I HAD TO MAKE.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE CONFIRMED THAT.

YOUR QUESTION. YES. OKAY, GREAT.

THANK YOU. I'LL BE GLAD TO MOVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR FORWARD.

OH, SORRY. DIRECTOR MERCURIO.

YES, ON NUMBER FIVE THE PAC REAPPOINTMENTS.

I JUST WANTED I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION AND GRATITUDE AND PLEASURE THAT WE HAVE SUCH QUALITY MEMBERS ON THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

WHEN YOU GO AND YOU READ THOSE, THOSE LITTLE BIOS THERE ALL THE THINGS THAT THOSE FOLKS HAVE ACCOMPLISHED IS REALLY A PLEASURE TO SEE, AND IT GIVES ME CONFIDENCE THAT WE HAVE A GREAT ADVISORY GROUP OUT THERE THAT DON'T APPEAR TO BE APPOINTED JUST BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE ON A COMMITTEE OR SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, THAT THEY REALLY HAVE.

THEY REALLY BRING SOMETHING TO THE BODY AND TO THE DISCUSSION, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK A STRONG GROUP LIKE THAT BUILDS A STRONG GROUP IN THE FUTURE.

SO I HAVE EVERY REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE QUALITY OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE TO BE OUTSTANDING AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, AND ALSO, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK ALL THOSE FOLKS FOR WANTING TO CONTINUE SERVING BECAUSE THEY'RE REALLY AN ASSET.

SO THAT'S JUST ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

THANK YOU. I'LL BE GLAD TO MAKE THAT MOTION, AND ALSO AGREE WITH THOSE COMMENTS THAT YOU JUST MADE.

VERY MUCH SO. YES.

DID DID IT? OKAY.

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE ANYONE ELSE HAD COMMENTS.

SO DO I HAVE A SECOND THEN FOR DIRECTOR CORBETT'S MOTION? OKAY. ALL RIGHT.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. ANY OPPOSED? OKAY. WE CAN MOVE ON.

SO NOW ON TO OUR NON CONSENT ITEMS.

[GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE]

GOOD AFTERNOON.

ERICH PFUEHLER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.

I'M SIMPLY HERE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM, AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MERCURIO, FOR HIGHLIGHTING OUR PAC MEMBERS.

IT'S A VERY GOOD GROUP AND WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM THIS YEAR, AND SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE LISA BALDINGER, WHO WILL GO THROUGH THEIR OBJECTIVES FOR 2024, AS REVIEWED BY BOTH THE PAC GENERAL MANAGER AND THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

THANK YOU LISA.

WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND PULL UP THE SLIDE DECK.

[00:20:01]

LISA BALDINGER, LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST AND PART OF THE GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TEAM.

GOING INTO TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I WANT TO SHARE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A WORK IN PROGRESS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

AS MANY OF YOU REMEMBER, WORKING WITH CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS ERICH PFUEHLER ON UPDATING THE ROLE STATEMENT OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

FROM THAT UPDATED ROLE STATEMENT, WE WERE ABLE TO GROW WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE GENERAL MANAGER, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER AND PAC LEADERSHIP INTO WHAT DO WE WANT TO ENVISION THE FUTURE OF THIS GROUP AND WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF THIS GROUP'S WORKLOAD TO BEST SUPPORT THE PARK DISTRICT? SO, BY WAY OF REMINDER, THE UPDATED VISION OR ROLE STATEMENT FOR THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES AND ADVICE TO STAFF AND TO THE BOARD ON ISSUES, PROJECTS AND POLICIES OF THE PARK DISTRICT AND SO THE QUESTION WE ASKED OURSELVES GOING INTO THESE OBJECTIVES IS BOTH WHAT'S COMING ONLINE IN 2024 THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON, THAT WE NEED THESE PERSPECTIVES, AND THEN HOW CAN WE BEST ACTIVATE THIS ROLE STATEMENT, AND SO THE FOLLOWING PRESENTATION IS ON THE PROPOSED OBJECTIVES FOR THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR 2024.

THERE ARE SIX IN TOTAL.

THERE ARE INTENDED TO WORK IN BALANCE AND COMPLEMENT TO ONE ANOTHER.

THERE'S NO HIERARCHY OF THE OBJECTIVES, BUT REALLY INTENDING TO SUPPORT THE PAC ON ENGAGING ON THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S WORK PLAN.

SO I'LL WALK US THROUGH THE SIX ELEMENTS AND THEN AT THE END, WE ARE SEEKING APPROVAL OF THESE OBJECTIVES FORMALLY.

SO THE FIRST OF THE PROPOSED OBJECTIVES IS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES ON THE PARK DISTRICT'S SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN, IN THE ROLE AS A COMMUNITY LIAISON TO THE AGENCY IN SUPPORT OF STAFF AND LEADERSHIP IN THE BOARD, THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE ASKED TO HELP CHAMPION CONVERSATIONS, SUPPORT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, IDENTIFY COMMUNITIES THAT NEED FURTHER ENGAGEMENT, AND HOLISTICALLY SUPPORT THE VISION OF THE PARK DISTRICT FOR ITS SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN.

OUR SECOND OBJECTIVE IS TO EXPAND THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE EAST BAY'S BIODIVERSITY AND THE ROLE THE PARK DISTRICT SERVES IN PROTECTING NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.

THIS IS REALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STATE PATHWAYS TO 30 BY 30, AND WELL, THE MISSION OF THE AGENCY, AND SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PAC MEMBERS ARE WELL EQUIPPED AND SHARE A STRONG FOUNDATIONAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORK THAT OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM AND OUR OTHER TEAMS DO TO PROTECT THE BIODIVERSITY.

SO THAT WAY, WHEN THEY ARE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHEN THEY'RE SERVING AS A LIAISON, THEY HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE AND ALSO FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVES ON RECREATION, LOOKING AT THAT BALANCE OF THE TWO, AND SO THIS WILL CONSIST OF BOTH INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AS WELL AS THOSE INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS PROVIDING THE FOUNDATION FOR POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS TO YOURSELVES, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

OUR THIRD PROPOSED OBJECTIVES IS TO MAINTAIN AN UNDERSTANDING OF AND ENGAGEMENT ON THE PARK DISTRICT'S ACTIVE CAPITAL PROJECTS, AS WELL AS OUR PROGRAMS. SO, AS WE IDENTIFIED AND PUT A DEFINITION ON THE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN OUR CAPITAL PROJECT PRIORITIZATION MATRIX, THOSE ARE LARGE SCALE PROJECTS THAT HAVE A START AND AN END DATE.

WE ALSO HAVE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE OUR MAINTENANCE PROGRAMS, OUR PAVEMENT PROGRAMS, OUR WILDFIRE MITIGATION PROGRAMS, AND THOSE ARE ONGOING.

THEY DON'T HAVE A FORESEEABLE END DATE.

SO MAKING SURE THAT THE PAC HAS A STRONG UNDERSTANDING OF ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF WORK THE PARK DISTRICT DOES FOR WHEN WE BRING FORWARD UPDATES TO POLICIES OR NEW POLICIES, THEY SHARE AN UNDERSTANDING.

SO AGAIN, THIS WOULD CONSIST OF BOTH INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS.

THAT WOULD BE THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE RECOMMENDATIONS.

MAINTAINING AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S FUNDING PROGRAMS, AND THIS IS REALLY CONNECTING THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO OUR EXTERNAL RELATIONSHIPS.

SO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE WILL SERVE A ROLE IN UNDERSTANDING WHAT GRANTS WE'RE GOING FOR, WHAT THOSE PROJECTS LOOK LIKE, AND HOW CAN THEY BE THE VOICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT OF THOSE PROJECTS? WE'VE HAD SUCCESS PREVIOUSLY OF PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEES PARTICIPATING ON GRANT SITE VISITS WITH AGENCIES.

WE'D REALLY LIKE TO EXPAND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, GETTING THEM OUT INTO THE PARKS, SUPPORTING THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.

THE MORE THAT GRANTING AGENCIES HEAR FROM COMMUNITY VOICES, THE STRONGER OUR APPLICATIONS ARE.

THE PAC WILL ALSO PROVIDE COMMUNITY OVERSIGHT OF PARK DISTRICT LOCAL FUNDING MEASURES AND INITIATIVES.

THIS IS A CORE PART OF THE ROLE OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

THEY ARE OUR FORMAL OVERSIGHT ON MEASURE AA, MEASURE WW, MEASURE CC AND NOW MEASURE FF, AND SO THEY'LL CONTINUE TO SERVE IN THAT ROLE, AND THEY'RE ALSO SUPPORT THE PARK DISTRICT AS WE CONTINUE DOING LOCAL VOTER SURVEYS AND EXPLORE WHAT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE FOR EXPANDING LOCAL REVENUE OPPORTUNITIES, AND THEN OUR SIXTH OBJECTIVE TO ROUND IT OUT IS PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON PARK DISTRICT POLICIES AND PRACTICES.

SO AGAIN, CORE TO THE ROLE OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

SHOULD CHANGES BE RECOMMENDED ON EXISTING POLICIES SUCH AS ORDINANCE 38, SAFETY PROCEDURES, THE NAMING POLICY.

THESE CONVERSATIONS WILL GO BEFORE THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO SERVE AS THAT COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE AND SUPPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THEIR DECISION MAKING, AND SO WITH THAT, THAT COMPLETES THE SORT OF OVERVIEW PRESENTATION I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS, AND WE ARE SEEKING FORMAL APPROVAL TODAY.

[00:25:04]

THANK YOU FOR THAT PRESENTATION, AND GIVING US A LITTLE BIT MORE ON IT, BUT QUESTION ABOUT I GUESS IT WAS NUMBER NUMBER ONE, THE WHOLE I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU TITLE THOSE ONE THROUGH.

SIX THINGS, BUT THE FIRST ONE SEEMS TO BE THERE COULD BE AN APPROACH WHERE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS COULD ACTUALLY GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO WHATEVER GROUP THAT THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THAT WITH, AND IT'S NOT EXPRESSLY STATED IN HERE.

IT'S REALLY NOT EVEN IMPLIED, BUT I'D LIKE TO AT LEAST IMPLY IT.

I THINK THAT SOME OF THE MEMBERS WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.

I DON'T THINK ALL OF THEM WOULD WANT TO DO IT.

I CAN IMAGINE THAT NOT BEING SOMETHING THAT IS, IS IN EVERYBODY'S BAILIWICK, BUT IS THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED? THAT'S A WONDERFUL QUESTION.

SO I WAS ACTUALLY HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH CHIEF OF PLANNING BRIAN HOLT THIS MORNING.

HE'S GOING TO BE OUR FIRST PRESENTATION OF THE YEAR TO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN A WEEK OR SO, AND THE INTENT OF THIS STATEMENT IS TO KEEP IT FLEXIBLE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO PUT THE PAC INTO THE PLAN THAT OUR PLANNING TEAM HAS PREPARED FOR THE SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN AND SO AS THE PLANNING TEAM IS FLESHING OUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, THE PAC WILL HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE, AND SO IN TERMS OF SPECIFIC PRESENTATIONS, TO MY UNDERSTANDING THEY DON'T HAVE THAT CALENDARED OUT YET, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COMPLEMENTING WHAT THEY'RE DOING, AND SO WE WANTED TO KEEP THE STATEMENT BROAD ENOUGH. THAT ALLOWS FOR FLEXIBILITY FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP, BUT SPECIFIC ENOUGH TO ASSERT THAT THE PAC WILL HAVE A ROLE.

YEAH. NO, AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW, THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY FEAR OF SOMETHING LIKE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S GREAT THERE'S GREAT BACKUP HERE.

I KNOW THAT IF WE WERE TO ASK THEM TO GO INTO THE COMMUNITY, THEY WE'D BE ARMED WITH ALL THIS MATERIAL AND REALLY NOT GOOD PRESENTATION PIECES AND SUCH THAT YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD BE AS PAINLESS AS POSSIBLE, AND PROBABLY WHEN THEY'RE ALL DONE WITH IT, THEY'D PROBABLY GET A SUPER WARM AND FUZZY FEELING, AND A LOT OF A LOT OF POSITIVE YOU KNOW, REACTIONS TO IT.

SO THAT'S JUST I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT.

THANK YOU. OKAY, GREAT.

ROSARIO. YEAH.

I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT THIS IS GREAT.

I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE PAC NEEDED A GREATER, BIGGER FOCUS AND THINGS THAT THEY COULD DO AND I THINK THIS DEFINITELY LEADS THE WAY FOR THAT POSSIBILITY, AND TO USE THOSE I MEAN, LIKE DIRECTOR MERCURIO SAYS THAT THIS IS A TREASURE TROVE OF BRAIN TRUST THAT WE HAVE, AND WE SHOULD THEY SHOULD ONE BE ABLE TO USE IT AND WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT, TOO.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THIS IS A GREAT ADVANCE FORWARD.

AWESOME. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? JUST A QUICK ONE.

JUST TO REPEAT MY SUGGESTION THAT I'VE MADE IN THE PAST THAT THE BUDGET PROCESS BE BROKEN INTO TWO MEETINGS OF THE PAC RATHER THAN DONE ALL AT ONCE.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF THEY ONLY HAD A FEW DAYS WITH IT.

I THINK THE WAY WE DO IT IS GOOD FOR THE BOARD.

IN OTHER WORDS, HAVE IT INTRODUCED AND THEN HAVE A SECOND MEETING IN WHICH THERE'S DISCUSSION, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I ALSO APPRECIATE DEB SPALDING OF OUR FINANCE TEAM, WHO'S HAVING ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH ERICH AND I ON HOW THAT MIGHT SHAPE UP FOR 2024.

THANK YOU. DIRECTOR CORBETT.

THANK YOU. I AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT HAVE JUST RECENTLY BEEN MADE.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT USED TO HAPPEN A FEW YEARS BACK, BUT OF COURSE WE HAD SOME SITUATIONS WHERE WE WEREN'T ABLE TO GO OUT IN THE PUBLIC, BUT THAT'S GETTING BEHIND US NOW. SO I WOULD LIKE TO VERY, VERY MUCH AGREE WITH WHAT MY CONSULTANT HERE.

EXCUSE ME, MY COLLEAGUE HERE HAS SAID AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE US DO MORE OF THAT.

THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE.

I THINK THIS IS GREAT.

I SUPPORT IT AND I'M HAPPY TO MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.

GREAT. THANK YOU.

SO MOVED I GUESS. OKAY, SO IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. THANK YOU.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY. IT IS UNANIMOUS.

THANK YOU.

MOVING ON TO THE 2024 STATE ADVOCACY CONFERENCE.

AFTERNOON AGAIN. ERICH PFUEHLER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS AND WANTING TO GO THROUGH OUR DELEGATION AND OUR MEETINGS COMING UP

[00:30:09]

FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO ACKNOWLEDGE LISA'S HARD WORK ON ORGANIZING THE MATERIALS FOR THIS CONFERENCE AND THEN ALSO LAUREN BLANCHARD ON OUR TEAM, WHO'S BEEN HELPING TO ORGANIZE THE MEETINGS AND SCHEDULE THEM.

WE DID A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY THIS YEAR WHERE WE'VE DONE ALL THE PREPARATION, BASICALLY IN-HOUSE AND INTERNALLY.

SO REALLY APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT OF THE TEAM, AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SHARE THAT THIS BROCHURE THAT LISA WAS ABLE TO PUT TOGETHER IS IN YOUR BOXES FOR REVIEW FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE WE GO TO SACRAMENTO, AND IT LISTS ALL THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS, WHICH WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH QUICKLY.

ON THE POWERPOINT.

SO WHEN IS IT? IT'S TUESDAY, JANUARY 30TH AND WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31ST, ARRIVING AT ABOUT 945 AND PLANNING TO BE OUT OF SACRAMENTO BY 230 ON THE 31ST, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS, AS I MENTIONED, OF ARRANGING MEETINGS BUT WE DO HAVE A COUPLE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS FOR LUNCHEONS THAT WE'LL BE GETTING TO A LITTLE BIT LATER IN THE PRESENTATION, AND JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE HAVE TWO ADVOCATES THAT WILL BE PARTNERING WITH WHILE WE'RE IN SACRAMENTO.

DOUG HOUSTON, A LONGTIME ADVOCATE, WILL BE HELPING US WITH SOME OF THE CLIMATE BOND CONVERSATIONS, AND THEN EEC, WHICH IS A FIRM FOUNDED BY REED ADDIS, WILL BE HELPING US WITH SOME OF THE OTHER LOGISTICS WITH PARTICULAR OFFICES, AND IMPORTANT TO NOTE, AS WE GO THROUGH THE ASKS AND RECOGNIZE THE CONTEXT IN WHICH WE'LL BE THERE, WHERE THE BUDGET IS PREDICTED TO BE AT LEAST 38 BILLION TO 39 BILLION OF A SHORTFALL, BUT WE DO HAVE A STRATEGY IN TERMS OF MAKING MEMBER ASKS, EVEN IF THE BUDGET DOES NOT RECTIFY ITSELF THIS YEAR, BUT OVER TIME, IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND OUR DELEGATION ABOUT PROJECTS IN THEIR DISTRICT SO THAT WHEN THERE IS A BUDGET SURPLUS OR ADDITIONAL FUNDING AVAILABLE, THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE THOSE ASKS, AND THEY'RE ALSO POTENTIALLY COULD BE A CLIMATE BOND. SO THE ASKS ARE INTENDED TO BE BOTH REFLECTIVE OF A DIRECT MEMBER REQUEST OR SOMETHING THAT COULD APPEAR IN A POTENTIAL CLIMATE BOND. SO BEGINNING WITH OUR SENATORS, SENATOR BILL DODD REPRESENTS A LITTLE BIT OF THE EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.

HE IS FROM NAPA, AND HE IS ALSO THE CHAIR OF OF THE WHERE DO I HAVE A GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE? BUT BECAUSE HE'S IN NAPA, WE THOUGHT HIGHLIGHTING OUR ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS REALLY ALL OF OUR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE WORK.

HE'S BEEN A CHAMPION ON THOSE ISSUES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO EDUCATE THEM ON OUR WORK, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO THE CARBONATOR, AND POTENTIALLY INVITE HIM TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AS AS HE CONSIDERS WILDFIRE ISSUES STATEWIDE.

YOU WILL SEE ON A NUMBER OF THE SLIDES THE EXEMPT EXEMPTION FROM CEQA OF EXISTING ROADS AND TRAILS.

THIS IS WHEN WE PURCHASE A PROPERTY, A RANCH PROPERTY THAT HAS CATTLE OR GRAZING ROADS AND TRAILS ON IT ALREADY, THAT THOSE BE EXEMPT FROM FURTHER CEQA REVIEW, BECAUSE OUR USE FOR THEM WOULD BE TRAILS AT MOST, POTENTIALLY SOME VEHICLE USE, BUT NOTHING MORE THAN WAS ALREADY EXISTING WHEN WE PURCHASED THE PROPERTY.

SO HAVING THOSE EXEMPT THOSE, THOSE PARKS OR THOSE AREAS EXEMPT FROM CEQA WOULD ENABLE US TO OPEN UP THE PARKS A LITTLE BIT QUICKER AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC WHO ARE INVESTING IN THEM, AND THEN YOU WILL ALSO SEE ON EACH OF THESE SLIDES A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ASK WITH REGARD TO THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS. WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR ABOUT SIX YEARS ON BRINGING THE CORPS BACK TO THE EAST BAY.

THERE'S A SITE, AS I THINK YOU ALL KNOW, AT HOLLY COURT, LAS TRAMPAS, BOLLINGER CANYON ROAD, WHERE WE ANTICIPATE THE CONSERVATION CORPS BEING ABLE TO DEVELOP IT WITH THEIR OWN FUNDING.

THAT WOULD HOUSE TWO CREWS FOR THE EAST BAY.

THE REQUEST SPECIFICALLY THIS YEAR IS THE ACTUALLY, THE CONSERVATION CORPS HAS MADE A $2 MILLION ASK OF THE BUDGET OF THE GOVERNOR FOR PLANNING TO DEVELOP THE FACILITY, AND THAT PROCESS IS OBVIOUSLY WORKING ITS WAY AS THE BUDGET INTRODUCED WAS JUST RECENTLY INTRODUCED AND WILL BE DEBATED MOVING FORWARD, BUT WE DID DO A DELEGATION LETTER WITH OUR ENTIRE DELEGATION SENDING IT TO THE GOVERNOR WITH THAT, SUPPORTING THE $2 MILLION REQUEST FROM THE CONSERVATION CORPS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE.

[00:35:01]

THOSE WILL BE ASKED OF ALL OF OUR MOSTLY INLAND DELEGATION, WE HAVE ANOTHER CEQA EXEMPTION THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING UP, I BELIEVE, IN THE NEXT SLIDE THAT WILL BE ASKING FOR MOST OF OUR COASTAL MEMBERS.

OFFICE OF SENATOR SKINNER, THE CHAIR OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK HER FOR FUNDING FOR THE TIDE WATER DAY USE AREA.

THAT'S A PROJECT THAT HAS BEEN IT'S BEEN HARD FOR US TO GET STATE FUNDING.

MOSTLY BECAUSE AND I THINK DIRECTOR ROSARIO POINTED THIS OUT, MOSTLY BECAUSE THE POPULATION IS NOT DIRECTLY NEARBY AND IT IS A CHALLENGED ACCESS TO GET INTO THE STAGING AREA, BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT IS THAT IT WAS A FORMERLY REDLINED AREA AND IN THE CALIFORNIA OUTDOORS, FOR ALL DOCUMENTATION, THEY DO CALL OUT THAT FORMERLY REDLINED AREAS DO DO NEED GREEN SPACE, AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT MAKING THAT CONNECTION MIGHT HELP US WITH OUR ELIGIBILITY FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE'LL BE MAKING THE $5 MILLION ASK OF BOTH SENATOR SKINNER AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIA BONTA, AND THIS BECAUSE SHE'S ALONG THE COASTLINE, WE WILL BE TALKING TO HER ABOUT THE STATUTORY EXEMPTION FOR RESTORATION PERMITTING.

THAT IS A PROGRAM THAT THE GOVERNOR SIGNED INTO LAW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO THAT IS SET TO EXPIRE IN 2025.

IT ENABLES RESTORATION PROJECTS TO HAVE AN EXPEDITED REVIEW.

WE ARE CURRENTLY USING IT ON A PROJECT AT THE HAYWARD SHORELINE, AND WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THAT SUNSET OF 2025 REMOVED AND THEN ALSO OR AT LEAST EXTENDED, AND ALSO THERE ARE SOME LIMITING LIMITING LANGUAGE IN THE LEGISLATION WITH REGARD TO ACCESS, AND WE WANT TO CLEAN THAT UP AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S CLEAR THAT WHEN WE DO RESTORATION PROJECTS, PUBLIC ACCESS IS ALSO EQUITABLE.

PUBLIC ACCESS IS ALSO PERMITTED, AND THEN AGAIN, THE CONSERVATION CORPS REQUEST FOR BOLLINGER CANYON.

SENATOR WAHAB IS AGAIN A COASTAL PERSON.

WE ARE ACTUALLY ASKING HER OFFICE.

WE'RE CURRENTLY IN CONVERSATION WITH HER STAFF ABOUT INTRODUCING THE STATUTORY EXEMPTION FOR RESTORATION PERMITTING.

WE ARE MOVING THAT PROCESS ALONG WITH HER BECAUSE OF THE HAYWARD SHORELINE PROJECT AND HER INTEREST IN THE SHORELINE.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE AN ANSWER BEFORE WE WERE IN SACRAMENTO, BUT IF WE DON'T, WE'LL BE ASKING HER OFFICE IF THEY'LL BE WILLING TO INTRODUCE THAT AS A AS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

KEEPING IN MIND, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE EQUITABLE ACCESS IS INCLUDED AS PART OF IT.

OFFICE OF ASSEMBLYMEMBER GRAYSON, ALSO MAKING A LEGISLATIVE ASK OF HIM WITH REGARD TO THE ROADS AND TRAILS STATUTORY EXEMPTION.

WE'VE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HIS STAFF.

THEY DO SEEM SUPPORTIVE, AND WE ALSO ARE MEETING WITH THE TWO DIFFERENT COMMITTEES AND THE ASSEMBLY TO GET ADVICE ABOUT HOW TO MOVE THAT LEGISLATION FORWARD.

SO FAR, WE'VE HAD VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITH THAT IN THAT REGARD.

SO WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE CAN MOVE SOMETHING FORWARD THIS YEAR, AND THEN WE, BECAUSE OF HIS INTEREST IN YOU KNOW, THE FIRST ROADS AND TRAILS EXEMPTION WE DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT FOR HIM ALSO THE RESTORATION PERMITTING EXEMPTION, AND THEN AGAIN, THE ARMY CORPS OR, I'M SORRY, CONSERVATION CORPS.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER BUFFY WICKS, WHO'S NOW CHAIR OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

WE WILL BE MAKING A DIRECT ASK FUNDING ASK OF HER WITH REGARD TO THE WILSON POINT GAP IN THE BAY TRAIL IN RICHMOND.

IT WOULD CONNECT 18 MILES OF TRAILS.

SO WE'LL BE ASKING HER OFFICE FOR A DIRECT APPROPRIATION AND THEN ALSO THAT WILL ALSO BE FEATURED IN OUR FEDERAL ADVOCACY AS WELL, AND THEN AGAIN, THE TO THE EXEMPTION ON PERMITTING FOR RESTORATION AND CONSERVATION CORPS REQUEST.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER MIA BONTA AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER WITH SENATOR SKINNER, WE'LL BE MAKING THE ASK OF THE TIDEWATER DAY USE AREA, THE $5 MILLION REQUEST, THINKING THAT IF WE HAD BOTH THE REQUEST FROM THE ASSEMBLY AND THE SENATE, THAT WOULD STRENGTHEN ITS CHANCES, AND THEN AGAIN, THE PERMITTING AND CONSERVATION CORPS FOR ASSEMBLYMEMBER LORI WILSON BIG BREAK.

[00:40:02]

DIRECTOR COFFEY WAS THERE IN ATTENDANCE.

THERE ARE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO DO SOME RESTORATION AND HABITAT ENHANCEMENT AT BIG BREAK.

SO WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HER COME BACK AND LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THAT SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR FUNDING, THAT WE ARE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT TO HER AND HER OFFICE, AND THEN AGAIN, THE OTHER TWO ISSUES AND IT'S KIND OF REPETITIVE.

SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL ALL BE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THEM BY THE END OF THE DAY.

TWO DAYS. ASSEMBLYMEMBER BAUER-KAHAN, WE HAD ASKED HER WITH REGARD TO THE TWO CEQA EXEMPTIONS TO SUPPORT THEM, KNOWING THAT SHE HAS A HISTORY I CEQA.

SHE'S BEEN A CEQA LAWYER, BUT HER OFFICE, BECAUSE SHE MOVED OFF THE PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE ASKED US IF WE COULD FIND A DIFFERENT SPONSOR, BUT THEY'RE STILL SUPPORTIVE OF THE WORK.

SO WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING THE ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WORK, INCLUDING THE CARBONATOR, WHERE SHE HAD STAFF FROM HER OFFICE COME OUT AND TOUR THAT EQUIPMENT ALREADY, AND THEN AGAIN, TALKING TO HER ABOUT CEQA, AND THEN THE CONSERVATION CORPS IS WITHIN HER, WELL, THE SITE FOR THE CONSERVATION CORPS WOULD BE WITHIN HER ASSEMBLY MEMBER DISTRICT, AND SO WE WILL BE HIGHLIGHTING THAT WITH HER AS WELL.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER LIZ ORTEGA SHOWED AN INTEREST, A STRONG INTEREST, ACTUALLY, IN OYSTER BAY PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT.

LAST YEAR SHE HAD A SITE VISIT ON SITE AND HAD MADE A BUDGET REQUEST THAT DID NOT GET ADVANCED.

SO WE'LL BE MAKING THE SAME REQUEST OF HER AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR $2 MILLION FOR THE OYSTER BAY PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT.

SHE DID FIND AFTER HER SITE VISIT THAT WAS AN AREA THAT BECAUSE IT'S A FORMER LANDFILL AND IS BEING TURNED BACK INTO GREEN SPACE, WAS SOMETHING THAT SHE WAS VERY INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH HER OFFICE ON THAT, AND THEN AGAIN, THE PERMITTING EXEMPTION AND CONSERVATION CORPS REQUEST.

ASSEMBLYMEMBER ALEX LEE, WHO'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN TERMS OF SITE VISITS AND DOING WALK AND TALKS IN THE PARK PARK DISTRICT.

HAS VISITED ANTHONY CHABOT AND SEEN THE TREE MORTALITY ISSUE AND IS INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS ON WILDFIRE RESILIENCE.

SO WE'LL BE HIGHLIGHTING THAT WITH HIM AS WELL AS THE RAILS AND ROADS AND TRAILS EXEMPTION AND CONSERVATION CORPS AND THEN OUR UNIQUE MEETINGS OR NON MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION MEETINGS.

ONE IS SOMETHING THAT DOUG HOUSTON HAS HELPED PUT TOGETHER IS A LUNCHEON, LUNCH AND LEARN CONVERSATION WITH EDUARDO GARCIA ABOUT THE CLIMATE BOND. HE'S AUTHORED A BILL IN THE ASSEMBLY, $15 BILLION CLIMATE BOND AND FOR INVESTMENTS, AND OUR PREFERRED CATEGORIES ARE WILDFIRE RESILIENCE SEA LEVEL RISE PREPAREDNESS, THE CONSERVATION CORPS REQUEST AND THEN WHAT WE'RE CALLING LOOSELY LAKE HEALTH, WHICH IS WATERSHED AND LAKE HEALTH THAT COULD COULD LEAD TO ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR DREDGING AND RESTORING SOME OF OUR RECREATIONAL LAKES.

SO WE'LL BE HAVING LUNCH WITH HIM AND HAVING THAT CONVERSATION, AND THEN OUR OTHER LUNCH THAT'S BEEN SCHEDULED IS WITH THE CONSERVATION CORPS THEIR DEPUTY DIRECTOR, LARRY HOGAN'S, AND THEIR STAFF PERSON FOR RECRUITMENT AND OUTREACH WILL BE MEETING WITH US TO TALK ABOUT BOTH THE BUDGET REQUEST OF THE $2 MILLION THAT THE CORPS HAS ADVANCED, BUT THEN ALSO POTENTIALLY A CONVERSATION ABOUT HAVING SOME SOME CONSERVATION CORES IN THE EAST BAY MORE QUICKLY, AND THEN OUR LAST MEETING WOULD BE WITH LISA LYNNE MAIER.

SHE IS THE NEW DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR FOREST AND WILDLIFE WILDFIRE RESILIENCE.

WE HAD A VERY EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIP WITH HER PREDECESSOR, JESSICA MORRIS.

SO WE'LL BE BRINGING HER UP TO SPEED.

SHE IS GOING TO BE TOURING THE CARBONATOR FEBRUARY 22ND, AND SHE ALSO WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT OUR SACRAMENTO LEGISLATIVE LUNCH BACK IN SEPTEMBER, AND SO WITH THAT, WE LOOK FORWARD TO A SUCCESSFUL CONFERENCE.

I DON'T THINK I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING WE WILL BE MEETING IN THE MORNING AT THE OFFICES OF EEC TO GO THROUGH THESE PRESENTATIONS AGAIN, BUT ALL THE INFORMATION IS IN THE BOOKLET THAT IS IN YOUR BOXES UPSTAIRS RIGHT NOW, AND HOPEFULLY, AS WE'VE BUILT IN QUITE A BIT OF REDUNDANCY AS YOU CAN TELL.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE MAKE IT EASIER FOR US TO GET THROUGH THE MEETINGS IN AN EFFICIENT WAY AND HAVE SOME SUCCESS.

[00:45:02]

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? DIRECTOR ROSARIO GO AHEAD.

THIS IS GREAT. I'D LIKE TO HAVE ALL THIS STUFF AHEAD OF TIME, BUT REGARDING THE CCC CAMPS, THIS IS AN IDEA THAT DIRECTOR WAESPI HAD PUT FORWARD.

WOULD IT BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT POSSIBLY USING YURTS AS A POSSIBILITY TO HELP LESSEN THE COST OF DESIGN AND ACTUAL REAL BUILDINGS? I'M NOT SURE IF WE KNOW WHAT THE CC'S POLICY IS WITH REGARD TO THAT.

I DO KNOW THAT FOR THE PERMANENT FACILITY, THEY DO ENVISION A MORE OF A COMPLEX WITH A HIGH SCHOOL AND WITH A COMMUNITY MEETING ROOM AND HAVING SORT OF THE MODERN TECHNOLOGY AND FACILITIES.

SO I'M NOT SURE IF THEY HAVE A POLICY ON THE TEMPORARY SITUATION WITH THE, WITH THE YURTS.

YEAH. I WAS JUST THINKING IF IT WOULD HELP MAYBE JUMP START THEIR PROCESS IF THEY HAD SOME KIND OF FACILITY WHERE THEY COULD GO TO IMMEDIATELY OR QUICKLY AND THEN AND THEN BUILD AROUND IT.

JUST A THOUGHT. OKAY.

GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR CORBETT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU FOR THIS PRESENTATION.

THIS IS ALWAYS GREAT TO HAVE ALL THESE DETAILS ABOUT EACH OF THE LEGISLATORS THAT WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET.

DO WE KNOW HOW MANY OF THEM WE WILL ACTUALLY BE MEETING WITH? I KNOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS SOMETHING YOU KNOW WAY FAR IN ADVANCE, BUT HAVE YOU HAD, OH, IT'S NOT WORKING? IS THIS BETTER? ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT I WAS ASKING IS IF WE COULD KNOW ALREADY WHO WE'RE MEETING WITH.

DO WE KNOW YET OR.

I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU DON'T ALWAYS KNOW IN ADVANCE, BUT DO WE HAVE ANY SPECIFIC YESES OF MEETING WITH SOME OF THESE LEGISLATORS? YEAH. WE THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION, DIRECTOR CORBETT.

WE'RE DEFINITELY WORKING TO GET MEETINGS WITH THE ELECTEDS THEMSELVES, AND LAUREN IS CURRENTLY, AS WE SPEAK, TRYING TO SCHEDULE THOSE THOSE MEETINGS.

I THINK WE HAVE THREE SO FAR, AND I KNOW ORTEGA WAS ONE AND I DON'T-- --WILSON AND SKINNER. WILSON AND SKINNER.

OH, WONDERFUL. THAT'S GREAT, AND ALSO I THINK IT'S PROBABLY IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING TO US, BUT DO WE ALSO HAVE THE LIST OF WHICH COMMITTEE EACH OF THESE MEMBERS SERVE ON? BECAUSE THAT'S VERY, VERY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THAT KNOWLEDGE IN OUR MINDS WHEN WE'RE DISCUSSING VARIOUS ISSUES WITH THEM.

YEAH, THAT IS AN EXCELLENT POINT, AND I DID GO THROUGH THIS MORNING IN PREPARATION FOR THIS TO LOOK AT THE COMMITTEES BUT WE WILL PROVIDE THAT LIST TO THE BOARD MEMBERS.

TO US? I'M SORRY I DIDN'T HEAR THAT LAST PART YOU PROVIDE IT TO? WE WILL COMPILE THE LIST AND PROVIDE THAT TO THE BOARD MEMBERS AS WELL, COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS.

OKAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ANYONE ELSE? DIRECTOR WAESPI.

THANKS. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS, ERICH AND, LISA, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US.

GOSH, I WAS I WAS HOPING MORE MEMBERS WOULD COME, BUT WE'LL SEE.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET MORE MEMBERS, BUT AND A FOLLOW UP TO DIRECTOR ROSARIO'S POINTS, SURE IF WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THE CCC FOLKS, I SURE HOPE WE CAN KIND OF PROMOTE THAT CAMEL IN THE TENT TYPE OF DEAL, BECAUSE I CAN ONLY YOU KNOW, I KNOW IT WOULD BE YURTS WOULD BE NOT THE PLAN, BUT IF THERE'S A GROUP THERE, THEY'RE DOING THIS.

I COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK THAT OUR PUBLIC AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT AND OUR PARK DISTRICT COULDN'T PROMOTE THEM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY WOULD BE FORCED TO CONTINUE IT.

OUR CONSTITUENTS SEEING A FIRE CREW WORKING OUT THERE, OR UNDERSERVED YOUTH GETTING JOB TRAINING AND WORKING IN OUR COMMUNITIES, HOW COULD WE NOT HIT THAT ONE OUT OF THE PARK? SO RATHER THAN SIT THERE SAYING, OH, WE DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY, WE'VE GOT A BUDGET SURPLUS, I HOPE WE CAN TALK ABOUT SOME ALTERNATIVES LIKE YURTS MAYBE.

THAT'S. THANK YOU.

OKAY. GO AHEAD.

AS YOU WERE GOING THROUGH OUR DELEGATION ERICH, IT OCCURRED TO ME THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE EXPERIENCING A UNIQUE TURNOVER OF LEGISLATORS.

SPECIFICALLY, WE WILL HAVE FOUR NEW STATE SENATORS WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE TWO COUNTIES, AND WE ALL UP HERE, AND YOU FOLKS SHOULD BE GIVING THOUGHT TO HOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THESE PEOPLE, WE'LL HAVE A GOOD IDEA AFTER MARCH, WHO THEY'RE GOING TO BE, AND WE ALL SHOULD BE THINKING ABOUT HOW TO EDUCATE THOSE FOLKS.

TWO OF THEM ARE LIKELY TO BE ELECTEDS WHO HAVE ALREADY WORKED WITH US EXTENSIVELY.

[00:50:07]

TWO WILL BE FROM OUTSIDE OUR JURISDICTION AND NOT ALL THAT FAMILIAR WITH US.

SO SOME THOUGHT.

YEAH. APPRECIATE THAT.

GO AHEAD. YEAH.

AS WE PREPARE FOR SACRAMENTO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TOPICS I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING IN THE LOCAL NEWS HAS BEEN THE KING TIDES AND THE IMPACT BOTH ON THE BAY, WHICH IS OUR SHORELINE, AS WELL AS COMPARED TO THE IMPACT OF THE SHORELINE ALONG THE PACIFIC OCEAN, AND KIND OF HOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

CERTAINLY, THERE'S BEEN A LOT MORE IMPACT ALONG THE DIRECT OCEAN SHORELINE, BUT I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US AS WE PREPARE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN BULLET POINTS IN REGARDS TO THE RESTORATION.

PERMITTING IS HOW HAVE THE KING TIDES IMPACTED OUR SHORELINE? AND JUST TO KIND OF HAVE SOME OF THAT INFORMATION READY TO GO WHEN WE GO UP TO SACRAMENTO AND THEN YOU KNOW, THE REASON I'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS IS AT THE END OF DECEMBER, AND I KNOW I TALKED TO DENNIS ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT ON KQED.

THEY HAD A STORY ABOUT THE NEWARK SHORELINE, AND RIGHT NOW THERE ARE SOME EFFORTS TO WORK WITH THE US DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE WITH THE DON EDWARDS SITE TO EXTEND YOU KNOW, THE PROTECTIONS ALONG THE NEWARK SHORELINE. HOWEVER, THERE'S ALSO EFFORTS TO DEVELOP HOUSING ALONG THE NEWARK SHORELINE.

SO THAT'S PART OF THE TENSION THAT'S HAPPENING THERE, AND SO WITH THAT, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL JUST TO KNOW HOW THE KING TIDES HAVE IMPACTED OR HAVE NOT IMPACTED, YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE SHORELINE.

THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW I'M PERSONALLY NOT FAMILIAR WITH.

SO, YOU KNOW, WITH NEWARK VERY IMPACTED BY THIS, AND THEN ALSO I NOTICED WITH THE ASSEMBLYMEMBERS, ASSEMBLYMEMBER LEE DOES I BELIEVE HE REPRESENTS NEWARK.

SO WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER I KNOW IT'S ANOTHER BULLET POINT, BUT INCLUDING HIM ON THE RESTORATION PERMITTING ITEM.

OKAY, I APPRECIATE THAT.

GREAT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, ERICH AND LISA FOR YOUR WORK ON THIS.

REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION AND THOUGHT THAT'S GONE INTO THE GOALS FOR THIS YEAR, AND HOW WE WILL PRESENT THOSE GOALS AND HOPEFULLY BE SUCCESSFUL.

SO THANK. OH WE HAVE OH, OKAY.

WE HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION, BUT I MOSTLY JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD WORK.

REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

YES. THANK YOU.

SO I WANTED TO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO EXPRESS MY INTEREST IN THAT YOU ARE TAKING A LONGER VIEW OF THE ASKS THAT WE MAKE THAT.

GIVEN THE CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION, THE CHANCES MAY NOT BE THAT GREAT, BUT TAKING THE LONGER VIEW, YOU KNOW WE KEEP HAMMERING ON THIS YEAR AFTER YEAR.

THEY GET THE MESSAGE AND THEY REMEMBER IT, AND IT BECOMES SOMETHING THAT'S KIND OF A MORE OF A KNOWN QUANTITY AND THAT WE DO HAVE SOME ACCOMMODATIONS MADE.

SO THAT'S REALLY GREAT.

THE OTHER THING WAS IT'S KIND OF A KIND OF A WORDING ISSUE THAT WE'VE GOT GOING IN OUR MATERIAL HERE, AND, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT THE CATEGORY OF ROADS AND TRAILS, AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, IT'S THE ROADS ARE THE RANCH ROADS.

RIGHT, AND THAT'S JUST A TERM THAT WE USE HERE.

I UNTIL I DIDN'T KNOW THAT UNTIL LIKE A FEW WEEKS AGO, THAT IT WASN'T THE ROADS THAT GO INTO THE PARKS, THE PAVED ROADS, YOU KNOW, AND IF I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, I FIND IT EASY TO BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ROADS AND TRAILS, THAT THE UNINITIATED FOLKS OUT THERE ARE THINKING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAVED ROADS.

OH, AND THEN ALL THOSE OTHER TRAILS THAT WE HAVE.

SO MY SUGGESTION TO YOU IS TO MAKE AN ALLOWANCE OF THAT TERMINOLOGY FOR THE UNINITIATED, AND MY SUGGESTION IS NATURAL SURFACE ROADS, IF YOU WANT TO USE IF YOU WANT TO KEEP IF YOU WANT TO SPLIT THE THING ONE, YOU KNOW, KEEP THE WORD ROADS BUT PUT NATURAL SURFACE IN THERE. I THINK THAT WOULD HELP TO UNDERSTAND, AND THEN AS AS WE'RE HAVING CONVERSATIONS, WE SAY, WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THOSE WIDE, YOU KNOW, TRAILS THAT ARE TEN FEET WIDE THAT YOU GO ON.

WE CALL THOSE ROADS IN OUR TERMINOLOGY AND OUR CULTURE HERE, BUT THEY'RE REALLY TRAILS.

THEY'RE NOT PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN JUST DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES.

ALL RIGHT. SO I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WORTH TAKING INTO ACCOUNT, AND I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO THINK, TAKING THE LONGER VIEW THAT WE DON'T CALL THEM AT ALL IN OUR AGENCY, WE DON'T CALL THEM ROADS ANYMORE.

WE CALL THEM NATURAL SURFACE ROADS OR WIDE TRAILS OR SOMETHING ELSE, JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT WE DON'T HAVE ROADS RUNNING THROUGH BLACK DIAMOND MINE.

THOSE ARE TRAILS, REALLY; SO, THAT'S JUST A SUGGESTION.

[00:55:04]

YEAH. GOOD POINT. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MERCURIO.

OKAY. WELL THANKS AGAIN, ERICH AND LISA AND YOUR TEAM FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK ON THIS, AND I BELIEVE WE NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE THE 2024 STATE ADVOCACY GOALS.

DO I HAVE A MOTION? OH, I THOUGHT SOMEONE SAID...

OKAY. THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA.

OKAY. WELL, GREAT, IT ACTUALLY ASKS FOR TWO MOTIONS HERE, BUT THAT'S OKAY.

WE'LL WE'LL JUST CARRY ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

OKAY. SO MOVING ON THEN WE'RE ON WE HAVE THE ACQUISITION STEWARDSHIP AND

[ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION]

GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.

REN BATES, CHIEF OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

IT'S MY PLEASURE TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM.

IN 2022, WE THE DISTRICT RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE STATE IN ORDER TO BEGIN DEVELOPMENT OF OUR THURGOOD MARSHALL HOME OF THE 50.

I'M GOING TO THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.

I HAVE TO READ THAT TITLE EVERY TIME.

SORRY. SO WHAT WE ARE, WE ARE HERE TO SEEK AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH A CONSULTANT CONTRACT SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN BID DEVELOPMENT. I'M PULLING UP THE PRESENTATION RIGHT NOW, SO IF YOU BEAR WITH ME I AM GOING TO INTRODUCE EVA ROSE LEVITT, WHO IS THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT AND PROJECT MANAGER FOR THIS PROJECT.

AS I PULL THIS UP, I'LL LET EVA TAKE OVER AND GIVE A PRESENTATION ABOUT PROJECT UPDATE TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON THE PROJECT AS WE ARE TO DATE AND THEN ALSO THE ASK OF THE AUTHORIZATION AND THEN WE'LL RECEIVE QUESTIONS AFTER THAT.

THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.

AS REN MENTIONED, MY NAME IS EVA ROSE LEVITT.

I'M A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT AND I'M PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE DEVELOP PUBLIC ACCESS SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD PROJECT AT THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.

OOPS. SORRY.

I'M JUST HAVING A LITTLE TROUBLE ADVANCING THE SLIDE.

OKAY. THANK YOU.

SO OUR RECOMMENDATION TODAY FOR THE BOARD IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR $900,000 WITH BKF ENGINEERS FOR THE DEVELOPED PUBLIC ACCESS SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD PROJECT AT THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK.

SO THIS IS KIND OF A ROUGH PROJECT TIMELINE FOR THE RECENT PARK DEVELOPMENTS, AND I THIS OUTLAYS A LITTLE BIT OF WHERE WE'RE GOING, AND THIS PINK ARROW INDICATES WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW WITH JUST ISSUING THE RFP.

I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON THESE PHASES IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES.

IN 2020, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED THE THURGOOD MARSHALL LAND USE PLAN, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE LAND USE PLAN INDICATED WAS THAT THIS PARCEL, WHICH IS BASICALLY DEFINED BY BAILEY ROAD TO THE NORTH, YOU CAN SEE THAT WHITE LINE THAT BIFURCATES THE PARK SITE.

THAT'S WHAT WE REFER TO AS SOUTH OF BAILEY.

THAT PARK WAS BASICALLY IDENTIFIED TO BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FIRST, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T RELY ON THE CITY OF CONCORD'S MASTER DEVELOPMENT, CONSTRUCTION OF UTILITIES.

SO ESSENTIALLY IT'S KIND OF FREE FROM THOSE ENCUMBRANCES.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS THE LAND USE PLAN DID IS IT SET ASIDE ABOUT 40% OF THAT SITE AS A SPECIAL PROTECTION FEATURE, WHICH MEANS THAT AREA IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. IT IS CRITICAL HABITAT FOR SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES.

SINCE THE LAND USE PLAN WAS APPROVED, DISTRICT STAFF HAS BEEN REALLY BUSY IN A ROBUST, DETAILED SITE ANALYSIS PERIOD AND WHAT THIS MEANS BASICALLY IS IT'S A REALLY ROBUST DATA GATHERING THAT INFORMS US, IT INFORMS THE DISTRICT EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO STUDY, DESIGN, PERMIT, AND ULTIMATELY CONSTRUCT.

HAVING PERFORMED THAT DETAILED SITE ANALYSIS, WE ARE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A PRELIMINARY CONCEPTUAL PLAN, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE CONSULTANTS

[01:00:06]

SO THE PROJECT WILL INCLUDE A MODIFIED ENTRY INTERSECTION.

THE GOAL THERE IS TO MAKE A MORE WELCOMING PARK GATEWAY AS WELL AS SAFER INGRESS AND EGRESS.

AS YOU KNOW, BAILEY ROAD IS A VERY HIGH SPEED ROAD, SO, WE WANT TO MAKE SOME IMPROVEMENTS THERE.

THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A LARGE STAGING AREA, APPROXIMATELY 50 CARS WITH OVERFLOW SPACE FOR BUSSES AND EQUESTRIAN TRAILERS.

THERE WILL BE TYPICAL COMFORT STATION AMENITIES AT THAT STAGING AREA, SO FOUR VAULT RESTROOMS, DRINKING FOUNTAIN, SEVERAL DROP IN PICNIC AREAS INCLUDING A PICNIC SHELTER.

WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DEVELOP AN INTERPRETIVE PLAZA AT MAGAZINE 44, WHICH IS ONE OF THE REMNANTS, AMMUNITIONS, MAGAZINES, WHICH I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO INVEST IN SOME PUBLIC ACCESS AND EXHIBITRY AND INTERPRETATION AT MAGAZINE 44.

THE PROJECT WILL ALSO INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF TWO HIKE IN PICNIC AREAS AT THE UPPER ELEVATIONS, ONE OF WHICH WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE ADDITIONAL INTERPRETIVE ELEMENTS, SOME ACCESS TO MAGAZINE 57, AND A PICNIC SHELTER.

THE OTHER ELEMENT THAT WE HAVE COME UP WITH IS THE ROAD AND TRAIL DIAGRAM.

I'VE HEARD DIRECTOR MERCURIO'S COMMENTS ON TERMINOLOGY JUST NOW, AND THE GOAL OF THIS CIRCULATION SYSTEM IS REALLY THAT IT'S FUNCTIONAL AND REWARDING AS A STANDALONE CIRCULATION SYSTEM.

MEANING IN THE INTERIM, WHEN WE DON'T HAVE ANY TRAIL CONNECTIONS NORTH OF BAILEY ROAD, AS WELL AS WE DON'T HAVE THOSE REGIONAL PARK CONNECTIONS LIKE TO OTHER, SAY, BLACK DIAMOND MINES, FOR INSTANCE.

THE OTHER GOAL OF THIS CIRCULATION SYSTEM IS THAT IT PROMOTES BENEFICIAL USES OF THE SITE AND DISCOURAGES NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS.

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2023, DISTRICT STAFF ISSUED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR ENGINEERING AND LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES.

THREE FIRMS SUBMITTED AND OUR SELECTION COMMITTEE RANKED BKF ENGINEERS THE HIGHEST.

THEIR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT WILL BE FULLY FUNDED BY THE PROJECT, WHICH RECEIVED AN ALLOCATION OF THE GRANT SPECIFIED FUNDS FROM THE STATE BUDGET ACT OF 2022, IN THE AMOUNT OF 3 MILLION.

ONCE WE HAVE OUR CONSULTANT ON BOARD, THEY'LL HELP MOVE THE PROJECT FORWARD THROUGH DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT AND PERMITTING.

ONCE THE PROJECT HAS ITS PERMIT APPROVALS AND ITS CONSTRUCTION FUNDING, THEN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION CAN ISSUE A BID AND START CONSTRUCTION.

SO ONCE AGAIN, OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR THE BOARD IS TO AUTHORIZE THE AWARD AND EXECUTION OF A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR $900,000 WITH BKF ENGINEERS FOR THE DEVELOPED PUBLIC ACCESS SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD PROJECT AT THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.

THANK YOU AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ALONG WITH OUR CHIEF, REN.

THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? DIRECTOR MERCURIO.

YES. THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND RECOGNIZING THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT ASSET FOR THE WHOLE DISTRICT, BUT PARTICULARLY THE RESIDENTS OF CONCORD, BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT IN MANY OF THEIR BACKYARD AND VERY CLOSE BY.

THE ONE THING THAT TROUBLES ME ABOUT THIS, THOUGH, IS YOU KNOW, I THINK WE ALL RECOGNIZE THAT BAILEY ROAD REALLY IS A HIGH SPEED ROAD.

IT'S JUST AT THE POINT WHERE IT'S ENTERING OR LEAVING THE CITY OF CONCORD, AND SO THE SPEEDS GET TO BE FAIRLY HIGH THERE.

I MEAN, I'VE DRIVEN THAT ROAD MANY TIMES.

SO, YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, I HAVE EXPRESSED A CONCERN ABOUT THIS IN THE, IN THE PAST THAT WE HAVE NOT WE HAVE NOT REALLY ACCOMMODATED NON-MOTORIZED ACCESS TO THIS, THIS SECTION OF THE PARK, AND WE

[01:05:02]

I WELL, LET'S BACK IT UP.

WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE THE CORRECT ACCESS FOR THIS, WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE CORRECT ACCESS FOR THIS PARK ON THE DAY IT OPENS, AND THAT WOULD BE TO PROVIDE SOME KIND OF ACCESS ALONG BAILEY ROAD THAT WOULD ACCOMMODATE BICYCLES AND, AND HIKER WALKERS, PEDESTRIANS IN COOPERATION WITH THE CITY OF CONCORD AND THE COUNTY, BECAUSE BAILEY ROAD HAS A LITTLE SECTION OF COUNTY ROAD THERE.

I'M FAMILIAR WITH THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, I'VE MENTIONED THIS TO SOME FOLKS FROM THE CITY OF CONCORD, JUST INFORMALLY NOT, YOU KNOW, JUST VERY, VERY INFORMALLY, JUST THE FACT THAT, HEY, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND WE DIDN'T PUT IT IN OUR PLAN ORIGINALLY, BUT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY BELIEVE WE NEED TO BACK UP AND DO THAT.

I'VE ALSO MENTIONED IT TO THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR WHO HAS YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZED WHEN I MENTIONED THIS TO HIM, HE SAID, OH, YEAH, I THINK YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING THERE. SO SO THEY'RE AMENABLE TO LOOKING AT WHAT THEIR PART OF IT WOULD BE.

SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WHEN BKF GETS IN THERE AND STARTS WORKING, THAT'S PART OF WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE CONNECTION FROM CONCORD INTO THE PARK, AND THEN WE NEED TO DO OUR PART TO CONSTRUCT SOME NEW TRAIL CONNECTION INTO THE EXISTING TRAIL PLAN THAT WE HAVE.

REN BATES, CHIEF OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.

DIRECTOR MERCURIO. WE'RE HERE.

YOUR REQUEST. WE DO, OR I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU'VE REACHED OUT TO THE CITY AND THE COUNTY.

THOSE ARE ENTITIES THAT WE WOULD NEED TO WORK WITH BECAUSE THERE AREN'T ANY, IN ADDITION TO WHAT YOU POINTED OUT THAT WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT NON-MOTORIZED VEHICLE ACCESS.

THERE AREN'T ANY OF THOSE AMENITIES IN THE APPROPRIATE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS SURROUNDING.

SO, IN OTHER WORDS, FOR US TO MAKE A CONNECTION TO THAT AND NOT HAVE A SIDEWALK WOULD BE UNSAFE.

SO WE NEED TO HAVE THAT TO BE A WHOLE SYSTEM IN TERMS OF HAVING A CONNECTION THAT THEN PUTS A PEDESTRIAN SOMEWHERE CLOSE TO IT, BECAUSE THE OTHER THING THAT MAY HAPPEN, AND THIS IS ME SPECULATING, IS THAT WE HAVE CERTAIN PARKS THAT THERE'S ONLY ACCESS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

I MEAN, PROVIDED WE WERE PUTTING A STAGING AREA IN HERE, BUT IF WE JUST PROVIDED A PEDESTRIAN ACCESS THAT COULD BECOME A STAGING, INFORMAL STAGING AREA IN A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IF THERE AREN'T APPROPRIATE APPURTENANCES FOR THOSE NEIGHBORHOOD COMMUNITIES TO ACCESS THAT POINT, IT COULD OPEN US UP TO ADDITIONAL ACCESS POINTS FOR VEHICLES.

THAT'S AN UNINTENDED, UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCE.

SO WE WILL LOOK AT THIS AS WE DEVELOP THESE PLANS OUT.

I THINK WE HAVE OUR SCOPE SLATED FOR OUR I MEAN, THAT SCOPE IS NOT PART OF THIS CONTRACT RIGHT NOW AS WE'VE NEGOTIATED IT.

WE CAN ADD THAT IN AS IT IS APPROPRIATE, BUT I DO THINK THAT AS AN AGENCY, IT'S A GREAT COMMENT, BUT WE DO NEED TO WORK WITH OUR OTHER AGENCIES TO MAKE SURE THAT IT IS A WHOLE SYSTEM AND THAT WE ARE PROVIDING SAFE ACCESS FOR EVERYONE INTO AND OUT OF THAT CONNECTION POINT.

YEAH. NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT, AND THAT IS CRITICAL, AND IN FACT, CONCORD DOES HAVE A DG TRAIL THAT LEADS UP TO THE CREEK.

THE CREEK WHERE THAT BRIDGE IS ON BAILEY ROAD AND THEN IT JUST STOPS RIGHT THERE.

MY INTENTION WAS TO CONNECT THAT AS AS IT ALWAYS WAS INTENDED TO BE A CONNECTION INTO WHATEVER REGIONAL PARK IS BUILT.

IT'S JUST THAT, YOU KNOW, AT THE TIME THAT DG PARK TRAIL WAS PUT IN, THERE WAS NO NOTHING TO GO TO.

NOW THERE IS. SO YOU KNOW, FROM CONCORD BOULEVARD UP TO, YOU KNOW, OUR PARK WOULD BE A FAIRLY STRAIGHTFORWARD CONNECTION TO BE MADE. UNDERSTOOD.

WE WILL LOOK AT THAT.

I'D LIKE TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT, IF I MAY.

YES, GO AHEAD.

YOU KNOW, FROM ATTENDING NUMEROUS PROGRAMS AND WALK AND TALKS OUT THERE, IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS THAT THIS WAS A MISTAKE, THAT WHEN WE WERE DOING THIS PLAN IN 2020, WE COLLECTIVELY DIDN'T PROVIDE THAT ACCESS AND DIDN'T INCLUDE IT, AND I THINK WHAT WE NOW KNOW IS WE NEED TO DO IT, AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT WE'RE WORKING ON IT.

THE OTHER THING THAT'S BEEN POINTED OUT TO ME IS PEOPLE WILL ENTER THROUGH THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS ANYWAY, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW PEOPLE MAKE THEIR OWN TRAILS, RIGHT? THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND SO WE SHOULD AGAIN BE GIVING THOUGHT TO THAT.

UNDERSTOOD, AND WE WILL.

THANK YOU. YEAH, AND, YOU KNOW, JUST I MIGHT ADD ONE MORE COMMENT.

I TAKE OWNERSHIP FOR BEING ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT OVERLOOKED IT BECAUSE I OVERLOOKED IT.

I WAS ON THE PAC WHEN WE LOOKED AT THIS PLAN AND I DIDN'T SEE THIS.

I DIDN'T SEE THAT, YOU KNOW, AND I LIKE TO THINK THAT I'M LIKE, I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT TRAILS IN CONCORD, BUT I MISSED THAT ENTIRELY, AND NOW I REALLY, REALLY FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY TO OWN UP TO THAT AND REALLY DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO HAVE THAT READY ON DAY ONE, SO THAT ACCESS CAN BE FOR

[01:10:03]

GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR SANWONG.

I MAY BE REPEATING SOMETHING, BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND THE GRANT THAT WAS AWARDED.

IS THERE A TIMELINE DEADLINE IN REGARDS TO THIS GRANT THAT WE HAVE TO USE THE FUNDS BY A CERTAIN DATE? DO WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT FLEXIBILITY THERE? I WOULD DEFER TO OUR GRANTS DEPARTMENT, BUT I BELIEVE THAT.

I DON'T BELIEVE THERE IS.

I'LL DOUBLE CHECK.

THE URGENCY HASN'T BEEN COMMUNICATED TO ME ON THAT SUBJECT, SO.

OKAY, THAT'S FAIR. THANK YOU.

SURE. YEAH. THANK YOU.

I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT AND I THINK IT'LL BE GREAT.

I GUESS THE ONLY QUESTION I WOULD ASK, LIKE I ALWAYS DO, IS WHAT'S OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BKF ENGINEERS? HAVE WE WORKED WITH THEM BEFORE OR ARE THEY HOW DID THEY STAND OUT AND WHAT WAS THEIR EXPERIENCE IN SIMILAR PROJECTS OF HIGH QUALITY BUILT WORK? YES, THE SELECTION COMMITTEE DID RANK THEM VERY HIGH.

THEY'VE DONE A LOT OF WORK IN FOR THE DISTRICT ITSELF, AS WELL AS OTHER SIMILAR PEER AGENCIES.

ONE OF THE HIGHLIGHTED PROJECTS WAS A SIMILAR RAIL TO RAIL TO TRAIL CONVERSION PROJECT THAT THEY DID IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.

SO I HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH THAT.

AS WELL AS NUMEROUS.

THEY DO A LOT OF WORK FOR THE DISTRICT, AND SO THEY HAVE A GOOD TRACK RECORD HERE.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR ROSARIO.

HI. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROJECT GOING FORWARD.

IS THERE REGARDING THE ENTRANCE THERE, IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THAT WE CAN TAKE SOME OF THAT LAND AT THE ENTRANCE TO SOFTEN THAT HARD RIGHT TURN INTO THE OR HARD TURN INTO THE PARK.

EXACTLY. PART OF OUR TEAM OF CONSULTANTS WILL INCLUDE A TRAFFIC ENGINEER WHO'S GOING TO LOOK AT THE GEOMETRY THERE TO HELP GET THE BASICALLY TRAFFIC CALMING SPEEDS, LOOK AT THE TURNING RADII, ALL OF THAT TO HELP CARS SAFELY ENTER AND EXIT THE PARK FOR, YOU KNOW, CARS THROUGH TRAFFIC TO SLOW DOWN TO ENABLE THAT.

THEY'VE ALSO WE'VE HAD SOME PRELIMINARY STUDIES DONE TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT THE FUTURE FOUR WAY INTERSECTION COULD LOOK LIKE WHEN WE ARE READY TO OPEN NORTH OF BAILEY ROAD, AND THEN IT BECOMES A MAJOR GATEWAY FOR PARK VISITORS WHO ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER THEIR PICNIC IS SOUTH OF BAILEY OR NORTH OF BAILEY AND THEN MY QUESTION IS REGARDING THE PARKING LOT, 50 CARS IS NOT A LOT, AND I CAN ENVISION THIS IS GOING TO BE A POPULAR PARK, BUT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT OVERFLOW.

IF THAT PARKING LOT FILLS UP, WHERE IS THE PUBLIC GOING TO BE ABLE TO PARK? SO RIGHT NOW THE PRELIMINARY PLAN HAS A STAGING AREA AND REALLY ROUGH DESIGN FOR 50 AUTOMOBILES, AND THEN A LARGE OVERFLOW AREA FOR EQUESTRIAN AND BUSSES.

THAT'S, I THINK FIVE AND SIX MAYBE OF EACH.

SO A REALLY LARGE EXPANSE FOR OVERFLOW.

THE LAND USE PLAN ALSO KIND OF INDICATED AN AREA FOR A SMALLER 25 CAR STAGING AREA CLOSER TO THE PARK ENTRANCE, WHICH WE COULD BE CONSTRUCTED FAIRLY EASILY ONCE DEMAND HITS THAT LEVEL.

WE DIDN'T PUT IT IN ON THIS FIRST PHASE BECAUSE THERE AREN'T REALLY ANY TRAIL CONNECTIONS THERE.

SO THERE'S NOTHING TO HIKE TO RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT EXPLAINS SOME OF WHERE WE HAVE SOME CAPACITY TO GROW.

WELL, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DESIGN.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

OKAY. ANYBODY ELSE? HEARING NONE. OKAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

VERY INFORMATIVE, AND THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR YOUR QUESTIONS.

SOME VERY EXCELLENT POINTS WERE RAISED, AND NOW I DO NEED A MOTION TO APPROVE.

GO AHEAD. OKAY.

SECOND. GREAT.

ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? IT IS UNANIMOUS.

MOVING RIGHT ALONG HERE, WE GOT, ALL RIGHT.

[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]

I JUST HAD ONE QUICK, TIMELY BIT OF NEWS THAT JUST CAME INTO MY INBOX.

I JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME THANK YOU'S AND APPRECIATIONS FOR YESTERDAY'S MLK DAY OF SERVICE, AND JUST GOT SOME STATS HERE FROM OPERATIONS WE HAD AT OUR THREE LOCATIONS, A TOTAL OF 762 VOLUNTEERS YESTERDAY, WHICH IS THE LARGEST

[01:15:06]

SO THE WEATHER COOPERATED AND WE HAD A WONDERFUL TURNOUT.

I WILL SEND THIS OUT TO ALL OF YOU WITH SOME MORE STATS ON THE ACTUAL YARDAGE AND TONNAGE OF GARBAGE COLLECTED, BECAUSE IT IS QUITE EXTRAORDINARY.

SO I'M JUST READING THIS, AND I JUST WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND SAY A QUICK THANK YOU TO ALL THE STAFF FROM RESERVATIONS, OUTDOOR REC, BLACK DIAMOND AND OUR VOLUNTEER STAFF AND JUST REALLY ALL OF OPERATIONS FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, AND I THINK SOME OF YOU WERE OUT THERE AS WELL BUT THAT'S IT FOR ME.

THANK YOU.

ALL RIGHT.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION.

THANK YOU, PRESIDENT ECHOLS.

THERE ARE NO ANNOUNCEMENTS.

GREAT. SO FINALLY, BOARD COMMENTS, AND WE'LL START WITH WE'LL START WITH THIS END AND JUST GO DOWN.

[BOARD COMMENTS]

I'M READY. THANK YOU.

I HOPE EVERYONE HAD A GOOD HOLIDAY, AND SO STARTING WITH JANUARY 2ND, I HAD MY INTERVIEW WITH, FOR THE 21ST CENTURY PLAN AND THEN AND THEN ALSO ON THE 12TH, I HAD AN INTERESTING CONFERENCE, A SHORT CONFERENCE REGARDING SMART AND CONNECTED COMMUNITIES, AND THIS IS A GROUP OUT OF UC BERKELEY.

THEY'RE DOING RESEARCH ON HOW DURING WELFARE EVENTS, HOW COMMUNITIES ARE CONNECTED, HOW HOW DO THEY COMMUNICATE AND HOW DO THEY INTERACT, AND SO I HAD TO LEAVE EARLY, SO I MISSED THE MOST IMPORTANT PART.

THEY ACTUALLY CREATED A MODULE OF HOW TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS, AND SO BUT THIS REALLY GOES INTO THE OUR CONCERNS AROUND EVACUATIONS, NOTIFICATIONS.

THIS IS A REALLY HIGH POWERED GROUP OF SCIENTISTS FROM FROM UC BERKELEY.

SO, IN COLLABORATION WITH DIABLO FIRE SAFE COUNCIL, OAKLAND FIRE SAFE COUNCIL, BERKELEY FIRE WAS THERE.

OAKLAND FIRE WAS THERE.

I WAS THERE REPRESENTING THE PARK DISTRICT, BUT ALSO I JUST WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO CAPTAIN MCINTYRE FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.

HE WAS ACTIVE IN THAT AS WELL.

SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTICIPATING IN ANOTHER CONFERENCE ON THAT AND SEEING SOME OF THE RESULTS FROM THAT.

SO THAT WAS REALLY FUN, AND THEN I ATTENDED THE, ON THE 15TH I ATTENDED THE MARTIN LUTHER KING RALLY.

IT WAS FOR THE FIRST 1 IN 4 YEARS I THOUGHT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY WELL RUN AND VERY ENJOYABLE AND HEARTFELT.

I THINK THE COMMUNITY REALLY RESPONDED QUITE WELL TO THAT EVENT, AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER EVENTS THAT WERE GOING ON THAT DAY THEY HAD A FULL HOUSE.

SO I REALLY ENJOYED THE YOUNG PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THAT, AND THANK YOU TO ALL THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT SHOWED UP, TOO, AND THEN I'M HERE TODAY, AND THEN I JUST HAVE A REQUEST TO IF POSSIBILITY OF ADJOURNING IN MEMORY OF OFFICER TUAN LE, THE OAKLAND POLICE OFFICER THAT PASSED WHILE ON DUTY.

THAT'D BE WONDERFUL. THANK YOU.

GO AHEAD. OKAY.

SO ON DECEMBER 19TH, AT THE BOARD MEETING DECEMBER 21ST, I MET WITH CAROL LANE, WHO IS A ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE EAST BAY TRAIL DOGS, WHICH IS A GROUP OF MAINLY RETIRED PEOPLE WHO DO VOLUNTEER WORK ON TRAILS, MAINLY TRAIL MAINTENANCE, SOMETIMES TRAIL CONSTRUCTION, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY MOVE AROUND TO CITY OF WALNUT CREEK, OPEN SPACE YOU KNOW, SAVE MOUNT DIABLO PARK DISTRICT AND MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK.

THEY LITERALLY WORK IN THE EAST BAY, AND SO I MET WITH THE VOLUNTEER WHO SORT OF GETS THEM ALL THEIR WORK.

SHE'S SORT OF THE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, CAROL LANE.

SHE WAS INTERESTED IN MAKING A STRONGER CONNECTION WITH DIABLO FOOTHILLS REGIONAL PARK BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE HEART OF WHERE THEIR MEMBERS LIVE, AND THEY LOVE THAT PARK, AND THEY'D LIKE TO MAKE MORE CONTRIBUTIONS.

SO WE MET AND I'VE INTRODUCED THAT IDEA TO STAFF THAT THEY'D BE MORE INVOLVED IN THAT PARK.

ON DECEMBER 29TH DIRECTOR COFFEY AND I MET WITH DIRECTOR EMERITA BEVERLEY LANE AND HAD A WONDERFUL LUNCH AND TALKED ABOUT JUST A WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS.

[01:20:01]

IT WAS A GREAT MEETING.

ON JANUARY 2ND, I WAS ON THE MEETING WITH THE BOARD RETREAT PREPLAN HAVING THAT INTERVIEW FOR THAT, AND BRINGS US TO YESTERDAY.

I TOO WAS AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR MULTICULTURAL RALLY IN OAKLAND, AND I HAD ATTENDED THAT ON REMOTELY LAST YEAR.

OF COURSE, EVERYBODY DID IT REMOTELY, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO DIRECTOR CORBETT FOR HER ROLE IN THAT, BUT, YOU KNOW, I REALLY I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS IT WAS SUCH A GREAT EVENT.

THERE'S A LOT THERE.

I MEAN, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON.

AS I TOLD DIRECTOR ROSARIO AFTERWARDS, I SAID, YOU KNOW, THIS IS LIKE A VARIETY SHOW, BUT IT'S ALL FOCUSED ON, YOU KNOW RACIAL ISSUES IN OUR WORLD, YOU KNOW, AND SO IT WAS GREAT FOR THAT, AND THEN FINALLY, JUST A COUPLE OF COMMENTS.

ONE IS I JUST HAPPENED TO WHEN DRIVING IN THE CAR, I HAD THE RADIO ON AND I HAD THERE'S A SHOW ON NPR CALLED THE WORLD.

IT'S LITERALLY ABOUT THE WORLD, AND HOW DO YOU DO THAT IN AN HOUR? WELL, THEY MANAGED TO DO IT IN AN HOUR, BUT THEY ALSO MANAGED TO SINGLE OUT AN ITEM ON THAT WAS FOCUSING ON BIOCHAR.

SO THAT WAS I WOULD INVITE ANY, YOU KNOW, ANYONE AROUND HERE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT IT'S THE WORLD.

LAST THURSDAY, THEY HAD A WHOLE SEGMENT ON A FELLOW ON CAPE COD WHO DID A LOT OF RESEARCH INTO SOIL AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE'S SOME SOIL IN THE AMAZON THAT'S THE BEST ON EARTH, AND THE REASON IT IS, IS BECAUSE IT, IT THE NATIVE PEOPLES, THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO LIVED THERE FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS ROUTINELY BURNED THE FOREST AND BUILT THE SOIL UP TO A WAY THAT MAKES IT VERY FERTILE.

SO THAT WAS INTERESTING.

I DIDN'T EVEN CATCH THE WHOLE THING.

I GOT TO GO BACK AND LISTEN TO IT MYSELF, BUT I THINK THERE'S THINGS TO BE LEARNED FROM THAT, THAT WE COULD SORT OF REFER TO BACK UP WHAT WE'RE DOING EVEN MORE, AND THEN FINALLY, THANKS AGAIN FOR THE AGENDA ITEM NUMBERS ON THE IN OUR PACKET.

DIRECTOR CORBETT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT JUST ONE EVENT, AND THAT WAS THE MARTIN LUTHER KING EVENT THAT WE HAD YESTERDAY.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WAS JUST YESTERDAY, BUT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL EVENT.

SO HAPPY TO HAVE MEMBERS OF THE OF US THERE TO CELEBRATE AND TALK ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON IN THE DISTRICT AND IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE WE HAD A LOT OF YOUNG GROUPS THAT CAME AND SANG AND TALKED ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT HE TAUGHT PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, HOW THINGS SHOULD BE DONE TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE ALL LIVE IN, AND IT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL.

IN ADDITION, WE HAD SEVERAL SPEAKERS.

WE HAD ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIA BONTA AND MAYOR SHENG TAO FROM THE CITY OF OAKLAND, AND COUNCILMEMBER TREVOR REED, WHO ALSO SPOKE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, I ALREADY TALKED ABOUT WE HAD THE PRESENTATIONS, BUT WE HAD SO MANY YOUTH GROUPS THAT CAME AND SANG, AND THAT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE BEST PARTS OF THE ENTIRE PROGRAM, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH TO HAVE MY COLLEAGUES THERE TO REPRESENT THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE PARK DISTRICT TO ACTUALLY HELP FUND THIS PROGRAM AS WELL.

SO IT WAS REALLY A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL EVENT WITH ALL KINDS OF GREAT THINGS TO SEE, ESPECIALLY WATCHING THE YOUNG CHILDREN AND DOING THEIR PRESENTATIONS AND SINGING AND TALKING ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF MARTIN LUTHER KING.

SO IT'S ALREADY READY TO START PLANNING AGAIN FOR NEXT YEAR, BUT THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU THAT WERE THERE, AND THANKS AGAIN TO THE PARK DISTR ICT FOR HELPING FUND THIS REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT EVENT.

THANK YOU ALL. OKAY.

DIRECTOR WAESPI. THANK YOU.

ON JANUARY 1ST, ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, I HELD MY ANNUAL HIKE UP MISSION PEAK.

IT WAS WONDERFUL. GREAT DAY.

THANKS TO DIRECTOR COFFEY AND MILA FOR COMING DOWN SOUTH TO SEE THAT SPECTACLE.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO STILL LIKE MISSION PEAK, AND THERE'S STILL A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LIKE GOING UP STANFORD AVENUE WAY.

IT'S AS POPULAR AS EVER.

ON JANUARY 5TH, I MET WITH THE CONSULTANT TO TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES FOR THE STUDY SESSION OR RETREAT THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS FRIDAY OR NEXT FRIDAY.

PARDON ME. ON JANUARY 10TH, I ATTENDED THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION MEETING.

GREAT. GREAT TALK BY OUR COLLEAGUES AT ALAMEDA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT TALKING ABOUT WATER AND THE FUTURE, AND

[01:25:08]

SO I GUESS THEY REALLY DO WANT TO PUT A LOT OF WATER IN LAKE DEL VALLE.

SO BUT IT WAS VERY KIND, AND HE WAS VERY GRACIOUS, AND SO WAS THEIR DIRECTOR JIM.

JIM? JIM WHO? JIM, WHAT IS HIS NAME? DOESN'T MATTER, LONG-TIME DIRECTOR DOWN THERE.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, AND I MIGHT ADD, COMPLIMENTS TO THE STAFF FOR THE CALENDAR.

I'VE BEEN HANDING THESE OUT.

I HANDED THEM OUT TO CASTRO VALLEY SANITARY DISTRICT PARK ADVISORY OR COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

HANDED THEM OUT AT THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION.

PEOPLE LOVE THESE THINGS.

THEY JUST GRAB THEM AND GO FOR THEM.

SO THANKS AGAIN.

GREAT PRODUCTION, AND ANYWAY I ALSO ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING THAT AFTERNOON JANUARY 10TH THIS SUNDAY, THIS PAST SUNDAY, I TOOK A WALK WITH YOU KNOW, I FORGOT HER LAST NAME, ERIN FROM COYOTE HILLS, A NATURALIST DOWN THERE WHO DID A KING TIDE WALK, AND IT WAS REALLY, REALLY GREAT.

SHE SHE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB.

IT WAS A COLD, RAINY DAY, IF YOU REMEMBER.

I WAS HOPING FOR WIND AND STORMY DAY TO MAKE THE TIDES GO OVER THE LEVEES.

IT DIDN'T HAPPEN, BUT THERE WAS, YOU COULD SEE THE SWELLING THAT WAS OCCURRING.

WATER WAS COMING IN AT A GREAT RATE, AND ERIN DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF INTERPRETING.

SHE GOT A GROUP. WE HAD 24 PEOPLE THERE, I THINK, AND SHE BLEW UP A SUN, AND THEN SHE BLEW UP AN EARTH, AND SHE BLEW UP A MOON AND HAD PARTICIPANTS.

OH, GEEZ, AND I GET MYSELF INTO THIS.

THE SUN JUST SITS THERE AND DOESN'T MOVE.

THE EARTH REVOLVES AROUND THE SUN REVOLVES, AND THE MOON SPINS EVERY 24 HOURS AROUND THE EARTH AS THE EARTH IS MOVING AROUND THE SUN, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT THAT'S WHAT MAKES KING TIDES OR THAT'S WHAT DRAWS THE TIDES IN, AND SHE DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF EXPLAINING IT, UNLIKE ME, BUT IT WAS A GREAT PRESENTATION, AND, YOU KNOW, I ENCOURAGE YOU, THERE'S STILL A COUPLE MORE KING TIDES AND THERE ARE A COUPLE MORE PROGRAMS THAT THE REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IS LEADING.

TALKS ABOUT THAT AND MAKING THE AWARENESS OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

SO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT IF YOU, IF YOU CAN, AND THEN YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION.

CONGRATULATIONS, DIRECTOR CORBETT.

YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, AND IT WAS AN EXCELLENT EXCELLENT SHOW AND IT'S SO FUNNY.

I LOVE GOING BACK THERE SIMPLY BECAUSE PEOPLE LIKE ERWIN LYNCH, JOAN SUZIO AND OTIS SANDERS, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT WORKED FOR THE PARK DISTRICT FOR YEARS AND YEARS.

THESE GUYS WERE FOUNDING MEMBERS, I'M PRETTY SURE OTIS LONG RETIRED.

SO IS JOAN, BUT THEY ALWAYS COME BACK AND THEY ALWAYS PARTICIPATE, AND THEY'RE ALWAYS REALLY INTO IT, AND ERWIN, OF COURSE, IS A SUPERSTAR WHO WAS NOT ONLY OUT THERE DIRECTING PARKING, BUT PRESENTING AWARDS AND DOING HAULING STUFF AROUND.

HE'S EVERYWHERE AND EVERYTHING.

SO CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

I THINK YOU DID AN EXCELLENT JOB OF DESCRIBING THE KING TIDES, ACTUALLY.

SO NICE JOB WITH THAT SUMMARY.

IT REMINDS ME, YOU KNOW, IT'S INTERESTING I HAVE TO SHARE THIS BECAUSE I'M JUST SO PROUD OF HER.

SO WITH MY UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE, I HAD A FOCUS IN AN AREA OF SCIENCE, AND I FOCUS ON PHYSICS, AND ACTUALLY, MY PHYSICS PROFESSOR WHO TAUGHT ME SOME OF THE PHYSICS BEHIND WHAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED SHE'S ONE OF THE FEW WOMEN THAT WON THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR PHYSICS.

SO. YES.

SO I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING.

IT IS. YES, DR.

ANDREA GHEZ AT UCLA, I THINK SHE WON TWO YEARS AGO.

SO JANUARY 4TH, I HAD MY MEETING FOR THE BOARD RETREAT PLANNING, AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THINKING ABOUT THE SHORELINE, AND I KNOW I REFERENCED THIS EARLIER AND I GUESS ALSO, AS WE THINK ABOUT PREPARING FOR MAY WHEN WE GO TO WASHINGTON, DC, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL MAY REVIEW THIS BEFORE MAY.

JUST THINKING AGAIN ABOUT THE US DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND DON EDWARDS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S THE AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK IS PART OF THE FEDERAL 30 BY 30, AND I KNOW THAT'S WHAT'S BEING REFERENCED IN REGARDS TO THE NEW YORK SHORELINE, BUT ALSO, THIS IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE THINKING ABOUT FREMONT, DUMBARTON QUARRY HAS A TRAIL THAT GOES TO DON EDWARDS AND CONNECTS TO THAT SHORELINE AREA.

SO WHILE IT MAY NOT BE DIRECTLY OUR PROJECT OR OUR LAND, YOU KNOW, WE CONNECT THE TRAILS TO THAT AREA.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FOLLOW UP, BUT YEAH, I THINK NEXT WEEK LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY WEEK HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT.

SO IT'S BEEN NICE TO HAVE A FEW WEEKS BREAK FROM MEETINGS AND THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES, AND HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE.

[01:30:07]

ON DECEMBER 20TH, I ATTENDED A SITE VISIT WITH CONGRESSMAN GARAMENDI.

STAFF, LOCAL STAFF ARRANGED BY ERICH.

WE WENT TO RODEO TO SEE THE SHORELINE AND POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT THE DISTRICT MIGHT SOMEDAY PURSUE AROUND RODEO AND THEN WE ALSO VISITED THE SITE OF THE BAY TRAIL.

GAP AT POINT WILSON ON THE 28TH.

I DID ATTEND A NICE LUNCHEON WITH DIRECTOR MERCURIO AND BEV LANE AND TALKED A LOT OF HISTORY ON THE 29TH.

I HAD A MEETING ON HIS VERY LAST DAY WITH MIKE REEVES TO GO OVER WARD SEVEN AND PROPERTY ISSUES ON THE FIRST. I DID ATTEND, ALONG WITH THE MASSES.

DIRECTOR WASPS.

MISSION PEAK HIKE.

ON THE FIFTH, I ATTENDED A TASK FORCE MEETING OF THE CONTRA COSTA BAR ASSOCIATION, THE PORT CHICAGO TASK FORCE.

I ALSO HAD THE MEETING WITH THE RETREAT CONSULTANTS.

THEY SEEMED TO BE VERY ENGAGING.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

ON THE 10TH, I ATTENDED THE LEG' COMMITTEE, AND ON THE 11TH, I ATTENDED THE CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE, AND DOCTOR ALVAREZ WAS THE LEAD PRESENTER FOR THE GROUP THAT NIGHT, AND SHE DID A FABULOUS JOB, VERY ENGAGING, AND I GOT A LOT OF REAL POSITIVE FEEDBACK AFTER AFTER HER PRESENTATION AND I REALLY FELT PROUD OF DOCTOR ALVAREZ AND THE ORGANIZATION THAT WE ARE PLAYING SUCH A LEADERSHIP ROLE AMONG, YOU KNOW, ALL THE MAYORS OF CONTRA COSTA WHO ARE ALL COPIOUSLY TAKING NOTES AND PICTURES OF THE SLIDES AND IT JUST IT WAS A REAL GOOD FEELING TO PARTICIPATE.

THAT'S IT. GREAT.

WELL THANKS EVERYBODY.

SO I'LL QUICKLY GO THROUGH SOME OF MY ACTIVITIES OVER THE BREAK AND BEGINNING OF JANUARY.

STARTING WITH THE 22ND OF DECEMBER MET WITH STAFF REGARDING THE TILDEN JUNIOR RANGER PROGRAM.

GOT AN UPDATE ON THAT AND THE SURVEY THAT WENT OUT RECENTLY TO PARENTS AS WELL AS THE UPCOMING WORKSHOP, AND CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE FOLKS TO ATTEND THAT IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE AND GIVING THEIR OPINION ON THINGS.

ON THE 29TH MET WITH STAFF REGARDING PLANNING FOR THIS YEAR'S BOARD MEETINGS, IN PARTICULAR INCLUDING ASSIGNMENTS FOR BOARD MEMBERS TO THE BOARD AND LIAISON COMMITTEES.

ON THE 8TH OF JANUARY CHIEF THIELE AND ASSISTANT CHIEF KHARI HELAE WERE KIND ENOUGH TO JOIN ME AT A MEETING WITH THE BERKELEY FIRE SAFE COUNCIL ON ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING IN AND AROUND BERKELEY.

WE TALKED TO THEM ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, BUT MOSTLY THEIR QUESTIONS ARE MOSTLY AROUND THE NEIGHBORING AREAS NEAR NEAR THE CITY OF BERKELEY, AND WE WERE JOINED ALSO BY BERKELEY'S FIRE CHIEF IN THAT ZOOM MEETING, AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO THANK CHIEF THIELE AND ASSISTANT CHIEF HELAE FOR THEIR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THAT, BECAUSE IT'S I KNOW HOW BUSY THEY ARE AND THERE'S LOTS OF GROUPS THAT WANT TO MEET WITH THEM, AND THEY WERE VERY GRACIOUS WITH THEIR TIME AND WERE VERY INFORMATIVE.

ON THE NINTH I MET WITH OUR CONSULTANTS ON PLANNING FOR THE 2024 BOARD RETREAT.

ON THE 10TH ATTENDED THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE 12TH, HAD THE PRE-MEETING REGARDING THE BOARD MEETING WITH WITH OTHER BOARD OFFICERS AND SOME OF OUR EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBERS AND THEN YESTERDAY I ATTENDED THE ANNUAL BERKELEY MARTIN LUTHER KING BREAKFAST WHERE THEY WERE REALLY CELEBRATING CELEBRATING THE YOUTH MOSTLY.

IT WAS REALLY GREAT, ALL OF THE PERFORMANCES AND JUST IT MAKES ME FEEL OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUR FUTURE.

WHEN I SEE WHEN I SEE THE TALENT THAT'S COMING UP COMING UP IN THE RANKS WITH OUR YOUNG PEOPLE.

I DO WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR CORBETT FOR HER LEADERSHIP AND THE MULTICULTURAL RALLY IN OAKLAND REALLY, EVERYONE WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THAT EVENT AND EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED, AND ALSO A SHOUT OUT TO OUR STAFF AND THE RECORD NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS WHO WHO WERE OUT IN THE PARKS YESTERDAY.

I THINK THAT'S PHENOMENAL BECAUSE REALLY IT IS ABOUT SERVICE.

SO THANK YOU EVERYBODY WHO PARTICIPATED, AND I THINK THAT BRINGS ME UP TO TODAY EXCITED ABOUT THE ROLE OF PRESIDENT.

[01:35:10]

LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU IN THIS ROLE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

SO WITH THAT, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE WE NEED TO SAY BEFORE WE ADJOURN? WELL, I WILL DO THAT ONE.

YES, YES. SO YEAH, AS DIRECTOR ROSARIO SUGGESTED WE'LL ADJOURN IN MEMORY OF OAKLAND POLICE OFFICER TUAN LE, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

A VERY SAD, TRAGIC SITUATION.

SO WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED IN HIS MEMORY AT 2:47 P.M..

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.