[00:00:02]
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
THIS STUDY SESSION, MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON FEBRUARY 2ND, 2024, IS BEGINNING AT 1:05 P.M.
[ROLL CALL]
MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? . THANK YOU. I'M HERE TOO DIRECTOR ROSARIO HERE.THANK YOU. TODAY'S MEETING IS HELD PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT.
THIS MEETING IS HELD IN A STUDY SESSION FORMAT TO ENCOURAGE BOARD MEMBER COMMENT AND DISCUSSION.
WE ARE PROVIDING LIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO LIVE VIA ZOOM, BY SUBMITTING AN EMAIL IN PERSON AT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE HEADQUARTERS IN OAKLAND, OR BY LEAVING A VOICEMAIL.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO. PRESIDENT WAESPI I MEAN, NO PRESIDENT, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC.
HE'S RIGHT HERE. NOR ARE THERE ANY IN THE ROOM IN THE WEBINAR ROOM.
YOU'RE WELCOME. SO THEN IN THAT CASE, WE CAN JUMP RIGHT INTO THE AGENDA AND I BELIEVE THAT GENERAL MANAGER SABRINA LANDRETH WILL BEGIN THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
SO I'M GOING TO HAND THIS OVER TO KEN IN A SECOND, AND HE'S GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR TEAM HERE AND ESPECIALLY OUR NEW CHIEF OF LAND, WHO IS IS HERE ON HER FIRST WEEK.
SO WE MADE THE TIMING WORK FOR EVERYBODY HERE.
THIS IS, YOU KNOW, CONTINUES TO BE A STUDY SESSION THAT WE ARE TWEAKING AS WE GO AND REALLY HAVE APPRECIATED THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT AS WE TRIED SOMETHING NEW LAST YEAR AND THEN ALSO, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH JUST KIND OF WHAT IS GOING TO BE THE MOST CONSTRUCTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE FOR YOU ALL.
SO THIS IS MEANT TO BE MORE OF A DISCUSSION.
SO DEFINITELY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR REMAINING VERY FLEXIBLE ON THIS.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, ACQUISITION REMAINS ONE OF THE TOP PRIORITIES OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS ON A LOT OF THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT THIS VERY SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM HAS ACCOMPLISHED OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS SINCE WE WERE LAST HERE WITH YOU. IT'S REALLY EXTRAORDINARY HOW MUCH GOES ON THE ACQUISITION SIDE AND ALSO ON THE TRANSACTIONAL SIDE OF THINGS WITH WITHIN THE TEAM.
JUST ONE THING I DO ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, JUST FROM MY POSITION HERE AS THE GENERAL MANAGER HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR LAST YEAR AROUND WANTING TO WORK WITH US INDIVIDUALLY ON PRIORITIES THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN YOUR WARD AND SO WE LAUNCHED THAT LAST YEAR OF DOING THE WARD SITE VISITS AND THAT HAS BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE AND HELPFUL AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN GREAT FOR KEN AND HIS STAFF.
SO THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND PRIORITIES.
SO THAT'S BEEN GREAT AND WE PLAN ON CONTINUING THAT THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS BRIEFINGS ON INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES, WHICH WE REALLY HAVE BEEN LEANING MUCH MORE INTO WITH YOU.
BEFORE ITEMS COME BEFORE THE FULL BOARD, EITHER IN CLOSED SESSION OR OPEN SESSION.
SO CONTINUE TO REACH OUT, LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE GETTING ENOUGH OR NOT ENOUGH AND OR YOU WANT LESS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.
THANK YOU TO STAFF AND I WELCOME A REALLY ROBUST DISCUSSION THIS AFTERNOON.
[00:05:01]
SO WITH THAT, I WANT TO HAND IT OVER TO KEN.KEN WYSOCKI, I'M THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT AND BEFORE WE GET STARTED ON THE FULL AGENDA THAT WE HAVE FOR YOU TODAY, FIRST, I WANT TO THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR INPUT, ESPECIALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THIS IS FOUR MORE DAYS AND I'LL HAVE ACTUALLY ONE MORE YEAR.
SO I'M NOT A FULL YEAR IN YET, BUT I'VE BEEN LISTENING AND PAYING ATTENTION AND IN ORDER TO MAKE CHANGES, I HAVE TO ASSESS, HEAR YOU FIND OUT THE NEEDS FROM THE PUBLIC AND FROM YOURSELF SO THAT WE CAN MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES GOING FORWARD AND THAT'S INCLUDING WITH THIS LAND ACQUISITION FOCUS ON WHERE WE'D LIKE TO GET PROPERTIES, ETC.
SO I JUST WANT TO KEEP THAT IN THE BACK OF YOUR MINDS.
AS YOU KNOW, END OF LAST YEAR, MIKE REEVES RETIRED OUR CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION AND WE DO DID WISH HIM VERY WELL AND SUCCESS AND THANKED HIM FOR ALL HIS WORK HE'S DONE SO FAR FOR US AND WE KNOW HE'S ENJOYING HIS GOLD CARD THAT HE RECEIVES AND ENJOYING THE BEACH MORE OFTEN THAN NOT.
WE CONDUCTED A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR A NEW CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION, AND WE PULLED IN A FULL BOARD SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS BOARD NOT BOARD. I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR IS WE HAD QUITE A FEW ROBUST INTERVIEW SESSIONS TO FINALIZE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GENERAL MANAGER AND FROM THAT, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE OUR NEW CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION BECKY BREMSER.
SHE STARTED THIS PAST MONDAY AND ONLY BEEN HERE FIVE DAYS AND STILL, I'M VERY IMPRESSED SO FAR AND I JUST CAN'T HARDLY WAIT TO SEE WHAT SHE'S GOING TO PROVIDE US GOING FORWARD. SO BECKY, I'D LIKE TO HAVE HER TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER BACKGROUND.
WE WERE LUCKY TO THAT SHE TOOK ON THIS OPPORTUNITY AND WE'RE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS FORWARD.
HELLO. I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE TO BE YOUR NEW CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION.
LIKE KEN SAID TODAY IS DAY FIVE, SO PLEASE BE PATIENT.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON WHO I AM AND WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO.
SO I HAVE A 25 YEAR CAREER IN LAND CONSERVATION.
THE LAST FIVE PLUS YEARS I'VE BEEN THE DIRECTOR OF LAND PROTECTION FOR SAVE THE REDWOODS LEAGUE.
THEIR MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE REDWOODS AND GIANT SEQUOIA AND CONNECT PEOPLE TO THEM.
THE LEAGUE WAS FOUNDED IN 1918 AND I JOINED THEM IN THEIR CENTENNIAL YEAR.
SO I GOT TO START WITH THEM WHEN THEY WERE EMBARKING ON THEIR SECOND CENTURY.
NOT TOO DIFFERENT THAN WHAT YOU'RE ALL ABOUT TO DO.
IT CREATED EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY THERE.
SOME OF IT WAS REALLY SMALL AND SOME OF IT WAS MASSIVE.
MY WORK AT TPL STARTED IN THE CARIBBEAN, WHICH WASN'T TOO SHABBY AND THEN IT TOOK ME TO FLORIDA AND THEN ULTIMATELY TO CALIFORNIA, WHERE TPL NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED.
I WAS THE FIRST WOMAN WHO WAS EVER PROMOTED TO THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER LEVEL TWO POSITION.
I'M ALSO AN AFFILIATE INSTRUCTOR AT YALE UNIVERSITY, WHERE I GET TO TEACH A GRADUATE LEVEL SESSION EVERY YEAR AROUND STRATEGIES AND LAND CONSERVATION AND I LOVE DOING THAT BECAUSE IT'S WE REALLY GET TO ADDRESS AND START TOUCHING ON SOME OF THOSE PRESSING AND REALLY UPCOMING ISSUES THAT THIS FIELD HAS TO FACE.
OVER THE YEARS, I'VE GOTTEN TO LEAD ON HUGE, CONTENTIOUS, SOME PRETTY HIGH PROFILE ACQUISITION PROJECTS, AND I LOVE COLLABORATING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF TEAMS. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME INVESTING IN RELATIONSHIPS.
I SEE RAPPORT BUILDING AS REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
I'M GENUINELY A GOOD LISTENER, I WOULD SAY.
THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IS WHERE I RECREATE.
[00:10:01]
IT'S WHERE I RECONNECT.I KNOW THAT YOU HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE, BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE FOR ME.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON THAT MUCH OF THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, I WOULD SAY HAS BEEN SCOOPED UP.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN ACQUIRED THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION WORK.
BUT WHERE IT'S MOVING NOW IS IT'S JUST BECOMING A LOT MORE COMPLEX AND A LOT MORE TOUGH.
IN A WAY, IT'S LIKE ALL THE EASY STUFF IS DONE.
WE'RE NOW TACKLING AND TAKING ON MORE CHALLENGING DEALS, AND THE WORK IS JUST GETTING HARDER.
BUT I DON'T SEE LAND ACQUISITION WORK RETREATING AT ALL.
I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S JUST CHANGING.
WE HAVE TO RELY A LOT MORE, I THINK, ON STRONG AND MORE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS.
JUST TO COLLECTIVELY GET ALL THIS WORK DONE.
THIS IS A SUPER EXCITING TIME TO BE HERE.
SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE YEARS TO COME.
ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT. WELCOME.
EXCUSE ME, GENERAL COUNSEL, DID WE NEED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA OR WE CAN JUST MOVE ON?
[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
PROVING THE AGENDA.SO WE DID JUST JUMP INTO INTRODUCTIONS, OKAY? IT'S REALLY UP TO PRESIDENT ECHOLS HOW SHE WOULD LIKE TO HANDLE THE AGENDA.
OKAY, BUT DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT IT BE APPROVED FORMALLY OR IN A WORKSHOP? DO WE NOT NEED TO DO THAT? I MEAN, THE AGENDA IS SET.
WELL, WE WILL WE WILL UPHOLD THE TRADITION AND SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION? THANK YOU.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? UNANIMOUS. GOOD.
[ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION]
IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME ONE MOMENT, I'LL GET THE SLIDES UP.I AM REAL ESTATE MANAGER RACHEL LAM.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECHOLS.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GENERAL MANAGER, SABRINA LANDRETH.
WELL, WE'RE GOING TO COVER A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THIS SESSION.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WANT TO DO IS KIND OF REINTRODUCE OUR STAFF, REINTRODUCE WHAT WE DO.
WE GIVE YOU A REALLY FULL PICTURE, BECAUSE SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN WITH US FOR A REALLY LONG TIME, AND SOME OF YOU ARE NEWER, AND WE WANTED TO JUST KIND OF REFRESH ON WHERE WE ARE AND REINTRODUCE OURSELVES.
IS THAT BETTER? NOPE. HOW ABOUT THAT? OKAY. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SO OUR TEAM HAS SIX FULL TIME STAFF.
WE HAVE OUR CHIEF, BECKY BREMSER, WHO YOU JUST MET.
TWO REAL PROPERTY SPECIALISTS WHO YOU'LL MEET LATER, AND OUR ADMIN ANALYST, TWO, WHO YOU WILL ALSO MEET OUR CHIEF REALLY PROVIDES STRATEGY, COORDINATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND WORKS ON THE MOST COMPLICATED AND SENSITIVE PROJECTS AND PROVIDES LEADERSHIP FOR THE WHOLE TEAM IN THE REAL ESTATE MANAGER ROLE.
I REALLY MANAGE THE WORKFLOW ON THE TEAM.
I LOOK AT MORE COMPLICATED OR SENSITIVE PROJECTS, AND I OVERSEE THE REAL PROPERTY SPECIALISTS.
THIS IS A FAIRLY NEW POSITION ON OUR TEAM, SO WE'RE STILL KIND OF DEVELOPING WHAT IT IS, BUT IT'S REALLY TO HELP KIND OF TRAFFIC CONTROL OUR WORKFLOW, MAKE SURE EVERYBODY FEELS SUPPORTED, MAKE SURE ONE PERSON DOESN'T HAVE A TON OF WORK AND SOMEBODY ELSE IS UNDERUTILIZED, JUST KIND OF BALANCING ALL OF THAT.
OUR REAL PROPERTY SPECIALISTS HANDLE THE DAY TO DAY PROJECTS IN INCREASING LEVELS OF COMPLEXITY.
[00:15:07]
WORKS ON SOME OF OUR COORDINATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN TERMS OF LONG TERM USE PERMITS FOR THE PROPERTY HANDLING KIND OF FIRST LINE OF INQUIRIES WE GET FROM STAFF AND FROM THE PUBLIC, AND REALLY IS THAT FIRST POINT OF CONTACT IN MANY CASES ON OUR TEAM, WE TALK ABOUT OUR KIND OF FIVE FUNCTIONS THAT WE PERFORM. WE WORK ON FEE ACQUISITION, OTHER REAL PROPERTY RIGHTS SUCH AS EASEMENTS.WE WORK ON USE AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
SO THOSE WOULD BE LEASES, OPERATING AGREEMENTS, LICENSES, BOTH NEW AND EXISTING.
WE PROVIDE RIGHT OF WAY SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OPERATIONS.
SO ALTHOUGH WE'RE REFERRED TO AS THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT, OUR WORK REALLY COVERS THE BREADTH OF REAL PROPERTY, REAL ESTATE SERVICES, FEE ACQUISITION THOUGH HIGHLY VISIBLE AND EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, AND SOMETHING WE ALL ENJOY WORKING ON, IS OFTEN THE LESS RESOURCE INTENSIVE AND TIME INTENSIVE OF OUR RESPONSIBILITIES.
SOME OF THE USE AGREEMENTS SUPPORTING OTHER DEPARTMENTS IS FREQUENTLY A BIGGER LIFT, BECAUSE THOSE REQUIRE COORDINATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS, WITH OTHER AGENCIES, MULTIPLE PARTIES, AND THEY REQUIRE THINKING THROUGH THESE REALLY LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS IN A WAY THAT A SIMPLE FEE ACQUISITION DOES NOT.
JUST TO GIVE YOU KIND OF SOME PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
THAT'S JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A FEEL FOR THE SCOPE AND SCALE OF WHAT WE DO, AND HOW IT'S KIND OF BALANCED BETWEEN OUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO GIVE US MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT TO PHILLIP.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECHOLS.
I'M PHILLIP COFFIN, REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST AND AS THE FORMER ADMIN ANALYST IN THIS DEPARTMENT, I'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT OUR ANNUAL PARK AND TRAIL STATISTICS REPORT.
WHICH YOU HOPEFULLY ALL HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
THE ANNUAL STATS BOOK, AS WE CALL IT, HAS BEEN USED SINCE 1993.
HERE'S THAT ORIGINAL FROM WAY BACK THEN.
I THINK WE DID HAVE PRINTERS BACK THEN.
SO IT'S BEEN USED SINCE 1993 BY THE BOARD AND STAFF FOR ACCOUNTING, PARK PLANNING, OPERATIONS AND MANY OTHER PRACTICAL PURPOSES, BUT ALSO DOCUMENTS OUR AGENCY'S LEGACY OF OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC RECREATION.
YOU CAN SEE IN THE REPORT AS USUAL PRIOR LANDOWNER OR GRANTOR HOW MANY ACRES WE ACQUIRED.
HOW MUCH WE PAID FOR THE PROPERTY.
THE DATE IT WAS RECORDED AND SO FORTH AND SO ON.
AS THE REPORT DOCUMENTS, WE UTILIZE A WIDE RANGE OF TOOLS SUCH AS PURCHASE, LEASE, LICENSE, DEVELOPER DEDICATION, DONATIONS, TAX, DEFAULT SALES, AND ON AND ON TO ACQUIRE A WIDE RANGE OF PROPERTY RIGHTS.
RIGHT? SO FEE SIMPLE OWNERSHIP, VARIOUS EASEMENTS, POSSESSION, ACCESS, ETC..
[00:20:01]
AGREEMENTS GOING BACK OVER THE LAST 90 YEARS.IN THE PARK DISTRICT'S FIRST 90 YEARS.
THESE INCLUDE GRANTING OUT LICENSES TO THE USGS FOR SEISMIC STATIONS AT A VARIETY OF OUR PARKS.
THE 2012 LEASE OF THE PACHECO EQUIPMENT SHOP AND THE 1988/1989 PURCHASE OF THIS VERY BUILDING.
ANOTHER NOTE ABOUT THE DISPOSITIONS OR WHAT RACHEL REFERRED TO AS OUT GRANTS.
OVER THE LAST 90 YEARS, WE'VE COMPLETED 44 OF THESE OUT GRANTS.
THESE INCLUDE PROJECTS THAT YOU MAY REMEMBER FROM RECENT BOARD MEETINGS OR BOARD ACTIONS.
THE SALE OF SEVEN PLUS ACRES AT THE BURRELL PROPERTY IN DANVILLE.
THE GRANTING OF UTILITY EASEMENTS TO PG&E AT CROCKETT HILLS.
THE THE LEASE OF A LITTLE KAYAKING, A LITTLE BOAT DOCK ON THE OAKLAND INNER HARBOR TIDAL CANAL.
SO WE REGULARLY SPEND QUITE A LOT OF TIME AS STAFF.
IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING TO COMPLETE THESE THESE OUT GRANTS, THESE DISPOSITIONS, BUT THEY ARE A NECESSARY REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION WHEN YOU'RE THE LARGEST LANDOWNER IN THE EAST BAY. BUT BACK TO OUR DATABASE OF REAL ESTATE PROJECTS.
ALL RIGHT. SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SEGMENT, I JUST WANTED TO OPEN THE FLOOR.
IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON JUST KIND OF THE INTRODUCTION SECTION.
HOW DOES, IS EVERYONE AVAILABLE TO PICK UP THE SLACK? BECAUSE I DON'T IMAGINE ANYBODY'S PROJECTS ARE LEFT HANGING.
YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WOULD SAY WE ALL COVER FOR EACH OTHER REGULARLY AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE REALLY BEEN WORKING ON IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS HAS BEEN TO DEVELOP A PROJECT TRACKER THAT ALL OF US HAVE ACCESS TO KIND OF IN PREVIOUS GENERATION OF THE LAND ACQUISITION TEAM, EACH PERSON WAS KIND OF OFF DOING THEIR OWN THING, AND WE'VE REALLY WORKED TO COORDINATE OUR WORK BETTER IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT WE ALL KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA OF WHOSE PROJECT IS WHOSE, WHAT ARE THEY DOING AND PREPARING FOR PEOPLE GOING OUT ON LEAVE OR ANYTHING ELSE THAT THEY HAVE COMING UP.
SO THERE'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME HICCUPS DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS.
IS THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO BACKFILL FROM? TEMPORARIES OR.
SO WE'RE HIRING FOR THE SENIOR REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST POSITION RIGHT NOW.
WE'VE HAD PEOPLE ACTING IN OUR ADMIN ROLE, AND WE'VE MADE USE OF THAT BEFORE.
SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT LOOKS MOVING FORWARD FOR THIS YEAR.
BUT YES, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REGARDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT? NOTHING CAN HAPPEN UNTIL PROPER PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE SECURE.
BUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT SOME OF OUR CONSERVATION EFFORTS AND WORKING WITH, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S A FEDERAL OR STATE AGENCY OR A CONSERVANCY ORGANIZATION, THERE MAY BE ASSETS WITHIN, YOU KNOW, ACROSS OUR TWO COUNTIES THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT FROM A CONSERVANCY PERSPECTIVE BUT MAY NOT FIT OUR PORTFOLIO HERE AT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
[00:25:05]
PROPERTY TRANSACTION DOESN'T GO IN OUR FAVOR, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE KEEP TRACK OF THAT? SO IT MIGHT BE OUTSIDE OF THIS MICROSOFT ACCESS DATABASE THAT YOU MENTIONED, BUT DO WE HAVE ANOTHER DATABASE WHERE WE'RE KEEPING TRACK OF SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW LAND THAT'S GOOD FOR CONSERVANCY OR THAT'S BEING MANAGED BY A STATE OR FEDERAL ENTITY OR MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, PRIVATE PROPERTY, BUT IS STILL VERY VALUED IN TERMS OF ITS OPEN SPACE. YES.SO WE DO TRACK MOST OF EVERYTHING THAT COMES ACROSS OUR DESK.
NOT IF IT'S A QUICK FIVE MINUTE QUESTION, BUT ANYTHING THAT'S MORE SUBSTANTIVE.
SO EVEN IF THEY DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH ACQUISITION OR, YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY PRIVATE SWOOPS IN ON SOMETHING WE WERE INTERESTED IN, OR IT'S NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, FOR WHATEVER REASON. WE HAVE FILES ON THOSE, AND WE TRY TO TRACK OUR AND DOCUMENT OUR DECISION MAKING AND OUR THINKING AROUND THEM.
THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS I'M GOING TO TOUCH ON, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE WOULD DOCUMENT FOR THOSE AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE REGULAR CHECK INS WITH OUR PARTNERS AROUND THE REGION. SO WE MEET WITH STATE PARKS, WE MEET WITH SAVE MOUNT DIABLO, JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST.
WE ARE HEARING ABOUT THINGS FROM EVERYBODY'S CONSTITUENTS THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THOSE AMONGST OUR DIFFERENT AGENCIES TO KIND OF COME UP WITH STRATEGIES AND THINK ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE.
SO WE TRACK AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND WE DON'T ONLY MAINTAIN RECORDS FOR THINGS WHERE WE CLOSED AND WERE SUCCESSFUL, WE ALSO MAINTAIN RECORDS FOR STUFF WHERE WE'VE LOOKED AT IT AND DECIDED TO PASS OR LOOKED AT IT, AND WE'RE NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD FOR WHATEVER REASON.
OKAY. THAT'S HELPFUL. THANK YOU.
SO LAST YEAR, THE CHIEF OF LAND PRESENTED A NEW PROJECT EVALUATION AND VETTING PROCESS AND PRIORITIZATION CATEGORIES USED TO ASSESS LAND ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES.
THE PROCESS, DEVELOPED LAST YEAR, WAS MEANT TO DOCUMENT AND DESCRIBE EXISTING PRACTICES.
THINK THROUGH SOME MODIFICATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT, AND BUILD ON AND FORMALIZED STEPS SUCH AS INTER-DEPARTMENTAL FEEDBACK, DURING THE COURSE OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. SINCE THAT TIME, LAND STAFF HAS BEEN PILOTING AND CONTINUES TO PILOT THIS PROCESS WITH OUR PROJECTS.
WE'RE STILL INCORPORATING FEEDBACK FROM STAFF AND FROM THE BOARD ON HOW BEST TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
TALK ABOUT WHAT WE AS STAFF HAS SEEN AS BENEFITS AND OF HOW THIS HAS BEEN WORKING FOR US SO FAR, AND THEN JUST KIND OF OPEN THE FLOOR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE MOVE THIS FORWARD AND KIND OF FORMALIZE OUR PROCEDURE.
SO THE FIRST STAGE IS THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT.
THIS IS WE'VE JUST HEARD ABOUT A PROPERTY.
EITHER IT'S FOR SALE, WE'RE INTERESTED IN IT AND STAFF REVIEW PROJECT FOR ALIGNMENT WITH THE PARK DISTRICT'S MISSION AND THE 2013 MASTER PLAN AND PRETTY SOON THE NEW DISTRICT PLAN, AND WE PREPARE AN INTERNAL MEMO FOR THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AND THE GENERAL MANAGER SUMMARIZING THE PROJECT'S ATTRIBUTES AND HOW IT FITS WITH THE PRIORITIES.
THIS IS A VERY EARLY REVIEW, AND WE'LL INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM OTHER TEAMS IN OUR DIVISION.
STAFF CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STAGE.
IN THE SECOND STAGE, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND QUESTION ABOUT THE FIRST STEP THERE.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THAT AND I'M THINKING, OKAY, SO THIS IS GOING TO BE YOU WOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT A PROPERTY UNLESS IT WAS SOMEHOW SOME NOTION THAT IT COULD TIE IN WITH WHAT WE ALREADY HAVE. RIGHT.
BUT THEN I STARTED THINKING, WHAT IF IT WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT GET REJECTED, YOU KNOW, LIKE NO PASS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD BE SOME EXAMPLES AND THEN CERTAINLY DON'T GET SPECIFIC HERE. RIGHT. OH SURE.
NO WE HAVE, BUT YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SAYING, OH YOU KNOW WHAT.
BUT WE'RE GOING TO RUN AWAY FROM THIS ONE.
YEAH. SO WE GET INQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC SOMETIMES FROM REAL ESTATE BROKERS.
SOMETIMES WE'LL GET SURPLUS LAND NOTIFICATIONS FROM OTHER AGENCIES AND THE ONES THAT WE TEND TO JUST BE ABLE TO QUICKLY LOOK AT AND THE STAFF LEVEL WILL BE LIKE, THIS IS NOT A GOOD FIT, IS IT'S A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY SURROUNDED BY OTHER RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES AND DOESN'T TOUCH ANYTHING OF OURS AT ALL.
MAYBE IT'S A FORMER TANK SITE FOR EBMUD OR SOMETHING AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A NEXUS.
THOSE ARE PRETTY EASY TO KIND OF SCREEN OUT.
THEY GET A LITTLE MORE COMPLICATED IF THEY ARE NEXT TO OUR PARK AND OH, WOULD THAT MAKE SENSE TO ROUND OUT OUR BORDER? WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM BROKERS WHO'VE MAYBE WORKED WITH US IN THE PAST ON A RANCH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEN THEY'LL COME TO US WITH A PROPERTY THAT, AGAIN,
[00:30:03]
DOESN'T HAVE A NEXUS WITH OUR PARKS, MAYBE HAS A REALLY DEVELOPED EVENT CENTER AND ALL SORTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON IT THAT WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN TAKING ON.BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD FLOAT IT BY US JUST TO SEE IF WE'RE INTERESTED.
SO WE GET THAT KIND OF INQUIRY.
I'D SAY THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT ARE PRETTY EASY FOR US.
THOSE ARE COMMON WAYS FOR PROJECTS TO COME TO US THAT ARE EASY KIND OF PASSES.
BUT THEN IF SOMETHING'S A LITTLE BIT MORE LIKE, OH, WE MIGHT, YOU KNOW, THAT IT'S WORTH TAKING A SECOND LOOK, THEN I'LL TAKE I OR BECKY WILL TAKE IT TO THE REGULAR CHIEF'S MEETING WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP, DEVELOPMENT.
I HOPE I'M ON THOSE SAME LINES.
THERE'S A LAND WHERE SOMEONE MIGHT COME ALONG AND SAY, WE'D LIKE TO OFFER THIS TO YOU, WHATEVER, FOR WHATEVER COST OR WHATEVER, BUT I'M ASSUMING WE'RE ALSO OUT THERE TAKING A LOOK FOR PROPERTIES THAT MEAN WE MAY BE INTERESTED IN GOING FORWARD TO GET PROPERTIES.
OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE SOME PROPERTIES LIKE THAT ON THE LIST.
DO WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT AS WE SEE LAND? HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES, WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT PARK VIEW AND OTHER TOOLS THAT WE HAVE TO KIND OF SEE.
OH, IS THERE AN INHOLDING THAT WE WOULD REALLY LOVE TO PICK UP? HAVE WE HEARD FROM OPERATIONS THAT ACCESS FROM THIS SIDE IS REALLY CHALLENGING, EITHER FOR OUR PARK DISTRICT STAFF OR FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, AND WE'D LOVE TO KIND OF SEE WHAT'S OUT HERE ON THIS SIDE.
SO WE'RE ALWAYS WE'RE WE REACH OUT PROACTIVELY AS WELL.
WE'RE NOT JUST WAITING FOR THINGS TO COME ACROSS THE DESK.
IS THAT YOUR QUESTION? YES AND WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE WITH US? I MEAN, I KNOW SOME OF THIS INFORMATION IS ALREADY AVAILABLE TO US, BUT CAN WE CONTINUE TO BE OUT THERE LOOKING FOR PROPERTIES THAT WE LOOK AT AND SAY, HEY, HOW ABOUT IF WE TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ONE OR THAT ONE? YOU KNOW, MAYBE IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD GO AFTER OWNING THIS PROPERTY OR RENTING THIS PROPERTY? HOW MUCH OF THAT DO WE DO? HOW MUCH OF THAT DO WE DO PROPORTIONALLY? OR WILL WE DO OR CAN WE DO? I WOULD SAY WE DO A LOT.
WE'RE ALWAYS TAKING A LOOK AND SEEING WHAT'S OUT THERE.
BUT IT IS A COMBINATION OF WHAT'S RIPE TO BE FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH A LANDOWNER.
SO THE PARK RANGERS, THE UNIT MANAGERS, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO REALLY HAVE THE EAR TO THE GROUND OF, OH, THIS FAMILY IS THINKING OF MOVING AWAY AND THEIR RANCHES RIGHT NEXT DOOR AND YOU SHOULD BE IN TOUCH.
WE ALSO HEAR FROM OUR GRAZING TENANTS, WHO ARE ALSO KIND OF OUT IN THE FIELD LIKE THAT AND HAVE THEIR EARS TO THE GROUND AND KNOW KIND OF WHAT PROPERTIES MIGHT BE MOVING AND THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WILL REACH OUT TO AND MAKE CONTACT WITH.
WE DO SOME COLD CALLS, OF COURSE, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS SUPER COMPELLING.
BUT I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE THE GRAPEVINE REFERRALS TO US PEOPLE WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH AND CAN KIND OF KNOW THAT THEIR PROPERTY MIGHT BE ONE THAT THEY'RE READY TO SELL AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES AND HAVE HEARD ABOUT THEM.
BUT COULD IT HAPPEN LIKE MAYBE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS OR SOMETHING THAT BOARD MEMBERS HEAR WHAT'S GOING ON IN THEIR PARTICULAR DISTRICT AREAS, WHAT MIGHT BE OUT THERE IF THERE'S SOMETHING NEW MOVING IN OR WHAT'S OUT THERE NOW? I HAVE A FEELING I MIGHT NOT KNOW EVERYTHING THAT'S IN MY DISTRICT, MAYBE THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT OR MAYBE I DO, MAYBE I DON'T.
I BELIEVE SO, YEAH AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO.
SO WITH THE SITE VISITS YOU KNOW.
I THINK OR AT LEAST WE'RE WORKING ON THEM.
BUT THAT'S WHERE I KNOW MY STAFF HAS BEEN REACHING OUT TO YOU.
BUT CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO SIT DOWN AND KIND OF GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THAT LIST OF WHAT, YOU KNOW MIGHT BE POTENTIALS, THE STAFF IS ALWAYS OPEN.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
I DO KNOW WE HAVE THOSE MEETINGS THAT WILL BE COMING UP.
SO FOR STAGE TWO IS OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS ANALYSIS.
[00:35:03]
VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.TITLE REVIEW FEEDBACK FROM OTHER STAFF.
THIS LATTER STEP MIGHT INCLUDE INFORMATION GATHERING FROM OPERATIONS STAFF WHO ARE WORKING NEARBY, FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPERTY FROM OUR GRAZING AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT TEAMS, FROM OUR BIOLOGISTS OR OTHER SPECIALISTS.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE'RE COLLECTING MORE INFORMATION FROM STAFF TRYING TO REALLY VET THIS AND MAKE SURE IT'S NOT JUST LAND KIND OF THINKING ABOUT THE PROJECT, BUT WE'RE REALLY GETTING FEEDBACK FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
WHEN WE SEEK AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE AN OFFER ON THE PROPERTY AT ITS APPRAISED VALUE.
IF ALL THAT'S GOING WELL, WE MOVE TO STAGE THREE, WHICH IS THE ACQUISITION EVALUATION.
SO IF THE BOARD AUTHORIZES AN OFFER AND IF THE SELLER AND THE PARK DISTRICT REACH AGREEMENT ON TERMS, STAFF RETURNED TO THE BOARD IN OPEN SESSION FOR AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN OPTION AGREEMENT FOR THE PROPERTY.
BOARD MATERIAL IN THE PRESENTATION AT THIS STAGE INCLUDE DETAILS ON PRICE AND TERMS, DOCUMENTATION OF THE PROJECT'S BENEFITS ACCORDING TO THE PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA AND OTHER KIND OF BENEFITS AND POTENTIAL ISSUES THAT WE SEE ON THE PROPERTY.
IF THE BOARD ENTERS APPROVES ENTERING INTO THE AGREEMENT, WE CAN THEN ENTER INTO THE CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE AND THIS REALLY UNLOCKS OUR ABILITY TO COMPLETE FURTHER DUE DILIGENCE ON THE PROPERTY, AS MANY LANDOWNERS ARE UNDERSTANDABLY HESITANT TO ALLOW BIG GROUPS OF PARK DISTRICT STAFF OUT ON THEIR PROPERTY UNTIL THAT PROPERTY IS UNDER CONTRACT.
AT THIS POINT, LAND WORKS WITH PLANNING TO SCHEDULE AN ACQUISITION EVALUATION SITE TOUR, WHICH INVITES STAFF FROM DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS ALL ACROSS THE DISTRICT TO VISIT THE PROPERTY ALL TOGETHER, DISCUSS IT AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK IN A WRITTEN REPORT.
ONE NOTABLE CHANGE FROM OUR PREVIOUS PRACTICE IS THAT THIS ACQUISITION EVALUATION IS NOW GENERALLY CONDUCTED EARLIER IN THE OPTION PERIOD TO ALLOW MORE TIME FOR STAFF FEEDBACK AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE PROJECT, IF NEEDED.
WE'RE ALSO REACHING OUT TO RELEVANT STAFF EVEN BEFORE THE PROPERTY IS UNDER OPTION, IN A MORE SYSTEMATIC WAY TO REALLY VET THE PROJECT, REALLY GET THAT RELEVANT INFORMATION NEEDED SO THAT MANAGEMENT AND BOARD CAN MAKE DECISIONS.
THE ACQUISITION EVALUATION REPORT THAT COMPILES ALL OF THAT STAFF FEEDBACK IS INCLUDED IN THE BOARD MATERIALS, AND AGAIN, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE PRIORITIZATION CRITERIA AND ADDRESSES ANY ISSUES IDENTIFIED.
SO FROM A STAFF LEVEL, I FEEL LIKE THE MAIN BENEFITS WE'VE REALLY SEEN FROM THIS THAT HAVE BEEN SUPER HELPFUL IS IMPROVED COMMUNICATION ACROSS DEPARTMENTS EARLIER IN THE PROCESS. IT REALLY ALLOWS US TO ADJUST THE PROJECT IF WE NEED TO, AND TO CHASE DOWN LOOSE ENDS AND REALLY GET THOSE QUESTIONS ASKED AND ANSWERED BEFORE IT'S GOING TO MANAGEMENT, BEFORE IT'S GOING TO THE BOARD MAKING SURE WE'VE REALLY VETTED THE PROJECT COMPLETELY.
WE USED TO KIND OF HAVE A ROUGH TIER ONE, TIER TWO RANKING SYSTEM, AND THE PRIORITIZATION CATEGORIES ARE SUPPOSED TO BETTER CAPTURE ALL THE DIFFERENT REASONS WE MIGHT WANT TO PURSUE A LAND ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITY.
SOME ARE VITAL FOR OUR STAFF OR FOR THE PUBLIC ON GETTING TO A PROPERTY, A LARGER ACCESS INTO THE PARK, BUT AREN'T, YOU KNOW, IN AND OF THEMSELVES GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF ENDANGERED SPECIES ON THEM.
SO THE PRIORITIZATION CATEGORIES REALLY ALLOW US TO CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION, RECORD IT, AND MAKE SURE THAT MANAGEMENT, THE BOARD HAVE ACCESS TO THAT AND STAFF TOO IF WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT A PROJECT TEN YEARS LATER THAT DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE THAT PROJECT. SO WE ARE HOPING TO FINALIZE THIS PROCESS BY THE END OF THE YEAR, INCORPORATING STAFF AND BOARD FEEDBACK.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S MEANT TO BE A RECURSIVE PROCESS.
IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE SET IN STONE.
WE CAN REFINE AND ADJUST IT AS WE GO AND THEN WE'RE ALSO REALLY FINDING ON THE STAFF LEVEL THAT WE NEED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FLEXIBILITY, BECAUSE DIFFERENT LANDOWNERS ARE GOING TO HAVE DIFFERENT COMFORT LEVELS OF HOW MANY STAFF ARE OUT OF THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME.
IF THEY LET US OUT THERE BEFORE WE'RE UNDER OPTION OR AFTER WE'RE UNDER OPTION, WE REALLY SEE A LOT OF VARIATION AND FROM THE STAFF SIDE, WE WANT FLEXIBILITY IN HOW MUCH AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THE PACE OF INFORMATION GATHERING IS GOING TO REALLY VARY BY PROJECT.
I'LL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
OKAY. PROBABLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS.
COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND REQUESTS.
SO THIS I'M GLAD TO HEAR THIS IS EVOLVING THIS PROCESS.
[00:40:04]
IT'S REFERRED TO IN OUR BACKGROUND MATERIALS AS REVISED PROJECT REVIEW AND PRIORITIZATION PROCESS, I.E. THE CRITERIA.THESE WERE PRESENTED TO US IN A FULLER FORMAT AT OUR LAND SESSION LAST YEAR IN MAY AND THEY WERE PRESENTED AS A DRAFT, AS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT A ONE AND DONE AND WAS GOING TO COME BACK AND I THINK RACHEL'S HITTING BACK TO THAT POINT, THAT THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE ON IT.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
IT HAS ALREADY IMPACTED THE BOARD'S ROLE IN THIS PROCESS SIGNIFICANTLY BY WELL, THIS IS NOW THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROPERTY DISCUSSIONS AT THIS SESSION.
THE LAST TIME WE DID WAS IN MAY OF 22.
SO I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY AT A BOARD MEETING.
TO SIMPLY PUT THESE REVISED PROJECT REVIEW AND CRITERIA ON A BOARD AGENDA FOR ACTION SO WE CAN REMEDY THAT AND REINSERT THE BOARD ROLE BY HAVING THAT MEETING IN AN EARLY STAGES.
IT WOULD BE DESIGNED TO BRING US IN OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE EARLY STAGES, AND IT WOULD BE FORMATTED AS LYNNE LAST FORMATTED THAT CLOSED SESSION IN 22. THERE WERE 27 PROPERTIES THAT WERE IN THE AGENDA AND AVAILABLE FOR EACH OF US TO DISCUSS.
I THINK THIS IS CRITICAL BECAUSE THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE TO TALK TO EACH OTHER, NOT JUST STAFF, BUT I GET TO TELL EACH OF YOU DURING THAT SESSION, LOOKING AT THE LIST OF THOSE 27 THAT ARE IN MY WARD, AND ADVOCATE FOR THEM AND URGE THEIR PRIORITIZATION, YOU ALL NEED THAT OPPORTUNITY TO TELL ME ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR WARDS AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE GOING AFTER.
AT THE SESSION LAST YEAR, DIRECTOR CORBETT ASKED FOR A VEHICLE WHERE SHE CAN LEARN ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN MY WARD, SINCE IT'S A LOT MORE ACTIVE AND LAND ACQUISITION THAN HER WARD, FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, AND SHE WAS TOLD SHE COULD HAVE THAT VEHICLE.
WELL, IT HASN'T EXISTED NOW FOR TWO TWO SESSIONS.
SO I JUST NEED ANOTHER DIRECTOR WHO ALSO REQUESTS THAT THIS BE AN ACTION ITEM ON THESE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, CRITERIA, SO I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO REINSERT IN THAT PROCESS.
LAND ACQUISITION ANNUAL CLOSED SESSION.
DIRECTOR MERCURIO. BUT BEFORE YOU START, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR.
WE CAN'T TAKE YOU NOT ASKING FOR AN ACTION TODAY, OKAY? I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR, OKAY? I'M JUST ASKING FOR ONE OTHER BOARD MEMBER TO MAKE A SIMILAR REQUEST SO THAT WE WILL HAVE THIS ON THE AGENDA.
I'M JUST GOING TO AGREE WITH HIM.
YOU KNOW I MEAN THAT WOULD THAT I SEE THE VALUE IN THAT.
THAT'S ALL I WAS REALLY GOING TO SAY.
PRESIDENT ECHOLS, WHAT I RECOMMEND IS YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT ON THE AGENDA PER SE, TO TAKE A TO HAVE A MOTION OR TAKE ACTION ON GETTING SOMETHING ON A FEATURE.
I'M NOT MAKING A MOTION, I UNDERSTAND, BUT I THINK THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO WOULD BE TO DIRECTORS CAN SPEAK TO EACH OTHER ABOUT THIS TYPE OF AN ISSUE OUTSIDE OF A PUBLIC MEETING.
I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE'S ANOTHER.
IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY TO TAKE A POLL TO GET SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE.
COLIN. I THINK WE CAN, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO THAT OUTSIDE THE SESSION.
I THINK I CAN JUST YOU OR I OR WHOEVER CAN JUST ASK TO BRING TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
I JUST ASKED, I THINK JOHN JUST ASKED.
OKAY, BUT THERE IS NO AGENDA ITEM HERE FOR POLLING DIRECTORS OR ASKING STAFF TO DO THIS.
THERE'S PROBABLY NEED SOME WORK.
OKAY. SO AND I, WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK THROUGH I THINK TODAY WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US IS TO FLESH THAT OUT A LITTLE BIT MORE AND UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT YOU'RE ASKING US TO BRING FORWARD, SO THAT I THINK THAT IS FINE FOR DISCUSSION, ACTUAL ACTION ON BRINGING AN ITEM.
[00:45:03]
I HEAR YOU, AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON ON DOING THAT.WE'VE BEEN DEFINITELY AS I SAID FROM THE OUTSET, WORKING VERY HARD TO TRY TO WORK WITHIN THE LEGAL CONSTRAINTS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL.
SO I JUST WOULD IT WOULD BE GREAT TODAY TO HAVE A JUST A CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE WITH THIS ITEM? AND WHAT IS THIS ITEM THAT YOU'D LIKE US TO BRING FORWARD? BECAUSE THEN WE CAN GO AHEAD AND AGENDIZE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ANSWERING THE RIGHT QUESTION AND ADDRESSING THE RIGHT PROBLEM.
WE CAN'T GET INTO THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
NO, WHAT I HEARD IS WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT ITEM YOU WOULD LIKE US TO BRING.
LAND ACQUISITION PROJECT PROCESS AND PRIORITIZATION.
WE CAN DISCUSS THAT. I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY I THINK IT'D BE, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU'RE ASKING US TO BRING AN ITEM ON THAT, WHICH AGAIN, I WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THIS ITEM THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE US TO BE COGNIZANT THAT WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION TODAY? YEAH. RIGHT. NO.
EXACTLY. SO I'M JUST SAYING TAKE ACTION AT A FUTURE MEETING.
RIGHT. BUT I THINK WHAT OUR GM IS ASKING AND IF HE IS IF YOU CAN, I KNOW YOU ALREADY SENT AN EMAIL OUT ABOUT IT, BUT IF YOU CAN DESCRIBE FOR THE GROUP HERE WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT TO PROPOSE, WE WON'T VOTE ON WHETHER THAT'S GOING TO BE AN AGENDA.
WE DON'T NEED TO VOTE BECAUSE I CAN ASK STAFF OR YOU CAN ASK STAFF TO TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
SO JUST FOR EVERYBODY'S INFORMATION, IF YOU WANT TO EXPLAIN FURTHER WHAT YOUR REQUEST IS, SURE.
THE CURRENT PROCEDURE DESCRIBES THAT MANAGEMENT WILL DISCUSS A POTENTIAL ACQUISITION WITH THE WARD MEMBER WHOSE WARD IS IMPACTED.
WHERE APPROPRIATE ACCORDING TO COUNSEL AND THAT WILL BE DONE AT LEAST ANNUALLY AND AS I SAID, THE LAST TIME WE DID THIS, THERE WERE 27 PROPERTIES AND IT GAVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS CHECK ONE ANOTHER.
THAT'S PRECISELY WHAT I WILL PROPOSE AS AN ACTION ITEM THAT WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION ON TODAY.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CODIFIED.
BUT THAT IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU ALL TO PROVIDE AS A BODY, TO PROVIDE US THAT DIRECTION.
WE ARE ABSOLUTELY HAPPY TO DO THAT.
THAT IS VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO DO THAT.
WHICH IS WHY I KNOW I BELIEVE STAFF REACHED OUT AND TRIED TO SOLICIT SOME PROPERTY SPECIFIC PROPERTIES THAT ARE KIND OF HIGH PROFILE ON YOUR LIST. SO THAT WE CAN THEN SIT DOWN WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND WITH THE REST OF THE STAFF AND SEE WHAT YOU KNOW, WHICH ONES ARE, AT THIS POINT, KIND OF PERMISSIBLE TO BRING TO CLOSED SESSION. SO IS IT 27 OF THEM? IS IT TEN OF THEM? I HAVE NO IDEA. I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S ON THAT LIST AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'D HAVE TO WEIGH IN ON WHICH ARE ELIGIBLE TO BE IN CLOSED SESSION AND THEN, FRANKLY, IF THERE'S A COMFORT LEVEL, ONES THAT AREN'T ELIGIBLE, THERE'S NOTHING THAT PREVENTS YOU FROM HAVING THEM IN OPEN SESSION OTHER THAN STRATEGY, AS WE ALL KNOW.
AND THEN CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE MEET WITH EACH OF YOU AND WE'RE TRYING TO THREAD THAT KIND OF LEGAL CONSTRAINT AS MUCH AS WE CAN SO THAT WE'RE HEARING AND KNOW THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE, AND IT'S NOT NECESSARILY IN OUR MIND AND MATTER OF IT NEEDING TO BE KIND OF LOBBYING YOUR COLLEAGUES, BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD IT'S A PRIORITY OF YOURS AND WE'RE WORKING ON THEM.
LIKE ARE THINGS NOT MOVING FORWARD THAT ARE PRIORITIES OF YOURS, OR ARE YOU NOT GETTING FEEDBACK THAT IT'S A PRIORITY? I GUESS SO THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO HEAR.
BUT CERTAINLY WE SUPPORT THAT.
IF THERE ARE PROPERTIES THAT YOU ALL HAVE ON YOUR LIST AND I THINK IF I ARTIFICIALLY CONSTRAINED IT AND SAID, GIVE US TWO, I THINK YOU WOULD HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HEARTBURN IN YOUR WARD. SO GIVE US A LIST, WHICH I THINK WE HAVE ONLY TWO.
YES. I'M JUST SAYING I'M JUST, I'M JOKING A LITTLE BIT.
[00:50:09]
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY GOT BACK TO YOU OR NOT AND THEN WE SIT DOWN WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND GO THROUGH WHICH OF THOSE CAN WE BRING TO CLOSED SESSION OR RIPE AND THEN WHICH ONES AREN'T AND GIVE YOU FEEDBACK ON WHY THEY'RE NOT QUITE READY AND DO YOU, YOU KNOW, AND WANT TO HAVE THEM COME TO OPEN SESSION AND GIVE US DIFFERENT DIRECTION OR, YOU KNOW, LETTING YOU KNOW, HEY, WE'RE WORKING ON IT.AND WE THINK THIS IS PROBABLY ONE THAT IS GOING TO BE MAYBE NEXT YEAR.
WE'D WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT, AND MAYBE IT'LL BE GET CLOSER TO BEING IN CLOSED SESSION.
SO I SUPPORT THAT DIRECTOR COFFEY ENTIRELY.
ALL I WANT TO DO IS ASSURE MY COLLEAGUES THAT IT'S NOT ALL THAT COMPLICATED.
COMPLICATED. YEAH AND I THINK WE WERE PREPARED TO DO IT.
BUT WE CAN. I MEAN, AGAIN, WE'RE TAKING THE FEEDBACK HERE TODAY AND WE CAN BRING UP.
I RAISED IT A YEAR AGO AND I DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH IT.
SO I'M I'M RAISING IT AGAIN AND I WANT TO CODIFY IT IF IT'S NECESSARY.
THERE'S ONE OTHER POINT I WANT TO MAKE AND IT'S RELATED.
IT'S NOT FOR ACTION OR WHAT? AT THIS POINT.
BUT I KNOW THERE ARE DIRECTORS WHO WANT TO DISCUSS PROPERTIES WHO ARE NOT, WHICH ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON ANY ACTIVE CONSIDERATION LIST. JOHN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE ON THE TRAIN.
SO WE WILL NEED HELP FROM LEGAL COUNSEL TO KNOW HOW TO TEE THOSE UP FOR A CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSION AND THE ISSUE FOR ME NOW IS THAT.
MANAGEMENT NO LONGER PUTS THOSE CONSENT ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDARS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO PUT PROPERTIES IN PLAY, ESSENTIALLY, WHICH THEREFORE MEETS THE BROWN ACT CRITERIA FOR MEETING IN CLOSED SESSION.
SO FOR JOHN TO WANT TO GET THAT PROPERTY ON A LIST THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR CLOSED SESSION, WE EITHER NEED TO DO THOSE KIND OF CONSENT CALENDAR ITEMS AGAIN TO GET THEM BROWN ACT COMPLIANT OR SOME, YOU KNOW, LYNNE CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ELSE.
SO I'M NOT PURSUING THAT HERE, BUT I GUESS IT'S FOR LYNNE TO CONSIDER.
HOW DO WE DO THAT AND HOW DO WE MAKE IT SO THAT A BRAND NEW PROPERTY IS BECOMES COMPLIANT WITH CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSIONS? SO THAT'S I'M HAPPY TO WORK ON THAT.
THERE'S NO RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PUTTING AN AUTHORIZATION TO NEGOTIATE ON CONSENT AND WHAT IS REQUIRED FOR BROWN ACT COMPLIANCE FOR REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS. BUT YOU CAN DO THOSE.
ONE DOES NOT INFORM THE OTHER AND I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE.
ALL RIGHT. SO IF IT'S NOT CONSENT SOME OTHER WAY TO DO IT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO TO IN ORDER FOR STAFF TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS.
WITHOUT GETTING BOARD AUTHORITY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY COMMITMENTS.
SO IT DOESN'T INFORM WHETHER OR NOT A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION IS RIPE FOR BRINGING INTO CLOSED SESSION WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE READY TO DISCUSS PRICE AND TERMS WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
SO. THAT'S NOT THE ONLY WAY TO DO IT.
BUT THERE, YOU KNOW, IT JUST DEPENDS.
IF YOU LIKED HAVING THAT PROCESS, IT WAS REALLY NOT NECESSARY TO DO IT.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE NOT DOING IT ANYMORE.
BUT IT CAN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHATEVER MAKES YOU MOST COMFORTABLE IN TERMS OF JUST BEING AWARE OF WHAT THE LAND TEAM IS DOING. YEAH, I THINK JOHN SHOULD BE ABLE TO TALK TO US AS A GROUP ABOUT TRYING TO PRIORITIZE SOME PROPERTY THAT CURRENTLY ISN'T ON OUR.
[00:55:01]
YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT, BUT IT HAS TO BE AN OPEN SESSION BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT PRICE AND TERMS. OKAY, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT.IF I MIGHT JUST ADD A LITTLE BIT MORE TO THAT, IT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ANY OF US TO ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING THAT MAYBE, HEAVEN FORBID, STAFF HASN'T SEEN IT THE WAY I SEE IT OR SOME OTHER DIRECTOR SEES IT.
WE SEE WE VISIT THESE PARKS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WE EXPERIENCE THOSE PARKS AND WE SEE.
A BETTER WAY THROUGH ACQUISITION.
A BETTER PARK THROUGH ACQUISITION AND SO THAT'S I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A WAY TO ADVOCATE FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN MY WARD AND MAYBE THAT WOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH A SECOND LOOK OR A STRONGER LOOK, YOU KNOW, ON THE BEHALF OF STAFF.
SO THAT'S WHY I'M INTERESTED IN THIS.
CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION AROUND THIS? ARE THESE JUST SO THAT, AGAIN, AS WE'RE TRYING TO PROBLEM SOLVE AND FIND A WAY TO GET YOU ALL WHAT YOU NEED ARE THESE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO STAFF, AND THE STAFF HAS ANALYZED THEM, AND STAFF HAS COME BACK TO YOU AND SAID, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THESE CRITERIA, IT REALLY DOESN'T. FALL INTO ANY OF THESE BUCKETS, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD PURSUE.
WE'RE GETTING YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.
AGAIN, UNDER THE CURRENT PARAMETERS THAT WE HAVE NOW, GO AHEAD AND SHOOT THEM OVER TO US.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAKING EVERY WE'RE NOT JUST DOING A CURSORY LOOK AT ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL GIVE US.
THERE MAY BE REASONS WHY WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW. SO I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU AS JUST A AS WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH KIND OF WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, PROCESS IS HERE, SEND THEM OVER TO RACHEL AND TO BECKY AND I GUESS I DID HAVE SOME OF THOSE IDEAS.
SO, YOU KNOW, AND PROBABLY BECAUSE NOBODY THOUGHT THAT I WANTED TO HEAR BACK.
I'M NOT SAYING SOMEBODY FAILED.
I'M JUST SAYING THAT WASN'T SPELLED OUT IN THE PROCESS AND I'M HERE BY ASKING THAT IF I DO MAKE A SUGGESTION, YOU CAN TELL ME I'M CRAZY, YOU KNOW, AND SAY IT'S I'LL TAKE THAT, YOU KNOW, ALTHOUGH I'LL PROBABLY COUNTER WITH SOME OTHER, BUT HOPEFULLY THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE CASE, BUT I WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO JUST POINT OUT SOME THINGS THAT THAT I THINK ABOUT, THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A VERY LONG TIME FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
SO IT'S KIND OF A BACK AND FORTH THING.
OH, ABSOLUTELY. SO WE APOLOGIZE IF THOSE KIND OF FELL INTO VORTEX.
YEAH AND HAVING YOU KNOW REGULAR CHECK INS I KNOW BECKY WILL MAKE HERSELF AVAILABLE JUST LIKE MICHAEL DID TO GO THROUGH AND KNOW I MEAN EVERY WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU. THESE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES.
YOU'RE THE POLICY PEOPLE AND EVEN EVEN HEY, THERE CAN BE SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE LIKE WE THINK THIS IS REALLY HAS A LOT OF CHALLENGES AND HERE'S, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SOME CONCERNS AND, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHERE I THINK IN TALKING, YOU KNOW, WITH, YOU KNOW, DIRECTOR COFFEY OKAY.
SO WHAT DO WE DO THEN IF STAFF IS KIND OF SAID, YEAH, WE THINK THIS IS A NO GO FOR THESE VARIOUS REASONS AND YOU'RE LIKE, NO, I STILL WANT US TO DO THIS. SO WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THAT'S WHERE I THINK WE PROBABLY NEED TO SPEND SOME TIME FLESHING THAT OUT ABOUT WHAT THAT MECHANISM IS.
BUT I WOULD SAY THE EARLY STAGES ON THIS, WE'RE TAKING EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE GIVING US.
AT LEAST IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN LAST YEAR, THEN WE OWN THAT.
I DON'T I HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
BUT YES, I ABSOLUTELY WE EVERY IDEA YOU HAVE, EVERY RUMOR, EVERY CONSTITUENT YOU TALK TO THAT WHERE IT'S SOMETHING WHERE YOU'RE LIKE, HEY, THERE'S A LITTLE NUGGET HERE, LET US KNOW ABOUT IT AND, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE THEM ALL VERY SERIOUSLY.
THANK YOU. WE'RE ADDRESSING THIS ACCESS TO ONE ANOTHER.
RIGHT. SO IT'S ONLY ONCE WE COME BACK.
THAT'S I YEAH, I HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION.
SO I'M JUST SO JOHN, IN TERMS OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, ARE YOU FEELING LIKE IF YOU IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO EXPLORE AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S GETTING EXPLORED, THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE COLLEAGUES WEIGH IN WITH YOU, IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE AT OR YOU'RE JUST THAT THE PROCESS HASN'T BEEN CLEAR TO ME.
[01:00:05]
I SEE AND I THINK WE'RE GETTING, I KNOW WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO SOMETHING THAT WOULD BETTER ADDRESS, YOU KNOW, THE INTERESTS THAT I HAVE. YEAH.THE IDEAS THAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS WHAT COLIN'S ASKING FOR IS A COLLEGIAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BOARD ON THESE LAND ACQUISITIONS AND I WANT TO ADD ON, IT'S ALSO WITH STAFF, TOO.
I WANT IT TO BE ALL THE WAY AROUND, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IF WE CAN DO THIS, WE GET THAT AND THAT'S A SUPER FUNCTIONAL AND PRODUCTIVE WAY TO DO BUSINESS I THINK I WOULD YEAH, I AGREE, I THINK BOTH ARE IMPORTANT.
I HEAR WHAT COLIN IS SAYING AND WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, WHICH IS SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT BUT ALSO VERY IMPORTANT AND I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT WHENEVER I HAVE HAD A SORT OF EITHER SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SMALL COME ACROSS MY DESK, THAT MAYBE A CONSTITUENT, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT WAS A GREAT IDEA OR THE ONES THAT I WAS REALLY INTERESTED IN AND I WANTED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT.
I THINK THE TEAM HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE.
SO I HOPE WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW EVERYONE CAN GET THAT EXPERIENCE.
BUT ANYWAY, I YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT.
SO ACCESS TO STAFF HAS IMPROVED TREMENDOUSLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND IT WILL CONTINUE.
OUTSTANDING AND THE SITE VISITS AND MIKE REEVES ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE.
IT'S A ACCESS TO STAFF IS OUTSTANDING AND THEY'VE MADE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS.
MY ISSUE IS ACCESS TO EACH OTHER.
WE DO HAVE THESE SITE VISITS AND LIKE I TOLD YOU THIS LAST YEAR, I DID A WHOLE ASSESSMENT.
WHAT WOULD BE BETTER? HOW CAN WE BE BETTER? ALWAYS SEEKING. WHAT CAN WE DO DIFFERENTLY AND IMPROVE? THOSE SITE VISITS WERE REALLY GREAT, BUT WHEN WE ALWAYS WENT OUT, WE ALWAYS LOOKED AT A SPECIFIC AREA AND YOU HAVE A BIG WARD AND ONE OF THE THINGS I TALKED TO MY STAFF JUST RECENTLY IS LIKE, HOW CAN WE EVEN IMPROVE THAT AND COMMUNICATION THAT IS HAVING YOU COME IN AND LET'S GET ON A MAP.
HAVE A MAP AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.
SO WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE SOME OF THE HISTORIES WE MIGHT HAVE ABOUT SOMETHING NEARBY.
SO WE'RE WORKING ON THAT COMING THIS COMING YEAR.
SO THIS IS ONE OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
I JUST WANTED TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT AND ALAN WANTED TO MAKE A COMMENT AND THEN DEE.
SO I APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION AND I JUST WANT TO ADD A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT I SEE AND HAVE TO SEE IN MY DISTRICT, BECAUSE OUR DISTRICTS ARE VERY DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO AMOUNT OF LAND THAT'S THERE, PARKS THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING, ETC, AND ALL OF US ON THIS BOARD SAW THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER FOR US A YEAR OR TWO AGO THAT SHOWED THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT WAS IN EACH OF OUR DISTRICTS THAT WAS AVAILABLE FOR PARKS OR WAS PARKS AND WHEN YOU COMPARED THAT TO THE DISTRICT I REPRESENT.
I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE.
THE AMOUNT OF LAND THAT'S IN MY DISTRICT THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR PARKS IS JUST TINY.
YOU SHOULD SEE THAT IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT ALREADY.
I THINK MOST OF YOU HAVE SEEN IT BECAUSE WE BROUGHT THAT UP LAST YEAR AND IT'S TRUE.
MAYBE IT'S HARDER TO FIND SPOTS TO HAVE ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE AND LAND IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN JUST SAYING, OH, THERE'S NO WAY TO LOOK AND FIND ANYTHING ELSE.
I'M VERY INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT WHAT COULD BE ELIGIBLE AND AVAILABLE IN MY DISTRICT, BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE HUNDREDS AND EVEN THOUSANDS OF ACRES AVAILABLE IN SOME PEOPLE'S, WELL, I SHOULD SAY MORE HUNDREDS IN PEOPLE'S DISTRICT WHERE I HAVE LIKE 12 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND IT'S JUST SHOCKING IF YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE AND THE AMOUNT OF LAND IN MY DISTRICT AVAILABLE TO THE OTHERS.
SOME DISTRICTS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS.
BUT I REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MORE TIME AND LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT, BECAUSE IT IS JUST TINY.
[01:05:03]
A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THAT UNTIL A YEAR OR TWO AGO.I ASKED FOR THE DATA THAT WOULD SHOW ME, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY ACRES, WHAT'S THE LAND AND THE WATER AND IT WAS SHOCKING TO ALMOST EVERYBODY THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS DISTRICT AND THE OTHERS.
SO YOU KNOW, I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO SET UP A MEETING.
I KNOW THERE'S ALREADY SOME OF THAT GOING ON, BUT TO GO THROUGH MY ENTIRE DISTRICT AND SEE WHAT ELSE MIGHT BE AVAILABLE OR ELIGIBLE, IT MIGHT BE SMALLER, OR WE MAY HAVE TO DO MORE TO BE ABLE TO MOVE PEOPLE THAT ARE IN MY DISTRICT TO OTHER PEOPLE'S DISTRICTS, YOU KNOW, THE YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S AN ISSUE OF WHAT IS THE INCOME AVAILABILITY FOR SOME OF OUR OCCUPANTS TO BE IN PARKS NEARBY.
THAT'S TRUE AND SOME OF YOUR DISTRICTS AND SOME OF US NOT SO TRUE.
YEAH, 35,000 ACRES IN DIFFERENCE.
[INAUDIBLE] DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN YOUR LORD AND MY LORD.
I MEAN, SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT IT'S IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS TRAIL, RIGHT.
SO I'M JUST ASKING, PLEASE, I VERY MUCH WANT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY DISTRICT AND SEE WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE, OR HOW WE MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT, MAYBE TO SHARE OTHER PEOPLE'S DISTRICTS.
OBVIOUSLY THAT OCCURS, RIGHT? WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE THAT JUST GO TO ONE DISTRICT OR ANOTHER.
BUT WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES ON HOW WE CAN GET PEOPLE THE ABILITY TO GET THEIR TRANSPORTATION TO SOME OF OUR PARK AREAS. AND I'LL JUST MENTION ONE.
WE HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT BEAUTIFUL NEW WORK THAT'S BEING DONE ALONG THE BAY WHERE WE HAVE ADDITIONAL LAND BEING OPENED FOR PARK DISTRICT LAND, AND IT'S NOT GIGANTIC COMPARED TO SOMETHING YOU MIGHT TALK ABOUT, BUT IT'S STILL THERE AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE WHEN WE'RE ALSO OPENING THESE PROPERTIES, THE ONES WE'RE OPENING AND THE ONES WE ALREADY HAVE, WE HAVE THE TRANSPORTATION ABILITY TO GET PEOPLE INTO THE ALL THE DIFFERENT SPOTS, YOU KNOW.
SO ANYWAY, I'M VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT MY DISTRICT AND HOW MUCH LAND I HAVE AND WHAT WE CAN PAY ATTENTION TO IN IT AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPENING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE NEW LAND, THE NEW BUILDINGS FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT DOWN BY THE BAY, BUT I REALLY I NEED THIS TOUR IN MY DISTRICT AND LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MY DISTRICT AND DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY SOMETIMES TO GET TO THE OTHER PARK DISTRICTS BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF TRANSPORTATION, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THAT'S OUT THERE THAT WILL GET PEOPLE TO THESE PARKS. SO I'M VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT IT, AND I REALLY WANT TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY DISTRICT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE THE OPEN SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT.
YEAH, NOT A LOT OF IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT HOW WE CAN CREATE BETTER ACCESS FOR EVERYBODY.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO SECOND, THE STATEMENTS BY A DIRECTOR.
STAFF HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY ACCESSIBLE.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE OF MY FAMILIARITY WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE LAND DEPARTMENT, ESPECIALLY BUT I JUST ASK AND, YOU KNOW, AND THEY LOOK INTO STUFF.
SO FROM THAT POINT, I THINK STAFF'S BEEN INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL.
I MEAN, HISTORICALLY AND EVEN NOW THEY'RE INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE AND AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO TALK WITH, I THINK ONCE THE MEET, THE INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND THEN I THINK IT HAS BEEN COMING TO US.
SO I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS EITHER.
BUT AND WE'RE ALL ONCE IT GETS TO NEGOTIATION, I THINK HISTORICALLY, THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO THE DIRECTORS AND THEIR WARDS IN ACQUISITIONS, IN THEIR WARDS.
[01:10:02]
YEAH, I THINK MAYBE MORE COMMUNICATION WOULD BE HELPFUL, BUT I THINK IT MIGHT BE IN THE BOARD ORIENTATION FOR THE NEWER BOARD MEMBERS, YOU KNOW, THERE COULD BE MORE OF A EMPHASIS ON HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS AND STUFF.BUT I MEAN, I FEEL ALWAYS FEEL COMFORTABLE CALLING AND SAYING HI AND GREAT.
I MEAN, ESPECIALLY THE LATTER PART HAS ALWAYS BEEN, I MEAN, MY TIME WITH THE AS A PARK SUPERVISOR, INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE AND CONTINUES NOW AS BEING A BOARD MEMBER.
OKAY, DOCTOR SANWONG, AND THEN ELLEN HAD A QUICK, QUICK FOLLOW UP.
I JUST WANT TO YOU KNOW, KIND OF BUILD UPON WHAT DIRECTOR CORBETT MENTIONED.
I THINK SHE DOES HAVE AN IMPORTANT POINT.
I KNOW THAT WE'RE REQUIRED BY LAW TO CREATE THE WARDS BASED ON POPULATION AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES POPULATION DENSITY IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT IN REGARDS TO THE LAND AREA AND I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A LOT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE POPULATION CENTERS CONCENTRATED AROUND CITIES AND THEN MORE OF THE, YOU KNOW, OPEN LAND WILL HAVE A LOWER POPULATION AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK ABOUT SOME OF OUR NATIONAL PARKS, YOU KNOW, IN STATES LIKE MONTANA AND WYOMING, WHERE AND I ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE DATA POINT, I THINK THE STATE OF WYOMING HAS A LOWER POPULATION THAN THE 925 AREA CODE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THESE ARE SOME THINGS, THOUGH, TO THINK ABOUT, EVEN WHEN WE THINK ABOUT OUR TWO COUNTIES, ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND SO THE ONLY THING THAT I THINK THAT WE CAN THINK ABOUT, I KNOW THIS IS THE LAND ACQUISITION DAY, BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT POPULATION DENSITY VERSUS, YOU KNOW, OPEN SPACE AND LAND AREA, THIS IS WHERE I THINK SOME OF THE PROGRAMING ASPECTS COME INTO PLAY.
DIRECTOR WAESPI, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? JUST A COMMENT. I YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU'RE ALL DOING A GREAT JOB.
ALSO, YOU GUYS ARE SO DATA DRIVEN.
MORE THAN MOST DEPARTMENTS IN THIS DISTRICT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE GREAT BASED ON THE FACT THAT YOU GET TO DO THIS KIND OF STUFF.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS ARGUMENT OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT POSSIBLY IF YOU GUYS COULD DO IT OR IF IT'S AVAILABLE, I THINK IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POPULATION DENSITY IN PLACES LIKE WELL, IN YOUR WARD, ELLEN.
YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE AREN'T MANY REGIONAL PARKS, BUT THERE ARE ALSO TWO OF THE LARGEST CITY PARK DISTRICTS IN PROBABLY ALL OF CALIFORNIA THAT OAKLAND PROVIDES BIG, GIANT PARKS THAT ARE EXACTLY LIKE OURS AND IF OUR GOAL IS TO, I DON'T KNOW, PROVIDE OPEN SPACE AND RECREATION FOR PEOPLE, THEN THEY'RE PRETTY MUCH GETTING IT.
THERE'S CITY PARKS THROUGHOUT OAKLAND.
IT WAS A PLAN YOU LONG TIME AGO.
SAN LEANDRO HAS A GREAT PARK DISTRICT AND CONVERSELY, I ALWAYS LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY BUMPKINS OUT THERE WITH TONS OF LAND AND A LOT OF UNINCORPORATED AREAS THAT HAVE SMALL PARK DISTRICTS.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE COME IN AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE DISPARITY, IN MY OPINION AND I WOULD REALLY IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS ARGUMENT, I'D LOVE TO SEE HOW MUCH REAL ACREAGE IN WARD THREE MINE.
TOTAL, IN TOTAL THAT CITY PARKS PRIVATE PARKS VERSUS REGIONAL PARKS.
ALSO, STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS INCLUDE EVERYTHING.
YEAH, ANYTHING. THAT'S WHAT THAT IS THE SAME BUSINESS AS WE DO.
WELL, I GREW UP IN MY DISTRICT, SO I'M VERY FAMILIAR.
I KNOW WE KNOW THAT. SO, YOU KNOW, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THOSE OTHER PARKS THAT EXIST THAT MIGHT BE CITY PARKS IN SAN LEANDRO AND OAKLAND, BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THERE'S SOME MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN MY DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR VARIOUS DIFFERENT DISTRICTS WITH WHAT'S IN THEM, BUT WE ALL REALLY CARE ABOUT THE ENTIRE PARK DISTRICT AND THAT'S HUGE HERE, NOT JUST ABOUT OUR DISTRICT OR SOMEONE ELSE'S DISTRICT.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT.
[01:15:06]
SAME AS AN ECONOMIC SITUATION IN SOME OF OUR OTHER DISTRICTS AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HAVE THIS, HAVING THESE ABILITIES AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.SO, DIRECTOR ROSARIO, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE POINT TO DIRECTOR CORBETT IS THAT DURING THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, I DID OFFER YOU LEONA, AND YOU DIDN'T WANT IT, SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE THAT POINT.
I WANT THE LAND IN PLACES WHERE WE DON'T HAVE IT NOW, NOT WHERE WE DO HAVE IT.
THAT WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN, JUST TO STATE IT.
YEAH. SO WE WILL WRAP THIS DISCUSSION UP.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE QUICK THINGS AND SO I DO AGREE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE ACCESS TO PARKS IN ALL OF OUR DISTRICTS AND IF AND YOU KNOW, MAYBE THERE IS SOME LAND OUT THERE AND IT'S CURRENTLY ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL OR WHO KNOWS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES.
SO CERTAINLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO WORK WITH THE ACQUISITIONS FOLKS ON THAT.
THERE MAY ALSO BE OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE BETTER CONNECTIONS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, LIKE OVERPASSES, PEDESTRIAN BIKE OVERPASSES AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO GET PEOPLE FROM ONE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO THE OTHER.
WE HAVE BEEN DOING SOME OF THAT, BUT MAYBE THERE'S MORE AND I DO AGREE ALSO THAT, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION TO PARKS IS IS ALSO IMPORTANT SO THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF PARKS AND, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK OR EVEN MORE THAN THE SHORELINE PARK, THEY CAN ALSO GET UP TO THE HILLS PARK.
SO BUT ANYWAY WITH THAT, I THINK WE WILL MOVE ON TO CONTINUE THIS CONVERSATION.
RACHEL. I'M REAL ESTATE MANAGER.
BACKUP, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR FEEDBACK AND YOUR DEEP CONSIDERATION OF THESE TOPICS.
IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL TO HEAR FROM ALL OF YOU, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO HEAR FROM YOU IN THE COMING YEAR AND, BECKY, ALL FIVE DAYS OF HER IS ABSORBING A LOT, AND WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO KIND OF TACKLE THESE PROBLEMS WITH YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SO MOVING TO OUR NEXT SECTION WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR AND A BIT OF A PREVIEW FOR SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE ON OUR WORK PLAN FOR 2024. JUST TO REITERATE, IN 2023, WE CLOSED ON OVER 1300 ACRES OF LAND PLUS 20 NEW OR RENEWED LEASES AND LICENSES. I'M JUST GOING TO PICK OUT A COUPLE OF THESE TO TALK ABOUT, AND WE'LL KIND OF TAKE TURNS.
SO FIRST UP, FINLEY ROAD RANCH.
I THINK MOST OF YOU REMEMBER THIS ONE.
WE CLOSED IN APRIL OF 2023 AT $11.4 MILLION.
IT CONNECTS TO MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK.
BOTH OF THEM, THE STAGING AREAS THAT ARE EXISTING ARE NOT PARTICULARLY NEARBY AND THE WAY THAT THIS CONNECTS INTO THE PARKS AND INTO OTHER KIND OF PLANNED DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA REALLY COULD MAKE IT A GATEWAY INTO THESE PARKS IN A MORE MEANINGFUL AREA FOR THIS, THIS RIGGS CANYON SECTION THAT'S KIND OF UNEXPLORED AND DIFFICULT TO GET TO UNLESS YOU CAN COME RIGHT IN OFF OF FINLEY ROAD.
YES. IS THAT BETTER? GREAT. THANK YOU.
THIS WAS THIS PROJECT WAS A RECIPIENT OF A $7 MILLION STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY GRANT.
STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY REMAINS AN EXCELLENT PARTNER WITH US, AND WE'RE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR ASSISTANCE AND FUNDING THIS PROJECT AND IT WAS REALLY FUN ONE TO WORK ON. NEXT UP, THE CHRISTIE ROAD RANCH, 538 ACRES, CLOSED IN NOVEMBER OF 2023 FOR A LITTLE OVER $4.3 MILLION.
THIS ONE'S RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET FROM JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST FERNANDEZ RANCH.
THIS ONE, YOU'LL KIND OF REMEMBER, WAS SUBJECT TO A 99 ACRE OFFSITE MITIGATION AREA.
NOT ON THIS PROPERTY, BUT NEARBY.
SO IT TRULY IS A CORRIDOR FOR SOME REALLY MAJOR AND SIGNIFICANT SPECIES.
TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF OUR LEASE RENEWAL WORK.
RACHEL. I'M GOING TO ADJUST THINGS DOWN FOR THE SHORTY HERE.
THIS TIME YOU WILL NOT SEE A CAT ON MY LAP.
AS YOU OFTEN SEE ON MY ZOOM IN TEAMS MEETINGS, BECAUSE I'M HERE.
[01:20:05]
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECHOLS.I AM SARAH RIEKE, REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST IN THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT.
I'M PLEASED TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT TWO LEASE PROJECTS THAT THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT COMPLETED IN 2023 IN SUPPORT OF TWO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS, THE FIRST BEING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL GAP AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 2023 AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR REGIONAL SHORELINE. THIS IS A MAP THAT YOU SEE HERE.
THESE TWO LEASE PROJECTS WERE BOTH COMPLETED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION, WHICH AND THEY SHOWCASE ONE OF THE MANY WAYS THAT WE THAT OUR TEAM SUPPORTS DESIGNING CONSTRUCTION AND ENSURING CONTINUED PUBLIC ACCESS, SEAMLESS PUBLIC ACCESS TO PARK DISTRICT LANDS AND TRAILS THAT MAY NOT BE OWNED OUTRIGHT BY THE PARK DISTRICT.
THAT'S THE ORANGE PORTION THAT YOU SEE.
SINCE 1938, THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION HAS BEEN TASKED WITH SAFEGUARDING AND SECURING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE OPEN WATERS AND TIDAL LANDS OF CALIFORNIA. OUR CALIFORNIA WATERS AND THE PARK DISTRICT'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMISSION GOES BACK TO THE 70S WITH OUR LEASE OF 160 ACRES AT POINT PINOLE REGIONAL SHORELINE AND THE TRANSFER OF ALMOST 300 ACRES AT RADKE MARTINEZ REGIONAL SHORELINE, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT OUR TWO DISTRICTS, WE ACTUALLY LEASE ALMOST 2300 ACRES FROM THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION.
THOSE ACRES ARE ALL SECURED BY 17 LEASE AGREEMENTS IN TOTAL AND THOSE AGREEMENTS ARE TRACKED AND MANAGED BY LAND ACQUISITION STAFF THROUGH OUR ANNUAL PROJECT WORK PLAN.
SO TURNING BACK TO MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR SHORELINE IN THE LATE 1970S, THE PARK DISTRICT EXECUTED LEASE AGREEMENTS WITH BOTH THE PORT OF OAKLAND AND THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION, AS THEY BOTH HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE SAN LEANDRO BAY.
THE ORIGINAL LEASE WITH THE COMMISSION WAS EXECUTED IN 1978.
IT WAS A 50 YEAR LEASE AND HAD A TERMINATION DATE OF 2037.
BEFORE I CONTINUE ON, I'D LIKE TO JUST PAUSE HERE TO NOTE THAT LAND ACQUISITION STAFF IS ALWAYS ENCOURAGING AND REMINDING PARK DISTRICT PROJECT STAFF TO CONSIDER LAND ACQUISITION RIGHTS EARLY ON IN THE PROJECT PLANNING PROCESS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING.
DO WE OWN THE PROPERTY? DO WE LICENSE OR LEASE THE PROPERTY THROUGH OR THROUGH OTHER AGREEMENTS? AND WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES THOSE AGREEMENTS DICTATE THAT WE CAN AND CANNOT ACCOMPLISH? IN THIS CASE, DECO STAFF CONTACTED LAND ACQUISITION STAFF WELL IN ADVANCE OF FULL SCALE PROJECT PLANNING, WHICH WAS A GOOD THING BECAUSE AS IT TURNS OUT, WE DO HAVE TWO LEASE AGREEMENTS THAT COVER THE PROJECT AREA HERE.
THE ONE WITH THE PORT OF OAKLAND AND THE ONE WITH THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION LAND ACQUISITION STAFF REVIEWED BOTH OF THESE LEASE AGREEMENTS AND DETERMINED THAT CONSENT NEEDED TO BE OBTAINED FROM BOTH OF THESE ENTITIES PRIOR TO PROJECT CONSTRUCTION, AND THAT THE LEASE AGREEMENTS WOULD EITHER NEED TO BE AMENDED OR RENEWED TO INCLUDE PROJECT ACTIVITIES IN COLLABORATION WITH DECO STAFF.
COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED THEIR RIGOROUS COMMISSION APPLICATION, WHICH INCLUDED DETAILED PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE CONSIDERATIONS AND PROJECT BENEFITS.
THE NEW LEASE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THE PARK DISTRICT WITH 25 YEAR LAND TENURE.
INCLUDES PROJECT ACTIVITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND UPDATED.
THE LEASE FOOTPRINT TO INCLUDE JUST SEVEN ACRES.
THE NEW LEASE AGREEMENT EXPIRES IN 2048.
SO THIS SLIDE HERE SHOWS MANY OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES THAT NEEDED TO BE COVERED UNDER THE NEW LEASE AGREEMENT OVER THE LAST YEAR OR TWO. YOU'VE ALL HAD MANY PRESENTATIONS ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE IMPROVEMENTS IN PERSON.
AS YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A VILLAGE AND LAND ACQUISITION PROCESS.
[01:25:02]
AND ULTIMATELY, THAT THE PUBLIC EXPERIENCE WAS IMPROVED.SO SIMILARLY, IN 2023, LAND ACQUISITION STAFF SUPPORTED DECO STAFF BY OBTAINING CONSENT FROM THE COMMISSION AGAIN FOR THE FERRY POINT PIER PROJECT AT MILLER KNOX REGIONAL SHORELINE.
THIS IMAGE SHOWS A HIGH LEVEL VIEW OF THE PIER.
THE 134 YEAR OLD PIER WAS ONCE USED TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT TO THE CITY, UNTIL OTHER IMPROVED TRANSPORTATION MODES WERE DEVELOPED.
THE PIER IS SITED ON A THREE ACRE PARCEL OWNED BY THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION.
THE PIER IS UNFORTUNATELY DILAPIDATED AND POSES A THREAT TO PUBLIC THAT MAY BE TRAVERSING THE BAY WATERS, AND ALSO TO PLANT AND FISH SPECIES THAT LIVE IN THAT ECOSYSTEM THERE.
THE PARK DISTRICT FIRST LEASED THE PROPERTY FROM THE COMMISSION IN 1992, UNDER A 25 YEAR LEASE.
IN 2017, LAND ACQUISITION STAFF EXECUTED A NEW LEASE AGREEMENT WITH AN EXPIRATION DATE OF 2042.
AGAIN, AS PART OF THEIR PLANNING PROCESS AND DUE DILIGENCE, DECO STAFF REACHED OUT TO LAND ACQUISITION IN ADVANCE OF FULL SCALE PROJECT PLANNING AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE DETERMINING WHAT OUR LAND RIGHTS WERE IN THIS AREA.
LAND ACQUISITION STAFF REACHED OUT TO THE COMMISSION, AND IN COORDINATION WITH DECO AND PLANNING STAFF, WE PROVIDED DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY TO AMEND THE EXISTING LEASE AGREEMENT.
THAT WAS THE DECISION OF THE COMMISSION THAT THE LEASE AGREEMENT COULD BE AMENDED IN THIS SITUATION.
LET'S SEE, THE NEW OR RATHER THE LEASE AMENDMENT NOW INCLUDES PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND THE EXPIRATION DATE IS STILL THE SAME BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A LEASE AMENDMENT.
AGAIN, THIS PROJECT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED.
LET'S SEE. WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY? I THINK THAT COMPLETES WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
YES. SO WITH THE FERRY POINT PIER PROJECT.
SO WHEN WE REVIEWED THE LEASE AGREEMENT WITH STATE LANDS COMMISSION, THAT WAS IN REGARDS TO US BEING ABLE TO REMOVE THE FERRY, IS THAT CORRECT? RIGHT. OUR LEASES WITH THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION ARE VERY SPECIFIC THAT ANY CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES NEED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THEM FOR REVIEW IN ADVANCE, AND IT'S THEIR DECISION WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANT TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT OR DO A WHOLE NEW LEASE AGREEMENT.
AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROCESS FOR THAT DETERMINATION.
AND HAS THE PIER BEEN REMOVED OR ARE WE STILL IN THE PROCESS YET OF.
I SPOKE WITH DECO STAFF THIS WEEK, AND THEY ARE MEETING WITH CONSULTANTS SOON TO REFRAME PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT, I'M SURE YOU CAN REACH OUT TO DECO STAFF AT GLENN GILCHRIST AND SEAN ARE WORKING ON THAT, OR I'M HAPPY TO FIND OUT FOR YOU AND GET BACK TO YOU.
YEAH. IT'S OKAY. NO, THIS IS GREAT.
THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
OKAY. THANKS. CAN WE TAKE A LITTLE BREAK? YEAH, SURE.
WELL, I UNLESS ANYONE OBJECTS, THERE'S BEEN A REQUEST JUST TO HAVE A SHORT INTERMISSION.
AND WHY DON'T WE'RE ADJOURN IT? I HAVE, WELL, 2:34 ON MY CLOCK, SO SAY TWO.
IS THAT OKAY? SO. YEAH. MADAM CLERK, ARE WE OKAY TO START? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT. SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
[01:30:03]
BEAR WITH ME. HANG ON A SECOND.EBPRB OPERATES THIS UNDER AN OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH STATE PARKS AND DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
BOTH HAVE BEEN AMENDED OVER THE YEARS.
I'M USING THIS OLD MAP TO ILLUSTRATE THAT THIS IS A SET OF AGREEMENTS FOR A MAJOR PORTION OF AREA WITH REALLY COMPLEX USE, APPROXIMATELY 4300 ACRES AND YET A LOT OF OUR MATERIALS HAVEN'T BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY UPDATED OVER THE YEARS TO REFLECT THIS.
THESE AGREEMENTS EXPIRE IN 2025.
WE'VE ALREADY REACHED OUT TO STATE PARKS TO INITIATE CONVERSATIONS OR AT THE VERY EARLY STAGES.
SO I'M HIGHLIGHTING THIS, NOT TO GET INTO THE WEEDS ON ANY PARTICULAR ASPECT OF THIS PARK, ITS OPERATIONS, OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE PARKS, BUT RATHER TO DEMONSTRATE SOME OF THE WORK OUR TEAM DOES.
SO RENEWING THESE AGREEMENTS IS GOING TO REQUIRE CLOSE WORK WITH AT LEAST TWO OTHER STATE AGENCIES AND COORDINATION ACROSS MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS AND DIVISIONS HERE AT PARK DISTRICT, INCLUDING OPERATIONS INTERPRET REC TRAILS PLANNING, LEGAL.
EVERYBODY. SO THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR PART OF OUR TEAM'S WORK PLAN FOR THIS COMING YEAR, AND WE EXPECT IT TO BE FAIRLY RESOURCE INTENSIVE, JUST COORDINATING ALL THOSE PARTIES AND REALLY GETTING EVERYBODY TO THE TABLE, MAKING SURE EVERYBODY'S INTERESTS ARE REFLECTED.
SO THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THE KIND OF WORK OUR TEAM DOES.
AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER AGENCIES REQUIRE A LOT OF WORK AND ARE USUALLY FAIRLY INVISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC.
IF WE DO OUR JOBS WELL AND IF EVERYTHING GOES WELL.
BUT THEY'RE EXTREMELY CRUCIAL TO THE WORK OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
JUST TO HARKEN BACK TO WHAT SARAH WAS SAYING ABOUT OUR AGREEMENTS AT MLK SHORELINE, I JUST WANT TO QUICKLY TOUCH ON THE PORT OF OAKLAND LEASE AGREEMENT THAT WE'RE ALSO RENEWING THAT BEGAN IN 1976, HAS SIX AMENDMENTS, AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHER RELATED AGREEMENTS.
I'VE ACTUALLY MADE MYSELF A SPREADSHEET TO TRACK WHICH EACH PIECE DOES, AND THAT SET OF AGREEMENTS INCLUDED ALL SORTS OF INTERESTING LANGUAGE, KIND OF HERITAGE LANGUAGE ABOUT, FOR EXAMPLE, PARKING FOR SPECTATORS OF SPEEDBOAT RACES THAT USED TO OCCUR IN THE ESTUARY.
SO I BRING THAT UP JUST TO POINT OUT THAT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE BIG RENEWALS, WHERE CLEANING UP AGREEMENTS, TAKING OUT THINGS THAT NO LONGER APPLY, BUT ALSO TRYING TO THINK ABOUT THE NEXT TEN, 20, 30, 40, 50 YEARS AND ANTICIPATE WHAT OUR NEEDS WILL BE AND TRY TO SET A FRAMEWORK SO THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE OTHER AGENCIES, WITH OUR LESSOR OR WHOEVER OWNS THE PROPERTY, MAKING SURE THAT THOSE ARE ACCOUNTED FOR AND THAT WE HAVE A WAY TO WORK WITH THOSE AGENCIES COMING MOVING FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH OR WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, GOING TO COME UP IN THOSE YEARS.
WE'RE TRYING TO ANTICIPATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR DECADES TO COME.
NEXT UP, HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S TO COME IS PHILIP COFFIN.
HELLO AGAIN. SO ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, ONE OF THE FIVE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS THAT RACHEL MENTIONED IN, I THINK HER FIRST SLIDE OF THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT IS TO PROVIDE RIGHT OF WAY SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PARK OPERATIONS.
SO AS PART OF THE STATE'S 30 BY 30 INITIATIVE, AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HAYWARD AREA SHORELINE PLANNING AGENCY, HASPA, OUR COLLEAGUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS ARE PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE MASSIVE MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT THAT YOU'RE ALL AWARE OF AT THE SOUTHERN END OF HAYWARD SHORELINE.
[01:35:04]
OUR COLLEAGUES HERE IN ASD HAVE ALREADY PRESENTED A WEALTH OF INFORMATION TO YOU ABOUT THE RESTORATION PROJECT, BUT I WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BIT OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK AT THE RIGHT OF WAY WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO THE NECESSARY PROPERTY RIGHTS WE'RE TRYING TO SECURE PRIOR TO RESTORATION WORK.ISSUES SUCH AS WHAT ACCESS RIGHTS WE MAY POSSESS, AS WELL AS WHAT RIGHTS OF WAY ARE OWNED BY OTHER ENTITIES AND RECORDED ON TITLE THAT MAY POSE A CONFLICT WITH OUR RESTORATION PLANS. B, IDENTIFYING WHAT ACCESS AND USE USE RIGHTS WE NEED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND LONG TERM MANAGEMENT OF THE RESTORATION SITE AND C, ENGAGING WITH THOSE PROPERTY OWNERS TO NEGOTIATE THE ACQUISITION OF THOSE NEEDED RIGHTS.
SO IN THE CASE OF HAYWARD SHORELINE, WE'RE WORKING ON A LEASE RENEWAL WITH THE CITY OF OF HAYWARD.
EXPANDING OUR RIGHTS WITH HARD AND SOME OTHER RIGHTS THAT WE NEED TO ACCESS FOR OR THAT WE NEED TO ACQUIRE FOR ACCESS, CONSTRUCTION AND MONITORING OF THE RESTORATION SITE.
IN THIS 145 ACRE PROJECT AREA.
THERE ARE 17 PARCELS OWNED BY FIVE ENTITIES AND ENCUMBERED WITH 14 EASEMENTS.
SO EVEN BEFORE WE BREAK GROUND UNDER THE SURFACE, JUST ON PAPER, THERE'S ALL THESE SORT OF THERE'S THIS TANGLED WEB OF PROPERTY RIGHTS THAT WE HAVE TO DISENTANGLE, INTERPRET, UNDERSTAND, COLLABORATE WITH OUR COLLEAGUES IN LEGAL AND PARK OPERATIONS AND DECO AND SORT OF FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO WHAT RIGHTS WE NEED TO PERFECT SO THAT WE CAN GET IT SHOVEL READY.
BECAUSE THERE ARE LANDS THAT WE OWN, BUT WHERE OTHER ENTITIES HAVE EASEMENTS RECORDED ON THOSE LANDS, AND THEN THERE ARE LANDS OWNED BY OTHER ENTITIES WHERE WE NEED TO ACQUIRE EASEMENTS OR SOME OTHER ACCESS RIGHTS SO THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT.
ONCE WE DO EVENTUALLY ACQUIRE THE NECESSARY EASEMENTS, LEASE RENEWALS AND LICENSE RIGHTS, THEN WE'LL HAVE THE NECESSARY RIGHTS TO THE DIRT TO HELP THE PROJECT GET TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S ACTUALLY SHOVEL READY AND SO THIS HAYWARD MARSH PROJECT IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
YOU KNOW, HERE'S THIS GREAT BIG WETLAND.
WE WANT TO IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM, BUT THERE'S STILL [INAUDIBLE] FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT.
IT'S GRUMPY. [INAUDIBLE] GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECHOLS, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.
THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THESE LINES CRISSCROSSING TILDEN.
YOU KNOW, THE ORIGINAL CROWN JEWEL PARK HAS A SIGNIFICANT PG&E PRESENCE, SO IT MAKES SENSE THAT PG&E WOULD NEED FREQUENT ACCESS TO OUR PARKS AND TRAILS TO PERFORM THEIR MAINTENANCE AND VEGETATION MANAGEMENT WORK.
TILDEN MAP IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS.
IN RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND RECENT CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES, PG&E HAS BEEN EMBARKING ON MASSIVE FACILITIES, UPGRADES AND SAFETY PROJECTS UNDER THE TERMS OF THEIR 2017 HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN OR THEIR HCP.
IN THE PAST, PG&E OR THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS WOULD CONTACT PARK SUPERVISORS DIRECTLY, OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL, AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE COORDINATED STAFF REVIEW OF THE PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL AND.
[INAUDIBLE]. YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK LOUDER? YEAH. PERFECT. THANK YOU.
OKAY, A LITTLE BIT MORE. SORRY.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, DIRECTOR CORBETT.
[01:40:03]
SO, AS I WAS SAYING, SOMETIMES PG&E WOULD NOT CONTACT PARK OPERATIONS STAFF ABOUT THE PROPERTY RIGHTS, POTENTIAL BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE IMPACTS AND IN 2022, OUR DEPARTMENT CREATED A NEW REVIEW AND RESPONSE PROCESS THAT INCORPORATED CULTURAL RESOURCES, STEWARDSHIP, REAL PROPERTY, AND PARK OPERATIONS FOR REVIEW AND COMMENT ON ALL POTENTIAL PG&E WORK ON EBRPD LAND AND IN THIS OVERVIEW OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PG&E, I HOPE IT'S EVIDENT THAT ALTHOUGH THIS WORK ISN'T PUBLIC FACING NOR AS SPLASHY AS LARGE FEE TITLE ACQUISITIONS, IT KEEPS OUR PARKS, OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR VALUABLE RESOURCES PROTECTED WHILE ENSURING EVERYONE CAN SAFELY ACCESS THESE PARKS AND TRAILS. SO UNDER THIS CURRENT REVIEW PROCESS, PG&E SENDS ME A WORK NOTIFICATION WITH A SCOPE OF WORK MAPS, A TIMELINE, AND BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL CONSTRAINT REPORTS.AFTER MY REAL ESTATE REVIEW, IT GOES TO STEWARDSHIP, THEN ALL THE WAY UP TO THE UNIT MANAGER AND I RECEIVE ANYWHERE FROM 10 TO 15 OF THESE NOTIFICATIONS A MONTH, WITH EACH SCOPE POTENTIALLY VARYING FROM A SINGLE TREE TRIM TO UP TO 100 TO, YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF TREE REMOVALS AND TRIMS SPANNING MULTIPLE PARKS AND SO ON. THE RIGHT HERE YOU SEE AN IMAGE OF OUR 1997 MOU BETWEEN EBRPD AND PG&E THAT REQUIRES BOTH PARTIES TO, QUOTE, ADVISE THE OTHER IN ADVANCE OF ALL VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLANS AND ACTIVITIES END QUOTE AND OUR AIM HERE IS NOT TO PREVENT PG&E FROM PERFORMING CRUCIAL SAFETY WORK UNDER THEIR EXISTING EASEMENTS, BUT RATHER TO MAKE SURE A TRUCK DOESN'T GET STUCK IN A MUDDY TRAIL OR A SUBCONTRACTOR UNKNOWINGLY DRIVES ACROSS A SENSITIVE HABITAT AND OUR AMAZING OPERATIONS STAFF.
THEY LIKE A LOT OF THINGS, BUT SURPRISES AREN'T ONE OF THEM.
SO THIS REVIEW PROCESS CAN BE COMPLEX AND TAKE A LONG TIME, BUT WE ARE WORKING ON PROCESS IMPROVING AND HOPE TO BE USING THE CLARITY PORTAL FOR THESE NOTIFICATIONS LIKE WE CURRENTLY DO FOR OUR TEMPORARY PARK ACCESS PERMIT PROCESS.
I'M HAPPY TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS OR ATTEMPT TO BEFORE I PASS IT BACK TO RACHEL.
DIRECTOR CORBETT AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OH, COULDN'T HEAR ME? WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GOT AND THE INFORMATION YOU GOT FROM THAT PG&E COMPANY AND THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
DIRECTOR, SAN JUAN AND THEN DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
CAN YOU JUST REVIEW WHEN DID THIS BEGIN AGAIN IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT YOU DID WITH PG&E , WHEN YOU TRIED TO CHANGE SPECIFICALLY THE STREAMLINED REVIEW PROCESS IN 2022, WHEN THE ADMIN ANALYST AT THE TIME, THE WONDERFUL PHILIP COFFIN, DRAFTED A VERY DETAILED MEMO DESCRIBING THE SORT OF ISSUES AND THE PAIN POINTS THAT WE'VE BEEN HAVING.
SO AND ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED THAT PROMPTED THIS PROGRAM FROM STARTING SPECIFICALLY? LIKE I THINK I MENTIONED IT, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THINGS THINGS HAPPEN.
YEAH. OKAY. THAT'S FAIR, I GOT IT.
WELL, I THINK THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL TO HEAR AND IT IS TRUE, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THERE IS A LOT THAT PG&E DOES ACROSS BOTH COUNTIES AND FOR SOME REASON, I GUESS ME BEING THE INQUISITIVE PERSON THAT I AM, I WAS ON BOTH COUNTIES ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WEBSITE, AND I BELIEVE PG&E IS THE LARGEST TAXPAYER IN BOTH COUNTIES. SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN TRACK.
KEEP IN MIND, BECAUSE I THINK I WAS LOOKING AT I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TESLA, ACTUALLY, TESLA, THE CAR COMPANY RANKS AND THEY'RE STILL BELOW PG&E IN TERMS OF ALAMEDA COUNTY. OKAY.
THANK YOU AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT AND ALL THAT AND IT JUST BRINGS TO MIND A QUESTION, SO WHEN PG&E IS ACCESSING SOME FACILITY OF OURS, THEY CONTACT YOU.
YES. FOR? YOU, SAID THEY. YES THEY SHOULD.
TRIMMING POLE REPLACEMENT, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
SO IN BETWEEN CLAYTON AND BLACK DIAMOND MINE, THERE'S WE HAVE A TRAIL THAT RUNS UP BLACK DIAMOND TO MOUNT DIABLO TRAIL, AND PART OF IT IS SURFACED WITH CRUSHED ROCK. YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GONE IN THERE AND, LIKE, JUST RUTTED THE HECK OUT OF IT, YOU KNOW? AND THEN MUD GETS ON IT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S NO LONGER A ROCK TO TRAIL THAT YOU CAN USE ALL YEAR.
[01:45:02]
YEAH. ANYTIME THEY NEED TO GO BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THEY'VE DONE AND FIX IT.YES, I CAN DO MY BEST BECAUSE THEY ARE REQUIRED TO RESTORE IT THE WAY IT WAS, RIGHT? YES. AND THAT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE IN THE PAST THAT WE ARE THANKFULLY, SINCE THIS PROCESS HAS STARTED.
SORRY NOT TO SPEAK OVER. [INAUDIBLE] I ACTUALLY HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH IN ANOTHER LIFE WORKING WITH TRYING TO WORK WITH PG&E ON SOME PROJECTS, AND IT WAS PRETTY HARD, YOU KNOW, SLOW.
SO THAT'S I CAN GET SPECIFICS AND GET BACK TO YOU ON HOW WE REMEDY.
ALL RIGHT. I'LL LET YOU KNOW SOME SPECIFICS OKAY.
YEAH. THANKS. OKAY WITH THAT, DIRECTOR WAESPI.
YEAH. THANK YOU. I'M JUST WONDERING, HOW DOES PG&E GET ACCESS TO OUR LAND? IT'S NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
I REMEMBER THERE WAS SOME ISSUES AT DON CASTRO WHERE THEY CAME INTO THE PARKING LOT AND SHAVED EVERYTHING DOWN UNDER THEIR LINES, AND IT HARD THEY DID SOME REAL GREAT WHEN THEIR GAS LINE BLEW UP.
THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO CUT DOWN ALL THE TREES OR ANYTHING THAT HAD ROOTS.
I MEAN, I HOPE THEY DON'T JUST THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY.
YEAH. YOU KNOW, IDEALLY WITHIN.
RIGHT. I MEAN THEY HAVE EXISTING RIGHTS.
SO THEY'VE GOT OR SOMETIMES HELICOPTER.
YES. YEAH I'VE SEEN OR THEY HIKE IN.
DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? OKAY, I DO ACTUALLY, I WAS JUST CURIOUS.
I THINK THIS NEW PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE SOUNDS REALLY GOOD, AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT'S IN PLACE AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW HOW'S IT WORKING SO FAR? IT'S SLOW, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, INCORPORATE THE CLARITY PERMIT PORTAL THAT WE ALREADY USE FOR TEMPORARY PARK ACCESS PERMITS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH OVERLAP ALREADY.
[INAUDIBLE] IS FAMILIAR WITH IT AND PG&E IS FAMILIAR WITH IT.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS MANUAL, YOU KNOW, SEND ME YOUR NOTIFICATIONS.
SO THAT'S GOOD AND SO WHEN THEY ENTER SO THEY ONLY HAVE THEY'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WHEN THEY HAVE SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, WORK THEY'RE GOING TO DO. OR HOW ABOUT IT WHEN THEY JUST COME LIKE I'VE SEEN THEM JUST COME AND, YOU KNOW, DROP DOWN IN A HELICOPTER OR WHATEVER.
DO THEY NEED TO ADVISE YOU THAT THEY'RE PLANNING TO DO THAT? YES. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. WE I MEAN, WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO BECAUSE IT'S THEY HAVE EXISTING EASEMENTS.
SO. WE JUST WANT A HEADS UP, THAT'S ALL.
YES. YEAH AND BUT UNDER THIS PROCESS, HAVE THEY BEEN GIVING YOU THE HEADS UP? YES. OH THAT'S GOOD.
OKAY. YEAH. WELL LIKE JOHN, I'VE ALSO HAD PAST EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH PG&E AND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT.
SO I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT THAT THIS PROCESS IS HELPING AND CONGRATULATIONS.
SOUNDS GOOD. OKAY, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO RACHEL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. [INAUDIBLE].
WHAT WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO DO WAS HIT THESE KIND OF FIVE DIFFERENT WAYS THAT OUR TEAM WORKS AND WAYS THAT OUR TEAM SUPPORTS THE PARK DISTRICT EXPAND IT BEYOND THE ACQUISITION AND KIND OF SHOWCASE SOME OF THE OTHER WORK THAT WE DO.
SO I'M HOPING OUR EXAMPLES TODAY WERE HELPFUL TO YOU, KIND OF GIVE YOU A GOOD OVERVIEW AND A REFRESHER OF WHAT WE DO, DEPENDING ON HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN WITH US AND YEAH, WE JUST WANTED TO GIVE A COMPLETE PICTURE OF THE KIND OF WORK THAT OUR TEAM DOES, AND WE HOPE IT'S BEEN HELPFUL.
SO WE WILL HAVE A SECTION TO TALK ABOUT BOARD PRIORITIES.
OKAY. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE MOVING ON? OKAY SEEING NONE.
SOME OF YOU GOT BACK TO US WITH SPECIFIC PROJECTS, AND WE'RE FOLLOWING UP WITH YOU SEPARATELY.
WE'VE HAD A CHANCE TO DO SOME OF THAT, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT IN THE COMING WEEKS.
BUT KIND OF GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE THEMES THAT I OR MORE THEMATICALLY, THE THEMES THAT I WAS HEARING WAS AN EMPHASIS ON TRAIL CONNECTIONS AND EMPHASIS ON WORKING CLOSELY WITH PLANNING TO SEE WHERE WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL STAGING AREAS AND ACCESS INTO PARTICULAR PARKS AND LOOKING AT OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST, SAVE MOUNT DIABLO TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COORDINATING OUR EFFORTS WITH THOSE GROUPS AND I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE KIND OF LIKE THE TOP LINE
[01:50:09]
THEMES THAT I HEARD FROM ALL OF YOU, BUT CURIOUS TO HEAR IF YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO SHARE.AGAIN, KIND OF AT THE GEOGRAPHIC OR THEMATIC LEVEL, AND IF YOU HAVE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND THOSE TO US VIA EMAIL AND WE CAN REACH OUT AND DISCUSS THOSE SEPARATELY. I'M GOING TO STOP SHARING.
YES. I WANT TO FIRST SAY I KNOW I DIDN'T GET BACK TO YOU.
IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A REALLY BUSY WEEK HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT.
I WANT TO BE FAIR TO EACH OF US HERE.
BUT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES AND MAYBE FOR SOME OF US, IT MIGHT EVEN JUST BE EASIER TO SCHEDULE, YOU KNOW, ONE HOUR, EVEN IF WE'RE ABLE TO MEET, YOU KNOW, ON THE PHONE OR ON, YOU KNOW, MICROSOFT TEAM MEETINGS, THAT COULD BE HELPFUL AS ANOTHER IDEA VERSUS REPLYING TO AN EMAIL. BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK COULD BE HELPFUL, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST AND SOME OF THE OTHER DIFFERENT CONSERVANCY AGENCIES, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO PROBABLY IN SOME DOCUMENT SOMEWHERE.
IN FACT, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT I'VE SEEN IT SOMEWHERE.
BUT JUST HAVING A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT LAND AGENCIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH AND I HAD ALSO BROUGHT UP THIS COMMENT, ACTUALLY AT OUR OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING, I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK.
AGAIN, THIS HAS BEEN A REALLY BUSY WEEK.
ABOUT IT WAS MORE SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO OUR INTERPRETIVE VISITOR AND VISITOR CENTERS INS.
I THINK ON OUR OPERATIONS COMMITTEE WORK PLAN, WE WILL BE HAVING PRESENTATIONS ON THE TWO REGIONS WITHIN THAT GROUP AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I HAD MENTIONED THAT I THINK WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL AND AGAIN, BECAUSE I AM A VISUAL PERSON, I DO LIKE TO LOOK AT MAPS, IS TO SEE WHERE ALL OF THE OTHER AGENCY VISITOR CENTERS AND MAPS ARE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, MOUNT DIABLO OR STATE PARKS HAS A MOUNT DIABLO VISITOR CENTER.
SO THINKING ABOUT THAT MAP AND THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LAND TRUSTS LIKE JOHN MUIR LAND TRUSTS OR TRI VALLEY CONSERVANCY IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MAYBE HAVE BOTH THAT LISTING AND I THINK THIS COMES TO THE EARLIER POINT TWO THAT WAS MENTIONED TO THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ACROSS THE TWO COUNTIES, BECAUSE, I MEAN, CERTAINLY SOMETHING LIKE MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK IS A HUGE AMOUNT OF ACRES AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF OPEN SPACE AND SOMETHING THAT DOES NEED TO BE CONSIDERED EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY A PART OF EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS.
SO I THINK THAT COULD BE A NEXT STEP AS WE'RE HAVING THIS TYPE OF, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION ABOUT PRIORITIES IS JUST HAVING BOTH A GOOD MAP AND BE A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT LAND TRUSTS AND CONSERVANCY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
YEAH, I REALLY LIKE THAT IDEA.
I AM NOT GOING TO ASSIGN WORK TO PLANNING AND GIS, BUT I THINK THAT WE COULD REALLY DO SOME INTERESTING GIS WORK HERE, LOOKING AT WHO ARE THE OTHER PUBLIC AGENCIES WHO OWN LAND WHERE WE'RE OPERATING INCLUDE THINGS LIKE VISITOR CENTERS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE TRAILS, GET AS MUCH SPATIAL DATA AS WE CAN, AND THEN WE CAN RUN SOME REALLY INTERESTING ANALYZES IN TERMS OF HOW CLOSE ARE PEOPLE TO PARKS, HOW LONG, WHAT ARE THE TO YOUR POINT, DIRECTOR CORBETT, WHAT ARE THE AC TRANSIT LINES OR OTHER PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT SERVE THOSE PARKS? HOW WHAT ARE THE NEXUS THERE THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AND REALLY MAKE SURE WE'RE OPTIMIZING FOR AND THINKING ABOUT AS WE'RE WORKING ON PARK PLANNING, ESPECIALLY MOVING INTO THE DISTRICT PLAN.
YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING I JUST THOUGHT OF AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS ACTUALLY A PRETTY BIG ASK.
SO I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT BIGGER THAN THIS, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO HAVE RIGHT NOW AND MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FEEDS INTO THE DISTRICT PLANNING PROCESS. EXACTLY.
I WILL SAY THAT YOU GUYS ARE ALL RIGHT ON TARGET ON THAT BRIAN HOLT AND THE GIS TEAM, AS THEY ARE PREPARING SOME OF THE WHAT WE'RE CALLING KIND OF BASELINE DATA FOR OUR CONSULTANT FOR THE DISTRICT PLAN IS EXACTLY THIS.
SO, YOU KNOW, MAPPING DOESN'T JUST HAVE TO BE OUR LANDS.
BUT ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS SWIM FACILITIES.
RIGHT. LET'S LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, HOW FAR IS IT FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS TO GET TO, YOU KNOW, AN OPEN WATER SWIM FACILITY OR, AND OR A PUBLIC POOL? SO THAT'S ALL OF THESE INPUTS AND I THINK IT WILL HELP INFORMED OUR PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE DISTRICT PLAN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS? QUESTIONS.
SO ARE YOU. ARE YOU THE PERSON THAT WE WOULD SUBMIT THESE DIRECTLY TO? OKAY, SURE.
YEAH. I IT MAKES MUCH MORE SENSE IF WE DO IT IN WRITING.
ABSOLUTELY. JUST THAT PROJECT, THAT PROPERTY OVER THERE TO THE LEFT, YOU KNOW, IT'S TOO HARD.
[01:55:02]
SO. YEAH. OKAY.WE'RE OPEN TO IF WE'RE HEARING FROM YOU VIA EMAIL, SETTING UP A MEETING TO DISCUSS THE THINGS.
SO I LIKED KEN'S COMMENTS EARLIER ABOUT HAVING BOTH THE WARD TOURS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT, YOU KNOW, NOT IN THE FIELD, LOOKING AT A MAP WITH ALL OF OUR RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US TO DISCUSS PROJECTS AS WELL.
SO I THINK WE CAN OFFER KIND OF DIFFERENT PIECES THAT WORK FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS AND TRY TO CAPTURE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION, THE VALUABLE FEEDBACK YOU HAVE FROM YOUR COMMUNITIES. THANK YOU.
FOR THE ALL THE INFORMATION PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU. ANY CLOSING STATEMENTS FROM GENERAL MANAGER OR AGM?
[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]
NO, I THINK WE COVERED SOME.I THINK WE'VE GOT SOME FOLLOW UPS TO DO AND SOME CONVERSATIONS TO HAVE WITH YOU ALL AND REALLY OPEN TO, AS WE SAID BEFORE, CONTINUING TO REFINE THIS PROCESS AND WHAT WORKS AND GETTING INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH AND I REALLY FAILED AT THE START OF THE MEETING TO SAY SOMETHING IMPORTANT, WHICH WAS A THANK YOU TO RACHEL FOR SERVING IN THE ACTING POSITION WHILE WE WERE DOING THE RECRUITMENT.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND JUST IT WAS SEAMLESS.
THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT.
STEPPING INTO ALL OF THAT WORK AND BEING A BRIDGE AND YOU KNOW, WELCOME, BECKY, AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ALL, CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU ALL. ALL RIGHT.
I GUESS THAT'S DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CLOSING COMMENTS? OH YES WE HAVE. WE DO HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT, I BELIEVE.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
KELLY EBRU, ARE YOU STILL HERE? YES. THERE YOU GO. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.I'D ASK, WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR? I KNOW OVER IN CASTRO VALLEY, SOMEBODY BUILT A DIRT AIRSTRIP, A COUPLE OF DIRT AIRSTRIPS DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE 230,000 VOLT HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES AND WHEN IT COMES TO WE HEARD ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON WITH LEASE RENEWALS AND HOW MUCH WORK IT IS TO RENEW THESE LEASES. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF STAFF TIME OVER IN FREMONT AT MISSION PEAK, SOME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, THEY WANTED A FIVE YEAR LEASE RENEWAL.
SO WE COULD ALWAYS BE IN THE WORKING ON THIS LEASE RENEWAL AND NEVER, NEVER STOP WORKING ON THAT.
RIGHT. THE DISTRICT, I THINK NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE MORE THAN ACREAGE, AND YOU NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT PARK ACCESS AND PROJECT TIMELINES AND FOR AND SOME OF THE STUFF IS HAPPENING NOT JUST IN THE PARK.
THAT GATE WAS LOCKED BY A PRIVATE HOA, AND THE BICYCLIST WENT NUTS.
WOULD THEY'D HAD ACCESS FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEY HAD AN EASEMENT, BUT THE GATE GOT LOCKED ANYWAY.
FIVE CANYONS AND CASTRO VALLEY.
THIS DISTRICT LITIGATED AND SETTLED ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO.
COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO GET TRAIL ACCESS THE OR WHATEVER ACCESS TO RESOURCES.
SFPUC SAN FRANCISCO WATER TEMPLE.
THE SONOMA WATER TEMPLE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SIX YEARS.
FOR VARIOUS REASONS, AND THE CENTRAL VISITOR CENTER IS TWO YEARS LATE.
IT'S BEEN. IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TWO YEAR PROJECT.
IT TOOK IT'S ANOTHER TWO YEARS.
IT'S NOW A FOUR YEAR PROJECT AND COUNTING THE ALAMEDA COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY, WHEN IT COMES TO DIRECTOR CORBETT WARD IS BUILDING THE SAN LEANDRO CREEK TRAIL. THERE'S A LOT OF TRAILS IN OVER THERE IN SAN LEANDRO AND THE HAYWARD RECREATION DISTRICT NEEDS $27 MILLION TO BUILD THE SAN LORENZO CREEK TRAIL AGAIN THROUGH THAT DISTRICT. THE PARK DISTRICT HAS ALL, BUT THE PARK DISTRICT HAS A DARK LEGACY OF BLOCKING PARK ACCESS FROM PUBLIC ROADS.
FOR EXAMPLE, MILL CREEK ROAD IN FREMONT IS NOW BLOCKED LEGALLY.
CAN'T WALK INTO A PARK EVEN THOUGH THE GATES RIGHT THERE AND THE LARGEST EVER LAND DONATION AT COYOTE HILLS, SPAWNED AN $11 MILLION TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT BEGAN IN 2022, SCHEDULED TO TAKE ONE YEAR IS NOW A YEAR LATE TWO YEARS INSTEAD OF ONE YEAR, AND THE CITY OF FREMONT IS RESTRICTING THE STREET PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF OF COMMERCE
[02:00:08]
DRIVE. THE FARMING PROJECT AT KYLE, ALSO AT COYOTE HILLS, HAS STALLED.THEY NEVER GREW ANY KALE OR ONIONS OR CABBAGE.
BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS REEVALUATING ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DIG DEEP FARMS. WE'VE THAT THING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AGRICULTURE AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FALLOWING AND PLOWING AND FALLOWING, BUT THEY'RE NOT GROWING.
THEY'RE JUST KIND OF PLAYING WITH THE GROUND.
[BOARD COMMENTS]
LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM.OH, KELLY JUST BROUGHT SOMETHING UP.
IS THERE A CHANCE WE CAN GET A REPORT ON [INAUDIBLE] AT ARDENWOOD? ABSOLUTELY. [INAUDIBLE] I WILL TALK TO LISA GOORJIAN.
SHE HAD TO SLIP OUT, BUT I'LL.
WE'LL GET SOMETHING IN THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
YEAH. GOOD QUESTION. THEY ACTUALLY ARE.
THAT MAY ALREADY BE ON CALENDAR, BUT I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
OKAY, WELL, IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER.
WE WILL ADJOURN THE STUDY SESSION.
MEETING OF FEBRUARY 2ND, 2024 IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 3:20 P.M.
THANK YOU, EVERYBODY, FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.