[00:00:02]
WELL, GOOD AFTERNOON EVERYONE.
UH, 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 PM
[ROLL CALL]
UH, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE? YES.PRESIDENT ECCLES
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.
HOWEVER, PER THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE BROWN ACT, NO FORMAL ACTIONS MAY BE TAKEN AT THIS STUDY SESSION.
THEREFORE, ANY ITEMS REQUIRING FORMAL BOARD ACTION WILL BE REFERRED TO THE FUTURE BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING.
FOR CONSIDERATION, 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.
THIS INFORMATION IS NOTED ON OUR AGENDA, AND IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT MEETING PROCEDURES, WE'LL BEGIN.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO.
WASPY, I MEAN
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
NOR ARE THERE ANY IN THE, UM, IN THE ROOM, IN THE WEBINAR ROOM.
SO THEN IN THAT CASE, WE CAN JUMP RIGHT INTO, UM, THE AGENDA.
AND I BELIEVE THAT GENERAL MANAGER, SABRINA LANDRETH, WILL BEGIN THE FIRST AGENDA ITEM.
UM, SO I'M GONNA HAND THIS OVER TO KEN IN A SECOND, AND HE'S, UH, GOING TO INTRODUCE OUR TEAM HERE AND, UH, ESPECIALLY OUR NEW CHIEF OF LAND WHO IS, UH, IS HERE ON HER FIRST WEEK.
UH, SO WE MADE THE TIMING WORK FOR EVERYBODY HERE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY, UH, JUST A COUPLE OF QUICK THINGS BEFORE I HAND IT OVER TO THEM TO RUN US THROUGH FOR THE DAY.
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, UM, JUST KIND OF WHAT, UH, IS GOING TO BE THE MOST CONSTRUCTIVE AND PRODUCTIVE FOR YOU ALL.
SO, UM, 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.
UM, WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU SOME HIGHLIGHTS ON A LOT OF THE TREMENDOUS WORK THAT THIS VERY SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM HAS ACCOMPLISHED, UH, OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS SINCE WE WERE LAST HERE WITH YOU.
UM, IT'S REALLY EXTRAORDINARY HOW MUCH GOES ON ON THE ACQUISITION SIDE AND ALSO ON THE TRANSACTIONAL SIDE OF THINGS WITH, UH, WITHIN THE TEAM.
SO, UM, YOU'LL GET A TASTE OF THAT AND THEN CERTAINLY, UM, GET INTO SOME DISCUSSION AROUND PRIORITIES AND, AND PROCESS, UM, UH, FOR MOVING FORWARD INTO THIS YEAR.
UM, JUST ONE THING I DO ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE JUST FROM, FROM MY POSITION HERE AS THE GENERAL MANAGER, UH, HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR LAST YEAR AROUND WANTING TO, UM, WORK ON WITH US INDIVIDUALLY ON PRIORITIES THAT YOU HAVE WITHIN YOUR WARD.
AND SO WE, UH, LAUNCHED THAT LAST YEAR OF DOING THE WARD SITE VISITS.
UM, AND THAT HAS BEEN VERY PRODUCTIVE AND HELPFUL, AND I KNOW IT'S BEEN, UH, UM, GREAT FOR KEN AND HIS STAFF, UM, SO THAT WE CAN HEAR FROM YOU ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND PRIORITIES.
SO THAT'S BEEN GREAT AND WE PLAN ON CONTINUING THAT, UM, THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR AS WELL AS BRIEFINGS ON INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES, WHICH WE, UM, REALLY HAVE BEEN LEANING MUCH MORE INTO WITH YOU, UM, BEFORE ITEMS COME, BEFORE THE FULL BOARD, EITHER IN CLOSED SESSION OR OPEN SESSION.
SO, UM, CONTINUE TO REACH OUT.
LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE GETTING ENOUGH OR NOT ENOUGH AND, UM, OR YOU WANT LESS
I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE CASE.
UM, BUT LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO.
UM, AND, UM, REALLY EXCITING THE TIMING OF THIS TOO, OF REALLY IN CONJUNCTION WITH OUR DISTRICT PLAN.
UM, REALLY ALL OF THIS COMING TOGETHER FOR 2024, AS YOU ALL KNOW AROUND OUR REALLY STRATEGIC WORK AROUND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE WANNA WANNA BE FOR OUR NEXT 90 PLUS YEARS HERE.
SO, UM, THANK YOU TO THE BOARD, THANK YOU TO STAFF, UM, AND I WELCOME A REALLY ROBUST DISCUSSION THIS
[00:05:01]
AFTERNOON.SO WITH THAT, I WANNA HAND IT OVER TO KEN.
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, 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, UH, FOCUS ON WHERE WE'D LIKE TO GET PROPERTIES, ET CETERA.
SO I JUST WANNA KEEP THAT IN BACK OF YOUR MINDS.
UH, AS YOU KNOW, END OF LAST YEAR, MIKE REEVES RETIRED OUR CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION, AND, UH, WE DO DID WISH HIM VERY, VERY WELL IN SUCCESS AND THANKED HIM FOR ALL HIS, HIS WORK.
UH, AND WE KNOW HE IS ENJOYING HIS GOLD CARD, UH, THAT HE RECEIVES AND ENJOYING THE BEACH.
UH, MORE OFTEN THAN THAN NOT, UH, WE CONDUCTED A NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR A NEW CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION AND WE PULLED IN A FULL BOARD, UH, SEVERAL BOARD MEMBERS, UH, BOARD, UH, NOT BOARD, UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE WORD I'M LOOKING FOR IS, UH, WE HAD A QUITE A FEW, UH, ROBUST INTERVIEW SESSIONS, UH, TO STREAM TO FINALIZE A, A, UH, UH, A RECOMMENDATION TO THE GENERAL MANAGER.
AND, UH, FROM THAT I WANTED TO INTRODUCE, UH, OUR NEW CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION, UH, 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 GONNA PROVIDE US GOING FORWARD.
SO, UH, BECKY, I'D LIKE TO HAVE HER INTRO, UH, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HER BACKGROUND.
UH, WE WERE LUCKY TO THAT SHE TOOK ON THIS OPPORTUNITY AND, UH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR GREAT THINGS FORWARD.
UM, I AM THRILLED TO BE HERE TO BE YOUR NEW CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION, LIKE KEN SAID.
UM, TODAY IS DAY FIVE, SO PLEASE BE PATIENT.
UM, BUT I AM ALREADY ABSORBING A TON THIS WEEK AND REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO THIS AFTERNOON AND LEARNING MORE FROM THIS GROUP.
AND IT'LL BE A GREAT SESSION FOR ME AS WELL.
UM, 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.
UM, THEIR MISSION IS TO PROTECT AND RESTORE REDWOODS AND GIANT SEQUOIA, UM, 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.
UM, I GOT TO LEAD A TEAM AND THE ORGANIZATION AS A WHOLE ON ALL THEIR ACQUISITION AND DISPOSITION AND REAL ESTATE WORK.
SOME OF IT WAS REALLY SMALL AND SOME OF IT WAS MASSIVE.
UM, BEFORE THE LEAGUE I WAS AT THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND WHERE THEIR MISSION IS TO PROTECT LAND FOR PEOPLE, CONNECTING EVERYONE TO THE OUTDOORS.
UM, MY WORK AT TPL STARTED IN THE CARIBBEAN, WHICH WASN'T TOO SHABBY.
UM, AND THEN IT TOOK ME TO FLORIDA AND THEN ULTIMATELY TO CALIFORNIA WHERE TPLS NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED.
UM, I WAS THE FIRST WOMAN WHO WAS EVER PROMOTED TO THE SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER LEVEL TWO POSITION.
UM, I GOT TO OVERSEE THE LAND PROTECTION WORK IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA, WHICH WAS FROM THE CENTRAL COAST ALL THE WAY TO THE MEXICAN BORDER.
UM, I'M ALSO AN AFFILIATE INSTRUCTOR AT THE, 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, UM, WE REALLY GET TO ADDRESS AND START TOUCHING ON SOME OF THOSE PRESSING AND REALLY UPCOMING ISSUES THAT THIS FIELD HAS TO FACE.
UM, OVER THE YEARS I'VE GOTTEN TO LEAD ON HUGE CONTENTIOUS, SOME PRETTY HIGH PROFILE ACQUISITION PROJECTS.
AND I LOVE COLLABORATING INTERNALLY AND EXTERNALLY, UM, WITH DIFFERENT SET TYPES OF TEAMS. I SPEND A LOT OF TIME INVESTING IN RELATIONSHIPS.
I SEE RAPPORT BUILDING AS REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, I'M GENUINELY A GOOD LISTENER, I WOULD SAY.
UM, SO WHEN THIS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO BE CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION OR OPENED UP, I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE.
UM, THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IS WHERE I RECREATE.
[00:10:01]
GO AND PLAY.I KNOW THAT YOU HEAR THAT ALL THE TIME FROM PEOPLE, BUT IT'S ALSO TRUE FOR ME.
UM, IT IS MY FIRST WEEK HERE, BUT I CAN ALREADY TELL YOU THAT I SEE A LOT OF THE SAME THEMES AND ISSUES THAT I'VE SEEN IN THE INDUSTRY OVER TIME.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON, UM, THAT MUCH OF THE LOW HANGING FRUIT, I WOULD SAY, UM, HAS BEEN SCOOPED UP.
IT'S ALREADY BEEN ACQUIRED THROUGH LAND UH, ACQUISITION WORK.
UM, BUT WHERE IT'S MOVING NOW IS IT'S JUST BECOMING A LOT MORE COMPLEX AND A LOT MORE TOUGH
WE'RE NOW TACKLING AND TAKING ON MORE CHALLENGING DEALS, AND THE WORK IS JUST GETTING HARDER.
UM, I'VE ALSO SEEN A LOT OF NATURAL, LIKE EBBS AND FLOWS WITH THIS TYPE OF WORK OVER TIME.
AND THERE'S SOMETIMES THERE'S CLEAR EXPLANATIONS FOR IT.
OH, WE'VE GOT A NEW FUNDING SOURCE, OR, UM, THE REAL ESTATE MARKET, OR THERE WAS A SPECIFIC OPPORTUNITY THAT JUST POPPED FOR US.
UM, BUT I DON'T SEE LAND ACQUISITION WORK RETREATING AT ALL.
UM, I WOULD SAY THAT IT'S JUST CHANGING.
UM, WE HAVE TO RELY A LOT MORE, I THINK, ON STRONG AND MORE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS JUST TO COLLECTIVELY GET ALL THIS WORK DONE.
UM, MY OPINION, THIS IS A SUPER EXCITING TIME TO BE HERE.
UM, THE DISTRICT, AS YOU EMBARK ON THE SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN AND THE DIRECTION IT'S GONNA PROVIDE US IS IT'S, I CAN'T WAIT TO, SO I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE YEARS TO COME.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD DAY FIVE BEING PART OF THIS LAND SESSION, BUT THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON ME, SO THANK YOU.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER SOME QUESTIONS OR WE CAN ALSO JUST JUMP INTO, START SHARING SOME THINGS ABOUT LAND SESSION.
SO I AM GONNA TURN IT OVER NOW TO RACHEL LE AND YOU CAN INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND GET US STARTED.
[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
COUNSEL.DID WE NEED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA OR WE CAN JUST MOVE ON? NO.
UM, YEAH, I I THINK THAT YOU HAVE A FEW THINGS ON THE AGENDA THAT YOU CAN SKIP OVER AT THE DISCRETION OF THE PRESIDENT.
SO, UM, WE DID JUST JUMP INTO INTRODUCTIONS.
BUT IT'S REALLY UP TO PRESIDENT ECCLES HOW SHE'D LIKE TO HANDLE THE AGENDA.
BUT, UH, DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT IT BE APPROVED FORMALLY OR IN A WORKSHOP? DO WE NOT NEED TO DO THAT? I, I MEAN, THE AGENDA IS SET.
YOU REALLY DON'T NEED TO FORMALLY APPROVE IT, BUT IT'S A TRADITION HERE THAT YOU DO.
SO, HOWEVER YOU'D LIKE TO HANDLE IT WELL, WE WILL, WE WILL UPHOLD THE TRADITION.
AND, UM, SO CAN I HAVE A MOTION? THANK YOU.
ALL IN FAVOR? OPPOSED? UNANIMOUS.
[ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION]
AFTERNOON.UM, IF YOU'LL BEAR WITH ME ONE MOMENT, I'LL GET THE SLIDES UP.
I AM REAL ESTATE MANAGER, RACHEL M. GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECCLES, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD GENERAL MANAGER, SABRINA LANDRO.
UM, TODAY I'M GONNA GIVE YOU, WELL WE'RE GONNA COVER A LOT OF INFORMATION IN THIS SESSION, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE REALLY WANNA DO IS KIND OF REINTRODUCE OUR STAFF, REINTRODUCE WHAT WE DO, GIVE YOU A REALLY FULL PICTURE.
UM, 'CAUSE 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, UH, REINTRODUCE OURSELVES.
UM, SO OUR TEAM HAS SIX FULL-TIME STAFF.
WE HAVE OUR CHIEF BECKY BREMSER, WHO YOU JUST MET, REAL ESTATE, REAL ESTATE MANAGER, MYSELF, UH, SENIOR REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST, WHICH IS OPEN.
AND WE'LL BE RECRUITING VERY SHORTLY, TWO REAL PROPERTY SPECIALISTS WHO YOU'LL MEET LATER.
AND OUR ADMIN ANALYST TOO, YOU'LL ALSO MEET.
UM, OUR CHIEF REALLY PROVIDES STRATEGY COORDINATION WITH OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND WORKS SOME OF 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.
THEY REALLY DO THE BULK OF THE WORK HERE, AND WE COULD NOT
[00:15:01]
GET THIS DONE WITHOUT THEM.AND OUR ADMIN ANALYST TOO PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR THE TEAM, BUT ALSO 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 WORK ON OUT GRANTS FOR LONG TERM OR PERMANENT USE OF PARKLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, WITH OTHER UTILITIES OR OTHER AGENCIES WHO NEED LONGER TERM ACCESS TO OUR PARKS.
WE PROVIDE RIGHT OF WAY SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND OPERATIONS.
WE'LL HAVE SOME EXAMPLES TO HIGHLIGHT THIS LATER.
AND THEN WE RESPOND TO INTERNAL OR EXTERNAL INQUIRIES RELATED TO REAL PROPERTY.
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.
'CAUSE 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.
THE BULK OF THE TEAM'S WORK IS REALLY DEVOTED TO ACROSS ALL OF THESE FUNCTIONS, BUT OFTEN TO THE ONES THAT ARE LESS VISIBLE.
SO WE'RE GONNA HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THOSE FOR YOU TODAY, AND WE'LL HAVE A COUPLE OF CASE STUDIES IN THE AFTERNOON.
JUST TO GIVE YOU KIND OF SOME PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
WE HAVE THREE APPRAISALS CURRENTLY UNDERWAY, SIX ACTIVE NEGOTIATIONS FOR FEE.
MANY MORE LICENSES, LEASES, AND OTHER AGREEMENTS ALREADY UNDERWAY ARE ON OUR HORIZON FOR THIS YEAR.
WE COMPLETED ABOUT 20 LEASES AND LICENSES IN 2023, AT LEAST SEVEN EASEMENTS AND ABOUT 1300 ACRES IN FEE ACQUISITION.
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.
PRESIDENT ECCLES, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GENERAL MANAGER, LANDRETH.
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.
SO YOU'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THIS ANNUAL REPORT, BUT I THOUGHT I'D ADD A LITTLE BIT OF, UH, HISTORY AND CONTENT TO HELP SHAPE TODAY'S DISCUSSION.
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.
IN THIS REPORT ARE LISTED THE 1,298 PARK AND TRAIL ACQUISITIONS COMPLETED BY THE PARK DISTRICT IN OUR FIRST 90 YEARS.
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.
THE REPORT IS DRAWN FROM A MUCH LARGER MICROSOFT ACCESS DATABASE, WHICH CONTAINS FAR MORE DETAIL ABOUT EVERY UNIQUE TRANSACTION.
BUT FOR TODAY'S PRESENTATION, I WANNA HIGHLIGHT THIS IMPORTANT POINT ABOUT OUR LAND ACQUISITION PROGRAM.
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, ET CETERA.
OF THOSE 1,298 PARK AND TRAIL ACQUISITIONS, ONLY HALF 647 TO BE EXACT ARE ACTUALLY PURCHASES OF PROPERTY.
THERE ARE ALSO 110 LICENSE AGREEMENTS, 49 LEASE AGREEMENTS, 38 DONATIONS, 32 DEVELOPER DEDICATIONS, AND 31 OPERATING
[00:20:01]
AGREEMENTS.GOING BACK OVER THE LAST 90 YEARS IN THE PARKS DISTRICT'S FIRST 90 YEARS, WE'VE ALSO COMPLETED AN ADDITIONAL 67 OTHER ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS, WHICH DON'T COUNT TOWARDS OUR PARK AND TRAIL ACREAGE.
THESE INCLUDE GRANTING OUT LICENSES TO THE USGS FOR SEISMIC STATIONS AT A VARIETY OF OUR PARKS.
UH, THE THE 2012 LEASE OF THE PACHECO EQUIPMENT SHOP AND THE 19 88 19 89 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, UH, THE SALE OF SEVEN PLUS ACRES AT THE BRAILLE PROPERTY IN DANVILLE.
UM, THE GRANTING OF UTILITY EASEMENTS TO PG E AT CROCKETT HILLS.
UM, THE, UH, THE LEASE OF A LITTLE KAYAKING, A LITTLE BOAT DOCK ON THE OAKLAND INNER HARBOR TITLE CANAL.
SO WE REGULARLY SPEND QUITE A LOT OF TIME AS STAFF.
IT'S VERY TIME CONSUMING TO COMPLETE THESE, UM, 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.
SO WITH THE HELP OF A CONSULTANT, UH, WE'RE CURRENTLY CLEANING UP AND REORGANIZING THAT VAST DATA DATABASE TO IMPROVE OUR RESEARCH AND REPORTING CAPABILITY.
THESE RECORDS ARE CRITICAL TO THE ONGOING WORK AND THE 90 YEAR LEGACY OF THE PARK DISTRICT AS THEY'RE THE DNA OF TODAY'S AND TOMORROW'S PARKS AND TRAILS WITH ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSITIONS ALIKE.
NO PARK PLANNING, CAPITAL PROJECTS, PARK DEVELOPMENT RESTORATION PROJECT, NOT EVEN AN OUTDOOR RECREATION PROGRAM CAN TAKE PLACE UNTIL THE NECESSARY PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE SECURED.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO RACHEL WITH A REVIEW OF HOW WE EVALUATE THOSE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES.
SO BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SEGMENT, I JUST WANTED TO OPEN THE FLOOR IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS ON JUST KINDA THE INTRODUCTION SECTION.
UM, SO I'M, I'M JUST WANNA, UM, UH, UNDERSTAND THE MECHANISM FOR IF SOMEONE GOES ON VACATION, GOES ON, LEAVE, OR GETS SICK.
HOW DOES, HOW DOES THE, UM, IS EVERYONE AVAILABLE TO PICK UP THE SLACK? 'CAUSE I, I DON'T, I DON'T IMAGINE ANYBODY'S PROJECTS ARE LEFT HANGING.
YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, 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.
UM, 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.
UM, SO THERE'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE SOME HICCUPS DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS.
BUT WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE PREPARED TO TAKE OVER FOR ONE ANOTHER AND WE'VE REALLY BEEN DEVELOPING SOME TOOLS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS TO MAKE THAT A SMOOTHER PROCESS.
IS IS THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO, UH, BACKFILL FROM TEMPORARY OR YES, EXACTLY.
SO WE'RE HIRING FOR THE SENIOR REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST POSITION RIGHT NOW.
UM, THE PARK DISTRICT ALSO HAS AN ACTING AND TRANSFER PROGRAM, DEPENDING ON IF THAT'S A GOOD FIT FOR THOSE POSITIONS.
UM, WE'VE HAD PEOPLE ACTING IN OUR ADMIN ROLE AND WE, WE'VE, WE'VE MADE USE OF THAT BEFORE.
UM, SO WE'LL SEE HOW THAT LOOKS MOVING FORWARD FOR THIS YEAR.
BUT, UM, YES, THAT'S SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.
UM, TO PREPARE FOR TODAY, ONE AREA THAT I WAS THINKING OF, AND THIS MIGHT END UP BEING MORE OF A COMMENT THAN A QUESTION, UM, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT NECESSARILY REGARDING, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT? NOTHING CAN HAPPEN UNTIL PROPER PROPERTY RIGHTS ARE SECURE.
SO IT'S NOT REALLY THAT, 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 PROPO OUR PORTFOLIO HERE AT THESE BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICTS.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, I, I GUESS THE QUESTION FOR YOUR TEAM IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU GET INVOLVED IN THOSE TYPES OF, UM,
[00:25:01]
CONVERSATIONS AND THEN THE DECISION IS MADE OR MAYBE THE 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'VE MENTIONED, BUT DO WE HAVE ANOTHER DATABASE WHERE WE'RE KEEPING TRACK OF SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, UH, 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, WE MAINTAIN FILES ON THOSE.
SO EVEN IF THEY DON'T MOVE FORWARD WITH ACQUISITION OR YOU KNOW, SOMEBODY PRIVATE SWOOPS IN ON SOMETHING WE WERE INTERESTED IN, UM, OR IT'S NOT A GOOD FIT FOR THE PARK DISTRICT FOR WHATEVER REASON, WE HAVE FILES IN THOSE AND WE TRY TO TRACK OUR, AND DOCUMENT OUR DECISION MAKING AND OUR THINKING AROUND THEM.
THE PRIORITIZATION PROCESS I'M GONNA TOUCH ON, THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THAT WE WOULD DOCUMENT FOR THOSE.
UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE REGULAR CHECK-INS WITH OUR PARTNERS AROUND THE REGION.
SO WE MEET WITH STATE PARKS, WE MEET WITH, UM, SAFE MOUNT DIABLO, JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A QUARTERLY MEETING COMING UP JUST THIS NEXT WEEK, WHICH BECKY WILL GET TO ATTEND FOR THE FIRST TIME.
UM, WHERE WE TALK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS OR WE ARE, WE'RE HEARING ABOUT PROPERTIES THAT ARE BECOMING UP FOR SALE.
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 GONNA MOVE FORWARD ON THOSE.
SO WE, WE TRACK AS MUCH AS WE CAN.
UM, 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 WERE NOT ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD FOR WHATEVER REASON.
SO, UM, LAST YEAR THE CHIEF OF LAND PRESENTED A NEW PROJECT EVALUATION AND VETTING PROCESS AND PRIORITIZATION CATEGORIES USED TO ASSESS LAND ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES.
UM, THE PROCESS DEVELOPED LAST YEAR WAS MEANT TO DOCUMENT AND DESCRIBE EXISTING PRACTICES, THINK THROUGH SOME MODIFICATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR IMPROVEMENT AND BUILD ON FORMALIZED STEPS SUCH AS INTERDEPARTMENTAL FEEDBACK DURING THE COURSE OF PROJECT DEVELOPMENT.
SINCE THAT TIME, LAND STAFF HAS BEEN PILOTING AND CONTINUES TO PILOT THIS PROCESS WITH OUR PROJECTS.
HOWEVER, SINCE ACQUISITION PROJECTS CAN TAKE SEVERAL YEARS TO COMPLETE, WE'RE NOT FINISHED WITH THE PILOT PROCESS.
WE'RE STILL INCORPORATING FEEDBACK FROM STAFF AND FROM THE BOARD ON HOW BEST TO IMPLEMENT THIS.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO FOR THIS SEGMENT IS KIND OF RUN THROUGH AND REFAMILIARIZE EVERYONE WITH THE PROCESS, UM, TALK ABOUT WHAT WE AS STAFF HAS SEEN AS BENEFITS AND, UM, OF HOW THIS HAS BEEN WORKING FOR US SO FAR.
AND THEN, UM, JUST KIND OF OPEN THE FLOOR A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, UM, HOW WE MOVE THIS FORWARD AND, AND KIND OF FORMALIZE OUR, 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 AT 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 IS A VERY EARLY REVIEW.
AND WE'LL INCORPORATE FEEDBACK FROM OTHER TEAMS IN OUR DIVISION, SOMETIMES OPERATIONS IF WE'RE ABLE TO CAPTURE THAT.
UM, AND IF MANAGEMENT INDICATES THAT THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT'S WORTH EXPLORING, STAFF CONTINUE TO THE NEXT STAGE IN THE SECOND STAGE, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITIES.
ABOUT THE FIRST, UH, THE FIRST STEP THERE.
SO I'M LOOKING AT THAT AND I'M THINKING, OKAY, SO THIS IS GONNA 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? OR IT IT WOULD, IT WOULD WORK, RIGHT? IT WAS A GENERAL IDEA, BUT THEN I STARTED THINKING, WHAT IF IT, WHAT WHAT, WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT GET REJECTED? YOU KNOW? MM-HMM.
YEAH, NO, YOU WON HAVE, BUT YOU KNOW, JUST WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF SAYING, OH, YOU KNOW WHAT, UM, THAT WE THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD, BUT WE'RE, WE'RE GONNA RUN AWAY FROM THIS ONE.
WHAT, WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT DEAL KILLERS? YEAH.
SO WE GET INQUIRIES FROM THE PUBLIC, SOMETIMES FROM REAL ESTATE BROKERS.
SOMETIMES WE'LL GET, UM, SURPLUS LAND NOTIFICATIONS FROM OTHER AGENCIES.
AND THE ONES THAT WE TEND TO JUST BE ABLE TO QUICKLY LOOK AT AND THE STAFF LEVEL 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 ED MUD OR SOMETHING AND IT DOESN'T HAVE A NEXUS.
UM, 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? UM, WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM BROKERS WHO'VE MAYBE WORKED WITH US IN THE PAST ON A RANCH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UM, AND THEN THEY'LL COME TO US
[00:30:01]
WITH A PROPERTY THAT, AGAIN, DOESN'T HAVE A NEXUS WITH OUR PARKS, MAYBE HAS A REALLY DEVELOPED, UM, EVENTS CENTER AND ALL SORTS OF INFRASTRUCTURE ON IT THAT WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN TAKING ON.BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD FLOW TO BUY 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.
UM, 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, UM, REGULAR CHIEFS MEETING WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF ACQUISITION STEWARDSHIP DEVELOPMENT.
UH, IT CAN GO TO KEN, IT CAN GO TO SABRINA TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE, UM, ASSESSMENT OF WHETHER OR NOT IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULD KICK THE TIRES A LITTLE MORE.
YES, KEN, SORTA, I HOPE I'M ON THOSE SAME LINES.
THERE'S, UM, A LAND WHERE SOMEONE MIGHT COME ALONG 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 WE, WE MAY BE INTERESTED IN GOING FORWARD TO, TO GET PROPERTIES.
I OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE SOME PROPERTIES LIKE THAT ON THE LIST.
AS WE SEE LAND? HOW, HOW DOES THAT WORK? YES.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT PARKVIEW 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 WHERE WE REACH OUT PROACTIVELY AS WELL.
WE'RE NOT JUST WAITING FOR THINGS TO COME ACROSS THE DESK.
IS THAT YOUR QUESTION? UH, 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, UH, 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
WE'RE, WE'RE ALWAYS TAKING A LOOK AND SEEING WHAT'S OUT THERE, BUT IT IS A COMBINATION OF WHAT'S RIPE TO BE TO, TO, FOR US TO ENGAGE WITH A LANDOWNER.
UM, WE'RE ALSO, ONE THING THAT'S BEEN REALLY HELPFUL FOR OUR TEAM IS OUR OPERATIONS TEAMS ARE SO PLUGGED INTO WHAT'S HAPPENING OUT IN THE REGIONS WHERE THEY'RE WORKING.
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 RANCH IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR AND YOU SHOULD BE IN TOUCH.
UM, 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 WE'LL REACH OUT TO AND MAKE CONTACT WITH.
UM, WE DO SOME COLD CALLS OF COURSE, IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT REALLY IS SUPER COMPELLING.
UM, 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, AND AS A BOARD MEMBER, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY I, I KNOW ABOUT SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES AND HAVE HEARD ABOUT THEM, BUT COULD IT HAPPEN LIKE MAYBE ON A 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? MM-HMM.
UH, OR, OR MAYBE I DO, MAYBE I DO, MAYBE I DON'T
BUT IS THAT SOMETHING WE COULD DO ON A REGULAR BASIS EACH BOARD MEMBER TO SEE WHAT ALL THE LAND IN THEIR AREA MAY OR MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE? I MEAN, THERE'S, YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK I MOSTLY KNOW, BUT I'D KINDA LIKE TO HAVE A REVIEW TO SEE WHAT'S OUT THERE.
AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO.
SO WITH THE SITE VISITS, YOU KNOW? THAT'S RIGHT.
SO WE CAN, AND CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, THOSE ARE, UH, WE'VE, I THINK WE'VE PUT THE, UM, DATES ON CALENDAR.
I, I, I THINK, UM, OR AT LEAST WE'RE WORKING ON THEM, BUT THAT'S WHERE I KNOW MY STAFF HAS BEEN REACHING OUT TO YOU IF THERE'S SPECIFIC THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO SEE OR YOU WANNA DISCUSS WITH US.
BUT THEY ALSO ARE POPULATING KIND OF THE AGENDA THERE.
BUT, UH, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, IF YOU WANT TO, UM, SIT DOWN AND KIND OF GO THROUGH, YOU KNOW, THAT LIST OF WHAT YOU KNOW MIGHT BE POTENTIALS, THE, 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 THANK YOU FOR THAT.
UM, SO FOR STAGE TWO IS OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS ANALYSIS.
SO AT THIS POINT, WE FEEL LIKE THERE'S ENOUGH THERE, THERE TO PURSUE THIS PROPERTY A LITTLE BIT, FIGURE OUT MORE ABOUT IT.
UM, IF THE DECISION'S MADE TO CONTINUE TO PURSUE THE OPPORTUNITY STAFF CONDUCT ADDITIONAL INITIAL DUE DILIGENCE ON THE PROPERTY,
[00:35:01]
INCLUDING AN APPRAISAL, DETERMINE, DETERMINE THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, UM, TITLE REVIEW FEEDBACK FROM OTHER STAFF.THE SLAUGHTER 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 IF WE THINK THERE'S PARTICULAR FEATURES TO BE AWARE OF ON THE PROPERTY AS WELL AS PLANNING AND TRAILS.
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 REALLY GETTING FEEDBACK FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THIS INFORMATION IS SUMMARIZED IN AN INTERNAL MEMO, WHICH IS PRESENTED BOTH TO MANAGEMENT AND THE BOARD ENC CLOSED SESSION.
WHEN WE SEEK AUTHORIZATION TO MAKE AN OFFER ON THE PROPERTY AT ITS APPRAISED VALUE, IF ALL OF 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 OF THE PARK DISTRICT REACH AGREEMENT ON TERMS STAFF RETURN TO THE BOARD, AN OPEN SESSION FOR AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN OPTION AGREEMENT FOR THE PROPERTY BOARD MATERIAL.
AND 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 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 ALTOGETHER, DISCUSS IT, AND PROVIDE FEEDBACK IN A WRITTEN REPORT ABOUT, UM, BENEFITS, POTENTIAL ISSUES, YOU KNOW, LANDSLIDE HERE, DUMPING THERE, WHATEVER WE NEED TO KIND OF BE AWARE OF.
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.
LASTLY, IF ALL GOES WELL, STAFF WILL RETURN TO THE BOARD AN OPEN SESSION FOR AUTHORIZATION TO CLOSE ON THE PROPERTY.
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.
I ALSO THINK THE PRIORITIZATION CATEGORIES, THEY GIVE A REALLY MORE NUANCED AND SOPHISTICATED DOCUMENTATION OF THE BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT.
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 OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, EXTREMELY STRONG IN NATURAL RESOURCES, BUT DON'T PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL SUPPORT.
SOME ARE VITAL FOR OUR STAFF OR FOR THE PUBLIC ON GETTING TO, TO A PROPERTY, A LARGER ACCESS INTO THE PARK, BUT AREN'T, YOU KNOW, IN AND OF THEMSELVES GONNA HAVE A WHOLE BUNCH OF ENDANGERED SPECIES ON THEM.
SO THE PRIORITIZATION CATEGORIES REALLY ALLOW US TO CAPTURE THAT INFORMATION, UM, RECORD IT AND MAKE SURE THAT MANAGEMENT, THE BOARD OF ACCESS TO THAT.
IF WE'RE LOOKING BACK AT A PROJECT 10 YEARS LATER THAT DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD, WE'RE GONNA HAVE THAT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT WE THOUGHT ABOUT WHEN WE WERE LOOKING AT THE PRO 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 GONNA HAVE DIFFERENT COMFORT LEVELS OF HOW MANY STAFF ARE OUTTA THE PROPERTY AT ANY TIME.
IF THEY LET US OUT THERE BEFORE WE'RE UNDER OPTION OR AFTER UNDER 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 GONNA REALLY VARY BY PROJECT.
WE'RE ALWAYS GONNA HAVE, TRY TO HAVE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE, BUT IT'S REALLY GONNA VARY, UM, DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH ACCESS WE HAVE.
SO ONCE OUR PROCEDURES KIND OF FINALIZED, OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE A USEFUL AND FLEXIBLE PROCESS FOR ALL OF US TO USE.
MOVING FORWARD, I'LL NOW OPEN IT UP FOR QUESTIONS.
PROBABLY HAVE SOME QUESTIONS ON THIS.
COLIN, COMMENTS? YEAH, GO AHEAD.
AND SUGGESTIONS AND, UH, REQUESTS.
SO THIS, UH, I'M GLAD TO HEAR THIS IS,
[00:40:01]
UH, EVOLVING THIS PROCESS.IT'S RE IT'S RE REFERRED TO IN OUR BACKGROUND MATERIALS AS REVISED PROJECT REVIEW AND PRIORITIZATION PROCESS.
THESE WERE PRESENTED TO US IN A, UH, FULLER FORMAT AT OUR LAND SESSION LAST YEAR, UH, IN MAY.
AND THEY WERE PRESENTED AS A DRAFT, UH, AS SOMETHING THAT WAS NOT A ONE AND DONE AND WAS GONNA COME BACK.
AND I THINK RACHEL'S, UM, HITTING BACK TO THAT POINT THAT THERE'S MORE TO BE DONE ON IT.
MY PROBLEM IS THAT IT'S ALREADY BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
IT, UH, HAS ALREADY IMPACTED THE BOARD'S ROLE IN THIS PROCESS SIGNIFICANTLY BY, UH, WELL THIS IS NOW THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.
WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY PROPERTY, UH, DISCUSSIONS AT THIS SESSION.
THE LAST TIME WE DID WAS IN MAY OF 22.
SO I WOULD LIKE AN OPPORTUNITY AT A, UH, BOARD MEETING TO SIMPLY PUT THESE REVISED PROJECT REVIEW AND CRITERIA ON A BOARD AGENDA FOR ACTION SO WE CAN REMEDY THAT AND REIN INSERT THE BOARD ROLE, UH, BY HAVING THAT MEETING IN IN EARLY STAGES, IT WOULD BE DESIGNED TO BRING US IN, IN OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE EARLY STAGES AND IT WOULD BE FORMATTED AS LYNN 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, UH, 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.
UM, 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 IN 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, UH, TWO SESSIONS.
SO I JUST NEED ANOTHER DIRECTOR WHO ALSO REQUESTS THAT THIS BE AN ACTION ITEM ON THESE POLICIES, PROCEDURES, UH, CRITERIA.
SO I CAN MAKE A MOTION TO REINSERT IN THAT PROCESS.
THE BOARD, UH, LAND ACQUISITION, UH, ANNUAL CLOSED SESSION DIRECTOR MECURIO.
BUT BEFORE YOU START, I JUST WANNA BE CLEAR, WE CAN'T TAKE YOU NOT ASKING FOR AN ACTION TODAY.
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, I'M JUST GONNA AGREE WITH HIM.
I, YOU KNOW, I MEAN THAT WOULD THAT I I I SEE THE VALUE IN THAT.
THAT'S ALL I WAS REALLY GONNA SAY.
PRE PRESIDENT ECKLES, WHAT I RECOMMEND IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT ON THE AGENDA PER SE, TO TAKE, UM, A, A MO TO HAVE A MOTION OR TAKE ACTION ON GETTING SOMETHING ON A FUTURE AGENDA.
I UN I UNDERSTAND, BUT I THINK THE APPROPRIATE THING TO DO WOULD BE TWO 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 AND DETERMINE TO GET SOMETHING ON THE AGENDA.
IT'S NOT SUBJECT TO THE BRAND.
I I THINK WE CAN, BUT I THINK WE CAN DO THAT OUTSIDE THIS SESSION.
I THINK I CAN JUST, YOU OR I OR WHOEVER CAN JUST ASK TO BRING, TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA.
BUT THERE IS NO AGENDA ITEM HERE.
MEETING JUST HAPPENS TO BE THERE MEETING FOR CALLING DIRECTORS OR ASKING STAFF TO DO THIS.
WE HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR AND AFTER THIS MEETING IS OVER, SABRINA AND ELIZABETH CAN WORK ON WHATEVER AGENDA ITEM IT IS, BUT I THINK RIGHT NOW THERE'S A LOT OF, IT'S NOT REALLY CLEAR WHAT YOU'RE ASKING TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA.
I'VE, I'VE SENT YOU ALL A NOTE EXACTLY WHAT I'M ASKING FOR.
COULD I GO AHEAD? UH, GENERAL MANAGER.
SO, UM, AND I, WE CAN DEFINITELY WORK THROUGH, I'M THINKING 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
[00:45:01]
ACTION ON BRINGING AN ITEM.AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON, ON DOING THAT.
I, I THINK WE NEED TO FLESH OUT LIKE WHAT IS THAT ITEM AND WHAT IS THE PROBLEM THAT WE'RE TRYING TO SOLVE WITH THAT ITEM.
SO THAT FROM THE STAFF POINT STANDPOINT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE KIND OF OUR INTERNAL PROCESSES THAT WE GO THROUGH.
WE'VE BEEN DEFINITELY, AS I, AS I SAID FROM THE OUTSET, WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO TRY TO WORK WITHIN THE LEGAL, UH, 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 THE 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 AGENDA SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR YOU.
I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE ANSWERING THE RIGHT QUESTION AND ADDRESSING THE RIGHT PROBLEM.
SO BEING TOLD WE CAN'T GET INTO THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
NO, NO, I, WHAT I HEARD IS WE CAN TALK ABOUT WHAT THE, WHAT ITEM YOU WOULD LIKE US TO BRING THAT'S, THAT'S ATTACHED TO LAND ACQUISITION PROJECT PROCESS AND PRIORITIZATION.
I, I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY WE CAN'T DISCUSS THAT.
I THINK IT NOW, WHICH IS WHAT I THINK YOU'RE, YOU'RE ASKING US TO BRING AN ITEM ON THAT, WHICH AGAIN, I WOULD, IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT, WHAT IS THIS? I'M JUST COGNIZANT, WHAT IS THIS ITEM THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE US TO BRING? I'M COGNIZANT THAT WE CAN'T TAKE ACTION TODAY.
SO I'M JUST SAYING, SO YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTION AT A FUTURE MEETING.
BUT I THINK WHAT, WHAT RGM IS ASKING, AND IF HE IS, IF YOU CAN, I MEAN, 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, WE WON'T VOTE ON WHETHER THAT'S GONNA BE AN AGENDA AND 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, WHAT YOUR REQUEST IS.
IT'S, UH, WITHIN STAGE ONE, THE CURRENT PROCEDURE DESCRIBES THAT, UH, MANAGEMENT WILL DISCUSS A POTENTIAL ACQUISITION WITH THE WARD MEMBER WHOSE WARD IS IMPACTED.
I WANT TO INSERT AN ADDITION AT THAT POINT THAT THE FULL BOARD WILL MEET AND CONFER ON SAME IN A CLOSED SESSION WHERE APPROPRIATE, UH, ACCORDING TO COUNSEL.
AND THAT WILL BE DONE AT LEAST ANNUALLY.
AND AS I SAID 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 KNOW LYNN CAN, DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE IN OPEN SESSION HERE.
UM, BUT LET ME JUST SAY, BECAUSE I'LL JUST STAY IN MY LANE OVER HERE.
SO PROCEDURALLY, SO I THINK WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US, AND WHETHER YOU NEED TO CODIFY THAT OR NOT CODIFY THAT, THAT IS UP TO THE BOARD TO DO THAT.
I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THAT CODIFIED.
UM, BUT THAT IS ENTIRELY UP TO YOU ALL, UM, 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.
UM, WHICH IS WHY I KNOW I BELIEVE STAFF REACHED OUT AND TRIED TO SOLICIT SOME PROPERTY SPECIFIC PROPERTIES THAT, UM, ARE KIND OF HIGH PROFILE ON YOUR LIST.
SO, UM, THAT WE CAN THEN SIT DOWN WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AND WITH THE REST OF THE STAFF AND SEE WHAT, YOU KNOW, WHICH, WHICH ONES ARE AT THIS POINT KIND OF PERMISSIBLE TO BRING TO CLOSE SESSION.
SO IS IT 27 OF THEM? IS IT 10 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.
UM, AND THEN CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW, WE, 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, UM, IT'S NOT NECESSARILY IN OUR MIND A 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.
SO AGAIN, I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REALLY ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM, LIKE THAT THERE'S AN ACUTE PROBLEM.
LIKE ARE THINGS NOT MOVING FORWARD THAT ARE PRIORITIES OF YOURS? ARE YOU NOT GETTING FEEDBACK THAT IT'S A PRI I, 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.
THAT'S I'M SAYING I'M JUST, I'M JO, I'M JOKING A LITTLE BIT
[00:50:01]
CONSTRAINED EXERCISE IS MY POINT.AND SO, YOU KNOW, GOING AHEAD AND I, AND AGAIN, I THINK THAT THEY'RE COMPILING WHATEVER IT WAS ALREADY RELAYED.
I DON'T KNOW IF EVERYBODY GOT BACK TO YOU OR NOT.
UM, 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, WANT TO HAVE 'EM COME TO OPEN SESSION AND GIVE US DIFFERENT DIRECTION, UM, OR, YOU KNOW, LETTING YOU KNOW, HEY, WE'RE WORKING ON IT AND WE THINK THIS IS PROBABLY, UM, ONE THAT IS GONNA BE MAYBE NEXT YEAR WE'D WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT IT AND MAYBE IT'LL BE GET CLOSER TO BEING IN, UH, IN CLOSE SESSION.
SO I I SUPPORT THAT DIRECTOR COFFEE ENTIRELY.
UM, THE ISSUE IS WE'RE JUST TRYING TO WORK THROUGH KIND OF WHAT, WHICH PROPERTIES ARE, ARE, ARE WE ALLOWED TO TALK ABOUT WHICH ONES ARE READY TO BE IN CLOSED SESSION SO WE CAN, SO IF YOU GUYS DON'T HAVE, BUT YOU GUYS DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THAT.
YOU COULD THROW IT ALL UP AGAINST THE WALL ON US.
LET US DO THAT LEGAL ANALYSIS AND COME BACK TO YOU AND SAY, HERE'S THE LIST THAT WE THINK WE COULD, WE COULD BRING TO A CLOSED SESSION AND WE CAN GET IT ON, ON THE AGENDA AND GIVE YOU ALL, UM, UH, TO WEIGH IN ON PRICE AND TERMS IS, WHICH IS WHAT I KNOW LYNN IS GOING TO SAY.
ALL I WANT TO DO IS ASSURE MY COLLEAGUES THAT IT'S NOT ALL THAT COMPLICATED, COMPLICATED.
I CAN DO IT EXACTLY THE WAY SABRINA SAID AND THAT'S WHAT WE DID TWO YEARS AGO.
SO NOT, I DON'T DISAGREE WITH THAT.
AND I THINK WE WERE PREPARED TO DO IT.
SO I I I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'LL I WILL, I I WILL PERSONALLY OWN THAT IF THAT WAS NOT RELAYED TO YOU THAT WE ARE SUPPORTIVE OF DOING THAT AGAIN.
BUT WHETHER YOU NEED TO CODIFY THAT OR NOT CODIFY THAT, THAT'S ENTIRELY UP TO THE BOARD IF THAT NEEDS TO BE AN, AN AGENDA ITEM TO COME FORWARD.
BUT WE CAN, I MEAN, AGAIN, WE'RE TAKING THE FEEDBACK HERE TODAY AND WE CAN BRING A PROPOSAL THAT I RAISED IT A YEAR AGO AND I DIDN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH IT.
SO I'M, I'M, I'M RAISING IT AGAIN AND I WANT TO CODIFY IT IF IT'S, UH, NECESSARY.
THERE'S ONE OTHER POINT I WANNA MAKE.
UM, AND IT'S RELATED AND IT'S NOT FOR ACTION OR, OR WHAT, UM, AT THIS POINT.
UM, BUT I KNOW THERE ARE DIRECTORS WHO WANT TO DISCUSS PROPERTIES WHO ARE NOT, WHICH ARE NOT CURRENTLY ON ANY ACTIVE CONSIDERATION LIST.
UH, JOHN AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT ONE ON THE TRAIN, UM, NEAR ROUND VALLEY.
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, UH, COMPLIANT OR, OR SOME, YOU KNOW, LYNN CAN FIGURE OUT SOMETHING ELSE.
SO I'M NOT PURSUING THAT HERE, BUT I, I GUESS IT'S FOR LYNN TO CONSIDER HOW DO WE DO THAT AND HOW DO WE, UM, MAKE IT SO THAT A BRAND NEW PROPERTY IS BECOMES COMPLIANT WITH CLOSED SESSION DISCUSSIONS.
SO THAT'S, I I AM HAPPY TO, UM, WORK ON THAT.
UM, I, I HEAR YOU LOUD AND CLEAR.
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, YOU CAN DO THOSE THERE.
ONE DOES NOT INFORM THE OTHER AND I'M HAPPY TO, YOU KNOW, TALK TO YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE.
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, THEY CAN DO THAT WITHOUT GETTING BOARD AUTHORITY BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT MAKING ANY COMMITMENTS.
SO IT DOESN'T INFORM WHETHER OR NOT A, A PARTICULAR TRANSACTION IS RIPE FOR, 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, UM, WE ARE, 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, OF WHAT, UH, 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
[00:55:01]
ISN'T ON OUR, YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO THAT, BUT IT, IT HAS TO BE AN OPEN SESSION BECAUSE THAT'S NOT TALKING ABOUT PRICE AND TERMS. UH, OKAY, WE'LL, WE'LL TALK ABOUT THATWE SEE, WE VISIT THESE PARKS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND WE EXPERIENCE THOSE PARKS AND WE SEE A BETTER WAY THROUGH ACQUISITION, A BETTER, A BETTER PARK THROUGH ACQUISITION.
AND SO THAT'S, I I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR A WAY TO ADVOCATE FOR SOME OF THESE THINGS, UM, THAT HAPPEN TO BE IN MY WARD AND, UM, MAYBE THAT THAT WOULD PROVIDE THEM WITH A SECOND LOOK OR AN A STRONGER LOOK, YOU KNOW, ON THE BEHALF OF STAFF.
SO THAT'S, THAT'S WHY I'M INTERESTED IN THIS.
CAN CAN, CAN I ASK A CLARIFYING QUESTION AROUND THIS? SURE.
ARE THESE JUST SO THAT, AGAIN, AS WE'RE TRYING TO PROBLEM SOLVE AND FIND A WAY TO GET YOU, YOU ALL, WHAT YOU NEED ARE THESE PROPERTIES THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TO STAFF AND STAFF HAS ANALYZED THEM AND STAFF HAS COME BACK TO YOU AND SAID, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THESE, THE, THESE CRITERIA, IT REALLY DOESN'T, DOESN'T FALL INTO ANY OF THESE BUCKETS AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE SHOULD PURSUE.
SO AGAIN, I WANNA MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING YOU THE INFORMATION THAT YOU NEED.
I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY, AGAIN, UNDER THE CURRENT PARAMETERS THAT WE HAVE NOW, GO AHEAD AND SHOOT THEM OVER TO US.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE AN, WE'RE TAKING EVERY, WE'RE NOT JUST DOING A CURSORY LOOK AT ANYTHING THAT YOU ALL GIVE US.
I MEAN, THEY ALREADY, AS, AS RACHEL SAID, THEY'VE GOT EVERYTHING IN THE DATABASE AND I'VE, I HAVE FOUND A LOT OF THINGS THAT ARE COMING TO ME.
THEY DID LOOK AT THEM MAYBE 10 YEARS AGO, BUT I'VE ASKED THEM GO AND EVEN RE-LOOK AT IT, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE SAID NO THANKS 10 YEARS AGO.
THERE MAY BE REASONS WHY WE HAVE A NEW DIRECTOR.
WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, SO I JUST ENCOURAGE YOU AS JUST TO, AS WE'RE TRYING TO WORK THROUGH KIND OF WHAT THE, YOU KNOW, PROCESS IS HERE.
SEND, SEND 'EM OVER TO RACHEL AND TO BECKY AND I, THEY'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU.
I GUESS I DID HAVE SOME OF THOSE, UM, UM, IDEAS, UM, ON OUR LAST LANCE SESSION.
I DID A LOT OF WRITING ABOUT THAT AND SUBMITTED IT ALL, BUT I NEVER HEARD BACK, SO, OKAY.
YOU KNOW, UM, AND, AND, AND PROBABLY BECAUSE NOBODY THOUGHT THAT I WANTED TO HEAR BACK.
I'M NOT, I'M NOT SAYING SOMEBODY FAILED, I'M JUST SAYING THAT WASN'T SPELLED OUT IN THE PROCESS.
AND I'M HEREBY ASKING MM-HMM,
I DON'T THINK THAT'S GONNA BE THE CASE, BUT I WOULD LIKE A CHANCE TO JUST POINT OUT SOME THINGS THAT, THAT I THINK ABOUT, UH, THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A VERY LONG TIME, UH, FOR, FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.
SO IT'S KIND OF A BACK AND FORTH THING.
SO WE APOLOGIZE IF THOSE KIND OF FELL INTO VORTEX.
WE LIKE, THAT'S NOT OUR INTENT.
AND HAVING A, YOU KNOW, REGULAR CHECK-INS, I KNOW BECKY WILL MAKE HERSELF AVAILABLE JUST LIKE MICHAEL DID, UM, TO GO THROUGH AND NO, I MEAN, EVERY, WE ARE, WE ARE HERE TO SERVE YOU.
THESE ARE YOUR PRIORITIES, YOU KNOW, YOUR WARDS, YOU'RE THE, THE POLICY PEOPLE.
AND EVEN, EVEN, HEY, THERE CAN BE SOMETHING WHERE WE'RE LIKE, WE, WE DIDN'T 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 COFFEE, OKAY, SO THEN WHAT? RIGHT? SO WHAT DO WE DO THEN? IF STAFF HAS KIND OF SAID, EH, 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 ARE TAKING EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE GIVING US.
AT LEAST IF IT HAD DIDN'T HAPPEN LAST YEAR, THEN WE OWN THAT.
I DON'T, I, I'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT A LITTLE BIT MORE, BUT YES, I ABSOLUTELY, WE, EVERY, EVERY IDEA YOU HAVE, EVERY RUMOR, EVERY CONSTITUENT WHEN YOU TALK TO THAT WHERE IT'S SOMETHING OR YOU'RE LIKE, HEY, THERE'S A LITTLE NUGGET HERE, LET US KNOW ABOUT IT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WE TAKE 'EM ALL VERY SERIOUSLY.
WHAT WE'RE ADDRESSING IS ACCESS TO ONE ANOTHER, RIGHT.
SO WHAT I'M SAYING IS, I DON'T KNOW ON THAT EARLY STAGE IF YOU NEED TO DO THAT TO GET US TO GET MOVING, TO DO THAT ANALYSIS.
SO IT'S ONLY ONCE WE COME BACK, I MEAN, IF THAT, BUT IF THAT, THAT'S WHY I'M TRYING TO KIND OF DIG, I WANNA KNOW WHAT THE, I'M TRYING TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM HERE, RIGHT? YEAH.
THAT, THAT'S, I, YEAH, I HAVE A SIMILAR QUESTION.
SO I'M JUST, UH, SO JOHN, IN TERMS OF YOUR EXPERIENCE, ARE YOU FEELING LIKE IF YOU, YOU, UM, IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT EXPLORED AND YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT'S GETTING EXPLORED, THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE COLLEAGUES WEIGH IN WITH YOU? IS THAT,
[01:00:01]
IS THAT WHERE YOU'RE AT OR YOU'RE JUST NO, IT'S JUST THAT I DON'T, THAT THE PROCESS HASN'T BEEN CLEAR TO ME AND I SEE UHHUHTHE IDEAS THAT I HAVE, YOU KNOW, I, THIS, 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, IT'S, UH, ALSO WITH STAFF TOO.
I WANT IT TO BE ALL THE WAY AROUND, YOU KNOW? AND, 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 I WOULD REALLY, YEAH.
I THINK, I THINK BOTH ARE IMPORTANT.
I HEAR WHAT COLIN IS SAYING AND, 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, A SORT OF EITHER SOMETHING, YOU KNOW, KIND OF SMALL COME ACROSS MY DESK THAT, UH, MAYBE A CONSTITUENT, YOU KNOW, THOUGHT WAS A GREAT IDEA OR, 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, CAN GET THAT EXPERIENCE.
MAYBE IT'S WHAT YOU SAID, MAYBE BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE A LONG LIST AND THEY DIDN'T REALIZE YOU WANTED LIKE A FOLLOW UP OR WHATEVER.
BUT, BUT ANYWAY, I, I, YOU KNOW, MY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN REALLY GREAT.
SO, UM, ACCESS TO STAFF HAS IMPROVED TREMENDOUSLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
AND, AND THEN WE'LL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND IT'S OUTSTANDING.
UH, AND, AND, YOU KNOW, THE SITE VISITS AND MIKE REEVES ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE.
IT'S, UH, ACCESS TO STAFF IS OUTSTANDING AND THEY'VE MADE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS.
MY ISSUE IS ACCESS TO EACH OTHER.
I JUST WANT TO ADD, UH, KEN WAKI, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP, AND DEVELOPMENT, UH, 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, UH, JUST RECENTLY IS LIKE, HOW CAN WE EVEN IMPROVE THAT IN COMMUNICATION THAT IS HAVING YOU COME IN AND LET'S GET ON A MAP, LET'S TALK ABOUT AREAS, LET'S TALK ABOUT AREAS FOR RESTORATION, AREAS OF ACCESS, AREAS OF PURCHASE, UH, AND WE'RE GONNA MEET WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY, BRINGING YOU IN, HAVE A MAP, AND WE CAN TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS.
SO THIS WAY WE CAN GET MORE INFORMATION AND WE CAN TALK TO YOU AS A GROUP ON WHAT IT IS WE SEE TOO AS WELL.
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, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE IMPROVEMENTS.
I JUST WANNA PUT THAT OUT THERE.
AND ALAN WANTED TO HAVE, MAKE A COMMENT AND THEN, UH, D SO, UM, I APPRECIATE THIS DISCUSSION AND UM, AND I JUST WANNA ADD A LITTLE BIT TO WHAT I SEE AND HAVE TO SEE IN, IN MY DISTRICT, BECAUSE OUR DISTRICTS ARE VERY DIFFERENT WHEN IT COMES TO AMOUNT OF LAND THAT'S THERE, PARKS THAT ARE ALREADY EXISTING, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.
AND, UM, ALL OF US ON THIS BOARD SAW THE DOCUMENT THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER FOR US A YEAR OR TWO AGO THAT IT 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, THEY'LL START CRYING.
UM, 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.
'CAUSE WE BROUGHT THAT UP LAST YEAR.
AND, UM, AND IT'S TRUE, MAYBE IT'S HARDER TO FIND SPOTS TO HAVE ADDITIONAL OPEN SPACE AND LAND IN MY DISTRICT, BUT I AM 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 MORE HUNDREDS IN PEOPLE'S DISTRICTS WHERE I HAVE LIKE 12 OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
AND IT'S JUST SHOCKING IF YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN THE AMOUNT OF LAND IN MY DISTRICT AVAILABLE TO THE OTHERS.
UM, SOME DISTRICTS ARE BIGGER THAN OTHERS.
SOME OF YOU'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE WHAT YOU HAVE AND LOOK, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MORE BECAUSE IT'S THERE.
BUT, UM, I REALLY, REALLY WOULD APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MORE TIME IN LOOKING TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE DISTRICT THAT I REPRESENT.
[01:05:01]
'CAUSE IT IS JUST TINY.A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THAT UNTIL A YEAR OR TWO AGO.
UM, I ASKED FOR THE DATA THAT WOULD SHOW ME, YOU KNOW, HOW MANY ACRES, WHAT'S THE LAND AND THE WATER AND THE, AND IT WAS SHOCKING TO ALMOST EVERYBODY, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THIS DISTRICT AND THE OTHERS.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I WOULD, 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, UM, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES IT'S AN ISSUE OF, UM, WHAT IS THE INCOME, UH, AVAILABILITY FOR SOME OF OUR, OUR, OUR OCCUPANTS TO BE IN PARKS NEARBY.
THAT'S TRUE IN SOME OF YOUR DISTRICTS, AND SOME OF IT'S NOT SO TRUE.
BUT IT, THERE'S A REAL SHOCKING DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NUMBERS IN MY DISTRICT COMPARED TO YOUR DISTRICTS, FOR THE MOST PART.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT, THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN YOUR WARD AND MY WORK.
SO DID ANY, I MEAN, SOME OF YOU KNOW THAT JUST, IT, IT'S IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS TRAIL, RIGHT? STATISTICS, RIGHT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE IT'S THERE, BUT IT WASN'T THERE BEFORE.
I HAD TO ASK FOR THAT INFORMATION TO BE PUT TOGETHER.
AND IT CAME TO MY MIND BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, UM, AT OTHER MEETINGS WE HAD.
I VERY MUCH WANNA HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, TAKE A LOOK AT MY DISTRICT AND SEE WHAT OTHER OPPORTUNITIES THERE ARE OR HOW WE, UM, 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, THEY GO TO THE DISTRICT.
BUT WE HAVE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES ON HOW WE CAN GET PEOPLE, UM, THE ABILITY TO GET THEIR, UH, 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, UH, LAND BEING OPENED FOR PARK DISTRICT LAND.
AND IT, IT'S NOT GIGANTIC COMPARED TO SOMETHING YOU MIGHT TALK ABOUT, BUT IT, IT, 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 OTHER, ALL THE DIFFERENT SPOTS, YOU KNOW? SO ANYWAY, I'M, I'M VERY SENSITIVE ABOUT MY DISTRICT AND HOW MUCH LAND I HAVE AND, AND, UH, WHAT WE CAN PAY ATTENTION TO IN IT.
AND WE HAVE SOME GREAT THINGS HAPPENING.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE NEW, UH,
BUT, UM, I, I REALLY, I NEED THIS TOUR IN MY DISTRICT AND LOOK TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, UM, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN MY DISTRICT AND, UH, 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, I'M VERY, UM, SENSITIVE ABOUT IT, AND I REALLY WANNA TAKE A LOOK AT MY DISTRICT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO TO, UM, IMPROVE THE OPEN SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT.
YEAH, A LOT OF IMPORTANT POINTS ABOUT HOW WE CAN CREATE BETTER ACCESS FOR EVERYBODY.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO, UM, UH, SECOND, UH, THE, UH, STATEMENTS BY, UH, DIRECTOR, PRESIDENT ECCLES, UH, STAFF HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY ACCESSIBLE.
I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BECAUSE OF MY FAMILIAR FAMILIARITY WITH THE PARK, WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE LAND DEPARTMENT ESPECIALLY, UH, BUT, UH, I JUST ASK
SO I, SO FROM THAT, FROM THAT POINT, I, I THINK STAFF'S BEEN INCREDIBLY WONDERFUL.
I MEAN, HISTORICALLY AND EVEN NOW, UH, THEY, THEY'RE INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE.
AND AS FAR AS BEING ABLE TO, UH, TALK WITH, I THINK ONCE TO GET AND MEETS AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT, AND THEN I, I THINK IT HAS BEEN COMING TO US.
SO I, I'M NOT EXACTLY SURE, UH, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS EITHER, BUT, UM, AND WE'RE ALL, ONCE IT GETS TO NEGOTIATIONS, I THINK HISTORICALLY THIS BOARD HAS BEEN VERY RESPONSIVE TO, UH, THE DIRECTORS, UH, AND THEIR WARDS AND ACQUISITIONS IN THEIR WARDS.
[01:10:01]
I THINK, YEAH, I THINK MAYBE MAY, MAYBE MORE COMMUNICATION WOULD BE HELPFUL, BUT, UH, I THINK IT MIGHT BE IN THE BOARD ORIENTATION FOR THE NEWER, 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, AND GREAT, I MEAN, ESPECIALLY THE LAND DEPARTS ALWAYS BEEN, I MEAN, MY, MY TIME WITH THE, UH, AS A PARK SUPERVISOR, INCREDIBLY RESPONSIVE AND, UH, AND, AND CONTINUES NOW WITH, AS BEING A BOARD MEMBER.
SO, SO I, I'M GONNA THANK YOU ALL.
SAN JUAN, AND THEN ELLEN HAD A QUICK, A QUICK FOLLOW UP.
YEAH, I, I JUST WANNA, UM, YOU KNOW, KINDA BUILD UPON WHAT DIRECTOR CORBETT MENTIONED.
I, I, I THINK SHE DOES HAVE A, 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 COUNTY'S, UH, POPULATION DENSITY IS GONNA BE DIFFERENT IN REGARDS TO THE, UH, LAND AREA.
AND I, I, I'VE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A LOT.
UM, AND I THINK THIS IS A STRUGGLE, EVEN WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE GREATER UNITED STATES, UM, 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 MY, YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE DATA POINT, I THINK THE STATE OF WYOMING HAS A LOWER POPULATION THAN THE 9 2 5 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.
UM, 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, UM, LAND AREA, THIS IS WHERE I THINK SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING ASPECTS COME INTO PLAY.
SO, UH, WHILE WE WON'T DISCUSS THAT TODAY, 'CAUSE IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA, I THINK THAT THAT'S SOMETHING FOR US TO ALSO KEEP IN MIND.
DIRECTOR SPI, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? YEAH, JUST TO COMMENT, I, I, YOU KNOW, I, I THINK YOU'RE ALL DOING A GREAT JOB ALSO.
YOU GUYS ARE SO DATA-DRIVEN, UH, MORE THAN MOST, UH, DEPARTMENTS IN THIS DISTRICT.
I MEAN, YOU'RE, YOU'RE GREAT BASED ON THE FACT THAT YOU GET TO DO THIS KIND OF STUFF.
YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GONNA 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, I THINK IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT POPULATION DENSITY IN PLACES, LIKE, UM, WELL, IN YOUR WARD, ELLEN, YOU ARE, 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.
OAKLAND PROVIDES BIG, GIANT PARKS
AND IF OUR GOAL IS TO, I DON'T KNOW, UM, 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 BE A LONG, LONG TIME AGO.
UH, SAN LEANDRO HAS A GREAT PARK DISTRICT.
UH, AND CONVERSELY, I ALWAYS LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, THE COUNTRY BUMPKINS OUT THERE WITH, WITH TONS OF LAND
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S PART OF THE DISPARITY IN, IN, IN MY OPINION.
AND I, I WOULD REALLY, IF WE WANNA CONTINUE THIS ARGUMENT, I'D LOVE TO SEE HOW MUCH REAL ACREAGE IN WARD THREE MINE, UH, TOTAL IN TOTAL THAT CITY PARKS, UH, PRIVATE PARKS VERSUS REGIONAL PARKS.
'CAUSE I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ONLY STORY THAT THERE'S ONLY, YOU KNOW, A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE IN, IN WARD THREE AND A GIANT PERCENTAGE IN WARD SEVEN, ALSO STATE AND, UH, NATIONAL PARKS.
WELL, I, I WILL INCLUDE EVERYTHING.
YEAH, ANYTHING THAT'S WHAT, THAT DOES THE SAME BUSINESS AS WE DO.
I I THINK ACTUALLY ELLEN WAS NEXT IN THEN, AND THEN D AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN WRAP THIS UP BECAUSE WE, WE'VE GOT A, A FEW OTHER ITEMS TO GET THROUGH.
WELL, I GREW UP IN MY DISTRICT
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, I'M, I'M FAMILIAR WITH THOSE OTHER PARKS THAT EXIST THAT MIGHT BE CITY PARKS IN SAN LEANDRO AND OAKLAND, BUT, UM, THERE, THERE IS NO DOUBT THERE, THERE'S SOME MORE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN MY DISTRICT.
I WON'T SAY ANYTHING MORE, BUT I, I APPRECIATE YOU ALL HAVING THAT ATTENTION AND INTEREST, BECAUSE THAT'S A CLEAR THING.
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, BUT, UM, I, I JUST GET CONCERNED SOMETIMES WE DON'T PAY ENOUGH ATTENTION IN, IN SOME OF THE AREAS
[01:15:01]
WHERE, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THE ECONOMIC SITUATION MIGHT NOT BE THE SAME AS AN ECONOMIC SITUATION IN SOME OF OUR OTHER DISTRICTS.AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING WE REALLY NEED TO PAY ATTENTION TO TOO, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE, UM, DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO HAVE THIS, HAVING THESE ABILITIES AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE ONE POINT, UM, TO, TO DIRECTOR CORBETT, IS THAT DURING THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS, I DID OFFER YOU LEONA AND, UH, AND YOU DIDN'T WANT IT.
SO, UM, 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, THAT WAS MY BIGGEST CONCERN, JUST TO STATE IT.
SO, WE'LL, WE WILL, UH, WRAP THIS DISCUSSION, BUT I JUST WANTED TO SAY A COUPLE QUICK THINGS.
AND, UM, SO I, I DO AGREE THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO, 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 IN THAT'S CURRENTLY ZONED FOR INDUSTRIAL, OR WHO KNOWS.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE, 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, THAT, YOU KNOW, TRANSPORTATION TO PARKS IS, IS ALSO IMPORTANT SO THAT, THAT PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO DIFFERENT KINDS OF PARKS AND, AND, YOU KNOW, MORE THAN A NEIGHBORHOOD PARK OR EVEN MORE THAN THE, THE SHORELINE PARK, THEY CAN ALSO GET UP TO THE HILLS PARK.
SO ALL, ALL OF THE ABOVE IS WHAT, AND AND PROGRAMMING, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD POINT TOO, TO TO, TO EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD THERE TOO AS WELL.
SO, UM, BUT ANYWAY, UH, UH,
WELCOME
UM, THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR FEEDBACK AND, 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.
ALRIGHT, SO MOVING TO OUR NEXT SECTION, WE'RE GONNA 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.
UM, JUST TO REITERATE, IN 2023, WE CLOSED ON OVER 1300 ACRES OF LAND PLUS 20 NEW OR RENEWED LEASES AND LICENSES.
I'M JUST GONNA PICK OUT A COUPLE OF THESE TO TALK ABOUT AND WE'LL KIND OF TAKE TURNS.
UM, SO FIRST OFF, FINLEY ROAD RANCH.
I THINK MOST OF YOU REMEMBER THIS ONE.
UM, WE CLOSED IN APRIL OF 2023 AT $11.4 MILLION.
IT CONNECTS TO MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK.
IT'S ADJACENT TO MORGAN TERRITORY.
AND ULTIMATELY WE HOPE THAT IT'LL HELP IMPROVE ACCESS INTO THIS AREA OF BOTH PARKS.
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, UM, REALLY COULD MAKE IT A GATEWAY INTO THESE PARKS IN A MORE MEANINGFUL AREA FOR THIS, THIS RIGS CANYON SECTION THAT'S KIND OF UNEXPLORED AND DIFFICULT TO GET TO UNLESS YOU CAN COME RIGHT IN OFF OF FINDLAY ROAD.
UM, THIS WAS, THIS PROJECT WAS A RECIPIENT OF A $7 MILLION STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY GRANT.
UM, STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY REMAINS AN EXCELLENT PARTNER WITH US AND WE'RE DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE OF THEIR ASSISTANCE IN FUNDING THIS PROJECT.
UM, AND IT WAS A REALLY FUN ONE TO WORK ON.
NEXT UP, UM, THE CHRISTIE ROAD RANCH, 538 ACRES, UM, 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.
UM, THIS ONE YOU'LL KIND OF REMEMBER WAS SUBJECT TO A 99 ACRE OFFSITE MITIGATION AREA.
UM, THE IDEA IS THAT THIS ONE WILL EVENTUALLY HELP PROTECT THIS WILDLIFE CORRIDOR THROUGH THE WHOLE FRANKLIN RIDGE AREA AND PROVIDE POSSIBLE TRAIL CONNECTIONS AS WELL.
UM, I DON'T HAVE A PHOTO, BUT INCIDENTALLY, JOHN MUIR LAND TRUST JUST SPOTTED A MOUNTAIN LION ON A TRAIL CAM REALLY CLOSE TO HERE, 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.
UH, SARAH RE THANK YOU, RACHEL.
I'M GONNA ADJUST THINGS DOWN FOR THE SHORTY HERE THIS TIME YOU WILL NOT SEE A CAT ON MY LAP, AS YOU OFTEN SEE ON
[01:20:01]
MY ZOOM AND TEAMS MEETINGS BECAUSE I'M HEREUH, GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECKLES, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, GENERAL MANAGER LANDR.
I AM SARAH REEK, REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST IN THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT.
I'M PLEASED TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT TWO LEASE PROJECTS THAT, UH, THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT COMPLETED IN 2023, UH, IN SUPPORT OF TWO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THE FIRST BEING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL GAP AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, UH, WHICH WAS COMPLETED IN 2023 AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR REGIONAL SHORELINE.
THIS IS A MAP THAT YOU SEE HERE.
UH, AND THE SECOND IS THE, UH, FERRY POINT PIER PROJECT AT MILLER KNOX REGIONAL SHORELINE, WHICH HAS YET TO BE COMPLETED.
UH, THESE TWO LEASE PROJECTS WERE BOTH COMPLETED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION, WHICH, AND, AND THEY SHOWCASE ONE OF THE MANY WAYS THAT WE, THAT OUR TEAM SUPPORTS DESIGNING CONSTRUCTION, UM, AND, AND ENSURING CONTINUED PUBLIC ACCESS, SEAMLESS PUBLIC ACCESS TO PARK DISTRICT LANDS AND TRAILS THAT MAY NOT BE OWNED OUTRIGHT BY THE PARK DISTRICT.
I MENTIONED THAT THIS IS THE, UH, MAP FOR THE, UH, STATE LANDS COMMISSION NEW LEASE THAT WE EXECUTED.
UH, THAT'S THE ORANGE PORTION THAT YOU SEE.
UH, BEFORE MOVING ON, I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THESE PROJECTS, UH, SHOWCASE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CALIFORNIA STATE LANDS COMMISSION.
SINCE 1938, THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION HAS BEEN TASKED WITH, UH, SAFEGUARDING AND SECURING PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE OPEN WATERS AND TITLE LANDS OF CALIFORNIA OR CALIFORNIA WATERS.
AND, UM, THE PARK DISTRICT'S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COMMISSION GOES BACK TO THE SEVENTIES WITH OUR LEASE OF 160 ACRES AT POINT PINAL REGIONAL SHORELINE, AND THE TRANSFER OF ALMOST 300 ACRES AT RAD KING MARTINEZ REGIONAL SHORELINE.
UH, YOU MIGHT BE SURPRISED TO KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT OUR TWO DISTRICTS, WE ACTUALLY LEASE ALMOST 2300 ACRES FROM THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION.
UH, 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, UM, PROJECT WORK PLAN.
SO TURNING BACK TO MARTIN LUTHER KING, UH, JUNIOR SHORELINE, UH, 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.
UH, THE ORIGINAL LEASE WITH THE COMMISSION WAS EXECUTED IN 1978.
IT WAS A 50 YEAR LEASE AND HAD A TERMINATION DATE OF 2037.
UH, 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.
UH, 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, UH, WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES THOSE AGREEMENTS DICTATE THAT WE CAN AND CANNOT ACCOMPLISH? UH, IN THIS CASE, DECO STAFF CONTACTED LAND ACQUISITION STAFF WELL IN ADVANCE OF FULL SCALE PROJECT PLANNING, WHICH WAS A GOOD THING BECAUSE, UH, AS IT TURNS OUT, WE DO HAVE TWO LEASE AGREEMENTS THAT COVER THE PROJECT AREA HERE.
UH, THE ONE WITH, UH, THE PORT OF OAKLAND AND THE ONE WITH THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION LAND ACQUISITION STAFFED REVIEWED BOTH OF THESE LEASE AGREEMENTS AND DETERMINED THAT, UH, 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, UH, IN COLLABORATION WITH DECO STAFF, LAND ACQUISITION STAFF, UM, COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED THE RIGOROUS COMMISSION APPLICATION, UH, WHICH INCLUDED DETAILED PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND AN ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE CONSIDERATIONS AND PROJECT BENEFITS.
UH, THE NEW LEASE AGREEMENT PROVIDES THE PARK DISTRICT WITH 25 YEAR LAND TENURE, UH, INCLUDES PROJECT ACTIVITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND, UH, UPDATED THE LEASE FOOTPRINT, UH, TO INCLUDE JUST SEVEN ACRES.
UH, 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.
UH, 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 PRO, UH, STAFF WAS ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE, UH, TO SEEING THIS PROJECT COME TO FRUITION BY ENSURING THAT OUR LAND RIGHTS ALLOWED
[01:25:01]
FOR PROJECT CONSTRUCTION AND ULTIMATELY THAT THE PUBLIC, UM, 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 130 4-YEAR-OLD PIER WAS ONCE USED TO TRANSPORT PASSENGERS AND FREIGHT TO THE CITY, UH, UNTIL OTHER, UH, IMPROVED.
UM, TRANSPORTATION MODES WERE DEVELOPED.
UH, THE PIER IS CITED ON A THREE ACRE, UH, PARCEL OWNED BY THE STATE LANDS COMMISSION.
UH, 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, UH, 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, UM, FULL SCALE PROJECT PLANNING AND REQUESTED ASSISTANCE DETERMINING WHAT OUR LAND RIGHTS, UH, WERE IN THIS AREA.
UH, LAND ACQUISITION STAFF REACHED OUT TO THE COMMISSION AND IN COORDINATION WITH DECO AND PLANNING STAFF, WE PROVIDED, UH, DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY TO AMEND THE EXISTING, UH, LEASE AGREEMENT.
THAT WAS THE DECISION, UM, OF THE COMMISSION THAT THE LEASE AGREEMENT COULD BE AMENDED IN THIS SITUATION.
UH, SO MATERIAL THAT WE PROVIDED TO THEM INCLUDED A VERY DETAILED LOOK AT THE EXISTING STRUCTURES THAT ARE SLATED FOR REMOVAL, UM, AND ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, CONSERVATION MEASURES, UH, CONSTRUCTION METHODS, AND OF COURSE PROJECT BENEFITS.
UM, LET'S SEE, THE, UM, NEW, OR RATHER THE LEASE AMENDMENT NOW INCLUDES PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND, UM, THE EXPIRATION DATE IS STILL THE SAME BECAUSE IT WAS JUST A LEASE AMENDMENT.
SO THE EXPIRATION DATE IS JUST 2042.
AND THIS NEXT SLIDE SHOWS SOME PHOTOS OF THE PIER AND SOME OF THE STRUCTURES THAT ARE SLATED FOR REMOVAL.
UH, AGAIN, THIS PROJECT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED.
UM, LET'S SEE, WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY? I, I THINK THAT COMPLETES WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
YEAH, UH, IF ANYBODY HAS ANY QUESTIONS, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE A SHOT AT IT AND THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
UM, SO WITH THE FERRY POINT PEER PROJECT, SO WHEN WE REVIEWED THE, UM, 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, UM, SUBMITTED TO THEM FOR REVIEW IN ADVANCE.
AND IT'S THEIR DECISION WHETHER OR NOT THEY WANNA EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT OR, OR DO A WHOLE NEW LEASE AGREEMENT.
AND THEY HAVE THEIR OWN PROCESS FOR THAT DETERMINATION, BUT RIGHT.
WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNLESS WE SPEAK WITH OUR LESSORS, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT COMMON SENSE.
BUT GENERALLY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GREAT PARTNERS WITH US AND THEY UNDERSTAND THAT EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DOING IS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE PUBLIC.
UH, THE LEASE AMENDMENT DOES DICTATE VERY SPECIFICALLY, UM, CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES THAT THE PARK DISTRICT IS GONNA HAVE THROUGHOUT THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND AFTER.
AND, AND HAS THE PEER BEEN REMOVED OR WE STILL IN THE PROCESS NOT YET OF PLANNING.
I I SPOKE WITH DECO STAFF THIS WEEK AND THEY ARE MEETING WITH CONSULTANTS SOON TO, UM, REFRAME PROJECT ACTIVITIES.
AND IF YOU WANNA HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT, I'M SURE YOU CAN REACH OUT TO DECO STAFF AT GLEN GILCHREST AND, AND HUN ARE WORKING ON THAT, OR I'M HAPPY TO FIND OUT FOR YOU AND GET BACK TO YOU.
ANYBODY CAN WE TAKE A LITTLE BREAK? YEAH, SURE.
UM, WELL I, UNLESS ANYONE OBJECTS, THERE'S BEEN A RE REQUEST JUST TO HAVE A SHORT INTERMISSION ABOUT 10 MINUTE BREAK.
AND WHY DON'T WE READ ADJOURN IT.
I HAVE, WELL 2 34 ON MY UH, CLOCK.
IS THAT OKAY? SO YEAH, MADAM CLERK, ARE WE OKAY TO START? YES.
ALRIGHT, SO THANK YOU EVERYONE.
UH, RACHEL M REAL ESTATE MANAGER.
UM, SO THAT WAS OUR HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2023 AND WE'RE GONNA MOVE ON TO OUR 2024 WORK PLAN.
[01:30:01]
IF MY SLIDE WILL ADVANCE, BEAR WITH ME.IS IT GETTING COLD IN HERE OR IS THAT JUST ME? I WAS GETTING A LITTLE COLD.
ALRIGHT, SO THE FIRST PROJECT I WANNA HIGHLIGHT FOR UPCOMING WORK PLAN IS OUR OPERATING AGREEMENT RENEWAL FOR DELVAL REGIONAL PARK.
UM, E-B-R-P-D OPERATES THIS UNDER AN OPERATING AGREEMENT WITH STATE PARKS AND DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO OPERATING AGREEMENTS, A 1974 AGREEMENT WITH STATE PARKS PARK DISTRICT AND DWR AND A 1982 AGREEMENT WITH STATE PARKS AND PARK DISTRICT.
BOTH HAVE BEEN AMENDED OVER THE YEARS.
I'M USING THIS OLD MAP TO ILLUSTRATE THAT, THAT THIS IS A SET OF AGREEMENTS FOR A MAJOR PORTION OF AREA WITH REALLY COMPLEX USE, APPROXIMATELY 4,300 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 WITH 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 AND TURPEN REC, TRAILS PLANNING, LEGAL, EVERYBODY.
SO THIS PROJECT IS GONNA 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.
BUT IF EVERYTHING GOES SMOOTHLY, WE'LL HAVE A HANDFUL OF OPEN SESSION BOARD ITEMS. AND FROM THE PUBLIC'S PERSPECTIVE, THIS WILL BE SEAMLESS.
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 WANNA 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, UM, 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 10, 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.
SO RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR SESSION, I KIND OF TALKED ABOUT HOW FEE ACQUISITION IS RELATIVELY SIMPLE.
WE BUY THE LAND, WE'RE DONE, WE OWN IT.
THERE MIGHT BE SOME EASEMENTS AND UTILITY THINGS OUT THERE, BUT WE'RE IN CONTROL WITH THESE OPERATING AGREEMENTS, THESE LONG-TERM LICENSE AND LICENSES.
WE'RE TRYING TO ANTICIPATE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THESE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS FOR DECADES TO COME.
NEXT STEP HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE WORK THAT'S TO COME IS PHILIP COFFIN.
UH, SO ONE OF THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, ONE OF THE FIVE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS THAT RACHEL MENTIONED IN I THINK OUR FIRST SLIDE OF THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT IS TO PROVIDE RIGHT OF WAY SUPPORT FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PARK OPERATIONS.
THIS RIGHT OF WAY WORK IS FUNDAMENTAL TO ANY PARK PLANNING, PARK DEVELOPMENT, ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, AND OTHER WORK OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
'CAUSE AS WE'VE SAID BEFORE, WE CAN'T BREAK GROUND IF WE DON'T HAVE THE PROPER RIGHTS TO THAT GROUND.
SO AS PART OF THE STATE'S 30 BY 30 INITIATIVE AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE HAYWARD AREA SHORELINE PLANNING AGENCY, HASA, OUR COLLEAGUES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS ARE PLANNING AND DESIGNING THE MASSIVE MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT THAT YOU'RE
[01:35:01]
ALL AWARE OF AT THE SOUTHERN END OF, UH, HAYWARD SHORELINE.OUR COLLEAGUES HERE IN A SD HAVE ALREADY PRESENTED 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, THE RIGHT OF WAY WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TO, UH, THE NECESSARY PROPERTY RIGHTS WE'RE TRYING TO SECURE PRIOR TO RESTORATION WORK.
SO OUR DEPARTMENT'S PLAYING AN EARLY AND CRITICAL ROLE IN THE PROJECT BY A RESEARCHING TITLE ISSUES, TITLE WITH A T NOT TITLE WITH A D TITLE.
ISSUES SUCH AS WHAT ACCESS RIGHTS WE MAY POSSESS AS WELL AS WHAT RIGHTS OF WAY, UM, 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 UH, HAYWARD SHORELINE, WE'RE WORKING ON A LEASE RENEWAL WITH THE CITY OF OF HAYWARD, UM, EXPANDING OUR RIGHTS WITH HARD, UM, AND SOME OTHER, SOME OTHER RIGHTS THAT WE NEED TO ACCESS FOR OR THAT WE NEED TO ACQUIRE FOR ACCESS CONSTRUCTION AND MONITORING 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 AND LEGAL AND PARK OPERATIONS AND, UM, DECO AND, AND SORT OF FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO PER WHAT RIGHTS WE NEED TO PERFECT SO THAT WE CAN GET IT SHOVEL READY.
'CAUSE THERE ARE LANDS THAT WE OWN, BUT WHERE OTHER ENTITIES HAVE EASEMENTS ON 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 HAYWARD MARSH PROJECT IS JUST, UM, ONE EXAMPLE.
IT'S SORT OF SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAD, WHAT WE DID, UH, FOR THE DOTSON FAMILY MARSH RESTORATION PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT.
YOU KNOW, HERE'S THIS GREAT BIG WETLAND.
WE'VE DONE A TON OF WORK TO ACQUIRE FEE TITLE TO THE PROPERTY, AND NOW WE WANNA DO THIS RES RESTORATION PROJECT.
WE WANNA IMPLEMENT THIS PROGRAM, BUT THERE'S STILL FOR DRAMATIC EFFECT
AND NOW TO OUR ADMIN ANALYSTS ARE DEM TO DISCUSS HOW WE WORK WITH A MAJOR PARTNER TO NAVIGATE SOMETIMES CONFLICTING PROPERTY RIGHTS AND LAND USES.
THIS, THIS WE HAVE GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECCLES, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.
MY NAME IS ADE OLA, I'M THE ADMIN ANALYST TWO FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT.
AND I'M GONNA BRIEFLY GO OVER OUR DEPARTMENT'S ROLE IN FACILITATING PG E'S ACCESS TO OUR PARKLANDS IN THIS MAP.
ON THE LEFT YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHT PURPLE MARKINGS ARE PG E DISTRIBUTION LINES AND THE DARK PURPLE LINES ARE THE LONG DISTANCE HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES.
SO PG E HAS A HUGE PRESENCE IN OUR PARKLANDS 141 MILES OF TRANSMISSION LINES AND 78 MILES OF DISTRIBUTION LINES.
UM, THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT SHOWS THESE LINES CRISSCROSSING TILDEN, YOU KNOW, THE ORIGINAL, THE 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.
WHEN THE PARK DISTRICT ACQUIRED THESE PROPERTIES, MANY HAD EASEMENTS ALREADY RECORDED ON TITLE AND ELECTRICAL FACILITIES ALREADY IN PLACE.
TILDEN MAP IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS, AND THESE EASEMENTS TYPICALLY INCLUDE, UH, THE RIGHT TO ACCESS OUR LANDS, PERFORM MAINTENANCE REPAIRS ON ELECTRICAL LINES AND TRIM VEGETATION.
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 SPEAK LOUDER.
YOU WANT ME TO SPEAK LOUDER? YEAH.
A LITTLE BIT MORE DIRECT, SORRY.
[01:40:01]
CORBIT.UM, SO AS I WAS SAYING, SOMETIMES PG E WOULD NOT CONTACT PARK OPERATION 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 E-B-R-P-D LAND.
AND IN THIS OVERVIEW OF OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH PG EI 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 A HUNDRED 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 E-B-R-P-D AND PG E THAT REQUIRES BOTH PARTIES TO ADVISE THE OTHER IN ADVANCE OF ALL VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLANS AND ACTIVITIES AND 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, YOU KNOW, AMAZING OPERATION 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.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO FIELD ANY QUESTIONS OR ATTEMPT TO BEFORE I PASS IT BACK TO RACHEL.
AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IT'S VERY IMPRESSIVE THIS INFORMATION THAT YOU GAVE US AND HOW YOU'RE KEEPING TRACK AND, UH, LETTING THEM KNOW THEY NEED TO DO WHAT THEY NEED TO DO
SO, UH, THANK YOU, APPRECIATE THAT VERY MUCH.
OH, COULDN'T HEAR ME LIKE THAT.
YEAH, WE THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT YOU GOT AND THE INFORMATION YOU GOT FROM THAT PG E UH, COMPANY.
DIRECTOR OF SAN JUAN AND THEN DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
CAN YOU JUST REVIEW WHEN, WHEN DID THIS, UM, BEGIN AGAIN IN TERMS OF THE WORK THAT YOU DID WITH PG AND E WHEN YOU TRIED TO CHANGE THE, SPECIFICALLY THE STREAMLINED REVIEW PROCESS? MM-HMM.
WHEN THE ADMIN ANALYST AT THE TIME THE WONDERFUL PHILIP COFFIN DRAFTED A VERY, UM, 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, UM, PROGRAM FROM STARTING
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THINGS, THINGS HAPPEN, THINGS HAPPEN.
UM, WELL I THINK THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL TO HEAR AND IT IS TRUE.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN THERE THERE IS A LOT THAT PG AND E DOES ACROSS BOTH COUNTIES AND FOR SOME REASON, I GUESS ME BEING THE INQUISITIVE PERSON THAT I AM, I, I WAS ON BOTH COUNTIES, ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY WEBSITE, AND I BELIEVE PG E IS THE LARGEST TAXPAYER IN BOTH COUNTIES.
UM, SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING TO KEEP IN TRACK, KEEP IN MIND, BECAUSE I THINK I WAS LOOKING UP, I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW, WHERE, UH, TESLA, ACTUALLY TESLA, THE CAR COMPANY RANKS AND THEY'RE STILL BELOW PG AND E IN TERMS OF ALAMEDA COUNTY.
THANK YOU, UH, DIRECTOR RO THANK YOU.
AND THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THAT AND ALL THAT AND, AND, UM, IT JUST JUST BRINGS TO MIND, UM, A QUESTION.
SO, SO WHEN PG E IS ACCESSING SOME FACILITY OF OURS, THEY CONTACT YOU YES.
FOR, UM, YOU SAID TRIMMING? YES, THEY SHOULD.
TREE TRIMMING, POLE REPLACEMENT, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
SO IN, IN, UH, BETWEEN CLAYTON AND BLACK DIAMOND MINE, THERE'S, WE HAVE A TRAIL THAT RUNS UP BLACK DIAMOND TO MONTE ALO TRAIL AND PART OF IT IS, IS SURFACE WITH CRUSHED ROCK.
YOU KNOW, THEY'VE GONE IN THERE AND, 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.
NOW IT'S A MUDDY TRAIL JUST LIKE EVERYWHERE ELSE AND IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO TOWN.
AND I, I THINK PEOPLE ARE LOSING AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO FOR A WALK ON A RAINY DAY.
SO, UM, WOULD, WOULD, WOULD YOU BE SOMEBODY THAT MAYBE I WOULD LIKE JUST KIND OF LIKE THROW
[01:45:01]
A LITTLE NOTE, YOU KNOW, THAT 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 TO THAT 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 YOU.
I ACTUALLY HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE WITH ON IN ANOTHER LIFE WORKING WITH, TRYING TO WORK WITH PG E ON SOME PROJECTS AND, UH, IT WAS PRETTY HARD.
YEAH, THAT'S, BUT ANYWAY, I, I WAS JUST, UM, WASN'T SURE, YOU KNOW, HOW TO ADDRESS WHAT THE DAMAGE THAT WAS DONE AND THAT'S NOT BEING FIXED AND SHOULD BE FIXED.
SO THAT'S, I CAN GET SPECIFICS AND GET BACK TO YOU ON HOW WE REMEDY YEAH.
I'LL, I'LL, I'LL, I'LL LET YOU KNOW SOME SPECIFICS.
WITH THAT DIRECTOR WAPI, DIRECTOR WAPI.
I, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW DOES PG E GET ACCESS TO OUR LAND? IT'S NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE.
I REMEMBER THERE, THERE WAS SOME ISSUES AT DON CASTRO WHERE THEY CAME IN 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 CUT DOWN ALL THE TREES OR ANYTHING OF THAT ROOTS.
BUT WE'VE GOT GATES, UH, THEY JUST CAN'T, I MEAN, I HOPE THEY DON'T JUST, THEY HAVE TO NOTIFY.
YOU KNOW, IDEALLY WITHIN, WHAT'S THAT? THEY HAVE THEIR RIGHTS.
THEY HAVE, YEAH, THEY HAVE, THEY HAVE EASEMENT RIGHTS.
THEY HAVE EASEMENT, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY HAVE EXISTING RIGHTS.
THEY'VE GOT EASEMENT OR SOMETIMES HELICOPTER.
DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE A QUESTION OR COMMENT? OKAY.
I, I THINK THIS NEW PROCESS THAT YOU HAVE SOUNDS REALLY GOOD AND UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT'S IN PLACE AND I WAS JUST CURIOUS TO KNOW, UM, 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.
PG E IS FAMILIAR WITH IT, IT'S REAL TIME REVIEW, IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS MANUAL, YOU KNOW, SEND ME YOUR NOTIFICATIONS, I'LL PASS IT ON TO PG E SO IT'S, IT'S RELATIVELY LOW TECH AT THE MOMENT, BUT IT HELPS SORT OF A THOROUGH REVIEW BEFORE THE WORK BEGINS.
AND SO WHEN THEY ENTER, SO THEY ONLY HAVE, OR THEY'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WHEN THEY HAVE, UH, SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, WORK THEY'RE GONNA 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? YEAH.
OR WE, I MEAN WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO, 'CAUSE IT'S, THEY HAVE EXISTING EASEMENTS, SO WE JUST WANT A HEADS UP, THAT'S ALL.
AND, AND, BUT UNDER THIS PROCESS, HAVE THEY BEEN GIVING YOU THE HEADS UP? YES.
WELL, LIKE JOHN, I'VE ALSO HAD PAST EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH PG E AND IT CAN BE DIFFICULT, SO I'M, I'M REALLY GLAD TO HEAR THAT, THAT THIS PROCESS IS HELPING AND, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
OKAY, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO RACHEL.
ALRIGHT, SO THAT'S BRINGING US TO KIND OF THE END OF THIS SECTION BEFORE WE OPEN IT UP FOR MORE DISCUSSION.
UM, WHAT WE WERE REALLY TRYING TO DO WAS HIT THESE KIND OF FIVE DIFFERENT, UH, WAYS THAT OUR TEAM WORKS AND WAYS THAT OUR TEAM SUPPORTS THE PARK DISTRICT, UM, EXPAND IT BEYOND FEE ACQUISITION, KIND OF SHOW, SHOWCASE SOME OF THE OTHER WORK THAT WE DO.
SO I'M HOPING OUR EXAMPLES TODAY WERE HELPFUL TO YOU, KIND OF GAVE YOU A GOOD OVERVIEW AND A REFRESHER OF WHAT WE DO DEPENDING ON HOW LONG YOU'VE BEEN WITH US.
AND, UM, 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.
I KNOW WE SENT OUT, UM, KIND OF A SOLICITATION OF SOME PROJECTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS, BUT, UH, WE'RE HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS BEFORE WE TURN TO THAT SECTION.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE MOVING ON? OKAY, SCENE NONE.
ALRIGHT, SO, UM, WE REACHED OUT TO YOU WITH SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT GEOGRAPHIC, UM, FO FOCI, DIFFERENT THINGS YOU'RE HEARING FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
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 GONNA CONTINUE THAT IN THE COMING, UH, WEEKS.
UM, BUT KIND OF GEOGRAPHICALLY, THE THEMES THAT I, OR, OR MORE THEMATICALLY THE THEMES THAT I WAS HEARING WAS AN EMPHASIS ON TRAIL CONNECTIONS.
UM, AN EMPHASIS ON WORKING CLOSELY WITH PLANNING TO SEE WHERE WE CAN HAVE ADDITIONAL STAGING AREAS AND ACCESS INTO PARTICULAR PARKS.
UM, AND LOOKING AT OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, JOHN MUIR LAND TRUSTS SAVE
[01:50:01]
MOUNT DIABLO, TO REALLY MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE COORDINATING OUR EFFORTS WITH THOSE, UH, GROUPS.UM, AND I WOULD SAY THOSE ARE KIND OF LIKE THE TOP LINE THEMES THAT I HEARD FROM ALL OF YOU.
BUT CURIOUS TO HEAR IF YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS YOU WANT TO SHARE.
UM, 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.
UM, I WANT TO FIRST SAY, I KNOW I DIDN'T GET BACK TO YOU.
IT'S, IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN A REALLY BUSY WEEK HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT.
I WANNA BE FAIR TO EACH OF US HERE.
UM, BUT IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW WE CAN, UM, BETTER MANAGE SOMETHING LIKE THAT WHEN WE DO HAVE A BUSY WEEK, BUT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES.
UM, 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, UM, REPLYING TO AN EMAIL.
UM, BUT ONE THING THAT I THINK COULD BE HELPFUL, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE YOU MENTIONED JOHN MUIR LAND TRUSTS AND SOME OF THE OTHER DIFFERENT CONSERVANCY AGENCIES, IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL PROBABLY IN SOME DOCUMENTS SOMEWHERE.
IN FACT, I'M PRETTY CONFIDENT I'VE SEEN IT SOMEWHERE.
BUT, UM, JUST HAVING A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT LAND AGENCIES THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
UM, 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, UM, ABOUT IT.
IT WAS MORE SPECIFICALLY IN REGARDS TO OUR INTERPRETIVE, UH, VISITOR AND VISITOR CENTERS.
INSI, I THINK ON OUR OPERATIONS COMMITTEE WORK PLAN, WE WILL BE HAVING PRESENTATIONS ON THE TWO REGIONS WITHIN, UM, THAT GROUP.
AND ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT I HAD MENTIONED THAT I, I THINK WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL, AND AGAIN 'CAUSE I I AM A VISUAL PERSON, I DO LIKE TO LOOK AT MAPS, IS TO SEE WHERE ALL OF THE OTHER AGENCY VISITOR, UM, CENTERS AND MAPS ARE.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, MOUNT DIABLO OR STATE PARKS HAS A MOUNT DIABLO VISITOR CENTER.
AND THEN THE ONE THAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING AT A LOT IS THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE DON EDWARDS VISITOR CENTER.
UM, SO THINKING ABOUT THAT MAP AND THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT LAND TRUSTS LIKE JOHN MUIR LAND TRUSTS OR TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY, UM, IT, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO MAYBE HAVE BOTH THAT LISTING AND, UM, I THINK THIS COMES TO THE EARLIER POINT TOO, THAT WAS MENTIONED TOO, THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, YOU KNOW, PARKS AND OPEN SPACE ACROSS THE TWO COUNTIES.
'CAUSE 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, 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, UH, LAND TRUSTS AND CONSERVANCY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
YEAH, I, I REALLY LIKE THAT IDEA.
I AM NOT GOING TO ASSIGN WORK TO PLANNING AND GIS BUT I, 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, UM, SPATIAL DATA AS WE CAN, AND THEN WE CAN RUN SOME REALLY INTERESTING ANALYSES IN TERMS OF HOW CLOSE ARE PEOPLE TO PARKS, HOW LONG WHAT, WHAT ARE THE, UM, TO YOUR POINT, DIRECTOR CORBETT, WHAT ARE THE, UM, AC TRANSIT LINES OR OTHER PUBLIC TRANSIT THAT SERVE THOSE PARKS? HOW ARE, WHAT ARE THE NEXUS NEX SIZE THERE THAT, UM, 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.
THAT, THAT'S SOMETHING I JUST THOUGHT OF AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS.
MAYBE THIS IS SOMETHING BECAUSE THIS IS, 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.
UM, I WILL, I WILL SAY THAT NOW YOU GUYS ARE ALL RIGHT ON TARGET ON THAT, UM, THAT, UM, 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, OUR LANDS, BUT ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IS SWIM FACILITIES, RIGHT? LET'S LOOK AT WHERE, 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, ALL OF THESE INPUTS AND I THINK IT'LL HELP INFORM OUR PLAN, OUR PLANNING PROCESS FOR THE DISTRICT PLAN.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? SO ARE, ARE YOU THE, ARE YOU THE PERSON THAT WE WOULD SUBMIT THESE, THESE, UM, DIRECTLY TO? OKAY.
I, IT, IT MAKES MUCH MORE SENSE IF WE DO IT IN WRITING.
JUST THAT PROJECT, THAT PROPERTY OVER THERE TO
[01:55:01]
THE LEFT, YOU KNOW, IT'S TOO HARD, SO YEAH.WE'RE OPEN TO, IF WE ARE HEARING FROM YOU VIA EMAIL, SETTING UP A MEETING TO DISCUSS THROUGH THINGS.
UM, I LIKED KEN'S COMMENTS EARLIER ABOUT HAVING BOTH THE AWARD TOURS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT, YOU KNOW, NOT IN THE FIELD, LOOKING AT A MAP WITH ALL OF OUR RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO US TO, TO DISCUSS PROJECTS AS WELL.
SO I THINK WE CAN OFFER KIND OF DIFFERENT, DIFFERENT PIECES THAT WORK FOR DIFFERENT FOLKS AND, AND TRY TO CAPTURE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND THE VALUABLE, UH, FEEDBACK YOU HAVE FROM YOUR, YOUR COMMUNITIES.
ANYTHING ELSE? WELL, THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, FOR THE, ALL THE INFORMATION PRESENTATION.
[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]
STATEMENTS FROM GENERAL MANAGER OR A GM? 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, UH, WHILE WE WERE DOING THE RECRUITMENT.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, JUST TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING AS MIKE, UM, WENT OFF TO HIS RETIREMENT UNTIL BECKY GOT HERE ON MONDAY.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND JUST, IT WAS SEAMLESS.
YEAH, I'D LIKE TO SECOND THAT.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT STEPPING INTO ALL OF THAT, THAT WORK AND, AND BEING A BRIDGE AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WELCOME BECKY AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH Y'ALL.
I GUESS THAT'S, UH, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY CLOSING COMMENTS? UM, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MAYBE?
[PUBLIC COMMENTS]
OH, YES, WE HAVE, WE DO HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT.KELLY, ARE YOU STILL HERE? YES.
YOU'RE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.
UM, I, I'D ASK WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR? UM, I KNOW OVER IN CASTOR VALLEY, SOMEBODY BUILT A DIRT AIRSTRIP, A COUPLE OF DIRT AIRSTRIPS DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE 230,000 VOLT HIGH VOLTAGE TRANSMISSION LINES.
UM, AND, UH, WHEN IT COMES TO LE WE HEARD ABOUT ALL THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON WITH, UH, LEASE RENEWALS AND HOW, HOW MUCH WORK IT IS TO RENEW THESE LEASES.
YOU KNOW, LOT OF, 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.
UM, THE, UH, DISTRICT, I THINK, UH, NEEDS TO PRIORITIZE MORE THAN ACREAGE.
UH, AND YOU NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT PARK ACCESS AND PROJECT TIMELINES, UM, AND FOR, AND SOME OF THE STUFF IS HAPPENING NOT JUST IN THE PARK, IT'S HAPPENING EVERYWHERE.
AND THESE INSIDE THE MOUNT DIABLO BIKE TRAIL EASEMENT HALFWAY BETWEEN ALAMO AND BLACK WALK, UM, THAT GATE WAS LOCKED BY A PRIVATE HOA AND THE BICYCLIST WENT NUTS.
UM, WOULD, THEY'D HAD ACCESS FOR MANY YEARS AND THEY HAD AN EASEMENT, BUT THE GATE GOT LOCKED ANYWAY.
UM, FIVE CANYONS IN CASTRO VALLEY.
THIS DISTRICT LITIGATED AND SETTLED ABOUT A YEAR OR TWO AGO, A BAY BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL E EASEMENT GOT GOT, AND THEY, THE, UH, THEY PAID A MILLION DOLLARS, BUT, UH, THAT ENTRANCE IS STILL BLOCKED, UM, COORDINATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES, UH, TO GET, UH, UH, UH, TRAIL ACCESS, THE, UH, OR WHATEVER ACCESS TO, TO RESOURCES.
S-F-P-U-C, SAN FRANCISCO WATER TEMPLE, THE SONO WATER TEMPLE HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR SIX YEARS FOR VARIOUS REASONS.
UM, AND, UH, THE SONO VISITOR CENTER IS TWO YEARS LATE.
IT'S BEEN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A TWO YEAR PROJECT.
IT TOOK, IT'S ANOTHER TWO, IT'S NOW A FOUR YEAR PROJECT.
UM, AND COUNTING THE ALAMEDA COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS AGENCY WHEN IT COMES TO, UH, UM, DIRECTOR CORBETTS WARD IS BUILDING THE SAN LEANDRO CREEK TRAIL.
THERE'S A LOT OF TRAILS IN CA 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 DARK 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, CAN'T WALK INTO A PARK EVEN THOUGH THE GATE'S RIGHT THERE.
UM, AND THE LARGEST EVER LAND DONATION AT COYOTE HILLS ON SPAWNED AN $11 MILLION TRAIL CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT BEGAN IN 2022.
SCHEDULE TO TAKE ONE YEAR IS NOW A YEAR LATE,
[02:00:01]
TWO YEARS INSTEAD OF ONE YEAR.AND THE CITY OF FREMONT IS RESTRICTING THE STREET PARKING ON THE NORTH SIDE OF, OF COMMERCE DRIVE THE FARMING PROJECT AT KAIA, ALSO AT COYOTE HILLS HAS STALLED.
THEY NEVER GREW ANY KALE OR ONIONS OR CABBAGE BECAUSE THE COUNTY IS REVEAL, REEVALUATING ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DIG DEEP FARMS. WE'VE, I, THAT THING WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AGRICULTURE AND I, AND YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, FOLLOWING AND PLOWING AND FOLLOWING, BUT THEY'RE NOT GROWING.
THEY'RE JUST KIND OF PLAYING WITH THE GROUND.
THANK YOU MR. A ABRAHAM FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND FOR ATTENDING TODAY.
[BOARD COMMENTS]
AND I THINK UNLESS ANYONE HAS ANYTHING FURTHER LOOKING, LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM.OH, TIL HE JUST BROUGHT SOMETHING ELSE, IS THERE A CHANCE WE CAN GET A REPORT ON WHAT THE HELL IS GOING OR WHAT THE HECK'S GOING ON AT, AT ARDEN WOOD ABSOLUTELY IS GOING ON THERE.
I WILL TALK TO, UH, UM, LISA GORGEN.
SHE HAD TO SLIP OUT, BUT I, I'LL WE WILL GET SOMETHING IN THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
SHE, THEY ACTUALLY ARE, THEY MAY ALREADY BE ON CALENDAR, BUT I, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
WELL, IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, UH, WE WILL ADJOURN.
THE STUDY SESSION MEETING OF FEBRUARY 2ND, 2024 IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 3:20 PM THANK YOU EVERYBODY FOR JOINING US TODAY.