[00:00:02]
WE'RE READY. GREAT.WELCOME. WELCOME TO THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH, 2024. BEGINNING AT 1033.
AND DIRECTOR WAESPI IS ATTENDING REMOTELY TODAY.
WOULD OUR CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
[Roll Call]
. THANK YOU.TODAY'S MEETING IS HELD PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT.
WE ARE PROVIDING LIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO ONE VIA LIVE ZOOM TWO BY SUBMITTING AN EMAIL OR THREE LEAVING A VOICEMAIL. THIS INFORMATION IS NOTED ON OUR AGENDA AND IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MEETING PROCEDURES, WE WILL BEGIN.
THE FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO APPROVE OUR MINUTES FROM LAST TIME.
[Approval of Minutes]
COULD I GET A IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS, COULD I PLEASE GET A MOTION BY ONE OF THE DIRECTORS? MOVE THAT SECOND.ALL IN FAVOR? I OPPOSED AND NO ABSTENTIONS.
OKAY, SO. AND ALSO, THAT WAS A MOTION BY DIRECTOR CORBETT AND A SECOND BY DIRECTOR WAESPI.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY? NO, WE DO NOT. PRESIDENT ECHOLS.
GREAT. OKAY, SO WHEN WE HAVE NO ACTION ITEMS. SO WE'LL GO DIRECTLY TO OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
[Informational Items]
THE FIRST ONE BEING THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2023.THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
PRESIDENT ECHOLS DIRECTORS GM LANDRETH I'M SUSAN HSU, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE THIS MORNING AND TO INTRODUCE LAUREN BERNSTEIN, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION, AS THEY SHARE A YEAR IN REVIEW FOR 2023 AND THE FOUNDATION'S INCREDIBLE SUPPORT PROGRAM SUPPORT AND ITS FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PARK DISTRICT, AND CERTAINLY ITS MISSION TO FUNDRAISE FOR US AND TO REALLY INCREASE ACCESS FOR ALL FOR OUR MANY PARKS IN THIS ENTIRE SYSTEM.
SO, AGAIN, LET ME INTRODUCE LAUREN BERNSTEIN TO SHARE THE WONDERFUL NEWS FROM LAST YEAR.
I'M REALLY PLEASED TO BE HERE TO SHARE OUR 2023 YEAR IN REVIEW.
I CAME IN ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE YEAR, SO I DO WANT TO THANK ADM SUSAN SHIU FOR SERVING AS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FOUNDATION FOR THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR. WE ALSO HAVE HERE TODAY OUR BOARD PRESIDENT, HOLLY POTTER, AND THEN OUR STAFF, MICHELLE KAJIWARA, KIRSTEN FURMAN AND ANNA HUANG.
SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING.
AND I KNOW WE HAVE SOME INR FOLKS IN THE ROOM TOO, SO I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT YOU'RE ALL HERE.
SO LET ME GO AHEAD AND SHARE A SCREEN AND WE CAN GET STARTED.
THE BIG REVEAL IS THAT WE'RE VERY PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE RAISED $2.27 MILLION, WHICH IS 13% ABOVE OUR GOAL WITH ADDITIONAL EC CONTRIBUTIONS THAT WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER.
OUR TOTAL REVENUE WAS ABOUT 2.6.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY PROUD OF THAT.
IT'S A VERY HIGH VOLUME OF GIFTS FOR OUR STAFF SIZE.
[00:05:04]
LOVE OUR PARKS, BUT LOVE THEM SO MUCH THAT THEY WANT TO GIVE BACK AND SUPPORT THEM.SO WE HAVE A WIDE BASE OF SUPPORT AND IT'S REALLY EXCITING.
SOME OF OUR FUNDRAISING HIGHLIGHTS.
WE RAISED ABOUT LAST YEAR A MILLION, OVER $1 MILLION FROM OUR MEMBERSHIP, REVENUE AND MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM, $111,000 FROM INDIVIDUAL AND CORPORATE MATCHING 111,000 FROM GRANTS AS WELL.
IT'S A REALLY HIGH RESPONSE RATE.
WE RAISED OVER $237,000 FROM BOTH APPEALS.
THE AVERAGE GIFT SIZE IS HIGH.
GIVEN THE NUMBER OF FOLKS THAT WE SEND THESE OUT TO.
AND AGAIN, JUST SHOWS HOW MUCH THE PUBLIC AND OUR MEMBERS AND DONORS REALLY LOVE THE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE ABOUT 12,200 ACTIVE MEMBERS.
AND THEN AN 83% RENEWAL RATE, WHICH IS EXTREMELY HIGH.
SO THAT'S A OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM IS REALLY A JEWEL OF THE FOUNDATION.
AND I KNOW THAT THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES REALLY ENJOY BEING PART OF THIS PROGRAM AND FEELING CONNECTED, FEELING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND BEING ABLE TO GIVE BACK TO THE PARKS THAT THEY ENJOY SO MUCH EVERY DAY.
SOME OF OUR GRANT HIGHLIGHTS ARE FROM 2023.
A LOT OF THESE ON HERE ARE OUR GIFTS THAT COME FROM CORPORATIONS.
AND WE HAVE BOARD MEMBER REPRESENTATION ON THE FOUNDATION BOARD.
OUR PLANNED GIVING PROGRAM IS EXTREMELY ROBUST.
A LEGACY ORGANIZATION LIKE THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION IS A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIKE TO INCLUDE AND LEAVE BEHIND THEIR LEGACY IN THE FORM OF A GIFT TO THE PARKS. AND SO THIS JUST GOES TO SHOW IT'S NOT SOMETHING WE CAN ACTIVELY SOLICIT FOR OR FUNDRAISE FOR.
AGAIN, JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW MUCH PEOPLE REALLY LOVE OUR PARKS.
SO IT'S NOT ONLY A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO REMEMBER REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION IN THEIR WILL OR TRUST, BUT IT'S ALSO A WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO HAVE FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT PLANNING THEIR ESTATE PLANS AND CREATING THEIR WILLS AND TRUSTS FROM VOLUNTEERS WHO ARE ATTORNEYS AND CPAS.
THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION MANAGES THE FUND.
ALL THE FUNDS ARE INVESTED IN OUR UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES ACCOUNT, AND WE CREATED A NEW INVESTMENT POLICY LAST YEAR TO UPDATE IT, AS IS STANDARD PRACTICE EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS, AS THE MARKETS CHANGE AND THE ECONOMY CHANGES, WE LIKE TO UPDATE THE INVESTMENT POLICY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE WE HAVE GOOD FISCAL OVERSIGHT AND THAT WE'RE GETTING THE BEST RETURNS WE CAN.
SO IF YOU LOOK THE BIG HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THERE WAS A 23% FUND BALANCE INCREASE.
NOW, THIS IS DUE TO CONTRIBUTIONS OF 322,000, BUT ALSO AN EXCELLENT MARKET CONDITIONS AND INVESTMENT RETURNS OF 1.2, WHICH IS REALLY EXCITING.
SOMETHING THAT'S NOT SHOWN IN THESE NUMBERS, BECAUSE THIS IS A 2023 RECAP, IS THAT THE FUND BALANCE IS NOW INCREASED BY A HALF $1 MILLION AS OF TODAY, BECAUSE THEY DID SEND IN CONTRIBUTIONS IN JANUARY.
AND NOW TO THE VERY EXCITING PART OF WHERE IS ALL THIS FUNDRAISING GOING? AND WE'RE JUST REALLY, REALLY PROUD TO SUPPORT ALL THE AMAZING PROGRAMS THAT EBRPD PUTS ON ABOVE AND BEYOND.
I THINK WHAT A LOT OF PARK DISTRICTS DO OR NEED TO DO, THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT ON THESE PROGRAMS IS REALLY EXCITING TO US, AND WE HAVE AMAZING PARTNERS AT THE DISTRICT, SO WE GIVE ABOUT $557,000 IN AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT.
[00:10:03]
THAT'S ABOUT 210,000.OPERATING PROGRAM SUPPORT AT 380,000 INCLUDES THE ANNUAL GRANTS THAT THAT.
ARE MOSTLY IN THE INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
AQUATICS, SOME STEWARDSHIP, AND THESE ARE GRANTS THAT EBRPD STAFF APPLY FOR EACH YEAR TO RUN THEIR PROGRAMS. AND THEN WE GIVE 92,000 TO CAMP ARROYO FOR THEIR OUTDOOR EDUCATION CAMP AND SCHOLARSHIPS.
THIS IS THE MOST THE HIGHEST COUNT OF FOLKS THAT WE'VE SERVED.
11,500 KIDS, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE SERVED THROUGH OUR FUNDED PROGRAMS. AND SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED THAT THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO INCREASE.
SO AQUATICS AND PUBLIC SAFETY INCLUDES AQUATIC.
WE ALSO FUND A THREE YEAR DROWNING STUDY PREVENTION PROGRAM.
WE'VE SECURED 150,000 LAST YEAR FOR TWO FUELS REDUCTION AREAS, WHICH WERE COMPLETED AND LOOK REALLY GOOD AND KIND OF COORDINATE WITH ALL OF THE WORK THAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING ON FIRE PREVENTION AND THEN SUPPORTED THE PUBLIC SAFETY'S INAUGURAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT IN TERMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION OR OUR INTERPRETATION PROGRAMS. WE'RE SERVING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS THROUGH THEIR SCHOOL PROGRAMS, SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. I HAD THE CHANCE TO VISIT THE EXPLORER WATERSHED AND REDWOOD REGIONAL, AND IT WAS REALLY AMAZING.
THE MOBILE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD THEM DOING SCAVENGER HUNTS, IDENTIFYING CERTAIN PLANTS, AND THEN I EVEN ON MY WAY, I WAS WALKING IN AND SAW THAT HAPPENING AND THEN WALKING OUT AND ALL THE STUDENTS WERE SEATED KIND OF AWAY FROM EACH OTHER AND MEDITATING AND CONNECTING WITH NATURE IN THAT WAY.
AND IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE FOUNDATION TO BE CREATING THE NEXT GENERATION OF CLIMATE STEWARDS.
OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS. WE SUPPORT THE VASCO CAVES TOUR, BOATING AND FISHING SCHOLARSHIPS, TEEN ECO ACTION WEEK, AND VETERANS FISHING DAY.
SO YOU CAN SEE IT'S JUST A REALLY WIDE VARIETY OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS. AND THEN FOR OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH, MULTICULTURAL WELLNESS WALKS COMMUNITY OUTDOOR OUTREACH, OUTDOOR PROGRAM, AND THEN WE DO A LOT OF THE PARKS, PRESCRIPTION PROGRAMS. WE HELP FUND THOSE WHERE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS CAN, IN SOME WAY OR ANOTHER, PRESCRIBE TIME IN NATURE TO HELP THEIR PATIENTS, MOSTLY YOUTH, HEAL.
I'M PERSONALLY REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS PROGRAM AND ITS POTENTIAL.
AND I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE SHOWING UP AT A TRAIL AND DOING THE TRAIL, KNOWING HOW LONG IT IS, HOW HARD IT WILL BE, AND HAVING SOME PRE-PLANNED HIKES TO GO ON.
I THINK IT COULD REALLY INCENTIVIZE PEOPLE TO GET TO THE PARKS.
A LOT OF OUR MEMBERS AND DONORS CARE A LOT ABOUT STEWARDSHIP AND CONSERVATION, AND SO WE SUPPORT THE FERAL PIG MANAGEMENT STUDY, THE FERAL CAT MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP, AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE MONITORING RESEARCH.
OF COURSE, ACCESS FOR ALL IS OUR MISSION STATEMENT.
SOMETHING THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING LAST YEAR WAS WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME REVIEWING THE REPORTS WE GOT FROM THE DISTRICT AND THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS ABOUT WHAT CHALLENGES THEY'RE FACING. PART OF OUR ROLE IS ALSO TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THOSE CHALLENGES, TO PARTNER AND MAKE THESE PROGRAMS BETTER AND MAKE SURE THE FUNDING IS GOING IN THE BEST POSSIBLE PLACE. AND SO WE PARTNERED WITH THE PARK DISTRICT STAFF TO BETTER UNDERSTAND WHO WE'RE SERVING TO REDUCE BARRIERS, IMPROVE PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES, AND INCREASE ACCESS FOR ALL COMMUNITIES. AND I KNOW THE FOLKS THAT WE WORKED WITH ARE SITTING IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
AND SO I THINK A LOT HAS GONE INTO IMPROVING THE EFFICACY AND THE IMPACT OF THESE PROGRAMS. WE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE.
IT WAS REALLY BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY.
AND MANY OF THOSE STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES HAD ACTUALLY NEVER VISITED A REGIONAL PARK.
AND SO IT WAS WONDERFUL FOR THE EVENT AND FOR OUR GUESTS, BUT ALSO A REALLY ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO OUR PARKS AND THEN THE ACCESS FOR ALL FREE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM. WE WORKED WITH EMILY TRICIA HERE.
[00:15:09]
WE HAD 29 FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS REDEEMED FROM UNION CITY FAMILY CENTER, THE OHLONE INDIAN TRIBE, AND THE CONFEDERATED VILLAGES OF LISJAN.AND SOMETHING I WANT TO POINT OUT ABOUT THAT IS IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT GIVING OUT FREE MEMBERSHIPS AND PROVIDING ACCESS TO THOSE WHO NEED, BUT IT'S ABOUT TAKING THE PROGRAMS THAT WE'RE ALREADY DOING, BUILDING ON THEM, AND MAKING SURE THAT FOLKS JUST DON'T COME TO THE PARK 1 OR 2 TIMES, BUT THEY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE A YEAR OF ACCESS AND BELONGING, THAT THE PARKS ARE FOR THEM, AND THAT EVEN IF THEY COME TO ONE PROGRAM WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD ON THE PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING SUPPLEMENTING PROGRAMMATIC ASPECTS WITH THIS FREE MEMBERSHIP SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO COME TO THE PARKS IN THE FUTURE.
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS I'M SURE YOU ALL SAW WE PRODUCED TWO COMPASS MAGAZINES.
I JUST WANT TO THANK OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OUR OFFICERS FROM LAST YEAR.
LES HAUSRATH, HOLLY POTTER, BRUCE KERN AND JOHN MARTIN.
IT WAS I MEAN, FOR AT LEAST FOR THE BOARD.
AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THEM.
THEY HIRED A NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND ONBOARDED ME, AND I THANK THEM.
AND IT WAS A REALLY WONDERFUL YEAR.
LUCKY TO HAVE AN ENGAGED BOARD WHO ARE EXPERTS IN EVERYTHING THAT WE WORK ON.
AND SO FOR 2024, HOLLY POTTER HERE WITH US IS OUR NEW BOARD PRESIDENT.
AND SO I WILL TURN IT OVER TO HOLLY.
THANK YOU. I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE TODAY.
AND THANK YOU, LAUREN FOR THE PRESENTATION.
2023 WAS A BUSY YEAR FOR THE FOUNDATION.
WE COMPLETED THE TRANSITION ON LEADERSHIP.
MANY THANKS TO SABRINA AND SUSAN FOR ALL THEIR HELP IN NAVIGATING THAT TRANSITION.
I CAN SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT WE'RE DELIGHTED TO HAVE LAUREN ON BOARD, AND IT'S CREATED THE ABILITY TO REALLY THINK ABOUT AND REFRESH BOTH THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF THE ORGANIZATION, BUT ALSO BUILD UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE ORGANIZATION, WHICH IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO ENABLE US TO DO THE TYPE OF FUNDRAISING THAT WE THINK WE'RE CAPABLE OF AS AN ORGANIZATION.
ADDITIONALLY, IN 2024, WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO BUILDING THE CAPACITY OF THE BOARD ITSELF OUR BOARD GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AS WELL. OH, THANK YOU.
THE BOARD GOVERNANCE PRACTICES, AS WELL AS RECRUITMENT AND ENGAGEMENT AMONGST THE BOARD.
AND ON THAT ONE, I ACTUALLY HAVE AN ASK OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE FULL BOARD.
WE ARE IN FULL RECRUITMENT MODE FOR OUR FOUNDATION.
AND THEN IN ADDITION, REALLY GUIDED BY OUR MISSION, PARTICULARLY LOOKING AT WAYS THAT WE CAN FUNDRAISE FOR THE WORK THAT THE DISTRICT DOES, WE ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO STRENGTHEN OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT AND UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE VALUE THAT THE FOUNDATION BRINGS TO THE DISTRICT, AND REALLY DO SOME DEEP WORK AS A BOARD ITSELF TO THINK THROUGH WHAT IS THE UNIQUE THING WE BRING TO THE DISTRICT SO THAT WE CAN BETTER ENGAGE WITH ALL OF YOU AND DETERMINE KIND OF THE BEST PRACTICES FOR HOW WE'RE STRUCTURED AS A FOUNDATION AND HOW OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT IS DEFINED.
YOU COULD JUST SEE FROM ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE DO HOW MUCH THE DISTRICT IS DOING TO PROMOTE EQUITY AND ACCESS AND ALL OF THESE PROGRAMS JUST IT REALLY BLOWS MY MIND HOW MUCH THE DISTRICT IS DOING AND HOW MUCH WE'RE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT.
SO, IT'S A TESTAMENT TO ALL THE WORK THAT EBRPD IS DOING.
REALLY APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.
REALLY APPRECIATE THE REPORT AND ALL OF THE HARD WORK YOU ALL ARE DOING.
SO DIRECTOR CORBETT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO AHEAD? OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE VERY EXCITED AND IMPRESSED WITH ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT YOU DO.
[00:20:01]
AND YOUR QUESTION, YOUR COMMENT ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THINGS THEY'D LIKE TO SEE, TO GET TO KNOW WHAT GOES ON THERE.IS THERE ANY PLAN FOR HAVING SOME SORT OF, I DON'T KNOW, A GET TOGETHER AT A, AT A PARK OR SOMETHING AND, AND HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS A LITTLE, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT DOING ANYTHING LIKE THAT? I THINK BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE HAPPY TO BE SOMEPLACE TO TALK TO YOU MORE.
YEAH. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT HAVING LAUREN ON BOARD IS SHE UPDATES US ON EXISTING EVENTS THAT THE DISTRICT IS HOLDING WHERE WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO KNOW YOU ALL BETTER.
AND SO THE ADVANCE NOTICE IS HELPING MANY OF US GET THEM ON OUR CALENDAR.
SO WE HAVE A CHANCE TO COME TALK TO YOU.
BUT WE WOULD WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE FREQUENT OR INFORMAL OR FORMAL OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH THE DISTRICT ELECTED BOARD.
GREAT. THAT ALL SOUNDS WONDERFUL.
YES. SOME OF THE EXAMPLES OF THAT ARE THE DISTRICT TOURS THAT HAPPENED TOWARDS THE SPRING, SUMMER AND FALL, AND THEN ALSO EVENTS LIKE THE ONE ON SUNDAY AT THURGOOD MARSHALL, HIKES LIKE THAT. SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS I'M DEFINITELY TRYING TO BRING TO THE BOARD SO THEY CAN, YOU KNOW, ENJOY OUR PARKS, MEET ALL OF YOU, MEET OUR STAFF AND HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. IT MIGHT BE A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO MIX IT WITH SOME OF THE THINGS THAT ARE DOING WITH THE ANNIVERSARY WORK THAT'S BEING DONE THIS YEAR, TOO. ABSOLUTELY, YEAH.
SO WE'RE EXCITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MAY 11TH EVENTS.
AND THAT'S ON JULY 20TH AT LAKE CHABOT.
IT'S A PARTNERSHIP WITH BRAZEN RACING.
SO I HOPE IT'S, YOU COULD DO A5K, A TEN K OR A HALF MARATHON.
SO DON'T BE SHY AND COME JOIN US, AT LEAST FOR THE FIVE K.
WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE. YOU CAN WALK IT.
AND I'M SORRY, WHERE DID YOU SAY IT'S HAPPENING? LAKE CHABOT ON JULY 20TH.
YEAH. AND WE'LL SEND OUT MORE INFORMATION.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG KIND OF FLAGSHIP FUNDRAISING ANNIVERSARY EVENT FOR US.
AND WE'RE HOPING TO RAISE A LOT OF FUNDS TO SUPPORT PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD.
YEAH. I JUST WANT TO THANK LAUREN FOR ALL YOUR GREAT LEADERSHIP.
AND YOU'RE REALLY COMING ON BOARD, AND THINGS ARE GOING GREAT.
I LOVE THE FOUNDATION I ALWAYS HAVE.
IT'S SUCH A GREAT GROUP, SUCH GREAT LEADERSHIP.
YOU KNOW, I HAD THE CHANCE TO WORK WITH HOLLY LAST YEAR AND, AND JOHN MARTIN AND BRUCE KERN AND PEOPLE LIKE LES AND EVERYBODY, BUT YOU'VE GOT SOME REAL SUPERSTARS AND I SEE NOTHING BUT GREAT STUFF.
I KNOW YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF LAST YEAR.
I GUESS A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS I WOULD HAVE IS DO YOU PLAN ON DOING THE PUBLIC SAFETY OR SUPPORTING THE PUBLIC SAFETY? NATIONAL NIGHT OUT AGAIN? BECAUSE THAT WAS ONE OF THE BEST EVENTS I'VE EVER ATTENDED IN THE PARK DISTRICT.
ARE YOU WILL YOU CONTINUE WITH THAT SUPPORT? AND WILL THE PARK DISTRICT CONTINUE TO HOST THAT EVENT? I WILL LET THE GM ANSWER IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HOST THE EVENT, AND THEN I CAN ANSWER.
SO, THAT WAS REALLY FUN FOR EVERYBODY AND GREAT TURNOUT.
SO I WOULD BE VERY SURPRISED IF WE DON'T DO IT AGAIN.
YEAH. WE REALLY LIKE TO CONTINUE AND GROW OUR SUPPORT FOR THAT EVENT.
AND ALSO JUST IN TERMS OF OUR IMPACT REALIZING HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC SAFETY IS FIRE POLICE LIFEGUARD.
ALTHOUGH WE DO SUPPORT AQUATICS QUITE A BIT SO CRITICAL TO THE DISTRICT.
AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S INCLUDED IN KIND OF OUR PORTFOLIO OF IMPACTING GIVING.
GREAT. AND SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I JUST APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT FOR THAT.
I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT PROGRAMS SUPPORTING ALL THE AQUATICS FOLKS.
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING GREAT STUFF NEXT YEAR.
I MEAN, THAT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS, WANT TO KNOW MORE? WE HAVE A LOT OF PHOTOS AND REPORTS MORE IN DEPTH.
MAYBE IT GIVES ME THE IDEA TO BUILD OUT OUR WEBSITE A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THESE PROGRAMS, BUT PLEASE CONTACT AGM, SUSAN HSU AND MYSELF AND THEN WE'D BE HAPPY TO GET MORE INFORMATION ALWAYS.
WE LOVE QUESTIONS AND THEY'RE ALWAYS WELCOME.
[00:25:06]
SO POSSIBLY AGAIN AND ARE YOU GOING TO PRESENT THIS ENTIRE PRESENTATION TO THE FULL BOARD? IN THE FUTURE.WHO? I'M GOING TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION WITH THE QUESTION, WHO DETERMINES THAT? YEAH, WE COULD FOLLOW UP.
I THINK IT'D BE VERY VALUABLE.
YEAH, I THINK IT'D BE WORTHWHILE AS WELL.
DENNIS, YOU ALSO MENTIONED THE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE WORK THAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, AND THAT LAUREN HAS ENABLED THE BOARD TO THINK ABOUT ARE REALLY EQUIPPING US TO KIND OF LAY THE GROUNDWORK TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH WE CAN COMMIT TO A CAPITAL CAMPAIGN.
AND THIS YEAR WILL BE REALLY CRITICAL FOR DEFINING THAT.
OKAY. SO FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU SO MUCH BOTH FOR BEING HERE.
AND I MEAN, NOT ONLY THE AMAZING SUCCESSES FROM LAST YEAR, BUT ALSO I APPRECIATED HOLLY'S COMMENTS ABOUT FOCUSING IN ON THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND BUILDING UP THE INFRASTRUCTURE SO YOU CAN DO EVEN MORE GOOD WORK.
AND SO THAT'S VERY EXCITING TO ME.
I WANT TO CONGRATULATE YOU ON BLOWING YOUR FUNDRAISING GOALS OUT OF THE WATER.
I MEAN, 2.6 MILLION, INCLUDING THE EDC IS JUST REALLY THAT'S REALLY EXTRAORDINARY.
I ALSO WAS STRUCK AND IMPRESSED BY THE AMOUNT THAT WE GET FROM MEMBERSHIPS.
I DIDN'T REALIZE IT WAS THAT HIGH.
OVER 1 MILLION OF OUR BUDGET COMING FROM MEMBERSHIP.
I MEAN, THAT'S HUGE, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH A HIGH RENEWAL RATE.
THAT'S AND THAT'S A VERY GIVES A VERY STEADY BASE TO BUILD ON.
I WANTED TO COMMEND YOU AS WELL FOR THE INNOVATION THAT YOU HAVE INJECTED IN SOME OF THESE EVENTS.
LIKE, I AGREE WITH DENNIS, I WAS ALSO GOING TO MENTION THE PUBLIC SAFETY NATIONAL NIGHT OUT.
THAT WAS JUST IT WAS EXTRAORDINARY.
IT WAS SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY EVENT.
I THINK IT WAS GOOD FOR STAFF.
AND EVERYBODY WHO CAME HAD A HAD A GREAT TIME, VERY, VERY POSITIVE AND UPBEAT.
SO DEFINITELY WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT AGAIN THIS YEAR.
AND THE, THE PLANNING FOR THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY.
IN TERMS OF THE RACE WALK ON JULY 20TH, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE THAT SHOULD BE FUN.
I THINK THE ONLY I DID HAVE JUST ONE QUESTION.
I KNOW YOU CAN'T PUT EVERYTHING INTO YOUR PRESENTATION AND IT WAS AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
I AM CURIOUS TO KNOW, THOUGH, BECAUSE I KNOW WE ALSO OFFER CAMPER SHIPS FOR THE DAY CAMPS AND OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE, WE OFFER. SO COULD YOU JUST SAY A FEW WORDS ON THAT? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S ALSO A VERY IMPORTANT WAY OF GIVING KIDS WHO CAN'T AFFORD THAT, YOU KNOW, THE TUITION FOR THESE PROGRAMS TO HAVE ACCESS AS WELL.
YEAH. SO OUR CAMPER SHIP PROGRAM IS WIDER THAN JUST SUMMER CAMPS.
SO THERE'S A EBRPD HAS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF CAMPS.
SOME OF THEM ARE AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SOME OF THEM ARE THE PARKING AT DAY CAMP IN THE SUMMER.
CAMP ARROYO IS ALSO SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THAT WEEK LONG OUTDOOR ED.
SO ALL OF THAT KIND OF GOES UNDER THE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT CAMPER SHIP BUCKET.
IT IS PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND TUITION FOR STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS. BUT THE PROGRAMS THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT IT COVERS, RIGHT? OKAY. YEAH, THAT WAS REALLY MY QUESTION BECAUSE I, YOU KNOW, I SAW THE CAMPER ARROYO AND OBVIOUSLY SUPPORT THAT VERY STRONGLY.
BUT I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT AND I KNOW ABOUT THE PARKING.
BUT THE OTHER PROGRAMS LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE TILDEN FARM CAMP AND THOSE OTHER ONES ARE DO THEY I MEAN, IS IT? ARE THERE CAMPERSHIPS ACROSS THE BOARD FOR, FOR THE PROGRAMS OR IS IT JUST SOME SELECTED? IT'S SOME SELECTED.
THERE'S BOATING AND THERE'S A BOATING AND AQUATICS PROGRAM.
ANYTHING ELSE? I'M MISSING PARKING AT DAY CAMP.
SO 300 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BOATING AND AQUATICS PARKING AT DAY CAMP.
THIS IS OUTSIDE OF CAMP ARROYO.
THE OUTDOOR, SOME OF THE OUTDOOR, I THINK AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO IT'S.
[00:30:04]
YEAH, YEAH.THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THAT.
WELL, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE WE.
GO AHEAD, GO AHEAD. I WOULD JUST SAY IT'S QUITE IMPRESSIVE.
THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT YOU DO MAKES US ALL HAPPY AND EXCITED.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK.
THANK YOU. LAUREN, YOU GOT UP TO SPEED QUICKLY.
SO NEXT WE HAVE THE GRANTS DEPARTMENT 2023 YEAR OVERVIEW.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.
KATIE HORNBECK, GRANTS MANAGER.
TYPICALLY, I COME TO THE FULL BOARD IN MID-YEAR MAYBE IN AUGUST TO GET ACCEPTANCE ON THE CURRENT GRANT SCHEDULE AS JUST PART OF A AUDITING PROCESS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE.
SO, THAT'S SEPARATE FROM THIS.
AND THIS IS PURELY JUST A LOOK BACK AT 2023.
THIS IS A BRIEF INTRODUCTION AND REMINDER.
I MEET REGULARLY WITH THE MULTIPLE DIVISIONS AND UNITS AND DEPARTMENTS WITHIN THOSE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT PROJECTS NEED FUNDING, WHAT THE STATUS IS AND WHAT WE WHAT WE SHOULD BE GETTING MONEY FOR.
AND SO WE'RE ALWAYS ACTIVE IN APPLYING, SECURING AND MANAGING GRANT CONTRACTS.
IN BRIEF. SO I'LL GO THROUGH THESE ONE BY ONE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED.
SO WE SUBMITTED 50 APPLICATIONS TOTALING APPROXIMATELY 97.3 MILLION.
THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.
AND JUST STAFF EXCITEMENT ON GETTING FUNDING FOR PROJECTS.
AND THE ONE THING I'LL NOTE FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THE AS YOU'RE WELL AWARE, THE GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS OFFICE WORKS IN THE GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE SUBMIT FUNDING REQUESTS TO OUR CONGRESSIONAL AND ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
AND THOSE WE ONLY LOG THOSE IN, OR I ONLY TRACK THOSE ONCE THEY ARE SELECTED FOR FUNDING.
AWARD AWARDS ANNOUNCED OR SECURED.
NUMBER 28, THAT'S UP BY 1 OR 2 FROM LAST YEAR.
THAT HAS HELD PRETTY STRONG IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
LAST YEAR WE HAD 19 NO AWARD NOTIFICATIONS.
SO THAT THAT COULD BE FOR APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED LAST YEAR OR IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
SO WE HAD 112 PAYMENTS TOTALING 26.3 MILLION.
AND SO SHE DOES AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WORK.
YOU KNOW, A LOT OF MONEY IS BEING SPENT IN THE PARK DISTRICT.
AND THE IMPORTANT THING IS IN GRANTS, WE'RE GETTING ALL OF THESE GRANTS ARE REIMBURSED.
SO WE NEED TO TO COLLECT BACK THAT MONEY.
AND SO THIS WAS A BIG YEAR FOR THAT.
TYPICALLY THE AMOUNT WE RECEIVE IS ANYWHERE BETWEEN LIKE 13 AND 17 MILLION.
SO I JUST MENTIONED THIS AS A BIG KUDOS TO MY TEAM.
[00:35:02]
AND YEAH.ALL RIGHT. AND SO SOME HIGHLIGHTS ON WHAT WAS AWARDED LAST YEAR.
WE HAD A TOTAL OF 1.5 MILLION IN GRANT FUNDING FOR THE FERRY POINT PIER REMOVAL PROJECT.
SO THIS IS A PROJECT BEING DONE WITH THREE OTHER AGENCIES IN THE TILDEN REGIONAL PARK AREA WHERE THE LEAD APPLICANT ON THAT BUT WE HAD RECEIVED SOME FEEDBACK FROM CAL FIRE THAT OUR, OUR APPLICATION WOULD BE MORE COMPETITIVE IF WE HAD A FEW COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS AND WE WERE DOING SOME WORK IN A SIMILAR REGION.
AGAIN, THAT'S A COMBINATION OF AN EPA GRANT THAT WAS AWARDED AS WELL AS SOME STATE FUNDING.
AND SO THAT GETS US PRETTY CLOSE TO BEING FULLY FUNDED FOR THAT PROJECT.
ALL RIGHT. SO THAT IS MY BRIEF OVERVIEW OF 2023 AND GRANTS.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS YOU HAVE.
KATIE. DIRECTOR CORBETT OR DIRECTOR WAESPI.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST? DIRECTOR OSBY. YOU CAN GO FIRST.
SURE. OKAY, GREAT. THANKS, KATIE.
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR GREAT WORK AND YOUR STAFF.
YOU'RE RIGHT. THEY DO A LOT. A LOT OF WORK.
AND I KNOW FEMA STUFF IS A LOT OF RED TAPE AND A LOT OF DIFFICULTY TO GET WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
I WAS WONDERING I'M EXCITED ABOUT ALL THESE GRANTS AND AMAZED HOW YOU DO THIS KIND OF STUFF.
I'M WONDERING. I KNOW THIS IS A HIGHLIGHT.
DID SF BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY GIVE US ANY GRANTS THIS YEAR? DO WE WIN ANYTHING FROM THEM? I KNOW IT'S KIND OF ROTATIONAL UP AND DOWN THE COAST OR AROUND THE BAY, BUT DID PART OF THE GROUP THIS TIME? WE DID. THOSE AWARDS WERE ANNOUNCED LAST MONTH, SO WE RECEIVED ONE GRANT AWARD FOR 600,000 FOR THE, OH MY GOODNESS, IT'S LOST MY MIND.
IT'LL COME TO ME. BUT WE DID GET A GRANT AWARD IN THIS LAST ROUND.
EXCELLENT FOR THE FINAL DESIGN PHASE.
QUITE AN IMPRESSIVE LIST AND THE NUMBERS IS JUST AMAZING.
CAN WE SEE ANYTHING ELSE COMING UP THAT IS BEING APPLIED FOR OR IS AVAILABLE? SURE. SO WE WILL BE SUBMITTING OUR [INAUDIBLE] APPLICATION LATER THIS MONTH.
CAL FIRE WILL WE SUBMITTED A CAL FIRE APPLICATION LAST MONTH, THAT GRIZZLY PEAK PROJECT I MENTIONED.
WE HAD ACTUALLY SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION FOR 5 MILLION.
THAT WAS THE TOTAL PROJECT COST.
BUT THEY CAME BACK AND SAID, WE CAN'T GIVE YOU THAT MUCH MONEY.
WILL YOU TAKE 2.8? WE SAID, YES, OF COURSE.
IN THE NEXT ROUND OF FUNDING. WE SUBMITTED ANOTHER APPLICATION TO COMPLETE THAT FUNDING GAP.
WE'LL BE SUBMITTING FOR THE RICHMOND BAY TRAIL PROJECT FOR THAT, MOST LIKELY.
AND THEN BOTH COASTAL CONSERVANCY AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD HAVE ROLLING APPLICATIONS.
SO NORMALLY, GRANTS ARE ANNOUNCED OR GRANT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES ARE ANNOUNCED ANYWHERE BETWEEN LIKE 30 TO 90 DAYS AHEAD OF THE DEADLINE. SO WE SORT OF CAN ANTICIPATE WHAT TO EXPECT THIS SPRING.
BUT I'M SURE THERE'LL BE A RAMP UP IN THE SUMMER AND FALL LIKE THERE USUALLY IS.
YEAH. AND DO WE SEE ANY SHORELINE TYPE PROJECTS AND OR ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT THE WEATHER YESTERDAY AND THE COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE DO WE SEE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SOME OF THESE ADDITIONAL RAINING STORMS AND ALL THAT WE'RE HAVING THIS YEAR IN ADDITION TO FEMA FUNDING? YES. NOT THAT I HAVE SEEN YET, ALTHOUGH IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THERE MAY BE STATE FUNDING AVAILABLE AT SOME POINT.
THE TOUGH THING ABOUT FUNDING FOR REPAIR WORK OR DAMAGE WORK IS THAT MOST PROGRAMS, THEY, THEY DON'T REALLY THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY LIKE TO FUND GENERALLY SPEAKING.
SO IT'S FEMA IS KIND OF THE GO TO THERE.
[00:40:01]
SO WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH THE PROCESS OF FOR THE 2023 WINTER STORMS GETTING THERE'S A SLOG OF PAPERWORK THAT'S REQUIRED.SO, WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT CURRENTLY STILL.
BUT YEAH, FEMA IS OUR BEST BET WHEN IT COMES TO STORM DAMAGE.
YEAH. SO DO WE SEE AN ADDITIONAL NEED THIS YEAR? YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE HAVING A LOT MORE RAIN THAN WE'VE HAD IN PAST YEARS.
A DISASTER HASN'T BEEN ANNOUNCED YET.
FOR ANYTHING RECENTLY, AT LEAST, I HAVEN'T SEEN YET.
SO USUALLY WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF ONE THAT'S REALLY HEAVILY IMPACTED, THE AREA WILL GET ANNOUNCED, AND I'LL START COORDINATING WITH THE DIFFERENT DEPARTMENTS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO REQUEST FOR, FOR FUNDING.
YEAH, IT LOOKS UNFORTUNATELY THAT MIGHT BE COMING IN OUR DIRECTION THIS YEAR.
KATIE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPORT AND ALSO FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM ARE DOING.
I KNOW YOU HAVE A SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM AND REALLY TO TURN ALL OF THIS OUT, ALL OF THESE GRANT APPLICATIONS AND THEN ALSO TRACK THE PAYMENTS.
IT'S A HUGE JOB, I UNDERSTAND.
I USED TO HEAD A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION.
SO ALONGSIDE THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION THAT WE HAVE JUST THIS AMAZING TEAM IN TERMS OF THE, THE, YOU KNOW, FUNDRAISING AND TRACKING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
I'M EXCITED TO SEE ALL OF THE STUFF GOING ON IN MY DISTRICT, THOUGH.
I JUST HAVE TO I HAVE TO SAY THAT WITH THE RISK OF MAKING MY OTHER DIRECTORS MAD, BUT I'M IT'S VERY I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE ACTIVITY ON THESE ON THE DIFFERENT THINGS AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE FIRE BREAK, FOR EXAMPLE, AND BROOK ROAD AND OF COURSE, THE BAY TRAIL OUT THERE AT RICHMOND AND OTHER AND THE OPPORTUNITY HOPEFULLY TO GET SOME FUNDS THROUGH RAISE FOR THE THAT BAY TRAIL, THAT 0.9 CLOSURE BETWEEN POINT PINOLE AND WILSON POINT IS ALL.
YEAH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU I THINK THAT'S IT.
EXCUSE ME. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NOTHING. OKAY. DO ANY OF THE DO.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON EITHER THING.
I MEAN, NOT GOOD THAT THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT GOOD THAT WE DIDN'T MISS IT.
OKAY. SO ANY FURTHER COMMENTS FROM ANY OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS? JUST VERY IMPRESSIVE.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
OKAY. WELL, IN THAT CASE, WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 1116.
YOU TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, DENNIS.
I SEE YOU, DENNIS. GOOD TO SEE YOU ONLINE.
ALL RIGHT. BYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.