[00:00:07]
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON TODAY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13TH.
WE'RE BEGINNING TODAY AT 10 36.
[Roll Call]
YOU TAKEDIRECTOR ECKLES, PRESENT CHAIR, WASPY HERE.
PARK DISTRICT STAFF COORDINATORS IN THIS MEETING INCLUDE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, DR.
ANA ALVAREZ, PRESENT AND CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.
ERIC ELLER IS SITTING HERE, HERE.
UM, TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT.
STAFF IS PROVIDING LIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT MAY DO SO BY SUBMITTING AN EMAIL, LEAVING A VOICEMAIL, OR JOINING LIVE VIA ZOOM WITH THE LINK PROVIDED IN THE AGENDA LOCATED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MEETING PROCEDURES, WE WILL BEGIN.
[Approval of Minutes - December 15, 2023 & January 10, 2024]
STARTS WITH THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 15TH AND THE JANUARY 10TH MEETING.AND FOR TODAY'S MEETING, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, HAVE A POINT OF PRIVILEGE.
WE WILL JUST, UM, VOTE TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 15TH MINUTES, AND WE WILL GET THE JANUARY 10TH THERE.
THE JANUARY 10TH IS NOT IN OUR PACKET TODAY, SO WE'LL APPROVE JANUARY 10TH IN, UM, AT OUR NEXT MEETING.
SO, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE DECEMBER 15TH? 2023 MINUTES.
I WASN'T ON THE COMMITTEE, SO I'LL LET YOU DO IT.
AND IF YOU WEREN'T ON THE COMMITTEE, I'LL SECOND.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE MINUTES OF THE DECEMBER 15TH MEETING, SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
OPPOSED OR ABSTAIN? YOUR CHOICE.
WE HAVE ONE ABSTENTION AND WE'LL MOVE NOW TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SEE, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Action Items]
THEN INTO OUR ACTION ITEMS. WE HAVE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS, AND OUR FIRST RECOMMENDATION IS TO SPONSOR A 2091 FROM, UH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON, EXISTING TRAILS FOR NATURE ACCESS.GOOD AFTERNOON, OR GOOD MORNING.
LISA BALLINGER, LEGISLATIVE POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST.
AND I'LL BE, UH, INTRODUCING THIS ITEM AND, AND COORDINATING WITH, UH, DISTRICT COUNCIL JASON ROSENBERG, UH, ON THE UPDATE.
SO, AB 2091, UH, IS BEING AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER TIM GRAYSON OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S DELEGATION.
UM, AND IT'S BEING TITLED THE EXISTING TRAILS FOR NATURE ACCESS BILL.
UH, THIS IS A BILL THAT WAS INITIATED BY EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IN REFLECTION OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'VE HAD THROUGH, UH, THE SQA PROCESS FOR LAND ACQUIRED FOR PARK AND OPEN SPACE PURPOSES.
AND SO OUR ASK TODAY IS TO TAKE A FORMAL SPONSORSHIP POSITION NOW THAT WE HAVE A BILL NUMBER AND TITLE, IT IS EXPECTED TO GO BEFORE THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, UH, ON MARCH 19TH.
UM, AND SO TESTIMONY WILL BE PROVIDED TO GIVE GREATER CONTEXT TO THE BILL, BUT FOR SOME BACKGROUND, I'LL, I'LL TURN IT TO JASON.
UH, JASON ROSENBERG, ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL.
UH, YEAH, THIS, THIS LEGISLATION EFFORT WAS REALLY, IT'S REALLY A TEAM EFFORT BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, A SD, SPECIFICALLY THE PLANNING DIVISION AND LEGAL.
UM, THROUGH MY WORK WITH THE PLANNING DIVISION, WE IDENTIFIED A, A NEED TO ADDRESS SOME, A SHORTFALL IN BEING ABLE TO GET PUBLIC ACCESS QUICKER ON CERTAIN PROJECTS WHERE WE ARE, WE OWN THE LAND AND IT'S EXISTING TRAILS, ROADS, AND DISTURBED AREAS.
AND THE GOAL IS JUST TO GET THAT AREA OPEN QUICKER.
AND IN WORKING WITH PLANNING, OFTENTIMES WE HAVE IN INTERESTING DISCUSSION THAT IS LIKE, WE'RE NOT TOUCHING THE DIRT, WE'RE NOT DOING ANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
WHY IS THIS NEED A FULL EIR? UM, AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE LAW IS STRUCTURED, WE RECOGNIZE THAT, YOU KNOW, AS A PARK DISTRICT, THERE'S NOT ALWAYS A PERFECT FIT FOR THE WAY THE CURRENT LOSS IS STRUCTURED.
AND WE WORKED TO GET, UM, THIS BILL IN PLACE, AND THIS WAS, YOU KNOW, ONCE LEGAL AND PLANNING IDENTIFIED THE NEED, THE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS REALLY JUMPED IN AND STARTED TO ADVOCATE.
AND WE GOT GRAYSON TO SPONSOR THIS.
I KNOW THE BOARD IS FAMILIAR WITH THIS BILL, AS YOU'VE BEEN BRIEFED ON THIS BEFORE, BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE IT AT THIS LEVEL WHERE WE'RE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE IT INTRODUCED, WE'RE READY TO GO TO COMMITTEE ON TESTIMONY AND GETTING THE BOARD'S OFFICIAL SPONSOR POSITION SUPPORT OF THAT WILL BE HELPFUL AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
AND, UH, YEAH, WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES.
WE'RE GONNA START TO HAVE COMMITTEE TESTIMONY SOON.
UM, IF YOU HAVE ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS ABOUT IT, LISA OR I ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS, BUT THAT'S KIND OF THE BACKGROUND AND, AND HOW IT KIND OF CAME TO BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
[00:05:01]
THIS? UH, NO.I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH, UM, THIS PROPOSED LEGISLATION AND, UM, REALLY AM EXCITED THAT WE'RE AT THIS POINT.
AND, UH, SO THANKS TO THE STAFF FOR GETTING US HERE AND AS WELL AS, UM, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON FOR BEING WILLING TO SPONSOR IT.
I THINK THIS IS, WE'RE, WE'RE IN GOOD SHAPE.
YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION.
SO SINCE WE'RE SPONSORING THIS, UM, IF, IF IT WERE TO GET AMENDED OR CHANGED IN A WAY THAT WE DIDN'T LIKE, CAN WE PULL OUR SPONSORSHIP? THAT MIGHT BE AWKWARD, BUT YEAH.
UM, SO THE PROCESS FOR AMENDMENTS WOULD, THAT THEY WOULD BE SHARED WITH EAST BAY PARKS IN THE PROCESS FOR OUR PROPOSAL.
AND SO IF IT ENDED UP BEING THAT AMENDMENTS WERE MADE THAT WE NO LONGER FELT COMFORTABLE WITH, IT'S LIKELY THAT THE AUTHOR, UH, WOULDN'T CONTINUE TO MOVE THE BILL FORWARD, BUT RATHER WE WOULD EXPLORE WHAT'S POSSIBLE FOR A FUTURE PROPOSAL.
COLIN, ANYTHING? NO, WE DID GET TO DISCUSS THIS WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON, WHEN WE WERE ALL UP IN SACRAMENTO AND, UH, SOME OF THE OTHER LEGISLATORS.
SO WE GOT TO, UH, FILL THAT ADVOCACY ROLE THAT WE GET TO FILL WHEN WE GO TO SACRAMENTO, WHICH, UM, WHICH REINFORCES TO ME THE, UH, BENEFITS OF US DOING THAT, AS WELL AS WITH OUR TRIP TO DC.
SO APPRECIATE IT AND, UH, UH, AND, UH, GLAD TO SEE IT GOING FORWARD.
I, I ACCURATE YOUR STATEMENTS, COLIN.
IT LOOKS LIKE WE ADVOCATED, UH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON TOOK IT AND HE'S MOVING IT, AND IT'S GONNA BE GREAT.
MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE, UM, UM, ARE, DO WE SEND ANYONE TO THESE, UH, TO PROVIDE TESTIMONY? I MEAN, ARE YOU GONNA GO UP THERE OR IS ERIC GONNA GO UP THERE OR? YEAH, SO, UH, A GROUP OF US WILL BE UP, UH, FOR THE TESTIMONY ON MARCH 19TH.
UH, WE WILL HAVE A VARIETY OF, UH, INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING OUR CONSULTANTS AS WELL AS STAFF GIVING TESTIMONY.
IT HAS BEEN DOUBLE REFERRED AT THIS POINT, SO IT'S GOING BEFORE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, BEFORE GOING TO THE COMMITTEE ON WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE.
AND SO, UH, WE'RE HOPING TO GET, UM, SOME DIFFERENT VOICES PROVIDING TESTIMONY TO SHARE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES ON THE ISSUE.
BUT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SUCCINCTLY, YES, EAST BAY PARKS WILL PARTICIPATE AND SUPPORT THE TESTIMONY.
AND IS IT OUR JOB OR DO YOU, UM, OR IS IT SOMEBODY ELSE'S JOB OR, UM, SOMEONE OR GRACE'S STAFF'S JOB TO SEEK SUPPORT? I KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S, IT'S, I I NOTICED THAT YOU GUYS WERE AT, AT THE CARPETED, UH, LEGISLATIVE, UH, COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH I THINK IS WONDERFUL.
I MEAN, UM, I'M NOT GONNA GET TOO EFFUSIVE HERE, BUT CARPETED HAD LOVE TO FOLLOW YOUR PATTERN OF EVERY, THE WAY YOU DO BUSINESS.
AND I'VE SUGGESTED THAT THEY FOLLOW YOU AND GET, GET YOU CLOSE TO THEM.
AND I, I LIKE THE BACK AND FORTH.
SO, HAVE WE SOUGHT A LETTER FROM CARPETED? YES.
UH, C-A-R-P-D, THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF RECREATION PARK DISTRICT HAS PROVIDED A LETTER OF SUPPORT, SAVE MOUNT DIABLO MID PENINSULA OPEN SPACE AUTHORITY, AS WELL AS A HANDFUL OF OTHERS HAVE BEEN PROVIDING SUPPORT AND LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT FLORA SANTOS HAS BEEN COLLECTING THOSE.
I JUST REMEMBERED SOMETHING TO ASK.
AND IF I CAN, IF I MAY PLEASE.
WE WERE TOLD I RECALL BY AT LEAST ONE LEGISLATOR OTHER THAN GRAYSON, THAT THERE WOULD BE OPPOSITION TO THIS, THAT, UH, THEY PROJECTED THAT, UH, THERE ARE INTEREST GROUPS WHO ARE VERY MUCH CHAMPIONS OF CQA THAT WOULD VIEW ANY DILUTION OF CQA IMPACTS AS SOMETHING THEY WOULD OPPOSE.
ARE WE ANTICIPATING THAT AND IS IT SOMETHING, UH, WE AS AN ORGANIZATION CAN TAKE ON TO TRY TO PREEMPT OR DEAL WITH THOSE GROUPS? 'CAUSE WE TEND TO HAVE GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
SO WE ARE ACTING, ACTING PROACTIVELY TO COMMUNICATE WITH AUDUBON AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN SEEING THE ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION AND PROTECTION CONTINUE.
AND SO WE'RE WORKING IN CONVERSATION TO ENSURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND OUR INTENT AND THAT WE MAKE AMENDMENTS THAT HELP TO SUPPORT, UH, CLARITY OF THE LANGUAGE, UH, FOR ANY CONCERNS THAT THEY HAVE.
AND IF WE CAN HELP WITH ANY OF THOSE GROUPS, THEY'RE ALWAYS ASKING US FOR THINGS.
SO WOULD ANYONE LIKE MOVING THIS, UH, TO THE FULL BOARD, UH, OF DIRECTORS FOR, UM, TO AUTHORIZE OUR SPONSORSHIP? I'D BE HAPPY TO MOVE THE MOTION.
UH, IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR HEARING ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENTS? SEEING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THANK YOU VERY, VERY MUCH AND GOOD LUCK.
UH, WE'LL MOVE NOW TO THE, UM, STATE, UH, SLATE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE LOOK FOR SUPPORT FOR
[00:10:01]
AND RECOMMEND, RECOMMEND SUPPORT FOR.ALRIGHT, LISA BALDING, LEGISLATIVE POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST, UH, CONTINUING THE DISCUSSION ON STATE LEGISLATION.
THE FOLLOWING BILLS ARE BEING PROPOSED FOR A SUPPORT POSITION BY, UH, THE PARK DISTRICT.
A SUPPORT POSITION, UH, GIVES OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, PARK DISTRICT STAFF AND, AND LEADERSHIP TO ENGAGE ON THESE DIFFERENT BILLS THROUGH LETTERS OF SUPPORT, CONVERSATIONS WITH AUTHOR'S OFFICE, UM, AND OTHER, IN OTHER ACTIONS.
SO, UM, I WILL WALK US THROUGH OUR PROPOSAL TODAY.
SO STARTING WITH AB 4 37, UM, THIS BILL IS ESTABLISHING A STATE LEVEL CHIEF EQUITY OFFICER.
THIS WOULD BE A NEW POSITION IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, WHICH WOULD PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND SUPPORT, UH, AND FRAMEWORKS FOR BEST PRACTICES ACROSS STATE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE CLOSE PARTNERS OF THE PARK DISTRICT, SUCH AS THE CALIFORNIA, UH, NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY AND, AND ALL, UH, DEPARTMENTS WITHIN.
AND WE SEE THIS JOB, OR EXCUSE ME, THIS, UH, BILL ALIGNING WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY GOALS AROUND GREEN JOBS AND CREATING OPPORTUNITIES.
CONTINUING AB 6 37, UH, IS THE ZERO EMISSIONS VEHICLE RENTAL PROGRAM.
UM, THIS IS A, UH, BILL IN RESPONSE TO STATE, UH, DIRECTION.
UH, CURRENTLY THE PARK DISTRICT, UH, IS NOT, UH, BEING DIRECTED AS, AS OTHER AGENCIES ARE, BUT IT'S LIKELY THAT WE WILL IN TIME TO HAVE A ZERO EMISSION, UH, VEHICLE FLEET.
UM, AND SO WHAT THIS BILL IS GIVING IS OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC AGENCIES TO RENT DIFFERENT FORMS OF VEHICLES UNDER THAT REGULATION TO ALLOW FOR TRYING OF VEHICLE TYPES.
UM, AND SO FOREIGN AGENCY LIKE EAST BAY PARKS WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF JOBS THAT ARE SUPPORTED, UH, BY, UH, TRUCKS AND OTHER VEHICLES, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRIAL, UM, VEHICLES WAS OF INTEREST TO OUR MAINTENANCE STAFF.
AND SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING A SUPPORT POSITION ON THIS LEGISLATION IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CLIMATE FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION GOAL.
AB 1798, UH, IS THE STORM WATER RUNOFF FOR THE PROTECTION OF SALMON AND STEELHEAD TROUT BILL.
UM, AND THIS BILL DEVELOPS A REVIEW PROCESS FOR THE TOXIC SUBSTANCES THAT ARE ENTERING SURFACE WATERS.
UM, AS OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS FAMILIAR WITH, UH, OUR LANDS, UH, ARE WHERE THE NATIVE RAINBOW TROUT, UH, WERE, UH, NATIVE, WELL, ORIGINALLY FROM.
AND SO, UH, THIS IS OF INTEREST TO US AS WE CONTINUE TO STUDY AND PROTECT, UH, THESE SPECIES.
THIS PILOT PROJECT WOULD, UH, EXPLORE BIORETENTION AND BIOFILTRATION OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF SURFACE WATER, ULTIMATELY BENEFITING THE OVERALL WATERSHED ECOSYSTEM AND HABITAT IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR ECOSYSTEM STEWARDSHIP GOAL.
CONTINUING AB 1889 IS THE WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY ELEMENTS IN GENERAL PLANS.
UM, AND THIS LEGISLATION IS LOOKING AT, UH, TOWARDS CITIES AND COUNTIES, UH, TO INCLUDE WILDLIFE CONNECTIVITY ELEMENTS IN THEIR GENERAL PLAN PROPOSAL.
AS WE ARE AN AGENCY WHICH SPANS TWO COUNTIES AND 33 CITIES, UH, THE PARK DISTRICT SEES OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT THESE GENERAL PLANS IN LOOKING AT HABITAT AND BIODIVERSITY GOALS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR OWN.
UM, AND SO WE RECOMMEND A SUPPORT POSITION ON THIS BILL AND ALIGNMENT WITH ECOSYSTEM STEWARDSHIP.
AB 2124 IS THE OUTDOOR SWIM LESSONS LEGISLATION.
AND THIS LEGISLATION ESTABLISHES A PROGRAM TO INCREASE ACCESS TO OUTDOOR SWIMMING LESSONS, UH, FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
THE PARK DISTRICT HAS OUR OWN, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY, UH, LIFEGUARD SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHICH PROVIDES A VARIETY OF SWIM LESSONS ACROSS THE REGION, INCLUDING IN OUTDOOR LOCATIONS.
AND SO THIS ALIGNS, UH, WITH WORK WE'RE ALREADY DOING AND WOULD FURTHER SUPPORT IT, UH, THROUGH STATE LEGISLATION.
AND SO WE RECOMMEND A SUPPORT POSITION IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH GOAL.
UH, AB 2285 IS THE 30 BY 30 URBAN NATURE-BASED INVESTMENTS BILL.
AND THIS BILL IS LOOKING AT THE GOALS OF 30 BY 30, UH, WHICH ARE STRONGLY FOCUSED ON CONSERVATION OF OPEN SPACE, UM, AND RESTORATION ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND SEEKING TO BRING THOSE GOALS WITHIN URBAN DENSE AREAS AND SUPPORT INVESTMENTS INTO URBAN GREENING AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE, UH, OUR COMMUNITIES ARE TO FURTHER, UH, SPAN, UH, HOW 30 BY 30 IS RECOGNIZED, SEEN AND IMPLEMENTED ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND SO AS AN URBAN PARK DISTRICT, UH, WE SEE BENEFITS AND OPPORTUNITIES OF THIS LEGISLATION TO EXPAND FUNDING INVESTMENTS, UM, AND ALSO BRING VISIBILITY TO THE 30 BY 30 PROGRAM, UH, IN URBAN COMMUNITIES.
AB 2330 IS THE STREAMLINING OF ROUTINE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION, WHICH PROPOSES A REVISED REVIEW TIMELINE FOR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT OF ENDANGERED AND THREATENED SPECIES.
UM, ESSENTIALLY WHAT THIS DOES IS IT, UH, ELEVATES, UH, THE REVIEW OF ENDANGERED SPEC END THREATENED SPECIES THROUGH A STREAMLINED APPROACH, UM, TO, UH, EXPEDITE WILDFIRE MITIGATION EFFORTS.
UM, AND WE SEE THIS LEGISLATION IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE GOAL OF PROTECTING THE HABITAT WELL, UM, ENSURING
[00:15:01]
TO PROTECT AGAINST THE THREAT OF CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRE.AB 24 40 IS THE ADVANCING 30 BY 30 STATE INVESTMENTS, UH, WHICH REQUIRES REPORTING ON THE STATE FUNDING INVESTED INTO THE 30 BY 30 PROGRAM.
SO AS OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS AWARE, 30 BY 30 DOES NOT HAVE A SPECIFIC UNIQUE GRANT PROGRAM, BUT RATHER IT SPANS MULTIPLE GRANT PROGRAMS ACROSS DIFFERENT STATE AGENCIES.
AND SO THIS LESS THIS LEGISLATION WOULD HELP TO, UH, BRING TOGETHER AND QUANTIFY THE 30 BY 30 INVESTMENTS AT THE STATE LEVEL.
IT WOULD ALSO HELP AGENCIES LIKE THE PARK DISTRICT IDENTIFY WHICH PROGRAMS ARE INVESTING IN ALIGNMENT WITH 30 BY 30.
SO THERE'S POTENTIAL TO EXPLORE NEW OPPORTUNITIES, UH, THROUGH THE REPORT.
AB 25 0 9 IS THE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT LEGISLATION, UH, WHICH REQUIRES THE INVASIVE SPECIES COUNCIL OF CALIFORNIA TO PRIORITIZE INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT.
UH, THE GOALS OF THE BILL ALIGN GREATLY WITH THE PARK DISTRICT'S OWN IPM PROGRAM.
AND SO WE SEE OPPORTUNITIES OF SHARING BEST PRACTICES, UM, ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR ECOSYSTEM STEWARDSHIP GOAL.
UH, THIS IS THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY OPEN SPACE AUTHORITIES LEGISLATION.
UH, THESE ARE PARTNERS OF EAST BAY PARKS, AND WHAT THEY ARE PROPOSING, UM, IS AN AMENDMENT TO THEIR SECTION OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODES.
SO, UH, EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IS UNDER THE PUBLIC RESOURCE CODE 5,500, ALONG WITH MID PENINSULA AND SOME OTHERS, INDEPENDENT AND REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AGENCIES.
SANTA CLARA VALLEY OPEN SPACE AUTHORITY IS UNDER THEIR OWN CODE SECTION.
AND SO WHAT THEY'RE PROPOSING ARE SOME AMENDMENTS TO STREAMLINE OPERATIONS, UH, OF SANTA CLARA VALLEY OPEN SPACE AUTHORITIES ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES, UM, IN ALIGNMENT REALLY WITH THE PUBLIC RESOURCE CODE 5,500 SECTION.
SO, UH, SEEING, UH, THEIR EFFORTS, UH, TO FURTHER ADVANCE THEIR GOALS.
UH, IN PARTNERSHIP, WE'RE RECOMMENDING SUPPORT AB 26 6, EXCUSE ME, 28 69 IS THE TRAIL ACCESS, UH, PROJECT LEGISLATION, WHICH REQUIRES THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO MITIGATE IMPACTS ON TRAIL INFRASTRUCTURE, UH, WHEN DOING PROJECTS.
AND SO IF A, UH, DOT PROJECT, UH, IMPACTED, SAY THE IRON HORSE TRAIL, UH, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD THEN BE REQUIRED TO MITIGATE THAT IMPACT THROUGH A, UM, NEW TRAIL ALIGNMENT.
UM, THAT'S NOT PROPOSED, BUT THAT'S AN EXAMPLE.
UM, AND REALLY WHAT THIS AIMS TO ESTABLISH IS JUST ENSURING CONSISTENT TRAIL ACCESS AND, AND LACK OF DISRUPTION.
AND SO, UH, INTEGRATING, UH, TRAILS WITHIN THEIR PROGRAM IN ALL WAYS.
UM, AND WE SEE THIS AS AN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CLIMATE FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION GOAL OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
THIS IS MORE LEGISLATION THAN USUAL 'CAUSE BILLS WERE JUST INTRODUCED, UH, SINCE OUR LAST COMMITTEE.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.
UH, A CA 16 IS AN EXCITING PIECE OF LEGISLATION.
IT'S A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE CALIFORNIA STATE CONSTITUTION, UH, WHICH WOULD DECLARE THE RIGHT OF CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS TO CLEAN AIR WATER IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
THIS WOULD REALLY CODIFY THE WORK OF EAST BAY PARK DISTRICT WITHIN THE CONSTITUTION, UM, IN ALIGN US WITH, UH, THE STATE'S PURPOSE.
AND SO, UH, IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR COMMUNITY HEALTH, UH, GOAL, WE RECOMMEND SUPPORT.
MOVING ON TO SENATE BILLS, SB 9 25 IS, UH, A BILL BY SENATOR WIENER, WHICH PROPOSES REVENUE MEASURE, UH, FOR TRANSPORTATION RELATED INVESTMENTS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
UH, THIS MEASURE HAS STRONG POTENTIAL TO INCLUDE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION INVESTMENTS.
AND SO A SUPPORT POSITION WOULD ALLOW FOR STAFF TO ENGAGE, ENGAGE ON THE COMMITMENT LIST DEVELOPMENT, AND ENSURE THAT THOSE PUBLIC ACCESS, UH, COMPONENTS, UH, ARE PROACTIVELY INTEGRATED INTO THE PROPOSAL.
SB 10 29 IS THE ADVANCE PAYMENTS FOR REGIONAL FOREST AND FIRE CAPACITY PROGRAM GRANTS.
THE REGIONAL FOREST AND FIRE CAPACITY PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION.
IT IS A PROGRAM THAT THE PARK DISTRICT HAS QUALIFIED FOR IN THE PAST, AND IT'S A PROGRAM THAT, UH, SUPPORTS PARTNERSHIPS.
AND SO THESE ADVANCED PAYMENTS COULD SUPPORT FOR EXPANDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN EAST BAY PARKS AND OTHER AGENCIES WHO, UH, WOULD BENEFIT FROM ADVANCED PAYMENTS, UH, WHEN CONDUCTING A PROJECT WITH US, UH, IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE GOALS, SB 1159 BY SENATOR DOD, WHO'S A MEMBER OF OUR DELEGATION, IS THE EXPEDITING ROADSIDE WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION LEGISLATION.
AND WHAT THIS BILL IS LOOKING AT IS TO ALLOW FOR, UH, THE CONSIDERATION OF QUA EXEMPTIONS FOR ROADSIDE MITIGATION PROJECTS, INCLUDING ROADS GOING THROUGH, UH, OUR, UH, OUR PARK LANDS.
AND SO THIS WOULD ALLOW FOR EXPEDITED WILDFIRE RISK REDUCTION IN THOSE AREAS, UM, IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE GOAL.
SB 1402, UM, IS THE ACTIVATING 30 BY 30 GOALS IN STATE STRATEGIC PLANS.
SO WE'RE REALLY SEEING A LOT OF CO, UH, PROPOSED CODIFYING OF THE 30 BY 30 INITIATIVE IN LEGISLATION THIS YEAR.
UH, THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE STATE AGENCIES, UH, TO CONSIDER 30 BY 30 GOALS WHEN THEY'RE ADOPTING,
[00:20:01]
REVISING, ESTABLISHING, OR UPDATING ANY POLICY PLANS OR REGULATIONS.UM, AND SO THIS WOULD EMBED THE PATHWAYS TO 30 BY 30 DOCUMENT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES WITHIN STATE PROGRAMS. UM, AND, AND WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS AND SEE IT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE, UH, ECOSYSTEM STEWARDSHIP GOAL.
AND THAT COMPLETES OUR PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THE BOARD MAY HAVE, AND WE ARE REQUESTING A SUPPORT POSITION.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? GO AHEAD.
DO YOU OR WE HAVE ANY THOUGHTS ON WHAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION DECLARING THE RIGHT TO CLEAN, AIR, WATER, AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT WOULD ACTUALLY DO? AND YOU CAN KIND OF GET THE GIST OF IT.
DOES ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU KNOW, THE MARTINEZ REFINERY STOP SPEWING THE STUFF THAT'S BEEN SPEWING OF LATE? WHAT IS CONSTITUTIONAL MEANT DO? IS IT PROVIDING SOME KIND OF NEW VEHICLE FOR LITIGATION? UH, WHAT'S, WHAT'S, WHAT'S EVERYONE'S TAKE ON THAT? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
UM, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THIS CONSTITUTIONAL, UH, AMENDMENT WOULD CREATE THE FOUNDATION FOR FUTURE ACTIONS.
UM, IT ITSELF IS NOT AN ACTION OR A UNIQUE OR SPECIFIC DIRECTION, BUT IT'S STATING THE GOALS OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND THEN THAT COMMITMENT CAN BE BUILT OFF OF IN FUTURE LEGISLATION PLANS AND PROPOSALS THAT ARE TAKING UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC ACCESS TO ENSURE THE RIGHT TO THE CLEAN AIR, WATER, AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT.
SO IT'S SYMBOL LARGELY SYMBOLIC.
LARGELY SYMBOLIC WITH POTENTIAL TO, UH, HAVE TRACTION IN TIME.
I, I'M JUST CURIOUS, YEAH, WHAT THE INTENT OF THAT WAS.
UH, THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE FROM THE SLIDE DECK WAS THE, UH, LEGISLATION TO CREATE A PROGRAM TO INCREASE ACCESS TO OUTDOOR SWIMMING LESSONS FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS.
DOES THAT CARRY ANY FUNDING WITH IT? IT'S OBVIOUSLY ON ITS FACE, IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WOULD FIT WELL, ESPECIALLY WITH, UH, WHAT OUR, UH, PUBLIC SAFETY FOLKS, PETE DE QUINCY IS, IS DOING IN, IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UH, OTHER COMMUNITIES FOR SWIM ACTIVITY, SWIM LESSONS.
SO IN TERMS OF ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE A GRANT PROGRAM TO SUPPORT THE, THE SWIM LESSONS ACROSS THE STATE.
SO THERE IS POTENTIAL GRANT, THERE'S POTENTIAL FUNDING WITH THAT.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION ON, UM, SB 1159, THE DOD BILL, UM, EXPEDITING ROADSIDE WILDFIRE REDUCTION RISK.
SO HOW WOULD THAT WORK IF YOU COULD JUST HELP ME UNDERSTAND A LITTLE BIT MORE? BUT I UNDERSTAND THAT THE, THAT THE CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES SECRETARY COULD CONSIDER EXEMPTIONS TO CQA FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK, BUT HOW I'M LIKE, WHAT, WHAT IS IT ACTUALLY CHANGING? BECAUSE I COULD SEE, I MEAN, IN PRINCIPLE, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A REALLY GREAT GOAL, BUT I COULD ALSO SEE HOW IT COULD BE POTENTIALLY MISUSED.
SO IF YOU COULD JUST ELABORATE A LITTLE BIT.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, FOR THAT QUESTION.
AND SO WITHIN THIS PROPOSAL, IT'S, IT'S FAIRLY DRAFT FORM.
IT, IT, IT'S STATED THE INTENT, WHICH IS TO ALLOW FOR STREAMLINING OF ROADSIDE MITIGATION PROJECTS.
UM, HOWEVER, WE DO EXPECT FOR AMENDMENTS AND UPDATES TO REFINE AND PUT SOME STRUCTURE ON WHO QUALIFIES AND WHAT THE PROCESS WOULD BE.
UM, I WOULD IMAGINE IT WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE, UH, STATUTORY EXEMPTION FOR FRUSTRATION PERMITTING, THE CERT PROGRAM THAT THE PARK DISTRICT PARTICIPATES IN WHERE, UH, FOR THE EXEMPTION TO BE GRANTED A PROPOSAL IS PROVIDED TO, UH, THE DIRECTOR OF FISH AND WILDLIFE, UH, WHICH IS A, A FASTER PROCESS THAN GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE SQL PROCESS.
UH, BUT IT IS STILL A PROCESS WITH SOME OVERSIGHT.
I'M NOT GONNA GET THIS CORRECT.
UM, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UH, I GUESS THE ONLY QUESTION I WOULD HAVE, OR THE COMMENT I WOULD HAVE, I, I LOVE AB 6 37.
I MEAN, WE CONTINUALLY HEAR THAT IN THE PARK DISTRICT.
OH, WE CAN'T GO TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES OR ALTERNATIVE VEHICLES BASED ON, OH, WE'RE AFRAID IT'S NOT GONNA WORK.
BUT THIS GIVES YOU A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TRY IT OUT IF IT DOES.
BUT ANYWAY, I WAS HOPING TO DO SOME RESEARCH, 'CAUSE I'M GONNA BE EMBARRASSED HERE.
THE CARPET LEGISLATION, WHICH WE'RE REALLY PUSHING IS FOR COMMITTEES AND OTHER PEOPLE OTHER THAN US TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO, OR NOT CONTINUE, BUT ONCE AGAIN, UH, ATTEND MEETINGS REMOTELY.
UH, AND I FORGOT THE NUMBER AND I WAS GONNA LOOK IT UP.
AND IF YOU TELL ME, I BELIEVE IT'S 8 1 7, THIS GROUP HAS SUPPORTED THAT TWO MONTHS AGO.
I'M GONNA BE REALLY EMBARRASSED.
HAVE WE DONE THAT YET? OR? WELL, NOW I DON'T WANNA TELL YOU THAT, BUT THE, THE RESPONSE IS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND YEAR OF A TWO YEAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
[00:25:01]
AND THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTION DIRECTORS TOOK A SUPPORT POSITION LAST YEAR.AND SO STAFF IS CONTINUING TO ENGAGE ON THAT BILL AND PROVIDING LETTERS OF SUPPORT, UM, AND PARTICIPATING IN CONVERSATIONS.
I MUST HAVE BEEN ABSENT THAT MEETING, BUT THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
UM, ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ANYTHING OR STAFF, ANY BOARD MEMBERS THEN IN, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UM, SUPPORT THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION AND SEND THEM TO FURTHER TO THE BOARD.
UH, DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DO THAT? SO MOVED.
THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
UH, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
YOU YOU NEED AN INTRODUCTION, DON'T YOU? WE'RE NOW GONNA MOVE TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
UM, ERIC, UH, ERIC FEELER, EXCUSE ME.
ERIC FEELER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.
UH, JUST WANTED TO THANK LISA FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
IT, IT WAS A LITTLE LONG BECAUSE WE, UH, THE, THE WINDOW FOR INTRODUCING BILLS WAS BETWEEN OUR LAST MEETING IN JANUARY AND NOW.
SO, UM, A LOT HAS COME, COME THROUGH.
UM, I THINK WE MENTIONED THE STATU STATUTORY EXEMPTION FOR RE, UH, RESTORATION PROJECTS.
THE EXTENSION OF THAT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE, I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN WE WENT TO SACRAMENTO, BUT THAT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN A TRAILER BILL, SO THAT'S BASICALLY A DONE DEAL.
UM, AND THEN, UH, JUST WANTED TO RESPOND TO YOUR LAST QUESTION, DENNIS.
WE ARE SENDING A LE OR DIRECTOR, UH, CHAIR WASFI.
WE ARE SENDING A LETTER TO, I BELIEVE IT WAS THE SENATE CHAIR, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIR, UH, THAT WAS REQUESTED BY ED ON THE, ON 8 8 1 7.
UM, SO THAT'S WORKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE SIGNATURE PROCESS HERE.
AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION FOR SUPPORT.
UM, FIRST BILL IS, UH, ONE THAT WE HAVE SEEN BEFORE, IT'S COMPLETE STREETS ACT.
UH, IT DEFINES COMPLETE STREETS AS ACCESSIBLE, SAFE TRANSPORTATION FOR MULTIPLE MODES OF TRAVEL.
IT WOULD, UH, ASK FOR STATES TO SPEND A PORTION OF THEIR FEDERAL HIGHWAY MONEY ON DEVELOPING COMPLETE STREET POLICIES, AND ALSO IMPLEMENTING THE PROJECTS FOR THE PARK DISTRICT THAT WOULD PRESENT OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTNER WITH OUR, UH, STATE, OR, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, OUR CITY AND, UH, COUNTY GOVERNMENTS ON COMPLETING SOME OF THE GAPS IN OUR PAVED TRAIL NETWORK.
AND IT IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR CLIMATE FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION GOAL.
UH, THIS ONE IS, UH, ONE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY, UH, EXCITED TO SEE BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE, I'VE SEEN SUCH A, SUCH LEGISLATION.
BUT IT WOULD ESSENTIALLY CREATE A GRANT PROGRAM FOR A E-BIKE, UH, SHARE RENTAL SHARE, UH, DISTRIBUTION IN, IN DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES, ENABLING EFFECTIVE TRANSPORTATION, UH, FOR, UH, NOT JUST FOR COMMUTING AND FOR SCHOOLS AND SHOPPING AND GETTING TO WORK, UH, BUT ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY FOR E-BIKES TO BE A WAY FOR PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE THE PROPER TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO OUR PARKS, UH, COULD OFFER AN OPPORTUNITY FOR TRANSPORTATION TO REGIONAL PARKS, UH, FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES.
AND IT ALSO ALIGNS WITH OUR CLIMATE FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION ADVOCACY GOAL.
HR 6 7 7 3, UH, WOULD ACTUALLY CHANGE THE NAME OF THE ELK RIVER TRAIL IN THE HEADWATERS FOREST RESERVE, UH, TO THE DIANE FEINSTEIN MEMORIAL TRAIL.
AND AS YOU CAN READ THAT, THAT SENATOR FEINSTEIN WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE NEGOTIATION OF THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY FROM PACIFIC LUMBER TO, UH, THE US AND THEN THUS CREATING A NATIONAL FOREST PRESERVE.
THE SENATOR WAS ALSO VERY SUPPORTIVE OF PARK DISTRICT'S EFFORTS ON WILD WILDFIRE RESILIENCE AND SEA LEVEL RISE PREPAREDNESS, UH, AS WELL AS A, A KEY SUPPORTER OF THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION PROGRAM, WHICH WE ARE NOW RECEIVING GRANT FUNDING FROM HR 6 8 4 1, UH, IS REALLY, UH, KIND OF A MODIFICATION OF THE COASTAL, UH, RESILIENCE AND PROTECTION RESTORATION ACT.
UH, IT WOULD, IT WOULD CALL OUT, UH, PROJECTS THAT BUILD RESILIENCE TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE.
[00:30:01]
OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO ADDRESS AREAS NEAR DON EDWARDS, UM, NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE.IT IS THE, THE LEGISLATION IS SPECIFIC TO PROJECTS NEAR EXISTING, UH, REFUGES.
SO IT WOULD PROVIDE A POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EAST BAY.
UH, AND IT IS ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF OUR SEA LEVEL RISE PREPAREDNESS ADVOCACY GOAL.
AND I HAD TO WRITE THIS DOWN, SO I'LL READ IT.
UH, THE PREPARE ACT IS PREPAREDNESS AND RISK MANAGEMENT FOR EXTREME WEATHER PATTERNS, ASSURING RESILIENCE AND EFFECTIVENESS.
UH, AND SO THERE'S, THERE ARE, UM, SOMEWHAT REGULAR AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL, UH, NOAA OCEANIC, UH, ADMINISTRATION FOR WEATHER ANALYSIS.
AND THIS WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT THE EXTREME WEATHER, UH, EVENTS THAT WE'RE HAVING AND REALLY MAKE SOME PROACTIVE, UH, EFFORTS TO PREPARE FOR THOSE OCCURRENCES.
WE ARE SEEING THE IMPACTS TO OUR PARKS AND THE PUBLIC IS ACTUALLY STARTING TO NOTICE AND UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A NEED TO ADDRESS, UH, THESE EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, AND ALSO TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR MAINTENANCE AND, AND RESTORATION.
UH, AND THIS ALSO ALIGNS WITH OUR SEA LEVEL RISE PREPAREDNESS ADVOCACY GOAL.
UH, ONE, ANOTHER BILL THAT WE'VE SEEN, UH, EVERY YEAR SINCE, UH, PROBABLY 2008, 2009, UH, FINALLY WAS ENACTED IN 2019 TO PROVIDE EVERY FOURTH GRADER AND THEIR FAMILY ACCESS TO, UH, FEDERAL LANDS, UH, FOR VISITATION.
UH, THE PROGRAM WAS, WAS AUTHORIZED FROM 2019 TO 2026, SO IT DOES EXPIRE.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD PERMANENTLY AUTHORIZE THE PROGRAM AND ALSO EXPANDS, UH, EXPANDS IT TO INCLUDE FIFTH GRADERS, UH, AND AGAIN, ALIGNS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY OF COMMUNITY HEALTH.
AND THOSE ARE THE BILLS FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
WE'D LIKE TO ASK FOR SUPPORT, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ALSO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
ANY BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? NO, YOU LOOK REALLY GOOD TO ME.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UH, SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ON THIS LIST, BUT I GUESS IN, UH, PASSING REFERENCE FROM PROBABLY NATIONAL REC AND PARK ASSOCIATIONS WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS, THERE WAS A REFERENCE TO SOME TYPE OF RENEWED ASSAULT ON THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION FUND.
AND I WONDERED IF YOU KNEW WHETHER THAT WAS, UH, TRULY A THREAT, UH, TO THE FUND, AND WOULD IT BECOME PART OF OUR ADVOCACY, OR, UH, MAYBE IF PETER WERE HERE, I'M SURE HE WOULD BE ON, ON TOP OF IT, BUT WHAT, WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT IT? YEAH.
UM, IT'S AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT ARE ON PROPOSED FOR CUTS IN THE HOUSE, UH, APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS, UH, THAT ALSO INCLUDES THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND AT THIS POINT, THOSE EFFORTS HAVE BEEN, UH, PREVENTED, UH, DUE TO THE DEAL THAT PRESIDENT OBAMA, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, PRESIDENT BIDEN REACHED WITH, UH, CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP LAST YEAR TO ADHERE TO SET LEVELS OF FUNDING.
SO AT THIS POINT, UM, THE FIRST SIX APPROPRIATIONS BILLS THAT WERE SIGNED INTO LAW ON SATURDAY, UH, ADHERED TO THAT, UH, THAT COMMITMENT.
THE NEXT SIX, WHICH I DO BELIEVE INCLUDES INTERIOR, UM, MAY, UH, SHOULD, SHOULD ALSO ADHERE TO THAT AGREEMENT.
BUT WE ARE TRACKING, AND, AND PETER IS, IS PROVIDING REPORTS ON A REGULAR BASIS TO US ON IT.
WE DO BENEFIT FROM THAT FUNDING AND, AND ALWAYS WANT IT TO BE FULLY FUNDED AS INTENDED BY EXISTING LAW.
UH, YEAH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
UM, SO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD SUPPORT OF THESE SEVEN BILLS.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT OR MOVE? I'LL MOVE, MOVE, UH, APPROVAL AND RECOMMENDATION TO THE FULL BOARD.
WE HAVE A MOTION BY DIRECTOR COFFEE SECOND AND A SECOND BY MEMBER.
LES, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? HEARING NONE.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
[Informational Items]
MOVE NOW TO THE UPDATE ON LOCAL ACTIONS TAKEN BY OTHER JURISDICTIONS.UM, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE CHAIR WASPY, BRIAN HOLT, UH, CHIEF OF PLANNING TRAIL, AND GISI FORGOT WHO I WAS THERE FOR A SECOND.
[00:35:01]
UM, HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TODAY.UM, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION FOR YOU.
LET ME, UM, MAKE SURE I CAN OPEN IT UP HERE.
OUR PRESENTATION TODAY, UH, WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE, USUALLY WE, UH, GENERALLY, UH, COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE HERE SHARING, UH, SORT OF CURRENT, UH, ACTIONS THAT, THAT HAVE BEEN, UH, UH, MADE BY, UH, THE LOCAL, UM, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT WE WORK WITH, THE 35 SOME, UH, CITIES, SPECIAL DISTRICTS, AND, UH, IN THE TWO COUNTY AREA.
UM, THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE, I THINK WE, UH, RECEIVED FROM DIRECTOR COFFEE A REQUEST TO, TO GET A BIT OF A UPDATE OR OVERVIEW OF THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN.
UM, SO, UH, SO THAT SORT OF PROMPTED US TO THINK, WELL, WE SHOULD, WE CAN DISCUSS SORT OF REGIONAL PLANNING IN GENERAL, UM, AS WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE ANY PRESSING ITEMS TO UPDATE YOU ON.
SO, UM, I KNOW THE, THE COMMITTEE'S ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS INFORMATION.
SO THIS IS, THIS MAY BE A A LITTLE BIT REDUNDANT HERE, UM, BUT IT DOES ALSO RELATE TO, I THINK, UM, SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE'RE MOVING INTO, INTO THE, INTO THE DISTRICT PLAN.
UM, I THINK ONE THING THAT, THAT I'VE RECOGNIZED OVER MY, UM, 19 YEARS HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT IS, UM, IS THE PARK DISTRICT IS REALLY A REGIONAL LAND USE PLAN AGENT, A REGIONAL LAND USE AGENCY.
I MEAN, WE REALLY, UM, YOU KNOW, BY WAY OF OUR ACQUISITION AND, AND BY OUR, OUR TRAIL PLANNING, UM, WE'RE ACTIVELY DOING TRANSPORTATION PLANNING.
UM, WE'RE ACTIVELY ESTABLISHING THE BORDERS OF THE CITIES, SO MUCH LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER REGIONAL AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH.
UM, WE'RE VERY MUCH A REGIONAL PLANNING AGENCY, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, UM, I'M HOPING WE'LL BE, CONTINUE TO BE FRONT AND CENTER AS WE MOVE THE DISTRICT PLAN FORWARD.
WE CERTAINLY DO A LOT MORE THAN JUST PROVIDE PARKS AND PROTECT OPEN SPACE.
WERE REALLY CRITICAL TO THE LAND USE, UH, FOOTPRINT IN THE EAST BAY.
UM, SO I WAS GONNA GO JUST OVER A GENERAL HISTORY OF LAND USE AREAS, ERAS, AND, AND I GUESS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT HERE, UM, IS THAT, UH, AS I, AS I KIND OF, UH, AS STARTING HERE IN THE 19 HUNDREDS, UH, LOOKING AT SORT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF URBAN AREAS IN THE EAST BAY, UH, YOU KNOW, I FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UM, YOU KNOW, THE, THE, THIS LAND WAS USED BY THE OHLONE PEOPLE FOR MILLENNIA.
SO, UH, SO THAT'S, UH, UM, A LITTLE BIT OF A, YOU KNOW, PRE, PRE-CONTACT HISTORY.
UM, THERE WAS, THERE WAS A LOT LONG HISTORY OF, OF HUMAN OCCUPATION OF THIS LAND BY THE OHLONE PEOPLE, UH, LATER BY, UH, BY, UH, FARMERS AND GRAZERS AND OTHERS.
UM, BUT IT'S REALLY IN THE EARLY 19 HUNDREDS THAT WE START TO SEE A LOT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF URBAN AREAS HERE.
AND THIS IS A VERY GROSS GENERALIZATION OF, OF LAND USE ERAS, UH, IN THE EAST BAY, BUT I THINK IT GENERALLY ENCAPSULATES SOME OF IT IN THAT.
UM, SO FROM THE 19 HUNDREDS TO 1950S IS WHEN WE START TO SEE A LOT OF COMMUNITIES, UH, IN THE EAST BAY BRING UP.
UH, AND THEN FROM THE 1950S TO THE 1980S, THAT'S WHEN WE START TO SEE A LOT OF OUR MAJOR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOP.
SO, UH, THE FREEWAY SYSTEM THAT WE UNDERSTAND, THAT WE SEE, UM, THE BART SYSTEM, UH, REALLY TYING AND CONNECTING A LOT OF THOSE COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, UM, AND REALLY MAKING THE EAST BAY SORT OF, UM, ONE CONNECTED REGION.
UH, AND THEN AS WE MOVE INTO THE 1980S, UH, THROUGH THE TWO THOUSANDS, THAT'S WHEN WE START TO SEE A LOT OF THE SUR SUBURBAN SPRAWL THAT, UH, THAT MANY OF OUR, OF US ARE FAMILIAR WITH THAT, UM, REALLY KIND OF CAME TO DEFINE A LOT OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S ACQUISITION, UH, UNDER MEASURE AA AND MEASURE WW WAS REALLY AN EFFORT TO, UH, TO COMBAT A LOT OF THAT SPAR SPRAWL OR IN RESPONSE TO THAT SPRAWL.
SO, UH, SO I'D CERTAINLY HEARD A NUMBER OF TIMES, UM, FROM OUR, OUR FORMER GENERAL MANAGER, BOB DOYLE, AND FROM OTHERS, YOU KNOW, JUST THIS SORT OF IDEA THAT WE ARE REALLY KIND OF, UH, KIND OF IN A RACE AGAINST DEVELOPMENT AND TO PROTECT THE BEST PLACES IN THE EAST BAY AS WE SAW, WHETHER IT'S COMMUNITIES LIKE ANTIOCH, PITTSBURGH, AND EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, OR PITTSBURGH OR, UH, PLEASANTON AND, AND LIVERMORE OR OTHER AREAS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
UM, REALLY A LOT OF SUBURBAN SPRAWL GOING THROUGH THE TWO THOUSANDS.
AND, UH, PART OF THE INTENT OF THE PRESENTATION TODAY, UM, IS TO REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT, UM, IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S ACQUISITION ACTIVITIES, THERE'S A WHOLE NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED SINCE THE TWO THOUSANDS, UM, THAT HAVE REALLY, UH, THAT HAVE REALLY BEEN IN RESPONSE TO THAT SPRAWL, UM, AND, AND SOMEWHAT PUT IT INTO CHECK.
SO THAT MOVES US INTO, UM, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS SOMEWHAT OUR, OUR CURRENT ERA, AND THIS LARGELY APPLYING TO THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
[00:40:01]
WHERE WE SEE A LAND USE THAT'S MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON CONSERVATION, UH, WHICH INCLUDES PARKS IN OPEN SPACE, UH, AGRICULTURE, UH, ENERGY, UH, AND WATER.AND I'LL KIND OF, UH, DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT OF THE DETAILS THERE.
SO, AGAIN, VERY GROSS GENERALIZATION OF SOME OF THE LAND USE AREAS THAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE EAST BAY, BUT, UH, THAT SORT OF BRINGS US TO, UH, TO TODAY.
SO, UM, PART OF THE, AGAIN, PART OF THE INTENT OF WHY I'M BRINGING THIS PRESENTATION FORWARD, DIRECTOR COFFEE HAD, UH, MENTIONED CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HAS BEEN UNDERGOING A GENERAL PLAN UPDATE.
UM, UH, GENERALLY, UH, THE CITIES, UH, AND COUNTIES ARE ON A A 10 TO 20 YEAR CYCLE IN TERMS OF THEIR GENERAL PLAN UPDATES.
SOME GET MUCH OLDER INTO 30 YEARS.
AND PLUS, UM, UH, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY'S GENERAL PLAN.
UM, I DON'T RECALL WHEN IT WAS LAST UPDATED, BUT, UH, BUT THIS CURRENT GENERAL PLAN UPDATE HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR, FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS NOW OR SO.
UM, AND PARK DISTRICT STAFF'S BEEN VERY INVOLVED THROUGHOUT, UM, COUNTY STAFF OFTEN REACHES OUT TO US AND, UM, UH, INCORPORATES OUR, UH, PLANNING INFORMATION, WHETHER THAT'S INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PARKS, UM, OR OUR MASTER PLAN INFORMATION, UM, UH, AND, UH, AND THAT SORT OF THING.
SO, UH, SO THE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN, UM, REALLY PERTAINS TO THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
SO THESE ARE AREAS THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE CITY LIMITS AND, AND REALLY ACCOUNTS FOR THE PRIMARY AREAS WHERE WE DO MOST OF OUR ACQUISITIONS AND PROBABLY MOST OF OUR PROJECTS.
UM, IT'S RARE FOR US TO REALLY MAKE A, A BIG LAND ACQUISITION WITH, UM, OUTSIDE OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
USUALLY WHEN WE ARE DOING SOMETHING WITHIN THE CITIES AND WITHIN THE CITY INCORPORATED AREAS, IT'S MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON, UM, FACILITY DEVELOPMENT AND, AND, UH, A MORE SPECIFIC PROJECT AND, AND OFTENTIMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL MUNICIPALITY.
UM, SO, UH, SO THE BIG, UH, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, THAT, THAT, UH, THAT ERA OF SPRAWL, UM, IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, UH, DURING PAST GENERAL PLAN UPDATES, THAT WOULD'VE BEEN A VERY BIG FOCUS OF OURS.
AND OUR REVIEW IS REALLY SORT OF SEEING WHERE THE COUNTY IS LOOKING TO EXPAND, UH, AND DEVELOP.
AND, AND CERTAINLY WE'VE SEEN, UM, SOME VERY LARGE, UH, RESIDENTIAL AND OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
UM, UH, DOUGHERTY VALLEY'S A REALLY GOOD EXAMPLE, UM, UH, UH, BLACKHAWK, UH, AND, AND, UH, SOME OF THOSE DEVELOPMENTS THAT HAVE OCCURRED, UH, OCCURRED IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS OF, OF THE COUNTY.
SO, UM, BUT REALLY, UH, SINCE THE LAST GENERAL PLAN, UM, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HAS REALLY GOTTEN OUT OF THE DEVELOPMENT BUSINESS, UM, UH, THERE HAS BEEN MUCH FEWER, UH, PROPOSALS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
AGAIN, MOST OF THAT LAND USE THAT IS PROPOSED NOWADAYS IS MORE, UH, AGRICULTURAL RELATED.
UH, AND THEN OF COURSE WE SEE, UH, VARIOUS ENERGY PROJECTS, SOLAR, WIND, UM, OTHER THINGS.
UM, UH, IN THE PAST THERE WAS A, A HISTORY OF LANDFILL DEVELOPMENTS.
WE DON'T NECESSARILY SEE THAT AS MUCH.
UM, SO IN TERMS OF RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, UM, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, LIKE ALL COMMUNITIES, UM, IN THE BAY AREA AND THE STATE, UH, REALLY HAVE TO COMPLY WITH THE STATE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATIONS.
UM, AND SO, UH, SO PART OF THAT PROCESS IS JUST REALLY IDENTIFYING THE NUMBER OF AVAILABLE PARCELS WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, UM, UH, THAT COULD BE AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING.
SO, AGAIN, IN THE PAST WHERE WE MAY HAVE SEEN, UH, LARGE AREAS OF UNDEVELOPED PROPERTIES, UM, AREAS THAT, YOU KNOW, WE MIGHT BE CONCERNED ABOUT WOULD BE, SAY, AREAS IN THE TASSAJARA VALLEY OR, UH, PERHAPS SOME OF THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS AROUND BRENTWOOD, UH, OR, OR BYRON.
UM, UH, BUT WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY, AGAIN, SEEING A LOT OF THOSE LARGE, UH, RESIDENTIAL PROPOSALS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE TABLE ON THE SIDE, UH, WHERE THEY'VE IDENTIFIED THE NUMBER OF PARCELS WITHIN THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES AND THE POTENTIAL UNITS THERE.
SO YOU CAN REALLY SEE THESE ARE REALLY, UM, UH, PRETTY SPECIFIC, UM, UH, SITES, UH, IN, IN ESTABLISHED UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES TO, UM, TO PROVIDE AND TO MEET THAT, UM, RESIDENTIAL DEMAND.
SO THERE'S A TOTAL OF ABOUT 8,495 RESIDENTIAL UNITS PROPOSED, UH, THROUGHOUT THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY AREA.
UM, AND MANY OF THOSE, UM, IN SAY, NORTH RICHMOND OR SAP, UM, IN, UM, UH, UH, IN AN UNINCORPORATED WALNUT CREEK.
SO REALLY IN AREAS THAT, UM, PERHAPS WE WOULD THINK OF AS PART OF AN INCORPORATED COMMUNITY.
BUT, UM, BUT, UH, STILL IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREA.
[00:45:01]
QUESTIONS OR GOOD GOING? NO, IT WAS JUST SAPT.I THOUGHT IT WAS A BISCUIT OR SOMETHING.
I, I HAD NEVER HEARD OF SAPT BEFORE.
UM, IT MIGHT BE A BISCUIT, BUT IT'S ALSO AN UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
UH, SO THE ONE, THE MAJOR, UH, THE MAJOR LAND USE RESTRICTION IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY IS REALLY THE URBAN LIMIT LINE.
UM, AND REALLY A SIMPLE CONCEPT.
AND THAT, UH, A LINE WAS DRAWN AROUND THE COMMUNITIES, UH, THAT BASICALLY SAID, UH, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THIS LINE, URBAN DEVELOPMENT IS, UH, IS OKAY, AND OUTSIDE OF THIS LINE, IT'S RESTRICTED FOR AGRICULTURE, OPEN SPACE, WETLANDS, AND PARKS.
UM, SO THAT WAS, UH, WAS ADOPTED ORIGINALLY IN 1990 AND UPDATED IN 2006.
THE LAND PRESERVATION PLAN ORDINANCE, UH, PROTECTS 65% OF THE COUNTY FOR, UH, AGRICULTURE, OPEN SPACE, WETLANDS, AND PARKS.
SO AGAIN, THIS SORT OF SETS THE STAGE FOR A LOT OF OUR ACQUISITION IN THAT UNINCORPORATED AREA.
'CAUSE THAT'S REALLY THE INTENT OF UNINCORPORATED LANDS IS TO BE PROTECTED FOR OPEN SPACE.
UH, SO THAT'S WHERE THE MAJORITY OF OUR, OUR ACQUISITIONS HAPPEN OUT THERE.
AND AGAIN, IT'S VERY RARE THAT WE ACQUIRE A, A BIG UNDEVELOPED PARCEL OUTSIDE OF, OR WITHIN THE URBAN LIMIT LINE.
I THINK ONE OF THE FEW LOCATIONS THAT WE'VE DONE THAT IS THE, UH, THE RODDY RANCH GOLF COURSE, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY LOCATED WITHIN THE ANTIOCH, UH, URBAN LIMIT LINE.
UM, AND THAT'S SINCE BEEN PULLED BACK SOME TO, TO RECOGNIZE THAT THAT PROPERTY HAS BEEN PROTECTED FOR OPEN SPACE.
UM, SUBSEQUENTLY, MEASURE J UH, WAS APPROVED, THAT WAS THE TRANSPORTATION MEASURE THAT WAS APPROVED IN 2004.
AND IT BASICALLY SAID TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, IF YOU DON'T HAVE A VOTER APPROVED URBAN LIMIT LINE, YOU CAN'T ACCESS TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.
SO IT WAS REALLY KIND OF THE CARROT AND STICK APPROACH TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITY SAYING, YOU NEED TO HAVE YOUR OWN LOCAL GROWTH CONTROLS IF YOU WANT TO ACCESS, UM, REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TO FUND YOUR PROJECTS.
UM, AND THAT'S BEEN REALLY EFFECTIVE.
I I CAN'T THINK OF ANY COMMUNITY THAT HAS, UM, SORT OF GONE AGAINST THAT.
UM, AND, UH, AND OF COURSE, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY AN INCENTIVE FOR THE COMMUNITIES TO, TO GET THEIR, THEIR MEASURE MEASURE J FUNDING.
SO, UM, SO THAT'S WORKED WELL.
UM, THE URBAN LIMIT LINE IS UP FOR REVIEW IN 2026.
I KNOW THAT'S A, A BIG CONVERSATION IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RIGHT NOW.
AND AMONGST A NUMBER OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS IS, IS WHAT CHANGES MIGHT BE ENVISIONED FOR THAT URBAN LIMIT LINE.
UM, I CAN THINK OF A COUPLE SPECIFIC LOCATIONS WHERE, WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SOME CHANGES, BUT, UM, BUT I DON'T NECESSARILY ANTICIPATE, UH, A LARGE WHOLESALE CHANGE THAT WILL REALLY IMPACT THE PARK DISTRICT.
UM, AGAIN, MAYBE SOME SPECIFIC CHANGES.
UH, SO AGAIN, THIS SORT OF SHOWS THAT, UH, THAT URBAN LIMIT LINE IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
SO, UM, OUR PARKS AREN'T OVERLAID ON HERE, BUT, UM, BUT YOU CAN ENVISION MUCH OF THAT BROWN AREA, UM, INCLUDES MUCH OF OUR PARKLANDS.
SO, UM, AGAIN, THAT'S WHERE THE FOCUS OF OUR, OUR ACQUISITION, UH, ACTIVITIES OCCUR.
UH, SO ALAMEDA COUNTY, UH, VERY SIMILAR, UM, THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY DOING A COMPREHENSIVE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE, BUT THEY ARE UPDATING THEIR HOUSING ELEMENTS.
SO AGAIN, EVERY COMMUNITY HAS TO HAVE AN UPDATED HOUSING ELEMENT.
UM, UH, HOUSING ELEMENTS, UNLIKE OTHER PARTS OF THE GENERAL PLAN, ARE MANDATED TO BE UPDATED ON A REGULAR CYCLE.
I THINK IT'S EVERY 10 YEARS OR SO.
UM, AND SO AGAIN, UH, ALAMEDA COUNTY HAS BEEN GOING THROUGH A PROCESS OF IDENTIFYING THEIR, UM, AVAILABLE HOUSING SITES, UM, THROUGHOUT THE UNINCORPORATED AREA, AND SIMILAR TO CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, UM, ALAMEDA COUNTY IS ALSO LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, VERY SPECIFIC LOCATIONS IN COMMUNITIES LIKE CHERRY LAND, ASHLAND, UM, CASTRO VALLEY, UNINCORPORATED, UH, FAIRVIEW, SO THOSE AREAS OF THE UNINCORPORATED COUNTY, UM, THAT ALREADY HAS URBAN INFRASTRUCTURE.
UM, AND SO NOT NECESSARILY, UM, WHAT WE WOULD GENERALLY REFER TO AS LIKE GREENFIELD DEVELOPMENT.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF THOSE SPRAWL HOUSING PROPOSALS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE AL ALAMEDA COUNTY HOUSING, UH, ELEMENT.
UH, AND PART OF THAT IS BECAUSE ALAMEDA COUNTY HAS THEIR OWN GROWTH CONTROL MEASURE, MEASURE D, UM, AND THE URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
SO VERY SIMILAR TO THE URBAN LIMIT LINE IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
UH, MEASURE G, MEASURE D ESTABLISHED, UH, URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY FOR, UH, FOR EASTERN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, OR EASTERN ALAMEDA COUNTY, WHICH IS THE, WHERE THE MAJORITY OF UNDEVELOPED LAND IS.
UM, AND THAT SORT OF, AGAIN, SETS STANDARDS THAT PRIMARILY THE LAND USES IN THAT AREA NEED TO BE AGRICULTURE, OPEN SPACE, PROTECTED WATERSHEDS AND, AND WILDLIFE HABITATS.
SO, UH, REQUIRES VOTER APPROVAL FOR ANY CHANGES.
UM, AND WE'VE SEEN THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS, UH, AS OF 2014 AS, UH, MANY OF YOU MIGHT RECALL, THERE WAS A, A VOTER INITIATIVE TO, UM, UH, THERE WAS A, A LARGE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL, UH, IN THE UNINCORPORATED LANDS
[00:50:01]
BETWEEN DUBLIN AND LIVERMORE, UH, IN DOLAND CANYON AND AROUND DOLAND CANYON.AND THERE WAS A MEASURE THAT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD, UH, THAT BASICALLY UPHELD THE, THE URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARY, UM, AND, UH, AND ESTABLISHED THOSE, UM, UH, THOSE URBAN, UH, GROWTH BOUNDARIES FOR DUBLIN AND LIVERMORE.
SO PROTECTED THE, THE LANDS, THE GREEN BELT IN BETWEEN.
SO, UH, AGAIN, YOU CAN, UM, KIND OF SEE WHERE THAT LINE IS THERE.
UM, AND AGAIN, MUCH OF THE, UM, MUCH OF THE AREA, UM, OVER ON THE, THE WESTERN SIDE OF ALAMEDA COUNTY IS LARGELY ALREADY DEVELOPED.
UM, THERE IS ALWAYS THE ANOMALY OF HAYWARD, WHICH ACTUALLY EXTENDS OVER THE HILLS AND OVER TO PAL MORRIS ROAD.
UM, BUT AGAIN, MUCH OF THAT IS PROTECTED LAND, AND WE HAVEN'T SEEN PROPOSALS IN THAT AREA.
AND OF COURSE, EACH OF THE CITIES HAVE ALSO THEIR OWN, FREMONT HAS THEIR HILLSIDE PROTECTION ORDINANCES.
AND, AND, UH, AND THERE'S A WHOLE, WHOLE SLEW OF ADDITIONAL ORDINANCES THAT, THAT PROTECT MUCH OF THE LAND THAT WE'RE EITHER GENERALLY AROUND OUR PARKS OR THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN.
SO JUST SOME OF THE OTHER, UM, SOME OF THE OTHER MEASURES THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE OVER THE PAST TWO DECADES THAT, AGAIN, KIND OF CONTROL THAT SPRAWL AND, AND AGAIN, SORT OF, UH, UH, INFLUENCE OUR ACQUISITION AND IN THE INCORPORATED AREAS.
AND, UM, SO SB 3 75, THIS REALLY, UM, TRIED TO TIE TOGETHER THE STATE'S HOUSING GOALS WITH, UM, UH, WITH THE LOCAL LAND USE PLANNING AND GREENHOUSE REDUCTION, UH, UH, TARGETS.
SO, UM, THIS ACTUALLY PROVIDED INCENTIVES FOR, UM, TRANSIT PRIORITY PROJECTS.
UH, SO AGAIN, TRYING TO TIE LOCAL LAND USE TO TRANSPORTATION FUNDING.
SO, UH, UH, EACH COMMUNITY NEEDED TO HAVE SOME LEVEL OF A SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY STRATEGY TO, TO AGAIN, ACCESS THE, THOSE STATE TRANSPORTATION FUNDS.
SO, UM, SO THE IDEA BEING THAT, UM, PUBLIC DOLLARS WEREN'T NECESSARILY BEING SPENT TO EXPAND TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, THAT FUELED SPRAWL DEVELOPMENT, UH, PLAN BAY AREA, UH, WHICH HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE NOW, IT'S GOING ON FOR AN UPDATE RIGHT NOW.
THIS IMPLEMENTS, UH, STATE SENATE STATE BILL, UH, 3 75 FOR THE BAY AREA.
UM, SO THIS IS, AGAIN, IT'S A, IT'S A REGIONAL PLAN THAT REALLY LOOKS AT WHERE YOUR PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREAS ARE AND YOUR PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT AREAS, UH, AND REALLY TRIES TO FOCUS HOUSING AND JOBS WITHIN THOSE PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT AREAS, AND FURTHER PROTECTS THOSE URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARIES.
SO IT'S SORT OF A, A BELT AND SUSPENDER APPROACH IN THAT, UM, REAFFIRMING, UH, URBAN GROWTH BOUNDARIES AND ANOTHER LAYER OF POLICY THAT PROTECTS THOSE UNDEVELOPED LANDS.
UM, AND AGAIN, BY PROTECTING THE UNDEVELOPED LANDS THAT, THAT, THAT KEEPS, KEEPS THEM SOMEWHAT AVAILABLE FOR US FOR ACQUISITION, UH, IN THE FUTURE.
'CAUSE OF COURSE, UM, IF LAND GETS ZONED OR DESIGNATED FOR DEVELOPMENT, THAT JUST RAISES THE, THE, UM, THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY.
SO BEING DESIGNATED FOR, UH, AS OPEN SPACE AND AGRICULTURAL LANDS, IT REALLY KIND OF KEEPS IT AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITION FOR US.
SO, UM, PLAN BAY AREA, LIKE I SAY, IS GOING THROUGH AN UPDATE RIGHT NOW.
UM, I SERVE ON THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THAT.
UM, WE MEET REGULARLY, UM, THEY HAVE BEEN IDENTIFYING PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREAS.
I THINK, UM, THE DRAFT PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREAS HAVE JUST RECENTLY BEEN RELEASED.
UM, AND SO WE'RE VERY ENGAGED THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS.
AND, AND MY STAFF HAS BEEN, UH, PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
UH, OF COURSE, CALIFORNIA 30 BY 30.
UM, I KNOW THE, THE COMMITTEE, THE BOARD HAS HEARD, UH, A LOT ABOUT 30 BY 30.
AND DIRECTOR ALVAR, OR DR. ALVAREZ HAS, UH, HAS BEEN A LEADER, UM, IN THIS INITIATIVE TO PROTECT 30% OF THE STATE LANDS AND COASTAL WATERS BY 2030.
UM, AND REALLY BUILDING IN RESILIENCE AND, AND CLIMATE SMART LAND, UM, MANAGEMENT.
SO AGAIN, IT, IT, UH, ANOTHER LAYER, UM, THAT RELATES TO, UM, TO THE LOCAL MEASURES, UH, THESE STATE INITIATIVES, UH, TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY, UH, COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND, AND TO PROTECT, UH, UH, AND INCREASE ACCESS TO NATURE, WHICH, UM, IS SOMETHING THAT'S, UH, VERY NEAR TO THE BARK DISTRICT'S INTERESTS.
SO THE TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT WE ARE SEEING IN THE UNC UNINCORPORATED AREAS, AND I KNOW, UM, UH, THE BOARD IS FAMILIAR WITH SOME OF THESE IS, UM, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE, UH, THERE, THERE'S LANGUAGE, UH, IN ALL OF THESE THAT DOES PERMIT, UM, SAY AGRICULTURE, A LOT OF, UH, A LOT OF DIFFERENT LAND USES CAN BE PROPOSED UNDER AGRICULTURE.
SO WE DO SEE PROPOSALS FOR, SAY, UH, CANNABIS GREENHOUSES OR, UM, OTHER TYPES OF AGRICULTURAL TYPES OF USES IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING WE KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR.
UM, UH, OF COURSE, UH, UH, DEVELOPING,
[00:55:01]
UM, CLEAN ENERGY IS A GOAL OF THE STATE AND CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT THE PARK DISTRICT SUPPORTS.UM, BUT WE CONTINUE TO SEE SORT OF, UH, UTILITY SCALE, UM, ENERGY PROJECTS IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY SEE AS MANY OF THE, THE, UH, WIND ENERGY PROJECTS.
MOST OF THOSE ARE SORT OF REPOWERING PROJECTS IN THE ALTAMONT AREA, SO, UH, SORT OF EXP EXPAND OR RETOOLING EXISTING WIND FARMS. UM, BUT WE DO INCREASINGLY SEE THESE UTILITY SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS, LARGE SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS.
AND WE SAW WHILE THOSE RECENTLY IN EASTERN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, UM, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HAS BEEN PROACTIVE AND TAKEN THE STEP TO ACTUALLY DESIGNATE ACCEPTABLE SOLAR ZONES IN THEIR UNINCORPORATED AREA.
UM, SO WE, WE DO CONTINUE TO SEE LARGE SCALE SOLAR PROJECTS PROPOSED THROUGHOUT ALAMEDA COUNTY, UM, PARTICULARLY AROUND, SAY, BRUSHY PEAK IN SOME OF THOSE AREAS.
UH, THE BUSINESS OF HABITAT MITIGATION AND CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IS, IS ALIVE AND WELL IN THAT INCORPORATED AREA.
SO, UM, SO FOR THOSE DEVELOPERS WHO ARE DEVELOPING WITHIN THE URBAN LIMIT LINE, THEY STILL NEED TO, UH, MITIGATE FOR THEIR PROPERTIES.
OF COURSE, IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, A LOT OF THAT IN EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MIGHT BE JUST, UH, BUYING INTO THE, UH, EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN.
BUT, UH, COMMUNITIES LIKE ANTIOCH ARE NOT A PARTY TO THAT.
SO, UM, SO, YOU KNOW, WE DO SEE, UH, DEVELOPERS STILL ACQUIRING LAND SPECIFICALLY FOR HABITAT MITIGATION PURPOSES, SO SELLING OFF MITIGATION CREDITS OR USING IT FOR, UM, OTHER, UM, UH, MITIGATION FOR DEVELOPMENTS THAT MIGHT BE ELSEWHERE, UM, OR PLACE IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ON PROPERTIES.
AND IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THOSE PROPERTIES TO THEN EVENTUALLY, ONCE THOSE MITIGATION CREDITS ARE SOLD OUT OR THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ARE PLACED ON THE PROPERTY FOR THAT LANDOWNER TO THEN COME TO THE PARK DISTRICT AND SAY, HEY, ARE YOU, ARE YOU INTERESTED IN, IN PURCHASING THIS? AND THAT'S, UM, SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE A CLOSE LOOK AT.
'CAUSE UH, UH, PUBLIC ACCESS IS ALWAYS AN INTEREST THERE TOO.
UH, AND THEN OF COURSE, WE'RE SEEING BIG WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, SPECIFICALLY THE LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR EXPANSION, UM, AND THE, UH, THE BETHANY, UH, PIPELINE, UH, IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT WOULD CONNECT THE LOS VAQUEROS RESERVOIR TO THE STATE WATER PROJECTS.
SO, UH, SO WE EITHER SEE THOSE, THOSE BIG WATER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, UM, AND THEN TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE OF BIG FREEWAY PROPOSALS IN EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
SO THOSE ARE THE TYPES OF, UH, PROJECTS THAT WE'RE GENERALLY LOOKING AT IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
UM, AND I DO WANNA MENTION, WE HAVE STAFF, I KNOW WE PRESENTED BEFORE ON OUR, OUR SAGE PROCESS, THE, WHERE WE'RE REVIEWING AGENDAS AND, AND THIS IS ALL PART OF THAT, WHEREAS, UM, LIKE I SAY IN THE PAST, WE MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR NEW HOUSING PROPOSALS OR THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, AND WE STILL LOOK AT THAT, PARTICULARLY AROUND OUR REGIONAL TRAILS.
UH, BUT MORE ON THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS.
YOU KNOW, WE SEE THIS AND I WANNA, UM, ACKNOWLEDGE TANYA KOVAR RUBIUS, UH, SHE REALLY LEADS A LOT OF OUR SAGE PROCESS GOES THROUGH, UM, THROUGH OUR, UH, OUR AGENDA REVIEW.
UM, AND NAOMI LAVAL, WHO LEADS OUR INTERAGENCY PLANNING UNIT, UM, REALLY AMAZING THE AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THAT'S IN THEIR HEADS, JUST ABOUT ALL OF THESE VARIOUS PROJECTS THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH THE COUNTY.
SO, UM, OR THROUGH BOTH COUNTIES, SO GENERALLY HAVE A PRETTY GOOD FINGER ON THE PULSE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
SO WITH THAT, UM, THAT'S MY REAL BRIEF AND GENERALIZED, UH, OVERVIEW OF KIND OF THE, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH REGIONAL PLANNING IN, UH, ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
UM, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, AND AS ALWAYS, UM, APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK ON, UH, THINGS THAT YOU ALL FEEL THAT WE SHOULD BE KEEPING AN EYE OUT FOR AS PART OF THIS PART.
ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? NO SPECIFIC COMMENTS? THANK YOU, BRIAN.
THIS WAS REALLY A WONDERFUL PRESENTATION AND I SO APPRECIATE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW ALL THESE DIFFERENT PLANNING EFFORTS FIT TOGETHER, BECAUSE I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT THEM IN SORT OF DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, BUT IT, THIS IS VERY HELPFUL AND TO SEE HOW WE, YOU KNOW, WE FIT INTO THAT BIGGER HOLE AS WELL.
SO THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT PRESENTATION.
SO I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
BRIAN, I'VE BEEN LOOSELY FOLLOWING CONTRA COSTA'S PROCESS AS IT, UH, WORKS ON UPDATING ITS GENERAL PLAN.
I'M CURIOUS IN TERMS OF YOUR TEAM'S OBSERVATIONS OF THE, THE PROCESS AND THE SUBSTANCE OF CONTRA COSTA'S UPDATES.
UH, ONE WHERE HAS THE PARK DISTRICT TO DATE, IF ANYWHERE WITHIN
[01:00:01]
THE, UH, CONTRA COSTA UPDATE SUBMITTED COMMENTS OR MADE OBSERVATIONS TO THE COUNTY? UH, AND I BELIEVE IT'S STILL, THERE WAS A, A, A, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY LABEL IT AS PRELIMINARY, FINAL OR WHATEVER.IT'S FAIRLY FAR ALONG IN, IN THE PLANNING PROCESS AS I UNDERSTAND IT, BUT THERE IS STILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT, UH, AS OF, YOU KNOW, RECENT WEEKS FROM, UM, SOME, SOME DISCUSSIONS I'VE HAD WITH CONTRA COSTAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR.
AND, UH, SO MY QUESTIONS TWO PART.
WHERE HAVE WE TAKEN NOTICE OR, UH, EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THEIR UPDATE OR, AND WHERE MIGHT WE YET? YEAH.
UH, THANK YOU DIRECTOR COFFEY.
SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE KIND OF, UM, REVIEWING THOSE, UH, THOSE BIG PLANS, I MEAN, OUR FIRST STEP IS REALLY TO KIND OF TAKE THEIR MAP AND TAKE OUR MAP AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT'S ON OUR MAP IS ON THEIR MAP.
UM, AND THAT'S, THAT'S REALLY KIND OF WHAT WE DID WITH THE, WITH THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN.
YOU KNOW, ARE THEY, ARE THEY IDENTIFYING OUR PARKS, NOT JUST OUR EXISTING PARKLANDS, BUT OUR, OUR PROPOSED, OUR POTENTIAL PARKLANDS? ARE THEY BRINGING IN OUR, OUR TRAIL PLANS, UM, AND ARE THEY, YOU KNOW, MAKING CONSIDERATIONS FOR THOSE? UM, AND, UH, AND LIKE I SAY, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, AND WE HAVE A GREAT, GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR STAFF.
UM, THEY REACHED OUT TO US EARLY ON AND, UM, AND BASICALLY INCORPORATED OUR INFORMATION.
SO I WOULD SAY THEIR GENERAL PLAN IS REALLY BUILT UPON, UM, AND INCORPORATES, UM, THE PARK DISTRICT AND OUR INTERESTS.
UM, AND SO FROM AN ACTUAL ON THE GROUND LAND USE PERSPECTIVE, YOU KNOW, OUR, UM, OUR INTERESTS, UH, ARE, ARE INCLUDED IN THERE.
AND THAT ALWAYS HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN THE CASE.
I MEAN, WE'VE SEEN OTHER CITIES OR OTHER, OTHER GENERAL PLANS WHERE THEY MIGHT, YOU KNOW, COMPLETELY IGNORE OUR PROPOSED PARK, UM, UH, OR A PROPOSED TRAIL THAT'S BEEN PROPOSED.
I, I, UH, CAN RECALL A COUPLE INCIDENCES WITH LOCAL CITIES WHERE WE'VE HAD TO SUBMIT CO COMMENTS SAYING, HEY, WHAT ABOUT THIS, THIS, OR THAT.
UM, THAT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE WITH CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, SO WE HAVEN'T SUBMITTED NECESSARILY ANY OF THOSE LETTERS.
UM, SO, UH, AND FROM A, AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT POINT OF VIEW, UM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE OUR INFORMATION'S REALLY INCLUDED IN THERE, YOU KNOW, WE AS STAFF DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL THE NEED TO WADE INTO A LOT OF THEIR SPECIFIC, YOU KNOW, HOUSING ISSUES AND SOME OF THOSE, SOME OF THOSE OTHER THINGS.
UM, SO IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO A QUESTION OF THEIR POLICIES.
AND WE HAVE THE APPROACH THAT THE COUNTY'S TAKEN HAS REALLY DONE SOME DETAILED, UM, COMMUNITY PROFILES TO SORT OF SET UP SOME GOALS AROUND, SAY, UM, DISCOVERY BAY OR BAY POINT, THE UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITIES.
UM, AND AGAIN, THIS IS A GENERAL PLAN, SO THE POLICY LANGUAGE IS GENERAL.
UM, AND I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, BY AND LARGE, THROUGHOUT THE PLAN REALLY IDENTIFIES, YOU KNOW, WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
YOU KNOW, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE THROUGHOUT THERE.
UM, SO WE HAVE, UH, WE'VE MET WITH THEIR STAFF.
UM, YOU KNOW, WILL NELSON WILL EMAIL ME OFTEN AND, AND, UH, AND ASK ABOUT THINGS FOR CLARIFICATION.
SO WE HAVE THAT KIND OF, UM, BACK AND FORTH.
WE HAVEN'T SUBMITTED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
JUST 'CAUSE FRANKLY, I DON'T NECESSARILY FEEL THAT WE'VE NEEDED TO.
I THINK YOU MADE THE POINT THAT THEY'RE NOT, UH, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY ISN'T ENVISIONING ITSELF AS BEING, UH, AN OVERSEER OF, UH, MANY NEW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
I, THAT THAT IS A, A, A CHANGE FROM PRIOR DECADES WHERE WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN MORE, UH, PROACTIVE IN SUGGESTING WHERE THE LIMITS OF, UH, OF DEVELOPMENT ARE COMPARED TO WHERE POTENTIAL OPEN SPACE OUGHT TO BE MAINTAINED.
SO WE'RE JUST, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH AS THAT GOING ON.
SO THAT MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME.
UH, I KNOW THEY'RE, THEY'RE, UH, UH, PROACTIVE IN, IN CHECKING WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND YOU AND YOUR TEAM ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF THEIR WORK.
'CAUSE I'VE GOTTEN THE CALL, I, I REMEMBER ABOUT, UH, THE RODEO WATERFRONT.
HOW WOULD THAT, UH, IMPACT PARK DISTRICT FUTURE PLANS FOR RODEO? AND I, OF COURSE, BEING THE GOOD BOARD MEMBER, UNDERSTANDING MY PLACE REFERRED THEM TO YOU,
BUT I DID, UM, WE DID GET A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THE RODEO WATERFRONT AND, UH, UH, THE, THE, THE CONCEPT OF ACCESS TO SHORELINE FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES MM-HMM.
[01:05:01]
BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH THE FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING ON THE UPDATE.I DON'T, I'M FORGETTING THE TERM YOU JUST USED, WHERE THE CA CONTRA COSTA COUNTY IS WORKING ON, UM, COMMUNITY PROFILES.
AND I CAME ACROSS ONE OF THE MAPS THAT THEY'VE BEEN CIRCULATING THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE A GREAT, UH, UTILITY TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
AND IT WAS A MAP THAT SET FORTH IN, IT WAS COLOR CODED, UH, FOR HIGHLIGHTING UNINCORPORATED AREAS WHERE THERE WERE DISTINCT UNDERSERVED LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, WHICH BRINGS ME BACK TO RODEO, BUT I, I SAW A, A LARGE YELLOW SWATH THROUGH NORTH RICHMOND, UM, NORTH, UH, AND IT, AND, AND THAT, THAT COLOR CODE COMPLETELY PARALLELED THE, UM, REGIONAL TRAIL EXTENSION THAT WE ARE WORKING ON FROM POINT WILSON TO POINT PINOLE IN WARD ONE.
AND THAT JUST HIT ME, WELL, THAT'S A MAP THAT OUGHT TO BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF THAT PROJECT'S, APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT FUNDING, BECAUSE IT IDENTIFY, IT'S PROBABLY SOMETHING STAFF IS ALREADY ON.
BUT THAT WAS JUST HOW THAT TYPE OF WORK THAT THEY, THE COUNTY IS DOING IN CONNECTION WITH THE UPDATE OF HIS GENERAL PLAN WOULD, UM, BENEFIT US IN, IN TERMS OF, OF, UH, OUR OWN, UH, PROFILES.
OF COMMUNITIES SURROUNDING OUR PROJECTS.
AND WHERE, IN PARTICULAR, AS IS OFTEN THE CASE, WE ARE CREATING ACCESS ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, UH, THROUGH PARKS, TRAILS, UM, STAGING AREAS, UH, TRAIL HEADS ALONG SHORELINES FOR UNDERSERVED AND, AND RELATIVELY LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES.
AND SO THAT MAP, UH, I DOWNLOADED AND MADE SURE I HAD A COPY AND, UH, UH, IT, IT, IT, IT JUST, UM, UH, IT MAKES ME HAPPY ABOUT WHAT MY COUNTY IS, IS DOING AND THE, UH, BREADTH AND SCOPE OF WHAT THEY FOCUS ON.
UH, AND IT VERY MUCH PARALLELS, UM, WHAT WE DO AND OUR VALUES AND MISSION.
AND THAT WAS A COMMENT MORE IN THE QUESTION.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
UM, CAN I BE LED TO BELIEVE THAT, UM, UNDER EMERGING ISSUES IN THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS, WHEN YOU HIGHLIGHTED WATER DEVELOPMENT AND TALKING ABOUT EXPANSION OF ALVA HARRIS AND BETHANY, THAT, UH, LAKE DEL VAL WASN'T, DIDN'T RISE TO THAT, UH, EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES OR, OR WHAT'S THAT? THE EXPANSION OF LAKE DEL VAL? UM, UH, IT'S, YOU KNOW, UH, YEAH, IT'S ON OUR RADAR FOR SURE.
BUT IT'S NOT EMERGING AS A, I MEAN, WE'VE HEARD THINGS, UH, IN LIAISON COMMITTEES, BUT, UH, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT ANY, YOU KNOW, ACTIVE PROPOSALS THAT, THAT, OR ANYTHING THAT, THAT, UH, THAT WE'VE BEEN COME TO.
UM, YOU KNOW, LOS VAQUEROS IS, CONTRA COSTA WATER DISTRICT IS, YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH, UM, DOWN THE PATHWAY OF HAVING FUNDING.
AND WE'RE IN ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LAND AND UTILITY LOCATIONS AND ALL THAT SORT OF STUFF.
UM, HAVEN'T NECESSARILY GOT THERE WITH, WITH DELL VAL YET, BUT I'M, UM, I'M SURE WE WILL AT SOME POINT.
SO, I MEAN, THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, NOTHING EVER GOES AWAY AT ALL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR PRESENTATION.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? NO COMMENTS.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO KATIE AND THE GRANTS.
THIS IS KATIE NORBECK, GRANTS MANAGER, A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE GRANTS THAT WE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS FOR, AND, UH, GRANTS THAT WE ARE AWARDED FOR BETWEEN DECEMBER 21ST OF LAST YEAR AND FEBRUARY 20TH OF THIS YEAR.
UH, THE FEW THAT I'LL, I'LL HIGHLIGHT IN THE APPLICATION SECTION.
SO THE FIRST ONE, UH, WE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO CDFW TO THEIR WATERSHED GRANTS PROGRAM.
UH, THIS IS FOR THE US ARMY CORPS PROJECT, THE DELTA LEVY, EXCUSE ME, DELTA LEVY AND ISLANDS,
[01:10:01]
UH, PLANNING PHASE OF THAT PROJECT.UH, THE ARMY CORPS IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THOSE FUNDS AS A FEDERAL, UH, ENTITY.
AND THEY HAD ASKED IF WE WOULD SUBMIT, UH, SORT OF ON THEIR BEHALF, AND THEN WE WOULD, IF AWARDED THOSE FUNDS, WE WOULD ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THEM, UH, TO PASS THROUGH THOSE FUNDS AS THEIR NON-FEDERAL SPONSOR.
UH, SO THAT APPLICATION WAS SUBMITTED AND ACTUALLY JUST, UH, A COUPLE WEEKS AGO FOUND OUT, UH, IT WAS SELECTED FOR GRANT FUNDING.
SO WE'LL NOW PURSUE, UH, ENTERING INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE ARMY CORPS FOR THEM TO BEGIN THEIR PROJECT.
UH, THE OTHER PROJECT THAT I WILL HIGHLIGHT IS THE, UH, THE NUMBER TWO, THE GRIZZLY PEAK STRATEGIC FUEL BREAK COLLABORATION PHASE TWO.
SO THE PARK DISTRICT SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION LAST YEAR TO CAL FIRE FOR 5 MILLION FOR THIS PROJECT.
THIS IS A, A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT WITH EAST BAY MUD UC, BERKELEY, AND THE CITY OF BERKELEY, UH, CAL FIRE CAME BACK AND SAID, WE CAN'T, UH, FUND THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND PROPOSED A $2.8 MILLION AWARD, UH, WHICH WE ACCEPTED.
AND THAT WORK IS GOING TO, WILL BE STARTING LATER THIS YEAR.
UH, CAL FIRE ISSUED ANOTHER ROUND OF FUNDING IN THE SAME PROGRAM, AND SO WE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO BASICALLY FUND THE REMAINDER OF THAT PROJECT THAT WE HAD SCALED BACK.
UH, SO THIS, IF AWARDED WOULD, UH, GET US TO A FULLY FUNDED PROJECT.
UH, WE'RE CALLING, WE PHASED IT, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST, UH, WE REDUCED THE SCOPE, UH, IN ORDER TO MEET THAT 2.8 MILLION GRANT AWARD IN THIS 2.2 NOW ALLOWS US TO DO THE ENTIRE SCOPE AND GET FULLY FUNDED AND, UH, IN UNDER GRANTS AWARDED.
UM, I'LL, I WILL HIGHLIGHT, UH, THAT FIRST ONE, THE WILD KEY CREEK RESTORATION AND BROOK ROAD IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
THIS IS A, A GRANT FROM THE EPA.
UM, THE PROJECT WORK WON'T START UNTIL NEXT YEAR, BUT THIS IS A, A PROGRAM, THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENT FUND THAT WE'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST.
WE'VE RECEIVED GRANT FUNDING FROM THIS PROGRAM FOR COYOTE, THE COYOTE HILLS PROJECT, FOR THE KER PROJECT, AND THE FERRY POINT PIER PROJECT.
SO, UH, IT'S, UH, GOOD TO SEE ANOTHER AWARD THERE.
AND THEN NUMBER TWO, THE HAYWARD MARSH IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT.
THIS IS A, A MEASURE AA FUNDING, UH, FROM THE RESTORATION AUTHORITY.
AND THIS 600,000 IS, IS FUNDING, FUNDING THE, UH, GETTING US TO FINAL DESIGN.
UH, SO WHICH WILL ACTUALLY BE COMPLETED, UH, LATER THIS YEAR.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON ANY OF THESE ITEMS OR ANYTHING ELSE.
GRANTS RELATED SHARING QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
LOOKING BACK AT THE, UM, BACKGROUND MATERIALS, KATIE, NOT FUN TO REPORT ON, BUT WERE THERE ANY, UH, PARTICULAR DISAPPOINTMENTS THAT WE'VE HEARD OF LATELY IN THIS PERIOD? OR, UM, WELL, WELL, I DON'T DISAPPOINTMENT.
UM, I MEAN, UH, WE SUBMITTED AN APPLICATION TO THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD FOR THE BROOK ROAD PROJECT, UH, AND WEREN'T SELECTED FOR THAT FUNDING.
UM, THEY DECIDED THEY HAVE A LIMITED PUBLIC ACCESS FUNDS, AND THEY DIDN'T FEEL THE RESTORATION COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT WAS, UM, SUFFICIENT OR ROBUST ENOUGH TO ACCESS THEIR RESTORATION FUNDING.
SO THAT WAS OBVIOUSLY JUST A DISAPPOINTMENT.
UM, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY, THEY DID AWARD, UH, OR SELECT OUR TIDEWATER GRANT APPLICATION AND OUR FUNDING, THEIR, UH, THE TENTATIVE AWARD IS 2.6 MILLION.
SO, YOU KNOW, UH, HIGHS AND LOWS IN GRANTS.
UM, BUT THAT'S THE ONE, THE IMMEDIATE ONE THAT COMES TO MIND, UH, THAT WE DIDN'T GET SELECTED FOR.
WHERE WOULD YOU REPORT TO US THE SUCCESS WITH THE TIDEWATER GRANT? THAT'LL BE IN YOUR NEXT REPORT THAT WAS JUST ISSUED LIKE A WEEK AGO.
IT'S NOT IN YOUR, IN THAT REPORTING.
PREVIEW YOU OF SOME GOOD NEWS.
SO ONE, THERE'S ONE THAT COMES TO MIND.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE NOT GETTING MM-HMM.
AND AS I ALWAYS REPEAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN, WHAT RESOURCES YOU FOLKS NEED TO BE, UM, PERHAPS MORE SUCCESSFUL IF, IF YOU CAN IDENTIFY RESOURCES THAT ARE NEEDED.
SO THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS ASK FOR THAT FEEDBACK.
UM, AND I'M, UM, HAPPY TO, TO COME IN, UM, AT THE NEXT MEETING IN MY BACK POCKET, A FEW MORE EXAMPLES OF MAYBE NO AWARDS OR THINGS THAT ARE UPCOMING.
UM, WE APPRECIATE THE FEEDBACK.
AND I, I WILL NOTE THAT IN THE LAST, UM, BUDGET CYCLE, THE BOARD DID APPROVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND TO GO INTO GRANT WRITING SERVICES, WHICH WAS AN INCREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEARS, UM, WHICH IS DEFINITELY HELPFUL.
THAT GOES TO, UM, GRANT WRITING APPLICATIONS, OBVIOUSLY, BUT ALSO, UH, THERE ARE SOME, SOME APPLICATIONS THAT REQUIRE TECHNICAL STUDIES OR, UM, A BENEFIT COST ANALYSIS.
[01:15:01]
IT'S, THAT'S ALL GOING TOWARDS THAT AS WELL.SO, UM, UH, I'D SAY A LARGE PORTION OF OUR GRANT APPLICATIONS ARE WRITTEN BY, UH, CON, UH, CONTRACTORS AND, AND THAT SUPPORTS OUR WORK.
SO, UM, IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME TO MANAGE WHAT WE HAVE AND TO MAKE SURE WE'RE SPENDING OUR MONEY AND REPORTING AND MEETING THOSE OBLIGATIONS.
SO, UH, APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT FOR THE GRANT WRITING, UH, FUNDING AS WELL.
PERFECT EXAMPLE, WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT WHEN YOU FOLKS COME TO US AND THE, AGAIN, CALIFORNIA'S, UM, HAVING BUDGET ISSUES AT THE TIME, BUT I REMEMBER WHEN BOTH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT WERE, UH, UM, MAKING, MAKING A LOT OF MONEY, FRANKLY, AVAILABLE FOR, UH, PROJECTS THAT THIS ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKES ALL THE TIME.
AND IT'S JUST IMPORTANT FOR YOU FOLKS TO COME TO US AND ASK FOR THOSE RESOURCES, BE THEY OUTSIDE CONSULTANTS THAT HELP WITH GRANT WRITING, BE THEY ADVOCATES IN DC OR, OR SACRAMENTO, OR THEY BE INTERNAL STAFF THAT YOU NEED TO GROW.
AND I ADMIRE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF DO TO GET THESE BIG GIANT GRANTS.
I'M WONDERING, DO YOU, DO WE GET, OR ARE THERE JUST, IT'S TOO TRIVIAL.
GRANTS FOR LIKE, UNDER $50,000.
I REMEMBER GETTING CALIFORNIA RECYCLING GRANTS FOR RECYCLING CONTAINERS AT LIKE $50,000.
UM, AND, UH, THOSE OFTEN ARE, UM, SORT OF BASED ON THE CONTACTS AND RELATIONSHIPS THAT STEWARDSHIP STAFF HAS.
YOU KNOW, THEY WILL REACH OUT TO CDFW AND SAY, HEY, WE'RE WORKING ON THIS GRASSLANDS MAPPING PROJECT, DO YOU HAVE ANY MONEY? AND SO THAT'S A, A, A LITTLE MORE INFREQUENT.
BUT YES, WE DEFINITELY DO, UH, GET THINGS UNDER 50 50,000.
UM, AND WE ALWAYS COME TO THE BOARD, UH, REGARDLESS OF THE DOLLAR AMOUNT, TO GET AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT THOSE FUNDS AND ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT.
MM-HMM,
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO THE 20 24, 20 25 FISCAL YEAR STATE BUDGET REVIEW.
ERIC FEELER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, AND JUST WANTING TO, UH, INTRODUCE, UM, THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WILL BE PRESENTING ON THE STATE BUDGET.
UH, THEY'RE CLOSER TO IT THAN WE ARE.
SO, UH, APPROPRIATE TO HAVE OUR CONSULTANT, UH, ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT, OR ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY CONSULTANTS, UH, REPORT ON THE CURRENT STATE OF THE, THE BUDGET.
UH, THE MATERIALS THAT WERE ADDED TO THE PACKET WERE SIG SIGNIFICANTLY IN ADVANCE, AND THERE HAS BEEN SOME, UH, EVOLUTION SINCE, UH, THE MATERIALS WERE SUBMITTED.
UH, SO FOR, FOR THAT, UH, ABIGAIL, I SHOULD ALSO ADD IS THE LAND CONSERVATION BIODIVERSITY AND CLIMATE SPECIALIST FOR EEC.
UM, SO I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE HER AND IF WE COULD BRING HER UP AS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE MEETING, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
ABIGAIL, CAN YOU HEAR US? YOU'RE UNMUTED.
I'M NOT SURE IF YOU CAN SEE ME, BUT REMIND ME.
E, EC, I JUST, WHAT IS EEC? THAT'S THE ADVOCACY GROUP, CORRECT? EEC IS, UM, ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY CONSULTING.
AND WE MET WITH THOSE FOLKS WHEN WE WENT TO SACRAMENTO.
YEAH, YOU WOULD'VE MET, UH, ABIGAIL IN SACRAMENTO, UH, PREVIOUSLY.
THAT, THAT'S WHAT I JUST WANTED.
ABIGAIL, ARE YOU ABLE TO START YOUR VIDEO? UM, I'M NOT PERMITTED TO START MY VIDEO ON ZOOM.
LOOKS LIKE I NEED PERMISSION FROM THE HOST, BUT I CAN'T HEAR YOU ALL.
WELL, I CAN JUST GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED WITHOUT VIDEO, AND THEN IF IT'S ENABLED WHILE I GO, I'LL, I'LL BE SURE TO TURN IT ON.
UH, LOOKS LIKE YOU ALL CAN SEE THE PRESENTATION.
AS ERIC MENTIONED, I WORK WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY CONSULTING.
SO TODAY I'M GONNA GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW WITH THE STATE BUDGET.
UM, MUCH OF THIS, I, I'M, I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD RUMORS ABOUT AND, AND IT'S BEEN IN THE NEWS THAT WE'RE FACING A DEFICIT.
SO I'LL GET INTO A LITTLE MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD HERE.
SO TO START THINGS OFF, UM, THIS YEAR AS WE, AS WE HEADED INTO JANUARY, WE HAD, UH, VERY STRONG INDICATIONS THAT THERE WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT BUDGET DEFICIT FOR TWENTY TWENTY FOUR, TWENTY FIVE.
UH, IF YOU RECALL BACK IN TWENTY TWENTY ONE, TWENTY TWO, AND 23 EVEN,
[01:20:01]
UH, THE STATE DID EXPERIENCE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT BUDGET, SURPLUSES ENOUGH TO MAKE HISTORIC INVESTMENTS IN NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS AND CLIMATE RESILIENCE.LIKE WE HAVE NOT SEEN EVER BEFORE, $54 BILLION IN ALL OF THESE INVESTMENTS TO BE EXACT.
UH, BUT AS WE MADE THOSE COMMITMENTS, WE, I THINK FAILED TO, TO REALIZE AS A STATE THAT, UH, A LOT OF THE, THE SURPLUS MONEY WAS CARRIED OVER FROM COVID SUPPORT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UM, AND WE EXPERIENCED SOME REALLY, REALLY HIGHER THAN, THAN NORMAL INCOME TAX REVENUE OVER THOSE YEARS.
SO WE MADE SEVERAL YEAR LONG COMMITMENTS AND NOW HEADING INTO 20, 24, 25.
ALTHOUGH I WILL NOTE THAT THE, THE STATE IS NOT FACING A RECESSION OR ANY DIRE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. WE DO HAVE A BUDGET THAT, THAT OVER INVESTED IN SOME AREAS WHERE WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH GENERAL FUNDS TO SUPPORT THOSE, THOSE PROMISES.
SO THOSE, UH, ARE THE NUMBERS THAT HAVE LED US TO THIS ESTIMATED DEFICIT FOR THE YEAR AHEAD, UH, OF BETWEEN 38 AND $73 BILLION.
I KNOW THAT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE THERE.
THE LEGISLATURE IS ESTIMATING THE DEFICIT TO BE ABOUT 73 BILLION IN THE GOVERNOR'S JANUARY PROPOSAL, ESTIMATED ABOUT 38 BILLION.
SO THEY'RE STILL, YOU KNOW, GONNA BE FIGURING OUT OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS WHAT THAT FINAL NUMBER ACTUALLY LOOKS LIKE.
UH, BUT RIGHT NOW THEY'RE KIND OF MEETING IN THE MIDDLE AND THE LEGISLATURE IS DISCUSSING HOW WE'RE GOING TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE, MAKE, UH, SOME MONEY UP FOR ABOUT $50 BILLION.
UM, AND, AND WE'LL SEE WHERE CUTS MAY NEED TO BE TO ADDRESS THAT IN THE MIDDLE NUMBER.
SO, BACK IN JANUARY WHEN THE GOVERNOR RELEASED HIS JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL AND ADDRESSED THE, THE IMPENDING DEFICIT, UH, THERE WERE ALSO A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS TO BACKFILL SOME OF THE MONEY WE NEED TO, WE NEED TO MAKE UP FOR, INCLUDING DIPPING INTO RESERVES AND RAINY DAY FUNDS, UH, FUND SHIFTS, WHICH, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT WOULD BE TAKING SOME OF THE GENERAL FUND DOLLARS THAT WERE PROMISED FOR PROGRAMS IN PREVIOUS YEARS AND MAYBE USING CAP AND TRADE GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION FUND DOLLARS INSTEAD OF THAT GENERAL FUND MONEY.
UH, THERE WERE SOME REDUCTIONS PROPOSED.
SO INSTEAD OF, UM, SHIFTING IT TO GGRF, SOME PROGRAMS UNFORTUNATELY ARE PROPOSED TO BE CUT, UH, OR DELAYED AND DEFERRED SO THAT THOSE WOULD JUST BE PUSHING OUT THE INVESTMENTS TO OUT YEARS.
SO ALL OF THIS KIND OF MOVING AROUND TO FUNDS WOULD STILL RE RE RETAIN A PRETTY HEALTHY RAINY DAY FUND IN THE STATE.
PRETTY HEALTHY RESERVES, UH, ALTHOUGH THERE IS DISCUSSION AT THE STATE LEVEL THAT WE WANNA, YOU KNOW, DELAY HAVING TO DIP INTO RESERVES AS FAR AS POSSIBLE AND INSTEAD MAKE FURTHER PROGRAM CUTS.
SO THOSE ARE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING BETWEEN THE TWO LEGISLATIVE HOUSES AND THE GOVERNOR RIGHT NOW TO GET INTO THE PROPOSALS AROUND CLIMATE FUNDING.
UH, I HAVE SOME MORE SPECIFIC NUMBERS HERE, BUT BEFORE I DIVE INTO THIS, I WANNA KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHERE WE ARE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS AND WHAT THESE NUMBERS ARE ACTUALLY, UM, PROPOSING, AND HOW SERIOUS, HOW SERIOUS THEY ARE.
SO RIGHT NOW, AS I MENTIONED, THE GOVERNOR CAME OUT WITH HIS JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL, WHICH IS JUST HIS FIRST DRAFT OF HOW HE THINKS WE SHOULD BE DRAFTING A STATE BUDGET.
WE ARE NOW IN THE SPRING PHASE LEADING UP TO TAX SEASON WHEN WE GET MORE INFORMATION WHERE THE LEGISLATURE IS CONVENING BUDGET HEARINGS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY, UH, HAVE A PROPOSAL TO MOVE FORWARD COME JUNE.
BUT THEY'RE JUST REVIEWING AND RESPONDING TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS.
THEY WILL THEN PUT TOGETHER THEIR OWN PROPOSAL AS THEY ALWAYS DO, AND THE NEGOTIATIONS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL JUNE 15TH WHEN THEY HAVE TO PASS A BUDGET AND, AND HAND IT TO THE GOVERNOR.
SO THESE ARE THE PROPOSED NUMBERS FROM THE GOVERNOR AND ARE VERY MUCH STILL UNDER DISCUSSION AND CONSIDERATION BY THE LEGISLATURE.
BUT TO GET INTO DETAIL, THIS INCLUDES, UH, ABOUT 89% OF THE HUGE $54 BILLION CLIMATE PACKAGE, UM, BEING PROTECTED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
AND THEN ABOUT 200, I'M SORRY, 2.9 BILLION IN CUTS.
SO A LOT OF THESE CUTS, UM, ARE, ARE SPREAD OVER THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY THAT ARE NOT NECESSARILY, YOU KNOW, AFFECTING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS, BUT THERE ARE A FEW CUTS THAT ARE PROPOSED FOR THE AREAS OF FUNDING THAT WE'RE MOST CONCERNED WITH.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE, I'LL, I WILL SAY, UH, WOULD BE THE PROPOSED CUT TO THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY.
SO LAST YEAR, THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY
[01:25:01]
RECEIVED ABOUT $500 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND FUNDING.UH, IT WAS CHAMPIONED BY SENATOR BECKER AND, AND SENATOR LAD.
AND THEY, UH, DELIVERED A LOT OF SUPPORT AND, AND MADE SURE THAT WE CAN CARRY OUT A HUGE PIPELINE OF PROJECTS AT THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY STATEWIDE.
HOWEVER, WITH THE HUGE DEFICIT THAT WE'RE FACING THIS YEAR, THE GOVERNOR DID PROPOSE TO CUT NEARLY ALL OF THAT REMAINING FUNDING THAT HAS NOT YET BEEN COMMITTED TO PROJECTS.
SO, AFTER MEETING WITH THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY, IF THIS CUT WENT FORWARD, THEY WOULD BE OUT OF MONEY BY NEXT MONTH.
UH, THEY WOULD HAVE TO PUT A PAUSE ON FUNDING A TON OF PROJECTS.
AND OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE A, THEY'RE A REALLY STRONG PARTNER FOR THE WORK THAT, THAT YOU ALL DO.
SO A LOT OF OUR WORK RIGHT NOW IN THE LEGISLATURE IS FOCUSED ON PUSHING BACK ON THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED CUTS TO THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S THE LARGEST POT THAT HE'S PROPOSING TO CLAW BACK.
UH, I WILL SHARE THAT THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE LEGISLATURE TO PROTECT THAT MONEY FROM THE, THE CENTRAL COAST CAUCUS, FROM THE BAY AREA CAUCUS, AND FROM, UH, SENATORS BECKER AND LAD SPECIFICALLY WHO GOT US THAT FUNDING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
SO THAT IS ONE WHERE WE'RE, WE'RE FOCUSING A LOT OF ENERGY.
UH, I'LL ALSO NOTE THERE IS SOME PROPOSED CUTS TO THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD.
A LOT OF THIS THAT, THAT IS PROPOSED TO BE CUT WOULD BE FOR WATERSHED RESILIENCE PROJECTS IN SOCAL AND THE SIERRA NEVADA.
SO LESS, YOU KNOW, IT'S PRETTY SPECIFIC POTS OF FUNDING, BUT WITHIN THIS $70.4 MILLION, THERE'S ALSO ABOUT 15 MILLION IN GENERAL PROJECT FUNDING.
UM, SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE, YOU KNOW, DISCOVERED THROUGH MEETING WITH AGENCIES IS THAT THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD SHOULD THESE CUTS GO THROUGH, UH, WOULD PROBABLY BE RUNNING OUT OF MONEY THIS YEAR AND WOULD THEN HAVE TO SHIFT TO VERY MUCH SMALLER GRANTS THAN THEY'VE BEEN AWARDING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.
SO THEY WOULD BE LIMITING THEIR, THEIR GRANTS TO ONE OR $2 MILLION INSTEAD OF BEING ABLE TO FUND THESE LARGER PROJECTS.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER POT THAT WE'RE, WE'RE ADVOCATING STRONGLY TO PROTECT.
I'D ALSO JUST HIGHLIGHT, UM, THERE WERE SOME CLAWBACKS PROPOSED FOR SOME OUTDOOR ACCESS GRANT PROGRAMS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION, UM, AS WELL AS SOME SMALL CUTS IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS TO WILDFIRE REDUCTION INVESTMENTS AND WILDFIRE RESILIENCE INVESTMENTS.
UM, FOR SOME CONTEXT, I KNOW WE SEE 27.7 MILLION IN CUTS, UM, DEFINITELY PUSHING BACK AGAINST THAT.
HOWEVER, THAT IS PART OF A $2 BILLION PACKAGE FOR WILDFIRE.
SO I, I WILL HIGHLIGHT THAT THAT WAS ONE AREA THAT REALLY SAW PRETTY LIMITED CUTS IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS.
SO OVERALL, AT THIS POINT IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, WE DO EXPECT THE BUDGET DEFICIT TO GROW BEYOND THE GOVERNOR'S PROJECTIONS OF $38 BILLION.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE, THE LEGISLATURE IS PROJECTING MUCH HIGHER AT AROUND 70 BILLION, AND EVEN JUST FROM JANUARY, UH, TAX REVENUES WERE ABOUT $5 BILLION BELOW, UH, EXPECTED.
SO THAT, THAT WILL BE A CONCERN MOVING FORWARD.
UH, I'LL ALSO NOTE THAT AS I, AS I SAID, THE SENATE IS PROMISING TO BE A, A GOOD PARTNER IN PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE MOST IMPORTANT CUTS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL.
UM, AND, AND FINALLY, I, I'D BE REMISS TO NOT MENTION THE DISCUSSIONS AROUND A POTENTIAL CLIMATE RESILIENCE BOND FOR THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
SO AS WE, WE CONTEND WITH THE BUDGET DEFICIT, AND AS WE START, UH, YOU KNOW, FINDING OUT WHAT ULTIMATELY WILL NEED TO BE CUT FROM THE GENERAL FUND, I THINK THAT IS FUEL FOR THE CONVERSATION AROUND PASSING A CLIMATE BOND IN NOVEMBER.
UM, THAT COULD RANGE, UH, YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM SIX TO TO $12 BILLION THAT'S STILL BEING NEGOTIATED.
AND, UM, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE RESULTS OF THE, THE PRIMARY ELECTIONS, IT'S LOOKING LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S MENTAL HEALTH BOND, UH, IS LIKELY TO PASS, WHICH MEANS THAT WE HAVE, UH, AN OPPORTUNITY TO START ENGAGING WITH THE GOVERNOR AND, AND START GETTING HIS ATTENTION ON A CLIMATE BOND FOR DISCUSSIONS FOR THE FALL.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE THERE.
UM, AND, AND THIS IS A PRETTY HIGH LEVEL OVERVIEW OF WHERE WE STAND RIGHT NOW, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY MORE SPECIFIC QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I'M, I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING, UM, MORE ABOUT HOW YOU THINK THE, YOU KNOW, THE COMMITMENT TO THE CLIMATE POND, AND OBVIOUSLY WE WANNA, WE WANNA SEE THAT, WE WANNA SEE THAT MOVE FORWARD.
BUT IS THAT GOING TO GIVE THE GOVERNOR SORT OF MORE ABILITY TO CUT BACK ON SOME OF THESE, UH, AREAS WHERE WE CARE SO MUCH WITH THE IDEA THAT SOME OF THAT WOULD BE FILLED IN BY THE CLIMATE BOND? OBVIOUSLY
[01:30:01]
THE TIMING WOULD BE OFF, BUT, UM, JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD SHED SOME LIGHT ON THAT.UH, ERIC ELLER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, I'M NOT SURE IF I, I THINK ABIGAIL IS STILL THERE, BUT JUST TO COMMENT ON, UH, THE CLIMATE BOND, UH, WE, BOTH LISA AND I WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE IN A TOGETHER BAY AREA ADVOCACY DAY ON MARCH 6TH.
AND THE TOPIC OF FUNDING FOR, UH, THE AREAS THAT WERE HIGHLIGHTED IN, UM, ABIGAIL'S PRESENTATION WERE ALL, ALL DISCUSSED, UH, WITH AN EMPHASIS ON, ON COASTAL CONSERVANCY.
UH, BUT IT DOES APPEAR AS IF THE MOMENTUM FOR A CLIMATE BOND IS, IS EMERGING.
UM, IT'S STILL BEING NEGOTIATED IN TERMS OF THE LEVEL OF FUNDING THAT COULD, UH, REALISTICALLY MOVED FORWARD.
I THINK OUR LAST, UH, ON OUR LAST SET OF VISITS, UH, IT WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE SEVEN $7 BILLION RANGE.
UM, SOME OF THIS WILL DEPEND ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH PROP ONE, UH, STILL VERY TOO CLOSE TO CALL.
UH, SO THAT'S A $6.83 BILLION BOND, I BELIEVE, FOR, UM, MENTAL HEALTH.
AND, UH, SHOULD, SHOULD THAT NOT PASS OR SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE ELECTORATE'S, UH, ELECTORATE, UH, INTEREST IN BOND PROPOSAL.
UH, BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE, UH, THE COALITION OF FOLKS THAT ARE WORKING ON THE CLIMATE BOND ARE MEETING VERY REGULARLY WITH, UH, ABIGAIL'S FIRM.
AND WE'RE HAVING ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW, UH, TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR RESOURCE RELATED PROVISIONS, GIVEN THAT NA THE NATURE OF THE BOND COULD BE A BLENDING OF WATER, AGRICULTURE, CLIMATE, UM, THERE COULD BE SORT OF A, A, A, A BUCKET APPROACH, UH, TO HOW SOMETHING MIGHT ADVANCE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE STAYING VERY ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THAT.
ABIGAIL, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT.
NO, I THINK, I THINK YOU COVERED IT.
KNOW A LOT MORE, HOPEFULLY AFTER WE, WE GET THE FINAL RESULTS OF, OF PROPOSITION ONE, WHICH I BELIEVE, UH, THE SECRETARY DOESN'T CERTIFY TILL, I THINK I READ APRIL 9TH.
UM, SO IT'S STILL A WAYS OFF IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTING.
YEAH, IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT, IT'S PULLING SLIGHTLY AHEAD NOW.
UM, BUT WE WON'T KNOW FOR SURE FOR A FEW MORE DAYS IT LOOKS LIKE.
UH, CAN I ASK ABIGAIL OR, OR ERIC, IS THE ISSUE WITH PROP ONE THAT IF IT ACTUALLY FAILS THAT THE GOVERNOR'S ENERGIES AND FOCUS WOULD THEN BE TO PUT IT AGAIN ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER? IS THAT WHY IT'S AN ISSUE? I, I, ABIGAIL PLEASE SPEAK TO THAT IF YOU HAVE A, A DIFFERENT ANSWER, BUT I, I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE, THE CONCERN.
I THINK IT'S MORE, UH, HOW THE ELECTORATE IS VIEWING THE ECONOMY, UH, YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN TERMS OF BONDING AUTHORITY AND INDEBTEDNESS, AND ALSO JUST THE STATE OF THE BUDGET.
UM, I THINK IT'S SORT OF A, A CANARY IN THE COAL MINE KIND OF TEST.
AND, UM, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING UPON THE OUTCOME, I THINK THERE MAY BE AN APPETITE TO, TO HOLD OFF ON MAYBE ANY BOND, UM, IN THE FALL IF IT LOSES.
I, YOU KNOW, EVERY ANALYSIS I'VE READ IS THAT THE PRIMARY TURNOUT WAS FAR MORE CONSERVATIVE IN ITS, UH, IMPACT, UH, BECAUSE OF A, A SEVERELY LOW TURNOUT THAT WON'T REFLECT THE NOVEMBER ELECTORATE AT ALL, GIVEN THE DYNAMICS OF A TRUMP VERSUS BIDEN PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
SO I, YOU KNOW, TO, TO ME, I WOULD MOVE FULL BLAST ON A, A CLIMATE BOND REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS PRIMARY, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF BIZARRE OUTCOMES IN LOCAL ELECTIONS, UH, BECAUSE OF THAT EXTRAORDINARY LOW TURNOUT.
AND I'M, I'M JUST HOPING THE POWERS THAT BE DON'T OVERLOOK THAT.
YEAH, NO, THAT'S A FAIR POINT.
AND, UH, I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE ACTIVELY MOVING FORWARD, SO WE'LL, WE'LL, BUT A LOT OBVIOUSLY CAN CHANGE BETWEEN NOW AND I BELIEVE IT'S THE END OF JUNE THAT IT WOULD HAVE TO PASS TO BE PLACED ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT.
AB I WAS JUST GONNA SAY, UM, YEAH, IT IS, IT IS THE END OF JUNE AND PART OF THE CONCERN WE'RE HEARING FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT THEY MIGHT CONSIDER PLACING IT ON THE BALLOT AGAIN IF IT DOESN'T PASS IN MARCH.
BUT, UM, BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A DIFFERENT ELECTORATE, I THINK THAT,
[01:35:01]
YOU KNOW, THEY COULD EXPECT VERY DIFFERENT RESULTS.I THINK A, A MAJOR CONCERN BEHIND THE SCENES HERE IS THAT THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY ARE READY TO MOVE FORWARD AND GET A CLIMATE BOND WORKING AND, AND NEGOTIATED FOR THE JUNE DEADLINE.
BUT IF THE PROP ONE DOESN'T PASS, IT SEEMS LIKE THE GOVERNOR MAY, UM, MAY NOT BE WILLING TO BE DISCUSSING ANOTHER BOND TOPIC FOR THE, THE, THE NEAR FUTURE.
UM, I THINK THIS IS WHERE HE PUT MOST OF HIS ENERGY OVER THE LAST YEAR.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, IT MAY CREATE SOME DELAYS AND, AND ROADBLOCKS FOR PRODUCTIVE NEGOTIATIONS AROUND A CLIMATE BOND.
OBVIOUSLY, I HOPE, I HOPE BOTH THAT
I ACTUALLY HAD HEARD THAT THE, THE OPPOSITION HAD HAD CONCEDED DEFEAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S STILL REALLY, AS I I AGREE WITH YOU, ERIC, POTENTIALLY TOO CLOSE TO CALL, BUT MAYBE THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHERE THE VOTES ARE COMING IN AND WHAT'S LEFT TO BE COUNTED AND FEEL LIKE THEY'RE NOT GONNA WIN.
UM, WHICH, WHICH WOULD BE GOOD NEWS FOR, FOR ALL OF US.
UM, AND I JUST, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS THINKING TO ADD TO COLIN'S POINT, I'VE HEARD A LOT ALSO IN THE ANALYSIS OF THE, THE MENTAL HEALTH BOND, THAT THERE REALLY WASN'T A ROBUST CAMPAIGN FOR IT.
IT SEEMS THAT PEOPLE WERE FAIRLY OVERCONFIDENT, THERE WASN'T REALLY AN ORGANIZED OPPOSITION CAMPAIGN EITHER, BUT, BUT PEOPLE WHEN THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND SOMETHING TEND TO VOTE.
SO, SO I, I, I MEAN, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD REPRESENTATION OF WHERE THE VOTERS ARE EITHER, BUT, BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, I CERTAINLY UNDERSTAND WHY THE GOVERNOR MIGHT WANT NOT WANT TO, UH, GO OUT THERE AND DO ANOTHER BOND, ALTHOUGH, UH, OH, WELL, ANYWAY, HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE A MOOT POINT.
HOPEFULLY THE MENTAL HEALTH BOND WILL WILL PASS AND, AND WE CAN ALL GET BEHIND A, A ROBUST CLIMATE BOND AND, AND MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
UM, MY, MY QUESTION, UM, ON THE CLIMATE BOND REALLY WAS MORE ABOUT HOW, UM, HOW THAT MIGHT IMPACT WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS LOOKING AT CUTTING IN THE, YOU KNOW, IN, IN THE CURRENT RESOURCE PROGRAMS THAT WE CARE A LOT ABOUT.
AND I DON'T KNOW, ABIGAIL, IF YOU CAN ADDRESS THAT, OR ERIC YEAH, THERE'S ALWAYS THE CONCERN, RIGHT, THAT, THAT A BOND WOULD JUST BE A PLACE TO BACKFILL THE GENERAL FUND CUTS.
SO WE'RE DEFINITELY PUSHING FOR THAT TO NOT BE THE CASE BECAUSE, UH, EVEN THOUGH WE GOT A LOT OF, YOU KNOW, ENCOURAGING INVESTMENTS THROUGH THE GENERAL FUND OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, IT'S STILL, YOU KNOW, JUST THE FIRST STEP IN ALL THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
THERE ARE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF, OF GOOD CLIMATE WORK THAT WE NEED TO FUND STATEWIDE.
SO THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT WE'RE PUSHING FOR IN OUR, IN OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND WITH THE LEGISLATURE.
UM, BUT I WILL SAY ULTIMATELY IT, THAT MIGHT BE ONE OF THE GOVERNOR'S, UM, STRATEGIES, ESPECIALLY IN HIS JANUARY PROPOSAL.
UM, YOU KNOW, HE, HE'S INDICATED A SENSE THAT HE SEES A CLIMATE BOND AS A WAY TO BACKFILL SOME INVESTMENTS.
BUT I'LL UNDERSCORE THAT THE PARTIES THAT ARE, ARE NEGOTIATING IN THE LEGISLATURE, UM, ARE, ARE PUSHING BACK AGAINST THAT.
THEY'D LIKE TO SEE IT, YOU KNOW, PROTECTING ENVIRONMENTAL FUNDING AND THE BUDGET AND PASSING A CLIMATE BOND IN ADDITION.
SO I THINK THE, THE SENATE AND THE ASSEMBLY ARE GONNA BE OUR ALLIES IN THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THAT DISCUSSION WITH THE GOVERNOR, FOR SURE.
WELL, AND ALSO THERE'S NO GUARANTEE, SO IF YOU CUT THINGS FROM THE, THE BUDGET AND THEN, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE ECONOMY GOES SOUTH IN THE, IN THE FALL AND PEOPLE DON'T VOTE FOR THE CLIMATE BOND, THAT WOULD BE A COMPLETE DISASTER.
BUT, BUT, UM, YEAH, HOPEFULLY THAT WON'T HAPPEN ANYWAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, UM, FOR THE INFORMATION FOR THE PRESENTATION.
YES, THANK YOU, ABIEL, FOR YOUR INFORMATION.
UH, I, I APPRECIATE YOUR REPORT.
UH, ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE COMMENT, HEARING NONE.
I'M LOOKING FOR THE, UM, I ASSUME POWERPOINT AND HAVING TO, WE'RE MOVING TOWARDS THE, A LOT OF THINGS, STATE ADVOCACY REFLECTION.
UH, CAN I CLOSE THAT THERE, WE NEED TO SHARE, IS IT FOUND,
[01:40:08]
WHILE WE'RE WAITING, I LET MY COLLEAGUES KNOW THAT THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER IS THE 29TH OF THIS MONTH, AND YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO ATTEND, AND YULI WILL BUY YOU TICKETS IF YOU'D LIKE.ERIC FEELER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, UM, HERE TO PRESENT WITH, UH, LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST, LISA BALLINGER.
UM, PICKING UP ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH, WE'RE GONNA SPEAK TO THE MEETINGS THAT WE WERE PARTICIPATED IN, UM, AND WE DID SPLIT UP A FAIR BIT WHILE WE WERE UP IN SACRAMENTO.
UM, IT DOES FEEL LIKE A LONG TIME AGO.
UH, IT WAS JUST JANUARY 30, 30TH AND 31ST.
UH, BUT WE REALLY APPRECIATE AND VALUE THE BOARD'S SUPPORT AND THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER AND GENERAL MANAGER'S SUPPORT FOR THE CONFERENCE.
I THINK WE ALL FELT, UM, LIKE WE WERE, UH, PRETTY EFFECTIVE IN OUR CONVERSATIONS.
AND, UH, WE HAVE HAD SOME FOLLOW UP.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'LL REPORT ON TODAY.
UH, ON THIS FIRST SLIDE, I WOULD COMMENT THAT WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, UH, TO MEET WITH, UH, A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS PRIOR TO OUR VISITS IN THE SWING SPACE.
UH, IN THE FIRST MEETING WAS WITH MEGAN HERTEL.
UH, SHE'S NOW THE, UH, DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR BIO BIODIVERSITY AT THE, UH, DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.
AND, UH, WE ARE HAVING THE GOOD FORTUNE AND OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HER AGAIN ON THE 19TH WHEN WE ARE UP, UH, TALKING ABOUT OUR LEGISLATION.
AND IF YOU RECALL, IN OUR MEETING WITH HER BACK IN JANUARY, WE DISCUSSED THE IDEA OF A SITE VISIT.
AND SO WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THAT WHEN WE SEE HER AGAIN ON THE 19TH.
THE OTHER INDIVIDUAL WE MET WERE TWO OTHER INDIVIDUALS.
HE'S A POLICY ANALYSIS FOR, UH, SPEAKER REVIS.
UM, AND HE DID HIGHLIGHT, UH, THE DIFFERENT BOND PROPOSALS THAT WERE OUT THERE THAT COMBINED TO SOMETHING LIKE 48 BILLION AND DID INDICATE THAT THERE WOULD BE A CEILING THAT THE STATE WOULD SET AS TO HOW MUCH BONDING AUTHORITY WOULD BE MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR.
I THINK AT THAT TIME, GENERALLY IT WAS IN THE 25 BILLION.
WE'VE HEARD A LITTLE LESS SINCE THEN.
AND HE WAS ALSO, UH, VERY, UH, MUCH INTERESTED IN SEEING MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS WORK TOGETHER TO RESOLVE SOME OF THEIR, UH, UH, SOME OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING WHAT SHOULD BE IN THE BOND.
UH, AND THERE WAS DISCUSSION OF A WORKING GROUP, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE EDUARDO GARCIA, THE AUTHOR OF THE CLIMATE BOND PROPOSAL.
UH, BUT AT THAT TIME WHEN WE MET WITH HIM, UH, THERE WAS NOT CLEAR DIRECTION TO EITHER WORK ON THE CLIMATE BOND OR TO NOT WORK ON IT.
UH, SUBSEQUENTLY I'VE BEEN IN A COUPLE DIFFERENT MEETINGS, UH, AND, AND LISA HAS AS WELL WITH, UM, THE, UH, SORT OF HIS COUNTERPART WITH THE SPEAKER SUSAN CHAN, WHO HAS INDICATED THAT SHE IS WORKING ON THE CLIMATE BOND AND, UH, IS VERY INTERESTED IN MORE DIRECTION FROM THE CAUCUS AS WELL, AS WELL AS THE GOVERNOR.
THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN FAIRLY, FAIRLY SILENT.
OUR SECOND MEETING, UH, I MEAN, I'M SORRY, OUR THIRD MEETING THAT THAT MORNING WAS WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, UH, WHO WAS VERY, UH, INTERESTED IN OUR CONVERSATION ABOUT LAKE HEALTH AND, UH, DREDGING OUR RECREATIONAL LAKES, AS WELL AS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ISSUE WITH THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS.
UH, SHE DID INDICATE AN INTEREST IN, AND THIS IS LIZ ROSEBURG.
UM, SHE DID INDICATE AN INTEREST IN SEEING SOME OF THE ECOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT THAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
UH, SO WE WILL BE EXTENDING A SITE VISIT, UH, FOR, FOR HER AS WELL.
UH, TNC IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE CLIMATE BOND PROCESS.
UM, AND SO WE'LL BE SPEAKING WITH THEM AS PART OF THE COALITION THAT EEC IS HELPING TO, UH, SHEPHERD.
OUR FIRST, UH, WELL, WE'RE DOING THESE NOT NECESSARILY IN ORDER OF WHERE, WHERE THEY APPEARED IN, UM, THE AGENDA DURING THE, DURING THE DAY AND TWO DAYS.
UH, BUT THE FIRST, UM, OFFICE WE WANTED TO DISCUSS WAS, UH, SENATOR SKINNER'S OFFICE.
SHE DID INDICATE THAT DIRECT FUNDING WAS GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE THIS YEAR, AND, UH, DID ASK FOR A LETTER OF THE DISTRICT'S BUDGET PRIORITIES.
UM, AND WE DID SEND SUCH A LETTER ON THE 13TH.
UH, AND IN ADDITION TO SENDING THE LETTER, WE DID INDICATE THE STRONG INTEREST IN LAKE HEALTH, PARTICULARLY LAKE TEMESCAL.
UM, AND ALSO INCLUDED IN OUR, OUR, UH, REQUESTS, OR, OR AT LEAST WHAT WE WERE IDENTIFYING FOR HER THAT WE WERE LOOKING, WORKING ON BESIDES TEMESCAL, WAS, UH, THE TIDEWATER PROJECT, THE RICHMOND BAY TRAIL PROJECT, AND OYSTER BAY FUNDING.
[01:45:01]
TIME WASN'T SURE, UH, WHICH COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS SHE WOULD HAVE AT THIS POINT.SHE IS NOW CHAIR OF HOUSING AND SHE'S CHAIR EMERITUS OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
SO STILL HAS A FAIR BIT OF, UM, OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THE BUDGET PROCESS, UH, WITH THE NEW, UH, CHAIR, UH, FROM SAN FRANCISCO, UH, CHAIR WIENER.
OUR NEXT MEETING, OR I SHOULD SAY THE NEXT MEETING WE WILL DISCUSS WAS WITH, UH, STAFF FOR REBECCA BAUER KAHAN.
UH, AGAIN, ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS SWITCHED, UH, THEIR COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENT, UM, UH, LAST YEAR WAS CHAIR OF PARKS, WILDLIFE AND WATER.
THIS YEAR IS NOW CHAIR OF PRIVACY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION.
UH, BUT SHE IS ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY A WELL-RESPECTED, UH, FORMER ENVIRONMENTAL ATTORNEY.
UH, SO ON A, ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES, WE, WE DEFINITELY TURN TO HER OFFICE AND WE CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH, WITH THEM ABOUT SQL REFORM.
UH, AND SHE HAS INDICATED STRONG SUPPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS, POSSIBLY, UH, ESTABLISHING SOME FACILITIES IN THE EAST BAY.
NEXT MEETING TO DISCUSS WAS WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER MIA BONTA.
AND I DO OWE, UH, DIRECTOR ECCLES A BIT OF AN APOLOGY FOR STARTING THAT MEETING.
AND SO BY THE TIME SHE WAS THERE, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO GO BACK.
UH, BUT, BUT THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER WAS VERY GRACIOUS AND DID TAKE A MOMENT TO, TO SPEAK WITH ALL OF US.
UM, AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING CONVERSATION.
SHE, WE, WE TALKED A FAIR BIT ABOUT TIDEWATER VERY, UH, CLEAR THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE HER ON A SITE VISIT.
UH, AND WE DID, WE DID EXPLAIN TO HER THE, ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THAT PROJECT HAS A CHALLENGE IN RECEIVING GRANT FUNDING IS THE PROXIMITY TO, UH, DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES.
UM, BUT WE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS AN, A COMMUNITY THAT WAS REDLINED.
IT WAS HOUSING, UH, DIRECTOR ROSARIO SPOKE ABOUT, UH, GROWING UP IN THAT AREA, AND, UH, MADE IT CLEAR TO HER THAT, UH, BECAUSE IT WAS A HISTORICALLY REDLINE COMMUNITY, THAT THAT OPPORTUNITIES FOR OPEN SPACE ARE, ARE EVEN MORE VALUED, UH, BY SOME OF THE GRANT GUIDELINES.
AND OF COURSE, UM, OUTDOORS FOR ALL, WHICH IS AN INITIATIVE BY THE RESOURCES, UH, DEPARTMENT.
AND SO THAT WAS OF INTEREST TO HER.
UM, AND THEN WE HAD THE CONVERSATION WITH, WITH HER ABOUT, UH, THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS.
AND ONE OF THE ELEMENTS THERE THAT SEEMED TO RESONATE WITH HER IS IT COULD BE A ALTERNATIVE FOR MEMBERS OF CIVICORE, WHICH IS LOCATED IN HER DISTRICT, UH, THAT IF SOMEBODY WAS, UH, IN CIVICORE BUT FACED HOUSING AND SECURITY, UH, THEY COULD TRANSFER TO THE CONSERVATION CORPS, UH, AND HAVE HOUSING IN THEIR FACILITIES ONCE THEY'RE, ONCE THEY'RE BUILT.
UH, AND WE ARE GOING TO BE, OR, OR, OR I WILL AT LEAST BE FOLLOWING UP WITH HER CHIEF OF STAFF ON THE 19TH WHEN WE'RE IN SACRAMENTO, UH, ABOUT A NUMBER OF THESE ITEMS. UM, AND WE HAVE A, DEFINITELY HAVE A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH HER.
SHE WAS ALSO IN THE MEETING WITH THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER, AND WE, UH, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET, TO MEET WITH EDUARDO GARCIA, UH, TO TALK ABOUT THE CLIMATE BOND.
AND, UH, HE WAS VERY, UH, ENCOURAGING OF OUR ASKS, AS YOU, I'M SURE YOU RECALL.
UH, AND HE'S CONTINUING TO, TO, UM, ADVOCATE.
UH, WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE, UH, COALITION THAT EEC PUT TOGETHER, UH, FOR AN ADVOCACY DAY, UH, ABOUT, LET'S SEE, I THINK IT WAS FEBRUARY 20, UH, I THINK IT WAS AROUND THE 21ST OR 19TH OF FEBRUARY, UH, AND OR FEBRUARY 6TH.
AND, UM, DURING THAT DAY, UH, EDUARDO GARCIA LED A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE CAPITOL STEPS WITH ABOUT SIX OTHER MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY.
UH, THOSE OF US WHO WERE ATTENDANCE FOR THE ADVOCACY WORK WERE IN THE, UH, YOU KNOW, IN THE BACKGROUND, THE POTTED PLANT, SO TO SPEAK.
AND, UH, A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM ABOUT, ABOUT POSSIBLY MOVING A CLIMATE BOND FORWARD.
AND THEN, UH, WE DID PARTICIPATE IN OTHER VISITS THAT DAY AND CONTINUED TO MEET WITH HIS OFFICE.
UM, AS DOES OUR ADVOCATE, UH, DOUG HOUSTON, UM, IS CONTINUING TO WORK WITH EDUARDO'S OFFICE AND KEEPING US A, A APPRAISED OF, UM, HOW THINGS ARE ADVANCING THERE ON A, ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
UH, ANOTHER MEETING THAT WE, I THINK WE WERE ALL IN, OR MOST OF US WERE IN, WAS WITH SENATOR STEVE GLAZER.
UH, WE'RE CONTINUING SUBSEQUENT OF THAT MEETING.
WE ARE CONTINUING TO MEET WITH OUR FELLOW STAFF IN DECO, UH, TO DISCUSS, UH, UH, WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS WITH RODDY RANCH, AND CONTINUING TO REPORT BACK TO THE SENATOR'S OFFICE ON THAT PROJECT, UM, KNOWING THAT HE WAS VERY, UH, SUPPORTIVE OF WANTING TO BE HELPFUL TO MOVE IT FORWARD.
UH, AND THEN WE ARE, WE DID OUTLINE SOME SITE VISIT OPTIONS FOR HIM TO THAT PROPERTY.
[01:50:01]
WAITING FOR HIS OFFICE TO, UM, TO DECIDE WHAT, WHAT PATHWAY THEY WOULD LIKE TO MOVE FORWARD ON.AND THEN, UH, HE DID, IF, IF YOU RECALL, WE DID HAVE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT OUR S QL LEGISLATION DID IN INDICATE A STRONG INTEREST IN SUPPORTING.
UH, SO ONCE WE, UH, FINALIZED THE LANGUAGE, WE MAY ASK, UH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER GRAYSON TO REACH OUT TO SENATOR GLASER AS A, AS A LEAD IN THE, IN THE SENATE SIDE.
AND THEN, UH, THE LAST THING, HE, HE INDICATED HIS STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS BEING LOCATED IN THE EAST BAY.
HE'S ACTUALLY, UH, SUPPORTED THAT EFFORT, UH, FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
SO, UH, STRONG ADVOCATE IN THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SPACE.
LISA INGER, LEGISLATIVE POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST.
AND TO CONTINUE, UH, THE PRESENTATION ON SOME MEETINGS, UH, THAT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT, UH, WITH THE OFFICES OF, OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER TIM G GRAYSON, WE HAD A FAIRLY ROBUST DISCUSSION, UH, STARTING WITH THE LEGISLATION THAT HE'S AUTHORING, UM, IN SUPPORT OF THE PARK DISTRICT AB UH, 2091.
UH, WE THEN CONTINUED WITH A DISCUSSION ON, UH, THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
UH, HE WAS CURIOUS TO HEAR AN UPDATE ON HIS BROOK ROAD, OR EXCUSE ME, UM, SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD, UH, $3 MILLION DIRECT FUNDING.
UM, AND ALSO WANTED TO HEAR AN UPDATE ON HOW THE PARK DISTRICT IS COORDINATING WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ON FUNDING FOR THE VISITOR CENTER.
UM, SO WE HAVE SHARED WITH HIS OFFICE UPDATES THERE.
UH, BY WAY OF CONTEXT, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IS WORKING THROUGH, UH, THE BUDGET PROCESS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
UH, THEY HAVE CAUTIONED US THAT IT'S UP TO A 10 YEAR PROCESS, AND SO WE'RE WORKING TO MAKE SURE TO DOT ALL THE I'S AND CROSS ALL THE T'S IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM THERE.
UM, AND THEN LASTLY, UH, THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER DID SHARE, JUST EMPHASIZING HIS IMPORTANCE FOR, UH, SUPPORTING A PERMANENT CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS, UH, FACILITY HERE IN THE EAST BAY.
UM, AND TASKED US TO WORK WITH HIS STAFF ON FINDING IF THERE IS POTENTIALLY $2 MILLION IN A CAL FIRE OR SOME OTHER BUDGET PACKAGE THAT COULD BE LEVERAGED FOR THE INITIAL PLANNING AND DESIGN.
AND SO WE'VE WORKED, UH, WITH THEM TO, TO BEGIN, UH, SEEING WHAT'S POSSIBLE AS THE BUDGET MONIES, UH, BEGIN TO SETTLE THE OFFICE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER LIZ ORTEGO.
WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HER LEGISLATIVE STAFF.
UH, THEY SHARED WITH US THAT DIRECT BUDGET MONIES WOULD LIKELY BE VERY SPARSE IF EVEN AT ALL THIS YEAR.
AND SO, THOUGH THEY CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE OYSTER BAY PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT AND WOULD, UH, VALUE PROVIDING LETTERS OF SUPPORT, THEY'RE UNABLE TO ADVANCE A DIRECT FUNDING ASK THIS YEAR.
UM, HOWEVER, THEY DID EXPRESS INTEREST IN, UH, HOSTING A WALK AND TALK IN AN EAST BAY PARK.
AND SO, UH, BY WAY OF UPDATE LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT FLORA SANTOS, SHE'S STARTING THE WALK AND TALK COORDINATION FOR THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL MONTHS THIS WEEK.
UM, SO WE ARE STRIVING TO DO THOSE MORE PROACTIVELY, GETTING THEM ON THE CALENDAR, BUILDING, UH, EXCITEMENT AND MAKING SURE BOARD MEMBERS ARE AWARE FOR WALK AND TALKS HAPPENING IN THEIR DISTRICT.
SO, UH, WE'LL PROVIDE AN UPDATE SHORTLY IN THE OFFICE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER BUFFY WICKS.
WE MET WITH HER, UH, PLEASE, EXCUSE ME.
UH, LEGISLATIVE, UH, DIRECTOR.
UM, AND HE SHARED WITH US, UH, JUST SORT OF AN UPDATE, UM, ON HER INTERESTS, UH, RELATED TO LEGISLATION.
WE SPOKE ABOUT THE WILSON POINT, OR RICHMOND BAY TRAIL CONNECTION PROJECT, FOR WHICH THEY PROVIDED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR OUR REBUILDING AMERICAN INFRASTRUCTURE WITH SUSTAINABILITY AND DEVELOPMENT FEDERAL, UH, GRANT APPLICATION.
UM, WHEN WE BROUGHT UP OUR, OUR PROPOSED SPONSOR LEGISLATION AB 2091, UH, THEY DID EXPRESS INTEREST IN CO-AUTHORING.
IT'S THE INTEREST OF THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE FOR THEIR STAFF TO FACILITATE THOSE CO-AUTHORING OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO WE MADE, UH, GRAYSON'S OFFICE AWARE OF THIS.
AND AS IT CONTINUES TO ADVANCE, UM, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING OUR DELEGATION SIGN ON WITH, UH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER LORI WILSON.
SHE WAS A, A JOY AS USUAL AND REALLY EMPHASIZED HER COMMITMENT TO RESTORATION WORK AND ACCESS TO PARKS, UH, IN THE EAST BAY, SEEING THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF TIME SPENT OUTSIDE.
UH, OUR BOARD MEMBERS PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON THE RESTORATION EFFORTS THAT ARE IN EARLY DAYS, BUT HAPPENING OUT AT BAY BREAK REGIONAL SHORELINE.
UH, WE'RE IN THE INITIAL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PHASE, AND WE OFFERED, UH, TO BRING HER BACK OUT TO SITE.
SHE JOINED US IN 2023 FOR A TOUR OF THE PARK, UH, SPEAKING WITH OUR PLANNING TEAM.
UM, WE'D LOVE TO BRING HER BACK OUT WITH OUR RESTORATION TEAM TO, UH, LEARN A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT PROJECT WILL BE.
UM, SO WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR FUNDING, SHE HAS DEEP INSIGHTS.
HER STAFF ALSO EMPHASIZED THEIR COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING EAST BAY PARK PRIORITIES WITHIN THE CLIMATE BOND PACKAGE, WITH SPECIFIC ATTENTION TO THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS PERMANENT FACILITIES FUNDING, SEEING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EQUITABLE AND DIVERSE RECRUITMENT, UM, OF EAST BAY RESIDENTS INTO GREEN JOBS.
AND THEN OUR, OUR LAST MEETING TO SPEAK TO WAS WITH THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION COURT THEMSELVES.
UH, BY WAY OF REMINDER, THEY PROVIDED A ROBUST PRESENTATION OF THEIR VARIOUS PROGRAMS. UM, AND SOME HIGHLIGHTS WERE, UH, SHARING THAT THE CCC HAS, UH, 174 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND MONIES THAT THEY USED TO SUPPORT THEIR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ANNUALLY.
THIS INCLUDES OPPORTUNITY FOR CREWS, UH, TO BE BROUGHT TO THE
[01:55:01]
EAST BAY, UM, SHOULD THAT ADDITIONAL PERMANENT CAPITAL FUNDING BE MADE AVAILABLE.THEY CURRENTLY HAVE 15 NON-RESIDENTIAL AND 10 RESIDENTIAL CREWS THAT THEY'RE SUPPORTING ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS THEY'RE SO INTERESTED IN PARTNERING WITH EAST BAY PARKS IS THAT OUR TWO COUNTIES DO REPRESENT A SERVICE GAP FOR THEIR ORGANIZATION.
AND, UM, IN, IN WONDERFUL NEWS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, 493 CREW MEMBERS OF THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS HAVE ADVANCED TO STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND WE'D LOVE TO GET THOSE NUMBERS BUMPED EVEN HIGHER WITH SOME EAST BAY PARK STAFF.
UM, AND SO THAT CONCLUDES OUR UPDATE PRESENTATION, UH, WOULD VALUE, UH, QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVES.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY, GO AHEAD.
UH, I KNOW THAT WHEN WE MET ON THE CLIMATE BOND AND OUR SPECIFIC ASK ON THE CLIMATE BOND, UM, THERE WAS A REQUEST TO, FOR US TO SUBMIT A, A LETTER AND I I OUTLINING ALL OF THAT TO THE FULL DELEGATION, AND I'M NOT, I DON'T KNOW IF I MISSED IT, I'M SORRY, BUT HAS THAT GONE IN YET, THAT LETTER? YEAH.
SO, UM, EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER OF OUR FOUR KEY PRIORITY AREAS OF WILDFIRE MITIGATION, SEA LEVEL RISE, PREPAREDNESS, LAKE HEALTH, UM, IN GREEN JOBS IN THE EAST BAY.
AND WHAT IS CURRENTLY IN ACTION IS THAT OUR STATE BOND ADVOCATE, HOUSTON MAGNANI AND ASSOCIATES, IS WORKING ON FACILITATING A LETTER FROM OUR DELEGATION, UH, TO THE AUTHOR'S OFFICE, UH, REITERATING THESE REQUESTS ON BEHALF OF, UH, THE DELEGATION.
UM, THERE IS SOME VARIATION IN TERMS OF WHICH ISSUES DELEGATION MEMBERS ARE MOST INTERESTED IN SUPPORTING.
SO IN TERMS OF A COMPREHENSIVE LETTER, UH, WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS INVESTMENT REALLY, UH, RISE ACROSS THE EAST BAY.
UM, HOWEVER, THERE ARE, UH, MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION WHO WANNA SUPPORT EACH OF THOSE ISSUES.
UM, AND SO, UH, EAST BAY PARKS HAS COMMUNICATED TO THE DELEGATION, AND NOW IT'S, THE DELEGATION IS WORKING, UH, TO COMMUNICATE TO, UH, THE COMMITTEE AND AUTHOR'S OFFICE.
SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S TOO EARLY TO TELL FOR SURE WHAT EXACTLY THAT LETTER'S GONNA LOOK LIKE, BUT, UH, DO WE THINK THAT, UM, THAT THE FULL DELEGATION WILL SUPPORT OUR FULL SET OF PRIORITIES? WE DO NOT THINK THAT THE FULL DELEGATION IS GONNA SUPPORT ALL FOUR PRIORITIES, BUT WE DO THINK THAT THE DE MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION WILL EACH SUPPORT OUR PRIORITIES RELATIVE TO, UH, THEIR OWN INTERESTS.
SO, SO IN TERMS OF A, AN OVERALL LETTER YES, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO GET, RIGHT? A OVERALL LETTER FROM OUR, OUR, UH, STATE DELEGATION MM-HMM.
SO, UM, SO YOU THINK THEY WILL, SO, SO I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A SENSE OF WHAT THAT ULTIMATELY WILL.
SO OUR INITIAL ASK WAS A LETTER THAT OUTLINED ALL FOUR OF EAST BAY PARK PRIORITIES THAT EVERY MEMBER OF THE DELEGATION WOULD SIGN ON TO, RIGHT.
HOWEVER, WHEN, UH, OUR CONSULTANTS BEGAN GOING AROUND SACRAMENTO, THERE ARE SOME VARIATION IN TERMS OF MEMBER INTEREST.
SO NOW WHAT WE'RE EXPECTING IS THAT EACH OF OUR MEMBERS WILL LIKELY BE WRITING THEIR OWN PRIORITIES, WHICH INCLUDE THEIR OWN PRIORITIES AS WELL AS THOSE, UH, WITHIN THEIR DISTRICT.
AND SO WE'RE EXPECTING TO SEE EAST BAY PARK'S PRIORITIES WITHIN EACH OF THOSE LETTERS, BUT WE DON'T EXPECT THAT ALL FOUR WILL BE HIGHLIGHTED IN EVERY LETTER OF EVERY MEMBER OF OUR DELEGATION.
I, I THINK I, I MIGHT HAVE A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR, FOR, FOR YOUR DIRECTOR ECCLES.
WE HAD A SUBSEQUENT MEETING WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON'S, UM, OFFICE OR LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR WHO, UH, WE TALKED THROUGH THE FOUR PRIORITIES, UH, ALSO INCLUDING, UM, PRESCRIBED GRAZING BECAUSE THE PRESCRIBED GRAZING FUNDING FOR, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE FOR FENCING AND CISTERNS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, UH, IS INCLUDED IN THE AGRICULTURAL WORKERS BOND THAT LORI WILSON IS THE LEAD SPONSOR OF.
SO THEIR OFFICE WILL, WHEN, WHEN IT COMES TIME TO NEGOTIATE FOR BETWEEN THE THREE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS, THE WATER, UH, AND FLOOD PROTECTION CLIMATE AND THE AGRICULTURE PIECE, THEY WILL MORE THAN LIKELY BE ADVOCATING FOR THINGS LIKE PRESCRIBED GRAZING AND THE CONSERVATION CORPS, AND LESS LIKELY TO BE ADVOCATING FOR C LEVEL RISE PREPAREDNESS AND SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN OUR LIST OF FOUR MAIN OBJECTIVES.
SO THEY KNOW THAT THEY DON'T GET THAT MANY BITES AT THE APPLE WHEN THEY'RE IN NEGOTIATION.
AND SO I THINK THAT'S PUTTING SOME OF OUR MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION IN TO SITUATIONS WHERE THEY MIGHT, UM, ONLY WANT TO TAKE ON ONE OF ONE OR TWO OF THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING.
BUT AS LISA STATED, ALL FOUR ISSUES ARE GOING TO HAVE SUPPORT FROM SOME COMBINATION OF OUR, OF OUR DELEGATION.
ANYTHING, ANYTHING? PARDON ME? NO.
[02:00:01]
UH, THE, THE PRESENTATION JUST REINFORCES WHAT MY MEMORY OF THAT EXPERIENCE IN SACRAMENTO WAS.AND EACH OF THOSE LEGISLATORS WERE VERY SUPPORTIVE.
TIM GRAYSON WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO, UM, CHECK EVERY BOX IN WHICH HE COULD POTENTIALLY, UH, ASSIST US BOTH IN HIS PRESENT ROLE AS AN ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND FUTURE ROLE AS A SENATOR.
UH, THAT WAS PARTICULARLY A, A STANDOUT OF THAT TRIP FOR ME, UH, THAT ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
AND, UH, UH, AND, AND ALL THE REST, AND I'M GLAD YOU FOLLOWED UP WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON'S STAFF, AND I FORGET HIS NAME, UH, ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON'S LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORS NAME MARK ROSCOE, AND HE'S THE FELLOW WE MET WITH, UH, WHEN WE WERE IN HER OFFICE, AS I RECALL.
HE WAS IN INCREDIBLY INTERESTED IN WHAT WE WERE DOING AND WHAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
AND I KEPT HAVING TO REMIND MYSELF THAT HIS MEMBER HAS OAKLEY AND BETHEL ISLAND IN THEIR ASSEMBLY DISTRICT AS, UM, THE ONLY OVERLAP WITH THE PARK DISTRICT, AND YET BOTH THE ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND HIS STAFF WERE EXCEPTIONALLY INTERESTED AND ENGAGING IN THE TOPICS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT.
SO WE CERTAINLY HAVE TO REMAIN ENGAGED WITH, UH, WITH THAT OFFICE, UH, DESPITE THE FACT THAT IT'S A SMALL OVERLAP WITH WARD SEVEN
FOR ALL OFFICES, REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH, YEAH.
IF THEY HAVE THE TINIEST CORNER OF AN EAST BAY PARK JURISDICTION, THEY, THEY ARE A PART OF OUR JURISDICTION.
WE WANNA ENGAGE WITH THEM AS MUCH AS THEY'RE WILLING TO ENGAGE WITH US.
UM, AND ON THAT OFFICE IN PARTICULAR, WHEN WE WERE LEAVING, UM, MARK EMPHASIZED TO ME THEIR INTEREST IN WORKING ON CO ON LEGISLATION WITH EAST BAY PARKS IN THE FUTURE, AND HOW THEY SEE THE WORK THAT WE DO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS TO BE CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
UM, AND SO WE'LL BE HOPING TO, UH, WORK WITH THEM AS WE CONTINUE TO PRO PROPOSE LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL.
I THINK THIS WAS A GREAT TEAM BUILDING EXERCISE, UH, GREAT LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND MY COLLEAGUES.
UM, I, I WANNA COMPLIMENT YOU GUYS OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS AND ESPECIALLY CALL OUT, UH, LAUREN BLANCHARD.
UH, GETTING EVERYBODY ORGANIZED AND GETTING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.
I SHARE EVERYONE'S, UM, BELIEF IN THE VALUE OF GOING UP THERE AND DOING THAT AND MEETING IN PERSON.
UM, YOU KNOW, BUT THE ONE THING I, I CAME AWAY WITH MANY THINGS.
THE ONE THING I CAME AWAY WITH WAS TRYING TO PITCH A CCC CAMP AT, IN, IN, UH, I DUNNO, HOLLY COURT WAS THE EASIEST THING IN THE WORLD.
IT, AS YOU JUST EXPLAINED, AND EVERY EXPERIENCE I HAD, PEOPLE LOVED THAT IDEA.
WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THAT? UH, AND, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE HAD THE CCC, I THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO JUMP ON OUR LAPS AND, AND
THEY, THEY'RE EVERYBODY'S INTO THIS.
SO WHERE ARE WE? WE'RE 58 DAYS AWAY FROM FIRE SEASON, BY THE WAY, THE TRADITIONAL MAY 1ST OPENING OF FIRE SEASON.
WHERE ARE WE? WE SAID WE'RE GONNA GET A STRIKE CAMP? IS IT THERE? I KNOW IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO PITCH A TENT, BUT WHERE ARE WE? UH, PROBABLY THE, THE BEST RESPONSE IS, UM, TO BE DETERMINED, UH, BUT WE ARE SCHEDULING A FOLLOW-UP MEETING WITH, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO UNFORTUNATELY WAS NOT ABLE TO MEET WITH US WHEN WE WERE THERE, UM, IN JANUARY.
UH, AND, BUT LARRY HUGHES, WHO WAS THERE IS ALSO PART OF THE MEETING.
SO WE'RE MEETING WITH THEM AS SOON AS WE CAN GET IT ON THE CALENDAR, AND THAT'LL INCLUDE A CROSS DIVISIONAL SECTION OF, UH, LEGAL, UM, OPERATIONS.
AND, UH, I'LL BE PARTICIPATING AS WELL.
SO TRYING TO, TRYING TO IRON OUT WHAT'S, WHAT'S POSSIBLE AND WHAT'S DOABLE IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
ANY CHANCE FOR THIS YEAR? I'M SORRY? JUST ANY CHANCE THAT IT'S IN OPERATION THIS YEAR OR STARTING THIS YEAR OR, UH, CHANCE? CHANCE? UH, THEY HAVE UNTIL, I BELIEVE, JUNE, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE OPERATING ON FUNDING.
THE, THE CONSERVATION CORPS IS OPERATING ON FUNDING FROM LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.
UH, AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE UNTIL SOMETIME IN JUNE, UH, WHICH IS OF COURSE, WHEN THE NEW BUDGET GETS ENACTED, UM, TO, TO UTILIZE THOSE FUNDS.
SO WE'RE, WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
I JUST ADD ONE, ONE THING I, I MENTIONED AT A FULL BOARD MEETING DURING BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS, UH, IMMEDIATELY SUBSEQUENT TO OUR TRIP TO SACRAMENTO, BUT I WANTED TO REPEAT THAT.
UH, THIS TRIP WAS EXCEPTIONALLY WELL ORGANIZED, AND I WANTED TO THANK ALL OF YOUR TEAM FOR DOING THAT.
[02:05:01]
EIGHT NOW.AND, UH, THIS ONE JUST WENT LIKE CLOCKWORK.
WE WEREN'T, UM, SCURRYING AROUND, UH, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHO'S GOING WHERE AND WAS, IT WAS JUST WORKING VERY WELL.
AND, UH, LISA EVEN HAD IT TIMED, SO WE CROSSED THROUGH STREETS AND BUILDINGS AND AVOIDED DOWNPOURS.
I DON'T KNOW,
THANK YOU AGAIN, APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS AND WE SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE, UM, LAUREN BLANCHARD'S PARTICIPATION AND SUPPORT.
UM, SHE DID A GREAT JOB IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY SCHEDULING MOST OF THE MEETINGS.
YEAH, I, I JUST WANNA ECHO THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT LAUREN DID A WONDERFUL JOB OF, OF ORGANIZING US AND, AND, UH, SCHEDULING THOSE MEETINGS AND, AND THEN ALL OF THE STAFF REALLY DID A, A GREAT JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE WELL BRIEFED.
AND I APPRECIATE RECEIVING THE MATERIALS IN ADVANCE.
AND THEN, UM, YOU KNOW, HAVING THE TIME FOR THE MORNING BRIEFINGS, AND IT WAS, IT WAS REALLY WELL DONE, AND I THOUGHT IT ADDED TO US BEING ABLE TO BE OUR MOST EFFECTIVE IN THE MEETINGS.
AND, UM, I, YOU KNOW, REALLY APPRECIATE THE, THE LEGISLATORS.
MOST OF, MOST OF THEM, THE MAJORITY OF THEM DID FIND TIME TO ACTUALLY MEET WITH US DIRECTLY.
AND I THINK THAT'S UNUSUAL, YOU KNOW, GIVEN SO THOSE STAFFS.
GIVEN THE COMMENTS, I, I, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT THE EEC FOLKS MADE WHEN, BEFORE WE MET, THEY WERE LIKE, WELL, DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE, THE MEMBER'S NOT THERE.
YOU KNOW, USUALLY THEY DON'T MEET YOU WITH, UH, WITH YOU.
BUT, UH, BUT, BUT IN FACT, AS USUAL, THEY ACTUALLY DID SHOW UP FOR THE MOST PART.
SO THAT WAS, UM, VERY, UH, IT, IT, IT JUST SHOWS THAT, THAT THEY APPRECIATE AND LIKE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING AND SUPPORT IT AND, AND WANT TO TAKE THE TIME TO ACTUALLY BE THERE IN PERSON.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY COMPLIMENTS TO, TO THE WHOLE TEAM ON, ON A REALLY GREAT EVENT.
AND ASHLEY HAD DONE SOME WORK IN PREP FOR THAT VISIT AS WELL, I REMEMBER, AND WAS HOPING TO GO AND, AND COULDN'T.
UM, SO I, I KNOW WE WANTED TO THANK ASHLEY AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, UM, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, DR.
VE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGING STAFF'S EFFORTS BECAUSE I WILL HAVE TO SAY THAT IT'S VERY, UH, VERY WELL RECEIVED AND VERY MEANINGFUL TO, TO US.
WE, OUR STAFF REALLY STRIVES TO BE ABLE TO BALANCE THE RIGHT EXPERIENCE, BOTH FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS IN SACRAMENTO TO OUR DELEGATION AS, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY TO YOU, SO THAT WE CAN AMPLIFY, UM, OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES.
UM, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THANK YOU FOR THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FROM YOU.
IF THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ONE, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH AND WE'LL MOVE NOW TO THE UPDATE ON SITE VISITS AND MEETINGS.
AGAIN, ERIC FEELER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.
UH, WE HAD THREE SITE VISITS TO REPORT ON, UM, DURING THE TIME SINCE WE LAST MET.
UH, FIRST WAS JANUARY 12TH WITH THE, UM, CALIFORNIA COASTAL CONSERVANCY AND SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY, PARTICIPATING IN A SITE VISIT AT THE TIDEWATER FACILITY.
UH, AND THE PROPERTY THAT WE'RE SEEKING TO, UH, DEVELOP THERE OR TO, TO TURN IT ACTUALLY TURN INTO A GREEN SPACE.
UM, COASTAL CONSERVANCY INDICATED THAT THEY DID, UH, PREVIOUSLY FUND COMPONENTS OF THAT STAGING AREA AND THE BOATING CENTER.
UM, SO THERE WASN'T AN INTEREST IN TERMS OF, UM, ADVANCING A GRANT PROPOSAL.
UM, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEIR OFFICE ON, ON THAT PROJECT.
UH, WE DID AGAIN, MEET WITH THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY ON MARCH 1ST.
THIS TIME WAS AT MCLAUGHLIN SHORE STATE PARK.
UH, WE WERE ALSO JOINED BY PARKS, CALIFORNIA, WHICH IS THE STATUTORILY RECOGNIZED, UH, NONPROFIT WORKING WITH THE STATE PARKS.
AND WE, WE STARTED THERE, OUR VISIT WITH, UM, AN OVERVIEW OF THE BRICKYARD AND DISCUSSED SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THAT, INCLUDING, UH, 5 MILLION FROM STATE SENATOR OR FORMER STATE SENATOR LONNIE HANCOCK, UH, THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS TO STATE PARKS, UH, WHICH REALLY WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN, UM, HELPING US DEVELOP THAT, THAT AREA AND, AND, AND MAKING THE CONTOURS AND THE VIEWS WORK, UH, INCLUDING THE RESTROOM.
UH, AND THEN WE TOOK A WALK THROUGH THE BERKELEY MEADOW, WHICH WAS ONE OF THE FIRST PROJECTS, UH, THAT WAS FUNDED FOR ASHORE, UH, OUT TO, TO A PLACE WHERE WE COULD SEE THE NORTH NORTH BASIN STRIP.
AND THAT'S A PENDING PROJECT THAT WE ARE GOING TO NEED FUNDING FOR.
AND SO WE DID DISCUSS THAT WITH THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY, AND THERE WAS, I, I THINK, UM,
[02:10:01]
SUPPORT FOR, FOR ADVANCING THAT.UH, AND THEN, UH, ON MARCH 7TH, UM, DIRECTOR COFFEE AND I WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET WITH THE CIVICO FOLKS IN PITTSBURGH.
THEY THEIR SECOND OFFICE IN THE EAST BAY, OR SECOND FACILITY IN THE EAST BAY.
UH, WE WERE ALSO JOINED BY ROBERT KENNEDY AND PATRICK DEMINS, UH, TO DISCUSS THE OVERALL PARTNERSHIP AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, UH, FOR, FOR CONSERVATION AS A WHOLE, UH, NOT JUST FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, UH, AND THEIR, THEIR, THEIR ROLE CIVIC CORPS'S ROLE IN PROVIDING, UH, QUALITY TRAINING, UH, AND SUPPORT, UH, FOR POTENTIAL FUTURE PERMANENT JOBS WITH PARK DISTRICT AND WITH OTHER CONSERVATION RELATED, UH, ORGANIZATIONS.
UH, BUT I THINK THE HIGHLIGHT OF THAT, UH, DISCUSSION REALLY WAS WHEN THE CREW CAME BACK.
THERE'S, THERE'S ONE CREW THAT WORKS OUT OF THERE.
UH, I THINK IT'S ABOUT A FIVE MEMBER, UH, GROUP.
UH, BUT WHEN THEY CAME BACK, THEY SAT DOWN AND SHARED WITH US THEIR, UH, WHY THEY JOINED THE CIVIC CORPS AND WHAT THEY WERE GETTING OUT OF IT.
AND IT WAS VERY HEARTFELT, UH, SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS AND, UM, DISCUSSIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY'D COME FROM AND WHY THEY WERE VALUING THE WORK.
UH, AND WHAT WAS MOST STRIKING IS THE SPIRIT OF TEAM, UH, TEAMWORK THAT REALLY SEEMED TO, UH, BE EVOLVING AMONGST THAT GROUP AND THEIR SORT OF DEVELOPING, UH, SUPPORT NETWORK AMONGST THEMSELVES.
AND UM, I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY NICE, UM, REALLY NICE WAY TO SPEND.
I BELIEVE IT WAS A FRIDAY AFTERNOON, SO, UH, AND THAT'S ALL THE SITE VISITS WE HAD.
THEY WILL, THEY WILL START UPT TICKING AS WE GET INTO THE SPRING AND SUMMER WITH THE WALK AND TALKS AND SOME OF THE OTHER EVENTS THAT WE'LL BE DOING, INCLUDING A, UM, ELECTED OFFICE, UH, VISIT COMING UP SHORTLY.
SO, WE'LL, WE'LL KEEP YOU POSTED AT THE NEXT MEETING.
ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? HEARING
[Announcements]
NONE, UH, WE WILL MOVE NOW TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? HEARING NONE, WE'LL MOVE TO ADJOURNMENT.
THANK YOU STAFF FOR TAKING CARE OF US.
AND AMIR, THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.