[00:00:02]
SO ARE WE LIVE NOW.[ROLL CALL]
MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YES. PRESIDENT ECHOLS.HERE. GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.
HERE. GENERAL COUNSEL BOURGAULT.
HERE. OKAY, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE DO NOT.
OKAY, WELL, IN THAT CASE, I THINK WE CAN ADJOURN TO CLOSED SESSION.
[CLOSED SESSION ITEMS]
OH, UNLESS, DID YOU NEED TO? NO, I DON'T NEED TO.I THINK WE'RE GOOD. YEAH. OKAY.
[ROLL CALL]
THIS IS THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON MARCH 19TH, BEGINNING AT 1:05 P.M..MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YES, PRESIDENT.
HERE. GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.
HERE. GENERAL COUNSEL BOURGAULT HERE.
THANK YOU, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE DIRECTOR SANWONG DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TODAY.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
SUNDAY. OKAY, AND DIRECTOR ROSARIO WILL DO
[LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT]
OUR READ OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.WE HUMBLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE ARE ON THE UNCEDED LANDS OF THE OHLONE PEOPLE, AND THAT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS IS LOCATED WITHIN THE HUICHIN TERRITORY, WHICH IS THEIR TRADITIONAL, ANCESTRAL AND SHARED HOME.
SINCE TIME IMMEMORIAL, THE OHLONE PEOPLE HAVE AND CONTINUE TO LIVE IN RECIPROCITY WITH NATURE, UNDERSTANDING THE SEASONS AND CYCLES OF THE NATURAL WORLD, MANAGING RESOURCES FUNDAMENTAL FOR SURVIVAL, AND IMPORTANT TO THE CULTURAL PRACTICES, ALL WHILE PASSING DOWN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE.
WE HONOR WITH GRATITUDE THE LAND ITSELF, THE WILDLIFE LIVING IN THESE LANDS AND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE STEWARDED IT AND WHO CONTINUE TO REMAIN DEEPLY CONNECTED TO IT TODAY. THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
OKAY, SO WE CAN MOVE ON TO APPROVING THE AGENDA.
[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA? SO MOVED. THANK YOU.SECOND. OKAY, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY DIRECTOR ROSARIO AND A SECOND BY DIRECTOR WAESPI.
ARE THERE ANY SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TODAY? I DON'T THINK SO, NO.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, OUR CLERK WILL EXPLAIN HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC
[PUBLIC COMMENT]
COMMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NOT ON THE AGENDA TODAY, MADAM CLERK? YES, PRESIDENT ECHOLS, WE HAVE MR. WILLIAM HOUGH.HE'S IN THE ZOOM ROOM, MR. BARTLEBAUGH AND RENEE PATTERSON, IF THERE'S ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ZOOM ROOM OR IN THE MEETING ROOM THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON AN ITEM, NOT ON THE AGENDA, PLEASE LET ME KNOW TO SPEAK.
MR. HOUGH, ARE YOU SPEAKING ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR NOT ON THE AGENDA? OKAY, HE PROBABLY CAN'T HEAR ME.
RENEE, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
OH, LET ME EXPLAIN HOW TO DO IT.
THANK YOU. SORRY, I'M MOVING TOO FAST.
THE PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED ONE OF THREE WAYS VIA EMAIL TO PUBLIC COMMENT AT EBPARKS.ORG, VIA VOICEMAIL AT (510) 544-2016. LEAVE A MESSAGE WHICH WILL BE TRANSCRIBED AND GIVEN TO THE BOARD AND MADE A PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD, OR BY JOINING THE MEETING VIA THE ZOOM LINK, WHICH IS LISTED
[00:05:01]
ON THE AGENDA POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.OKAY, AND AS OUR CLERK WAS JUST SAYING, IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT REGARDING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WE'LL CALL ON YOU TO SPEAK ON THAT WHEN THE ITEM COMES UP.
SO OKAY SO HOW MANY DO WE HAVE EMAILS OR SPEAKER CARDS FROM THE PUBLIC ON ANY OF THE OPEN SESSION? IT LOOKS LIKE WE DO.
SO IT WILL SIMPLY BE RENEE PATTERSON WHO IS IN THE ROOM FOR RIGHT NOW.
OKAY. GO AHEAD, MISS PATTERSON, AND YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, RENEE.
GOOD AFTERNOON. MY NAME IS RENEE PATTERSON.
I'M AN ADMIN ANALYST IN BUSINESS SERVICES, WHICH IS IN THE OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT, AND I WORK HERE AT PERALTA OAKS ON THE THIRD FLOOR, AND I'M HERE TO REMIND YOU THAT WE HAVE A PERBS FILING OR AFSCME HAS A PERB FILING.
THAT'S WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BOARD.
AFSCME FILED AN UNFAIR PRACTICE CHARGE ON AUGUST 26TH, 2022, AND THE CHARGES FOR BAD FAITH BARGAINING, INTERFERENCE, DIRECT DEALING, UNILATERAL IMPLEMENTATION, AND I JUST COME TO REMIND YOU, AND I DON'T KNOW WHY, BUT A COUPLE OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID TO ME THAT THEY HEARD, LIKE, WHISPERS OR RUMORS THAT THIS MIGHT GET SETTLED SOON OR NOT SETTLED, BUT AT LEAST PERBS WILL REVIEW IT.
SO I'M HOPING THAT THOSE RUMORS ARE, LIKE BASED IN FACT, AND MAYBE THIS WILL HAPPEN THIS YEAR.
SO BUT UNTIL THEN, I WILL COME BACK AND REMIND YOU AT EVERY BOARD MEETING.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SO I'M JUST GOING TO CHECK WITH THE CLERK.
I KNOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR ONE PERSON IN PARTICULAR, WHETHER THEY'RE ON THE OPEN OR CLOSED.
SORRY, THE OPEN AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR NOT ON THE AGENDA, BUT THEN CAN YOU JUST LET US KNOW WHAT OTHER TOPICS HAVE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO SPEAK TODAY? YES. LET ME ASK ONE MORE TIME, MR. HOUGH, I SEE THAT YOU'VE COME BACK INTO THE ROOM AS A PANELIST.
ARE YOU COMMENTING ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR NOT ON THE AGENDA? YOU ARE UNMUTED.
OKAY. ARE YOU SPEAKING ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA OR NOT ON THE AGENDA.
OKAY. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR US NOW.
CAN YOU HEAR US? NO. JUST GIVE US ONE SECOND, WILLIAM.
THEY'RE WORKING ON IT, WILLIAM; I SEE YOU.
IT'S NOT OURS. IT'S HIS EQUIPMENT.
[00:10:13]
WE CAN PROBABLY CALL HIM AT FIRE STATION ONE AND FIND OUT WHAT HIS STATUS IS.TECHNOLOGY. [CHUCKLNG] SO HE'S ACTUALLY GOING TO BE SPEAKING ON AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
SO WE'RE GOING TO CIRCLE BACK.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
TO, MS. PRESIDENT, A POINT OF PRIVILEGE HERE TO SAY HOW VERY HAPPY I AM THAT WE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE THREE VERY IMPORTANT, SIGNIFICANT CONTRACTS TODAY.THE FIRST BEING THE CONTRACT WITH OUR GENERAL MANAGER, A FIVE-YEAR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT, AND I AM JUST VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
WE'RE TRULY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOMEONE OF HER CALIBER LEADING THIS AGENCY, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK OUT THERE, I, YOU KNOW, REALLY, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE I WOULD RATHER BE WORKING WITH, AND SHE SETS A GREAT TONE FOR FOR LEADERSHIP, BOTH HERE AT THE DISTRICT AND OUT IN THE COMMUNITY, AND IS ONE OF THE HARDEST WORKING PEOPLE I'VE EVER KNOWN, WHICH ACTUALLY SAYS A LOT BECAUSE I'VE KNOWN A LOT OF HARD WORKING PEOPLE.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE AFSCME LOCAL 2428 ON THE CONTRACT THAT THEY ACHIEVED, AND OF COURSE, ACKNOWLEDGE OUR, THE FOLKS ON THE PARK DISTRICT SIDE AS WELL, IN PARTICULAR ALLYSON, WHO DID A LOT OF WORK ON THAT AS WELL AS ON OUR GENERAL MANAGER'S CONTRACT, AND OF COURSE, AFSCME FOLKS ARE REALLY HEART AND SOUL OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
WE COULDN'T GET ANYTHING DONE HERE ON THE GROUND OR ANYWHERE ELSE WITHOUT THEM AND REALLY HAPPY THAT WE HAVE GOT THAT DONE AND THAT BOTH SIDES WERE ABLE TO WORK TOGETHER TO PUT TOGETHER A REALLY EXCELLENT CONTRACT THAT PUTS OUR EMPLOYEES FIRST AND THEN FINALLY, OF COURSE, OUR UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES, WHO ARE ALSO ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO THE WORK OF THE PARK DISTRICT, WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO APPROVE THEIR CONTRACT AS WELL, AND TOGETHER, THESE THREE CONTRACTS REALLY PROVIDE AN INCREDIBLE FOUNDATION FOR THE PARK DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD, AND I FEEL THAT WE'RE ON, YOU KNOW, VERY SOLID GROUND AS WE, YOU KNOW, WORK TO IMAGINE AND CREATE AND BUILD THE NEXT 90 YEARS.
SO JUST WANTED TO SET THE TONE WITH THAT, AND NOW WE CAN I CAN ASK FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR, ALTHOUGH I UNDERSTAND THAT WE MAY SOME PEOPLE MAY WANT TO PULL SOME ITEMS, SO I WILL OPEN UP THE FLOOR.
YEAH, I JUST HAVE, I DIDN'T SEE ANSWERS TO MY QUESTION, SO I HAVE QUESTIONS, JUST SOME REALLY SHORT QUESTIONS ON ITEM NUMBER ITEMS NUMBER THREE, FOUR AND FIVE.
THE STAFF DID RESPOND, BUT YOU DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO READ IT.
I DON'T SEE IT. YEAH, BUT THEY'RE REALLY QUICK QUESTIONS.
YES. SHOULD I GO AHEAD? OKAY. ITEM NUMBER THREE IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A RESERVE FUND AGREEMENT WITH THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION AND TRANSFER $125,000 TO THE NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION, TO BE HELD IN A RESERVE FUND AS A PART OF MITIGATION FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AND MY QUESTION WILL BE A LOT SHORTER THAN THE TITLE, [CHUCKLING] BUT JUST TO CLARIFY, THIS IS AN EXTENSION OF THE ORIGINAL AGREEMENT, AND WE'RE JUST ADDING ADDITIONAL FUNDING, OR? NO, THIS IS ACTUALLY EXECUTION OF THAT ORIGINAL AGREEMENT.
[00:15:07]
AND THEN IN THAT FINANCE BOARD MATERIAL, IT SAID, OH, WE WILL BRING IT TO THE FULL BOARD NEXT MONTH.WELL, IN MAY OF 2020, WE WERE DEALING WITH OTHER THINGS, AND SO WHEN WE WENT TO FULLY IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT, WE REALIZED THAT IT HADN'T BEEN FULLY APPROVED IN THIS RESERVE FUND.
SO THIS IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO FULLY EXECUTE THAT AGREEMENT WITH CFW.
SO THE LANGUAGE IN THE AGREEMENT HAS THESE BENCHMARKS THAT WERE TO MEET, THERE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE APPROVED AND THE MONEY DEPOSITED WITHIN A CERTAIN AMOUNT.
SO ARE THOSE GOING TO BE EXTENDED IN THE NEW AGREEMENT? YES. SO THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT IS IN PLACE I THINK UNTIL 2025, AND SO AND THE AMOUNTS TO BE PUT IN ARE BASED ON PER PROJECT.
SO OUR FIRST PROJECT IS THE FUELS MANAGEMENT PROJECT AND THE FUNDING FOR THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS FOR THAT, AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE READY TO EXECUTE NOW, AND SO ALL THE MONEY FOR THAT IS ALREADY IN A PROJECT ACCOUNT WAITING.
WE'VE APPROPRIATED THAT IN OUR BUDGET.
OKAY. SO FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES GOOD? YES. BIT OF A LATE START? YEAH, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN MAINTAINING OUR COMPLIANCE WITH THE PERMITS THROUGH OTHER MEANS, AND JUST BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ACTIVELY NEGOTIATING THIS EASEMENT, THE EASEMENT WAS INCREDIBLY COMPLICATED BECAUSE OF THE PROPERTIES WE WERE USING.
SO IT'S REALLY BEEN ON CDFW SIDE OF WORKING OUT THE DETAILS BETWEEN THEM AND THE SERVICE ON THE TERMS OF THE EASEMENT, AND SO THEIR ATTORNEYS ARE JUST FINALIZING THAT AGREEMENT NOW, AND ONCE THAT'S FINALIZED, THEN WE'LL HAVE TO PUT THE MONEY DOWN FOR IT TO AND THEY WILL UPDATE THE LANGUAGE AND THE SIGNATURES FOR THE AGREEMENT.
YES. YEAH, ONCE WE HAVE THAT AUTHORIZATION, WE'LL DO THAT.
THAT HELPED A LOT, AND THEN ON QUESTION NUMBER FOUR, WHICH IS A RESOLUTION CERTIFYING THE ADDENDUM TO THE APPROVED ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND RESTORATION PROGRAM.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE ALUM THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING WITH OR WAS THAT A PILOT PROJECT? SO WE ARE, SO AGAIN, MATT GRAUL, CHIEF OF STEWARDSHIP.
YEAH, WE'RE INTERESTED IN, WE'RE LOOKING AT OTHER OPTIONS FOR, FOR TEMESCAL, THINGS LIKE AERATION, POTENTIALLY USING A LIGHT DYE IN THE LAKE TO PREVENT SOME OF THE SUNLIGHT PENETRATION.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT THESE OTHER OPTIONS, BUT THOSE DON'T REQUIRE A PERMIT.
SO THEY SAID THIS TIME AND WE'RE WORKING THE PROCESS OF RENEWING OUR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT, OUR FIVE YEAR PERMIT FOR ALL OF OUR, AND SO THEY SAID IT'D BE EASIER FOR THEM TO INCLUDE THIS ACTIVITY IN THAT ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERMIT SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO REVIEW IT EACH TIME.
SO BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE HAD TO HAVE A SECRET DOCUMENT THAT LOOKS AT THAT.
SO THIS IS JUST A MODIFYING OUR SECRET DOCUMENT SO WE CAN GET A PERMIT FROM THE WATER BOARD THAT WILL ALLOW US, ON AN ONGOING BASIS, TO TREAT ALUM AND NOT HAVE TO GET IT APPROVED ONE OFF EVERY SINGLE TIME.
THANK YOU, AND THEN ON NUMBER FIVE, WHICH IS THE AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE ONE CLOSED CIRCUIT TV INSPECTION TRAILER IN THE AMOUNT OF 99,000 PLUS FROM JACK DOHENY COMPANY AS AN ADDITION TO THE FLEET.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THIS CHEAPER THAN RENTING ONE, AND/OR HAVE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO TEST DRIVE IT? YEAH. THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON.
LISA GOORJIAN, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF OPERATIONS.
WE DID TEST DID DID DO SOME PILOT TESTING OF IT.
OUR SANITATION DEPARTMENT DID WORK WITH THIS COMPANY AND DID SOME TESTING OF THE CCTV AND THEN ALSO THE INSPECTION HOOKUP AND TRAILERING, AND IT WORKED OUT WELL, AND SO THIS IS WHY IT'S RECOMMENDED, YOU KNOW, IT MEETS OUR NEEDS, AND SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE REALLY MOVING FORWARD WITH IT, AND JUST IN REGARD TO RENTAL, I THINK THAT WAS PART OF THE OVERALL COST COST ANALYSIS SORT OF COST.
BENEFIT ANALYSIS, AND SO THAT'S WHY STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THE PURCHASE.
LISA, MAY I FOLLOW UP ON THAT? SO HOW MANY MILES OF SEWER LINE DO WE NEED TO CCTV EVERY YEAR? I DON'T KNOW THAT, BUT I CAN FOLLOW UP.
YEAH, DIRECTOR COFFEY HAD ITEMS THAT HE WOULD ALSO LIKE PULLED.
WERE YOU FINISHED, DIRECTOR ROSARIO? I APOLOGIZE. CONSENT ITEM TWO, TEN, FIFTY TWO, NINE AND TEN, AND
[00:20:06]
FUNDAMENTALLY IT WAS FOR I'M PULLING THEM FOR THE REASONS DESCRIBED BY PRESIDENT ECHOLS, AND I APPRECIATE THE TONE SHE WANTED TO SET SUCH THAT IT'S APPROPRIATE TO EXPRESS POSITIVE ASPECTS OF THESE THREE VERY MAJOR TRANSACTIONS AND APPROVALS AND, AND CONTRACTS FOR THE DISTRICT.SO I AM PULLING THEM BOTH FOR CONSIDERATION AND FURTHER COMMENTS, AS DIRECTOR ECHOLS ENUNCIATED ON TWO, NINE AND TEN.
OKAY, SO JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE PULLING THEM FOR COMMENT AND VOTING.
OKAY. YES. SO DID ANYONE ELSE WANT TO COMMENT? WERE WE GOING TO DO THEM ONE AT A TIME? YEAH, I WAS JUST SAYING, OUR TWO PEOPLE THAT ALSO WANT TO COMMENT ON PUBLIC PUBLICLY COMMENT ON THE ZOOM ROOM, ON ITEM TWO.
ON ITEM TWO. OKAY, LET'S TAKE ITEM TWO.
FIRST. PRESIDENT ECHOLS, I RECOMMEND THAT YOU CLOSE OUT THE CONSENT CALENDAR BY TAKING A VOTE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND THEN MOVE TO THE ITEMS. OKAY. WE'LL DO THAT.
OKAY. SO COULD I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR WITHOUT TWO, NINE AND TEN? SO MOVED.
OKAY. SO THAT'S MOVED BY DIRECTOR CORBETT AND SECONDED BY DIRECTOR ROSARIO.
AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY, WE'RE GOOD.
ALL RIGHT, SO I GUESS WE'LL TAKE THE PUBLIC COMMENT FIRST, OR? YES, YES. ITEM TWO. YOU MIGHT WANT TO START WITH ITEM TWO, AND I'M NOT SURE IF WE HAVE A COMMENT ON THAT ONE.
THAT'S JUST ON TWO. THE COMMENTS ARE ON ITEM TWO AND I AM TAKING THEM SEQUENTIALLY.
I GUESS WE CAN DO IT EITHER WAY.
YEAH, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THE COMMENTS WERE ON ITEM NINE, BUT I COULD BE WRONG.
SO DIRECTOR WAESPI, YOU HAD YOUR HAND RAISED OR ARE YOU READY? HE WANTS TO SPEAK ON ITEM TWO. I WAS GOING TO MAKE A COMMENT, BUT IF THE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T CARE THE ORDER.
OH, THANK YOU. WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY I ALL THREE OF THESE ITEMS, I'M VERY PROUD AND HAPPY TO SUPPORT, AND I'M VERY PROUD AND HAPPY THAT I CAN SUPPORT THEM PUBLICLY AND IN THE OPEN OR LIKE THIS, AND VOTE IN PUBLIC, BECAUSE I'M VERY PROUD OF THESE CONTRACTS AND HAPPY THAT THEY OCCURRED.
DIRECTOR ROSARIO. YEAH, ON ITEM NUMBER TWO, I'M EXTREMELY HAPPY TO EXTEND OUR CURRENT GENERAL MANAGER FOR FIVE YEARS. EXTREMELY HAPPY WITH THE DIRECTION SHE'S BEEN TAKING US, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HER SEEING HER VISION AND TAKING THIS PARK DISTRICT EVEN FURTHER.
SO EXTREMELY HAPPY AND GLAD WE'RE HERE.
OH I THINK WE'RE TAKING ONE AT A TIME.
DOES HE WANT TO GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT ONE? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO DO NUMBER TWO, GET ALL THE COMMENTS ON NUMBER TWO AND THEN I ASSUME WE'RE GOING TO DO, YOU WANT TO VOTE SEPARATELY ON EACH ONE.
YEAH. OKAY. SO SO ALL RIGHT LET'S TAKE ALL THE COMMENTS ON NUMBER TWO.
WELL NO I JUST AGREE WITH THE COMMENTS THAT WERE JUST MADE AND LOOKING FORWARD TO GOING FORWARD ON THIS AND CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THE PERSON THAT DOES THE GREAT WORK HERE FOR OUR PARK DISTRICT. THANK YOU.
OKAY, AND I'M ALSO VERY GLAD TO EXTEND OUR NEW AGREEMENT WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER, AND I'M HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE OF IT AND ITS PROVISIONS, AND I'M REALLY GLAD WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT DONE AND MOVE IT ALONG AS WE WERE, AND IT WAS A, YOU KNOW, A RESULT OF VERY GOOD BOARD COLLABORATION AND LEADERSHIP.
THANK YOU. WE DO NEED TO HIGHLIGHT THE COMPENSATION PROVISIONS.
THEY NEED TO BE RESIDED VERBALLY, EITHER BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OR COUNCIL.
[00:25:04]
I'M NOT SURE WHAT OUR PLANS ARE, BUT ONE OF THE REASONS FOR PULLING IT IS BECAUSE THERE'S ACTUALLY, BY LAW, A NEED FOR THIS PUBLIC DISCUSSION OF THOSE PROVISIONS.SO AT SOME POINT THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE WE.
YES. SO MY I WAS GOING TO TAKE COMMENTS AND THEN RIGHT BEFORE WE VOTE.
READ THE REQUIRED LANGUAGE UNDER THE BROWN ACT.
ANYBODY ELSE? OKAY. SO THAT MEANS I GET TO READ MY LANGUAGE THAT.
THANK YOU FOR TEEING THAT UP FOR ME, COLIN.
SO ALL RIGHT THEN, IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE BROWN ACT, AND AS PART OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR, THERE WILL BE FINAL ACTION ON SALARY, BENEFITS AND SALARY SCHEDULE FOR A LOCAL AGENCY EXECUTIVE.
SO THE FIRST PROPOSED ACTION IS THE SALARY OF THE GENERAL MANAGER WILL BE INCREASED BY 8.9% TO $409,988.80 ANNUALLY, EFFECTIVE THE PAY PERIOD THAT INCLUDES MARCH 15TH, 2024, AND THE SALARY RANGE FOR THE POSITION WILL BE ADJUSTED ACCORDINGLY.
THE GENERAL MANAGER WILL RECEIVE THE SAME SALARY ADJUSTMENTS GIVEN TO THE REPRESENTATIVE EXECUTIVE, CONFIDENTIAL AND MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEE GROUP FOR THE TERM OF HER CONTRACT, AND WITH THAT--WE HAVE TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
OH, RIGHT. THE FIRST ONE IS GOING TO BE MR. WILLIAM HOUGH. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR, AND BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT HERE, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS TURN OFF MY VIDEO, AND WHEN YOU SEE II COME BACK ON, YOU HAVE 30 SECONDS.
MAY I BEGIN NOW? YES YOU MAY. YES YOU MAY.
I APOLOGIZE FOR THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECHOLS AND BOARD MEMBERS.
MY NAME IS WILLIAM DANIEL HOUGH.
I'M THE VICE PRESIDENT OF AFSCME 2428.
IN LIEU OF ROSS MITCHELL, WHO IS OUT, I'M ACTING PRESIDENT.
AS A MEMBER OF THE NEGOTIATION TEAM, I APPRECIATE THE MUTUAL RESPECT AND OPENNESS THAT I EXPERIENCED AT THE TABLE, AND I FEEL LIKE WORKING TOGETHER, WE CREATED A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT THAT IS GREAT FOR THE WORKERS AND GREAT FOR THE PARKS.
THE EAST BAY PARK DISTRICT REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IS A LEADER IN MANY FIELDS, AND THE MEMBERS OF AFSCME 2428 LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING WORKING TOGETHER WITH ALL OF YOU TO MAKE SURE THE PARKS LEAD AND CONSERVATION, RECREATION, DIVERSIFYING THE WORKFORCE AND THOSE THAT EXPERIENCE THE PARKS AND WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS.
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO LISTEN TO MY COMMENTS.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, WILLIAM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS GOING TO BE SCOTT BARTLEBAUGH.
SCOTT, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
EXCUSE ME, MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CLARIFY WHETHER MR. BARTLEBAUGH WANTS TO SPEAK ON THE GENERAL MANAGER'S CONTRACT APPROVAL? BECAUSE THAT LAST COMMENT WAS ABOUT A DIFFERENT ITEM THAT WAS PULLED FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
THAT'S WHAT WILLIAM SAID, AND SO SCOTT, ARE YOU SPEAKING ON ITEM TWO? YES, I AM OKAY, THANK YOU.
ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, PRESIDENT ECHOLS BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT TODAY.
WE BELIEVE SHE HAS PROTECTED THE CORE VALUES OF THE PARK DISTRICT AND ALSO FACILITATED POSITIVE CHANGE WITHIN THE DISTRICT WHILE BUILDING A PRODUCTIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD AND DISTRICT EMPLOYEES AND THE PUBLIC.
SHE IS READY TO LEARN FROM NEW APPROACHES IF THEY DON'T YIELD THE DESIRED RESULTS.
WE ARE EXCITED AND THANKFUL TO SEE A COMMITMENT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER CONTINUING WITH THE DISTRICT.
[00:30:01]
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THIS AGREEMENT.YES, WE ARE OVERJOYED, JUST AS MUCH AS THE BOARD IS, AND GLAD TO SEE THIS HAPPENING.
THANK YOU. OKAY, SO I THINK NOW WE ARE READY FOR A VOTE.
OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY DIRECTOR CORBETT.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? SO IT IS UNANIMOUS.
CONGRATULATIONS, AND I DO WANT TO SAY ONCE MORE, THANK YOU TO ALLYSON, WHO REALLY SORT OF LED THE CHARGE ON THIS AND WANT TO THANK THE LEGAL TEAM AS WELL, WHO ASSISTED AND YEAH, VERY HAPPY THAT WE'LL HAVE OUR GENERAL MANAGER NOW STAYING ON FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS, HOPEFULLY.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING, SABRINA? OKAY. NO, JUST THANK YOU TO THE BOARD AND TO REALLY MOSTLY WANT TO JUST SAY THANK YOU TO THE STAFF FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT OVER THESE THREE YEARS, AND YOU KNOW, WE REALLY HAVE BEEN LASER FOCUSED ON LEADING WITH OUR VALUES, AND I JUST REALLY WANT TO SAY TO REALLY ALL 1100 EMPLOYEES THAT WE HAVE OUT THERE, BUT ESPECIALLY TO THE EXECUTIVE TEAM.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR DAY TO DAY SUPPORT.
I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF HARD WORK AND WE GOT A LOT MORE TO GO, BUT WE'RE GOING TO DO IT TOGETHER.
SO THANK YOU GUYS AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD.
ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM NINE.
IS THERE DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY COMMENTS THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE.
THIS IS THE AFSCME 2428 CONTRACT.
YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE BOTH MANAGEMENT AND TWO FOUR, TWO EIGHT ON REACHING.
I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY HISTORIC AGREEMENT.
BEFORE THE CONTRACT ACTUALLY EXPIRED.
EVERYONE'S ON EVERYONE'S BEHALF.
THE WORK THAT WAS DONE TO GET IT TO GET IT DONE THIS EARLY.
AGAIN, HISTORIC, AND I HOPE IT PORTENDS THE COOPERATION OF BOTH MANAGEMENT AND UNION MEMBERS IN ALL OF OUR, IN OUR JUST OUR OPERATIONS AND ALSO FUTURE CONTRACTS.
SO THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED.
YEAH, I JUST WANT TO ECHO THAT.
I WANT TO APPRECIATE AND CELEBRATE OUR AGREEMENT WITH AFSCME 2428.
AS DIRECTOR ROSARIO SAID, WE'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO IN MEMORY DO THIS BEFORE.
SO IT'S A TESTAMENT TO THE WORK, EFFORT AND SKILL AND LEADERSHIP OF THE GENERAL MANAGER AND OUR HR DIRECTOR AND THEIR TEAMS AND THE LEGAL TEAM.
IN 2428'S LEADERSHIP, I THINK WE'VE ALL HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO CHIT CHAT WITH THOSE FOLKS EQUALLY.
IT'S JUST SKILLED AND THE ABILITY TO JUST GET TO THE POINT THAT EVERYONE WOULD GET TO GIVEN THE MARKET GIVEN OUR COMPARABLE AGENCIES THAT WE ALL LOOK AT TO GET TO THAT POINT RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, POSITIONING FOR EIGHT MONTHS AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO DO THAT THIS WAY IS SOMETHING WE ALL WANT TO CELEBRATE AND COMPLIMENT EVERYONE INVOLVED WITH, AND IT'S WHY I WANTED IT SEPARATE, AND I WANT TO OWN IT.
I WANT TO VOTE ON IT SEPARATELY.
IT'S THE SAME WAY I WANTED TO VOTE ON THE GM'S CONTRACT.
YEAH. WELL, QUICKLY I WILL AGAIN SAY WHAT EXCELLENT WORK ON ON BOTH SIDES, AND REALLY GLAD THAT WE WERE ABLE TO REACH A CONTRACT THAT REALLY SUPPORTS AND APPRECIATES OUR EMPLOYEES AND GLAD THAT WE GOT IT DONE QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY AND EARLY BECAUSE IT'S GREAT TO HAVE THIS IN PLACE AND BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD.
AS YOU'VE HEARD HISTORICALLY, IT USUALLY HASN'T WORKED THAT WAY.
OKAY. MOTION BY DIRECTOR ROSARIO.
AYE. OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER TEN, WHICH IS THE CONTRACT FOR THE UNREPRESENTED
[00:35:09]
EMPLOYEES. DIRECTOR SANWONG.YES, IT'S GOOD TO SEPARATE IT OUT.
I THINK IT'S JUST HELPFUL BECAUSE MAYBE NOT EVERYONE WHO COULD BE POTENTIALLY WATCHING THIS, WHETHER LIVE OR MAYBE LATER IS RECORDING, MAY KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS A REPRESENTATIVE EMPLOYEE AND WHAT IS AN UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEE.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
ALLYSON COOK, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF HR.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, FOR THESE TWO PARTICULAR ITEMS I REPRESENTED REFERS TO AFSCME LOCAL 2428.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE ATTACHMENT TO THE STAFF REPORT, IT LISTS ALL THE CLASSIFICATIONS THAT ARE REPRESENTED AND IMPACTED BY THE MOTION AND THE AUTHORIZATION THAT WAS JUST MADE WITH RESPECT TO UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES.
IT IS EMPLOYEES THAT ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY A UNION FOR THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY HELPFUL.
[CHUCKLING] DON'T LOOK AT ME. OKAY, AND DIRECTOR COFFEY.
MY INTEREST IN TAKING THIS OFF CONSENT AND TALKING ABOUT IT A BIT IS TWOFOLD.
ONE IS THE COUPLING OF THESE WAGE ADJUSTMENTS WITH THE AFSCME WAGE ADJUSTMENTS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES I HAVE.
THE OTHER IS ADDRESSING THE UNREPRESENTED AND THE PROPOSED WAGE ADJUSTMENTS WITHOUT COMPARABLE COMPENSATION DATA PRESENTED TO US, AND I WAS LOOKING BACK AT WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US FROM THOSE WHAT WE CONSIDER COMPARABLE AGENCIES THAT YOU PROVIDED.
THEY HAD REPRESENTED EMPLOYEE ADJUSTMENTS, BUT THEY DIDN'T ADDRESS UNREPRESENTED.
SO, HERE'S MY THINKING ON BOTH THOSE ISSUES: 5 OR 6 YEARS AGO, AND PLEASE FORGIVE ME, BUT SOME OF US WERE HERE 2428 APPEARED BEFORE US AND SUGGESTED THAT IT WOULD BE A VERY GOOD PUBLIC POLICY POSITION FOR THIS BOARD TO TAKE TO NOT TIE THE UNREPRESENTED WAGE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AFSCME NEGOTIATED ADJUSTMENTS.
AFSCME PHILOSOPHICALLY THOUGHT IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE FOR US TO AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDE THE UNREPRESENTED THE BENEFIT, SO TO SPEAK, OF WHAT AFSCME NEGOTIATED WITH US, AND THIS ISN'T JUST OUR UNION.
IT'S A PREVALENT ISSUE AMONG LABOR GENERALLY IN THE COUNTRY THAT UNREPRESENTED OR THOSE THAT CHOOSE NOT TO JOIN UNIONS SHOULDN'T NECESSARILY AUTOMATICALLY BENEFIT FROM THE WHAT THE UNION DOES AND WHAT THE UNION GETS TO THEM AND IT'S A PHILOSOPHY I AGREE WITH, AND HISTORICALLY, I'VE AGREED WITH, AND WHERE I'M GETTING IS I BELIEVED THAT WE ACTUALLY DID THAT.
WE DECOUPLED IT, AND THERE WERE EVER SINCE THAT POINT EFFORT TO TAKE THE THIS OFF CONSENT OR AT LEAST IF WE KEPT IT ON CONSENT TO ASK THE QUESTION OF SEPARATE FROM MAKING ADJUSTMENTS THAT ARE COUPLED WITH AFSCME'S, ARE THESE ADJUSTMENTS WHICH DEAL WITH A DIFFERENT SEGMENT OF OUR WORKFORCE AND THEREFORE ARE NOT NECESSARILY COMPARABLE TO THE UNION REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES? I MEAN, ARE THESE COMPARABLE, AND IS THERE DATA THAT CAN SHOW US THAT IN THESE VARIOUS POSITIONS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE ATTACHMENT? DO WE HAVE THE CLASSIFICATION, WHAT IS IT, CLASSIFICATION COMP INFO ON THOSE POSITIONS? BECAUSE WE CERTAINLY HAD IT WHEN WE WERE DEALING WITH THE ISSUE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, AND SO ARE THESE WAGE ADJUSTMENTS THAT IN THIS CASE, ARE VERY CLEARLY DIRECTLY TIED TO THE AFSCME SETTLEMENT.
ARE THEY JUSTIFIED BY OUR LAST CLASSIFICATION COMP STUDY? ARE THEY JUSTIFIED BY WHAT WE KNOW OF SIMILAR ADJUSTMENTS OUT THERE AT COMPARABLE AGENCIES?
[00:40:05]
YOU KNOW, I FEEL A FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, AND THEN PHILOSOPHICALLY, I THINK WE SHOULDN'T BE TYING NONUNION WORKFORCE TO UNION WORKFORCE NEGOTIATED AGREEMENTS.SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT WITH THIS.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO RESPOND? SO FIRST I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I THINK WE HAVE DECOUPLED AFSCME FROM THE UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES BECAUSE THEY'RE TWO SEPARATE ITEMS THAT REQUIRE THE BOARD TO VOTE ON BOTH.
NUMBER TWO, WE'RE NOT SEEKING A 'METOO' FOR UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES.
THOUGH THIS WAS EXPEDITED NEGOTIATIONS, NOT ALL OF THE TERMS THAT AFSCME NEGOTIATES IS APPLIED TO UNREPRESENTED, INCLUDING IN THESE PARTICULAR NEGOTIATIONS.
NUMBER THREE I WOULD SAY 100% OF THE AGENCIES THAT ARE IN OUR COMPARABLE UNIVERSE APPLY REPRESENTED WAGE INCREASES TO THEIR UNREPRESENTED STAFF, AND THAT'S BECAUSE, ONE, YOU WANT TO PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES REPRESENTED AND UNREPRESENTED A FAIR WAGE TO YOU WANT TO AVOID COMPACTION WHERE A CERTAIN CLASSIFICATION GETS ABOVE A CLASSIFICATION THAT THEY MAY SUPERVISE OR REVERSE, AND SO IN NEGOTIATING WITH AFSCME, BOTH AFSCME AND THE PARK DISTRICT DID SOME SORT OF COMPENSATION STUDY BASED ON THE UNIVERSE OF COMPARABLE AGENCIES THAT WE TYPICALLY USE, AND THE WAGE INCREASES THAT WE AGREED TO WITH AFSCME ARE WITHIN THE BALLPARK AND ARE FAIR AND EQUITABLE WAGE INCREASES, WHICH MEANS SINCE ALL OTHER AGENCIES, MOST OTHER AGENCIES TIE THEIR UNREPRESENTED TO THEIR REPRESENTED.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE THAT THE EQUITY ADJUSTMENTS I MEAN, WE'RE ALL GOT ALL THESE EMPLOYEES, ALL THIS WORKFORCE UNREPRESENTED IN THIS CASE THAT WE'RE ADDRESSING, AND WE WEREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR THEM SEPARATELY.
THEY WERE ON BOTH ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SO I APPRECIATE THAT COMMENT OF YOURS.
ARE WE OKAY WITH THE EQUITY STATUS OF THE UNREPRESENTED VIS A VIS OUR OLD CLASSIFICATION COMP STUDY? IT'S TWO YEARS OLD, MAYBE.
I'M NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY EQUITY STATUS.
AS THE BOARD KNOWS, WE GAVE EQUITY ADJUSTMENTS TO AFSCME IN 2021 AS PART OF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
OKAY. THANK YOU. ANYBODY ELSE? DIRECTOR ROSARIO. YEAH, COLIN, DIRECTOR COFFEY JUST JOGGED SOMETHING IN MY MEMORY.
I THINK WHAT'S WHAT PRECLUDED THE CLASSIFICATION STUDY FOR AFSCME 2428 WAS THERE WAS A EQUITY ADJUSTMENT FOR MANAGERS EITHER 2016 OR 2018, I REMEMBER.
SO THAT WAS SO I THINK THAT'S STILL IN PLAY, KIND OF BECAUSE I THINK THE UNDERREPRESENTED HAS GOT AN EQUITY RAISE PRIOR TO AFSCME, AND THEN ALSO THE COMPACTION ISSUE IS ALWAYS AN ISSUE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE PAY ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES AN EQUITABLE WAGE, AND ALSO JUST IN RECOGNITION OF THE INCREDIBLE WORK THEY'VE DONE AND YEAH, I THINK WE SHOULD DEFINITELY KEEP AN EYE ON OUR EQUITY AS IT COMPARES TO OUR COMPARABLES. SO, BUT I APPRECIATE THE, I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT, AND I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT FOR OUR UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR WORK, TOO. SO THANK YOU.
OKAY. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, WELL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO ADD THAT, AND THANK YOU, OLIVIA, FOR ASKING THE QUESTION ABOUT FOR THE PUBLIC TO EXPLAIN WHO THE UNREPRESENTED EMPLOYEES ARE, BECAUSE REALLY, THIS IS OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM.
[00:45:02]
SEASONAL EMPLOYEES. SO IT'S A BROAD MIX, BUT, YOU KNOW, TRULY THESE PEOPLE, ALL OF THEM, YOU KNOW, I'M SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE A TEAM LIKE THIS, A LEADERSHIP TEAM THAT IS ALWAYS ON IT AND RESPONSIVE AND WORKING HARD ALL THE TIME, AND I FEEL VERY LUCKY FOR THAT, AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, AS DIRECTOR ROSARIO SAID AND DIRECTOR COLIN, DIRECTOR COFFEY AS WELL, THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THE MARKET RATES FOR ALL AND FOR ALL OF OUR EMPLOYEES, WE WANT TO BE AT LEAST FAIR.I LIKE TO THINK OUR EMPLOYEES ARE BETTER THAN MOST OTHER EMPLOYEES, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT THEM TO BE AT LEAST PAID AT A COMPARABLE RATE TO OTHER AGENCIES, AND I KNOW YOU'RE YOU'RE UNDERGOING THAT PROCESS, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT AND WITH THAT, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A MOTION.
I'M HAPPY TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE ITEM TEN.
SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY DIRECTOR HUANG AND A SECOND BY DIRECTOR WAESPI.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? OKAY.
OKAY, SO NOW WE CAN MOVE ON TO, WE
[ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION]
HAVE A PRESENTATION FROM OUR ACQUISITION STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION.ONE MOMENT WHILE I PULL UP MY PRESENTATION.
AGAIN. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
I'M BRINGING BEFORE YOU TODAY A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS INTO VARIOUS PROJECTS FOR THE MCCOSKER PROPERTY WITHIN SIBLEY.
STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION OF $865,000 FROM A DEVELOPER PROVIDED GIFT FUND FOR MCCOSKER PROPERTY PROJECTS AND STAFF IS ALSO RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION OF AN ALMOST $13,000 PG&E CLAIM INTO THE RESTORE MCCOSKER CREEK PROJECT FUND.
A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW INTO THE DEVELOPER PROVIDED GIFT FUND.
IN 2010, THE PARK DISTRICT ACCEPTED A 250 ACRE PARCEL PROPERTY CALLED THE MCCOSKER PROPERTY AS A DONATION FROM THE ORINDA GATEWAY LLC, WHICH IS THE DEVELOPER FOR THE WILDER RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION IN THE CITY OF ORINDA.
WILDER IS SHOWN HERE IN GRAY, AND MCCOSKER IS SHOWN HERE IN YELLOW ON THE MAP.
ALONG WITH THIS DONATION OF THE PROPERTY, THE DEVELOPER ALSO PROVIDED A $1 MILLION MANAGEMENT FUNDING DONATION TO PROVIDE FOR THE LONG TERM MANAGEMENT OF THIS PROPERTY.
SINCE THAT TIME, FROM THE DONATION UNTIL NOW THE MCCOSKER PROPERTY HAS UNDERGONE AN EVALUATION AS PART OF THE SIBLEY LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT, AS WELL AS AN EXTENSIVE TRANSFORMATION, AS YOU KNOW, FROM THE MAJOR CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT ON THE PROPERTY, AND NOW WITH THE CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF THE CREEK RESTORATION WRAPPED UP STAFF HAS A BETTER, CLEARER PICTURE OF WHAT THE PROPERTY LAYOUT IS AND CAN NOW SHIFT THE FOCUS TO MORE OF THE LONG TERM MANAGEMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY.
THE GIFT FUND OF THE $1 MILLION WILL BE APPROPRIATED, IS RECOMMENDED TO BE APPROPRIATED AND USED FOR LAND MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES INCLUDING GRAZING, INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT SUCH AS DEVELOPMENT OF WATER FOR CATTLE AND GRAZING, FENCING REPLACEMENT, AS WELL AS EXCLUSION FENCING TO ENSURE THAT THE PLANTS THAT HAVE BEEN PLANTED DURING THE CREEK RESTORATION GET A CHANCE TO GET ESTABLISHED, AS WELL AS GRASSLAND RESTORATION.
[00:50:08]
FUNDS FROM THE GIFT FUND WOULD ALSO BE USED TO COVER PROJECTS THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE SIBLEY LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT, INCLUDING THE CAMPGROUND DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS CONSTRUCTION OF THE PACIFIC P TRAIL THAT WOULD CONNECT THE MCCOSKER PROPERTY INTO THE OPEN PARKLANDS OF HUCKLEBERRY AND SIBLEY WHILE PUBLIC ACCESS.OH, AND EXCUSE ME, LET ME GO BACK AND THAT NOW WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT WRAPPING UP, REALLY EXCITED TO BE ANNOUNCING THAT THE SITE WILL BE PROVIDED PUBLIC ACCESS LATER NEXT MONTH IN APRIL AND HENCE WE'RE WORKING ON THE LONG TERM MAINTENANCE AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PROPERTY, AND WHILE THESE WHILE PUBLIC ACCESS IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THE COMPLETION OF THESE PROJECTS, THESE PROJECTS ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE CONDUCTED IN THIS YEAR.
THE SECOND ITEM IS THE SECOND PORTION OF THIS ITEM IS A RECOMMENDATION FOR BOARD TO AUTHORIZE APPROPRIATION OF THE PG&E CLAIM INTO THE RESTORE MCCOSKER CREEK PROJECT FUND.
AS AN OVERVIEW, PGA HAD ISSUED SOME ENGINEERING DRAWINGS OF THEIR ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ON THE MCCOSKER PROPERTY FOR STAFF TO INCORPORATE INTO THE CONSTRUCTION DURING THE MCCOSKER CREEK RESTORATION PROJECT.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ENGINEERING DRAWINGS INCLUDED SOME ERRORS THAT REQUIRED PARK DISTRICT STAFF TO HAVE TO REMOVE AND REPLACE ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AT OUR OWN AT THE PARK DISTRICT'S EXPENSE, AND SO IN OCTOBER 2023, PARK DISTRICT STAFF FILED A CLAIM FOR THESE COSTS THAT WERE INCURRED TO RECTIFY THE ISSUE, AND PG&E PROVIDED A CLAIM IN THE AMOUNT OF ALMOST $13,000.
THE APPROPRIATION OF THE ENTIRE CLAIM WOULD GO INTO THE RESTORE MCCOSKER CREEK PROJECT FUND TO REIMBURSE THOSE EXPENSES INCURRED TO DO THAT ELECTRICAL WORK.
I'M REALLY GLAD TO SEE WE'RE FORTUNATE TO HAVE THESE EXTRA FUNDS AND DONATIONS TO HELP PROMOTE THE PROJECT AND THANK YOU FOR THE DILIGENCE OF ALL THOSE INVOLVED IN THE PG&E PURSUIT OF THAT, BECAUSE THAT WAS DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE, AND I'M GLAD THERE WAS A GOOD OUTCOME, BUT THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK, AND JUST A QUESTION OUTSIDE OF THIS IS WHEN DO WE INCORPORATE THE WESTERN HILLS PORTION? I CAN SHOW YOU THE MAP AGAIN, BUT THE OOPS, SO TO GO BACK TO DIRECTOR ROSARIO'S QUESTION, WESTERN HILLS IS LOCATED JUST NORTH OF THE MCCOSKER PROPERTY.
WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH THE CITY OF ORINDA, THE DEVELOPER, AND ALL OF THE RESOURCE AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPER CAN COMPLETE ALL OF THE OBLIGATIONS, INCLUDING GRAZING INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE WESTERN HILLS OPEN SPACE, BEFORE WE CAN ACCEPT THE LAND, AND SO WE'RE WORKING THROUGH THAT RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL PRODUCT.
I'M STILL ALWAYS AMAZED AT WHO HAD THE GREAT FORESIGHT TO PUT A FACE ON THAT, THAT BRIDGE, BECAUSE I BET THE BRIDGE WAS DESIGNED AS A CONCRETE BRIDGE. WHOEVER PUT THAT ROCK FACE ON THERE REALLY IS AN ARTIST, AND I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A FOCAL POINT THAT'LL BE ON EVERY CALENDAR WE HAVE, I WOULD BET, IN THE FUTURE AND ALSO, YOU MENTIONED THAT IT'S GOING TO BE OPEN IN APRIL.
IS THERE ANY TALK OF AN OPENING, GRAND OPENING OR CELEBRATION? WE GOT IT? OH, PARDON ME, BUT WE CAN MENTION THAT RIGHT NOW.
HOT DIGGITY DOG. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YES. YOU KNOW, THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT IS ONE THAT I THINK IS SO IMPORTANT, THE IDEA OF, YOU KNOW, DAYLIGHTING A CREEK AND REALLY TRYING TO ALLOW YOU KNOW, THE NATURAL FLOW OF WATER, GO BACK, YOU KNOW, RESTORING IT AND GOING BACK TO HOW IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE.
[00:55:05]
PROJECT. I DEFINITELY STRONGLY SUPPORT TODAY'S AGENDA ITEM, AND I'M CERTAINLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN, YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS AND WE HAVE THE RIBBON CUTTING, AND , YOU KNOW, SEEING HOW THIS, YOU KNOW, WORKS OUT OVER TIME.I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A MOTION.
PRESIDENT ECHOLS, WE DO HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC.
OKAY. THAT'S SCOTT BARTLEBAUGH WANTING TO COMMENT ON THE MCCOSKER ITEM.
I THINK I PROMOTED YOU ALREADY.
I'M TRYING TO START VIDEO RIGHT NOW.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT ECHOLS BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT TODAY.
WE ARE GLAD TO SEE FUNDING FOR THE TRAILS AT MCCOSKER, WHICH THE CYCLING COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ASKING FOR SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE LOOPER PROCESS EIGHT YEARS AGO, IN 2016. THE BOARD REPEATEDLY ASKED THE CYCLING COMMUNITY TO ABIDE BY THE PROCESS, AND THE VAST MAJORITY DO SO.
WELL OVER 100 CYCLISTS PARTICIPATED IN THE TWO AND A HALF YEAR LOOPER PROCESS.
RESOLUTION 2018-11-288 HOLD BACK THAT ACCESS DECISION.
WE ASK THAT YOU HONOR THE INTEGRITY OF THAT LOOPER PROCESS, THE CYCLISTS' PARTICIPATION AND YOUR RESOLUTION, AND SUPPORT BICYCLE ACCESS ON THESE MCCOSKER TRAILS TO PROVIDE A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO PINEHURST ROAD.
THESE ARE NEW TRAILS ON NEW PARKLAND WITH SAFE DESIGN TO ALLOW BIKE ACCESS.
THIS TRAIL EFFORT ALSO CLOSES AN ADDITIONAL BIKE GAP IN THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL.
AT THE TRAIL STUDY SESSION, CAPTAIN COTTER SHOWED A TRAILS MANAGEMENT PROBLEM TRIANGLE.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? NONE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
[FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION]
ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON. I'M DEBORAH SPAULDING, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER.GIVE ME A SECOND WHILE I PULL UP THE POWERPOINT HERE.
HANG ON, AMIR, I MIGHT NEED SOME HELP FROM YOU.
YES, AND IN CASE ANY OF YOU DIDN'T CATCH THAT, THIS IS DEBORAH SPALDING.
SHE'S OUR NEW NEW ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OVER FINANCE, AND WELCOME.
WELCOME TO THE PODIUM IN YOUR NEW TITLE AND POSITION.
ALL RIGHT, SO THE ITEM BEFORE YOU IS THE APPROVAL OF THE BOREL ACCOUNTING AND DISBURSEMENT OF NET PROPERTY SALE PROCEEDS, AND I'LL START OUT WITH A MAP SHOWING YOU WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED OFF OF THE 680, IN THE SAN RAMON VALLEY.
ON THE LEFT SIDE, YOU SEE THE FUTURE AGRICULTURAL PARK THAT IS INTENDED TO BE CONSTRUCTED HERE.
THIS WILL BE A VERY BRIEF SUMMARY OF WHAT IS A LONG SAGA IN THE PARK DISTRICT'S HISTORY.
[01:00:01]
SO ARMAND BOREL BEQUEATHED HIS 17 ACRE HOMESTEAD AND WALNUT ORCHARD TO THE PARK DISTRICT, AND HE WANTED IT TO BECOME AN AGRICULTURAL PARK.HE PASSED AWAY IN 2009, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE TRUST HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES, INCLUDING TAX LIABILITY, MALFEASANCE BY THE FIRST TRUSTEE.
LITIGATION AND OUTSTANDING DEBTS AND CLAIMS AGAINST THE TRUST, AND SO THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT EFFORT MADE BY STAFF TO PREVENT FORECLOSURE, INCLUDING MANY LOANS MADE TO PREVENT THIS FORECLOSURE FROM THE PARK DISTRICT, AND ULTIMATELY, THE PARK DISTRICT DID RECEIVE THE BEQUEST WITH AN UNDERSTANDING THAT A SALE OF A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY WOULD BE NECESSARY.
SO THE SALE WAS REQUIRED BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF CLEANUP THAT WAS NEEDED.
SO IN MARCH 2019, THE COURT AUTHORIZED THE SALE OF THE NORTHERN 7.2 ACRES OF THE PROPERTY, AND IN JULY, THE BOARD ISSUED A AUTHORIZE THE ISSUANCE OF AN RFP FOR THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY, AND IN MAY 2021, THE BOARD SELECTED TRUMARK AS THE BUYER AND THEN ENTERED INTO THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH TRUMARK SO THAT PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, THE PSA WAS AMENDED THREE TIMES, AND ULTIMATELY THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE SALE PARCEL WAS $32 MILLION.
ADDITIONALLY, TRUMARK IS REQUIRED TO ASSIST US IN CREATING A COMMUNITY FACILITIES, COMMUNITY FACILITIES DISTRICT OR CFD, AND SO THAT WILL BE COMING FORWARD IN THE FUTURE. SO FOLLOWING THE APPROVAL OF THE PSA, THE INITIAL DEPOSIT WAS USED TO PAY OFF ALL THIRD PARTY CLAIMS ON THE PROPERTY.
SO WE ARE CONDUCTING THIS FINAL ACCOUNTING TO SHOW WHAT IS GOING TO BE REPAID TO THE PARK DISTRICT AND THEN HOW MUCH IS AVAILABLE TO GO INTO THE NEW FUND THAT WILL BE USED TO MAINTAIN AND CREATE THE AGRICULTURAL PARK.
SO YOU CAN SEE IN THAT TABLE THE LISTING OF ALL THE LOANS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE PARK DISTRICT AND INTEREST AND PENALTIES THAT HAVE ACCRUED, AND SO THE TOTAL AMOUNT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPAID TO THE PARK DISTRICT IS APPROXIMATELY $9.5 MILLION, WHICH LEAVES $21.9 MILLION TO BE USED FOR THE CREATION OF THIS AGRICULTURAL PARK.
SO WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THE BOARD ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO DISTRIBUTE THE.
THE SALE PROCEEDS AS FOLLOWS $9,534,669 TO BE REIMBURSED TO THE PARK DISTRICT TO REPAY THE LOANS AND AWARDED FUNDS, AND THAT THE REMAINING AMOUNT, $21,965,330, BE DEPOSITED INTO A NEW SPECIAL REVENUE FUND, WHICH WILL BE USED FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THIS AGRICULTURAL PARK, AND STAFF EXPECTS TO CLOSE ESCROW BY THE END OF MARCH.
SO THAT'S THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK WE ALL SAW THE EMAIL FROM TED RADOSEVICH.
THIS TRULY IS A SAGA, AND I MEAN, I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHEN I FIRST WAS INTRODUCED TO THE BOREL PROPERTY WHEN I BECAME A BOARD MEMBER IN 2017, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE A MOVIE SOMEDAY, OR AT LEAST A BOOK.
I THINK THE PARK DISTRICT SHOULD PUT TOGETHER A BOOK BECAUSE THIS WAS INCREDIBLY CONVOLUTED, AND THEN JUST REGARDING THE $9 MILLION IN PAYBACK, WE HAD FAITH IN, THAT THIS BOARD HAD FAITH IN LEGAL AND IN OUR STAFF THAT THIS WOULD COME TO PASS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING US THIS FAR, I MEAN, TO THIS POINT; IT REALLY IS A REMARKABLE STORY, A GREAT ENDING TO A REMARKABLE STORY, AND IT'S NOT OVER, BUT I THINK THE DRAMA BEHIND IT IS DEFINITELY OVER, BUT I WANTED TO THANK EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THIS PAST AND PRESENT AND GOING INTO THE FUTURE.
THIS IS A GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.
JUST YEAH, I'M SURE I'M GOING TO SEE THIS IN A MINISERIES SOMEDAY IN MY NEAR FUTURE, SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I JUST WANT TO ADD A SMALL LITTLE COMMENT TO THIS, AND THERE'S SO MANY HISTORIC THINGS THAT WE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SHARING WITH THE COMMUNITY AND JUST HAVING ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT AGRICULTURAL HISTORY, WHAT HAPPENED, HOW IT WENT TO WHERE IT WENT TO, AND HOW WE CAN STILL, YOU KNOW, TELL THE
[01:05:08]
LOCAL COMMUNITY AND THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY HOW IMPORTANT OUR EXCUSE ME.YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE PASSING THE BATON FROM ONE PERSON TO THE NEXT, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THAT'S ALWAYS CELEBRATE THE PERSON THAT HAS THE BATON AT THE END AND IS GOING ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, WHICH IS WHAT'S HAPPENING TODAY, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO CELEBRATE, AND I'LL JUST SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARKS THAT WE HAVE WITHIN OUR PORTFOLIO, BUT THIS ONE, YOU KNOW, WHAT I REALLY LIKE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE POTENTIAL OF THIS IS THAT IT IS NEAR WHERE PEOPLE LIVE.
IT IS NEAR THE IRON HORSE TRAIL.
IT IS GOING TO BE A PARK WHERE THERE IS GOING TO BE, YOU KNOW, ACCESS USING ALTERNATIVE MODES OF TRANSPORTATION, WHETHER IT'S WALKING, BIKING OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, AND I THINK THAT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT AND REALLY CHALLENGING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO PROVIDE.
SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, YOU KNOW, THE NEXT STAGES OF THIS PROPERTY.
THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE? OKAY, WELL, I THINK WE'RE READY FOR A MOTION.
WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION? OKAY. OKAY.
OPPOSED? ABSTENTIONS? OKAY. PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION]
OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THIS IN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND WE THOUGHT IT WAS SO INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE.WE THOUGHT THE WHOLE BOARD WOULD WANT TO HEAR IT.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT ECHOLS DIRECTORS AND GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.
I'M SUSAN HSU, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR THE PARK DISTRICT.
I'M VERY PLEASED TO BE HERE TODAY.
NOT ONLY IS THE PARK DISTRICT CELEBRATING ITS 90TH ANNIVERSARY NINE DECADES OF INCREDIBLE PROGRESS AND MILESTONES TO DATE AND ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO EVERY DAY, BUT IT'S ALSO THE REGIONAL PARK PARKS FOUNDATION'S 55TH ANNIVERSARY.
SO AN INCREDIBLE LEGACY OF SERVICING AND SERVING US, REALLY SUPPORTING OUR WORK AROUND ACCESS FOR ALL THE PROGRAM SUPPORT AND ALL THAT OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, LAUREN BERNSTEIN, WILL SHARE WITH YOU.
SHE WILL ALSO RECOGNIZE ONE OF OUR KEY REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION EXECUTIVES WHO'S HERE TODAY, BUT ON THAT NOTE, HERE IS LAUREN BERNSTEIN TO SHARE THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION'S YEAR IN REVIEW FOR 2023 AND THEIR INCREDIBLE SUPPORT.
GIVE ME ONE MOMENT TO PULL UP THE DECK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS WITH ME, BECAUSE I'M FREEZING.
THANK YOU. SORRY, I TOOK IT FROM YOU; I DIDN'T KNOW.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO SUSAN, AND FOR ALSO SERVING AS THE FOUNDATION'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR 2023.
WE ARE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ON OUR YEAR IN REVIEW.
[01:10:02]
JUST TO GIVE YOU THIS SCALE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE FOUNDATION, WE HAD OVER 16,000 GIFTS FROM OVER 12,000 DONORS, AND THAT REALLY IS A TESTAMENT TO HOW MUCH FOLKS LOVE THE PARK DISTRICT AND EAST BAY PARKS, AND HOW MUCH THEY WANT TO GIVE BACK AND SUPPORT THE PARKS.JUST TO GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF OUR FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES.
ONE IS OUR MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM.
IT RAISES OVER 40% OF OUR REVENUE.
WE HAVE 12,000 MEMBERS AT THE DISTRICT.
PEOPLE REALLY LOVE TO SAY THAT THEY'RE PART OF IT, TO BE IN IT, TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE THEY'RE PART OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, AND THE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM IS OUR FLAGSHIP PROGRAM AT THE FOUNDATION.
WE ALSO HAVE GIFTS FROM INDIVIDUALS AND FOLKS THAT MAKE MATCHING GIFTS FROM THEIR CORPORATIONS AT OVER $100,000 FROM LAST YEAR, AND THEN OUR GRANTS, ALSO OVER $100,000, AND WE RECEIVED FOUR BEQUESTS AS WELL, WHICH WE'LL GET INTO.
WE SEND OUT TWO APPEALS EVERY YEAR, AND THOSE DID REALLY, REALLY WELL.
WE RAISED OVER $237,000 FROM THE TWO APPEALS TOGETHER, FROM OVER 800 DONORS, AND OUR AVERAGE DONATION AMOUNT IS VERY HIGH. SO WE THEY'RE REALLY SUCCESSFUL IN DOING WELL, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE, BUT OUR MEMBERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS.
WE HAVE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF MEMBERSHIP.
500 MEMBERS ARE ARE KIND OF ABOVE AND BEYOND THE REGULAR MEMBERSHIP, AND YOU CAN I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYONE KNOW YOU CAN GIVE THE GIFT OF MEMBERSHIP FOR HOLIDAYS, MOTHER'S DAY, FATHER'S DAY, WHICH IS A REALLY NICE GIFT FOR YOU TO GIVE TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, AND WE HAVE AN 83% RENEWAL RATE, WHICH AGAIN, JUST GOES TO THAT LOYALTY TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
IT'S AN EXTREMELY HIGH RENEWAL RATE FOR A MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM.
PG&E, KAISER, REI, CAL FIRESAFE COUNCIL, WESTERN STATES PETROLEUM, THE OAKLAND A'S, AND THE BERNARD OSHER, AND A LOT OF THESE CORPORATIONS ARE REPRESENTED ON THE FOUNDATION BOARD AS WELL.
SO WE WANT TO THANK OUR BOARD MEMBERS.
THERE'S ALSO FUNDS THAT GET LEFT TO THE FOUNDATION RESERVED FOR THE PARK DISTRICT AND ALSO WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WE DO ESTATE PLANNING SEMINARS FOR THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS A SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC, NOT NECESSARILY A FUNDRAISING ACTIVITY, BUT TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THAT SORT OF INFORMATION TO FOLKS WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT. SO THANK YOU TO OUR PLANNED GIVING COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS WHO PUT ON THESE ESTATE SEMINARS THAT ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.
WE ALSO HOLD THE EAST CONTRA COSTA HABITAT CONSERVANCY ENDOWMENT FUND.
THE FUND IS INVESTED IN OUR ACCOUNTS.
WE HAVE A NEW INVESTMENT POLICY THAT BRUCE HELPED US WORK ON LAST YEAR, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE WAS A 23% INCREASE IN THE FUND BALANCE DUE TO CONTRIBUTIONS AND A REALLY GREAT YEAR IN THE MARKET.
NOW TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF IS HOW WHAT IS THE IMPACT THAT WE ARE HAVING IN THE COMMUNITY ON THE DISTRICT? HOW ARE WE GETTING FOLKS INTO THE PARK? SO THE FOUNDATION'S PROGRAM SERVED 11,500 KIDS, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND WE'RE REALLY, REALLY PROUD THAT NUMBER CONTINUES TO GROW.
THE WAYS THAT WE SUPPORT THE PARK DISTRICT INCLUDE AN UNRESTRICTED GRANT, SPECIAL PROJECT SUPPORT, OPERATING PROGRAM SUPPORT, AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIPS AT CAMP ARROYO, OUR VERY OWN CAMP.
I'LL GET INTO SOME OF OUR IMPACT AREAS NEXT.
WE SUPPORT AQUATICS AND PUBLIC SAFETY, SO WE HAVE AQUATIC ADVENTURE CAMP, THE LIFEGUARD PROGRAM, SWIM AND WATER SAFETY INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS. WE ALSO SUPPORTED A DROWNING PREVENTION STUDY, FUELS REDUCTION PROJECTS, AND ALSO OUR NATIONAL NIGHT OUT THAT WE HAD IN 2023.
FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION, WE ARE SUPPORTING THIRD GRADERS AND KIDS HEALTHY OUTDOOR CHALLENGE.
TRANSLATION SERVICES FOR THINGS LIKE ALL ABILITIES DAY AFTER SCHOOL EXCURSIONS, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS, AND ALSO OUR VIRTUAL REALITY EXPLORER, EAST BAY PARKS APP AND VIRTUAL REALITY.
IF YOU HAVEN'T HAD A CHANCE TO TRY OUR VIRTUAL REALITY PROGRAM, I HOPE YOU WILL.
FOR RECREATION VASCO CAVES, BOATING AND FISHING SCHOLARSHIPS, TEEN ECO ACTION WEEK, VETERANS FISHING DAY, AND THEN OUR OUTREACH, MAKING SURE THAT OUR PROGRAMS AND THAT WE'RE THAT OUR PROGRAMS ARE GETTING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
[01:15:04]
OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH OUTDOOR PROGRAM, WHICH YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD OF, MULTICULTURAL WELLNESS WALKS WORKING WITH MEDICAL SYSTEMS TO BRING THEIR PATIENTS OUT INTO THE PARK TO GET THE HEALING BENEFITS OF NATURE, AND THEN, OF COURSE, OUR BELOVED TRAILS CHALLENGE, AND FOR STEWARDSHIP.WE SUPPORTED A FERAL PIG MANAGEMENT STUDY, CAT MANAGEMENT, AND A GOLDEN EAGLE MONITORING AND RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP, AND WE REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO EXPANDING OUR STEWARDSHIP GRANTS TO THE DISTRICT IN 2024.
THE UNDERPINNING OF ALL THAT WE DO IS DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY CAME TO WATCH THEM.
A LOT OF A LOT OF OUR EBRPD BOARD MEMBERS WERE THERE, AND THAT WAS A REALLY GREAT EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE FAMILIES, AND THEN WE HAVE AN ACCESS FOR ALL FREE MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM. SO MAKING SURE THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE A PAID MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM, THAT IT'S AVAILABLE TO ALL DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, AND WE WORK WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE REACHING OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES WHO NEED IT MOST AND THEN MAKING SURE THAT THE ENGAGEMENT CAN LAST LONGER THROUGH THIS MEMBERSHIP OPPORTUNITY.
WE ALSO HAVE SOME MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS, OUR CAMPUS MAGAZINE, THE RADTKE AWARD, AND OF COURSE, THE NEW ROBERTS POOL, AND THANK YOU TO OUR 2023 BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
LES HAUSRATH WAS OUR PRESIDENT LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR WE HAVE HOLLY POTTER AS OUR PRESIDENT, JOHN MARTIN AS OUR VICE PRESIDENT, BRUCE KERN AS OUR TREASURER, AND STEPHANIE LEDESMA AS OUR SECRETARY, AND I'M VERY EXCITED TO WELCOME BRUCE UP TO THE PODIUM, WHO CAN TALK ABOUT OUR LOOKING AHEAD, OUR 2024 PRIORITIES.
IT'S A REAL PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY.
IT'S ALWAYS, PARTICULARLY WITH THE REPORT THAT IS BEING PRESENTED TODAY, YOU KNOW, THE MISSION OF THE FOUNDATION IS REALLY TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT, AND I THINK THAT THE REPORT CLEARLY ILLUSTRATES THAT.
SOME OF THOSE HAVE BEEN MENTIONED, BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF ONE OF THE FIRST ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS THAT THE FOUNDATION MEMBERS ARE TERMED OUT AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, IT SEEMS, AND SO THAT WE ARE ACTIVELY IN THE RECRUITMENT PHASE ON AN ONGOING BASIS TO RECRUIT NEW MEMBERS, BECAUSE THAT IS OUR LEADERSHIP, AND AGAIN, WE WORK VERY HARD TO GET MEMBERS THAT ARE REALLY PART OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO THE VALUES AND THE MISSION OF THE DISTRICT, AND ONE WHO IS REALLY GOING TO WORK WITH US IN TANDEM TO REALLY PROTECT THE LEGACY OF THE DISTRICT, AND SO I WOULD URGE YOU, IF YOU HAVE, YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WE SHOULD TALK TO.
IT'S REALLY AN HONOR TO BE ON THE FOUNDATION.
WE HAD SOME GREAT MEMBERS, AND THEY'RE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING IN ANY WAY THAT WE CAN.
THE DISTRICT NOW, THIS LAUREN ALREADY MENTIONED, OUR STAFFS ARE WORKING CLOSELY TO REALLY PROMOTE AND CELEBRATE THE BOTH 90TH AND THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDATION, THE 90TH OF THE DISTRICT, AND WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER, AND WE HOPE THAT THESE WILL BE REALLY KNOCKOUT EVENTS.
THESE WILL JUST BE REALLY REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE THESE YEARS OF CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THE DISTRICT TO THE COMMUNITY. WE DO ANTICIPATE TO NOT JUST MEET OUR GOAL NEXT YEAR, BUT HOPEFULLY WITH THE MID-YEAR APPOINTMENT OF OUR DEVELOPMENT POSITION, WE'LL BE ABLE TO REALLY EXCEED OUR GOAL.
THE GOAL UP THERE IS ONLY DOES NOT INCLUDE ALL FUNDS THAT ARE REALLY BEQUEST, AND AS YOU SEE, LAST YEAR WE RECEIVED A 260,000, BUT WE THINK WITH THE PROPER TEAM WE CAN REALLY BUILD AND WE CAN CONTINUE TO CONTRIBUTE THE HIGH VALUE THAT THE FOUNDATION IS PROVIDING TO THE
[01:20:01]
DISTRICT. WE ARE GOING TO DO A PILOT THIS YEAR.WE SEE THIS AS A PILOT TO TEST OUR ABILITY AND OUR STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES, TO TAKE ON OTHER FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, AND SO THIS WILL BE A FIRST OF ITS KIND, A MARATHON THAT WILL BE RUN IN THE PARKS AND THAT WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY, AND IT WILL BE IN JULY, AND LET ME CONCLUDE BY REALLY SAYING THAT ONE OF THE REAL STRONG VALUES OF THE FOUNDATION BOARD AND BOARD MEMBERS IS REALLY TO CONTINUE TO WORK TO STRENGTHEN THE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A $20 MILLION INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THOSE DONORS AND THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES THAT, THAT WE ARE CARRYING OUT EFFECTIVELY, AND SO AS A RESULT, YOU KNOW, THIS, IF WE LOOK BACK OVER 2023, IT WAS REALLY A TRANSITION YEAR.
WE BROUGHT ON LAUREN WHO'S REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB.
WE RELOCATED OUR STAFF TO PLEASANTON.
NOW THESE CAN BE DISRUPTIVE, BUT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS THEY REALLY HIT IT OUT OF THE BALLPARK MAKING AND ACHIEVING A 13% OVER THEIR GOAL FOR THIS YEAR, AND BUT LET ME SHARE THAT.
THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE REALLY ON BOARD SUPPORT OF BOTH THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND THE GENERAL MANAGER, SABRINA, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THEIR SUPPORT CONSTANTLY SUPPORTING US AS WE MOVE THROUGH THIS TRANSITION. WE THINK IT'S GOING TO MAKE US STRONGER AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING ANOTHER GREAT YEAR AS WE AS WE MOVE INTO 2024 FOR THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR, AND SO WITH THAT, I GUESS I'M GOING TO BE CALLING LAUREN OR SUSAN UP HERE IF IF YOU WANT TO ASK US ANY QUESTIONS.
ALL RIGHT. WE'LL START AGAIN WITH DIRECTOR ROSARIO AND THEN DIRECTOR CORBETT.
GREG, CONGRATULATIONS ON ON ANOTHER GOOD YEAR AND, BRUCE, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AND MY QUESTION IS PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC OUR BUS EXPRESS PROGRAM WAS SERVING SOMETHING LIKE 30, 40,000 CHILDREN, BUT WE ALSO FOUND THAT THERE WAS STILL ANOTHER 40,000 CHILDREN THAT COULD BE SERVED, AND AT THE TIME, WE HAD MAXED OUT ALL THE BUS SERVICES IN THE AREA.
IS THAT STILL TRUE, AS FAR AS BUS TRANSPORTATION, BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FOR KIDS IN SCHOOLS? WHEN YOU SAY MAXED OUT, DO YOU MEAN BUDGET OR CAPACITY? NO, THE CAPACITY.
YEAH, I CAN'T SPEAK EXACTLY TO WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE TRANSPORTATION SIDE, EXCEPT FOR THAT.
I KNOW IN GENERAL WE'RE EXPANDING CAPACITY THERE, BUT WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT ALL THE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE MORE SUPPORT, AND THERE, OF COURSE, ARE ALWAYS CHALLENGES THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY CAN'T SOLVE, AND SO WE'RE HERE FOR IT AND WE'RE READY, AND IT IS A HUGE PRIORITY FOR US. WE'RE GOING TO BE TESTING OUT FOR OUR RUNNING EVENT.
SO THERE'S CERTAIN THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEN, OF COURSE, PROVIDING EXTRA GRANTS WHEN POSSIBLE FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR ALL OF THE PROGRAMS THAT I MENTIONED EARLIER, NOT JUST PARKS EXPRESS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OUTSIDE OF THAT, AND WE DO THE BEST WE CAN TO FUND THAT WITHIN THE CONSTRAINTS OF BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE WHEELS AND MOTORS. YEAH, AND DRIVERS, AND I THINK LISA IS BEHIND YOU THERE, AND SHE CAN ACTUALLY SPEAK AS THE RECIPIENT OF THE GRANT FUNDS.
THIS WAS IDENTIFIED AS A NEED BY OUR INTERPRETATION AND RECREATION STAFF, I THINK FOR A WHILE NOW, AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY WE PUT IN A REQUEST FOR A SUPERVISOR POSITION FOR TRANSPORTATION SUPERVISOR, SO SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS SPENDING THE MONEY THAT THE FOUNDATION IS GENEROUSLY PROVIDING TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION WITH EVEN MORE TRANSPORTATION, LOOKING AT ALL OF THESE TRANSPORTATION.
[01:25:10]
BUSSES AND THE TRANSPORTATION.SO BY PROVIDING THAT NEW POSITION THAT WILL REALLY ADDRESS THAT.
DIRECTOR CORBETT. I JUST HAVE SOME POSITIVE COMMENTS.
THIS IS JUST SUCH A OVER THE YEARS AND CONTINUING TO BE OVER THE CONTINUING THE YEARS RECENTLY, IT'S JUST SUCH SO IMPRESSIVE THE WORK THAT'S DONE IN THIS ORGANIZATION, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CONTINUING TO EXPAND IT AND GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN IT.
IF YOU CAN GO BACK AND THINK ABOUT HOW IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING AND SEE HOW IT'S GROWN AND BECOME MORE POSITIVE, I JUST WANT TO GIVE A BIG THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU DO.
I APPRECIATE IT, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE FOUNDATION AND THEY'RE REALLY COMMITTED TO BRINGING IN THE BEST OF THE BEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND THAT'S REALLY AND THEY GO THROUGH I GUESS AN EVALUATION PROCESS BECAUSE THIS IS A TWO WAY STREET.
WE'RE ASKING A LOT OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, THESE ARE VOLUNTEERS, AND EVERYONE WE TALK TO IS SO COMMITTED TO THE DISTRICT AND THE MISSION AND WANTS TO CONTRIBUTE, AND OUR JOB IS TO HOW WE CAN BEST CAPITALIZE ON THAT ENERGY AND FOCUS IT.
WE DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WEAR THEM OUT, AND SO WE'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND HOLLY HAS AND REALLY SEEING HOW CAN WE BEST EFFECTIVELY AS VOLUNTEERS ORGANIZE WORK TOGETHER.
IT KIND OF REDUCES SOME OF THE, SOME OF THE, THE TRAVEL TIME FOR SOME OF OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN FROM SAN FRANCISCO OR OTHER PARTS OF PITTSBURG, ANTIOCH, AND SO BUT WE ARE LOOKING TO EVEN GET MORE EFFECTIVE.
WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL OF OUR POLICIES AND LOOKING AT THEM FROM A STANDPOINT OF NOT ONLY OUR FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT ALSO OF RISK AVOIDANCE. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A BIG RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR DONORS, AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THEM BUT TO THE POINT, YES, WE ARE LOOKING FOR TALENT.
YES. FIRST, BRUCE, I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
IT'S ALWAYS SUCH A JOY TO SEE YOU.
I KNOW WHEN I JOINED THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I THINK NINE YEARS AGO, YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT OF OUR COMMITTEE AT THE TIME, AND I ALWAYS LIKE TO SHARE, YOU KNOW, LITTLE TRIVIA FACTS, BUT I THINK THIS WILL BE A PRETTY CHALLENGING ONE TO BEAT.
YOU KNOW, BRUCE WAS PRESIDENT OF THE PAC WHEN BOTH DIRECTOR COFFEY AS WELL AS DIRECTOR MERCURIO, WHO'S NOT HERE TODAY, AND MYSELF OR A MEMBER OF THE PAC, AND SO I THINK THAT IT'LL BE TOUGH FOR THERE TO BE ANOTHER PAC CHAIR TO SAY THAT AT LEAST THREE BOARD MEMBERS WERE PART OF THE PAC WHEN SERVING AS PRESIDENT.
SO IT'S REALLY NICE TO SEE YOU HERE TODAY.
WE HAD A LOT OF FUN. YEAH, I MEAN, WE RIGHT OFF THE BAT WHEN I STARTED ON THE PAC, WE STARTED LOOKING AT DOGS AND PARKS, AND I REMEMBER BRUCE CAME OUT TO MEET WITH THE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY IN THE TRI VALLEY WITH ME AND IT WAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY GOOD, LIKE I SAID, INTRODUCTION TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
SO THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY, AND I DO HAVE A FEW COMMENTS.
I MEAN, THIS IS A REALLY WONDERFUL PRESENTATION.
I'M REALLY GLAD THIS WAS PRESENTED TO THE FULL BOARD.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THE FOUNDATION A LOT MYSELF, AND YES, I KNOW 2023 WAS VERY MUCH A TRANSITION YEAR AND MAYBE EVEN SOME PARTS OF THIS YEAR, 2024, YOU KNOW, STARTING OFF WITH SOME DIFFERENT FUNDRAISING EVENTS LIKE THE RUN THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE AT ONE OF OUR PARKS, WHICH I THINK IS SUCH AN EXCELLENT IDEA, AND I WANT TO SHARE A FEW MORE THOUGHTS ALONG THOSE LINES. I KNOW AT THE PREVIOUS BOARD MEETING, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE TILDEN EEC AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THAT PROJECT AND PARTNERING WITH THE FOUNDATION ON THIS.
SO I THINK WHAT WE CAN LOOK FOR FOR 2024 IS REALLY KIND OF GEARING UP TOWARDS THIS POTENTIAL OF A FAIRLY LARGE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, AND SO I WOULD EXPECT US TO HAVE, YOU KNOW, SOME ADDITIONAL CONVERSATIONS AROUND THAT.
SO WE ARE IN TANDEM AND IN SYNC WITH THE PROCESS.
[01:30:02]
AND SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S GREAT TO HAVE LAUREN BECAUSE SHE'S BEEN THROUGH FUND CAMPAIGNS, AND THIS IS A CAMPAIGN, AND IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF COMMUNITY, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A REACH BEYOND JUST OUR FOUNDATION MEMBERS.IT'S REALLY AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN SOME OF OUR PAST PRESIDENTS AND FOUNDATION MEMBERS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO CREATING THIS VISION THAT THE DISTRICT HAS. YEAH, AND THEN I'LL ALSO SHARE, I'M JUST FINALIZING THIS.
I HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A CHANCE TO TALK TO SUSAN AND LAUREN ABOUT THIS, BUT I KNOW THE PLEASANTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HAS A PROGRAM CALLED LEADERSHIP PLEASANTON, AND THEY WANT TO HAVE A DAY AT SHADOW CLIFFS COMING UP IN APRIL.
SO I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU GUYS AFTER THIS MEETING.
IT'S STILL BEING CONFIRMED RIGHT NOW, BUT I THINK IT COULD BE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY, IF POSSIBLE, TO TALK ABOUT THE FOUNDATION, ESPECIALLY FOR ME WITH SHADOW CLIFFS ESPECIALLY, I KNOW THE FOUNDATION WAS FORMED IN PART TO ACCEPT THE LAND THAT IS SHADOW CLIFFS TODAY.
YEP. CONTRIBUTION, AND THE ONLY WAY HE COULD GIVE WAS REALLY THROUGH THE FOUNDATION, AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE IN PLEASANTON ARE VERY PROUD OF NANCY AND GARY HARRINGTON FOR PROVIDING THE SEED MONEY FOR THE NEW INTERPRETIVE PAVILION AT SHADOW CLIFFS AND SO I REALLY HOPE IT COULD BE THE START OF SOME NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE TRI-VALLEY.
I KNOW THE TRI-VALLEY HAS A VERY STRONG NETWORK OF NONPROFITS AND NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING.
THERE'S BOTH THE TRI-VALLEY NONPROFIT ALLIANCE THAT'S BASED IN LIVERMORE THAT SERVES, YOU KNOW, THE THREE VALLEYS WITHIN TRI-VALLEY AS WELL AS THE THREE VALLEYS FOUNDATION, AND SO WHAT THAT COVERS IS THE LIVERMORE VALLEY, THE AMADOR VALLEY, WHICH IS THE CITIES OF DUBLIN, PLEASANTON, AND THE SAN RAMON VALLEY, WHICH IS ALAMO, DANVILLE AND SAN RAMON, AND SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY THERE, AND I KNOW WE'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH IT, BUT TO CONTINUE THAT SO THAT WHEN WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE MAJOR CAMPAIGNS, YOU KNOW, AND I HAVE SOME IDEAS ON HOW TO RELATE THIS, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE'RE THINKING ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE TILDEN EEC, YOU KNOW, TILDEN BEING, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE TOP BAY AREA DESTINATIONS TO VISIT.
SO I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU ON ALL OF THIS.
BRUCE, MY WIFE AND I WERE JUST REMINISCING ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FUNDRAISERS THAT WE USED TO HAVE.
REMEMBER THE BIG TENT AT TEMESCAL? YOU KNOW THAT? I THINK IT WAS THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY.
WHAT'S BREWING IN THE PARK? YEAH, AND THOSE KIND OF FUNDRAISERS THAT WERE DESIGNED TO TIE IN WITH.
ASIDE FROM A RUN, I MEAN, THESE WERE, YOU KNOW, $100 A SEAT, THINGS AND YEAH MAJOR FUNDRAISERS.
HAVE THERE BEEN ANY THOUGHT TO DOING SOME MAJOR FUNDRAISING OFF THE 90TH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? SO THE LAST ONE I REMEMBER WAS A BIG TENT OUT AT TEMESCAL FOR THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY.
YEAH, SO I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SUSAN REALLY CLOSELY TO KIND OF DETERMINE WHAT WE WOULD DO FOR THIS YEAR AND BEST FUNDRAISING PRACTICE, AND WE ACTUALLY DECIDED ON THE RACE BECAUSE IT IS NOT A GALA.
WE SPECIFICALLY THOUGHT IT FIT BETTER IN WITH HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND BEING IN THE PARK AND SHOWCASING MORE OF THE PARK, AND ALSO WE CAN HAVE 1000 REGISTRANTS. SO I DON'T KNOW WHO'S A RUNNER IN HERE, BUT WE CAN ALSO HAVE MORE PEOPLE AT THAT SORT OF EVENT, AND THEN WE'RE ALSO PARTNERING ON THE MAY 11TH EVENT, AND SO BETWEEN THOSE TWO, THOSE ARE KIND OF OUR BIG FLAGSHIP EVENTS FOR THIS YEAR, AND THEN EARLIER AND IT'LL GO THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE YEAR, BUT EARLIER THIS YEAR WE DID A DIGITAL FUNDRAISING MATCHING CAMPAIGN FOR THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY, AND THAT TOTALLY BLEW OUR EXPECTATIONS OUT OF THE WATER.
OKAY. SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO A GALA.
YEAH, AND IT'S THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH IT, BUT WE REALLY WANTED TO ALIGN WITH OUR VALUES MORE IN THE PARK DISTRICT'S VALUES, AND WE JUST FELT LIKE THERE WAS OTHER WAYS TO DO THAT WERE MORE INCLUSIVE OF THE PUBLIC, OF THE WHOLE COMMUNITY.
WE CAN HAVE MORE PEOPLE, MORE PARTICIPATION.
SO IN THIS WAY, WE'RE HAVING THESE COMMUNITY FESTIVALS AND IT JUST, I REMEMBER MAYBE YOU FOLKS DID TOO, BUT AT THE, YOU KNOW, DURING COVID AND POST-COVID, WHEN THE PARK DISTRICT WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF ITS POPULARITY.
[01:35:05]
SO IT'S ALWAYS OCCURRED TO ME THAT THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BROADEN THE FUNDRAISING AND MAYBE GET SOME DEEP POCKET FUNDRAISING GOING.SO IT'S TOTALLY OPEN AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR MORE AND CONTINUE THAT DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU. THANKS, MAY I? YEAH. GO AHEAD. WELL THANK YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS ON A GREAT YEAR AND A GREAT FORWARD LOOKING YEAR.
WE'RE ALL GETTING REMINISCENT WITH BRUCE BRUCE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
YOU KNOW AS WE REMINISCE TEN YEARS AGO, TEN YEARS AGO WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THIS BOARD, THEY SAID, OH, HEY, LISTEN, YOU'VE GOT, YOUR FIRST ISSUE IS YOU HAVE TO APPOINT SOME PAC MEMBERS, AND I SAID, OH, COOL, AND HE SAID, WELL, OR YOU COULD REAPPOINT BRUCE KERN AND RICHARD GODFREY, AND I SAID, OH MY GOD, OF COURSE FOR LIFE.
[CHUCKLING] THAT WAS, THAT WAS THE EASIEST THING I'VE EVER DONE AROUND HERE.
SO GREAT TO SEE YOU, AND AS WE MOVE INTO THAT, I'M THINKING OF TERM LIMITS.
NOW YOU TALK. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF WHY YOU HAVE TERM LIMITS, BUT AT SOME POINT, DO YOU LOSE SO MANY VALUABLE RESOURCES THAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO RECONSIDER OR HAVE AN EMERITUS STATUS OR EXPAND? OR WE DO, WE DO, AND I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE ISSUES AS WE, AS THE FOUNDATION KIND OF LOOKS THIS YEAR AT ITS BYLAWS AND ITS OPERATING PROCEDURES.
I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE A WAY THAT WE CAN CAPTURE THAT COLLECTIVE GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE SPENT EIGHT YEARS ON A FOUNDATION AND HAVE SO MUCH TO GIVE AND STILL WANT TO GIVE, WHETHER THAT'S A FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION GROUP OR WHETHER THAT'S STRUCTURED SOME OF OUR WAY OF TRYING TO ENGAGE IS THAT WE CHANGED OUR BYLAWS TO ALLOW THERE ARE ONLY CERTAIN SPECIFIC COMMITTEES. THERE'S FINANCE, THERE'S GOVERNANCE AND THOSE, BUT OUR DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IS OPEN TO NON BOARD MEMBERS AND THAT WAS INTENDED TO BE ABLE TO BRING IN SOME PEOPLE THAT MAY NOT HAVE THE TIME TO VOLUNTEER, BUT DO HAVE AN EXPERTISE THAT WE NEED AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING BACK SOME OF OUR TERMED OUT BOARD MEMBERS.
SO IT IS A CHALLENGE? YES. DO YOU HAVE A THOUGHT ON THAT? NO, JUST AS I'M A LITTLE SHORT HERE, JUST AS LAUREN AND BRUCE MENTIONED THAT IF YOU HAVE IDEAS FOR BOARD RECRUITMENT FOR THE FOUNDATION OR ANY EVENT IDEAS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
I DO SERVE AS YOUR LIAISON TO THE FOUNDATION, AND WHAT BRUCE WAS SHARING IS THAT IN THEIR REVIEW OF THE FOUNDATION'S BYLAWS OVER THIS PAST YEAR, THERE HAVE BEEN THE CREATION OF ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
AGAIN, THEY DON'T, THEY ARE NOT BOARD MEMBERS FOR THE FOUNDATION.
SO IF YOU ALSO HAVE SUGGESTIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS WITH SPECIAL SKILL SET, SKILL SETS, THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL. PLEASE DO LET ME KNOW.
THE FOUNDATION HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE.
WHERE ARE THE GAPS IN SKILL SETS THAT THEY NEED? BE IT ON THE FINANCIAL END YOU KNOW, INCREASED DIVERSITY ACROSS THE BOARD YOUNGER BOARD MEMBERS TO REALLY I WOULD SAY ALL OF IT.
HE KEEPS BRUCE KEEPS SAYING YES.
SO PLEASE, IF YOU HAVE IDEAS OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
YEAH. THANK YOU. YEAH, I THINK, BECAUSE WE'RE FINDING THAT THERE'S A YOUNGER CROWD THAT WE'RE NOT TAPPING, AND THAT'S THE GROUP THAT WE'RE REALLY ZEROING IN ON THOSE THAT ARE THE 20 TO 30 AND, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL WEALTH MANAGERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE KIND OF CONNECTED, AND SO THAT WE'RE STRATEGIC IN OUR OUTREACH, BUT WE WELCOME ALL.
THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT MARATHON.
I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
SO IS THERE A DATE? YES, YES. JULY 20TH AT LAKE CHABOT.
IT WILL BE A HALF MARATHON, 10K AND 5K; 5K IS THREE MILES, AND YOU CAN WALK IT, SO EXCUSES.
[CHUCKLING] HOW MUCH DO YOU HAVE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT YET, OR? YEAH, SO WE'RE PARTNERING WITH BRAZEN RACING WHO'S A RACE EVENT COMPANY THAT DOES RACES IN OUR PARK.
I THINK THEY DO SEVEN A YEAR OR TEN A YEAR IN OUR PARK, AND THEY'VE ALREADY BEEN A PARTNER OF OURS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES AROUND THAT, AND AS BRUCE SAYS, WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO SEE HOW THIS GOES AND THEN PERHAPS CONTINUE ON INTO THE FUTURE WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT FUNDRAISING POTENTIAL FOR AN EVENT LIKE THIS.
OKAY, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE GIVING OUT FREE COMMUNITY REGISTRATIONS.
[01:40:04]
SO ALL OF THE GROUPS THAT I MENTIONED BEFORE THAT WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT WORKS WITH.GREAT. THANK YOU, AND YOU CAN YEAH LET ME KNOW IF YOU NEED ANY OF THOSE.
BRUCE IS NOT TERMING OFF NEXT YEAR OR THIS YEAR.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I'M REFERRING TO A NUMBER OF GREAT NAMES IN THE PAST THAT I'VE HAD GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH, BUT YOU KNOW, OUR BIG CELEBRATION MAY 11TH, ALL THE PAST MEMBERS ARE ALL INVITED AND HOPEFULLY WE SEE THEM ALL OUT THERE.
A REALLY FANTASTIC PRESENTATION AND REALLY CONGRATULATIONS ON AN INCREDIBLE YEAR, AND I ALSO JUST WANT TO SAY I'M IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO RAISE, YOU KNOW, CLOSE TO HALF OF YOUR FUNDS THROUGH MEMBERSHIPS WITH AN 83% RENEWAL RATE.
THAT GIVES YOU SUCH A SOLID BASE.
THAT'S, AS YOU SAID, VERY UNUSUAL.
SO THANK YOU, AND REALLY APPRECIATE THE NEW INNOVATIVE IDEAS ON FUNDRAISING, AS WELL AS THE POINT THAT LAUREN MADE ABOUT DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION REALLY BEING THE UNDERPINNING OF EVERYTHING YOU DO.
JUST VERY, VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THAT AND LOVE THAT.
AS BOARD PRESIDENT, I GET TO WORK WITH YOU ALL MORE CLOSELY AND COME TO YOUR MEETINGS.
SO THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, AND THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM SO WE DON'T HAVE TO VOTE ON IT, AND SOME OF THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ASKED TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK.
SO I AM GOING TO WITH APOLOGIES TO FOLKS WHO ARE HERE FOR THE NEXT ITEM.
[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]
SO NOW WE ARE MOVING ON TO GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS, AND WE HAVE A SPECIAL UPDATE ON THE WILDCAT TRAIL WHICH WE'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THE ROUTE SELECTION AND ANALYSIS.BRIAN HOLT, THE FLOOR IS YOURS.
PRESIDENT ECHOLS. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BRIAN HOLT, CHIEF OF PLANNING, TRAILS AND GIS.
THIS WAS WE HAD SOME QUESTIONS THAT CAME UP DURING THE TRUST STUDY SESSION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE A BRIEF, QUICK INTRODUCTION BEFORE I TURN IT OVER TO SUZANNE WILSON, SENIOR PLANNER WHO HAS NEARLY TWO DECADES OF EXPERIENCE IN PLANNING, DESIGNING AND BUILDING TRAILS IN A RANGE OF CHALLENGING CONDITIONS THROUGHOUT THE PARK DISTRICT AND BEYOND IN HER PREVIOUS WORK.
SO AS YOU KNOW, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMUNITY INTEREST IN THE WILDCAT TRAIL.
SO BACK IN APRIL OF 2023, WE HELD A PUBLIC MEETING THAT WAS HELD ATTENDED BY WELL OVER 200 MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, MANY OF THEM YOUTH, WHO RIDE BIKES WITH LOCAL TEAMS FROM MOUNTAIN FROM MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE BERKELEY AND EL CERRITO AREA, AND OF COURSE, WE'VE ALSO HEARD A NUMBER OF CONCERNS EXPRESSED BY OTHERS ABOUT THE TRAIL.
AS THERE OFTEN ARE ABOUT NEW TRAILS, WE OFTEN RECEIVE CONCERNS ABOUT NEW TRAILS, AND PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY'RE BUILT SPECIFICALLY TO ADDRESS THE GROWING DEMAND FOR MOUNTAIN BIKE ACCESS.
SO WE HAVE RECEIVED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW THIS TRAIL PROPOSAL CAME TO BE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, QUITE SIMPLY, WE HEARD FROM A LARGE CONTINGENT OF PARK DISTRICT USERS THAT THIS WAS A FACILITY THAT THEY DESIRED, AND AS STAFF, YOU KNOW, WE LISTEN CLOSELY AND WE APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM PARK USERS, AND WE'VE ALSO HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS THAT, YES, THIS WAS A PROPOSAL, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT STAFF SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT TO DETERMINE IF THE REQUEST WAS FEASIBLE, AND SO WE DID AND WE'VE DONE THE BASELINE BIOLOGIC RESOURCE STUDIES.
WE'VE CONSULTED WITH OUR IN-HOUSE EXPERTS AND CULTURAL RESOURCES AND STEWARDSHIP, AND, YOU KNOW, WHILE THERE'S ALWAYS SOME POTENTIAL FOR IMPACTS FROM ANY PROJECT THAT THE PARK DISTRICT DEVELOPS, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THIS WAS A PROJECT WHERE THOSE IMPACTS COULD BE ADDRESSED AND MITIGATED FOR FURTHER. WE LOOKED WE LOOKED AT THE WILDCAT CANYON LAND USE PLAN WHICH SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIES MOUNTAIN BIKING AS AN APPROPRIATE USE IN WILDCAT CANYON REGIONAL PARK.
SO AND AS WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY, THIS IS AN AREA WHERE MOUNTAIN BIKING IS ALREADY OCCURRING.
[01:45:01]
SO THIS ISN'T A SITUATION WHERE WE'RE INTRODUCING A NEW LAND USE, A NEW USE TO AN AREA WHERE IT WASN'T PREVIOUSLY.SO IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING LAND USE PLAN.
IT'S CONSISTENT WITH THE EXISTING USE WITHIN THE PARK, WE'RE ADDRESSING EXISTING DEMAND USE IN THE PARK, AND WE HEARD FROM USERS THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY WANTED TO SEE.
SO WE'VE ALSO HEARD SUGGESTIONS ABOUT ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED.
WE HEARD SUGGESTIONS ABOUT ALVARADO PARK, SIBLEY REGIONAL PRESERVE AND LOOKING ELSEWHERE IN TILDEN.
THESE CERTAINLY MAY BE PROPOSALS THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED SEPARATELY AS ADDITIONAL FACILITIES, BUT NEVERTHELESS, STAFF DID EVALUATE THESE PROPOSALS IN LIGHT OF THE PROPOSED WILDCAT TRAIL, AND ESSENTIALLY, WE DETERMINED THAT THEY DIDN'T MEET OUR PROJECT OBJECTIVES.
THEY WOULDN'T SERVE THE EXISTING DEMAND THAT WE'RE SEEING IN WILDCAT.
THEY WOULDN'T BE ACCESSIBLE FROM THOSE USERS WHO ARE BIKING TO WHERE THIS FACILITY IS, AND EACH OF THE SITES RAISED ADDITIONAL STEWARDSHIP AND CULTURAL RESOURCE CONCERNS. SO WE'RE STILL VERY MUCH IN THIS PROCESS.
WE'LL BE PROCEEDING WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS PURSUANT TO CEQA, AND WE HAVE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH TO DO, AND OF COURSE, THERE'S GOING TO BE MULTIPLE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE BOARD TO EVALUATE THIS PROPOSAL AND DETERMINE, YOU KNOW, IF IT SHOULD MOVE FORWARD BUT I DO WANT TO SAY THE PARK DISTRICT IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE A STAFF OF HIGHLY SKILLED PROFESSIONALS.
WE HAVE BIOLOGISTS, ARCHEOLOGISTS, TRAIL TRAIL DESIGNERS AND OTHERS WHO ARE ALL ENGAGED IN ALL OF OUR TRAIL PROJECTS, AND THEY ENGAGE IN ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ON EACH OF THESE PROJECTS AND, AND THOROUGHLY EVALUATE EACH PROPOSAL FOR WHERE THE ALIGNMENTS ARE, WHAT THE RESOURCE IMPACTS ARE, AND THERE'S A LOT TO CONSIDER IN EACH OF THESE DECISIONS AND WHERE TRAILS GO, BUT THIS AGENCY IS TRULY FORTUNATE TO HAVE SOME OF THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND RESPECTED PROFESSIONALS WHO DO THIS TYPE OF WORK, CONTRIBUTING TO OUR SHARED MISSION OF PROVIDING FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO OUR PARKLANDS WHILE PROTECTING OUR NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES, AND SO WITH THAT, I'D LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO SUZANNE WILSON, WHO CAN DISCUSS THE EVALUATION OF THE WILDCAT TRAIL IN MUCH GREATER DETAIL, AND, SUZANNE, I'LL POP IT OVER TO YOU.
I'M GOING TO SHARE YOUR SCREEN JUST SINCE I'M UP HERE, SO WE CAN POP THAT UP, AND THERE YOU GO.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, BRIAN.
SUZANNE WILSON, SENIOR PLANNER IN THE TRAILS PROGRAM, AND AS BRIAN MENTIONED, I'M JUST GOING TO PROVIDE SOME BACKGROUND INTO SOME OF THE WORK THAT STAFF HAS DONE TO DETERMINE THAT THIS IS A VIABLE AND APPROPRIATE CORRIDOR FOR A MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL.
SO AS BRIAN MENTIONED, WE'VE RECEIVED, YOU KNOW, REQUESTS FROM THE MOUNTAIN BIKE COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST DECADE TO INCREASE APPROPRIATE ACCESS INTO OUR PARKLANDS AND BIKE OPTIMIZED TRAILS.
IN 2021, WE WERE APPROACHED BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE NICA AND BTCEB ORGANIZATIONS.
THAT'S THE NATIONAL INTERSCHOLASTIC CYCLING ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS THE UMBRELLA ORGANIZATION FOR MANY OF THE MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS, AND THE BICYCLE TRAILS COUNCIL OF THE EAST BAY.
DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, MOUNTAIN BIKING WAS PROVIDING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO GET OUT FROM BEHIND THEIR COMPUTERS, TO GET OUTSIDE, AND TO CONNECT WITH THEIR PEERS IN PERSON IN A WAY THAT WAS SOCIALLY DISTANT AND RESPONSIBLE, AND AS A RESULT, NOW WE SEE OVER 200 YOUTH RIDING IN TILDEN AND WILDCAT SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK TOGETHER AFTER SCHOOL.
NICA ALSO MADE A COMMITMENT TO TASK THOSE TEAMS WITH HELPING US TO MAINTAIN ANY NEW FACILITY THAT WE WOULD BUILD BY DEDICATING VOLUNTEER HOURS.
IT'S PART OF THEIR PROGRAMING AND PART OF WORK THAT THE TEAMS DO.
SO WHILE THE GROWTH HAS HAS INCREASED, WE KNOW FROM THROUGH THROUGH THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, TRAIL USE INCREASED EVERYWHERE, AND IN PARTICULAR IN TILDEN AND WILDCAT, AND WE SAW MOUNTAIN BIKING INCREASING, BUT OUR TRAIL SYSTEM IN TILDEN AND WILDCAT HAS NOT INCREASED TO ACCOMMODATE THE USE.
WE DEVELOPED PROJECT OBJECTIVE THAT READS.
IN RESPONSE TO PUBLIC INTEREST, THE PARK DISTRICT IS CONSIDERING OPTIONS TO DEVELOP A BIKE OPTIMIZED TRAIL IN NORTHWEST CONTRA COSTA AND OR ALAMEDA COUNTY THAT IS GEOGRAPHICALLY LOCATED TO OFFER LOCAL YOUTH MOUNTAIN BIKING PROGRAMS ACCESS AFTER SCHOOL ON THEIR BIKES.
[01:50:02]
THAT LAST PIECE IS SPECIFIC.IT IS INTENTIONALLY SPECIFIC BECAUSE THE TEAMS AND YOUTH PROGRAMS THAT RIDE IN THIS AREA, THEY THEY MEET AS A DESIGNATED LOCATION AND RIDE UP TOGETHER INTO THE PARKS.
IF A BIKE IS A BARRIER, THERE ARE PROGRAMS THROUGH NICA AND THROUGH GROUPS LIKE RICH CITY RIDES WHO ALSO ENDORSES THIS PROJECT TO PROVIDE A BIKE EITHER YOU KNOW, ON A LOANER STATUS OR TO GIVE A BIKE TO STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN RIDING.
THE TRAIL WILL BE OPEN TO BIKES ONLY AND DIRECTIONALLY TO ALLEVIATE CONGESTION ELSEWHERE.
THIS ALSO HELPS MANAGE TRAIL USER EXPECTATION.
IT'S ALSO CENTRALLY LOCATED WITHIN WILDCAT ITSELF, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT STAFF LIKED.
IT'S ABOUT TWO MILES FROM ALVARADO STAGING AREA, ABOUT TWO MILES FROM THE NATURE CENTER OR THE NATURE AREA, AND ALMOST FOUR MILES FROM INSPIRATION POINT.
SO IT'S A RIDE TO GET TO FROM ANY OF THE MAJOR STAGING AREAS, WHICH SPREADS PEOPLE OUT A LITTLE BIT.
WE SEE MORE TRAIL DENSITY, MORE USER DENSITY CLOSER TO THOSE STAGING AREAS.
WE ALSO LIKED THE FACT THAT THERE ARE TWO PARALLEL TRAILS HERE, YOU CAN SEE.
OR WE COULD LEAVE BOTH TRAILS OPEN.
BOTH ARE SERVICE ROADS THAT ARE MULTI-USE RECREATIONAL TRAILS.
WE COULD LEAVE BOTH TRAILS OPEN AND ENSURE THAT IF BIKES WERE PRIMARILY USING ONE CORRIDOR, EQUESTRIANS AND HORSES STILL HAD THE SAME ACCESS PROVIDED ON A DIFFERENT TRAIL.
WHEN WE CONSULTED WITH STEWARDSHIP STAFF, WE LEARNED THAT THERE WAS IN FACT A SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES LOCATED IN THIS CORRIDOR IN ADDITION TO RIPARIAN AREA, AND THAT'S SHOWN IN THE ORANGE POLYGON AND THAT'S THE SANTA CRUZ TARPLANT.
SO WE KNEW WE NEEDED TO AVOID THE SANTA CRUZ TARPLANT.
THAT'S ALSO A SPECIES THAT THRIVES WELL UNDER SOME CATTLE DISTURBANCE.
THERE WERE NO KNOWN SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES AND NO OBVIOUS RIPARIAN AREAS, NO PONDS WITHIN THIS CORRIDOR, BUT BEFORE DOING THAT, WE DECIDED, YOU KNOW, TO REALLY ZOOM OUT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE WERE PUTTING THIS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.
WE HAD DISCUSSIONS AND LOOKED AT THE PROPERTY THAT'S GOT THE RED STAR ON IT AT THE TOP OF THE MAP.
IT'S OWNED BY THE PARK DISTRICT, AND IT IS IN LAND BANK STATUS.
SO THERE'S NO THERE'S NO PUBLIC ACCESS IN THAT PROPERTY RIGHT NOW.
IT'S JUST THE NAME OF THE PREVIOUS HOLDER OF THE PROPERTY.
YEAH. WHEN WE TOOK A LOOK AT THAT PROPERTY, IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WOULD BE VERY CHALLENGING FOR US TO DEVELOP A TRAIL THERE OR A TRAIL SYSTEM WITHOUT IMPACTING LISTED SPECIES, PRIMARILY ALAMEDA WHIPSNAKE HABITAT.
SO THERE'S NOT A LOT OF AVAILABLE LAND TO DEVELOP NEW TRAILS, BECAUSE A LOT OF THE LAND THAT'S NOT ALREADY OCCUPIED BY TRAILS IS OCCUPIED BY LARGER RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE THE GOLF COURSE, LAKE ANZA, THE BOTANICAL GARDEN, STEAM TRAINS, ETC.
WHEREAS WILDCAT IS BIGGER, IT HAS FEWER MILES, AND ASIDE FROM THE ALVARADO PARK, WHICH IS LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES, IT HAS MORE AVAILABLE AVAILABLE LAND, ESSENTIALLY.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT TEMPTING TO SAY, OH, WELL, TILDEN COULD BE A GOOD FIT BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY A DENSE TRAIL NETWORK COMPARED TO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT, LIKE, HOUSING DENSITY, BUT IN THE PARKS WORLD AND IN THE TRAILS WORLD, WHAT WE SEE IS WHERE WE HAVE A DENSE TRAIL NETWORK, WE HAVE HEAVY USERSHIP, AND IT CAN BE CHALLENGING TO
[01:55:10]
INTRODUCE A NEW TRAIL WITHOUT IMPACTS TO THOSE OTHER TRAILS AND TO AND WITHOUT IMPACTS TO THE CIRCULATION AND EXISTING USE OF THE TRAILS.WE DISCUSSED POSSIBLY TAKING AN EXISTING TRAIL IN TILDEN, A ROAD, A MULTI-USE ROAD, AND NARROWING IT TO CREATE A MORE BIKE OPTIMIZED FEEL FOR IT, BUT MOST OF THE EXISTING MULTI-USE TRAILS IN TILDEN ARE ARE WELL LOVED AND SERVE AS GREAT LOOPS.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE ONE WITH THE STAR HERE IS THE MEADOWS CANYON TRAIL.
SO WE KEPT COMING BACK TO THIS, TO THIS CORRIDOR.
THE BRA CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO SPECIAL STATUS PLANTS OR SPECIES WITHIN THE CORRIDOR.
IT DID FIND A SENSITIVE NATURAL COMMUNITY THAT I THINK WE CAN AVOID.
SO, AS BRIAN MENTIONED, WE HAD A MEETING LAST APRIL WHERE WE HAD ALMOST 285 PEOPLE ATTEND AND OVER 25 PEOPLE SPEAK ABOUT THE PROJECT, SEVERAL OF WHICH WERE RIDERS FROM THESE YOUTH PROGRAMS, AND WE DID HEAR SOME CONCERNS FROM NEIGHBORS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE WOULD THIS BE LOCATED AND WHAT COULD THE IMPACTS BE TO THEIR USE? BUT I THINK WE CAN ALLEVIATE THOSE BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE TRAIL IS PLACED WELL WITHIN THE PARK AND AWAY FROM THE STAGING AREAS.
THOSE LOCATIONS WERE IN ALVARADO, NEAR THE ENTRANCE TO WILDCAT PARK.
SLIGHT DELAY. WHEN WE LOOK AT THE ALVARADO AREA.
THIS IS NOT REALLY WHERE MOUNTAIN BIKING IS HAPPENING IN AN ABUNDANCE RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S HAPPENING MORE TOWARDS THE CENTRAL AREA OF THE PARK.
THIS WOULD SERVE BETTER FOLKS WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO DRIVE THEIR BIKES TO THE PARK, HOP OUT, DO SOME LAPS, AND LEAVE, AS OPPOSED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE RIDING UP FROM OTHER PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT THERE ARE PALEONTOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES IN THIS AREA, AND THERE'S A GREATER CHANCE FOR BIOLOGICAL IMPACTS DUE TO KNOWN ALAMEDA WHIPSNAKE HABITAT. SIBLEY IS REALLY TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.
SIBLEY COULD POTENTIALLY SERVE THE COMMUNITIES OF OAKLAND ORINDA, BUT BUT SIBLEY WAS ALSO OR SORRY.
BIKE USE WAS ALSO PREVIOUSLY EVALUATED FOR SIBLEY AS PART OF THE LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT, AND BECAUSE SIBLEY IS DESIGNATED AS A REGIONAL PRESERVE, WE DO KNOW THAT THERE ARE ARE GREAT BIOLOGICAL AND BOTANIC VALUES TO SIBLEY.
FURTHERMORE, NOT ONLY IS SIBLEY BUT DISCONNECTED FROM THE AREA WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT THE ONLY TRAIL THAT CONNECTS TILDEN TO SIBLEY, SHOWN HERE IN YELLOW, IS THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL ACROSS EAST BAY, MUD LAND, AND THAT TRAIL IS NOT OPEN TO BIKES.
THERE WAS AN EFFORT BY EAST BAY MUD TO TRY TO ALLOW BIKES ON THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL ON THEIR PROPERTY, BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSHBACK AGAINST THAT BY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITIES AND OTHERS. SO FOR NOW, CYCLISTS HAVE TO RIDE ON GRIZZLY PEAK BOULEVARD AND FISH RANCH ROAD IN ORDER TO REACH SIBLEY FROM TILDEN, AND TILDEN, I'VE DISCUSSED TILDEN ALREADY A LITTLE BIT AND TALKED ABOUT THE HIGH DENSITY TRAIL SYSTEM, AND THAT LEADS TO GREATER POTENTIAL FOR USER CONFLICTS, GIVEN THE HEAVY USE THAT WE SEE IN TILDEN.
SO WE'VE SEEN THESE REQUESTS COME FROM ALL OVER THE PARK DISTRICT.
THIS ONE FELT A LITTLE MORE URGENT.
IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING THAT WE COULD REALLY ACCOMPLISH, AND WE WERE DIRECTED TO INVESTIGATE IT, BUT WE HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED ABOUT ADDING APPROPRIATE BIKE ACCESS PLACES WHERE WE KNOW THAT BIKES ARE ALREADY HEAVILY UTILIZING, LIKE PLEASANTON RIDGE AND DEL VALLE.
[02:00:08]
THE OYSTER BAY LAND USE PLAN IDENTIFIES BIKE SKILLS AREA, AND WE'VE LOOKED AT CONTRA LOMA AS A POTENTIAL LOCATION FOR SOMETHING LIKE A BIKE SKILLS AREA OR A SERIES OF BIKE TRAILS.SO THAT'S WHAT I THINK ENCOURAGED US TO MOVE FORWARD.
THE BOARD APPROVED $300,000 FOR CEQA ANALYSIS OF THIS PROJECT AS PART OF THE 2024 BUDGET, AND WITH THOSE FUNDS, WE INTEND TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO CONDUCT INITIAL AN INITIAL STUDY AND DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF CEQA ANALYSIS.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH, AND HOPEFULLY IN 2025, WE'LL BRING CEQA FINDINGS BEFORE THE BOARD FOR ADOPTION AND PROJECT APPROVAL, AND IF THE PROJECT IS APPROVED, WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, AND THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION, AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE.
OKAY. FIRST, EXCELLENT PRESENTATION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
I THINK THIS REALLY WAS A GOOD OVERVIEW OVERVIEW SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRAIL AT WILDCAT CANYON, BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE THAT YOU ADDRESSED, YOU KNOW, THE DEMAND FOR FLOW TRAILS ACROSS THE ENTIRE PARK DISTRICT GEOGRAPHY.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC A LOT.
CERTAINLY I HEAR A LOT FROM CONSTITUENTS SPECIFICALLY IN THE TRI-VALLEY ABOUT BIKE RIDING, AND I KNOW YOU MENTIONED TWO PARKS WITHIN THE TRI-VALLEY, DEL VALLE AND PLEASANTON RIDGE, FOR EXAMPLE, AND SO I THINK ABOUT THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR, IF I GO BACK TO THE SLIDE WHERE YOU SHOWED TILDEN PARK AND WHERE YOU'RE COMPARING TILDEN AND WILDCAT, I DON'T SEE THE SLIDE NUMBER OTHERWISE I'D GIVE YOU THE SLIDE NUMBER.
THIS IS A VERY NICE SLIDE. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER, AND I REALLY APPRECIATED HEARING HOW YOU, YOU KNOW, STUDIED TILDEN COMPARED TO WILDCAT, AND, YOU KNOW, THE AREA THAT I'VE REALLY BEEN THINKING ABOUT IS THAT LAND ADJACENT TO HERE.
SO YOU SHOWED THE EAST BAY MUD LAND THERE'S ALSO THE UC BERKELEY OPEN SPACE LAND THERE ON THE BOTTOM, AND SO IS THAT THE EAST BAY MUD LAND THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING IN A LATER SLIDE WHERE BIKES ARE CURRENTLY NOT ALLOWED.
NO, ALTHOUGH BIKES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN ANY OR IN THIS EAST BAY MUD LAND.
ALSO, THAT CONNECTION IS ACTUALLY FURTHER DOWN HERE DOWN TO THE TO THE SOUTHERN PART OF TILDEN.
THE CONNECTION TO SIBLEY, AND WHAT ABOUT THE UC BERKELEY OPEN SPACE? DO THEY HAVE A POLICY IN REGARDS TO BIKES ON THEIR OPEN SPACE? THAT'S NEAR TILDEN AS FAR AS WE KNOW.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, I THINK BIKES ARE ALLOWED IN THE UC BERKELEY OPEN SPACE, AND THAT'S OKAY.
IT'S NOT PART OF OUR PORTFOLIO, BUT IT'S, BUT I GUESS I'LL BRING IT TO ANOTHER POINT THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT A LOT BECAUSE I THINK BOTH PLEASANTON RIDGE AND DEL VALLE ARE ALSO VERY SIMILAR, WHERE THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER PROPERTY OWNERS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT LAND, AND THERE MAY BE DIFFERENT RULES AND ACCESS ON THESE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, IT IS HELPFUL TO KNOW ABOUT THESE ADJACENT PROPERTIES, BOTH FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF, YOU KNOW, BIKE ACCESS, AND I THINK UP ON THE PLEASANTON RIDGE YOU KNOW, IN THE PAST YEAR, CITY OF PLEASANTON OPENED UP A FLOW TRAIL, WHICH I THINK HAS REALLY MADE A LOT OF THE BIKE RIDERS UP ON THE PLEASANTON RIDGE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THAT.
SO I CAN ALSO SEE WHY WE'VE PRIORITIZED THIS FLOW TRAIL, KNOWING THAT, YOU KNOW, A PARTNER AGENCY, IN THIS CASE, CITY OF PLEASANTON, WAS OPENING UP A FLOW TRAIL UP ON THE PLEASANTON RIDGE, BUT THEN ALSO THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BIOLOGICAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
IT'S ALSO HELPFUL TO KNOW ABOUT THE ADJACENT PROPERTIES, BECAUSE THAT ALSO, I KNOW THAT THERE'S SOME ARGUMENTS IN REGARDS TO STEWARDSHIP AND SPECIES, AND I KNOW THAT WE REALLY TAKE THAT INTO CONSIDERATION, BUT AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, EVERY TRAIL HAS SOME SORT OF IMPACT, BUT IT'S GOOD TO KNOW, YOU KNOW, WHAT EAST BAY MUD IS DOING IN TERMS OF PROTECTING WILD LANDS AND MAYBE UC BERKELEY OPEN SPACE, AND I THINK YOU KNOW, GOING FORWARD, THAT IS HELPFUL TO HEAR ABOUT WITHIN THE CONTEXT THAT THERE IS THE DEMAND FOR, YOU KNOW, MORE TRAILS.
YOU KNOW, DURING, YOU KNOW, THE BEGINNING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, YOU KNOW, OUR TRAILS BECAME MORE POPULAR THAN EVER AND WE HAD SUCH HIGH DEMAND, AND ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO MOUNTAIN BIKING, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE, AND HOW WE REALLY WANT TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT DEMAND, AND I CAN SHARE
[02:05:04]
ANECDOTALLY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE TEENAGERS THAT I KNOW PERSONALLY LOVE MOUNTAIN BIKING.THEY LOVE TO SHOW ME ALL THE INSTAGRAM VIDEOS THAT THEY'VE DISCOVERED IN REGARDS TO ALL THESE REALLY COOL MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS THAT THEY WANT TO GO ON, AND I HEAR FROM THEIR PARENTS HOW THEY'RE VERY HESITANT TO ALWAYS ALLOW THEIR TEENAGERS TO GO ON SOME OF THESE TRAILS, BUT THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT AMONGST YOUNG PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE OUTDOOR SPACE IN THIS CAPACITY, AND SO I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE CAN, YOU KNOW, MEET THAT DEMAND THAT INTEREST YOU KNOW, WITHIN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK.
SO I THINK THIS WAS REALLY NICELY DONE, AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE SOME OF THOSE COMMENTS.
I KNOW THERE'S THESE RED CIRCLES.
THEY DON'T THEY'RE NOT WEIGHTED IN TERMS OF LIKE NUMBER OF REQUESTS, ARE THEY? SO, YOU KNOW, THE LARGER CIRCLE, DOES THAT INDICATE THAT THERE'S MORE REQUESTS FOR THAT PARK OR.
IT'S JUST YEAH, IT'S JUST THAT YEAH, JUST THE SIZE OF THE AREA.
ESSENTIALLY YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO COVER THE SIZE OF THE AREA.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT'S MY ONLY QUESTION.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. VERY VALID QUESTION.
THANK YOU. THANKS FOR YOUR COMMENTS.
WE CAN FIND OUT TO THE EXACT BIKE USE FOR THAT UC BERKELEY AREA.
WE DO KNOW THAT. YEAH, THE EAST BAY MUD PROPERTY DOES NOT ALLOW BIKES, WHICH IS WHY A LOT OF THE WRITING HAPPENS IN TILDEN AND WILDCAT, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE PROPERTIES. DIRECTOR ROSARIO.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING YOU'RE LOOKING INTO THE ALVARADO SITE, AND THE REASON I'M KIND OF DRAWN TO THAT ALVARADO SITE IS BECAUSE IT'S HEAVILY IMPACTED BY CATTLE, AND DURING THE SUMMER, THERE'S MULTIPLE TRAILS THAT PEOPLE SCAMPER ABOUT AND USE AS A REGULAR TRAIL.
I KNOW THERE'S CULTURAL RESOURCES WITHIN ALVARADO ITSELF, AMONGST THE PICNIC AREAS, BUT IS THERE IS THERE A LOT OR ENOUGH TO PRECLUDE FROM BUILDING ANYTHING IN IN THAT AREA RIGHT OFF THE PARKING LOT? I WOULD HAVE TO CONSULT FOR THAT EXACT INFORMATION WITH OUR CULTURAL RESOURCES COORDINATOR.
A LOT OF THAT INFORMATION IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE, SO WE'RE KIND OF GIVEN GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE LOCATIONS OF CULTURAL RESOURCES, BUT WE ALSO WE DID ACTUALLY LOOK AT THE NORTHERN END OF THE PARK, KIND OF BETWEEN ALVARADO AND LIKE BELGUM, FOR EXAMPLE.
YEAH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SLOUGHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THOSE HILLSIDES AND SO THAT WAS ONE OF OUR CONCERNS.
SO THE CORRIDOR NEAR MIZZOU TRAIL HAS IS MORE STABLE FROM A GEOTECHNICAL STANDPOINT.
YEAH. I MEAN YEAH, THERE IS A LOT OF SLOUGHING IN THAT AREA.
WHICH AFFECTS A LOT OF THE HOMES ALONG THAT ALONG WILDCAT CANYON, AND IN TERMS OF THE BELGUM, THE BELGUM AND THE PROPOSED HERE.
I THINK THEY'RE RELATIVELY CLOSE IN IN MILEAGE, AND SO, YEAH, I WAS JUST WONDERING IF OUTSIDE OF CULTURAL RESOURCES ASPECT, AND NOW THE THANK YOU FOR REMINDING ME ABOUT THE SLOUGHING, TOO, IS THERE ENOUGH? DOES THE AREA AROUND THE BELGUM MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE TRAIL, THE PROPOSED TRAIL THAT'S PROPOSED OFF THE MIZZOU OR MIZZOU.
NEVER COULD, WE NEVER DID, THERE'S A GAZILLION PRONUNCIATIONS FOR THIS.
YEAH, THEY SEEM TO BE SIMILAR IN LENGTH, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ENOUGH DROP THERE OR WHATEVER, BUT I APPRECIATE YOUR LOOKING INTO INTO THAT PARTICULAR PORTION OF THE AS AN ALTERNATIVE.
SO I JUST WANT TO I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M HEARING THAT CLEARLY.
YEAH. IT'S AROUND THE BELGUM TRAIL IS THE AREA YOU WERE THINKING OF? MM HMM. OKAY, BECAUSE IT'S CLOSE.
[02:10:07]
IT WOULD SEEM LIKE AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR IF THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY OTHER DISTURBANCE MIGHT BE A POSSIBILITY, BUT WITH CULTURAL RESOURCES AND SLOUGHING ASIDE.YEAH. I MEAN, THOSE ARE OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING TO TAKE A LOOK AT, TOO, SO I APPRECIATE IT.
YOU KNOW, MY ATTRACTION TO THE ALVARADO SITE IS SIMPLY THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL STAKEHOLDERS.
SEVERAL? TWO? YEAH, SEVERAL WHO PROPOSED IT AS AN ALTERNATIVE SITE AND ASKED FOR SOME ENGAGEMENT.
MY QUESTION THEN IS FOR BRIAN, I THINK REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION, ME AND JERRY SIERRA CLUB, THEIR LETTER OF SEPTEMBER 9TH PROPOSING THE ALVARADO SITE NATIVE PLANTS AND AUDUBON.
SO WERE ALL THOSE FOLKS ENGAGED IN SOME KIND OF INTERACTION OVER THE FINDINGS? AND YOU KNOW WHAT YOUR STUDY OF THE ALVARADO AREA ENTAILED? NO, THEY WEREN'T AND THAT'S LIKE I SAY, IF WE WERE TO DECIDE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A PROJECT IN THE ALVARADO AREA, CERTAINLY WE WOULD ENGAGE WITH THEM, BUT , YOU KNOW, WE REALLY LOOKED AT THE ALVARADO AREA AND JUST, AGAIN, QUITE SPECIFICALLY DID NOT MEET OUR PROJECT OBJECTIVES.
WE DID SEE THE POTENTIAL FOR GREATER ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS, WHETHER IT'S CULTURAL RESOURCES SLOUGHING JUST THERE'S GREATER ALAMEDA WHIPSNAKE HABITAT IN THAT AREA AND REALLY, IT SEEMED LIKE THE PROPOSAL THAT CAME FROM THE REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION WAS MORE POTENTIALLY DESIGNED, AS, I GUESS WHAT YOU WOULD SAY, SORT OF A CONCENTRATED BIKE AREA THAT MAYBE SOME FOLKS COULD DO BIKE RIDE AROUND AND DO SOME JUMPS, THAT SORT OF THING IN A CONTAINED AREA OF IMPACTED SITES. THAT'S NOT WHAT WE HEARD FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY WANTED.
WHAT THEY WANTED WAS A LOOP EXPERIENCE THAT THEY COULD ACCESS FROM THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS OR FROM MAJOR TRAILHEADS WITHIN TILDEN, TO WHERE THEY COULD GET A LONG EXTENDED RIDE OF TEN PLUS MILES OR SO.
SOME ON FIRE ROADS, SOME ON REGULAR ROADS BUT WITH SOME BIKE OPTIMIZED EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD BE AKIN TO REALLY WHAT THEY WOULD POTENTIALLY RIDE AS THEY ARE RIDING AT OTHER EVENTS FOR NICA OR THOSE OTHER F ACILITIES THAT ARE REALLY ALL OVER NORTHERN CALIFORNIA THAT WOULD BE AKIN TO THAT SORT OF EXPERIENCE.
SO THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE THAT WAS BEING PROPOSED OR THAT COULD BE POSSIBLE IN THE ALVARADO AREA, IS JUST NOT THE SAME TYPE OF EXPERIENCE THAT THE RIDERS THAT REQUESTED THAT WE LOOK AT THIS PROJECT ARE SEEKING.
SO AGAIN, IF WE WERE TO SPECIFICALLY LOOK AT ALVARADO ABOUT DEVELOPING SOMETHING THERE, WOULD WE ENGAGE WITH WITH ALL OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN TERMS OF DOING SOMETHING THERE? ABSOLUTELY, BUT WE AND OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF TOOK A LOOK AT IT AND JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, WE COULD MOVE A PROJECT FORWARD HERE, BUT THAT'S NOT GOING TO TAKE AWAY OR ADDRESS THE DEMAND THAT WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN WILDCAT.
I SPENT A GOOD DEAL OF TIME DEFENDING OUR APPROACH WITH THE BICYCLE FOLKS, OF WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE RECEIVED A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON THAT AND SUBSTANTIALLY, AND I THEN ENGAGED WITH THOSE FOLKS AND SAID, I THINK WE'LL GET SOME ENGAGEMENT WITH YOU BEING REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION AND THE BICYCLE COUNCIL AND ET AL TO I THINK WE'D ENGAGE SIMILARLY WITH YOU FOLKS ON THE YOUR ALTERNATIVE SITE, AND THAT WAS PROBABLY JUST A MISTAKE ON MY PART.
SO I'LL OWN THAT. YEAH, I WANT TO BE REALLY I WANT TO BE REALLY CLEAR.
IT'S NOT AN ALTERNATIVE, BECAUSE IT JUST DOESN'T MEET THE SAME OBJECTIVES.
SO, WE WILL BE LOOKING, YOU KNOW AS SUZANNE WENT THROUGH, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, ALTERNATIVES WERE LOOKED AT OTHER ALIGNMENTS, YOU KNOW, THIS CANYON, THAT CANYON AND OTHER AREAS, BUT WE JUST DID NOT SEE THE ALVARADO SITE AS AN ANALOGOUS ALTERNATIVE.
OKAY, I GET IT. I'M JUST GOING TO HAVE TO WORK ON THAT FOR MYSELF.
ANYBODY ELSE? WELL, JUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE REPORT AND THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT THE ALTERNATIVES AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE DEAL.
[02:15:04]
YEAH. SUZANNE, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.IT WAS VERY WELL DONE, AND IT'S SO HELPFUL TO GET THIS ADDITIONAL CONTEXT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY WHEN I FIRST WHEN THIS PROPOSAL FIRST CAME ABOUT AND WE ALL LOOKED AT THIS TRAIL, IT MADE A LOT OF SENSE, BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE THE ALTERNATIVES AND WHY THEY WOULD OR WOULDN'T MAKE SENSE, AND SO YOU'VE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THAT TODAY, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, WITH THE YOUTH DEMAND, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S FANTASTIC THAT THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, 200 YOUTH RIDING IN THE PARK SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK.
I MEAN, BECAUSE THINK WHAT ELSE THEY WOULD BE DOING.
SO THIS IS I THINK THAT'S A GREAT THING, AND I ALSO REALLY LIKE THE FOCUS ON HAVING A SPOT WHERE YOUTH AND OTHERS CAN RIDE THEIR BIKES TO THE TRAIL BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT PEOPLE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES AND WE DON'T HAVE ESPECIALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERYONE HAS CARS AND THAT'S A GOOD THING AND SO AND SO IF YOU HAVE TO LUG YOUR BIKE SOMEWHERE TO THEN RIDE THAT, THAT'S A BIG DETERRENT, ESPECIALLY FOR, FOR FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE AND OTHERS WHO ARE NOW VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS AND DON'T OWN A CAR FOR VARIOUS REASONS OR MAYBE THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT, TOO.
SO THAT'S, SO ANYWAY, I JUST WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S VERY HELPFUL TO SEE WHY SOME OF THESE OTHER APPROACHES OR OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT WERE PROPOSED BY OTHER GROUPS DON'T REALLY MAKE SENSE, AND YOU KNOW, THIS THIS LOOKS GREAT TO ME, AND I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE CEQA, AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE HEARING BACK SOON, OR MAYBE NOT SOON, BUT WHEN YOU'RE READY.
THANK YOU. CAN I ADD ONE THING I FORGOT? GO AHEAD. I'M SORRY.
I TOO AM VERY ENTHUSED ABOUT THE FUTURE CONSIDERATION OF BIKE FACILITIES AT OTHER PARKS, THE BIG AND LITTLE SQUARES CIRCLES AND FOUR OF THEM.
SO I'M CURIOUS AS TO NEXT STEPS WITH THOSE.
DOES THAT BECOME PART OF OUR NEXT CENTURY PLAN? CONSIDERATION OF OF THINKING ABOUT FUTURE? YEAH. I WAS EXPECTING HIM TO GET UP OF I JUST HAD TO SAY NEXT CENTURY PLAN.
YOU NOTICE, BRIAN, I'M GETTING THAT DOWN INSTEAD OF MASTER PLAN.
SO ARE WE, IS THAT POTENTIALLY PART OF THAT PROCESS? AGAIN, AS WITH MY PRIOR QUESTIONS, I'M INTERESTED IN ENGAGING THOSE STAKEHOLDERS THAT ARE ALL INTERESTED IN GETTING TOGETHER AND TALKING ABOUT ALL THESE LOCATIONS AND ALL THE POTENTIAL FOR NEW BIKE TRAILS.
I WAS ENTHUSED AGAIN BY THE LETTER FROM THE SIERRA CLUB IN SEPTEMBER, WHERE THEY ACTUALLY SUPPORTED THE CONCEPT AND WERE WILLING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS, WHICH, AS YOU KNOW, WAS A NEW APPROACH FOR THE SIERRA CLUB TO ACTUALLY WANT TO ENGAGE ON BIKE TRAILS AND WHERE WE COULD USE THEM, WHERE THEY'RE APPROPRIATE, WHAT LOCATIONS, AND I'M WONDERING WHAT VEHICLE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL, YOU KNOW, THE BICYCLE USERS AND THE SIERRA CLUB AND OTHERS AND HOW WE APPROACH THAT ISSUE OF FUTURE PARKS, OTHER PARKS WHERE THEY'RE NEEDED, WHERE ROGUE TRAILS ARE A BIG PROBLEM, AND THE PLANNING PROCESS FOR THAT FOCUS.
YEAH. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR COFFEY.
I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT MIGHT BE IN THE DISTRICT PLAN, BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, FROM A GENERAL POINT OF VIEW AND FROM A, YOU KNOW, A MASTER PLAN POINT OF VIEW, IDENTIFYING DEMAND STRATEGIES TO MEET THOSE TO MEET THAT DEMAND WILL CERTAINLY BE PART OF THAT, AND I DO ANTICIPATE THAT WHAT WE WILL SEE IS THAT THERE IS DEMAND FOR SOME BIKE FACILITIES SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND THAT MIGHT BE SOME POSSIBLY SOME GOALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THAT COME OUT OF THE PLAN IS TO EVALUATE THAT MORE SPECIFICALLY, SEAN DOUGAN OUR TRAILS PROGRAM MANAGER HAS BEEN WORKING TO DEVELOP OUR TRAILS STRATEGIC PLAN, AND ONE OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS WAS TO DEVELOP, SAY, A MOUNTAIN BIKE FEASIBILITY STUDY TO ACTUALLY GO THROUGH AND LOOK AT OTHER LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, AND THAT IS WHERE YOU WOULD GET DOWN TO MORE ON THE GROUND LEVEL PROPOSALS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHERE MIGHT SOME OF THESE FACILITIES BE APPROPRIATE, AND AS YOU MENTIONED, THAT'S CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE SIERRA CLUB SUGGESTED WAS DO A MOUNTAIN BIKE FEASIBILITY STUDY ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
I THINK WE HAVE SOME ASSUMPTIONS ON WHERE SOME OF THOSE FACILITIES MIGHT BE MIGHT BE FEASIBLE.
I KNOW YOU HAVE SUGGESTED CONTRA LOMA IN THE PAST.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE DO FEEL IS PROBABLY, YOU KNOW, A VIABLE PROPOSAL.
IT'S CLOSE TO AN URBAN POPULATION.
IT'S IN A REGIONAL RECREATION AREA.
[02:20:01]
IT WAS ACTUALLY EVALUATED BY THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION UNDER THEIR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR THE EXPANSION OF MOUNTAIN BIKING TRAILS, AND SO THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT SORT OF MAKE THAT SITE POTENTIALLY ATTRACTIVE.THAT'S SOMETHING I KNOW SEAN'S LOOKED AT AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT MIGHT BE A RECOMMENDATION THAT COMES OUT OF THE DISTRICT PLAN, OR IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT WE JUST DECIDE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD MAYBE TO EVEN INFORM WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE DISTRICT PLAN.
SO I THINK THAT'S ALL PART OF THE EQUATION.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK.
I THOUGHT YOU, DIDN'T YOU? OH, OKAY. I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE OTHER COMMENT.
WHAT ATTRACTED ME TO THE ALVARADO STAGING AREA WAS THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE OTHER ENTRY POINTS TO WILDCAT CANYON, THEY'RE ALL ACCESSED VIA AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND WILDCAT ALVARADO STAGING AREA IS HAS DIRECT ACCESS TO RICHMOND, AND I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE'S A COUPLE OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT ACTUALLY BIKE UP THE ALVARADO FROM DOWNTOWN RICHMOND. SO THAT WAS ONE OF THEM THAT I JUST WANT TO POINT THAT OUT THAT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU REALLY WANTED TO REACH OUT TO, TO REALLY FULLY ACCESSIBLE TO KIDS OF COLOR I MEAN, THAT'S WHY I WAS DRAWN TO THE ALVARADO STAGING AREA.
I WILL MENTION, THOUGH, THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM RICH CITY RIDES WHICH IS THE BIKE ADVOCACY GROUP IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND WHO HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THIS WILDCAT TRAIL.
SO WE'VE HEARD FROM MEMBERS OF THE RICHMOND COMMUNITY FROM THOSE ON THE FLATLANDS AS WELL, THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN, AND WE'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, GROWING I BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE BIKE PROGRAM THAT THEY OFFER BIKES TO FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE THEM.
SO A BIKE HAVING A BIKE IS NOT A BARRIER FOR FOLKS IN RICHMOND.
THANK YOU. OKAY, DIRECTOR SANWONG.
YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT THIS MOUNTAIN BIKE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND WHERE THE DEMAND IS, YOU KNOW, ONE PART THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE INCLUDE AS PART OF THAT STUDY AND THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE EAST BAY MUD BIKE POLICY, FOR EXAMPLE, NEAR WILDCAT.
WE HAD A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT IN LIVERMORE, AND RIGHT NOW, ACTUALLY ZONE SEVEN IS STRUGGLING WITH E-BIKES ON THIS MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR FLOOD CONTROL PROJECT, WHICH IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT STORM MANAGEMENT AND ALL THE ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS THAT WE'VE EXPERIENCED AND COULD POTENTIALLY EXPERIENCE AND SO I THINK AS PART OF THAT FEASIBILITY STUDY, I BELIEVE LOOKING AT SOME OF OUR OTHER PARTNER AGENCIES, SUCH AS EAST BAY MUD OR ZONE SEVEN, AND SEEING WHERE THOSE AGENCIES MIGHT BE STRUGGLING WITH BIKES OR E-BIKES ON THEIR PROPERTY, THAT IS NOT WORKING WITH THESE MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PROJECTS COULD ALSO BE AN INDICATOR OF WHERE THIS MOUNTAIN BIKE DEMAND IS COMING FROM AND WHERE WE MAY, AS EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, WANT TO FOCUS SOME OF OUR EFFORTS IN REGARDS TO DEVELOPING BIKE TRAILS.
THAT'S GREAT SUGGESTION. THAT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION.
I ACTUALLY WANTED TO BRING UP VERY RECENTLY ON FRIDAY MORNING, I JUST HAD A MEETING WITH EAST BAY MUD'S GM AND BROUGHT UP KIND OF OUR EFFORTS AROUND THE DISTRICT PLAN, SPECIFICALLY AROUND BIKES AND THE NEED TO KIND OF HAVE SOME DATA DRIVEN COMMUNICATION AROUND THAT.
BIG PARTNER, BUT YEAH, POINT WELL TAKEN.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND THANK YOU, SUZANNE.
OH, AND DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? PRESIDENT ECHOLS, WE HAVE FOUR SPEAKERS.
WE HAVE TWO IN THE ROOM AND WE HAVE TWO ON ZOOM.
GREAT. FIRST ONE WILL BE MISS SMITH, BARBARA SMITH, FOLLOWED BY MR. COOPER.
[02:25:03]
THANK YOU.PRESIDENT ECHOLS, DIRECTORS AND STAFF, AND THANK YOU, SUZANNE; THAT WAS REALLY NICELY DONE.
SUZANNE ALWAYS FINDS THE BEST PICTURES AND IT JUST BRINGS IT TO LIFE.
SOME OF THEM HAVE SPOKEN PREVIOUSLY DURING PUBLIC COMMENT.
AT YOUR MEETINGS AND I WAS ONE OF THAT GROUP OF MOUNTAIN BIKE COMMUNITY LEADERS WHO PRESENTED THE PROPOSAL FOR A BIKE TRAIL IN WILDCAT BACK IN LATE 2020 AND 2021, WHEN WE WERE RIDING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, AND SO IT'S NICE THREE PLUS YEARS LATER TO SEE IT STARTING TO COME INTO FOCUS.
I THINK WHEREVER YOU SEE AN ACTIVE BIKING COMMUNITY, YOU'LL ALSO SEE ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON TRAILS, AND SO THAT IS, I THINK, A VERY MEANINGFUL COMMITMENT, AND THEN IT ALSO CAME WITH A COMMITMENT OF SOME FUNDING.
WE, I THINK WERE INTERESTED IN CATALYZING SOME ACTION, AND IN FACT, I CAN SAY THAT THE FIRST LITTLE BIT OF FUNDING HAS COME INTO THE DISTRICT ALREADY LAST YEAR.
OUR TEAM, THE FAMILIES AND OUR TEAM ROUNDED UP A LITTLE OVER $1,000, WHICH IS GOING TO GO TO SOME BICYCLE STATIONS IN TILDEN WILDCAT. SO THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST AMONGST THE YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES.
A FEW UPDATES SINCE WE GOT STARTED THOSE THREE, THREE YEARS AGO.
YOUTH NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW, AND THE, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE NEXT GENERATION.
THERE IS AS HAS BEEN SAID, THEY ARE DIVERSE AND THIS IS THE GATEWAY SPORT.
SO WE GOT REALLY THAT DIVERSE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WHICH IS IS REAL, AND SO DIRECTOR ROSARIO, I THINK THIS SITE IS ABOUT FIVE MILES FROM UNITY PARK, THE BASE OF THE TRAIL.
SO IT WORKS SORT OF FROM ALL DIRECTIONS.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE DISTRICT FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENED.
BRIONES PILOT, THE TRAILS WORK.
ALL OF THIS, I THINK, HAS EVOLVED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND PROVIDES A GREAT CONTEXT FOR FOR THIS PARTICULAR TRAIL, AND I CAN TELL YOU THAT THE YOUTH RIDERS ARE EVERYWHERE ACROSS YOUR DISTRICT SOUTH, NORTH, EAST, WEST, AND SO THOSE OTHER OPTIONS WILL BE OF GREAT VALUE TOO, AND THEN THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY IS THAT THE YOUTH HAVE BECOME ENGAGED IN ADVOCACY, AND THIS MAY BE THE BIGGEST THING THAT'S HAPPENED IN THE LAST FEW YEARS IS WE'VE HAD ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SIERRA CLUB AND WITH THE OTHER GROUPS THAT ARE INTERESTED, AND SO TO SEE YOUTH STEPPING UP AND USING THEIR VOICES AND FINDING THEIR VOICES AND GAINING SKILLS THAT WILL CARRY INTO THEIR FUTURE LIFE, I THINK HAS BEEN A GREAT PART OF THIS AS WELL.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MS. SMITH. MR. COOPER, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES.
I WANTED TO COMMENT JUST BRIEFLY ON A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID AT THE TRAILS WORKSHOP BACK IN MARCH, FIRST BY ONE OF THE OPPONENTS OF THE OF THE WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL.
FIRST OF ALL, I'M THE HEAD COACH OF THE WILDCAT COMPOSITE TEAM.
WE STARTED ABOUT 11 YEARS AGO.
I WAS ONE OF THE CO-LEADERS OF THAT EFFORT, AND THUS FAR, I THINK WE'VE GRADUATED ABOUT 500 KIDS FROM THAT PROGRAM, AND I'M HAPPY TO SAY, I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ARE GOING TO BE RESPECTFUL MOUNTAIN BIKERS AND, AND HAVE A GREAT LOVE FOR OUR PARKS, AND WE'LL SUPPORT THEM IN THE FUTURE.
SO ANYWAY, LET ME GET BACK TO THE POINTS THAT WERE MADE AT THAT MARCH 1ST MEETING.
ONE OF THE OPPONENTS STATED THAT THE COST TO MAINTAIN THE TRAIL WOULD BE $300,000 A YEAR.
THERE WASN'T ANY REAL SUPPORT PROVIDED FOR THAT ESTIMATE.
I THINK YOU CAN VERY QUICKLY SEE THAT IT'S NOT REALISTIC.
[02:30:06]
VERY SIMILAR LENGTH AND SLOPE.IT'S BEEN TOTALLY MAINTAINED BY VOLUNTEER EFFORT.
NO SIGNIFICANT EXPENDITURE ON THAT TRAIL.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS AT CROCKETT.
THOSE TRAILS WERE BUILT ABOUT TEN, 12 YEARS AGO, I THINK.
AS FAR AS I KNOW, THE ONLY MAJOR EXPENSE IS BASICALLY MOWING THE GRASS THERE.
ALL THE REST OF THE DRAINAGE AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE ALL DONE BY THIS VOLUNTEER EFFORT.
SO THAT $300,000 JUST DOESN'T STAND UP TO THE FACTS, AND I GUESS IF YOU HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE WORK THAT THOSE VOLUNTEERS CAN DO, I'D INVITE YOU TO GO FOR A WALK IN CROCKETT TRAILS, CROCKETT HILLS AND COMPARE THE STATUS OF THOSE TRAILS TO SOME OF THE OTHER TRAILS YOU SEE IN SOME OF THE OTHER PARKS THAT AREN'T MAINTAINED BY THOSE VOLUNTEER FOLKS.
BY THE WAY, WE'VE IN PREPARATION, ANTICIPATION OF WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL, WE'VE BEEN WORKING HARD TO SET UP A SIMILAR KIND OF VOLUNTEER EFFORT HERE IN TILDEN WILDCAT, AND WE HOPE TO KICK THAT OFF IN OR WE WILL BE KICKING THAT OFF NEXT A WEEK FROM TOMORROW. THE OTHER OPPONENT, THE OPPONENT OF THE WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL, ALSO WANTED TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE, COULD I HAVE JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES OR ANOTHER MINUTE? YES. OKAY.
WANTED TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE PRIVATE DONOR SUGGESTING PERHAPS THAT THERE WAS SOME NEFARIOUS OR OTHER MIXED EMOTION OR INTERESTS GOING ON THERE.
I'VE AFFIRMED THAT THE DONOR WOULD LIKE TO STAY ANONYMOUS.
THEY WISH TO STAY ANONYMOUS, BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE TWO PRIVATE DONORS.
THEY LOVE THE OUTDOORS, AND THEY HAVE BEEN ALARMED BY, YOU KNOW, THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT THE YOUNG ARE SPENDING ON SCREENS, AND THEY KNOW FROM FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE THAT THEY'VE SEEN HOW THE MOUNTAIN BIKES CAN GET THOSE KIDS, ESPECIALLY THE TEENAGERS, OUT INTO OUR PARKS, GETTING SOME GOOD, HEALTHY EXERCISE AND BUILDING UP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARKS THAT IS GOING TO LAST FOR THE NEXT GENERATION. SO ANYWAY, THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
I HOPE YOU WILL NOT BE DIVERTED BY SOME OF THESE ATTEMPTS, BASICALLY TO LOOK AT ALTERNATE SITES THAT ARE CLEARLY NOT AS GOOD AS THE ONE THAT'S PROPOSED.
I HOPE YOU'LL TRUST THE PROFESSIONAL STAFF THAT YOU'VE GOT HERE THAT ARE HAVE SHOWN THAT THEY CAN BALANCE THE NEED FOR RECREATION AND CONSERVATION AND MOVE FORWARD ON THIS TRAIL AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE THREE SPEAKERS IN THE ZOOM ROOM.
IT'LL BE NORM LA FORCE FIRST, FOLLOWED BY SCOTT BARTLEBAUGH, FOLLOWED BY MR. JIM HENSON.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU INTO THE ROOM, NORM, AND YOU WILL HAVE THREE MINUTES.
HI, CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, SIR. ALL RIGHT.
NORMAN LA FORCE, ON BEHALF OF THE SIERRA CLUB, JUST A FEW POINTS TO MAKE TODAY ON THIS ISSUE.
WITH REGARD TO ENGAGEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNITY THAT WAS MENTIONED.
MOREOVER, WE HAVE SEEN NO DOCUMENTATION OR INFORMATION ABOUT WHY THE CONCLUSIONS ARE REACHED BY THE STAFF AS TO WHY THESE OTHER LOCATIONS ARE NOT APPROPRIATE.
IT'S A TOTAL LACK OF TRANSPARENCY HERE.
IT'S COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY THIS PROCESS WAS BEGUN WITH SECRET MEETINGS WITH THE WITH THE STAFF AND THE AND THE MOUNTAIN BIKE COMMUNITY TO ORGANIZE AND PUT FORWARD THIS TRAIL SUCH THAT EVEN AT ONE POINT, THE STAFF WRITES TO THE MOUNTAIN BIKE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN AN EMAIL, THAT'S A PUBLIC RECORD THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THE MOUNTAIN BIKERS INFORMATION THAT CANNOT BE MADE PUBLIC AND CAN'T EVEN BE GIVEN TO YOU AS DIRECTORS AT THE TIME. SO THERE'S BEEN AN UTTER LACK OF ENGAGEMENT ON THIS WHOLE PROCESS WITH REGARD TO ALTERNATIVES AND THE PROPOSED
[02:35:04]
WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL.SECONDLY, WE STILL HAVE NOT HAD A RESPONSE FROM THE PARK DISTRICT AS TO WHY THIS IS NOT SOMEHOW NOT GOING TO BE PROCESSED THROUGH A LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT, WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE MASTER PLAN AND THE POLICIES IN THE MASTER PLAN.
THIS IS NEEDED BECAUSE THIS THIS PROJECT IS GOING FORWARD IN VIOLATION OF THE MASTER PLAN POLICIES.
IT NEEDS A LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENT PROCESS TO GO FORWARD PROPERLY.
THIRD YES, IT'S NICE TO KNOW THERE'S A DONOR OR DONORS OUT THERE.
AS A MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC, I BELIEVE I AND OTHER PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO KNOW THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE GIVING DONATIONS TO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT FOR A SPECIAL PROJECT.
I WOULD EXPECT THAT AT THE PARK DISTRICT WOULD WANT TO KNOW THAT INFORMATION AND MAKE IT PUBLIC SO THAT PEOPLE ARE ASSURED THAT THERE ISN'T SOMETHING GOING ON HERE, THAT WHOEVER IS GIVING THE DONATION IS SOMEBODY THAT WE HAVE RESPECT FOR AND IS APPROPRIATE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND THEREFORE I HAVE TO CALL UPON THE BOARD TO HAVE THESE DONORS DISCLOSED AS TO WHO THEY ARE.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT THIS IS A PUBLIC AGENCY ENGAGED IN THE PUBLIC PROJECT.
THOSE ARE THE POINTS I WILL MAKE TODAY IN THE SHORT TIME I HAVE.
THANK YOU, NORM. OKAY, SCOTT BARTLEBAUGH.
THANK YOU, PRESIDENT ECHOLS, STAFF, AND THE REST OF THE BOARD FOR HAVING THIS ON YOUR AGENDA TODAY.
I THINK THAT SHOWS THE COMPLEXITY AND THE BREADTH OF WORK THAT STAFF HAVE DONE.
IN LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES THAT IT HASN'T BEEN ONLY LOOKING AT A SINGLE SITE, IT HAS BEEN CONSIDERING THE OTHER SUGGESTIONS THAT OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC HAVE MADE, AND WE APPRECIATE YOU HAVING THIS DISCUSSION, AND WE HOPE THAT THE BOARD WILL SUPPORT MOVING THIS PROJECT FORWARD.
I'D LIKE TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OTHER COMMENTS THAT WERE MADE ABOUT EAST BAY MUD.
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT SUPPORT AND WORKING TOGETHER BICYCLE TRAILS COUNCIL OF EAST BAY CONTINUES TO TALK TO, YOU KNOW, EAST BAY MUD ABOUT BICYCLE ACCESS THERE, AND IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THAT BOTH GMS HAVE BEEN SPEAKING.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE ANNUAL LIAISON MEETING THAT HAPPENS.
I WOULD ASK THAT THE BOARD IN YOUR FUTURE STUDY AND PLANNING PRIORITIZATION SESSIONS TO RAISE THE PRIORITY ON THIS SO THAT EQUITABLE ACCESS MAY BE ADDRESSED SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.
I THINK THERE'S BEEN AN IMBALANCE BETWEEN CONSERVATION AND RECREATION, AND THAT IT CERTAINLY WARRANTS MORE RESOURCES BEING PUT TOWARDS RECREATION AND TOWARDS A CONCERTED EFFORT ON IDENTIFYING AND MOVING PROJECTS FORWARD TO EXTEND MORE BICYCLE ACCESS.
I THINK THE APPROACH OF LOOKING WHERE THERE CURRENTLY IS HIGH ACTIVITY IS A SOLID APPROACH TO THAT.
RICH CITY RIDES, IN DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM, THEY HAVE ALSO BROUGHT UP INTEREST IN ACCESS AT POINT MOLATE AND MILLER/KNOX, WHICH ARE VERY CLOSE TO THE FLATLANDS. SO I URGE THE DISTRICT TO CONSIDER THAT AS WELL.
THOSE MAY BE AREAS THAT ARE EVEN CLOSER THAN ALVARADO TO THE RICH CITY IN RICHMOND AREA.
[02:40:03]
SO AGAIN, THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THE THOROUGH COVERAGE OF THE ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED AND THE BOARD FOR HAVING THIS ITEM ON YOUR AGENDA, AND WE APPRECIATE THE CONTINUED WORK ON THIS PROJECT AND OTHER PROJECTS TO BRING ADDITIONAL BIKE ACCESS AND IMPROVED TRAIL EXPERIENCES FOR ALL USERS.OUR LAST SPEAKER WILL BE JIM HANSON.
MR. HANSON, CAN YOU HEAR ME? OKAY. THERE YOU GO.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES. GREAT.
THANK YOU, JIM HANSON, CONSERVATION COMMITTEE, EAST BAY CNPS.
I'M SUBMITTING SOME COMMENTS REGARDING AN INCLUSIVE PUBLIC PLANNING, NOT ONLY FOR THIS PROPOSED RECREATION UNIT, BUT FOR ALL MAJOR DECISIONS REGARDING TRAILS. I THINK IT'S GOOD TO FIND WAYS TO RESPOND TO THE SPECIFIC INTERESTS OF THE 200 MOUNTAIN BIKE YOUTH TEAMS. AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WE ARE DOING THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF MEETING THE NEEDS OF A LARGE, DIVERSE CONSTITUENCY THAT THE DISTRICT SERVES.
SO SOME SOME BIG INFORMATION, I THINK PICTURE INFORMATION I THINK WOULD HELP.
WHAT IF THE 70 MILES OF RECREATIONAL TRAILS IN TILDEN AND WILDCAT NOTED IN ONE OF THE SLIDES ARE MULTI-USE? I THINK THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW ON SLIDE EIGHT.
THE PROPOSAL CONTINUES TO RELY ON A NARROW BAND OF LAND FOR DR ANALYSIS WHEN THE LARGER HAVEY CANYON AREA, SINCE CLEARLY THE TRAIL REQUIRES USING ADJOINING TRAILS IN THE NATURAL AREA TO GET TO IT.
WHY AREN'T WE LOOKING AT THIS BIGGER IMPACT? HERE, IN ORDER TO LOOK AT THIS AND OTHER ALTERNATIVES.
THIRDLY I LIKE TO HIKE AND BIKE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO ARE STUDENTS YOU KNOW, FAMILIES, OLDER PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RUNNERS, PEOPLE WHO WALK WITH DOGS, WHO PRIMARILY LIKE TO HIKE OR WALK OR THEY USE MOBILITY-ASSISTED EQUIPMENT. I'M SURPRISED THAT THE CONDITION AND SAFETY OF THE FEW NARROW TRAILS FOR HIKING AND WALKING IN TILDEN AND WILDCAT ARE NOT PART OF ANY TRAILS ENHANCEMENT FOR TILDEN AND WILDCAT PARKS, AS WELL AS FOR FUNDING USES.
IF YOU HAVEN'T YET, PLEASE WALK THE LOOP AND TRAIL IN SOUTH TILDEN AND HIKING TRAILS AND TILDEN NATURE AREA ABOVE THE FARM, PARTICULARLY WHERE THEY NEAR THE NIMITZ TRAIL, BUT WHEN YOU DO, I SINCERELY ADVISE YOU TO BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE THEY THEY REALLY NEED ATTENTION.
SO I THINK THIS NEEDS TO BE LOOKED AT AS A PART OF THE BIGGER PICTURE.
FOR THE ANALYSIS OF ALTERNATIVES, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO PROVIDE TO SEE THE INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS OF THE ROUTES, AND THE WRITTEN EVALUATION ACCOMPANIED THEM, AND I THINK, AS A SIDE NOTE, I THINK THE IDEA OF RUNNING A BIKE RECREATIONAL TRAIL DURING THE DENSE EUCALYPTUS SECTION WAS TO REMOVE EUCALYPTUS AROUND THE TRAIL ROUTE TO ADDRESS A KIND OF COMPLEMENTARY DISTRICT WILDFIRE PLAN CONCERN FOR THIS TREE AS A HAZARDOUS FIELD.
JUST LASTLY, I RECALL THAT WHEN THE NOTICE OF THE TILDEN WILDCAT APRIL 23RD MEETING WAS ANNOUNCED, THAT THERE WAS ONLY JUST AN EIGHT AND A HALF BY 11 POSTER BY THE SIDE OF THE ALVARADO STAGING AREA INTERESTS, AND I REALLY DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE WHO USE THIS PARK ARE REALLY AWARE OF THIS, AND I THINK THEY SHOULD.
SO THANK YOU, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SOLVING THIS IN A COLLABORATIVE WAY.
OKAY, AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS ITEM, AND NOW AT THIS POINT, I'M GOING TO ASK IF THERE WERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT, SO NOW TO OUR FAVORITE PART OF THE MEETING:
[BOARD COMMENTS]
BOARD COMMENTS.I THINK I'LL START AT THIS END WITH DEE AND JUST GO ALL THE WAY ACROSS.
RELATIVELY QUIET SESSION OR TIME BETWEEN OUR LAST BOARD MEETING ON THE FIFTH.
[02:45:04]
ON THE 11TH, I ATTENDED THE CLOSED SESSION.THE SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION FOR THE GENERAL MANAGERS' NEGOTIATIONS.
ON THE 16TH, I HAD THE PLEASURE TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN THE INAUGURAL GRASS RESTORATION EFFORT AT SIBLEY WITH DINA ROBERTSON AND JULIA, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER HER LAST NAME.
SHE'S A PARK RANGER AT WILDCAT CANYON.
GREAT INTRODUCTION TO GRASSLAND RESTORATION, AND DINA HOPES TO MAKE THIS A REGULAR EVENT, AND WE HAD, LIKE, 14 VOLUNTEERS ON OUR FIRST DAY, SO THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD, AND THEN ON THE 19TH, WE'RE HERE AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, ESPECIALLY THEY'RE GOING TO BE PRESENTING TOMORROW THE PROPOSED REORG.
SO, YEAH, TUNE IN [CHUCKLING].
SO JUST AS AN END TO MY COMMENTS, I JUST WANTED TO END WITH ON A GLOBAL NOTE THE COP28 CONFERENCE ENDED, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DIDN'T GET VERY MUCH PRESS WAS THAT RIGHT AT THE VERY END, WITH THEIR CALCULATIONS, THEY IT WAS PRESENTED THAT THE WORLD HAS ALREADY REACHED ITS 1.5°C.
SO IT'S NOT CLIMATE CHANGE, IT'S CLIMATE CHANGED, AND THAT WAS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE TEMPERATURES IN RIO DE JANEIRO IN NOVEMBER, TWO DAYS IN EXCESS OF 140 DEGREES, AND THAT ONLY GOT PUBLICITY BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT WHERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE PASSED OUT.
AND THERE WAS AND THERE WAS VERY LITTLE PRESS ON THAT.
SO WE'RE DOING OUR LITTLE PART HERE, AND WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO THAT, BUT LET'S KEEP OUR YEAH, LET'S KEEP OUR FOCUS ON ON DOING OUR PART, AND BECAUSE THE CLIMATE HAS CHANGED DRASTICALLY AND WE'RE THERE, SO, BUT IT'S NOT INSURMOUNTABLE.
SO APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S EFFORTS.
THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU FOR THOSE GREAT COMMENTS YOU JUST MADE.
VERY IMPORTANT. WELL, LET'S CELEBRATE THAT THIS MONTH HAS BEEN WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WHICH IS A GREAT CELEBRATION THIS MONTH, AND THEN ON THE EIGHTH, WE OF COURSE, HAD THE BOARD TRAIL WORKSHOP MEETING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE STAFF THAT PUT THAT TOGETHER FOR US, AND THEN THIS IS A REALLY NICE PARK THING, BUT WE HAD A DAYLIGHT CHANGING TIME ON THE 10TH TIME TO KEEP TRACK OF THAT, TOO, AND ON THE 11TH, WE HAD A CLOSED SESSION THAT EVERYBODY ON THE BOARD HAD A CHANCE TO TAKE A LOOK AT AND WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER AS A TEAM TO DO GOOD THINGS FOR THE WHOLE ORGANIZATION, AND ON THE LET'S SEE, ON THE ELECTION DAY CAME UP.
SO I HOPE YOU ALL HAD A GREAT TIME THEN AND THANK YOU.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE FOR THIS MONTH.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, DIRECTOR WAESPI.
ON THE 12TH, I HAD A ONE ON ONE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER.
TOOK A NICE HIKE IN LAKE CHABOT.
ON THE 13TH, I ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING, AND THEN JUST, I MISSED IT, BUT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT AND THANK AND I WAS VERY HAPPY TO SEE THAT, NBS, THEIR CONTRACT GOT EXTENDED.
THEY'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS SUGGESTING THAT WE'RE A WONDERFUL PARTNER AND WE HAVE MUTUAL BENEFITS, AND I'M SO VERY HAPPY THAT IN THE CONSENT CALENDAR, WE EXTENDED THEIR CONTRACT. ALSO, I THINK WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE BORELS PROPERTY, I'D LIKE TO
[02:50:04]
GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO BEVERLEY LANE FOR HER INCREDIBLE ADVOCACY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS.THAT WAS I DON'T KNOW IF WE I THINK THAT THING VIOLATED ALL THE SEVEN, SEVEN FATAL SINS OR SEVEN WHATEVER. THAT WAS A WILD ONE, BUT BEVERLEY CONTINUED TO BE FORTHRIGHT AND PUSHING FORWARD FOR THIS AND ADVOCATED FOR IT, AND THEN I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT, GREAT PARK IN THE FUTURE.
TOMORROW, I WANT TO NOTE THAT THE WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE FEATURING KAREN MCCLENDON, WHO I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO MISS THIS, BUT I'M SPEAKING AT THE RETIREES ASSOCIATION ANNUAL BRUNCH AT THE SAME TIME.
I WILL MISS IT. I HOPE SOMEBODY FILMS THAT BECAUSE I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A CLASSIC, AND FINALLY, IF I MAY, I IF IT'S OKAY WITH THE BOARD, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING IN MEMORY OF RANDY.
RANDY BELL WAS A GENTLEMAN WHO LIVED AT LAKE CHABOT PARK.
RANDY WAS AN INTERESTING FELLOW.
HE WAS A CHARACTER. HE HAD A LOT OF CHALLENGES IN HIS LIFE.
HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT LAKE CHABOT UNTIL HE FOUND SHELTER AT A CHURCH IN CASTRO VALLEY.
WHEN WE HAD A SERVICE FOR HIM.
HE PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 21ST AND WE HAD A SERVICE.
THERE WAS A SERVICE FOR HIM AT CHURCH REPRESENTATIVES FROM ALL OVER THE COMMUNITY OF CASTRO VALLEY.
HE WOULD RIDE HIS BICYCLE THROUGH TOWN ON HIS WAY TO LAKE CHABOT.
HE WAS ALWAYS ON HIS WAY TO LAKE CHABOT.
HE WAS THE MAYOR OF LAKE CHABOT AND AS IT WAS POINTED OUT, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES WE'LL SEE HOMELESS COMMUNITIES AND DRIVE BY AND GO, WOW, THAT'S A SHAME OR I FEEL LOTS OF COMPASSION FOR THESE FOLKS, BUT YOU JUST KIND OF KEEP DRIVING BY.
RANDY WOULD NOT LET YOU DO THAT.
RANDY WOULD CONFRONT YOU, AND IN SOME CASES, I WOULD SEE HIM JUST ABOUT EVERY DAY AT LAKE CHABOT, AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT SAW HIM WENT, WHOA! BECAUSE HE APPEARED TO BE WELL, HE HAD SOME ROUGH TIMES AND SHOWED IT, BUT HE WAS ALWAYS DESCRIBED WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PLACE LAKE CHABOT WAS.
HE WOULD PLAY HIS HARMONICA FOR YOU, AND EVERYBODY CAME AWAY FROM RANDY GOING, WOW, THIS THIS GUY IS A REAL PERSON, AND SO HE WAS GREAT.
HE ALWAYS TOLD YOU HE LOVED YOU.
HE WOULD TELL STRANGERS, HE'D ASK YOU.
HE'D TELL YOU ABOUT LAKE CHABOT, TELL YOU HE LIVED THERE, TELL YOU ASK IF YOU COULD PLAY HIS HARMONICA, WHICH WAS A LITTLE INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PLAYING JAZZ HARMONICA OR A BLUES HARMONICA IN LAKE CHABOT, IT WASN'T EXACTLY A GREAT FIT, BUT RANDY MADE IT FIT, AND HE'D ALWAYS TELL YOU HE LOVED YOU.
SO IF WE COULD ADJOURN IN HIS MEMORY, I APPRECIATE IT.
ALL RIGHT REAL QUICK, THE TWO ITEMS FROM LAST MEETING TO TODAY THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION ON MONDAY, MARCH 11TH, AND THEN ON MARCH 15TH, I WAS ABLE TO GO ON A WALK AT SHADOW CLIFFS WITH THE FORMER WATER RESOURCES MANAGER FROM ZONE SEVEN, DAVID LUNN, AND WE HAD A REALLY GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT WATER AND SHADOW CLIFFS LAKE, AND ALSO REALLY THINKING ABOUT HOW SHADOW CLIFFS CAN BE PART, POTENTIALLY PART OF THE SOLUTION FOR LOCAL WATER STORAGE WITHIN THE TRI-VALLEY REGION.
I HAVE A LOT OF THOUGHTS ON THIS IDEA.
SO CERTAINLY I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF ON THIS WHILE WE HAVE WATER RIGHT NOW AT SHADOW CLIFFS LAKE.
I KNOW THAT PRECEDING LAST YEAR'S ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS YOU KNOW, WE WERE LOOKING AT A SITUATION DURING SEVERE DROUGHT WHERE THE SHADOW CLIFFS LAKE LEVELS WERE QUITE LOW, AND SO THAT'S CERTAINLY SOMETHING THAT'S, YOU KNOW, TOP PRIORITY FOR ME TO, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN WORK WITH LOCAL AGENCIES IN THE TRI-VALLEY TO REALLY THINK ABOUT SHADOW CLIFFS AND HOW SHADOW CLIFFS CAN BE PART OF THAT LOCAL STORAGE SOLUTION, AND THEN THE OTHER ITEM, YOU KNOW, KIND OF ALONG THE SAME LINES THAT I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT COMING UP THIS WEEK, FRIDAY, THE UNITED NATIONS RECOGNIZES FRIDAY, THIS UPCOMING FRIDAY, MARCH 22ND, AS WORLD WATER DAY, AND IN CELEBRATION OF THIS, OUR VISITOR CENTER TEAM AT DEL VALLE IS HAVING A DAY ON THE WATER ON MARCH 23RD, WHICH I THINK IS GOING TO BE A REALLY GREAT EVENT.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.
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AND THE FINAL ITEM THAT I WANT TO BRING UP IS AFTER THIS MEETING, I WILL BE SUBMITTING AN EMAIL IN REGARDS TO CODIFYING HAVING FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ON OUR AGENDAS AT THE END OF OUR BOARD MEETINGS, AND I THINK THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN AN UPDATE OF OUR BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN WE BRING UP AGENDA ITEMS AS A BOARD, IT'S NOT ALWAYS BEING CONSIDERED IN THE MATRIX IN REGARDS TO WHAT MAKES IT TO OUR AGENDA ITEMS, AND SO DENNIS AND I WILL BE CO-SPONSORING THIS RECOMMENDATION, AND SO HOPEFULLY WE'LL GET TO, YOU KNOW, DISCUSS HOW FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS YOU KNOW, GET ADDED TO THE AGENDA AND HOW, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD CAN MAKE SURE THAT WE GET TO DISCUSS THESE ITEMS. SO WE'LL BE SUBMITTING THIS TO OUR BOARD PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER.ON MARCH 7TH, I ATTENDED A TOUR OF THE NEW PITTSBURGH FACILITY OF CIVICORE, AND I WAS ACCOMPANIED BY ROBERT KENNEDY AND ERICH PFUEHLER, AND THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE AFTERNOON WAS MEETING WITH A CREW WHO HAD JUST COME BACK FROM WORK OUT AT BROWN VALLEY, AND WE SAT DOWN WITH THE CREW MEMBERS AND GOT THEIR STORIES OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IN CIVICORE AND WHAT IT'S DONE FOR THEM, DONE FOR THEIR LIVES AND THEIR FUTURES, AND IT WAS A VERY INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH, YOU KNOW, I REFER TO THEM AS KIDS RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW, BETWEEN 18 AND 20, 25 AND IT JUST BRINGS HOME WHAT A WONDERFUL PROGRAM THAT IS.
THAT EVENING, I ATTENDED THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MAYOR'S CONFERENCE IN MARTINEZ ON THE EIGHTH.
I ATTENDED IN OAKLEY A MEETING OF THE STILL FORMING DELTA CHAPTER OF THE SIERRA CLUB, AND I'M TRYING TO WORK WITH THE GROUP AND TRY TO ENHANCE THEIR FORMATION.
ON THE NINTH, I WENT OUT TO CONTRA LOMA AND SPENT A LITTLE PART OF THE AFTERNOON WITH SUPERVISING PARK RANGER TIM MOTLEY AND HIS PARK RANGER CREW OUT OF CONTRA LUMA TO FIND OUT WHAT ALL WAS GOING ON OUT THERE, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT PARK IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERWAY AT CONTRA LOMA FOR A TIME, AND WE DID SPEND QUITE A BIT OF TIME TALKING ABOUT WHATEVER I KNEW ABOUT THE LAGOON PROJECT.
THE 11TH, I ATTENDED THE ALREADY REFERRED TO SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION OF THE BOARD ON LABOR NEGOTIATIONS ON THE 13TH.
I ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE 14TH.
ATTENDED THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY QUARTERLY WATERSHED FORUM.
THE LEAD SPEAKERS WERE WONDERFUL.
THIS TIME THE LEAD OFF SPEAKER WAS THE HEAD PLANNER OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, AND HE WAS SUMMARIZING THE UPDATE THAT CONTRA COSTA COUNTY IS PERFORMING ON THE COUNTY GENERAL PLAN, WHERE IT'S AT AND WHERE WE CAN FIND TOOLS FOR ADDING COMMENTS TO THEIR PRELIMINARY UPDATE PLANS, AND THE OTHER SPEAKER FOR THE MORNING WAS FROM THE DELTA PROTECTION COMMISSION.
HIS PRESENTATION WAS ON THE FEDERAL FEDERALLY DESIGNATED DELTA HERITAGE ZONE, THE CONTRA COSTA BOUNDARIES OF WHICH, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, BASICALLY ARE WARD SEVEN, AND SO IT'S A TOPIC NEAR AND DEAR TO ME.
HE SPOKE AT LENGTH OF THE COOPERATION HE GETS FROM EAST BAY PARKS, IN PARTICULAR MIKE MORAN AND BRIAN HOLT, AND BRIAN'S OFF, BUT IN CONNECTION WITH THEIR PLANNING FOR PROGRAMING AND INTERPRETATION, CONSISTENT WITH THEIR FEDERAL DESIGNATION AND FUNDING TO CELEBRATE THE DEEP HISTORY AND HERITAGE OF THE CALIFORNIA DELTA.
THE 15TH, I ATTENDED THE CONTRA COSTA BAR ASSOCIATION'S PORT CHICAGO TASK FORCE. THIS MEETING, CHAIRED BY ONE YULIE PADMORE, WHO I WAS GOING TO POINT OUT DID A REALLY GOOD JOB IN THE ABSENCE OF OUR REGULAR CHAIR OF BRINGING THE GROUP UP ON VARIOUS EVENTS.
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THE 15TH WAS BUSY, AFTER THAT, I ATTENDED AN OUTING AT GRANGERS' WHARF IN RADKE MARTINEZ SHORELINE WITH THE MAYOR OF MARTINEZ, BRIANNE ZORN, AND COUNCILMEMBER MCKILLOP WITH SEAN DOUGAN, AND THE INTENT OF THE MEETING WAS TO BRING THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL MEMBER UP TO DATE ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE MANY REGIONAL TRAILS.YOU KNOW, MARTINEZ IS BLESSED WITH BEING IN A CONCENTRATED AREA, SO TO SPEAK, OF A NUMBER OF OF DIFFERENT REGIONAL TRAILS AND ALL OF WHICH HAVE CONNECTIONS IN AND WITHOUT OF FROM MARTINEZ TO THE VARIOUS PARKLANDS SURROUNDING MARTINEZ, CARQUINEZ, SHORELINE, THE CARQUINEZ STRAIT, RADTKE SHORELINE AND BRIONES AND WATERBIRD.
SO A NICE OUTING WITH THE MAYOR OF MARTINEZ THAT AFTERNOON, AND THAT EVENING I ATTENDED A SAINT PATRICK'S DAY CELEBRATION HOSTED BY CONTRA COSTA SUPERVISOR KEN CARLSON.
THAT WAS FUN, AND SUNDAY MEAL, AND I TOOK A HIKE WITH BIG, GREAT NATURALIST ARCHIE AND WONDERFUL ISAS THAT ARE OUT AT BIG BREAK, AND THE PROGRAM WAS SIGNS OF SPRING, AND IT WAS A REALLY NICE NATURE WALK WITH LOTS OF SIGNS OF SPRING, INCLUDING TOO MUCH SUN.
THE LEAD SPEAKER WAS A LAWYER FROM THE CSDA, WHOSE TOPIC WAS THE IMPACT OF THE LATEST AMENDMENTS TO THE CALIFORNIA SURPLUS LAND ACT AND HOW THAT AFFECTS THE MEMBERS OF THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION.
WHICH WAS REALLY INTERESTING, AND FINALLY, I HAD A MEETING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WITH ERICH AND LISA ON THEIR PLANNING FOR A WORKSHOP ON OUR SURVEYS. SO THAT'S IT, A KIND OF A BUSY LITTLE HALF A MONTH FOR ME.
YEAH, I ENJOYED IT THOROUGHLY.
THANK YOU, COLIN--DEFINITELY BUSY TIMES.
ON THE 11TH, LIKE THE REST OF THIS GROUP HERE, I ATTENDED THE SPECIAL CLOSED SESSION ON THE GM CONTRACT ON THE 13TH, ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE 15TH, I HAD THE VERY FUN OPPORTUNITY TO CHAPERON A GROUP OF FOURTH GRADERS TO THE HACIENDA PERALTA IN OAKLAND AND THAT'S NOT ONE OF OUR PARKS, BUT I JUST I MENTION IT HERE BECAUSE THEY DID JUST AN INCREDIBLE JOB OF HELPING THE FOURTH GRADERS TO REALLY IMAGINE WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE ON THE RANCHO, YOU KNOW, BACK BEFORE THERE WAS A UNITED STATES AND ALSO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TREATMENT OF THE NATIVE PEOPLE AND JUST ALL OF THE CHANGES THAT HAPPEND IN THIS AREA OVER TIME, AND IT WAS REALLY IT WAS REALLY VERY WELL DONE, AND THEN ON THE 18TH, I ATTENDED THE PRE BOARD MEETING, AND OF COURSE, NOW I'M HERE TODAY AND REALLY APPRECIATE OUR LONG AND PRODUCTIVE MEETING AND APPRECIATE FOLKS COMING TO SPEAK AS WELL.
AT 8:06 THIS EVENING, IT WILL BE THE SPRING EQUINOX AND ALSO THE START OF THE PERSIAN NEW YEAR, AND I HOPE THAT PEOPLE CAN, YOU KNOW, THESE NEXT FEW DAYS, TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE OUT IN NATURE AND TO REALLY REFLECT ON NEW BEGINNINGS AND RENEWALS THAT SO MANY CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD CELEBRATE, AND ALSO TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS GROUPS TO PROTECT THE EARTH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS, BECAUSE AS WE HEARD FROM DIRECTOR ROSARIO, THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME.
SO WE HAVE TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE ACTIONS THAT WE CAN TAKE, AND WITH THAT NOTE, WE CAN ADJOURN IN HONOR OF RANDY, THE MAYOR OF LAKE CHABOT, AND SO WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED.
THE MEETING OF MARCH 19TH IS NOW ADJOURNED AT, WHERE'S THE TIME? OKAY, 4:22 P.M., AND OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 2ND.
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ALL RIGHT, WE ARE ADJOURNED.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.