[00:00:06]
GREAT. GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10TH, AND WE'RE BEGINNING TODAY AT 10:37 A.M..
[Roll Call]
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES, PRESIDENT WAESPI OR CHAIR WAESPI.THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, AND TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT.
STAFF IS PROVIDING LIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMING.
ANYBODY IS WELCOME TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MEETING.
WAYS IN WHICH YOU CAN PARTICIPATE, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, IS TO YOU BY SUBMITTING AN EMAIL BY LEAVING A VOICEMAIL OR BY JOINING THE LIVE ZOOM WITH THE LINK PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA LOCATED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.
SO IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW WE CAN.
DIRECTOR ECHOLS, I HOPE YOU'RE DOING WELL, AND--THERE'S NO ONE, THERE'S NO ONE IN THE ROOM WITH ME, WHETHER THEY'RE OVER 18 OR NOT.
EXCELLENT, EXCELLENT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GLAD YOU'RE HERE. SO NOW WE'LL PROCEED TO OUR MEETING AND WE'LL START WITH.
WHAT WILL WE START WITH? WE'VE DONE THE ROLL.
[Approval of Minutes]
WE HAVE THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE, LET'S DO THEM SINGLY, OF THE MARCH 13TH, 2024 MEETING.DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES? SO MOVED. DO I HAVE A SECOND? ELIZABETH. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
IS THERE ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. IF YOU WANT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES, ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. MINUTES ARE APPROVED UNANIMOUSLY.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT? SO MOVED. SECOND.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER COMMENTS? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION PASSES.
WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT ARE NOT ON THE AGENDA.
DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC IN THE AUDIENCE? NO, CHAIR WAESPI WE DO NOT.
WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Action Items]
WELCOME, LISA. THANK YOU.SO WE'LL GIVE IT A SECOND AND HOPEFULLY A SLIDE DECK POPS UP.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE OR WISDOM? THERE YOU GO. OKAY, TIME.
GOOD MORNING, LISA BALDINGER, LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST, AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT ON A PILOT PROPOSAL OF A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY TO BE IMPLEMENTED, COORDINATED AND SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TEAM.
SO, BY WAY OF CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND, THE GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TEAM WORKS TO SUPPORT THE BOARD AND THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AND THE GENERAL MANAGER IN RELATIONSHIPS AND STRATEGIC ACTIONS RELATED TO STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND WE ALSO DO WORK ON A LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL.
HOWEVER, THAT HAS NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN AS COORDINATED AS WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE, AND SO THIS PROPOSAL IS TO MOVE FORWARD A PILOT PROGRAM TO EXPAND THE CAPACITY OF OUR TEAM TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THIS WOULD BE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING DISCUSSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE DO DURING OUR STATE AND FEDERAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE, AND IT WOULD ONLY COMPLEMENT AND ENHANCE THE OTHER EXISTING ACTIONS OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
SO BY WAY OF BACKGROUND OF HOW WE GOT TO THIS PROPOSAL, WE BEGAN AT THE GENERAL MANAGER'S DIRECTION TO DO A BIT OF BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS ON WAYS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT IS CURRENTLY ENGAGING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
A LOT OF THESE FORMS OF GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT ARE ALSO BEING DONE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL AS WELL.
SO ONE THAT THE BOARD IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH IS ISSUE TRACKING AND WRITTEN ENGAGEMENT.
[00:05:02]
SO AT THESE MEETINGS, WE TYPICALLY HAVE AN UPDATE FROM OUR PLANNING, TRAILS AND GIS TEAM THROUGH OUR STRATEGIC ACTIONS AND GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES (SAGE) REPORTS, WHERE WE'RE TRACKING DIFFERENT RELEVANT ISSUES AND CHALLENGES, AND LEARNING HOW THE PARK DISTRICT IS ENGAGING ON THOSE ITEMS. ADDITIONALLY, WITH COORDINATION BETWEEN PLANNING, GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, AND GRANTS, WE PROVIDE CROSS-DIVISIONAL INPUT ON PROPOSALS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL, WHETHER THAT BE SOMETHING LIKE THE LETTER DISPLAYED ON OUR SCREEN IS OUR ENGAGEMENT ON THE OUTDOORS FOR ALL DRAFT PROPOSAL AT THE STATE LEVEL AND OTHER ISSUE AREAS AS WELL AS COORDINATED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR OUR PARTNER AGENCIES AS WELL AS FOR OUR OWN PROJECTS AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, OTHER FORMS OF ENGAGEMENT IS WE DO HAVE STRUCTURED MEETINGS.THESE ARE TYPICALLY INFORMAL, STRUCTURED MEETINGS WHERE A BOARD MEMBER AND THE GENERAL MANAGER SIT DOWN WITH A PARTNER AGENCY, WHETHER THAT BE A LOCAL, STATE OR FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIAL.
THEY'RE TYPICALLY IN RESPONSE TO A HIGH PRIORITY ISSUE AND CONDUCTED ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS.
SO A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN A STRATEGIC PROACTIVE EFFORT, AND THEN FOR STATE AND FEDERAL ENGAGEMENT, WE DO HAVE VERY COORDINATED, PROACTIVE ANNUAL CONFERENCES, AND THESE CONFERENCES ALLOW US A MEANS OF ACTIVATING OUR STATE AND FEDERAL PRIORITIES THROUGH OUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, WHERE THE BOARD MEMBERS, THE GENERAL MANAGER, DEPUTY GENERAL MANA GER AND OTHER RELEVANT LEADERSHIP JOIN US IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL CAPITAL TO REALLY COORDINATE AND SHARE WITH OUR ELECTED DELEGATION THE ISSUES, CHALLENGES, AND OPPORTUNITIES THAT THE AGENCY IS SEEING AND NEED SUPPORT ON RELATIVE TO OUR GOALS, AND THEN LASTLY, IN TERMS OF JUST OVERALL AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, A BIT OF A REFLECTION, THERE'S A NEED FOR TIMELY, REGULAR ENGAGEMENT ON LOCAL POLICY ISSUES.
THE PARK DISTRICT DOES HAVE LIAISON COMMITTEES.
LOOKING AT WE HAVE ABOUT 97 AGENCIES WITH JURISDICTION HERE IN THE EAST BAY, AND CURRENTLY WE ARE COORDINATING LIAISON COMMITTEES FOR 16% OF THOSE, WHICH LEADS 84% OF LOCAL AGENCIES THAT DO NOT HAVE COORDINATED LIAISON COMMITTEES, AND SO THERE'S A NEED FOR ACCOUNTING FOR THAT GAP IN ENGAGEMENT, AND IN REFLECTING ON THIS, STAFF SAW AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING FORWARD A COORDINATED PROPOSAL.
BEING THAT LIAISON COMMITTEES ARE TYPICALLY REQUIRING A LARGER LIFT THAN A STRUCTURED MEETING, WE WANTED TO FIRST START WITH A PROPOSAL THAT'S STRUCTURED MEETINGS FOR STRATEGIC ENGAGEMENT, AND OUR PILOT PROGRAM IS REALLY FOCUSED ON THE SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN, AND SO WHAT STAFF IS PROPOSING ARE 45 MEETINGS TO TAKE PLACE OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS WITH BOARD MEMBERS, GENERAL MANAGER, THE MAYOR OR RELEVANT COUNTY SUPERVISOR IN ATTENDANCE, WHERE WE FOCUS ON THE STRATEGIC DISTRICT PLAN.
EXCUSE ME, THE SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN.
HAVE CONVERSATIONS, COLLECT INFORMATION, AND ULTIMATELY WILL LEAD TO A FINAL REPORT BOTH ON THE PROGRAM ITSELF AS WELL AS ON THE FINDINGS FOR THE SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN.
THROUGH THIS WORK WE HOPE TO ENGAGE ESSENTIALLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DUPLICATE ARE OUR STATE AND FEDERAL CONFERENCES, BUT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
SO BOARD MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE PACKETS OF INFORMATION WITH TALKING POINTS AND AGENDA.
SO WITH THAT, THE RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS THAT THE GENERAL MANAGER RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE SUPPORT THE PROPOSED 2024-2025 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY PILOT PROGRAM, AND THIS PROGRAM WILL BE SUPPORTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS STAFF TEAM IN COORDINATION WITH ALL PARK DISTRICT DEPARTMENTS. BY WAY OF REMINDER, IT WILL NOT TAKE AWAY OR CHANGE ANY CURRENT LOCAL ENGAGEMENT, BUT BE ADDITIVE TO OUR LOCAL ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT, AND FOLLOWING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS PROGRAM, WE ARE COMMITTING TO REPORTING BACK ON THE PILOT PROJECT IN EARLY 2026 ON SUCCESSES, OPPORTUNITIES AND WHERE WE CAN BUILD OFF OF THAT FOR FUTURE YEARS TO CONTINUE THE ENGAGEMENT STRATEGICALLY.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND PULL DOWN MY SCREEN.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY MEMBERS HAVE QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? GO AHEAD, ELIZABETH.
OKAY, SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE.
[00:10:04]
LEVEL. I'M CURIOUS TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE ENTITIES.SO WOULD IT BE WOULD IT BE ALL OF THE CITIES, COUNTIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN THE, IN THE REGION OR WHAT IS YOUR, WHAT IS THE FOCUS OF YOUR PILOT PROGRAM? THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND ONE I SHOULD HAVE HIGHLIGHTED THROUGH MY SLIDE DECK.
OUR INITIAL PROPOSAL IS A HOLISTIC 45 MEETINGS OF ALL CITIES AND COUNTY SUPERVISORS.
SO WE'LL BE STARTING WITH THE CITIES AND COUNTY SUPERVISORS IN THE EAST BAY.
OH OKAY, SO CITY MAYORS AND OKAY, AND THEN WHAT WOULD BE THE BOARD'S ROLE IN THIS? I WASN'T CLEAR WHETHER WE WOULD BE IN THESE MEETINGS OR I ASSUME SO SINCE HE SAID THERE WOULD BE A PACKET LIKE WE HAVE IN SACRAMENTO OR CORRECT, AND SO THE ORGANIZATION OF THE MEETING WOULD BE THAT STAFF WOULD SUPPORT THE RELEVANT BOARD MEMBER IN A MEETING WITH THE MAYORS, AND SO WE'D BE LOOKING GEOGRAPHICALLY AT THE MAYORS WITHIN EACH WARD AND PAIRING THE BOARD MEMBERS WITH THE MAYORS OF THEIR WARD AND THE GENERAL MANAGER IN ATTENDANCE AT THOSE MEETINGS, AND THEN JUST FOR CONSISTENCY AND MEASURING OF THE PILOT PROGRAM, THE MEETINGS WOULD HAVE THAT SIMILAR AGENDA, BECAUSE REALLY WHERE WE'RE LOOKING FOR GREATEST FEEDBACK AT THIS TIME IS THE SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, FOR JURISDICTIONS THAT HAVE OVERLAP, OR FOR EXAMPLE, THE CITY OF FREMONT, WHERE TWO BOARD MEMBERS SHARE A CITY, WE WOULD, OF COURSE, INVITE BOTH BOARD MEMBERS FOR THAT DISCUSSION.
GOT IT. THAT SOUNDS REALLY GREAT.
I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK PARTICULARLY LOOKING AT THE SECOND CENTURY PLAN, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE PEOPLE AND UNDERSTAND--WELL, ENGAGE THE LEADERSHIP IN PARTICULAR, YOU KNOW, THE MAYORS AND SUPERVISORS AND, YOU KNOW EVERYBODY ELSE TOO, I SUPPOSE, BUT AT LEAST FOR US TO ENGAGE THEM TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR FROM THE PARKS, AND I KNOW WE'RE DOING THAT IN OTHER WAYS WITH THE PUBLIC AT LARGE, BUT THIS IS, YEAH, I THINK THIS SOUNDS REALLY GOOD.
THANK YOU. OH WAIT, I DO HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION.
SO SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF WORK FOR YOU GUYS, AND I KNOW YOU'RE PRETTY BUSY, SO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO YOU HAVE THE BANDWIDTH FOR THIS EXTRA PROJECT? THAT IS A VERY THOUGHTFUL QUESTION.
SO WE ARE WORKING TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM THROUGH THE ADDITION OF A LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT.
SO THAT'LL BE A FUTURE DISCUSSION FOR THE BOARD, BUT IT IS THE INTENTION THAT INDIVIDUAL COULD HELP TO SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM BEING THAT THE STRUCTURING, IMPLEMENTING AND FOLLOW UP AND ANALYSIS OF 45 MEETINGS IS QUITE THE LIFT.
YES, I HAVE IN THE MARGINS A BIG QUESTION MARK AND THE ISSUE OF STAFF TIME.
SO I WAS THINKING EXACTLY AS ELIZABETH, THAT'S GOING TO BE A CHALLENGE FOR YOU FOLKS AND JUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE UNDERSTAND THAT AND THAT IT'S AN AMBITIOUS GOAL.
SO, I THINK YOU COVERED MOST OF MY QUESTIONS AT SOME POINT WHEN YOU HAVE TIME, IT'S NOT IMMEDIATE, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE LIST OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT LED TO YOUR LISTING FOR US OF, FOR INSTANCE, 26 SPECIAL DISTRICTS.
I UNDERSTAND. I DON'T NEED THAT LIST.
13 COUNTY GOVERNMENTS, WHICH TO ME MEAN THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION DISTRICTS AND FLOOD CONTROL, THE DEPARTMENTS OF COUNTIES THAT WE WORK WITH, MAYBE, BUT AGAIN, THAT 13 NUMBER LIST AND THE NINE AND NINE FOR STATE AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS WOULD BE HELPFUL.
THERE ARE 40 SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN CONTRA COSTA ALONE.
SO IT'D BE INTERESTING TO SEE THAT I DID HAVE A GENERAL QUESTION, SOME OF WHICH YOU RESPONDED TO MY MAIN MARGIN NOTES WERE WHAT IS THE PROGRAM? WHO IS IT WITH, THE LISTS? WHO IS IT WITH, WHEN, WHERE AND WHAT? SO THE ANSWER TO THAT IS OVER TWO YEARS, 45 FOCUSING ON CITIES AND MAYORS OR LEADERSHIP OF THE CITY'S GENERAL, IT WOULD BE
[00:15:10]
THE CITY MANAGER, I SUPPOSE, AND US FOR OUR PARTICULAR WARDS.SO I SAID, HEY, LET'S, YOU KNOW, USE THAT TO GET TOGETHER WITH THE NEW CITY MANAGER IN OAKLEY, THE NEW CITY MANAGER IN BRENTWOOD, AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT ESPECIALLY WITH THE NEW ONES, ESPECIALLY THE CITY MANAGERS, THAT WE MAKE THOSE KIND OF CONTACTS.
I SUSPECT THAT IT'S NOT REALLY A PILOT THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT ESPECIALLY THE REGULAR MEETINGS WITH THE CITY LEADERSHIPS HAVE BEEN SOMETHING THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR YEARS, AND I THINK OTHERWISE YOU FOLKS SHOULD KEEP IN MIND GIVING US ASSIGNMENTS THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD FROM BOARD MEMBERS CONSISTENTLY FOR A WHILE.
IS THERE AN EVENT IN MY WARD WHERE THE CITY LEADERSHIP WILL BE THERE AND I DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, AND IF YOU FOLKS DO AND I DON'T, OR IF THE SAGE GROUP, FOR INSTANCE, KNOWS ABOUT STUFF THAT WE DO NOT.
KEEP THAT IN MIND AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, THAT WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN TERMS OF EVENTS THAT WE MAY NOT HAVE HEARD OF, THAT WE SHOULD GO TO.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT WHEN I GET A CALL FROM YOU OR ERICH AND, YOU KNOW THERE'S SOME EVENT WHERE THERE ARE GOING TO BE LEGISLATIVE STAFF OR THERE'S GOING TO BE LEGISLATORS THERE, YOU OUGHT TO GO TO IT, AND I YOU KNOW, THAT'S KIND OF RARE, FRANKLY, WHEN I GET THOSE CALLS FROM YOU FOLKS BUT I APPRECIATE THEM, AND I'M ALWAYS ENTHUSED ABOUT THEM.
IF YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING THAT I CAN DO IN MY WARD, AND I WOULD INCORPORATE THAT INTO YOUR PROGRAM, THE CONCEPT OF GIVING YOUR DIRECTORS PER WARD ASSIGNMENTS TO FOLLOW UP WITH MEETINGS OR DO OUR OWN, AND THIS IS GOING TO BE IN ADDITION TO WHAT WE ALREADY DO.
I JUST HAD TWO WEEKS AGO, AN AFTERNOON WALK WITH THE MAYOR OF MARTINEZ AROUND VARIOUS TRAILS.
SO THE FOUR OF US BASICALLY WERE ABLE TO COVER ALL THE ISSUES INVOLVING PENDING TRAIL ISSUES FOR THE CITY OF MARTINEZ THAT ARE THEIRS AND THAT ARE OURS.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT THE EXTENSION OF THE IRONHORSE, FOR INSTANCE THE BAROLESA EXTENSION FROM NEJEDLY STAGING, SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WE JUST DO IN THE ORDINARY COURSE OF, YOU KNOW, MY SEEING THE MAYOR AT A MAYOR'S CONFERENCE AND THE TWO OF US TALKING ABOUT, HEY, WE SHOULD DO THIS AND THAT'S THE FOLLOW UP.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING SEPARATE, AND WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT.
SO WITH ALL THAT IN MIND, I DO AGREE THAT THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY IS A GOOD REASON AS TO AS A PREMISE FOR THESE MEETINGS, AS WELL AS THE 22ND CENTURY PLAN, AND IT WILL BE HELPFUL IF AS BRIAN AND HIS FOLKS DEVELOP THE PUBLIC INPUT PART OF THE PLAN.
I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PUBLIC INPUT SESSION AT BIG BREAK VISITOR CENTER ON X, Y, Z DATE OR AROUND WHATEVER WE CAN DO WHEN WE CAN START DOING THAT.
I HAVE SINCE I WENT THROUGH THE LAST MASTER PLANNING PROCESS.
I HAVE IN MY MIND WHERE THERE WILL BE MEETINGS.
SO THAT REFINEMENT WILL ALSO HELP WITH THOSE MEETINGS.
SO LIKE ELIZABETH, I'M VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS AND BRING IT ON AND YOU KNOW, IF THERE CHALLENGES WITH STAFFING, LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT, TOO.
AWESOME, AND THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PILOT PROGRAM, WE DO INTEND TO WORK HAND IN HAND WITH PLANNING, TRAILS AND GIS TO BRING THE MOST UPDATED INFORMATION, EVENTS AND OTHER ISSUES OF AWARENESS TO THE MEETINGS.
JUST WANTED TO ALSO ADD, COLIN, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
[00:20:10]
SINGULAR ENTITY, EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW YEAH. OKAY. SO THEN THOSE LISTS WOULD BE HELPFUL.WELL THANK YOU LISA, I THINK THIS IS A GREAT PROGRAM.
I TOTALLY SUPPORT IT. I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT A FEW THINGS.
SPECIFICALLY, YOU KNOW, THE AGENDA.
I WOULD THINK THAT IF WE DO AND I THINK IT WILL BE A NOT A HERCULEAN TASK, I THINK YOU'LL DO IT REALLY WELL, BUT IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY, AND SCHEDULING, I THINK, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO GET WITH THESE MAYORS.
I, YOU KNOW, THE AGENDA FOR ME IS, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT OUR 90TH ANNIVERSARY.
THAT'S NICE, AND OUR SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN IS NICE.
I MEAN, I WROTE A LIST, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO REPEAT THEM RIGHT NOW, BUT I MEAN, THERE'S A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK TO IN CITIES THAT I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THAT YOU GUYS COULD PROBABLY DO IN THESE TYPES OF MEETINGS.
I'M THINKING, WELL, THE ONE THING I TOTALLY SUPPORT THIS, BUT AS EVERYONE SAID TODAY, A NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THIS IS A LOT OF WORK AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I'M OPPOSED TO I THINK THERE SHOULD BE TWO, AND I KNOW THE INTEREST OF WE CAN'T, YOU KNOW, DO A BROWN ACT DEAL THAT'S TOO HARD OR TOO DIFFICULT OR WHATEVER THE REASON IS, BUT TWO BOARD MEMBERS, I THINK, WOULD BE GREAT TO SUGGEST THAT I'M ONLY INTERESTED IN MAYORS IN MY CITY.
YOU KNOW, I SERVE ON A LIAISON COMMITTEE IN PLEASANTON AND DUBLIN, AND ALTHOUGH WE DON'T HAVE ANY MEETINGS, I SURE AM STILL INTERESTED IN WHAT GOES ON THERE.
I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE JUST THE NEWS.
I'VE HEARD OF THE EFFORTS ON BIG STORY ON TOWN OF PITTSBURGH AND BUILDING 1500 HOMES, AND THEN THE OPPOSITION TO THAT, I WANT TO HEAR I'D LIKE TO TALK TO SOME OF THOSE FOLKS ABOUT THAT WHICH I WOULDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO.
SO I WOULD PROPOSE, LET'S GO FULL FORWARD WITH THIS.
I MEAN, I'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF DEALS.
WELL, SCHEDULING IS THE HARD PART.
OKAY, SO GET A I THINK I COULD SOLVE THAT EASILY.
LET ME SEE. I WON'T USE MYSELF.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO THE CITY OF SAN RAMON, YOU WOULD OBVIOUSLY BRING JOHN, BECAUSE THAT'S HIS WORD, BUT AN ISSUE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE BROUGHT UP IS OH, SHOOT OR PARDON ME, LET'S DO MORAGA.
I'VE FOUGHT FIRE HERE FOR 31 YEARS.
SO WHY WOULD YOU LEAVE BOARD MEMBERS OUT? I DON'T THINK WE WOULD VIOLATE THE BROWN ACT.
SO FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S THREE PEOPLE IN THE BROWN ACT.
SCHEDULING I KNOW IS VERY DIFFICULT, BUT IT WOULD BE, HERE'S THE DEAL.
I HOPE YOU'RE GOING TO BE PLANNING AHEAD.
WE'RE GOING TO MEET WITH THE MAYOR OF OF FREMONT.
NOPE, THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK EITHER, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO INVITE TWO AUTOMATICALLY.
WHY WOULDN'T YOU INVITE ROSARIO IF ROSARIO CAN'T MAKE IT? WE UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY TO HAVE CHANGE.
EVERYTHING JUST CAUSES ALL KINDS OF CONSTERNATION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GO UP TO HERCULES AND MEET WITH THE MAYOR OF HERCULES.
JUST BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED IN WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE.
OKAY, WELL, BUT I MEAN, I WANT TO DO IT FORMALLY IN THIS SETTING, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TALK, AND I THINK EVERY CITY, ALONG WITH THE I KNOW WE WANT TO CREATE GOODWILL AND STUFF LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK PEOPLE ALWAYS HAVE ISSUES OTHER THAN THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY, WHICH IS CLOSE TO HALF OVER NOW, AND SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN.
WELL, THAT'S A CENTURY AWAY OR IT'S A TIME AWAY.
THERE ARE SOME PRESSING ISSUES.
I MEAN, OPENING PARKS AND CITIES THAT SEEM TO BE RELUCTANT TO DO THAT FIRE STUFF THAT WE'RE DOING.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY, AND I JUST WOULD HOPE THAT WE CAN WORK OUT OR I'D LIKE TO HEAR AT LEAST SOME REASONS WHY TWO BOARD MEMBERS COULDN'T BE INVITED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO TRY TO.
[00:25:01]
RELEVANT TO THOSE MEETINGS. SO WE DO HAVE SOME PROPOSALS THAT HAVE TWO BOARD MEMBERS, FOR EXAMPLE COUNTY SUPERVISORS WHO SHARE ACROSS WARDS AS WELL AS SOME OF THE IDENTIFIED CITIES. I'M WONDERING, WOULD IT MEET YOUR GOAL IF WE WERE TO SCHEDULE AROUND THE IDENTIFIED BOARD MEMBER AND ASK THEM, WHO WOULD THEY LIKE TO EXTEND AN INVITATION TO AND IN COORDINATION WITH OUR LEGAL COUNSEL, SHOULD WE NOT MEET QUORUM, WE WOULD SCHEDULE AROUND THE LEAD BOARD MEMBER AND EXTEND AN INVITATION TO A SECOND BOARD MEMBER.WITHOUT A DOUBT, I THINK THAT'S, JUST AS LONG, JUST GET ANOTHER BOARD MEMBER THERE FOR EDUCATION AND THE ABILITY TO HAVE THE INTERACTION WITH MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS AND CITY MANAGERS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
ALSO, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW WE ONLY HAVE 16% OF OUR LOCAL ENGAGEMENT IS IN LIAISON COMMITTEES OR WE ONLY WE ONLY HAVE 16% OF OUR PEOPLE THAT WE DEFINE AS LOCAL ENGAGEMENT FOLKS.
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A QUESTION FOR YOU, BUT WHAT INITIATES A LIAISON COMMITTEE? I MEAN, WHAT INITIATES A COMMITTEE MEETING? I'VE BEEN ON THE ALAMEDA COUNTY LIAISON COMMITTEE FOR NINE YEARS NOW, AND WE'VE NEVER MET.
I'M ON THE FREMONT LIAISON COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A HOTBED OF TOPICS ALL THE TIME, AND WE MEET RARELY.
IF WE PROMISED IN A BOARD MEETING, WE VOTED AND SAID WE WOULD HAVE QUARTERLY MEETINGS BUT WE NEVER DO THAT.
THANKS. CAN I ADD SOMETHING? YEAH. GO AHEAD. I JUST HAD A THOUGHT THAT STRUCK ME AS RELEVANT TO THE OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT YOU'RE DEVELOPING.
I THOUGHT YOU ALL MAY WANT TO GIVE THOUGHT TO THIS, AND THAT IS, WE HAVE MET WITH, I BELIEVE, LOTS OF SUCCESS WITH THE RADKE ANNUAL AWARD FOR IN THE RADKE CASE, WE'RE LOOKING AT WASHINGTON, D.C.
OR SACRAMENTO, THOSE LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE PERFORMED FOR OUR CAUSE IN A MANNER THAT MAKES THEM STAND OUT, AND I RECALL LAST YEAR OR FOR THIS YEAR, WE HAD SOME DIFFICULTY DECIDING BECAUSE THERE WERE REALLY SOME STANDOUT LEGISLATORS, AND MY IMPRESSION FROM THE RECIPIENTS AND THEIR STAFFS IS IT'S VERY POPULAR.
THEY REALLY ENJOYED THEY THEY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO MAKE THOSE MEETINGS AND GET THE PHOTOS TAKEN AND SUCH, GIVE SOME THOUGHT TO WHETHER IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA OR AGAIN, THERE IS THE BANDWIDTH TO DO SUCH, BUT TO DESIGN A SIMILAR AWARD FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT STANDOUTS. SOME COUNTY SUPERVISOR OR CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO HAS ENGAGED WITH US TO MAKE SOMETHING SO SOMETHING COME COME TO BEING IN THEIR CITY OR IN THEIR ENVIRONS.
THINK ABOUT WHETHER THAT WOULD WORK FOR ONE AND TWO, WHETHER YOU HAVE THE BANDWIDTH FOR IT AND IT WOULD BE PART OF A PROGRAM THAT ATTEMPTS TO ENHANCE OUR CONTACTS, OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THESE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, BECAUSE I CAN GUARANTEE YOU A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER WHO RECEIVED AN AWARD FROM THIS PARK DISTRICT FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN ADVANCING OUR CAUSES.
THEY WOULD BE THRILLED, AND IT WOULD BE MEANINGFUL TO THEM.
THAT'S MY THOUGHT I'D JUST THROW IT AT YOU.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THAT HAVE ANY COMMENTS ON THIS? NOTHING ELSE FROM THE BOARD.
THEN WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD.
THIS PROPOSAL FOR A PILOT PROGRAM.
DO YOU HAVE A MOTION? MEMBER ECHOLS, IS THAT YOU? I CAN'T HEAR DENNIS.
I CAN'T HEAR DENNIS, BUT HE'S ASKING FOR A MOTION, I'M HAPPY TO MAKE IT.
THANK YOU. THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ASKING.
[CHUCKLING]. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND BY MEMBER COFFEY.
I GUESS MY FURTHER DISCUSSION WOULD BE, WILL THIS PROPOSAL GO OR WILL THERE BE ANY CONSIDERATION TO TALKING IN THE FULL BOARD MEETING ABOUT TWO BOARD MEMBERS? I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU ALL ON MAY 7TH.
IN THAT CASE, ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
[00:30:02]
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT STATE LEGISLATION.SO AT OUR LAST MEETING, WE HAD QUITE A ROBUST REVIEW OF STATE LEGISLATION AS A NUMBER OF BILLS WERE INTRODUCED INITIALLY, AND NOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT ARE BILLS THAT HAD BEEN INTRODUCED THAT WE HAD BEEN TRACKING DUE TO THEIR TITLE OR THE AUTHOR OR SOME FORM OF INTENT, AND THEY HAD SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN AMENDED, WHICH MADE THEM STRENGTHEN IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE PARK DISTRICT GOALS.
HOWEVER, THIS FIRST BILL HAS AMENDED EVEN FURTHER.
SO FOLLOWING PACKET FINALIZATION, THIS BILL WAS FULLY GUTTED AND AMENDED, BUT WHAT'S WONDERFUL IS THAT THE AMENDMENTS ALIGN JUST AS WELL WITH THE PARK DISTRICT'S MISSION AND VISION, AND SO FOR PURPOSE OF CONTEXT FOR THE BOARD, THE UPDATE OF AB 3023 BY ASSEMBLYMEMBER PAPAN, WHO BY WAY OF REMINDER, IS THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY PARKS, WATER AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE.
THEY HAVE UPDATED THIS BILL TO LOOK AT STATE AND OTHER PROGRAMS TO STRIVE TO ALIGN WATERSHED RESTORATION EFFORTS WITH FOREST RESILIENCE WORK.
SO REALLY LOOKING AT HOLISTIC ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR IS COORDINATION ACROSS STATE AGENCIES, STATE BOARDS, OTHER BOARDS, DEPARTMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS FOR THESE PERMANENT CONSERVATION EFFORTS, AND SO WE DO CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND SUPPORT FOR THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, WHICH ALIGNS WITH OUR ECOSYSTEM STEWARDSHIP GOALS, AND THEN THE SECOND BILL IS AUTHORED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER EDUARDO GARCIA.
BY WAY OF REMINDER ON THE RADKE AWARD, HE DID RECEIVE IT A FEW YEARS BACK, AND HE'S AUTHORING AB 3147, WHICH WOULD ESTABLISH THE CALIFORNIA TRAILS CONSERVANCY PROGRAM WITHIN THE CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY.
BY DOING SO, IT HELPED TO PROMOTE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY GREENWAYS AND TRAIL NETWORKS AND REALLY COMPLEMENT THE PARK DISTRICT'S TRAIL PROGRAM, AND THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION ALIGNS WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY GOAL FOR CLIMATE FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION, AND SO THAT COMPLETES OUR STATE LEGISLATIVE REPORT, AND WE ARE REQUESTING A SUPPORT POSITION ON THESE TWO BILLS.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THAT? MEMBER COFFEY.
HAVE I MISSED THAT IN THE PAST? THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE NOW GIVEN US STAFF REPORTS THAT REITERATE THE LEGISLATIVE GOALS THAT WE ESTABLISHED, I THINK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR WITH THAT WONDERFUL BASICALLY, IT WAS A GUIDEBOOK THAT YOU FOLKS ALL PREPARED ON WHAT IS IT THAT MOTIVATES US TO ENGAGE IN LEGISLATION, EITHER FEDERAL OR STATE, AND WE COME OUT WITH THAT OUTLINE OF 7 OR 8, THEY'RE RIGHT HERE, CLIMATE FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNITY HEALTH, ETC..
SO WE'RE GIVEN THAT BACKGROUND.
WE'RE GIVEN A SLIDE PRESENTATION ON THE LEGISLATION RATHER THAN JUST A LISTING IN THE STAFF REPORT, AND ALL THE SUPPORT RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PUT IN THE CONTEXT OF OUR GOALS, OUR LEGISLATIVE GOALS AND THEIR ALIGNMENT WITH THOSE GOALS, ALL OF WHICH I APPRECIATE, AND IS THIS A NEW CONTEXT THAT YOU'VE DECIDED TO PRESENT FOR THESE ISSUES, FOR THIS COMMITTEE? YEAH, SO FOLLOWING THE INAUGURAL 2023 LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, WE DID BEGIN ALIGNING OUR GOALS SUPPORT WITH THOSE STRATEGIC GOALS, AND SO WE HAVE BEEN USING THIS FORMAT. THE SLIDE DECK IS A NEW TOOL GIVEN THE MULTIMEDIA APPROACH THAT COMMITTEES ARE USING, AND THEN IN YOUR STAFF REPORT, YOU DO CONTINUE TO HAVE PARAGRAPHS THAT GIVE GREATER DEPTH OF ANALYSIS THAN THE BULLETS THAT ARE IN THE SLIDE.
OKAY, SO IT'S NOT NEW THE CHARACTERIZATION OF THESE BILLS TYING THEM INTO THE LEGISLATIVE GOALS.
IT REALLY HELPS US AT THE END OF THE YEAR TO DO A WRAP UP AND SEE, REALLY, WHERE WERE WE INVESTING OUR TIME AND WHERE ARE WE SEEING TRENDS AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL RELATIVE TO OUR GOALS? SO WE REALLY LIKE IT IN TERMS OF QUANTIFYING AND TRACKING BILLS, IT ALSO STRUCK ME AS SOMETHING THAT, AGAIN, WOULD TAKE MORE STAFF TIME TO PRESENT THESE TYPE OF PRESENTATIONS THAT YOU'RE DOING.
THANK YOU. JUST ON THAT I THINK WE ALSO WANTED TO DELINEATE STATE AND FEDERAL AND I THINK LISA INDICATED SO WE COULD BETTER TRACK AT THE END OF THE YEAR AND SAY, HERE'S WHERE THE SUCCESS WAS ON THE BILLS WE SPONSORED, AND IT JUST MAKES A CLEANER SEPARATION, AND THE SLIDE DECKS ARE RELATIVELY NEW, BUT ALSO, AS LISA INDICATED, AN INSTRUMENT IN TERMS OF PRESENTING AND MAKING A LITTLE BIT MORE VISUALLY INTERESTING.
YEAH, AND IT'S ALWAYS GREAT LAYING OUT THE, THE LEGISLATIVE GOALS THAT WE'VE ADOPTED.
[00:35:07]
IT CREATES A CONTEXT FOR WHY WE'RE DOING THIS AND WHY WE'RE NOT DOING OTHER LEGISLATION.SOMETIMES IT OCCURS TO ME, I READ ABOUT A BILL THAT SOMEBODY HAS INTRODUCED UP IN SACRAMENTO, AND I'M WONDERING WHAT POSITION WILL TAKE ON IT, AND THEN IT OCCURS TO ME IT'S PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT THIS DISTRICT WILL TAKE AN INTEREST IN.
YES, WE DO, AND WE HAVE THE LEGISLATIVE GOALS AND WE'RE REALLY USING THEM AS GUIDELINES.
ON OCCASION, YOU'LL SEE US BRING A BILL FORWARD AND WE'LL SAY MULTIPLE GOALS, OR PERHAPS IT'LL BE ADMINISTRATIVE OR FISCAL IN NATURE THAT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE BOARD'S AWARE OF. SO WE DON'T THE GOALS ARE NOT A BARRIER.
YEAH. ANYONE ELSE, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? I WILL JUST ECHO THE COMMENTS ON THE FORMAT.
I DO LIKE YEAH, I DO LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A WHILE, BUT HAVING THE GOALS LAID OUT THERE AND THEN TALKING TO WHY IT HELPS TO MEET OUR LEGISLATIVE GOALS, I THINK THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL BECAUSE THERE'S PLENTY OF LEGISLATION TO CHOOSE FROM IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING.
SO IT'S GOOD TO STAY FOCUSED, AND AND I REALLY LIKE THE, THE SLIDE DECKS.
I FIND IT'S REALLY HELPFUL BECAUSE WHEN YOU GUYS ARE JUST, YOU KNOW, IF WE GET A LONG LIST AND YOU GUYS ARE JUST TALKING TO ALL OF THEM, IT'S HARDER TO, YOU KNOW, THE VISUAL SLIDES HELP.
I TEND TO AGREE. I LIKE THE FORMAT ALSO, BUT I'M WONDERING IF WHAT IF THERE WAS A BILL THAT WERE OUTSIDE OF THESE SEVEN GOALS THAT WE WANT TO FOLLOW? GOD, I HATE WHO I SOUND LIKE RIGHT NOW, BUT I WAS APPROACHED BY THE CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICTS, WHICH WANT TO WANT TO ENCOURAGE ALL AGENCIES TO OPPOSE AB 2557, WHICH HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANY OF THESE GOALS HERE.
IT HAS TO DO WITH, GOSH FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY IN THEIR TERMS CARING FOR TAXPAYERS DOLLARS IN THEIR TERMS. ARE WE GOING TO LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WOULD WE EVER GET NEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WELL, SO WE USE THE GOALS AS GUIDELINES, NOT AS RULES, AND SO THE GOALS HELP US STRUCTURE WHICH LEGISLATION WE'RE TRACKING.
HOWEVER, RELATIVE TO ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES AND THE FISCAL HEALTH OF THE AGENCY AND OUR OVERALL MISSION AND PURPOSE, WE DO TRACK BILLS BEYOND THOSE THAT ALIGN SPECIFICALLY WITH THESE SEVEN GOALS. SO SHOULD A BOARD MEMBER COME ACROSS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT THEY'D LIKE CONSIDERED BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, PLEASE EMAIL ERICH AND I, AND WE WILL PUT IT ON OUR TRACKER LIST AND INCORPORATE IT INTO THE REPORT.
OKAY, GREAT. SO AND WHEN PEOPLE LIKE CARPET, I KNOW THEY'VE WRITTEN A LETTER TO YOU I GUESS OR MAYBE SABRINA TO REQUEST THAT YOU GET ON BOARD AND SIGN A LETTER LIKE WE DO TO THEM ALL THE TIME.
SO IS THERE ANY DELIBERATION OVER THAT AND WHERE DOES THE DELIBERATION TAKE PLACE? I CANNOT SPEAK TO THE SPECIFIC SCENARIO OF THE SPECIFIC BILL THAT YOU'RE REFERENCING, BUT IN TERMS OF WHEN LEGISLATION COMES IN, WE WILL REVIEW IT, PULL IT INTO OUR REPORT.
IF THERE'S A QUESTION, CHECK IN WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER FOLLOWING ERIC'S INITIAL FEEDBACK ON SUPPORT, OPPOSE, WATCH AND THEN BRING IT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE. IF WE DO DEEM IT'S WORTH TAKING A POSITION AND ENGAGING ON, AND WE DO WE DO HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF THAT.
IT'S THE, I THINK IT'S AB 817, THE BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW REMOTE MEETINGS FOR COMMISSIONS AND THAT WAS ALSO, I BELIEVE, A CARPD BILL THAT WENT THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE AND THROUGH THE BOARD, AND THEN WE SUBSEQUENTLY HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO I THINK IT'S TO THE CHAIR OF THE COMMITTEE THAT'S HEARING ON THAT BILL.
SO IT WE DO YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE OVERARCHING GOALS WHICH INCLUDE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DISTRICT, BUT WE ALSO DO LOOK AT SOME OCCASIONALLY ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS IN THE BILL THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO.
JASON JUST FLAGGED FOR ME YESTERDAY, I BELIEVE.
SO WE WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT.
THANK YOU. SO IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER DISCUSSIONS, NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FORWARD THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FULL BOARD.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DO THAT? SO MOVED, AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? HEARING NONE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
[00:40:03]
ERICH PFUEHLER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, AND IN STICKING WITH THE POWERPOINT FORMAT, WE PUT TOGETHER ONE FOR THE FEDERAL BILLS. AGAIN, WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ADDITIONAL BILLS TO CONSIDER FOR FEDERAL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, LARGELY DUE TO MOST OF THE WORK BEING DONE IN WASHINGTON HAS BEEN REVOLVING AROUND FUNDING AND KEEPING THE GOVERNMENT GOING.I WILL ADD, THOUGH, IN TERMS OF WHAT'S IN YOUR PACKETS AND MATERIAL, WE HAVE ALSO STARTED ON FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO IDENTIFY POTENTIAL VEHICLES FOR THESE BILLS TO MOVE THROUGH.
AS YOU KNOW, MANY FEDERAL BILLS GET INTRODUCED.
THEY'RE OFTEN PACKAGED INTO A BROADER PIECE OF MUST PASS LEGISLATION OR SOME TYPE OF AN OMNIBUS PACKAGE, SUCH AS ONE OF THE LANDS BILLS THAT PASSED RELATIVELY RECENTLY.
SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED THAT IN THE STAFF REPORT AS A WAY TO CONTINUE TO TRACK PROGRESS ON ON THIS LEGISLATION, BECAUSE WE DO SEE A LOT OF THESE BILLS EVERY TWO YEARS AS THEY GET REINTRODUCED EACH CONGRESS AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WHETHER THEY'RE ADVANCING OR NOT AND HOW HOW THEY MIGHT BE ADVANCING.
WITH THAT THE FIRST BILL THAT WE'RE DISCUSSING IS ACTUALLY COMMEMORATIVE IN NATURE, BUT GIVEN OUR WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CIVICORPS AND CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS, WE FELT THAT IT WAS SIGNIFICANT AND IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE AMERICORPS AS WELL.
WE ARE ON OUR AGENDA FOR WASHINGTON, D.C., WHICH WE WILL SPEAK TO LATER.
WE ARE GOING TO BE HOPEFULLY MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF AMERICORPS TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE PRESIDENT'S CLIMATE CORPS FUNDING BEING MOVED TO STATES THROUGH THEIR EXISTING CONSERVATION CORPS PROGRAMS, WHICH WOULD ENABLE ENTITIES LIKE THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS TO WORK MORE IN THE STEWARDSHIP AND CLIMATE RESILIENT SPACE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THE CONSERVATION CORPS WOULD BE VERY INTERESTED IN PURSUING.
SECOND, WELL, THIRD BILL, BECAUSE THERE WAS FEDERAL LEGISLATION IN BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE ON THE FIRST RECOGNITION BILL IS DEALING WITH FEMA, AND IT REALLY IS.
YOU KNOW, FEMA HAS RESPONSE FOR INITIALLY WAS WAS CREATED REALLY AS A MORE OF A FLOOD DAMAGE AND HURRICANE DAMAGE ENTITY AND WILDFIRES NOW ENTERED INTO THAT ECHELON OVER THE LAST DECADE OR SO, AND IN ORDER TO MAKE IT MORE EFFICIENT FOR THEM TO REIMBURSE AND DEAL WITH WILDFIRE CATASTROPHIC WILDFIRES, THEY REALLY NEED TO CLARIFY SOME OF THEIR REGULATIONS THAT DEAL WITH DEBRIS REMOVAL AFTER THE FIRE, IS THERE STILL ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER, THINGS LIKE THAT AREN'T ALREADY CONTEMPLATED OR NOT CLEARLY DEFINED IN THEIR IN THEIR EXISTING REGULATIONS? SO THIS BILL WOULD HELP DEFINE THAT MORE CLEARLY AND HOPEFULLY ADVANCE REIMBURSEMENT A LITTLE MORE EFFICIENTLY.
THE FOURTH BILL DEALS WITH WILDFIRE INSURANCE, AND IT'S ESSENTIALLY DIRECTING THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE TO WORK WITH FEMA TO STUDY WAYS OF PURSUING MITIGATION AHEAD OF TIME FOR WILDFIRE.
THAT WOULD ALSO HELP REDUCE THE NECESSARY COST OF INSURANCE.
SO ARE THERE WAYS THAT WE COULD PREEMPTIVELY HARDEN HOMES AND DO ADDITIONAL WORK TO ENSURE THAT THOSE RATES DON'T CONTINUE TO NEED TO GO UP? THERE IS AN EQUITY ELEMENT OF THIS LEGISLATION AS WELL, LOOKING PARTICULARLY AT COMMUNITIES WHERE THE INCOME OF THE HOMEOWNER WOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO EFFECTIVELY KEEP HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER COMPONENT TO BE STUDIED, AND THEN THE LAST BILL IS A LITTLE A LITTLE BIT IN NATURE, DIRECTOR WAESPI, TO WHAT YOU WERE REFERRING TO OUTSIDE SLIGHTLY OF THE SCOPE OF THE SEVEN ADVOCACY GOALS, BUT VERY MUCH EMBEDDED IN OUR PRIMARY PRINCIPLE, WHICH IS TO ENSURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY, FINANCIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
SO, AS YOU ALL KNOW, FROM GOING TO DC SEVERAL TIMES THAT EVERY YEAR IN PRETTY MUCH EVERY PIECE OF LEGISLATION WE DISCUSS, WE TALK ABOUT ENSURING SPECIAL DISTRICT ELIGIBILITY.
THIS BILL WOULD ADDRESS THAT BY REQUIRING THE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET TO WORK WITH EACH FEDERAL AGENCY TO ENSURE THEY HAD A DEFINITION AND A SPECIFIC CALL OUT FOR SPECIAL DISTRICT ELIGIBILITY, AND IT IS A PIECE OF LEGISLATION, REALLY, THAT WAS
[00:45:09]
DERIVED FROM CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION AND ADVANCED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, AND I THINK ONE OF THE MOTIVATING FACTORS AMONG MANY, BUT ONE OF THE MAIN ONES, I BELIEVE, IS THE FACT THAT VERY FEW SPECIAL DISTRICTS IN CALIFORNIA, IF ANY, RECEIVED ANY OF THE COVID RELIEF FUNDING, EVEN THOUGH A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT FUNDING REMAINED UNSPENT AND WAS USED TO BALANCE FUTURE BUDGETS, AND WITH THAT, THAT IS THE SYNOPSIS OF THE FEDERAL LEGISLATION FOR THIS LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING, AND WE'RE ASKING FOR A SUPPORT POSITION ON ALL FOUR OF THOSE ISSUES.THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? NO? COLIN? I THOUGHT IT WAS A COUP FOR THE GROUP, AND I KNOW YOU'RE ACTIVE IN IT.
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL OFFSHOOT OF THE CSDA THAT YOU'VE HELPED ORGANIZE, WHICH IS BASICALLY A GROUP OF ADDITIONAL CSDA, SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE 50 STATES.
YOU'RE TRYING TO DEVELOP A COORDINATED LOBBYING EFFORT, ESSENTIALLY ON BEHALF OF THEM, AND SO THIS THIS WAS UNDERTAKEN UNDER THAT DEVELOPMENT. CORRECT, THAT'S A BIT OF A, IT'S IN ITS DEVELOPMENT, THAT COALITION, BUT YES, IT WAS LED BY A CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION, AND THEY ARE ACTIVELY WORKING WITH OTHER LIKE MINDED ORGANIZATIONS AND STATES.
SO THEY KNEW SOMEONE IN TEXAS BECAUSE THEY GOT A TEXAS REPUBLICAN TO CARRY THIS BILL, WHICH MAKES IT EXTRAORDINARILY MORE VIABLE ON A BIPARTISAN BASIS IN THE HOUSE.
GIVEN THAT MOST TEXAS REPUBLICANS IN PARTICULAR DON'T BELIEVE IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
SO IT WAS SORT OF A SURPRISE TO SEE THAT THEY DID THAT, AND IT MEANS THEY'RE ORGANIZING EFFECTIVELY, I THINK.
I SHOULD ADD THAT IT IS BIPARTISAN CO-SPONSORS.
YEAH, THAT WOULD BE MY ONLY COMMENT.
SO ANY ODDS THAT, I MEAN, IT DOES HAVE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT, AND DO YOU EXPECT IT TO GO THROUGH AND BE SIGNED? HARD TO KNOW ABOUT BEING SIGNED, BUT I DO EXPECT IT TO ADVANCE GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO SEND THIS TO THE FULL BOARD FOR SUPPORT? SO MOVED. SECOND.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'LL NOW MOVE TO INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
[Informational Items]
UPDATE ON GRANTS.GOOD MORNING, KATY. GOOD MORNING.
KATY HORNBECK, GRANTS MANAGER.
I'LL BE GIVING A BRIEF UPDATE ON GRANTS APPLICATIONS AND GRANTS AWARDED IN THIS LAST REPORTING PERIOD.
ALL RIGHT, THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT.
SO THE REPORTING PERIOD HERE IS FEBRUARY 21ST THROUGH MARCH 24TH.
THIS WAS FOR THE RICHMOND BAY TRAIL GAP CLOSURE PROJECT.
GRANT AWARD ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE EXPECTED IN JUNE OR JULY OF THIS YEAR.
KATY, THAT SHOULD BE ASSOCIATED WITH POINT PINOLE, NOT MILLER KNOX.
I WILL MAKE THAT UPDATE FOR A FUTURE REPORT.
THANK YOU, AND THEN THE LAST ONE I WANTED TO POINT OUT IS NUMBER FIVE, THE APPLICATION FOR THE FORMER RODDY RANCH PUBLIC ACCESS AND RESTORATION PROJECT IN PARENTHESES, IT SAYS 'CON.' THAT MEANS CONSTRUCTION.
WE HAD APPLIED FOR DESIGN PHASES IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
[00:50:06]
INTERESTED IN THE RESTORATION COMPONENT.SO THAT DOLLAR AMOUNT IS REFLECTING SOME OF THE RESTORATION COSTS OF THE PROJECT, AND WE'LL HEAR BACK, I WOULD ASSUME, IN THE NEXT MONTH OR TWO IF THEY ARE GOING TO SELECT THIS FOR GRANT FUNDING.
UNDER GRANTS AWARDED, A COUPLE THAT I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT.
SO THE FIRST ONE, THE HASPA SHORELINE MASTER PLAN IMPLEMENTATION PROJECT.
THE SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY PARTNERSHIP, THEY ACTUALLY APPLIED FOR THIS FUNDING.
SO $550,000 WILL BE PASSED THROUGH TO THE PARK DISTRICT TO COMPLETE.
THIS INCLUDES JPA GOVERNANCE, AND BASICALLY A PLAN FOR THE PLAN.
WHAT'S THE FUNDING STRATEGY PERMITTING HOW TO PRIORITIZE THE PROJECTS WITHIN THE HARBOR? IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
SO DEVAN REIFF WILL BE COMING TO THE FULL BOARD NEXT MONTH AS WELL TO TALK MORE IN DEPTH ABOUT HASPA, BUT SORT OF HIGHLIGHTING THIS HERE FOR YOU NOW THAT THERE IS SOME FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR THE PARK DISTRICT TO COMPLETE SOME WORK RELATED TO THE HARBOR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS NUMBER TWO, THE DELTA LEVEE AND ISLAND PROJECT.
THE ARMY CORPS, AS A FEDERAL ENTITY IS NOT ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THIS STATE FUNDING.
SO THEY ASKED THE PARK DISTRICT TO BE THEIR NONFEDERAL SPONSOR.
WE APPLIED AND WERE AWARDED THE FUNDS AND WILL PASS THAT THROUGH TO THE ARMY CORPS FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT AND THEN THE LAST TWO I'LL HIGHLIGHT NUMBER FOUR AND FIVE.
THIS WAS JUST VERY EXCITING FOR ME PERSONALLY.
WE'VE BEEN SPENDING LOTS OF APPLICATIONS TO THIS PROJECT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? ELIZABETH? JUST A QUICK QUESTION.
SO WHEN DO YOU THINK WE'LL HEAR BACK ON THE RAISE GRANT? THE NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY SAID THEIR TIMELINE WOULD BE JUNE OR JULY OF THIS YEAR.
SO TO JUMP ON THAT, IT WOULD BE A GOOD TO HAVE THAT AS A TOPIC FOR SOME OF OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION WHEN WE'RE IN DC IN MAY. IT IS MAY, RIGHT? SO WE SHOULD MAKE SURE WITH SEVERAL OF THEM THAT WE ASK THEM TO GRAB A PHONE AND CALL SECRETARY PETE.
THANK YOU. OKAY, BUT YES, I AGREE WITH COLIN.
EXCELLENT IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE.
SO THANK YOU KATY, FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK.
I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE ON HASPA.
SO IT'S THE EPA GAVE IT THE ESTUARY PROJECT PASSED THROUGH TO US, AND ARE WE GOING TO PASS IT THROUGH TO HASPA OR BECAUSE WE'RE THE ADMINISTRATING AGENCY, WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE IT GOES, AND THEN HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE A JPA IN PLACE BASED ON THAT EXPENDITURE.
IS THAT CORRECT? MM HMM. ALL RIGHT.
GREAT WORK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS ON THE PUBLIC HEARING? ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO FEDERAL FEDERAL ADVOCACY UPDATE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IT'S GREAT TO SEE EVERYONE AND HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
SO I'LL JUST GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON SOME KEY TOPIC AREAS THAT ARE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, BUT YOU WILL ALSO BE HEARING ABOUT IN THE DC CONFERENCE IN MAY AS WE WERE JUST TALKING.
SO THE HOUSE AND SENATE RIGHT NOW ARE CURRENTLY FOCUSED AND TRANSITIONED VERY QUICKLY FROM FISCAL YEAR 24 TO FISCAL YEAR 25 AS YOU MIGHT RECALL.
THE FEDERAL FISCAL YEARS GO FROM OCTOBER 1ST TO SEPTEMBER 31ST.
SO WE'RE ALREADY SIX MONTHS INTO THE FISCAL YEAR 24, BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF OVERLAP, MORE THAN
[00:55:04]
USUAL, BECAUSE AS SOON AS THINGS WRAPPED UP AND THE NEGOTIATIONS ON THE APPROPRIATIONS BILLS FOR FISCAL YEAR 24, THE FISCAL YEAR 25 BUDGET, FEDERAL BUDGET WAS RELEASED, AND THAT APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS IS NOW KICKING OFF AS WE SPEAK WITH HEARINGS STARTING THIS WEEK, AND FOR THE BALANCE OF THE SPRING.SO, IT'S USUALLY BUSY TIME AND IT'S DEFINITELY BUSY AND THAT IS COUPLED WITH SOME OTHER THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER ON THINGS LIKE.
THE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS.
UKRAINE AND ISRAEL, TAIWAN AID, BALTIMORE BRIDGE AID.
CURRENTLY, RIGHT NOW TODAY, THEY ARE DEBATING FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT REAUTHORIZATION.
THERE IS CURRENTLY A TWO VOTE MARGIN IN THE HOUSE.
SO IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR THE HOUSE SPEAKER TO MOVE LEGISLATION DUE TO DYNAMICS GOING ON IN HIS SIDE OF THE AISLE, AND BUT THAT ISN'T TO SAY THAT THERE ISN'T LEGISLATION PASSING BECAUSE LAST NIGHT BY VOICE VOTE, THE OUTDOOR RECREATION BILL PASSED AND THAT HAD THREE THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
ONE IS THE OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
THAT IS A KIND OF A SUB PROGRAM OF LWCF, BUT IT'S FUNDING.
IT WAS A PROGRAM CREATED DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.
SO GREAT ACTIVITY THAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT IN THE HOUSE.
IT WAS A PACKAGE OF 15 BILLS THAT CAME TOGETHER SO MUCH LIKE WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, SOMETIMES BILLS ARE INTRODUCED INDIVIDUALLY, BUT THEN PACKAGED TOGETHER OR PUT TOGETHER WITH A LARGER SET OF BILLS.
THIS HAS BEEN AN EFFORT UNDERWAY FOR 5 TO 10 YEARS, DEPENDING ON LEGISLATION, HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.
A SECOND PIECE THAT WAS INCLUDED WAS EVERY KID OUTDOORS ACT.
THAT WAS A PROGRAM AGAIN ESTABLISHED, AND THIS WOULD EXTEND IT BEYOND 2026.
IT WOULD ALLOW FOURTH GRADERS TO GO TO A NATIONAL PARK AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR FREE.
SO THAT WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS OUTDOOR RECREATION BILL.
ALSO, A THIRD THING WOULD REQUIRE THE INTERIOR SECRETARY TO DEVELOP A STRATEGY REPORT ON WAYS TO INCREASE YOUTH RECREATION VISITS TO FEDERAL LANDS.
JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF IT.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARK DISTRICT TO TELL YOUR STORY TO FEDERAL AGENCIES AND SUBMIT A LETTER, SUBMIT COMMENTS, SUBMIT TESTIMONY IN THAT STRATEGY PROCESS THE INTERIOR HAS NOW BEEN TASKED WITH.
SO THE HOPE IS, IS THAT THIS BILL WILL PASS THE SENATE, BUT I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT TO YOU BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK BY A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE OVER YEARS, AND IT'S GOT A LOT OF MOMENTUM AT THIS POINT.
LAST THING YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ANNOUNCEMENTS RECENTLY IN THE ENVIRONMENT, ON THE ENVIRONMENT RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS MAJOR REGULATIONS RELATED TO POWER PLANT EMISSIONS.
METHANE EMISSIONS, VEHICLE EMISSIONS, CHEMICAL PLANT EMISSIONS.
THERE IS AN EARTH DAY RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER ON APRIL 22ND.
THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT SOME SET OF ANNOUNCEMENTS AROUND THAT PERIOD OF TIME.
NO DECISION HAS BEEN MADE YET.
A LOT OF REFERENCES HAVE BEEN MADE, THOUGH, TO THE BERRYESSA NATIONAL MONUMENT, AND THAT BEING EXPANDED AS WELL AS SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAIN S MONUMENT EXPANSION.
THE ELECTION IS A BACKDROP IN NOVEMBER, SOMETIMES CHANGES TO LEGISLATIVE CYCLES.
[01:00:04]
THIS YEAR THINGS STARTED OFF A LITTLE SLOW, BUT THE PACE IS PICKING UP AGAIN IN TERMS OF CONGRESS AND COMMITTEES DOING THEIR THEIR LEGISLATIVE WORK. THERE'S STILL, AS I MENTIONED, AT THE TOP THERE, THERE'S STILL A LOT OF IMPORTANT PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED, AND CONGRESS HAS GOT TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO ADDRESS IT AND PASS THOSE.SO IS DIFFICULT AS IT IS RIGHT NOW, SOMETIMES TO PASS THINGS.
THE ELECTION DOESN'T HELP THAT SOMETIMES.
SO IT CAN BE A LITTLE BIT OF A DOUBLE EDGED SWORD.
THERE'S A LOT OF CLOSE RACES TO WATCH.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE SEEN 43 HOUSE MEMBERS HAVE RETIRED, EIGHT SENATORS HAVE RETIRED.
THAT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN NORMAL.
TENDS TO BE AROUND 30 OR SO IN THE HOUSE THAT TEND TO RETIRE MAYBE TWO TO FOUR SENATORS THAT RETIRE OR ARE RUNNING FOR OTHER OFFICE. SO THAT IS A TREND.
THE OTHER THING, THOUGH, TO WATCH AND I'LL KEEP YOU INFORMED ABOUT IS THERE'S A LOT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRS THAT ARE LEAVING, AND SO IT'S A GREAT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY AGAIN, FOR THE PARK DISTRICT AND FOR LIKE MINDED ORGANIZATIONS TO BE EDUCATING MEMBERS ON THESE COMMITTEES ABOUT IMPORTANT WORK THAT YOU DO AND YOUR PRIORITIES, BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CHANGES WITHIN THE COMMITTEES AND ESPECIALLY AT THE TOP, BUT THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY, I ALWAYS SAY.
NOT SOMETHING TO BE ALWAYS CONCERNED ABOUT, EXCEPT THAT WHEN YOU LOSE SOMEONE WHO'S A CHAMPION OR SOMEONE YOU'VE WORKED A LOT WITH, THAT CAN BE SOMETIMES DISAPPOINTING. LIKE I SAID IN MAY IN THE DC CONFERENCE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF ACTIVITY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS WITH THE ADMINISTRATION IN THE CONGRESS, FROM THE AMERICAN RECOVERY PLAN TO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL TO THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT. THERE'S A LOT TO THERE'S A LOT OF FEDERAL FUNDING AND THERE'S LOTS OF IT'S BEEN A LOT OF PROGRESS BEING MADE THAT. THAT LEGISLATIVE TEMPO'S SLOWED A LITTLE BIT THIS YEAR, BUT WE'LL JUST HAVE TO SEE HOW THINGS PLAY OUT.
ONE OTHER PIECE OF INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATIONS OR IS A CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP ALREADY IN THE HOUSE, AND SO REPRESENTATIVE TOM COLE IS NOW THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
HE HAS LOTS OF STRONG VIEWS, GOOD REPUTATION WORKING IN BIPARTISAN FASHION.
HE'S HAD A LOT OF PUSHBACK FROM MEMBERS THAT HAVE NOT WANTING TO SEE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING CONTINUE, AND HE HAS SAID THEN WE DON'T HAVE MUCH ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE THEN WITH OUR SENATE COUNTERPARTS IF WE DON'T HAVE SOME ON OUR SIDE.
SO HE TENDS, AT LEAST FOR THIS APPROPRIATION CYCLE, HE EXPECTS THOSE COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS, ALSO KNOWN AS EARMARKS, TO BE PART OF THIS APPROPRIATION CYCLE.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THIS ISSUE ISN'T GOING TO COME BACK UP AGAIN.
THE REASON WHY THERE'S BEEN THE PUSHBACK IS THAT SOME MEMBERS THAT ARE VERY FOCUSED ON THE FISCAL SIDE ARE CONCERNED THAT CO MMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING HAS DOUBLED SINCE IT'S BEEN APPROVED, SINCE IT'S BEEN ALLOWED, AND SO MORE AND MORE PROJECTS ARE BEING APPROVED BY THE CONGRESS, BUT THAT TAKES AWAY FROM PROGRAMS WHERE PEOPLE JUST WANT TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR CLEAN WATER OR SAFE DRINKING WATER GRANTS, AND NOW, YOU KNOW, A GOOD AMOUNT OF MONEY IS GOING TO CERTAIN PROJECTS.
SO THAT'S THE TUG AND PULL THAT'S GOING ON THERE.
HE ALSO SAID THE FOLLOWING, WHICH IS HE THOUGHT THAT SOME OF THE BILLS WOULD PASS AND SOME BILLS WOULD HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL AFTER THE AFTER THE ELECTION, MEANING IN A LAME DUCK SESSION MEANING A SESSION AFTER THE ELECTION, IN THAT MONTH OR TWO AFTER THE ELECTION, THAT IS WHEN SOME THINGS MAY HAVE TO BE COMPLETED.
SO THAT'S NEWS FROM THE HOUSE AND THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS HAS KICKED OFF.
LASTLY, YOU PROBABLY ARE AWARE THAT REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI DID TREMENDOUS WORK TO GET 900,000 FOR THE RICHMOND TRAIL, AND THAT WAS A COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUEST BY THE PARK DISTRICT.
[01:05:01]
SECONDLY, THERE WAS REPRESENTATIVE SWALWELL WAS ABLE TO GET WILDFIRE MITIGATION FUNDING OF 1.383 MILLION WHICH IS FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, WHICH IS, AGAIN, JUST TREMENDOUSLY HELPFUL.SO THE WORK IS CONTINUING, PROGRESS IS BEING MADE.
THERE'S MORE WORK THAT WE HAVE TO DO THIS YEAR, AND TO SAY A FEW OTHER THINGS ABOUT AMERICORPS.
THAT IS A MEETING THAT IS PART OF THE D.C.
CONFERENCE, AMERICORPS USED TO BE CALLED THE CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL SERVICE.
WHITE HOUSE MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT IN SEPTEMBER.
THEY HAVE IN THEIR BUDGET $38 MILLION FOR STATE AND LOCAL.
CONSERVATION CORPS AND CLIMATE CORPS PARTNERS.
SO FINGERS CROSSED THAT THAT CAN MAKE IT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS.
AGAIN, THAT HAS GENERATED SOME OPPOSITION MORE IN THE HOUSE THAN IN THE SENATE, BUT IT IS AN ISSUE THAT IT CAME UP IN PART OF THE FUNDING PROCESS LAST YEAR IN THE CONGRESS.
I TALKED ABOUT EARTH DAY, AND LASTLY, LAND AND WATER BILLS OFTEN ARE PACKAGED TOGETHER AT THE END OF A LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THERE ARE IN THE SENATE 72 LAND AND WATER BILLS HAVE PASSED.
THERE IS A DESIRE TO TRY AND MOVE THAT PACKAGE OF BILLS BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, BUT SOME THINGS ARE GETTING IN THE WAY OF THOSE NEGOTIATIONS AT THE MOMENT.
FINGERS CROSSED THAT SOME OF THESE BILLS CAN COME TOGETHER WHERE AN AGREEMENT CAN BE REACHED.
NEGOTIATIONS. HAVE BEEN ON AGAIN, OFF AGAIN.
SO THE HOPE IS THAT THE HOUSE WILL, THE SENATE IS READY TO GO.
THE HOUSE HAS BEEN A LITTLE SLOW TO WANT TO ENGAGE IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.
SO AS WAS NOTED EARLIER, 72 DIFFERENT BILLS.
SOMETIMES IT'S ATTACHED TO THE DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BILL.
OTHER TIMES IT'S ATTACHED TO THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT.
THOSE HAVE BEEN VEHICLES HAVE BEEN USED TO INCLUDE WILDERNESS BILLS OR PARK BILLS OR MONUMENT BILLS.
HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT ANYTHING I MENTIONED.
THANK YOU, PETER. ANY QUESTIONS FOR PETER? COMMENTS. I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE PETER MAKING THE TIME TO BE WITH US TODAY.
IT'S ALWAYS USEFUL TO HEAR FROM PETER AND GET A FEEL FOR WHAT'S HAPPENING IN DC IMPACTING THE PARK DISTRICT. SO I JUST WANTED TO THANK PETER FOR BEING HERE.
SO THANK YOU, PETER, FOR GIVING US THAT BACKGROUND.
VERY HELPFUL. YEAH, I WOULD ECHO THAT, TOO, PETER.
SO YOU DID MENTION SOMETHING INTERESTING TO ME.
SO IS THERE ANY THOUGHT THAT THE DEMOCRATS COULD POSSIBLY REGAIN THE HOUSE, AND IF SO, ARE ANY MEMBERS OF OUR DELEGATION IN LINE FOR THOSE VERY IMPORTANT COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON CHIPS? IT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
THERE IS, I THINK MOST SOURCES AND MOST INDIVIDUALS YOU WOULD TALK TO IN WASHINGTON THINK THAT THE HOUSE POTENTIALLY HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF MOVING TO THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY AND THE SENATE SHIFTING FROM A DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY TO THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY.
SO THERE'S 20 DEMOCRATS UP IN THE SENATE AND ONLY TEN REPUBLICANS UP FOR REELECTION.
SO JUST THE SHEER NUMBER AND CHALLENGES THERE, BUT A LOT OF CLOSE RACES AND I THINK THESE HOUSE RACES AND SENATE RACES, ALL OF THEM WILL BE CLOSE, JUST LIKE THE PRESIDENCY.
SO IN TERMS OF MEMBERS BECOMING CHAIRS OF COMMITTEES, FULL COMMITTEES, I DON'T SEE ANYONE IN THE DELEGATION LINED UP TO DO THAT, BUT THEY WILL BE CHAIRS OF SUBCOMMITTEES, WHICH IS CAN BE EQUALLY AS IMPACTFUL AND POWERFUL DEPENDING ON WHERE THEY'RE WHAT COMMITTEES THOSE ARE.
SO SOME WILL BE HAVING GREATER INFLUENCE OVER.
[01:10:05]
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE OAKLAND ARMY BASE.REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI WILL BE IN A UNIQUE CHAIR.
THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIR POSITION TO HAVE EVEN MORE GREATER INFLUENCE OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY.
THERE ARE OTHERS THAT WILL BE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS.
THE TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS, REPRESENTATIVE SALAME IS ON THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE IS SITUATED TO POTENTIALLY HAVE A GAVEL AS THEY LIKE TO SAY.
SO CALIFORNIA DELEGATION AS A WHOLE IS WELL SITUATED, CARRYING THEIR SENIORITY FORWARD AND.
SO WE'LL JUST HAVE TO I'LL KEEP YOU UPDATED AS THOSE DEVELOPMENTS BECOME MORE CLEAR.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BE THERE IN MAY 13TH THROUGH 16TH.
DO YOU FORESEE ANY CRISES THAT COULD OCCUR THAT WOULD ELIMINATE US MEETING WITH LEGISLATORS AND THEIR STAFFS? THERE COULD BE.
IT MAY BE BECAUSE OF HEARINGS.
HOPEFULLY, IT'S NOT BECAUSE OF LOTS OF FLOOR VOTES OR THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO ELECT SOMEONE ELSE NEW FOR LEADERSHIP, WHICH OCCUPIED A LOT OF A LOT OF TIME AND REQUIRED A LOT OF TIME ON THE FLOOR WHERE MEMBERS LITERALLY COULDN'T LEAVE.
YOU KNOW, THE FLOOR BECAUSE OF VOTES.
SO I THINK OUR DELEGATION DOES A WONDERFUL JOB OF MAKING TIME FOR THE PARK DISTRICT IN OFFICE OR IN THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF A COMMITTEE MEETING THAT THEY'RE INVOLVED IN, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT'LL BE AGAIN IN MAY, BUT I'LL HAVE A BETTER SENSE OF THAT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR EFFORTS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN MAY.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO THE CONFERENCE BRIEFING.
FEDERAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE BRIEFING.
ERICH PFUEHLER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.
I WILL BE PRESENTING ON THE CONFERENCE FOR NEXT NEXT MONTH, BUT DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE HARD WORK OF LISA BALDINGER AND OTHERS, AND ALSO WANTED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER OF THE TEAM JOINING US TODAY, JOSH HUBER, WHO WILL BE ASSISTING US WITH PREPARATION FOR THE CONFERENCE AS A TEMPORARY LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH JOSH.
SO JUST WANTED TO WELCOME JOSH TO THE TO THE TEAM AND THEN WANTED TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE PETER'S COMMENTS AND ACTUALLY HAD A CLARIFYING QUESTION FOR YOU, DIRECTOR WAESPI.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE. I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUGGESTING BEFORE THE ELECTION.
WE WILL BE BRIEFING THE FULL BOARD ON APRIL 16TH, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO BE PROVIDING A WELL, WELL DONE AND WELL PUT TOGETHER BOOKLET THAT LISA ALSO TOOK THE LEAD ON.
THAT WILL BE YOUR GUIDE FOR THE ISSUES IN THE MEETINGS THAT WE WILL HAVE.
THAT SHOULD BE KNOCK ON, KNOCK ON WOOD SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO YOU IN PERSON ON THE 16TH, AND THEN WE WILL ALSO PROVIDE A BRIEFING THE FIRST DAY OF THE CONFERENCE BEFORE WE EMBARK ON ANY OF OUR OTHER MEETINGS.
THE GENERAL FLOW OF THE CONFERENCE WILL BE RECOGNIZING THAT MAY 11TH IS THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT THAT I BELIEVE ALL OF YOU ARE PROBABLY ATTENDING.
[01:15:02]
WE REALIZE THAT PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY WILL BE TRAVELING MAY 12TH.SO WE ARE GOING TO START A LITTLE LATER IN THE MORNING ON MONDAY, MAY 13TH.
WE WILL MEET, GATHER AT 11 IN THE MORNING AT THE HOTEL CAFETERIA.
WE'RE STAYING IN THE SAME HOTEL.
YOU SHOULD BE RECEIVING AN ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THAT.
SO WE WILL BE MEETING AT THAT HOTEL CAFETERIA AROUND 11:00, WHERE LISA AND I WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE WEEK AND THEN PETER WILL JOIN US ABOUT 45 MINUTES IN.
WE'LL GO GRAB SOME BOX LUNCHES, BOARD AND PETER CAN STAY AT THE CAFETERIA.
WE'LL BRING THE LUNCHES BACK, AND THERE'LL BE SORT OF A Q&A PERIOD WITH PETER.
THEN LATER, AFTER WE FINISH THAT DISCUSSION, WE WILL BE GOING DOWN TO THE NAVY YARD, WHERE WE'LL HAVE A MEETING WITH THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND COALITION WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AND THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY HELPFUL TO HAVE IN OUR INITIAL DAY, BECAUSE WE WILL BE SPEAKING TO EVERY OFFICE IN THE DELEGATION ABOUT THE NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND LAND AND WATER, AND ALSO A NUANCE IN THE PROGRAM WHERE A IF A PROJECT RECEIVES LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND MONEY, IT MUST WAIT SEVEN YEARS TO IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE SAME PROJECT FROM LWCF.
SO MANY OF OUR PROJECTS ARE COMPLETE IN SEVEN YEARS, SO IT ESSENTIALLY ONLY ALLOWS ONE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND MONEY. THEN AFTER THAT, WE HAVE A MEETING WITH RANDY MOORE, WHO IS THE CHIEF OF THE US FOREST SERVICE.
HE IS THAT WILL BE THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN THE SLIDESHOW, BUT HE MOST RECENTLY WAS THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR HERE IN THE PACIFIC REGION UP IN VALLEJO.
ON TUESDAY, WE WILL BE DOING OUR CAPITOL HILL VISITS.
PETER IS HELPING US SCHEDULE THOSE AS WE SPEAK, SO THAT WILL BE OUR BUSY DAY AND THEN, WELL, THEY'LL ALL BE BUSY, BUT THAT WILL BE THE BUSIEST, AND THEN WEDNESDAY WE HAVE A APPOINTMENT WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MEETING WITH THEIR ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR FOR PARTNERSHIPS AND ENGAGEMENT.
WE'VE ALSO RESERVED A TIME FOR THE INDIAN CRAFT SHOP, AND THEN AFTERWARDS WE'LL BE MEETING WITH SENATOR PADILLA'S OFFICE LUNCHEON IN THE SENATE DIRKSEN BUILDING AND THEN MEETING WITH STAFF FROM SENATOR BUTLER'S OFFICE, AND THEN ON THURSDAY, WE'RE WORKING TO COMPLETE THE SCHEDULE, BUT WE WILL WE DO INTEND TO HAVE A MEETING WITH AMERICORPS.
OH, AND I NEGLECTED TO SAY ON WEDNESDAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT A SITE VISIT WITH AT REI FOR THEIR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DISPLAY, AND THEN, AS MENTIONED, A MEETING WITH AMERICORPS.
PETER MENTIONED THAT IN HIS REMARKS, AND THEN WE HAVE A MEETING WITH THE STAFF OF THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE TO DISCUSS NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION, AND THEN WE WILL HAVE A SITE VISIT TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL GO THROUGH OUR INDIVIDUAL.
OKAY. THIS IS THE THIS IS THE PARTICULARS.
SO THE HOTEL IS RESERVED FROM AFTER 4:00.
CHECK IN ON SUNDAY, MAY 12TH THROUGH NOON.
CHECK OUT ON FRIDAY, MAY 17TH.
THE PERIOD OF THE CONFERENCE, AS IT STATES HERE IS MAY 13TH THROUGH MAY 16TH AND WE WILL BE JOINING THE BOARD, THE ENTIRE BOARD, I BELIEVE WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE STAFF.
SO, AS MENTIONED, LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND THAT DISCUSSION WILL OCCUR VERY EARLY IN THE CONFERENCE, AND THEN THE MEETING WITH RANDY MOORE, THEY'RE DOING SOME VERY INNOVATIVE THINGS WITH BIOCHAR AND BIOMASS UTILIZATION WITH THE US FOREST SERVICE AND ALSO CARBON REDUCTION STRATEGIES.
SO THIS MEETING IS INTENDED TO BE A SHARED BEST PRACTICES CONVERSATION.
WE WILL IN YOUR PACKET, YOU'LL HAVE SOME INFORMATION FROM OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING WITH THE CARBONIZER AND OBVIOUSLY WITH THE BIOCHAR THAT'S BEEN PRODUCED BEING ABLE TO UTILIZE IT WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES OF THE REGIONAL PARK SYSTEM.
[01:20:02]
THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH HER STAFF.DID WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HER OFFICE, THROUGH PETER'S WORK, WAS ABLE TO SUBMIT A REQUEST TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT ON JUDGE JOHN SUTTER REGIONAL SHORELINE.
SO WE'VE GOT THAT REQUEST IN THROUGH A NUMBER OF OFFICES.
WE DON'T HAVE A SPECIFIC ASK THIS YEAR BECAUSE WE'RE BUILDING OUR OWN INFRASTRUCTURE AROUND HOW WE PACKAGE FEMA RELATED PROJECTS, BUT WE DO WANT TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH THEIR STAFF ABOUT WHAT THAT COULD LOOK LIKE IF IT WERE TO BE A LEGISLATIVE PROPOSAL AND GET SOME GUIDANCE FROM HIS TEAM ON POSSIBLE STREAMLINING OF THAT PROCESS AND THEN AGAIN, HIS OFFICE, AS THEY DID LAST YEAR, IS SUBMITTING LANGUAGE ON JUDGE JOHN SUTTER REGIONAL SHORELINE IN THE OAKLAND ARMY BASE PROPERTY. ANOTHER CHAMPION FOR THE OAKLAND ARMY BASE PROPERTY.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK HIM FOR THE $900,000 FOR THE MARTINEZ BAY TRAIL SEGMENT, WHICH WAS REFERENCED EARLIER, BUT ALSO ASKING MAKING AN ADDITIONAL ASK FOR THE RICHMOND BAY TRAIL GAP CLOSURE FROM POINT PINOLE TO WILSON POINT, AND WE'RE OPTIMISTIC AFTER TAKING HIS STAFF OUT THERE.
DIRECTOR COFFEY AND I AND SEAN DOUGAN MET WITH HIS STAFF OUT ON SITE, AND I THINK THEY HAVE A FULL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THAT PROJECT LOOKS LIKE, AND EVEN IF WE DO GET THE RAISE GRANT ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL BE WILL BE NEEDED.
OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE JOSH HARDER, AS DIRECTOR COFFEY KNOWS, DOES NOT HAVE A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE EAST BAY IN HIS DISTRICT, BUT HE HAS A FAIR BIT OF AGRICULTURAL INTEREST IN HIS EXISTING DISTRICT, AND SO WE WANT TO TALK TO HIS OFFICE ABOUT PROPOSALS TO INCORPORATE WILDFIRE RESILIENCE AND THROUGH GRAZING AND OTHER MECHANISMS ON GRASSLANDS THROUGHOUT THE NATION AND HIS OFFICE HAS BEEN APPROACHED PREVIOUSLY AND HAS INDICATED AN INTEREST IN THAT.
SO HE DOES SO MUCH FOR THE PARK DISTRICT THAT IT'S ALWAYS KIND OF HARD TO.
HIS OFFICE HAS BEEN ENGAGED WITH THE WITH WITH OUR STAFF ON A POSSIBILITY OF GRASSLANDS AMENDMENTS BEING OFFERED TO A FARM BILL SHOULD ONE ADVANCE.
THINKING, CONSIDERING HOW WE THANK HER FOR MANY YEARS OF SERVICE, AND THEN ALSO HOPEFULLY A DISCUSSION, AS SHE ALWAYS WANTS TO TALK ABOUT YOUTH JOBS.
A DISCUSSION, HOPEFULLY PRODUCTIVE ONE ABOUT THE AMERICORPS AND CONSERVATION CORPS OR, I'M SORRY, CLIMATE CORPS FUNDING POSSIBLY COMING TO CALIFORNIA THROUGH ITS EXISTING NETWORK OF BOTH THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS AND THE CIVIC CORPS THAT ARE RECOGNIZED BY THE STATE, INCLUDING THE ONE BASED IN OAKLAND THAT SERVES THE EAST BAY AND THAT THE PARK DISTRICT WORKS WITH, AND AGAIN REMINDING THEM OF THE JUDGE JOHN SUTTER.
GIVEN REPRESENTATIVE LEE'S POSITION ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE WITH MILITARY CONSTRUCTION.
SHE IS IN A GOOD POSITION THERE TO PROVIDE SOME INPUT ON THAT PROJECT.
SO THAT'S WHERE HER ENERGY IS LIKELY TO BE FOCUSED BUT SHE IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE SENATORS AND THE REPRESENTATIVE, GARY MONDAY, WORKING THROUGH THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
SO WE'LL THANK HER FOR THAT AND REINFORCE OUR INTEREST IN HAVING HER WORK THROUGH THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR APPROPRIATIONS BILLS ON HELPING US RECEIVE THAT PROPERTY SOONER.
ERIC SWALWELL, HIS OFFICE ALSO HAS BEEN ENGAGED WITH STAFF ON WILDFIRE RESILIENCE AND GRASSLAND LEGISLATION, AND AS YOU RECALL, PERHAPS FROM OUR CONVERSATION WITH HIS OFFICE LAST YEAR, HE ALSO WAS INTERESTED IN FEMA REFORM AND ACTUALLY HAD JUST
[01:25:10]
INTRODUCED LEGISLATION TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE FOR MITIGATION, AND THAT LEGISLATION DID ADVANCE.SO WE ARE THANKFUL FOR HIS EFFORTS ON THAT, AND THEN OFFICER RO KHANNA.
AGAIN, HIS OFFICE HAS BEEN APPROACHED ON GRASSLANDS LEGISLATION AND HAS INDICATED INTEREST.
SO THAT WILL BE A CONVERSATION WITH WITH HIS TEAM THERE, AND WITH THAT, THAT IS OUR SUMMARY TO DATE.
SO I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU, ERICH. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? GO AHEAD, ELIZABETH. ARE YOU? WELL, YEAH, I'M JUST THINKING.
YEAH, SO I KNOW ALL OF THIS IS ALWAYS A MOVING TARGET UNTIL, YOU KNOW, UNTIL WE'RE, LIKE, IN THEIR OFFICE OR OUTSIDE THE OFFICE, BUT DO YOU HAVE, LIKE, A SORT OF A DRAFT AGENDA? JUST A TARGET OF WHEN YOU THINK OR WHEN YOU'RE HOPING FOR US TO MEET WITH THESE VARIOUS PEOPLE? I MEAN, YOU'VE MARKED OUT SOME OF THE DAYS WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO BE MEETING WITH SOME OF THE NON-LEGISLATIVE FOLKS, BUT IS THE IDEA THAT THE 14TH AND 15TH WOULD MOSTLY BE THE LEGISLATIVE MEETINGS, OR I'M JUST TRYING TO GET A BETTER SENSE FOR THE AGENDA.
PETER, DID YOU HAVE A RESPONSE TO THAT? YOU CLICKED ON. THE HOPE, DIRECTOR ECHOLS, THE HOPE IS TO HAVE, AS ERICH WAS DESCRIBING, MEETINGS IN THE HOUSE, ONE DAY MEETINGS IN THE SENATE THE NEXT, A FEW FEDERAL AGENCY MEETINGS, AND JUST 1 OR 2 MEETINGS ON THAT THURSDAY THE 16TH.
SO, OKAY, IF IT'S HELPFUL FOR YOU.
HAPPY TO GIVE YOU WHAT WE HAVE IN TERMS OF WHAT'S IN, WHAT'S ON THE SCHEDULE AS WE KNOW RIGHT NOW.
WELL, YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
I WILL SAY WE DO HAVE SOME INTENTIONAL AREAS WHERE WE ARE NOT PLANNING TO SCHEDULE MEETINGS.
SO THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY MONDAY AND THEN LATE AFTERNOON, EVENING, MONDAY, AND THEN ALSO AFTERNOON, EVENING OF THURSDAY.
THE REST OF THE TIME, I ENVISION US BEING PRETTY, PRETTY ACTIVE.
SURE. ERICH, I'D VERY MUCH LIKE TO SEE FORMALLY, AS OPPOSED TO INFORMALLY, THE TOPIC OF EXONERATION OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50 ON OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH MEMBER GARAMENDI AND MEMBER DESAULNIER.
JUST IF FOR NO OTHER REASON, AN UPDATE ON ADVOCACY STATUS, I THINK THOSE TWO ARE KEY TO IT.
IF I COULD DICTATE OUR SCHEDULE IN DC, SINCE ALL OF US ARE THERE AND IT'S A BIG ISSUE TO ALL OF US PHILOSOPHICALLY AND AND IN TERMS OF DEVELOPMENT OF OUR PARK AND INTERPRETATION.
I'D LOVE TO HAVE A MEETING WITH THE SECRETARY OF NAVY OR, YOU KNOW, THE WHITE HOUSE COUNSEL'S OFFICE OR SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT, BUT I THINK MY COLLEAGUES ON THE BOARD WOULD ALL AGREE THAT WHILE WE'RE THERE, IF THERE IS SOME FACET OF THIS VISIT TO WASHINGTON, DC THAT WOULD ALLOW US TO PROMOTE THE EXONERATION ADVOCACY IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, THAT YOU AND PETER GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT.
THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS.
I ALSO SUPPORT COLIN'S SUGGESTION ABOUT THE EXONERATION ADVOCACY.
I THINK IT'S UNIQUE TO US, AND OUR REPRESENTATIVES, OUR POSITION IS UNIQUE, PARDON ME.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I THINK WE SHOULD DO IT.
IT SOUNDS LIKE A VERY GREAT TIME AND HOPE NOTHING COMES UP.
ANYWAY, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.
[01:30:08]
THAT WAS VERY USEFUL.YOU NEVER ACTUALLY KNOW WHO YOU WILL RUN INTO IN LONGWORTH CAFETERIA.
SO WE'LL SEE. TO BE DETERMINED.
ALL RIGHT, IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE SCHEDULE THAT'S GOING TO COME OUT AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE EVENT.
WE'LL MOVE NOW TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? DIRECTOR OR CHAIR WAESPI, I THINK WE DID WANT TO JUST HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THE SITE VISITS THAT HAVE OCCURRED SINCE OUR LAST MEETING.
IT'S NOT A LONG LIST, SO IT WON'T TAKE A LOT OF TIME, BUT DID WANT TO INDICATE WE HAD A REALLY WONDERFUL VISIT ON MARCH 22ND AT THE BRIONES PILOT PROJECT SITE WHERE WE HAD ABOUT 20 ELECTED OFFICE STAFF MEMBERS ATTEND, AND OBVIOUSLY, SEAN DOUGAN WAS THERE TO DISCUSS THE PILOT PROJECT, BUT WHAT WAS REALLY MEANINGFUL AND POWERFUL WAS HEARING FROM OPERATION STAFF AND HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE WHAT WE'VE WORKED ON OUT THERE HAS MADE IN TERMS OF THE DYNAMIC WITH THE VARIOUS USER GROUPS.
IT WAS VERY CLEAR THAT A LOT OF WORK HAD GONE INTO OR HAS GONE INTO THAT PILOT PROGRAM, BUT IT DOES APPEAR FROM THE STAFF STANDPOINT THAT IT HAS PAID OFF AND THAT IT'S BEEN A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE.
SO THAT WAS A GOOD VISIT AND JUST IN TERMS OF A LEGISLATIVE NEXUS, WE DISCUSSED AT SOMEWHAT LENGTH THE NEED TO HAVE PERMITTING REFORM FOR TRAIL REPAIRS.
OFTEN WHEN OUR TRAILS ARE DAMAGED OR THROUGH EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KEEPING THEM CLOSED FOR LONGER THAN THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE, AND OFTEN THAT'S DUE TO PERMITTING CHALLENGES.
SO DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BEND THE STAFF'S EAR ON THAT ISSUE, AND THEN OUR OTHER VISIT IN THIS TIME PERIOD WAS AT ANTHONY CHABOT WITH DEPUTY SECRETARY LISA LYNNE MAIER.
SHE IS THE CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR FORESTRY AND RESILIENCE, AND THIS WAS A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR HER TO SEE THE CARBONIZER AT WORK AND SOMETHING THAT I THINK SHE WILL BE TAKING BACK TO THE TO THE SECRETARY AND CONSIDERING DIFFERENT PLACES IN CALIFORNIA WHERE THAT KIND OF WORK CAN CAN HAPPEN AND OCCUR, AND I THINK IT'S BENEFICIAL FROM A CLIMATE STANDPOINT, REDUCING THE AMOUNT OF TRUCKS ON THE ROAD, REMOVING MOVING BIOMASS ALL AROUND THE STATE TO DISPOSE OF IT.
SO IT WAS A GOOD CONVERSATION, GOOD DISCUSSION.
OUR FIRE TEAM DID A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING THE PROCESS, AND ALSO, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WITH REGARD TO DC EXPLAINING THE USE OF THE BIOCHAR THROUGHOUT THE PARK DISTRICT. SO IT WAS A REALLY, REALLY PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATION.
EXCELLENT. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, BOARD MEMBERS? HEARING NONE. I APOLOGIZE FOR PASSING THAT OVER.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? ANYONE ELSE? HEARING NONE.
WE'LL MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS AGAIN.
[Announcements]
ANYONE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? ANYTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER.DO YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE? COME UP AND TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF FOR A SECOND.
[CHUCKLING] THAT'S PART OF THE DEAL.
YOU'RE PART OF THE FAMILY NOW.
I'VE WORKED IN THE EAST BAY FOR, WHAT, ABOUT TEN, SOME ODD YEARS IN VARIOUS CAPACITIES.
ALSO WORKED ON A CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN.
WENT ON AND DID A LITTLE BIT OF PUBLIC ADVOCACY WORK OUT IN THE EAST BAY FOR THE CONTRA COSTA COUNCIL EAST BAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, WHATEVER THEY'RE CALLING THEMSELVES THIS MONTH, AND YEAH, I'M JUST REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BE HERE.
I'M A BIG ADMIRER OF THE PARKS.
I SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THEM AND YEAH, LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS EXPERIENCE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. APPRECIATE YOU.
[01:35:02]
IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, IN ALL THE FRUSTRATION OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD, I LOVE LOOKING OUT AND SEEING WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.THAT FREMONTIA IS BLOOMING INCREDIBLY.
IT'S. WHAT A GREAT VIEW OUT THE WINDOWS HERE.
ANYWAY, IF THERE'S NOTHING ELSE, WE'RE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.