[00:00:01]
EVERYTHING READY? OKAY.[ROLL CALL]
THIS IS THE CLOSED SESSION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON APRIL 16TH, 2024, BEGINNING AT 11:07 A.M..MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YES. PRESIDENT ECHOLS.
HERE. GENERAL COUNSEL BOURGAULT.
HERE. THANK YOU, MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS FOR CLOSED SESSION THIS MORNING? NO, WE DO NOT, PRESIDENT ECHOLS.
GREAT. SO WE CAN ADJOURN THEN TO CLOSED SESSION.
[CLOSED SESSION ITEMS]
YES. OKAY. THANK YOU.[ROLL CALL]
P.M.. MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YES. PRESIDENT ECHOLS.PRESENT. GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.
HERE. GENERAL COUNSEL BOURGAULT.
HERE. DIRECTOR ECHOLS IS HERE? YES. DIRECTOR ECHOLS.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO ASK DIRECTOR MERCURIO TO RECITE THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL, AND DIRECTOR SANWONG, CAN YOU
[LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT]
PLEASE READ THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT? EXCELLENT. YES. 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 HUICHUN 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 CULTURAL PRACTICES, ALL WHILE PASSING DOWN THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE.
[APPROVAL OF AGENDA]
NOW, IF I COULD GET A MOTION TO APPROVE OUR AGENDA TODAY.IS THERE A SECOND? THANK YOU, DIRECTOR SANWONG. OKAY.
MOVED BY DIRECTOR ROSARIO AND SECONDED BY DIRECTOR SANWONG.
ALL IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE AGENDA? AYE. OPPOSED? OKAY. MOTION CARRIES.
SO WELL, I AM DELIGHTED THAT WE HAVE SEVERAL EXTRA PRESENTATIONS TODAY, AND THESE PRESENTATIONS WILL
[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
BE PRESENTED BY PUBLIC SAFETY, AND I'M SO EXCITED TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE HERE.THANK YOU ALL FOR FOR JOINING US.
IT'S ALWAYS GREAT TO, TO HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS TO CELEBRATE.
SO SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.
SO THE FIRST THE FIRST ONE THAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS THE PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK, AND WHAT I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE, WHO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS IS OUR DISPATCH PERSONNEL AND WE ALL KNOW HOW WELL AND HOW HARD DISPATCH WORKS.
IT'S A REALLY TOUGH, STRESSFUL JOB, AND I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR TELECOMMUNICATORS, OUR DISPATCH PEOPLE IN GENERAL, BUT ALSO HERE AT THE DISTRICT, WE ARE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE HAVE A GREAT GROUP AND I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY DO.
SO NOW I AM GOING TO READ THE SPECIFIC TEXT I WAS ASKED TO READ.
EVERY YEAR DURING THE SECOND WEEK OF APRIL.
[00:05:06]
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN CALIFORNIA, IS A TIME TO CELEBRATE AND THANK THOSE WHO DEDICATE THEIR LIVES TO SERVING THE PUBLIC.OKAY. NOW, CHIEF FILICE IS GOING TO COME UP FOR THE NEXT PRESENTATION.
MADAM PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
THANK YOU, ROBERTO FILICE, YOUR AGM OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
THANK YOU TO MY GENERAL MANAGER FOR BEING HERE WITH US.
THEY CAME OUT, CAME OVER TO SUPPORT US IN THIS GREAT EVENT.
SO THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, BUDDY.
APPRECIATE IT. IF YOU INDULGE ME, I'M JUST GOING TO TAKE TWO SECONDS OF YOUR TIME, BECAUSE I DO WANT TO RECOGNIZE AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MY DISPATCHERS FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
SO I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW HOW PROUD OF THEM I AM AND WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO LIEUTENANT CHAVEZ FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS. ONE, HE OVERSEES THE DISPATCHERS, BUT HE'S ALSO GOING TO INTRODUCE US TO SOMETHING THAT I WANT TO START AS A TRADITION, AS YOUR POLICE CHIEF, RECOGNIZING OUR EMPLOYEES OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU CHIEF. GOOD AFTERNOON.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS, GENERAL MANAGER LANDRETH.
THIS PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IS VOTED ON BY THEIR PEERS, AND THEY HAVE SIGNIFICANT LEVELS THAT THEY HAVE TO MEET AS STANDARDS, AND THEY'VE EXCELLED THOSE STANDARDS IN OUR DEPARTMENT. SO WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS I'M GOING TO SPEAK ABOUT EACH INDIVIDUAL, AND AT THE END, I'D LIKE YOU ALL TO JOIN ME IN CONGRATULATING EACH ONE.
FIRST I'M GOING TO SPEAK OF SPEAK TO DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR BRIAN HAGENBUCH.
BRIAN HAS WORKED AS A DISPATCHER SINCE 2007, AND HAS SERVED AS A DISPATCH SUPERVISOR SINCE 2012.
HE PROVIDES EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE IN ALL AREAS OF HIS DUTIES.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING SELECTED AS THE DISPATCHER OF THE YEAR, BRIAN.
NEXT WE HAVE THE OFFICER OF THE YEAR DAVE HARO.
DETECTIVE HARO HAS BEEN OFFICER SINCE 2016 AND IS CURRENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE INVESTIGATIONS UNIT.
SO HE IS AVAILABLE TO HELP TRAIN OTHER OFFICERS ON WHAT DETECTIVES NEED TO GET CASES SUCCESSFULLY CHARGED, OFTEN WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TO ENSURE WE HAVE EVERYTHING THAT IS NEEDED FOR A CASE TO SUCCESSFULLY MEET THE THRESHOLD OF BEING CHARGED.
WHEN A HOMICIDE OCCURRED AT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR REGIONAL SHORELINE LAST SUMMER.
DAVE IS A SENIOR DETECTIVE IN THE UNIT AND HAS SHOWN GREAT LEADERSHIP OVER THE PAST YEAR.
DAVE HARO, CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING SELECTED AS OFFICER OF THE YEAR.
THANK YOU. WE ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER RESOLUTION.
FOR TIME'S SAKE; IT COULD BE EASIER.
WELL, CERTAINLY, BEFORE WE MOVE ON, I REALLY DO WANT TO EXPRESS MY HEARTFELT THANKS FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE WORK AND DEDICATION AND WELL DONE ON RECEIVING THIS SPECIAL AWARD.
WE'D LIKE TO ADD MY COMMENTS AS WELL.
[00:10:01]
CONGRATULATIONS. IT'S WELL EARNED, AND I THINK THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, BECAUSE OF YOUR WORK, HAS THE RESPECT OF ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES THAT WE WORK WITH, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ALWAYS CHERISH, SOMETHING WE CAN'T ALWAYS TAKE, WE DON'T ALWAYS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF AS FAR AS THAT, AND WHEN WE GET A CHANCE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES, THE PEOPLE IN DISPATCH AND THE DETECTIVES DOING THEIR WORK WHENEVER WE GET THAT OPPORTUNITY TO ACKNOWLEDGE YOU, WE SHOULD, AND I'M GLAD CHIEF FILICE IS GOING TO TAKE THAT TO HEART, AND I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR WORK.I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN TO DISPATCH CENTER.
I REMEMBER GOING THERE DOING AS A FIRE OFFICER AND DOING MY AFTER INCIDENT REPORTS THERE.
IT'S QUITE IT'S QUITE A SCENE, AND THEY WORK LONG HOURS AND IN THE DARK AND AND THE WORK OF THE DETECTIVES HERE HAS JUST BEEN PHENOMENAL.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE, AND CONGRATULATIONS.
ANYBODY ELSE? WELL, GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR CORBETT.
I JUST ADD TO THAT WE APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO AND WE THANK YOU FOR IT.
IT'S NOT ALWAYS FUN, BUT YOU'RE THERE BECAUSE YOUR HEART'S IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE OF OUR DISTRICT AND OUR EMPLOYEES AT OUR DISTRICT AS WELL. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE EXAMPLE THAT YOU SET, AND CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
OKAY, SO NOW WE ARE MOVING ON TO ONE MORE RECOGNITION.
THIS IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT ONE.
I HAVE HERE BEFORE ME A RESOLUTION HONORING AND COMMENDING DAVID PHELPS IN RECOGNITION OF 25 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY SERVICE TO THE PARK DISTRICT. I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ THE RESOLUTION.
WHEREAS DAVID PHELPS HAS DEDICATED 25 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO THE PARK DISTRICT, AND WHEREAS DAVID PHELPS HAS BEEN A LEADER THROUGHOUT HIS EXTENSIVE CAREER AND AS A POLICE OFFICER, HE SERVED IN SPECIALTY ROLES AS A DETECTIVE AND FIELD TRAINING OFFICER, AND WHEREAS, DAVID PHELPS WAS PROMOTED TO SERGEANT IN 2007, WHERE HE WORKED IN PATROL, SERVED AS AN SRU TEAM LEADER, AND WORKED DILIGENTLY IN THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS UNIT, WHERE HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN OBTAINING SEVERAL CALEA ACCREDITATION AWARDS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WHEREAS DAVID PHELPS WAS PROMOTED TO POLICE LIEUTENANT IN 2017, WHERE HE SERVED AS THE PATROL WATCH COMMANDER BEFORE TRANSFERRING TO SUPPORT SERVICES AND WHEREAS, DAVID PHELPS ATTENDED THE PRESTIGIOUS FBI NATIONAL ACADEMY AND GRADUATED ON MARCH 17TH, 2022, AND WHEREAS, DAVID PHELPS LED THE SUPPORT SERVICES DIVISION FOR THE LAST YEAR AS ACTING POLICE CAPTAIN, SUPERVISING ALL ASPECTS OF THE DIVISION, INCLUDING RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING, THE PUBLIC SAFETY BUDGET, PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS, INFORMATION SERVICES, THE FACILITIES, COMMUNICATIONS, RECORDS AND PROPERTY, AND WHEREAS, DAVID PHELPS WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS STRONG DEDICATION TO PUBLIC SERVICE AND DEPENDABILITY, HIS CALM DEMEANOR AND UNWAVERING WORK ETHIC, HE WILL LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ALL THOSE HE HAS HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT HEREBY EXTENDS ITS CONGRATULATIONS AND HEARTFELT THANKS TO DAVID PHELPS FOR ALL HE HAS GIVEN TO THE PARK DISTRICT AS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD ON APRIL 16TH, 2024 AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE GENERAL MANAGER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED ON BEHALF OF THE PARK DISTRICT AND IN ITS NAME, TO THANK DAVID PHELPS FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE AND WISH CONTINUED SUCCESS IN HIS FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[00:15:03]
SO ANYBODY WHO KNOWS ME WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT I'VE GOT BUTTERFLIES RUNNING THROUGH MY CHEST BECAUSE I DO NOT LIKE PUBLIC SPEAKING AS OPPOSED TO MY COUNTERPART CAPTAIN COTCHER, WHO'S IN STARK CONTRAST TO MY OWN PERSONALITY.FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, I APPRECIATE THIS.
I JUST HAPPENED TO PULL UP THE AGENDA ABOUT 12:45 TO SEE THAT I WAS LETTER C ON THE AGENDA, BUT PROBABLY MY MY BIGGEST INSPIRATION FOR COMING UP BEFORE THIS PODIUM WAS TO POINT OUT MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE, KAREN, OF 20 YEARS WHO'S BEEN THE INSPIRATION, PROVIDED ME ENDLESS SUPPORT AND PRIDE OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND I COULDN'T BE HERE.
I COULDN'T BE AS FOCUSED ON MY JOB WITHOUT HER SUPPORT PRIMARILY, AND ALL THESE OTHER MEN AND WOMEN IN BLUE AND OTHER COLORS THAT I WORK WITH A TREMENDOUSLY LOVE, AND I WILL MISS YOU ALL.
OKAY, WELL. CONGRATULATIONS AGAIN.
NOW WE ARE MOVING ON TO LESS CELEBRATORY THINGS, BUT STILL GOOD.
[00:20:04]
OKAY, SO FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE FOR OUR CLERK TO EXPLAIN HOW THE PUBLIC CAN SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS.[PUBLIC COMMENT]
YES, PRESIDENT ECHOLS.LEAVE A MESSAGE WHICH WILL BE TRANSCRIBED AND GIVEN TO THE BOARD AND MADE A PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD, OR SIMPLY BY JOINING THE MEETING VIA ZOOM LINK, WHICH IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA. THE SUBMISSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS WAS NOTICED ON THE AGENDA AND IN THE BOARD PACKET, AND POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE ON FRIDAY, APRIL THE 12TH.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANY COMMENTS? NOT ON THE AGENDA FOR TODAY? YES, MADAM PRESIDENT, WE HAVE I BELIEVE IT'S FIVE DIFFERENT COMMENTS.
OKAY, OKAY. WE'RE GOING TO START IN THE ORDER THAT I WAS GIVEN THEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S B-A-M? OKAY. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.
I'M ACTUALLY HERE DUE TO A PROBLEM I'VE BEEN SEEING AT THE LAKE CHABOT, MAINLY, BUT I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT AT OTHER LAKES, AND WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE.
THESE FISH ARE DAZED, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
THEY'RE RELEASED INTO THE LAKE AND THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, EASY TO NET, AND ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED AT THE CONCESSION STAND TALKED TO ONE OF THEM, AND SHE SAID, HOW MANY DO YOU HAVE? AND HE SAID HE HAD EIGHT, AND HE GOES, YOU'RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO HAVE FIVE, AND HE GOES, WELL, THEY NEVER CHECK, AND I DON'T THINK THEY HAVE LICENSES.
I DON'T THINK THEY BUY USE FEES.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WE FOLLOW THE RULES.
WE GO DOWN, WE BUY OUR, YOU KNOW, LICENSE, WE BUY OUR FEES, ALL THIS, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE JUST COMING IN, NETTING THESE FISH BEFORE THEY CAN GET AWAY, AND I'VE BEEN CALLING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I WORKED.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S WELL COORDINATED.
HE'S TRYING, AND I ALSO TALKED TO CASEY, WHO WORKS AT THE LAKE, AND HE'S HAD SOME GOOD IDEAS, TOO, ABOUT MOVING THE WHERE THEY PUT THE FISH IN MORE BY THE DAM BECAUSE THERE'S NOWHERE TO GET NEAR THEM THERE.
THEY'D HAVE A SAFER SPOT TO BE WHERE THEY CAN THEN MIGRATE TO THE REST OF THE LAKE, BUT THAT COSTS MONEY, AND WHAT I'M REALLY LOOKING FOR IS, LIKE I SAY, EVERYBODY'S TRYING, BUT I KIND OF WANT TO GET SOME HELP FROM ABOVE PUSHING DOWN, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO GET MORE COORDINATION BETWEEN ALL THESE PEOPLE.
SO IT'S NOT JUST LAKE CHABOT, FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE OFFICER, HE SAID, IT'S, YOU KNOW, ALL OF THE LAKES, THEY'RE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHERE PEOPLE JUST GO IN WITH NETS AND ARE SCOOPING THE FISH UP, AND I'M PRETTY SURE NONE OF THEM HAVE A LICENSES.
THEY JUST GO IN AND HOOK THEM UP, YOU KNOW? SO THAT'S WHY I WAS HERE.
JUST TRYING TO GET YOUR HELP PUSHING DOWN.
YOU KNOW, I'VE TALKED TO EVERYBODY I COULD THINK OF.
THE ONE I COULDN'T GET AHOLD OF IS FISH AND GAME BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO OFFICES IN THIS AREA, WHICH IS KIND OF BOGGLES MY MIND, BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S THE MAIN THING I WANTED TO BRING UP, SO.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND WE'LL FOLLOW UP WITH BOTH OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MA'AM.
THERE'S A STEP STOOL RIGHT THERE IF YOU CAN PULL THAT STOOL OUT FOR ME.
OKAY. I'M HERE ABOUT THE SAME THING.
I'VE BEEN FISHING LAKE CHABOT FOR 55 YEARS.
I LOVE THAT LAKE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, I'VE SEEN THIS POACHING OF THESE FISH COMING OUT OF THE TUBE FROM THE FISH TRUCK, AND IT PULLS ME.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, YOU COULDN'T EVEN GET NEAR THOSE FISH COMING OUT OF THE TUBE.
YOU HAD TO WAIT 2 OR 3 DAYS, AND NOW I UNDERSTAND THEY'RE GETTING NETS.
THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR LICENSES CHECKED.
[00:25:02]
THEY'RE NOT GETTING THEIR PERMITS CHECKED.FISHING IS MY LIFE; I LOVE FISHING.
SO I'VE HEARD THAT THERE'S BEEN MEETINGS.
I'VE TALKED TO CASEY, WHICH IS AT LAKE CHABOT, AND HE'S TALKED TO ME ABOUT MEETINGS.
EVERY TWO WEEKS, THIS IS HAPPENING, AND THESE GUYS ARE NOT BEING, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, THE POLICE COME, THE PARK POLICE COME. THEY SAY, WELL, IT'S ONLY TWO HOURS.
THE FISH ARE STILL IN THAT ONE AREA.
THEY'RE BEING POACHED, AND TO ME THAT'S NOT RIGHT.
SO THAT'S WHAT I AM HERE FOR TODAY, AND I HOPE WE COULD RESOLVE THIS, AND JUST NOT LIKE LAKE CHABOT, BUT ALL THE LAKES, BUT I KNOW LAKE CHABOT HAS A PROBLEM WITH WHERE THEY PUT FISH LIKE THEY USED TO PUT FISH AT COOTS LANDING.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND THE TRUCKS CAN'T GO ON THE TRAIL ANYMORE BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ROUGH, AND SOMEBODY WAS SAYING DOWN BY THE DAM, WELL, WHERE ARE THE TRUCKS GOING TO COME FROM? THE DAM AND THAT SNAKE TRAIL, BUT SOMEBODY HAS TO FIGURE SOMETHING OUT BECAUSE THESE FISH ARE NOT GIVEN A CHANCE AND THE FISHERMEN ARE NOT GIVEN A CHANCE TO FISH.
SO I'M PUTTING IN MY TWO CENTS AND HOPEFULLY YOU GUYS COULD HELP ME OR HELP US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR LISTENING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.
BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF AND PUBLIC.
MY NAME IS PAUL RANKIN AND I SERVED IN THE PAST AS THE DISTRICT CFO.
BECAUSE OF THE MANY ISSUES, I HAVE LOOKED MORE CLOSELY AT THE PROCESS.
I'LL SUMMARIZE SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT I FIND QUITE TROUBLING.
ON OCTOBER 3RD, THIS BOARD APPROVED A CHANGE TO EMPOWER ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, A MAJOR CHANGE ENDING A 40 YEARS OF SERVICE BY MISSION SQUARE AND OVER $135 MILLION OF FUNDS THAT WERE PLANNED PARTICIPANT FUNDS.
THE BOARD DID IT ALL ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE DISTRICT STAFF VERBALLY TOLD THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT THE BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE WOULD PLAY A ROLE. AGAIN, THAT PROCESS AT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE RELIED ON MOSTLY VERBAL REPORTS WITHOUT DOCUMENTATION.
IN SEPTEMBER, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MET AND DISCUSSED THE NEED FOR NOTICE AND EDUCATION OF THE EMPLOYEES, EVEN SUGGESTING A POSSIBLE DELAY OF THE CONVERSION TO APRIL OR JUNE OF 2024.
I WAS FIRST NOTIFIED IN FEBRUARY 2024, LESS THAN A WEEK, TO MAKE A DECISION.
PROBLEMS WITH TIMING, I SHARED THAT WITH DISTRICT STAFF.
AT FIRST IT WAS NOT EVEN ACKNOWLEDGED I HAD TO FOLLOW UP AND THEN IT WAS DENIED.
SEVERAL FEES HAVE NOT BEEN DISCLOSED TO PARTICIPANTS IN A TIMELY MANNER.
CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER SERVICES HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED, AND STAFF TENDS TO IGNORE THAT OR REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN ANY OF THEIR PUBLICATIONS.
BASED ON AVAILABLE INFORMATION.
IT APPEARS THAT STAFF PRESENTED COSTS ONLY FROM ONE PROPOSAL COMPARED TO THE OLD CONTRACT.
I HAVE NOT IDENTIFIED A SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISON OF THE FOUR PROPOSALS THAT WERE RECEIVED LAST YEAR.
MOST TROUBLING IS WHAT I SEE AS A SERIOUS FLAW AT THE MARCH 2024 COMMITTEE MEETING, DEFERRED COMP ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, IT WAS STATED THAT A QUORUM OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING MEMBERS PARTICIPATED AS MEMBERS OF AN INTERVIEW REVIEW COMMITTEE TO MAKE THE FINAL RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD.
THE PRESENCE OF A QUORUM TO MAKE DECISIONS OUTSIDE OF A NOTICE PUBLIC MEETING DOES NOT SEEM TO ALIGN WITH THE INTENT, OR EVEN THE STATUTES RELATED TO OPEN GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS, AND RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF YOUR ACTIONS.
AGAIN, I'VE SHARED THE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS MET MOSTLY WITH SILENCE.
[00:30:05]
THANK YOU, PETER VOLIN, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.I WORKED FOR THE DISTRICT FOR 35 YEARS.
FOR THE LAST 20 OF THOSE YEARS, I RAN THE DISTRICT'S BENEFITS PROGRAMS. I AM A CERTIFIED EMPLOYEE BENEFITS SPECIALIST.
THE RECENT TRANSFER OF THE DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN PROVIDER WAS DEFICIENT IN FOUR IMPORTANT WAYS.
NUMBER ONE, IT WAS DONE IN HASTE AND SECRECY WITHOUT CONSULTING US.
THE DISTRICT HAS NEVER EXPLAINED ITS RATIONALE FOR NOT PROVIDING MEANINGFUL INPUT ON THE PLANNED TRANSFER TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE UNIONS OR THE RETIREES ASSOCIATION.
THIS IS NOT THE DISTRICT'S MONEY.
IT'S THE LIFE SAVINGS OF DISTRICT RETIREES.
YOU, AS BOARD MEMBERS, HAVE THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO ADMINISTER THIS PLAN FOR THE SOLE BENEFIT OF THE PLAN PARTICIPANTS. THE QUALITY OF THE SERVICE WE RECEIVE FROM MISSION SQUARE FOR 42 YEARS SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, INTO CONSIDERATION WITH MISSION SQUARE.
NUMBER TWO, NOTIFICATIONS TO RETIREES WAS NEITHER COMPLETE NOR TIMELY.
THE DISTRICT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING HEALTH DENTAL INSURANCE AND DEFERRED COMP BENEFITS TO ITS RETIREES, BUT YOU HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO KEEP A CONTACT LIST FOR THOSE RETIREES.
INSTEAD, YOU USE THE RETIREES ASSOCIATION EMAIL LIST TO NOTIFY US.
YOU WERE TOLD THAT MANY RETIREES AND PLAN MEMBERS WERE NOT ON THAT LIST, BUT YOU JUST DIDN'T CARE.
WHEN I RAN THE DISTRICT BENEFITS PROGRAMS, IF I HADN'T KEPT A CONTACT LIST FOR PEOPLE FOR WHOSE BENEFITS I WAS RESPONSIBLE, I WOULD HAVE BEEN FIRED IN AN INSTANT. THE DISTRICT STILL DOESN'T HAVE A COMPLETE CONTACT LIST.
NUMBER THREE, MANY OF OUR RETIREES ARE NOT COMPUTER LITERATE, AND SOME ARE IN ASSISTED LIVING FACILITIES AND ARE UNABLE TO DO WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO PROTECT OUR LIFE SAVINGS. THE DISTRICT'S COMMUNICATIONS DID NOT TELL US ABOUT THE COMPLEX FORMS WE HAVE TO COMPETE OR ABOUT THE NEW FEES.
THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THEIR REPORT TO YOU.
WHY HAVEN'T YOU ASKED THEM FOR IT? ALSO, DISTRICT MANAGERS TOLD THE BOARD THAT PLAN MEMBERS RESPONSE TO THE CHAIN HAS BEEN CHANGE HAS BEEN MOSTLY POSITIVE.
WE ASKED THEM TO SHOW US THOSE POSITIVE RESPONSES AND THEY COULDN'T SHOW US EVEN ONE.
I FORWARDED YOU MANY MESSAGES FROM RETIREES THAT SPOKE OF BIG PROBLEMS THEY WERE HAVING.
THE VOTE TO SEND YOU THE LETTER OF PROTEST FROM THE RETIREES ASSOCIATION WAS UNANIMOUS.
NOT ONE MEMBER SAID THEY WERE SATISFIED WITH THE WAY THIS WAS HANDLED.
APPARENTLY, MANAGEMENT HASN'T BEEN TRUTHFUL TO YOU ABOUT BOTH OF THESE CLAIMS. THE RETIREES ASSOCIATION ASKED YOU FOR THREE THINGS TO HELP THIS PROBLEM AND PREVENT RECURRENCES.
WE WANT THE DISTRICT'S HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH A CONTACT LIST FOR EVERY RETIREE AND PLAN PARTICIPANT, AND THIRD, WE ASK THE DISTRICT TO APPOINT AN INDEPENDENT EXPERT FOR TWO MONTHS, FROM WHOM DISTRICT RETIREES CAN GET ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT THEIR PLAN SAVINGS.
WE WANT THIS PERSON TO BE AVAILABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN PHONE OR ZOOM MEETINGS BETWEEN THE RETIREE AND EMPOWER, TO HELP RETIREES GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS. YOU ALMOST FINISHED, PETER? TIME IS UP. THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT.
THANK YOU. LAST SPEAKER WE HAVE IS RENEE PATTERSON.
[00:35:10]
HELLO AND GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.I'M HERE TO DO MY REGULAR SPIEL ABOUT THE PERB FILING.
SO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA PUBLIC EMPLOYEE BOARD OR PERB, AFSCME FILED AN UNFAIR PRACTICE CHARGE WITH PERB ON AUGUST 26TH, 2022, AND THE CHARGES WERE FOR BAD FAITH BARGAINING, INTERFERENCE, DIRECT DEALING, UNILATERAL IMPLEMENTATION.
SO I HAVE TWO ISSUES WITH THIS THING.
THE STATE OF THE WORLD IS OKAY WITH IT TAKING TEN YEARS TO GET FILED OR WHATEVER.
I JUST DON'T THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
SO I'M SORT OF PROTESTING THAT, AND IT KIND OF DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE BOARD OR AFSCME, BUT IT'S MY ONLY RELEASE IS TO COME HERE AND SAY THIS TO YOU.
SO I THINK IT'S APPALLING, AND THEN I ALSO WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT THIS FILING DOES HAVE TO DO WITH TELECOMMUTING, BUT I PERSONALLY DO NOT TELECOMMUTE.
SO HERE TO DO MY REGULAR SPIEL.
I'LL COME BACK AND DO IT AGAIN.
PRESIDENT ECHOLS WE HAVE SOMEONE IN THE ZOOM WEBINAR ROOM THAT'S RAISED THEIR HANDS.
ACTUALLY, WE HAVE ANOTHER PERSON JUST RAISED THEIR HAND.
APOLOGIES IF I DIDN'T PRONOUNCE YOUR NAME CORRECT.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? OH, HERE WE GO. OKAY, THERE'S MR. [INAUDIBLE]; HOLD ON, MISS LIVINGSTON.
MR. [INAUDIBLE], YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, SIR.
YES. MY NAME IS JIM [INAUDIBLE], AND I OWN BUCKEYE SPRINGS RANCH, AND WE SHARE A COMMON LOT LINE OR A FENCE LINE WITH EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS, LAKE DEL VALLE.
I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 40 YEARS, AND THE BIG PROBLEM, THE REASON I'M HERE NOW IS THAT.
THE TRAFFIC HAS GOTTEN COMPLETELY OUT OF HAND ON HOLIDAY WEEKENDS.
BEFORE WHEN WE FIRST MOVED HERE 40 YEARS AGO, WE WERE TOLD, JUST GO RIGHT AROUND THE KIOSK.
IN OTHER WORDS, PASSING OVER THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE AND THEY WOULD JUST LEAVE US ALONE.
IN FACT, THEIR OWN PEOPLE DO IT TOO.
SO THE PARK PEOPLE HAD DONE THAT BEFORE, AND THAT SEEMED TO SOLVE A LITTLE BIT OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THE BIG PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT ON A HOLIDAY WEEKEND, THAT TRAFFIC WILL BACK UP SINGLE FILE, BACK UP THE HILL ALL THE WAY OUT TO PROBABLY A MILE AND A HALF WHERE THEY SHUT OFF THE ROAD AT DEL VALLE OR AT MENDENHALL ROAD AND TURN CARS AROUND, AND IT TAKES PEOPLE IN THAT LINE FROM TWO HOURS TO WHO KNOWS WHEN TO GET INTO THE PARK.
SO WE HAD UP TO A SHORT PERIOD TIME AGO, JUST PULLED ON TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD AND GONE DOWN PAST THE PEOPLE THAT ARE SITTING THERE IN LINE, WAITING AND MERGED BACK IN BEYOND THE KIOSK AND EVERYTHING WAS SET.
WELL THEN, JUST HERE LATELY, THE PARK DISTRICT DECIDED AT LEAST THE PUBLIC SAFETY DID THAT THEY WERE GOING TO TICKET ANYONE, INCLUDING THE PARK EMPLOYEES DID THAT IN ORDER TO GET TO WORK.
WE HAVE A LARGE HOLIDAY WEEKEND THE END OF LAST YEAR, AND PARK EMPLOYEES COULDN'T EVEN GET TO WORK.
[00:40:01]
THEY HAD TO BRING THEM IN ON A TRAIL, AND A HIKING TRAIL, AND IN FACT, ONE OF THE CARS ENDED UP GOING INTO A DITCH.WE DROVE THAT ROAD THE OTHER DAY AND IT'S IMPASSABLE.
IF YOU ROLLED OVER THERE, YOUR CAR WOULD GO INTO THE INTO THE EROSION ALONG THE EDGE OF THE ROADS.
IT'S BEEN, AND NOW WE'RE FIGHTING A PROBLEM BECAUSE NOW WITH THE PARK DISTRICT, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO OR WHOEVER IT IS, THEY HAVE DECIDED TO GO AHEAD AND CONE OFF THERE'S TWO SIDES TO THAT KIOSK.
OKAY. BASICALLY, THAT KIOSK IS A BIG BLOCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND I THINK WE HAVE SOME OTHER PEOPLE HERE THAT ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT, AND I'LL BACK OFF NOW BECAUSE I GUESS I'M DONE.
THANK YOU. A LOT MORE TO SAY, BUT NO ROOM.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MISS LIVINGSTON.
YOU HAVE 30, EXCUSE ME, YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MA'AM.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? YES, MA'AM. OKAY.
WERE YOU AWARE THAT YESTERDAY THERE WERE MULTIPLE PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BLOCKADES ACROSS ROADS AND BRIDGES, DISRUPTING THE LIVES OF SO MANY PEOPLE? NOW, IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT THAT YOU FACED THE SAME SORT OF ROADBLOCK EVERY SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.
IMAGINE RUNNING OUT FOR GROCERIES TO SEE YOUR KIDS PLAY A SOCCER GAME, OR TO GO TO CHURCH ON A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND MORNING AND RETURNING TO SIT IN A MINIMUM OF 45 MINUTES AT THE END OF YOUR STREET, NOT BEING ABLE TO GET HOME.
EVERY TIME YOU LEAVE YOUR HOUSE, AND SHOULD IT BE A HOLIDAY, EXPAND THAT WAIT TIME TO AS MUCH AS 4 TO 6 HOURS LONGER THAN THE PROTESTERS HELD THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE HOSTAGE? THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN OUR CASE NO ONE NOTICES.
SOME OF YOU WOULD PROBABLY SAY YOU KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE MOVED OUT THERE TO THAT.
WE WOULD SAY THAT MANY, IF NOT MOST OF US, ARE LIVING AND CARETAKING LEGACY PROPERTIES PURCHASED BY PREVIOUS FAMILY MEMBERS BEFORE THE DEL VALLE PARK WAS LEASED OUT BY THE STATE.
WHEN DEL VALLE ROAD WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA AS AN ACCESS ROAD TO THE AREA, AND BEFORE THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT CHOSE TO BLOCK THAT COUNTY ROAD WITH A POSSIBLY ILLEGAL KIOSK SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF COLLECTING THE FEES TO USE THE LAND THAT DOESN'T EVEN BELONG TO THEM.
THEY EACH CITED CONCERNS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY, TRAFFIC CONTROL AND CROWD SIZE.
WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THESE PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES.
WE HAVE LIVESTOCK AND OCCASIONALLY THEY NEED VETERINARIAN HELP.
HEAVEN FORBID IT BE ON A SUMMER WEEKEND.
WHO IS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOSSES, THIS LACK OF EMERGENCY SERVICE CAUSES? WHAT ABOUT THE LOSS OF THE ANIMALS IN THE TRAILER WAITING AT 110 DEGREE HEAT AS THE TRUCK KEEPS CREEPS DOWN THE HILL, BARELY ABLE TO KEEP ITS BRAKES FROM OVERHEATING? OR OUR SON WHO WANTED TO GET MARRIED AT OUR FAMILY HOME LIKE SO MANY OF THE FAMILY HAVE, BUT THE ONLY DATE THAT WORKED FOR THE BRIDE'S SIDE WAS JULY 4TH.
YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS WITH TRAFFIC CONTROL AND CROWD SIZE.
IF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK IS HERE TO BETTERMENT.
THE NEXT SPEAKER, MISS LIVINGSTON, THAT'S YOUR TIME.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. KAREN [INAUDIBLE], YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES, MA'AM.
CAN YOU HEAR ME, KAREN? THERE YOU GO.
THERE YOU GO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. GOOD AFTERNOON.
[00:45:08]
THE DEL VALLE ENTRANCE KIOSK.OOPS, AND ANYHOW, I'M NEIGHBORS WITH [INAUDIBLE] AND LIVINGSTON'S ALSO.
ANYWAYS, MY HUSBAND AND I MANAGE A COMMERCIAL CATTLE OPERATION AND CLUB HERE AT THE END OF DEL VALLE ROAD THAT'S BEEN IN OPERATION SINCE THE LATE 1930S, AND ORIGINALLY THE RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS TO THIS PROPERTY AND MOST OF THE OTHER PROPERTIES WAS OVER ARROYO ROAD COINCIDING WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF DEL VALLE RESERVOIR IN THE LATE 1960S, OUR ARROYO ROAD ACCESS WAS REPLACED WITH THE NEWLY BUILT DEL VALLE ROAD AND SOME YEARS LATER, WHEN THE DISTRICT BEGAN MANAGEMENT OF THE RECREATION AT THE RESERVOIR.
THE KIOSK WAS BUILT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY ROAD, AND LIKE THEY SAID TRAFFIC ON THE SUMMER WEEKENDS AND ESPECIALLY THE HOLIDAY WEEKENDS IS JUST SO CONGESTED THAT YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTS, THE PARK EMPLOYEES, THE PARK USERS ARE FORCED TO WAIT IN LINE YOU KNOW, ANYWHERE FROM 30 MINUTES ON UP TO OVER THREE HOURS, MAYBE, DEPENDING ON THE, THE WEEKEND.
ANYHOW, IT DOES FORCE US TO CHANGE THE WAY WE OPERATE AND DO BUSINESS IN OUR LIVES IN GENERAL.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A SCHEDULE AROUND WEEKENDS FOR SHIPPING CATTLE, GETTING, YOU KNOW, SEMI LOADS OF HAY SEMI TRUCKS, YOU KNOW, THE CATTLE TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENT.
SO SOMETIMES IT'S NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE TO DO SO, AND IT'S KIND OF A HEADACHE FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED, AND LIKE VICKI SAYS, GET TRYING TO GET A VETERINARIAN THERE, YOU KNOW, DURING A HEAVY TRAFFIC WEEKEND IS A BIG WORRY.
NOT TO MENTION JUST, YOU KNOW, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
IT'S A FRUSTRATING WAY TO EXIST, AND WE'VE BEEN MEETING AND WORKING WITH OUR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBER OLIVIA SANWONG AND ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERVISOR HALBERT AND HIS ASSISTANT, SHAWN WILSON TO TRY TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION, AND WE'VE SEVERAL OPTIONS HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED, AND ONE BEING THE RESTRIPING OF DEL VALLE ROAD MAKING TWO INCOMING LANES, ONE LANE FOR PARK USERS AND ONE THRU LANE FOR THE RESIDENTS AND SINCE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT OPERATIONS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTINUALLY BLOCKING AND IMPEDING OUR RIGHT OF WAY ACCESS.
YOU KNOW, WE BELIEVE THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES WITHIN THE PARK DISTRICT TO REVISE THEIR ENTRANCE TO MORE EFFICIENTLY ACCOMMODATE THEIR PARK USERS AND TO ALLOW RESIDENTS UNIMPEDED ACCESS AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED WHEN THE COUNTY BUILT THAT ROAD.
SO I WANT TO THANK DIRECTOR SANWONG FOR HER TIME AND HER HONEST EFFORT AND ATTENTION TO THIS PROBLEM, AND THANK YOU, BOARD MEMBERS, FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION TODAY. THANK YOU, PRESIDENT ECHOLS.
WE HAVE NO MORE HANDS RAISED AND WE HAVE NO MORE COMMENTS.
OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND EXPRESSING YOUR VIEWS, AND I HOPE WE CAN LOOK INTO THIS AS WELL.
OKAY. SO I GUESS THE NEXT ITEM IS ANNOUNCEMENTS.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? THIS IS ACTUALLY THE GENERAL MANAGER'S OPPORTUNITY.
SORRY, AND NO OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS TODAY.
SO. OKAY, SO WE'RE MOVING ON TO THE GENERAL MANAGER'S INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON THE 2024 FEDERAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE CONSENT CALENDAR. I'M SORRY.
ALL RIGHT. SO CAN I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
ARE THERE ITEMS THAT ANYONE WANTED TO TAKE OUT TODAY? I BELIEVE ALL YOUR QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED, DIRECTOR ROSARIO.JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE [INAUDIBLE] AMENDMENTS TO THE MINUTES.
YEAH. I'M JUST WONDERING IF THERE WAS AN ITEM NOT LISTED IN THE AGENDA THAT WAS IN THE PACKET.
THAT WAS THE ITEM THAT WAS THE Q3, THE INVESTMENTS? NO, NO, THE ONE ABOUT THE SWIM AGREEMENT WITH [INAUDIBLE].
OH, THE MOU THAT WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ATTACHED TO THE ACTUAL.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW WHAT I'M VOTING ON, ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[00:50:03]
SO IT'S NOT PART OF THIS? NO. OKAY.IF THERE ARE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, COULD I GET A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR? OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION BY DIRECTOR CORBETT AND A SECOND BY DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? MOTION CARRIES.
OKAY. NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO OUR NON CONSENT ITEMS, AND FIRST UP IS THE GENERAL MANAGER SECTION.
[GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE]
THE INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON THE 2024 FEDERAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE.GOOD AFTERNOON. ERICH PFUEHLER, CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.
TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF A PREVIEW OF THE FEDERAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE COMING UP IN FROM MAY 13TH THROUGH MAY 16TH.
STARTING WITH JUST A LOGISTICS, THE HOTEL THAT WE HAVE STAYED AT PREVIOUS YEARS, THE RESIDENCE INN HAS BEEN BOOKED AND PAID FOR THE NIGHT OF THE 12TH THROUGH THE MORNING OF THE 17TH, AND AS YOU CAN READ, OUR PURPOSE IS TO ENGAGE WITH OUR DELEGATION AND MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.
STARTING A LITTLE LATER, RECOGNIZING THAT SATURDAY MAY 11TH, IS THE GALA.
THE PARK FEST GALA FOR THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY.
SO FOLKS WILL BE TRAVELING ON THE 12TH AND PERHAPS A LITTLE BIT OF FATIGUE ON MONDAY MORNING.
SO WE'LL START AROUND 11, HAVE OUR BRIEFING BY STAFF, AND THEN WE ARE PROPOSING TO HAVE BOXED LUNCHES AND HAVE OUR FEDERAL ADVOCATE, PETER UMHOEFER, ATTEND AND ACCEPT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON.
WE WILL THEN MOVE TO THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND COALITION'S OFFICES DOWN BY THE NAVY YARD TO HAVE A BRIEFING ABOUT THEIR EFFORTS TO SECURE ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR LWCF, AND ALSO TO CHANGE SOME OF THE REGULATIONS TO ENABLE MORE FUNDING TO GO TO A SINGLE PROJECT MORE QUICKLY, AND THAT BRIEFING IS INTENDED OR IS INTENTIONALLY IN THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM, BECAUSE WE WILL BE ADDRESSING THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND WITH EACH MEMBER'S OFFICE THAT WE MEET WITH, AS WELL AS THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND THEN LATER THAT AFTERNOON, WE WILL BE HEADING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO MEET WITH THE FOREST CHIEF, RANDY MOORE.
RANDY WAS SERVING AS PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGIONAL FORESTER FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS UP IN VALLEJO.
HE'S BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PARK DISTRICT IN THE PAST AND NOW IS CHIEF IN WASHINGTON, WILL BE MEETING WITH HIM AND SOME OF HIS KEY ADVISORS TO DISCUSS THEIR USE OF BIOCHAR AND BIOMASS UTILIZATION.
THEY'RE DOING SOME VERY INNOVATIVE THINGS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, AS ARE WE, AND SO WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXCHANGE SOME INFORMATION ABOUT OUR WORK WITH THE CARBONIZER AND THE TREE MORTALITY ISSUE THAT WE FACE.
ALSO, WE WILL BE MEETING THROUGHOUT THE WEEK WITH AMERICORPS STAFF TO DISCUSS THE CLIMATE CORPS.
THAT'S AN EFFORT BY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO ADD ADDITIONAL FUNDING AND PERSONNEL TO WORK ON PROJECTS IN THE STEWARDSHIP AND RESTORATION AND RESILIENCY SPACE.
OUR CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS AND CIVICORPS WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO WORK IN THAT SPACE, AND SO WE WILL BE ADVOCATING TO HAVE THE FUNDING GO TO THE EXISTING CORPS PROGRAMS IN THE STATE AND NOT REINVENTING THE WHEEL.
WE ALSO HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, WHERE, AS I MENTIONED, WE'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND AND ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE JOINT VISITOR CENTER AT THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50, AND OUR OTHER NON DELEGATION MEETING WILL BE WITH THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS BRIEFING FROM INDIVIDUAL WHO ESSENTIALLY TRAINS INCOMING NEW MEMBERS OF CONGRESS HOW TO, YOU KNOW
[00:55:05]
WHAT TO EXPECT AS AN ELECTED PERSON OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OR THE SENATE, AND WITH THAT, I WILL MOVE ON TO OUR FIRST LEGISLATIVE MEMBER OF OUR DELEGATION AND ASK LISA BALDINGER TO PRESENT ON THAT.WANT TO THANK LISA FOR HER WORK ON THE BOOKLET THAT I BELIEVE YOU ALL HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU.
SO I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE GREAT WORK OF THE TEAM.
GREAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, LISA BALDINGER, LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST AND I WILL BE WALKING US THROUGH WHAT TO EXPECT FOR OUR DELEGATION DISCUSSIONS COMING UP ON THE MAY ADVOCACY DAYS.
SO FIRST, WE HAVE THE OFFICE OF SENATOR BUTLER.
THIS WILL BE OUR FIRST TIME MEETING WITH SENATOR BUTLER'S STAFF.
SO AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE, AND ACROSS ALL OF THE MEETINGS YOU'LL SEE COMMON THEMES, AND THAT'S REALLY TRYING TO BUILD A DELEGATION SUPPORT FOR THE DIFFERENT ISSUES OF THE PARK DISTRICT BY SORT OF SHARING THE INTEREST.
THIS IS THE SAME CONVERSATION THAT WE HOPE TO HAVE ALSO WITH AMERICORPS DIRECTLY, AS ERICH MENTIONED, AND REALLY WHAT WE'RE LOOKING IS TO GUIDE THE FUNDING OF THE CLIMATE CORE THAT WE'RE SEEING THE FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION REALLY CHAMPIONED BEHIND GUIDING IT INTO THE EXISTING PROGRAMS. THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS, WHO WE SAT DOWN WITH IN SACRAMENTO EARLIER THIS YEAR, AS WELL AS CORPS LIKE CIVICORPS.
SO REALLY BUILDING MOMENTUM IN WHERE THERE IS SUCCESS IN THIS STATE.
SO THAT WAY THE CLIMATE CORPS CAN REALLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
THE SECOND ITEM FOR THIS MEETING IS THE JUDGE JOHN SUTTER REGIONAL SHORELINE LAND TRANSFER UPDATE.
MOST RECENTLY IN REQUESTING LANGUAGE, WHICH HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE SENATOR'S OFFICE TO BE IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR BIFURCATION OF THE PROPERTY, TO ALLOW FOR THE UPLAND TRANSFER, TO INITIATE THAT PUBLIC OPEN SPACE THAT WE HAVE PLANNED, AND THEN THE THIRD ITEM IS THE ITEM THAT WILL BE CONSISTENT ACROSS THIS ENTIRE CONFERENCE, WHICH IS FUNDING SUPPORT FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM.
THIS IS A PROGRAM THAT OUR BOARD GOT TO WITNESS IN THE DISCUSSIONS IN CONGRESS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, RECEIVED FULL AUTHORIZATION OF THAT 900 MILLION FUNDING. HOWEVER, IT'S ADMINISTERING OF THE PROGRAM CONTINUES TO HAVE SOME CHALLENGING STRINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, A PROJECT WHICH QUALIFIES FOR THE PROGRAM AND RECEIVES AN INITIAL FUND CANNOT, IN OVER SEVEN YEARS, RECEIVE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING FROM THAT PROGRAM. BECAUSE OF THAT, SOME ENTITIES ARE HAVING CHALLENGES FULLY SPENDING THE FUNDING, AND SO THERE'S BEEN A NARRATIVE SHARED IN CONGRESS THAT THIS FUNDING IS NOT BEING USED FULLY AND DOESN'T NEED TO BE FULLY FUNDED, WHEN IN FACT, IT'S OVERSUBSCRIBED, AND SO WANTING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, BOTH WITH OUR DELEGATION AS WELL AS OUR PARTNERS AT THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND COALITION, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT AND INSTRUMENTAL PROGRAM FOR THE PARK DISTRICT.
WITH SENATOR PADILLA, YOU'LL SEE TWO ITEMS WILL REITERATE FROM THE SENATOR BUTLER'S MEETING, WHICH INCLUDES THE JUDGE JOHN SUTTER, REGIONAL SHORELINE LAND TRANSFER, AS WELL AS THE LAND WATER CONSERVATION FUND PROGRAM.
A UNIQUE ITEM FOR THIS MEETING IS A DISCUSSION AROUND FEMA INVESTMENT PRIORITIZATION.
HOWEVER, WHAT WE'RE REALLY LOOKING TO SEE IS AN EXPANSION OF PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION FUNDING TO CREATE THAT HEALTHFUL ECOSYSTEM ENVIRONMENT THAT'S MORE RESILIENT BEFORE THE STORM OCCURS. SO REALLY CHAMPIONING FUNDING FOR THE PDM AND THE OTHER PROGRAMS OF FEMA FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION, SEA LEVEL RISE PREPAREDNESS, AND THE OTHER CLIMATE RELATED ISSUES THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING FIRSTHAND HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT.
CONTINUING WITH THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI, WE WILL BE THANKING THIS OFFICE FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF A 900 MILLION DIRECT FUNDING ALLOCATION FOR OUR MARTINEZ BAY TRAIL SECTION. THAT PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD SUCCESSFULLY, AND WITH THAT, WE WILL TRANSFER TRANSITION INTO A REQUEST FOR SOME ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR A DIFFERENT PORTION OF THE REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT IN RICHMOND, WHERE WE HAD THE RICHMOND BAY TRAIL GAP CLOSURE PROJECT.
REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI'S OFFICE, AS WELL AS OTHERS IN OUR DELEGATION, WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THAT GRANT APPLICATION AND WE ARE ALSO PUTTING IN A DIRECT MEMBER REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT IN HOPES OF OF MOVING IT FORWARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND THEN AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE WE'LL BE DISCUSSING WITH REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI, THE JUDGE JOHN SUTTER, REGIONAL SHORELINE LAND TRANSFER INITIATIVE, AS WELL AS THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
[01:00:03]
WITH OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE JOSH HARTER, WE WILL BE FOCUSING IN ON GRASSLAND LEGISLATION AS WELL AS THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND.REPRESENTATIVE HARTER HAS DELTA ACCESS IN HIS DISTRICT, BUT REALLY ONLY A PORTION, BUT HE EXPANDS INTO AN AREA THAT HAS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF GRASSLAND, AND SO WITH THAT, WE'RE HAVING SOME INITIAL CONVERSATIONS AROUND LANGUAGE AND LEGISLATION FOR GRASSLAND BEING RECOGNIZED AS A WILDFIRE, GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT BEING RECOGNIZED AS A WILDFIRE MITIGATION TOOL, AND WHAT DOES GRASSLAND MANAGEMENT LOOK LIKE? WHAT IS IT THAT THE RANCHERS NEED THAT THE LANDOWNER NEEDS, AND HOW CAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT THOSE INVESTMENTS? WITH REPRESENTATIVE MARK DESAULNIER IN BOTH THE MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE MARK DESAULNIER.
AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI.
I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT WE HAVE INCLUDED IN THEIR PACKETS THE PORT CHICAGO 50 EXONERATION BROCHURE.
IN FACT, I BELIEVE WE'VE INCLUDED THAT IN EVERY MEETING PACKET.
SO WE WILL GIVE SPACE TO SPEAK TO THE PORT CHICAGO VISITOR CENTER AND THE EXONERATION OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50 ON THE AGENDA THAT WE'VE SHARED WITH THEIR OFFICE AND IS IN YOUR PACKET. WE HAVE WILDFIRE RESILIENCE AND FEMA INVESTMENT PRIORITIZATION.
WE'LL BE HAVING A CONVERSATION ALONG THOSE LINES AS WELL, WITH EXPANDING THAT FUNDING TO INCLUDE GRASSLAND INVESTMENTS IN THE MITIGATION OF GRASSLANDS FOR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE AND HEALTHFUL ECOSYSTEMS, AND THEN CONTINUING OUR DISCUSSION ON THE LWCF PROGRAM.
WITH THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA LEE, WE WILL BE THANKING HER FOR HER MANY YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP, AND WE ARE LOOKING INTO WHAT SORT OF APPROPRIATE GESTURE CAN THE PARK DISTRICT MAKE TO CELEBRATE ALL THAT SHE'S DONE FOR EAST BAY COMMUNITIES? OUR FIRST CONVERSATION TOPIC WITH HER WILL BE SUPPORT FOR THE CLIMATE CORPS, FUNDING INVESTMENTS HERE IN CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS THE BAY AREA.
THEY'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATIONS WITH US AND CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE TRANSFER AND OPENING OF THE PARK, AND THEY ARE ALSO GRATEFUL OF OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH THEIR COLLEAGUES, REPRESENTATIVES GARAMENDI, PADILLA AND BUTLER, AS IT REALLY IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS A LOT OF SUPPORT.
YES. DIRECTOR ROSARIO, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT AN UPDATE ON THE COLUMBARIUM AT ALAMEDA POINT? ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE NOTES.
OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU, AND THEN FINALLY, THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND GRANT PROGRAM.
WITH THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE ERIC SWALWELL.
I APOLOGIZE. IT LOOKS LIKE MY SCREEN FROZE UP ON THE BIG SCREEN.
WELL, IT'S A PHOTO OF HIM AND ANOTHER AGENDA.
THERE WE GO. WE WILL BE CONTINUING OUR CONVERSATION AROUND FEMA AND PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION, FUNDING, INVESTMENTS, GRASSLAND LEGISLATION, AS WELL AS THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, AND THEN WITH THE OFFICE OF REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA, WHO ALSO HAS A GREAT DEAL OF GRASSLAND IN HIS DISTRICT, BOTH PARK DISTRICT AT MISSION PEAK AS WELL AS BEYOND.
WE'LL BE DISCUSSING GRASSLAND LEGISLATION IN THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, AND SO BEFORE I PASS IT OFF TO ERICH TO CONCLUDE, I DO WANT TO NOTE THAT YOU ALL SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A BOOKLET WITH SOME GREATER CONTEXT ON ALL OF THESE ISSUES.
JUST WANTED TO BRIEFLY ADD ON ON ISSUES WITH THE JUDGE JOHN SUTTER, REGIONAL SHORELINE TRANSFER.
CURRENTLY, IT'S FENCED OFF AND IS BEING A LOT OF SEEING, A LOT OF DUMPING, AND SO IT'S REQUIRING STAFF TO MAINTAIN AS IS, BUT WE'D MUCH RATHER MAINTAIN IT AS PARKLAND.
REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA LEE IS IS WORKING THROUGH THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS AS A MEMBER OF THE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE TO SEE IF THERE'S SOME POSSIBILITY OF SECURING LANGUAGE IN THAT PROCESS, AND THEN JUST ON ANOTHER ISSUE, I WANTED TO NOTE, NOTE THAT THE REASON YOU SEE GRASSLANDS
[01:05:05]
LEGISLATION EMERGE, THERE'S TWO REASONS.ONE IS THERE'S BEEN PROPOSED LEGISLATION IN THE SENATE THAT WOULD ADDRESS SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PRESCRIBED GRAZING WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT IS RELEVANT TO THE PARK DISTRICT AND ALSO WITH THE FARM BILL BEING CONSIDERED.
ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE MUST PASS BILLS LIKE THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
LASTLY, I NEGLECTED TO TALK ABOUT THE FLOW OF THE DAYS.
WE'RE CURRENTLY PLANNING ON THE SORT OF LIGHTER END ON THAT DAY WITH THE EVENING RELATIVELY LIGHT, AND THEN ON THE SECOND DAY WOULD BE OUR BUSY DAY AT THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEETING WITH AS MANY OFFICES AS WE CAN, AND WE HAVE A PROGRAM DINNER THAT EVENING AT FOUNDING FATHERS, AND THEN ON THE THIRD DAY, WEDNESDAY, WE HAVE THE MEETING AT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE IN THE MORNING, AND THEN WE HAVE RESERVED THE INDIAN CRAFT SHOP.
SO WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO GO THERE, AND THEN WE HAVE THE TWO SENATORS THAT AFTERNOON, AS WELL AS REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER, AS HE IS UNABLE TO MEET WITH US ON TUESDAY, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE A PLANNED DINNER THAT EVENING, AND THEN ON THURSDAY, WE HAVE THE MEETING WITH AMERICORPS AND THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE MEETING, AND THEN A SITE VISIT, HOPEFULLY TO THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, WHICH WILL CONCLUDE THE CONFERENCE MIDDAY, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REST.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE WE BOTH WILL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY ALL HAVE.
DIRECTOR ROSARIO, I SEE HE'S ALREADY EAGER TO ASK QUESTIONS.
YOUR ORGANIZATION OF THIS EVENT ALWAYS HELPS.
IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.
I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON THE LAND WATER CONSERVATION FUNDING.
I DIDN'T CATCH WHAT THE SEVEN YEAR LIMIT IS THAT YOU HAVE SEVEN YEARS TO SPEND THE MONEY OR DO YO ONCE YOU GET AN AWARD, YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ANOTHER AWARD AFTER SEVEN YEARS? THAT IS CORRECT.
SO THE WAY THE FUNDING PROGRAM WORKS IS THAT ONCE YOU RECEIVE A LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND ALLOCATION, A SEVEN YEAR WINDOW NEEDS TO PASS BEFORE YOU CAN ACCEPT ADDITIONAL FUNDING.
DO YOU HAVE A GOOD PROJECT AND WE RECEIVE MAYBE FUNDING DURING THE PLANNING STAGE OR THE DESIGN STAGE, AND WE'RE NO LONGER ABLE TO TAKE IT DURING THE CONSTRUCTION STAGE, AND WE'RE ALSO UNABLE TO CHANGE GRANTS.
IF A SECOND ONE THAT WERE OFFERED SHOULD BE A HIGHER FUNDING AMOUNT, AND THIS JUST MAKES IT DIFFICULT BECAUSE IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO INVEST THE FUNDING IN THE INTENTIONS OF THE BILL AND MOVE THOSE PROJECTS FORWARD.
SO WE'RE ASKING TO NO LONGER HAVE IT BE SEVEN YEARS.
DIRECTOR CORBETT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH WITH THAT INFORMATION TO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHERE WE'LL BE WHEN WHILE WE'RE THERE, AND WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU COULD SEND ME A COPY OF THOSE DATES, AND IF YOU HAVE TIMES YET, BUT AT LEAST THE DATES THAT WE'RE GOING TO THESE VARIOUS EVENTS THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED AND THANK YOU FOR THIS.
SO BUT HAVING THOSE DATES SO FAR I KNOW THEY CAN CHANGE, BUT WHAT YOU HAVE SO FAR.
YES, BUT THE SPECIFIC DATES FOR THE SPECIFIC PLACES IS WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW.
ABSOLUTELY, AND THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT THE BOOKLET ONE.
THAT WAS A QUICK PRINT TURNAROUND THIS MORNING SO WE COULD GET IT TO YOU ALL TODAY.
THANK YOU. OKAY, DIRECTOR SANWONG.
SURE. THIS IS VERY WELL ORGANIZED, AND GREAT JOB TO EVERYONE.
THE ENTIRE TEAM, INCLUDING THE QUICK TURNAROUND.
SO THANK YOU, AND I BELIEVE YOU MENTIONED THIS ALREADY, BUT JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT US TO BRING THIS WITH US, CORRECT? YES. PLEASE BRING YOUR BOOKLET.
I'LL HAVE MAYBE 2 OR 3 EXTRA, BUT I DON'T EXPECT TO HAVE TEN EXTRA.
OKAY, PERFECT, AND I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, I'M ALWAYS WHEN I THINK ABOUT MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, I'M ALWAYS THINKING OF THOSE POINTS OF CONNECTION, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING AT THE PARK DISTRICT THAT MIGHT CONNECT WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND I THINK THIS IS REALLY GREAT IN TERMS OF
[01:10:03]
ORGANIZING. OUR MEMBER ASKS AND SO I'M NOT SURE HOW MUCH WE WANT TO PREPARE ON SOME OF THOSE POINTS OF CONNECTION.YOU KNOW, I THINK ABOUT SOMEONE LIKE CONGRESSMAN JOSH HARDER AND THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW HE'S SUCH A GREAT HE'S AN INCREDIBLE CHAMPION OF THE SACRAMENTO AND SAN JOAQUIN, DELTA. I KNOW BETWEEN LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE IN WASHINGTON, DC, AND THIS YEAR WE HAD THAT PROJECT WHERE WE'RE WORKING WITH THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IN REGARDS TO ONE OF THEIR MAJOR PROJECTS IN THE DELTA AND WE'RE INVOLVED WITH THAT BECAUSE A [INAUDIBLE].
SO I DON'T KNOW IF WE WANT TO PREPARE MATERIAL, YOU KNOW, AND I ALSO THINK ABOUT REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA AND I KNOW YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE BIG ISSUES AND I'M ACTUALLY NOT EVEN SURE WHERE HE SITS ON THIS TOPIC, BUT THE NEWARK WETLANDS AND WORKING WITH US, FISH AND WILDLIFE AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE FEDERAL 30 BY 30 PROGRAM, WHICH I THINK HAS BEEN CALLED AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL, AND SO I DON'T KNOW IF THESE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO THINK ABOUT PREPARING AHEAD OF TIME, JUST JUST IN CASE THOSE COME UP IN THE CONVERSATIONS BECAUSE I DID NOTICE WHEN WE WERE IN SACRAMENTO, SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE PREPARE THESE GREAT BOOKLETS, BUT THEN OTHER TOPICS WOULD COME UP IN THE SESSIONS WITH YOU KNOW, OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN SACRAMENTO, AND SO JUST TO KIND OF BE READY AND ANTICIPATE THAT SOME OF THESE OTHER TOPICS COULD COME UP, AND IF THEY DON'T, THEN THEY DON'T, BUT JUST TO BE READY FOR IT IN CASE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, DIRECTOR SANWONG.
YES, THIS IS KIND OF OUR WORK IS VERY MUCH FLUID, AND YES, I THINK WITH REGARD TO THE DELTA AND THEN THE ISSUE IN NEWARK, WE CAN GATHER A LITTLE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
I'M AWARE OF BOTH OF THOSE ISSUES, BUT WE'LL TRY TO GET A LITTLE BIT MORE BEFORE WE GO AND MAKE SURE WE'RE PREPARED, BUT BUT I WILL SAY THAT THE ALIGNMENT OF THE ASKS ARE GENERALLY GEARED TOWARD INTERESTS OF THE MEMBER, AND WE'RE TRYING TO KEEP IT IN A WINDOW THAT IS ACHIEVABLE WITHIN THE SPAN OF THIS PARTICULAR CONGRESS. SO HOPEFULLY WE'VE GOT THE RIGHT ISSUES, AND IF SOMETHING ELSE COMES UP, WE'LL PIVOT AND MAKE SURE THAT WE IF WE DON'T KNOW, WE'LL GET BACK TO THEM.
OKAY. DIRECTOR COFFEY OR DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
DID YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? NO. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I'M VERY EXCITED TO HAVE THIS BOOKLET MORE THAN A MONTH IN ADVANCE OR, I GUESS NOT QUITE A MONTH IN ADVANCE, BUT BUT REALLY, THAT'S WONDERFUL, AND DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE AS IT GETS FLESHED OUT MORE, AND I DO THINK YOU KNOW WHAT DIRECTOR SANWONG'S SAYING, IT ACTUALLY TRIGGERED SOMETHING ELSE IN MY MIND IS NOT JUST, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY STAND ON CERTAIN THINGS, BUT IT'S HELPFUL TO BE AWARE OF SOME OF THEIR CONNECTIONS AND HOW THEY'VE WORKED WITH US IN THE PAST AND YOU MAY NOT NECESSARILY NEED TO PROVIDE WRITTEN MATERIAL BECAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE BUSY, BUT IT MIGHT BE WORTH BEING PREPARED TO BRIEF ON THAT JUST A LITTLE BIT, LIKE, ESPECIALLY FOR OUR NEWER MEMBERS AND ABOUT LIKE HOW THESE REPRESENTATIVES HAVE HELPED US IN THE PAST AND ALSO FOR US TO ACTUALLY THE ONE THING WE REALLY SHOULD BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT, AND THIS IS PROBABLY ALREADY IN YOUR REPORT, BUT IF IT ISN'T HOW YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY'VE ACTUALLY HELPED US SO THAT WE CAN BE SURE TO THANK THEM FOR IT.
I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, BUT IT'S THAT'S PROBABLY ALREADY IN HERE.
SO BUT ANYWAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
I LOVE THE WAY YOU ALL ARE JUST CONTINUALLY UPPING YOUR GAME AND GETTING US STUFF EARLIER AND EVEN MORE COMPLETE, AND SO, YOU KNOW, KUDOS TO THE TEAM, AND ALSO TO PRINT SHOP FOR THE QUICK TURNAROUND.
REALLY APPRECIATE IT. THAT'S GREAT.
THANK YOU, AND GOOD SUGGESTION ON THE HISTORICAL WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE PARK DISTRICT, AND WE'LL BE PREPARED TO SPEAK TO THAT ON THE FIRST MORNING WHEN WE DO OUR STAFF BRIEFING.
[FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION]
ON THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE POLICY.I'M DEBORAH SPAULDING, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
GIVE ME A MINUTE WHILE I PULL UP THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK YOU MAY NEED TO SPEAK MORE DIRECTLY INTO THE MIC.
ALL RIGHT. SO AS YOU ALREADY READ OFF.
SO THIS IS A REVIEW OF OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE POLICY.
[01:15:04]
OFFICE NEEDS.SO THEY'RE TO PROTECT US AGAINST UNPLANNED OR UNAVOIDABLE LOSSES.
MAINTAINING THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF FUND BALANCE RESERVES PROVIDES FISCAL STABILITY.
IT CAN PREVENT RISKS TO THE PARK DISTRICT, TO THE EMPLOYEES AND TO THE PUBLIC, AND SO JUST FIGURING OUT WHAT IS THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF RESERVES IS SORT OF THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TODAY, AND THEN ANOTHER REASON WE HAVE RESERVES IS BECAUSE THAT TOTAL FUND BALANCE AMOUNT IS USED BY STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING CREDIT RATING AGENCIES, TO EVALUATE HOW PRUDENT IS MANAGEMENT AND HOW SOUND IS THE PARK DISTRICT, AND SO WE GET THIS ANCILLARY BENEFIT.
IF THE CREDIT RATING AGENCIES THINK THAT WE HAVE APPROPRIATE FUND BALANCE RESERVES, THEN WE'LL GET A BETTER BOND RATING, AND THEN WE HAVE LOWER DEBT ISSUANCE COSTS AND LOWER INTEREST PAYMENTS DOWN THE LINE.
SO THEY GIVE US ALL THESE CATEGORIES.
SO LISTING THEM OUT IN THE MOST RESTRICTED TO THE LEAST.
SO WE HAVE LIKE UNIFORMS FOR EXAMPLE THAT ARE UP AT CENTRAL STORES.
THAT'S PART OF OUR RESERVES, BUT WE CAN'T SPEND IT THEN LOOKING NEXT NEXT MOST LEAST RESTRICTED IS WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING LIKE AN EXTERNAL PARTY SUCH AS A GRANTING AGENCY OR MAYBE OUR PENSION TRUST, OR IF WE HAVE ENCUMBRANCES LIKE PURCHASE ORDERS WHERE WE'VE TOLD A VENDOR, HEY, WE'RE GOING TO PAY YOU GUYS FOR THIS CONTRACT, WE CAN'T THEN TURN AROUND AND GIVE THOSE FUNDS TO SOMEONE ELSE.
SO THOSE FUNDS ARE RESTRICTED.
SO WE HAVE REVENUE TAKEAWAY RESERVES, AND WE HAVE WORKERS COMPENSATION RESERVES THAT ARE COMMITTED.
THEY'VE BEEN COMMITTED BY THE BOARD.
THEN WE HAVE ASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
SO THERE'S BEEN NO SPECIFIC ACTION TAKEN BY THE BOARD, BUT WE HAVE SPECIFIC LINE ITEMS THAT WE'VE SET ASIDE THESE FUNDS FOR AND THEN LASTLY UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, AND WE HAVE A POLICY THAT TELLS US HOW MUCH WE SHOULD HAVE IN OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, AND SO THAT'S ALSO BOLDED BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE ALSO TALKING ABOUT TODAY.
ALL RIGHTY. THIS NEXT PAGE IS JUST A SLIDE FROM OUR ACFR OUR ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT, AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE WE'VE GOT ALL THESE FIVE CATEGORIES. SO WE HAVE THE NON SPENDABLE RESERVES RESTRICTED COMMITTED ASSIGNED AND UNASSIGNED, AND THEN ACROSS THE TOP WE HAVE DIFFERENT FUND TYPES, AND SO YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE RESERVES AND DIFFERENT TYPES OF RESERVES IN ALL OF THESE FUNDS.
THIS IS FROM LAST YEAR BECAUSE OUR 2023 ACFR IS NOT YET READY.
ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO TALK SPECIFICALLY ABOUT OUR COMMITTED FUND BALANCES.
SO WE HAVE TWO OF THESE ONE OF THEM IS WORKERS' COMPENSATION, AND IT'S INTENDED TO COVER THE COST OF AN UNEXPECTEDLY LARGE WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIM, SOMETHING THAT WOULD EXCEED THE RESERVES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IN OUR WORKERS' COMPENSATION INTERNAL SERVICE FUND, AND THAT AMOUNT IS $2 MILLION, AND THAT WAS ESTABLISHED BACK IN 2012 BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WE ALSO HAVE A REVENUE TAKEAWAY, A REVENUE TAKEAWAY CONTINGENCY THAT WAS ORIGINALLY ESTABLISHED IN 1991, INCREASED IN 2008 AND THEN RENAMED IN 2012, AND ITS SPECIFIC PURPOSE IS TO BACKFILL FOR A SUBSTANTIAL, UNANTICIPATED, ONE TIME TAKEAWAY OF DISTRICT REVENUE BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA OR OTHER GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AND SO THAT AMOUNT IS SET AT 10% OF GENERAL FUND PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
SO 19.6 MILLION, AND NOW DIVING INTO THE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE POLICY.
SO THIS IS A POLICY THAT WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD IN 2013, AND THEN EVERY FIVE YEARS WE REVIEW IT.
SO IT WAS LAST REVIEWED IN 2019, AND THIS POLICY ESTABLISHES AN UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE RESERVE OF 32%, AND THAT IS BASED ON THE CRITERIA THAT THE GFOA GIVES US, AND I'LL BE GETTING MORE INTO THAT, HOW WE REACH THAT 32% IN THE NEXT SLIDE, AND IT'S ALSO DETAILED IN THE REPORT IN THE PACKET.
THE POLICY IN ADDITION TO, TO ESTABLISHING THAT 32% TALKS ABOUT HOW WE CALCULATE THE RESERVE AMOUNT, THE APPROPRIATE USES OF THE RESERVE, HOW CAN YOU ACCESS IT, HOW DO WE REPLENISH IT? THEN IT GIVES EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF USES.
[01:20:03]
SHORTFALLS. SO THE AMOUNT OF FUND BALANCE IS UPDATED EVERY YEAR BY THE CFO, AND THEN THE POLICY IS REVIEWED EVERY FIVE YEARS.SO THAT'S WHY IT'S COMING TO YOU TODAY, AND NOW DIVING INTO THAT 32% AND HOW WE GET THERE.
SO AGAIN THE CALCULATION IS IN GREATER DETAIL IN THE REPORT IN THE BOARD PACKET.
SO THIS IS SUMMARIZED A LITTLE BIT, BUT MINIMALLY THE GFOA SAYS EVERY AGENCY SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST TWO MONTHS OF OPERATING REVENUES AND SO FOR US THAT WOULD BE 35.5 MILLION SET ASIDE IN OUR FUND BALANCE, AND THEN THE GFOA SAYS YOU ALSO SHOULD LOOK AT YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
SO THE GFOA SAYS YOU SHOULD LOOK AT YOUR INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS WHERE YOU COULD POTENTIALLY NEED TO DRAW ON YOUR GENERAL FUND TO AUGMENT THAT? AND SO WE SAID, LET'S SET ASIDE 2 MILLION FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND 1 MILLION FOR GENERAL LIABILITY.
THAT'S BECAUSE THESE ARE DUPLICATES OF WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR COMMITTED FUND BALANCE.
SO LONG TERM CAPITAL NEEDS THE PARK DISTRICT HAS A LOT OF INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE GFOA RECOMMENDS SETTING ASIDE THE ANNUAL AMORTIZATION AMOUNT FOR YOUR TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO THAT'S 10.4 MILLION, AND THEY SAY LOOK AT YOUR OTHER ONGOING LIABILITIES.
DO YOU HAVE ANY LIABILITIES THAT POTENTIALLY YOU WOULD NEED TO DRAW IN YOUR GENERAL FUND FOR IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG? SO WE'RE SETTING ASIDE 1.4 MILLION FOR OUR 2012 PROMISSORY NOTES.
SO WE ARE SAYING, LET'S STAY WITH THAT 32% UNASSIGNED RESERVE AMOUNT.
SO THERE'S A DUPLICATION THERE IN OUR CALCULATION FOR OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SETTING ASIDE MONEY FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND ALSO FOR REVENUE TAKEAWAYS, BUT WE ALREADY HAVE THAT AMOUNT IN OUR COMMITTED FUND BALANCES, AND SO WE DON'T NEED IT IN BOTH PLACES.
SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS, WHICH DO WE WANT TO GET RID OF? WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THE COMMITTED RESERVES BE REDUCED AND REALLOCATED RATHER THAN CHANGING OUR UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE, AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS THE UNASSIGNED RESERVES ARE REALLY OPEN FOR US TO USE, NO MATTER WHAT THE EMERGENCY IS.
WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO USE THOSE COMMITTED RESERVES BECAUSE THEY CAN ONLY BE USED IN THE CASE OF A ONE TIME REVENUE TAKEAWAY OR FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND SO OUR RECOMMENDATION IS TO TAKE THOSE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY SET ASIDE AS COMMITTED FUND BALANCE AND ALLOCATE THEM TO A PROJECT THAT'S CALLED FUTURE OFFICE NEEDS, AND THE REASON WE'VE CHOSEN THAT PROJECT IS THAT WE HAVE THE PERALTA OAKS NORTH PROJECT COMING FORWARD LATER THIS YEAR IN JULY, MOST LIKELY, AND AT THAT TIME, THE PARK DISTRICT WILL NEED TO MOST LIKELY BORROW FUNDS AND WILL ISSUE PROMISSORY NOTES, AND SO SETTING THESE FUNDS ASIDE IN THIS PROJECT DOES NOT TIE OUR HANDS SO THAT WE HAVE TO USE THEM FOR THE PERALTA OAKS NORTH PROJECT, BUT IT GIVES US THAT OPTION.
THEY'LL JUST BE IN THIS PROJECT, AND THEN IN JULY WHEN WE GET THE BIDS, WE'LL BE WORKING ON WHAT OUR FINANCING STRATEGY IS AND CAN DRAW ON THOSE FUNDS IF NEEDED, AND THAT WOULD REDUCE OUR ANNUAL DEBT SERVICE COSTS.
SO THE ACTION WE'RE REQUESTING IS TO MAINTAIN THE EXISTING UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE POLICY AT 32%, TO ELIMINATE THE TWO COMMITTED FUND BALANCE RESERVES FOR WORKERS' COMPENSATION CONTINGENCIES AND REVENUE TAKEAWAY CONTINGENCIES, AND TO APPROPRIATE THE 21.6 MILLION INTO THIS PROJECT CALLED FUTURE OFFICE NEEDS, AND THEN LASTLY, BEFORE I TAKE QUESTIONS, I JUST WANT TO THANK THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
[01:25:02]
PRESIDENT ECHOLS, I JUST WANTED TO ADD ONE QUICK THING, AND I JUST ALSO AND THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING THE BOARD.ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I DECIDED TO COME HERE IS THAT YOU ALL ARE VERY FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, BUT I ALSO REALLY WANT TO JUST CREDIT DEB SPAULDING AND HER TEAM THAT THEY HAVE COME IN AND REALLY TAKING A FRESH SET OF EYES AND LOOKING AT OUR BUDGET AND OUR LONG TERM FISCAL NEEDS, AND REALLY RECOGNIZING THAT THESE TWO FUND BALANCES HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE FOR A SIGNIFICANT PERIOD OF TIME AND AND THAT THEY'RE BEING DOUBLE COUNTED IN TERMS OF OUR NEED FOR OUR FUND BALANCE, AND SO THIS IS REALLY A WISE RECOMMENDATION, AND I JUST REALLY WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO DEB FOR TAKING A FRESH SET OF EYES AT OUR FINANCES AND PUTTING THIS RECOMMENDATION FORWARD.
OKAY. QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR ROSARIO.
YEAH, I TOO, I JUST WANT TO CONGRATULATE DEBORAH ON REALLY LOOKING AT THAT RESERVE BECAUSE I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT IT WAS QUITE LARGE AND MAKES US AN EASY TARGET, I THINK AND THE FACT THAT WE ARE TAKING OUT THESE REDUNDANCIES AND AND WE'RE PUTTING THAT MONEY TO SOMETHING, TO PROJECT MONEY, MAKING MONEY FOR OUR CONSTITUENTS.
MY ONLY QUESTION IS, DO WE HAVE TO PUT, I MEAN, I KNOW YOU'RE SAYING THAT IF WE PUT THAT 21.6 MILLION IN THAT IN ONE FUND, THAT WE COULD ACCESS IT IF WE NEED IT FOR OTHER PROJECTS? I WAS JUST THINKING, WOULD IT MAKE SENSE TO MAYBE NOT PUT IT ALL IN ONE FUND, BUT MAYBE, YOU KNOW, SET ASIDE MAYBE 1.6 MILLION OR WHATEVER, IN CASE THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THAT ARE WANTING THAT NEED THAT NEED THAT NEED THAT MONEY NOW.
SO HAVE WE LOOKED? HAVE WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AT PROJECTS THAT ARE IN NEED RIGHT NOW? BESIDES PRATT OAKS NORTH? YEAH. GREAT QUESTION.
LIKE HOW DID WE HIT ON THAT PROJECT? IT'S REALLY OUR BIGGEST NEED THAT'S COMING FORWARD.
SO AGAIN, I GUESS I WOULD SAY THINK OF THIS AS LIKE A HOLDING PLACE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE SPENT IF SOMETHING COMES UP.
IT'S THERE FOR US UNTIL WE TAKE ACTION, YOU KNOW, MOST LIKELY IN JULY WHEN WE GET THE BIDS, THOSE FUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR OTHER APPROPRIATIONS, BUT THAT'S OUR BIGGEST NEED IS THAT PROJECT ACROSS THE STREET.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I ALSO JUST WANT TO POINT OUT, TOO, THAT CAME UP IN FINANCE COMMITTEE IS THAT THEY DID AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT OUR TOTAL INFRASTRUCTURE COSTS WOULD BE AND WE HAVE $10.4 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE.
SO IF SOMETHING MAJOR HAPPENED AREA WIDE AND ALL OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE HAPPENED TO DISAPPEAR OR GET DESTROYED IN ONE EVENT YOU KNOW, IT'S $2.4 MILLION, DOESN'T, DOESN'T COVER SALARIES, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
JUST ONCE AGAIN IN ANOTHER YEAR.
I WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR WORK THAT YOU DO TO KEEP THIS ALL IN ORDER, SO WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF WHERE TO KEEP THE FUNDING AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THAT WE, YOU KNOW, ARE RESPONSIBLE ABOUT HOW WE USE THEM.
I KNOW THAT YOU NOW HAVE A NEW POSITION, BUT YOU'RE STILL DOING THE WONDERFUL JOB THAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING IN THIS DEPARTMENT FOR A LONG TIME TO KEEP US INVOLVED AND KNOWING WHAT WHAT WE SHOULD BE DOING AND KEEPING IT ALL IN THE GREAT IN THE RIGHT ORDER.
SO WITH THIS IDEA OF IT AS A HOLDING PLACE, DO WE HAVE TO THEN NAME IT TO THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT, FUTURE OFFICE NEEDS, OR IS THERE A WAY TO RENAME THAT FOR JUST GENERAL FUTURE PROJECT NEEDS? PART OF THAT IS, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT ECHOES A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT DIRECTOR ROSARIO WAS SAYING.
YOU KNOW, WHAT, IF THERE ARE OTHER PROJECTS THAT MAYBE WE WOULD WANT TO I MEAN, THIS IS A PRETTY LARGE AMOUNT OF MONEY, AND THERE ARE THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF PROJECTS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE AVAILABLE, AND THIS MIGHT GET TO A POINT IN REGARDS TO THE CAPITAL PROJECT WORKSHOP THAT I THINK WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER AS WELL, THAT SOME OF THESE THINGS FEEL A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER, AND I KNOW I VOTED NO ON THIS DURING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I HAD ENOUGH INFORMATION ABOUT THE IMPROVE PERALTA OAKS NORTH PROJECT, BECAUSE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WAS ACTUALLY AT THE END OF MARCH, AND SINCE THEN, THE BOARD
[01:30:08]
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DID HAVE AN AGENDA ITEM ON THIS PROJECT, AND SO THAT WAS VERY HELPFUL IN TERMS OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, BECAUSE I CAN SHARE, YOU KNOW, I HAVEN'T REALLY I HAVEN'T PERSONALLY BEEN A PART OF A MEETING WHERE WE'VE HAD A GOOD STRATEGIC OVERVIEW FOR, YOU KNOW, WHY WE'RE GOING TO BE INVESTING SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT INTO THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS AN OPPORTUNITY IN A PUBLIC FORUM TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROJECT, AND I KNOW IT'S NOT AGENDIZED TODAY, SO I'M NOT GOING TO ASK THOSE QUESTIONS TODAY, BUT JUST GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF THIS 21.6 MILLION, IT'S REALLY TOUGH FOR ME TO MAKE THAT DECISION WITHOUT HAVING THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRATEGY BEHIND THE NEED FOR THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE OVERALL PROJECT AND I KNOW THAT ORIGINALLY THIS PROJECT, WHEN IT WAS INITIALLY REVIEWED IN 2019, A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE 2019 AS WELL.SO I THINK JUST GIVEN THE SIZE OF THE PROJECT IN TERMS OF THE CAPITAL COSTS, IT IS GOOD TO CONSISTENTLY REVIEW AND MAKE SURE THAT IT IS WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE PARK DISTRICT.
SO I GUESS BACK TO MY EARLIER QUESTION, AND THEN I MAY HAVE A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.
YOU KNOW, IS IT POSSIBLE TO, YOU KNOW, RENAME THE ASSIGNMENT OF THIS FUNDS TO SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE GENERAL AND THEN, YOU KNOW, AS WE REVIEW CAPITAL PROJECTS POTENTIALLY, AND OR HAVE A FULL BOARD REVIEW OF THE IMPROVED PERALTA OAKS NORTH PROJECT, THEN PERHAPS IT COULD GET ASSIGNED AT THOSE MOMENTS IN TIME? YEAH, WE CAN RENAME PROJECTS.
SO WE DO NEED TO MOVE IT SOMEWHERE AND FUTURE OFFICE NEEDS IS IS LIKE A SUFFICIENTLY GENERIC PROJECT AND I'LL SAY WE CAN MOVE IT FROM THERE TO ANOTHER PROJECT WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH THE BOARD'S APPROVAL.
SO PUTTING IT INTO THAT PROJECT, NO MATTER WHAT THE NAME IS, IT'S STILL ABLE TO BE APPROPRIATED, BUT IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO RENAME THAT PROJECT, IT'S DEFINITELY DOABLE TO SOMETHING LIKE FUTURE PROJECTS.
SOMETHING GENERAL. YEAH. FUTURE PROJECTS.
I'D FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE. I'M JUST GOING TO SHARE FOR ME INDIVIDUALLY.
I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR MY COLLEAGUES.
IT'S OKAY. NO, THIS IS A REALLY MAJOR DEAL; IT'S A LOT OF MONEY, SO, YOU KNOW, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE LOOK INTO THIS, AND THEN I GUESS MY OTHER QUESTION IS SO AGAIN, AT THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, I SEE THAT WE HAVE A TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENSE ESTIMATE OF $85 MILLION.
$64 MILLION, YOU MENTIONED SOMETHING THAT WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BORROW FUNDS AND PROMISSORY NOTES AND THAT THIS COULD POTENTIALLY HELP REDUCE THAT DEBT SERVICE, AND I'M JUST CURIOUS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WITH WITH SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, MACROECONOMIC NEWS, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME OF THE BORROWING COSTS MIGHT STILL CONTINUE TO BE AT A HIGHER RATE.
SO IT'S POSSIBLE THAT WE MAY NOT ACTUALLY HAVE THAT FED INTEREST RATE CUT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE PREDICTING, AND SO I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS IN REGARDS TO YOU KNOW, BORROWING SUCH A LARGE AMOUNT.
SO SETTING THESE FUNDS ASIDE IS, I THINK, SETTING US UP FOR FOR HAVING TO BORROW LESS WHEN THAT TIME COMES, AND IS THIS POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE OUR LARGEST CONSTRUCTION PROJECT AS A PARK DISTRICT? AS FAR AS I KNOW, UNLESS SOMEONE ELSE OKAY, SO WHETHER OR NOT IT'S THE LARGEST IS UP THERE, AND SO I GUESS JUST MY OTHER, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS, YOU KNOW, ARE WE TRACKING, AND I THINK I'VE MENTIONED THIS.
I MIGHT HAVE MENTIONED THIS IN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING OR AT SOME OTHER POINT.
MANY OF THEM ARE HAVING A LOT OF YOU KNOW, BUDGET FORECASTING CONCERNS, AND I BELIEVE IN THE UPCOMING FALL 2024 BALLOT, THERE'S A POTENTIAL FOR A NUMBER OF REVENUE MEASURES BY CITIES.
I KNOW SPECIFICALLY CITIES OF PLEASANTON, SAN LEANDRO AND SAN RAMON ARE RIGHT NOW EXPLORING THESE REVENUE MEASURE OPTIONS, AND THOSE ARE THREE CITIES THAT ARE LOCATED WITHIN OUR PARK DISTRICT.
I KNOW SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE ALSO TALKING ABOUT PARCEL TAX MEASURES.
THEY'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME BUDGET FORECASTING CRUNCHES.
JUST RECENTLY, THE LIVERMORE AREA RECREATIONAL PARK DISTRICT, LARPD, THEY ARE ALSO EXPLORING THIS OPTION, AND YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COMPILE THIS, I THINK THIS IS A REALLY GOOD AREA TO TRACK, JUST TO KIND OF GET A SENSE OF WHERE THE EAST BAY IS IN REGARDS TO ALL THIS, BECAUSE AND THE REASON I BRING THIS UP.
SO I'M GOING TO PIVOT REAL QUICK.
YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN STUDYING WHAT HAPPENED IN MIDPEN.
[01:35:01]
SO MIDPEN IN 2019, THEY BUILT NEW OFFICES.IT'S AN OPINION ARTICLE ON THE PALOALTODAILYPOST.COM ABOUT HOW IT WAS REFERENCED BY AN OPINION WRITER AS A BOONDOGGLE AND YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, OFFICE SPACE VERSUS OPEN SPACE AND THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS OPINION WRITER FELT THAT THE TRUST HAD BEEN VIOLATED BECAUSE MID-PEN HAD JUST GONE TO THE VOTERS FOR A BOND AND THEN TURN AROUND AND SPENT $50 MILLION ON AN OFFICE SPACE, AND THERE'S SOME COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE ALONG THESE LINES, AND I THINK JUST TO BE REALLY YOU KNOW, READY FOR THIS TYPE OF SCRUTINY BECAUSE I THINK, AGAIN, THIS IS A LOT OF MONEY. IT'S ACTUALLY MORE THAN WHAT MIDPEN HAD PAID WHEN THEY BUILT THEIR NEW OFFICES, GRANTED, THAT WAS ALSO FIVE YEARS AGO, SO CONSTRUCTION AND EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED SINCE THEN, BUT I DO THINK THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL WOULD BE GOOD TO REVIEW AS AN ENTIRE BOARD, BECAUSE I KNOW THIS HASN'T COME FORWARD SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THIS BOARD.
I JUST THIS WAS ON THE ISSUE OF PUTTING THE MONEY INTO THAT SPECIFIC NAMED PROJECT.
JUST TO REITERATE WHAT DEB SAID, THAT THIS DOES NOT ACTUALLY SPEND ANY OF THESE DOLLARS.
WE ARE IT IS JUST A PLACEHOLDER AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
WE'RE STILL IN THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW OF WORKING WITH OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS TO COME UP WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF HOW MUCH TO PUT FORWARD AS A, YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE YOUR HOUSE BUYING A HOME, HOW MUCH TO PUT AS A DOWN PAYMENT VERSUS HOW MUCH TO FINANCE, AND LOOKING AS WE'RE EXACTLY WHAT YOU NOTED, LOOKING AT THOSE INTEREST RATES WE HAVE, WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR RATING AGENCIES REAL TIME.
I THINK WE HAVE OUR NEXT MEETING WITH THEM TOMORROW.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S ALL PART OF THIS PROCESS, AND THE REASON WHY WE'RE RECOMMENDING JUST TO PUT THE MONEY ALL OF THIS ASIDE, NOT TO SAY THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO RECOMMEND AND THAT'S GOING TO COME TO YOU, I BELIEVE, IN JULY.
THE RECOMMENDATION DEPENDING ON WHERE THE BIDS COME IN.
SO WE HAVE AND YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S A LOT OF CHICKEN AND EGG STUFF GOING ON AT THE SAME TIME HERE, BUT SO THAT OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS REALLY KNOW AND THEY CAN SEE THAT THERE IS THAT AMOUNT OF CASH THAT IS AVAILABLE IF THAT'S WHERE WE WOULD WANT TO GO, IF THAT IS FISCALLY PRUDENT FOR US TO USE THAT AMOUNT.
IF IT'S NOT, CERTAINLY WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO YOU AND WE WOULD MOVE IT OUT OF THAT PROJECT INTO REALLY WHAT I WOULD BE RECOMMENDING IS THAT IT GO INTO YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS JUST TO REMIND THE BOARD, WE'VE MOVED THE WAY THAT WE'VE DONE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WHERE WE USED TO JUST DO AND THIS PREDATES THE MOVE THE CHANGE PREDATES YOU, BUT WHERE IT USED TO COME JUST ON AN AD HOC ROLLING BASIS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, WHICH IS NOT A BEST PRACTICE.
WE NOW HAVE OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS ROLLED INTO OUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS, WHICH IS FABULOUS.
WE'RE STILL TWEAKING IT AS WE GO.
SO, YOU KNOW, THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF TIME IN JULY IF WE BRING THE FINANCIAL ADVISOR'S RECOMMENDATION TO SAY, NO, WE DON'T NEED TO USE ALL $21 MILLION HERE AS A CASH PAYMENT, AND WE WOULD MOVE IT INTO ROLL IT INTO AVAILABLE MONEY FOR YOUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS WITH YOUR CAPITAL PROJECT.
SO I HOPE THAT HELPS A LITTLE BIT.
IT REALLY DOESN'T OBLIGATE YOU TO DO ANYTHING.
IT JUST LETS OUR ADVISORS KNOW THAT IT IS THERE.
SHOULD THAT BE SOMETHING THAT THEY THINK IS? FISCALLY PRUDENT, BUT THIS DOESN'T ACTUALLY SPEND ANY MONEY TODAY.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL. THANK YOU, AND THEN I GUESS JUST MY FINAL POINT.
YOU KNOW, I ALSO IN PREPARING FOR TODAY, I JUST WENT BACK THROUGH SOME OF OUR SLIDES FROM OUR BOARD RETREAT BACK IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR AND, YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LIST OF OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST THAT WE DIDN'T ADDRESS THAT DAY, BUT THAT HAD BEEN COLLECTED BY THE CONSULTANT TO PREPARE, AND THE OTHER ONE ON THERE THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT AS PART OF THIS CONVERSATION, I KNOW THAT THERE'S A WHOLE MIXTURE OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT PROJECT PRIORITIZATION, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, PAVED TRAILS, ACCESS TO FACILITIES VIA PUBLIC TRANSIT, SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, AND THEN ALSO REVENUE MEASURES FOR ONGOING STAFFING, IMPROVING LAND THAT'S CURRENTLY LAND BANK. SO THOSE ARE TWO OF THE BULLET POINTS THAT WERE ON THERE, AND I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE'RE THINKING ABOUT OUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS, JUST TO KEEP THOSE TWO POINTS IN MIND AS WELL.
SO I'LL PROBABLY TRIGGER WHATEVER THAT THOUGHT WAS.
SABRINA, AND MY PAGES HERE ARE COVERED WITH NOTES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN ADDRESSED BECAUSE I AS I WAS READING THROUGH THIS AND I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT LOOKING AT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH I WAS INTENDING TO DO.
[01:40:02]
SO I'D UNDERSTAND THIS BETTER, BUT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE ALLOCATION TOWARD AN OFFICE PROJECT.SOME OF THAT'S JUST A ROTE REACTION ON MY PART, BECAUSE I'M USED TO HAVING FINANCIAL ADVISORS AND FINANCE STAFF COME TO THE GOVERNING BODY WITH A MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THAT HAS ALL THE SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS ALL LAID OUT AND, YOU KNOW, BASED ON THE FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF THE AGENCY OF THE DEBT MARKETS YOUR OWN RESERVES AND REVENUES WHAT THE MIX IS GOING TO BE FOR FUNDING A MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT.
SO YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT MAYBE YOU'RE IN, AS WE ARE FORTUNATE SITUATION WHERE YOU CAN PAY SOME CASH INTO IT FROM GENERAL REVENUES OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE OF YEARS. YOU CAN USE RESERVES YOU CAN QUALIFY AND OBTAIN ON POSITIVE, FAIRLY POSITIVE TERMS DEBT, DEBT FINANCING FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES, AND EXAMINE ALL THE DEBT VEHICLES OUT THERE, AND SO NORMALLY [INAUDIBLE].
YOU WOULD HAVE ALL THAT IN FRONT OF US WHAT THAT MIX IS GOING TO BE, AND YET WE HAVE 1 OR 2 SENTENCES IN A THOROUGH REPORT THAT SUGGESTS JUST ASSIGNING THIS TO A CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, SO TO SPEAK, AND I JUST TO ME, I THOUGHT, I'M UNCOMFORTABLE ASSIGNING $21 MILLION TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, NOT KNOWING WHAT THAT MIX IS GOING TO BE IN ADVANCE, AND SO MY QUESTION IS, AND I UNDERSTAND IT'S A REASONABLE THOUGHT.
SO I'M WONDERING IF I'M TRACKING HERE IF WHAT WE'RE DOING, THE 90% OF THIS PRESENTATION IS HOW THESE TWO ACCOUNTS AND RESERVE ACCOUNTS THAT ARE COMMITTED TO WORKERS COMP AND TAKE AWAY ARE SUPERFLUOUS OR SURPLUS WHATEVER, DON'T NEED TO BE THERE.
IS THAT RIGHT? SO THEY'RE NOT PART OF THAT 32%.
CORRECT? YEAH, THE COMMITTED FUND BALANCES ARE NOT PART OF THE 32%.
SO IF WE JUST DID WHAT THIS STRIKES ME AS AN ACCOUNTING, IT'S AN ACCOUNTING MEASURE.
WE'RE TAKING AWAY THOSE LABELS FOR THOSE RESERVES.
CAN'T THEY JUST END UP IN GENERAL RESERVES? THEY COULD GO TO UNASSIGNED RESERVES.
YES. YEAH SO WE'RE JUST AND THERE'S A REFERENCE IN THE STAFF REPORT TOO EVEN LARGER GENERAL RESERVES IF WE DID SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO I GUESS I'M MUCH MORE COMFORTABLE JUST ADDING THESE TO GENERAL RESERVES RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, TAKE AWAY THE LABEL FOR COMMITTED RESERVES AND MAKE THEM PART OF OUR GENERAL RESERVES, AND THEN AT SOME POINT WHEN WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, THE FINANCIAL ADVISORS ALL TELLING US AND THE CONSTRUCTION ADVISORS AND YOU FOLKS TELLING US WHAT OUR ESTIMATED COSTS ARE, WHAT OUR SOURCES ARE, AND HOW THAT MIX IS GOING TO WORK, WE CAN DECIDE WHETHER THERE'S GOING TO BE 20 MILLION IN RESERVES TAPPED.
IS IT GOING TO BE 30 MILLION? IS IT GOING TO BE 10 MILLION? I'M JUST UNCOMFORTABLE PRE ASSIGNING THAT TO THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
ALTHOUGH I FULLY SUPPORT UNLIKE MY COLLEAGUE I'VE SAT THROUGH THOSE THOSE MEETINGS AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE PROJECT, AND I'M COMFORTABLE WITH THE PROJECT AND WHAT IT'S GOING TO COST, AT LEAST WHAT WE'VE BEEN TOLD TO DATE.
WHAT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IS DEALING WITH THE ACTUAL FUNDING OF THAT CONSTRUCTION TODAY ON AN AGENDA TOPIC THAT REALLY ISN'T ADDRESSING IT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE? SO I'M UNCOMFORTABLE JUST ASSIGNING THIS 21.
IT'S NOT FAR FROM WHAT DEE WAS SAYING OR OLIVIA WAS SAYING, JUST ASSIGN THAT 21 MILLION TO ADDITIONAL GENERAL RESERVES THAT WE CAN TAP FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, IF THAT'S WHAT WE END UP USING IT FOR.
THE OTHER THING IS AND AGAIN, AND THIS IS I'M CHANGING THE TOPIC BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT, SO I'LL ADDRESS OTHERS. THAT TAKEAWAY RESERVE WAS ORIGINALLY SET UP BECAUSE OF ERAF.
IS MY MEMORY OR FUZZY UNDERSTANDING WHICH ONE SENATOR CORBETT HELPED US AVOID, BACK IN THE 90S, AND IT WAS SHIFTED IT OVER THE YEARS.
[01:45:03]
IT SHIFTED UP TO THE 19.6 LEVEL, BECAUSE I GUESS AT THAT POINT WE WERE DEFINING THAT POTENTIAL TAKEAWAY RESERVE BASED ON A SHORTFALL IN PROPERTY TAX REVENUES.IS THAT IT? THAT WAS HOW IT REACHED THAT LEVEL? I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND SEE WHAT THAT RESOLUTION SAID.
SO WE HAVE TWO MONTHS OF RESERVES.
IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT WE'RE SAFE DOING AWAY WITH THAT WITH THIS TAKEAWAY COMMITTED RESERVE FUND, BECAUSE WE'RE NO LONGER UNDER A THREAT OF ANOTHER ERAF OR WE'RE YOU KNOW, WE HAD A LEGISLATOR A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ASSEMBLYMAN FRAZIER WAS GOING TO TAKE AWAY PROPERTY TAXES FROM US $10 MILLION.
SO WE'VE GOT TO BE COMFORTABLE THAT ANOTHER ASSEMBLYMAN FRAZIER PROPOSAL OR ANOTHER VERSION OF ERAF IS GOING TO BE COVERED BY THOSE TWO MONTHS RATHER THAN THIS COMMITTED AMOUNT, AND SO IF THE COMMITTEE ADDRESSED THAT OR IS COMFORTABLE WITH THAT THAN I AM.
THE ONE THAT HAD BROKE IT ALL DOWN BECAUSE I HAD A COUPLE QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT, TOO.
THANK YOU. IT WOULD JUST BE HELPFUL TO SEE IT.
ALL RIGHT. SO THIS IS HOW WE GET TO OUR SO IN OUR UNASSIGNED RESERVE AMOUNT, WE HAVE 32% OF OUR GENERAL FUND, AND SO THAT 32% IS WHAT OUR POLICY SAYS WE SHOULD SET ASIDE, AND THEN THIS LISTING HERE AND IT'S ALSO IN THE BOARD PACKET DESCRIBES HOW DID WE PICK 32% LIKE EVERY AGENCY, YOU KNOW, IF THEY HAVE UNASSIGNED FUND BALANCE THEY DETERMINE WHAT'S RIGHT FOR THEIR AGENCY.
MOST OF THEM GO THROUGH THE GFOA LIST AND SAY, YOU KNOW, DO WE WANT TO HAVE TWO MONTHS OF OPERATING REVENUES? MOST DO, AND THEN YOU LOOK AND SAY LIKE, WELL, DO WE WANT TO SET ASIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR X, Y, AND Z? AND SO WE HAVE SET ASIDE ADDITIONAL FUNDS FOR ALL OF THESE THINGS LISTED HERE.
SO WORKERS' COMPENSATION, GENERAL LIABILITY, LACK OF CONTROL OVER REVENUE, LONG TERM CAPITAL NEEDS, OTHER ONGOING LIABILITIES, AND WE HAVE DOLLAR AMOUNTS THAT WE CALCULATED BASED ON ALL OF THESE PROBABILITIES, AND WHEN YOU ADD THOSE ALL UP, IT COMES TO $69.7 MILLION THAT WE WANT TO SET ASIDE, WHICH IS ROUGHLY 32% OF OUR TOTAL GENERAL FUND REVENUES, AND SO SINCE THAT CALCULATION COMES OUT TO BE ROUGHLY 32%, WE'RE SAYING LET'S STICK WITH 32%.
SO INSIDE THAT 32% CALCULATION, THERE'S TWO MONTHS OF REVENUES PLUS ADDITIONAL LAYERS FOR OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES THAT COULD HAPPEN. SO WE HAVE MORE THAN THE TWO MONTHS SET ASIDE IN THE UNASSIGNED RESERVES.
SO THE TWO MONTHS IS ONLY LET'S SEE THAT FIRST BULLET IS ONLY $35.5 MILLION.
WE'RE SETTING ASIDE $69.7 MILLION IN OUR UNASSIGNED RESERVES.
DOES THAT HELP? OKAY SO BUT THE TWO THAT YOU'RE TAKING THAT YOU WANT TO CONVERT OR NOT ARE BASICALLY SET ASIDE FOR A POSSIBLE PROJECTS.
ARE THESE SO THEY'RE COMMITTED FUND BALANCES.
SO THERE'S FIVE TYPES OF FUND BALANCES PER THE GATSBY, AND IN ONE OF THOSE IS CALLED COMMITTED FUND BALANCES, AND THAT'S WHEN YOUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS TAKES ACTION BY RESOLUTION AND SAYS, I'M SETTING ASIDE THESE FUNDS.
THEY CAN ONLY BE USED FOR THIS PURPOSE, AND SO IN 2012, WE SET ASIDE 2 MILLION FOR WORKERS COMP.
WE SET ASIDE 10% OF GENERAL FUND PROPERTY TAX REVENUES FOR ONE TIME TAKEAWAYS.
THAT WAS BEFORE WE HAD OUR GENERAL FUND RESERVE POLICY, AND SO THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2013.
SO THESE COMMITTED RESERVES WERE SET ASIDE.
LATER, WE SET ASIDE OUR OTHER 32%, BUT WE NEVER WENT BACK AND SAID, HEY, WE'RE DUPLICATING.
DON'T GO BACK FOR A SECOND SO I CAN ASK MY QUESTION.
SO OKAY, SO THE 19.6 MILLION AND THE 2 MILLION ARE ALREADY IN THE ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE? SO I MEAN, THE GENERAL ONE, THE 32.7%, THESE TWO ARE ALREADY IN THERE, AND THEN THESE ARE ENTIRELY SEPARATE FUNDS.
[01:50:04]
SO I OKAY, NOW I.YEAH. SO THAT'S WHY THEY'RE BASICALLY REDUNDANT I SEE OKAY.
OKAY. I'M GOING TO LET JOHN GO FIRST, AND THEN IF DEE HAS MORE QUESTIONS.
SO HAVING A $21.6 MILLION DOLLAR CHUNK OF MONEY IN A FUND THAT'S DEDICATED TOWARD A PROJECT THAT WE INTEND TO BORROW MONEY FOR, WILL HAVING THAT DEDICATED AMOUNT AFFECT THE INTEREST RATE THAT WE GET WHEN WE HAVE TO GO BORROW THAT? IN OTHER WORDS, DOESN'T IT ILLUSTRATE A REAL COMMITMENT TO THE PROJECT AND TO THE LENDERS CAN KIND OF SEE THAT WE DEFINITELY HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS, AND WE'RE RESPONSIBLE AND WE'RE A GOOD BET.
YEAH. YEAH. BECAUSE THAT'S KIND OF WHERE I'M COMING AT THAT THIS COMING AT THIS FROM IS THAT WE KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BORROW MONEY FOR THIS PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET, AND I THINK IF WE CAN PRESENT OURSELVES AS, AS POSITIVELY AS POSSIBLE AND REDUCE THE AMOUNT THAT WE'RE BORROWING AND REDUCING OUR DEBT SERVICE COSTS.
I THINK THAT'S A PLUS FOR THE DISTRICT, AND NOW I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY FIRST, AND THAT IS THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS WORK AND HAVING THE SORT OF BEING ABLE TO STEP BACK AND KIND OF LOOK AT THINGS FROM ANEW, SO TO SPEAK, AND COMING UP WITH THESE IDEAS, I LIKE THE FLEXIBILITY NOW THAT WE HAVE.
IT'S A WIDE TOOL BETTER TERM TO USE FOR MANY DIFFERENT THINGS RATHER THAN JUST HAVE THEM FOCUSED ON SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, MAY NEVER HAPPEN.
SO, YOU KNOW, DEPENDING ON THE AGENCY YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WHEN THEY GET A SURPLUS, THEY USE IT ON THINGS THAT AREN'T CAPITAL AND THEN THEY GET THEMSELVES INTO A CONTINUING OPERATING COMMITMENT, AND THEN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, THEY DON'T HAVE IT ANYMORE AND THEY'RE ALL SCREWED UP, YOU KNOW.
WE'RE USING IT ON A CAPITAL PROJECT, WHICH IS GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TOWARD THE BETTERMENT OF THE DISTRICT FOR DECADES, AND WE KNOW THAT'S A PROJECT THAT THIS PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY HERE, THAT IS WE'RE IN DIRE NEED OF IT BECAUSE WE'RE BASICALLY RUNNING ON BORROWED TIME OUT THERE WHERE IT'S LOCATED NOW.
HERE'S A PLACE THAT'S, YOU KNOW, CO-LOCATED WITH WHERE WE ARE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I FEEL PRETTY COMFORTABLE WITH DOING IT THIS WAY, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, I TOTALLY SUPPORT THE RESERVES, AND, YOU KNOW, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN WHAT'S RECOMMENDED, BUT AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT IT AND SAY, ARE WE REALLY SERVING THE DISTRICT, THE DISTRICT'S CONSTITUENCY, BY TYING UP ALL THIS MONEY IN SOMETHING THAT MAY NEVER BE USED? SO IF WE CAN TURN IT LOOSE TO DO GOOD.
YOU KNOW, I THINK WE KIND OF HAVE THE RIGHT BALANCE HERE.
SO I THINK THIS IS ALL WELL THOUGHT OUT, AND I, YOU KNOW, I TRUST BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR STAFF AND THE ADVISORS THAT YOU USE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO COOK UP SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE JUST THE RIGHT RECIPE.
I REMEMBERED WHAT I MEANT TO SAY.
THANK YOU FOR THAT, AND YOU RAISED AN IMPORTANT POINT, WHICH DEB AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT AND HEARD FROM OUR FINANCIAL ADVISORS ABOUT WHICH IS THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RECENT CASES WHERE JURISDICTIONS, MUNICIPALITIES, AND I THINK MAYBE THERE WAS EVEN A REGIONAL AGENCY WHERE THEIR FINANCIAL ADVISORS HAVE BEEN DINGED AND SANCTIONED BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD AGENCIES THAT HAVE HAD CASH RESERVES IN SUCH LARGE AMOUNTS, BUT THEY'VE STILL GONE OUT AND BORROWED FOR SOME OF THESE LARGE PROJECTS, AND THESE FINANCIAL ADVISORS ARE NOW BEING SANCTIONED BECAUSE OF IT TO ADVISE, YOU KNOW, ALLOWING THESE RECOMMENDATIONS, THEIR ANALYSIS TO SAY, GO AHEAD AND BORROW THE MONEY WHEN YOU'RE SITTING ON THESE LARGE RESERVES.
[01:55:02]
SO THAT WAS PART OF THE CONTEXT AND I APOLOGIZE.WE DID MEAN TO BRING THAT AS PART OF THIS TOO, IN BRINGING THIS FORWARD AS WELL.
SO YOUR POINT IS REALLY WELL TAKEN.
YES TO BE MAKE SURE THAT IN THE CASE OF EMERGENCIES WE HAVE SUFFICIENT FUNDS, BUT ULTIMATELY THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS THAT SHOULD BE USED ON SERVICES AND ON PROJECTS, AND SO FINDING THAT RIGHT BALANCE.
YOU MOVE THE MONEY AT THE SAME TIME.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO BALANCE A LOT OF THINGS AND TRYING TO MOVE QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
THERE'S A LOT, LOT MORE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES AROUND OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND REALLY TRYING TO GET AN HONEST LOOK OF WHAT IS WHAT OUR REAL NEEDS ARE LONG TERM AND WHAT OUR FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE LONG TERM FOR THESE PROJECTS, AND SO REALLY, THAT'S PARTLY WHY WE HAD RECOMMENDED TO MOVE THE CAPITAL PROJECTS STUDY SESSION THIS YEAR BECAUSE LAST THE LAST TWO YEARS WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH YOU ALL ON POLICY WORK AROUND THE PRIORITIZATION IN THOSE WORKSHOPS WHICH YOU GUYS HAVE AUTHORIZED, AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE THAT, AND KEN HAS BEEN LEADING THIS EFFORT IN HIS SHOP, AND IT'S AN ALL HANDS ON DECK OF REALLY TRYING TO GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THESE LONG TERM NEEDS ARE IN CONCERT WITH THE WORK WE'RE DOING AROUND THE DISTRICT PLAN.
SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT WE'LL BE BRINGING, IF IT'S NOT THIS YEAR, BUT REALLY OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS OR SO, SOME ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND FUND BALANCES. SO, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH MAST AS AN EXAMPLE AND LOOKING AT HOW MUCH ON AN EMERGENCY BASIS WE'RE HAVING TO SPEND BECAUSE OF STORMS OR, YOU KNOW, OTHER OTHER ANTICIPATED UNANTICIPATED, I DON'T FEEL LIKE THAT FUND BALANCE IS SUFFICIENT.
WE SET ASIDE KIND OF SOME LITTLE BABY STEPS IN THIS LAST BUDGET.
I THINK IT WAS UPWARDS OF MAYBE $500,000 OR SOMETHING.
IT REALLY WASN'T MUCH, MAYBE A MILLION, BUT KIND OF TO START TO GET INTO THE MINDSET OF GETTING MORE OF THESE, THESE FUND BALANCES SET ASIDE SO THAT WE'RE NOT JUST SITTING WITH THESE KIND OF LARGE, KIND OF NEBULOUS NUMBERS, BUT REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE, LOOKING WHAT'S AT, WHAT'S AVAILABLE AND BRINGING SOME OF THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS FORWARD TO YOU ALL. SO THESE ARE SOME PIECEMEAL THINGS THAT ARE COMING, BUT WE'VE GOT THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK THAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES RELATED TO THIS.
GREAT. THIS KIND OF AUGMENTS WHAT THE GENERAL MANAGER SAID, BUT ALSO COUNTERPOINT TO COLIN'S ASSERTION THAT YOU KNOW, TRYING TO SAVE MONEY FOR AN UNANTICIPATED GRAB FOR FUNDS FROM ANOTHER AGENCY IS THAT IT'S MY VIEW THAT THE MORE MONEY YOU HAVE ABOVE YOUR YOUR SAFETY POINT OUR 32%, THE MORE YOUR TARGET, I THINK.
THERE'S NO MISTAKE THAT THE REASON THEY TARGETED US IS BECAUSE WE HAD THE MONEY.
YOU KNOW, THEY CAN READ OUR BUDGETS JUST AS WELL AS ANYBODY ELSE.
SO THE MORE MONEY YOU HAVE, THE MORE YOU ARE A TARGET, AND I THINK THE MORE WE KEEP OUR 32% AND THEN SPEND THE REST FOR PROJECTS WHICH, IS WHAT THAT MONEY IS FOR IS A GOOD THING.
AND THEN ALSO KIND OF ADDRESS DIRECTOR SANWONG.
I DON'T THINK WE GOT ANY BLOWBACK FROM THIS PURCHASE, AND I THINK I NEED JERRY KENT TO BACK ME UP.
[LAUGHTER] BUT IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND SO AND I THINK THAT THE GROWTH OF THE PARK DISTRICT FROM THE TIME WE PURCHASED THIS BUILDING TO WHERE WE ARE NOW, I THINK PEOPLE WILL SEE THE JUSTIFICATION, ESPECIALLY OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, WHICH IS LONG OVERDUE FOR A NEW BUILDING, BUT.
SO THAT'S JUST ALL I WANTED TO SAY.
THANK YOU. APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK.
[02:00:01]
SO THIS IS DOES ANYONE HAVE ANYTHING ELSE BEFORE I ASK FOR A MOTION? I THINK WE'RE GOOD. DOES ANYONE WANT TO MAKE A MOTION? DIRECTOR MERCURIO.IS THERE A SECOND? WHAT'S THE MOTION? IS IT? OH. GOOD POINT.
WELL, I'LL LET DIRECTOR MERCURIO SAY WHAT THE MOTION IS.
I WAS ASSUMING IT WAS WHAT STAFF HAD ASKED FOR, BUT THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION DIRECTOR SANWONG, BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT CHANGING WHAT THAT SPECIFICALLY SAYS.
SO. WELL, IT'S TO APPROVE THE CHANGE IN THE STRUCTURE OF THE RESERVE FUNDS AND TO ALLOCATE THIS RIGHT. SO THE STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND.
DEE. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR ROSARIO.
OKAY, SO MOTION BY DIRECTOR MERCURIO, AND SECOND BY DIRECTOR ROSARIO.
OKAY. OKAY, SO WE HAVE FOUR IN FAVOR, TWO OPPOSED, AND DID THE CLERK GET OR DO I DON'T NEED TO DO A ROLL CALL OR.
OKAY. SO YOU'RE GOOD WITH THE NAMES? YES, I'M GOOD WITH THE NAMES.
SO THE NEXT THING ON THE AGENDA IS GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS.
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU WANTED TO ANNOUNCE? NO. OKAY.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION]
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION? YES. PRESIDENT ECHOLS WE DO.THE BOARD APPROVED BY A 6 0 VOTE SETTLEMENT OF A GRIEVANCE WITH AFSCME LOCAL 2428.
THE SETTLEMENT WILL PROVIDE RETROACTIVE PAY IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,284.67 TO ALEXANDRA COLLINS FOR DOCENT INCENTIVE PAY.
SECONDLY, THE BOARD APPROVED PROVIDING UP TO FOUR MONTHS OF HEALTH AND DISABILITY BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES ON APPROVED MILITARY LEAVE, WHICH WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE DISTRICT'S MILITARY LEAVE POLICY, AND FINALLY, THE BOARD APPROVED ENTERING INTO A SIDE LETTER WITH AFSCME LOCAL 2428 TO ADD THE WATER MANAGEMENT SUPERVISOR AND WATER MANAGEMENT TECHNICIAN TO THE CLASSIFICATIONS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A UNIFORM ALLOWANCE UNDER THE MOU, AND THAT'S IT.
GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
OKAY. SO NEXT ITEM IS BOARD COMMENTS.
I'M GOING TO START THIS TIME WITH DIRECTOR COFFEY.
PRESIDENT ECHOLS I REALLY APOLOGIZE.
THERE WAS AN ISSUE ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON AN ITEM THAT IT APPEARS YOU DID.
I'M GOING TO MAYBE I'LL LET YOU SPEAK TO THE FIX, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IF THIS WAS GOING BACK TO THE AMBROSE ITEM THAT THAT ACTUALLY WAS INCLUDED IN THE PACKET, IT WAS NOT, I GUESS, ON IN YOUR PRINTED AGENDA, BUT IT IS ON THE ONLINE NOTICED AGENDA.
I SEE. YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION ON THAT.
SO WE AND OPERATIONS IS REQUESTING THAT YOU GO AHEAD AND DO THAT IF YOU ARE.
SO IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
OKAY. HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT AND.
YEAH I KNOW I'M JUST CHECKING.
OKAY. WE CAN GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT UP, THEN A SEPARATE VOTE THEN ON THAT.
I'M GOING TO GIVE PEOPLE JUST A MINUTE TO TAKE A LOOK TO SEE ITEM FOUR.
APOLOGIZE ON THAT. THAT'S OKAY.
FOUR IN THE. ON THE CONSENT PAGE 29.
AND I MISSPOKE PUBLIC SAFETY, NOT OPERATION LIFEGUARDS.
THIS IS ONE DIRECTOR MERCURIO ASKED ABOUT.
[02:05:03]
AND I APOLOGIZE I THOUGHT YOU WERE ASKING ABOUT THE MOU ATTACHMENT.IS THERE SOMEONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION ON THIS? THIS IS COMMENT.
YEAH, I'M JUST TRYING TO CONNECT ITEM 4 TO 4.
IT'S NOT ON HERE. YEAH, IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA.
IT WAS LEFT OFF THE AGENDA BY MISTAKE.
SO BUT WE'RE GOING TO APPROVE IT SEPARATELY.
OKAY. SO JUST TO BE CLEAR OUR CONSENT CALENDAR WAS CORRECT WHERE DOES IT SHOW UP ON OUR CONSENT CALENDAR? IT'S ON THE POSTED AGENDA.
THE AGENDA THAT WAS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE HAD IT FOR SOME REASON.
IT WAS IN YOUR PACKET IN TERMS OF A STAFF REPORT.
SO WE APOLOGIZE FOR THAT ERROR, BUT THIS IS ALSO AN MOU THAT HAS WE DID IT LAST YEAR.
OH YEAH, AND PETE'S DESCRIBED IT THOROUGHLY FOR US.
SO WE'RE ALL FAMILIAR WITH IT.
MY QUESTION WAS WHERE DOES IT SHOW UP ON OUR AGENDA, ON THE PUBLISHED AGENDA ON OUR WEBSITE? IS IT ITEM.
OH THE AGENDA IT'S ON THE WEBSITE.
WHERE IS IT ON THE WEBSITE? PROBABLY ITEM FOUR.
IT'S ITEM FOUR, AND THEN THE NUMBERS CHANGE AFTER THAT.
THE ONLY REASON I ASK IS BECAUSE I'M OLD FASHIONED AND KEEP NOTES ON MY HARD COPY.
SO I JUST, I WANT TO MAKE SURE I KNOW WHAT.
YEAH. WHATEVER, I JUST HAVE A HARD COPY.
SO IT'S ITEM FOUR AND EVERYTHING ELSE COMES NEXT.
ITEM FOUR. IS RENUMBERED OKAY.
SO I MOVE ITEM FOUR ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SAY EXACTLY WHAT IT IS SO THAT WE CAN BE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD, WE'RE AUTHORIZING AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AND AMBROSE RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT.
THANK YOU. WE HAVE A MOTION BY DIRECTOR COFFEY AND A SECOND BY DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. OPPOSED.
ALL RIGHT. SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO BOARD COMMENTS.
[BOARD COMMENTS]
AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING ME PLENTY OF TIME TO FIND IT.GENERAL MANAGER I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE TOPIC OF THE CANCELLATION OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS WORKSHOP BECAUSE IT HAD APPEARED ON OUR MASTER CALENDAR, WHICH WE HAD APPROVED. I'D HAD AN EXCHANGE WITH THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER AND WAS GOING TO HAVE HER ENGAGE WITH ME ON THIS, BUT SHE'S NOT HERE.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THIS? BECAUSE I'M QUITE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT BEING DROPPED OFF OUR WORKSHOP SCHEDULE, AND SOME OF IT IS PERSONAL BECAUSE I WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR THE SURVEYS WORKSHOP, BUT I DIDN'T WANT THE SURVEYS WORKSHOP TO KNOCK ANOTHER WORKSHOP OFF OUR SCHEDULE, AND RIGHT NOW, THAT'S KIND OF WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED, AND SO I HAVE THESE CONCERNS AND WILL THERE BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THEM? I CAN FOLLOW UP WITH ANNA, AND MY SENSE OF THE BOARD IS THAT WAS A GOOD ANNUAL WORKSHOP THAT WE HAD AND NOW WE DON'T HAVE IT.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE A DIMINUTION OF OUR PRIORITIES WORKSHOPS TO NOW PUT THE 5 YEAR, THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PROJECT PLANS ONTO OUR PRIORITIES JUST SEEMS TO BE CLOGGING THAT UP OR TAKING UP TOO MUCH ROOM ON THAT.
SO I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO REMEDY WHAT I THINK THE BOARD FEELS IS A, YOU KNOW, A LACK OF OPPORTUNITY NOW FOR THE FULL BOARD TO ADDRESS THE FIVE YEAR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
YEAH, WE'D BE HAPPY TO TALK TO YOU OFFLINE ABOUT THAT.
I THINK IT'D BE GOOD FOR KEN AND I TO SPEND SOME TIME WITH YOU, AND WE CAN WALK THROUGH THAT ANA'S OUT SICK TODAY, SO I YES, YOU WHATEVER ENGAGEMENT YOU GUYS HAD ON THAT HAPPY TO FOLLOW UP. ALL RIGHT.
YEAH. I'VE GOT SOME MORE BACKGROUND THAT I CAN SHARE WITH YOU FOR SURE, AND WITH ALL OF THAT TO SAY, WE WANT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO ENGAGE ON YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS, TRYING TO GET YOU MORE, NOT LESS.
SO IF THAT IS THE IMPRESSION, THEN WE CAN REMEDY THAT.
OKAY. YEAH, I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
I WON'T LEGAL COUNSEL WOULDN'T HAVE LIKED IT ANYWAY.
[02:10:02]
SO FOR ME ON THE 3RD OF APRIL, I GOT TO WATCH THE EXACT COMMITTEE. THOUGHT IT WAS VERY GOOD MEETING FOR YOU ALL TO HAVE WITH GOOD TOPICS, AND I KNOW OLIVIA AND I HAVE SOME MORE TO SEND YOUR WAY, PRESIDENT ECHOLS.ON THE 10TH, WE HAD THE LEDGE COMMITTEE.
I ALSO HAD IN THE AFTERNOON, A GREAT SCHEDULING DAY.
I FELT VERY PRIVILEGED HAVING THAT GROUP TOGETHER.
I MENTIONED THIS BECAUSE IT WAS REALLY HELPFUL TO ME.
DIRECTOR MERCURIO AND I HAD A COUPLE HOURS WITH DIRECTOR LANE OUT IN DANVILLE ON A NICE AFTERNOON AND APPRECIATE HER GETTING TOGETHER WITH US.
ON THE 13TH, I ATTENDED A BLACK TIE GALA CELEBRATING THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONTRA COSTA BAR ASSOCIATION, WHICH SHARES OUR BIRTH DATE OF 1934.
THEY HAD IT OUT AT THE BLACK HAWK MUSEUM, AND I JUST I GOT A KICK OUT OF THAT.
IT WAS A VERY GOOD EVENT, AND ON THE 14TH, I ATTENDED A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LECTURE IN MARTINEZ ON JOHN MUIR AND HIS IMPACT ON THE ALHAMBRA VALLEY AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, AND HOW JOHN MUIR AND THE STRENTZEL FAMILY SHAPED THE AGRICULTURAL HISTORY OF MARTINEZ.
SO THAT WAS A VERY NICE MORNING.
I SPENT THIS PAST SUNDAY, AND OTHER THAN THAT, I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS ON THE BAY TRAIL AND A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT HIKES IN BRIONES. DIRECTOR SANWONG.
YES. SINCE OUR LAST BOARD MEETING A COUPLE DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE 11TH, ON APRIL 11TH, I LED A GROUP CALLED LEADERSHIP PLEASANTON FROM PLEASANTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
WE WENT ON A BUS TOUR AROUND PLEASANTON THAT INCLUDED STOPS AT SHADOW CLIFFS AND ALSO DISCUSSING THE PLEASANTON RIDGE AND LAKE DEL VALLE, AND I NOTICED THERE MAYBE A GAP IN OUR SPONSORSHIP POLICY IN TERMS OF FEE WAIVERS.
SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING THAT I WILL ALSO BE BRINGING FORWARD IN THE NEAR FUTURE, AND THEN ON THE 15TH YESTERDAY, WE HAD ANOTHER DEL VALLE NEIGHBORS MEETING.
YOU MIGHT HAVE HEARD SOME PEOPLE SPEAKING UP EARLIER TODAY.
THEY ARE LEADING A CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEER NATURALIST PROGRAM, AND I DECIDED TO SIGN UP FOR IT BECAUSE I'M REALLY INTERESTED IN THE ALAMEDA CREEK WATERSHED, AND SO THAT GOT KICKED OFF LAST WEEK, AND IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING GROUP THAT'S PARTICIPATING, INCLUDING SOME FORMER PARK DISTRICT EMPLOYEES WHO WERE VERY EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR UPCOMING 90TH CELEBRATION ON MAY 11TH AT LAKE CHABOT.
YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING, I THINK THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT THINGS WITH CALENDARS AND SCHEDULING THAT WE MAY WANT TO CONSIDER IMPROVING. I, YOU KNOW, CITY OF DUBLIN HAD A REALLY IMPORTANT GROUNDBREAKING OVER THE PAST TWO WEEKS FOR THE IRON HORSE NATURE PARK NEXT TO IRON HORSE TRAIL, AND I KNOW I DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THAT FROM OUR STAFF OR FROM CITY OF DUBLIN.
I'VE BEEN IN CONVERSATION WITH CITY OF DUBLIN ABOUT THAT, BUT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NICE FOR US TO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE THERE, AND THEY ACTUALLY DID INCLUDE A MOMENT ON THE AGENDA FOR US, BUT NOBODY FROM EAST BAY PARKS ATTENDED THAT GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY.
IF I HAD KNOWN ABOUT IT, I WOULD HAVE MADE EVERY EFFORT TO BE THERE.
AND THEN THE OTHER THING I KNOW TOMORROW AND WE HAVE OUR OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING, THERE'S A TOUR BY THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS COMMISSION AT TESLA PARK IN EASTERN ALAMEDA COUNTY, BUT I KNOW IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO BE AT THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING TOMORROW, SO I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THAT TOUR WITH CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS COMMISSION TOMORROW. OKAY.
SO ON APRIL 1ST, I MET WITH CARLTON THOMPSON, WHO'S THE CONCORD CITY ENGINEER, AND WE TALKED
[02:15:09]
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOR THE CITY OF CONCORD TO HELP US GET ADEQUATE PEDESTRIAN AND BIKE ACCESS TO THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50, AND WHAT CAME OUT OF IT WAS THEY HAVE IDENTIFIED A PROJECT IN THE CITY OF CONCORD TO BUILD A MULTI-USE TRAIL ON AN ABANDONED RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY, AND ALSO UTILIZING A COUPLE OF SECTIONS OF CITY OWNED RIGHT OF WAY.IT'S ACTUALLY A PROJECT THAT I'D BEEN LOOKING AT FOR MANY YEARS, AND THEY CAME UP WITH INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BUILD SOMETHING ALONG BAILEY ROAD, JUST COMING UP WITH AN INDEPENDENT TRAIL, AND SINCE THAT MEETING, I'VE LEARNED THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE PURCHASED SOME RIGHT OF WAY, AND SO THEY'RE READY TO DO IT, AND IT'S SUPPOSED TO GO INTO THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR YOU KNOW, ON THE FISCAL, THE DIFFERENT FISCAL YEAR FROM US, BUT THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN RIGHT NOW, AND HE PROMISED ME THAT THERE WOULD BE A PLACEHOLDER IN THERE FOR A PROJECT TO ACTUALLY BUILD THAT TRAIL.
SO THAT WAS A VERY THAT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST PRODUCTIVE MEETINGS I'VE DONE ALL YEAR, AND THEN THERE WAS THE BOARD MEETING ON THE SECOND, AND I ZOOMED IN ON THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ON THE THIRD.
ON THE APRIL 4TH, I HAD MY IN OFFICE UPDATE, MY WARD SIX UPDATE WITH STAFF TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT I AM INTERESTED IN DOING.
ON APRIL 4TH, WE HAD THE CONTRA COSTA MAYORS CONFERENCE IN DANVILLE AND THEN ON APRIL 7TH I JOINED A COUPLE OF MY COLLEAGUES IN BERKELEY, ROSARIO AND WAESPI.
THEY HAD VIDEOS. IT WAS VERY KIND OF HIGH TECH, AND YOU LEARN ABOUT THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DOING FOR SO MANY DECADES IN THE INTEREST OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE LITERALLY THE BAY NATURE.
SO THAT WAS AFTERNOON WELL SPENT ON THAT SUNDAY, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY FROM THERE ON THE EIGHTH, I WAS A GUEST AT THE REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION MEETING WHICH IS AS IT'S BEEN PUT, THAT'S A REAL BRAIN TRUST FOR STUFF HAVING TO DO WITH THE HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT AND WHAT THE DISTRICT HAS BEEN DOING OVER THE YEARS.
PAST DISTRICT MANAGERS YOU KNOW, INTERESTED PARTIES ARE A PART OF THAT GROUP, AND WE HAD A GREAT CHAT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. ON APRIL 9TH WENT TO SAN RAMON FOR A LECTURE PUT ON BY THE EAST BAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, OF WHICH I SIT ON THAT BOARD, AND THE SPEAKER WAS TANI CANTIL-SAKAUYE.
SHE IS A FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT.
YEAH, YEAH, AND A JUST A GREAT, A GREAT LEGAL MIND, BUT ALSO IN HER RETIREMENT, SHE HAS NOW TAKEN OVER SOME. WELL, I THINK SHE MIGHT BE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE, WHICH IS I'VE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THEM VERY CLOSELY.
SO IT WAS SET UP AS KIND OF A TALK SHOW FORMAT ON A STAGE WITH, YOU KNOW, BACK AND FORTH TALK, AND THEN SHE WAS ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE.
SUSAN WAS THERE AS WELL, AND I GOT TO MEET SOME COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM DVC WHO WERE THERE AS PART OF AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT THEY HAVE, AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED.
THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE, GET TO GO TO A THING LIKE THAT.
I HAD A NICE CHAT WITH THEM, AND THEN I HAD ON THE 11TH, AS DIRECTOR COFFEY MENTIONED, WE HAD LUNCH WITH BEVERLY LANE AND WE JUST TALKED ABOUT A WHOLE RANGE OF TOPICS.
IT WAS THAT WAS ALWAYS VERY HELPFUL, AND THEN ON THE NEXT DAY, ON THE 12TH, I HAD LUNCH WITH OUR CHIEF OF LAND ACQUISITION, BECKY BREMSER BEING THAT SHE'S NEW. I FELT IT WAS USEFUL TO GET TOGETHER AND JUST KIND OF TALK ABOUT WHATEVER, GET TO KNOW A MEET AND GREET KIND OF THING.
AND THEN TO TOP IT ALL OFF, ON SATURDAY AT ARDENWOOD, THE SHEEP SHEARING EVENT THAT ONE OF OUR 90TH
[02:20:09]
ANNIVERSARY EVENTS, AND, YOU KNOW, I GOT TO SAY, I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT BEFORE, AND THEY DID IT WITH POWER SHEARS, AND THEY ALSO DID IT WITH THE SCISSORS, AND I WAS SURPRISED AT HOW COOPERATIVE THOSE SHEEP ARE.YOU KNOW, IT'S THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE, BUT THEY ARE, YOU KNOW, AND THE KIDS WERE JUST LOVING IT, YOU KNOW, THERE WERE A LOT OF KIDS THERE, AND THAT WAS JUST A GREAT EVENT AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS RELATED TO WOOL ALL KIND OF IN THERE IN KIND OF AN INTERPRETIVE MANNER.
IT WAS LIKE THE HARD CORE SHEEP LOVERS, I GUESS, YOU KNOW.
[LAUGHTER] YEAH, THE SHEEP SHEARING LOVERS.
SO THAT'S WHAT I'VE BEEN UP TO.
SO, YEAH, ON SINCE THE LAST BOARD MEETING, APRIL 7TH BAY NATURE LOCAL HEROES.
FABULOUS. IT'S JUST THE PERSPECTIVE OF THIS ONE WOMAN BORN IN INDIA.
AND SHE WAS HER PERSONALITY WAS SO INFECTIOUS, AND YOU COULD SEE EVERYBODY THAT WAS AROUND HER, AND THAT SHE WORKED WITH WERE JUST LIKE, TOTALLY IN HER, IN HER CAMP AND TOTALLY INTO RESTORATION, AND SHE WAS AMAZING.
AND THEN ONE OF THE OTHER ONES, SHE WAS FROM SAN MATEO RESOURCE CONSERVATION DIRECTOR, AND LONG TIME ADVOCATE AND PROJECTS.
BUT THE FUN PART I REMEMBER ABOUT HER WAS SHE HAS A DAUGHTER NAMED CRICKET.
SHE'S GOING TO BE AN ENTOMOLOGIST.
SHE'S RESEARCHED ALL THE ANTS IN THEIR BACKYARDS.
IT HAS THEM ALL THE COLONIES AND KNOWS WHICH ONES ARE NATIVE AND WHICH ONES ARE NON-NATIVE.
SO SHE SAYS, IF THERE'S ANYBODY WITH A JOB OUT THERE.
[LAUGHTER] THEN THE AND THEN ONE OF THE REALLY HEARTWARMING ONES WAS CREW LEADER FROM THE EBCC WAS IT THE EBCC OR C? A CIVIC COURT.
CIVIC COURT. YEAH, YEAH, AND HE WAS A STUDENT AT LANEY KIND OF LOST AND AND FOUND HIS WAY INTO THE EBCC AND HE'S PROGRESSED TO BECOME A CREW LEADER, AND HE JUST LOVED THE WORK, FOUND HIMSELF SURROUNDED IN NATURE, AND YOU KNOW, HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF ENVIRONMENTALIST AND HOPES TO BE THERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND I SEE HIM AS A FUTURE POSSIBILITY FOR YOU KNOW, AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE REGIONAL PARK.
SO THAT WAS EXTREMELY, EXTREMELY WELL DONE, AND THEN ON THE NINTH, I DID A HIKE WITH DOCTOR ANA ALVAREZ, AND SHE HAD ALL THESE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY DID, HOW I CREATED THE RESOURCE PROTECTION AREA ALONG STREAM TRAIL AND ALL THESE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES, AND SO IT WAS IT WAS PRETTY KIND OF FUN, KIND OF RELIVE MY CAREER AT REDWOOD AND THEN ON THE 10TH, I ATTENDED THE ALAMEDA COUNTY MAYOR'S CONFERENCE IN SAN LEANDRO.
IT WAS A PRESENTATION BY AVA, WHICH USED TO BE THE EAST BAY COMMUNITY ENERGY.
THEY CALL THEMSELVES AVA NOW, AND THEY HAVE THEIR THEY HAVE GRANTS AVAILABLE TO PUT IN ELECTRICAL CHARGING STATIONS.
SO SOMETHING WE SHOULD KEEP OUR EYES OPEN FOR AND SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH AGENCIES.
AND THEN ON THE 12TH, I GOT IN ON THE TAIL END OF A NEWLY FORMED GROUP CALLED THE LAKE MERRITT CONSERVANCY, AND THEY HAD A PANEL DISCUSSION CALLED CONNECT TO CREATE EQUITABLE COMMUNITY AT LAKE MERRITT, AND THE PANEL DISCUSSION AT THE END WAS VERY FASCINATING.
IT WAS VERY SIMILAR TO DISCUSSIONS WE'VE HAD HERE ABOUT ACCESS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAME OUT WERE BARRIERS WERE NO SURPRISE TRANSPORTATION, AND THEN ONCE YOU GET THERE, PARKING FEES AND THEN ALSO CULTURAL DIFFERENCES AND YOU KNOW.
WHAT'S CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE FOR A PARK AND, YOU KNOW, AS FAR AS NOISE LEVEL AND ACTIVITY, AND SO IT'S THE SAME DISCUSSIONS WE HAVE HERE, AND SO I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY INTERESTING PARKS OR PARKS.
[02:25:01]
AND THEN AND I'M HERE TODAY AND THEN I JUST WANTED TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS ON PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING THE FISH PLANTS. THAT SHOULD BE AN EASY FIX.I DON'T SEE WHY WE CAN'T COORDINATE PUBLIC SAFETY OR PARK RANGER OR SOMEBODY TO ACCOMPANY THOSE FISH PLANTS AND KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF THERE FOR A DAY OR TWO, AND THEN I DON'T I WAS GOING TO ASK AN OFFICER.
I DON'T THINK IT'S EVEN LEGAL TO USE IN THAT.
NOT THE WAY THAT THEY'RE DOING IT.
I'M ESPECIALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO COMMUNICATE VIA COMPUTERS.
I MEAN, I'M DOING IT MYSELF BECAUSE I'M IN THAT.
I'M DOING MY RMDS NOW THE PAPERWORK, THE PAPERWORK, YOU KNOW, YOU IT'S.
ACTUALLY THEIR PAPERWORK WAS EASY.
I HOPE WE CAN DO AS MUCH AS WE CAN TO MAKE THEIR THAT JOURNEY EASIER.
YEAH, AND THEN HOPEFULLY GOOD LUCK WITH DEL VALLE.
I MEAN, THOSE ISSUES AREN'T NEW, BUT I'M SURPRISED WE HAVEN'T HAVE A RESOLUTION IN ALL THESE YEARS.
I, WILL SUPPORT ANYTHING THAT HELPS WITH THAT.
DIRECTOR CORBETT, ARE YOU READY? YES. I JUST WANTED TO MENTION I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO THE SHEEP SHEARING FARMING EXPERTISE SHOWN AT OUR ONE OF OUR BEAUTIFUL PARKS WITH A COUPLE OF THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, AND WE REALLY GOT VERY IMPRESSED BY THE WORK THAT OUR STAFF DOES WITH REGARD TO TEACHING PEOPLE ABOUT FARMING AND TAKING CARE OF THOSE SHEEPS IN THE GROUP, AND LET'S SEE ALSO ON APRIL 3RD, I WENT TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING AND LET ME SEE WHAT ELSE I HAVE HERE.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT ON THIS LIST TODAY, BUT SO THAT'S ABOUT IT.
SO JUST QUICKLY APRIL 3RD ATTENDED THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
APRIL 10TH ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE YESTERDAY ATTENDED THE PRE BOARD MEETING, AND THEN YEAH I YEAH.
THANK YOU, DEE, FOR COMMENTING ON THE COMMENTS.
I YOU KNOW, I AGREE CERTAINLY THE FISH SITUATION WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET UNDER CONTROL QUICKLY.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS DIFFICULT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU'VE HAD ONE WORKING WITH ONE SYSTEM FOR DECADES AND THEN YOU KNOW, IT'S SWITCHED UP AND THERE'S ALL THIS PAPERWORK AND OTHER THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE SOME OF THEM HAD OR MAYBE ALL OF THEM HAD THEIR OWN FINANCIAL ADVISORS UNDER THE OLD PROGRAM, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S SOME.
NO, NO. OKAY. SHE'S SHAKING HER HEAD.
IT'S ONE PERSON WHO ADVISES EVERYBODY OKAY.
OH, I SEE OKAY, BUT SHE ONLY TOOK YOU UP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL.
I SEE. ONCE YOU WENT INTO INVESTMENTS, OKAY. OKAY. FAIR ENOUGH.
GOOD TO HAVE THE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE HERE.
SO FROM OUR RETIREES ON THE BOARD.
VERY GOOD. OKAY, AND THEN YES.
[02:30:08]
IT DIDN'T SLOW THEM DOWN AT ALL, AND THE FACILITIES ARE REALLY BEAUTIFUL.OH, SURE. GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR ROSARIO.
AS YOU KNOW YOU KNOW, WHILE THE MIDWEST AND THE EAST IS HAVING THIS REALLY COLD AND STORMY WEATHER, THE SOUTHWEST IS UNDER A RED FLAG WARNING FOR HAZARDOUS FOR CRITICAL FIRE.
CANADA HAS 50 FIRES ONGOING NOW.
THE PANAMA CANAL IS HAS RESTRICTED FLOW.
SO. STUFF'S HAPPENING, AND YOU KNOW, I'M GLAD WE ARE WORKING IN AN AGENCY THAT CAN HAS AN IMPACT ON THAT, AND SO LET'S JUST KEEP GOING FORWARD AND DOING THE BEST WE CAN.
IT'S AMAZING. I MEAN, TO ME, IT'S LIKE WE HAVE THIS IMPENDING ENVIRONMENTAL DISASTER LOOMING OR AND CHALLENGES LOOMING, AND ALL WE CAN DO IS GO AT EACH OTHER'S THROATS.
SO THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR THAT, DEE.
OKAY, ON THAT NOTE, WE WILL ADJOURN AT 3:50 P.M..
THANKS, EVERYBODY.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.