[00:00:01]
WELCOME TO THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH, 2024, BEGINNING AT 10:38 A.M..
DO WE HAVE ANYONE ATTENDING REMOTELY TODAY? NO, WE DO NOT.
OKAY. SO IF THE CLERK COULD PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL.
[Roll Call]
DIRECTOR COFFEY.AND DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER DR.
HERE. ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL JASON ROSENBERG.
HERE. TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT.
STAFF IS PROVIDING LIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT MAY DO SO BY SUBMITTING AN EMAIL, LEAVING A VOICEMAIL, OR JOINING LIVE VIA ZOOM WITH THE LINK PROVIDED ON THE AGENDA LOCATED ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MEETING PROCEDURES, WE WILL BEGIN.
[Approval of Minutes]
MOVE APPROVAL.I'LL SECOND. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS OF ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
OKAY, SO WE CAN MOVE DIRECTLY TO OUR ACTION ITEMS.
[Action Items]
AND FIRST UP IS THE RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT FEDERAL LEGISLATION.THE FIRST BILL OR RESOLUTION IS A FUN ONE.
I'M NOT SURE IF THE ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR WAS SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR WHICH IS POSSIBLE.
BUT IT IS THE RESOLUTION REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER INTRODUCED HONORING OUR 90TH ANNIVERSARY.
ONE HIGHLIGHT IN THE RESOLUTION ITSELF IS THAT IT CITES THAT WE HAVE CREATED A LASTING LEGACY WELL THE PARK DISTRICT HAS CREATED A LASTING LEGACY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
AS YOU ALL MAY RECALL, THAT'S ON OUR 1934 POSTER OR ADVERTISEMENT TO TURN OUT THE VOTE FOR THE INITIAL FOUNDATION OF THE DISTRICT.
ALSO WANTED TO JUST POINT OUT AND WE WILL HAVE SOME SLIDES WHEN WE TALK ABOUT OUR DC VISIT.
REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER DID INTRODUCE THIS WHILE THE BOARD WAS IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR THE FEDERAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE AND WAS ABLE TO SECURE SUPPORT FROM OUR ENTIRE DELEGATION.
HR 7770 IS A UNIQUE LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A COMMEMORATIVE COIN FOR ROSIE THE RIVETER, AND THE PROCEEDS OF THE COIN WOULD GO TO THE NATIONAL MONUMENT IN RICHMOND.
IT WOULD GO FOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRING OF THE HISTORIC PARK.
COMMEMORATIVE COINS HAVE AN INTERESTING HISTORY IN CONGRESS.
THEY WERE SUSPENDED FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEN CAME BACK IN THE LATE 90S.
AND THEY ONLY ARE AUTHORIZED TO DO TWO A YEAR.
SO TO HAVE A COMMEMORATIVE COIN ADVANCE, IT'S ACTUALLY SOMEWHAT COMPETITIVE.
BUT THE ROSIE THE RIVETER'S NATIONAL HISTORY DOES HAVE NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE.
AND ANOTHER INTERESTING TIDBIT ON COMMEMORATIVE COINS IS THEY OFTEN DO NOT COMPLETELY SELL OUT, BUT WHEN WHATEVER IS SOLD, THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE HOME FRONT HISTORICAL PARK.
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CREATE PLASTICS.BUT THE REASON, OR THE MAIN REASON TO BRING IT TO THE COMMITTEE'S ATTENTION IS IT DOES ESTABLISH A GRANT PROGRAM TO PURCHASE AND INSTALL REFILLABLE AND REUSABLE FACILITIES OR AMENITIES, INCLUDING WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATIONS.
SO FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, WE WOULD BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THAT GRANT PROGRAM AND WOULD BE ABLE TO USE IT TO INSTALL THOSE AMENITIES THROUGHOUT OUR PARKS. THE BILL ITSELF DOES NOT NECESSARILY HIGHLIGHT WHERE THE APPROPRIATIONS WOULD COME FROM, BUT THE TOXIC SUBSTANCE CONTROL ACT ALLOWS FEES TO BE ADMINISTERED TO PLASTIC PRODUCING COMPANIES.
AND SO PRESUMABLY THAT WOULD BE THE WAY THAT THE GRANT PROGRAM WOULD BE FUNDED.
AND THE LAST JOINT LEGISLATION TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION WOULD DESIGNATE THE COTTONWOOD VISITOR CENTER AT JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK AS THE SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN VISITOR CENTER.
THIS IS THE MOST POPULAR VISITOR CENTER OF THE PARK.
IT'S OFF OF INTERSTATE TEN AND RECEIVES MANY, MANY VISITORS A YEAR.
SO HER HISTORY WITH JOSHUA TREE GOES BACK TO 1994.
AND SO THE LEGISLATION TO RENAME IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE.
AND FOR THAT IS ALL WE HAVE FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION THIS MONTH.
I ANTICIPATE THERE WILL BE CONTINUED BILLS INTRODUCED.
WE'RE ALREADY UP TO AS YOU NOTED H.R.
8092. SO THAT'S 8000 BILLS INTRODUCED IN THE HOUSE ALREADY THIS SESSION.
SO WE PROBABLY WILL SEE A FEW MORE AND MAYBE GET TO 10,000.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
AND WE WOULD SEEK A SUPPORT POSITION FROM THE COMMITTEE.
GREAT. THANK YOU SO MUCH ERICH.
AND I WILL TURN TO DIRECTOR COFFEY TO SEE IF HE HAS ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.
WELL, I AM VERY SUPPORTIVE OF ALL OF THESE.
AND REALLY, IT WAS SUCH A TREAT THAT REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER DID THAT RESOLUTION.
AND OF COURSE, OTHERS WERE JOINED ONTO IT.
AND IT WAS REALLY A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO BE ABLE TO HEAR HIM PRESENT THAT ON THE FLOOR.
AND I REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE KIND AND IMPORTANT THINGS HE SAID ABOUT THE PARK DISTRICT .
OKAY. SO CAN I GET A MOTION? SO I MOVE APPROVAL OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO EXCUSE ME TO SUPPORT FEDERAL LEGISLATION AS PRESENTED.
OKAY. AND I WILL SECOND, SO WE HAVE A MOTION BY DIRECTOR COFFEY AND A SECOND BY ME.
WELL, THAT WAS QUICK. WE CAN MOVE ON TO THE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.
[Informational Items]
I THINK FIRST WE HAVE THE UPDATE ON GRANTS.ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. KATY HORNBECK, GRANTS MANAGER IN FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
SO IN THE GRANTS APPLY, THE ONE THAT I WANTED TO POINT OUT TODAY OF THE SIX THAT'S BEEN SUBMITTED AND SINCE BETWEEN THE PERIOD OF MARCH 25TH AND MAY 21ST IS THE VERY FIRST ONE.
THE ECOLOGICALLY RESILIENT PARKLANDS.
THIS WAS SUBMITTED TO THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD FOR $500,000.
AND SO THIS PROJECT IS A STEWARDSHIP LED PROJECT.
IT'S A PROJECT THAT WILL RESTORE AND PLANT NATIVE GRASSLANDS, OAK WOODLAND, AND IMPROVE RIPARIAN ECOSYSTEMS ACROSS THREE PARKS SIBLEY, REDWOOD AND TILDEN, ABOUT 20 ACRES.
AND THEY ASKED US TO SCALE IT DOWN.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE ENDED UP SUBMITTING TO THEM EARLIER THIS YEAR.
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AND YOU'LL SEE THERE WAS ONE GRANT AWARD IN THIS LAST PERIOD.THIS WAS FROM THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE.
THIS IS ANOTHER STEWARDSHIP LED PROJECT TITLED EAST BAY SEEDING.
SO THIS 50,000 IS GOING TO GO TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF SEEDS AND EXPANDING SEED PRODUCTION THAT WILL ULTIMATELY GO TOWARDS A PROJECT HAPPENING IN PLEASANTON AND GARIN REGIONAL PARK.
AND WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
THANK YOU. PRETTY SELF-EXPLANATORY.
I DON'T HAVE ANY QUESTIONS EITHER.
THAT'S I'M GLAD THAT THEY AT LEAST WANTED TO CONSIDER THE WILDCAT GRANT.
SO. SO THANK YOU FOR THE UPDATE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THESE REPORTS, BY THE WAY.
OR WOULD YOU LIKE US TO PROCEED? OH, YES. OKAY. ABSOLUTELY.
BUT I DO THINK WE ACCOMPLISHED A FAIR BIT.
WE DID HAVE 14 BUSINESS MEETINGS THROUGHOUT THE FOUR DAYS, AND I THINK ALL OF THEM WERE WERE VERY INFORMATIVE AND INSTRUCTIVE.
FIRST WHEN WE WERE THERE OBVIOUSLY WE HAD THE BRIEFING FROM OUR FEDERAL ADVOCATE, PETER UMHOFER AS WELL AS I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE LISA BALDINGER'S PARTICIPATION IN THIS CONFERENCE AND SUPPORT THE TWO OF US WERE ABLE TO GIVE AN OVERVIEW THE FIRST DAY AS WELL.
SHE'S BEEN WORKING ON IT FOR PROBABLY OVER 20 YEARS.
AND FOR HER TO SEE THE PERMANENT FUNDING AND AUTHORIZATION OF $900 MILLION PER YEAR PASSED IN 2019 FOR WHICH THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE ON THE BOARD, THEN WE WERE ACTUALLY IN THE SENATE GALLERY WHEN THAT PASSED.
SO THAT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF LWCF.
IF THAT 1978 FIGURE HAD BEEN ACCOUNTED FOR INFLATION, IT WOULD BE $4 BILLION TODAY.
SO THERE'S SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES THAT COULD BE ADDED TO THE FUND.
WE DID INFORM LESLEY OF OUR CONCERN WITH THE SEVEN YEAR WAITING PERIOD BETWEEN WHEN A PROJECT RECEIVES A GRANT FROM THE OUTDOOR LEGACY PROGRAM TO WHEN IT CAN RECEIVE A SECOND GRANT.
AND IT WAS INDICATED TO US THAT THAT WAS AN ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY AND NOT A LEGISLATIVE ONE.
AND IMPORTANTLY, WE WERE ASKED TO TAKE TO THE HILL THE MESSAGE OF NO RESCISSIONS.
AND THE WAY THE RESCISSIONS WORKED WAS THEY WERE NOT RESCINDING MONEY.
[00:15:02]
NEVER FULLY FUNDED. SO THERE'S A BACKLOG OF FUNDING.IT'S IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OR AT LEAST $1 BILLION.
AND THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO RESCIND SOME OF THAT FUNDING.
SO NOT THE NEW MONEY, BUT SOME OF THE OLD MONEY.
BUT I THINK THAT THAT WAS QUELLED IN CONGRESS.
AND I THINK WE'LL SEE THE FULL ALLOTMENT OF 900 MILLION MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR.
WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH HIM IN THAT CAPACITY.
FOREST SERVICE WAS VERY HELPFUL IN PROVIDING OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT ADDITIONAL RESOURCES AND RESEARCH WHEN THE TREE MORTALITY ISSUE CAME ABOUT IN 2020. I FELT A LITTLE LIKE A SHOW AND TELL MEETING, RANDY LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MEETING, AS YOU RECALL, AND WENT AND GOT ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WERE BEING DEVELOPED BY THEIR RESEARCH FOR USES FOR BIOCHAR, AMONG OTHER THINGS.
AND SO HAVING AN ATLAS THAT REGIONALLY REFLECTS THE TREES AND ALSO WHAT THE BIOCHAR CAN BE USED FOR WILL BE VERY IMPORTANT FOR OUR TEAM LOOKING INTO THE FUTURE IF WE CONTINUE TO GO DOWN THAT PATHWAY IN TERMS OF BIOMASS DISPOSAL.
AND I BELIEVE ONE OF THE SCIENTISTS WE MET WITH INDICATED THAT DOING THAT IN THE SHORT TERM MAY SEEM LIKE A SOLUTION, BUT IN THE LONG TERM, FUTURE DISRUPTIONS COULD ACTUALLY HAVE THE NET EFFECT OF RELEASING THE CARBON BACK INTO THE CLIMATE SO IT'S NOT SEEN AS THE BEST SOLUTION.
AND THEN AS DIRECTOR ROSARIO INQUIRED, BIOCHAR CAN BE A FILTER FOR LEAD.
SO SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF WATER PIPES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.
THE NEXT DAY WE HAD OUR FIRST MEETING WITH AMERICORPS.
VERY INFORMATIVE DISCUSSION WITH SANDY SCOTT.
I DO BELIEVE THAT WHERE WE LANDED WAS THE IDEA TO MEET WITH JOSH FRYDAY WHO PRESIDENT ECHOLS, I BELIEVE YOU INDICATED YOU KNEW ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN CALIFORNIA.
SO PERHAPS SOME OF THE FUNDING THAT THE PRESIDENT HAS ALIGNED FOR AMERICORPS, WHICH WAS $38 MILLION FOR A CLIMATE CORPS, IS BEING ADMINISTERED THROUGH THE CLIMATE ACTION CORPS IN CALIFORNIA.
SO WE HAVE FOLLOW UP REQUESTS FOR A MEETING WITH JOSH AND HIS TEAM TO FIND OUT THAT STATUS.
BUT WHAT IS SIGNIFICANT ABOUT THIS FUNDING IS IT WOULD ENABLE CORPS TO GET MORE INTO THE BUSINESS OF RESTORATION AND BUILDING RESILIENCY. CURRENTLY, THAT'S NOT AS MUCH OF THEIR PORTFOLIO AS REGULAR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT AND TRAIL MAINTENANCE IS SO A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY AND SOMETHING THAT, AS WE JUST LEARNED FROM FROM KATY'S REPORT ON GRANTS WORKING IN THE STEWARDSHIP SPACE IS SOMETHING THAT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY MORE SIGNIFICANT FOR THE PARK DISTRICT. THEN WE HAD A COUPLE OF US WENT TO GO MEET WITH REPRESENTATIVE JOSH HARDER OR HIS STAFF, I SHOULD SAY TAYLOR REED.
BOARD MEMBER, SHOULD NOTE THAT TAYLOR IMMEDIATELY REACHED BACK OUT TO US AND ASKED THE NEXT TIME THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE IN THE DISTRICT IF SHE COULD SEE SOME OF THE PROPERTIES IN REPRESENTATIVE HARDER'S DISTRICT, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE DELTA ACCESS AND POTENTIALLY 1 OR 2 OTHERS.
SO WE WILL BE WORKING ON SETTING THAT UP.
SO WE WILL BE TAKING A LOOK AT THAT TO SEE WHAT IN THERE MIGHT BE A BENEFIT TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
AND THEN A SIGNIFICANT COMMENT THAT WAS MADE BY TAYLOR IN THE MEETING WAS THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR FUNDING FOR POND RESTORATION, BECAUSE IT IS GOOD HABITAT FOR RED LEGGED FROG AND TIGER SALAMANDER.
THEN WE MET WITH STAFF IN A NOISY CAFETERIA FOR REPRESENTATIVE RO KHANNA.
[00:20:03]
AND KEVIN IS KEVIN FOX IS THE STAFF PERSON HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PARK DISTRICT OVER THE YEARS, HAS BEEN VERY ACCESSIBLE IN TERMS OF BEING WILLING TO MEET WITH US EITHER VIA ZOOM OR OBVIOUSLY HERE IN PERSON.THEY ARE VERY INTERESTED IN THE GRASSLANDS LEGISLATION THAT WE DISCUSSED WITH THEM.
PROBABLY NOT TAKING THE LEAD ON IT, BUT VERY SUPPORTIVE IF THERE IS ADDITIONAL EFFORT IN THAT SPACE.
AND REPRESENTATIVE KHANNA NOW ACTUALLY HAS A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THE EAST BAY IN HIS DISTRICT.
SO WE WOULD HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE SOME OF OUR PARKS WITH KEVIN OR THE REPRESENTATIVE.
NEXT WE MET WITH STAFF FOR REPRESENTATIVE BARBARA LEE, AND WE WERE ABLE TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT THE PORT CHICAGO COMMEMORATION. VERY INTERESTED IN SENDING SOME SUPPORT TO THAT COMMEMORATION OF THE 80TH COMMEMORATION CEREMONY. WE HAVE FORWARDED THAT INFORMATION ON TO HER OFFICE.
AND SHE ALSO IS OBVIOUSLY VERY KEENLY AWARE OF THE ARMY BASE TRANSFER.
WE WERE INFORMED THAT TYPICALLY SHE DOESN'T SUPPORT THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT, BUT WILL BE SUPPORTING REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI AND OTHERS IF WE ARE ABLE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT TO ENABLE TO ADVANCE THE TRANSFER OF THE 14 ACRES OF UPLAND PROPERTY AT THE ARMY BASE, A FORMER ARMY BASE.
AND THEN THERE WAS SOME STRONG INTEREST IN THE PARK DISTRICT'S WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CALIFORNIA CONSERVATION CORPS AND THE CIVIC CORPS IN OAKLAND. SO WE WILL BE WORKING WITH HER LOCAL STAFF POTENTIALLY TO HAVE A SITE VISIT OR A CONVERSATION ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE DO DO WITH THE CIVIC CORPS IN THE EAST BAY.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL LET LISA TALK ABOUT THE NEXT SEVEN MEETINGS.
SO WITH REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI, WE EXPRESSED STRONG APPRECIATION FOR HIS EFFORTS.
HE EMPHASIZED HOW IMPORTANT TRAILS ARE TO HIM ON A PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.
HE WAS ABLE TO SECURE $900,000 THAT'S MOVING FORWARD FOR THE MARTINEZ BAY TRAIL GAP CLOSURE.
SO WE ARE IN COMMUNICATION WITH HIS TEAM, WITH HIS STAFF MEMBER, IAN, ON THAT ISSUE.
AS A TEAM MEMBER, SHE SHARED WITH US WHAT'S ON THE HORIZON FOR THEIR WORK AT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE? THERE IS A NEW DIRECTOR OF THIS PROGRAM.
PREVIOUSLY, WE HAD MET WITH A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF JOEL.
SHE IS SUPPORTIVE OF AMENDING TO REMOVE THE SEVEN YEAR RULE.
HOPEFULLY UNDER HER LEADERSHIP, THERE WILL NO LONGER BE A BARRIER.
WE ARE PULLING TOGETHER A WHITE PAPER ON OUR CASE STUDY, THAT EXAMPLE THAT WE USED THROUGHOUT THIS VISIT ON THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR REGIONAL SHORELINE TIDEWATER PROJECT, AND WHY ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO THAT WORK ALIGNS WITH THE PROGRAM GOALS AND WOULD HAVE BEEN A GOOD FIT.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE HAS HIRED A SOCIAL SCIENTIST TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT DEFINITION.
[00:25:04]
SO WE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION TO THEM FOR THAT AND SHARED AN UPDATE ON OUR WORK WITH FEMA FOR THE 2017 AND 2023 STORM DAMAGE.THEY SYMPATHIZED WITH SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE HAVING IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS AND SOME OF THE SLOWDOWNS, AND SHARED THAT WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THOSE EXPERIENCES AND THAT THEY STAND READY TO SUPPORT IF THERE EVER IS A TANGIBLE AREA WHERE THEY COULD STEP IN AND MOVE THINGS ALONG WITHIN THE PROCESS.
WE ALSO SPOKE WITH THEM ABOUT THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND.
WITHIN HIS CODIFYING LANGUAGE HE HAS THE MATCH WAIVER.
AND THEN LASTLY, WE PROVIDED AN UPDATE ON THE OAKLAND ARMY BASE.
HIS OFFICE HAS MOVED FORWARD LANGUAGE IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
AND I BELIEVE WHAT WAS THE QUOTE? IT WAS, WE WILL GET THIS DONE.
WE WILL GET IT DONE. WAS A QUOTE FROM HIS STAFF LEAD ON THIS ISSUE AT THE END OF OUR MEETING.
AND SO THAT WAS VERY PROMISING HOW ENTHUSIASTIC AND DEDICATED THEY ARE.
AND NEXT WE MET WITH THE OFFICE OF SENATOR BUTLER.
IT WAS OUR FIRST MEETING WITH THEIR OFFICE AND UNFORTUNATELY IS LIKELY TO BE OUR LAST, WHICH THEY EXPRESSED UNDERSTANDING OF AS WELL AS COMMITMENT TO OUR ISSUES TO DO WHAT THEY CAN WHILE THEY DO HOLD SOME OPPORTUNITIES, WE SHARED WITH THEM AN UPDATE ON HOW WE WORK WITH CLIMATE CORPS OR EXCUSE ME IN THE EAST BAY AND HOW IMPORTANT CLIMATE CORPS ARE.
THEY SHARED THE SENATOR IS STRONGLY SUPPORTIVE OF YOUTH JOBS AND GREEN JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
AND SO THEY SHARED WITH US THE SUPPORT THERE.
AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT FLIER TO THEIR OFFICE.
ALL RIGHT. OUR MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVE ERIC SWALWELL WENT WELL.
AND THEN WE LIGHTLY TOUCHED ON THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, AND WE'LL BE SHARING WITH HIS OFFICE THAT UPDATE FLIER, PROVIDING INFORMATION ON WHY THE SEVEN YEAR RULE IS A BURDEN TO PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION.
ALL RIGHT. AND THEN OUR FINAL MEETING ON THIS DAY WAS WITH THE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION, WHICH IS AN ADVOCACY GROUP WITH A LOT OF INTERESTS THAT ALIGN WITH EAST BAY PARKS. AND THEY PROVIDE A LOT OF INSIGHT TO US.
SO WE HAD A A PARTNER DISCUSSION ON THE DIFFERENT ISSUES THAT WE HAD BEEN SPEAKING WITH OUR DELEGATION ON THAT DAY, INCLUDING THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, PARK FUNDING AND JUST OVERARCHING BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS.
AND THEN THE LAST MEETING AND THE LAST EVENT OF OUR VISIT WAS WITH REPRESENTATIVE MARK DESAULNIER.
SO REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER HAS BEEN A STRONG SUPPORTER OF THE PARK DISTRICT, AS WE KNOW.
WE DID PROVIDE HIM WITH OUR RADKE AWARD FOR HIS MANY, MANY EFFORTS.
IN THE GREAT WORK THAT THIS AGENCY HAS DONE FOR EAST BAY COMMUNITIES OVER THOSE 90 YEARS ON THE HOUSE FLOOR, AND PROVIDE TICKETS TO OR GALLERY PASSES TO THE PARK DISTRICT TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT MOMENT.
SOMETHING THAT STOOD OUT TO ME IS IT WAS DONE DURING A ONE MINUTE GENERAL SPEECH OPPORTUNITY, AND IT WAS NOTABLE THAT ALL THE OTHER SPEAKERS WERE PUTTING SOMETHING INTO THE RECORD. THEY WERE SPEAKING VERY QUICKLY, MY DEFAULT SPEED.
SO TRY TO GO AS SLOW AS POSSIBLE.
AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS VERY MEANINGFUL.
SO A WONDERFUL WAY TO END A GREAT WEEK IN DC.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT BACK TO ERICH FOR FINAL COMMENTS BEFORE QUESTIONS.
I GUESS IN TERMS OF FINAL COMMENTS, THE MOMENT WITH REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER ON THE FLOOR.
AND IT WAS ALSO INTERESTING THAT HE DID NOT HAVE A VISUAL.
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EXPERIENCE WORKING IN THE HOUSE THAT'S NOT A COMMON OCCURRENCE.SO VERY, VERY GOOD MOMENT THERE.
AND JUST WANTED TO SAY BACK TO THE NPCA MEETING THE ONE THING THAT WE DID RECEIVE FROM EMILY SO FAR WAS A WHITE PAPER ON TRANSPORTATION FUNDING TO PARKS.
SHE DID INDICATE THAT THAT WAS SOME FUNDING FROM THE INFRASTRUCTURE ACT.
SO WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND SEE IF IT COULD APPLY TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
SO WITH THAT ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? AND I THINK ONE ONE LAST THING I WILL SAY IS I THINK WHAT WE ONE THING WE DID LEARN IS THAT IT PROBABLY MAKES SENSE TO FLY IN OR HAVE OUR, OUR FLY IN DAY BE ON MONDAY AND OUR FLY OUT DAY BE ON A FRIDAY AND GET THE WORK DONE IN THE MIDDLE.
AND THEN ALSO MIGHT LOOK AT A DIFFERENT WEEK BEYOND THE PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER RECOGNITION WEEK AS I THINK IT REALLY IT WELL, IT WAS VERY IMPACTFUL TO THE CITY, BUT I THINK IT ALSO WAS IMPACTFUL TO THE HOTELS.
DIRECTOR COFFEY. I THINK I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY DURING BOARD COMMENT IN OUR MEETING BEFORE THIS ONE, BUT I DID WANT TO REITERATE HOW WELL I FOUND THE PLANNING FOR THIS WASHINGTON, DC EFFORT ON THE GROUP.
IT WAS REALLY WELL PACED, ERICH.
AND I THINK YOU FOLKS PUT A LOT OF EFFORT INTO MAKING IT EFFICIENT FOR US.
AND I THINK THE PAYOFF IS THAT WE ACHIEVE BY GOING TO THEM TO THESE IMPORTANT INDIVIDUALS THAT IMPACT OUR DISTRICT.
SO SIGNIFICANTLY, THE IMPACT ON THEM OF US GOING TO THEM IS, IS PALPABLE.
IT REALLY DOES GET US MORE ON THEIR RADAR ESPECIALLY THEIR STAFF'S RADAR.
ALL OF US UNDERSTAND MY PREDECESSOR USED TED RADKE DIDN'T GO ON THESE TRIPS BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE'D JUST MEET WITH WHOMEVER WHEN THEY'RE BACK IN THE DISTRICT. BUT I REALLY FEEL AND I'VE NOW EXPERIENCED THE IMPACT THIS HAS ON THE LEGISLATORS AND THEIR STAFFS OF US BEING THERE.
AND IF NOTHING ELSE, IT PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO ACCELERATE A PARTICULAR EFFORT THEY'RE GOING TO PURSUE IN WASHINGTON, DC, ON OUR BEHALF.
THUS, WHEN WE MET WITH THE CONGRESSMAN GARAMENDI, HE ACTUALLY HAD A LETTER TO ILLUSTRATE HIS SEEKING COMMUNITY BENEFIT FUNDING FOR THE POINT PINOLE TO POINT WILSON BAY TRAIL GAP.
TO ME, THAT IS AN IMMEDIATE PAYOFF FOR US GOING BACK THERE.
IT'S A PRODUCT OF OUR MEETING WITH HIM AND HIS STAFF IN DC.
AND SO IT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT IMPACT, I THINK, FOR US TO GO THERE THE TIMING AND PACING AND HAVING US WELL PREPARED THE BRIEFINGS, I KNOW ALL OF YOU SPEND TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TIME PUTTING THOSE BRIEFINGS TOGETHER FOR US, SO WE KNOW WHAT TO SAY APPROPRIATELY, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT HELP.
I HAVE JUST ONE RANDOM QUESTION THAT CAME UP BECAUSE I WAS LISTENING TO LISA DISCUSS OUR MEETINGS WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, AND I JUST I CAN FOLLOW UP OFFLINE.
BUT CONGRESSMAN GARAMENDI DID WANT US TO LOOK AT SOME PROPERTY THAT IS IN THE VICINITY OF MOTCO, THE OCEAN TERMINAL CONCORD. AND I REMEMBER AT THE TIME OF THAT MEETING EMAILING THAT QUESTION OFF TO OUR ASD PEOPLE AND CHIEF OF PLANNING.
WE SHOULD FOLLOW UP ON THAT, IF YOU FOLKS HAVEN'T ALREADY.
JUST MY ONE NOTE COMING FROM THAT MEETING WHERE HE ASKED SOMETHING OF US IT WAS ON THAT ISSUE.
[00:35:07]
I'M ALSO PLEASED THAT WITH ESPECIALLY WITH THE CONGRESS MEMBERS, STAFFS THAT WE MET WITH, WE WERE ABLE TO HIGHLIGHT OUR CONTINUING INTEREST IN THE ADVOCACY OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TOWARD EXONERATION OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50 OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS AND THEIR STAFFS CLEARLY HAD THAT ON THEIR MIND AND WERE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THE ISSUE AT WHATEVER LEVEL WITHIN THEIR VARIOUS EXPERTISE.SO THAT WAS HEARTENING AND GLAD WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY AS WELL.
SO THAT'S WHAT I WANTED TO SAY.
AND JUST THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL THAT EFFORT.
YEAH, I FULLY CONCUR WITH DIRECTOR COFFEY ON VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING HE SAID.
I THINK IT WAS A REALLY GREAT VISIT AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF ALL THE HARD WORK AND PLANNING YOU ALL PUT INTO IN ADVANCE THE PREPARATION FOR THIS AND GETTING THE MATERIALS SO FAR IN ADVANCE AND REALLY THINKING THROUGH CAREFULLY, YOU KNOW, BOTH THE ISSUES, BUT YOU KNOW, WHO WOULD TAKE THE LEAD AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
I MEAN,IT JUST WENT SO SMOOTHLY AND THAT WASN'T A COINCIDENCE.
AND, I ALSO FULLY AGREE WITH DIRECTOR COFFEY THAT I FEEL LIKE WE WERE MORE OUR ADVOCACY WAS BETTER.
I MEAN, THE BOARD MEMBER ADVOCACY WAS BETTER IN THE PAST BECAUSE THEN IN THE PAST, I MEAN, WE'RE NOT THAT WE WEREN'T GREAT IN THE PAST, BUT WE WERE EVEN BETTER THIS TIME BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE WELL INFORMED AND WE DID KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WE WANTED TO SAY, AND WE DID KNOW WHO WAS GOING TO SAY IT AND WHO WAS GOING TO RUN THE MEETING.
AND ALL OF THAT STUFF WAS IRONED OUT IN ADVANCE, AND IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
WE CAN JUST COME ACROSS THIS SO MUCH MORE PROFESSIONAL.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER THING THAT DIRECTOR COFFEY MENTIONED, BUT THE IMPORTANCE OF ACTUALLY GOING THERE AND GETTING ON THEIR SCHEDULE AND GETTING THEIR ATTENTION IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND TO HAVE THE SUBSTANTIVE STAFF IN THE ROOM WHO WORK ON THOSE ISSUES AND ARE GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY IT THROUGH, I MEAN, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ALSO, YOU KNOW, CAPTURE THEIR MINDS AND HEARTS, TOO, SO TO SPEAK, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE THE ONES WHO ARE GOING TO BE ADVOCATES WITHIN THE OFFICE, CERTAINLY THE MEMBERS, WHEN THEY HAVE YOU KNOW, WHEN THEY FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT SOMETHING, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, GO DO THIS.
BUT IT'S HELPFUL FOR THOSE FOLKS TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM US ABOUT WHY IT'S IMPORTANT AND WHY YOU KNOW, WHY THEY NEED TO CHAMPION IT IN ADDITION TO WHAT THEIR BOSS WANTS. SO SO I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.
AND I THOUGHT, I MEAN, I, I THOUGHT IT WAS A GREAT VISIT.
I THOUGHT WE COVERED A LOT OF GROUND.
I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE IT WAS TOO FAST OR TOO SLOW OR ANYTHING.
SO SO THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE YOU. APPRECIATE THOSE COMMENTS AND DID WANT TO REFLECT ON YOUR POINT ABOUT STAFF.
I AGREE, AND BEING A FORMER STAFFER BUT I WILL SAY THAT IT WAS VERY HEARTENING TO MEET WITH THE SENATOR PADILLA'S STAFF.
LISA MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT WE'LL GET IT DONE ON OAKLAND ARMY BASE, BUT WE ALSO WERE JOINED BY THEIR RESOURCES STAFF PERSON WHO RECENTLY WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN EXPANDING A COUPLE OF MONUMENTS IN THE STATE.
AND TO HAVE THAT CONNECTION WITH THAT STAFF PERSON, I THINK IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT.
THOSE FOLKS REALLY HE HIRES VERY GOOD PEOPLE, AND THOSE FOLKS REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
AND WE ALSO HAD THE THE INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS AN EXPERT ON FEMA AND THEN IN ADDITION, WANTED TO JUST COMMENT ABOUT IN TERMS OF FOLLOW UP GRACE FROM REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER'S OFFICE PROACTIVELY REACHED OUT TO LISA AND ME FOR A FOLLOW UP CONVERSATION ON THE ISSUES WE DISCUSSED. SO WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
AND THEN REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI HIS STAFF REACHED OUT TO PETER.
YEAH, I MEANT TO MENTION THAT AS WELL.
THAT. YEAH, THAT'S CRITICAL THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE STAY ON TOP OF THAT AND GET BACK TO THEM.
AS YOU KNOW, I'M PREACHING TO THE CHOIR HERE.
BUT YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO ALSO ECHO MY THOUGHTS THAT THAT'S RATHER ECHO DIRECTOR COFFEY THOUGHTS THAT THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT. AND I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT PETER IS IN TOUCH WITH STAFF AND THERE'S WORK BEING DONE TO MEET THE CONGRESSMAN'S REQUEST.
[00:40:03]
YEAH, WELL THANKS AGAIN.I GUESS THAT BRINGS IT TO A CONCLUSION, BUT WE'RE.
OKAY. SO THAT COVERS OUR INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANYTHING FROM STAFF OR BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY, GREAT.
WELL, IN THAT CASE WE CAN ADJOURN.
SO THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IS THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IS
ADJOURNED AT 11:18 A.M..
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.