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ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING, AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON MONDAY, JANUARY 13TH. WE'RE BEGINNING TODAY AT 1038. MADAM CHAIR OR MADAM
[Roll Call]
CLERK, WOULD YOU TAKE THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES.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 ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE.
IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT THE MEETING PROCEDURES, WE WILL BEGIN.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. SO OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
THE PAST MINUTES WE HAVE NONE. SO WE'LL MOVE TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Action Items]
GOOD MORNING LISA. LISA BALDINGER, LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST AND I'M HERE TODAY TO PRESENT ON TWO PROPOSED PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT THE PARK DISTRICT IS MOVING FORWARD THIS YEAR. WE CURRENTLY DO NOT HAVE A SECURED AUTHOR FOR EITHER PIECE, NOR DO WE HAVE FINAL BILL LANGUAGE, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT ON THE CONTEXT AND THE INTENT OF THE BILL.SO THE FIRST PIECE OF LEGISLATION WE'RE REFERRING TO IS PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE ARTICLE THREE, MODERNIZATION LEGISLATION REALLY ROLLS OFF THE TONGUE, AND THIS PROPOSED BILL IS AIMING AT TAKING A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT ARTICLE THREE OF THREE OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE. THE LAST TIME SUCH A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK WAS TAKEN WAS WHEN OUR AGENCY WAS FOUNDED IN THE 1930S, SO THIS REALLY WOULD BE A BROAD STROKE UPDATE OF THE BILL.
THIS WAS INSPIRED COMING FROM LEGISLATION THAT WE BEGAN EXPLORING IN 2023 AROUND INCREASING THE ADMINISTRATIVE LIMIT OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TO ALIGN WITH COUNTIES OF A SIMILAR SIZE.
FOLLOWING THOSE DISCUSSIONS, WE THOUGHT, WHY DON'T WE TAKE A STEP BACK, REVIEW THE ENTIRE CODE SECTION WITH LEGAL COUNSEL'S SUPPORT AND THE SUPPORT OF OUR COLLEAGUES ACROSS DIVISIONS, AND SEE WHERE OTHER CHANGES MAY BE NEEDED IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD.
WE HAVE 13 SECTION CHANGES THAT WE'RE HOPING TO BRING FORWARD.
WE DO STILL INCLUDE THE ADMINISTRATIVE LIMIT INCREASE TO ALIGN US WITH COUNTIES OF THE SAME SIZE, BY CONNECTING OUR CODE SECTION WITH THE GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION THAT ALLOWS FOR, WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SUPPORT AN ADMINISTRATIVE LIMIT OF 200,000 FOR AN INDEPENDENT SPECIAL DISTRICT WITH A POPULATION OF 200,000 OR GREATER.
SO BEING THAT WE HAVE A 3.1 MILLION POPULATION, WE WOULD HAVE THAT UPPER LIMIT.
ADDITIONAL CHANGES INCLUDE A PROPOSED CHANGE IN BOARD COMPENSATION, CHANGING TO A CONSISTENT MONTHLY RATE OF $1,000, WITH A PROPOSED INCREASE THAT WOULD GO AUTOMATICALLY WITH ANNUALLY, AND THEN THE BOARD COULD TAKE AN ACTION TO PAUSE THAT INCREASE OR CHANGE IT AND SO REALLY ALIGNING WITH THE PROCESSES OF CONGRESS RATHER THAN THE BOARD NEEDING TO, WITH STAFF'S ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT, TAKING AN ACTION EVERY TIME FOR AN INCREASE OF THE BOARD COMPENSATION, AND THIS IS AIMED AT HELPING TO SUPPORT BOARD REPRESENTATION AND DIVERSITY.
SOME OTHER CHANGES INCLUDE INCREASING ALLOWABLE LEASE LEASES OF PROPERTY.
SO THAT COULD HELP WITH OUR ACQUISITION TEAM'S PROCESSES, AND THEN THERE ALSO ARE SOME REMOVALS OF CODE SECTIONS THAT ARE NO LONGER RELEVANT TO THE WORK OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT. SO WITHIN THE ARTICLE THREE OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE, THERE'S A HANDFUL OF SECTIONS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
THEY REFER TO PROPERTIES THAT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE OR TAX RELEVANT.
INCREASES THAT THE LAST ONE, I BELIEVE, WAS IN THE 90S.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR AN UPDATE OF PRONOUNS. THERE ARE SOME PLACES WHERE IT ONLY SAYS HE, SOME PLACES HE SHE, AND WE'RE PROPOSING CHANGING IT TO THEY, THEM THEIRS THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE CODE SECTION.
ADDITIONALLY, CHANGING FROM POSTINGS IN NEWSPAPERS TO POSTINGS ON WEBSITES FOR INFORMATION AND WHERE THERE IS POSSIBLE EXPANDING BUILT INFRASTRUCTURE REFERENCES TO ALSO INCLUDE NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS WITHIN THE CODE SECTIONS LANGUAGE TO REALLY LIFT UP AND CELEBRATE THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION.
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SO THAT'S A LOT OF INFORMATION, AND THAT'S A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT OUR INTENT WITH THIS LEGISLATION. WE ARE STILL LOOKING TO FINALIZE THE BILL LANGUAGE.WE'RE IN CONVERSATION WITH ASSEMBLYMEMBER LORI WILSON'S OFFICE, HER LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR, MARK, HE IS SOMEONE WHO HAS WORKED WITH THE PARK DISTRICT FOR A LONG TIME.
WE PARTNERED WITH HIM ON PROPOSITION 68, AND BEING THAT THIS BILL IS SO LARGE AND COMPREHENSIVE, WE WANTED TO REALLY HAVE A STRONG PARTNER IN THE STAFF THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
THAT SOUNDS GREAT. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? NO. WANT ME TO GO? SO IS THIS LEGISLATION A EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT PRODUCT OF GENERATED BY OUR ORGANIZATION? AND WAS IT DRAFTED BY OUR SACRAMENTO ADVOCATES OR YOU FOLKS? HOW HOW HOW HAS IT COME INTO SO THIS LEGISLATION IS A PRODUCT OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
ALL RIGHT. CAN WE GET A COPY OF THIS? THIS IS WE HAVE THE SUMMARY HERE, BUT I'M PRESUMING THERE IS ACTUALLY A COPY IN QUASI LEGISLATIVE FORMAT THAT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON'S OFFICE OR OTHER OFFICES FOR WHICH WE'RE SEEKING SPONSORSHIP AND SUPPORT.
SO I'M JUST GOING TO SAY RIGHT OFF THE BAT, I GOT TO SEE THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE.
GREAT. THANK YOU. RATHER THAN THE SUMMARY, AND BEFORE I SUPPORT THIS, I IT'S INTRIGUING.
IT WAS IT'S AT SOMETHING LIKE $50,000, WHICH TO ME WAS VERY LIMITING AND ADDED TO AN ALREADY CROWDED CONSENT CALENDAR THAT WE HAD, AND SO MODERNIZATION, AS THAT TERM IS USED FOR THE SIMPLE CONCEPT OF RAISING THE GENERAL MANAGER'S SPENDING AUTHORITY MADE SENSE TO ME AND I SUPPORTED WHEN WE FIRST PROPOSED IT, AND IT RAN INTO SOME SACRAMENTO ISSUES WITH ORGANIZED LABOR. HAVE THOSE ISSUES BEEN ADDRESSED WITH THE UNIONS THAT BASICALLY KILLED IT LAST TIME WE TRIED THAT QUOTE UNQUOTE, MODERNIZATION? WE'RE TAKING A PROACTIVE APPROACH TO ENGAGE WITH ALL SUPPORTERS AND POTENTIAL OPPOSITION TO THIS LEGISLATION.
SO THAT WAS YEAH, WE'RE TALKING TO LABOR. CORRECT.
ALL RIGHT. THIS GOES WELL BEYOND JUST RAISING THE AUTHORITY OF THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THAT, YOU KNOW, I SORT OF WANT TO SEE IT, SEE WHAT THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE IS.
I ALSO GENERALLY OPPOSE THE CONCEPT OF CREATING SALARIES FOR ELECTEDS BOARD MEMBERS.
THAT WAS NEVER THE INTENT OF THE ORIGINAL CREATION OF THESE DISTRICTS AND THE FACT THAT WE'RE NOT PAID FOR OUR TIME.
MEMBERS OF ELECTED SPECIAL DISTRICT BOARDS ALL TOOK POSITIONS THAT WERE SEEN AS THE EQUIVALENT OF SERVING IN THE NONPROFIT SECTOR, WHERE OUR WORK IS SEEN AS QUASI CHARITABLE, QUASI VERY PUBLIC IN THE SENSE THAT IT'S SERVICE THAT ISN'T ASSOCIATED WITH BEING PAID A SALARY, AND I'M GETTING THE SENSE HERE THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE CREATING A SALARY IN THIS LANGUAGE, AND I'D PROBABLY OPPOSE THAT.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER REASON I NEED TO SEE THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE, AND , YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY FIRST GETTING THIS PACKET WAS MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO THE FACT THAT WE'RE DOING THAT FOR BOARD MEMBERS AND ADDING THAT IN THERE, AND I'M NOT SURE IF THE LOGIC OF THAT IT TO ME, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM WITH THE VERY LOW THRESHOLD FOR GENERAL MANAGER AUTHORITY,
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AND I SUPPORTED THAT THIS THROWING SALARIES FOR ELECTEDS IN THERE DOESN'T JUST RESONATE WITH ME EITHER POLITICALLY OR PERSONALLY, AND SO JUST UPFRONT, I'D LIKE TO SEE THE LANGUAGE.THANK YOU. LINDA. WELL, THIS IS EXCITING. BEING MY FIRST MEETING AND ALL, I HAD TO STEP BACK AND TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THE ROLE OF THE PRC 5500 EVEN WAS, AND I APPRECIATE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF THAT BACKGROUND ON THIS.
STARTED IN THE 1930S AND DRIVES ALL THAT WE DO, ALL THE DISTRICTS.
SO I DON'T UNDERSTAND EXACTLY HOW THAT WORKS.
MAYBE YOU COULD TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE. YEAH, I'D BE HAPPY TO.
SO IN TERMS OF INDEPENDENT SPECIAL PARK DISTRICTS LIKE OURSELVES WHO OPERATE UNDER THIS SECTION OF THE CODE, IT'S EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT. MID-PEN THEN NAPA AND MONTEREY ALSO OPERATE UNDER THIS CODE SECTION.
NAPA AND MONTEREY ARE VERY MUCH AWARE WHEN WE BRING FORWARD LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD IMPACT THEIR WORK, THEY ARE SUPPORTIVE. HOWEVER, THEY DON'T HAVE THE SAME GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS CAPACITY AS OURSELVES AND MID-PEN DO IN ORDER TO BRING BILLS FORWARD TO SACRAMENTO.
SO THEY OFTEN TAKE A SUPPORTING ROLE AND WE LOOP THEM IN AT ALL TIMES.
THERE'S THOSE FOUR YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH SANTA CLARA VALLEY OPEN SPACE AUTHORITY.
I'M UNSURE WHY THAT IS. LAST YEAR THEY MOVED FORWARD SIMILAR MODERNIZATION LEGISLATION FOR THEIR OWN CODE SECTION THAT INCLUDED THE ADMINISTRATIVE LIMIT AND SOME SIMILAR CHANGES, BUT IT IS A SEPARATE SECTION IN THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE.
MIDPEN, CORRECT. SO I HAVE JUST A SIMILAR QUESTION ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT, TWO OF THE UNIONS AND INVOLVEMENT OF THEM AND HOW THAT WOULD WORK, AND I DEFINITELY HAVE THE SAME QUESTION ABOUT WHEN WOULD WE GET A COPY OF THE ACTUAL DETAILS.
IF IT'S YOU KNOW, THE COMPENSATION IS SIMILAR IN CONCEPT THAT IT'S YOU KNOW, NOT A SALARY, BUT IT'S A STIPEND IF IT WOULD LOWER STAFF EFFORT FOR PAPERWORK OR WHATEVER, BUT AGREE WITH US, AND THE INTENT BEING NOT SALARIED EMPLOYEES, AND I HAVE JUST HAVE A BIGGER QUESTION, TOO, ON PROCESS. I WOULD BE UNCOMFORTABLE WITHOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I ALSO AM A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE AND CURIOUS ABOUT THE OVERALL PROCESS.
SO HOW DOES THAT WORK WITH COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT, PUBLIC NOTICE AND I GUESS IT DOESN'T BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE THE DETAILS YET, BUT I STILL AM CURIOUS HOW THAT WORKS. SAME THING WITH THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE I GUESS IS OFF OFF TOPIC, BUT SIMILAR. IF YOU COULD HELP ME UNDERSTAND MAYBE LEGAL THE PROCESS OF HOW THE COMMITTEE.
WHAT WOULD HAPPEN AFTER TODAY? THAT'S A THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
FOR A CLARIFICATION TOMORROW, DO WE HAVE THESE BILLS ON FOR SUPPORT? THROUGH THE CHAIR IF I CAN JUMP IN HERE. SO THE AGENDAS FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW, THE TWO THINGS THAT ARE SIMILAR IS THE CONFERENCE UPDATE, THE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE UPDATE, WHICH ARE BOTH INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. THERE'S NO ACTION REQUIRED ON THAT. THIS ITEM IS REQUESTING SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION THAT ONCE THE BOARD, THE COMMITTEE GIVES DIRECTION, THEN IT WOULD COME TO THE FULL BOARD FOR THEIR APPROVAL OF DIRECTION.
SO THE OFFICIAL SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION WON'T HAPPEN TOMORROW.
WHAT I BELIEVE, AND THIS IS WHAT LISA AND ERICH CAN SPEAK TO, IS THE ITEM THAT'S ON TOMORROW'S AGENDA IS JUST AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT THE LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE WILL BE IN SACRAMENTO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT CLARITY.
SO TODAY WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD BOTH THESE BILLS AND CONCEPTS TO THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE FOR THIS EXACT DIALOG, THIS CONVERSATION IN YOUR FEEDBACK. THESE BILLS WILL COME BEFORE THE FULL BOARD, BUT WE WILL BE INCORPORATING YOUR INPUT BEFORE THEY DO SO.
SO WE'D LIKE TO HAVE AN ACTION HERE TODAY, AND THEN IT WOULD BE COMING BEFORE THE BOARD AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING, POSSIBLY IN FEBRUARY. NOW, YOU DID NOTE THAT THESE ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE SACRAMENTO CONFERENCE,
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WHICH WE'RE DISCUSSING HERE TODAY. WE HAD A CONVERSATION AT THE DECEMBER LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, AND WE'LL BE HAVING A CONVERSATION TOMORROW. THE ANNUAL STATE ADVOCACY CONFERENCE IN SACRAMENTO IS WHEN OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS JOINS THE GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TEAM, THE GENERAL MANAGER AND DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER, TO HOLD CONVERSATION WITH OUR ENTIRE ELECTED DELEGATION IN SACRAMENTO.STAFF IS RECOMMENDING THAT AS PART OF THAT CONFERENCE, WE BRING FORWARD IN CONVERSATION THE TWO PART TO SPONSORED LEGISLATION AS WELL AS THE DISCUSSION AROUND PROP FOUR COMPETITIVE CATEGORIES THAT THE PARK DISTRICT WILL BE APPLYING FOR.
SO IN TERMS OF AN ACTION, WE'RE FORMALLY ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY ON THIS LEGISLATION, BUT THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE CONFERENCE TODAY AND TOMORROW IS ABOUT DAYLIGHTING THIS BILL AND THESE CONCEPTS WITH OUR DELEGATION IN SACRAMENTO AS PART OF THE ANNUAL ADVOCACY CONFERENCE. SO WITH THE EARLIER COMMENT OF AGREEMENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT IN FRONT OF ME IN ORDER TO HAVE SOME SORT OF RECOMMENDATION OR OPINION ON IT. THEREFORE, TO HAVE IT AS AN AGREEMENT THAT WE WOULD TAKE IT TO SACRAMENTO LEAVES ME A LITTLE UNCOMFORTABLE. UNLESS I'M MISSING SOMETHING. I'M JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE I'M NOT REMISS IN THE PROCESS.
YOU'RE RIGHT, AND I WILL FOLLOW. ARE YOU DONE? THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS. I WILL FOLLOW UP BY ALSO. SO THIS ONLY AFFECTS EBRPD IN NAPA, MONTEREY, AND MID-PEN. HAVE YOU DISCUSSED THAT WITH THOSE OTHER THREE AGENCIES? WE'RE CO-SPONSORING WITH MID-PEN, AND WE'RE NAPA AND MONTEREY ARE AWARE OF THE LEGISLATION, AND WE'RE SCHEDULING A LONGER CALL WITH THEM TO GO INTO THE DETAILS, AND THEY'RE AWARE OF THE DETAILED DOCUMENT THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
CORRECT. SO SO ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T GET IT. SO ALL THE OTHER AGENCIES KNOW ABOUT IT, BUT THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT IT, AND ONCE AGAIN, I THINK WE SHOULD GO CHRONOLOGICALLY.
YOU'VE CONFUSED ME NOW ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO TOMORROW, AND THEN ON THE 27TH, WE'RE GOING TO GO UP TO SACRAMENTO, AND THIS IS OUR NUMBER ONE THING OUT OF THREE THINGS WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR UP THERE, AND IN MY OPINION, USUALLY WE HAVE A MORE ROBUST ASK UP THERE. YEAH.
I MEAN AND MAYBE GRASS WILDLAND FIRES MIGHT BE THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE MIGHT BE I DON'T GET WHY WE'RE KEPT OUT OF IT AND NOT I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS BOARD DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THIS BEFORE, AND I FEEL AND I'D LIKE TO FINISH, I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
WE'RE GOING TO RUN THIS THING THROUGH AND I'M GOING TO GO TO SACRAMENTO. I'M GOING TO TALK TO SOME LEGISLATORS THAT I KNOW, AND I'M GOING TO SAY, I WANT A SALARY RAISE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO GO, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO? I'M GOING TO GO, I DON'T KNOW, NOBODY TOLD ME, I JUST WANT A RAISE, AND I JUST WANT TO RAISE LIMITS FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER TO DO THINGS, AND I WANT TO AND THIS, THIS WHOLE, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK THROUGH THE DEAL OUTDATED PROVISIONS, INCLUDING TAX AND SPECIAL LEVIES, WE CUT OUR TEETH ON THAT KIND OF STUFF. THAT'S SOME GOOD REVENUE FOR US, AND TO SUGGEST THAT IT YOU KNOW, THE WHOLE GENDER INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE, I KNOW THAT.
OH, WE WERE ALL IN FAVOR OF THAT, BUT CAN'T WE JUST WRITE TO SOMEBODY AND SAY, HEY, LET'S CHANGE THE LANGUAGE? IT'S NOT THAT HARD. RIGHT? HE OR SHE OR WHATEVER THE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO WRITE, BUT THIS DOESN'T TAKE A LEGISLATIVE EFFORT, DOES IT? THE OTHER STUFF DOES, BUT I'M CONFUSED ON WHY WE DON'T GET TO KNOW ABOUT THINGS.
I GUESS. I'M SORRY. MAX KORTEN, DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER.
SO THE MAYBE TWO THINGS ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MIXED TOGETHER.
THE JANUARY 28TH TRIP TO SACRAMENTO. WE'VE MET WITH EACH OF YOU INDIVIDUALLY TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL PROJECTS AND UPDATES THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WITH YOUR WITH DIFFERENT LEGISLATORS WHEN WE MAKE THAT TRIP.
THERE'S A VARIETY OF THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT ON THAT TRIP, AND WE'RE, YOU KNOW, CONTINUING AND DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS AND HELPING LAWMAKERS UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR PRIORITIES ARE.
THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY TOPICS THAT CAN BE TALKED ABOUT, AND IF YOU'RE NOT COMFORTABLE TALKING ABOUT THIS TOPIC, THAT'S TOTALLY OKAY. THERE'S STILL A LOT OF VALUE IN THAT TRIP, AND WHAT I'M HEARING FROM YOU, IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN TAKING A LOOK AT THE ACTUAL LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE, AND THAT'S TOTALLY OKAY. WE'RE NOT ASKING YOU TO MAKE A DECISION AT THE NEXT BOARD MEETING ABOUT THIS LEGISLATION.
WE CAN TAKE MORE TIME TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS.
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I JUST ADD ALSO TO DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT, YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHAT ARE THESE? WHAT ARE THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ABOUT? YOU KNOW, WHEN YOUR BOARD HAS YOUR BOARD MEETINGS, WHICH IS WHERE THE ACTIONS TAKE PLACE? YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T YOU DON'T TAKE ACTIONS IN THESE COMMITTEE MEETINGS EXCEPT RECOMMENDING THINGS TO YOUR FULL BOARD. YOU DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE TIME TO DIG IN A HIGH LEVEL OF DETAIL TO DIFFERENT TOPICS OR POTENTIAL FUTURE DECISIONS, AND SO THESE ARE REALLY OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITIES TO DIG INTO THINGS LIKE THIS AND UNDERSTAND WHERE WE MIGHT NEED MORE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND TIME TO ENGAGE WITH YOUR BOARD OR TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY, AND SO THIS IS JUST A REALLY OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR THOSE THINGS AND KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHERE, WHERE WE NEED TO DO MORE WORK.OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU. I DON'T HAVE ANY. OTHER BOARD MEMBER HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS AT ALL? I HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
SO CERTAINLY THE CONCEPT OF AD HOC COMMITTEES IS NOT NEW TO ME.
I GUESS WHAT I WASN'T FULLY AWARE OF IS IF WE'RE ADVISING THE BOARD, AND THE BOARD IS TOMORROW THE PUBLIC PROCESS OF SOME 72 HOURS, IF WE WERE TO DIG IN, WHICH RIGHT NOW I DON'T SEE THAT WE CAN IF WE DON'T HAVE THE LANGUAGE, BUT JUST THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM IS SIMILAR. IT'S ALSO ON THE PACKAGE FOR TOMORROW, SO NOT SO MUCH WHAT'S THE INTENT OF THIS COMMITTEE BUT WHAT'S THE PROCESS OF THIS COMMITTEE? IT SEEMS THAT THERE SHOULD BE SOME OTHER OPPORTUNITY BETWEEN THE TWO FOR ADDITIONAL PUBLIC NOTICE.
IF THERE WERE GOING TO BE CHANGES, MAYBE IN THIS CASE IT'S IRRELEVANT BECAUSE DEPENDING ON WHERE THIS GOES, BUT I JUST HAVE A QUESTION ON THAT PROCESS AND THE NOTIFICATION FOR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT.
THIS ITEM IS NOT ON THE BOARD'S AGENDA FOR TUESDAY, BUT THE BUT IN TERMS OF THE AGENDA FOR THE SACRAMENTO TRIP, I THINK IT IS ON TODAY'S AGENDA AND IT IS ON TOMORROW'S YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN THE RANGE OF OPTIONS THAT YOUR BOARD HAS. YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY RELATIVELY UNUSUAL HERE, WHERE THOSE TWO THINGS ARE SO CLOSE BUT THE OPPORTUNITY IS THAT WITH AN ITEM LIKE THAT, YOU STILL HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE MORE DISCUSSION AROUND IT HERE THAT CAN INFORM THE DISCUSSION THAT YOUR BOARD HAS.
SO IF YOU'RE HERE AND YOU TALK ABOUT THAT ITEM, FOR INSTANCE, WITH, WITH THIS PIECE OF LEGISLATION, YOU THINK WE'RE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT BEING A PART OF THE AGENDA FOR THE TRIP ON THE 28TH.
THEN WHEN WE COME BACK AND MAKE THE PRESENTATION TO THE FULL BOARD, WE CAN SAY ONE THING THAT WE HEARD ABOUT THIS TOPIC IS THERE WAS A LEVEL OF DISCOMFORT WITH THIS ONE ITEM BEING A PART OF THE SACRAMENTO TRIP, AND SO THAT CAN HELP INFORM THE PRESENTATION THAT WE MAKE TO THE BOARD AND CAN HELP DESCRIBE THE INPUT THAT YOUR SUBCOMMITTEE HAS GIVEN US OR YOUR COMMITTEE HAS GIVEN US TODAY, IF THAT'S HELPFUL. OKAY.
CHAIR. WAESPI JUST ERICH PFUEHLER DIVISION LEAD GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.
JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT THAT WHAT WE'RE SEEKING IS THE ABILITY TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
WE'RE NOT. WE DON'T HAVE THE BILL LANGUAGE COMPLETED YET, BUT WE DO KNOW THAT IN ORDER TO BE THE SPONSOR OF A BILL, WE DO NEED BOARD APPROVAL. SO THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN JUST MAKING AWARENESS OF WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TO WORK ON.
IT'S NOT THE FINAL SUPPORT POSITION. WE'RE JUST WE DO NEED TO GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO HAVE, AND THIS IS THIS IS REQUIRED BY THE LEGISLATURE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO BE THE AUTHOR OR, I'M SORRY, THE SPONSOR OF LEGISLATION. SO WE DO INTEND TO BRING THIS BACK ONCE WE ACTUALLY HAVE A BILL NUMBER AND AN ACTUAL AUTHOR.
WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WOULD THINK THAT 'S THE WRONG ORDER.
GOSH, THAT SOUNDS TO ME, UNFORTUNATELY, LIKE YOU DON'T NEED TO READ THE BILL.
JUST VOTE ON IT, AND THEN WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT LATER, AND I SURELY DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.
I HAVE NO DESIRE TO DO THAT, BUT IF THE DISCUSSIONS ARE COMPLETED FOR THIS ONE, THEN IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? OH, WOULD THE COMMITTEE LIKE A BRIEF PRESENTATION ON THE SECOND BILL PROPOSED? WE'LL GET TO THAT. SURE. OKAY. THIS ONE'S A LITTLE MORE DIGESTIBLE.
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CLARA VALLEY OPEN SPACE AUTHORITY BROUGHT FORWARD IN 2019, WHICH WAS CALLED THE COYOTE HILLS CONSERVATION PROGRAM WITH THE COYOTE HILLS CONSERVATION PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO DO WAS THROUGH LEGISLATIVE ACTION, IDENTIFY THE COYOTE HILLS AS AN AREA OF STATE PRIORITY FOR CONSERVATION AND INVESTMENT.WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO WITH THIS LEGISLATION IS MOVE FORWARD.
THE EAST BAY HILLS AS A RECOMMENDED STATE PRIORITY AREA FOR CONSERVATION.
THIS LEGISLATION WOULD BE A NO COST ACTION BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
HOWEVER, AS AN OUTCOME OF THAT ACKNOWLEDGMENT, THE PARK DISTRICT WOULD BE IN A BETTER POSITION FOR FUTURE BOND MEASURES TO RECEIVE DIRECT FUNDING JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AS DEFINED IN THE PROPOSAL.
THE EAST BAY HILLS CONSISTS OF EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
PARKS AND PROPERTIES. THIS INCLUDES THE SOBRANTE RIDGE REGIONAL PRESERVE, THE KENNEDY GROVE REGIONAL RECREATION AREA, CHARLES LEE TILDEN REGIONAL PARK, TILDEN NATURE AREA, CLAREMONT CANYON REGIONAL PRESERVE, TEMESCAL REGIONAL RECREATION AREA, SIBLEY VOLCANIC REGIONAL PRESERVE.
HUCKLEBERRY BOTANIC REGIONAL PRESERVE, DR. REINHARDT REDWOOD REGIONAL PARK.
TODAY WE'RE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT IN CONCEPT TO WORK ON A PUBLIC RESOURCE CODE.
ARTICLE THREE MODERNIZATION LEGISLATION AND AN EAST BAY HILLS CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
ONCE THE BILL IS FINALIZED AND HAS BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE FLOOR, WE DO COME BACK TO THE BOARD, LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE AND THE FULL BOARD FOR SUPPORT ON THE BILLS ONCE THEY HAVE BILL NUMBERS AND ARE IN PRINT.
SO WITH THAT, THAT DOES CONCLUDE MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO CONTINUE TO TAKE QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, COMMENTS, QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. MEMBER DESCHAMBAULT. SO JUST A LITTLE CLARIFICATION.
SO COYOTE HILLS WAS I THINK I'VE USED THE TERM IN THE PAST LIKE SHOVEL READY OR ALREADY DESIGNATED AS A CONSERVATION AREA, AND IT GOT FUNDING UNDER PROP FOUR. SO THE COYOTE VALLEY IN 2019 HAD A SIMILAR PIECE OF LEGISLATION BROUGHT FORWARD, AND THAT LEGISLATION ONCE CODIFIED BY THE GOVERNOR, IDENTIFIED BY THE STATE THAT THE COYOTE VALLEY WAS AN AREA OF IMPORTANCE, AND THEN WHEN CONVERSATIONS BEGAN AROUND THE CLIMATE BOND IN 2024, IT WAS THEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE THAT STATE RECOGNITION FOR DIRECT FUNDING.
CORRECT. SO I'M EXTREMELY VISUAL. JUST SO YOU KNOW, I JUST LOVE MAPS.
I COULD STARE AT THEM ALL DAY LONG. I FEEL LIKE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT IN FRONT OF ME.
PARTICULARLY, I THINK EVERY ONE OF THE PARKS IN WARD TWO WAS LISTED OFF, WHICH IS MY WARD.
SO I'D BE CURIOUS, AND THEN WHY IN THIS PROPOSAL, THE 30,000 ACRES HOW THE OVERLAY WITH MAPS OR WAS CONSIDERED CLEARLY WITH FIRE AND THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE RISK OF FIRE IF THAT'S WEIGHED INTO THE CHOICE VERSUS THE OTHER ISSUE OF, YOU KNOW, OUR COASTS WITH THE KING TIDES JUST GOT FLOODED OUT VERSUS WHY WOULDN'T WE INCLUDE MCLAUGHLIN OR MOLATE? SO THERE'S JUST SOME THINKING, SOME VISUALS THAT AND SIMILAR TO THE LAST ITEM, JUST MAYBE DETAILS LIKE I'M LOOKING FOR BECAUSE I'M A DATA PERSON, SO I DON'T KNOW WHERE OR WHEN THOSE ARE COMING, I GUESS IS MY QUESTION.
SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THE VISUAL. AFTER THIS MEETING.
I'D BE SO HAPPY IF WE WEREN'T, YOU KNOW, ON THE CAMERAS TO WALK OVER TO THAT MAP TOGETHER.
THAT ORIGINAL SORT OF EAST BAY MUD LAND THAT WE RECEIVED.
TO YOUR POINT, IT IS AN AREA OF HIGH FIRE PRIORITY WHERE WE DO A GREAT AMOUNT OF WORK.
IT ALSO HAS A NATIONAL RECREATION TRAIL THAT SPANS IT IN ENTIRETY, AND SO WE SAW THIS CONTIGUOUS AREA WHERE WE KNOW WILDLIFE CROSSINGS AND HUMAN RECREATION CROSSINGS AND LAND STEWARDSHIP AND CLIMATE MITIGATION ARE ALL OCCURRING THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT FIRST PROPOSAL.
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IT WOULD BE THE FIRST OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, AND IT WOULD NOT PRECLUDE US FROM MOVING FORWARD. SIMILAR LEGISLATION IN EASTERN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY ALONG THE SHORELINES OR OTHER AREAS OF THE PARK DISTRICT.HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THE REASONS OF THE WILDFIRE, THE CONTIGUOUS LAND, THE WILDLIFE CROSSINGS AND OTHERS, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD FIRST ONE TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS, TO LEARN FROM THE PROCESS AND TO BUILD THAT STATE RECOGNITION ACROSS THE ENTIRE DISTRICT IN TIME. IS THERE ANY MAGIC NUMBER TO 30,000 ACRES? NO, THAT JUST IS WHAT IT HAPPENED TO BE. NO, I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE IF THE CONSERVATION DEFINITIONS ARE LIMITED OR WE HAVE TO DEFINE THEM IN SOME WAY. NOT AT ALL. IT JUST HAPPENED TO BE 30,000.
COLIN? I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE PROPOSED PROGRAM.
ANY MEMBERS FROM THE PUBLIC HAVE ANY COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY, SO WE'VE BEEN TASKED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY.
TO RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVAL TO EXTEND SUPPORT ON THOSE TWO LEGISLATIVE ITEMS. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THOSE? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE SECOND ITEM AND NOT THE FIRST.
CAN I GET A SECOND ON THAT ONE? I GUESS I WOULD ASK A SIMILAR QUESTION.
JUST T O ME, THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
OKAY. THAT THE DETAILS THAT HAVE GONE INTO IT.
SO THERE'S SOME OTHER. SO IT'S NEWER. YEAH. I MEAN THIS PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OVER TIME.
LONG PERIOD OF TIME OF OF JUST PRELIMINARY WORK THAT IS IN INVOLVED IN IT. SO I'M COMFORTABLE WITH IT. PROBABLY DENNIS IS FOR THE SAME REASON.
IF YOU'RE NOT, FEEL FREE TO. I THINK I'M COMFORTABLE.
I CAN SECOND WITH A QUESTION AGAIN. THIS WILL BE TOMORROW.
SO THIS ITEM IS NOT COMING TO THE BOARD TOMORROW.
IT'S ON AS PART OF THE SACRAMENTO A DISCUSSION ON BOTH PROPOSED BILLS THAT THE EBRPD IS SPONSORING ARE PART OF THE SACRAMENTO DIALOG, BUT THE FORMAL ACTION OF THE BOARD'S SUPPORT WILL NOT BE COMING UNTIL FEBRUARY.
SO WE'RE ABLE TO TAKE AND JUST FOR POINT OF CLARITY ON THE ACTION AND RESPECTING THE PATHWAY THE BOARD WANTS TO TAKE, WE ARE LOOKING FOR SUPPORT IN CONCEPT ON BOTH PIECES OF LEGISLATION.
WHAT DOES LEGISLATION TO UPDATE THE ARTICLE THREE OF THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE LOOK LIKE, AND NOT SPECIFICALLY ON THOSE EXACT SECTIONS, SO WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH THAT DRAFT LANGUAGE AFTER TODAY'S MEETING.
WE CAN HOLD A DIALOG. WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE COMFORTABLE.
THE DRAFT LANGUAGE, SAME WITH THE EAST BAY HILLS.
SO WE'RE NOT LOOKING FOR SUPPORT ON EVERY WORD OR LANGUAGE IN THE BILL, BUT RATHER THE OVERARCHING CONCEPT, AND WE'D BE HAPPY TO. AGAIN, WE'LL SHARE THE DRAFT LANGUAGE, HAVE CONVERSATION, AND INTEGRATE YOUR INPUT, YOUR THOUGHTS AND YOUR IDEAS INTO THOSE THOSE BILL PROPOSALS.
SO AS MOVED WITH THE SECOND ITEM IN GENERAL CONCEPT.
I SECOND THAT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE HAVE A MOTION.
MOTION BY DIRECTOR COFFEY. A SECOND BY MEMBER DESHCAMBAULT.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION BY ANY BOARD MEMBERS? MY ONLY SUGGESTION WOULD BE IF WE CAN ALSO GET SOME DETAILS ON THE HILLS CONSERVATION PLAN, BECAUSE WE HAVE TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS AND SOME OTHER BOARD MEMBERS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED ALSO.
WITH THAT ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
WE DEFINITELY TABLE THE FIRST ONE. ALL RIGHT.
[Informational Items]
WE'LL MOVE TO THE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS NOW. WE GET AN INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON THE PARK DISTRICT GRANTS FROM NOVEMBER 20TH THROUGH DECEMBER 13TH.[00:35:22]
OKAY.GOOD MORNING, DIRECTOR WAESPI AND BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
SO IN NOVEMBER, WE SUBMITTED A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE BOATING ACCESS PROGRAM FOR THE QUAGGA INSPECTION PROGRAM AT DEL VALLE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $723,171. THIS PROGRAM IS A MATCHING PROGRAM, SO THIS IS 75% OF THE TOTAL COST THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
THEN IN DECEMBER, WE SUBMITTED LETTERS OF INTENT TO APPLY FOR FUNDS FROM THE CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS DIVISION OF BOATING AND WATERWAYS COASTAL EROSION PROGRAM FOR THE KELLER BEACH PROJECT, AND ALSO THE POINT MOLATE BAY TRAIL PROJECT.
EARLIER LAST WEEK, WE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT BOTH PROJECTS ARE ELIGIBLE AND WE HAVE BEEN INVITED TO APPLY, SO WE WILL BE DOING THAT BEFORE THE FEBRUARY 3RD DEADLINE.
SO THOSE ARE THE PROJECTS THAT WE HAD APPLIED FOR FROM NOVEMBER 20TH TO DECEMBER 13TH, AND THEN GRANTS AWARDED IN THAT SAME TIME PERIOD IS WE RECEIVED 1 MILLION FROM THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION FOR THE PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA.
SO THIS IS OUR QUICK UPDATE OF THE WORK THAT WE DID LAST MONTH.
ANY QUESTIONS? QUESTIONS, COMMENTS? LOOKS GOOD.
CONGRATULATIONS. THAT'S AWESOME. MILLION DOLLARS IN THE PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREA.
DO WE HAVE OTHERS? THAT THE EAST BAY PARK DISTRICT HAS DESIGNATED THROUGH THAT FORMAL PROCESS AS PCAS AND OTHER OTHER OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRANTS? THERE ARE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES, AND UNFORTUNATELY, I JUST DON'T HAVE THOSE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT I CAN GET A LIST AND BE PREPARED TO COME BACK NEXT TIME WITH THE OTHER GRANT OPPORTUNITIES WE RECEIVED IN THE PAST AND WHAT WE'RE GOING FOR IN THE FUTURE.
YEAH, MAYBE AT SOME POINT. THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF THE PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREAS IS SOMETHING I'VE FOLLOWED FOR A COUPLE OF DECADES, AND IT'S VERY EXCITING AND CONGRATULATIONS. OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU. WELL, GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR REPORT AND THANKS FOR THE GREAT SUCCESS.
ERICH PFUEHLER DIVISION OF GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.
JUST HERE TO INTRODUCE OUR CONSULTANT, ABIGAIL SMET, FROM ENERGY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING.
THE BUDGET WAS JUST ANNOUNCED ON FRIDAY, AND GIVEN ALL THE ATTENTION TO WILDFIRE, IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING TO DIGEST, BUT WE DID WANT TO HAVE ABIGAIL GIVE SOME INITIAL THOUGHTS AND CONSIDERATIONS TO WHAT WE'VE READ SO FAR, AND THIS WILL BE A CONTINUED CONVERSATION AS WE LEARN MORE AND MORE ABOUT THE DETAILS.
ABIGAIL. THANK YOU, ERICH AND GOOD MORNING, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, ABIGAIL SMET WITH ENVIRONMENTAL AND ENERGY CONSULTING, JUST TO GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE STATE BUDGET.
ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 10TH, GOVERNOR NEWSOM RELEASED HIS ANNUAL JANUARY BUDGET PROPOSAL, AND IN THIS PROPOSAL, THE ADMINISTRATION PROJECTED THAT THE STATE WILL BE OPERATING WITH A GENERALLY BALANCED BUDGET FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR.
SO THE GOVERNOR EXPECTS A MARGINAL SURPLUS AROUND $300 MILLION FOR THE YEAR AHEAD.
SO WITH THAT IN MIND, THE GOVERNOR PROPOSED A $322 BILLION STATE BUDGET, RELYING ON 16.9 BILLION IN BUDGET RESERVES COMING FROM THE STATE'S RAINY DAY FUND TO HELP US GET TO THAT PLACE OF A OF AN OPERATING BALANCED BUDGET.
[00:40:08]
THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING TO ALLOCATE 2.7 BILLION OF THAT TO VARIOUS NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCIES IN FISCAL YEAR 20 2526. SO I CAN, IN A MOMENT, GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THE DETAILS OF WHAT IS WITHIN THAT 2.7 BILLION, BUT THIS SHOWS THAT THE ADMINISTRATION AT LEAST, IS INTENDING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A ROUGHLY.WE'RE EXPECTING 5 TO 10 YEAR PLAN TO EXPAND THESE BOND DOLLARS, WHICH IS WHAT WE THOUGHT MAY BE THE CASE CONSIDERING THE UPCOMING STATE GOALS OF 30 BY 30 AND A NUMBER OF OTHER INITIATIVES THAT NEED A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDING STILL AT THIS POINT.
SO WITHIN THAT 2.7 BILLION FROM PROPOSITION FOUR, WE'RE SEEING ABOUT 60 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD OF THEIR $1 BILLION CONTAINED IN PROPOSITION FOUR, AS WELL AS A LARGE NUMBER OR A LARGE AMOUNT OF FUNDING SET ASIDE FOR WILDFIRE.
AS WE CAN EXPECT GIVEN THE SITUATION IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT THIS POINT, AND IF THERE ARE FURTHER QUESTIONS AROUND SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS AND WHERE THAT MONEY IS GOING, HAPPY TO ANSWER THOSE INSTEAD OF READING THROUGH THE FULL LIST.
SO I'LL STOP THERE FOR NOW AND SEE IF THERE ARE ANY QUESTIONS.
ANY QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? I GUESS, DO YOU GIVE OPINIONS? I'M INTERESTED. THIS SEEMS LIKE A REALLY PRIME TIME TO ASK FOR WILDFIRE MONEY, RIGHT? YES. NO. THAT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT THERE'S A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND THIS YEAR AND IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
OVERALL, I WILL SHARE FROM THE WILDFIRE FUNDING CONTAINED IN PROP FOUR, THE GOVERNOR HAS PROPOSED TO ALLOCATE ABOUT 325 MILLION TO THESE ISSUES THIS FISCAL YEAR. SO THAT'S SPREAD BETWEEN THE NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY, CAL FIRE, SOME AT THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY, THE DEPARTMENTS OF PARKS AND RECREATION.
THANK YOU. NO QUESTIONS. CONTINUE, PLEASE. THANK YOU.
PERFECT. YEAH. WE HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS ON THAT.
DO YOU HAVE MORE TO. YEAH, I'LL JUST SHARE THAT.
AS A REMINDER, THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR THIS YEAR.
SO THE GOVERNOR HAS, AS I SAID, RELEASED HIS PROPOSAL WILL NOW MOVE INTO SEVERAL MONTHS OF THE LEGISLATURE NEGOTIATING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON WHAT SHOULD ACTUALLY BE CONTAINED IN THE FINAL BUDGET DEAL THAT THEY WILL REACH BEFORE JUNE 15TH.
SO WHILE THESE ARE, I WOULD SAY, ENCOURAGING NUMBERS TO SEE THIS LARGE COMMITMENT ON THE ADMINISTRATION SIDE IN NATURAL RESOURCES FUNDING AND ROLLING OUT PROP FOUR, THERE WILL STILL NEED TO BE A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT IN THE MONTHS AHEAD TO MAKE SURE THAT THE LEGISLATURE AND THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS ARE ALIGNED, AND THAT FUNDING CAN GET ON THE GROUND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THANK YOU. I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A QUESTION. GO RIGHT AHEAD.
SO IS THIS SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ADDED TO THE SACRAMENTO AGENDA FOR OUR SACRAMENTO DAY? SINCE THIS IS SEEMS MORE EMINENT? I DON'T KNOW THE PROCESS FOR THAT, BUT FOR THE STATE BUDGET, CLEARLY THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE UNDER PROP FOUR AND FOR FIRES THAT THIS SEEMS LIKE MAYBE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO ADD THAT WHEN WE CAN DISCUSS THAT TOMORROW. DIVISION LEAD ERICH PFUEHLER FOR GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS, AND APOLOGIES TO DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT THAT WE HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU, BUT WE'VE SPOKEN WITH THE OTHER DIRECTORS ABOUT PROPER IMPLEMENTATION AND PROJECTS THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE FUNDED BY PROP FOUR AND THE BUDGET. SO WE'VE HAD THAT DISCUSSION WITH OUR OTHER MEMBERS, AND IT IS, IN FACT, ON OUR AGENDA FOR THE SACRAMENTO ADVOCACY DAY.
WE JUST HAVEN'T REALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU AND GO THROUGH THAT.
THAT'S FINE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. IN OTHER WORDS.
YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. SOUNDS GOOD. LOOK FORWARD TO IT.
TO YOU YET? WELL, IN ALL FAIRNESS, I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND.
SO SORRY ABOUT THAT. I TOOK A LITTLE BREAK OVER THE HOLIDAYS, SO LOOK FORWARD TO CHATTING WITH YOU.
PERFECT. OH. GO AHEAD. GO AHEAD. OR ARE YOU COMPLETED WITH YOUR.
[00:45:02]
WEEKS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU.THIS ISN'T AN ACTION ITEM, BUT THERE'S ANYBODY IN THE PUBLIC WOULD LIKE TO. IS THERE ANYBODY IN THE CHAT ROOM? NO ONES IN THE ZOOM ROOM? NO. NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
ALL RIGHT. THANKS. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL MOVE NOW TO THE INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON THE 2025 SACRAMENTO ADVOCACY CONFERENCE.
HELLO AGAIN. ERICH PFUEHLER DIVISION LEAD FOR GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. WE'VE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THE ISSUES FOR SACRAMENTO ALREADY TODAY, BUT THIS WAS OUR FORMAL INITIAL PRESENTATION.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK ON SCHEDULING, AND WE WILL BE GIVING YOU THE BOOKLETS, I BELIEVE, TODAY HANDING THEM OUT, AND WE WILL ALSO BE INCLUDING A SERIES OF ONE PAGERS THAT DISCUSS SOME OF THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS, AND DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT , WE WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH YOU, BUT SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT THE BOARD HAS PROVIDED US FEEDBACK ON IN ORDER WHICH TO ADVOCATE FOR BUDGET AND PROPOSITION FOUR FUNDING.
SO THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR IS ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY BEING HELD ON JANUARY 28TH.
THAT'S A TUESDAY WHEN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS WILL BE IN TOWN.
THE DISTRICT HAS BOOKED A SUITE OF ROOMS FOR THE EVENING OF JANUARY 27TH, AND WE WILL BE GATHERING THAT MORNING AT EEC'S OFFICES. THE TIME THE EXACT TIME IS TO BE DETERMINED.
RIGHT NOW WE'RE THINKING AROUND 10:00, BUT IT COULD BE A LITTLE EARLIER.
WE DO HAVE AND SHOULD COMPLIMENT FLORA SANTOS, THE LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT.
WE DO HAVE EIGHT OF OUR 12 ELECTED OFFICIALS AT LEAST AT LEAST REPRESENTATIVES OF THEIR OFFICES, BUT THEY ARE PRIMARILY I THINK THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF THOSE.
EIGHT ARE STAFF, THE OTHER SIX ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT WE DO HAVE MEETINGS WITH SO FAR.
THERE PROBABLY WILL BE SOME OVERLAP. SO OUR BOARD WILL BE DIVIDED AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY, AND SO THEN WE WILL GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE BRIEFING TOMORROW, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS AND ANSWER QUESTIONS OF THE BOARD PRIOR TO THE 28TH. SO OUR INTENT IS TO MATCH OUR ADVOCACY TO OUR ADVOCACY GOALS, WHICH WERE ADOPTED IN DECEMBER 17TH BY THE BOARD FOR 2025-2026, AND I BELIEVE, DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU A HARD COPY OF THAT THIS MORNING, BUT IN THAT LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM, WE DO HAVE OUR SEVEN ADVOCACY GOALS. THEY'RE LARGELY SIMILAR TO THE ONES WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST.
JUST HIGHLIGHTING THAT EQUITABLE PARK ACCESS IS A DIFFERENT WAY OF FRAMING THAT ADVOCACY GOAL.
IT USED TO BE COMMUNITY HEALTH, AND THEN WE'VE ACTUALLY INCREASED THE SCOPE OF SEA LEVEL RISE, PREPAREDNESS TO EXTREME WEATHER PREPAREDNESS.
OUT OF THESE SEVEN GOALS, THERE IS ALSO AN OVERARCHING PRINCIPLE TO OUR WORK THAT I WOULD LIKE TO JUST READ SO THAT PARTICULARLY FOR DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT. THE PROGRAM INCLUDES DELIVERING EQUITABLE SERVICE, ADVANCING CLIMATE RESILIENCY, ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION, GUIDING WORK WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ETHIC, SUPPORTING INCLUSIVE INTERPRETATION AND EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES, INCREASING CONSERVATION THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION, AND ENSURING THE FISCAL HEALTH OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
WE DO HAVE A GOAL OR A 20 2025 WORK PLAN ITEM ON THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE. SO THAT WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD IN THE LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM TO AT LEAST WORK ON THAT ISSUE.
WE ALSO HAVE IN THE PROGRAM POLICIES THAT DEAL WITH CAPITAL PROJECTS.
SO THE PROP FOUR FUNDING AND STATE BUDGET FUNDING THAT WE WILL BE DISCUSSING WHEN WE'RE IN SACRAMENTO, ALIGN WITH THAT GOAL FOR 2025, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE, AS NOTED EARLIER, BY THE BOARD MEMBERS ADVOCATING FOR FUNDING FOR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE PROJECTS. SO THOSE ARE THOSE ARE THREE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOPICS THAT WE WILL BE ENHANCING WITH OUR DIRECT ASKS OR PROPOSED. DIRECT ASKS WHEN WE ARE ACTUALLY IN SACRAMENTO WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND THEN JUST THE OVERVIEW,
[00:50:04]
OUR INTENTION WAS TO HAVE EACH MEETING HAVE THE EXACT SAME AGENDA, MAKING IT A LITTLE BIT MORE STREAMLINED.WE ARE HOPING TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ABOUT PUBLIC RESOURCES.
CODE ARTICLE THREE MODERNIZATION HOPING TO CONTINUE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE EAST BAY HILLS LEGISLATION, THE AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE, AND THEN ALSO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROP FOUR PROGRAMS THAT WOULD BE SUPPORTING THE PARK DISTRICT.
THANK YOU. LISA BALDINGER, LEGISLATIVE AND LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST. SO, AS ERICH SHARED, WE WERE OR WE ARE LOOKING TO BRING A COHESIVE AGENDA TO ALL MEETINGS IN SACRAMENTO, BUT ADJUST THEM FOR EACH MEMBER SPECIFICALLY WITH PRIORITIES AND PRIORITY PROJECTS THAT RESONATE WITH THEM AND THEIR COMMUNITIES.
I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT CAME TO MIND SINCE OUR CONVERSATION.
THE SECOND ONE IS HIGHLIGHTING FOR OUR DELEGATION THE EAST BAY HILLS CONSERVATION PROGRAM.
IN CONCEPT, THOUGH, THIS PROGRAM IS MOST RELEVANT TO THE MEMBERS WITHIN THE EAST BAY HILLS REGION SUCH AS WICKS, BONTA, GRAYSON, AND OTHERS, WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR ENTIRE DELEGATION IS AWARE THAT THIS IS AN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT SPONSORED PROPOSAL, THAT WE NEED THEIR SUPPORT, AND THAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN LEARNING FROM THIS EXPERIENCE TO EXPAND CONSERVATION PROGRAMS INTO THEIR DISTRICTS AS WELL, AND THEN WHERE WE'RE HOPING TO SPEND A BULK OF THE DISCUSSION IS FOCUSED ON THE PROP FOUR IMPLEMENTATION.
SO AS ABIGAIL SHARED, AND AS THE BOARD IS AWARE, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET HAS COME OUT.
IT DOES HAVE SOME INITIAL PROPOSALS AROUND WHICH PROGRAMS SHOULD BE RECEIVING THE FIRST FUNDING IN FROM PROPOSITION FOUR, THE CLIMATE BOND, AND JUST TO TAKE A STEP BY WAY OF BACKGROUND ON WHERE WE ARE IN THE PROCESS AND WHAT KIND OF CONVERSATIONS WE'RE HAVING AT THIS TIME.
LAST YEAR, THE PARK DISTRICT, WE ADVOCATED ON THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS LEADING UP TO PROP FOUR, SB 837. WE DID STRIVE TO GUIDE SOME DIRECT FUNDING IN THAT BILL, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL AT THIS TIME.
HOWEVER, PROPOSITION FOUR DID MOVE FORWARD WITH A NUMBER OF GREAT COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT QUALIFIES FOR THAT WE'LL DISCUSS ON THE NEXT SLIDE, AND IT PASSED WITH 59.8% SUPPORT IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
OF COURSE, A LARGE NUMBER OF THAT SUPPORT IS COMING FROM THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
NOT EVERY FUNDING COMMITMENT GETS FUNDED AT THE SAME TIME, AND SO WHAT REALLY WE'RE LOOKING FOR IN THESE CONVERSATIONS IS TO PRIORITIZE FUNDING TOWARDS THE COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT QUALIFIES FOR, AND ALIGNING THEM WITH OUR READY PROJECTS AND FUNDING NEEDS, AND SO WHERE WE ARE IN SACRAMENTO IS KIND OF BETWEEN THE TEAL AND THE GREEN, AND THE GREEN IS THE COMPETITIVE FUNDING PROCESS.
THAT'S WHEN OUR GRANTS MANAGER MOVES FORWARD, APPLICATIONS FOR OUR PROJECTS, BUT WE WANT TO BRING ONLINE THOSE GRANTS THAT THEY HAVE THE BEST CHANCE OF SUCCESS WITH AND SO WHAT WE'VE BROUGHT FORWARD FOR YOU ALL, FOR CONVERSATION AND DISCUSSION, ARE THREE KEY CHAPTERS IN THE PARK BOND ONE FOCUSED ON WATERSHED HEALTH.
WILDFIRE RESILIENCY. AS WE'VE BEEN DISCUSSING, THIS IS CORE AND KEY TO OUR WORK PLAN, OUR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS. THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE WITH THE CARBONATOR AND OTHERS ARE ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL, AND SO WE'VE IDENTIFIED THREE GRANT PROGRAMS THAT WORK WOULD QUALIFY WELL IN AND COMPETE WELL IN, AND THEN CHAPTER FOUR, WHICH IS THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY FUNDING.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ABOUT THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CONSERVATION PROGRAM, THAT IS THAT THOUGH IT'S ADMINISTERED BY THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY, IT CAN FUND UPLAND PROJECTS. SO IT CAN HELP SUPPORT PROJECTS LIKE WELL, THE FIRST ONE THAT CAME TO MIND WAS HAYWARD MARSH, BUT THAT'S NOT A GREAT EXAMPLE BECAUSE THAT IS ON THE SHORELINE, BUT PROJECTS MORE INLAND THAT ARE OF BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY, AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT BACK TO ERICH TO CLOSE US OUT, BUT WE ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON PROJECT SPECIFIC.
THANK YOU, AND JUST TO GO BACK TO THE SLIDE FOR A SECOND JUST TO HIGHLIGHT ABIGAIL MENTIONED EARLIER THAT THE GOVERNOR'S INITIAL BUDGET HAS 2.7 BILLION OF THE 10 BILLION THAT WERE AUTHORIZED INCLUDED IN IT.
[00:55:03]
AND THEN AGAIN, WE HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY IN JUNE FOR THE FINAL BUDGET PACKAGE TO INCREASE THE FUNDING LEVELS IN SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES, AND THESE THREE AREAS THAT ARE HIGHLIGHTED WERE SIGNIFICANT TO US IN TERMS OF PROJECTS THAT WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE GOOD EXAMPLES FOR.SO, FOR EXAMPLE, WATERSHED HEALTH, WE HAVE PROJECTS LIKE LAKE TEMESCAL.
THERE'S BEEN OTHERS THAT I BELIEVE DIRECTOR ECHOLS MENTIONED, LAKE ANZA AT THE LAST MEETING.
SO THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS WE CAN DISCUSS WITHIN THAT CATEGORY, AND THEN OBVIOUSLY WILDFIRE IS NOT ONLY AN EAST BAY HILLS ISSUE, IT'S ALSO GRAZING AND GRASSLANDS IN THE EASTERN PARTS OF THE COUNTIES, AND THEN, AS LISA MENTIONED, THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY'S BAY PROGRAM CONSERVANCY IS INCREDIBLY SUPPORTIVE OF THE PARK DISTRICT, AND IT'S A GOOD WAY TO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE FUNDING FOR UPLAND AREAS THROUGHOUT THE EAST BAY.
SO THOSE ARE THE MAIN CATEGORIES THAT WE WANT TO EDUCATE OUR DELEGATION ON.
THAT WOULD DIRECTLY IMPACT THE PARK DISTRICT AND GIVE US A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR GRANTS IN SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, AND IN TERMS OF OUT OF THE 10 BILLION, THERE'S REALLY ONLY CLOSE TO 2 BILLION OF THE OVERALL 10 BILLION THAT WERE APPROVED BY VOTERS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT WOULD COMPETITIVELY QUALIFY FOR.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR DELEGATION KNOWS THESE ARE THE AREAS THAT WOULD BENEFIT, OR AT LEAST BENEFIT OUR WORK THE MOST, AND THEN JUST TO KIND OF GO THROUGH THE DELEGATION, THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES, AS YOU ALL KNOW, AND SO THIS IS OUR NEW STATE SENATE DELEGATION, JERRY MCNERNEY, RETURNING TO ELECTED OFFICE AFTER BEING A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, SERVING KIND OF THE TRI-VALLEY AND SAN JOAQUIN AREAS.
HE IS CHAIR OF THE REVENUE AND TAXATION COMMITTEE, BUT HE ALSO WILL BE SITTING ON BUDGET SUB TWO, WHICH IS THE RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE BUDGET PANEL, AND I WILL SHARE THAT HIS CHIEF OF STAFF FORMERLY WORKED FOR SENATOR NANCY SKINNER. SO HE KNOWS THE PARK DISTRICT WELL.
SENATOR WAHAB IS THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSING COMMITTEE, AND SHE'S ALSO ASSISTANT MAJORITY LEADER.
SENATOR CABALDON, AND I'M HOPING I'M PRONOUNCING THAT CORRECTLY, IS THE CHAIR OF BUDGET FOUR, WHICH IS STATE ADMINISTRATION, AND HE ALSO IS SERVING ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, WHICH WOULD BE RELEVANT TO OUR ENABLING LEGISLATION.
SENATOR GRAYSON, FORMER ASSEMBLYMEMBER. OH, AND I SHOULD MENTION CABALDON WAS MAYOR OF WEST SACRAMENTO FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS, BUT HAS HAD A STRONG PRESENCE ON ISSUES WITH THE DELTA PROTECTION COMMISSION, SO IS FAIRLY WELL KNOWN BY SOME OF OUR OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE REGION, AND HIS STAFF DID ATTEND ONE OF OUR EVENTS EARLIER OR ACTUALLY LATE LAST YEAR, AND THEN, AS I MENTIONED, SENATOR GRAYSON, FORMER ASSEMBLYMEMBER. NOW MOVING ON TO THE SENATE CHAIR OF BANKING AND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, AND HE IS ALSO THE ASSISTANT MAJORITY WHIP. HIS OFFICE HAS REACHED OUT TO US TO CONTINUE TO WANT TO WORK WITH US.
HE WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL IN ADVANCING OUR AB 2091, WHICH DEALT WITH EXISTING FIRE ROADS AND RANCH ROADS AND ALLOWING US TO OPEN THOSE UP AS TRAILS QUICKER, AND HIS OFFICE CONTINUES TO WANT TO WORK WITH OUR OFFICE, SO THAT'S GREAT. SENATOR ARREGUIN IS THE CHAIR.
THEN FOR OUR ASSEMBLY DELEGATION. ASSEMBLYMEMBER LORI WILSON, CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
SHE ALSO SITS ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE, AND SHE IS ON BUDGET SUB FOUR, WHICH IS THE CLIMATE AND RESOURCES SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE ASSEMBLY BUDGET COMMITTEE. ASSEMBLYMEMBER WICKS IS CHAIR OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
VERY IMPORTANT POSITION AND IS ALSO GOING TO BE SERVING ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE.
INTERESTINGLY, AVILA FARIAS, I DON'T KNOW, DIRECTOR COFFEY IF YOU WANT TO HELP ME OUT ON THAT PRONUNCIATION, BUT SHE HAS NOT YET BEEN ASSIGNED COMMITTEES, SO SOMETHING TO BE DETERMINED.
ASSEMBLYMEMBER BAUER-KAHAN IS THE CHAIR OF THE PRIVACY AND CONSUMER PROTECTION COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO WILL BE SERVING ON THE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE AND THEN ASSEMBLYMEMBER BONTA IS THE CHAIR OF THE HEALTH COMMITTEE, BUT ALSO SERVING ON THE WATER, PARKS AND WILDLIFE COMMITTEE, AND THEN ASSEMBLYMEMBER ORTEGA IS CHAIR OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT AND ALSO WILL BE SERVING ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND THEN ASSEMBLYMEMBER LEE IS CHAIR OF HUMAN SERVICES AND ALSO SERVING ON THE BUDGET COMMITTEE.
[01:00:02]
SO WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ANNAMARIE, ALL OF THESE MEMBERS ARE CHAIRS, AND ALL OF OUR SENATE SENATORS HAVE CHAIRS.SO VERY, VERY GOOD DELEGATION FOR US TO BE WORKING WITH.
ALL THIS INFORMATION THAT I READ IN TERMS OF ASSEMBLY ASSIGNMENTS IS INCLUDED IN YOUR BOOKLETS THAT YOU ARE RECEIVING TODAY, AND WITH THAT, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ADVOCACY CONFERENCE.
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT THE CONFERENCE. GO AHEAD.
YOU AND I DISCUSSED EARLIER THE POSSIBILITY OF MAYBE THERE BEING A MEETING ON MONDAY.
DID THAT EVER HAPPEN OR IS IT ALL GOING TO BE TUESDAY AT THIS POINT JUST FOR MY CALENDAR? YEAH, THANK YOU FOR THAT. DIRECTOR COFFEY. YEAH.
OKAY. SO THAT'S THE MONDAY MEETING AND IT'S HAPPENING.
IT WAS THE ONLY TIME THAT HE PERSONALLY CAN ATTEND.
HIS NEW DISTRICT OVERLAPS WITH WARD SEVEN IN BRENTWOOD AND OAKLEY, I BELIEVE, AND SO HE'S GOT A LITTLE SWATH OF FAR EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY IN HIS SENATE DISTRICT, AND IT WILL BE GOOD TO GET TO KNOW HIM A BIT.
SO I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY. I HAVE A QUESTION OR MAYBE A REQUEST ON THE. THIS SUMMARY PAGE HERE IS VERY HELPFUL, WHAT YOU WERE SAYING AS YOU WENT THROUGH IT.
GETTING SOME VISUAL AND DETAIL, YOU KNOW, ON THE WATERSHED, AND IT DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY COME TO ME.
LAKE ANZA AND BLUE GREEN ALGAE AND SEDIMENTATION IN TEMESCAL.
SO SOME MORE OF THAT FOR ME WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND STAFF'S THINKING BECAUSE LIKE YOU SAID, THE PRIORITIES, AND I HAVE A BIGGER QUESTION, TOO.
WE HAVE THE SEVEN GOALS, BUT THREE OF THEM PRETTY MUCH FALL UNDER CLIMATE RESILIENCE.
WHETHER IT'S FIRE OR SEA LEVEL RISE OR OTHER THINGS.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHEN LOOKING AT COMPETING FOR THE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES, IF THERE'S SOME THOUGHTS OF NOT PUTTING THEM TOGETHER, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THESE CHAPTER TWO, THREE, FOUR SECTIONS ARE.
SO JUST I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY BACKGROUND OR AS WE GO FORWARD, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME BECAUSE EXTREME WEATHER EVENT IS CLIMATE RELATED, FIRE IS CLIMATE RELATED FLOODING, YOU KNOW, SO ALL OF THOSE THAT WE'RE FACING AND IF THERE'S MONEY, YOU KNOW, THE PROP FOUR WAS ALWAYS CALLED THE CLIMATE BILL OR WHATEVER.
SO HOW THAT FALLS OUT AND STAFF THINKING ON THE PRIORITIES FOR THAT, BECAUSE THERE'S THINGS LIKE TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS HALF OF OUR GREENHOUSE GASES, COMES FROM TRANSPORTATION.
SO THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THERE AS WELL. JUST AS YOU SPOKE, I FOUND THAT REALLY HELPFUL.
YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, AND AS YOU WELL KNOW, CLIMATE IS REALLY INVOLVED IN ALL OF OUR WORK, BUT THESE WERE AREAS THAT WERE SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH FOR STAFF AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, NOT JUST LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS STAFF, BUT OUR COLLEAGUES THAT THEY EARNED BASICALLY A CALL OUT IN THE ADVOCACY GOALS.
IS THAT IT, LINDA? NO QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
MY ONLY COMMENTS WOULD BE I SEE THAT IN EVERY, AND THANK YOU FOR THIS GREAT DOCUMENT AS ALWAYS.
THE NUMBER ONE THING ON THE MEETING AGENDA IS THE PRC THREE MODERNIZATION LEGISLATION.
I MEAN YOU KNOW, WE USED TO GO UP THERE AND TALK ABOUT PRE-FIRE MITIGATION.
WE USED TO TALK ABOUT BIOCHAR AND ALL THE GREAT THINGS WE'RE DOING, AND WE'D GET LOTS OF MONEY.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE WITH THE PROGRAM IF WE HAVE MONEY.
[01:05:02]
SO I THINK THIS IS AN AREA WHERE SPENDING MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF PARK AND REC MONEY, WHEN THE STATE, I THINK IS GOING TO BE VERY, VERY INTERESTED IN OUR I MEAN, WE PRETTY MUCH LA.WE'RE PRETTY MUCH THE LA HILLS RIGHT HERE, AS WE'VE PROVEN IN 1990.
FIRE SUPPRESSION, I THINK. GOOD GOLLY, THIS IS THE TIME TO ASK FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION STUFF.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM WITH ON CALL FIREFIGHTERS. WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH FIREFIGHTERS, IN MY OPINION, IN THE DISTRICT. WE'VE SUSPENDED THAT PROGRAM OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, WHAT WE'VE DONE TO THAT PROGRAM, BUT IN FACT WE HAVE LESS FIREFIGHTERS THAN WE DID IN THE PAST, AND THE SAME CONDITIONS ARE HERE AND JACKPOT CONDITIONS.
YOU KNOW, I JUST TO ASK FOR A CARVE OUT WITH SOME OF OUR LEGISLATORS.
I MEAN, IF THE ONLY THING AND THAT'S ALL I'VE BEEN TOLD, WAS THAT THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THE ON CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT IS THAT WE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO WORK THEIR RETIREMENT, WHETHER THEY'RE MISCELLANEOUS OR SAFETY AND WE COULD GET A CARVE OUT TO DO THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO A LEGISLATOR AND SAY, HEY, CAN YOU HELP US OUT? WE'RE TRYING TO SAVE LIVES AND PROPERTY HERE BY HAVING TRAINED FIREFIGHTERS ON DUTY . CCC, CIVICORPS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WE SHOULD BE REALLY PROMOTING THAT BECAUSE THAT'S PRE-FIRE MITIGATION.
YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO HIRE PARK RANGERS AND OTHER HIGHER PAID PARK STAFF TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK.
IT'S BEEN 2 OR 3 YEARS NOW IN CONCEPT THAT WE'VE DONE THIS.
WE'VE GONE TO SACRAMENTO, ASKED FOR IT. THE CCC IS DESPERATE TO GET A CAMP GOING IN THE EAST BAY.
I DON'T HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT THAT SHORELINE RESILIENCY, CLIMATE BOND.
I THINK WE SHOULD. YOU SAID THAT WE SHOULD. I THINK WE SHOULD GO UP THERE AND HIT REALLY HARD ON THE CLIMATE CLIMATE BOND AND SAY WE NEED MORE FOR, YOU KNOW, ADVOCATE FOR MORE BONDS BEING ISSUED, AND LORI WILSON, YOU KNOW, IF SHE'S GOING TO BE OUR KEY SPONSOR FOR THIS PRC LEGISLATION. SHE'S ALSO THE CHAIR OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE.
WE COULD ADVOCATE MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY WITH HER ON THAT.
I THINK SHE'S ALSO A MEMBER OF THE SELECT SUBCOMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, AND ALSO ON THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL PUBLIC SAFETY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
THOSE ARE GOING TO BE THE ISSUES THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE WONDERING ABOUT AND CARING ABOUT, AND HOW DO WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN IN THE PARK DISTRICT? THAT'S NOT A QUESTION TO ANSWER. I JUST DON'T KNOW.
I J UST HOPE WE CAN. WELL, I KNOW WE COULD IF WE WANTED TO CHANGE.
WE'VE GOT THREE MORE WEEKS, AND ONCE AGAIN, I'M GOING TO BE VERY UNCOMFORTABLE GOING AND ASKING FOR A SALARY UPGRADE IF WHEN WE'VE GOT ALL THESE OTHER GREAT THINGS WE COULD BE TALKING ABOUT WITH OUR LEGISLATORS.
SO I DO THINK ALL THE ISSUES THAT YOU JUST OUTLINED CAN ALL BE ADDRESSED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THIS IS AND MAYBE EVEN ON THE 28TH, I THINK WE DID SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT EDUCATING SENATOR GRAYSON WITH REGARD TO THE CARBONIZER , BECAUSE IT WOULD BE NEW TO HIS.
AS YOU RECALL, THAT DISTRICT KIND OF TAKES A WEIRD TAILSPIN OVER INTO OYSTER BAY.
SO I DON'T THINK WE ARE LIMITED TO THE THREE ITEMS THAT ARE ON THE AGENDA.
I THINK THOSE ARE SORT OF THE STARTING POINT, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW TO REALIGN IT SO THAT IT REFLECTS THE PRIORITIES THAT YOU ALL ARE COMFORTABLE PRESENTING WELL.
TRADITION WOULD HAVE IT. HOW MUCH TIME DO WE GET WITH EACH LEGISLATOR? I BELIEVE WE'RE SCHEDULED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES WITH EACH LEGISLATURE, AND IF I MAY RESPOND TO SOMETHING BOTH FROM DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT AS WELL AS DIRECTOR WAESPI. TOMORROW WE'LL MAKE SURE TO HAVE THEM PRINTED FOR YOU.
WE CAN GET THEM FOR YOU BEFORE YOU GO. FOR EVERY MEETING, WE'VE BEEN PREPARING PROJECT BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS THAT HIGHLIGHT AN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT KEY PROJECT THAT A BOARD OF DIRECTORS SHARED WITH MAX AND ERICH.
THESE PROJECTS ARE CONNECTED TO THOSE CLIMATE BOND FUNDING CATEGORIES, AND SO YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SHARE A VISUAL AND AN OVERVIEW OF A PROJECT ON HOW THOSE PROP FOUR FUNDING COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAMS CAN HELP TO SUPPORT THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE WORK IN THEIR REGION.
WE'LL GET YOU THOSE PROJECT BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS TOMORROW, BUT THE REASON I BRING THIS UP IS BECAUSE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA, THE WAY WE DESIGNED IT, WAS NOT TO PRIORITIZE THE FIRST ITEM, BUT REALLY TO PRIORITIZE THE THIRD.
[01:10:04]
SO THAT WAY WE COULD MAKE SURE WE GET THROUGH SORT OF OUR I LOVE VEGETABLES, BUT, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO GET THROUGH YOUR VEGETABLES BEFORE YOU CAN GET TO YOUR DESSERT, AND THAT WAY, WE CAN SPEND THE BULK OF THE MEETING ON THE CLIMATE BOND, THE PROJECTS AND THAT SERVICE DELIVERY TO THE COMMUNITY AND THAT'S WHERE WE HAVE THOSE SUPPORTING RESOURCES FOR YOU ALL IN CONVERSATION. SO I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA IS REALLY TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THE BULK OF THE MEETING ON THE THIRD ITEM.OKAY. WELL, I AGREE WITH YOU FULLY ON THAT, AND I WOULD SUGGEST, AND I THINK BASED ON WHAT YOU HEARD, I WOULD ELIMINATE OR LEAVE IT WAY LOW BECAUSE YOU KNOW, HOW THOSE THINGS GO.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK AND SCHMOOZE IT UP WITH THE FOLKS WE KNOW, AND THAT WILL BE FIVE MINUTES OF OUR 20 MINUTES, AND THEN WE'RE RUSHING, AND THEN SO, I MEAN, I THINK WE HAVE SO MANY PRIORITY ITEMS AND THE PRC ITEM TO MEET IS SHOULD BE LAST ON THE LIST AND VERY BRIEF. MAY I ASK IF IT'S OF THE INTEREST TO THE COMMITTEE THAT WE REMOVE THE PRC FROM THE CONVERSATIONS IN SACRAMENTO? WELL, I WOULD PREFER THAT, BUT I THINK WE SHOULD ASK THE WHOLE BOARD ABOUT THAT.
ANY COMMENT? SURE. I THINK THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT DIRECTOR WAESPI IS RAISING.
ONE IS SIMPLY PRIORITIZATION OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S PARTICULAR STATUTORY NEEDS AND DESIRES AND WANTS. WITH REGARD TO THE PRC, JUST AS A PRIORITY THAT WE TAKE TO SACRAMENTO.
THE OTHER IS THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION, AS YOU FOLKS HAVE DESCRIBED IT HERE.
I THINK THE MAIN PROBLEM YOU'RE HAVING WITH FEEDBACK TODAY IS WE ARE ALL UNFAMILIAR WITH THAT, AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID WE'D KIND OF LIKE TO SEE IT IN WRITING.
ABSOLUTELY. SO IT'S DIFFICULT TO MAKE ANY RECOMMENDATION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER TODAY.
SO ADDRESSING THOSE TWO ISSUES, I AGREE WITH DIRECTOR WAESPI THAT OUR INTERNAL STATUTORY NEEDS THAT WE WANT TO ADVOCATE FOR SHOULD NOT BE A PRIORITY WHEN WE GO TO SACRAMENTO ON THE LEVEL OF ALL THE FUNDING PRIORITIES THAT WE HAVE STARTING WITH WILDFIRE MITIGATION FUNDING THAT WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN NOW FOR YEARS AGGRESSIVELY, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN LIGHT OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF SOCAL. SO THAT'S JUST A PURE PRIORITIZATION ISSUE, AND SO I AGREE ON THAT NOT BEING A PRIORITY. WHETHER WE DON'T TAKE IT AT ALL TO SACRAMENTO ME DEPENDS ON ASPECTS OF IT.
I SUPPORT. THE ASPECT THAT WOULD RAISE THE GENERAL MANAGER'S AUTHORITY.
$50,000 IS THIS DAY AND AGE IS FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, A BIT OF A I DON'T WANT TO SAY POCKET CHANGE, BUT IT'S NOT A REALLY EFFECTIVE LIMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF THE GENERAL MANAGER OR AN EFFECTIVE LIMIT VIS A VIS WHAT OUR BUDGET IS.
IT'S TOO INHIBITING AND CLOGS OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.
SO THAT'S AN ISSUE I'VE LONG BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH, BUT AS PRESENTED NOW FOR THIS MEETING, THERE'S A BUNCH OF STUFF IN THERE, INCLUDING THE SALARY THING, WHICH I JUST OPPOSE STRONGLY.
SO THAT'S IN THERE, AND I DON'T WANT, YOU KNOW, SO SO I WOULDN'T SUPPORT IT.
SO THERE'S THESE TWO ISSUES. WHAT'S THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT YOU'RE BRINGING FORWARD WITH THAT BILL? POTENTIAL BILL, AND IT'S PRIORITIZATION. SO I THINK THAT REALLY REMAINS TO BE SEEN, AND WE ALL NEED TO SEE IT, AND THE BOARD NEEDS TO SEE THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE.
I'M NOT SURE. I AGREE WITH BASICALLY EVERYTHING DIRECTOR WAESPI JUST SAID, YOU KNOW, ON THAT.
LINDA HASN'T BEEN EXPOSED TO THAT, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR.
[01:15:01]
I KNOW YOU FOLKS START WORKING ON THIS MONTHS AGO, AND SHARING WITH US THE DIRECTIONS YOU'RE TAKING MONTHS AGO, AND WE ALL HAD THE PROP FOUR IMPLEMENTATION MEETINGS AGAIN THAT LINDA HASN'T PARTICIPATED IN YET, BUT WE HAVE IT ALL LEADS INTO THIS, AND I VERY, VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE EFFORT YOU AND ERICH AND FLOR PUT INTO ALL OF THIS AND GETTING IT TO US AT THIS STAGE, IT'S A LOT OF WORK, AND IT'S VERY GOOD WORK AND YOU KNOW, YOU ALL DO A TREMENDOUSLY GOOD JOB IN PREPARING US FOR SACRAMENTO.SO I WANT TO SAY ALL THAT AND JUST THAT THERE'S J UST SOME INFORMATIONAL PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE, AT LEAST WITH THAT PARTICULAR ONE ITEM. OTHERWISE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE EFFORT. APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS.
ANYTHING ELSE? YEAH, I WOULD YEAH. WELL, I'M NO STRANGER TO SACRAMENTO IN DC, BY THE WAY.
AS A FEDERAL EMPLOYEE AND AS A FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER, I'VE WALKED THOSE HALLS, BUT THIS TOPIC, THIS AGENCY, AND SO, YEAH, THIS IS SO SUPER, SUPER DUPER HELPFUL, AND A LOT OF OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE ARE NEW TO ME, AND I WAS BUSY RUNNING MY OWN CAMPAIGN. SO SEEING HOW THEY GOT ON BOARD AND GOT ON THESE COMMITTEES SO QUICKLY IS ALSO QUITE INTERESTING.
I'M EXCITED. I LOVE I LOVE BEING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
YOU KNOW WHAT STAFF, CLEARLY THIS IS IMPORTANT.
THE SECOND BULLET, I MEAN, HOW COULD I NOT SUPPORT AMENDMENTS TO ENHANCE INCLUSIVITY? HOW COULD I NOT SUPPORT, YOU KNOW, EFFICIENCY AND CHALLENGES FROM IMPACTS FROM CHANGING CLIMATE.
EXTREME WEATHER. EQUITY. SUSTAINABLE OPEN SPACE MANAGEMENT.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO RELOOK AT THAT BUT YOU KNOW I'M NOT COMFORTABLE DOING ANYTHING AND I'M NOT COMFORTABLE TAKING IT OFF BECAUSE IT SEEMS SUPER IMPORTANT, AND TO GET LOST IN ISSUES ABOUT COMPENSATION OR YOU KNOW, CEILING RATES AND THINGS HAS ME A LITTLE CONCERNED BECAUSE THESE OTHERS ARE SO SUPER IMPORTANT TO ME, AND THEN THEY SPILL INTO ITEM TWO THAT I HAVE A QUESTION ON.
BECAUSE THE WAY I THOUGHT I UNDERSTOOD IT IS WE NEED TO DO THIS FOR PROP FOUR FUNDING, AND YET IT'S TWO SEPARATE ITEMS. SO I THINK I'M MISSING THE BOAT. ON HOW THIS MAYBE SOME BACKGROUND ON THE PCA AND HOW THAT OPENS UP OTHER OPPORTUNITY, BUT OVERALL I'M REALLY EXCITED. THIS LOOKS FUN.
NO NEED TO MAKE A RECOMMENDATION, AND THANK YOU FOR THE COMMENTS ON THE PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE.
WE ARE TRULY LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU ALL AND DIVING INTO THE DETAILS, AND I APOLOGIZE IF MY QUICK SYNOPSIS CAUSED SOME CONFUSION.
UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONLY WAY ITEM TWO CAN GET US MONEY IN THE CLIMATE BOND IS WITH A TIME MACHINE.
BONDS DO COME THROUGH. THEY'RE PART OF OUR WORK PLAN PRETTY REGULARLY.
IN 2018 WE HAD PROPOSITION 68. NOW WE HAVE PROPOSITION FOUR.
IT COULD MAKE US MORE COMPETITIVE IN GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATIONS.
HOWEVER, IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO HELP US SECURE DIRECT FUNDING THROUGH THE CLIMATE BOND AT THIS TIME, BUT HOPEFULLY IN THE FUTURE CLIMATE BOND IT WILL.
SO WHERE IN THE PROCESS WOULD WE GET MORE INFORMATION? MAPS. IT SEEMS LIKE MY FELLOW DIRECTORS ARE A LITTLE MORE UP TO SPEED ON THAT ONE.
IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET SOME MORE BACKGROUND ON THAT, AND LIKE I SAID, MAPS AND THINGS WOULD BE REALLY NICE, PARTICULARLY SINCE IT'S MY WARD.
WOULD BE PLEASED TO DO THAT. MOSTLY MY WARD. YEAH, YEAH.
GOOD IDEA, GOOD IDEA, AND PLEASE SHARE WITH LUANN ALSO.
YEAH. GREAT. IF THERE'S NO FURTHER DISCUSSION OR NO ONE, NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR PRESENTATION. LOOK FORWARD TO THE ADVOCACY CONFERENCE.
IT SHOULD BE A GREAT TIME AND VERY PRODUCTIVE.
[Announcements]
WE'LL NOW MOVE TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. ANYONE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER? I DO, NOT REALLY AN ANNOUNCEMENT, BUT I WANTED TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY HOW ABSOLUTELY EXCITED AND ENTHUSED I AM TO HAVE OUR NEW DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT, BOTH SERVING ON THIS[01:20:04]
COMMITTEE. IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY SUCCESSFUL WORKING RELATIONSHIP. I JUST SENSE FROM TODAY THAT WE, WE ALL WILL HAVE WITH OUR NEW DIRECTOR AND YOUR SERVICE ON THE FULL BOARD. SO FOR THIS BRIEF OPPORTUNITY, I JUST WANT TO TELL YOU HOW APPRECIATIVE I AM OF YOUR JOINING US. THANK YOU. I'M SO EXCITED.I'M SO EXCITED. I SAID I FELT LIKE I WAS, LIKE, GOING TO MY FIRST DAY IN, YOU KNOW, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND, LIKE, I HOPE ALL THE KIDS ARE NICE TO ME AND I HOPE I MAKE SOME GOOD FRIENDS, AND I HOPE WE HAVE GOOD THINGS, YOU KNOW, TO TALK ABOUT TOMORROW, AND IT'S JUST VERY EXCITING TO ME.
HAPPY TO BE HERE. SO THANK YOU. I REMEMBER THAT FEELING. YEAH I APPRECIATE THAT.
IT'S A LOT OF FUN RIGHT NOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? WELL, I ALSO WELCOME YOU, AND IT'S FUNNY WHEN WE STARTED THE MEETING.
YOU'RE PART OF THE FAMILY ALREADY. SO ONCE AGAIN, WELCOME, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A GREAT COUPLE OF YEARS HERE ON A SADDER NOTE, I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF DIRECTOR SIDEN, DOUG SIDEN.
SO I'D LIKE TO ADJOURN THE MEETING IN MEMORY OF DOUG SIDEN,
AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.