[Roll Call]
[00:00:04]
THANK YOU. WELL, GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON TODAY, FEBRUARY 5TH. WE'RE BEGINNING TODAY AT 11:04.
RECORDING CLERK, WOULD YOU PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL, PLEASE? DIRECTOR COFFEY. HERE. DIRECTOR ESPAÑA. PRESENT.
CHAIR WAESPI. HERE. ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL ROSENBERG.
HERE. TODAY'S MEETING IS 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 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.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OUR FIRST ITEM OF BUSINESS TODAY IS THE APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
WE HAVE NO MINUTES, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
MADAM CLERK, ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
OKAY, THEN WE'LL MOVE RIGHT TO THE ACTION ITEMS, WHICH THERE ARE NONE.
[Informational Items]
WELCOME, BRIAN. GOOD MORNING. MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE BRIAN HOLT, DIVISION LEAD OF PLANNING, TRAILS, CULTURAL RESOURCES AND GIS.LET ME GET THE SLIDE SHOW UP HERE. AND THEN WE'LL DIVE RIGHT INTO IT.
THERE WE GO. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. BRIAN HOLT, DIVISION LEAD OF PLANNING, TRAILS, GIS HERE TO TO GIVE A BIT OF AN OVERVIEW ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS PROGRAM, THE SAGE PROGRAM.
SO WELCOME, COMMITTEE MEMBER ESPAÑA TO THIS COMMITTEE.
AND WE'LL BE ABLE TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT OF AN OVERVIEW OF SOME OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE INTERAGENCY PLANNING UNIT IN SPECIFIC UNDERTAKE. AND THEN WE DID SO I'LL HAVE A BRIEF PRESENTATION KIND OF GIVEN OVER THAT.
AND THEN YOU DID HAVE IN YOUR PACKET SORT OF A LIST OF THE SERIES OF ACTIONS THAT STAFF HAD REVIEWED AND ENGAGED IN OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST YEAR. AND I REMAIN HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON THOSE.
AND ANY OTHER ITEMS THAT POTENTIALLY COME FORWARD.
SO, OUR INTERAGENCY PLANNING UNIT HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT IS REALLY KIND OF BORN OUT OF THE 2013 MASTER PLAN. IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT .
BUT IT IS REALLY KIND OF DRIVEN BY THIS VISION OF PROVIDING LEADERSHIP TO GUIDE LAND USE DECISIONS IN THE EAST BAY THAT RELATE TO THE PARK DISTRICT . AND YOU KNOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IN PRACTICAL SENSE, IT'S THAT WE AS PLANNERS AND STAFF WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH PROJECT DEVELOPERS, STATE, LOCAL AND REGIONAL AGENCIES.
AND AS THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THEIR LAND USE DECISION MAKING PROCESS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR DECISIONS DON'T NECESSARILY IMPACT PARK DISTRICT LANDS, MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO EAST BAY RESOURCES, AND ADVANCE THE PARK DISTRICT'S MASTER PLAN WHERE POSSIBLE.
SO THAT TAKES THE LOOK ON OF SORT OF MONITORING PROJECTS ACROSS THE TWO COUNTIES IN 33 CITIES AND ALL THE SPECIAL DISTRICTS. WE WILL REVIEW THOSE PROJECTS THAT COME THROUGH US.
SO WHETHER THAT'S A NOTICE OF PREPARATION FOR AN EIR VARIOUS ITEMS THAT ARE COMING UP FOR USE, PERMIT APPROVAL OR OTHER DEVELOPMENT PLANS. OFTEN IT'S INCREASINGLY COMMON THAT WE HEAR FROM PROJECT DEVELOPERS OR ADVOCATES VERY EARLY IN THE PROCESS.
AND THEN WORKING MY STAFF AND TANYA COVARRUBIAS, A PLANNER IN OUR DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY PUTS TOGETHER A WEEKLY SUMMARY THAT'S DISTRIBUTED TO THE TO THE EXECUTIVE TEAM AND MANAGEMENT TEAM HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT THAT BASICALLY SUMMARIZES ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING ON THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED DURING OUR REVIEW ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
AND WHERE THAT WOULD COME OUT IS SORT OF A SUMMARY REPORT ON LOCAL ACTIONS BY OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
[00:05:08]
THE BOARD HAD ASKED US TO COME AND PRESENT ON THESE LOCAL ACTIONS TO THIS BODY.SO WE HAVE HAD A STANDING AGENDA ITEM ON THIS MEETING TO COME AND TO REPORT ON THOSE.
IT'S OFTEN THE CASE THAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ACTIVE ITEMS TO REPORT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR.
SOME THINGS HAVEN'T BEEN APPROVED YET. SO WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A LOT OF CURRENT THINGS.
AND IT'S BEEN A I CAN DISCUSS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SORT OF THE TIMING AND SEQUENCING OF NOTIFICATION FOR THIS MEETING AND BRINGING SORT OF ACTIVE, RELEVANT ITEMS. BUT I'LL GET INTO THAT TOWARDS THE END HERE.
AND THIS WAS A LONG STANDING PROJECT GOING ON FOR CLOSE TO TWO DECADES WHERE DEVELOPER HAD COME IN AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT REALLY INITIALLY ACROSS THE PROPERTY AND JUST THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS THROUGH VARIOUS EIR ITERATIONS AND A LOT OF PUBLIC MEETINGS WITH THE TOWN OF DANVILLE AND A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH US.
AND TWO PROJECT DEVELOPERS THAT DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL GOT CONCENTRATED TO REALLY CLUSTER HOUSING WITHIN THE LOWER AREAS OF THE PROPERTY AND REALLY PROTECTING THE MAJORITY OF THE PROPERTY IN OPEN SPACE. THIS CULMINATED IN A PUBLIC BALLOT MEASURE IN THE TOWN OF DANVILLE WHICH THE PARK DISTRICT DID ENGAGE IN.
AND ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE'RE SET TO RECEIVE IS PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS ACROSS THE PROPERTY.
THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPERTY PROTECTED AS PROTECTED OPEN SPACE IN PERPETUITY.
AND THOSE PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENTS AND THAT AREA WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC I BELIEVE, THIS SUMMER.
AND IT WAS A GOOD OUTCOME FOR THE DISTRICT. AND A GOOD OUTCOME FOR THE TOWN OF DANVILLE.
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE ANOTHER PROPERTY THAT'S A BIT EARLIER IN THE PROCESS.
BUT THE RANCH PROPERTY, THIS IS IN ANTIOCH LOCATED NOT DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE RODDY RANCH GOLF COURSE, BUT PRETTY CLOSE IN THE SOUTHERN SOUTH EAST ANTIOCH CORRIDOR AREA.
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL OF OVER 1000 HOMES. SIMILARLY WENT THROUGH A PUBLIC PROCESS AND SOME LITIGATION AND SOME CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN US, SOME OF THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY, THE DEVELOPER AND THE CITY OF ANTIOCH THAT THAT CAME TO A RESOLUTION THAT THAT ALLOWED THE THAT WILL ALLOW THE PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD WHILE PROTECTING A BIT OF A VISUAL BUFFER IN THE SOUTHERN AREA DOWN HERE.
RODDY RANCH GOLF COURSE WOULD BE TO THE SOUTH.
AND SO WE SO WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATIONS WITH THE PROJECT DEVELOPER ON SOME OFF SITE PROTECTED LAND THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY CLOSE THE GAP BETWEEN BLACK DIAMOND MINES AND DEER VALLEY.
AND THEN AND POTENTIALLY SOME PARK FACILITIES THAT WOULD BE DEVELOPED IN HERE.
WE ALSO ENGAGE IN SOME OF THE POLICY DISCUSSIONS THAT GO ON AT THE CITY AND COUNTY LEVEL.
SO DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR AND WIND AND OTHER, YOU KNOW, ENERGY.
IN PARTICULARLY IN THE EAST PARTS OF THE DISTRICT IS A REAL COMMON AND EMERGING AND PROBABLY WILL BE WITH US FOR A WHILE CONVERSATION ABOUT WHERE THOSE TYPES OF FACILITIES ARE BEST TO BE LOCATED.
AND THERE'S SOME CONFLICTS POTENTIALLY ON SITING THOSE WITH HABITAT PROTECTIONS OR OTHER GOALS.
[00:10:03]
SO CONTRA COSTA COUNTY DID SORT OF TAKE THE PROACTIVE STEP OF ACTUALLY DEVELOPING A SOLAR ZONE IN THEIR COUNTY.SO THAT WAS REALLY, YOU KNOW, AREAS THAT, AGAIN, MINIMIZED IMPACTS TO PARK DISTRICT RESOURCES.
AVOIDED THE HCP AREA. AND TRIED TO, I THINK, CAME OUT WITH A PROPOSAL THAT STILL LEAVES A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL PART OF SOME SUBSTANTIAL DEVELOPMENT AREAS AVAILABLE FOR SOLAR DEVELOPMENT IN EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
SO WE HAVE GOTTEN ENGAGED IN THOSE TYPES OF POLICY DISCUSSIONS.
ANOTHER DISCUSSION THAT HAS COME UP CONTINUALLY, AND I THINK IT WILL CONTINUE TO COME UP AS WE START TO DEVELOP THE DISTRICT PLAN, IS THE CONVERSATION AROUND HOUSING AND THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATIONS.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER PROCESS THAT WE HAVE CONTINUED TO MONITOR THROUGH THE STATE AND, THE ASSOCIATION OF BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS AS REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ALLOCATIONS COME IN.
SO THOSE COME IN ON A SORT OF REGULAR CYCLE. AND WHAT WE DO AND HOW WE TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE IS SORT OF THE FIRST FLUSH IS REALLY TO JUST KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAP THAT EACH OF THE COUNTIES OR EACH OF THE JURISDICTIONS ARE PROPOSING WHERE THESE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY SITES ARE.
AND THE FIRST QUESTION IS, YOU KNOW, ARE ANY OF THESE HOUSING SITES ON PARK DISTRICT PROPERTY? THAT'S ALWAYS A QUESTION. OR ADJACENT TO PARK DISTRICT PROPERTY OR IN AN AREA THAT WE KNOW HAS SENSITIVE HABITAT OR PUBLIC ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE PROTECTED OR POTENTIAL ACQUISITION AREAS.
SO WE LOOK AT THOSE MAPS. AND THEN AND THEN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, OFTEN WHAT WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE IS FORTUNATELY, I THINK A LOT OF BECAUSE A LOT OF GOOD ADVOCACY ON THE PART OF PARK DISTRICT .
BUT FRANKLY, A LOT OF ALL THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS IN THE EAST BAY IS A REAL FOCUS ON INFILL, TRANSIT ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT. MOST OF THOSE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY SITES THAT WE SEE IN ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A COUPLE AREAS, BUT MOST OF THOSE ARE REALLY PRETTY WELL DEFINED PROPERTIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE EXISTING URBAN FOOTPRINT. SO THAT'S REDEVELOPMENT OF SHOPPING AREAS OR, YOU KNOW, UNDERUTILIZED LANDS IN THE DOWNTOWN CORE HAS REALLY BEEN A LOT OF THE FOCUS TO MEET THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS. BUT BUT I JUST MENTIONED THIS AS SORT OF AN EXAMPLE OF SORT OF THE POLICY LEVEL TYPE OF STUFF THAT OUR STAFF LOOKS AT.
AND, I JUST, YOU KNOW, HERE TO REASSURE THE BOARD WE WE DO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AND WE'RE ALWAYS SORT OF LOOKING AT THAT AND, YOU KNOW, PREPARED TO PROVIDE DETAILED RESPONSES WHEN NEEDED.
AND THEN THERE'S THE VARIOUS REGIONAL LAND USE PLANS THAT, THAT GO ON THROUGHOUT THE AREA.
AND I THINK WE JUST RECENTLY HAD WILL NELSON, WHO WAS PRINCIPAL PLANNER WITH CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, COME TO THIS COMMITTEE AND SORT OF PRESENT AN OVERVIEW OF THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GENERAL PLAN.
SO I HOPE WE CAN DO SOME MORE OF THAT. AND I THINK WE'RE HAVING ACTIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT JUST COORDINATING WITH SOME OF OUR PARTNERS ON THE REGIONAL, REGIONAL PLANNING AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AND COMING TO THE BOARD.
AND THE PLAN BAY AREA IS ANOTHER ONE THAT I'M SURE YOU'RE FAMILIAR WITH THAT 'S BEEN AN ONGOING PROCESS BETWEEN MTC AND ABAG, WHICH IS REALLY LOOKING AT THE WHOLE BAY AREA REGION, THE NINE COUNTY, BAY AREA REGION, AND TRYING TO BALANCE WHERE THAT DEVELOPMENT FOOTPRINT IS, WHERE THE TRANSPORTATION CORRIDORS ARE AND WHERE THOSE PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREAS ARE.
SO AGAIN, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE LOOKED AT AND, YOU KNOW, SIMILARLY, OUR FIRST LOOK AT THAT IS TO JUST KIND OF TAKE A LOOK AT THE MAPS AND LOOK AT WHERE THEY'RE PROPOSING GROWTH, AND ARE THEY PROPOSING GROWTH IN AREAS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT HAS A CONCERN ABOUT? I'LL JUST SHARE. YOU KNOW, WHEN I ORIGINALLY STARTED AT THE PARK DISTRICT , IT WAS VERY COMMON FOR THE CITIES OR THE COUNTIES OR SOME OF THESE REGIONAL PLANS TO COME THROUGH WITH GENERAL PLANS THAT WERE KIND OF MANIFEST DESTINY TYPES OF PLANS THAT WOULD PROPOSE EXPANSION INTO ALL SORTS OF AREAS.
[00:15:07]
A LOT OF IT IS REALLY, LIKE I SAY, FOCUSED IN REDEVELOPMENT OF THAT EXISTING URBAN CORE.SO FOR US, IT'S REALLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, HOW CAN WE COMPLETE THOSE GAPS IN THE BAY TRAIL? ARE THERE SPECIFIC PROPERTIES TO SORT OF PROVIDE THE EQUITABLE PARK ACCESS OR SHORELINE PROPERTIES? AND THEN INCREASINGLY YOU KNOW, SEA LEVEL RISE AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND THE REGIONAL PLANNING THAT'S GOING ON AROUND, AROUND THAT. SO I'M SURE YOU'RE ALL VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE VARIOUS CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLANNING PROGRAMS THAT ARE GOING ON OR HAVE GONE ON THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA.
AND WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN MANY OF THEM. I DID I'VE SERVED ON THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP OR WHATEVER IT WAS CALLED FOR, THE RECENT BCDC SHORELINE ADAPTATION PLAN. SO WE WERE INVOLVED AN AT THE TABLE THERE.
AND WE'VE ALSO CLOSELY KIND OF WATCHED THE STATE CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGY.
AND AS THOSE ARE DEVELOPED AND THE QUESTION COMES UP OFTEN YOU KNOW, PARK DISTRICT , YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD BE DEVELOPING YOUR OWN CLIMATE ACTION PLAN.
AND, AND IT'S A IT'S A GOOD CONVERSATION. FOR US, WHAT WE OFTEN LOOK AT IS, YOU KNOW, THE STATE HAS PROVIDED GUIDANCE, THE STATE PROVIDES A CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN.
AND WE'RE REALLY KIND OF THE LOCAL, THE REGIONAL ENTITY THAT IS ON THE FRONT LINES OF IMPLEMENTING THAT STATE GUIDANCE, THAT STATE DIRECTION. SO SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE COORDINATING WITH THE STATE, COORDINATING WITH THE OTHER AGENCIES AN IMPLEMENTING ALL OF THESE OTHER PLANS THAT ARE SORT OF IN PLACE. SO SO I THINK SOMETIMES IT CAN FEEL LIKE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OR OTHERS MAYBE DON'T THINK BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN SORT OF SEPARATE CLIMATE PLAN, THAT WE'RE NOT ENGAGED IN THAT SPACE. WE VERY MUCH ARE.
AND WE'RE AT THE TABLE AND WE'RE PART OF THAT SORT OF ECOSYSTEM OF AGENCIES AND, PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE KIND OF LOOKING AT THIS FROM A HIGHER LEVEL. SO ALL THAT'S TO SAY IS, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY TO DIVE INTO ANY OF THOSE THOSE PLANS AND CONVERSATIONS A BIT MORE. AND AS NEEDED BY THE BOARD TO GO INTO THESE SPECIFIC TOPIC AREAS.
WE HAVE BEEN PROVIDING AND THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, RELATIVELY OUTDATED ITEMS HERE, BUT WE HAVE BEEN AS PART OF THIS MEETING, PROVIDING WHAT WE'VE BEEN CALLING THE LOCAL JURISDICTION REPORT. SO THIS IS JUST SORT OF A SUMMARY OF COMPLETED ACTIONS.
SO THESE AREN'T NECESSARILY THE ACTIONS THAT ARE STILL KIND OF GOING THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS, BUT THOSE THAT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN ADOPTED. SO REPORTING TO THE BOARD THAT YES, THERE HAS BEEN A DECISION THAT'S BEEN MADE ON THIS, PROJECT. SO ONE THING I KNOW IS THAT YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF LOT OF PROJECTS OR A LOT OF POLICY DECISIONS OR OTHER THINGS THAT THE BOARD MAY HEAR ABOUT JUST IN YOUR, INVOLVEMENT AS YOU'RE TALKING TO YOUR ELECTED COUNTERPARTS AND JUST, JUST IN T HE COMMUNITY THAT THE PUBLIC MAY BE CONCERNED ABOUT AND I'LL JUST SHARE THAT, YOU KNOW, OFTEN MYSELF, MY STAFF WE'RE OFTEN FAMILIAR WITH THOSE AND WE KIND OF KNOW WHERE THEY'RE AT, AND, AND OFTEN THERE'S CONVERSATIONS THAT HAVE GONE ON.
YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S BEHIND THE SCENES OR WHATNOT.
WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE YOU THAT INFORMATION.
SO SO IT'S SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE CHALLENGING FOR ME TO COME TO THIS MEETING AND SORT OF COMPREHENSIVELY SHARE, LIKE, EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON. I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN WITH A MAP AND KIND OF POINT AROUND TO, ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PROPERTIES AND DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
SO IT'S OFTEN HELPFUL FOR ME TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE ISSUES THAT ARE PERCOLATING UP OR THAT THAT ARE OF CONCERN? AND IT'S USUALLY OFTEN THAT WE'RE AT THE TABLE.
WE'RE ENGAGED IN ENGAGED IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS. AND IT'S OFTEN THAT THERE'S, SOMETHING GOING ON.
IT MIGHT NOT BE QUICK, MIGHT NOT BE TOTALLY SATISFACTORY.
BUT THERE IS THERE'S USUALLY SOME ENGAGEMENT.
WE'RE NOT ALWAYS ABLE TO, BUT, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE IT WOULD BE IN DIRECTOR SANWONG'S WARD THE ALAMEDA TESLA PROPERTY, YOU KNOW, STATE PARKS RECENTLY HAS RELEASED A EIR ON THE GENERAL PLAN FOR THAT PROPERTY.
[00:20:06]
THAT'S A PROPERTY THAT'S BEEN OF INTEREST TO THE NOT OF INTEREST TO THE PARK DISTRICT HAS BEEN OF INTEREST TO THE PARK DISTRICT .JUST BEEN PART OF THE CONVERSATION FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT WHAT WOULD HAPPEN OUT THERE.
WE'VE BEEN VERY MUCH I'VE MET WITH THE STATE PARKS 3 OR 4 TIMES ON THAT PROPERTY.
MY STAFF HAS BEEN OUT THERE AND TOURED THE PROPERTY WITH STATE PARK STAFF.
AND WE'VE REVIEWED THE GENERAL THE GENERAL PLAN, THE EIR.
AND WE HAVEN'T FELT THE NEED TO DO THAT. BUT IT'S ONE OF THOSE EXAMPLES OF A PROJECT WHERE IF ANYBODY HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH TESLA? YOU KNOW, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT THROUGH THE, YOU KNOW, THE APPROPRIATE CHANNELS THAT WE HAVE.
AND I CAN, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GENERALLY GET YOU GET YOU A RESPONSE OR SORT OF WHAT'S GOING ON THERE.
SO SO WITH THAT SAID, I JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE A NEW COMMITTEE MEMBER TO KIND OF PROVIDE THAT BIG, BROAD OVERVIEW. I WELCOME ANY FEEDBACK THAT YOU HAVE ON HOW THIS REPORT CAN BE IMPROVED.
OR WHAT'S MOST RELEVANT TO BRING TO THIS COMMITTEE.
AND THEN AGAIN, LIKE I SAY ANY OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE HAVE TO JUST KIND OF, YOU KNOW, GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THOSE PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE WARD.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON. SO IT'S ALWAYS CHALLENGING TO, SCHEDULE AND TO SORT OF GET ALL THAT IN BECAUSE THERE'S OF COURSE OUR OWN PROJECTS AND EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE DEALING WITH INTERNALLY.
SO WITH THAT, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
OR LIKE I SAY, IF THERE'S SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT THAT YOU FEEL THAT WE SHOULD KIND OF PUT ON OUR RADAR, YOU KNOW, PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME NOW OR, YOU KNOW, IN A FOLLOW UP EMAIL, YOU KNOW, WE'RE TAKING NOTES AND WE CAN ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, KEEP TRACK OF THAT SORT OF THING. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU BRIAN.
ANY QUESTIONS COMMENTS. YES. SO THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THIS INFORMATION TOGETHER.
I'M AN ALTERNATE ON THE COMMITTEE, SO I WILL BE FOLLOWING THE MEETINGS.
BUT I DO APPRECIATE THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIONS OVERVIEW.
AND THEN DEFINITELY AS FAR AS INFORMATION YOU PROVIDED REGARDING CLIMATE ACTION PLANS, I WOULD LIKE TO REACH OUT TO YOU AFTER MY SITE VISITS, BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF MY PARKS ARE SHORELINE PARKS AND BETTER UNDERSTAND THE PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT ON SEA LEVEL RISE AND DIFFERENT CLIMATE RESILIENCY ACTIONS FOR THAT AREA. BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT YOUR TEAM IS VERY INVOLVED, BUT JUST AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING IT BETTER AS A BOARD MEMBER, SO THAT I CAN RESPOND TO SOME OF THE ISSUES RELATED TO CLIMATE RESILIENCY.
AND WE'VE BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN THE OAKLAND ALAMEDA SHORELINE ADAPTATION COMMITTEE.
AND DEVAN REIFF, OUR PRINCIPAL PLANNER, HAS BEEN LEADING UP A LOT OF THE HAYWARD AREA SHORELINE PLANNING AGENCY, WHICH DIRECTOR WAESPI HAS BEEN VERY INVOLVED IN OVER THE YEARS, AND ALL THE SHORELINE WORK THERE.
SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON ON THE SHORELINE THERE, SO IT WOULD BE GREAT TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU. COLIN ANYTHING. BRIAN, I JUST WANT TO REITERATE HOW IMPACTFUL THESE PRESENTATIONS HAVE BEEN SINCE YOU STARTED IT AS A REGULAR PART OF WHAT THIS COMMITTEE DOES.
IT'S ALLOWED ME TO KEEP UP WITH STUFF THAT, FRANKLY, I JUST WOULDN'T HAVE OTHERWISE.
SO IT'S ENORMOUSLY IMPACTFUL AND HELPFUL, AND I REALLY DO APPRECIATE IT.
ONE FACET OF MY WARD THAT YOU ARE VERY AWARE OF IS THE ZEKA PROPERTY. YES, I JUST HAVE RECENTLY ENGAGED.
ANTIOCH HAS A NEW BOARD MAJORITY IN THEIR CITY COUNCIL, A NEW MAYOR AND NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO I'VE RECENTLY ENGAGED IN THE NEW MAYOR AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS ON THAT PROPERTY, AND THE EMPIRE MINE ROAD CORRIDOR IN GENERAL.
AND SO AS I CONTINUE, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR MEETING WITH THE ANTIOCH FOLKS, ACTUALLY WITH LISA AND THOSE FOLKS COMING UP PRETTY SOON, ACTUALLY, I GUESS IN A WEEK OR SO.
[00:25:01]
SO ANY INFORMATION THAT FLOWS TO YOU ON ANTIOCH, THOSE EMPIRE MINE ROAD ISSUES PLEASE JUST KEEP ME UP ON THAT SINCE I'M GOING TO BE ACTIVELY TALKING TO THESE FOLKS ABOUT IT.YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT. AND I APPRECIATE THE COMMENTS DIRECTOR COFFEY.
AND VICE VERSA. AS YOU HEAR STUFF, PLEASE, YOU KNOW, HELP KEEP US INFORMED TOO.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT IS JUST KIND OF THAT WHOLE AREA, THERE'S THERE'S A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT PROPERTIES.
YOU MENTIONED ONE, BUT OF COURSE, THERE'S OUR PROJECTS THAT RODDY RANCH GOLF COURSE AND JUST A WHOLE LOT GOING ON IN THAT WHOLE EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AREA. SO WE'RE KIND OF TRYING TO ZOOM OUT A LITTLE BIT AND SORT OF TAKE A LOOK AT LIKE HOW ALL THESE PIECES SORT OF FIT IN TOGETHER.
AND SO IT'S GOOD TO KNOW WHERE, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC ITEMS LIKE EMPIRE MINE ROAD OR THE PROPERTY YOU MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HOW THAT ALL FITS IN. SO IT'S GOOD TO LIKE I SAID, IT'S A TWO WAY CONVERSATION.
SO IT'S GOOD FOR US TO KEEP UPDATED TOO. THANK YOU.
AND SAGE KEEPS ME INFORMED. AND IT'S SUCH A GOOD IDEA FOR AN AGENCY LIKE OURS THAT'S SO BIG.
AND, AND YOU GUYS HAVE REALLY DONE A GREAT JOB.
THE ONLY THING I WOULD ADD IS I REMEMBER, OH GOD 100 YEARS AGO THAT WE USED TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN THIS, THAT JOB WAS TO GET THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, THE OAKLAND TRIBUNE, THAT'S ALL THERE WAS, AND A COUPLE OF LOCAL PAPERS AND READ THEM. THIS WAS BEFORE COMPUTERS.
YOU JUST READ THEM FACE TO FACE ANYTIME THE REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT NAME WAS THERE.
BINGO. IT WENT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THAT'S HOW YOU WOULD RESPOND TO IT.
DO YOU GUYS HAVE OBVIOUSLY EVOLVED INCREDIBLY AND I APPRECIATE ALL YOUR EFFORTS.
I MISSED THE DAYS OF THE OLD READ FILE. YOU KNOW, YOU GET THE FILE THAT WOULD KIND OF GO AROUND AND YOU'D HAVE ALL THE ARTICLES THAT'D KIND OF GET TO GO THROUGH THERE. WE DO THAT, I GUESS DIGITALLY ELECTRONICALLY NOW BUT THE IMPACT IS THE SAME.
SO YEAH. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU BRIAN.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
OKAY. WELL THEN WE'LL MOVE TO THE INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM. ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD MORNING. LISA BALDINGER, LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST, AND I WILL BE PRESENTING WITH MY COLLEAGUE ELSA GRANDVOINET, L EGISLATIVE ASSISTANT ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY PILOT PROGRAM .
SO BY WAY OF CONTEXT, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY PILOT PROGRAM, OR MORE SIMPLY STATED, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PILOT PROGRAM WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN 2024, IN MAY, THROUGH RESOLUTION 2024 05-88. AND THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO HELP STRENGTHEN REGIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND ADDRESS SHARED PRIORITIES AND GUIDING INPUT TOWARDS THE DISTRICT PLAN. THIS IS REALLY ONE OF OUR MOST OUR FIRST COMPREHENSIVE EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT ON THE DISTRICT PLAN.
AND IN ADDITION TO GATHERING THOSE INSIGHTS THAT WE'LL BE SHARING TODAY AS KIND OF THE CORE OF OUR PRESENTATION, I ALSO WANT TO SHARE THAT WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF SHORT TERM SUCCESSES FROM THIS PROGRAM, INCLUDING BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE LETTERS OF SUPPORT TO CITIES ON PROJECTS WHICH ALIGN WITH THE PARK DISTRICT'S MISSION, HIGHLIGHTING PROGRAMS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT WITHIN LOCAL NEWSLETTERS AND SOCIAL MEDIA, AND THEN ALSO EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM THROUGH THE EVENTS THAT CITIES AND SUPERVISORS HIGHLIGHT FOR US.
SO WE HAVE THOSE SHORT TERM, BUT ALSO WE'RE LOOKING FOR LONGER TERM VISION AS WELL.
WHEN THIS REPORT WAS PULLED TOGETHER AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A MEMO IN JANUARY, AT THAT POINT, WE HAD 11 MEETINGS, AVERAGING ABOUT TWO A MONTH IN JANUARY OF 2025.
SO FAR, WE'VE HAD TWO MEETINGS AND WE HAVE MORE COMING DOWN THE LINE, SO WE APPRECIATE ALL BOARD MEMBERS WORKING WITH US TO FIND TIME WITHIN THEIR BUSY SCHEDULE TO HAVE THESE SIT DOWNS WITH OUR LOCAL ELECTEDS AND HOLD THESE DISCUSSIONS.
KEY THEMES THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM THESE MEETINGS INCLUDE THE IMPORTANCE OF PARTNERSHIP ON REGIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCY SPECIFICALLY AND OFTEN IN RESPONSE TO EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATE IMPACTS, AND EXPANDING EQUITABLE PARK ACCESS WITH A STRONG FOCUS ON PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
HI EVERYONE. HAPPY TO BE HERE. MY NAME IS ELSA GRANDVOINET.
I'M A LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TEAM.
[00:30:01]
SO AS YOU ALL WERE THERE AND MANY OF IN ALL OF THESE MEETINGS, YOU SAW ME TAKING NOTES DAY OF.SO THAT IS THE FIRST STEP. FROM THERE, WE SUMMARIZED ALL OF THESE NOTES INTO KEY THEMES, KEY IDEAS.
BECAUSE THE NOTES THEMSELVES, I TRIED TO DO AS MUCH VERBATIM AS POSSIBLE.
AND THEN FROM THERE, WE ACTUALLY TOOK ALL OF THOSE SUMMARIZED NOTES AND CODIFIED THEM IDENTIFYING KEY THEMES AGAIN AND JUST TRYING TO SYNTHESIZE DOWN DEEPER. FROM THERE, WE IDENTIFIED ALL OF OUR KEY CATEGORIES, AS YOU SEE HERE, LISTED AS PATTERNS EMERGED FROM THAT CODIFIED LANGUAGE.
AND THEN AS NEW MEETINGS TAKE PLACE, WE PLAN ON DOING THE SAME PROCESS AND ADDING TO THESE LISTS OF IDENTIFIED THEMES AS NEW INFORMATION COMES UP. YEAH. SO FIRST WE IDENTIFIED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT. WE'VE LISTED THESE IN ORDER OF THE NUMBER OF TIMES THAT THEY'VE COME UP IN DISCUSSIONS.
SO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WAS THE TOP PRIORITY.
MOVING ON WAS SAFETY IN OUR TRAILS AND EXPANSION OF TRAILS AND CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN DIFFERENT TRAILS AND PARK AREAS. AND THEN WE WENT ON TO EQUITABLE PARK ACCESS AND TRANSPORTATION.
WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT HOW PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO PARKS.
AND AGAIN, INCREASING LIKE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY.
AND THEN ALSO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EDUCATIONAL RECREATIONAL PROGRAMING QUITE A LOT.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET OUR PROGRAMING LANGUAGE INTO COMMUNITY NEWSLETTERS.
SO WE'VE PROPOSED THIS AND MANY AGENCIES HAVE TAKEN US UP ON THAT AND INCLUDED THIS LANGUAGE.
DID YOU WANT TO MOVE ON TO WILDFIRE? YEAH. OKAY.
I'LL PASS IT BACK TO LISA. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ELSA.
THEY'VE APPRECIATED LEARNING ABOUT THE UNIQUE APPROACHES THAT WE'VE BEEN TAKING, LIKE THE USE OF THE CARBONIZER. AND WITH THAT, THEY'VE BEEN INTERESTED TO LEARN MORE AND PARTNER ON FUTURE EFFORTS. ACQUISITION AND STEWARDSHIP IS ANOTHER TOPIC THAT COMES UP.
CITIES SHARE ABOUT THEIR VOLUNTEER CREWS THAT ARE WORKING WITHIN THEIR PARKS AND SEEK TO HIGHLIGHT OUR PROGRAMS, AS ELSA MENTIONED. AND IN TERMS OF ACQUISITION, THEY ARE INTERESTED IN CONTINUING TO SUPPORT PARK EXPANSION, OFTEN VOLUNTEERING PROPERTIES OF THEIR OWN FOR US TO ACQUIRE.
MOVING ON FUNDING PARTNERSHIPS. THIS IS A CORE TOPIC THAT COMES UP.
A GREAT SUCCESS OF THIS, WHICH WAS NOT A SUCCESS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, BUT WE WERE HAPPY TO RIDE THE TIDE, WAS THE TILDEN GRIZZLY PEAK STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP PROJECT WITH EAST BAY MUD, THE CITY OF BERKELEY AND UC BERKELEY.
IN OUR LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM WITH EAST BAY MUD WE DISCUSSED THIS EVENT, AND IT ULTIMATELY LED TO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE HOLDING A SITE VISIT OUT AT TILDEN, WHERE THE EAST BAY MUD BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OTHERS WERE INVITED TO JOIN AND LEARN MORE DEEPLY ABOUT THIS PROJECT AS AN EXAMPLE OF SUCCESS.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCY AND EXTREME WEATHER RESPONSE WAS ALSO BROUGHT UP. AND THE REASON WHY THIS IS SEPARATE FROM WILDFIRE IS BECAUSE THEY DO COME UP IN SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CONTEXTS, WITH WILDFIRE OFTEN FOCUSING ON VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.
AND WHAT COULD IT LOOK LIKE FOR SPECIFIC EVACUATION PROCEDURES TO INCLUDE PARKS AS AN AREA OF SAFETY? PARK INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH IS ONE THAT CITIES ARE ALSO.
THIS INCLUDES SWIMMING FACILITIES AND SAFE SWIMMING AREAS LIKE LAKE TEMESCAL, AND DRIVING INVESTMENTS INTO PROVIDING THOSE SAFE, HEALTHFUL OUTDOOR RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES AND THEN EXPANSION INTO UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES AND PROVIDING CONNECTIONS TO THE PARKS
[00:35:03]
VIA PUBLIC TRANSIT OR OTHERS. ADDITIONAL TOPICS THAT HAVE COME UP THAT WE DIDN'T CODE INTO A LARGER BUCKET, BUT WE ARE SEEING THEM IN 1 OR 2 MEETINGS AND EXPECT THEM TO COME UP AGAIN INCLUDE ADDRESSING ILLEGAL DUMPING IN PARK AREAS.SO THESE ARE TOPICS THAT HAVE COME UP IN 1 OR 2 MEETINGS.
AND SHOULD WE SEE THEM COME UP IN MORE MEETINGS IN 2025, THEY WILL BE CODED INTO A LARGER, OVERARCHING THEME. BUT WE DIDN'T WANT TO DISREGARD THEM JUST BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T COME UP MORE THAN ONCE, AS WE ARE IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THIS PROGRAM.
SO LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 2025.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO ENGAGING OUR NEW BOARD MEMBERS IN UPCOMING MEETINGS.
SOMETHING THAT WE'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT IN 2025 TO HELP FURTHER SUPPORT THE DISCUSSION, IS PROVIDING BOARD MEMBERS AND STAFF ATTENDING WITH A SUMMARY REPORT THAT INCLUDES A HIGHLIGHT OF THE PARKS CLOSEST TO THOSE COMMUNITIES.
AND WITHIN THOSE PARKS AND TRAILS HIGHLIGHTED, WE'RE SHARING CAPITAL PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT ARE ACTIVELY OCCURRING IN THOSE PARKS, AS WELL AS THE MEASURE WW LOCAL INVESTMENT. SO THAT WAY YOU ALL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS TO SHARE CONVERSATIONALLY IN TERMS OF ALL OF THIS INFORMATION THAT WE'RE HEARING. WE'VE BEEN WORKING CLOSELY WITH BRIAN AND THE DISTRICT PLAN CONSULTANTS TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE HEARING IN THE MEETINGS, TO BE INCORPORATED INTO THE DISTRICT PLAN. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DO THAT OVER THE NEXT YEAR.
AND A SMALL HIGHLIGHT IS ALSO IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS. WE'VE BEEN HEARING FROM CITIES AND COUNTY SUPERVISORS ABOUT POTENTIAL LOCATIONS TO HOST COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETINGS THAT ARE PUBLIC TRANSIT, ACCESSIBLE AND CENTRALLY LOCATED, AND ANY CITY AND ANY SUPERVISOR WE'VE ASKED THIS QUESTION TO HAS NOT ONLY VOLUNTEERED THE LOCATION, BUT ALSO VOLUNTEERED TO WORK WITH US TO SECURE THAT LOCATION, TO SUPPORT US, TO ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE.
SO THAT'S A WONDERFUL OUTCOME. AND THEN FINALLY, IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT WORK FOR EXCELLENT INFORMATION FOR THE DISTRICT PLAN, WE ARE GOING TO PROVIDE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN EARLY 2026 A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT ON THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM GENERALLY AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS WORK.
WE ARE HOPING TO ALIGN IT SIMILAR TO OUR STATE AND OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAM, WHERE WE HAVE SPECIFIC GOALS WE'RE SEEKING TO ACHIEVE WITH PARTNERS THAT WE CAN ACTIVELY ENGAGE ACROSS THE REGION ON SHARED PRIORITY ISSUES.
BUT THAT IS A SECOND OUTCOME OF THE PROGRAM. SO WITH THAT, I'LL GO AHEAD AND STOP SHARING MY SCREEN.
SO WE'D VALUE YOUR ADDITIONAL COMMENTS AS PART OF THIS REPORT.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. QUESTIONS? COMMENTS. SO IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE. AS FAR AS HOW YOU GROUP TOGETHER THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS AND ITEMS OF CONCERN, BECAUSE ALL OF THESE I HAVE DEFINITELY HEARD, BUT HOW YOU GROUPED THEM TOGETHER, IT'S VERY, VERY COMPREHENSIVE. AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU PRESENTED TO, YOU KNOW, OFFICIAL OR OTHER TEAM. THEY COULD EVEN LOOK AT AND SEE LIKE WHERE THEIR CONCERNS ARE.
SO I THINK IT HELPS LIKE GROUP IT VERY WELL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE PILOT IN THE SENSE IT LOOKS LIKE A MAJORITY OF THE CITY SO FAR HAVE BEEN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, OR AT LEAST THE ONES THAT YOU HAVE LISTED ON HERE.
SO HAS THIS PILOT BEEN EXTENDED TO ALAMEDA COUNTY? AND KIND OF I KNOW WHAT WAS KIND OF HAPPENING IN MY DISTRICT, BUT AS FAR AS ALAMEDA COUNTY AND OTHER DISTRICTS AND KIND OF WHAT'S THE MOVEMENT THERE? YEAH. SO WE ARE WORKING ON MEETINGS WITH ALL CITIES, ALL COUNTY SUPERVISORS , AND SO IT WILL INCLUDE BOTH ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA.
AND TO WHAT YOU WERE ALLUDING TO, WE DID IN WARD FOUR, WE WERE UNABLE TO START MEETINGS JUST YET.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING THOSE FORWARD WITH YOU.
SO WE'LL DEFINITELY BE INCREASING THE ALAMEDA NUMBER.
OH, THIS IS JUST THE LAST QUESTION. SINCE IT'S A PILOT.
[00:40:07]
AND WHEN WOULD THAT LIKELY COME BACK FOR US TO REVIEW? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO IN TERMS OF WHEN IT WILL COME BACK TO REFLECT ON THE PILOT, THAT'S THE REPORT THAT I WAS REFERRING TO THAT WILL COME BACK BEFORE THE BOARD IN EARLY 2026, WHICH WILL REFLECT ON THE PROCESS THE BOARD'S ENGAGEMENT.AND OF COURSE, YOU ALL WILL HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS PROGRAM.
COLIN. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WHATSOEVER WITH THE EMPHASIS ON CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
THANK YOU. KIND OF FLOWS NATURALLY, YOU KNOW? SERIOUSLY, THOUGH, WE HAVE A EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, JUST INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. THAT COUNTY IS SIMPATICO WITH WHAT WE DO AND APPRECIATES THE ROLE WE PLAY AS A BASICALLY A LARGER COUNTY PARK ORGANIZATION. AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THAT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ARE JUST REALLY, REALLY GOOD.
AND I'M PERSONALLY JUST KIND OF PROUD OF IT BECAUSE WE WORK IT, WE WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THOSE FOLKS AS WELL AS THE CITIES. AND I JUST AM APPRECIATION MORNING, I GUESS, BECAUSE I'M VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THIS PROGRAM, VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT WHEN IT WAS INTRODUCED.
IT WAS INNOVATIVE ON YOUR PART AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PURSUIT OF IT.
I AM AMAZED THAT YOU HAD THIS INNOVATION AND THIS PROGRAM AND THEN IMPLEMENTED IT LIKE THAT.
AND I JUST CONTINUE TO BE AMAZED. AND IT'S SO FAR MIND HAVE BEEN VERY WELL DONE, WELL PREPARED FOR.
AND I KNOW THE AGENCIES INVOLVED VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT.
SO I'M JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE. THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU, LISA. YEAH, I REALLY ENJOYED THE PROGRAM ALSO.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS, THOUGH. SO WHAT WOULD THE FOLLOW UP BE? I LOVE THE GREAT IDEAS THAT COME UP AT THE FOLLOW UP.
LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE COME TO THOSE THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER.
THERE'S LOTS OF STUFF GOING ON, BUT WHAT'S THE FOLLOW UP? SO YOU HEAR THE INFORMATION? I HEAR THE INFORMATION.
DO WE GO? WHAT'S THE PROCEDURE TO GO TO PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND SAY, HEY, CAN WE STAFF A TABLE AT THE SUCH AND SUCH AN EVENT? THANK YOU FOR ASKING THE QUESTION, BECAUSE NOW I GET TO BRAG ABOUT ELSA'S WORK. SO, FOLLOWING EVERY MEETING, AS SHE NOTED, SHE'S TAKING TRANSCRIPTION NOTES. SHE'S CAPTURING EVERYTHING THAT'S BEING SAID IN THESE MEETINGS.
SHE PULLS OUT ALL OF THE EVENTS, SHE IDENTIFIES THE DATES, AND SHE'S SHARING THEM OVER WITH JEN VANYA IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS, WHO OVERSEES THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM. SHE'S ALSO CAPTURING WHEN CITIES SAY, WE'D LIKE YOU TO COME TO OUR PARKS COMMISSION OR OTHERS FOR A PRESENTATION ON THE DISTRICT PLAN AND GATHERING A POINT OF CONTACT FOR THOSE PRESENTATIONS.
AND THEN LASTLY, FOR ANYONE THAT'S ASKING FOR A NEWSLETTER UPDATE, SHE'S COLLECTING AGAIN THE POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE NEWSLETTER UPDATE FOR PROGRAMS SHE'S WORKING WITH KENDRA, OUR NEW ADDITION, OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER, I BELIEVE IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS FOR MONTHLY UPDATE LANGUAGE, AND THE SPRING UPDATE FOR FUTURE NEWSLETTERS JUST WENT OUT YESTERDAY.
I JUST WANTED TO PIGGYBACK ON THAT REAL QUICK. BRIAN HOLT, DIVISION LEAD FOR PLANNING TRAILS, GIS AND JUST DENNIS, YOUR OR DIRECTOR WAESPI YOUR YOUR REQUEST FOR AN INVITATION.
SO ON THE DISTRICT PLAN ITEMS, WE JUST HAD THIS CONVERSATION YESTERDAY.
SO WE'RE WORKING TO GET THAT SCHEDULE FROM ELSA AND ALL THOSE THOSE KEY DATES, FARMER MARKET STATES, OTHERS AND THOSE THOSE EVENTS THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN POTENTIALLY HAVING SOME REPRESENTATION AT AND WITH REGARDS TO THE DISTRICT PLAN.
SO WE'RE COMING UP WITH A WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH ELSA TO GET THAT SCHEDULE AND THEN IDENTIFYING WHICH OF THOSE BEST ONES ARE, AND THEN TRYING TO GET A TOOLKIT AVAILABLE FOR YOU ALL AND IDENTIFY WHICH ONES WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE SOME STAFF SUPPORT FOR YOU.
[00:45:04]
SO I APPRECIATE ALL THE INFORMATION, LIKE LISA SENDING OVER AND GETTING ALL THOSE DATES SO WE CAN GET THAT, GET THOSE THINGS ON THE CALENDAR. GREAT. THANK YOU.AND ALSO IN LOOKING THROUGH SOME OF THESE COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, PURSUING FUNDING THROUGH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GRANTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, I MEAN, IT MAKES SO MUCH SENSE AND I HOPE WE HAVE THE ABILITY.
I HAVEN'T BEEN IN I'VE ONLY BEEN IN ONE. AND THAT WAS IN THE SOUTH COUNTY IN MY DISTRICT.
BUT I MEAN, THE IDEA OF THE WUI, THE WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE, IT'S ON EVERYBODY'S MIND.
WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO DO THAT. AND WHY NOT A PARTNERSHIP IF WE'RE GOING THROUGH YOUR CITY? COME ON. HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO. AND ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS HELP US EITHER CONTRIBUTE OR HELP US GET GET GRANTS.
SO I HOPE WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THAT. ALSO AS JUST A LITTLE STRATEGY.
OH, HERE'S A QUESTION. WHAT'S THE AVERAGE TIME OF MEETINGS WITH THESE FOLKS? I KNOW THEY'RE VERY BUSY, BUT DARN IT, I WISH WE COULD GET A LITTLE LONGER TIME.
SO FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT MEETINGS, WE ARE REQUESTING 60 MINUTE IN-PERSON MEETINGS WITH THE MAYOR OR COUNTY SUPERVISOR OR BOARD PRESIDENT, DEPENDING ON WHAT ENTITY IS AND THE CITY MANAGER OR GENERAL MANAGER, AGAIN, DEPENDING.
FOR THAT REASON, WE HAVE HAD ONE MEETING THAT WAS HELD VIRTUALLY AT THE REQUEST OF THE CITY. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. AND THEN FINALLY JUST A, YOU KNOW, WE TALK ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL, RESILIENCY AND EXTREME WEATHER RESPONSES. IN MY, YOU KNOW, THE SOUTHERN ALAMEDA COUNTY, I HOPE IF CAN WE GET A LITTLE BLURB FROM DEVAN TO KIND OF GIVE A PITCH TO HASPA? WE'RE DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR MEMBERS AND ALL OF THESE PEOPLE TALK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, AND WE HAVE A MASTER PLAN AND A GREAT PLAN FOR THAT SHORELINE DOWN THERE. THAT WOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO EVERYBODY ALONG THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY.
SO CAN WE MAYBE JUST GET A TWO SENTENCE BLURB, SAY, HEY, WANT TO JOIN HASPA? YOU'RE WELCOME. AND HERE'S A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT. ABSOLUTELY. WE CAN COORDINATE WITH DEVAN ON THAT. GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYONE ELSE? ANYBODY FROM? NO PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY, GREAT.
WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, FOLKS. YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB. GREAT PROGRAM.
SO WE WILL MOVE NOW TO THE INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON THE STATE BUDGET AND PROP 4.
THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON. DIVISION LEAD, ERICH PFUEHLER FOR GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF AN UPDATE ON THE STATE BUDGET.
BELIEVE IT OR NOT, ON A SATURDAY, THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A BILL THAT DOES PROVIDE THE VEHICLE FOR THE PROP FOUR FUNDING TO GO FORWARD. INCLUDED IN THE TRAILER BILL WAS A PROVISION THAT SAYS IF ANY NEW OR MODIFIED PROGRAMS ARE INCLUDED IN WITH THE FUNDING, THEY DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE FULL REGULATORY RULEMAKING PROCESS, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN ADVANCE MORE QUICKLY AND NOT HAVE ABOUT A YEAR DELAY IN TERMS OF REGULATORY REVIEW. THERE'S ALSO $237 MILLION OF PROP FOUR FUNDING GOING TO BACKFILL EXISTING PROGRAMS FOR AT THE DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, THERE'S TWO POINT. THE GOVERNOR SIGNED 2.5 BILLION FOR WILDFIRE RELIEF FUNDING, PRIMARILY FOR LOS ANGELES, LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
THERE IS SOME DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER PROP FOUR FUNDING WILL BE USED FOR THAT OVERALL 2.5 BILLION, PARTICULARLY WITH REGARD TO SOME UNCERTAINTY ABOUT FEMA FUNDING COMING FROM THE ON THE FEDERAL SIDE.
SO TO BE DETERMINED, THAT HASN'T BEEN 100% DETERMINED YET, BUT WE ARE DEFINITELY WATCHING THAT.
WITHIN AND YOU DO HAVE THE HANDOUT THAT WE USED IN SACRAMENTO LAST WEEK.
AND WE VERY MUCH APPRECIATE EVERYBODY'S PARTICIPATION.
I DID WANT TO HIGHLIGHT JUST WITHIN THOSE SECTIONS.
YOU KNOW, THE FIRST ONE ON WILDFIRE RESILIENCE.
WE HAVE RECEIVED MONEY THROUGH THAT PROGRAM FOR OUR VEGETATION MANAGEMENT BOTH IN 2023 AND 2018.
[00:50:01]
WE CAN CONTINUE TO USE THAT FUNDING FOR THAT WORK.AND THE SECOND SECTION 91520 185 MILLION FOR LOCAL FIRE PREVENTION GRANTS.
WE DID RECEIVE A GRANT FROM THAT PROGRAM FOR THE GRIZZLY PEAK COLLABORATIVE.
AND THIS WOULD THAT WAS PHASE ONE OF THAT PROGRAM.
AND SO WE WOULD BE APPLYING FOR PHASE TWO TO CONTINUE THAT WORK IN THE BERKELEY, BERKELEY.
AND THEN ON COASTAL RESILIENCE, THE VERY FLEXIBLE BAY PROGRAM OF THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY FUNDING SUPER HELPFUL TO THE PARK DISTRICT . IN THE PAST, WE'VE USED SOME OF THIS FUNDING FOR KELLER BEACH, TIDEWATER AT MLK S HORELINE, AND ALSO THE MARTINEZ BAY TRAIL. IN THE FUTURE, THIS IS AN AREA WHERE WE COULD PROBABLY FIND FUNDING FOR HAYWARD MARSH, OYSTER BAY, RICHMOND BAY TRAIL GAP, AND POTENTIALLY LAKE TEMESCAL FOR THE PROGRAMS THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.
SO IN THE FUTURE THAT THAT ALSO COULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR LAKE TEMESCAL.
THE URBAN STREAMS FUNDING HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FUND BROOK ROAD AT ALVARADO T WIN CULVERTS AND THEN WITH REGARD TO THE WILDFIRE RESILIENCE, THE REGIONAL FOREST AND FIRE CAPACITY PROGRAM THAT DOES HELP SUPPORT THE VEGETATION TREATMENT PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PERMITTING PROCESS THAT ENABLES US TO US TO DO VEGETATION MANAGEMENT IN A MORE EXPEDITED FASHION AND IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
SO ALL THOSE PROGRAMS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO US, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH OUR DELEGATION AND OUR CONSULTANTS IN SACRAMENTO TO MAXIMIZE THE TYPE OF FUNDING THAT WE CAN GET INTO THOSE SIX CATEGORIES.
SO WITH THAT TAKE ANY OH, AND WE DO NOT HAVE LEGISLATION TODAY BECAUSE WE'RE STILL LOOKING AT BILLS THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED IN THE STATE AND ACTUALLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. A LOT OF THE BILLS ARE SPOT BILLS AT THIS TIME.
SO WE WILL HOPEFULLY HAVE A FEW PIECES OF LEGISLATION TO RECOMMEND AT OUR NEXT MEETING IN MARCH.
SO WITH THAT, I'LL TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. QUESTIONS.
COMMENTS? OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. ERICH I GUESS ONE THING SO YOU SUGGESTED ON THESE PRIORITIES THAT ARE NOT IN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET. WE'VE GOT TILL PRETTY MUCH MAY.
RIGHT. OR. YEAH, UP UNTIL MAY IS ABOUT THE LAST DROP DEAD TIME BEFORE THE BUDGET.
YOU SAID WE'LL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CONSULTANTS AND OUR DELEGATION TO MAXIMIZE THE FUNDING.
AND SOME OF THESE ARE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, IN MY OPINION. I'M SURE EVERYONE'S OPINION.
BUT SO WHAT WILL WE DO? WHAT IS WHAT PHYSICALLY ARE WE WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? AND I MEAN, HOW DO WE DO THAT. DO WE IS IT SPECIAL APPEALS AND DO WE GO OUTSIDE OF OUR DELEGATION WITH LETTERS TO OTHER PEOPLE THAT WILL BE MAKING THESE DECISIONS? WELL, WE DEFINITELY WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN THE HEARINGS PRIMARILY THROUGH EEC, BUT ALSO THERE MIGHT BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME OF OUR TEAM TO PARTICIPATE.
WE WILL BE PREPARING CORRESPONDENCE TO SEND TO BOTH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE DELEGATION, AND WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF MEETING WITH YOU ALL WERE PARTICIPATING IN SACRAMENTO, BUT WE'RE ALSO IN THE PROCESS OF FOLLOW UP MEETINGS WITH OUR DELEGATION AT THEIR DISTRICT OFFICES, PRIMARILY WITH DISTRICT STAFF.
BUT WE'RE REITERATING THESE SPECIFIC PRIORITIES.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU AND BEST OF LUCK. ANY COMMENTS FROM YOU? NO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.
WE MOVE NOW TO OOPS. ANNOUNCEMENTS. ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS
[Announcements]
FROM ANYONE? HEARING NONE. I THINK EVERYBODY HEARD OF THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF DOUG SIDEN'S SERVICE ON MARCH 1ST IN WALNUT CREEK.GREAT. IN THAT CASE, IF THERE'S NOTHING FURTHER, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU. 1:30 UNTIL 1:30. YEAH.
GEEZ.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.