[00:00:01]
[Roll Call]
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5TH. WE'RE BEGINNING TODAY AT EXACTLY 11:00.SO WELCOME TO EVERYONE THAT'S HERE. I SEE THAT ALL OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS ARE HERE, COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE HERE, AND KEY PLAYERS ARE HERE. SO NO ONE'S REMOTELY FOLLOWING US TODAY.
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU TAKE THE ROLL, PLEASE? YES. DIRECTOR COFFEY. HERE. DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT.
HERE. TODAY'S MEETING IS BEING HELD PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT.
STAFF IS BEING PROVIDED LIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT MAY DO SO BY PROVIDING A COMMENT IN PERSON, 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.
SO WE'LL MOVE RIGHT ALONG TO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Action Items]
WELCOME, ERICH. GOOD MORNING. ERICH PFUEHLER, DIVISION LEAD FOR GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS . I HAVE JUST A FEW STATE BILLS FOR THIS MEETING.THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THEM THAT HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED SINCE THE TIME OF THE PACKET WAS PREPARED.
AND SO WE ANTICIPATE IN APRIL HAVING QUITE A FEW MORE.
IT'S OUR OWN LEGISLATION THAT WE'RE SPONSORING WITH REGARDING THE EAST BAY HILLS.
WE FEEL THAT'S IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO RECOGNIZE THE HISTORY OF THE LANDS THERE AND THEIR ORIGINAL PARKS, AS WELL AS THE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL.
A LOT OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS BUILT BY THE WPA AND CCC.
SO VERY SIGNIFICANT. AND THEN, OF COURSE, OBVIOUSLY THE WILDFIRE URBAN WILDFIRE INTERFACE.
SO BY DESIGNATING THE AREA OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE, IT WOULD MAKE US MORE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE FUTURE FUNDING THROUGH BOND MEASURES AND OTHER ACTIONS BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT DON'T SPECIFICALLY ALLOCATE MONEY TO A SPECIFIC PROJECT, BUT WOULD ALLOCATE IT TO A SPECIFIC PROGRAM. SO THAT'S A SPONSORED LEGISLATION.
I'D DEFER TO JASON WHETHER OR NOT WE NEED A SEPARATE VOTE ON SPONSORING VERSUS SUPPORTING.
NO ONE VOTE SHOULD BE FINE, ASSUMING THAT IT'S EVERYONE'S ON THE SAME PAGE.
OKAY. THANK YOU. SB 55 WOULD PROVIDE GOLD STAR FAMILIES A STATE PARKS ACCESS PASS. GOLD STAR FAMILIES WOULD BE DEFINED AS THE FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED FAMILIES OF SOMEONE WHO DIED IN SERVICE TO THE NATION.
AND THEY DO RECEIVE A LAPEL PIN AS PART OF THE RECOGNITION AND DESIGNATION.
THIS IS AN INTERESTING ONE. SB 88. IT BOTH TRIES TO QUANTIFY CARBON VALUES FOR PRESCRIBED BURNS.
AND THEN IT ALSO TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THINGS LIKE WHAT WE HAVE AT THE WITH THE CARBON IN TERMS OF BIOCHAR, HOW MUCH CARBON DOES THAT SEQUESTER, AS WELL AS JUST WHAT WHAT KINDS OF EMISSIONS ARE BEING CREATED WHEN WE DO HAVE WILDFIRES? SO IT'S A GOAL TO HAVE THE STATE AIR RESOURCES BOARD DEVELOP STANDARDS THAT ARE UNIFORM, AND THAT WOULD GUIDE POLICYMAKERS IN THE FUTURE WITH REGARD TO WHERE CARBON IS STORED AND RELEASED.
JESSE ARREGUIN NEW STATE SENATOR FROM THE BERKELEY AREA HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT WAS ADVANCED LAST LAST YEAR BUT DID NOT SEEK FINAL APPROVAL. BUT REINTRODUCING TO ALLOW ADVISORY COMMITTEES TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR MEETINGS VIA TELECONFERENCING. PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THE PARK DISTRICT WITH REGARD TO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
[00:05:06]
SO THIS WOULD ENABLE MORE PARTICIPATION OF THAT COMMITTEE BY TELECONFERENCING.AGAIN, ANOTHER BILL INTRODUCED BY SENATOR ARREGUIN.
THIS WOULD ESTABLISH THE CALIFORNIA TRAILS CONSERVANCY.
THIS WAS LEGISLATION THAT THE PARK DISTRICT SUPPORTED IN THE PAST THAT WAS SPONSORED THEN BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARCIA, WHO HAS SINCE MOVED OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY. SO SENATOR ARREGUIN HAS ADVANCED THIS RIGHT NOW, THIS IS REALLY MOSTLY A SPOT BILL, BUT THE INTENT IS TO ESTABLISH AN AGENCY WITHIN OR THE PROGRAM WITHIN THE NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY THAT WOULD ADVANCE PROMOTION OF TRAILS IN CALIFORNIA. THERE IS OR AT LEAST LAST YEAR THERE WAS NOT MONEY ATTACHED TO THE PROGRAM.
BUT MY UNDERSTANDING IS ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAM FIRST IS THE FIRST STEP AND THEN SEEKING FUNDING FOR IT AS THE BUDGET POTENTIALLY IMPROVES WOULD BE THE GOAL. AND LASTLY, ANOTHER LOCAL AGENCY TELECONFERENCING.
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE LAST ONE BILL THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY EXTEND AB 2449 INDEFINITELY.
SO THE PROVISIONS THERE THAT ALLOW FOR JUST CAUSE OR EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES FOR MEMBERS OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY TO MISS TWO MEETINGS A YEAR, THOSE PROVISIONS WOULD BE EXTENDED PERMANENTLY THROUGH THIS LEGISLATION.
AND I WAS WRONG. THERE WAS ONE MORE. AB 269 LITERALLY JUST ADDS DAM REMOVAL AS AN ELIGIBLE PROJECT UNDER THE DAM SAFETY PROGRAM. THIS IS FUNDING THROUGH THE WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES.
COULD APPLY TO SOME OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S PARKS, DEPENDING UPON FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS, BOTH WITH REGARD TO LAKE ANZA AND TO LAKE TEMESCAL, BUT SIMPLY PROVIDING MORE ELIGIBILITY FOR WORKING ON DAMS WITHIN WATERWAYS IN CALIFORNIA.
SO THOSE ARE THE BILLS WE HAVE BEFORE YOU FOR TODAY.
WE ARE SEEKING A SUPPORT POSITION AND OBVIOUSLY THE SPONSOR POSITION ON THE GRAYSON BILL.
THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
GO RIGHT AHEAD, COLIN. ERICH WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE LEGISLATION WE'RE DESCRIBING AS PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE UPDATE AND WAS TO BE SUBMITTED TO LORI WILSON, I BELIEVE. HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.
BUT LISA, WOULD YOU LIKE TO. JUST ASKING LISA TO SPEAK ON IT BECAUSE SHE HAS MORE UPDATED INFORMATION.
GOOD MORNING, LISA BALDINGER, LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST I'M PLEASED TO SHARE WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOLLOWING YOUR ACTION TO SPONSOR THE LEGISLATION WITH AUTHOR LORI WILSON, WE WERE ABLE TO INTRODUCE A SPOT BILL AT THE STATE LEVEL TO MEET THE EXCUSE ME, FEBRUARY 21ST DEADLINE. WE'RE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH LEGAL COUNSEL TO REVISE THE STATE LEVEL LEGAL COUNSEL TO REVISE THE LANGUAGE IN REFLECTION OF THE BOARD'S COMMENTS AND BRING THAT FORWARD. SO WE ARE EXPECTING A NON-SPOT BILL TO BE ADVANCED SOON, AT WHICH POINT WE'LL BRING IT BEFORE THE COMMITTEE WITH THE BILL NUMBER.
LORI WILSON. YEAH. THANK YOU. I HAVE A PROCESS QUESTION.
IN GENERAL, WHAT DOES OUR RECOMMENDATION OR SUPPORT OF THESE ACTUALLY INCLUDE? DO WE WRITE LETTERS OF SUPPORT? DO WE DO OUTREACH? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? YEAH. THANKS FOR THE QUESTION.
BASICALLY ALL OF THE ABOVE THAT YOU JUST MENTIONED.
WE WORK WITH OUR CONSULTANTS IN SACRAMENTO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING OUR LETTERS IN.
IN TERMS OF SUPPORT, BOTH INITIALLY AND THEN DURING THE COMMITTEE HEARING PROCESSES.
IT PROVIDES STAFF THE FLEXIBILITY AND THE ABILITY TO DO ALL ACTIONS IN TERMS OF SUPPORT OF THE LEGISLATION, WHETHER THAT WOULD BE TESTIFYING, ADVOCACY WORK OR THE LETTER WRITING THAT WE MENTIONED EARLIER.
WHEN STAFF GOES UP OR DOES THAT, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECTORS TO PARTICIPATE.
IS THAT TYPICAL? SOME OF THESE ARE VERY INTERESTING EXCITING.
JUST WONDERING WHAT OUR ROLE IS AND HOW FAR WE GO IN THAT SUPPORT.
YEAH, I THINK IT'S BEEN FAR BETWEEN WHERE WE'VE HAD THAT LEVEL OF ENGAGEMENT.
[00:10:01]
PERHAPS ON THE BILL THAT IS WE'RE SPONSORING, I THINK THERE WILL BE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOARD AND STAFF TO SENIOR STAFF TO YOU KNOW, APPEAR POTENTIALLY IN A HEARING.WE HAVE DONE THAT. WE HAVE HAD STAFF PARTICIPATE WHEN WHEN WE'VE HAD A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO AN OPERATIONAL OR POLICY RELATED ASPECT OF THE PARK DISTRICT. SO FOR EXAMPLE, DESIGN BUILD, WE HAD OUR DECO STAFF TESTIFY FOR SOME WILDFIRE LEGISLATION. WE HAD OUR FIRE CHIEF TESTIFY.
THERE'S JUST A LOT OF PUBLIC INTEREST. I HEARD YESTERDAY PEOPLE APPLYING FOR JOBS WITH US, BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING LIKE, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? HOW CAN WE SUPPORT THE LOCAL PARKS? SOMETHING LIKE THAT. MAKING OUR PARKS A CORRIDOR OF STATE SIGNIFICANCE.
THERE JUST MIGHT BE A LOT OF PEOPLE WANTING TO DO SOMETHING LOCAL BESIDES THE DIRECTORS.
IT'S JUST I HAVEN'T DONE THIS BEFORE. I WASN'T QUITE SURE OF OUR ROLE OR EVEN THE PUBLIC'S ROLE WHO ARE CALLING AND SAYING, WHAT COULD THEY DO THAT MIGHT BE THE BILL, MIGHT BE SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY COULD SUPPORT.
YEAH, I COULD SEE SOMETHING WITH THIS BILL IS A LITTLE MORE BROADER HAS MORE BROADER APPEAL.
AND ON TWO OF THE BILLS THAT I FIND VERY INTERESTING, I JUST HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE SB 88.
GETTING CARBON CREDIT FOR OUR CARBONATOR IS INTERESTING.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A GREENHOUSE GAS INVENTORY OR A CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, DO WE? THAT WE WOULD USE THOSE CALCULATIONS INTERNALLY.
I, WE PROBABLY WOULD USE THE CALCULATIONS. I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THE SPECIFIC ACTION PLAN.
AND THEN ON SB 87, THE CALIFORNIA TRAILS CONSERVANCY, JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE WOULD BECAUSE IT'S CALLED THE CALIFORNIA OR STATE, WHAT WOULD OUR DO? WE KNOW WHAT OUR ROLE OR IT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT WAY TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR PARTNERS.
BUT IT'S A LITTLE ERICH A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT HOW WE WOULD WE BE INCLUDED OR IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED, OR HOW WELL, ASSUMING FUNDING WOULD BE CONNECTED TO IT, WE WOULD DEFINITELY BE LOOKING AT GRANT POSSIBILITIES.
MY THE GENESIS OF THE ESTABLISHING THE PROGRAM, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, IS THAT A LOT OF FUNDING HAS GONE IN OVER RECENT YEARS TO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION, WHICH IS GREAT, YOU KNOW. PAVED TRAILS.
HOWEVER, NOT AS MUCH FUNDING HAS GONE INTO THE RECREATIONAL TRAIL SIDE OF THINGS.
AND SO THIS WAS A ATTEMPT BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER, THEN ASSEMBLY MEMBER GARCIA, TO BRING A LITTLE MORE ATTENTION TO THE RECREATIONAL TRAIL NEEDS. SO ASSUMING THE PROGRAM GETS ESTABLISHED, WE WOULD ADVOCATE FOR FUNDING FOR IT AND THEN HOPEFULLY APPLY FOR GRANTS.
THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THAT, APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPORT.
WHO ARE THOSE FOLKS? TESTING MY MEMORY, SENATOR.
NO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO TELL THEIR NAMES, BUT I'M WONDERING. SO I DO RECALL WHEN WE DID OUR SACRAMENTO TRIP, WE DID INVITE LEGISLATORS, TOLD THEM ABOUT IT, AND INVITED THEM TO JOIN US.
THAT FORMAT REALLY WORKS. AND NOW WE'VE GOT SOME EXTRA COAUTHORS.
EXCELLENT. THANK YOU. AND SB 239, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TELECONFERENCING.
THAT'S ALSO A REALLY A BIG, BIG PUSH BY CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICTS JUST BECAUSE THEY'VE GOT SO MANY LARGE OR SMALLER DISTRICTS, BIG GEOGRAPHIC AREAS WHERE IF YOU GET ON AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, YOU MIGHT HAVE TO DRIVE 100 MILES TO GO TO A MEETING.
I'M WONDERING IF DO WE HAVE ANY RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM THIS TIME OR ARE WE STILL WORKING WITH THEM? YEAH, WELL, MOSTLY THROUGH CSDA. BUT ALSO CRPD HAS ESTABLISHED LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE NOW, AND BOTH OF THOSE ENTITIES ARE SUPPORTING THIS LEGISLATION AS WELL AS THE OTHER, THE THE ONE THAT EXTENDS THE PROVISIONS OF AB 2449.
ALL RIGHT. AND ON THE DAM AB 269, THE DAM SAFETY AND CLIMATE RESILIENT PROGRAM THIS PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR
[00:15:06]
PROVIDES STATE FUNDING FOR SAFETY AND ENHANCEMENT PROJECTS.I'M WONDERING, IS THERE ANY WAY INCREASING DAMS IS PART OF THIS OR IS IT JUST KNOCKING THEM DOWN? IT'S NOT I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT'S THE INTENT. THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION FOR US TO LOOK INTO, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS INTENDED TO BE USED AS A WAY OF CREATING MORE STORAGE. IT'S MORE FOR PROTECTING WHAT'S THERE AND MAKING SURE THAT THE AREAS BEHIND ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DAM ARE SAFE. OKAY, GREAT. THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC? THERE'S ONE PERSON IN OUR ZOOM ROOM. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND.
NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU ERICH.
WE'LL MOVE TO THE RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO DO THAT? I MOVE THAT THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS TO THE FULL BOARD TO HAVE FULL SUPPORT OF THE BILLS AS LISTED. SECOND. MOVED BY MEMBER DESCHAMBAULT.
SECONDED BY MEMBER COFFEY. ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. AYE. AYE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL MOVE TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION NOW.
AGAIN, ERICH PFUEHLER DIVISION LEAD FOR GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS .
MOVING ON TO FEDERAL LEGISLATION. ALSO AGAIN EARLY IN THE YEAR.
THIS THIS LEGISLATION ACTUALLY, WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST, ESSENTIALLY PROVIDES A WEATHER TYPE PROGRAM.
A FORECASTING PROGRAM, IF YOU WILL, THROUGH THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERICH ADMINISTRATION.
THIS WOULD HELP TO ANTICIPATE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND OTHER CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT LEAD TO A HIGHER INCREASED POSSIBILITY OF WILDFIRE. AND IT DOES CREATE A NATIONAL REGISTRY FOR AND IN SERVICE FOR THIS TYPE OF WORK.
AND THEN IT ALSO, THE LEGISLATION WOULD APPROPRIATE $15 MILLION FOR THE FIRST YEAR OF THE PROGRAM AND THEN MOVING UP TO 50 MILLION OVER TIME. UNDERSTANDING THE THAT NOAA. THIS WOULDN'T BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED RIGHT AWAY GIVEN CURRENT CONDITIONS, BUT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK COULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO THE PARK DISTRICT AND FUTURE PLANNING EFFORTS.
WILDFIRE SMOKE IMPACTS. THIS ALSO CREATES A PROGRAM WITHIN EPA TO PROVIDE GRANTS.
THAT WOULD BE FOR PARTICULAR EFFORTS THAT WOULD HELP REDUCE THE HEALTH RISKS OF WILDFIRE SMOKE.
SO, FOR EXAMPLE, N95 MASKS FILTRATION SYSTEMS IN BUILDINGS.
AND THERE'S OTHER PROGRAMS THAT THEY IDENTIFY.
THE FUNDING WOULD BE ACTUALLY GOING TO THE BAY AREA AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT, AND THEN THEY WOULD BE WE WOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY TO THAT ENTITY TO RECEIVE FUNDS, SHOULD WE HAVE FUTURE ISSUES WITH SMOKE? AGAIN, SIMILAR TO THE GOLD STAR FAMILY LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL, THIS IS LEGISLATION THAT WOULD PROVIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS A LIFETIME NATIONAL AND FEDERAL LANDS PASS. SO FOR ANYBODY THAT WAS SERVING AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL COULD RECEIVE THE PASS.
AND THEY ARE LIFETIME. SO THEY WOULD HAVE THEM FOR THROUGHOUT THEIR LIFE.
THERE WE GO. WILDFIRE INSURANCE COVERAGE STUDY.
THIS IS ALSO LEGISLATION THAT WE'VE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST.
REALLY CREATES A GENERAL GAO REPORT ON WHETHER AFFORDABILITY AND AVAILABILITY OF INSURANCE, PARTICULARLY IN WILDFIRE PRONE AREAS. AND IT ALSO PROVIDES THAT THE GAO PROVIDE THAT REPORT TO CONGRESS WITHIN A YEAR,
[00:20:08]
SOMETHING THAT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA HAS BEEN ADVANCING EACH YEAR FOR THE LAST, I BELIEVE, THREE YEARS. AND WE HAVE SUPPORTED IN THE PAST AND RECOMMENDING CONTINUING TO DO SO.WILDFIRE RESILIENCY GRANT PROGRAM AGAIN, ANOTHER MEMBER OF OUR CALIFORNIA DELEGATION.
THIS WOULD PROVIDE A GRANT PROGRAM FOR OVERALL COMMUNITIES SO REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS TO DEVELOP A HOME HARDENING PLAN, PRIMARILY FEDERAL EMERGENCY. FEMA FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY DOESN'T CURRENTLY HAVE A SPECIFIC PROGRAM FOR HOME HARDENING AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE.
AND THOSE ARE FEDERAL BILLS. THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ON THESE BILLS? I HAVE A QUESTION ON THE WILDFIRE SMOKE, THE GRANTS ADDING EPA GRANTS TO BAAQMD.
HOW HOW DOES IT WORK WHEN THERE'S A SENATE BILL? 341 VERSUS A HOUSE BILL 903. WHEN DO THEY COINCIDE? OR HOW DO WE OR STAFF DECIDE ONE'S DIFFERENT OR BETTER THAN THE OTHER? YEAH, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. SO AT THE AT THE STATE LEVEL YOU DON'T SEE THIS.
THAT'S DONE PRIMARILY WITH THE THOUGHT THAT SHOULD THEY ADVANCE, THEY DON'T NEED A LOT OF BACK AND FORTH IN TERMS OF RECONCILIATION. IT WOULD BE MORE LIKELY THAT IT WOULD EITHER STANDING ALONE OR PART OF A BIGGER PACKAGE WOULD HAVE LESS DEBATE ABOUT THAT PARTICULAR THE LANGUAGE IN THOSE TWO PARTICULAR BILLS, BUT THEY'RE THE EXACT SAME BILL.
WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE SAY WE SUPPORT THE ONE IN THE HOUSE, IT APPLIES TO THE SENATE, SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO COME BACK HERE IF THERE IS.
SOMETIMES THE TWO BILLS ARE INTRODUCED AT TWO DIFFERENT TIMES.
IN THIS CASE, THEY WERE INTRODUCED AT THE SAME TIME. INTERESTING.
THANK YOU FOR THAT LESSON. AND ON THE OTHER ONE, THE FEMA, I JUST WONDER WHO'S DEFINING OR HOW DO WE KNOW ANY MORE? I KEEP HEARING THE TERM MAYBE THIS IS I JUST NEED A LITTLE BACKGROUND.
IS NEW KID ON THE BLOCK ON HOME HARDENING? WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? OR CAN YOU EXPAND A LITTLE BIT MORE ON WHAT THE SPECIFIC GRANT PROGRAM WOULD BE FOR? YEAH, THAT'S PRIMARILY WHAT WE PROBABLY SHOULD DO IS SEND YOU THERE IS AN ACTUAL DEFINITION IN THE LEGISLATION SO WE CAN SEND THAT TO YOU.
BUT I THINK PRIMARILY THE IDEA IS, YOU KNOW, WE CAN DO A LOT OF WORK.
AS AN AGENCY WITH OUR LAND. BUT AND AS CHAIR WAESPI WELL KNOWS, THERE'S A LOT OF NEIGHBORS RIGHT UP ON OUR PARKLAND THAT HAVE YOU KNOW, VEGETATION THAT POTENTIALLY POSES A WILDFIRE RISK.
AND SO THE IDEA FOR THIS PROGRAM WOULD BE TO ALLOW PRIMARILY COMMUNITIES, SO, MEANING MUNICIPALITIES, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE THAT HAVE JURISDICTION OVER HOUSING AS OPPOSED TO AN AGENCY LIKE OURS.
AND IT WOULD ALLOW THEM TO DISTRIBUTE GRANTS TO RESIDENTS TO DO SOME OF THIS HOME HARDENING WORK BEHIND THEIR, THEIR HOUSES. I GUESS I JUST ASK IN SUPPORTING A BILL, I THINK SOMETIMES I SEEN SOME GREENWASHING, LIKE HOME HARDENING MIGHT ACTUALLY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE ENVIRONMENT UNDER THE AUSPICES OF HOME HARDENING WHERE THERE MIGHT BE.
I JUST HAVE A LITTLE CAUTION OF SUPPORTING A BILL THAT I DON'T HAVE FULLY DEFINITION.
BUT THIS IS A IT WOULD BE A FEMA BILL AND FEMA IMPLEMENTATION.
THERE'S USUALLY A DEFINITION OF WHAT THEY MEAN BY THE SPECIFIC TERMS, AND I'M PRETTY SURE THERE IS A DEFINITION FOR HOME HARDENING IN IN THE LEGISLATION, WHICH I'M HAPPY TO ADVANCE TO YOU, BUT I DON'T, I DON'T I DON'T KNOW IT OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
STAFF HASN'T SEEN ANYTHING IN THERE THAT WOULD GIVE YOU ANY REASON FOR CONCERN.
[00:25:03]
I KNOW MY HOUSE HAD A AND I'M ADJACENT TO LAKE CHABOT.SO NOW YOU GO TO CONCRETE OR SLATE OR ANY TYPE OF NON FLAMMABLE MATERIAL FOR ROOFS.
AND THEY DO THAT PROBABLY THROUGHOUT THE URBAN INTERFACE NOW.
I'M SURE THERE'S A DEFINITION PROBABLY ANYWHERE, AND I THINK DIFFERENT MUNICIPALITIES DEFINE IT DIFFERENTLY ALSO, BUT I THINK IT'S A GREAT, IN MY OPINION, BE A GREAT BILL TO SUBSIDIZE SOME OF THIS STUFF BECAUSE, WELL, MOST PEOPLE HAVE LIVED ON THE URBAN INTERFACE AND BUILT NICE WOOD SIDED HOMES THINKING THEY WERE BLENDING INTO NATURE.
AND NOW IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE A LITTLE BIT IN THE FUTURE.
YEAH. THANK YOU ERICH. THE ONLY QUESTION I WOULD HAVE, OR ONLY COMMENT I WOULD HAVE, IS MCCLINTOCK'S BILL FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, RECREATION PASS. I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT HE ONLY USED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.
GENERALLY YOU PUT IN FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRST RESPONDERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S USUALLY FIREFIGHTERS WHO ARE FIGHTING THE WILDLAND FIRES ON NATIONAL PARKS AND RECREATION LANDS. BUT JUST A COMMENT.
YEAH, THAT'S I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT.
IT MIGHT BE FUN TO TRY. I MEAN, I DON'T THINK WE RARELY EVER ENDORSE OR SPONSOR OR SUPPORT REPUBLICANS LEGISLATION. AND I WOULD THINK THAT I'D LIKE TO SEE IF MR. MCCLINTOCK WOULD APPRECIATE INPUT FROM US. WELL, GIVEN THAT DISTRICT, THE WILDFIRE ISSUES ARE OBVIOUSLY A VERY FRONT OF MIND, SO IT WOULD MAKE SENSE. GREAT. THANKS. ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME. OKAY, THEN WE WILL MOVE.
OH. PARDON ME. WE NEED A RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT THIS FEDERAL LEGISLATION.
DO I HAVE A MOTION TO SUPPORT THAT? SO MOVED.
MOVED BY DIRECTOR COFFEY. SECONDED BY. SECOND.
MEMBER DESCHAMBAULT. WE HAVE A MOTION A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
AYE. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU ERICH.
[Informational Items]
WE'LL NOW MOVE NOW TO INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. OUR FIRST ITEM IS AN UPDATE ON THE FEDERAL BUDGET AND GRANTS.APOLOGIES. WE'RE JUST TRYING TO. I BELIEVE OUR FEDERAL ADVOCATES ARE ON THE ZOOM.
SO WE'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE THEM AND BRING THEM ON.
AND WHILE WE'RE WAITING, I JUST WANTED TO ADD LISA [INAUDIBLE] IS THE PRINCIPAL OF THE FIRM IS SOMEONE I WORKED WITH WHEN I WORKED IN WASHINGTON, DC, WHEN I WORKED FOR THE DEMOCRATIC HOUSE WHIP, AND SHE WAS THE LIAISON FOR THE HOUSE WITH PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON. SO SHE'S BEEN VERY ACTIVE AND DEVELOPED A FIRM AFTER SHE LEFT, WORKING FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN THE ADMINISTRATION.
AND SHE'S HERE WITH SOME OF HER TEAM TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A FLAVOR OF WHERE THINGS ARE.
THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION COMING AT US AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL VERY QUICKLY, AND A LOT OF IT IS ALSO UNSURE WHAT IT MEANS FOR EVERYBODY, BUT ALSO FOR THE PARK DISTRICT.
AND SO WE JUST WANTED TO PUT A LITTLE BIT OF A POINT ON WHAT WE KNOW TO DATE.
BUT WITH THAT, I THINK I WOULD LIKE TO TURN IT OVER TO LISA TO PROVIDE AN INTRODUCTION BOTH TO HERSELF AND HER FIRM, AND THEN ALSO AN UPDATE OF WHAT WE SEE HAPPENING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
EXCUSE ME. I DON'T THINK WE HAVE AUDIO.
SO HER AUDIO IS OPEN. THANK YOU. LISA, ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK? NO, WE CAN'T HEAR YOU. AND YOUR MIC IS OPEN ON THIS END.
[00:30:08]
ADAM, ARE YOU ABLE TO SPEAK? THE COMPUTER'S ON.TRY IT NOW. TESTING. ONE. TWO. THREE. YES. OKAY.
TESTING. YES. THANK YOU. LISA. GOOD. ALL RIGHT.
GREAT. SORRY ABOUT THAT. WE ARE REALLY PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO BE WITH YOU TODAY AND HOPE WE HAVE ADAM AND I HAVE WORKED OUT A LITTLE BIT OF A KIND OF RUN OF SHOW IN TERMS OF TRYING TO HIT ON THINGS WE THINK MIGHT BE OF INTEREST, BUT PLEASE ASK US QUESTIONS. AS ERICH SAID AT THE BEGINNING, THIS IS A ROUGH AND TUMBLE TIME HERE IN DC, AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE ADDRESSING SORT OF WHAT'S TOP OF MIND FOR YOU ALL.
HAPPY TO BE ON BOARD FOR THIS WORK. MY NAME IS LISA KOUNTOUPES.
I HAVE BEEN IN DC, I THINK, AS ERICH SAID, FOR A PRETTY LONG TIME, OVER 30 YEARS.
I DID WORK IN THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS.
HE'S TERRIFIC. OUR PATHS CROSSED A NUMBER OF TIMES IN THAT, IN THAT ADMINISTRATION.
ALSO WORKED A LOT WITH THE HOUSE RESOURCES COMMITTEE, WITH GEORGE MILLER AND HIS VERY, VERY TALENTED STAFF DIRECTOR. LONG TIME STAFF DIRECTOR. JOHN LAWRENCE IS A GOOD FRIEND.
I DID WORK WITH JOHN PODESTA AND REALLY EXPANDING THE LAND WATER CONSERVATION FUND AT THAT TIME, SO HAVE A LOT OF GOOD I THINK SYNERGIES WITH SOME OF THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE MOVING INTO.
HE GREW UP IN A SMALL ADOBE HOUSE IN LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA.
I DID MAKE HIM MOVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO LIVE WITH ME IN DC, BUT HIS BROTHER IS STILL IN THE AREA WITH HIS FAMILY IN ALBANY, AND I'VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THE TRAILS OUT THERE.
THE RESERVOIR HIS PARENTS HAVE SINCE PASSED ON, BUT YOU KNOW, THEY WERE IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
HER NAME IS JEAN ATELJEVICH, AND SHE SERVED, I THINK SHE WAS THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION EVER, REALLY. SHE WAS WORKING UP UNTIL ALMOST 34, RIGHT BEFORE SHE PASSED ON.
SO A LOT OF STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THE AREA IN MY HOME AND IN MY HUSBAND'S CHILDHOOD HOME.
SO I WANTED TO BRING THAT FORWARD. I HAVE BEEN IN PRIVATE PRACTICE IN DC SINCE LEAVING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION AND ALWAYS WORKED IN KIND OF A SMALLER, MULTI-CLIENT FIRM, WHICH JUST MEANS THAT WE WORK ON A HANDFUL OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF ISSUES.
I DO THE DEMOCRATIC WORK GIVEN MY BACKGROUND.
I ALSO WORKED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS BEFORE JOINING THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, AND I DID A TOUR OF DUTY AT THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET WHEN WE DID THE BALANCED BUDGET AGREEMENT IN 1997.
SO DID A LOT OF WORK THROUGH THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS THERE.
I WORKED WITH THE TOP OFFICIAL, T.J. GLAUTHIER.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAD WORKED WITH HIM.
JOHN GARAMENDI WAS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AT THAT TIME.
SO I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WORKING ON THOSE ISSUES AS WELL AT THAT TIME.
BUT AT THE FIRM NOW, I WORK WITH DEMOCRATS IN THE HOUSE AND IN THE SENATE.
AND I WORKED A LOT WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR FIRM WANTS TO BRING FORWARD FOR OUR CLIENTS IS A ROBUST, BIPARTISAN TEAM SO THAT WE CAN ALWAYS BE WELL POSITIONED TO ADVOCATE FOR OUR CLIENTS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO, AT ANY TIME, EVER BE SHUT OUT FROM CONVERSATIONS.
AND WE WILL HAVE THE BEST, MOST RECENT INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE TO YOU ALL.
LET ME TURN IT OVER TO MY AWESOME COLLEAGUE ADAM.
[00:35:03]
NOW THAT EVERYBODY CAN HEAR HIM AND HE CAN INTRODUCE HIMSELF A LITTLE BIT.SURE. MY NAME IS ADAM HECHAVARRIA. I'VE BEEN WITH THE FIRM FIVE YEARS.
I'M A SENATE REPUBLICAN BY TRADE. I SPENT ABOUT 15 YEARS UP ON THE SENATE SIDE, WORKING ON THE SENATE BUDGET COMMITTEE, AND WAS LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR FOR A NUMBER OF SENATORS AND HAVE TACKLED EVERY ISSUE UNDER THE SUN, FROM LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND TO FAIRLY STEEPED IN APPROPRIATIONS AND TAX WORK AS WELL.
SO HAPPY TO BE HERE WITH YOU. AND THEN ONE OTHER MEMBER OF OUR TEAM WHO MAY BE ABLE TO JOIN US.
HE'S RUNNING ANOTHER CALL RIGHT NOW FOR A CLIENT IS M.J.
KENNY. HE'S A LONG TIME SENATE DEMOCRAT. HE WORKED FOR DICK DURBIN FOR A DECADE.
DICK DURBIN HELPED RUN FLOOR VOTES IN THE SENATE.
SO M.J. IS VERY EXPERIENCED IN THE SENATE PROCESS.
AND ALSO, HIS FORMER BOSS WAS A VERY SENIOR MEMBER OF THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, DICK DURBIN, AND A CHAIR OF A SUBCOMMITTEE. AND SO M.J. REALLY ALSO IS A SUPER TERRIFIC RESOURCE FOR US ON THE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT FRONT IN PARTICULAR, BUT ALSO SPECIFICALLY ON THE APPROPRIATIONS PIECE.
SO THE THREE OF US KIND OF ROUND OUT THE THE KEY PRINCIPAL TEAM WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
AND THEN I ASKED ERIN HOWLEY WHO'S ON HERE. ERIN, YOU CAN POP ON FOR A SECOND AND JUST SAY HELLO.
THANK YOU. ERIN IS OUR LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT WORKING WITH WITH US WITH YOU ALL.
AND SO SHE HELPS US. SHE WILL BE HELPING AND HAS HELPED WITH SCHEDULING REQUESTS.
SHE DOES RESEARCH FOR US. SHE TRACKS LEGISLATION.
SHE KEEPS STAFF LISTS UPDATE OF YOUR FOOTPRINT MEMBERS.
WE ARE ROUNDING INTO OUR 17TH YEAR. IT'S A WOMAN OWNED KIND OF BOUTIQUE FIRM.
WE HAVE ABOUT TEN LOBBYISTS OVERALL AND SUPPORT STAFF, BUT WE'RE A VERY COLLABORATIVE GROUP.
ADAM AND M.J. AND I, ALONG WITH ERIN, WILL BE LIKE THE KEY FOLKS WORKING WITH YOU ALL.
BUT IF THERE'S ANYBODY ON OUR TEAM, IF WE COME TO AN ISSUE AND THEY HAVE A CONTACT OR A RELATIONSHIP OR EXPERTISE THAT WE THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL, WE'RE GOING TO PULL THEM IN IMMEDIATELY TO HELP GET DONE WHAT WE WANT TO GET DONE.
I LIKE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M FROM THE MIDWEST ORIGINALLY.
WE'RE KIND OF A MODEST PEOPLE. WE DON'T TAKE.
WE TAKE OUR WORK VERY SERIOUSLY, BUT NOT OURSELVES.
AND WE LOVE THIS WORK. WE LOVE ADVOCATING ON BEHALF OF OUR CLIENTS.
LIKE WE TAKE THAT WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY.
WE'RE ALSO TRACKING ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT ARE COMING OUT.
AND ALTHOUGH NOT OF INTEREST OR IMPACTFUL TO YOU ALL, POTENTIALLY, BUT ALL THE TRADE AND TARIFF STUFF, WHICH HAS BEEN A LOT. SO I MIGHT JUST OPEN IT UP TO QUESTIONS FROM YOU ALL, OR IF THERE ARE THINGS YOU'D LIKE TO KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET TO OR TOUCH ON, PLEASE LET US KNOW. AND THEN I WILL TURN IT OVER TO ADAM TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SORT OF THE FUNDING LANDSCAPE.
OKAY. WELL, SEEING NONE, I'LL DROP IN THERE. LISA OBVIOUSLY, WE'VE HAD A VERY COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT FOR THE LAST 43 DAYS SINCE THE TRUMP INAUGURATION. A LOT HAS CHANGED ON THE DC LANDSCAPE.
IT IS CHANGING THE WAY DC DOES TRADITIONALLY, DOES BUSINESS, DOES APPROPRIATIONS, DOES GRANTS, DOES LOANS, YOU NAME IT. OBVIOUSLY AT THE FOREFRONT AFTER THE INAUGURAL CAME THE, YOU KNOW, SO-CALLED DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, THE DOGE REDUCTIONS.
AND THAT'S TAKING PLACE BOTH AT THE GRANT AND LOAN LEVEL AS WELL AS GOVERNMENT WORKFORCE REDUCTION IN FORCE EFFORTS. YOU KNOW, CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW, WE SEE A LOT OF PARTICULAR FUNDING STREAMS, GRANT PROGRAMS BEING PAUSED, BEING REDUCED CONTRACTS BEING CANCELED. THE WORKFORCE THAT HANDLES SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS ARE BEING REDUCED OR
[00:40:02]
ELIMINATED. AT PRESENT, THERE'S ABOUT 96 LAWSUITS AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION AND COUNTING.YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN A MIXED BAG IN THE COURT AS FAR AS THE ADMINISTRATION WINING SOME, OF THEIR CASES LOSING SOME OF THEIR CASES. AND ULTIMATELY MANY OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE BUBBLING UP TO THE SUPREME COURT.
SO WHILE THAT IS GOING ON, CONGRESS IS ALSO TRYING TO SOLVE THIS YEAR'S FUNDING CRISIS.
THEY HAVE STILL NOT YET PASSED THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR FULL YEAR APPROPRIATIONS BILL.
WE HAVE A DEADLINE COMING UP, NEXT FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH.
SO FAR, NEGOTIATIONS HAVE BROKEN DOWN. A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO AND IS SURROUNDING THE DOGE ACTIVITY.
IF THEY MOVE FORWARD ON A FULL YEAR GOVERNMENT FUNDING BILL, THERE WOULD BE SOME DEMANDS, PARTICULARLY ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, TO ADDRESS, MITIGATE THE DOGE ACTIVITY.
AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT REPUBLICANS ARE UNWILLING TO NEGOTIATE ON.
SO WHERE ARE WE NOW ON THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT I THINK MOST LIKELY THE CASE IS GOING TO BE A EITHER SHORT TERM OR FULL YEAR CONTINUING RESOLUTION. SO THAT'S JUST A, YOU KNOW, CONTINUED FUNDING FROM LAST YEAR'S LEVELS OF THE GOVERNMENT. NOW, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR US? WE DON'T KNOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME WHAT THAT WILL MEAN FOR SPECIFIC PROGRAMS. USUALLY WHEN YOU HAVE LEVEL FUNDING INTO NEXT YEAR, OBVIOUSLY PROGRAMS AREN'T RECEIVING NUMBER ONE, THE INCREASE THAT THEY WOULD GET BUT OTHER FACTORS ABOUND IN THIS.
ONE OF THOSE FACTORS INCLUDE A LAW FROM FISCAL YEAR 20 OR YEAR 2023 THAT WOULD REQUIRE A SEQUESTER OF FUNDS SHOULD CONGRESS ENTER A A CONTINUING RESOLUTION TO FUND THE GOVERNMENT.
BUT ON THE NON-DEFENSE SIDE, SO THAT'S WHERE WE WE LIVE.
THEY WOULD ACTUALLY GET A $25 BILLION INCREASE UNDER THAT.
HOWEVER IT SEEMS LIKE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WILL NOT ENFORCE THE SEQUESTER.
SHOULD IT BE TRIGGERED? AND THEY WILL JUST CONSIDER A FULL YEAR CR A REGULAR APPROPRIATIONS BILL AND IGNORE THE, THE SEQUESTER. SO WE'LL HAVE THAT GO ON. I THINK, YOU KNOW, COME END OF NEXT WEEK, COME FRIDAY, WE SHOULD HAVE A RESOLUTION. LIKE I SAID, EITHER ANOTHER SHORT TERM PATCH OF GOVERNMENT FUNDING OR A FULL YEAR PATCH AT CURRENT LEVELS FOR GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND EVENTUALLY AGENCIES, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE HOW TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THAT FUNDING, AND SOME REDUCTIONS IN PROGRAMS WILL LIKELY OCCUR.
WE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE YET. SIMULTANEOUSLY.
OH GO AHEAD. ADAM A MENTION ON THAT. YEAH. JUST THAT I MEAN, FOR EAST BAY, I THINK THERE ARE SOME CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED FUNDING PROJECTS IN THE PIPELINE. IF CONGRESS DOES DO JUST A STRAIGHT CR, THOSE WILL FALL OFF.
SO WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK IN FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR, FY 26 TO LOOK AT THE CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED FUNDING PROJECTS. BUT IF IT IS A CR THROUGH THE END OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, WHICH ENDS ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2025 THERE WON'T BE ANY OF THOSE EARMARKS.
CORRECT? CORRECT. AND YOU KNOW, WHAT'S ODD AND COMPLEX ABOUT THIS YEAR IS THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY DUAL TRACKING THE FY 25 AND FY 26 APPROPRIATIONS PROCESSES. SO WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO WRAP UP FY 25, THEY'RE BEGINNING IN CONGRESS FY 2026 APPROPRIATION CYCLE. AND I BELIEVE, ERIN, YOU'VE SHARED SOME OF THE EARLY DEADLINES THAT WE HAVE FROM MEMBERS AS FAR AS DEADLINES FOR SUBMISSIONS OF PARTICULAR REQUESTS AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING REQUESTS.
SO THAT PROCESS IS IN MOTION. THAT PROCESS WILL CARRY OUT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.
SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE ENTERING A YOU KNOW, BUDGETARY HEARING PROCESS.
AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEES ON BOTH SIDES WILL BE MARKING UP THEIR BILLS, TRYING TO BRING THESE BILLS TO THE FLOOR WITH THE GOAL OF PASSING SOMETHING BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER. BUT AS WE ALL KNOW FROM PREVIOUS YEARS, IT TENDS TO TAKE CONGRESS A LITTLE BIT LONGER.
[00:45:07]
PASS SOME OR ALL OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL APPROPRIATION BILLS.I WILL SAY ON THAT PROCESS, THE REPUBLICANS, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND THE ADMINISTRATION, THEY'RE GOING TO NEED BIPARTISAN SUPPORT. SO THAT MAKES REQUESTS FROM DEMOCRATIC MEMBERS FOR CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING OR, YOU KNOW, SPECIFIC PROJECTS,. THOSE REQUESTS BECOME IMPORTANT BECAUSE REPUBLICANS WILL NEED TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF BUY IN ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO MOVE FORWARD SOME OF THESE APPROPRIATION BILLS. SO, SO THAT THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO BE PLAYING OUT THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THIS YEAR.
IN ADDITION, THIS COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT IS MADE EVEN MORE COMPLEX BY THE PARTISAN EXERCISE THAT WE'RE SEEING ON THE BUDGETARY SIDE.
THE USE OF A PARTICULAR MECHANISM, WHICH YOU PROBABLY READ ABOUT, CALLED RECONCILIATION TO PASS TAX POLICY, BORDER SECURITY POLICY, ENERGY POLICY WITH A SIMPLE MAJORITY.
REPUBLICAN ONLY VOTES IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.
THAT PROCESS IS ONGOING. HAS BEEN DELAYED BY STRATEGY DIFFERENCES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT THERE FOR US IS THAT SOME OF THE PAY-FORS, THE CUTS MIGHT COME FROM PROGRAMS THAT THAT WE MAY CARE ABOUT. SO IF YOU THINK OF ANYTHING INVOLVING THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT, THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW, ANY FUNDING STREAMS THAT MIGHT BE MANDATORY, NOT CONTROLLED BY ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS THAT WE HAVE ACCESS TO UTILIZE. THOSE MIGHT BE ON THE LIST OF MENU OPTIONS FOR REDUCTIONS TO PAY FOR SPECIFIC TAX POLICY OR BORDER SECURITY POLICY INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDING OR ENERGY POLICY.
SO SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE OUT. AND THAT PROCESS IS PLAYING OUT NOW.
WE'LL AT LEAST GO INTO THE EARLY SUMMER MONTHS, IF NOT LONGER.
LASTLY, I'LL ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT IS MOVING IN CONGRESS IS THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT.
THIS IS A BILL THAT MOVES EVERY YEAR AND IS CONSIDERED A MUST PASS BILL.
IT'S PASSED 64 YEARS IN A ROW BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
AND WHILE THIS IS A DEFENSE BILL, IT IS OFTEN A BILL THAT GETS A LOT OF RIDERS AND NON-GERMANE OR NON RELEVANT POLICY RIDERS FROM OTHER MEMBERS BECAUSE THIS IS AGAIN THIS IS A BILL THAT THEY KNOW IS ALWAYS GOING TO PASS. IT'S USUALLY THE LAST BILL LEAVING THE STATION BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND BEFORE THE NEW YEAR.
SO MEMBERS ARE ACTIVELY LOOKING AT THAT TO TO ATTACH ANY TYPE OF PROJECTS, NO MATTER HOW SMALL OR HOW LARGE OR HOW RELEVANT. SO SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO, TO UTILIZE TO ATTACH ANY, ANY PARTICULAR PROGRAMS, AUTHORIZATIONS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO US GOING FORWARD.
LISA. GO AHEAD. WE WERE WATCHING LAST YEAR THE LAND TRANSFER FROM THE NAVY.
THAT ROAD, WE GOT LANGUAGE THROUGH SENATOR PADILLA'S OFFICE AND ALSO BARBARA LEE'S OFFICE ON THAT LEGISLATIVE VEHICLE TO FACILITATE THAT ACTIVITY BY THE PARKS. LISA, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO YOU OR HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS ON PARTICULAR PROGRAMS OR CURRENT EVENTS.
GLAD YOU COULD JOIN US. THANK YOU. GREAT TO BE WITH YOU ALL.
QUESTION? ERICH. I'M AWARE OF THE GARAMENDI EARMARK THAT WAS INVOLVED THE BAY TRAIL GAP IN RICHMOND.
ARE THERE OTHERS THAT HAVE BEEN IN THE PIPELINE? THERE IS POTENTIAL FOR FUNDING AT TIDEWATER THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY SENATOR.
WELL, THEN, SENATOR BUTLER. SO WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF THAT'S THAT, THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED. IF THERE IS A CONTINUING RESOLUTION, THAT WOULD BE ALSO ONE THAT WOULD GET DROPPED.
[00:50:08]
OKAY. THANK YOU. SO TWO. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? ONE I HAD ALSO. ALL RIGHT. WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE UPDATE.WE LOOK FORWARD TO A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU FOLKS AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU, I GUESS, IN MAY. RIGHT. LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. YEAH. IF YOU GUYS HAVEN'T BLOWN THE PLACE UP BY THEN OR NOT, YOU GUYS, BUT. [LAUGHTER] SOMEONE ELSE, THE FOLKS OUT THERE.
IT SHOULD BE INTERESTING TIMES. IT IS INTERESTING.
UNDERSTATEMENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. APPRECIATE YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. OKAY, THANKS. ERICH, ARE YOU READY TO MOVE TO THE NEXT ITEM? WELL, MOVING ON TO THE NEXT INFORMATIONAL ITEM.
YEAH. AND SO, JUST INTRODUCING THE ITEM. AND WANTED TO THANK BOARD FOR PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT.
I'VE ASKED FLORA TO RUN THROUGH EACH OF OUR MEETINGS.
GOOD DAY. COMMITTEE MEMBERS. FLORA CSONTOS, LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT.
I'M HERE TO LEAD US THROUGH OUR 2025 STATE ADVOCACY CONFERENCE, REFLECTION.
AND I THINK AMIR IS GOING TO HELP ME. THANK YOU, AMIR.
SO THAT'S THE ONE MUCH APPRECIATED FOR THE ASSIST.
SO IF EVERYONE COULD TELEPORT THEMSELVES BACK TO THAT TIME AND GO THROUGH WHAT WE LEARNED FROM MEETING DIRECTLY WITH THESE ELECTED OFFICIALS AND DIRECTLY WITH THEIR STAFF SO THAT WE CAN ALSO LOOK AHEAD TO 2025.
WE WILL GO IN ORDER OF THE MEETINGS THEMSELVES.
THE VERY FIRST MEETING ON THAT MONDAY WAS WITH SENATOR TIM GRAYSON.
IT TOOK PLACE IN PERSON WITH THE SENATOR, AS IT DID LAST YEAR AS WELL WHEN HE WAS ASSEMBLY MEMBER.
EACH MEETING, AS YOU MAY RECALL, COVERED PROPOSITION FOUR, BUT WE DISCUSSED DIFFERENT IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS DEPENDING ON THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS DISTRICT. AND SO FOR THE SENATOR, WE FOCUSED IN ON THE CARBON IZER AT ANTHONY CHABOT THURGOOD MARSHALL, THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD ACCESS POINT AND COVERED OYSTER BAY EQUITABLE ACCESS.
HE WAS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT INTRODUCING THE EAST BAY HILLS CONSERVATION PROGRAM, AS YOU KNOW, AND THAT HAS SINCE RECEIVED A BILL NUMBER. HE IS ALSO INTERESTED IN A WALK AND TALK, WHICH WE ARE COORDINATING WITH HIS OFFICE, AND ARE ALSO WORKING ON THE RADKE CHAMPIONING ADVOCACY AWARD DATES, WHICH HE RECEIVED DURING HIS TIME AS ASSEMBLY MEMBER LAST YEAR.
AND WE WILL BE PRESENTING TO HIM WITH OUR APPRECIATION FOR HIS LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP.
THE MEETING FOLLOWING SENATOR GRAYSON'S MEETING WAS WITH DIRECTLY WITH ANOTHER ELECTED OFFICIAL, SENATOR JERRY MCNERNEY, WHO IS NEW TO THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION THIS YEAR.
THE PROPOSITION FOUR PROJECT DISCUSSED WITH HIM COVERED DEL VALLE AND LAKE HEALTH ISSUES.
HE WAS INTERESTED IN A LIST OF STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES, SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE DISCUSSED WITH HIM AND ALSO COMPILED IN WRITTEN FORM FOR HIS OFFICE AND HIS TEAM TO MAKE USE OF. AND HE IS ONE OF THE COAUTHORS FOR THE EAST BAY HILLS CONSERVATION PROGRAM LEGISLATION.
SENATOR CABALDON WAS A STAFF LEVEL MEETING. THE SENATOR WAS UNEXPECTEDLY UNAVAILABLE AT THE LAST MINUTE, BUT IT WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION WITH HIS OFFICE AND WITH HIS TEAM.
WE FOCUSED IN ON BIG BREAK AND THE ADAPTATION WORK HAPPENING OUT THERE IN THE CONTEXT OF PROP 4.
[00:55:04]
AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING TO BIG BREAK IN HIS DISTRICT FOR A WALK AND TALK AT SOME POINT IN THE NEAR FUTURE.MOVING TO THE FOLLOWING DAY OF THE STATE ADVOCACY CONFERENCE, THE TEAM MET DIRECTLY WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER LORI WILSON, AS WE DID LAST YEAR AS WELL. ALSO LOOKED AT BIG BREAK THERE IN THE SAME THE SAME PART OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
SINCE THEN, SHE HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE DELTA CONSERVANCY BOARD, AND WE SENT A CONGRATULATORY LETTER JUST TO TO SHARE OUR SUPPORT AND OUR EXCITEMENT FOR HER APPOINTMENT IN THIS NEW ROLE THAT SHE'LL BE SERVING IN ON THE BOARD.
NEXT, THE NEXT MEETING THAT TOOK PLACE WAS WITH STAFF FROM SENATOR JESSE ARREGUIN'S OFFICE.
THERE WAS EXCITEMENT AND INTEREST DISCUSSING PROPOSITION 4 IMPLEMENTATION PROJECTS LIKE TEMESCAL AND LAKE ANZA, LAKE HEALTH ISSUES, AND THE WILDFIRE RESILIENCE WORK HAPPENING AT GRIZZLY PEAK COLLABORATIVE.
WE ALSO WERE IN TOUCH WITH THEIR OFFICE AND COVERED STATE BUDGET PRIORITY ISSUES, AND HE IS ALSO AN AUTHOR OF THE EAST BAY HILLS CONSERVATION PROGRAM LEGISLATION. AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, THERE'S ALSO A SPOT BILL INTRODUCED FOR THE CALIFORNIA TRAILS CONSERVANCY PROGRAM LEGISLATION. SO HE HAS CERTAINLY HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.
SENATOR AISHA WAHAB'S OFFICE. WE MET WITH STAFF FROM DOCTOR WAHAB'S OFFICE AND DISCUSSED HAYWARD SHORELINE WORK, ANTHONY CHABOT ISSUES AND THE CARBONIZER. THERE WAS ALSO DISCUSSION AND INTEREST IN WILDFIRE FUNDING AROUND THE EAST BAY AND WHERE THIS MIGHT BE INCLUDED IN AN EMERGENCY FIRE PACKAGE.
AND JUST OF NOTE, AROUND THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO MET WITH HER DISTRICT DIRECTOR AT A STAFF LEVEL AND WORKING TO UNDERSTAND HER DISTRICT PRIORITIES AS WE MOVE FORWARD. THE TEAM MET DIRECTLY WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER BONTA AS WE DID LAST YEAR AS WELL.
TIDEWATER WAS THE MAIN FOCUS AROUND PROPOSITION FOUR AND WATER QUALITY ISSUES.
AND ASSEMBLYMEMBER BONTA IS ALSO A COAUTHOR FOR PARK DISTRICT SPONSORED LEGISLATION.
ASSEMBLY MEMBER BUFFY WICKS THERE WAS A GREAT DISCUSSION WITH STAFF IN THIS OFFICE.
WE FOCUSED IN ON PROPOSITION 4, LAKE TEMESCAL, LAKE ANZA, AND GRIZZLY PEAK WORK HAPPENING THERE.
OFFICE OF ASSEMBLY MEMBER REBECCA BAUER-KAHAN.
SHE WAS UNEXPECTEDLY UNAVAILABLE, BUT WITH STAFF.
AND THEN JUST SORT OF CLOSE OUT THE DAY THERE WAS A MEETING WITH STAFF IN ASSEMBLY MEMBER LIZ ORTEGA'S OFFICE TALKING ABOUT OYSTER BAY AND EQUITABLE ACCESS. AND THE FINAL TWO MEETINGS DID INCLUDE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
FIRST WAS ASSEMBLY MEMBER ALEX LEE DISCUSSING COYOTE HILLS AND THE WORK HAPPENING THERE AROUND COASTAL RESILIENCE, THE CARBONIZER AT ANTHONY CHABOT, AND THEN ALSO DISCUSSING THAT SAME LIST OF STATE PRIORITIES AND PROPOSITION 4 WORK THAT'S HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. THE FINAL MEETING OF THE DAY WAS WITH ASSEMBLY MEMBER ANAMARIA AVILA FARIAS.
PROPOSITION 4 IMPLEMENTATION AT THURGOOD MARSHALL.
T HIS WAS RECEIVED WITH A LOT OF INTEREST AND A JUST ENTHUSIASM FOR A FUTURE SITE VISIT, AND LEARNING ABOUT THE PARK DISTRICT'S ROLE IN DELTA CONSERVATION. SHE IS ALSO A NEW MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION.
SO I'D WELCOME ANY COMMENTS HERE AND JUST LOOKING FORWARD TO A REALLY GREAT 2025.
THANK YOU. ANY COMMENTS QUESTIONS. WELL, JUST APPRECIATE ALL THE EFFORT THAT WAS PUT INTO PREPARING FOR IT. AND IN TERMS OF EXECUTION IS VERY WELL DONE ALL AROUND.
IT REALLY HELPS FOCUS, I THINK, ON A LOT OF THINGS.
I JUST WAS A LITTLE CURIOUS ABOUT THE YOU KNOW, EACH PERSON KIND OF HAD THEIR OWN THING LISTED, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE WOULD BENEFIT FROM A WALK AND TALK.
EVERYONE WOULD BENEFIT FROM OUR STATE BUDGET PRIORITIES.
[01:00:06]
IT JUST SEEMS THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD INFO THAT CAME OUT OF THAT.AND I GUESS I HAVE A QUESTION. I DO HAVE A QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, WITH EVERYTHING GOING ON IS THIS WE WILL DO THIS AGAIN.
LIKE HOW FREQUENTLY IS THIS? ANNUALLY? I KNOW WE'VE GOT PLANS TO DC.
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH GOING ON. WHAT WHAT'S THE NEXT STEP THAT WE WOULD MEET AGAIN.
GREAT QUESTION. HISTORICALLY, THIS HAS BEEN ANNUAL THERE, AND I WOULD SAY IT SERVES AS AN INFORMAL KICKOFF TO ENGAGEMENT FOR THE YEAR AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, AFTER THE ELECTIONS PASS THE GOING TO SACRAMENTO.
IT TYPICALLY IT'S FOLLOWED BY A LOT OF EVENTS LIKE THE WALK AND TALKS LIKE THE SITE VISITS.
SO I WOULD CERTAINLY ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE IN DISTRICT TIME, EAST BAY TIME, WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AND THEIR STAFF, ESPECIALLY MOVING INTO THE SUMMER MONTHS.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION. INTERESTING.
I WAS JUST GOING TO ADD T O YOUR POINT EARLIER, THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARTICIPATION ON SPECIFIC ISSUES AS WE SEE THINGS ADVANCE. AND WE ALSO DID I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S GONE OUT YET, BUT IT'S BEEN APPROVED.
THE LETTER, WHICH IS BASED ON THE MATERIALS YOU HAD FOR DISCUSSIONS ABOUT PROP 4 THAT BUDGET LETTER IS WILL BE GOING OUT TO THE ENTIRE DELEGATION IDENTIFYING THE THREE AREAS WHERE WE COULD SEE WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED.
THANK YOU. IT'S A GREAT DAY. IT WAS A GREAT TRIP.
YEAH. THANK YOU. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT IT WAS REALLY WELL DONE, REALLY WELL COORDINATED.
I THINK WE GOT A LOT OF GREAT RESPONSE, AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE OF WHO WE ARE.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
ONE WAY IS SPECIFICALLY, I MEAN, I NOTICED ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I EVER DO IS WHEN I WALK UP TO A LEGISLATORS OFFICE, AND IT'S NOT BECAUSE WE'RE THAT GREAT, IT'S JUST BECAUSE WE GOT A GREAT PRODUCT. YOU WALK IN THEIR OFFICE AND YOU SEE A PICTURE OF A REGIONAL PARK RIGHT IN THEIR ENTRYWAY THERE.
I NOTICED THAT OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE SOME OF THEM WERE MOVING IN SENATOR MCNERNEY, OR SENATOR MCNERNEY OR JERRY. AND ASSEMBLY MEMBER WILSON.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ON THEIR WALLS AND I THINK THEY WOULD REALLY WELCOME THAT. I THINK WE EVEN MENTIONED THAT SUBJECT. SO I HOPE WE FOLLOW UP ON THAT. GET THEM A NICE FRAMED PHOTO OF A BEAUTIFUL PARK IN THEIR DISTRICTS.
I THINK THAT I'M TRYING TO, I DON'T KNOW, NUMBERS, BUT THE GROUPS WERE WITH, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE CARBONIZER, I THINK IT'S STILL A LITTLE BIT, WOW.
WHAT'S THAT? CARBONIZER SOUNDS LIKE SOME SPACE THING.
BUT THE IDEA OF BRINGING EVERYBODY UP THERE, I KNOW IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
IT'S HARD. IT TAKES A LONG TIME COORDINATION.
BUT IF WE INVITED ALL OF THOSE FOLKS UP THERE AND HOPEFULLY WE'D GET 3 OR 4 OR MORE OF THEM TO SEE WHAT GOES ON UP THERE, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE I THINK THAT'S AN INCREDIBLE THING WE'RE DOING UP THERE.
AND AS FAR AS FIRE PRE FIRE MITIGATION IS PREPARING FOR FIRES DEALING WITH THE AFTERMATH OF FIRES WITH LOTS OF STEMS THAT ARE BURNED OVER, LIKE IN LA. YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO SOMETHING WITH THAT WOOD.
AND WE'VE GOT THE PRODUCT THAT CAN, YOU KNOW, BE THE FIX FOR THAT.
AND IT'S A BENEFICIAL USE. I MEAN BIOCHAR SEEMS TO BE WORKING OUT IN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS.
SO I THINK WE HAVE THIS GREAT THING THAT I THINK WE SHOULD REALLY TRY TO SHARE.
AND OTHER THAN THAT, IT WAS A REALLY GOOD TRIP. I APPRECIATE IT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ANYONE FROM THE PUBLIC? NO PUBLIC COMMENT? NO. OKAY. WELL, THAT BRINGS US TO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NOTHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE ORDER.
HEARING NOTHING. IT IS 12:06. WE ARE ADJOURNED.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PRESENTATIONS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.