[00:00:03]
>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME, EVERYONE.
[Roll Call]
THIS IS A REGULAR PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON OCTOBER 27, 2025, BEGINNING AT 4:01 P.M. MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL.>> YES, I CAN. FIRST UP, MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH?
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER CHANG? NO. MEMBER CLAXTON.
>> HERE? THANK YOU. MEMBER DETJENS?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. MEMBER LOPEZ? MEMBER LOPEZ, ARE YOU HERE WITH US VIRTUALLY?
>> YES. AND I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST IF I GET PERMISSION TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY, I'M UNWELL TODAY.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER MAHADEVAN?
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER MARSH? NO. MEMBER MENDOZA?
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER OBRINGER? I'M NOT SEEING HER. NO. MEMBER AMALLA?
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER VALENZUELA?
>> THANK YOU. AND MEMBER WILLIAMS. NO. THANK YOU.
I WILL NOW READ A NOTE ON THE BROWN ACT AND MEETING PROCEDURES.
TODAY'S MEETING IS HELD PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT.
THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, OR PARK DISTRICT, INTENDS TO HOLD MEETINGS THROUGH A HYBRID PLATFORM OF IN-PERSON AND REMOTE ATTENDANCE TO ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO PARTICIPATE VIA REMOTE ATTENDANCE THROUGH THE PARK DISTRICT'S VIRTUAL PLATFORM OF ZOOM.
THE PARK ADVISORY MEMBERS AND DESIGNATED STAFF WILL WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, PARTICIPATE IN PERSON AT THE PARK DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS AT 2950 PERALTA OAKS COURT IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.
OCCASIONALLY, MEMBERS OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MAY ATTEND REMOTELY PURSUANT TO THE BROWN ACT AS AMENDED BY AB 2449, PURSUANT TO GOVERNMENT CODE SECTION 54953 SUBDIVISION B.
PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER CARLYN OBRINGER WILL PARTICIPATE FROM 1950 PARKSIDE DRIVE IN CONCORD, CALIFORNIA, AND PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER SCOTT BARTLEBAUGH WILL PARTICIPATE FROM 7441 MILL RACE LANE IN NORTHFIELD, OHIO.
THIS NOTICE AND AGENDA WILL BE POSTED AT THE TELECONFERENCE LOCATIONS, ACCESSIBILITY TO AND PUBLIC COMMENT FROM THESE ADDRESSES WILL BE PROVIDED AS REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT CODE, SECTION 54953B3.
WE ARE PROVIDING LIVE AUDIO AND VIDEO STREAMING.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO, EITHER IN PERSON OR LIVE VIA ZOOM BY SUBMITTING AN EMAIL TO PARKADVISORYCOMMITTEE@EBPARK.ORG OR LEAVING A VOICEMAIL A 510-544-2036.
THIS INFORMATION IS NOTED ON THE AGENDA, AND IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT MEETING PROCEDURES, WE WILL BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR MENDOZA, IF YOU COULD PLEASE READ THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
>> AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY AND ON BEHALF OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL OF THE LANDS WITHIN THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ARE THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE EAST BAY OHLONE, BAMI WALK, AND NORTHERN VALLEY OKA, WHO ARE POLITICALLY ORGANIZED AND REPRESENTED BY A NUMBER OF TRIBES TODAY.
WE MAKE THIS RECOGNITION AS A WAY TO RESPECT AND HONOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO FIRST CULTIVATED AND INHABITED THIS LAND.
THE PARK DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO IDENTIFYING WAYS TO WORK AND CONSULT WITH EAST BAY TRIBES AS WE RECOGNIZE THAT THESE TRIBAL CITIZENS REMAIN CONNECTED TO THEIR LAND AND CULTURE.
I'D ALSO LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE VILLAGE KNOWN AS HUCHIUN ON CHOCHENYO OHLONE LAND.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIR MENDOZA.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY DUE TO AN EMERGENCY THAT WISH TO REQUEST THE BODY'S APPROVAL TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY? I KNOW WE HAVE MEMBER LOPEZ.
IS THERE ANYONE ELSE? MEMBER LOPEZ, YOU ALREADY DESCRIBED THE NATURE OF THE EMERGENCY.
IF I CAN REQUEST FROM THE BODY A MOTION TO VOTE TO APPROVE REMOTE PARTICIPATION FOR MEMBER LOPEZ.
MOVE BY DETJENS SECONDED BY PEOPLES.
KIRK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE TAKE A ROLL CALL?
[00:05:01]
>> OBRINGER. IS NOT HERE. MEMBER AMALLA?
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER VALENZUELA?
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES.
>> WE HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER, MEMBER LOPEZ.
FOR MEMBERS WHO PREVIOUSLY NOTED THERE ARE REMOTE PARTICIPATION, PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, WE WILL NOW CONFIRM IF THERE ARE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS PRESENT IN YOUR MEETING LOCATION.
MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH IS APPEARING REMOTELY.
PARK MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH, ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER THAT ARE OR TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE PLAN TO BE PRESENT IN THE ROOM AT YOUR LOCATION?
>> THANK YOU. NOW INTO APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES.
[Approval of Minutes]
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2025? IN A SECOND? QUEUE MOVED BY PEOPLES, SECONDED BY REID.MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
WE'RE VOTING TO APPROVE THE SEPTEMBER 29 MINUTES.
>> I APOLOGIZE FOR BEING LATE.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION IS APPROVED.
>> MADAM CLERK, WE NEED TO GO BACK AND APPROVE.
WE NEED TO ASK MEMBER OBRINGER, ABOUT A REMOTE ATTENDANCE.
MEMBER OBRINGER IS APPEARING REMOTELY.
PARK MEMBER OBRINGER, ARE THERE ANY OTHER INDIVIDUALS 18 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER THAT ARE TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE PLAN TO BE PRESENT IN THE ROOM AT YOUR LOCATION?
>> NO. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE AT THIS TIME.
ALTHOUGH THEY COULD IT IS AN ACCESSIBLE LOCATION, BUT NO ONE AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER OBRINGER.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS?
[Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda]
>> YES. PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED ONE OF THREE WAYS.
ONE VIA EMAIL TO PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT EBPARKS.ORG, TWO VIA VOICEMAIL AT 510-544-2036, AND LEAVING A MESSAGE WHICH WILL BE TRANSCRIBED AND GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE MADE PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD, AND THREE BY JOINING THE MEETING VIA THE ZOOM LINK, WHICH IS LISTED ON THE AGENDA POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.
THE SUBMISSION OF PUBLIC COMMENTS WAS NOTICED ON THE AGENDA AND IN THE PARK ADVISORY PACKET POSTED ON THE DISTRICT'S WEBSITE.
ALL EMAILS RECEIVED PRIOR TO THE DEADLINE ON FRIDAY OF LAST WEEK ARE DISTRIBUTED TO PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ANY EMAILS THAT HAVE COME IN AFTER THE DATE WILL BE ORGANIZED AND GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE AFTER THIS MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. IF YOU'RE HERE TO PROVIDE A COMMENT REGARDING AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA, WE WILL CALL ON INDIVIDUALS DURING PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THAT SPECIFIC ITEM.
HAS THE CLERK RECEIVED ANY EMAILS OR SPEAKERS CARDS FROM THE PUBLIC FOR ANY ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA?
>> WE HAVE. WE HAVE RECEIVED FOUR EMAILS OR LETTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
THESE HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND TRANSMITTED TO THE COMMITTEE.
>> AND DO WE HAVE ANY SPEAKERS CARDS?
>> WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO WOULD LIKE TO PROVIDE COMMENT.
HELLO, NORMAN. CAN YOU HEAR US?
>> HI NORMAN. YOU HAVE THREE MINUTES FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
YES. MEMBERS OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE,
[00:10:02]
I AM SPEAKING TODAY ON THE ISSUE OF MEASURE WW AT THE WORKSHOP THAT THE PAC BOARD HAD ON OCTOBER 3.THEY DISCUSSED THE PROPOSAL FROM STAFF TO TRANSFER $42 MILLION FROM ACQUISITION PROJECTS IN MEASURE WW TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I THINK THIS IS VERY DISTURBING AND CONCERNING.
MEASURE WW WAS PUT IN PLACE MAINLY FOR ACQUISITION PROJECTS.
I WORKED ON THE LIST FOR THAT AND ALSO ON THE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE AS A CO-CHAIR.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A REAL QUESTION OF CREDIBILITY IF THE PARK DISTRICT STARTS MOVING MONEY AROUND FROM THE ACQUISITION PORTIONS TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS, BECAUSE THIS MEASURE WAS CAMPAIGN TO THE VOTERS AS BEING PRIMARILY ACQUISITION.
WHILE THERE IS GROUNDS OR LEGAL REASONS, YOU CAN ALLOW FOR A TRANSFER, NEVERTHELESS, THE CAMPAIGN WAS BASED UPON WE'RE GOING TO BE ACQUIRING PROPERTY, AND THERE MAY BE SOME CAPITAL PROJECTS, BUT IT'S MAINLY AN ACQUISITION MEASURE.
SECONDLY, THERE'S BEEN NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHY CERTAIN PROJECTS' MONEY IS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM CERTAIN PROJECTS TO OTHERS IN THIS PROPOSAL, OR WHY THE MONEY HASN'T BEEN SPENT DOWN FOR THOSE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE MARTIN LUTHER KING SHORELINE HAS A WHOLE BUNCH OF MONEY BEING TAKEN OUT TO GO TO OTHER PROJECTS.
BUT THERE'S NO EXPLANATION AS TO HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT IN MARTIN LUTHER KING AND WHY THAT IS BEING DONE.
THAT RAISES A REAL SERIOUS QUESTION BECAUSE MARTIN LUTHER KING WAS PUT IN THERE SPECIFICALLY TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUES THAT THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY RAISED ABOUT LACK OF HAVING PARKS IN THEIR AREAS.
IF THE PARK DISTRICT IS GOING TO BE WORKING FOR PROVIDING PARKS FOR THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY SENSE TO BE TRANSFERRING MONEY FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING TO OTHER PROJECTS WHEN IT WAS SPECIFICALLY SOUGHT BY THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
THIS IS NOT EQUITY. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THAT SOME OF THE PROJECTS, MONEY IS BEING SHIFTED TO PROJECTS WHERE THE PARK DISTRICT REALLY HAVE TO QUESTION WHY IS BEING DONE? FOR EXAMPLE, POINT ISABEL, THERE'S A PROJECT FOR RESTORATION AND STABILIZATION OF POINT ISABEL.
POINT ISABEL IS OWNED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
IT SHOULD BE THE ONE PAYING FOR THAT, NOT THE PARK DISTRICT.
PARK DISTRICT OPERATES POINT ISABEL, BUT IT'S NOT OBLIGATED TO DO THIS KIND OF CAPITAL MAINTENANCE.
SO, THE QUESTION IS, WHY IS THAT BEING DONE AND WHY HASN'T THE STATE BEEN ASKED TO COME FORWARD WITH THE MONEY FOR THAT? I THINK THERE'S JUST TREMENDOUS ISSUES AND QUESTIONS THAT I THINK THIS PARK ADVISORY BOARD SHOULD BE ASKING AND SHOULD HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK AND GET A CLEAR STATEMENT FROM A REPORT FROM THE STAFF AS TO WHY THIS IS BEING DONE WITH CLEAR EXPLANATIONS AS TO HOW MUCH MONEY EXISTS IN EXISTING PROJECTS, WHAT HASN'T BEEN SPENT, WHAT HAS BEEN SPENT, AND WHY IT'S BEING SHIFTED THE WAY IT IS FOR THOSE OTHER PARTICULAR PROJECTS.
>> NORMAN, I'M SORRY, BUT THAT IS YOUR TIME.
>> AGAIN, WE WILL PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ABOUT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH ITEM.
WE HAVE TWO INFORMATION ITEMS TONIGHT,
[Informational Items]
AND THEN WE ARE FORTUNATE TO BE JOINED BY DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT, WHO IS A RELATIVELY NEW DIRECTOR HAVING GONE RIGHT FROM PAC TO THE BOARD, SO WELCOME BACK.THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND IT'S ALWAYS NICE TO HAVE A FORMER PAC MEMBER ATTENDING.
SORRY, I'M REALLY EXCITED ACTUALLY TO COME BACK.
I WAS ON THE PAC FOR SIX YEARS, SO THIS IS FUN.
I GOT TO TELL YOU GUYS, WHEN YOU GO UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL, SOMEONE WAS ASKING ME.
I THINK IT'S 10 OR 20 FOLD, THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT WE DO AND WHAT WE SEE.
IT'S PRETTY EXCITING, BUT WE HAVE TWO CLOSED SESSIONS, TWO OPEN SESSIONS, PLUS WE BELONG ON TWO COMMITTEES, AND IT'S A LOT.
I WAS REALLY EXCITED TO JOIN AND I COME WITH A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE BACKGROUND.
THAT WAS MY SPECIALTY ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I THINK WE HAVE A GREAT BOARD OF SEVEN MEMBERS WHO BRING A LOT OF DIFFERENT FOCUS TO THE TO THE GROUP.
I'VE FOUND SOME NUGGETS RECENTLY THAT I THOUGHT I WOULD SHARE WITH YOU.
I WAS LIKE A KID IN A CANDY STORE.
I WAS AT THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AND WE GOT AN UPDATE ON THE ENERGY PLAN, WHICH WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS OF INTEREST TO ME AND WE GET ALL THESE REPORTS OVER AND OVER COMING INTO US, BUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE SOMETHING THAT YOU'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, AND I THOUGHT I'D BRING A SNAPSHOT OF THAT TO YOU TODAY.
[00:15:02]
DO YOU HAVE THE LITTLE PRESENTATION, ELSA, THE POWERPOINT OR DO YOU WANT ME TO COME UP THERE AND RUN IT? IF YOU COULD JUST DO IT SINCE I GOT THE MICROPHONE HERE.IS THERE A MIC UP THERE? I CAN JUST CARRY THIS.
LET ME STAND UP THERE. I'LL DO IT MYSELF.
>> JUST THE FORWARD AND UP. GOT IT.
BEING A CLIMATE SCIENTIST AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST, I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE FACTS OR THE FACTS THAT CLIMATE CHANGE IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT, AND IT'S GOING TO COME UP IN ALL OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROTECTING OUR PARKS IN THE FUTURE.
WHAT FLEX MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT I KEEP TRACK OF IS THE 426 PARTS PER MILLION IS WHERE THE CO_2 LEVEL OF THE PLANET IS NOW, AND THAT SIGNIFICANTLY EXCEEDS THE 350 PART PER MILLION TARGET THAT THEY'VE SET, BILL MCGIBIN, IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN A FOLLOWER IS 350 OR IS BASED ON THE 350 WAS CONSIDERED THE TIPPING POINT OF NO RETURN.
EVER THE OPTIMIST, I'M VERY EXCITED TO TELL YOU THAT THERE'S LOTS OF THINGS GOING ON AND WE'RE ALL DOING WHAT WE CAN.
I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU SOME THINGS I LEARNED.
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT WE DO HAVE SUSTAINABILITY POLICIES AND TAKING A LEADERSHIP ON SOME ISSUES.
IN 2009, THE PARK DISTRICT DID PASS A SUSTAINABILITY POLICY THAT DROVE US TO KEEP LOOKING FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND CARBON NEUTRALITY.
THEN FROM THAT WAS HIRED A CONSULTANT WHO WENT OUT AND DEVELOPED IN 2014, A FABULOUS STRATEGIC ENERGY PLAN THAT RESULTED IN QUITE A BIT OF SOLAR INSTALL, PARTICULARLY AT SHADOW CLIFFS, THAT I'LL TELL YOU ABOUT IN A MINUTE.
IN 2023, WE UPDATED AND WE ACTUALLY HAVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL PREFERENTIAL PURCHASING PLAN THAT GUIDES HOW THE PARKS ACTUALLY PURCHASE MATERIALS AND CONTRACTS.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS OUTLINE THREE THINGS, SOLAR, EV CHARGING, AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROJECTS.
I WAS EXCITED TO HEAR ABOUT SOME OF THESE, PARTICULARLY SHADOW CLIFFS. I KNEW IT WAS OUT THERE.
I KNEW IT HAD SOLAR, BUT I HAD NO IDEA THAT IT HAD 1.9 MEGAWATTS, SO THAT'S 1,900 KILOWATT HOURS COMING OUT ANNUALLY.
AT THE TIME IN 2017, THAT ALMOST COVERED THE DISTRICT'S ENTIRE ELECTRICITY BILL.
WE'VE ADDED A LOT MORE FACILITIES, BUSINESS METERS, SO IT DOESN'T COVER IT ENTIRELY, BUT THERE'S NO REASON WE COULDN'T CONTINUE TO LOOK AT GETTING SOLAR AND GETTING OURSELVES TO BE ENERGY NEUTRAL, AND THAT COULD HAPPEN.
THESE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE SOLAR IN ADDITION TO SHADOW CLIFFS RIGHT HERE AT OUR HEADQUARTERS, THE TRUDEAU TRAINING CENTER, BIG BREAK, DEER VALLEY, AND SOME OF THE PARK RESIDENCES.
IT'S ALSO INTERESTING I LEARNED THAT WE HAVE 42 WELLS OUT THERE IN THE PARKS AND THOSE ARE ALL SOLAR RUN AS WELL.
WE MAINTAIN THOSE WHEN WE LOOK AT THEM REMOTELY AND THOSE ARE ALL RUN BY SOLAR.
IT WAS EXCITING FOR ME TO BRING IT ALL TOGETHER.
I ALSO DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HEARD THAT THE NORTH CAMPUS IS GOING TO BE A GOLD LEAD BUILDING.
THAT WAS PRETTY EXCITING TO ME.
IT'S NOT THE BRIONES CORP YARD, IT'S POINT PANOL AND THE TILDEN OUR SOLAR READY PROJECTS.
THERE'S GREAT OPPORTUNITY HERE AS YOU GUYS ARE REVIEWING YOUR REPORTS TO KEEP PUTTING IN YOUR VOICE FOR ENERGY AND UPDATES.
ALSO OUR ELECTRIC VEHICLES ARE PRETTY EXCITING.
WE DO HAVE 18 FLEET CHARGING STATIONS BECAUSE OF SECURITY.
WHEN THERE'S A POWER OUTAGE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO HAVE THOSE CHARGING STATIONS AVAILABLE TO US SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO OUR GOOD WORK, BUT WE ALSO HAVE 14 PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
I WAS OVER AT THE SIBLEY EASTPORT STAGING AREA AND THEY WERE RUNNING SOME CABLEING AND TRYING TO GET THAT CHARGING STATION BETTER.
BUT WHAT BETTER THING TO DO THAN TO GO FOR A WALK IN THE PARK AND CHARGE YOUR EV WHILE YOU'RE OUT IN THE PARK AND COME BACK WITH A FULLY LOADED VEHICLE.
I'M OPTIMISTIC THAT OUR 75 PARKS WILL ALL HAVE STAGING AREAS WITH EVS AT SOME POINT.
WE HAVE 17 ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET AND WE HAVE 31 HYBRID VEHICLES IN OUR FLEET.
AS TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES, THE HEAVIER TRUCKS AND THINGS ARE ALSO BECOMING EASIER FOR US TO PURCHASE THOSE TYPES OF VEHICLES.
THEN ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THEY'VE PUT IN OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN INVESTING A LOT OF THINGS LIKE LIGHTING PROJECTS, AND PARTICULARLY AT OUR SWIM FACILITIES, PUTTING IN THOSE VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES HELP TO SAVE MONEY.
AGAIN, THE NORTH CAMPUS IS GOING TO BE LEAD GOLD, AND OUR SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN HAS MADE ONE OF ITS OPPORTUNITIES OR ITS GOALS TO BE TO MAKE SURE WE INCLUDE CLIMATE INEQUITY.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE A WEBSITE THAT I FOUND THAT HAS ALL THE CLIMATE ACTIONS.
ALL THE THINGS I MENTIONED, MOST OF THEM ARE LISTED THERE.
[00:20:02]
I JUST FIND THIS TO BE A REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC FOR ME.WE DO HAVE POLICIES THAT ASK US TO GUIDE US THROUGH ALL OF OUR POLICY MAKING DECISIONS THAT WE WILL CONSIDER ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS AND ALL THAT WE DO.
THERE'S NOTHING MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY ETHICAL IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE INEQUITY, AND SO I JUST WANT TO RAISE THIS UP AND ALSO REMIND ALL OF YOU AND THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR VOLUNTEER SERVICE TO MAKE SURE YOU ALSO GET OUT IN THE PARKS AND ENJOY THE SUNSHINE IN OUR OWN VITAMIN D ABSORPTION IN OUR OWN ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
WE'RE SO LUCKY TO BE SERVING AND ENJOYING THE PARKS.
I'M HAPPY TO BE HERE. I DO HAVE ANOTHER MEETING I'M GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO.
I'M GOING TO STICK AROUND FOR A BIT, BUT ANYBODY WANT TO ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS OR THOUGHTS ON THIS TOPIC THAT I CHOSE TO RAISE TODAY TO SEE WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.
>> THANK YOU, LINDA. THAT WAS WONDERFUL.
AS PART OF ONE OF THE INFORMATIONAL ITEMS TODAY IS GOING TO BE ABOUT MORE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITHIN THE PACK OUT IN THE RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES.
THAT SLIDE SHOW IS WONDERFUL FOR BEING ABLE TO SHOW WHAT WE'RE DOING IN TERMS OF SUSTAINABILITY.
HOPEFULLY, IF YOU OR ESTHER COULD PROVIDE THE SLIDES, BUT ALSO THE WEBSITE URL, THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL.
THERE WAS ALSO A MORE DETAILED VERSION THAT WE SAW AT THE OPERATING COMMITTEE.
THAT WAS WHAT TRIGGERED ME TO COME UP WITH A CONDENSE MORE OF A SHORT.
BUT IT GOES INTO EACH OF OUR BUILDINGS AND HOW MUCH WE'RE SAVING.
IT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENTED BY FINANCE AND IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING REPORT ON ENERGY UPDATE.
I'M HAPPY TO SHARE BOTH OF THOSE WITH YOU.
I DON'T THINK THAT REPORT HAS GONE TO US, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS YET.
I WAS SERVING ON THAT BOARD WHEN I SAW THAT, BUT IT'S NICE TO TELL THE STORY, AND I THINK ALL OF US ARE REPRESENTATIVES, DON'T EVER THINK YOUR ROLES ARE DIMINISHED.
WE ALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN WE'RE OUT THERE TALKING TO THE PUBLIC, AND I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE WITH YOU.
>> IF I COULD SHARE JUST QUICKLY, ONE EXAMPLE OF ONE OF MY GROUPS THAT I BELONG TO THE TUESDAY FOR THE BIRDS GROUP, WHICH IS ACTUALLY A REGIONAL NATURE PROGRAM FOR A LONG TIME LIKE 20 YEARS.
THEY ASKED ME, HOW COME WE SEE SO MANY TRUCKS OUT THERE ARE NOT ELECTRIC VEHICLES? THOSE NUMBERS, 17 VEHICLES, 31 HYBRIDS IS REALLY PROOF THAT WE'RE DOING THE WORK TO AMELIORATE THE FACT THAT MANY OF US COMMUTE INTO OUR PARKS, ESPECIALLY WITH THE CUTTING DOWN A REMOTE SITUATION. THANK YOU AGAIN.
I THINK WE HAVE A LONG WAYS TO GO IF YOU LOOK AT OUR TOTAL VEHICLES, AND I THINK AS WE GET THE INFRASTRUCTURE, JUST LIKE ALL OF US, I PERSONALLY HAVEN'T SWITCHED TO AN EV YET.
I'M STILL ON A HYBRID, BUT I THINK WE CAN KEEP RAISING THIS AND WHEN THINGS COME TO YOU AS THE PAC, MAKING RECOMMENDATIONS, AND I'M ALWAYS AVAILABLE IF PEOPLE WANT TO CONTACT ME, WHETHER YOU'RE IN MY DISTRICT OR I REPRESENT YOU AT THE BOARD.
I'D LOVE TO HEAR MORE IDEAS, INPUT, AND HOPEFULLY FILTER UP TO US YOUR THOUGHTS.
>> JUST FOLLOWING UP ON THE VEHICLES.
DOES THE ENERGY PLAN LAY OUT A SCHEDULE AND A PLAN FOR ACTUALLY ELECTRIFYING ALL THE VEHICLES OR MOST OF THE VEHICLES THAT ARE CAPABLE OF BEING ELECTRIFIED?
>> NO. I THINK IT PROBABLY WOULD NEED TO BE UPDATED.
I HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF STAFF HAS ANYTHING TO ANSWER.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY SUCH THING.
>> IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO KNOW HOW MANY VEHICLES ARE REPLACED EVERY YEAR ANYWAYS.
>> IT'S SOMETHING WE MIGHT HAVE TO LOOK AT, BUT THE POLICIES ARE GENERAL IN NATURE AND DON'T GET INTO THAT LEVEL OF DETAIL AT THIS TIME.
>> THANK YOU, DIRECTOR DE SHABALE [APPLAUSE] WE HAVE TWO INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. THE FIRST ONE WILL BE THE INFORMATIONAL UPDATE.
>> I'M SO SORRY. I HAD A QUICK COMMENT.
I DON'T THINK YOU SAW MY HAND, CHAIR. I APOLOGIZE.
>> I APOLOGIZE, MEMBER BRING UP, PLEASE.
>> NO WORRIES. I JUST WANTED TO THANK DIRECTOR DE SHABALE FOR THIS PRESENTATION, AND I'M SOMEONE WHO IS NOW ON MY FOURTH NISSAN LEAF.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT PLACES FOR PEOPLE TO CHARGE BECAUSE ESPECIALLY, IF WE'RE TRYING TO DRIVE AROUND THE BAY AREA AND VISIT THE DIFFERENT REGIONAL PARKS, IT'S NICE TO KNOW THAT THIS INFRASTRUCTURE IS GETTING ESTABLISHED.
CITIES ARE TRYING TO DO IT, BUT IT'S ALSO NICE TO SEE OTHER JURISDICTIONS LIKE THE PARK DISTRICT.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
I THINK YOU'RE ONE OF THE FIRST DIRECTORS I'VE SEEN WHO HAD A FULL FLEDGED PRESENTATION.
MY COMPLIMENTS AND THANKS TO YOU FOR YOUR PROFESSIONALISM AND FOR THIS INITIATIVE.
>> THANK YOU. WE APOLOGIZE, I DIDN'T SEE THE SCREEN BEFORE,
[00:25:01]
SO I COULDN'T SEE YOUR HAND ON MEMBER OBRINGER.I JUST NEED TO SPEAK OUT OF TURN. THANK YOU.
>> OUR FIRST ITEM WILL BE AN INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON THE 2024 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT.
BEFORE WE DO THAT, I WOULD ASK MEMBER ED VALENZUELA WHO CHAIRS THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO GIVE THE PAC A REPORT ON THE MEETING FINANCE COMMITTEE HAD TO GO OVER THIS INFORMATION.
>> I WILL BE HAPPY TO. ON OCTOBER 16TH, WE HAD A MEETING OF THE PAC IN THE FINANCE GROUP, AND WE WERE GIVEN THE REVIEW OF THE ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT FROM THE FINANCE GROUP AND FROM OUR NEW AUDITING GROUP, THE MAYS AND ASSOCIATES.
WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH THE FORMAT THAT WAS GIVEN.
WE WERE ASKED THE PREVIOUS YEAR TO HAVE MORE OF AN OUTLINE FOR US TO FOLLOW.
WE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIG INTO THE WHOLE BOOK, AND WE WERE HAPPY WITH THE FORMAT THAT WE WERE GIVEN AND HAD THE CHANCE TO GO INTO THE BOOK TO TALK ABOUT CERTAIN TOPICS THAT WE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT.
BUT THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS, ANY QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD WERE ANSWERED RIGHT AWAY FROM BOTH THE FINANCE GROUP AND FROM MAYS, MAYS ACTUALLY HAD A REALLY GOOD PRESENTATION, AND THEY SET OUT THE FORMAT THAT THEY WORKED WITH THE FINANCER GROUP TO SET PLANS IN PLACE TO MOVE THINGS ALONG MUCH QUICKER IN THE FUTURE.
BUT WE WERE VERY HAPPY WITH ALL THE INFORMATION GIVEN.
WE WERE VERY HAPPY TO MOVE THE INFORMATION ONTO THE PEC, WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO DO IN JUST A FEW MORE MINUTES.
SOME OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD THOUGH ON THE POSITIVE SIDE, IS THAT WE REALLY LOVE LIKE I SAID, THE PROCESSES THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN PLACE FOR THE 2025 BUDGET, ONCE IT GETS TO THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT BETWEEN THE FINANCIAL GROUP AND MAYS, THAT THEY'RE WORKING TOGETHER TO HAVE THIS BUDGET DONE MUCH QUICKER.
THIS REVIEW OF THE WHOLE 2025.
WE FELT HAVING THIS INFORMATION IN OCTOBER WAS NOT THE PROPER THING TO DO WHEN IT SHOULD BE DONE IN JUNE.
BUT I'VE BEEN TALKING TO THEM THAT THEY FELT THAT THEY WERE HAD EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO HAVE IT DONE BEFORE JUNE OF 2026.
THE THINGS THAT WE FELT THAT WE NEEDED TO IMPROVE WOULD BE, TO HAVE THE RIGHT STAFFING IN PLACE, HAVE THE RIGHT CROSS TRAINING IN PLACE SO THAT IF SOMEBODY IS MISSING OR A SPOT OPENS UP, THAT THE WORK CAN STILL BE DONE AND THAT WORK IS NOT JUST SET ASIDE AND PILED ON TO WHOEVER HAPPENS TO BE IN THE FINANCE GROUP AT THAT TIME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT WE HAD THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE PROCESS, LIKE I SAID, WERE COMPLETELY ANSWERED AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE THE PRESENTATION AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER VALENZUELA.
GREAT REPORT. VICE CHAIRMAN DOSA, QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER VALENZUELA, IF WE COULD JUST DELINEATE WHO IS ON THE SUBCOMMITTEE SO THAT WE HAVE FULL AWARENESS OF WHO THEY ARE AND ALSO TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> DO YOU WANT TO ANNOUNCE WHO'S ON THE COMMITTEE?
>> IT'S MEMBER CHANG, MEMBER PEOPLES, MEMBER OF VALENZUELA, AND THEN CHAIR AND VISE CHAIR ARE ON THAT COMMITTEE AS WELL, BUT THE MEMBERS IN LARGER VALENZUELA, PEOPLES, AND CHANG. MEMBER PEOPLES.
>> OBRINGER. I'M SORRY. THAT'S RIGHT.
>> APOLOGIZE AGAIN, MEMBER OBRINGER [LAUGHTER] NOW ONTO STAFF DEBRA SPAULDING.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. DEB SPALDING AGMA FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
I'M JUST GOING TO DO A QUICK INTRODUCTION AND THEN TURN IT OVER TO KAREN SICAT, WHO IS OUR NEW ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER.
SHE JOINED US LAST YEAR, AND SHE TOOK OVER THIS AUDIT MIDWAY THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND SHE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL ADDITION.
SHE COMES FROM THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA, WHERE SHE WAS IN CHARGE OF THEIR AUDIT THERE.
AS YOU HEARD, WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE PAC FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND I THINK HAD A REALLY USEFUL DIALOGUE.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THEIR COMMENTS AND FEEDBACK.
WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU GUYS THE SAME PRESENTATION THAT THEY HEARD.
OUR AUDIT PARTNER ATTENDED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, BUT SHE'S NOT ABLE TO BE HERE TODAY.
YOU'LL JUST HEAR FROM US, AND THEN HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS AND WE'RE DONE. KAREN.
I'M KAREN SICAT, ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AND I'LL BE PRESENTING SOME KEY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM
[00:30:01]
THE DISTRICT'S 2024 ANNUAL COMPREHENSIVE FINANCIAL REPORT OR WHAT WE ALL KNOWN AS ACFR.I'LL STARTED OFF WITH OUR AUDIT RESULTS.
TODAY IS WHEN WE WOULD HAVE OUR ISSUED AUDIT REPORT BECAUSE WHEN WE PRESENTED ON OCTOBER 16, IT WAS STILL A DRAFT, AND IT'S DUE TO THE COMPONENT UNIT, WHICH WAS A CHANGE IN THIS CALENDAR YEAR 2024, WHICH IS THE REGIONAL PARK FOUNDATION.
WE JUST HEARD BACK FROM THEM LAST WEEK THAT THEY'RE READY TO ISSUE AND THAT HAS CAUSED THE DELAY OF THE ISSUANCE OF THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
AS OF TODAY, I CAN DEFINITELY CONFIRM THAT WE ARE RECEIVING AN UNMODIFIED AUDIT OPINION, WHICH IS OFTEN I'M REFERRED TO AS THE CLEAN OPINION.
THIS SIGNIFIES THAT THE DISTRICT'S FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE FREE FROM MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS AND CAN BE RELIED UPON FOR DECISION MAKING.
>> ADDITIONALLY, WE ARE PROUD TO SHARE IT FOR THE 24TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR.
WE'VE RECEIVED THE CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR EXCELLENCE IN FINANCIAL REPORTING, WHICH IS ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION IS WHAT WE ALL KNOW AS GFOA FOR OUR 2023 ACFR.
THIS CONSISTENT RECOGNITION DEMONSTRATES THE PARK DISTRICT'S STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES.
LET'S NOW TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DISTRICT'S TOTAL NET POSITION.
FOR 2024, WE'VE REPORTED A TOTAL OF 1.12 BILLION, WHICH MARKS A 5% INCREASE FROM PREVIOUS YEAR.
OUT OF THIS TOTAL, 70% IS TIED TO OUR NET INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS.
AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS CHART, THERE'S JUST A MODEST INCREASE OF 1% FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, AND IT'S JUST DUE TO THE 7.5 MILLION INCREASE IN OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR CAPITAL ASSETS.
HERE IT IS THE SUMMARY OF OUR STATEMENT OF NET POSITION.
I'LL START OFF WITH OUR ASSETS.
THE CURRENT AND OTHER ASSETS INCREASED BY 51.9 MILLION WHEN COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, AND IT'S DRIVEN BY THE 67.9 MILLION INCREASE IN OUR CASH AND INVESTMENTS.
THIS REFLECTS A YEAR WHERE OUR REVENUES EXCEEDED OUR EXPENDITURES BY 56.8 MILLION.
THEN MOVING ALONG TO OUR LIABILITIES, A TOTAL INCREASE IS JUST 4.4 MILLION AND IT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD CALLED COMPENSATED ABSENCES.
WE HAVE TO REPORT NOW THE SICKLY USAGE THAT WASN'T REPORTED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS DUE TO THIS NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARD.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S JUST A SHIFT BETWEEN THE CURRENT AND LONG-TERM LIABILITIES, AND THAT'S JUST DUE TO THE PORTION OF THE LONG-TERM THAT BEING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR.
OUR RESTRICTED NET POSITION SAW A 63.3 MILLION INCREASE, AND THAT'S PRIMARILY DUE TO THE PROCEEDS FROM THE ISSUANCE OF THE 2024 PROMISSORY NOTES, WHICH ARE STRICTLY RESTRICTED FOR THE RENOVATION OF OUR PERALTA OAKS NORTH ADMIN BUILDING.
LASTLY, THE UNRESTRICTED NET POSITION STANDS AT 173.4 MILLION, WHICH PRETTY MUCH REPRESENTS THE RESIDUAL AMOUNT AVAILABLE FOR USE, AND IT HAS DECREASED BY 23.5 MILLION, WHICH REFLECTS JUST OUR STRONG INVESTMENTS IN OUR CAPITAL ASSETS.
THAT 23.5 WAS BASICALLY MOVED TO THE NET INVESTMENT IN CAPITAL ASSETS.
IT'S JUST A SHIFT, BUT IT'S ALL STILL WITHIN THE NET POSITION TOTAL.
MOVING ON, THIS IS THE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES, WHICH FOR A PRIVATE SECTOR IS KNOWN AS THE INCOME STATEMENT.
OUR TOTAL DISTRICT REVENUES HAD BEEN BROKEN DOWN INTO PROGRAM REVENUES AND GENERAL REVENUES.
A FEW KEY HIGHLIGHTS, OUR PROPERTY TAXES, WHICH IS THE LARGEST SOURCE OF REVENUE FOR US, HAD INCREASED BY 4% AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
WHILE OUR GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROPERTY TAX HAS DECREASED BY 26 MILLION.
BUT THIS PARTICULAR PROPERTY TAX, IT'S TIED TO THE DEBT PAYMENT, WE JUST HAPPENED TO HAVE A LOWER REQUIRED PAYMENT FOR OUR DEBTS FROM LAST YEAR, SO THAT'S WHY IT DECREASED, BUT IT WOULD BE BASED OF WHAT OUR SCHEDULED DEBT PAYMENTS ARE IN THE FUTURE.
THEN ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, YOU WOULD NOTICE THAT THERE ARE A FEW INCREASES ACROSS DIVISIONS, AND IT'S JUST PRIMARILY DUE TO THE FILLING OF THE VACANT POSITIONS THAT WERE USED TO BE BUDGETED IN THE PREVIOUS YEARS.
[00:35:03]
NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUNDS PERFORMANCE AGAINST THE BUDGET.WE'VE REPORTED A POSITIVE VARIANCE OF 16.7 MILLION IN OUR REVENUES, AND THAT'S LARGELY DRIVEN BY THE 11 MILLION OF UNBUDGETED INTEREST AND INVESTMENT EARNINGS.
WE ALSO, AS DISCUSSED EARLIER, HAVE A MODEST INCREASE IN OUR PROPERTY TAXES OF 4.7 MILLION, WHICH IS REFLECTED IN OUR PROPERTY TAX AND ASSESSMENTS LINE ITEM.
THEN ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, I KNOW IT'S NOT GOOD TO SEE A POSITIVE VARIANCE BECAUSE THAT MEANS WE HAVEN'T SPENT THE MONEY.
BUT THAT'S MAINLY DUE TO UNSPENT, REPAIRED AND MAINTENANCE FUNDS.
HOWEVER, FOR THIS TYPE OF UNSPENT MONEY, WE NORMALLY ROLL IT OVER TO THE NEXT YEAR.
THAT MONEY IS STILL INTACT FOR USE FOR THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT THEY WERE ALLOTTED FOR IN 2024.
THEN I ALSO WANT TO BRIEFLY HIGHLIGHT OUR PENSION AND OTHER POST-EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS OR OPEB LIABILITIES.
THE DISTRICT USED TO BE UNDER THIS EBRPD PENSION PLAN BEFORE WE MOVED TO CALPERS.
AS YOU CAN SEE HERE, IT'S A NEGATIVE THAT MEANS IT'S AN ASSET, AND SO WE'VE CONTINUED TO SHOW POSITIVE RESULTS WITH A NET PENSION ASSET OF 3.2 MILLION FOR OUR GENERAL EMPLOYEES.
WHILE OUR SAFETY IS CLOSE TO ZERO, WHICH IS GOOD.
WE'RE ONLY REPORTING $100,000 OF LIABILITY, WHICH WAS DOWN BY 200,000 FROM LAST YEAR.
AS FOR OUR CALPERS, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S STILL A POSITIVE AMOUNT, SO THAT MEANS WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO IN TERMS OF REDUCING OUR NET PENSION LIABILITY, AND WE'VE HAD IMPLEMENTED A FEW PLANS ALREADY THAT WERE EXECUTED LATE LAST YEAR.
BASICALLY, WE STARTED THE FRESH START, IT'S A 14-YEAR PLAN TO ACCELERATE THE PAYMENT OF THE NET PENSION LIABILITY, AND WE ALSO DID A 6 MILLION ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY PAYMENT TO CALPERS.
BECAUSE OF THE TIMING OF THEIR FISCAL YEAR, WHICH IS BASICALLY THEY GO BY JULY 1 TO JUNE 30, THE PAYMENTS WERE MADE IN DECEMBER.
THOSE ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS WERE NOT YET REFLECTED WHEN THEY PROVIDED US THE LIABILITY.
WE DO HOPE TO SEE THAT ADDITIONAL PAYMENTS TO SLIGHTLY REDUCED, IF NOT LARGELY THE TOTAL LIABILITY TO BE REPORTED IN 2025.
OUR MISCELLANEOUS PLAN IT'S STILL AT 124 MILLION, WHICH WAS DOWN BY 4 MILLION AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
THE SAFETY PLAN HAS A NET PENSION LIABILITY OF 31.8 MILLION, WHICH INCREASED BY ROUGHLY 9 MILLION AS COMPARED TO LAST YEAR.
WE'VE NOTICED A HUGE SHIFT IN OUR DISTRICT MEMBERS.
WE NOW HAVE MORE PEPA MEMBERS AS COMPARED TO CLASSIC.
THAT'S ALSO WHY WE'RE SEEING THAT INCREASE IN OUR LIABILITY FOR OUR SAFETY MEMBERS.
ON A POSITIVE NOTE, WE HAVE ALSO REPORTED OPEB ASSET OF 12.1 MILLION, MARKING AN INCREASE OF 4.3 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR.
IT'S JUST I THINK A FEW MONTHS AGO THAT WE RECEIVED INFORMATION FROM CALPERS THAT WE ARE ALREADY CONSIDERED SUPER FUNDED, WHICH MEANS SINCE WE'RE AT 117% FUNDED WITH OUR OPEB THAT WE'RE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO MAKE MORE CONTRIBUTIONS AS OF THE MOMENT.
JUST TO PROVIDE YOU A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF WHERE WE ARE AT IN TERMS OF THE FUNDING PROGRESS.
THE CALPERS PLANS ARE CURRENTLY AT 73.6% FUNDING, AND WE HOPE TO REACH 80% AFTER WE MAKE THOSE ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS IN LATE LAST YEAR.
OUR EBRPD PLANS ARE PERFORMING VERY WELL.
THE GENERAL PLAN IS FULLY FUNDED. IT'S 100.9%.
LASTLY, OUR OPEB PLAN IS 117.4%, WHICH IS EXCELLENT.
THAT CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION AND I'M OPEN TO ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS YOU GUYS MAY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
>> THANK YOU. IF YOU COULD ALSO MAKE THE SCREEN SO WE CAN SEE THE REMOTE MEMBERS, PLEASE.
A LITTLE BIT LARGER, SO IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS,
[00:40:01]
COMMENTS, AND DOES ANYONE ANY MEMBERS IN HERE? REMEMBER MAHAV.>> QUESTION ABOUT THE TWO [INAUDIBLE] PLANS.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE OR IS JUST ONE?
>> THE PARK DISTRICT JOINED THE CALPERS RETIREMENT PLAN IN 2000 FOR SAFETY IN 2001 FOR MISCELLANEOUS.
PRIOR TO THAT, WE HAD OUR OWN RETIREMENT PLAN, WHICH IS CALLED THE EBRPD RETIREMENT PLAN.
I WAS MANAGED BY TRANS AMERICA.
PEOPLE USED TO CALL IT THE TRANS AMERICA PLAN.
BUT, THAT'S NOW AS OF US JOINING CALPERS.
WE CLOSED THAT PLAN, SO THE ONLY MEMBERS ARE RETIRED.
WE HAVE ONE ACTIVE MEMBER REMAINING, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE IS RETIRED, AND SO WE'RE JUST MAKING SURE THAT IT'S FULLY FUNDED SO THAT WE CAN MAKE SURE THOSE RETIREES GET THEIR PENSION PAYMENTS AS THEY SHOULD.
IT'S A CLOSED PLAN AND IT'S GOING TO SLOWLY DISAPPEAR OVER MANY YEARS.
>> WELL, IT'S THE GOOD NEWS THAT THE OPEB IS FULLY FUNDED.
CAN YOU TELL ME ON A PERCENTAGE BASIS WHAT THE FUNDING RATE IS ON THE OTHER LIABILITY?
>> LET ME PULL, ACTUALLY HAD A SLIDE ON THAT. GIVE ME A SECOND.
>> WHILE YOU'RE DOING THAT, YOU SAID THAT THERE IS A PLAN THAT A 15-YEAR PLAN, TO GET THAT FULLY FUNDED OR?
>> THERE WE GO. HERE'S THE FUNDED STATUS, THESE PERCENT AT THE END IS TELLING YOU WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
YOU CAN SEE OUR CALPERS PLANS ARE AT 73% ROUGHLY.
THEN THESE ARE THE CLOSED PLANS THAT I WAS JUST TALKING ABOUT WHERE THERE IS ONE ACTIVE MEMBER IN THE GENERAL, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE IS RETIRED JUST WORKING ON FULLY FUNDING THOSE AND THEN OPEB AND GREAT STATUS.
WE DID A 15-YEAR FRESH START WITH CALPERS,14 YEARS. THANK YOU.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS AND THIS GETS INTO SOME ACTUARIAL TERMS THAT MIGHT BE CONFUSING.
BUT BASICALLY, YOU TAKE YOUR UNFUNDED LIABILITY, WHICH IS THE AMOUNT THAT YOU OWE FOR THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN THE PAST.
THE WAY HELPERS TYPICALLY DOES IT IS THAT THEY GIVE YOU A CERTAIN NUMBER OF YEARS TO PAY OFF THESE LIABILITIES.
THINK OF IT LIKE A MORTGAGE, WE SHORTENED UP THE TERM OF OUR MORTGAGE TO A 15-YEAR MORTGAGE.
WE'RE TRYING TO PAY IT OFF MORE QUICKLY.
YOU'RE SAVING ON THE INTEREST PAYMENTS IF YOU THINK OF IT LIKE YOUR MORTGAGE.
THE PROBLEM WHEN I'M SAYING WOULD BE GREAT AND WE HOPE TO GET TO 80% OR A BETTER FUNDED STATUS IN THE COMING YEAR WITH HAVING DONE THAT.
BUT IT REALLY DEPENDS ON HOW THE MARKET PERFORMS AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE CALPERS INVESTMENTS.
IF THEY HAVE BIG LOSSES, THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER BIG UNFUNDED LIABILITY THAT GETS LAYERED ON TO THE EXISTING AMOUNT.
IT'S NOT A CLOSED BOOK WHERE YOU'RE LIKE, SWEET, I'M DONE.
EACH YEAR, THERE'S VARIATIONS THAT HAPPEN THAT CAN MAKE THINGS TURN OUT WORSE.
YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND YOU CAN SEE BACK IN 2021.
THERE WAS A PEAK, WE WERE DOING GREAT AND THEN THEY HAD A YEAR WHERE THEY HAD SOME BIG LOSSES IN CALPERS AND SO OUR FUNDED STATUS DROPPED AGAIN.
IT'S SOMEWHAT OUT OF OUR CONTROL, BUT WE TRY TO DO WHAT WE CAN TO REDUCE WHAT WE NEED TO PAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
THIS PROCESS IN TERMS OF WHERE YOU ARE WITH THIS REPORT.
HAS THIS ALREADY GONE BEFORE THE BOARD AND HAS THE BOARD APPROVED THIS? THEN I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION.
>> YES. IT'S GOING TO THE BOARD ON NOVEMBER 4TH, SO IT HAS NOT GONE TO THE BOARD YET.
>> SECONDLY, WE HAD A PUBLIC SPEAKER EARLIER IN THE MEETING THAT INQUIRED ABOUT THE MEASURE WW FUNDS.
I'M WONDERING IF THAT IS REFLECTED IN THIS REPORT, AND COULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THE LOGIC OF THAT WAS, TOO. THANKS.
>> SURE. WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY IS OUR 2024 ACTUALS, WHAT HAPPENED IN 2024.
WHAT THAT SPEAKER WAS TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED IN THE 2026 BUDGET FOR OUR MEASURE WW BOND FUNDS.
MEASURE WW WAS PASSED BACK IN 2008, AND SOME OF WHAT YOU'RE SEEING IN REPORT TODAY, LIKE WHAT WE SPENT IN 2024, YES, SOME OF THAT WAS MEASURE WW MONEY.
BUT WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS AN ITEM THAT'S GOING TO BE COMING TO YOU AT YOUR NEXT PAC MEETING, AND I'LL BE GOING TO THE PAC FINANCE COMMITTEE BEFORE THAT AS WELL.
[00:45:03]
THAT'S WHAT WE ARE PLANNING TO DO IN- WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING TO DO IN 2026 AND USING WW FUNDS FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS THAT THERE ARE DIFFERENT OPINIONS, BUT SOME PEOPLE FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD NOT BE PROPOSING THE USE OF THESE FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WHEN THE FUNDS WERE INTENDED FOR ACQUISITION.DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION?
>> IT DOES. WHEN IT COMES BACK BEFORE THE PACK, YOU WILL EXPLAIN ALL OF THE SHIFTING OF FUNDS IN, AND REASONS FOR THAT?
>> WE DISCUSSED IT IN A LOT OF DETAIL AT THIS BOARD STUDY SESSION THAT THE SPEAKER WAS REFERRING TO.
YOU'LL HEAR A LOT OF THE SAME POINTS, AND YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF THE SAME SLIDES THAT WERE PRESENTED THERE.
>> I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY ONE THING.
YOU TALKED ABOUT THE FRESH START, RAISING OR REDUCING THE DEFICIT.
>> IS IT GOING TO GO FROM 73.6% NOW TO 80% IN 14 YEARS OR THE FIRST YEAR?
CALPERS HAS THEIR OWN ACTUARIES, AND THEY WILL LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE PAID, HOW MUCH WE OWE.
IT'S BASED ON A WHOLE BUNCH OF THINGS LIKE WHAT THEIR EXPECTATION IS FOR INVESTMENT EARNINGS, HOW LONG THEY THINK PEOPLE WILL LIVE, AND ALSO WHAT SERVICE CREDIT PEOPLE HAVE WHEN THEY RETIRE.
THERE'S ALL SORTS OF ESTIMATES THAT THEY MAKE.
BUT WE HOPE THAT 80% IS WHAT WE'LL GET IN OUR NEXT ACTUARIAL REPORT.
THEN WE HOPE THAT IT KEEPS GOING UP.
IT'S OBVIOUSLY BASED ON A LOT OF THINGS GOING RIGHT, BUT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING FOR IS TO GET TO THIS 100% FUNDED STATUS.
>> I JUST WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE ULTIMATE TARGET WAS AND WHAT THE 80% WAS.
>> TRYING TO GET TO 100, BUT 80 WOULD BE A NICE GOAL IN 2025.
>> IF YOU COULD ALSO, PLEASE CONFIRM TO PARK, WHY THIS IS AN INFORMATION ITEM AND NOT A ACTION ITEM, LIKE IT WAS LAST YEAR. THANK YOU.
>> OUR LEGAL TEAM HAD REQUESTED THAT WE CHANGE THIS TO AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM, AND I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THAT WAS DONE DIFFERENTLY IN THE PAST, BUT THAT WAS THE ADVICE OF OUR LEGAL TEAM WAS THAT IT SHOULD BE INFORMATIONAL.
>> PERHAPS SOMEONE COULD FOR YOU OR OTHERS COULD EXPAND ON MAYBE A LITTLE MORE BACKGROUND AS TO WHY THE LEGAL TEAM THOUGHT IT WAS NOT AN ACTION ITEM FOR US?
I THINK IT'S BECAUSE IT'S THE FINANCIALS WHICH ARE COMPLETED.
FOR EXAMPLE, I ASKED ABOUT THE BUDGET AND SHOULD THAT BE A ACTION ITEM? YES, IT SHOULD BE.
YOU GUYS WILL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS AS TO WHAT YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE WITH THE BUDGET.
BUT SINCE THIS IS OUR AUDITED FINANCIALS, OUR AUDITORS HAVE SAID THAT IT'S A CLEAN AUDIT.
SHE DIDN'T FEEL THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO RECOMMEND YES OR NO, IT IS WHAT IT IS. DOES THAT HELP?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU GUYS DID ON THIS.
>> MEMBER LOPEZ, YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION?
>> YEAH. IT'S A COMMENT. I THINK THAT JUST FOR FEEDBACK IN THE FUTURE.
EVEN THOUGH THERE WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE A FORMAL RECOMMENDATION IN TERMS OF AN ACTUARIAL STATEMENT OR A FINANCE AUDITOR STATEMENT OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THERE'S ALWAYS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS BODY TO RECOMMEND THAT THE REPORT BE ACCEPTED SO THAT WE LOOKED AT IT TOO.
WE LOOKED AT THE AUDITOR'S STATEMENT.
THERE WEREN'T ANY FINDINGS, AND THAT WE RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD THAT THEY ACCEPT THAT AUDITOR'S REPORT.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THIS BODY TO HAVE SOME ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT.
I RESPECT LEGAL, OBVIOUSLY, BUT I DO THINK WE DO HAVE SOME ROLE AS A BODY HERE IN TERMS OF OVERSIGHT, AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR STETS PER THE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT THE PAC DOES.
I REALLY FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO REALLY HONOR WHAT WE SAY IN THOSE EXPECTATIONS, AND THAT WE DO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN ACTIVELY FROM TIME TO TIME, RATHER THAN JUST ASKING CLARIFYING QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
[00:50:01]
>> MEMBER PEOPLES. THEN WE NEED TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC, PLEASE?
>> I APPRECIATE THAT EXPLANATION.
IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND THERE'S NOTHING TO RECOMMEND, NO CHANGES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN FOR OTHER ITEMS THAT WE HAVE.
>> THE BUDGET WILL BE BROUGHT TO YOU AS A RECOMMENDATION FOR SURE.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT, WE HAVE AN INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2026 WORK PLAN FORMAT.
>> HELLO, LISA BALDER, LEGISLATIVE POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE AS I GOT THIS UP ON THE SCREEN, BUT WE NEED THE SLIDE DECK BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION TODAY ABOUT WHAT NEXT YEAR CAN LOOK LIKE.
BY WAY OF BACKGROUND, IN 2023, THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD A SERIES OF MEETINGS.
SOME OF YOU PARTICIPATED IN THEM, SO YOU CAN SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE.
YOU HAD FOUR DISCUSSIONS AND MADE A RECOMMENDATION TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO UPDATE YOUR ROLE STATEMENT, THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BROUGHT THAT BEFORE THE FULL BOARD, AND IT WAS ADOPTED.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ IT OUT LOUD, SO WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE GOING INTO TODAY'S DISCUSSION.
THE ROLE OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS TO SERVE AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY, PROVIDING PERSPECTIVES AND ADVICE ON ISSUES, PROJECTS, AND POLICIES OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
YOU ARE SUPPORTING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF IN CARRYING OUR MISSION AND VISION FORWARD.
OUR GOAL OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS AND HERE TODAY HAS BEEN TO ACTIVATE THIS ROLE STATEMENT.
BECAUSE IT WAS A SLIGHT CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS ROLE STATEMENT, WE REALLY WANTED TO GIVE YOU ALL THE TOOLS AND THE RESOURCES TO GET ENGAGED AND TO MOVE THIS VISION FORWARD.
THE WORK PLAN IS SET BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS, BUT YOU ALL AS VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY AND THIS BODY GIVE SUGGESTIONS TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THIS IS GUIDED BY OUR BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES.
THE TYPICAL PATHWAY IS THAT OUR CHAIR AND CO-CHAIR WILL MEET WITH OUR BOARD PRESIDENT AND OUR GENERAL MANAGER TO HAVE A DISCUSSION OF WHAT'S COMING ON THE HORIZON FOR EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AND WHERE YOU'D LIKE TO SEE THE COMMITTEE FOCUS.
IN MOST RECENT YEARS, WE'VE REALLY BEEN FOCUSING ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT TOPICS AND ISSUES, BRINGING INFORMATIONAL EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THIS BODY FOR DISCUSSION AND FEEDBACK, THAT'S BEEN INTEGRATED INTO A VARIETY OF WORK PLANS.
HOWEVER, WITH THIS PROPOSAL, WE'RE HOPING TO BRING FORWARD ACTION ITEMS FOR THE PAC WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO GET TO THAT RESOLUTION AND CONSENSUS FROM THIS BODY TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING HERE IS LONGITUDINAL ENGAGEMENT ON ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
OUR HOPE IS THAT THROUGH THE WORK PLAN, OUR BOARD CAN SET KEY PRIORITIES, AND THEN WE AS STAFF CAN SUPPORT YOU ON THIS FOUR MONTH TOPICAL LONGITUDINAL ENGAGEMENT PROCESS.
THE WAY WE'RE ENVISIONING IT, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL IS TO START WITH AN INITIAL PRESENTATION FROM STAFF ON A TOPIC OF INTEREST.
I THINK AS A CASE STUDY, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND USE THE DISTRICT PLAN IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT.
OUR PLANNING TEAM AND OUR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS STAFF COULD COME BEFORE THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING A CONVERSATION AROUND THE WORK.
YOU WILL BECOME INFORMED AMBASSADORS ON BEHALF OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
IN THE SECOND MONTH, WE WOULDN'T HAVE A FORMAL BROWN ACT MEETING, BUT INSTEAD THE PAC WOULD BE ABLE TO USE THE 3, 4 HOURS OF YOUR TIME TO GO OUT AND HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITHIN YOUR REGION OF THE PARK DISTRICT THAT YOU SUPPORT AND ENGAGE ON BEHALF OF THE PARK DISTRICT ON SAID TOPIC OF INTEREST.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS PART OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION.
[00:55:01]
WE'RE INTERESTED IN HOSTING A WORKSHOP.THIS WOULDN'T NECESSARILY BE HERE IN THE BOARD ROOM, BUT IT COULD BE AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION AROUND THE EAST BAY BECAUSE WE DID HEAR INTEREST IN CHANGING OUR MEETING LOCATION TO EXPAND ACCESSIBILITY TO THIS FORUM.
IN THE FOURTH MONTH IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, STAFF WOULD RETURN TO THE PAC AND SHARE A REPORT ON WHAT WE HEARD THROUGH THE WORKSHOP AND THE FINDINGS OF THOSE DISCUSSIONS.
WE WOULD THEN HAVE A DISCUSSION AS A BODY, AND YOU ALL WOULD RECOMMEND THOSE FINDINGS TO OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THOSE FINDINGS IN THAT REPORT WOULD THEN BE BROUGHT BEFORE OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THE CHAIR, VICE CHAIR, OR A DESIGNEE, WOULD PRESENT THAT REPORT IN THOSE FINDINGS ON THAT SUBJECT OF INTEREST, AND THE CYCLE WOULD REPEAT.
WITHIN ONE CALENDAR YEAR, WE HAVE TIME FOR ABOUT 2-3 FOCUSED TOPICS.
NEXT YEAR, WE'RE PROPOSING TO JUST AS OUR INITIAL CYCLE THROUGH THIS REVISED FRAMEWORK.
THIS IS A EXPANSION ON WHAT'S OUTLINED IN THE BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES, BUT IT DOESN'T CONTRADICT WHAT'S IN THERE.
OUR HOPE WITH THIS APPROACH IS THAT YOU ALL FEEL HEARD IN THE DIFFERENT FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE RECEIVED FROM YOU DURING THESE DISCUSSIONS IN TERMS OF HOW YOU'D LIKE TO EXPAND AND SUPPORT THE PARK DISTRICT.
WHY THIS MATTERS IS THAT WE WANT TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY FOR DISCUSSIONS AND SHARED LEARNING ON A PRIORITY ISSUE THROUGH THAT LONGITUDINAL MULTI MEETING ENGAGEMENT, RATHER THAN ONE QUICK MEETING AND A 30-MINUTE DISCUSSION.
WE WANT TO MAKE SPACE FOR ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY VOICES, EACH OF YOU COME FROM A DIFFERENT REGION OF THE PARK DISTRICT, WE SERVE OVER THREE MILLION.
WE HAVE A LOT OF VOICES THAT WE NEED TO AMPLIFY AND THAT WE CAN DO BETTER AMPLIFYING.
IT COULD THEN BUILD EQUITY BY EXPANDING THIS ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION, AND WE WANT TO REALLY CREATE A CLEAR LINK BETWEEN THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE POLICY DECISION MAKING OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
TODAY, WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE TOPICS THEMSELVES, BUT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS FORMAT, THIS FRAMEWORK, AND HOW YOU ALL COULD BE BEST SUPPORTED IN IMPLEMENTING IT.
WE'RE INTERESTED IN GATHERING YOUR INPUT ON THIS REVISED FORMAT PROPOSAL, AND ALSO IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS AND RESOURCES FOR SUPPORT.
THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT IS THROUGH CONVERSATION.
WE HAVE SOME NOTE PADS AND SOME PENS, SO YOU ALL CAN DO SOME RESPONSE TO THE VARIOUS QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE.
WE'RE ALSO HOPING YOU CAN MAYBE GET IN GROUPS OF SAY, THREE OR FOUR PERSONS AND HAVE A BIT OF A CONVERSATION.
THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REPORT OUT PERIOD FOR EACH QUESTION THAT WE HAVE TODAY.
FOR THOSE OF YOU IN THE ZOOM, WE APOLOGIZE.
WE'RE NOT ABLE TO PUT YOU IN A GROUP.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK IS IF YOU CAN SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK TO THE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS IN THE CHAT.
ELISA IS GOING TO CAPTURE ALL OF THAT FOR THE MINUTES.
THEN WHEN WE DO THE VERBAL FEEDBACK, IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D REALLY LIKE TO AMPLIFY TO THE FULL COMMITTEE, WE WELCOME YOU TO DO SO THEN.
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE RESOURCES AND THE SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED.
I ALSO MENTIONED THAT WE NEED TO IDENTIFY WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON.
TODAY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FORMAT.
FOLLOWING OUR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, WE'LL BE MEETING WITH OUR BOARD PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER TO DISCUSS SOME DIFFERENT TOPICS FOR THE 2026 WORK PLAN.
THIS WILL COME BACK TO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN NOVEMBER FOR A CONVERSATION AND AN ACTION ITEM.
IT WILL BE A RESOLUTION TO PROPOSE THOSE ITEMS. THAT WILL THEN GO TO OUR BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND OUR FULL BOARD PER OUR BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES FOR RATIFICATION.
THEN IN JANUARY, WE'LL BE ABLE TO ACTIVATE THAT REVISED WORK PLAN OR THAT UPDATED 2026 WORK PLAN THROUGH THE PAC'S REGULAR MEETING FORMAT.
BEFORE I GO INTO QUESTIONS, ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS?
>> I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE FOCUS TOPICS THAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP.
ARE THEY GENERATED FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, OR ARE THEY GENERATED FROM THE PARK?
>> ALL OF THE ABOVE. THE PATHWAY IS THAT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PARK WILL MEET WITH OUR BOARD PRESIDENT AND OUR GENERAL MANAGER TO DISCUSS THE DIFFERENT TOPICS THAT WOULD BE REALLY USEFUL FOR THE PAC TO DO DEEP ENGAGEMENT ON.
THEN THERE WILL BE A PROPOSAL, SAY 2-3 TOPICS FOR THIS BODY, THEN TO HAVE A BROAD DISCUSSION ON.
YOU ALL WILL VOTE ON TWO TOPICS THAT WILL THEN GO BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CAN SAY, YES, THIS IS FANTASTIC, OR THEY CAN SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I REALLY FELT LIKE WE COULD USE THE PAC'S ENERGY BEHIND THIS ALTERNATIVE TOPIC, AND THEY COULD RESOLVE TO HAVE YOU ALL WORK ON SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT.
IT IS ULTIMATELY THE BOARD'S DECISION.
>> CORRECT. IN OTHER WORDS, AS A PARK MEMBER, WE WOULD GO TO OUR CHAIR WITH AN IDEA.
>> THAT WOULD BE A FANTASTIC THING TO DO. YES.
>> THEN SECONDLY, I'M WONDERING, WHAT DO YOU ENVISION ABOUT ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY? WHAT DO YOU SEE THAT ON THE GROUND?
[01:00:01]
HOW DO YOU ENVISION THAT HAPPENING?WE'RE GOING TO TALK THROUGH THAT THROUGH SOME OF OUR QUESTIONS TODAY, AND WHAT WE'RE INTERESTED IN IS HEARING THAT FROM YOU ALL.
YOU ALL HAVE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS, DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT YOU'RE USED TO INTERFACING WITH, AND SO WE WANT TO FLUSH THAT OUT AS PART OF TODAY'S CONVERSATION.
>> JUST TO REITERATE, PLEASE LET VICE CHAIR MENDOZA AND ME KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE AROUND WORK PLAN ACTION ITEMS SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THAT WHEN WE MEET WITH THE GM AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT, THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT AND MEMBER DECHENS.
>> I'M USUALLY GET STUCK ON THREE LETTER ACRONYMS OR FOUR LETTER ACRONYMS, BUT NOW I'M STUCK ON THE LONGITUDINAL PLOT PROCESS.
YOU'VE MENTIONED THAT FOUR TIMES SO FAR.
COULD YOU GIVE A LITTLE EXPLANATION OF WHAT YOU MEAN BY LONGITUDINAL IN THIS CONCEPT?
>> MULTI-MEETING. PREVIOUSLY, WHEN ITEMS CAME BEFORE THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IT WOULD BE ONE MEETING AND BY THE END OF THE MEETING, YOU ALL WOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION AND PROVIDE SOME INPUT ON THAT ITEM.
WITH THIS MULTI-MEETING FORMAT, OUR HOPE IS THAT OVER TIME, WE CAN INTEGRATE ADDITIONAL VOICES AND PERSPECTIVES INTO THE CONVERSATION, FLUSH OUT IDEAS, AND SO IT WON'T BE SUCH A QUICK TURNAROUND ON THE DIFFERENT ISSUES.
>> YEAH, WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED HERE IS A REALLY MAJOR SHIFT IN THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE PACK.
I'M AT A LOSS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT MEETING IN 2023 WHERE THIS SHIFT WAS DISCUSSED.
IF SOMEBODY CAN POINT OUT TO ME THE SPECIFIC MEETING AND THE MINUTES WHERE IT'S COVERED, IF IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MEETINGS WHERE WE SPEND A HALF AN HOUR OR AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT AN ISSUE, AND EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO GRASP WHAT'S ALL INVOLVED, IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THAT SHOULD NOT BE THE BASIS FOR THIS SHIFT.
THERE ARE A LOT OF BASIC ISSUES ON THIS ABOUT, WHAT'S INVOLVED, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME DISCUSSION ABOUT THOSE QUESTIONS.
I UNDERSTAND AND I AGREE WITH THE IDEA OF HAVING MORE THAN ONE MEETING MORE THAN ONE MONTH TO FOCUS ON AN ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S GOOD TO REACH OUT AND GET INPUT FROM THE COMMUNITY FROM INTEREST GROUPS AND HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PAC ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.
BUT THE BASIC PROCESS HERE FOR DOING THIS, IT SEEMS TO ME IS, THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS AND I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO WORK AS SMOOTHLY.
IT'S NOT GOING TO FLOW THE WAY YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IT.
I THINK BECAUSE OF SOME OF THESE FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES, IT'S UNCLEAR TO ME AND LISTENING TO THIS IF THIS IS GOING TO SUPPLANT THE EXISTING GUIDANCE WE HAVE IN THE BOARD'S OPERATING GUIDELINES, OR IF THIS IS IN ADDITION TO IT, IT'S A DIFFERENT WAY OF APPROACHING WHAT'S IN THERE.
QUESTION ABOUT WHAT CRITERIA WILL BE USED TO IDENTIFY ISSUES AND TOPICS TO BE ADDRESSED, THE EXTENT OF HAVING SOME DEBATE ABOUT THOSE IN TERMS OF SIGNIFICANCE, TIMELINESS AND AND SO FORTH.
I KNOW YOU'VE SAID THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY DISCUSSION OF TOPICS TODAY, BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT TOPICS IN ORDER TO GET A FEEL FOR WHAT THIS PROCESS IS GOING TO INVOLVE, WHAT TOPICS ARE YOU THINKING ABOUT FOR THE COMING YEAR, NOT THE COMMITTEE ANYTHING TO IT.
I CERTAINLY CAN SUGGEST SOME TOPICS.
PERHAPS ONE OF THE MORE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ON THIS IS THAT IF SOMEHOW OR OTHER WE'RE GOING TO BE HANDED DOWN A TOPIC TO LOOK AT YOUR DESCRIPTION HERE, THE FIRST STAGE IS EDUCATION, WHICH I ASSUME THAT SOMEHOW OR OTHER WE'RE GOING TO BE TOLD ABOUT A TOPIC THAT WE'RE GOING TO DEAL WITH IN A PROPOSAL OR AN INITIATIVE.
IF WE DON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK THROUGH THAT AND DEBATE THAT, WE MAY END UP WITH SOMETHING THAT MEMBERS CAN'T FULLY OR EVEN PARTIALLY SUPPORT AND BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT FOR US TO REACH OUT TO THE COMMUNITY.
[01:05:11]
I THINK GIVEN THIS EXTENDED PERIOD FOR UNDERTAKING THESE ANALYSIS, THERE IS GOING TO BE AN AWFUL LOT OF GIVE AND TAKE WITH STAFF THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THIS, AND WE NEED TO BE VERY CLEAR SENSE OF HOW THE PAC CAN AND SHOULD INTERACT WITH STAFF ON THESE ISSUES.THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER ISSUES, BUT I JUST THINK THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A LOT MORE ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED AND HOW WE GO ABOUT DOING IT. THANK YOU.
>> YOU'VE GIVEN ME A LOT TO UNPACK THERE.
YES, I AGREE WITH YOU COMPLETELY, NOTHING GOES AS SMOOTH AS WE OUTLINE ON PAPER. THIS IS THE HOPE.
WE'RE GOING TO WORK THROUGH IT TOGETHER AND OVER TIME, WE MIGHT MAKE CHANGES AND NEED TO ADAPT.
THIS IS IN COMPLIMENT TO WHAT'S ON THE BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES, AND IT IS AIMED TO PROVIDE CLARITY TO SOME OF THE AREAS THAT YOU ALL HAVE EXPRESSED QUESTIONS IN IN TERMS OF PROCESS AND HOW INFORMATION GETS TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IN TERMS OF DISCUSSIONS AROUND THE PAC ROLE, THE PAC DID HAVE MULTIPLE MEETINGS OVER LATE 2022 AND 2023 IN TOTAL TO DISCUSS THE UPDATED ROLE STATEMENT BEFORE MAKING A RECOMMENDATION.
WE'RE HAPPY TO SHARE THOSE MINUTES AROUND TO REFRESH EVERYONE'S MEMORY.
IN TERMS OF DISCUSSING TOPICS, I COULDN'T AGREE WITH YOU MORE THAT THE PAC SHOULD HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION ON TOPICS, AND WE'RE HOPING TO BRING THAT BEFORE YOU ALL IN NOVEMBER.
AS CHAIR HENRY STATED, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SEND SOME OVER HIS WAY, THAT COME TO MIND.
SOME EXAMPLE TOPICS JUST FOR FOOD FOR THOUGHT.
THE DISTRICT PLAN IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT COULD BE ENGAGED ON OVER THE FOUR MONTHS, GO OUT INTO COMMUNITY AND HAVE CONVERSATION AND ALIGN WITH THE PARK DISTRICT'S EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS.
SOME SUCCESS STORIES FROM THE PAC IN THE PAST INCLUDED ENGAGEMENT ON A DOG POLICY AS WELL AS MOUNTAIN BIKING.
YOU ALL HAVE PROVIDED INPUT IN THIS WAY PREVIOUSLY.
THIS IS OUR EFFORT TO PROVIDE CLARITY TO CONTINUE THOSE SUCCESSFUL EFFORTS.
HAPPY TO CONTINUE GIVEN A COUPLE OTHER ONES, BUT I THINK MEMBER DEITER HAD HER HAND UP.
>> OH, HOLD ON, PLEASE. WE ALSO HAVE MEMBER OBRINGER, THEN MEMBER DEITER, THEN MEMBER CHANG.
>> I'VE BEEN AROUND A LITTLE WHILE NOW.
I THINK I WAS APPOINTED IN 2019, AND I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME HISTORICAL CONTEXT BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE QUITE A FEW NEW MEMBERS, AND I DID HAVE THE PRIVILEGE OF CHAIRING THIS BODY FOR TWO YEARS.
WHILE THE MEMBERSHIP HAS CHANGED, SOMETHING THAT I HEARD CONSISTENTLY OVER THESES, HOW MANY YEARS NOW, SIX YEARS, IS THAT PAC MEMBERS AND THIS BODY WANTED TO BE ABLE TO NOT JUST SIT HERE AND BE LIKE A RUBBER STAMP FOR THE BUDGET, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING WE'RE DOING HERE TODAY, BY THE WAY.
BUT THE POINT IS, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE WORK OF THE ENTIRE TEAM, ERIC AND LISA AND OTHERS, BECAUSE YOU TOOK THE INPUT THAT THIS OUR PREDECESSORS HAD PROVIDED ABOUT WANTING TO BE MORE ACTIVE, WANTING TO HELP TRULY BE AN ADVISORY BODY.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK THAT THIS PROPOSAL IS.
YES, IT CAN CERTAINLY BE TWEAKED.
BUT THE IDEA WAS, I THINK FOLKS FELT LIKE THEY WEREN'T REALLY ABLE TO ADVISE.
IT'S JUST LIKE THEY WERE SEEING THE BUDGET OR THEY WERE SEEING A WORK PLAN AND THEN WE PROVIDED OUR INPUT, AND THEN THAT WAS IT.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAD BEEN LISTENING AND IT TOOK MULTIPLE YEARS, BUT THIS DID COME UP IN MULTIPLE MEETINGS.
THIS IS THE DIRECTION THAT THE PAC HAS CONSISTENTLY ASKED STAFF TO GO IN.
I WILL JUST SAY, I HAVE A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL AS WELL.
WHAT I HAVE SUGGESTED WITHIN AN ORGANIZATION, WE HAVE SOMETHING SIMILAR, AND WE'VE GOT OUR PLANNING COMMISSION, ALTHOUGH THEY DO HAVE SOME LEGISLATIVE ROLE AS WELL.
IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN JUST THIS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
BUT MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE FOR US TO LIAISE WITH THOSE BOARD MEMBERS WHO HAVE APPOINTED US OR IN MY CASE, I WAS APPOINTED BY THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE, BUT I AM PHYSICALLY LOCATED IN DIRECTOR MERCURIO'S WARD.
MAKE SURE WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM TOO TO HELP US PROVIDE FEEDBACK AT THIS BODY ABOUT THE WORK PLAN.
AGAIN, WE'RE NOT HERE TO SUPPLANT STAFF, WE'RE NOT HERE TO SUPPLANT THE DULY ELECTED BOARD MEMBERS, BUT WE'RE TRYING TO, I THINK,
[01:10:02]
PUT SOME ACTION INTO THE ADVISORY COMPONENT OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.>> THANK YOU FOR THE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE, MEMBER OBRINGER.
WE APPRECIATE THAT. VICE CHAIRMAN DOSA, THEN MEMBER DEITER.
>> THANK YOU, MEMBER OBRINGER.
I JUST WANT TO THAT END AND TO DETAIL ON YOUR COMMENT OF BEING IN THE SAME WARD AS SOMEBODY ELSE WHO'S HERE, BUT YOU WERE BEING APPOINTED BY A DIFFERENT GOVERNING AGENCY.
IT MIGHT BEHOOVE US TO BE ABLE TO KNOW WITHIN OUR COMMITTEE WHO HAS THAT INTERSECTION SO THAT WE'RE NOT DOUBLING UP, SAY AT ONE EVENT OR THE OTHER.
I DON'T KNOW HOW ESSENTIALLY YOU WOULD WANT TO DO THAT IF THAT IS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WE'D WANT TO DO, BUT I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT MEMBER CLAXTON AND I ARE BOTH IN FREMONT AND THAT COULD BE NOT ONLY A CONFLICT, BUT ALSO SERVE TO HAVE THE TWO OF US GO TO EVENTS TOGETHER SO THAT WE HAVE MORE OF A PRESENCE OF THE PAC AT THOSE SAID SPECIAL EVENTS.
>> I FORGOT TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T EVER RECALL THE PAC LOOKING AT A WORK PLAN BEFORE.
HAVE WE BEEN DOING THIS AND I JUST FORGOT.
WE DRAFT, WE GIVE OUR INPUT TO GO BACK TO THE BOARD ON WHAT TOPICS WE WANT TO DISCUSS?
>> YES. FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, WHEN I'VE COME BEFORE YOU ALL AND PUT FORWARD SOME GOALS FOR THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR YOUR WORK, THAT HAS BEEN YOUR WORK PLAN THAT WE'VE BEEN BUILDING OFF OF AND THE REASON WHY WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH STAFF TO GET DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS BEFORE THIS BODY.
>> WHEN YOU SAY A WORK PLAN, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT TOPICS?
>> ACTUALLY, ON THAT, I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I THINK AS SOMEBODY WHO SERVED DURING THE PANDEMIC SINCE 2020, A LOT OF THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOST BECAUSE WE WERE ALL OVER ZOOM.
BUT THE POINT THAT I ACTUALLY WANT TO SAY, MEMBER DEITER IS, I ACTUALLY VOTED WITH YOU MANY TIMES WHEN THESE PLANS COME OUT AND EITHER ABSTAINED OR VOTED NO SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FULLY IMMERSE OURSELVES IN THE PROCESS TO BE OF AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF A SO CALLED RUBBER STAMP.
MAYBE THAT MIGHT DRAW YOUR MEMORY A LITTLE.
MAYBE I'M NOT CITING IT CORRECTLY, BUT I'M PERSONALLY REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
I FEEL LIKE WE MAY OR MAY NOT MAKE A LOT OF MISTAKES, BUT AT LEAST WE'RE TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. POP THIS BACK ON IT.
OUR HOPE TODAY AND THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT INITIAL DISCUSSION.
AS WE'VE PUT TOGETHER A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS THAT WE WANT TO TALK THROUGH AS A GROUP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE STAFF CAN SUPPORT YOU AS WE GO INTO THIS ENGAGEMENT AND THAT YOU ALL HAVE ROLE CLARITY.
OUR HOPE IS WE CAN PASS OUT SOME PENS AND PADS TO ANYONE WHO NEEDS THEM.
BUT IF YOU ALL COULD TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO THINK THROUGH EACH QUESTION, I'LL PUT UP ON THE SCREEN.
THEN MAYBE WE'LL GET IN GROUPS OF THREE OR FOUR TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.
THEN WE'LL DO A SHARE OUT FOR EACH QUESTION.
THEN AS I SAID, FOR THOSE OF YOU ON THE SCREEN, IF YOU COULD SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE CHAT, WE'LL COMPILE THEM AND THEN WE'LL ALSO INVITE YOU TO SHARE VERBALLY DURING THE SHARE OUT.
OUR FIRST QUESTION IS WHAT SUPPORT OR RESOURCES WOULD HELP YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN ENGAGING WITH YOUR COMMUNITY.
FEEL FREE TO MOVE AROUND WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GROUP.
>> I WOULD SUGGEST THERE'S THREE MEMBERS ONLINE RIGHT NOW, IF THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO CHAT, MAYBE THEY CAN GO IN A ROOM AND DISCUSS.
>> UNFORTUNATELY, WE DO NEED TO KEEP THEM IN THE MAIN ROOM JUST BECAUSE OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AND VISIBILITY.
BUT I APPRECIATE THE SUGGESTION.
>> APPRECIATE IT. IS THERE A COMMENT YOU WANT TO MAKE OR?
>> I LOOKED AT THESE QUESTIONS AGAIN, FROM MY COMMENTS, I THINK THERE'S SOME REALLY SIGNIFICANT ISSUES.
THE FIRST THREE QUESTIONS ARE IMPORTANT.
I'M NOT DISAGREEING WITH THAT, BUT I THINK THE FOURTH QUESTION BEGINS TO GET AT SOME OF THE CONCERNS I HAVE.
THE OTHER THREE QUESTIONS ARE REALLY SECONDARY ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED, AFTER THE DISCUSSION ON SOME OF THESE OTHER ISSUES THAT I'VE RAISED, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT IT.
>> WOULD WE LIKE TO START WITH THE FIRST QUESTION?
>> I THINK THAT SOME OF THOSE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I'VE RAISED NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
[01:15:04]
THEN THESE OTHER QUESTIONS, THEY'RE SIGNIFICANT, BUT THEY'RE SECONDARY QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.>> I WILL YIELD TO THE COMMITTEE WHAT ORDER YOU ALL WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE QUESTIONS IN.
>> MEMBER DECHENS HAS A QUESTION FIRST TOO.
>> I HAVE A VERY SHORT QUESTION.
WHEN WE LOOK AT THE TIMELINE OF THE VARIOUS TASKS AND I DON'T HAVE IT IN FRONT OF ME, BUT THE WORKSHOP FORMATS, I ASSUME THOSE ARE LED BY STAFF, AND WE WOULD BE FEEDING INPUT TO THAT AMONG LIKE IN ADDITION TO THOSE THAT ACTUALLY SHOW UP TO THE WORKSHOP, THE INTENT IS THAT WE WOULD CAPTURE ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY FEEDBACK AND THEN BRING THAT IN A NET AND THEN DUMP IT OUT THERE.
>> I'M SORRY, LISA, WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION FOR ME?
>> I WAS OFFERING THAT STAFF DOESN'T HOLD STRONGLY WHICH ORDER WE TAKE THESE QUESTIONS IN.
IF IT'S OF INTEREST TO THE COMMITTEE TO START WITH QUESTION 4 AND THEN COME BACK TO QUESTION 1, I YIELD TO YOU ALL ON WHAT YOU FEEL BEST DOING.
>> APPRECIATE YOUR ASKING. I THINK BASED ON THE CONCERN FROM A PERSON SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THAT, IF WE COULD START WITH QUESTION 4, I THINK THAT'D BE GREAT. THANK YOU.
>> FANTASTIC. I'M JUST GOING TO GO AHEAD AND READ IT INTO THE RECORD.
OUR FIRST QUESTION LABELED AS QUESTION NUMBER 4 IN THE PACKET IS, ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED TIMELINE OR STRUCTURE AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD YOU SUGGEST?
>> [OVERLAPPING] I'LL JUST START OF.
IN REGARDS TO TIMELINE, I ACTUALLY WANT TO UPLIFT THE FACT THAT WE ARE DISCUSSING THIS BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY, WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS THAT THERE IS NO TIMELINE, AND WE WOULD BE PRESENTED ON THIS, AND WE WOULD JUST BE TOLD, DO YOU AFFIRM THIS OR NOT? I AM VERY EXCITED THAT THIS INPUT IS BEING ASKED OF US, AND I'M EXCITED TO HEAR WHAT FOLKS HAVE TO SAY.
>> IF WE COULD JUST BREAK INTO GROUPS AND THEN CIRCLE BACK. THANKS.
>> I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND KEEP TIME, ABOUT 10 MINUTES PER QUESTION.
[01:25:15]
WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF REALLY GREAT CONVERSATION.[01:25:19]
I'M GOING TO TAKE US BACK TO QUESTION NUMBER 1.>> ARE WE NOT GOING TO REVIEW OR WE JUST DOING IT [INAUDIBLE]?
>> I THINK WE'LL GO THROUGH ALL OF THEM JUST TO NOT DISRUPT YOUR FLOW.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR CONVERSATION GOING, QUESTION NUMBER 1 IS UP ON THE SCREEN, AND WHEN YOUR GROUP'S READY TO TRANSITION.
[01:32:09]
>> WE GOT GOOD CONVERSATIONS FLOWING.
WE'RE GOING TO GO TO QUESTION NUMBER 2.
TRANSITION AS YOUR GROUP IS READY.
[01:39:19]
FOR OUR FOURTH AND FINAL QUESTION, AFTER THIS ONE, WE'LL COME TOGETHER AS A GROUP.IF YOU DO WANT TO NOMINATE SOMEBODY TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF YOUR GROUP OR ROTATE BETWEEN THE QUESTIONS, THAT'S ANOTHER THING TO DISCUSS.
[01:45:21]
THIS IS YOUR ONE-MINUTE HEADS UP.[01:46:21]
I HATE TO DISRUPT GOOD CONVERSATION, BUT I THINK WE CAN CONTINUE AS A LARGER GROUP.I HAD BEEN STOPPING ALL THE ALARMS BEFORE THEY WENT OFF.
FOLKS, IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WHERE YOU ARE OR IF YOU WANT TO RETURN TO YOUR SEATS, WE CAN TAKE A COUPLE MOMENTS FOR TRANSITION, AND THEN WE CAN TALK THROUGH.
WE'RE GOOD? WE'RE GOING TO START WITH QUESTION NUMBER 4, AND I PULLED DOWN THE PRESENTATION SO THAT WAY WE CAN SEE OUR FOLKS ON THE SCREEN AS WELL.
BUT OUR FOURTH QUESTION IS, ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS WITH THE PROPOSED TIMELINE OR STRUCTURE, AND WHAT IMPROVEMENTS WOULD YOU SUGGEST? WHICH GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST?
>> SHARE, HENRY, WOULD YOU LIKE TO FACILITATE OUR CONVERSATION? OR WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO CALL ON FOLKS? EXCELLENT. SAW OUR FIRSTHAND OVER HERE.
>> I'M REPORTING OUT ON TOPIC 4, WHICH IS NOW OUR NUMBER 1, WHICH IS CONCERNS ABOUT OUR TIMELINE OR THE STRUCTURE.
I THINK OUR GROUP WAS PRETTY UNANIMOUS IN THAT WE APPRECIATE THE AMPLIFIED OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AN AMPLIFIED VOICE, BUT THERE WAS CONCERN THAT IS IT LIMITING OUR VOICE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF TOPICS? TRADITIONALLY, THIS COMMITTEE HAS RECEIVED UPDATES ON A LOT OF OTHER TOPICS, AND THERE WAS, I THINK SOME FEAR THAT OUR TRADITIONAL ROLE OR HISTORIC ROLE THAT WAY IS NOW BEING SET ASIDE.
INSTEAD OF IN ADDITION TO THIS, IT'S INSTEAD OF, WE'RE NOW GOING TO BE DOING THIS AND YOU HAVE AMPLIFIED VOICE, BUT IT'S ONLY ON THESE THREE THINGS.
THAT'S I THINK A PRETTY OVERALL CONCERN HERE.
IT REALLY GLOWS DOWN TO THE QUALITY OF THE TOPICS THAT ARE SELECTED AND CERTAINLY IT'S INCUMBENT ON US AS A BODY TO COME UP WITH GOOD TOPICS.
AS YOU MENTIONED, THE BOARD MIGHT HAVE A SAY THAT, HEY, WE LIKE YOUR TOPIC.
THAT'S VERY POLITICALLY CORRECT TO SAY THAT, BUT WE REALLY LET YOU TALK ABOUT SOMETHING, LIKE THIS. WE RECOGNIZE THAT.
WE'RE I THINK SOME CONCERNED ABOUT THE RATE OF THE ROLLOUT, IT FELT A LITTLE SEISMIC TO SOME OF US.
WE NEED SOME STRUCTURE, I THINK, IN TERMS OF ULTIMATELY THE SECOND PART OF THE FOUR STEP PROCESS IS SOLICITING THE PUBLIC INPUT, SOLICITING, AND ENCOURAGING THE DISCUSSION AMONG OUR COMMUNITIES, I THINK WE'LL NEED SOME STRUCTURE AS TO HOW TO NAVIGATE DOWN THAT PATH.
WITHOUT THAT STRUCTURE, MAYBE THE QUALITY OF THE INPUT THAT WE WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING FORWARD MIGHT NOT MEET THE STANDARD THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.
WE DEFINITELY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GATHER INPUT MORE BROADLY.
ONE OTHER TOPIC OR COMMENT WAS THAT THERE MAY NEED TO BE FLEXIBILITY THAT THE TIMELINESS OF THIS LONGITUDINAL, NOT LATERAL, BUT LONGITUDINAL PROCESS.
FOUR MONTHS MAY NOT ACTUALLY FIT IT, AND SO THE TOPIC HAS TO BE SOMETHING THE BOARD DOESN'T HAVE AN IMMEDIATE DEADLINE FOR ACTION ON.
THE TOPICS NEED TO BE STRAIGHTFORWARD IN ORDER TO GET SYNC PUBLIC INPUT.
AGAIN, THAT'S INCUMBENT AND A CONCERN, I THINK THAT COULD BE ADDRESSED AT THIS LEVEL TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE QUALITY TOPICS THAT
[01:50:01]
WE CAN THEN GET QUALITY INPUT AND MAKE QUALITY RECOMMENDATIONS ON.WE BRAINSTORMED HOW THAT WOULD LOOK. ARE WE TABLING? I HAD AN ANECDOTE WHERE I WAS AT THE RECENTLY AT THE FEDERAL BUILDING, AND THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE THAT ARE OUT THERE EVERY DAY IN THEIR LITTLE TABLE, THEY HAVE A LITTLE BOARD THERE THAT SAYS, I LOVE PALESTINE, CONVINCE ME WRONG OR WHATEVER THE TOPIC MIGHT BE.
I THINK HAD SOME CONCERN THAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE IN OUR PARK DISTRICT T-SHIRT SITTING AT THE TRAILHEAD WITH A LITTLE TABLE AND A LITTLE THING THAT JUST OKAY, COME YELL AT ME OR SOMETHING.
I THINK THERE WAS SOME CONCERN ABOUT THIS NOT BEING THE ROLE THAT WE SIGNED UP FOR IN THAT WAY.
THAT'S OUR INPUT FOR OUR ANSWERS FOR QUESTION 4.
DOES THAT SUMMARIZE WHAT WE ALL HAD?
>> PIGGYBACK AND ON ROLE WE DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR, IS THAT ON? THEY COME UP THAT NOT EVERYBODY'S REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING AND ENGAGEMENT.
WHAT WOULD THAT LOOK LIKE, BUT EVERYBODY PROBABLY ISN'T GOING TO WANT TO GO OUT AND DO THIS.
JUST KEEP THAT IN MIND. ALSO, FLEXIBILITY, WE'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE.
WE HAVE A PRETTY TIGHT PROCESS AND TIMELINE FOR WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE.
THAT MIGHT NOT ACTUALLY WORK AS WE ROLL THIS OUT.
I THINK REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU GUYS TO HEAR, THERE'S A COMMENT FROM THE GROUP ABOUT WHAT A WONDERFUL PROCESS THIS IS.
SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN ON FOR A WHILE, NEVER BEEN INVOLVED THIS MUCH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GETTING US INVOLVED THIS WAY.
THEN WHAT WAS THE OTHER ONE? HOW IDEALLY WE BE ABLE TO TIME THE OUTREACH, WHICH IS A PHASE 2 WITH EXISTING COMMUNITY EVENTS? THIS TIES INTO SUPPORT TO, WHICH IS PROBABLY ANOTHER QUESTION, BUT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE DISTRICT'S CONTEXTS WITH EXISTING EVENTS THAT THE DISTRICT HAS ALREADY SIGNED UP FOR.
>> DOES ANYONE ON OUR VIRTUAL ATTENDEES LIKE TO SHARE ANY COMMENTS?
I THINK WITHOUT GOING THROUGH THE PROCESS, I DON'T KNOW IF IF THIS IS THE RATE CADENCE, LIKE THE FOUR MONTHS.
I JUST I WASN'T SURE ABOUT THAT TIME WILL TELL.
THEN MY OTHER SUGGESTION WAS, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE HEARD EARLIER FROM VICE CHAIRMAN DOSA AND JUST TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER WE DO THAT WE'RE IN SYNC WITH OUR ELECTED DIRECTOR, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO MIGHT BE IN THE SAME WARD AS WE ARE.
MY SUGGESTION IS, IS THERE SOME STRUCTURE OR BEST PRACTICE THAT CAN BE CREATED? THEN ALSO, UNDERSTANDING FROM A STAFF PERSPECTIVE, BECAUSE AS WE JUST HEARD, SOME FOLKS ARE VERY COMFORTABLE WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING, OTHERS ARE NOT.
HOW MUCH TIME DOES STAFF HAVE TO SHARE WITH TRAINING FOLKS? IF THERE IS NO BANDWIDTH, I THINK WE NEED TO KNOW THAT AS WELL.
UNDERSTAND THE EXPECTATIONS AND THE OPPORTUNITIES.
>> NUMBER 4, SPECIFICALLY, OUR FIRST THING WAS THAT WE WERE CONCERNED WITH HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE TO PROCESS THE PROCESS.
BUT BOILING DOWN TO IT, WE WERE HOPING THAT IF WE WERE TO MOVE FORWARD AS PLANNED, THAT WE DO DEDICATE TIME IN OUR NOVEMBER MEETING TO REALLY HASH OUT, IF NOT USING THE WHOLE MEETING, A BIG CHUNK OF IT FOR THE TWO TOPICS.
>> NO. THAT'S OKAY. WE DON'T KNOW THAT THE TIMELINE DOESN'T WORK.
>> SURE. WE'RE DOING A BIT OF A SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENT.
GREAT. A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I JUST WANT TO RESPOND TO AND THEN WE'LL GO TO THE NEXT QUESTION.
EVERYTHING WE'RE CAPTURING TODAY IS GOING TO GO IN THE MINUTE, SO WE CAN REFLECT AND CONVERSE ON IT AND TURN A NUMBER OF THEM INTO ACTION ITEMS. THOUGH WE WILL BE HAVING THIS AS A CORE WORK PLAN OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THERE IS STILL SPACE IN THE FUTURE AGENDAS TO HAVE ADDITIONAL TOPICS COME BEFORE THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
OUR PLANNING TEAM IS EXCITED TO BRING A HASPA, HAYWARD AREA, SHORELINE PLANNING AGENCY UPDATE TO Y'ALL IN EARLY 2026.
THE BUDGET AND OTHER FINANCIAL ITEMS WILL CONTINUE TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY.
WE WILL HAVE AN INTER MIX OF FORMATS AND TOPICS.
WE APPRECIATE THAT THIS IS A NEW PROCESS AND THAT PUBLIC SPEAKING OR WALKING UP TO SOMEONE IN A PARK AND HAVING A CONVERSATION, GO AHEAD.
>> MY QUESTION IS [LAUGHTER] DATA.
MY QUESTION IS, IF WE'RE DOING THIS WORK, IS THIS GOING TO BE IN ADDITION TO OUR MONTHLY MEETING OR INSTEAD? IF IT'S INSTEAD, THEN HOW ARE WE EVEN SUPPOSED TO
[01:55:04]
KNOW WHAT THE BOARD IS DOING AND WHAT WE SHOULD BE ADVISING ON? THAT JUST CAME UP TO ME NOW.>> THIS WOULD ALTER YOUR MONTHLY MEETING FORMAT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS WORK PLAN.
HOW YOU WOULD STAY INVOLVED AT THE BOARD IS THROUGH CONVERSATIONS OR ATTENDING OUR FORMAL BOARD MEETINGS.
THE ONLY REAL CHANGE TO YOUR WORK PLAN THIS WOULD DO IS IN LIEU OF TWO OF YOUR MEETINGS WITH THE TWO TOPIC FORMAT.
Y'ALL WOULD BE GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY IN LIEU JUST TO MAKE TIME IN YOUR SCHEDULE BECAUSE WE KNOW Y'ALL ARE VERY BUSY.
THEN IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, I THINK THERE'S MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THAT CAN TAKE.
IT COULD BE GOING OUT AND OBSERVING THE COMMUNITY AND TAKING NOTES AND NOT NECESSARILY HAVING TO HAVE DIRECT INTERFACE, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO TALK THROUGH IN TERMS OF TRAINING, SUPPORT, AND MATERIALS THAT YOU ALL NEED, AND I WILL LIKELY VARY FROM TOPIC TO TOPIC.
BUT PURE OBSERVATION IN A PARK IS ONE PATHWAY.
COMING BACK ON UP TO DISCUSSION QUESTION NUMBER 1.
WHAT SUPPORT OR RESOURCES WOULD HELP YOU FEEL CONFIDENT IN ENGAGING YOUR COMMUNITY? YES.
MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN WE COMMUNICATE, ALSO LIABILITY TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE MAY SAY FIVE DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT MAKE IT EASY ON PEOPLE.
IF WE'RE GOING TO GO OUT, JUST GIVE US ALL THE SLIDES, A SAMPLE PRESENTATION, POWERPOINT, WHATEVER IT IS.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS HAVE DONE THAT BEFORE, REACH OUT TO THIS PERSON ON THIS TOPIC, BUT FOR PEOPLE WHO AREN'T COMFORTABLE WITH PUBLIC SPEAKING, IF THEY'RE GOING TO COMMUNICATE A DIFFERENT WAY, MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS REALLY STANDARD, SO WE'RE ALL WITH A UNIFIED MESSAGE.
DON'T ASSUME THERE'S A WIDE RANGE OF SUPPORT HERE.
SOME PEOPLE ARE REALLY DIALED IN POLITICALLY.
OTHER PEOPLE ARE NOT OR EVEN AN ELECTION IN A CITY OR A COUNTY CAN CHANGE SOMETHING AND SOMEBODY HAD CONTACTS, THEY NO LONGER DO.
PROVIDE CONTACTS FOR US AS WELL.
SWAG. EVERYBODY LIKE SWAG, IF WE'RE GOING TO GIVE US SOME STUFF THAT WE CAN DO THERE.
THEN ALSO STAFF, ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING THIS BY OURSELVES, OR WOULD THERE BE STAFF WITH US? WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE? THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL, SO CAN YOU CONNECT US WITH AMBASSADORS? THEN ALSO THE SIMPLE STUFF.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING TABLING, WE NEED CANOPIES, TABLE CLOTH, ALL THE DIFFERENT STUFF WE'RE GOING TO HAND OUT.
THEN AGAIN, JUST MAKE SURE IT'S A REALLY CONSISTENT MESSAGE.
IF YOU, THE PUBLIC WENT TO ANY EVENT THAT ANYBODY IN PACK IS DOING, IT'S GOING TO LOOK VERY SIMILAR.
>> CONTACT PERSON AT THE DISTRICT FOR US.
WHEN WE NEED TO GET THINGS, WHO DO WE CONTACT?
>> JUST WANT TO ECHO, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW STAFF NEEDS TO SUPPORT THE ONGOING COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THEN CLEAR MATERIALS TO PASS OUT AND ALSO MATERIALS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO THE COMMUNITIES WE'RE ENGAGING WITH, WHETHER THAT'S DOGS, WHETHER THAT'S BIKES, E-BIKES, AND ALSO INFORMATION GUIDES.
I THINK THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO HAVE COMPELLING CONTENT TO GIVE TO THE PUBLIC.
NO, WE LIVE IN A SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD.
WE NEED TO BE OUT THERE, AND WE NEED TO HAVE CONSISTENT EXPERIENCES WHEN WE GO OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY.
I THINK A POWERPOINT, IS ONLY AS GOOD AS THE PERSON WHO'S PRESENTING IT.
I THINK TO GIVE EVERYBODY A FAIR SHOT, WE NEED TO HAVE A CONSISTENT PRESENTATION THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC.
>> I THINK OUR GROUP REALLY CONGEALED ON STAFF SUPPORT, AND THE SAF SUPPORT WOULD BE FOR BACKGROUND, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS ARE ADJACENT TO SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS.
DEFINITELY FOR VISUAL MATERIALS, AND WHEN WE WERE BRAINSTORMING POTENTIAL TOPICS THAT WE MIGHT DO, ONE THING THAT CAME UP WAS MAPPING SUPPORT.
IS THERE A CUSTOM MAP THAT WOULD BE FOR A POLICY CHANGE OR SOMETHING THAT WE COULD HAVE ON A FOAM CORE BOARD OR SOMETHING THAT WE COULD EXPLAIN GEOSPATIALLY WHAT THIS CHANGE WOULD BE.
I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY MORE USEFUL.
WE TALKED ABOUT WAYS OF IDENTIFYING OURSELVES AS PAC MEMBERS, AND I THINK THE CONSENSUS WITH OUR GROUP HERE IS THAT WE'RE MORE GIVE US A NAME BADGE KIND OF THING.
LOOKING AT US, WE'RE NOT REALLY T-SHIRT PEOPLE.
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP US IN OUR COMFORT ZONE, GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY ON THAT.
I SAW THAT WE HAVE A SIGN UP FOR YOUR T-SHIRT SIZE, AND I THINK THERE'S SOME CONCERN THAT WE'RE GOING TO GET SOMETHING THAT HAS,
[02:00:02]
HEY, COME TALK TO ME.I'M A PARK MEMBER ON OUR T-SHIRT OR SOMETHING, AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I WILL ABSOLUTELY 100% WASH MY CAR IN THAT SHIRT [LAUGHTER]
I WOULD ASK THAT YOU ALL ASSUME GOOD INTENTIONS OF US AS STAFF, AND I'M GOING TO TURN IT TO ELSA FOR A QUICK UPDATE.
>> YES, WE ARE DESIGNING THE T-SHIRT.
IT DOES NOT INCLUDE THE WORDS PLEASE COME TALK TO ME [LAUGHTER] DO NOT WORRY.
WE DON'T WANT IT TO BE TOO EXTRAVAGANT.
WE WILL ALSO BE CREATING NAME TAGS.
I GUESS IT'S REALLY UP TO YOU IF YOU WANT TO WEAR THE T-SHIRT OR NOT.
IT'S TOTALLY FINE, BUT TO HAVE IT AS AN OPTION WILL BE VALUABLE.
IF YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN US A T-SHIRT SIZE, THE SIGN UP IS RIGHT OVER HERE, PLEASE DO SO BEFORE YOU GUYS LEAVE.
>> IF YOU DON'T WANT TO T-SHIRT, YOU CAN ALSO LET US KNOW THAT. WE ARE FINE WITH THAT.
>> I'D LOVE A T SHIRT. ANOTHER OPTION WOULD BE ALONG WITH THE T SHIRT LIKE A TAN VEST.
I'VE SEEN THE AMBASSADORS WEAR THAT IT LOOKS REALLY OFFICIAL, AND THAT COULD HAVE THE DAME BADGE AS WELL.
WHAT ARE THOSE TAN VESTS WITH MULTIPLE POCKETS LIKE COULD GO AT FISHING?
>> SCOTT OR CAROLYN? ANY ADDITIONS ON QUESTION NUMBER 1 THAT YOU'D LIKE TO ADD?
>> JUST ALONG THE LINES OF I HEARD SOME REFERENCE, I THINK TO SOCIAL MEDIA.
IN ADDITION TO HAVING SOME TALKING POINTS, I THINK YOU KNOW, THE PUBLIC DOES ENGAGE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHETHER THOSE OF US WHO UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA IF THERE'S SOME MESSAGING OR A GRAPHIC THAT WE CAN UTILIZE, I HAVE MY OWN NEWSLETTER THAT GOES OUT TO 4,000 PEOPLE IN CONCORD.
>> WE ALSO HAVE THE CITY OF CONCORD NEWSLETTER.
I KNOW THAT PARK DISTRICT HAS THEIR OWN NEWSLETTERS.
ALL OF US, THOUGH, HAVE OUR SPHERES OF INFLUENCE.
IF THERE IS MESSAGING AND/OR A GRAPHIC THAT WE COULD EITHER POST ON OUR OWN SOCIAL MEDIA OR GET INTO OUR CITY OR JURISDICTIONS ' NEWSLETTERS, I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO GET THE MESSAGING OUT THAT WAY.
>> EXCELLENT. WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON TO QUESTION NUMBER 2.
I GUESS WE TOUCHED ON SOME ANSWERS TO THIS IN OUR LAST CONVERSATION, BUT WHAT PRESENTATION FORMATS OR TOOLS WOULD MAKE WORKSHOPS MORE ENGAGING AND ACCESSIBLE? LET'S SEE. I DON'T THINK WE'VE STARTED WITH THIS GROUP.
>> ACTUALLY, SOME OF THE NOTES THAT I HAVE IS ACTUALLY WE SHOULD BE PARTNERING WITH GROUPS, BUT MORE SO RANDOM GROUPS, NOT JUST GROUPS THAT ARE ALREADY ACTIVATED, LIKE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS, POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS.
POLITICAL PARTIES ARE GREAT, BUT THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVATED IN THE KNOW.
IT COULD BE AS RANDOM AS WINE AND PAINT GROUPS, MOM AND ME GROUPS, RUNNING GROUPS, BIKE GROUPS, AND JUST BEING SPECIFIC AND BRINGING WITH QUESTION NUMBER 1, WE JUST BRING SPECIFIC MATERIALS THAT ARE TAILORED TO THEM.
ONE THING THAT I'VE EXPERIENCED IS GIVING OUT TRAIL CHALLENGE BOOKS ARE VERY EFFECTIVE.
I'M SURE 80% OF THE PEOPLE DON'T ACTUALLY USE IT, BUT THEY DO READ IT, AND THEY FIND THE MATERIAL TO BE REALLY GREAT, AND THEY KNOW ABOUT US.
MORE PICTURES AND PROPS IF WE'RE ACTUALLY PRESENTING TO PEOPLE, AND ALSO JUST GOING DIRECTLY TO THE COMMUNITY, WHICH SOMEONE HELPED REMINDED ME BECAUSE I WAS ON THE SOAPBOX FOR OVER A YEAR AND A HALF, LIKE TWO YEARS AGO, GO TO PLACES LIKE THE FLEA MARKET. YES.
>> AWESOME. ON THAT NOTE BEFORE I FORGET, I DO WANT TO SHARE THE PARK DISTRICT HAS A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OUT FOR PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATION TO SUPPORT WORK AND ENGAGEMENT ON THE PARK DISTRICT'S DISTRICT PLAN.
WE WILL SHARE THAT WITH YOU ALL AS FOLLOW-UP FROM TODAY'S DISCUSSION, AND IF YOU CAN SHARE IT BROADLY ON YOUR CHANNELS, WE'D REALLY APPRECIATE IT.
>> EVEN LIKE PLACES LIKE CHURCHES, TOO, BY THE WAY.
>> YEAH. PLUS ONE ON THE FAITH-BASED ORGANIZATIONS.
ONE OF OUR MEMBERS HERE TALKED ABOUT IT WITHIN OUR COMMUNITIES.
ALSO, JUST ON THE RFP THAT YOU ALL HAVE, JUST A CLARIFICATION, IS IT COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE NON-PROFITS, OR CAN IT BE FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AS WELL, THAT YOU KNOW OF?
>> I HAVE NOT READ IT IN FULL, SO I DON'T FEEL QUALIFIED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION, BUT I BELIEVE IT IS BOTH, BUT WE CAN CONFIRM.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU. IT'S NOT JUST THE NONPROFITS AND CBOS AND NGOS, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE DOING PARTNER WORK; THERE'S A LOT OF OTHERS AS WELL THAT I WORK WITH SPECIFICALLY.
[02:05:03]
THEN, TO ANSWER QUESTION 2 FROM OUR GROUP, WE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT HAVING A SLIDE DECK THAT WOULD HAVE A GENERIC PRESENTATION OF THE PARK DISTRICT.IT COULD ALSO BE A GOOGLE DRIVE THAT INCLUDES SLIDES THAT HAVE A BACKGROUND WITH THE EAST BAY PARK LOGO, JUST A LAUNCH OF PICTURES OF DIVERSE COMMUNITIES DOING PARK STUFF THAT WE COULD INSTILL INTO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA, MAYBE A CANVA.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE DISTRICT ALREADY HAS, BUT IN LOOKING AT THE WORDS OF THIS QUESTION, WE ALSO WERE PERPLEXED BY WORKSHOPS BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT TO FEEL THAT PARK MEMBERS HAD TO DO A WORKSHOP, A GENERIC ONE OR A GENERAL ONE.
IT COULD JUST BE GOING TO A TRAIL AND ASKING PEOPLE QUESTIONS, OR THE FARMERS MARKET, OR YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT PTA MEETING. THAT'S WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT.
THEN LASTLY, THIS GOES MORE INTO THE NEXT QUESTION, BUT THE ACCESSIBLE PIECE, MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE FOLKS WHO ARE DISABLED, NOT ONLY HAVE THE LOW-HANGING FRUIT OF ACCESSIBILITY FOR FOLKS WHO ARE NOT AS MOBILE, BUT ALSO NEURODIVERGENT FOLKS.
THEN, HAVING ONE OF THOSE SESSIONS BE VIRTUAL AS WELL, SO THAT YOU CAN HAVE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT MAKE IT PHYSICALLY TO A LOCATION PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY.
>> FANTASTIC. JUST FOR A QUICK POINT OF CLARITY FOR THE REFERENCE TO WORKSHOP, I APPRECIATE HOW BIG YOU ALL ARE ENVISIONING, AND YOU'RE GOING BIG.
WE WANT TO SUPPORT YOU ALL ON WHAT'S FEASIBLE AND ACHIEVABLE.
THE WORKSHOP IS INTENDED TO BE A FORMAL MEETING OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHERE STAFF DOES THE SUPPORT WORK.
WE FIND A LOCATION THAT MAY NOT BE THIS ROOM, BUT A DIFFERENT LOCATION AROUND THE DISTRICT, AND THEN YOUR ROLE WOULD BE THROUGH YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA CHANNELS OR INTERPERSONAL CONVERSATIONS, INVITING FOLKS TO THAT WORKSHOP TO INTERFACE.
WE WOULD REALLY BE DOING THE SUPPORT.
I MEAN, IF YOU ALL WANT TO GO OUT AND HOST 21 WORKSHOPS, THAT WOULD REALLY GET THE MESSAGE OUT, BUT NO, THAT WILL BE STAFF-SUPPORTED.
>> I CAN REPORT OUT THAT THE FOLKS IN OUR GROUP WERE DEFINITELY LESS OVERACHIEVERS THAN THAT GROUP THERE BECAUSE WE WERE NOT THINKING OF HOSTING OUR OWN WORKSHOP.
WE INTERPRETED AS THE STEP 3 ON THE LONGITUDINAL PLANNING PROCESS HERE.
SPECIFICALLY FOR WHAT WOULD HELP IS HAVING ONLINE AND STREAMING OPTIONS, AND BEING ABLE TO HAVE BREAKOUT ROOMS BECAUSE THERE'S HAVING THE BROWN ACT, EVERYTHING VISIBLE IS COMMENDABLE.
BUT IT SEEMS LIKE IF WE'RE HAVING A WORKSHOP AND YOU WANT TO BREAK UP INTO SMALL GROUPS, AND YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON ZOOM, WHICH I IMAGINE IT WOULD BE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN ACTUALLY DO THAT.
WHAT WORKS FOR US IS LIKE, WE GET THAT.
WE'RE PARK MEMBERS, PROBABLY WOULDN'T FLY VERY WELL WITH THE PUBLIC.
LIKE, WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE CAN'T DO THIS? DEFINITELY BE ABLE TO HAVE A WAY OF CAPTURING THOSE ZOOM COMMENTS BETTER.
WE TALKED ABOUT MAYBE THOUGHTS TO HAVING MULTIPLE VENUES.
I WAS THINKING THAT, MAYBE WE WOULD HAVE IT ON THE I GUESS THERE'S THREE, I DON'T KNOW THE NAME OF IT.
GEOGRAPHIC GROUPINGS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT HAS.
>> METROPOLITAN AREAS. I JUST KNOW THERE'S DIABLO AND THEN WHATEVER.
THEN SOMEONE SAID, HEY, WELL, MAYBE IT SHOULD BE IN EVERY BOARD MEMBER'S DISTRICT, BUT THEN THAT SEEMS LIKE WE'RE MULTIPLYING EVERYTHING BY SEVEN.
THERE WAS SOME DISCUSSION AS TO WHETHER WE WOULD DO THAT.
THE ONE THING IT WAS IMPORTANT IS TO HAVE THE MEETING DATE SET SO THAT WHEN WE ARE DOING WHATEVER OUTREACH WE'RE DOING, WE DON'T WANT TO SAY, AND THERE'LL BE A FUTURE MEETING, LOOK ON INSTAGRAM.
WE'LL SAY, ON MARCH 15TH, HERE'S THIS VENUE THAT WE CAN DO, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT SET EARLY ON, SO THAT'S A HARD FACT THAT WE CAN PUT OUT THERE WITH THOSE MEETING DETAILS.
I THINK THAT'S ALL WE HAVE FOR NUMBER 2.
>> ALSO, I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER OTHER FORMS OF ACCESSIBILITY.
ESPECIALLY FOR ZOOM, ASL INTERPRETER AND CLOSED CAPTIONING, THAT'S IMPORTANT TO START WORKING ON.
>> ACTUALLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS TOUCHED ON IS, I'M GLAD WE BROUGHT UP THE THREE MEETINGS VERSUS THE SEVEN MEETINGS, ETC, BECAUSE THE FIRST THING IS, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THIS AND THERE'S A LOT OF REASONS WHY WE SHOULDN'T DO MEETINGS, BUT WE SHOULD ACTUALLY THROW ALL THOSE ASIDE IN REGARDS TO MAKING SURE THAT WE STILL HAVE THESE MEETINGS.
I JUST REALLY WANT TO POINT THAT OUT BECAUSE THERE'S A MILLION REASONS TO SAY NO, BUT WE SHOULD DO IT BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE OUT THERE.
[02:10:02]
BUT WITH THAT BEING SAID, I FEEL LIKE IF IT REALLY IS ONE THING TO BE DOING MEETINGS AND ALL OF THESE WARDS, BUT THE REALITY IS IT COULD JUST END UP BEING A COMPETITION OR NOT REALIZING AS A COMPETITION OF JUST HOW MANY PEOPLE WE CAN TURN OUT, NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE WE TURN OUT, IT WOULD JUST BE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT ARE OTHERWISE POLITICALLY ENGAGED.PERHAPS WHAT IS BETTER SPENT AND BETTER RESOURCES IS JUST GOING OUT TO THOSE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS.
I THINK IT'S MORE POWERFUL TO GET A FIVE-MINUTE IMPROMPTU PRESENTATION WITH A RUN CLUB BEFORE THEY GO OUT RUNNING, PRESENTING ABOUT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS, GET FIVE MINUTES, AND BEFORE A MOVIE THEATER SHOWING, BEING LIKE, HEY, STEP OUT AND TOUCH GRASS.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? I FEEL LIKE THOSE IMPROMPTU MOMENTS HELPS US CAPTURE A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE VERSUS JUST MAYBE HAVING A COMPETENCE OF SAYING, WE GOT 300 OUT IN WARD 1.
>> FANTASTIC. OUR HOPE WOULD BE THAT THEN YOU, AS MEMBERS, COULD BRING WHAT YOU HEARD IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO THE WORKSHOP FORMAT. SCOTT, I SEE YOUR HAND.
>> YEAH, I THINK TIMING THE WORKSHOP, SO THOUGH IT'S CONVENIENT FOR THE COMMUNITY THAT'S TRYING TO BE REACHED, AND TIME OF DAY THAT WORKS FOR THEM.
A LOT OF THE PARK DISTRICT MEETINGS, FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, ARE DURING THE DAY, WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE TO MAKE.
JUST TO ADD THAT ON TOP OF THE OTHER COMMENTS. THANK YOU.
>> I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THOUGHTS HAVE COME OUT OF DISCUSSING THESE QUESTIONS IN GENERAL.
BUT I THINK AS WE APPROACH THIS, IT'S GOING TO BE LEARNING BY DOING.
BUT I THINK WE NEED TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS FOR EACH TASK THAT WE TAKE ON, AND IT'S GOING TO BE SPECIFIC TO THAT TASK, AND THEY NEED TO BE ASKED AT THAT TIME.
>> ABSOLUTELY. OUR HOPE IS TO USE THE JANUARY MEETING EVERY YEAR, WHERE WE KNOW WHAT YOUR FOCUS TOPICS ARE GOING TO BE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION SIMILAR TO THIS.
THAT WAY, STAFF CAN START WORKING IN THE BACKGROUND OF GETTING THOSE UNIQUE AND SPECIFIC MATERIALS FOR THAT FOCUS TOPIC READY.
IS THE EXPECTATION THAT WE COME TO THE NOVEMBER MEETING WITH OUR TOPICS THAT WE WANT TO ADDRESS NEXT YEAR, AND THAT THE GOAL AT THE END OF THE NOVEMBER MEETING IS GOING TO HAVE OUR TOPICS LAID OUT?
>> THE EXPECTATION IS THAT YOU WILL, AND WE DO AS WRAP UP AS WELL, BUT IS THAT TOPICS THAT YOU'RE INTERESTED IN? IF YOU COULD E-MAIL TO THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR, SO THEY CAN BRING THOSE TO THEIR DISCUSSION WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER.
THEN THE OUTCOME OF THAT CONVERSATION IS WHAT WE'LL HAVE A DISCUSSION ON AT THIS NOVEMBER MEETING.
OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, YOU'RE LOOKING FOR OUR INPUT PRIOR TO THE NEXT MEETING BECAUSE THERE'S A PROCESS THAT WILL HAPPEN IN BETWEEN?
>> OKAY. I'M NOT SURE THAT WAS CLEAR TO EVERYBODY IN THE ROOM.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING. [LAUGHTER]
>> I DISAGREE WITH THAT. PRIOR TO THE MEETING, BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO HAVE SOME DISCUSSION ON IT AT THE MEETING AND HOPEFULLY REACH SOME CONSENSUS.
>> THERE WILL BE CONTINUED DISCUSSION AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING, SO IT'S THAT THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR WILL SHARE THE TOPICS THAT WERE SHARED WITH THEM WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER FOR THEIR INPUT, AND BE ABLE TO BRING THAT INPUT BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE FOR A BROADER DISCUSSION.
>> BUT I MEAN, JUST TO PUSH ON MEMBER PEOPLE'S POINT, AND I THINK I FINALLY GOT HIS POINT AFTER HEARING IT THREE TIMES.
IS THERE A WAY FOR US TO ACTUALLY HAVE THAT DISCUSSION HERE? CAN WE PUSH BACK THE TIMELINE? IS THERE A SCENARIO WHICH WE CAN PUSH BACK THE TIMELINE IN WHICH WE HAVE THAT CONVERSATION HERE? THEN THEY HAVE THE CONVERSATION? BECAUSE, LITERALLY UP UNTIL THEN, I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATION HERE.
>> I'D HAVE TO REFER BACK TO THE BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT'S COMING FROM OUR POLICY GUIDING DOCUMENT IS THIS TIMELINE, SO THIS IS A FRAMEWORK IN WHICH WE'RE WORKING IN THAT'S NOT EASILY AMENDABLE.
WE'LL LOOK AT IT, AND WE CAN UPDATE THE COMMITTEE, BUT FOR NOW, THAT IS OUR CURRENT PROCESS.
>> CLARIFICATION. THE CHAIR WILL MEET WITH THE BOARD REPRESENTATIVES AND TAKE THE SUGGESTIONS OF TOPICS.
AT THAT MEETING, THEY'RE GOING TO WINNOW THAT DOWN TO TWO TOPICS?
>> AT THAT MEETING, THEY'LL PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE VARIOUS TOPICS AT THE PAC AND RECOMMEND THE FOCUS TOPICS.
[02:15:02]
THAT RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PRESIDENT AND THE GENERAL MANAGER WILL BE BROUGHT BACK TO THIS COMMITTEE AND WE CAN DISCUSS THOSE AND OTHER TOPICS OF INTEREST TO THIS COMMITTEE, AND OUR HOPE IS TO END THE NOVEMBER MEETING WITH AN ACTION ITEM WHERE THIS COMMITTEE RESOLVES ON YOUR RECOMMENDED FOCUS WORK PLAN TOPICS FOR 2026.>> HOPEFULLY I'M NOT STEPPING. WE HAVEN'T TALKED AHEAD OF TIME ABOUT THIS, SO HOPEFULLY I'M NOT STEPPING ON YOU AND ERIC.
BUT WHAT I WILL COMMIT TO YOU IS THAT SEND IT TO BOTH ME AND TO FRANCIS, HOWEVER YOU WANT TO DO THAT, AND WHAT I WILL COMMIT TO YOU IS THAT I CAN SHARE THE WHOLE LAUNDRY LIST OF WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO US AND THEN WHAT WE CAME OUT OF THE MEETING WITH.
IF WE'RE VOTING ON IT IN NOVEMBER, I DON'T SEE WHY, I'M JUST GOING TO MAKE SOMETHING UP, HORSES AND DISTRICT PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE GOING TO TALK ABOUT.
WELL, IF SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, FIVE DIFFERENT PEOPLE WANTED TO DO ENVIRONMENTAL, WHATEVER THAT IS, THEN WE CAN DO THAT.
AS A BODY, WE DON'T HAVE TO PICK WHAT COMES OUT OF THE MEETING THAT FRANCIS AND I HAVE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT, WE COULD PICK SOMETHING ELSE.
I WILL COMMIT TO YOU THAT I'LL SHARE EVERY SINGLE THING THAT COMES INTO US SO THAT THE PAC ULTIMATELY CAN DECIDE WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
I HOPE THAT ADDRESSES WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, CHAIR, HENRY, BUT THAT SEEMS TO BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE FEEDBACK THAT WE GOT, AND MAYBE I'M MISINTERPRETING IT THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO HAVE, AND THEY SHOULD FINAL SAY ON THOSE TOPICS, AND MAY HAVE ADJACENT OR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TOPICS THEY WANT US TO FOCUS ON.
>> MISSPOKE, WHAT I WOULD DO IS THEN SAY, THESE ARE THE PAC-RECOMMENDED.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT COMES OUT IN THE MEETING THAT FRANCIS AND I HAVE WITH THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND THE GENERAL MANAGER, THE PAC CAN STILL RECOMMEND SOMETHING ELSE BASED ON WHAT WAS SUBMITTED, AND THEN ULTIMATELY THE BOARD IS GOING TO DECIDE.
BUT AGAIN, I DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO FEEL LIKE, HEY, I SUBMITTED MY IDEA, NOBODY EVEN CONSIDER IT.
>> DOES THE TIMELINE ALLOW THAT FROM WHAT YOU DOCUMENT?
>> BUT I THINK WE NEED TO SET A DATE FOR RECEIVING RECOMMENDATIONS AND FOR GETTING THEM BACK OUT.
THEN FOR PEOPLE TO SAY, WHICH ONES MAYBE PRIORITIZE.
IF WE GOT FIVE SUGGESTIONS, PUT THEM IN PRIORITY ORDER AND SEE IF WE CAN COME UP WITH A PRIORITY LISTING WHICH WOULD BE PRESENTED TO GM AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT FOR DISCUSSION.
THEN I WOULD ASK, IF THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ANY OF THOSE THAT THEY LET US KNOW WHAT THOSE PROBLEMS ARE, AND BE SPECIFIC WITH THE PROBLEMS. OR IF THEY THINK SOMETHING IS PARTICULARLY USEFUL, THEY CAN PROVIDE SOME RATIONALE FOR DOING THAT ALSO.
IT'S NOT A BLACK BOX OUT THERE WHERE THESE DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE.
WE HAVE SOME INPUT INTO IT IN TERMS OF A WAY OF EXPRESSING THE PAC PRIORITIES, BUT ALSO HAVE FEEDBACK ON THE PROS AND CONS OF THOSE ISSUES AND IN SUPPORT OF THE GM AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT'S RECOMMENDATIONS.
>> YOU WERE TALKING WHEN LISA WAS EXPLAINING THAT MAYBE IN THE FUTURE, WE COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT RIGHT NOW, THEY'RE ON A TIMELINE THAT THE BOARD IS GOING TO DECIDE ON OUR WORK PLAN IN THEIR JANUARY MEETING.
>> WE ONLY HAVE NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER.
>> YOU ALL DON'T HAVE A MEETING.
THEY NEED TO WORK BEHIND THE SCENES TO GET SOMETHING TO THE BOARD AHEAD OF TIME BASED ON ALL OF OUR INPUT.
>> I WAS ELABORATING ON YOUR SUGGESTION OF HOW WE CAN MAKE THAT TRANSPARENT AND NOT BE IN A BLACK BOX.
THAT'S ALL I THINK I WAS TRYING TO REACH AT THERE.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT RULES WE OPERATE UNDER, CAN YOU SET UP A GOOGLE DOCS THAT EVERYBODY HAS ACCESS TO OR THAT'S NOT ALLOWED.
>> THAT WOULDN'T BE A ELECTRONIC FORM.
WHAT I'M GOING TO OFFER, I'M GOING TO WALK US THROUGH THIS TIMELINE.
WE'LL FIND A DATE TO EMAIL THE CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR SUGGESTIONS FOR NEXT YEAR.
IN THE MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AND THE GENERAL MANAGER, WE'LL TALK THROUGH ALL OF THOSE TOPICS AND STAFF WILL CAPTURE THE CONVERSATION, SO THAT WAY, WHEN THE TOPICAL CONVERSATION COMES BEFORE THE PC IN NOVEMBER, WHICH IS WHERE YOU ALL SELECT YOUR PRIORITY TOPICS TO RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD FOR YOUR WORK PLAN.
YOU'LL HAVE THE INPUT FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT AND YOU'LL HAVE CONTEXT ON WHY CERTAIN TOPICS WERE PRIORITIZED OVER OTHERS.
[02:20:03]
YOU CAN WEIGH THAT CONTEXT AND STILL MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO HEIGHTEN THE PRIORITY OF SOMETHING IN RESPONSE.YOUR FEEDBACK WILL BE PUT INTO THAT.
YOU ALL WILL TAKE ACTION AT THE END OF THE NOVEMBER MEETING, IF YOU AGREE ON TWO TOPICS AND RECOMMEND TO THE BOARD YOUR WORK PLAN FOR 2026.
THAT RECOMMENDED WORK PLAN IS THEN BROUGHT BEFORE OUR BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, OF WHICH YOU ARE ALL INVITED TO ATTEND, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT THE CHAIR OR THE VICE CHAIR CAN ATTEND TO SPEAK TO THE CONTEXT OF WHY THE PAC IS RECOMMENDING THOSE SPECIFIC TOPICS.
AT THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, THAT COMMITTEE WILL THEN HAVE A LONGER DISCUSSION ON THOSE TOPICS AND RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD YOUR WORK PLAN FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
THAT WORK PLAN PROPOSAL WILL THEN GO BEFORE THE FULL BOARD TO CODIFY AND RESOLVE ON.
THE MEETING WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE BOARD PRESENT IS NOT TO LOCK INTO TOPICS.
IT'S TO GET THEIR INPUT EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS BEFORE YOU ALL HAVE THAT BROADER DISCUSSION, SO YOU HAVE THE CONTEXT AND THEIR PERSPECTIVES.
THAT'S THE PATHWAY THAT WAS OUTLINED IN OUR BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES, WHICH IS THE POLICY PROCEDURE THAT WE OPERATE UNDER, AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE SUPPORTING IT IN THAT WAY.
AGAIN, I'M REQUESTING THAT IT BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE.
THAT MEANS, HAVING THESE LISTS, THESE IDEAS, AND WHICH COULD BE SHARED, WHETHER OR NOT WE GET PRIORITIES ON IT.
BUT WHEN THE GM AND THE BOARD PRESIDENT LOOK AT THEM.
IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS WITH IT, IF THEY NEED TO ARTICULATE WHAT THOSE CONCERNS ON WHY IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT.
IT'S INFEASIBLE OR UNDESIRABLE FOR SOME SPECIFIC REASONS, OR IF THEY LIKE SOMETHING, YOU'LL TELL US WHY THEY THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO.
THEN THAT'LL BECOME, AS YOU'RE SUGGESTING, I THINK THE FOUNDATION FOR A DISCUSSION IN NOVEMBER.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU SAID TWO TOPICS, BUT YOU HAVE A FOUR MONTH CYCLE, SO THAT MAKES FOUR TOPICS.
NO, WAIT. THE TOPICS. EXCUSE ME.
>> EXCELLENT MATH. [LAUGHTER]. THAT'S CORRECT.
>> THE JANUARY MEETING WILL BE A MEETING ON THE WORK PLAN, WHERE WE TALK THROUGH BOTH TOPICS IN DEPTH ON WHAT YOU NEED TO SUPPORT IN THOSE SPECIFIC WORK PLANS.
THE FIRST WORK PLAN IS ACTUALLY ACTIVATED IN FEBRUARY.
YOU ALL HAVE A REGULAR RECESS IN THE MONTH OF JUNE THAT'S BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE I STARTED WORKING AND SUPPORTING YOU ALL.
WE'RE TIMED UP AND SO THERE'S RECESS IN JULY, AND THEN THE SECOND PHASE STARTS UP AFTER THAT RECESS.
THEN YOU DON'T HAVE A MEETING IN DECEMBER.
IT'S OUTLINED IN THE BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES THAT IN LIEU OF A MEETING IN DECEMBER, THERE'S A YEAR END CELEBRATION THAT WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU ALL IN THE UPCOMING DECEMBER.
THAT'S THE REASON FOR IT BEING TWO WITH THE FOUR MONTH CYCLE.
>> THERE MAY BE SOME UNCERTAINTY ON SOME OF THESE TOPICS, IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO SELECT A THIRD TOPIC AS A FALLBACK, IF NECESSARY.
IF ONE TOPIC WAS COMPLETED SOONER THAN EXPECTED, IT MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO A THIRD ONE.
BUT IT WOULDN'T HURT TO HAVE A THIRD ONE LAID OUT THERE.
THAT SETS THE STAGE FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR TOO.
>> ABSOLUTELY. IF IT'S OF INTEREST TO THIS COMMITTEE IN NOVEMBER TO RECOMMEND TWO PRIORITY TOPICS AND A THIRD FOR CONSIDERATION, THAT COULD ALSO HELP THE BOARD UNDERSTAND HOW YOU ALL WERE PRIORITIZING VARIOUS TOPICS.
>> JUST REALLY QUICK, SINCE WE'RE ON THE NUMBERS.
USUALLY EVERY MEETING, WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE AGENDA ITEM.
>> YOU'RE DOING IT. [LAUGHTER].
>> IT'S ALMOST AS IF OUR WORK PLAN IS ONLY GEARED TOWARDS THE TWO WITH A BACKUP, AND I STILL DON'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE NUMBER COMES FROM.
>> THAT WOULD BE THE WORK PLAN WOULD BE THOSE PRIORITY TOPICS.
BUT AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE'LL STILL HAVE TIME WITHIN THE BOARD MEETINGS FOR ADDITIONAL PRIORITY ISSUES.
THE BUDGET, THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT, THOSE ISSUES WILL STILL COME BEFORE THIS BODY AND WOULD BE THE SECONDARY ITEM.
>> I'VE SERVED ON OTHER BOARDS AND COMMITTEES BEFORE SERVING ON THIS BOARD AND BEFORE ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND I JUST WANT TO FLY FROM MY EXPERIENCE IS THAT, I DIDN'T REALLY START UNDERSTANDING DEEPLY WHAT'S GOING ON HERE UNTIL LIKE MY FIFTH YEAR.
I THINK OFTENTIMES FROM WHAT I'M EXPERIENCING IS THAT IT FEELS LIKE WE'RE JUST RUBBER STAMPING THE SITUATION,
[02:25:03]
AND I'M REALLY GLAD THAT STARTING FROM THIS YEAR, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, WE'VE REALLY PUSHED TO MEET BEFORE, NOT JUST BEFORE THE MEETING, BUT LIKE A WEEK BEFORE THE MEETING, AND THAT STAFF HAS REALLY ACCOMMODATED THAT AND PERHAPS LOOKING FORWARD, WHETHER IT'S A WORKING GROUP, ETC, THAT WE ALSO HAVE THAT SPACE TO DO SO.I KNOW WE HAVE OUR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR DOING THAT.
IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE'RE ALL VOLUNTEERS.
NOBODY'S GETTING PAID TO DO THIS, SO THANK YOU ALL BOTH. THESE ARE JUST THINGS.
BUT I DO SAY I DO BELIEVE THAT IT IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION THAT WE'RE GOING TOWARDS.
BUT ULTIMATELY, IT IS THE BOARD'S RIGHT TO TO CHANGE OR NOT TO ADOPT WHAT IS RECOMMENDED.
BUT I THINK A ROBUST PROCESS IN WHICH THE COMMITTEE FELT THAT THEY MADE A RECOMMENDATION BASED ON ROBUST CONVERSATION IS THE WAY TO GO.
>> NOBODY MAKE EVENING PLANS AFTER OUR NOVEMBER MEETING? THAT'S JUST A RECOMMENDATION.
WE DIDN'T GET THROUGH QUESTION NUMBER 3.
BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE WE COVER ALL OUR BASES, IT WAS HOW CAN WE ENSURE COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND WORKSHOPS ARE INCLUSIVE AND WELCOMING TO ALL RESIDENTS.
WAS THERE ANY ADDITIONAL NOTES THAT GROUPS WANTED TO SHARE?
>> NOT REPEATING ANYTHING WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE, BUT I CAME UP FOR MULTILINGUAL OR MULTIPLE LANGUAGES.
A REALLY GOOD THING WOULD BE TO HAVE QR CODES, SOMEWHERE IN A PRESENTATION OR SOMEWHERE THAT SOMEBODY CAN CLICK ON BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST 1, 2, 3, WHATEVER.
WE NEED TO HAVE A VARIETY OF LANGUAGES ON THERE AND A QR CODE WOULD BE A GREAT WAY TO ADDRESS THAT.
>> OUR GROUP ADDITIONALLY MAKE SURE THAT OUR MEETING LOCATIONS HAVE GOOD ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND REALLY EMBRACE THE POTENTIAL FOR USING ZOOM TO ITS FULL CAPACITY.
THEN ALSO WE TALKED ABOUT HAVING SOME TRANSLATION SIR.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT MEETINGS YOU ALL ARE GOING TO, BUT YOU MAKE MEETINGS SOUND SO MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE THAN THEY ACTUALLY ARE.
[LAUGHTER] THE IDEA OF GETTING PEOPLE TO COME TO MEETINGS IT'S OPTIMISTIC.
I THINK THAT REALLY, IN THIS AGE, WHEN PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS ONLINE TO SO MUCH TO HAVE A PACKAGED MESSAGE THAT YOU CAN GET OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY THAT'S AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE TO CONSUME ON THEIR OWN, ON THEIR OWN TIMELINE, AND THEY CAN RESPOND TO IT THERE IN THEIR OWN TIMELINE, DOESN'T HAVE TO BE DONE NOW.
IT CAN BE WHENEVER THEY HAPPEN TO SEE IT.
I THINK THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK INTO.
I CONCUR WITH THAT COMMENT ABOUT A QR CODE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD.
ADDITIONALLY, WITH THAT, ACCESSIBILITY FOR VARIOUS LANGUAGES, I THINK THERE'S ALSO TIME, BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DIFFERENT TIME SCHEDULES, AND SO THERE WAS SOME MENTION AND REFERENCED IT EARLIER.
HAVING NOT JUST NIGHTS, BUT WEEKENDS AS WELL BE TIMES WHEN NOT MOST PEOPLE WHO WORK CAN DO A MEETING.
I DO AGREE THAT I THINK IT IS OPTIMISTIC TO ASK PEOPLE THAT COME TO MEETINGS.
PERHAPS TO BE CONSIDERING DOING SOME THINGS WHEN THERE'S A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE, IF THERE'S A FESTIVAL OF SOME SORT OR SOME ANNUAL EVENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT, WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING IN AND YOU'RE LEVERAGING SOMEBODY ELSE'S ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT AND DOVETAILING WITH THAT.
LIKE I HAD SUGGESTED AT A PREVIOUS MEETING, THE [INAUDIBLE] AND HAVING A BOOTH THERE.
PROVIDING THAT AND THERE'LL BE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT THAT.
I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A WAY TO GET AROUND BECAUSE WHO WANTS TO DO YET ANOTHER MEETING WHEN THEY'RE NOT NECESSARILY DOING THE CIVIC WORK THAT WE'RE DOING HERE AND THEY'RE EXHAUSTED FROM THEIR DAY FROM THEIR COMMUTE AND HAVE CHILDREN IN THE EVENINGS OR REALLY WANT TO HAVE THE SATURDAY TO RUN SOME ERRANDS.
I THINK YOU HAVE THE MEETING FOR THE SAKE OF MEETING TO CHECK OFF THAT BOXES.
AGAIN, SOMEONE HAD SAID, BEFORE IT'S OPTIMISTIC AND SO HOW DO WE MEET PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE? I THINK IS REALLY WHAT WE HAVE TO IMAGINE. THANK YOU.
[02:30:01]
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE ROBUST DISCUSSION.WE'RE GOING TO BE CAPTURING ALL OF THIS INPUT, WORKING TO PUT TOGETHER MATERIALS IN SUPPORT.
WITH THAT, I THINK I'LL PASS IT BACK TO THE CHAIR TO GET US THROUGH THE REST OF THE MEETING.
>> THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]. THANK YOU, EVERYONE FOR ALL THE COMMENTS.
WE'RE NOW A REPORT FROM HERE. THERE IS NO REPORT.
WE'RE MOVING ON TO ANNOUNCEMENT, SO WE ARE RUNNING PRETTY LATE.
[Announcements]
PLEASE IF THERE'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO GET OUT, PLEASE DO THAT, BUT JUST PLEASE BE VERY SUCCINCT.>> JUST VERY QUICK. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK EVERYBODY IN THE DISTRICT THAT WAS INVOLVED WITH ALL ABILITIES DAY IN OCTOBER.
BIG BREAK, IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY, ALMOST 600 VISITORS, AND JUST THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY THAT HAD ANY PART OF ORGANIZING THIS. THANK YOU.
>>THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE BRIEFLY.
>> DID I MISS IT? WHAT'S THE DATE THAT WE'RE SUPPOSED TO GET TO YOU? HART TOPICS?
>> LISA IS GOING TO GET THAT OUT TO EVERYBODY, CORRECTLY.
ACTUALLY, SIR ELSA WILL GET THAT OUT TO EVERYBODY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THE MEETING OF OCTOBER 27TH 2025 IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 6:32 P.M.
THE NEXT REGULAR PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 4TH 2025 AT 4:00 P.M. THANK YOU, AND GOOD NIGHT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.