[00:00:03]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME, EVERYONE.
[Roll Call]
THIS IS A REGULAR PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON NOVEMBER 24, 2025, BEGINNING AT 4:00 PM.MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE DO A ROLL CALL?
>> YES, I CAN. MEMBER BARTLE BAU?
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER CHANG? NOT YET. MEMBER CLAXTON?
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER LOPEZ? NOT SEEING HER. MEMBER MAHADEVAN?
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU. MEMBER AMOLIO? NO, NOT YET.
>> HI. THANK YOU. MEMBER GONZALO?
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER WILLIAMS?
>> 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.
PARK ADVISORY MEMBERS AND DESIGNATED STAFF WILL WITH LIMITED EXCEPTIONS, PARTICIPATE IN PERSON AT 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 OBERNER WILL PARTICIPATE FROM THE WAYFAER LOBBY IN 1,800 MONTEREY STREET IN SAN LOUIS OBISPO IN CALIFORNIA.
PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER DONISHA MARSH, WILL PARTICIPATE FROM 352 SHORELINE DRIVE IN PITTSBURGH, CALIFORNIA.
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 549 53B3.
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 PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT EBPARK.ORG OR LEAVING A VOICEMAIL AT 510-544-2036.
THIS INFORMATION IS NOTED ON THE AGENDA, AND IF THERE ARE NO QUESTIONS ABOUT MEANING PROCEDURES, WE WILL BEGIN.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIRMAN DOSE, 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 EAST BAY ALONE, BAY MIWOK, AND THE NORTHERN VALIOKA, 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 A VILLAGE KNOWN AS WUCHUN, ONTO CANO ALONE LAND, AND THAT IT IS NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH IN NOVEMBER AND ENCOURAGES ALL TO LEARN FROM OUR FOLKS AT STEWARD THIS LAND, BOTH PRESENT AND FUTURE AS WELL. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU, VICE CHAIRMAN DOSE.
ARE THERE ANY MEMBERS PARTICIPATING VIRTUALLY DUE TO AN EMERGENCY THAT WISH TO REQUEST THE BODY'S APPROVAL TO PARTICIPATE REMOTELY?
>> I AM. THIS IS JUDITH SMITH.
>> MEMBER SMITH, IF YOU COULD PLEASE BRIEFLY DESCRIBE THE NATURE OF YOUR EMERGENCY?
>> I HAVE A SHOULDER INJURY WHICH MAKES DRIVING IMPOSSIBLE RIGHT NOW.
>> THANK YOU. WE'RE SORRY TO HEAR THAT. WE HOPE YOU FEEL BETTER SOON.
IF I COULD GET A MOTION FROM THE BODY TO APPROVE REMOTE PARTICIPATION. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL NOW TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER CHANG IS NOT HERE. MEMBER CLAXTON?
[00:05:03]
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES.
>> THANK YOU. FOR MEMBERS WHO PREVIOUSLY NOTED THEIR REMOTE PARTICIPATION PRIOR TO THIS MEETING, WE WILL NOW CONFIRM IF THERE ARE ANY INDIVIDUALS PRESENT AT YOUR MEETING LOCATION.
MEMBER OBRINGER IS APPEARING REMOTELY.
PUCK MEMBER OBRINGER, 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?
>> NO. HOWEVER, THERE IS THE CAPABILITY FOR SOMEONE TO DO SO.
THIS IS AN ADA ACCESSIBLE AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE LOCATION.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER MARSH IS APPEARING REMOTELY.
PACK MEMBER MARSH, 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. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY MINUTES TO APPROVE THIS EVENING.
[Approval of Minutes]
THOSE WILL BE APPROVED AT THE NEXT MEETING.IT'S NOT THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.
WE'RE JUST GOING TO APPROVE THEM AT THE NEXT MEETING.
MADAM CLERK, IF YOU COULD PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> YES. PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE SUBMITTED ONE OF THREE WAYS.
ONE VIA EMAIL, TO PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT EBPAXTERORG.
TWO, VIA VOICEMAIL AT 510-544-2036, AND LEAVING A MESSAGE WHICH CAN BE TRANSCRIBED AND GIVEN TO THE COMMITTEE AND MADE A PART OF THE PUBLIC RECORD.
OR 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 THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
ANY EMAILS THAT HAVE COME IN AFTER THIS 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?
>> THANK YOU. AGAIN, WE WILL PROVIDE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT ABOUT ITEMS ON THE AGENDA AT THE END OF EACH ITEM.
TONIGHT, WE HAVE A VERY FULL AGENDA.
WE HAVE AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM WILL BE JOINED BY CURRENT BOARD PRESIDENT AND FORMER PACK MEMBER MACARIO.
WE ALSO HAVE TWO ACTION ITEMS ON THE AGENDA.
THERE'S AN EXPRESSION THAT SAYS, START WITH THE END IN MIND. YOU PROBABLY HEARD THAT BEFORE.
AS IT RELATES TO THIS MEETING TONIGHT, OUR TARGET ALWAYS FOR PAC MEETINGS IS THAT THEY RUN FROM 4:00-6:00 PM.
WE'VE BEEN DOING A PRETTY GOOD JOB STICKING WITH THAT.
HONESTLY, THAT'S GOING TO BE A LITTLE BIT CHALLENGING TONIGHT BECAUSE OUR TWO ACTION ITEMS IN AND OF THEMSELVES COULD CONSUME THE ENTIRE AGENDA.
I DO WANT TO JUST ASK EVERYONE TO BE MINDFUL OF EACH OTHER'S TIME, MINDFUL OF STAFF'S TIME, WE CAN'T GET OFF IN THE WEEDS.
THE LAST THING THE CHAIR EVER WANTS TO DO IS CUT PEOPLE OFF.
BUT IF WE GET WAY IN THE WEEDS, I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DO THAT BECAUSE WE NEED TO STICK TO WHAT OUR PLAN IS.
THE OTHER THING IS THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT TWO TOPICS THAT ARE REALLY PASSIONATE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE HAS A CHANCE TO SPEAK SO PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL OF THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE THINGS.
THAT SAID, WE WILL NOW START AND HEAR FROM CURRENT BOARD PRESIDENT MACARIO,
[Informational Items]
WHO'S JOINING US REMOTELY.>> WELL, THANK YOU, CHAIR HENRY, AND I HAVE TO SAY WELL PUT, AND I HEAR IT.
I'M GOING TO BE VERY BRIEF THIS TIME SO THAT YOU FOLKS HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE THINGS ON YOUR AGENDA.
THEN I WILL HAVE TO SIGN OFF AS SOON AS I'M FINISHED SPEAKING BECAUSE I'M HEADING OFF UP TO PORTLAND, OREGON IN THE MORNING EARLY AND I'M STILL NOT READY.
[LAUGHTER] ANYWAY, BUT I WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE FOR YOU FOLKS.
I PROBABLY ALWAYS MENTIONED THESE THINGS, BUT THEY'RE IMPORTANT TO ME, AND I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS ARE INTERESTED IN THESE THINGS, TWO THINGS.
THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK HOME WITH THE PORT CHICAGO 50. JUST AN UPDATE.
THE LATEST INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THAT SOUTH OF BAILEY PORTION OF THAT PROJECT IS THAT CONSTRUCTION IS SLATED TO START PROBABLY EARLY 2027.
[00:10:01]
THAT'S GOOD NEWS. I WOULD EXPECT CONSTRUCTION TO TAKE APPROXIMATELY A YEAR, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE A YEAR FOR WHEN IT'S GOING TO OPEN BECAUSE NOBODY ELSE DOES.[LAUGHTER] THAT'S GOING ON I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
I'M SURE MOST OR MAYBE ALL OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THAT PROPERTY BEFORE, AND IT'S REALLY GOING TO BE A GREAT ADDITION TO THE CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA AREA, PARTICULARLY CONCORD AND CLAYTON.
SPEAKING OF CLAYTON, ANOTHER REGIONAL PARK PROJECT WE'RE WORKING ON, VERY CLOSE TO THAT ONE IS THE CLAYTON RANCH PROPERTY, WHICH BORDERS IMMEDIATELY TO THE EAST OF THE BOUNDARY OF THE CITY OF CLAYTON.
THAT PROJECT, I'VE BEEN TOLD AS OF SATURDAY IS IN THE 2-3 YEAR RANGE AS FAR AS OPENING.
IT'S ALL DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY THE REGULATORY AGENCIES CAN DO THEIR PART OF IT, THEIR REVIEW OF OUR PLAN.
THEN I THINK AS SOON AS THAT'S DONE, WE CAN PREPARE IT FOR OPENING.
ALSO, SPEAKING OF THAT PROJECT, ON SATURDAY MORNING, THERE WAS AN OPEN HOUSE OUT THERE.
WE HAD A WALK AND TALK FOR THE PUBLIC, AND THAT WAS JOINTLY SPONSORED BY ME AND MAYOR KIM TRUPIANO FROM CLAYTON.
IT WAS THIS WAS BY HER REQUEST.
I THINK SHE HAD BEEN GETTING A LOT OF QUESTIONS FROM HER CONSTITUENTS ABOUT, WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT PROPERTY OUT THERE, AND SO SHE REQUESTED THAT WE PROVIDE AN EVENT FOR THE PUBLIC OUT THERE AND WE DID THAT.
WE HAD NATURALISTS, WE HAD PLANNERS.
WE HAD EVERYBODY OUT THERE. IT WAS A GREAT THING.
WE HAD ABOUT 40 PEOPLE COME ALONG ON THAT WITH US.
THEN WE WENT UP THE BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL FROM CLAYTON ROAD, AND THEN WE MADE A RIGHT TURN, WENT INTO THE PARK, NOT VERY FAR BECAUSE IT WAS KIND OF MUDDY.
BUT WE STOPPED THERE AND THEN WE HAD A NICE PRESENTATION WITH MAPS AND A LOT OF MATT BOARDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THEN A LOT OF GOOD QUESTIONS FROM THE FOLKS.
WE HAD A GOOD TURNOUT, I THINK.
TO ME, THERE WAS A SPECIAL ELEMENT TO THAT PROJECT GOING UP THERE, AND THAT IS THE BLACK DIAMOND TRAIL, MOST OF IT WAS COMPLETELY REDONE IN TWO DAYS BY THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ROADS AND TRAILS PEOPLE.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS, THEY GRADED AND RE ROCKED MORE THAN HALF OF IT BECAUSE IT WAS MUDDY AND WORN OUT AND OLD AND MESSED UP, AND I'D BEEN ASKING FOR THAT FOR THREE YEARS, AND IT TOOK THAT EVENT, I GUESS, KIND OF CRANK IT UP A LITTLE BIT IN THE URGENCY, BUT IF ANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN ON THERE, YOU'LL SEE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF BIG RUTS AND PUDDLES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THAT'S BEEN CAUSED BY LARGE PG&E TRUCKS THAT GO UP AND DOWN THAT ROAD BECAUSE THERE'S A POWER LINE RIGHT ALONG THERE.
I BELIEVE ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, MAX KORTEN TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE AN ATTEMPT TO RECOVER THE COST OF ALL THAT WORK THAT WAS DONE OR SOME SHARE OF IT FROM PG&E, AND THAT ALSO MAKES ME HAPPY.
GO OUT THERE AND CHECK IT OUT. IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
IT'S JUST WHAT WE NEEDED, AND IT'S GOING TO MAKE THAT TRAIL ACCESSIBLE 365 DAYS A YEAR, NO MATTER HOW MUCH RAIN, IT'S ALL ROCKED AND ALL WEATHER.
FINALLY, I WANT TO ADD ON SOMETHING THAT PROBABLY SOME FOLKS HAVE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT, AND THAT IS, WHAT'S THE STATUS OF THE GENERAL MANAGER POSITION AT THE PARK DISTRICT? WE HAVE THE BOARD MET ON NOVEMBER 8TH ON A SATURDAY MORNING EARLY BECAUSE OF THE URGENCY OF IT ALL, AND WE TO SELECT AN ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, AND WE SELECTED DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER MAX KORTEN TO BE THE ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, AND HE'S BEEN DOING A GREAT JOB ON THAT, AND WE'RE REALLY REALLY HAPPY THAT WE HAD SOMEONE VERY CAPABLE TO STEP INTO THOSE SHOES.
[00:15:01]
JUST A NEUTRAL COMMENT.I WAS PROBABLY AS SURPRISED AS ANYBODY WAS THAT WE GOT THAT RESIGNATION LETTER SO THAT'S ABOUT ALL I CAN SAY ABOUT THAT.
THE OTHER THING I CAN COMMENT ON IS THAT WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON FINDING WHAT WE CALL AN INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER, AND THAT WOULD BE SOMEONE WHO WOULD COME IN AND SPEND FIVE OR SIX MONTHS IN THE POSITION WHILE WE ARE RECRUITING FOR A PERMANENT GENERAL MANAGER.
I THINK MAX NEEDS SOME RELIEF FROM THAT BECAUSE HE'S DOING BASICALLY THREE JOBS RIGHT NOW.
HE'S ALSO IN HIS OLD JOB, THE NEW JOB, AND THEN HE'S FILLING IN FOR ONE OF THE AGMS THAT LEFT IN APRIL, KEN IWASAKI.
WE DON'T WANT TO LEAVE HIM IN THERE TOO LONG BECAUSE HE'S GOING TO PASS OUT FROM EXHAUSTION. WE DON'T WANT THAT.
[LAUGHTER] VERY SOON, WE WILL BE ADVERTISING FOR A NEW GENERAL MANAGER.
IT'S GOING TO BE A FULL RECRUITMENT.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT, BUT THESE THINGS TAKE A VERY LONG TIME.
I REALLY DON'T HAVE A SET DATE AS TO WHEN THAT WOULD BE COMPLETED, BUT WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING THAT.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE'RE IN VERY CAPABLE HANDS, AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT ALL GOES. ANY QUESTIONS?
>> THANK YOU, PRESIDENT MACARIO.
>> WELL, SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB THERE, BRUCE, ON RUNNING THAT MEETING SO KEEP GOING.
>> SAFE TRAVELS, PRESIDENT MACARIO.
>> THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. OUR FIRST ACTION ITEM IS GOING
[Action Items]
TO BE AROUND THE 2026 PROPOSED OPERATING PROJECT AND PROGRAM BUDGET.COUPLE OF THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND.
HOPEFULLY, EVERYONE READ THEIR PACKET AHEAD OF TIME.
IF YOU DID, THERE'S LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PAGES ON THERE. HUNDREDS OF PAGES.
HOPEFULLY, WHAT YOU DID, YOU WENT THROUGH THAT, YOU HAVE YOUR QUESTIONS.
YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE COMMENTS, COMMENTS GO INTO THE MINUTES.
IF YOU HAVE A STRONG OPINION ABOUT SOMETHING, YOU WANT TO DO THAT, THAT'S THE TIME TO SAY IT.
GOES IN THE MINUTES, YOUR BOARD MEMBER WILL SEE IT.
TALK TO YOUR APPOINTING AUTHORITY.
YOU CAN ALWAYS MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
AS SOME OF US DO, YOU CAN ATTEND A MEETING, BUT WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO DO, WE CAN'T DO IS GO INTO ALL THE WEEDS ON EVERY LITTLE MINUTE POINT OR GO, HEY, I RECOMMEND, BUT ONLY WITH THIS.
NO, IT'S EITHER IT'S AN UP OR DOWN VOTE.
YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR A REPORT FROM FINANCE CHAIR ALLEN SOYLE BEFORE WE DO THAT.
THEN ALSO, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE END. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I PROMISE YOU I WILL CALL ON EVERYONE AS I DO, RAISE YOUR HAND.
I'LL NOTE YOU DOWN, CALL YOU IN ORDER.
PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SPEAKERS TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH DETAIL IN ALL LIKELIHOOD, YOUR QUESTION MAY GET ANSWERED, OTHER PEOPLE GOING TO HAVE THOSE TWO.
>> HELLO. WE HAD OUR MEETING ON WEDNESDAY 11,19.
MEETING LASTED ABOUT TWO HOURS.
IN THAT MEETING WAS BRUCE HENRY, OUR CHAIR, BOB PEOPLES AND IT WAS SCOTT [INAUDIBLE] AND MYSELF, ALONG WITH ALL THE FINANCE STAFF THAT'S HERE TOO.
WE STARTED OFF BY HAVING A PRESENTATION ON THE BUDGET, HOW THE BUDGET WORKS, HOW THE BUDGET GOES ABOUT BEING APPROVED, HOW ALL THE DIFFERENT STEPS ARE.
THEN WE WENT INTO THE ACTUAL BUDGET.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE IMPRESSED ON WHEN WE FIRST STARTED WAS THE SETUP THAT WE TALKED ABOUT THE PREVIOUS YEAR BECAUSE WE WANTED MORE CHARTS ON HOW THIS BUDGET THIS YEAR WAS COMPARED TO PAST BUDGETS AND WHERE ALL THE DIFFERENT INTERSECTS ARE AND HOW ALL THAT COMES TO BE.
WE STARTED WITH THE PRESENTATION.
WE WERE REALLY IMPRESSED ON THE AMOUNT OF WORK IT TAKES TO DO A BUDGET.
THAT BOOK IS IN FRONT OF YOU, AND THAT IS NOT THE WHOLE THING, THAT'S JUST PART OF IT.
THE ACTUAL BUDGET, IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK TO GET TO THAT POINT AND THE GOAL HERE IS TO GET THIS PASSED.
IT HAS TO BE IN FIRST OF JANUARY, IT HAS TO BE IN AND GOING FIRST OF JANUARY.
OVERALL, WE THOUGHT THAT THE BUDGET IS VERY CONSERVATIVE,
[00:20:04]
DOES NOT GO INTO TRYING TO DRAW MONIES OUT OF MONEY THAT WE DON'T KNOW THAT WE'RE FOR SURE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.WE WERE ALL IMPRESSED WITH THE WEIGHT THAT THE BUDGET WENT ABOUT.
IT'S A VERY CONSERVATIVE ZERO LINE BUDGET BASICALLY.
WE'RE NOT EXPECTING A HUGE INCREASE ON ANY NEW MONIES COMING IN, SO WE SAW THAT IN THE BUDGET.
PART OF ALSO THE PRESENTATION WAS THE REORGANIZATION OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
I DIDN'T SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME ON THERE, BUT WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE IN THE BUDGET, IT'S BUDGETED TO REORGANIZE THE WHOLE PARK DISTRICT.
A LOT OF MONIES THAT WENT TO CERTAIN AREAS NOW GOT MOVED AROUND TO OTHER AREAS BECAUSE LOTS OF EMPLOYEES GOT MOVED AROUND AND THE WHOLE GOAL OF THIS IS TO STREAMLINE THE PARK DISTRICT SO THAT THE BUDGETS GOING FURTHER, CAN SAVE MONEY WITH THE STREAMLINED PARK DISTRICT.
WE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND WE SAW THE CHARTING, WE SAW WHERE ALL THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS WERE GOING.
ONE THING THAT WE WANTED TO EXPRESS IS THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO REVISIT THIS A LITTLE BIT FURTHER, MAYBE AT ANOTHER PACK MEETING TO SEE HOW THE ACTUAL STRUCTURE IS BORN.
WE DID THINK THAT THAT WAS THE EVENT TO DIVE DEEPLY INTO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AS WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET, SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE DISCUSSED, SO I'M GOING TO COVER SOME OF THEM THAT WE TALKED ABOUT AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET.
HUGE PART OF THE BUDGET. WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT PAMPHLETS THAT WERE PRINTED.
THERE WAS OTHER PACKETS THAT WERE IN OUR PACKETS THAT WERE EMAILED TO US.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.
LOTS OF STRONG FEELINGS EITHER WAY.
I HOPE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT YOUR PACKETS BECAUSE THE MONIES THAT ARE GOING TO DEVELOPMENT OF SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, IT'S A HUGE PART OF THE BUDGET.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON THIS.
WHEN YOU MAKE YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS, TRY TO BE BRIEF BECAUSE WE CAN HAVE A WHOLE MEETING JUST ON THIS SO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.
WE REVIEWED ON THE WW FUNDS TO WHY THEY'RE MOVING THE FUNDS OVER TO DEVELOPMENT RATHER THAN ACQUISITION.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE ASKED FOR IS THE LIST OF THE ACQUISITIONS WITHIN THE WW BOND ISSUE, WHERE ALL THE MONEY HAS GONE SO FAR.
BUT WE ALSO WANTED TO KNOW SINCE WE'RE DIVERTING SOME FUNDS HERE IS THAT ARE THERE ACQUISITIONS IN THE PIPELINE AND WHAT MONEY IS GOING TO THESE ACQUISITIONS BECAUSE WE ARE LESSENING THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT'S GOING TO BE IN THAT FUND.
BUT WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT HOW LONG THE BOND ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING.
SINCE 2008, IT'S A LONG TIME TO HAVE A BOND ISSUE ONGOING.
WE HAVE QUITE A BIT OF MONEY LEFT IN THERE.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THAT TOO, THAT THESE MONIES HAVE TO BE USED.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY TO BE USED ON JUST ACQUISITIONS, SO WE TALKED ABOUT THAT FOR A BIT ALSO.
OTHER THAN THAT, WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE GETTING THE BUDGET APPROVED.
WE WORKED ON SOME DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'VE ASKED FOR.
LIKE I SAID, WE ASKED FOR ACQUISITIONS, THE LIST OF THAT.
WE ALSO ASKED FOR SOME OF THE PAPERWORK THAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU, BUT THE BREAKDOWN OF THE ACQUISITION SINCE 2008 TO LET US SEE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE CUTS FROM THE WW FUNDS FROM WHAT IT WAS AT $43 MILLION DOWN TO AROUND 25 MILLION.
WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT IN A TWO HOUR MEETING.
WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF, IT WAS NON STOP BUT OUR MAIN GOAL WITH THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH THE PAC WAS TO GET A BUDGET PASSED.
OUR JOBS WERE TO REVIEW THE INFORMATION, MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO HAVE A SMOOTHER PRESENTATION FROM THE FINANCE GROUP TO US IN A FEW MINUTES, AND ALSO TO THE BOARD.
[00:25:02]
THAT'S ABOUT IT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE.ANY QUESTIONS THAT ANYBODY HAS? I'LL RELEASE IT TO THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION.
>> THANK YOU, CHAIR VALENZUELA. AGAIN, PLEASE WAIT UNTIL STAFF'S DONE BEFORE WE ASK QUESTIONS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE, DEB SPALDING AGM OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
AS WE PRESENTED I THINK IT WAS A 68 SLIDE PRESENTATION TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
WE'VE BEEN ASKED TO CUT THIS DOWN SO BECAUSE WE DID GIVE YOU ALL OF THE MATERIALS, I HOPE THIS IS SUFFICIENT TO GIVE YOU ENOUGH INFORMATION AND WE'LL BE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS.
I'M GOING TO DO THE FIRST SLIDES ABOUT MORE OF THE OPERATING BUDGET, AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATIE AND SHE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE PROJECT BUDGET.
A LOT OF YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, BUT FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE NEW OR JUST WANT TO REFRESHER, THIS IS OUR ANNUAL BUDGET CYCLE.
THE FIRST PART OF THE YEAR, JANUARY THROUGH ROUGHLY MAY.
WE ARE WORKING ON ALL THE PARK DISTRICT BUSINESS.
WE'RE JUST MONITORING HOW OUR BUDGET IS DOING AND COLLECTING FEEDBACK FROM PEOPLE.
WE START DEVELOPING OUR NEW BUDGET FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR IN JUNE AND JULY, SO DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WE'RE FIGURING OUT WHAT OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE.
THAT'S WHEN WE GET THE INFORMATION FROM THE COUNTIES AND WE'RE FIGURING OUT WHAT OUR BASE BUDGET SHOULD BE.
OUR BASE BUDGET IS GIVING ALL THE DIVISIONS ALL OF THEIR EXISTING STAFF PLUS WHATEVER SUPPLIES AND SERVICES THEY HAVE IN THEIR BASE BUDGET.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE PUTTING IN EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
THEN WE ASK THE DIVISIONS TO SUBMIT THEIR REQUESTS FOR NEW APPROPRIATIONS, AND WE GIVE THEM SOME CONTEXT ABOUT WHAT A YEAR WE'RE GOING INTO, WHETHER IT'S A DECENT REVENUE YEAR OR NOT SO GOOD.
WE HAVE VERY STILL INCREASING REVENUES, PROPERTY TAX REVENUES FROM THE TWO COUNTIES, BUT NOT INCREASING AS STEEPLY AS THEY HAVE IN PRIOR YEARS.
WE GET ALL THOSE REQUESTS, WE FIGURE OUT WHAT SHOULD AND CAN FIT INTO THE BUDGET, AND THEN WE PUT TOGETHER THIS PROPOSED BUDGET, WHICH IS WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU HERE.
THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE PREVIEWED THAT TO THE BOARD.
WE BROUGHT IT TO THEM AT TWO MEETINGS IN NOVEMBER TO GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL TIME TO REALLY THINK ON IT AND UNDERSTAND IT BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A BIG DOCUMENT THE BOARD HAD REQUESTED TO GET MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT THIS.
THEN AT THE FIRST DECEMBER MEETING, THEY'RE GOING TO BE REALLY MAKING THEIR FINAL THOUGHTS AND GIVING US THEIR FINAL IDEAS, AND IT GETS ADOPTED AT THE SECOND MEETING IN DECEMBER 16TH IS WHEN THE BUDGET NEEDS TO GET ADOPTED, SO WE HAVE A BUDGET FOR JANUARY 1ST.
ON THE POINT OF HAVING MORE CHARTS.
THIS IS JUST A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF WHAT OUR BUDGET IS LOOKING LIKE.
WE HAVE THE MAJORITY OF OUR REVENUE COMING FROM PROPERTY TAXES SO 81% OF OUR REVENUE IS THIS NICE STABLE, SLOWLY GROWING REVENUE SOURCE.
THEN THE OTHER SOURCES ARE CHARGES FOR SERVICES.
THAT'S LIKE PARKING OR DOG WALKING FEES, PROPERTY USAGE WHEN SOMEBODY'S PAYING US TO USE OUR PROPERTY FOR GRAZING OR FOR A CELL TOWER, SMALL FLIVOR FOR MISCELLANEOUS REVENUE.
INTERNAL SERVICE FUND CHARGES, WE'RE ACTUALLY CHARGING OURSELVES FOR CERTAIN SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE INTERNALLY.
THEN INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS, A VERY SMALL 0.2%.
PROPERTY TAXES IS REALLY WHERE THE MEAT OF OUR BUDGET IS COMING FROM, OUR REVENUE IS COMING FROM.
THEN ON THE EXPENDITURE SIDE, THIS IS LOOKING AT IT BY FUND.
YOU CAN SEE 51% OF OUR APPROPRIATIONS ARE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
OUR NEXT LARGEST IS OUR PROJECTS FUND, 33%, AND AFTER THAT, YOU CAN SEE OUR OTHER FUNDS ARE MUCH SMALLER SLICES.
THEN THE CHART DOWN ON THE BOTTOM IS SHOWING YOU AGAIN BY FUND, BUT IT'S COMPARING THE APPROPRIATIONS IN THIS YEAR, WHICH IS IN GREEN WITH WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD IN 2025, THAT'S IN BLUE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR APPROPRIATIONS IN THE CURRENT YEAR ARE ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT WAS PROPOSED IN THE PRIOR YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PROJECT FUNDS, WHICH I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT QUITE A BIT AND KATIE'S GOING TO GIVE THAT PRESENTATION.
THAT'S WHERE THERE'S A LARGE AMOUNT THAT'S PROPOSED FOR APPROPRIATION.
THIS IS YET ANOTHER WAY OF LOOKING AT THOSE FUNDS.
THIS IS BY TYPE OF EXPENDITURE.
BEFORE WE WERE LOOKING AT BY FUND, THIS IS JUST BY HOW WE'RE USING IT.
ROUGHLY 50% IS FOR PERSONNEL COSTS, 20% SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, AND THEN WE HAVE THOSE INTRA-DISTRICT SERVICES THAT'S FOR CHARGES WHERE WE'RE CHARGING OURSELVES AND DOING WORK OURSELF LIKE FOR EQUIPMENT FUND, FOR EXAMPLE, DEBT SERVICE, 5% OF OUR APPROPRIATIONS, AND THEN CAPITAL OUTLAY 18%.
THIS IS A SLIDE THAT OUR BOARD ASKED US TO PROVIDE THIS YEAR.
[00:30:04]
WE HAVEN'T PROVIDED THIS IN THE PAST, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE IT'S HELPFUL GIVING A CONTEXT OF OUR GENERAL FUND, WHICH AS YOU SAW IS OUR LARGEST FUND, HOW IT'S DOING IN COMPARISON TO PRIOR YEARS.YOU CAN SEE THE LINE AT THE TOP IS OUR GENERAL FUND REVENUE.
I'LL POINT OUT THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT 2021 THROUGH 2024.
THOSE ARE ACTUAL EXPENDITURES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT, AND OUR ACTUAL REVENUES THAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT.
FOR 25 AND 26, WE HAVEN'T FINISHED 2025, AND OBVIOUSLY WE'RE JUST PRESENTING 2026.
THAT'S JUST SHOWING WHAT'S BUDGETED.
BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THE REVENUE LINE, YOU CAN SEE THAT IT WAS A STEEPER UP SLOPE 21-23 WHEN WE WERE COMING OUT OF COVID.
YOU MIGHT REMEMBER PROPERTY TAX VALUES, ASSESSED VALUES WERE GOING UP QUITE STEEPLY, AND THEN IT'S REALLY LEVELED OFF.
THEN LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURE SIDE OF THE BUDGET, THE BIGGEST CHUNK OF OUR EXPENDITURES ARE SALARY AND BENEFITS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT THAT BLUE BAR IS AN INCREASING CHUNK OF THE TOTAL BAR OF OUR TOTAL EXPENDITURES, AND THAT HAS TO DO WITH US ADDING NEW STAFF AS WELL AS WE HAD SOME COLA INCREASES APPROVED THROUGH VARIOUS MOUS AND BENEFIT COST INCREASES HAVE GONE UP.
FOR EXAMPLE, MEDICAL COSTS HAVE BEEN GOING UP10% A YEAR FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS.
WHEN THE OTHER BARS IN THERE, YOU CAN SEE ARE REALLY PROPORTIONATELY FAIRLY SMALL.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST OUR GENERAL FUND.
YOU HEARD A LITTLE BIT ALREADY THAT WE HAVE PROPOSED A REORGANIZATION CREATING TWO NEW DIVISIONS IN THIS BUDGET.
THE OVERALL FTE ACTUALLY ARE PROPOSED TO DECREASE BY 1.96.
THERE'S SOME CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED WITHIN THAT BUDGET.
THEN POST RE-ORG, WHAT WAS PROPOSED WOULD RESULT IN THIS ALLOCATION OF FTE.
PART OF THE REASON FOR THE RE-ORG THAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS TO IMPROVE ON CAPITAL PROJECT DELIVERY THAT PREVIOUSLY HAS BEEN TAKING PLACE IN TWO, SOMETIMES EVEN THREE DIFFERENT DIVISIONS.
IN OPERATIONS, WE HAVE OUR MASK TEAM THAT'S DOING MAJOR PROJECTS SUCH AS YOU JUST HEARD ABOUT SOME TRAIL CONSTRUCTION, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT DIRECTOR MERCURIO WAS TALKING ABOUT.
THAT HAPPENS IN OPERATIONS IN THE MASK DIVISION.
THEY DO A LOT OF PROJECT DELIVERY.
THEN IN ASD, WE HAVE A WHOLE PROJECT DELIVERY TEAM AND THE MAJORITY OF OUR PROJECTS ARE HAPPENING THERE.
RE-ORG PROPOSES A NEW DIVISION CALLED FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
YOU CAN SEE THAT'S THE PURPLE SLICE OF THE PIE ON THE UPPER RIGHT.
IT WOULD HAVE 145 FTE, SO IT CAN COMBINE THE MASS MAINTENANCE AND SKILLED TRADES TEAM WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAM.
THAT WOULD REALLY SLIM DOWN THE OPERATIONS DIVISION, WHICH HAS JUST GROWN OVER TIME TO BECOME UNWIELDY.
IT'S REALLY ALMOST TOO LARGE FOR A SINGLE DIVISION TO BE EFFICIENTLY MANAGED.
THEN THERE ARE OTHER CHANGES THAT ARE PROPOSED.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IS PROPOSED TO BE SPLIT OUT INTO A SEPARATE DIVISION.
IN OUR PRELIMINARY PRESENTATION TO THE BOARD, WE'VE HEARD LESS ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THAT IDEA.
WHAT WE'RE PRESENTING TO YOU TODAY IS FOR THE MOST PART, WHAT HAS BEEN PRESENTED TO THE BOARD, AND THEN WE'RE TRYING TO PREVIEW SOME CHANGES THAT ARE ALSO BEING PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.
SOME CHANGES FROM WHAT WAS PROPOSED.
YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT FROM KATIE, BUT JUST FORESHADOWING THAT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.
WE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED IT TO BECOME ITS OWN DIVISION.
WE'LL SEE HOW THAT PLAYS OUT, BUT WE'RE NOT HEARING A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE BOARD FOR THAT SO FAR.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATIE TO TALK ABOUT THE CIP.
I KNOW THAT WAS VERY SHORT, BUT HAPPY TO TAKE QUESTIONS AFTER.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, KATIE DIGNAN, ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER, HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS BUDGET.
TO START OFF OUR 2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IN THE BUDGET BOOKS THAT YOU ALL RECEIVED, VOLUME 2, THE FIRST CHART THAT'S INCLUDED IS OUR PROPOSED 2026 TO 2030 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN.
THIS GIVES A FIVE-YEAR OUTLOOK OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE PLAN, WHAT THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST MIGHT BE.
BUT WHAT'S IN THE BUDGET IS JUST WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED FOR 2026 FUNDING.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 82 PRIORITY PROJECTS.
THERE'S 32 IN PRE-DESIGN, 35 IN DESIGN AND PERMITTING, 14 IN CONSTRUCTION, AND ONE IN ACQUISITION.
THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST IS OVER 499 MILLION, AND THE UNFUNDED TOTAL IS 136,471,183.
[00:35:07]
WITH THE ALTERNATE PROPOSAL THAT I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL, IT WOULD BE 156,457,862, WOULD BE THE UNFUNDED TOTAL.IF WE LOOK AT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED RIGHT NOW, IN 2027, WE STILL WOULD NEED TO COME BACK AND REQUEST ABOUT 48 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR THE PROJECTS THAT WOULD BE GOING TO CONSTRUCTION IN THE FUTURE.
THE BUDGET, AS PROPOSED, THE PATISTER'S MULTI-YEAR PROJECTS ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN TWO CATEGORIES.
FOR MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS IN A SPECIFIC LOCATION WITH A BUDGET THAT EXCEEDS OVER 100,000, THAT'S REFLECTED IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, AND EACH PROJECT RECEIVES AN INDIVIDUAL PAGE IN SECTION E OF THE BUDGET BOOK.
ALL OTHER PROJECTS ARE GROUPED TOGETHER WITH SIMILAR PROJECTS AND REFLECTED AS PROGRAMS, AND THOSE ARE ALL HIGHLIGHTED IN SECTION F. THE INITIAL BUDGET PROPOSED, AS OUTLINED IN THE PUBLISHED 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET, REQUESTED APPROPRIATING A TOTAL OF 83.72 MILLION.
ON NOVEMBER 18TH, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS PRESENTED AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WHICH IS INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET AS ATTACHMENT F. THAT REDUCED THE OVERALL REQUEST, AND THERE'S AN ERROR ON THE SLIDE.
THAT ALTERNATIVE FUNDING PROPOSAL REDUCES THE WW APPROPRIATIONS BY ABOUT 17 MILLION.
FOR PROGRAM APPROPRIATIONS, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND MAINTENANCE, WE REQUESTED 1.1 MILLION, AND THIS INCLUDES 250,000 FOR HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL, 500,000 FOR ADA ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS, 130,000 FOR MINE SHAFT REPAIRS, AND 120,000 FOR PLAYGROUND RENOVATIONS.
THE NEXT PROGRAM APPROPRIATION IS LAND USE PLANNING AND DESIGN AT 6,958,630, AND THIS IS MAINLY FOR ONE PROJECT, WHICH ACCOUNTS FOR STAFFING COSTS FOR OUR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT.
FOR PRELIMINARY LAND ACQUISITIONS, WE HAVE 67,000 TO SUPPORT POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS CURRENTLY BEING EXPLORED.
IN RESOURCE PROTECTION, WE HAVE 1.4 MILLION, A MILLION OF THAT IS FOR ONGOING MITIGATION AND MONITORING EFFORTS AS A RESULT OF COMPLETED CAPITAL PROJECTS SUCH AS MCCASKAR CREEK, TYLER STAGING AREA, DO LITTLE DRIVE.
THEN WE HAVE 400,000 TO EXPAND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING EFFORTS AT POINT MOLATE.
WE HAVE FUNDING FOR QUAGGA MUSSEL INSPECTIONS, AND THIS ALSO INCLUDES A NEW PROJECT TO SUPPORT DEBRIS AND SEA LIFE REMOVAL IN SHORELINE PARKS.
OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS SERVICES ENHANCED THROUGH SPECIAL FUNDING.
THIS REALLY IS OUR MEASURE FF FF-SUPPORTED PERSONNEL FOR PARK OP, STEWARDSHIP, AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND PROJECTS, SUCH AS THE OAKLAND ZOO SUPPORT AND BLUE GREEN ALLERGY MANAGEMENT.
FOR TECHNOLOGY AND WORKSPACE IMPROVEMENTS, WE HAVE 382,000.
THIS IS FOR COMPUTER NETWORK INFRASTRUCTURE, OUR RESERVATION SOFTWARE, AND ALSO 50,000 FOR GRANT WRITING SUPPORT.
THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE OUR WILDFIRE HAZARD REDUCTION, AND THIS IS ANNUAL FUNDING ALLOCATIONS TO SUPPORT WILDFIRE MITIGATION EFFORTS SUCH AS GOAT GRAZING, MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE INITIATIVES, AS WELL AS MEASURE FF FUNDING FOR STAFFING.
THE PROJECT APPROPRIATIONS ARE OUTLINED BELOW.
I PUT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NEW FUNDING AND THE ALTERNATE PROPOSAL.
I'M GOING TO GO INTO MORE DETAIL IN THE FOLLOWING SLIDES.
FOR THE ALTERNATE PROPOSAL, WE ARE SUGGESTING 66 MILLION, AND OF THAT, 61%, OR 40.285 MILLION, OF THE PROGRAM AND PROJECT FUNDING IS COMING FROM MEASURE WW.
FOR 2026, WE'RE PROPOSING TO FUND THE FULL PROJECT COSTS FOR SEVERAL PUBLIC ACCESS AND TRAIL PROJECTS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE'RE PROPOSING TO UPDATE THE MEASURE WW PROJECT LIST TO TRANSFER ABOUT 24.99 MILLION FROM ACQUISITION TO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE'RE STILL CURRENTLY ACTIVELY PURSUING GRANTS FOR SEVERAL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING FUNDING FOR.
BUT IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL WITH SECURING THE GRANT FUNDS, WE'LL RETURN THE ACQUISITION FUNDING.
THE PROGRAMS AND PROJECT BUDGET IS ALSO SUPPORTED BY 11.69 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND, 3.4 MILLION IN OTHER FUNDING, WHICH IS PRIMARILY INSURANCE PROCEEDS, THEN WE HAVE 3.2 FROM MEASURE FF, 2.9 MILLION FROM OUR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE RENOVATION AND REPLACEMENT FUNDS, 2.6 MILLION FOR MEASURE WW INTEREST, AND 1.6 MILLION FROM MEASURE AA INTEREST.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MEASURE WW IS A BOND MEASURE THAT WAS PASSED BY 72% OF THE VOTERS IN ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES IN NOVEMBER OF 2008, WHICH PROVIDED 500 MILLION IN BONDING AUTHORITY TO THE PARK DISTRICT FOR THE ACQUISITION AND PRESERVATION OF LAND, RESTORING URBAN CREEKS, PROTECTING WILDLIFE,
[00:40:02]
AND DEVELOPING AND IMPROVING LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATION FACILITIES.AT THE PAC FINANCE MEETING, ONE OF THE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS WAS, WHAT WAS SPECIFICALLY IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE? I WON'T GO THROUGH AND READ AT ALL, BUT THIS WAS THE ACTUAL LANGUAGE THAT WAS IN THE BALLOT, AND WE ALSO HAD SENT OUT A COPY OF THE BALLOT AND THE SUPPLEMENTAL VOTER INFORMATION GUIDE, WHICH FEATURED THE 2008 ORDINANCE, WHICH AUTHORIZED THE VOTER PROPOSITION PLACEMENT AND EXPRESSIVELY PROVIDES THE BOARD WITH THE AUTHORITY TO UPDATE THE PROJECT LIST.
THE PAC WAS PROVIDED THE ANNUAL REPORT ON ALL PARK DISTRICT BOND MEASURES ON AUGUST 25, WHICH INCLUDES MEASURE WW.
OF THE INITIAL 500 MILLION IN BONDING AUTHORITY, THE PARK DISTRICT HAS ISSUED 300 MILLION.
AS OF SEPTEMBER, WE HAVE APPROPRIATED 296 MILLION OF THAT; 42%, OR 125 MILLION, IS FOR LOCAL GRANTS PROGRAM.
78.7 MILLION HAS BEEN SPENT FOR ACQUISITION, 69.6 FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 33 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR EXPENDITURES.
AS OF NOVEMBER 2025, THE MEASURE WW UNAPPROPRIATED BALANCES TOTAL A LITTLE OVER 203 MILLION.
THIS IS BROKEN OUT WITH 157.3 MILLION AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITIONS, 27.8 AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND 18.3 MILLION IN CONTINGENCY.
IF THE BUDGET IS ADOPTED AS PROPOSED, THE REMAINING BALANCES WOULD BE 145.59 WITH 115.2 MILLION FOR ACQUISITIONS, 18.6 FOR DEVELOPMENT, AND 11.7 MILLION FOR CONTINGENCY.
NOW, IF WE LOOK AT OUR ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WE WOULD HAVE A TOTAL OF 163.2 MILLION IN TOTAL.
THAT WOULD HAVE 132.1 AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITION AND 19.5 AVAILABLE FOR DEVELOPMENT.
ANOTHER REQUEST FROM THE PAC MEETING WAS, WHAT ARE YOUR GUYS' PROJECTIONS ON ACQUISITION POTENTIALS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS? I WORKED WITH OUR DIVISION LEAD FOR LAND ACQUISITION, AND SHE HAD PROVIDED SOME ESTIMATES, BECKY BRAM, SIR, THAT WE ANTICIPATE NEEDING APPROXIMATELY 64.2 MILLION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS: 19.5 MILLION FOR DIABLO, 20.5 MILLION FOR SOUTH, AND 24.2 IN THE WEST.
THESE ARE VERY RUST ESTIMATES AND FLUID.
BUT IF AN OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS ITSELF THAT WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY AWARE OF, WE WILL USE FUNDING TO PURSUE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
AGAIN, THESE ARE ROUGH ESTIMATES OF WHAT SHE COULD FIGURE OUT AT THE BEST CASE OF WHAT OUR NEEDS ARE FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
MOVING ON INTO THE INDIVIDUAL CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT WE'RE REQUESTING FUNDING, THEY'RE BROKEN OUT INTO THE CATEGORIES.
WE HAVE 14.5 MILLION AT THURGOOD MARSHALL, THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT, WHICH INCLUDES A STAGING AREA, RESTROOM AND PICNIC SHELTERS, ACCESS TO THE AMMUNITION BUNKERS, A NATURAL SURFACE TRAIL NETWORK, AND HABITAT RESTORATION.
AS DIRECTOR MERCURIO POINTED OUT, WE'RE READY TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION IN 2027, BUT WE NEED FUNDING IN ORDER TO DO THAT.
THE CURRENT PROJECT ESTIMATE IS 18 MILLION, AND WE'RE REQUESTING 14.5 MILLION IN WW FUNDING FROM THURGOOD MARSHALL ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS CONTINGENCY FUNDS.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STAGING AREA AT THE PROPERTY FORMERLY KNOWN AS RODDY RANCH GOLF COURSE INCLUDES APPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES OF TRAILS, AN INTERPRETIVE PAVILION AND WASTE SIDING PANELS, RESTROOMS, PICNIC FACILITIES, LANDSCAPE ENHANCEMENTS, AND HABITAT RESTORATION.
THE CURRENT ESTIMATED PROJECT COST IS 21.2 MILLION, AND WE'RE REQUESTING 12.4 MILLION IN WW FUNDING FROM CLAYTON RANCH ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT, ROUND VALLEY ACQUISITION, CONTINGENCY, AND INTEREST FROM MEASURE WW AND MEASURE AA.
DETAILS ON ALL THE PROJECT ALLOCATIONS CAN BE FOUND IN YOUR PACKETS AND IN THE BUDGET ITSELF.
ANOTHER PROJECT WE'RE REQUESTING FUNDING FOR IS IMPROVEMENTS AT KELLER BEACH, WHICH WILL PROVIDE A PAVED ACCESS CONNECTION VIA THE BAY SHORE BETWEEN KELLER BEACH AND MILLER KNOX.
IT WILL REPLACE WORN-OUT FACILITIES, INCLUDING THE RESTROOM BUILDING, SITE FURNISHINGS, AND PAVING.
FOR ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WE SPLIT THE WW FUNDING COMING FROM MLK SHORELINE IN HALF AT 3,997,950.
THEN WE'RE ALSO REQUESTING MEASURE WW DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR BRIONES CAMPGROUND IMPROVEMENTS AT MAUD WHALEN.
THEN, DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FOR LAS TROMPAS, PUBLIC ACCESS, AND MITIGATION ALONG BALLINGER CANYON ROAD.
THEN WE HAVE 150,000 IN GENERAL FUND FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AT DOOLAN CANYON AND 100,000 FROM THE BOREL FUND TO COMPLETE THE BOREL AGRICULTURAL PARK PLAN.
[00:45:02]
NEXT IN TRAILS, WE HAVE NINE PROJECTS.THE FIRST IS THAT PLEASANTON RIDGE.
THE REQUEST HAS BEEN REDUCED TO ONE MILLION, AND WE'LL NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT SEGMENTS OF THE TEHAN CANYON TRAIL AND COWING LOOP WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE WITH THE REDUCED FUNDING.
WE ORIGINALLY HAD PUT IN A REQUEST FOR TWO MILLION FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL, DEVELOP MARTINEZ BAY TRAIL.
WE'VE REDUCED THE FUNDING TO ZERO, AND THE PLAN IS TO GO AND ACTIVELY PURSUE GRANTS FOR THAT PROJECT.
FOR OYSTER BAY, WE WOULD LIKE TO ADVANCE THE BIKE SCALES PROJECT THAT WE BEGAN WORKING ON IN 2008 TO CONSTRUCT A SIX-ACRE BIKE PARK AND PERIMETER TRAIL AT OYSTER BAY REGIONAL SHORELINE.
WE'LL REDUCE THE REQUEST TO 800,000, AND WE'LL NEED TO DETERMINE WHAT WE'LL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE WITH THE REDUCED FUNDING.
THEN, FOR THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL FROM GARON DE VARGAS PLATEAU, THIS INCLUDES A TRAIL BRIDGE AND AN AT-GRADE RAILROAD CROSSING TO THE NILES CANYON RAILWAY.
THE PROJECT IS SCHEDULED TO BE READY TO BID NEXT YEAR AND HAS A TOTAL COST OF 2.6 MILLION.
WE NEED AN ADDITIONAL 1.7 MILLION, AND REQUESTING MONEY FROM WW ACQUISITION FROM BRIDGE TRAIL, AND ALSO FROM DEVELOPMENT.
WE ALSO HAVE 300,000 FOR MURRAY TOWNSHIP TRAIL PROJECTS, WHICH WOULD BE IDENTIFIED IN CONJUNCTION WITH LARPD TO BE COMPLETED IN THE MURRAY TOWNSHIP AREA.
THEN WE HAVE 150,000 TO COMPLETE THE COYOTE BRUSH TRAIL IN SIBLEY AS PART OF MCCOSKER CREEKS TRAIL PROJECT, AND WE'VE UPDATED THIS THAT THE FUNDING WOULD COME FROM MEASURE WW CONTINGENCY RATHER THAN COMING FROM ACQUISITION FROM SIBLEY.
WE HAVE SIX RESTORATION PROJECTS TOTALING 5,664,386.
WE NEED TO RESTORE AND ENHANCE THE EXISTING REMEDIAL CAP TO PROVIDE SUBSTANTIAL USE OF THE PARK THROUGH GRADING, DRAINING, AND PLANTING TO PREVENT SOIL EROSION.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS 10.4 MILLION, WITH CONSTRUCTION ANTICIPATED IN 2027, AND WE'RE REQUESTING 3,089,386 OF MEASURE WW ACQUISITION FUNDS FROM OAKLAND SHORE LINE.
FOR HAYWARD SHORELINE, WE NEED TO CONSTRUCT A ROAD TO PROVIDE INITIAL SITE ACCESS FOR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES.
THE ESTIMATED COST FOR THE SCOPE IS 900,000, AND WE'RE PROPOSING USING 774,000 OF MEASURE AA INTEREST AND OVER 125,000 OF WW CONTINGENCY.
WE ALSO HAVE 800,000 OF MEASURE FF FUNDING FOR PLANNING AND DESIGN OF THE LAKE TEMESCAL PROJECT TO ADDRESS SEDIMENTATION AND WATER QUALITY, 555,000 OF MEASURE WW ACQUISITION, URBAN CREEK ACQUISITION TO GET US TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THAT PROJECT AS IT'S READY TO GO TO BID IN JANUARY.
THEN, MR FUNDING TO REPLACE THE LAGOON INTAKE SCREEN AT MILLER KNOX AND 120,000 IN MEASURE WW DEVELOPMENT FOR WILDCAT CREEK TRAIL STABILIZATION.
WE HAVE OVER 13 PROJECTS, AND WITH THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WE MADE A NUMBER OF REDUCTIONS.
FIRST, ROBERTS WERE REQUIRED TO INSTALL A NEW SEWER LINE TO CONNECT THE POOL FACILITIES TO MUNICIPAL SEWER SYSTEM FOR REGULATORY COMPLIANCE.
THE ESTIMATED PROJECT COST IS 6.8 MILLION.
THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL ONLY ALLOCATES MR FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT.
THIS IS THE SAME CASE AS THE LAS TRAMPAS; WE NEED TO REPLACE AN AGING TWO-MILE-LONG WATER LINE AND WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM THAT SERVICES THE PARK OFFICE AND FIRE HYDRANTS AT HOLLY COURT.
THE ESTIMATED PROJECT COST AT THIS TIME IS 5 MILLION.
THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL ONLY ALLOCATES 439,000 OF MR FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT.
FOR VASCO HILLS, WE'RE APPROPRIATING INSURANCE PROCEEDS TO REPLACE THE WORKSHOP AND STABLES THAT WAS DAMAGED AS PART OF THE RESULT OF THE 2020 FIRE.
THEN AT BIG BREAK, THE PROJECT WOULD INSTALL A NEW PERMANENT SHADE STRUCTURE AT THE AMPHITHEATER TO ALLOW FOR OUTDOOR INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMMING YEAR-ROUND, REDUCE ONGOING MAINTENANCE COSTS AND SAFETY CONCERNS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILING STAGE SALES, AND TO ENCOURAGE AND ALLOW FOR YEAR-ROUND USE OF BOTH SITES.
THE TOTAL PROJECT COST IS 2,963,000, AND THE FUNDING GAP IS 2,418,000, AND WE'RE REQUESTING MEASURE WW ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FROM DELTA ACCESS, AS WELL AS SOME MEASURE AA INTEREST.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF OTHER PROJECTS, AND AS I SAID, YOU CAN GO INTO YOUR BOOK AND SEE THE DETAILS, AND I'VE OUTLINED ALL THE SPECIFIC FUNDING APPROPRIATIONS IN THE PACKET.
WHAT'S NEXT? WE'VE ALREADY DONE OUR ALL-STAFF BUDGET PRESENTATION.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAD THE AGMS GIVE THEIR BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
WE WENT TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON NOVEMBER 12TH.
WE MET WITH THE PARK FINANCE COMMITTEE ON NOVEMBER 19TH, AND THEN HERE WE'RE WITH YOU AT THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
OUR NEXT STEP IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INTRODUCING THE BUDGET ON DECEMBER 2, AND THEN THE PUBLIC HEARING.
BUDGET ADOPTION IS SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 16TH.
[00:50:01]
THE REQUESTED ACTION IS THAT THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE RECOMMEND SUPPORT TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE ALTERNATIVE 2026 PROPOSED OPERATING PROJECT AND PROGRAM BUDGET.>> THANK YOU, STEFF. [APPLAUSE] ONCE AGAIN, YOU TOOK SEVERAL HUNDRED PAGES OF INFORMATION AND CONDENSE IT DOWN TO 20 MINUTES OR SO, SO A HEADLINE IF THEY CAN DO IT, WE CAN DO IT TOO.
THAT SAID, I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE QUESTIONS AGAIN.
WHAT WE'RE ASKED TO DO, YES OR NO.
WE CAN'T PICK AND PULL PROJECTS, INDIVIDUAL THINGS.
IF YOU DO HAVE CONCERNS, COMMENTS, PLEASE NOTE THOSE.
THEY'LL BE CAPTURED BY THE CLERK, AND THE BOARD WILL SEE YOUR COMMENTS ON THAT, BUT WE'RE NOT BEING ASKED TO DO SOMETHING OTHER THAN THAT, SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THAT PIECE.
QUESTIONS, NOBODY'S GOT THEIR HAND UP YET. MEMBER SIMMONS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE JUST RECEIVED BY EMAIL IS A COPY OF THE LETTER FROM FORMER GENERAL MANAGER BOB DOYLE, RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ALLOCATION CHANGES THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED IN THE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING AND ARGUING OR STATING THAT IT IS INCONSISTENT WITH THE ORIGINAL 75, 25 CONCEPT EMBEDDED IN BOTH I THINK MEASURE WW AND MEASURE AA.
WHAT IS STAFF COUNSEL'S RESPONSE TO THAT LETTER, BECAUSE I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH OUR CONSIDERATION AS WE LIBERATE THIS.
I HAVE A SECOND FOLLOW-UP QUESTION, WHICH IS, IF I AGREE WITH THE LETTER OF GENERAL MANAGER DOYLE, BUT I STILL WANT TO SOMEHOW I HAVE TO VOTE NO ON THE BUDGET IN ORDER TO EXPRESS THAT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A SEPARATE VOTE ON THAT PART, IS THAT CORRECT?
>> IT'S AN UP OR DOWN ON RECOMMENDING THAT'S.
YOUR THING ON THE ONE, I KNOW STAFF WILL COMMENT ON THIS.
WE DO NEED TO BE COGNIZANT OF THE BROWN ACT.
I KNOW WE DON'T TALK ABOUT IT A LOT.
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO THAT EMAIL.
IT SHOULD HAVE COME IN THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO WE JUST NEED TO BE CAREFUL THAT. DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?
>> I'M NOT SURE I AGREE WITH THE CONCLUSION.
I THINK I'M ENTITLED TO REPLY TO A LETTER THAT A FORMER GENERAL MANAGER SOLE WITHOUT VIOLATING THE BROWN ACT.
BUT I MEAN, I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT FURTHER ON.
I WANT TO HEAR STAFF'S RESPONSE TO THE LETTER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT PART OF IT, SO I KNOW HOW TO VOTE.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY PLEASE DON'T REPLY ALL, I GUESS IS WHAT I WOULD SAY, BECAUSE WHAT THE BROWN ACT. MEMBER DECHENS.
>> I WAS JUST A QUICK QUESTION FOR STAFF.
WAS THE LETTER THAT CAME FROM PREVIOUS GENERAL MANAGER INCLUDED IN ANY OF OUR PACKETS, BECAUSE I RECEIVED IT THROUGH MEMBER SMITH WHILE I WAS DRIVING HERE, AND THEN READ IT DURING PRESIDENT MERCURIO'S PRESENTATION, AND I'M WONDERING IF IT WASN'T INCLUDED, WHY WASN'T IT INCLUDED?
>> I WASN'T IN THE PACKET. I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.
I HAVE TO ASK STAFF WHY IT WASN'T IN THE PACKET?
>> CAN I EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION THAT I'M LEARNING ABOUT IT WHILE I'M ACTUALLY SITTING IN THE ROOM RATHER THAN BEFORE?
>> CONSIDERING I SPENT QUITE A BIT OF TIME GOING THROUGH THE ENTIRE PACKET.
THAT WAS A PRETTY IMPORTANT PART.
I'M REALLY FRUSTRATED THAT THAT WAS NOT INCLUDED.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER COMMENT ON THE SAME TOPIC?
>> I MEAN, SO NOTED. I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER COMMENTS.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO IT A LITTLE BIT. CAN YOU HEAR ME? THERE YOU GO.
YES, THE LETTER FROM OUR PREVIOUS GENERAL MANAGER CAME IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND IT WAS ADDRESSED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND SO IT WAS RECEIVED AT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND PRESENTED TO THE BOARD.
IT WAS PART OF THAT, BROUGHT WITH IT THE NOVEMBER 4TH BOARD MEETING THAT THAT LETTER WAS, I BELIEVE, INCLUDED, AND YOU CAN SEE IT.
IT IS A PUBLIC RECORD THROUGH THAT NOVEMBER 4TH MEETING.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF LETTERS AND FEEDBACK RECEIVED.
WE HAVEN'T GIVEN EVERYTHING TO THE PAC, I THINK WE OVERWHELMED YOU GUYS ALREADY WITH SO MANY DOCUMENTS.
THEN JUST TO SPEAK, AND MAYBE KATIE WILL WANT TO SAY SOMETHING ALSO ABOUT THE GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS.
I THINK THERE ARE SEVERAL, MAYBE MANY OF YOU IN THIS ROOM WHO HAVE THE SAME CONCERN THAT HE DOES ABOUT THE 75, 25 SPLIT.
I CAN SAY STAFF IS REALLY TRYING TO DO OUR BEST JOB TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL OF THESE PROJECTS THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO COMPLETE.
OBVIOUSLY, ACQUIRING LANDS IS A REALLY BIG PART OF WHAT THE PARK DISTRICT DOES, AND THEN OPENING THOSE LANDS TO THE PUBLIC IS ANOTHER BIG PART OF WHAT THE PARK DISTRICT DOES.
IT'S JUST CONSTANT THAT'S WHAT THE DISTRICT IT'S ALWAYS FIGHTING BETWEEN PRESERVATION, OPENING IT TO THE PUBLIC FOR RECREATION.
WE'RE TRYING TO FIND THE BEST BALANCE IN OUR PROPOSAL.
[00:55:02]
I FULLY UNDERSTAND HIS PERSPECTIVE.I WORKED WITH HIM FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND HE'S VERY HEAVILY AN ACQUISITION PERSON.
WHEN WE LOOK BACK AT THE ORIGINAL LEGISLATION AND WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS, I THINK THAT 75, 25, IT'S IN THERE, BUT IT WASN'T PRESENTED TO THE VOTERS, AND THERE'S ALSO IN THE ENABLING LEGISLATION PERMISSION FOR THE BOARD TO RE-ALLOCATE FUNDS.
WE'RE JUST TRYING TO MOVE PROJECTS FORWARD THE BEST WE CAN.
REALLY, WE DID WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR CURRENT LAND ACQUISITION MANAGER TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEEDS WERE.
THIS PROPOSAL WASN'T DEVELOPED IN A VACUUM; IT WAS VERY CAREFULLY VETTED WITH THE ACQUISITION TEAM.
>> THEN JUST TO ADD, AND IN GOING BACK THROUGH THESE EXERCISES, I'VE GONE IN AND LOOKED AT ALL OF THE PREVIOUS BOARD MATERIAL THAT I SENT OUT TO YOU ON HOW THE ORIGINAL PROJECT LIST WAS CREATED AND WHAT PROJECTS WERE IDENTIFIED, WHAT WAS PUT FOR ACQUISITION, WHAT WAS PUT FOR DEVELOPMENT? BECAUSE WHAT WAS ACTUALLY PROVIDED AS A PROJECT LIST COMBINED BOTH ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND JUST HAD ONE NUMBER.
THEN IT WASN'T BY LOCATION THAT IT WAS SPLIT 75, 25; IT'S AT THE BOTTOM, YOU SEE THAT THE TOTAL WAS 75, 25, SO THAT'S JUST ANOTHER THING TO NOTE THAT IT WASN'T BY EACH PROJECT LOCATION; IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 75, 25.
I HAD TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE LIST TO SEE HOW MUCH WAS ACTUALLY ALLOCATED BECAUSE IT VARIES BASED ON LOCATION.
>> ALSO, MY APOLOGIES, MADAM CLERK.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS, TOO, BEFORE WE GO TO PACK?
ACTUALLY, MEMBER SIMMONS, YOU HAD TO FOLLOW UP, DID YOU HIT THAT OR NO? PERFECT. GOT YOU.
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. MEMBER PEOPLES.
>> I HAVE THREE QUESTIONS, AND I WANT TO EXPRESS SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THIS.
I GUESS YOU MENTIONED THAT THERE WERE FULL COST SEVERAL PROJECTS WERE INCLUDED, AND THAT WAS FUNDING OVER THREE YEARS.
HOW MUCH IS INVOLVED THERE, AND WHICH PROJECTS RELATED TO THAT? WHY IT IS ESSENTIAL TO INCLUDE ALL THAT FUNDING, THREE YEARS' WORTH OF FUNDING IN ONE YEAR.
THAT SEEMS LIKE AN AREA WHERE IT COULD REDUCE THE FUNDING AND THEN INCLUDE THAT SUBSEQUENT YEARS AS HIGH-PRIORITY PROJECTS IN SUBSEQUENT BUDGETS.
THEN THE OTHER QUESTION IS, I THINK ON ONE OF THOSE CHARTS, YOU SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR WW DEVELOPMENT MONEY REMAINING AFTER THE ALLOCATIONS THIS YEAR.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHY NOT ALL OF THE WW MONEY THAT'S AVAILABLE HAS NOT BEEN USED UP BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO LOOK AT TRANSFERRING OR DIVERTING WW ACQUISITION MONEY TO THAT.
I'LL WAIT FOR THE ANSWERS BEFORE I EXPRESS MY CONCERNS.
>> I'LL START WITH THE WW, THE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT'S IN THE PROJECTS, WERE THOSE PROJECTS MIGHT ALREADY BE UNDERWAY, OR THEY HAD THE SPECIFIC USES.
THAT'S WHY THEY WEREN'T PROPOSED AND WHY WE WENT WITH ACQUISITIONS.
IT WAS REALLY WHAT WAS SOMEWHERE IN THE AREA, WHERE DID WE KNOW THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING ACTIVELY THAT WE WERE PURSUING RIGHT NOW.
THAT WAS THE REASON FOR WHY WE HADN'T TAPPED INTO THE WW DEVELOPMENT FUNDING THAT'S AVAILABLE.
IT'S REALLY FOR JUST A HANDFUL OF PROJECTS, AND I PROVIDED THE UPDATED LIST TODAY THAT SHOWS YOU AGAIN WHERE THE FUNDING IS REMAINING FOR ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT BY PROJECT LOCATION AREA.
IN TERMS OF THE THREE-YEAR PROJECTS, WE'RE FUNDING PROJECTS THAT WE PLAN ON COMPLETING IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
THE MAJOR WW FUNDING THAT WE'RE ALLOCATING IS FOR THURGOOD MARSHALL AND FOR DEER VALLEY, AND WE'RE PLANNING TO BID THOSE PROJECTS HOPEFULLY NEXT YEAR OR EARLY 2027, AND SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE PROJECTS FULLY FUNDED SO WE CAN AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS AS SOON AS THE PROJECTS ARE BID AND SO WE CAN GO FORWARD WITH AWARDING THOSE CONTRACTS.
>> IF I COULD FOLLOW UP ON THE ISSUE OF NOT USING THE DEVELOPMENT FUNDS, I FIND IT IRONIC THAT YOU ARE PROPOSING TO DIVERT ACQUISITION MONEY TO DEVELOPMENT, BUT YOU'RE NOT PROPOSING TO DIVERT DEVELOPMENT MONEY TO OTHER DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
IF THERE IS A NEED TO TRANSFER THE DEVELOPMENT OR THE ACQUISITION MONEY, IT SEEMS LIKE THE DEVELOPMENT MONEY OUGHT TO BE DIVERTED FIRST.
>> YEAH, I'LL JUST ADD TO WHAT KATIE SAID.
YOU'VE SEEN THE PROJECT LIST, AND THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE'RE TRYING TO BALANCE.
[01:00:02]
THERE'S THE 75 25 THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, 75% ACQUISITION, 25% DEVELOPMENT.THERE'S ALSO A LIST OF ALL THE DIFFERENT LOCATION AREAS WHERE THE FUNDS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE APPROPRIATED FOR SPECIFIC PROJECTS, AND THEN THERE'S A SPLIT BETWEEN METRO AREAS.
IT NEEDS TO BE DIVIDED PROPORTIONATELY BY POPULATION ACCORDING TO THE SOUTH DIABLO AND WEST METRO.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT WHICH FUNDS TO ALLOCATE IT COULD EITHER BE THAT THERE WAS A PROJECT THAT IS EMINENTLY NEEDING THOSE FUNDS SO WE COULDN'T APPROPRIATE THE DEVELOPMENT, OR WE CAN'T SWITCH BETWEEN THERE IS FLEXIBILITY TO MOVE BETWEEN 75, 25, BUT THE SPLIT BETWEEN THE METRO AREAS IS NON NEGOTIABLE AND SO WE CAN'T MOVE FUNDS BETWEEN THE METRO AREAS.
IT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO FUND EVERYTHING IN THE WAY.
I HAD THAT THOUGHT ORIGINALLY, ALSO, LIKE WHY CAN'T WE USE OUR DEVELOPMENT FUNDS FIRST, WE THEN GET HAMSTRUNG ON OTHER REQUIREMENTS.
>> I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS, I UNDERSTAND WE NEED TO HAVE THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO HAVE A BUDGET APPROVED BY JANUARY 1ST.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE; WE OUGHT TO BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO FURTHER REDUCE THE NEED TO DIVERT WW ACQUISITION MONEY TO IT.
THINK THE OTHER THING THAT REALLY COMES TO THE FORE IN THIS WHOLE DISCUSSION IS THE HUGE BACKLOG, IF YOU WILL, OF DEVELOPMENT NEEDS, FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, FOR FACILITIES, AND SO FORTH.
IT JUST SEEMS LIKE IT'S BEEN GROWING; THE COSTS ARE GROWING VERY RAPIDLY.
GIVEN THE AGE OF A LOT OF EXISTING FACILITIES, THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE OF THEM COME UP THAT NEED TO BE REHABBED OR REPLACED.
IN THE FAIRLY NEAR FUTURE AND SO THERE'S CLEARLY A NEED FOR IT.
I THINK NOW IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEP BACK AND THINK, SHOULD WE BE LOOKING AT SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL SOURCE OF FUNDING? I WOULD RECOMMEND THIS IS MY PERSONAL RECOMMENDATION IS THAT THE DISTRICT REALLY SERIOUSLY BEGIN CONSIDERING A NEW BOND MEASURE THAT FOCUSES DIRECTLY ON DEVELOPMENT TO COVER THESE COSTS.
IT'S GOING TO REQUIRE SOME DEVELOPMENT OF WHAT THE ESTIMATED COSTS ARE, AND PROJECTING INTO THE FUTURE, WHAT THOSE COSTS ARE, BUT IT COULD BE A VERY LARGE BOND MEASURE.
THAT WAY IT WOULD RELIEVE PRESSURE ON USING THE ACQUISITION FUNDS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
BUT IT RESPONDS TO COMMUNITY INTEREST AND HAVING ALL THESE FACILITIES, NOT ONLY THE EXISTING ONES, BUT ADDITIONAL NEW FACILITIES AS WE ACQUIRE NEW PROPERTIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. I'M TOLD WE HAVE A PUBLIC COMMENT NOW AS WELL.
>> YES, WE DO. DO WE WANT TO HOLD PUBLIC COMMENTS UNTIL THE END OF THE ITEM?
>> YES. THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO GO FIRST, BUT THEN I GUESS WE DIDN'T HAVE ANYBODY.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GO BEFORE PACK.
LET'S JUST IF WE HAVE ONE, WE'LL DO THAT NOW THEN. THANKS.
>> HI, JANET. YES, WE CAN HEAR YOU.
YOU HAVE 3 MINUTES FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. JANET FLINT, I LIVE IN EL SOBRANTE.
I'D LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THREE PROPERTIES THAT NEED PRESERVATION AS WILD AREAS, LIMITING HUMAN ACTIVITY THERE, USING THE CATEGORY CALLED MANAGED ACCESS.
THEY ARE OWEN CANYON, CLAYTON RANCH, AND DON CANYON.
SOME OF THESE ITEMS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED IN THE BUDGET THAT WE'VE JUST REVIEWED.
TOGETHER, THEY MAKE UP JUST 3% OF THE DISTRICT PARKLAND.
THESE AREAS SUPPORT LARGE BREEDING ANIMALS LIKE EAGLES AND MOUNTAIN LIONS.
LAND THAT WAS WILD WAS ONCE MORE COMMON THAN DOMESTICATED LAND, AND NOW LAND IN THIS CONDITION IS RARE.
CONSISTENT WITH THE DISTRICT'S MISSION FOR STEWARDSHIP, I THINK THESE SHOULD BE SET ASIDE FOR WILDLIFE.
ENCOURAGE THE PAC TO WATCH A DISTRICT WEBINAR CALLED WILD WITHIN REACH.
IT'S SPECIFICALLY IN EPISODE NUMBER 3 IN THE SERIES, WHERE RETIRED DISTRICT ECOLOGICAL SERVICES MANAGER BECKY TUTEN DESCRIBES THESE AREAS.
THE POWER THAT THE DISTRICT HAS TO RESIST SPENDING MONEY IN THESE AREAS,
[01:05:03]
TO HOLD THEM AS QUIET SPACES FOR WILDLIFE WITH LIMITED HUMAN ACTIVITIES IN THESE SENSITIVE AREAS, IS NOT CLEAR TO ME HOW MUCH OF THIS BUDGET IS DEDICATED TO STEWARDSHIP, CONSERVATION, AND WILDLIFE.I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE, AS WELL AS CONSERVING WILD LAND BY NOT SPENDING MONEY ON THESE PROJECTS.
HAS THERE EVER BEEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO WEIGH IN ON WHETHER THESE SPECIFIC AREAS ARE OPEN FOR RECREATION OR PRESERVED FOR WILDLIFE? THAT'S AN OPEN-ENDED QUESTION.
I'D LOVE TO GET AN ANSWER TO IT.
PLEASE, IF IT'S POSSIBLE, TAKE THESE PROPERTIES OUT OF THE BUDGET PROCESS. THANK YOU.
>> MEMBER SMITH, I THINK YOU'RE MUTED.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT. I THOUGHT I'D GET THAT.
I'M GOING TO COMMENT ON THE WW FUNDS, AND I FOUND THE LETTER FROM ROBERT DOYLE TO BE REALLY INFORMATIVE AND TO RAISE A LOT OF QUESTIONS FOR ME.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PAC WAS ORIGINALLY SUPPOSED TO BE THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR WW FUNDS, BUT IN MY SEVEN MONTHS ON THE PAC, WE REALLY HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THEM.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN ADVISE THE BOARD AFTER THE FACT.
I'M ALSO QUESTIONING WHY THIS HAS TO GO AHEAD WHEN THE GM WHO IS OVERSEEING THIS HAS RESIGNED.
IT SEEMS THAT IT WARRANTS FURTHER INVESTIGATION.
IS A SPEND DOWN WARRANTED OR EVEN GOOD PRACTICE? WHERE IS INPUT FROM STAKEHOLDERS, INCLUDING PUBLIC AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS? THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED.
IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE ORIGIN OF THE WW FUNDING AND ITS PURPOSE, THIS PROPOSED REALLOCATION IS REALLY CONCERNING.
AT THE OCTOBER BOARD MEETING, WHICH I WAS NOT ABLE TO ATTEND BECAUSE IT WAS NOT ACCESSIBLE REMOTELY, ACQUISITION WAS NAMED AS A PRIORITY, AND IT SEEMS THAT MONEY NEEDS TO BE LEFT IN THE FUND FOR ACQUISITION THAT COMES UP, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED.
MY UNDERSTANDING ALSO FROM READING DOYLE'S LETTER TO THE BOARD AND THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE FUNDS IS THAT LANGUAGE ALLOWING FOR TRANSFER OF FUNDS WAS TO DEAL WITH LIMITED SITUATIONS, AND THIS WAS IN RESPONSE TO SOME ISSUES STEMMING FROM MEASURE AA YEARS AGO.
IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO BE AN AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM ACQUISITION TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I FEEL THAT IF MONEY IS GOING TO BE ALLOCATED, IT SHOULD GO TO UPGRADES FOR THE PARTS IT WAS ORIGINALLY INTENDED TO BE USED FOR.
I DON'T SUPPORT THIS PROPOSAL FOR WW FUNDS UNTIL MORE INVESTIGATION, TRANSPARENCY, AND COMMUNITY AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS ARE ABLE TO GIVE INPUT. THANK YOU.
>> I ACTUALLY DO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION THAT'S BASED UPON YOUR EARLY RESPONSE, AND I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING.
IF I MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET WITHOUT THE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING, AND THERE'S A SECOND, AND THE PAC VOTES ON IT, AND THAT'S MAYBE NOT TO YOU. IS THAT POSSIBLE?
>> I UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF THE REALLOCATION OF FUNDS FROM MEASURE WW ACQUISITION.
AND I WAS TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY SO THAT WE COULD APPROVE THE BUDGET.
SO I CAN SAY YES TO THE BUDGET, BUT NOT APPROVE THIS MEASURE WW ALLOCATION.
>> I'M GOING TO REFER TO STAFF. HERE'S MY UNDERSTANDING.
THE ALTERNATIVE, AS DEFINED, MEANS THAT I'M GOING TO GET THE NUMBERS WRONG, BUT IT WENT DOWN FROM ROUGHLY 42 MILLION TRANSFER TO 25, 20 MILLION TRANSFER. THAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE.
>> THAT'S WHAT'S ON THE TABLE RIGHT NOW.
SO YOU'RE PROPOSING A THIRD ALTERNATIVE, WHICH WE HAVEN'T BEEN ASKED BY STAFF TO DO.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO DEFER TO STAFF, IF WE CAN APPROVE A BUDGET WITHOUT TRANSFERRING ANY OF THE MONEY.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE'RE NOT ASKED TO DO THAT, BUT I'LL DEFER TO STAFF.
>> YEAH, I MEAN, THE PAC CAN MAKE WHATEVER RECOMMENDATION THAT THEY WANT, AND WE WILL BRING THAT TO THE BOARD.
YEAH. JUST TO CLARIFY AGAIN, THE ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATION IS A REDUCTION IN WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
>> OKAY. BUT THEN A MEMBER COULD MAKE A MOTION.
[01:10:02]
WE HAVE TO HAVE A BUDGET BY JANUARY 1ST.>> SO A MEMBER COULD MAKE A MOTION THAT SAYS, I APPROVE IT WITH NO TRANSFER OF WW FROM DEVELOPMENT ACQUISITION, CORRECT?
>> PERFECT. THANK YOU. MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH, OR MEMBER DETJENS, I'M SORRY.
>> LOOKING AT THE TIME THAT WE HAVE, AND I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS MY FRUSTRATION THAT I THINK ALL OF US FEEL VERY RUSHED TO THIS PROCESS, AND IT FEELS LIKE WE REALLY DON'T HAVE MUCH OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE HERE, AND THAT'S AGAIN, VERY FRUSTRATING.
BUT I'M NOT MAKING A FORMAL MOTION RIGHT NOW, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO INTRODUCE THE CONCEPT OF HAVING TWO MOTIONS FOR THE PAC TO VOTE UPON.
AND I SEE THAT OUR AGENDA IS SUPPORT FOR NOT APPROVAL OF.
AND SO I RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE NOT AN APPROVAL BODY FOR THIS, BUT WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE CONCEPT.
AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO VOTE ON TWO ALTERNATIVES, ONE OF WHICH WOULD BE AS PROPOSED BY STAFF WITH THE REDUCTION IN ACQUISITION FUND USAGE, AND THEN AN ALTERNATE THAT WOULD BE A FURTHER REDUCTION OR ELIMINATE LIKE MEMBER SIMMONS HAD PROPOSED.
AND SO THAT WOULD BE A PATH THAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS BODY GO FORWARD.
>> I THINK YOU'RE VERY CONSISTENT WITH WHAT MEMBER SIMMONS SAID.
I WOULD JUST ASK, LET'S PLEASE NOT GET TOO DEEP IN THE WEEDS ON THIS, OR WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET TO THE OTHER ITEM, TOO, RIGHT? BUT YES, WE CAN CERTAINLY DO BOTH.
>> THEN LET'S BRING IT TO THAT.
>> WELL, I THINK PEOPLE PROBABLY WANT TO COMMENT BEFORE WE GET TO MOTION, TOO, RIGHT? MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH.
BUT IF OTHER PEOPLE ARE FEELING VERY SIMILAR, THEN WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE MORE COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, AND WE COULD PROCEED RIGHT TO MOTIONS TOO, BUT FIRST, MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH.
>> YEAH. I THINK THE ISSUE ON WW FUNDS IS COMPLICATED, AND I THINK STAFF HAS TRIED TO MAKE REASONABLE PROPOSALS ON REALLOCATION OF ACQUISITION FUNDS OVER TO DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
I THINK THEY LISTENED TO THE BOARD AND MADE SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS.
IDEALLY, YEAH, THE PAC WOULD BE MORE UP TO SPEED ON THAT AND PERHAPS INVOLVED EARLIER TO HAVE GREATER INPUT.
AT THIS POINT IN THE PROCESS, THOUGH, I THINK IT IS REASONABLE, AND THE BOARD HAS THE FINAL SAY.
I THINK STAFF HAS MADE A VERY STRONG EFFORT TO TRY AND ADDRESS THE COMPLEXITIES THERE.
AT THE BOARD LEVEL, THERE HAVE BEEN COMMENTS RAISED ABOUT PROMISES MADE AND PROMISES DELIVERED, AND THE IMPACT ON FUTURE BOND MEASURES.
I THINK THERE IS PUBLIC CONCERN NOT ONLY ABOUT THE SPENDING OF FUNDS ON STRICTLY ACQUISITION AT 75%, DEVELOPMENT AT 25%, BUT ALSO THAT PARKS ARE PURCHASED AND OPENED IN A BROADER SENSE.
AND LOOKING AT THAT, I'M NOT SURE THE PUBLIC WOULD LOOK AT IT AS PROMISES MADE, PROMISES DELIVERED IN THAT BROADER SENSE.
I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE TO CONSIDER AS WELL IN THE OVERALL PICTURE.
THERE WILL BE SOME PEOPLE THAT DIG INTO THE DETAILS, BUT THERE WILL BE MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T GET INTO THE DETAILS, AND THOSE ARE BOTH FACTORS IN FUTURE MEASURES.
BUT FOR 2026, I THINK THERE'S BEEN A REASONABLE EFFORT MADE ON THAT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. AND MEMBER DETJENS, I APOLOGIZE.
I SHOULD HAVE RESPONDED AT THE TIME.
SO TO CLARIFY, NOTHING THIS BODY DOES IS BINDING, EVEN WHEN WE HAVE AN ACTION ITEM, WHICH HAS BEEN PRETTY RARE.
WE DO HAVE TWO ACTION ITEMS TONIGHT. IT'S NOT BINDING.
IT'S SIMPLY ADVISORY, THE A IN THE PAC.
SO I SHOULD HAVE SAID THAT BEFORE.
>> I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ALL CLEAR IN THE LANGUAGE BECAUSE THERE'S SOME THAT ARE TALKING ABOUT APPROVING THE BUDGET, AND I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE DON'T APPROVE IT.
>> THANK YOU. LOOKS LIKE THERE'S AN INTEREST TO MOVE TO MOTIONS.
ARE THERE OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BEFORE WE DO THAT? MEMBER DIETER, THEN MEMBER CHANG?
I HAVE SOME DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT MOVING FUNDS FROM ACQUISITIONS TO CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.
AND ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT THAT THE BOARD ITSELF HAD SOME CONCERNS OVER THE SAME ISSUE, WHICH IS WHY THE FUNDS HAVE BEEN REDUCED, AND THEY HAD VOTED TO UNANIMOUSLY SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION ELEMENT AS ITS NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.
SO KNOWING THIS FROM THE BOARD, I THINK IT'S INCUMBENT UPON THIS BODY JUST TO RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD KEEP THE WW FUNDS WHERE THEY ARE AND NOT TRY TO BUDGET THEM IN THIS CURRENT BUDGET CYCLE,
[01:15:01]
AND TO WORK WITH THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER TO WORK OUT SOME OF THE KINKS IN THE COMING YEAR SO THAT THE BOARD CAN RE EVALUATE ITS PRIORITIES AND VALUES AND NOT DO THAT DURING A TRANSITION PERIOD BETWEEN GENERAL MANAGERS.THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION FROM THIS BODY.
>> THANK YOU, AND MEMBER CHANG, I'LL GET TO YOU.
ONE OTHER THING I SHOULD HAVE SAID TOO, BECAUSE THIS CAME UP AT THE PAC FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE, THE BOARD CAN DO WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO AT ANY TIME.
SO THE BOARD COULD SAY, JUST FOR DISCUSSION POINTS.
THEY COULD APPROVE THE TRANSFER ON ONE DAY, AND THEN THEY COULD DECIDE AT THEIR NEXT MEETING, NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
SO EVEN THOUGH WE'RE ADVISORY, NOT BINDING, DON'T FEEL LIKE THE BOARD ISN'T LOCKED INTO SOMETHING, TOO. AND MEMBER CHANG.
>> I GUESS I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS.
THE FIRST QUESTION WOULD BE FOR STAFF.
YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND A LOT OF PARTS ARE MOVING RIGHT NOW, SO I REALLY WANT TO GIVE YOU ALL AN OPPORTUNITY TO JUST BASICALLY VOICE YOUR THOUGHTS IN REGARDS TO THE DIRECTION IN WHICH THIS COMMITTEE IS GOING IN TERMS OF THE DECISION MAKING, AND IF YOU CAN BREAK IT DOWN IN MORE PLAIN LANGUAGE AS TO WHY YOU WOULD WANT US TO, LET'S SAY, APPROVE THE ALTERNATIVE OR MAYBE YOU'RE NOT SO MARRIED TO IT, AND THIS IS JUST SOMETHING YOU'RE PRESENTING.
THAT'S FINE, TOO, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM STAFF.
AND THEN TO THOSE, WHETHER THAT'S MEMBER DETJENS OR MEMBER SIMMONS, IF YOU DON'T MIND, I'M JUST TRYING TO UNDERSTAND IT IN MORE PLAIN CONTEXT.
IF WE'RE GOING WITH A DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVE, INCLUDING MEMBER DIETER, ULTIMATELY, IS IT BECAUSE THINGS ARE MOVING SO QUICKLY AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY HAD A CHANCE TO DIGEST IT, OR ARE WE JUST ACTUALLY OPPOSED TO THIS FROM LIKE A STANDPOINT? I WOULD ALSO LIKE THAT CLARIFICATION AS WELL BECAUSE THAT WILL HELP INFORM MY DECISION.
SO IF THAT'S OKAY, CHAIR, THAT I ASKED THOSE TWO QUESTIONS.
>> I THINK THOSE ARE GREAT QUESTIONS.
MEMBER DIETER, MEMBER SIMMONS, MEMBER MAHADEVAN.
>> WELL, BECAUSE WW WAS PASSED BY THE VOTERS, AND THEY ACTUALLY WANTED THIS MONEY TO GO FOR ACQUISITIONS.
I THINK IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR US TO GO AGAINST WHAT PEOPLE VOTED FOR, BECAUSE I WANT PEOPLE TO TRUST THE PARK DISTRICT IN THE FUTURE.
SO I THINK THAT WE NEED TO STAY TRUE TO WHAT WAS PASSED TO THE VOTERS.
AND I ALSO AGREE WHAT WAS SAID IS THE EAST BAY RESIDENTS WOULD GLADLY SUPPORT ANOTHER BOND MEASURE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I THINK WE SHOULD JUST FOCUS ON WHAT THE VOTERS VOTED FOR, AND ALSO SUPPORT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WHO'S FEELING THE SAME WAY.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER SIMMONS, THEN MEMBER MAHADEVAN.
IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE MAY BE A MOTION COMING AFTER THAT.
SO JUST IN THE INTEREST OF MOVING FORWARD AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO STIFLE ANYBODY'S QUESTION, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THERE MAY BE SOME INTEREST IN A MOTION.
>> AFTER MEMBER MAHADEVAN, YES. THANK YOU.
DO YOU DO BUDGET REVISIONS, OR IS THIS SET FOR THE YEAR?
>> WE CAN DO BUDGET REVISIONS. YES.
>> I DIDN'T HEAR IT. ARE THERE UP?
>> YEAH. YEAH. WE'LL TAG TEAM IT.
I'LL SAY A FEW THINGS, AND KATY WILL SAY A FEW THINGS BECAUSE TWO PEOPLE. WE HAVE TWO OPINIONS.
SORRY. I WAS JUST SAYING, WE ARE TWO PEOPLE, SO WE HAVE TWO OPINIONS, MAYBE.
I THINK WE ARE DOING OUR BEST JOB TO REPRESENT THE NEEDS OF THE DISTRICT, AND WE WORK WITH THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND THE MUST STAFF WHO ARE TRYING TO MOVE PROJECTS FORWARD AND LOOKING FOR FUNDS TO GET THEIR PROJECTS MOVING THAT THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON, AND UNFORTUNATELY, WE DON'T HAVE ALTERNATIVE FUNDING SOURCES.
I HEAR THE COMMENT ABOUT NEEDING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH A NEW BOND MEASURE.
THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING STAFF HAS TALKED ABOUT.
THE TRICK OR RISK, I GUESS, OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE NEW BOND MEASURE WHEN WE HAVE SO MUCH OF OUR EXISTING BOND MEASURE UNSPENT.
WE'VE SPENT LESS THAN HALF OR JUST ABOUT HALF OF WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY AUTHORIZED BY THE VOTERS.
[01:20:01]
MAYBE WE MOVE SOME OF THE ACQUISITION FUNDS TO DEVELOPMENT SO WE CAN MOVE THESE PROJECTS FORWARD.KNOWING THAT ACQUISITION, YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED WITH THE ACQUISITION MANAGER ABOUT WHAT PROJECTS CAN HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
IF WE GO OUT FOR ANOTHER BOND MEASURE, WE COULD ALSO ASK FOR ACQUISITION FUNDS.
THE TIMING OF ACQUISITION, WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO GET THOSE, THE DISTRICT IS ALWAYS TRYING TO ACQUIRE NEW PROPERTY, AND JUST THE TIMING OF WHEN THAT BECOMES AVAILABLE IS VERY VARIABLE, AND JUST HOLDING ON TO THE FUNDS UNTIL THAT HAPPENS, IT COULD BE YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, AND SO THAT WOULD BE HARD.
YOU GUYS ARE VERY ATTUNED TO WHAT THE PARK DISTRICT IS DOING, AND YOU'RE VERY ATTUNED TO THE 75-25.
I THINK THE AVERAGE VOTER, THEY'RE JUST LOOKING AT THEIR TAX BILL, AND THEY'RE LIKE, WHY WOULD I GIVE YOU GUYS ANOTHER? YOU'RE STILL ON MY PROPERTY TAX BILL FROM LAST TIME? WHY WOULD I PASS ANOTHER BOND MEASURE FOR YOU GUYS? WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO TAKE THAT BIG PERSPECTIVE.
THERE'S NO PERFECT ANSWER TO THIS.
WE'VE DEFINITELY STRUGGLED FOR ALL THE DOCUMENTS WE'VE SENT YOU, WE'VE CREATED 20 TIMES AS MANY.
>> YEAH, I THINK REALLY STAFF HAS GOTTEN PROJECTS TO ALMOST COMPLETING DESIGN AND READY TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION, AND OUR CONSTRUCTION COSTS JUST CONTINUE TO ESCALATE.
THE LONGER IT TAKES US, THE MORE IT'S ENDING UP COSTING.
THIS IS THE BEST PROPOSAL WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO COME UP WITH BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER FUNDING.
WE DON'T HAVE A GENERAL FUND THAT WE CAN TAP INTO.
THESE PROJECTS ARE READY TO GO, AND THIS IS OUR ALTERNATIVE RIGHT NOW.
SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
IT IS A HANDFUL OF PROJECTS THAT ARE MAKING UP A LARGE DIFFERENCE.
BUT LIKE I SAID IN THE BEGINNING, WE'RE CONTINUING TO PURSUE GRANTS.
WE HAVE SOME REALLY GOOD PROSPECTS OUT THERE FOR DEER VALLEY, FOR SOUTH OF BAILEY, FOR THE BROOK ROAD PROJECT.
AND SO IF THOSE ARE RECEIVED, THEN WE WOULD GO BACK AND ADJUST THE BUDGET AND REMOVE THOSE ALLOCATIONS.
SO THIS IS REALLY TO GET US OFF TO A GREAT START NEXT YEAR TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THESE PROJECTS.
>> OKAY. SORRY, MEMBER SIMMONS, I HAVE A QUESTION BASED ON WHAT YOU JUST SAID.
SO DOES THURGOOD MARSHALL COME TO A SCREECHING HALT? AND I KNOW THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE DECIDED HERE, BUT IF THE TRANSFER FROM ACQUISITION TO DEVELOPMENT DOES NOT TAKE PLACE, DOES THAT MEAN THURGOOD MARSHALL DOESN'T HAVE FUNDING TO MOVE FORWARD?
>> IT HAS FUNDING TO COMPLETE DESIGN, BUT THEN IT WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GO TO CONSTRUCTION.
>> THE SAME THING WITH DEER VALLEY.
>> CONSTRUCTION HALTED INDEFINITELY WITHOUT THAT TRANSFER?
>> UNTIL WE FIND OTHER FUNDING.
>> MEMBER SIMMONS OR MEMBER PEOPLES.
>> MEMBER PEOPLES GO FIRST AND THEN I'LL GO.
>> BUT AGAIN, I THINK IF IT'S POSSIBLE TO COMPLETE THE DESIGN AND THEN BUDGET THE START OF CONSTRUCTION, AND I KNOW FROM WATCHING A LOT OF OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, IT'S POSSIBLE TO WRITE CONTRACTS WITH A DEVELOPER THAT'S BASED ON APPROPRIATIONS COMING ANNUALLY AND ACCOMMODATING THAT IN THE CONTRACTS.
THERE ARE WAYS TO WORK AROUND IT SEEMS TO ME TO WORK AROUND SOME OF THESE ISSUES TO SPREAD THE COST OUT OVER A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER POTENTIAL SOURCES OF FUNDING, WHETHER IT'S A BOND MEASURE OR SOME OTHER MEANS.
IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT'S SHOVEL READY, THEN IT CAN BE SUBMITTED FOR GRANT APPLICATIONS ALSO.
FIRST OF ALL, I LIKE MEMBER DETJENS SUGGESTION OF TWO MOTIONS BECAUSE I THINK THAT'LL BE THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE CAN BEST INFORM THE BOARD OF OUR VIEWS, AND I THINK THAT ACTUALLY WAS A REALLY GOOD SUGGESTION.
BUT BEFORE I GO THERE, FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THE CREATIVITY AND BRINGING THIS FORWARD BUT I WAS ASKED BY FORMER BOARD MEMBER BEVERLY LANE, TO WORK ON THE PASSAGE OF MEASURE WW BACK IN 2008, AND I DID.
I HANDED OUT BROCHURES AND THE 75/25 IS JUST WRITTEN ON MY BACK.
THE SECOND THING IS, I WAS PART OF AN ADVOCACY GROUP THAT CAUSED A CHANGE IN SOME OF THE LANGUAGE FOR ONE OF THE REGIONAL PACS IN MEASURE WW.
I REALLY WAS ACTIVELY INVOLVED AND I FEEL IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO RESPECT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WE TOLD THE VOTERS WE WERE GOING TO DO, WHICH WAS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON ACQUISITION, THE 75/25.
I JUST WANTED TO SHARE SOME OF THAT HISTORY WITH YOU BECAUSE IT'S BEEN ALMOST 20 YEARS AND YOU TEND TO LOSE THAT SENSE OF HISTORY OF HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS TO THE VOTERS OF THE TIME WHO ARE THE ONES THAT APPROVED THIS BOND MEASURE AND SO ENOUGH ON THAT.
I WILL MAKE MY MOTION AND IF THERE'S A SECOND AND THE COMMITTEE VOTES ON IT,
[01:25:03]
THEN I SUGGEST THAT MEMBER DETJENS BE ALLOWED TO MAKE HIS MOTION AND SECOND, WE HAVE A VOTE ON AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WILL INFORM THE BOARD AS TO WHERE THE PACK IS OVERALL.>> BEFORE WE GO THERE, I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO SLOW US DOWN, SO I'M CONTRADICTING MYSELF WHEN I START.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THIS IS A VERY A HOT TOPIC.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE NOBODY ELSE HAS A QUESTION OR A COMMENT BEFORE WE GO TO THE MOTIONS.
>> NOW, IN MY TIME ON THE PACK, I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED WITH STAFF.
I THINK THERE'S A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF QUALITY OF WORK.
I THINK THEY'RE DOING THE BEST JOB THEY CAN DO IN ORDER TO DELIVER SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE AT THIS TABLE HAS THE SAME PERSPECTIVE THAT THEY DO ON THIS PROPOSAL.
I WANTED TO TELL YOU THAT I TRUST YOU.
I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS IN THE PAC DISTRICT IN MIND.
I KNOW THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE OTHER EMOTIONS.
I DIDN'T SEE IN THE THINGS THAT I READ ABOUT ANY REAL EMPHASIS ON THE 75/25.
I'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT IT, BUT IN LOOKING AT THE MATERIALS, I DIDN'T REALLY SEE THAT.
I WILL WAIT UNTIL THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE THE ALTERNATIVE.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER VALENZUELA.
>> THANK YOU FOR ADDING THE INFORMATION THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WANTED YOU TO ADD TO THE PACKETS TO MAKE THE INFORMED CHOICES THAT WE'RE ABOUT TO MAKE.
FOR ME, I THINK THAT THE BOARD HAS ALREADY DISCUSSED THIS.
THEY HAD LOTS OF RESERVATIONS, AND I THINK THAT THE FACT THAT THEY HAD THE ORIGINAL AMOUNT COME DOWN TO AN AMOUNT THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO WORK WITH AND THAT THE PROJECTS THAT WE ARE FUNDING POSSIBILITY OF THEM GETTING FUNDING FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE.
ALL THAT PUT TOGETHER, I THINK THE BOARD HAS WORKED REALLY HARD.
YOU GUYS HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD.
I THINK THAT THE WHOLE PICTURE IS THAT EVERYBODY'S TRYING TO MOVE FORWARD AS FAR AS CHANGING GMS, THIS IS A HUGE SHIP.
WE CAN'T STOP THE SHIP BECAUSE WE CHANGED THE CAPTAIN AND THE SHIP HAS TO MOVE FORWARD, HAS TO BE MOVING FORWARD ALL THE TIME.
STOPPING FOR A CHANGE IN STRUCTURE BECAUSE WE ARE CHANGING THE TOP PERSON AND ONCE THAT PERSON GETS IN CHARGE, THE TIME THAT IT TAKES FOR THAT PERSON TO START NEW PROGRAMS, IF THEY WANT TO START NEW PROGRAMS AND ALL THAT, WE COULD BE MONTHS AND MONTHS INTO 2026.
I THINK THAT FOR MY PART, THE BOARD HAS ALREADY HAD THEIR ISSUES.
THEY'VE PUT FORWARD WHAT YOU GUYS DID AND LOWERED THAT PART OF THE BUDGET.
I THINK WE HAVE TO RESPECT THEIR DECISIONS ON THAT AT THIS MOMENT, THAT THEY'RE PUTTING THE BEST INTERESTS FOR THE PAC DISTRICT. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ALSO, JUST BEFORE WE GO TO MOTIONS, I DO WANT TO MAKE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS IS AN IMPRESSIVE GROUP OF PEOPLE.
EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS, BUT YOU REALLY SAW THE PASSION IN HERE, AND THIS IS A HOT TOPIC.
NOBODY'S CALLING ANYBODY NAMES.
IT'S VERY RESPECTFUL AND I'M ALSO HAPPY WE'RE CHUGGING ALONG RIGHT ON TIME.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY.
THIS IS A TOUGH ONE, AND THAT SAID, DOES SOMEONE WANT TO GIVE ME THE FIRST OF TWO MOTIONS?
>> WE ALSO HAVE A COMMENT FROM MEMBER OBRINGER.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS, MEMBER OBRINGER.
THAT'S TWO MINUTES IN A ROW, I DON'T SEE YOUR HAND UP, SO I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT. MEMBER OBRINGER.
I KNOW THAT THIS IS VERY CHALLENGING AND I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHERE MEMBER SIMMONS IS COMING FROM AND MEMBER DIETER TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS BODY.
I DIDN'T REALIZE THAT HISTORY ABOUT THIS BODY ACTING AS THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS,
[01:30:01]
MEMBER SIMMONS IN BRINGING THE INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE THAT I DID NOT HAVE.I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS REALLY CHALLENGING.
I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT STAFF HAS WORKED VERY HARD.
I HEARD BOARD DIRECTOR MERCURIO TALKING ABOUT HIS HOPE FOR THE THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PAC HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50 TO BE STARTING CONSTRUCTION 2027, AND SO I SEE A LOT OF PERSPECTIVES HERE.
BUT I THINK IN THIS CASE, GIVEN THE PUBLIC, YES, THEY DO HAVE EXPECTATIONS WHENEVER THEY VOTE FOR MEASURES, BUT I KNOW JUST WITH THE THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PAC, THERE IS A PENT UP DESIRE TO SEE SOMETHING HAPPEN.
I SEE THE PROPOSAL BY STAFF AS A WAY TO MOVE THINGS FORWARD AND HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALL THE DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES HERE, AND I APPRECIATE THE WORK THAT STAFF HAS DONE TO TRY BE FLEXIBLE AND SHOW THE PUBLIC THAT THE PAC DISTRICT IS MOVING FORWARD WITH LONG DESIRED PROJECTS. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ANYONE ELSE, NOBODY ONLINE? DO WE HAVE A FIRST MOTION?
>> THE FIRST MOTION I WILL MAKE AND THE SECOND MOTION, I BELIEVE, MEMBER DETJENS WILL MAKE.
>> ARE WE DOING IT IN PARALLEL OR IN THE SERIES?
>> I THINK IN SERIES SO THAT'S REFLECTED.
I THINK IT'S BETTER. THAT'S A CHAIR DECISION.
>> I CONCUR WITH WHAT MEMBER SIMMONS JUST SAID.
>> WE'RE GOING TO DO PROPOSAL 1, VOTE ON IT WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT PROPOSAL 2 IS?
>> WELL, I THINK WE KNOW WHAT IT IS.
>> I THOUGHT PROPOSAL 2 WAS TO APPROVE THE SUPPORT, NOT APPROVE.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CORRECTION.
THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED IN THE MATERIALS TODAY WITH THE REDUCTION IN ALLOCATION OR REALLOCATION FROM MEASURE WW ACQUISITION FUNDING TO THE DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT.
>> TO BE CLEAR SINCE IT'S ON THE AGENDA, I AM GOING TO ASK THE BODY IF THERE IS A MOTION TO APPROVE, HOLD ON.
>> NOT YET. I HAVEN'T MADE A MOTION.
>> I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE MY MOTION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> MEMBERS, I'M TRYING TO CLARIFY.
I THINK THERE'S A CONCERN THAT WE AREN'T GOING TO KNOW WHAT THE OTHER ONE IS, AND I'M SAYING I AM GOING TO ASK FOR REGARDLESS. RIGHT NOW I'M ASKING.
I'M SAYING, IF THIS DOES NOT COME UP, I AM GOING TO ASK THE BODY FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE RECOMMENDATION, AND THAT'S NOT ENDORSING IT EITHER.
THAT'S JUST SAYING A MOTION TO APPROVE THE BUDGET.
>> YOU'RE SAYING [INAUDIBLE] RECOMMENDED?
>> YES. THE APPROVAL OF THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WHICH IS THE ONE THAT PULLED THE MONEY DOWN FROM.
>> NO, I'M NOT MAKING A MOTION.
NO, I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR THAT THERE WAS CONFUSION OVER, WELL, HOW DO WE KNOW WHAT THE TWO ARE? I'M SAYING I AM NOT GOING TO MAKE THAT MOTION AND I'M NOT ENDORSING THAT.
I'M GOING TO ASK THE BODY FOR THAT MOTION.
>> CHAIR HENRY, YOU HAVE AN INDICATION THERE'S GOING TO BE TWO MOTIONS. YOU KNOW THOSE TWO.
>> I THINK IT'S YOUR DECISION AS TO WHICH MOTION YOU RECOGNIZE FIRST.
>> HONESTLY, I DON'T CARE SO SOMEBODY MAKE A MOTION.
>> I'D LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, CHAIR.
I WOULD LIKE TO MOVE THAT THIS BODY SUPPORT THE REVISED BUDGET WITHOUT THE TRANSFER OF MEASURE WW ACQUISITION FUNDS AT THIS TIME, EXPECTING THAT LATER BUDGET AMENDMENTS MAY BE NEEDED OR WARRANTED AS ALTERNATE CIP FUNDING SOURCES ARE MORE FULLY IDENTIFIED.
>> MADAM CLERK. ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> CAN I JUST HAVE AN EXPLANATION A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME NEW WORDING THERE.
MEMBER DETJENS, WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE EFFECT OF THAT LATTER PART OF THE MOTION?
>> MY UNDERSTANDING HAVING RUN FOR A PUBLIC ENTITY, I HAVE RUN CIP PROGRAMS FOR MANY YEARS AND GONE THROUGH BUDGETING PROCESSES, RECOGNIZING THAT THE BOARD OF THIS PAC DISTRICT CAN MAKE MID YEAR BUDGET MODIFICATIONS AND RE-APPROPRIATIONS AS NECESSARY.
THE DECISION TO TAKE THE TRANSFER, WHICH IS SOMEWHAT CONTROVERSIAL AND LUMP IT INTO THE FINE PRINT OF THIS BUDGET ISN'T NECESSARILY THE ONLY PATH FORWARD AND COULD BE TAKEN UP IF STAFF IS, LET'S SAY, IS UNSUCCESSFUL IN SECURING GRANT FUNDING FOR ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION OF THURGOOD MARSHALL PAC.
[01:35:03]
THEN AT THE TIME WHEN IT'S TIME TO ACTUALLY ADVERTISE THAT PROJECT, THE BOARD CAN SAY, AS THIS ITEM, WE WANT TO TAKE THIS MONEY WE HAVE IN RESERVE FOR ACQUISITION, USE IT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PAC, AND THAT'S A LATER DECISION BY THE BOARD THAT DOES NOT NEED TO BE MADE AT THIS TIME.IF IT WAS TO HAPPEN AT A LATER TIME AS A SEPARATE ACTION, I BELIEVE WOULD BE MORE TRANSPARENT AND BETTER DEFENSIBLE THAN THE CURRENT PROCESS.
THAT'S WHY MY MOTION RECOGNIZES THAT A LATER BUDGET AMENDMENT MAY BE NEEDED AND WARRANTED IF OTHER FUNDING SOURCES ARE NOT FULLY IDENTIFIED.
AS MEMBER PEOPLES HAD POINTED OUT, THE CIP SOME OF THOSE EXPENDITURES EXTEND OVER MULTIPLE YEARS, AND YET THEY'RE OBLIGATING IT NOW WHEN THAT DECISION COULD BE MADE IN FUTURE BUDGETS, DEPENDING ON THE ROLL OUT OF THESE VARIOUS PROJECTS.
>> THE QUESTION WAS TO CLARIFY THE MOTION. IT MAY SIMPLIFY.
I DON'T WANT TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH, BUT IS IT FAIR TO SAY YOUR MOTION, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE YOU RE-READ IT BEFORE WE VOTE ON IT, IS IT FAIR TO SAY IN SIMPLEST TERMS, YOUR MOTION IS, YOU'RE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL OF THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE TRANSFER OF THE WW FUNDS OR REMOVAL OF THE CIP, FAIR TO SAY IT THAT WAY?
>> I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THE REMOVAL OF THE CIP.
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE REMOVAL OF THE WW TRANSFER.
>> ANYTHING ELSE YOU'RE GOOD, REMOVE WW TRANSFER, FAIR TO SAY? IF YOU COULD PLEASE RE-READ THE MOTION, SOMEBODY SECOND, AND THEN MADAM CLERK, ROLL CALL.
>> I MOVE THAT THIS BODY SUPPORT A REVISED BUDGET WITHOUT THE TRANSFER OF MEASURE WW ACQUISITION FUNDS AT THIS TIME EXPECTING THAT LATER BUDGET AMENDMENTS MAY BE NEEDED OR WARRANTED AS ALTERNATE FUNDING SOURCES FOR CIP PROJECTS ARE MORE FULLY IDENTIFIED, AND THOSE OPPORTUNITIES ARE EXHAUSTED.
>> THANK YOU. MOTIONS ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED AND SECONDED, SO, MADAM CLERK, IF WE COULD PLEASE HAVE A ROLL CALL.
>> I MAKE A MOTION THAT WE PASS THE REVISED BUDGET AS PROPOSED.
>> DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECONDED BY REID.
MADAM CLERK, ROLL CALL, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU. THE MOTION PASSES.
>> SURE. MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE READ THE ACTUAL NUMBERS ON BOTH MOTIONS, PLEASE?
>> YES. THE FIRST MOTION WAS SIX YESES TO NINE NOS AND ONE ABSTENTION.
THE SECOND MOTION WAS 11 YESES, TO 5 NOS.
>> THANK YOU. THE NEXT ISSUE, THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG ONE TOO.
SUPPORT FOR THE 2026 PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORK PLAN.
A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON THIS LAST WEEK.
FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO SUBMITTED SUGGESTIONS ON THIS.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE, YOU MAY NOT SEE YOUR EXACT LANGUAGE.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU SUBMITTED SOMETHING AROUND TRAIL SAFETY, YOU MAY NOT SEE THE EXACT THING YOU PUT IN THERE.
I'M GOING TO BUTCHER THE NAME OF THE PROGRAM, BUT THERE'S A MEET, GREET AND SAY HELLO PROGRAM.
THAT WAS A SPECIFIC TACTIC THAT SOMEBODY RECOMMENDED.
[01:40:02]
YOU WON'T SEE ALL THE TACTICS UNDERNEATH THAT.I WOULD ALSO SAY, WE DON'T HAVE TO WORDSMITH EVERYTHING TONIGHT BECAUSE TO STAFF'S CREDIT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SMALL NUMBER OF TOPICS TO WORK ON NEXT YEAR, SO WE'RE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO DIVE INTO THESE.
PLEASE CONSIDER THE BROAD CONTEXT OF EACH ONE OF THESE AS WE GO THROUGH THOSE.
WE DON'T NEED TO FIX EVERYTHING TONIGHT AND MAKE IT PERFECT.
ALSO, PLEASE ASK QUESTIONS AT THE END OF THE PRESENTATION.
BEFORE WE MOVE INTO PRESENTATION FROM STAFF, HOLD ON ONE SEC, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> WHAT IS THE GOAL OF OUR DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW? WHAT IS YOUR PREFERRED OUTCOME BY THE TIME OUR MEETING IS OVER?
>> EXCELLENT QUESTION. WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IS, WE'RE SELECTING THE WORK PLAN TOPICS THAT WE AS A PARK WANT TO WORK ON.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LIST OF WHAT WAS SUBMITTED BY THE DEADLINE.
IF YOU SUBMITTED SOMETHING AFTER THE DEADLINE, YOU MAY NOT SEE YOUR TOPIC IN THERE.
BUT JUST LIKE WITH THE LAST ONE, IF THERE'S A TOPIC YOU WANT TO DISCUSS AND IT'S NOT IN THERE, YOU CAN PROPOSE THAT THAT BE A WORK PLAN TOPIC FOR NEXT YEAR.
ULTIMATELY, IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE BOARD WHAT THEY DECIDE THEY WANT TO DO.
WE COULD GIVE OUR SUGGESTIONS LIKE NO, WE'RE GOING TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.
I DOUBT THEY'RE GOING TO DO THAT, BUT THEY COULD.
LAST WEEK AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, VICE CHAIR MENDOZA AND I MET WITH STAFF, ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, ASSOCIATE GENERAL MANAGER.
THEY WERE VERY COMPLIMENTARY OF EVERYTHING WE SUBMITTED AND THERE'S SOME GREAT TOPICS ON THERE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE.
WHAT WE'RE ASKED TO DO TODAY IS ACTUALLY VOTE ON THREE AND THEN FROM THOSE THREE, HOPEFULLY THEY'LL PICK TWO IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
EVEN THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TWO WORK PLAN FOCUS TOPICS AS A PARK FOR NEXT YEAR, WE'RE GOING TO IDENTIFY THREE TODAY.
IF WE COME INTO A TIE, WE'LL HAVE TO DECIDE BETWEEN THOSE.
THERE ARE I THINK SEVEN ON THE BOARD, IS THAT CORRECT? HOW MANY? I'M SORRY.
>> SIX WILL BE PRESENTED TONIGHT.
>> THERE'S GOING TO BE SIX PRESENTED TONIGHT.
AGAIN, IF THERE'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK WOULD BE A GOOD TOPIC THAT IS NOT ON HERE, THEN PLEASE BRING THAT UP.
>> SIX PLUS DOWN TO THREE, THAT'S OUR GOAL TODAY, IS TO SUPPORT THREE TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> WILL WE HAVE THREE YEARS TO ADDRESS ALL OF THEM? WE'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR NEXT YEAR, THEN WHAT ABOUT 2027?
>> WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN NOVEMBER OF 2026.
>> THEN THERE'S MORE TO DO AFTER THAT. MORE YEARS.
>> THEN WE'LL JUST KEEP GOING UNTIL OUR RETIRE.
>> I THINK PART OF THE PRESENTATION SHOWS THE CYCLE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, CORRECT?
>> GREAT. GOOD EVENING, PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR THE EXCELLENT CONVERSATIONS TONIGHT.
IT WAS GREAT TO HEAR THE DISCUSSION AND I'M HOPING THAT THIS TOPIC WILL PROMPT EVEN MORE DISCUSSION.
MY ROLE TONIGHT IS TO PRESENT WHAT WAS SUBMITTED TO STAFF FROM MEMBERS OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE AS POTENTIAL FOCUS TOPICS, AS WELL AS TO SHARE A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE FORMAT OF THE FOCUS TOPICS, WHICH INTEGRATES YOUR FEEDBACK FROM OUR LAST MEETING.
THEN I'LL BE TURNING IT OVER TO CHAIR HENRY TO FACILITATE THE DISCUSSION BETWEEN YOU ALL BECAUSE THIS IS REALLY YOUR WORK PLAN AND FOR YOU ALL TO DISCUSS AND GIVE A RECOMMENDATION ON.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER CLARIFYING QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL BE TURNING MOST OF TONIGHT'S PRESENTATION BACK OVER TO YOU ALL.
BY WAY OF REMINDER PER THE BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES, THE ROLE OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS AS DIRECTED BY THE BOARD AND SUPPORTED BY STAFF.
THE PAC IS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES AND ADVICE TO STAFF AND TO THE BOARD ON THE ISSUES, PROJECTS AND POLICIES OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
OUR WORK TONIGHT HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THAT.
WHAT WE'RE SEEKING TONIGHT IS THREE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR YOU ALL ON FOCUSED TOPICS.
THERE IS A TYPE ON THIS PRESENTATION BECAUSE WE HAD ORIGINALLY HAD IT AS TWO.
BUT FOLLOWING CONVERSATION WITH OUR BOARD PRESIDENT AND ACTING GENERAL MANAGER AND OUR CHAIRS OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HAVING THREE COME FORWARD TO THE FULL BOARD FELT LIKE A COMFORTABLE NUMBER FOR THE BOARD THEN TO SELECT TWO OF THE TOPICS OF INTEREST FROM THIS COMMITTEE.
IN TERMS OF THE PATHWAY OF WHERE THIS RECOMMENDATION GOES, IS FOLLOWING OUR CONVERSATION HERE TODAY, AT WHICH OUR CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR CAN GIVE SOME FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD PRESIDENT, WHICH INCLUDED BOTH OUR OUTGOING PRESIDENT, PARK PRESIDENT MERCURIO, AS WELL AS OUR INCOMING PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT OLIVIA SANWONG AND OUR ACTING GENERAL MANAGER.
YOUR RECOMMENDATION WILL THEN GO BEFORE OUR BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, WHO WILL DISCUSS AND MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO OUR FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THAT'LL BE IN DECEMBER AND THEN THE FULL BOARD SELECTION IN JANUARY.
THAT WAY, YOUR TWO TOPICS ARE PRIMED AND READY FOR ANOTHER ROBUST DISCUSSION AT THE JANUARY PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH HAPPENS TOWARDS THE END OF THE MONTH.
AS STATED, OUR GOAL TONIGHT IS TO IDENTIFY THREE TOPICS OF INTEREST AND THE BENEFITS OF HAVING TOPICS TO FOCUS ON FOR MULTIPLE MEETINGS AT A TIME, WHICH YOU ALL HAVE SHARED OVER TIME IS REALLY THE DEPTH OF ENGAGEMENT.
[01:45:01]
WE DON'T WANT YOU ALL TO FEEL RUSHED IN YOUR DECISION MAKING OR YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS.WE WANT IT TO FEEL ROBUST AND INCLUSIVE.
WE'RE ALSO HOPING TO ENHANCE COMMUNITY INPUT.
I KNOW THERE WAS SOME CONCERN EXPRESSED AT THE LAST MEETING IN TERMS OF AN EXPECTATION OF TAKING ON AN ADDITIONAL ROLE OF TABLING OR GIVING PRESENTATIONS.
BUT REALLY THE EXPECTATION IS THAT DURING THE TIME THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON A CERTAIN TOPIC, THAT YOU CHAT WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR ABOUT IT, THAT YOU HAVE A CONVERSATION AT A SOCCER GAME OR WHEREVER YOU ARE, AS YOU'RE OUT AND ABOUT IN YOUR COMMUNITY.
YOU ALL ARE HERE AS REPRESENTATIVES OF A COMMUNITY IN THE EAST BAY.
INTEGRATING THAT TOPIC INTO DISCUSSION DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, THAT'S OUR BASELINE EXPECTATION OF THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ROLE.
WE'RE HOPING FOR STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT.
AS HAS BEEN NOTED BY THIS COMMITTEE, WE BENEFIT FROM RECOMMENDATIONS FROM YOU ALL.
AT THE CONCLUSION OF A FOCUS TOPIC STRATEGY SESSION, A REPORT WILL COME FROM THIS COMMITTEE TO OUR FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SO YOUR VOICES GET STRATEGICALLY ALIGNED INTO THEIR POLICY SETTING WORK PLAN AND THEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF PERSPECTIVES THAT WE CAN INTEGRATE INTO THE REPORTS GIVEN ON EACH TOPIC.
THAT IS A DIFFERENT FONT THAN I HAD EXPECTED.
[LAUGHTER] THIS IS ALSO IN YOUR WORK PLAN, BUT JUST WANTED TO ANSWER IN TERMS OF THE PROPOSED SCHEDULE FOR NEXT YEAR.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS AT OUR LAST MEETING THAT WE WOULD BE CANCELING MEETINGS, OR HAVING DIFFERENT FORMAT, OR NOT ENOUGH OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR REGULAR ITEMS. IN TERMS OF CHANGES, OVERALL, THE SCHEDULE WILL BE THE SAME NEXT YEAR WITH TWO KEY CHANGES.
ONE IS THAT IN APRIL AND AUGUST, WE WILL BE DEDICATING THE ENTIRE MEETING TO THE FOCUS TOPIC.
THAT WAY YOU ALL CAN HAVE A TWO HOUR DISCUSSION ON THAT TOPIC AND REALLY ZONE IN.
THESE COULD BE TAKING PLACE IN DIFFERENT FORMATS.
WE COULD BE AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION IF THAT TOPIC IS MAYBE GEOGRAPHICALLY SPECIFIC, IT COULD INTEGRATE A SITE VISIT COMPONENT AND SO WE HAVE SOME FLEXIBILITY DEPENDING ON THE TOPIC.
THEN ADDITIONALLY, NO MEETING IN MARCH TO ALLOW FOR THAT TIME TO COLLECT INSIGHTS AND INPUT FROM YOUR COMMUNITY ON THAT TOPIC.
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, JANUARY WILL CONSIST OF A TYPICAL PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING.
WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE FOCUS TOPICS AS IDENTIFIED BY OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THERE'S ALSO ROOM ON THE AGENDA FOR A SECOND TOPIC.
FEBRUARY WILL BE OUR FIRST FOCUS TOPIC NUMBER 1 PRESENTATION AND HAVE ROOM FOR A SECOND TOPIC.
IN MARCH, NO MEETING, IN APRIL, A MEETING EXCLUSIVELY FOCUSED ON THAT FOCUS TOPIC.
HOWEVER, IF A HIGH PRIORITY ITEM DOES COME UP, WE WILL OF COURSE, MAKE ROOM ON THE AGENDA FOR DISCUSSION.
IN MAY, THE FINDINGS FROM THAT FOCUS TOPIC WILL GO BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, SO AT A BOARD MEETING AND THEN AT THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN MAY, WE WILL START TALKING ABOUT THAT SECOND PRIORITY TOPIC AND THERE WILL BE ROOM FOR A SECOND ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
IN JUNE, THERE'S OPTIONS FOR TWO ITEMS, FOCUS TOPIC AS WELL AS A SECOND ITEM.
IN JULY, THAT'S THE TYPICAL RECESS FOR THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING.
IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR MY TENURE HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT, SO THAT WILL CONTINUE INTO 2026.
IN AUGUST IS A SPECIAL MEETING FOCUSED ON TOPIC NUMBER 2.
IN SEPTEMBER, REVIEW THE FINDINGS OF TOPIC NUMBER 2 TO BE BROUGHT BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THAT'LL BE AN ACTION ITEM MEETING THAT ALSO WILL SUPPORT A SECOND TOPIC ON THE AGENDA.
IN OCTOBER, WE'LL HAVE SOME TIME TO BRAINSTORM TOPICS FOR 2027 AND ALLOW FOR A SECOND TOPIC ON THE AGENDA.
THEN NOVEMBER, WE'LL BE BACK HERE AGAIN.
WE'LL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THEN WE'LL PROBABLY TALK ABOUT OUR FOCUS TOPICS FOR 2027.
THEN IN DECEMBER THE TOPICS THEN GO BACK BEFORE OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IN DECEMBER IS WHEN THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE IN LIEU OF A MEETING AND IT'S ACTUALLY STATED IN OUR BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES.
IN LIEU OF A MEETING, THERE'S A HOLIDAY EVENT.
WE HOPE YOU ALL JOIN US THIS YEAR AT THE HOLIDAY EVENT AS WELL.
THAT'S THE FULL SCHEDULE AND SCOPE OF WHAT WE'RE THINKING.
I'M HOPING THAT FEELS ACHIEVABLE TO YOU ALL.
AS NOTED, WE ARE PICKING TOPICS HERE TODAY.
HOWEVER, WE'RE ALSO HEARING THE CONVERSATION.
FOR THESE ADDITIONAL SECOND TOPIC BRIEF PRESENTATIONS WE CAN INTEGRATE SOME SPECIAL INTERESTS, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT WHAT WE CHOOSE FOR THE 2-3 FOCUS TOPICS.
WE'VE DISCUSSED THE WORK PLAN AT OUR LAST MEETING AND TODAY AND I'M GOING TO JUST BRIEFLY GO OVER THE TOPICS THAT WERE RECEIVED BY EMAIL FROM YOU ALL.
WE HAVE THE DISTRICT PLAN, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS RESPONSIBLY, TRAIL STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY, ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
NOW, SOME OF YOU PUT IN SIMILAR TOPICS,
[01:50:03]
WHICH WE PUT TOGETHER.YOU'LL SEE YOUR WORDS REFLECTED BACK, BUT PROBABLY NOT EVERY SINGLE WORD FROM YOUR EMAILS.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR DEPTHS OF THOUGHT.
THEY WOULDN'T FIT IN THE POWERPOINT.
WE INVITE YOU HERE TODAY TO VOICE ANYTHING THAT I MISS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO EXPAND ON.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO PICK THREE FROM THIS LIST AND SAY WE LIKE THIS, WE'D LIKE TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO THINK, I THINK ITEM NUMBER 2 AND NUMBER 4 WOULD GO WELL TOGETHER.
WE'D LIKE TO MAKE THAT ONE TOPIC, MAKE THAT OUR RECOMMENDATION.
THERE'S OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, THANK YOU, LISA FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
WE'RE GOING TO VEER IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT DIRECTION TODAY AND PICK THREE TOPICS THAT YOU DIDN'T EVEN TOUCH ON.
SKY'S THE LIMIT AND LET'S DIVE IN.
DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? GREAT.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY, WE'RE LOSING NET LOSS OF ONE PARK MEETING?
>> DIRECTOR SANWONG ASKED IF THAT WAS A CONCERN TO PARK MEMBERS AND I DID LET DIRECTOR SANWONG KNOW THAT IS A CONCERN.
THEN THE OTHER THING I'LL ADD TO IS, I DID ASK FOR FOUR TOPICS.
THIS IS WHERE WE'RE AT SO KNOW THAT'LL BE A CONTINUED CONVERSATION.
BUT I DO REALLY WANT TO THANK STAFF.
I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE CHUCKLING BECAUSE I WON'T GET OFF THAT.
BUT I DO WANT TO THANK STAFF FOR THE ABILITY TO LET US DIVE DEEP.
I STILL THINK WE DO A DEEPER DIVE ON MORE, BUT THANK YOU FOR THIS.
>> WE APPRECIATE IT. OUR TOPIC NUMBER 1 IS OUR DISTRICT PLAN.
PARK ADVISORY TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND DID YOU HAVE A CLARIFYING QUESTION, MEMBER DIETER?
>> NO. ARE YOU FINISHED WITH YOUR PRESENTATION?
>> NO. I WAS GOING TO GO OVER EACH TOPIC AS WE HEARD AND THEN PASS IT OFF TO YOU ALL TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.
>> I'LL WAIT. BECAUSE I HAVE A SUGGESTION ON WHAT WE SHOULD DO, SO I'LL JUST WAIT TILL YOU FINISH.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT. THE FIRST ONE DISTRICT PLAN, SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S LONG TERM DISTRICT PLAN.
THIS WOULD BE SPENDING TIME REVIEWING DRAFT MATERIALS AND ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES, PARTICIPATING IN OUTREACH AND COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ENSURING REPRESENTATION OF DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
GOING INTO 2026, WE'LL BE DOING PHASE 2 OF OUR DISTRICT PLAN ENGAGEMENT ROBUSTLY THROUGH TO SUMMER AT WHICH WE HOPE TO HAVE A DRAFT PLAN DEVELOPED AND THEN THROUGH THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE YEAR REVIEWING THE DRAFT PLAN ACROSS THE ENTIRETY OF THE TWO COUNTIES.
OUR SECOND ITEM JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL IS FOCUSING IN ON PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION OF THE PARK DISTRICT, SO HELPING TO HEIGHTEN THE MISSION HISTORY AND SERVICES OF THE PARK DISTRICT ACROSS THE EAST BAY COMMUNITIES.
THE EXPRESSED INTEREST HERE IS TO HELP TO DEVELOP ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES, COLLABORATE WITH SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND PROVIDE INPUT ON MESSAGING AND COMMUNICATION PLATFORMS. THE PARK DISTRICT IS LAUNCHING A STRATEGIC COMMUNICATION EFFORT IN 2026 TO ACHIEVE THIS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO PARTNER WITH US IN THAT WORK.
EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS RESPONSIBLY.
INCREASING AND IMPROVING PUBLIC ACCESS WHILE MAINTAINING ENVIRONMENTAL AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY, ADVISING ON STRATEGIES FOR TRAIL AND PARK OPENINGS, EXPLORE PHASED AND ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT APPROACHES AND IDENTIFYING CRITERIA FOR LOW IMPACT AND PILOT ACCESS PROGRAMS. I BELIEVE THIS WAS RECOMMENDED TO LOOK AT SOME OF OUR PARKS THAT WE OWN.
THEY'RE ON OUR MAP, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ACTIVE AND REGULAR PUBLIC ACCESS AT THIS TIME.
NEXT, WE HAVE OUR TRAIL STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY, SO FOSTERING A SAFE, RESPECTABLE AND SUSTAINABLE TRAIL CULTURE FOR ALL USERS.
THIS IS EXPLORING STRATEGIES TO REDUCE CONFLICT AND CONGESTION, RECOMMENDATIONS AROUND SIGNAGE AND ENCOURAGING GOOD ETIQUETTE ON TRAILS.
SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THIS, MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH IT WAS SLOW AND SAY HELLO?
>> SLOW AND SAY HELLO CAMPAIGN.
>> SLOW AND SAY HELLO CAMPAIGN, AS WELL AS EXPLORING E-BIKE EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY WITH YOUTH ON REGIONAL TRAILS.
NEXT, THIS IS ONE THAT CAME IN FROM A NUMBER OF MEMBERS WITH VARYING PERSPECTIVES AND SO WELCOME YOU ALL TO SPEAK INTO DETAIL, BUT ADVANCED NATURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP AND ECOLOGICAL RESILIENCE WITHIN THE PARK DISTRICT, ALSO VERY MUCH CORE TO OUR MISSION VISION AND VALUES.
SOME CORE ELEMENTS THAT WERE BROUGHT UP HERE WAS ALIGNING THE PARK DISTRICT'S WORTH WITH THE STATE'S PATHWAYS TO 30 BY 30 INITIATIVE, WHICH IS SEEKING TO PROTECT BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION AND ACQUISITION IN CALIFORNIA.
OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC IN CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND TO REVIEW ON SOME OF THE WORK THE PARK DISTRICT IS DOING AROUND HABITAT RESTORATION AND SPECIES RECOVERY.
>> THEN LAST BUT NOT LEAST IS PROVIDING INPUT ON
[01:55:01]
THE 2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM TO ENSURE STRATEGIC AND EQUITABLE INVESTMENT.IN 2021, THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, I KEEP MIXING YOU ALL UP WITH THE AGENCY.
THE AGENCY, THE EAST REGION PARK DISTRICT, PUT FORWARD A CAPITAL PRIORITIZATION MATRIX.
WE WOULD BE GOING INTO FIVE YEARS OF UTILIZING THAT PRIORITIZATION MATRIX IN 2026, AS KATIE AND DEB JUST PRESENTED.
WE NOW HAVE FULL COST FOR OUR PROJECTS AND ARE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BRINGING FORWARD A COMPREHENSIVE WORK PLAN.
THIS WOULD BE A REVIEW OF THAT WORK PLAN, PROJECT SELECTION, PHASING, AND FUNDING MECHANISMS, ALIGNED WITH YOUR CONVERSATION JUST RECENTLY.
WITH THAT, AS NOTED, WE'RE LOOKING FOR THREE TOPICS TO BRING FORWARD.
THIS IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION THAT WILL BE BEFORE OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
OUR ROLE OF STAFF IS TO LISTEN TO YOU ALL TO CAPTURE YOUR COMMENTS AND TO PRESENT THEM TO OUR BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND STOP SCARING MY SCREEN AND PASS IT OVER TO CHAIR HENRY.
>> THANK YOU. IS THERE A WAY YOU CAN PUT UP ALL THE TOPICS? I KNOW ON THE FIRST PAGE, IT DOESN'T GO IN DEPTH ON THEM, BUT AT LEAST SHOWS WHAT THEY ARE.
>> OR A SPLIT SCREEN THAT WOULD SHOW THEM.
WHAT I ASK THIS BODY TO DO NOW IS THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU SAW, AND IF THERE'S A BURNING DESIRE TO ADD SOMETHING YOU DIDN'T SEE, THEN PLEASE BRING THAT UP.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT DOES THIS MEAN, THEN PERHAPS A PEOPLE THAT SUBMITTED THAT CAN PROVIDE MORE CONTEXT ON IT, OR IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY YOU THINK TO BUNDLE THEM, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE A LOT OF ONES AROUND ENVIRONMENT AND ECOSYSTEM, BUT THEY WERE REALLY DIFFERENT, SO THEY'RE NOT ALL LISTED.
IF THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING SO DEEP, I WOULD GUESS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PROBABLY BE ABLE TO ADD A LOT OF TOPICS ON THAT ONE.
>> YEAH. THE SIX-TO-ONE, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME ON ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD ONE TO AS ONE OF OUR THREE.
>> I CAN SECOND MY SUPPORT FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
I RECOGNIZE IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE NERDY AND A LITTLE OBTUSE.
MAYBE NOT SO GLAMOROUS, BUT IN LIGHT OF THE DISCUSSION WE JUST HAD IN THE PREVIOUS HOUR PLUS, I FEEL LIKE THERE IS A LOT TO LEARN AND A LOT THAT THIS GROUP CAN ADVISE ON AND CERTAINLY IN THAT PROCESS, AND I COULD BRING I THINK SIGNIFICANT EXPERTISE TO THAT ITEM.
MEMBER SIMMONS SUGGESTED THAT IF THE GROUP DOES NOT SUPPORT IT, THAT I SHOULD JUST FORM MY OWN COMMITTEE OF ONE.
BUT I MAY NOT TAKE HIS ADVICE, BUT I APPRECIATE THAT THAT'S ON THE LIST.
>> I HEARD YOU SAY THERE'S A NEW SUBCOMMITTEE AND YOU ARE APPOINTED TO HEAD AND CHAIR THAT SUBCOMMITTEE. THANK YOU, MEMBER DETJENS.
>> I'M SORRY, MY MICROPHONE IS NOT WORKING.
>> ALSO, I CAN'T SEE THE SCREEN, SO IF MEMBER OBRINGER, SMITH, OR MARSH HAS COMMENTS, I CAN'T TELL IF THEY'RE HANDS UP RIGHT NOW.
I DON'T WANT TO MISS MEMBER OBRINGER AGAIN.
>> I BELIEVE THAT THE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT.
BUT ALSO, THE RESTORATION IS IMPORTANT.
BUT I THINK THOSE COULD BE COMBINED BECAUSE BASICALLY, IF YOU EDUCATE US ON THE ECOSYSTEM AND THE PROTECTIONS WITH THE PUBLIC AWARENESS, I THINK IT WOULD HELP PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM.
I DON'T THINK THE PUBLIC IS AWARE OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO PREVENT IN OUR PARKS AND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO RESTORE, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
BUT IF IT WAS MORE EDUCATION ON IT, I THINK IT WOULD HELP THE COMMUNITY HELP YOU WITH THAT PROCESS.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER OBRINGER.
>> THANK YOU. I TOO HAVE A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH CIPS, AND SO I DO WANT TO SHOW MY SUPPORT FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION AS WELL.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT CAN BE CHALLENGING SINCE THERE'S USUALLY MANY WORTHY PROJECTS AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO GO AROUND.
[02:00:02]
I AM INTERESTED IN MAKING SURE THAT THAT MOVES FORWARD.IF THERE IS A COMMITTEE, I'M HAPPY TO JOIN THAT.
>> THANK YOU, COMMITTEE OF TWO NOW. MEMBER SMITH.
>> YEAH. I REALLY WANT TO SUPPORT.
I THINK IT'S NUMBER 5, THE ECOSYSTEMS, AND COMING IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE 30 BY 30 PLAN.
I THINK A LOT OF THE PUBLIC IS NOT EVEN AWARE OF THE 30 BY 30.
I WILL SAY IN GENERAL, I FELT LIKE THE BUDGET THAT WAS PROPOSED DID NOT HAVE NEARLY ENOUGH MONEY FOR STEWARDSHIP.
I THINK THAT THAT MEANS A LOT OF ATTENTION BOTH FROM THE PARKS, BUT ALSO FROM THE COMMUNITY TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT STEWARDSHIP, WHAT BIODIVERSITY, WHAT CONSERVATION MEAN.
>> THANK YOU. VICE CHAIR MENDOZA.
>> I'D LIKE TO ECHO MEMBER SMITH'S CONTENTION THAT NUMBER 5 IS A VERY IMPORTANT ONE, ALONG WITH STEWARDSHIP, NOT NECESSARILY JUST TRAIL STEWARDSHIP, BUT JUST THE PROTECTION OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES.
IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE 30 BY 30 PLAN, I THINK IT PERFECTLY ALIGNS AS WELL AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S ADHERENCE TO PROTECTING NOT ONLY THEIR LAND, BUT OUR LAND THEY'RE HUMAN, AS WELL AS ANIMAL AND PLANT RELATIVES AS WELL.
OFTENTIMES, IT'S SILO THAT NATURAL RESOURCES AND CULTURAL RESOURCES ARE SEPARATE WHEN IN FACT, THEY ARE ONE AND THE SAME.
THEN I'D ALSO LIKE TO SAY FOR NUMBER 2, JUST TO GIVE FOLKS A WHOLE BREADTH OF OUR DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD WITH STAFF, AGM ALLISON BROOKS, AS WELL AS ACTING GM MAX AS WELL.
NUMBER 2, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.
IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN THAT ALL HAVE TO GET UP AND DO WEBINARS AND START TALKING AT YOUR CITY COUNCIL.
IT COULD ALSO BE JUST TALKING TO YOUR POKER GAME OR YOUR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT THIS.
LAST MONTH, WE HAD A ROBUST DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL, AND IT COULD LOOK A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER DIETER, THEN MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH.
>> WELL, I'VE JUST NOTICED THAT NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THE DISTRICT PLAN.
I FIGURE THAT'S WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN FRONT OF US THE NEXT YEAR.
IT MAY NOT BE HERE THE FOLLOWING YEAR, IF I UNDERSTAND THAT CORRECTLY, IS THAT CORRECT? WE'RE GOING TO COMPLETE THAT.
>> THAT'S THE GOAL TIMELINE, BUT TIMELINES CAN BE PUSHED, BUT YES.
>> WELL, I JUST THINK BECAUSE IT'S JUST FOR THE NEXT YEAR, WE SHOULD PROBABLY PUT THAT DISTRICT PLAN ON THE TOP.
I ALSO THINK THE ECOSYSTEM IN TERMS OF FOR WILDLIFE.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS ARE NOT MY THING, BUT I UNDERSTAND AFTER THE LAST DISCUSSION.
BUT PERSONALLY, I WOULD GO FOR THE DISTRICT PLAN TRAIL STEWARDSHIP FOR PEOPLE AND THE ECOSYSTEM FOR THE BIODIVERSITY IN THE PLANET.
SO I WOULD COVER ALL THREE PEOPLE, THE PLANET, AND THEN THE PARK DISTRICT.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH, THEN MEMBER VALENZUELA, THEN MEMBER WILLIAMS.
>> GOT YOU. HOLD ON. MEMBER BARTLEBAUGH? YEAH.
>> I THINK ALL THE TOPICS WOULD BRING BENEFIT, AND SO THE CHALLENGES TO PRIORITIZE THEM.
I WAS ASSUMING THE DISTRICT PLAN WAS A GIVEN AND PROBABLY NOT NEGOTIABLE.
BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT AS WELL, AND IT OUGHT TO BE THERE.
I THINK CIP, I ECHO THE COMMENTS ON THAT AND THE DISCUSSION WE HAD TODAY.
I THINK IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT TOPIC.
IN THE LAST AREA I'D WANT TO COMMENT ON IS EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS RESPONSIBLY.
ONE ASPECT OF THAT COULD BE TRAIL MASTER PLANNING, WHICH THE BOARD AND THE DISTRICT HAD BEEN APPROACHED BY BOTH LET'S SAY CONSERVATION END OF THE SPECTRUM INTERESTS AND THEN RECREATION END OF THE SPECTRUM INTERESTS AS WELL AND IT CAN SERVE, I THINK BOTH OF THOSE INTERESTS ON THAT TOPIC,
[02:05:03]
IDENTIFYING AREAS TO BE PRIORITIZED FOR CONSERVATION AND MINIMAL HUMAN ACTIVITY AND DISTURBANCE VERSUS AREAS THAT ARE THE BEST CANDIDATES FOR ACTIVE RECREATION OR PASSIVE RECREATION, AND JUST MAPPING THAT OUT BETTER AND SETTING EXPECTATIONS. THANK YOU.>> THANK YOU. MEMBER VALENZUELA, THEN MEMBER WILLIAMS, AND MEMBER CLAXTON.
>> AS FAR AS THE MASTER PLAN, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A CO PART OF WHATEVER WE DO.
THAT HAS TO BE WITH WHATEVER TABLING OR WHATEVER EVENT HAS TO BE THERE ALSO.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING FOR THE NEXT YEAR.
I THINK NUMBER 2 AND THREE MYSELF ARE PRETTY CLOSE TOGETHER ABOUT EDUCATING THE PUBLIC HOW TO USE OUR PARKS, HOW TO GET ACCESS TO OUR PARKS AND MIGHT OPEN SOME EYES TO THAT HOW MUCH ACCESS WE ACTUALLY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER WILLIAMS.
>> I DEFINITELY THINK THAT THE DISTRICT PLAN, WHICH IS LIKE A STRATEGIC PLAN, IS THAT CORRECT? THERE WILL BE ELEMENTS OF THESE OTHER ITEMS UNDERNEATH.
THEN I DEFINITELY THINK WE SHOULD BE INVOLVED AT THE DISTRICT PLAN LEVEL AND GIVING INPUT THERE.
THERE WILL BE SOME FEELERS IN INTO THE OTHER ELEMENTS, AND THEN IT SEEMS TO ME WHICH ONE OR TWO OTHERS DO WE WANT TO DEEPER DIVE INTO.
THAT'S MY COMMENT AT THIS POINT.
ALL OF THE OTHER ONES, I THINK THEY'RE ALL IMPORTANT.
I WOULD DEFER TO A LOT OF THE OTHERS IN THE ROOM FOR THE OTHER TWO, BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY VOTE FOR THE PLAN.
>> IF ONLY WE HAD FOUR, RIGHT?
>> I'LL BE QUICK. THANK YOU FOR THOSE THAT PROMOTED THE ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION DISTRICT PLAN, PROBABLY FIRST THEN ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION NUMBER 5 AND PUBLIC AWARENESS EDUCATION NUMBER 2 WOULD BE MY LIST IN ORDER.
THANK YOU, AND I HAVE TO LEAVE.
I HAVE AN IMPORTANT COMMUNITY MEETING TO GO TO. SORRY. THANK YOU.
>> MEMBER SIMMONS, DID YOU HAVE YOUR HAND UP?
I LIKE THE ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION.
I WOULD LOVE IT IF STAFF FOUND A WAY TO PUT THE WORD WATERSHED IN THERE SOMEPLACE IN THE BULLETS BECAUSE THAT'S A PASSION OF MINE, AND WATERSHEDS DO REPRESENT AN ECOLOGICAL BOUNDARY AS OPPOSED TO A POLITICAL BOUNDARY AND ARE IMPORTANT FOR THAT PURPOSE.
I WILL ALSO SAY I'M NOT SURE THAT THE DISTRICT PLAN IS SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD BENEFIT OR THE PLAN WOULD BENEFIT FROM OUR BEING INVOLVED IN IT AT LEAST FOR THE FIRST SIX MONTHS BECAUSE STAFF HAS A LOT OF STUFF TO WORK THROUGH AND I'LL JUST SAY I WONDER IF STAFF ISN'T ULTIMATELY STAFF OR THE BOARD ISN'T GOING TO ULTIMATELY THINK, WELL, MAYBE BE GOOD TO HAVE A NEW GENERAL MANAGER IN PLACE BEFORE WE APPROVE A DISTRICT PLAN FOR NEXT PERIOD.
I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THAT'S, AS THE BOARD MAY LISTEN TO THE CONVERSATION, THEY MAY DECIDE THAT MAYBE THAT'S ONE THAT WE DON'T WANT TO MAKE AS A FOCUS ITEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR YEAR.
I'M NOT SAYING NO, I'M JUST SAYING I'VE RAISED THAT AS A QUESTION.
>> I ENDORSED YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION WITH THE DISTRICT PLAN.
I THINK FOCUSING ON EVALUATING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND I WOULD BROADEN THAT TO CONSIDER FUNDING SOURCES, EVALUATING FUNDING SOURCES TOO AS PART OF THAT ECOSYSTEM CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AND STEWARDSHIP IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I HAD SUGGESTED ONE PARTICULAR FOCUS IN THAT REGARD, AND IT'S ONE OF THE ON THE HORIZON ISSUES, WHEREBY WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, WHAT WE THINK THE LANDS WE OCCUPY ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
FROM AN ECOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW, IF WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE CLIMAX VEGETATION THAT'S GOING TO BE THERE.
[02:10:02]
THAT'S THE VEGETATION THAT WILL SUSTAIN ITSELF WITH MINIMAL INPUT FROM THE DISTRICT FROM STAFF, AND SO FORTH.THE VEGETATION THAT WE HAVE IN THE DISTRICT RIGHT NOW MOST OF IT IS NOT THE CLIMAX VEGETATION.
IN A LOT OF CASES, IT'S HEAVIER VEGETATIVE COVER THAN WOULD NORMALLY BE THERE.
EFFORTS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT CLIMAX VEGETATION IS BECOMES THE OBJECTIVE FOR MANAGEMENT, I THINK WOULD BE VERY USEFUL AS A FOCUS IN THAT.
I'M ALSO SUPPORTIVE OF EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO PARKS.
WHEN LAND IS PROTECTED, THE PUBLIC WANTS ACCESS TO IT.
BUT I THINK WE COULD DO A LOT OF GOOD TO BEGIN TO FOCUS ON USING THE NEW STATE LEGISLATION AND OTHER PROCESSES THAT ALLOW US TO OPEN UP ACCESS ON EXISTING RANCH ROADS AND SO FORTH TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET IN THERE.
WE JUST DON'T OPEN THEM UP AUTOMATICALLY.
THIS HAS TO BE SOME REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THERE'S NO RESOURCES THERE THAT ARE GOING TO BE HARMED BY THAT USE.
BUT I THINK THAT COULD BE EXPEDITED AND IT COULD OPEN UP A LOT OF SPACE.
BY DOING THAT, WE REALLY TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF OF TRYING TO HAVE FINAL MANAGEMENT PLANS OR LAND USE PLANS THAT ALLOW FULL PUBLIC USE, AND IT ALLOWS TIME FOR THAT KIND OF PLANNING PROCESS, WHICH DOES TAKE TIME AND THINKING TO BE CARRIED OUT.
SO IT TAKES THE PRESSURE OFF DOING THAT MORE COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING.
>> I'M GOING TO ASSUME THAT EITHER WAY, ALL OF THESE TOPICS WILL COME IN FRONT OF US ONE WAY OR ANOTHER FOR COMMENTS.
IT'S WHETHER WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON.
I WILL BE SUPPORTING PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY TO START CAMPAIGNING FOR A BALLOT MEASURE THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER REID, AND I THINK THAT'S EVERYBODY.
>> I THINK THAT WE'VE BEEN GIVEN TWO CHOICES BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE THAT THE BOARD IS ANYWAY NOT GOING TO USE THE DISTRICT PLAN AS ONE OF THE CHOICES.
SO WE HAVE TWO CHOICES TO MAKE.
I BELIEVE THAT CHOOSING THE OTHER TWO, WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF HOW ENGAGING THE TOPIC IS GOING TO BE IN TERMS OF OUR ENGAGING WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MAKE CONTACT AND COMMUNICATE WITH THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY? THERE ARE SOME TOPICS THAT WILL CERTAINLY ATTRACT A SMALL NUMBER OF ENTHUSIASTIC PEOPLE.
BUT I THINK THAT IF WE LOOK AT THINGS LIKE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, PUBLIC RELATIONS, COMMUNICATING AND EDUCATING THE COMMUNITY ABOUT THE PARK DISTRICT, LETTING THEM KNOW WE EXIST AND WHAT WE ARE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
I THINK THAT ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY USE THE PARKS, PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THE TRAILS, OR THE COMMUNITY OF THE PARKS, AND GIVING THEM A WAY TO INTERACT WITH US TO GIVE US THEIR INPUT ABOUT HOW THEY'RE FEELING ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE IN THE PARKS.
I THINK WOULD BE A HELPFUL WAY TO GET PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT, TO GET PUBLIC INPUT THAT WON'T HAPPEN IF WE'RE IN MEETINGS WITH GROUPS TALKING ABOUT MORE SPECIFIC THINGS.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE A FEW COMMENTS ACTUALLY MYSELF.
ONE SUGGESTION WOULD BE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, I THINK COULD BE PART OF ANYTHING.
BUT ALSO THE WAY MEMBER CHANG DESCRIBED, IT WAS DIFFERENTLY HOW I WAS THINKING ABOUT IT.
THAT WAS A MORE SPECIFIC THING.
I DON'T WANT TO DILUTE ANYTHING, BUT THAT'S JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT AS WE COULD INCORPORATE THAT.
SECONDLY, I WANT TO ECHO A LOT OF WHAT MEMBER REID JUST SAID, AND IT'S NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART, SO I AM BIASED ON THIS.
HOW PEOPLE ACTUALLY USE THE PARKS IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
THAT'S NOT THEORETICAL, THAT'S NOT CONCEPTUAL, THAT'S NOT SITTING BEHIND A TABLE.
THOSE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO ARE PASSIONATE, WHO ARE ENGAGED.
[02:15:02]
THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET ACCESS TO PEOPLE.IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN WE USED TO DO ACTION ITEMS, GOING BACK IN THE HISTORY, AND THAT'S REALLY NOT A KNOCK.
I'M NOT TRYING TO BE FUNNY ON THAT.
THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WE WORKED ON, AND SOME OF THIS WAS BEFORE, ALL OF US WERE HERE, SOME BEFORE I WAS HERE.
BUT THINK ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WERE BEEFY FOR THIS GROUP.
IT WAS ORDINANCE 38 EXCEPTIONS.
IT WAS E-BIKE, AND IT WAS TRAIL USER WORKING GROUP.
THOSE ALL TOUCH ON PEOPLE ACTUALLY USING IT.
I'LL SAY, I PUT IN NUMBER 3 AND NUMBER 4, AND I ALSO PUT IN DISTRICT PLAN AS MY THIRD BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A WAY TO COMBINE TRAILED STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY AND EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS ARE DIFFERENT.
BUT YOU COULD PUT THAT AS COMPONENTS AGAIN BECAUSE WE'RE GOING DEEP.
I ALSO WANT TO CLARIFY SOMETHING.
IT WAS SAID THAT NUMBER 3 WAS AROUND THE PARK OWNS LAND, BUT THERE'S NO PUBLIC ACCESS.
MY THOUGHT ON THAT ONE I PUT IT IN AND MEMBER PEOPLES TOUCHED ON IT WAS, IT'S LAND BANK PROPERTY WHERE THERE'S EXISTING FIRE ROADS AND RANCH ROADS.
THERE WAS A BILL BY THEN SENATOR GRAYSON THAT SAID, THE PARK DISTRICT CAN ACTUALLY OPEN UP LAND BANK PROPERTIES IF THERE'S EXISTING RANCH AND FIRE ROADS ON THEM.
SO I REALLY DO FEEL PASSIONATELY ABOUT THAT, AND I AGREE, THESE ARE ALL REALLY IMPORTANT.
THE OTHER THING I'LL SAY IS, CIP WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON MY LIST, HONESTLY TO VOTE FOR.
BUT I THINK NOT ONLY DO I REALLY BELIEVE IN IT AFTER HEARING COMMENTS.
COMPROMISE IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T VOTE FOR YOUR MOTION, REALLY WELL THOUGHT OUT, REALLY PASSIONATE, CLOSE VOTE.
I WOULD JUST ASK PEOPLE TO CONSIDER IF YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE MOTION AND I DID NOT, THINK ABOUT THE PASSION PEOPLE HAD AROUND THAT.
I AM GOING TO BE VOTING FOR CIP, NOT ONLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, BECAUSE I REALLY RESPECT THE COMMENTS THAT EVERYONE MADE AROUND THAT.
SO I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THAT.
NOW COMES A TRICKY PART TO MOVING IN IF PEOPLE DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO SAY.
I'LL OPEN THIS UP FOR SUGGESTIONS.
THIS IS WHERE WE GET BOGGED DOWN IN WORD SMITING AND STUFF.
IF WE'RE GOING TO VOTE ON THESE, I GUESS THE SUGGESTION WOULD BE, ARE WE GOING TO COMBINE SOME? THERE WAS ALSO A RECOMMENDATION, AND I HOPE I DON'T HAVE THIS WRONG.
I THINK YOU SAID COMBINING ECOSYSTEM AND PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND THEN MY SUGGESTION WAS PUBLIC AWARENESS COULD BE PART OF ANYTHING.
BUT DID WE WANT TO GO THROUGH, HAVE THE CLERK PULL EVERYBODY AND THEN YOU GIVE US YOUR TOP THREE? IS THAT ACCEPTABLE FOR PEOPLE TO DO IT THAT WAY? OR WHAT SUGGESTIONS?
>> I THINK SO TOO. I LOVE TO BE HERE TILL 9:00. YES, SIR. MEMBER PEOPLES.
>> IT COULD BE AS SIMPLE AS JUST EVERYBODY VOTING, HOW MANY VOTES EACH OF THESE GET.
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES THAT ARE FOR IT, AND WE GO WITH THE TOP THREE.
>> NO, THAT WAS MY SUGGESTION AS WELL, I THINK IT'S HAVE EVERYBODY.
SO CLERK GOES AROUND THE ROOM AND YOU SAY YOUR TOP THREE, AND THEN WE SEE WHAT THEY ARE IF THERE'S A TIE.
>> I'M SUGGESTING, I THINK JUST RAISING HANDS ON EACH ONE OF THEM, AND THAT WILL-
>> QUESTION BY WAY OF CLARIFICATION.
>> THE ONE THING WE'D ASK FOR THE MINUTES, I THINK WE CAN DO THE HAND RAISE VOTE TO DETERMINE CONSENSUS, AND THEN WE WILL NEED ACTION OR A RECOMMENDATION IN A SECOND.
AND WE CAN CARRY FOR THE ACTION.
>> I ALSO LIKE TO UPLIFT THE NUMBER 4 OPTION TRAIL STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY, SINCE NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE HAD TALKED ABOUT IT IN THEIR COMMENTS.
>> DIRECTOR SANWONG AND PRESIDENT MERCURIO.
DIRECTOR SANJAN WILL BE INCOMING AS PRESIDENT IN OUR MEETING LAST WEEK HAD HIGHLIGHTED THE IRON HORSE TRAIL AS BOTH OF THEIR PRIORITIES.
SO USING THIS AS AN EXAMPLE OF OUR RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE BOARD, THE BOARD THEMSELVES WILL HAVE TO VOTE, OBVIOUSLY ON THOSE TOPICS.
SO JUST JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THAT AS WELL.
>> A SUGGESTION ON TRAIL STEWARDSHIP, THE DESCRIPTION OF IT ACTUALLY WAS NOT THAT SPECIFIC.
SO I THINK IF YOU ADD TRAIL COMMUNITY STEWARDSHIP AND WHATEVER MAINTENANCE, WHATEVER IT WAS, THE IDEA OF PEOPLE COMING TOGETHER ON THOSE TRAILS,
[02:20:01]
THE COMMUNITY OF THE TRAIL USERS.I THINK WOULD BE HELPFUL TO ME BECAUSE I DON'T HEAR THAT IN TRAIL STEWARDSHIP.
>> THOSE ARE TWO THAT I PUT IN HONESTLY, SO THEY'RE REALLY DIFFERENT TO ME.
SO THE WAY I INTERPRETED THAT IS THE EXPAND TRAILS IS OPENING UP MORE ACCESS RESPONSIBLY.
AND THEN TRAIL SAFETY, WHICH I'M A HUGE ADVOCATE FOR, AND YOU TOUCHED ON THIS EARLIER, THAT'S A DIFFERENT THING TO ME.
BUT IF THE GROUP SEES DIFFERENTLY, THEN WE'LL COMBINE THEM. YES MEMBER SIMMONS.
>> I SUGGEST THAT WE JUST VOTE ON THEM AS WORD BECAUSE OTHERWISE, I HAVE A COUPLE CHANGES TO MAKE TOO, AND WE COULD SPEND A LONG TIME HERE SAYING, I'D LIKE TO CHANGE IT TO THIS OR THAT.
THESE HAVE THE CONCEPTS, AND THEN STAFF WILL BE WORKING WITH YOU TO ACTUALLY DO THE PRESENTATION.
>> WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSE. THAT'S AN EXCELLENT IDEA.
OKAY. REMEMBER DETENS PROMISES.
>> I HAVE A MICRO COMMENT. CAN WE GET A COMMITMENT FROM STAFF THAT THE ITEMS THAT ARE NOT ELECTED TO MOVE FORWARD ARE AUTOMATICALLY NOMINATED FOR CONSIDERATION NEXT OCTOBER.
AS SOME STANDING ONES THAT ARE FLOATING OUT THERE AND THEN WE CAN SHOW ON IT SO THAT'S NOT LOST.
>> IT'S REALLY UP TO PARK TO DO THAT.
BUT WHAT I WILL SAY IS THE BOARD SAW ALL OF THESE.
SO THEY ALREADY KNOW WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR TO, EVEN THOUGH I LIKE THE IDEA, I THINK IT'S UP TO PARK NEXT YEAR TO DECIDE WHAT THEY WANT TO DO.
SO IF WE'RE GOOD, LET'S GO AHEAD, I GUESS WE NEED A MOTION.
IF YOU PUT THE ONES BACK UP, PLEASE, THE LIST.
>> BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE THE FOLKS ON THIS.
SO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROCESS, JUST A QUICK CHECK IN, IS THAT ELSA IS GOING TO READ THROUGH ALL THE ITEMS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A HAND VOTE.
AND THEN SHE'LL SHARE BACK A REPORT OF WHERE THERE WAS CONSENSUS FOR A MOTION AND A SECOND TO BE MADE IN A FORMAL VOTE.
AND SO I PULLED DOWN SO WE COULD SEE THE FOLKS ON THE SCREEN.
>> PERFECT. AND PLEASE DON'T VOTE FOR MORE THAN THREE.
EVEN THOUGH I THINK I WANT TO DO FOUR, BUT PLEASE DON'T VOT FOR MORE THAN THREE.
>> AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO VOTE FOR THREE EITHER BECAUSE IT WAS BROUGHT UP. THANK YOU.
>> OKAY. ARE WE READY? NUMBER 1, DISTRICT PLAN.
AM SEEING 1, 2, 3, 04, 5. FIVE?
>> SIX, YESES. OKAY. NUMBER 2, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
>> THEN THERE'S TWO OF US ONLINE.
FIVE. NUMBER 3, EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS RESPONSIBLY.
SEVEN? EIGHT. MEMBER SMITH AS WELL.
>> OKAY. NUMBER 4, TRAIL STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY.
SEVEN? NUMBER 5, ECOSYSTEM AND CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION.
2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION.
TWO VOTES? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
YES. ARE WE READY FOR THE RESULTS.
NUMBER 1, THE DISTRICT PLAN RECEIVED SIX VOTES.
NUMBER 2, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION RECEIVED FIVE VOTES.
NUMBER 3, EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS RESPONSIBLY, RECEIVED EIGHT VOTES.
NUMBER 4, TRAIL STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY RECEIVED SEVEN VOTES.
NUMBER 5, ECOSYSTEM AND CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION, ALSO RECEIVED SEVEN VOTES, AND NUMBER 6, 2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION RECEIVED EIGHT POINTS.
THE HIGHEST NUMBERS WERE NUMBER 3 WITH EIGHT.
NUMBER 6, ALSO WITH EIGHT AND 4 AND 5 WERE TIED AT SEVEN.
WOULD THE CHAIR LIKE TO GO BACK TO FOUR AND FIVE AND DO A TIE BREAKER?
>> YEAH, MANY BE DO A TIE BREAKER.
>> I'VE TRIED TO GIVE THEM FOUR.
I THINK WE NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL AND GIVE THEM THREE.
>> WE'RE GIVING THREE. THERE'S A TIE BREAKER, SO WE HAVE TO VOTE BETWEEN TWO THAT TIED.
[02:25:02]
IF THE COURT CAN PLEASE READ.>> SO TRAIL STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY, AND ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION.
>> DOES EVERYONE GET TO VOTE EVEN IF WE DIDN'T VOTE FOR EITHER OF THOSE AT THE BEGINNING?
>> I THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE. YES.
>> DO WE WANT ANY DISCUSSION BEFOREHAND OR ARE WE READY TO VOTE? OKAY. NUMBER 4, TRAIL STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY.
FOUR. NUMBER 5, ECOSYSTEM AND CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION.
OKAY. SO THE TOP RESULTS ARE IN NUMBER 3, 5, AND 6.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER OBRINGER, DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION?
>> NO, I'M SORRY. I NEED TO LOWER MY HAND.
MY APOLOGIES. THANK YOU FOR ACKNOWLEDGING ME.
>> OKAY. WOW, GUYS, WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT OF HERE PRETTY CLOSE TO 630.
THAT'S AMAZING, BUT MOVING ON.
WE NEED A RECOMMENDATION ON THOSE THREE, A SECOND AND VOTE.
>> THANK YOU. I GET A MOTION ON NUMBER 3, I GUESS.
>> MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT ITEMS 3, 05, AND 6 WITH A PERSONAL COMMENT THAT FIVE ACTUALLY HAD THE MOST VOTES OVERALL AT THE END.
MOVE TO RECOMMEND THAT WE FORWARD 3, 05, AND 6 TO THE BOARD.
>> HE'S NO LONGER HERE. MEMBER DETENS.
>> THANK YOU. MEMBER WILLIAMS.
>> WONDERFUL. THE MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY.
>> THANK YOU. ANXIOUS TO MOVE ON.
SO I SHOULDN'T SAY ANXIOUS TO MOVE ON.
I'M MAKING FUN OF MYSELF BECAUSE I STEPPED OVER THE MOTION BECAUSE I WAS SO EXCITED AT 630.
THESE ARE VERY EMOTIONAL AND PASSIONATE ISSUES, I FEEL LIKE WE STILL GOT GREAT COMMENT, GREAT BACK AND FORTH.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE ANYTHING GOT STIFLED ON THE CONVERSATION.
HERE WE ARE. ANNOUNCEMENTS FUN STUFF.
[Announcements]
DECEMBER 8 IS OUR YEAR END CELEBRATION AT FIELDWORK IN SAN LEANDRO, THAT IS A PLUS ONE.ELSA, WHEN'S A DEADLINE ON RSVP FOR YOU?
>> OKAY. SO I THINK SHE WILL ASSUME YOU'RE NOT COMING IF YOU DON'T REPLY BECAUSE DECEMBER 8, SO WE'LL SAY EVERYBODY THERE.
SECONDLY, THIS IS GOING TO MAKE SOME PEOPLE VERY HAPPY.
IF YOU HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH MAGNETIC BACKING, THEN PLEASE LET ELSA KNOW RIGHT AWAY.
SO IF YOU NEED A PIN INSTEAD OF MAGNETIC BACKING, PLEASE LET HER KNOW, OTHERWISE, WE WILL HAVE NAME TAGS SOON.
ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ANYONE ELSE? YES, MEMBER MARSH.
>> NO, I JUST WANTED TO TELL ELSA I CAN'T DO MAGNETS. THAT'S ALL.
>> AND I ALSO CANNOT DO MAGNETS.
>> THANK YOU. ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM ANYONE?
>> I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CHAIR HENRY FOR HIS EFFORTS TO SHEPHERD THROUGH A VERY CHALLENGING AGENDA AND WORTH THE EXTRA TIME, SO THANK YOU. GOOD JOB.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? OKAY. THE MEETING OF NOVEMBER 24, 2025 IS NOW ADJOURNED AT 6:29 P.M.
THE NEXT REGULAR PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY 26, 2026 AT 4:00 P.M.
THANK YOU. GOOD NIGHT, EVERYBODY.
>> HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.