[00:00:01]
>> GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS CLOSED SESSION OF
[ROLL CALL]
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT FOR DECEMBER 2, 2025, CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 4:05.MADAM CLERK, CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
DIRECTOR COFFEE IS ABSENT, DIRECTOR ECCLES?
>> DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO? DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO IS LOGGED IN IN THE OTHER CLOSED SESSION ROOM, SO SHE IS MARKED HERE. DIRECTOR ESPANA?
>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR WAESPI?
>> ACTING GENERAL MANAGER CORTEN?
>> DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO WILL BE ATTENDING THE MEETING TONIGHT UNDER THE JUST CAUSE PROVISION OF AB 2449.
SHE'S NOT ABLE TO RESPOND TO THIS.
SHE'LL BE IN THE OTHER ROOM WITH US WHEN WE GO INTO CLOSED SESSION.
IT'S JUST THAT SHE HAS ILLNESS, AND SO SHE'S PERMITTED TO ATTEND REMOTELY ACTUALLY UNDER STATE LAW.
AT THIS POINT, WE CAN CALL FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS.
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION AGENDA ITEMS]
IS THERE ANYONE OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHES TO SPEAK AT THIS POINT?>> YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE PERSON, LARRY GOSLIN, WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK ON ITEM D? NO. THAT'S NOT ITEM D. I DON'T KNOW WHICH ITEM, BUT IT SAYS CLOSED SESSION. GO AHEAD.
>> THIS IS REGARDING THE MANNER OF THE PURCHASE OF A FEE SIMPLE PARCEL AND TWO EASEMENTS THAT PROVIDE ACCESS FROM CARTER CANYON ROAD TO THE DUNN PRESERVE IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
I'M BRINGING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION BECAUSE IT'S AN OPTION FOR PROVIDING ACCESS TO DUNN PRESERVE THAT'S BEEN LONG CONSIDERED, IT HAS BEEN EXECUTED BY BOB DOYLE AND THEN A PRIOR BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN LOST IN THE SHUFFLE A LITTLE BIT.
I'M GLAD TO SEE IT COME RISING TO THE SURFACE.
THAT BEING SAID, THE TRAIL IS PRETTY MUCH COMPLETELY DEVELOPED.
IT NEEDS SOME UPGRADES, A LITTLE BIT OF GRAVEL, BUT THERE ARE TWO OF THEM THAT ARE READY TO GO.
DIRECTOR SANWONG WAS OUT ON THE PROPERTY A FEW DAYS AGO AND WOULD BE GETTING A LOT OF SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AS WELL AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND VARIOUS AGENCIES IN THE AREA TO SUPPORT THE OPENING OF THIS PARTICULAR SEGMENT OF THE TRAIL.
WHAT'S UNIQUE ABOUT IT IS THAT IN ASSOCIATION WITH OTHER TRAILS THAT ARE IN THE AREA, TRAILS THAT HAVE BEEN PLANNED FOR WELL OVER A DECADE, INCLUDING THIS TRAIL.
IT CREATES A UNIQUE LOOP THAT CIRCLES THROUGH BOTH THE UPGRADED BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PATHWAYS AND THEN OUT INTO THE COUNTRYSIDE.
THE AREA THAT IT SERVES IS A FAIRLY DENSE AREA.
THERE'S A COMMUNITY COLLEGE THERE THAT'S ONE OF THE TOP 10 COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN THE NATION.
THEY'VE ASKED ME IF I WOULD AGREE TO HAVE THE LOOP TRAIL NAMED LAS POSITAS LOOP, AND I'M ADVOCATING FOR THAT.
THAT BEING SAID, THERE'S HIGH DENSITY HOUSING IMMEDIATELY IN THE AREA ONLY A COUPLE MILES AWAY.
IT WAS RECOGNIZED WHEN THAT HOUSING WAS BUILT THAT THE OPENING OF THE DUNN PRESERVE WOULD PROVIDE AN OUTLET TO RESIDENTS WITHIN THE CITY OF LIVERMORE.
THE CITY OF LIVERMORE IS ADVOCATING FOR THIS TRAIL, THEY'D LIKE IT TO SEE IT OPEN.
CERTAINLY THEY'RE AWARE OF THE MITIGATION VALUE OF DUNN PRESERVE TO THEM.
THEY BELIEVE THAT THAT MITIGATION VALUE CAN EXIST IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE RECREATIONAL VALUE OF THE TRAIL.
TRI VALLEY CONSERVANCY, I WORK WITH QUITE A BIT.
THEY ARE NOW OPENLY ADVOCATING FOR RECREATION SPECIFICALLY BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN AN AMBIGUITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE DUNN PRESERVE AND WHAT ITS FUTURE USES ARE GOING TO BE.
WE SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN A TRIGGER FOR A COUNTY WIDE INITIATIVE.
BY INITIATIVE, I MEAN, EFFORT THAT'S BEEN LED BY A COALITION OF ORGANIZATIONS TO START CONNECTING NEIGHBORHOODS WITH EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICTS IN A MANNER THAT CREATES CONTINUITY BETWEEN THE 880 CORRIDOR AND THE 580 CORRIDOR LEADING US OUT OF THE COUNTY.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE NO EXIT FROM ALAMEDA COUNTY IF YOU LIVE IN EASTERN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
WE CAN'T GET UP TO MOUNT DIABLO OTHER THAN BY GOING ALONG THE IRON HORSE TRAIL THAT SOME PEOPLE CONSIDER TO BE ALTERNATIVE TO THE FREEWAY.
JUST A BIT. THAT BEING SAID, AGAIN, YOU'LL BE DISCUSSING THIS TRAIL.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT BUT IT'S A GOOD ONE TO CONSIDER.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY IT DIDN'T.
[00:05:01]
>> MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE ONE MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ANDREW TURNBULL. [NOISE] I FIXED IT.
>> GREETINGS MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS AND STAFF.
I'M ANDREW TURNBULL, I'M A HORSE OWNER AND EQUINE ADVOCATE LIVING IN SENAL, CALIFORNIA SINCE 1999.
I'VE LIVED 50 OF MY 64 YEARS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
MEANWHILE, MY WIFE HAS WORKED IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SINCE 1995, 20 YEARS AGO.
[LAUGHTER] MY WIFE AND MY WIFE'S GOING TO RETIRE THIS MONTH FROM A ROLE AS DEAN OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH AT CONTRA COSTA COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN SAN PABLO.
RENEE WON'T MISS HER HOUR LONG COMMUTE FROM OUR HOME IN SENAL.
INDEED, SHE PLANS TO SPEND A LOT MORE TIME WITH HER PONY JACKSON, AND SHE AND I WILL BE RIDING THE TRAILS OF ALAMEDA COUNTY, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, ALL OVER CALIFORNIA AND BEYOND.
I WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE AS THE VICE PRESIDENT AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL HORSEMANSHIP FOUNDATION.
WE GIVE GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS PROMOTING RELATIONSHIP BASED HORSEMANSHIP ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA AND WE'LL BE GOING WORLDWIDE.
I'M A FORMER AREA, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE HORSEMAN'S ASSOCIATION.
MY WIFE AND I ARE MEMBERS OF THE EQUESTRIAN CENTER OF WALNUT CREEK, WHERE SHE SERVES ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
EQUESTRIAN CENTER WALNUT CREEK, IS A MEMBER OF THE WALNUT CREEK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND A MEMBER CLUB OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE HORSEMAN'S ASSOCIATION IN REGION 5, WHICH SERVES THE SAME ALAMEDA COUNTY AND CONTRA COSTA GEOGRAPHY AS EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS.
IN SUMMARY, MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS GEOGRAPHY.
ALAMEDA COUNTY DISTRICT SUPERVISOR DAVID HAUBERT, ASKED ME TO HELP WITH HORSE AGRICULTURE AND TRAILS IN THE ALAMEDA COUNTY AGRICULTURE ADVISORY BOARD, AND I'M HELPING THE COMMITTEE AS AN INDEPENDENT JOURNALIST, PROMOTING AGRIBUSINESS AND RECOGNIZING THAT HORSES ARE AGRICULTURE EVERY WORLD GLORY FLIES.
RECENTLY, I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HIKE ON THE LAS POSITAS LOOP TRAIL ON THE COLLIER CANYON PROPERTY THAT CONNECTS TO THE SPECTACULAR DUNN RIDGE ADJACENT PROPERTY OWNED BY EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS.
WHAT A HUGE OPPORTUNITY FOR EQUESTRIANS, HIKERS AND OTHERS TO ENJOY THE TRAIL? THIS IS US ALONG WITH OLIVIA, OUT ON THE TRAIL, AND IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY, AND LARRY WAS THERE WITH US.
TAKE US ON A TOUR AND ANOTHER GENTLEMAN NAMED DAVID LUND, WHO IS AN EXPERT IN TRAILS WAS WITH US.
WHAT A HUGE OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY THIS NEW TRAIL OPPORTUNITY IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
THANK YOU TO BOARD MEMBER SANWONG FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH US TO SEE THIS SPECTACULAR OPPORTUNITY ON BEHALF OF THE HORSE ENTHUSIAST HIKERS AND OTHERS WHO ENJOY OUTDOOR RECREATION.
I HUMBLY ASK THE BOARD AND THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER, MR. CORTEN, AND STAFF, TO FULLY EMBRACE THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE YOU.
THANK YOU AND MAY THE HORSE BE WITH YOU.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, THERE'S NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THEN WE WILL ADJOURN TO THE CLOSED SESSION AT THIS TIME. GOOD EVENING.
[CLOSED SESSION ITEMS]
GOOD EVENING. WELCOME TO[ROLL CALL]
THE REGULAR BOARD SESSION MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, FOR DECEMBER 2, 2025, BEGINNING AT 6:15.IT'S GOOD TO SEE EVERYBODY HERE AT OUR SPECIAL ALTERNATE TIME THAT WE'RE OFFERING NOW FOR THIS MEETING.
WILL THE CLERK PLEASE TAKE THE ROLL?
>> YES. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR COFFEE IS ABSENT. DIRECTOR ECCLES?
>> ACTING GENERAL MANAGER CORTEN?
>> DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO IS NOT WITH US HERE IN PERSON, BUT SHE IS ATTENDING THE MEETING TONIGHT UNDER THE JUST CAUSE PROVISION OF AB 2449.
SHE'S ATTENDING THE MEETING REMOTELY.
DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO, CAN YOU PLEASE CONFIRM THAT NO OTHER INDIVIDUAL 18 YEARS OR OLDER WILL BE PRESENT IN THE ROOM WITH YOU AT YOUR REMOTE LOCATION?
>> YES. I CAN CONFIRM THERE ARE NO INDIVIDUALS OVER THE AGE OF 18 IN THE ROOM WITH ME.
[00:10:03]
>> THANK YOU. JUST A REMINDER TO PLEASE LEAVE YOUR VIDEO ON DURING THE MEETING.
THANK YOU. DOES DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO NEED TO MAKE THAT STATEMENT THAT'S GIVEN, YOU HAVE A STATEMENT.
DO YOU HAVE A COPY OF THAT THERE?
YES. I NEED TO ATTEND TONIGHT'S MEETING UNDER THE JUST CAUSE PROVISION THAT'S ALLOWED TO ME THAT DUE TO ILLNESS, IT PREVENTS ME FROM ATTENDING THE MEETING IN PERSON THIS EVENING.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. LET'S MOVE ALONG TO DIRECTOR ECCLES LEADING US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
[LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT]
>> FOR THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT, DIRECTOR ESPANA.
>> AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL THE LANDS WITHIN THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ARE THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE EAST BAY OHLONE, BAY MIWOK, AND THE NORTHERN VALLEY YOKUT, 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.
>> THANK YOU. NEXT IS ITEM NUMBER 4,
[MODIFICATION OF AGENDA]
MODIFICATION OF THE AGENDA.STAFF HAS REQUESTED THAT ITEM 8B,1 BE PULLED FROM THIS MEETING'S AGENDA, AND THE ITEM WILL BE RESCHEDULED TO OUR NEXT MEETING ON DECEMBER 16.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER REQUESTS TO MODIFY THE AGENDA? HEARING NONE, IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA AS I JUST STATED AS AMENDED?
>> SURE. I'LL MAKE THE MOTION.
>> MOTION MADE BY SANWONG. IS THERE A SECOND?
>> SECONDED BY ECCLES. ALL IN FAVOR.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE?
>> SINCE DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO IS REMOTE.
THANK YOU. DIRECTOR COFFEE IS NOT HERE. DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO?
>> THANK YOU. THERE ARE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
NEXT, WE MOVE ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT.
THIS PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD IS RESERVED FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY FOLKS
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]
WAITING TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA THIS EVENING?>> YES, WE DO. I WILL START WITH META DARCY.
THEN NEXT WILL BE JEFFREY BERNEFORD.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MERCURIO AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF.
THANK YOU. ON BEHALF OF AFSCME LOCAL 2428, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS META DARCY, AND I AM THE CHIEF STEWARD OF AFSCME LOCAL 2428.
IN JUNE OF 2022, AFSCME FILED AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE CHARGE AGAINST THE PARK DISTRICT THAT OCCURRED WHILE NEGOTIATIONS OVER TELECOMMUTE BENEFITS.
THE CHARGES WERE THAT DISTRICT MANAGEMENT BARGAINED IN BAD FAITH, FAILED TO MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO, DEALT DIRECTLY WITH EMPLOYEES AND INTERFERED WITH PROTECTED UNION ACTIVITY, INCLUDING SILENCING SUPPORTERS.
AFTER 2.5 YEARS OF WAITING, IN DECEMBER 2024, PERB ISSUED A DECISION FINDING THAT MANAGEMENT HAD, IN FACT, COMMITTED ALL OF THE SERIOUS UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES ALLEGED BY AFSCME.
THESE WEREN'T TECHNICAL VIOLATIONS.
THEY WERE CLEAR SERIOUS VIOLATIONS OF STATE LABOR LAW.
IN FEBRUARY 2025, MANAGEMENT FILED AN APPEAL WITH PERB.
ONE MONTH LATER IN MARCH OF 2025, MANAGEMENT RESCINDED TELECOMMUTE COMPLETELY FOR ALL AFSCME EMPLOYEES.
IN MAY OF 2025, THE UNION FILED A SECOND ULP FOR ONE OF THE SAME CHARGES, FAILURE TO MAINTAIN STATUS QUO.
JUNE 2025, THE PERB APPEALS BOARD AFFIRMS THE DECEMBER RULING IN FULL.
[00:15:03]
THE DISTRICT HAD LOST AGAIN.IN JULY OF 2025, MANAGEMENT FILED A WRIT WITH THE CALIFORNIA COURT OF APPEAL, ESSENTIALLY A LONG SHOT ATTEMPT TO DELAY THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE REMEDY GRANTED BY PERB.
IN OCTOBER OF 2025, THE DISTRICT REQUESTED AN EXTENSION FOR FILING ITS BRIEF AND IT WAS GRANTED BY THE COURT.
NOW IN DECEMBER OF 2025, THE DISTRICT IS REQUESTING A SECOND EXTENSION FOR FILING ITS BRIEF.
WE BELIEVE THESE EXTENSIONS ARE NOT ABOUT MERIT.
THEY ARE DELAYED TACTICS, PLAIN AND SIMPLE.
REALITY IS PERB WINS ARE RARELY OVERTURNED IN COURT.
THE LEGAL STANDARD IS EXTREMELY DEFERENTIAL AND THE DISTRICT HAS ALREADY LOST TWICE, ONCE AT PERB AND AGAIN ON APPEAL WITH PERB.
THE COURT OF APPEAL IS NOT GOING TO RETRY THE CASE.
THEY WILL SIMPLY ASK WHETHER PERB ACTED REASONABLY AND THE RECORD OVERWHELMINGLY SHOWS THAT IT DID, AND YET EVERY MONTH, THIS CONTINUES.
THE DISTRICT IS PAYING ATTORNEYS TO DEFEND A CASE THAT WAS ALREADY LOST TWICE, SPENDING TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO DELAY COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAW, AND CARRYING FORWARD THE MISTAKES OF A FORMER ADMINISTRATOR WHO IS NO LONGER EVEN HERE.
I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THIS HAS MEANT FOR EMPLOYEES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.
PEOPLE HAVE LEFT THIS AGENCY BECAUSE THEY LOST TELECOMMUTING OPTIONS ABRUPTLY AND WITHOUT NEGOTIATION.
STAFF WERE STRETCHED THIN WHILE THE AGENCY CONTINUED TO LOSE GOOD EMPLOYEES, MORALE DETERIORATED BECAUSE PEOPLE FELT UNHEARD AND TREATED INCONSISTENTLY.
EMPLOYEES WAITED OVER 900 DAYS FOR A DECISION ON AN ISSUE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED COLLABORATIVELY AND WITHOUT LITIGATION.
PERB'S RULING VALIDATED WHAT EMPLOYEES ALREADY KNEW SINCE 2022, BUT MANY OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE NO LONGER HERE TO SEE IT.
THESE ARE THE REAL COSTS OF THESE DECISIONS.
THE QUESTIONS FOR THE BOARD IS, DID THE BOARD AUTHORIZE COUNSEL TO FILE MULTIPLE APPEALS? WERE YOU INFORMED OF THE RISK AND COST OF APPEALING A PERB DECISION WITH THE EXTREMELY LOW CHANCE OF SUCCESS? HOW MUCH TAXPAYER MONEY HAS ALREADY BEEN COMMITTED TO THIS LOSING LITIGATION? WHY ARE WE APPEALING A RULING INSTEAD OF FIXING THE UNDERLYING BEHAVIOR? PLEASE STOP APPEALING.
PLEASE STOP SPENDING PUBLIC MONEY AND DEFENDING CLEAR VIOLATIONS OF LABOR LAW.
LET'S MOVE FORWARD IN A LAWFUL, RESPECTFUL COLLABORATE.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> JEFFREY BERNEFORD, AND THEN JOHN KAUFMAN?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.
YEARS AGO IN A LAND FAR AWAY, LOOPS WRONG PROGRAM.
JEAN-LUC PICARD AFTER ASSESSING THE SITUATION WOULD ORDER MAKE IT SO WEEK AFTER WEEK.
AT THE NOVEMBER 18TH MEETING, I LEFT EACH OF YOU AN ENVELOPE CONTAINING COPIES OF TWO PUBLIC COMMENTS OF MINE, ONE OF WHICH I PRESENTED, AND THE OTHER SUGGESTING THAT THE TILDEN PARK WAS A JEWEL IN THE EAST BAY AND THAT THE REDWOOD VALLEY RAILROAD STEAM TRAINS ADD A GENTLE GLOWING LUSTER.
OTHERS OFFERED THEIR PERSONAL PUBLIC OFFERINGS.
OVERALL, THEY SEEMED DISAPPOINTED WITH MANY OF THE DECISIONS TO CHANGE WORK SYSTEMS THAT UPSET THEIR APPLE CART AND GREATLY IMPACTED THEIR PRODUCTIVITY.
NOT BEING A PARK EMPLOYEE, MANY OF THE STATISTICS MENTIONED WERE ALARMING TO ME.
THE EXTREME DURATION OF VACANCIES IN CRITICAL POSITIONS WERE NOTEWORTHY.
THEY VARIED A LOT, 200 DAYS PLUS, AND EVEN MORE IMPORTANT INTERNAL SYSTEM FAILURES WERE ALSO MENTIONED.
FEW THINGS IN LIFE RUN SMOOTHLY WITHOUT MANAGEMENT.
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, MARRIAGE, SUCCESS IN BUSINESS, COMMUNICATION, THEY ALL REQUIRE MANAGING.
CHAOS DEVELOPS QUICKLY WITHOUT ANY GUARD RAILS.
THE ACTUAL TERM FREQUENTLY UTILIZED IN RAILROADING, DEFINED LOOSELY AS PARALLEL RAILS, ADDED TO TRACKAGE TO MINIMIZE DAMAGE IN CASE OF A DERAILMENT.
WITH HELP OF AI, LEASE, A FIVE LETTER WORD FOUND ON MY IPHONE, COUPLED WITH THE TERM AGREEMENT IS A LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT BETWEEN A LANDLORD AND A TENANT FOR THE USE OF AN ASSET, MOST COMMONLY A PROPERTY FOR A SPECIFIC PERIOD.
THE DEFINITION GOES ON TO DISCUSS A LIST OF POSSIBLE KEY COMPONENTS.
A NEW ENTREPRENEURIAL ADVENTURE, THESE DAYS CAN BE QUITE A CAN OF WORMS. HUGELY COMPLICATED WITH THE UNCERTAINTIES AND EXPECTATIONS OF MANY HIGHLY LITIGIOUS SITUATIONS.
THE REDWOOD VALLEY RAILROAD IS OLD.
MOST OF THE KINKS HAVE BEEN SORTED AS THEY SAY ON BRITISH TELEVISION PROGRAMS. THE NEW PART IS EASY, THE PLEASURE AND JOY EXPERIENCED BY THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ANNUALLY EACH AND EVERY WEEKEND.
YOUR PREDECESSORS DEALT WITH THE THOMPSON FAMILY SUCCESSFULLY FOR YEARS.
A CURRENT THOMPSON IS WILLING AND ANXIOUS TO REINSTATE A PROCESS TO CREATE A WIN, WIN SITUATION.
AS JEAN-LUC PICARD WOULD OFTEN SAY,
[00:20:03]
ON STAR TREK, PLEASE MAKE IT SO. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.>> THANK YOU. JOHN KAUFMAN AND THEN ELLEN.
I AM HERE AS PRESIDENT OF THE CLAREMONT CANYON CONSERVANCY.
I WANT TO TALK THIS EVENING ABOUT AN ISSUE ALONG CLAREMONT AVENUE IN WHICH THE PARK DISTRICT CAN PLAY AN IMPORTANT ROLE.
THE CONSERVANCY IS VERY INVOLVED IN STEWARDSHIP ALONG IN GARBER PARK AND ALSO IN THE UPPER CANYON THAT'S ON LAND OWNED BY UC.
IN THE PAST, WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE PARK DISTRICT ON LAND THAT IT OWNS, REMOVING INVASIVE SPECIES, IMPROVING TRAILS.
THE CONSERVANCY RECENTLY DID SOME FUND RAISING AMONG OUR MEMBERS.
WE RAISED $100,000 IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS FOR THE PURPOSE OF REMOVING HAZARDOUS EUCALYPTUS TREES IN GARBER PARK.
THAT'S THE FIRST STEP IN GARBER PARK.
WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT AND WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF OAKLAND, WHICH OWNS GARBER PARK.
CLAREMONT AVENUE IS AN EVACUATION ROUTE.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT AVENUE BE KEPT AS CLEAR AND AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
AT THE BEGINNING OF CLAREMONT, ON THE LAND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE CLAREMONT HOTEL, TOGETHER WITH PG&E HAS BEEN REMOVING EUCALYPTUS TREES FROM ITS LAND.
THERE ARE A FEW PRIVATE HOMES, AND THEN WE COME TO GARBER PARK, AND THAT'S WHERE THE CONSERVANCY IS WORKING WITH THE CITY OF OAKLAND TO REMOVE HAZARDOUS EUCALYPTUS TREES.
THEN THERE ARE A FEW MORE SMALL PRIVATE PARCELS, AND WE COME TO LAND THAT'S OWNED BY YOU, BY THE EAST BAY PARK DISTRICT.
THE AREA THERE BEGUN TO BE CLEARED OF EUCALYPTUS TREES.
I KNOW THE PARK DISTRICT IS DOING A LOT OF WORK ON EUCALYPTUS TREES THROUGHOUT ITS AREA, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO URGE YOU TO DO THE WORK ON ALONG CLAREMONT AVENUE AS WELL.
THAT'S JUST VERY IMPORTANT AS A FIRE HAZARD.
IT'S AN EVACUATION ROUTE AND THAT NEEDS TO BE ATTENDED TO.
WE'VE RAISED $100,000 OUT OF OUR OWN POCKETS, AND WE KNOW THAT THE PARK DISTRICT HAS FUNDS AND WE WOULD HOPE YOU WOULD SPEND SOME OF THOSE IN THE AREA THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
JUST BEYOND THE PARK DISTRICT LAND IS THE UNIVERSITY LAND.
THEY HAVE DONE A LOT OF WORK REMOVING EUCALYPTUS TREES IN THEIR AREA, AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO HAVE WORKED WITH THEM TO MAKE THAT POSSIBLE AND TO GIVE THEM POLITICAL SUPPORT TO DO THAT.
WE'D BE VERY HAPPY TO PLAY THE SAME ROLE WITH YOU ON YOUR PROPERTY.
I WOULD JUST URGE YOU TO CONSIDER SPENDING SOME OF YOUR RESOURCES ON THAT LAND, AS WELL AS WHAT YOU'RE DOING ELSEWHERE IN THE PARKS. THANK YOU.
>> ELLEN IS THE LAST IN PERSON SPEAKER, AND THEN WE WILL GO ONLINE.
>> HI. MY NAME IS ELLEN THOMPSON.
I OWN REDWOOD VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY, THE STEAM TRAIN IN TILDEN.
WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR 73 YEARS.
WE GET NO MONEY FROM THE DISTRICT, NO GRANTS, NO DONATIONS.
EVERYTHING THERE IS BUILT AND MAINTAINED WITH PRIVATE FUNDS.
IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING THE TRAINS, THE TRACK, AND THE BUILDINGS, WE MAINTAIN THE MAJOR DRAINAGE AND EROSION CONTROL, PROVIDE THE LANDSCAPING, INCLUDING THE REDWOOD TREES.
WE DO FIRE HAZARD ABATEMENT, INVASIVE PLANT SPECIES REMOVAL, AND RARE SPECIES PROTECTION, ALL AT PRIVATE EXPENSE.
WE TRYING TO ENSURE THAT THE STEAM TRAIN CAN OPERATE FOR MANY MORE YEARS INTO THE FUTURE AND MEET THE HUGELY INCREASING ATTENDANCE BY PARK PATRONS.
TO DO THAT, WE HAVE TO MAKE MANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WHICH REQUIRE PERMITTING FROM THE COUNTY.
BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT OUR DISTRICT LEASE.
BUT NOW WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO RENEW OUR LEASE WITH THE DISTRICT FOR SEVEN YEARS WITH ONLY LIMITED SUCCESS.
IN THAT SEVEN YEARS, THE STAFF PEOPLE WE TRY TO WORK WITH HAVE CHANGED 12 TIMES IN SEVEN YEARS.
A GOOD WORKING DRAFT WAS CREATED SEVEN YEARS AGO, BUT NOW THE STAFF WANT TO IGNORE IT.
IN RECENT WEEKS, THERE HAS BEEN A FLURRY OF EFFORT BY STAFF, BUT NOW WE'RE BEING ASKED TO ABANDON THE LEASE DOCUMENT THAT'S BEEN POLISHED AND PERFECTED FOR 73 YEARS IN FAVOR OF A NEW ONE THAT IS WRITTEN WITH NO EXPERIENCE OF OUR SITUATION.
[00:25:05]
NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD, JUST SIGN THIS PART.BUT THEN WE'LL HAVE MEETINGS WITHOUT YOU AND WE'LL ADD STUFF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YET AFTER YOU'VE ALREADY SIGNED.
WELL, THAT'S NOT A GOOD LEGAL PLAN.
THIS IS WHY MANY FIRMS WILL NOT DO BUSINESS WITH THE DISTRICT AND WHY WE TRY TO SHIELD OUR CONTRACTORS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MONEY, BUT ONLY THE ABILITY TO KEEP SERVING THE PUBLIC.
WITH NO LEGAL PROTECTION, WE WOULD HAVE TO PICK UP EVERYTHING AND LEAVE.
IN THE PAST, CONCESSIONAIRES HAVE BEEN FORCED OUT OF THE PARK BY DISTRICT STAFF, SOMETIMES BY ILLEGAL MEANS.
WE'VE ALREADY LOST HALF A DOZEN ATTRACTIONS THAT USED TO BE IN TILDEN.
WE EVEN ALMOST LOST THE MERRY-GO-ROUND UNTIL THE PUBLIC ROSE UP AND SAID, NO, I HOPE THAT WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO US, BUT HERE WE ARE.
RECENTLY, THE BOARD HAS STATED THAT IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM TO PRESERVE CULTURAL AND NATURAL ASSETS.
AFTER 73 YEARS, I HOPE THAT THE TRAINS ARE THE CULTURAL ASSET THAT THE PUBLIC SEEMS TO THINK THEY ARE.
I NEED TO KNOW IF THE PRESENT SITUATION HAS BEEN SOME LONG TERM DISTRICT POLICY TO ELIMINATE THE REMAINING ATTRACTIONS IN TILDEN.
IS IT PERSONAL AGENDA OR JUST NEGLIGENCE? WE'RE OUT OF TIME.
I'LL BE AVAILABLE FOR MORE INFORMATION AT ANY TIME, IF ANYBODY'S INTERESTED.THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW GO ONLINE.
SAMANTHA TORRES, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI, EXCELLENT. GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY.
I AM SO PLEASED TO MEET YOU ALL VIRTUALLY.
THIS WAS MY FIRST TIME ATTENDING AN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS MEETING.
I'M GLAD THAT THIS EVENING MEETING OCCURRED SO THAT I WAS ABLE TO TAKE TIME OUT OF MY BUSY LIFE TO MEET YOU ALL.
I AM THE VICE CHAIR OF THE RECREATION AND PARKS COMMISSION FOR THE CITY OF RICHMOND.
I ALSO SERVE ON SEVERAL BOARDS AND COMMITTEES REGARDING YOUTH SPORTS, PARTICULARLY SOCCER.
NOW, I'M NOT SURE IF YOU ALL ARE AWARE, I'M SURE YOU ARE.
BUT IN JUNE, WE ARE ONE OF THE HOST CENTURIES OF THE FIFA WORLD CUP.
BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES, MEXICO, AND CANADA, WE ARE HOSTING SOME OF THE BEST SOCCER FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AND HERE LOCALLY, LEVI’S STADIUM IS A HOST FACILITY.
WE WILL HAVE A FLURRY OF SOCCER RELATED ACTIVITY IN THE COMING MONTHS, PARTICULARLY OVER THE SUMMER.
BUT HERE IN RICHMOND, WE'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THE SCARCITY OF SOCCER FACILITIES FOR DECADES.
THE CITY OF RICHMOND ONLY HAS ONE OFFICIAL ALL WEATHER ILLUMINATED SOCCER FIELD FOR A CITY, THE SIZE OF BERKELEY.
WE RELY ON OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES AND OTHER PARKS AND OTHER NON OFFICIAL SOCCER AREAS TO COMPLETE THE NEED TO MEET THE NEEDS THAT OUR YOUTH AND OUR ADULT PROGRAM PASSED.
BUT REALLY, WHAT I NEED ALL OF US TO WORK TOGETHER IS TO FIND COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS FOR DEVELOPING ANY NEW SPORTS COMPLEX.
NOW, RICHMOND IS PART OF THE JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT FOR ACCESS TO TOM BATES SPORTS COMPLEX LOCATED IN BERKELEY.
BUT AS THE NAME SUGGESTS, TOM BATES SPORTS COMPLEX, ACCESSING FACILITIES AT TOM BATES SPORTS COMPLEX OR RICHMOND ORGANIZATIONS IS INDEED COMPLEX.
WITH THE RECENT ACQUISITION OF THE 80 PLUS ACRES OF POINT MOLATE, IN ADDITION TO THE ALREADY EXISTING HUNDREDS OF ACRES THAT AS THE REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IN AND AROUND RICHMOND, IT'S TIME TO START THINKING ABOUT DEVELOPING A SPORTS COMPLEX HERE IN WEST COUNTY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING MS. ECCLES PERSONALLY, WHO REPRESENTS MY DISTRICT, GETTING TO HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS WITH ALL OF YOU ALL TO SEE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES WE CAN DEVELOP FOR OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO QUALITY SPORTS FACILITIES HERE IN RICHMOND AND IN THE LOCAL AREAS.
I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE WONDERFUL HOLIDAYS.
THERE'S NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> MOVING ALONG TO ITEM NUMBER 7 ANNOUNCEMENTS.
WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS THIS EVENING? HEARING NONE. WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
ITEM NUMBER 8A IS THE CONSENT CALENDAR.DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO SPEAK ON ANY ITEM ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR?
>> YES. I HAVE TWO MEMBERS IN PERSON.
>> LET'S MOVE THEM IN. GO AHEAD.
>> JIMMY HANSON AND THEN NORMAN LA FORCE.
[00:30:09]
>> THANK YOU. JIMMY HANSON, CALIFORNIA PLANT SOCIETY, RICHMOND RESIDENT.
I'D JUST LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS ON ITEM 10, THE PURCHASE FOR SOME HEAVY TRAILS EQUIPMENT.
HAD SOME CONVERSATION WITH THE TRAILS UNIT, AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS WOULD PRIMARILY BE USED FOR NEW TRAIL DEVELOPMENT.
AS YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE BROUGHT IN FRONT OF YOU, EITHER INDIVIDUALLY OR IN FRONT OF THESE MEETINGS, IS THE CONDITION OF SEVERAL OF THE VERY POPULAR, LONG USED TRAILS IN THE DISTRICT, SOME OF WHICH I'M SURE YOU'VE BEEN ON, THAT ARE HEAVILY ERODED.
THE QUESTION TODAY AND THE REQUEST WOULD BE, I CAN'T REALLY HAVE A POSITION TO COMMENT ON THIS PURCHASE, BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE EXISTING TRAILS THAT ARE IN SERIOUS NEED TO REPAIR.
THESE ARE TRAILS THAT OLDER PEOPLE, YOUNG PEOPLE, CHILDREN ARE NOT.
WE'D ASK THAT YOU INCLUDE A AMENDMENT IF YOU ARE TO PASS THIS TO HAVE A REPORT BACK TO THE BOARD AT THE NEXT MEETING WITH AT LEAST AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT STAFFING AND EQUIPMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR REPAIR OF EXISTING TRAILS.
I FORGET THE FIGURE, BUT IT'S OVER 1,000 MILES, I BELIEVE.
ARE THERE ANY LISTS OR REPAIRS THAT YOURSELF AND THE PUBLIC COULD BE INFORMED OF WHAT SCHEDULED WOULD BE REPAIRED IN 2026? IT'S A VERY LOWLY BUDGETED ITEM IN THE CURRENT BUDGET, AND WE MAY WANT TO ADDRESS THAT ALSO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> NORMAN LA FORCE, AND THEN WE DO HAVE ONE HAND UP ONLINE NOW.
>> GOOD EVENING. NORMAN LA FORCE, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF SPRADLE.
I WOULD ECHO WHAT MR. HANSON HAS SAID, AND JUST ADD THAT THERE IS YET TO BE, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, ANY OVERALL CONDITION INVENTORY FOR THE TRAILS.
IT WOULD SEEM THAT ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS BEFORE YOU'RE GOING TO GO OUT AND BUY EQUIPMENT IS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S THE CONDITION OF THE TRAILS.
IT'S IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT YOU REALLY DO NEED.
THERE IS NO OVERALL TRAIL INVENTORY OF THE CONDITION OF THE TRAILS.
THIS IS SIMILAR TO THE NEED FOR INVENTORY OF ALL BIODIVERSITY AND BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES.
BUT WITH REGARD TO THIS ITEM, I WOULD JUST ECHO WHAT MR. HANSON HAS SAID, IN ADDITION TO CALLING FOR A FULL DISTRICT WIDE TRAIL INVENTORY OF THE CONDITION OF THE TRAILS.
>> THANK YOU. WE WILL NOW GO ONLINE AND NOW WE HAVE TWO HANDS UP ONLINE.
JANET FLYNT, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF?
>> HELLO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
IS THIS THE RIGHT TIME TO COMMENT ON ITEM D1?
>> NO, THIS IS NOT. THIS IS FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ANYTHING UNDER A?
>> JUDY SCHWARTZ, YOU MAY MUTE YOURSELF?
>> I MAY BE CONFUSED. IS THIS ABOUT THE BUDGET?
>> NO [OVERLAPPING] THIS IS ITEMS ON CONSENT, AND ANYTHING UNDER SECTION A.
>> OKAY. THEN I'LL SPEAK LATER. THANK YOU.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
ARE THERE ANY REQUESTS TO PULL ANY ITEMS OFF OF CONSENT?
>> I WILL PUT A COMMENT THAT I WANTED TO PUT IN?
>> WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT TO COMMENT ON?
THERE'S ITEM A12, THE AUTHORIZATION TO TRANSFER, $200,000.
TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT TO LISMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT.
I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS I EVEN BROUGHT MY 2025 ADOPTED OPERATING BUDGET BOOK FOR THIS YEAR.
THIS IS THE BUDGET THAT WE APPROVED A YEAR AGO.
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT WE'RE MOVING THIS FORWARD BECAUSE IT WAS MENTIONED IN THE 2025 BUDGET BOOK, AND I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE ITEMS THAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET BOOK.
I JUST LIKE TO THINK IT ADVANCE WHEN WE TAKE THE VOTE TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER COMMENTS TO BE MADE ON CONSENT ITEMS? PARDON ME.
[00:35:04]
>> THANK YOU. YES. DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT, GO AHEAD.
>> I HAD A REALLY QUICK REALLY QUICK COMMENT ON ITEM 7.
COULD WE PLEASE ADD AS ONE OF THE NEWS MEDIA OUTLETS, THE LAM MARINDA WEEKLY.
>> SHE'S REQUESTING TO ADD ANOTHER PRINT MEDIA DISTRIBUTION.
>> LET ME CHECK IF THAT'S POSSIBLE SINCE IT'S A CONTRACT.
>> YEAH, WE CAN GET BACK TO [OVERLAPPING].
>> JUST A COMMENT, AND IT WOULD BE ON THE AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE THE FLEET EQUIPMENT FOR TRAIL WORK.
I AGREE WITH OUR MEMBERS WHO SUGGESTED, I'D LOVE TO SEE A DISTRICT TRAIL INVENTORY.
THERE'S 1,330 MILES OF TRAILS.
I WOULD BET MOST OF THEM WERE IN GOOD SHAPE, BUT I'D LOVE TO SEE AN INVENTORY ON THAT AND A PLAN.
I LOVE THE FACT THAT WE'VE GOT A SMALL TRAILS CREW.
I'M TOTALLY IN SUPPORT OF SPENDING ALMOST $0.5 MILLION ON THESE TRACK CARRIERS AND EXCAVATORS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
CHRIS, I DON'T WANT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT.
BUT CAN YOU TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE IN COST BETWEEN, DON'T TELL ME THE DIFFERENCE IN COST.
IS RENEWABLE DIESEL CHEAPER THAN REGULAR DIESEL? DOESN'T MATTER. I JUST WONDERING, I MEAN, I COULDN'T FIND THE NUMBERS WHEN I LOOKED IT UP.
I DID REALIZE OR FOUND OUT AND I THINK I LOOKED IT UP AND IT'S RENEWABLE PRODUCES 62% LESS GREENHOUSE GASES AND BAD STUFF.
I WAS JUST WONDERING IF IT'S TWICE THE PRICE OR CLOSE.
DOESN'T MATTER. I'LL TALK TO YOU LATER ABOUT IT OFFLINE.
YOU'RE SMILING, SO I'M GOING TO SAY, I ALWAYS SAY, HAVING BEEN A PARK RANGER AND HAVING BEEN ON THE ROSE AND TRAILS CREW EVERY TIME I SEE YOU GUYS BUYING THIS WILDLY NEW COOL EQUIPMENT.
CAN YOU PUT IN A PICTURE OF IT? I LOVE LOOKING AT THE STUFF YOU GUYS BUY.
I JUST WANT TO SEE WHAT A TRACK [OVERLAPPING].
>> TRACK DUMPER TRACKS, LOW TRACK TRACKER CARRIER THAT CAN CARRY 3,500 POUNDS. I'D LOVE TO SEE THAT.
>> I JUST ADD, THIS IS FOR OUR MAINTENANCE CREW, SO THIS WILL BE USED FOR MAINTAINING EXISTING TRAILS.
I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY MISINFORMATION, BUT IT WOULD LESS LIKELY BE USED FOR NEW TRAILS, MOSTLY FOR EXISTING.
>> THANKS. I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A COMMENT ON NUMBER A2.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING HERE, OR ADVANCEMENT WE'RE MAKING TO COMPLETE THE IRON HORSE TRAIL FROM CONCORD UP TO THE APPROACH TO THE BENITA BRIDGE.
A LOT OF WORK HAS GONE IN BY OUR STAFF TO COME UP WITH THESE LICENSE AGREEMENTS TO ALLOW US TO BUILD ON LEVEES THROUGH AN AREA WHERE THERE'S NO ACCESS AT ALL RIGHT NOW.
BUT IT'S A TRICKY PLACE, BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT LINK IN MAKING THE IRON HORSE TRAIL BE ABLE TO COMPLETELY SPAN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND EXTEND INTO ALAMEDA COUNTY.
I JUST WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT AND WHAT AN IMPORTANT STEP THAT IS.
THE NEXT STEP IS GOING TO BE DESIGN AND THEN CONSTRUCTION.
WE'LL KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED THAT THAT DOESN'T TAKE 50 YEARS [LAUGHTER].
NOW I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION, I GUESS.
YEAH, TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> DO I HEAR FROM WAESPI, SECOND?
ALL IN FAVOR. NO, WE'RE GOING TO DO A ROLL CALL.
>> GOT TO DO IT. WOULDN'T BE PRUDENT.
WE'RE SKIPPING B ENTIRELY BECAUSE WE ONLY HAD ONE ITEM ON THERE, MOVING INTO C1, CORRECT?
[1. Authorization to Award and Execute a Contract for Services with Rural Pig Management, Inc, in the Amount Not to Exceed $1,125,000 for Feral Pig Control to Protect Natural Resources and Public Safety: District-wide CEQA Determination: Exempt per 14 Cal Code Regs §15307, §15308, §15061(b)(3)]
THIS ONE IS AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD AND EXECUTE A CONTRACT[00:40:03]
FOR SERVICES WITH RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT INCORPORATED IN THE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,000,125 FOR FERAL PIG CONTROL TO PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES AND PUBLIC SAFETY DISTRICT WIDE.>> YES. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MERCURIO AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS, STAFF AND THE PUBLIC AS WELL.
I'M THE WILDLIFE PROGRAM MANAGER IN THE STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE DISTRICT SINCE 2005. WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO.
WELL, IT'S A PLEASURE TO SPEAK TO YOU AND THE PUBLIC REGARDING THIS IMPORTANT AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A SERVICES CONTRACT WITH RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT FOR FERAL PIG CONTROL TO PROTECT NATURAL RESOURCES AND PUBLIC SAFETY DISTRICT WIDE.
IN THIS PRESENTATION, I HOPE TO IMPART TO YOU THE NEED FOR SUCH AN ONGOING PROGRAM.
AS A PRELUDE TO THE SLIDES THAT I'M ABOUT TO SHOW YOU, I WOULD LIKE TO PARAPHRASE A QUOTE FROM THE EDITORS OF A RECENT VOLUME ON INVASIVE WILD PIG MANAGEMENT IN NORTH AMERICA.
''IF ONE WANTED TO DESIGN THE PERFECT INVASIVE ANIMAL SPECIES, THAT IS A HIGHLY ADAPTABLE GENERALIST THAT COULD LIVE ALMOST ANYWHERE AND EAT ALMOST ANYTHING, BE ABLE TO QUICKLY INCREASE POPULATION SIZE AND RAPIDLY EXPAND ITS RANGE, BE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND MANAGE AND CAUSES EXTENSIVE AND DIVERSE DAMAGE TO NATURAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC ENVIRONMENTS, ONE NEED LOOK NO FURTHER THAN WILD PIGS." I WILL EXPAND UPON SOME OF THESE ATTRIBUTES IN THE NEXT SLIDES.
FERAL PIGS, WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? AS THE NAME MAY IMPLY, THEY'RE NOT NATIVE TO NORTH AMERICA.
IN FACT, THEY'VE BEEN BROUGHT TO NORTH AMERICA FROM THE EURASIAN REGION OF THE GLOBE, AND THEY'VE COME IN MULTIPLE, MULTIPLE PULSES FROM ALL REGIONS, WHETHER IT BE SPAIN, THE CAUCASUS, ITALY, AND THEY CAME WITH MULTIPLE WAVES OF IMMIGRATION INTO THE UNITED STATES AND INTO NORTH AMERICA.
BOTH DOMESTIC AND WILD PIGS WERE BROUGHT OVER ESSENTIALLY INITIALLY FOR FOOD CONSUMPTION TO BRING WITH THE ANIMALS DOMESTIC LIVESTOCK THAT SUCH SOCIETIES DEPENDED UPON.
THEN LATER THEY WERE ALSO BROUGHT IN FOR THE PURPOSES OF ENHANCING GAME ANIMALS THAT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR RECREATIONAL HUNTERS AND OTHER FOOD HUNTERS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A NOURISHING SOURCE OF A VERY PLENTIFUL GAME ANIMAL.
THE FERAL PIGS THAT WE SEE TODAY THEN ARE MOSTLY A MIXTURE, A HYBRID BETWEEN THE DOMESTIC PIG AND THE WILD BOAR, THE FAMOUS WILD BOAR OF EUROPE.
THEY'RE FOUND THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES AND WELL INTO CANADA AS A MATTER OF FACT.
IMPORTANT POINT IS THAT THEY'RE A GAME MAMMAL, SO THEY'RE REGULATED BY CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE.
THAT MEANS TO TAKE FERAL PIGS IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, YOU EITHER NEED A HUNTING LICENSE, WHICH IS WELL REGULATED OR A DEPREDATION PERMIT.
THOSE DEPREDATION PERMITS ARE ISSUED THROUGH THE CODES OF THE FISH AND GAME CODE, AND THEY COME WITH THEIR OWN STIPULATIONS FOR PROPER MANAGEMENT AND USE.
MOVING ON, LOOKING AT SOME OF THE BIOLOGY OF PIGS.
WHY ARE THEY SO SUCCESSFUL? WELL, THEY HAPPEN TO BE AWFULLY PROLIFIC BREEDERS.
A SOW, A FEMALE PIG, THEY CAN START BREEDING AT 6-10 MONTHS, AND THEY CAN PRODUCE ON AVERAGE 3-8 YOUNG PER LITTER.
THERE CAN BE MORE, THERE CAN BE LESS, AND THEY BREED YEAR ROUND.
IN EFFECT, YOU CAN ALSO HAVE VERY RAPID REPRODUCTION AND THAT FOLLOWS THE 3-3-3 RULE.
THAT IS THEIR GESTATION PERIOD TAKES THREE MONTHS, THREE WEEKS, AND THREE DAYS.
THAT'S ABOUT 114 DAYS FROM THE TIME OF INCEPTION UNTIL BIRTH OF THE PIGS, WHICH MEANS THAT IN A GIVEN YEAR, A MOTHER CAN PRODUCE DAUGHTERS AND THOSE DAUGHTERS CAN PRODUCE GRANDDAUGHTERS IN ONE YEAR.
THEY'RE EXTREMELY PROLIFIC AND ABLE TO REACH HIGH NUMBERS VERY QUICKLY.
THIS PHOTO HERE SHOWS ANOTHER ASPECT OF THEIR BIOLOGY.
THE UPPER PHOTO SHOWS A NUMBER OF PIGLETS, AND ACTUALLY, THERE ARE THREE SOWS THAT IS FEMALE PIGS GATHERED AMONGST THEM.
THAT'S ONE ASPECT OF THEIR BEHAVIOR.
FEMALE PIGS WILL GATHER INTO THESE GROUPS, THEY'LL GATHER UP ALL THEIR PIGLETS, THEIR YOUNGSTERS, AND THEY'LL HANG OUT IN THESE GROUPS KNOWN AS SOUNDERS.
THEY DO THAT FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.
[00:45:01]
ONE IS TO ASSIST IN FORAGING, TO HELP IN FINDING FOOD IN THE LANDSCAPE, AND THE OTHER IS FOR DEFENSE, THAT IS DEFENSE AGAINST PREDATORS AND OTHER THINGS THAT MAY BEFALL THEM.YOU CAN IMAGINE THREE SOUNDERS THAT WEIGH ABOUT 150-200 POUNDS COULD PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE DEFENSE A GIVEN PREDATOR.
THE UPPER PICTURE IS ACTUALLY WAS TAKEN FROM ONE OF OUR WILDLIFE CAMERAS IN THE ALONE.
THERE ARE EFFECTIVE TERRITORIAL SOUNDER GROUPS THAT CAN MAINTAIN THEMSELVES VERY QUICKLY AND EXPAND VERY QUICKLY.
EXPANDING UPON POPULATION GROWTH AND THEIR PRODUCTIVITY.
THE ILLUSTRATION ON THE LEFT SHOWS A MODEL THAT WAS PRODUCED BY USDA WILDLIFE SERVICES OF FERAL SWINE POPULATION GROWTH.
IT'S BASED ON INPUT FROM KNOWN POPULATION PARAMETERS AND MODELS THE REPRODUCTIVE OUTPUT OF CS THAT HAS FOUR FEMALE PIGS, AND ALSO INCORPORATES NATURAL MORTALITY THAT WOULD BEFALL OF THEIR OFFSPRING.
WHAT IT STILL SHOWS IS THAT YOU HAVE CONTINUAL INCREASE YEAR 5, YEAR 10, YEAR 20.
IN SPITE OF NATURAL MORTALITY EVENTS, LIKE PREDATION, THEY STILL HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY TO OUTPACE ANY THINGS THAT MAY BEFALL THEM INCLUDING DISEASE AND OTHER NATURAL CALAMITIES.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT PREDATION WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS ISSUE.
IT IS KNOWN THAT MOUNTAIN LION'S PICTURE ON THE UPPER RIGHT WAS ACTUALLY TAKEN FROM GARIN NATIONAL PARK WITH ONE OF OUR WILDLIFE CAMERAS, NOT NATIONAL PARK.
[BACKGROUND] [LAUGHTER] EXCUSE ME.
THE LOWER PICTURE AS A COYOTE TAKEN FROM THE ALONE FROM ONE OUR WILDLIFE CAMERAS.
OUR FORMER WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST STEVE BOBSIN, WAS A MOUNTAIN LION EXPERT, AND HE PRETTY MUCH WAS OF THE OPINION THAT MOUNTAIN LIONS AND PUMAS ESSENTIALLY DO NOT LIKE THE TASTE OF WILD PIGS.
IT'S NOT REALLY A GOOD PREY BASE FOR THEM.
THEY NO DOUBT WILL PREY ON WILD PIGS WHEN THE SITUATION CAN ARISE, BUT IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN QUITE INFREQUENTLY, AND IT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH CATS THAT ARE SUFFERING SOME CONSEQUENCES OR SICKNESSES.
I FORGOT TO MENTION, WHICH I WILL BRING IN A LITTLE BIT LATER.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT HUNTING WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM, THE SITUATION, BUT IN EFFECT, IT'S BEEN SHOWN THAT RECREATIONAL HUNTING IS NOT AN EFFECTIVE CONTROL METHOD, AND I'LL DELVE INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
LET'S GO OVER SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT WILD PIGS AND FERAL PIGS ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE.
ONE OF WHICH BIG ONE IS EROSION.
THEY FEED BY FORAGING AND ROOTING THE SOIL.
THAT'S HOW THEY GET THE GRUBS, THE BURROWING MAMMALS, THE SEEDS, THE PLANTS THAT THEY EAT.
THERE ARE REALLY GOOD ROTOTILLERS ON THE LANDSCAPE.
THEY CAN DO TENS OF ACRES IN A SINGLE NIGHT.
THIS ROOTING AND OTHERWISE ROTOTILLING THE SOIL AT LOOSEN SOIL, THAT'S PARTICULARLY IMPACTFUL ON SOIL EROSION IN RELATION TO RIPARIAN AREAS AND SILTING THEM IN.
IT ALSO ENCOURAGES THE EXPANSION OF INVASIVE PLANTS.
THINGS LIKE YELLOW STAR THISTLE AND PURPLE STAR THISTLE, THOSE SEEDS LAST FOR YEARS AND YEARS IN THE SOIL.
FERAL PIGS CAN COME ALONG AND ACTUALLY MOVE THOSE SEEDS BY THE ROOTING INTO OTHER HABITAT THAT THOSE SEEDS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN.
THEY'RE REALLY GOOD AT EXPANDING INVASIVE PLANTS, THAT CAN ALSO AFFECT A LOT OF OUR HABITAT RESTORATION THAT WE ARE INVOLVED IN WHEN FERAL PIGS COME IN AND EITHER DESTROY THAT AND OR ROTOTILL IT OVER.
LIKE I MENTIONED, THEY'RE OMNIVORES.
THEY EAT ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING FROM INSECTS, WORMS, BUGS, GRUBS, SMALL MAMMALS, BIRDS, PLANTS.
I'LL GET A LITTLE BIT MORE INTO THAT IN A MINUTE OR TWO.
THEY'RE CONSUMERS OF ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING IN THE LANDSCAPE, VEGETATION, YOU NAME IT.
PROPERTY DAMAGE, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, IN THE LANDSCAPE, IN THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, THEY ARE RODO TILLING, SENSITIVE HABITATS, BUT THEY CAN ALSO CAUSE EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS AND SUBURBAN ENVIRONMENTS, THINGS LIKE PERSONAL LANDSCAPING, HOUSEHOLD LANDSCAPING, CITY PARKS, AS WELL AS GOLF COURSES.
THEY'RE ALL COMING UNDER THE DAMAGE EFFECTS OF FERAL PIGS IN OUR AREA.
THEN FINALLY, PUBLIC SAFETY, THEY ARE KNOWN TO HAVE ATTACKED HUMANS AND I'LL SHOW A GRAPH OF IT A LITTLE BIT LATER.
WE'VE HAD A FEW ATTACKS IN THE DISTRICT THAT I'VE BEEN AWARE OF SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE.
[00:50:01]
IT'S NOT ONLY THE ATTACKING OF HUMANS, BUT ALSO THE FEAR THAT THEY INCITE.WE'VE GOTTEN CALLS FROM THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF DUBLIN HAS GIVEN US A CALL AND THAT NEIGHBORS IN THE HILLS NEXT TO DUBLIN HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT HORDES OF SOUNDERS RUNNING THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH SCARES THE DOGS AND THEIR CHILDREN AND TEARS UP THEIR PROPERTIES.
THAT'S A FEAR FACTOR. IT ALSO AFFECTS PEOPLE ENJOYING OUR PARKS.
I MYSELF HAVE BEEN OUT CRAWLING THROUGH CHAPARRAL, AND I A GROUP OF 20 OR 30 PIGS COME ALONG, YOU HEAR THEM GRUNTING AND SNORTING AND YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE TEN FEET AWAY.
ACTUALLY, A LOT OF WE HAVE HAD REPORTS OF PEOPLE SAYING THAT THERE ARE BEARS IN OUR PARKS, BUT IT TURNS OUT TO BE REALLY JUST LIKE A 4500 POUND WILD BOAR, REALLY BIG THINGS.
A KEY KEY IDENTIFICATION DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BEARS AND PIGS IS PIGS HAVE THOSE EXTERNAL TUSKS THAT ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND RAZOR SHARP AND BEARS HAVE THESE INTERNAL CANINES THAT ARE VERY POWERFUL.
THINK OF PIGS AS BEING OUTIES AND BEARS AS INNIES.
>> MOVING ON, I MENTIONED THAT THEY DO CONSUME VEGETATION OF ALL MANNER OF PLANTS.
LIKE IN THESE PICTURES HERE, THE UPPER RIGHT IS A MONTAGNOLO FERRY LANTERN, RELATIVELY RARE PLANT, AND THE LOWER LEFT IS ITHURIEL'S SPEAR, A WIDE EXPANSE OF IT.
THAT'S A TUBER-BASED PLANT, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE IF A FIELD GETS TO TILED WITH THOSE PLANTS IN THERE, THEN THEY'RE ESSENTIALLY GONE FOR THAT SEASON.
THEY ALSO CONSUME ALL SORTS OF SEEDS.
THEY DEFINITELY IMPACT OAK REGENERATION IN OUR FORESTS AS WELL AS OUR EFFORTS AT RESTORATION OF OAK WOODLANDS.
IN SOME GOOD YEARS, LIKE TWO YEARS AGO, THE OAK MASS PRODUCTION WAS MASSIVE.
ON OUR PARKING LOTS OUT HERE, YOU COULDN'T WALK WITHOUT STEPPING ON ACORNS, AND THAT ALSO BOOSTS THE POPULATION BECAUSE THEY TAKE GREAT ADVANTAGE OF THAT.
THERE'S ONE OTHER PLANT, I'D LIKE TO MENTION, AND THAT IS MICHAEL'S RAIN ORCHID.
IT'S NOT ILLUSTRATED BECAUSE WE JUST GOT THIS REPORT FROM NOMAD ECOLOGY.
THEY REPORTED THEY LOOKED FOR THIS PLANT IN MORGAN TERRITORY IN 2023 AND FOUND A VERY SMALL POPULATION IS EXTREMELY RARE PLANT LISTED PLANT.
THEY WENT BACK IN 2025 AND MORGAN TERRITORY AND COULD NOT FIND IT IN THE SAME LOCATION.
BUT WHAT THEY DID FIND WAS EXTENSIVE PIG ROOTING.
NOW THE QUESTION IS, HAVE THEY CAUSED THE EXTIRPATION OF THIS POPULATION OR MIGHT THESE PLANTS STILL COME BACK IN 2027 OR 2026.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
OF COURSE, I MENTIONED THEY'RE OMNIVORES.
THEY CONSUME ALL MANNER OF ANIMALS.
EVERYTHING FROM IN THE UPPER LEFT IS THE ALAMEDA WHIPSTAK, AND ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THE UPPER RIGHT IS A SAN JOAQUIN POCKET MOUSE, WHICH IS FOUND IN THE EASTERN COUNTY PARKS OF OUR AREAS.
THE LOWER RIGHT IS A GROUND NESTING DARK EYED JUNCO, AND CERTAINLY FERAL PIGS JUST VACUUM UP ANY GROUND NESTING BIRDS, THEY'LL EAT THE EGGS, THEY'LL EAT THE YOUNGSTERS, YOU NAME IT.
OF COURSE, OUR STATE BIRD, THE CALIFORNIA QUAIL, BEING A GROUND NESTER IS ALSO HIGHLY IMPACTED BY FERAL PIGS.
JUST AS ONE EXAMPLE, THE PICTURE ON THE LEFT IS FROM THE LAFAYETTE COMMUNITY PARK ON OCTOBER 1ST, 2019, A HEARD OF ABOUT 20-25 FERAL PIGS CAME IN AND ROOTED UP THE PLAYING FIELDS THERE.
THE GAMES HAD TO BE CANCELED FOR WEEKS UPON WEEKS.
YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT TO RE-CONFIGURE THESE FIELDS, YOU NEED TO GRADE THEM AGAIN, YOU NEED TO PLANT THEM AGAIN, SO IT'S A HUGE AMOUNT OF EXPENSE.
WE DO GET COMPLAINTS FROM NEIGHBORING PARK UNITS AND THAT SORT OF THING ABOUT DESTRUCTION TO THEIR PROPERTIES.
IS THERE ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT? WHEN WE GET COMPLAINTS LIKE THAT, WE WILL GO TO OUR RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT WHO ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONTRACT AND ALERT THEM TO THAT AND TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CAN MOVE TRAPS INTO AREAS ON OUR PROPERTIES ADJACENT TO THOSE AND HELP CONTROL THOSE PIGS.
AS FAR AS PUBLIC SAFETY GOES, THE GRAPH ON THE RIGHT SHOWS WORLDWIDE INCIDENTS OF FATAL AND NON-FATAL INJURIES TO HUMANS OVER THE COURSE OF 2000-2019, AND IT DOES SEEM TO BE ON A PRETTY STANDARD INCREASE AS PIG POPULATIONS INCREASE WORLDWIDE.
I KNOW A COUPLE LIKE TWO YEARS AGO, THERE'S SOME HUGE REPORTS ON FERAL PIGS IN THE CITY OF ROME AND HOW THEY WERE RUNNING RAMPANT THROUGHOUT THE CITY ITSELF, PARTLY IN RESPONSE TO SO MUCH HUMAN FOOD AVAILABILITY AND CAUSING LOTS OF TROUBLE.
DEFINITELY PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE.
WHAT THIS PICTURE SHOWS, THE MAP SHOWS OUR EAST COUNTY REGION, COCOS ALAMEDA COUNTY, FOR THE MOST PART.
[00:55:03]
IN LIGHT PURPLE SHADING INTO DARK PURPLE WAS MODELING THAT WAS DONE IN OUR INVASIVE INTEGRATIVE WILD PIG MANAGEMENT PLAN.THEY DID MODELING ON HABITAT SUITABILITY, WHERE YOU WOULD EXPECT TO FIND MORE AND MORE PIGS.
THE DARKER PURPLE INDICATES WHERE THAT'S PARTICULARLY SUITABLE FOR THEM.
THAT'S BECAUSE IT'S A MIXTURE OF OAK WOODLAND, SAVANNAH, SHRUBBERY, AND AS WELL BEING ADJACENT TO SO MANY URBAN AND EX URBAN PARK LANDS WITH THEIR AVAILABLE FOOD SOURCES.
CONTROL THOUGH, AS YOU CAN SEE, IT'S LIGHT PURPLE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE AREA, THAT INVOLVES CONTROL EFFORTS A DISTRICT WIDE AND CONTINUOUSLY BECAUSE THEY DO BREED YEAR ROUND AND MOVE AROUND QUITE EXTENSIVELY THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT WILL DO PROACTIVE TRAPPING.
THAT IS IF THEY HAVE A SENSE OF POPULATION NUMBERS BEING RELATIVELY HIGH, THEY WILL ACTIVATE THEIR TRAPS IN A GIVEN REGION.
THEY WILL ALSO DO REACTIVE TRAPPING.
THAT IS IF PARK RANGERS, IF THE PUBLIC, IF SOMEONE SENDS IN PHOTOS AND SAYS, HEY, SOMEONE JUST TOOK ONE OF OUR HILLSIDES, WE WILL CALL RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT.
THEY LIKE TO BE NOTIFIED THE VERY SAME DAY OF THE DAMAGE SO THAT THEY CAN REACT WITHIN 24 HOURS TO EITHER MOVE TRAPS INTO THE AREA OR ACTIVATE TRAPS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE.
IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, THEY'VE GOT TRAPS SPREAD BETWEEN ABOUT 20 OF OUR PARKS ON THE ORDER OF 100 TRAPS.
THEY ALSO WORK WITH ALL THE OTHER LAND MANAGEMENT AGENCIES, EAST BAY MUD, CONTRA COSTA WATER, SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES UNION, AND CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS AND HAVE THEIR TRAP ARRAYS SET OUT WITHIN THE LANDSCAPE.
THAT PROVIDES AN EFFICIENT WAY TO MANAGE FERAL PIGS ON THIS LARGER LANDSCAPE.
WE WOULD HOPE IN ADDITION TO THE EFFORTS OF RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT, WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO IMPLEMENTING SOME ASPECTS OF THE INTEGRATIVE FERAL PIG MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT WILL BE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH WILDLIFE INNOVATIONS, WHICH WAS IN THE CONSENT CALENDAR ON DEVELOPING A MORE PROACTIVE PLAN AS WELL AS ANALYZING A LOT OF THE DATA THAT WE'VE AMASSED, AS WELL AS DATA FROM OTHER AGENCIES, ESSENTIALLY THROUGH THE EAST BAY STEWARDSHIP NETWORK TO COME UP WITH A MORE BALANCED APPROACH AND GET A BETTER SENSE OF PIG NUMBERS AND PIG DAMAGE AND PIG MOVEMENTS TO BE ABLE TO BETTER AND MORE PROACTIVELY CONTROL PIGS AND MANAGE THEM IN THE EAST BAY PARK DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE REGION OVERALL.
WITH THAT, I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS YOU PROBABLY HAVE.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. YOU KNOW, I DID READ THAT PRESENTATION THAT WAS IN OUR PACKET, AND THAT WAS ONE THING.
BUT HEARING YOU DESCRIBE IT ALL AS 10 TIMES BETTER.
APPRECIATE ALL THE BACKGROUND BEHIND WHAT'S BASICALLY ON THE SCREEN.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR DOUG?
>> I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE IN THE DUBLIN HILLS AND SAN MARMON HILLS AREAS AND FOR SHARING THE ANECDOTE ABOUT THE CHIEF OF POLICE FROM THE CITY OF DUBLIN, CALLING US ABOUT THE FERAL PIG ISSUE IN DUBLIN HILLS.
I HAVE A CLOSE FRIEND THAT LIVES IN THE DUBLIN HILLS AND A CLOSE FRIEND THAT LIVES IN THE SAN MON HILLS, AND I WAS IN THE DUBLIN HILLS AREA ACTUALLY THIS PAST WEEKEND AND THIS WAS A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION, AND IT'S FREQUENTLY A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.
MY QUESTION IS, I THINK SOMETHING I KEEP ON THINKING ABOUT IS, HOW CAN WE HELP BUILD GOODWILL IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PART OF EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT? I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT IN TERMS OF WILDLIFE AND AND ALSO PREVENTING EROSION.
I THINK WHERE THERE MIGHT ALSO BE A CONNECTION FOR RESIDENTS OF AREAS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS, THE PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THE IMPACT ON HOMES AND SHOWING THAT WE HERE AT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT WERE COMMITTED TO HELPING OUR NEIGHBORS IN PLACES LIKE THE DUBLIN HILLS OR THE SAN MON HILLS.
I'M CURIOUS IF WE HAVE PLANS SHOULD WE THE BOARD VOTE ON THIS IN FAVOR OF THIS TONIGHT AND SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM? DO WE HAVE PLANS TO ANNOUNCE THIS AND AND IF NOT, WOULD WE CONSIDER AT A MINIMUM SOME TARGETING MESSAGING IN THE AREAS THAT ARE MOST AFFECTED BY THIS?
[01:00:05]
BECAUSE I THINK THAT THIS COULD GO A LONG WAY IN SHOWING THAT WE ARE A GOOD NEIGHBOR AND THAT WE WANT TO BE GOOD NEIGHBORS TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE PART OF EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.>> ABSOLUTELY. I WOULD AGREE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD PLAN MOVING FORWARD TO ACTUALLY BRING IT FORWARD THAT YES, WE ARE DOING THIS.
WE'RE TRYING TO CONTROL FERAL PIGS THROUGHOUT THE REGION IN A MORE COHESIVE MANNER AND THAT THIS ACTUALLY IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BENEFIT EVEN THE PRIVATE HOMEOWNERS AND STUFF.
BUT YES, WE GET QUERIES EVERY SO OFTEN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT THE WILD PIGS THAT JUST DESTROYED MY LAWN? WHAT CAN I DO? THERE ARE SITUATIONS WHERE WE WILL ADVISE THEM AND GIVE THEM A LIST OF OTHER FERAL PIG CONTROL ENTITIES THAT WILL DO LIKE PRIVATE HOMEOWNERS AND THAT THING.
WE TRY TO COORDINATE IF THEY NEED THAT AND THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THAT.
WE CAN RECOMMEND FOLKS THAT COULD CALL OR THEY CAN RESEARCH THAT.
BUT ALSO, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO LET THE LAFAYETTE PARKS KNOW THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND ST. MARY'S COLLEGE AND OTHER LOCATIONS THAT ARE IN SOME CASES ARE TRYING TO CONTROL PIGS ON THEIR OWN AS WELL.
>> ON THAT WITHIN THIS IDEA OF SHARING THE INFORMATION, HAVING A SECTION ON THE WEBSITE ON THE EBPARKS.ORG WEBSITE, THAT SHOWS THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN THIS AND THAT IF PEOPLE WANT SOME MORE INFORMATION, THEY MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET BASIC INFORMATION ON THE WEBSITE AND/OR HOW TO ASK QUESTIONS IF THEY HAVE QUESTIONS.
I THINK THIS COULD GO A LONG WAY IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE CLOSE BY AND IMPACTED.
>> IT WILL CERTAINLY EASE THEIR MINDS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE FOLKS THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY IMPACTED BY THEM. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS, DOUG. GREAT REPORT.
TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT.
IS THAT A BIG OPERATION I SAW THERE IN CASTRO VALLEY AND I GUESS THEY'VE MOVED UP NORTH OR SOMETHING?
>> YES, THEY ARE. THEY'RE A FAMILY RUN ORGANIZATION.
THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES.
THEY ARE BASED OUT OF CASTRO VALLEY, BUT THEY ALSO DO CONTRACTS WITH STATE PARKS AT THE SUTTER BUTTES AND THEY'VE DONE CONTROL ELSEWHERE IN CALIFORNIA.
THEY'VE BEEN OPERATING ON THE EAST BAY PARKLANDS.
THEY'VE BEEN UNDER A CONTRACT WITH US SINCE 2001, WHICH PREDATES WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE DISTRICT, I'VE BEEN WITH THEM HERE SINCE 2005.
IN THAT TIME, WE'VE ALWAYS DEVELOPED NEW CONTRACTS FOR THEM AS THESE TIME PERIODS HAVE RUN OUT.
THEY HAVE AN INCREDIBLE SAFETY RECORD.
A LOT OF THE WORK HAPPENS BEFORE DAWN AND AFTER DARK.
UNDER ALL WEATHER TYPE CONDITIONS, THEY WILL MOVE LIKE I MENTIONED EARLIER, THEY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT PIG DAMAGE ON THE SAME DAY SO THEY CAN THEN ACTIVATE TRAPS OR MOVE THEM AND GET THEM TO LOCATIONS WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.
WE DID PUT OUT AN RFP FOR THIS LAST CONTRACT.
WE GOT THREE REPLIES AND ESSENTIALLY THE BEST MOST EXPERIENCED ONE WITH THE GREATEST SAFETY RECORD FOR THE LEVEL OF WORK THAT THEY DO WAS RURAL PIG MANAGEMENT.
WE WENT WITH THEM, IT MAKES SENSE, TOO, AND THAT ARE STILL UNDER CONTRACT WITH OUR SISTER AGENCIES.
THAT AGAIN, A LENDS FOR SOME CONTINUITY AS WELL AS SAVINGS IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO MOVE FROM ONE PROPERTY TO ANOTHER BECAUSE YOU CAN IMAGINE IF THEY WERE ONLY CONTRACTING UNDER EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO MOVE FROM MORGAN TERRITORY TO SENOLA AND BACK AND HOP ALL AROUND.
THIS CAN ALLOW THEM TO MOVE THROUGH IN A MORE CONCERTED EFFORT.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO ASK THIS, BUT THERE'S LOTS OF DATA COLLECTION, AND I'M VERY INTERESTED IN THE DATA COLLECTION.
I KNOW FAMILY BOARD MEETING, SO I WON'T ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, BUT I GET A COPY OF THE DATA.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE THEIR SUCCESS RATE AND KNOW WHAT THEIR SUCCESS RATE MEANS.
I PLAY GOLF AT REDWOOD CANYON, AND THEY TEAR THAT PLACE UP ALL THE TIME.
IT'S AMAZING BECAUSE IT'S THE SUPERINTENDENT'S FRIEND OF MINE, HE SAID, I CALL THEM UP AT THREE IN THE MORNING WHEN HE GETS TO WORK, AND THEY'RE THERE WITH TRAPS IN A VERY SHORT TIME.
>> WE CAN GIVE YOU THE SHORT DATA OR WE CAN ALSO GIVE YOU THE FERAL PIG MANAGEMENT PLAN,
[01:05:01]
WHICH CAME OUT IN DECEMBER OF 2024 WAS PRODUCED BY WILDLIFE INNOVATIONS.THERE THEY HAVE LIKE FIRST CUT OF THE ANALYSIS OF THE DATA FROM ALL THE SISTER AGENCIES AND EAST BAY PARKS OVER THE YEARS.
YOU CAN SEE GRAPHS OF WHAT THEY HAVE CONTROLLED ESSENTIALLY FROM THE 1990S ONWARD, BUT FOR EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICTS FROM 2001 UP TO 2023.
IT'S ONLY LIKE, I DON'T KNOW, 110 PAGES LONG.
>> WE COULD SEND THE FULL REPORT TO THE FULL BOARD AND THEN WHEN YOU WANT SOME FUN READING.
>>IT'S GOT NICE PICTURES IN IT TOO.
>> I BET. TELL ME THIS RUMOR THAT I'VE HEARD FOR 30 YEARS.
IT USED TO BE A NICE END TO THIS PROBLEM, AND IT'S NOBODY'S FAULT. IT JUST HAPPENED.
THERE USED TO BE A NICE ENDING THAT THESE PIGS WOULD BE GIVEN TO HOMELESS SHELTERS AND FEED THESE FOLKS.
CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT REALLY OCCURRED?
>> AS I UNDERSTAND IT, YES, IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL IF WE COULD DO THAT.
BUT THERE'S A COUPLE ISSUES AT PLAY HERE.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THAT FOODS THAT ARE MEANT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, WHETHER THEY COME AND TO BE DONATED, THAT THING, THEY NEED TO BE INSPECTED BY USDA MEAT INSPECTOR PRIOR TO THERE BEING RELEASED INTO WHATEVER ENTITY THEY'RE BEING DONATED TO.
THAT WOULD BE ESPECIALLY THE CASE FOR SOMETHING LIKE WILD PIGS.
THAT JUST IS NOT PRACTICAL FOR THE CONTROL METHODS THAT ARE OUT THERE.
FOR MOVEMENT, ONE WOULD HAVE TO MOVE 50 PIGS FROM CROCKETT HILLS AND 100 PIGS FROM NO ALONE AND THEN GET THEM TO A FACILITY TO BE INSPECTED AND THEN TAKEN AND DONATED TO THE APPROPRIATE FOOD SELLER.
THERE'S PROBABLY JUST NOT ENOUGH MONEY TO AFFECT THAT, THAT WOULD REQUIRE A HECK OF A LOT OF TRANSPORTATION.
IT HAVE TO BE RAPID, IT HAVE TO OCCUR VERY QUICKLY.
THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING OF IT, THAT IT BASICALLY HAS TO DO WITH FOOD SAFETY IS WHY THAT WE CANNOT DO THAT AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT.
>> ACTUALLY, I THINK I LEFT TO HOLD.
>> IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S UNABLE TO BECAUSE OF THE COLD THAT SHE HAS.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
>> WE HAVE ONE HAND UP ONLINE.
PEOPLE'S FAMILY, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR FOCUSING ON THIS ISSUE.
I JUST WONDERED AND IT PICKS UP ON THAT QUESTION ABOUT HUMAN USE OF THIS.
IS THERE A MARKET FOR THESE CRITTERS, PARTICULARLY SINCE THEY'RE GOING TO BE TRAPPING LARGE NUMBERS THAT ARE GIVEN SITE, AND WE HAVE QUITE EXTENSIVE CATTLE OPERATIONS AND SHEEP OPERATIONS THAT MOVE ANIMALS AROUND TO SLAUGHTERHOUSES AND SO FORTH, PRETTY ROUTINELY, NUMBERS OF 50 OR 100 ANIMALS IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.
I JUST WONDER IF THERE WAS ANY A MARKET THERE, WHICH WOULD HELP WITH REDUCING THE MANAGEMENT COST AND ALSO INCREASE THE USE OF THE REDUCTION IN THE NUMBER OF CRITTERS.
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
IS THERE SOME MARKET OUT THERE FOR DISPENSING THE FERAL PIGS THAT MAY BE CONTROLLED ON OUR PROPERTIES.
THE SELLING OF MEAT, OF GAME MEAT, AGAIN, THE FERAL PIG IS OF GAME MAMMAL IN THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT.
>> SORRY TO STOP YOU, ONE SECOND.
I'M NOT SURE IF WE DID WE COMPLETE THE PUBLIC COMMENT? WE JUST DON'T WANT TO.
>> THAT WAS THE PUBLIC COMMENTARY.
WE DON'T NEED TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
>> WE CAN ANSWER IT ONCE WE GET THROUGH ALL THE PUBLIC COMMENT IF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE.
>> DID YOU STILL HAVE ANY COMMENTS, PEOPLE'S FAMILY?
>> NO. I COMPLETED MY COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. WAS THAT THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT?
>> THAT IS THE ONLY PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> YOU CAN DO COMMENTARY ON THAT.
>> SORRY FOR THAT INTERRUPTION.
ACCORDING TO FISH AND GAME CODES, THESE ANIMALS CANNOT BE SOLD ON THE MARKET.
THERE'S A FIREWALL BETWEEN HARVESTING OF
[01:10:01]
GAME AND NORTH AMERICA IS LIKE A NORMAL HUNTER CAN'T GO OUT AND TAKE AN ELK THROUGH RECREATIONAL HUNTING AND THEN GO HOME AND SELL IT TO A RESTAURANT OR TO ANY OTHER FACILITY.IT'S REALLY NOT PERMITTED BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE STATUTES.
I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ITEM?
A HOLLAND ROLL CALL VOTE, PLEASE. DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO.
>> YES. DIRECTOR ESPANA. DIRECTOR WAESPI.
[1. First Review of the 2026 Proposed Operating & Project Budget]
WHICH IS FIRST REVIEW OF THE 2026 PROPOSED OPERATING PROJECT BUDGET.I'VE JUST BEEN REMINDED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ACTION ITEM.
IT'S A DISCUSSION ITEM. THANK YOU, DIRECTORS.
I'LL GIVE A SUPER QUICK INTRO ON THE HAND IT OVER TO DEB.
>> THIS IS ONE OF A MANY PART SERIES OF PRESENTATIONS TO YOUR BOARD AND APPRECIATE YOUR PATIENCE.
THIS IS PREPARING YOUR BOARD FOR THE DECISION ON THE BUDGET, WHICH WILL COME AT YOUR NEXT BOARD MEETING ON DECEMBER 16TH.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE PRESENTATION OF AN OVERVIEW FROM DEB ABOUT THE OVERALL BUDGET SUPER BRIEFLY.
THEN JESSICA IS GOING TO PRESENT BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR ALTERNATE PROPOSAL AROUND THE REORG AND POSITIONS THAT ARE IN THE BUDGET.
THEN KATIE IS GOING TO PRESENT ABOUT THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN AND THE POTENTIAL MEASURE WW REALLOCATIONS THAT ARE PROPOSED.
HE'S GOING TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THE PAC MEETING AND THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PAC.
THEN I'LL WRAP IT UP TO TALK ABOUT NEXT STEPS.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M DEB SPALDING AGM OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
BUILDING ON WHAT MAC SAID ALREADY, THIS IS GOING TO BE A BRIEFER PRESENTATION THAN YOU'RE USED TO BECAUSE YOU'VE ALREADY RECEIVED A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUDGET.
WE HAVE RESPONDED TO ALL OF THE QUESTIONS THAT WERE ASKED AT PREVIOUS BOARD MEETINGS AND HAVE POSTED THOSE ON THE PARK DISTRICT WHERE THE BUDGET IS POSTED.
IF YOU WANT TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE RESPONSES TO THOSE QUESTIONS OR IF YOU MISSED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING AND WANT TO SEE WHAT WAS DISCUSSED THERE, YOU CAN GO BACK AND SEE THAT.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADO, I'M GOING TO REMIND YOU OF OUR ANNUAL BUDGET PROCESS AND THE CYCLE THAT WE GO THROUGH.
BEGINNING IN JANUARY, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE A BUDGET TO LOAD.
IDEALLY, WE GET SOME GREAT FEEDBACK TODAY SO THAT WE'RE READY ON THE 16TH TO HAVE A GREAT RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU GUYS SO THAT WE CAN GET SOMETHING APPROVED ON THE 16TH.
THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR, WE ARE WORKING ON JUST GOING THROUGH THE BUDGET.
WE'RE MONITORING HOW THE SPENDING IS GOING.
WE'RE STARTING TO GET DATA ABOUT REVENUES FROM THE TWO COUNTIES.
THEN IN THE SUMMER, WE'RE ABLE TO START BUILDING OUR BASE BUDGET PROJECTIONS.
WE HAVE THE REVENUE PROJECTIONS FROM THE COUNTIES, AND WE'RE ABLE TO START BUILDING OUR BASE BUDGET, WHICH IS ALL OF THE STAFF THAT WE HAVE, MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE BUILDING ON THE NEW BENEFITS FOR THEM.
ANY NEW PARKS THAT WE NEED TO OPEN, ANY PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO FUND, WE'RE STARTING TO FIGURE OUT THAT BASE BUDGET.
IN JULY AND AUGUST, WE'RE REQUESTING INFORMATION FROM THE DIVISION.
THEY'RE PUTTING IN THEIR BUDGET REQUEST INTO OUR FINANCE SYSTEM.
THE AGMS PRIORITIZE THOSE REQUESTS AND THEN THEY COME TO THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT TO SEE WHAT WE CAN PUT TOGETHER INTO THIS BUDGET BOOK.
THIS YEAR, FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE DID THOSE PRESENTATIONS IN NOVEMBER, SO YOU GOT A LITTLE BIT MORE TIME TO THINK ABOUT HOW THE BUDGETS COMING TOGETHER AND WHAT YOU LIKE AND WHAT YOU DON'T LIKE.
THEN THIS IS OUR FIRST MEETING WHERE WE'RE GETTING YOUR FEEDBACK AND YOU'LL ADOPT THE BUDGET AT OUR SECOND MEETING IN DECEMBER.
NOW, THIS IS A SLIDE SHOWING YOU OUR REVENUES AND THE PIE CHART IS SHOWING YOU JUST PICTORIALLY, THAT THE VAST MAJORITY OF REVENUES COME FROM PROPERTY TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS PRETTY SMALL.
THE CHART DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IS COMPARING WHAT WE ARE BUDGETING FOR
[01:15:03]
2026 TO WHAT IS BUDGETED IN THE CURRENT 2025 BUDGET.YOU CAN SEE THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE IN THE REVENUES COMING IN BETWEEN THIS CURRENT YEAR AND WHAT WE'RE PROJECTING FOR NEXT YEAR.
NOW LOOKING AT APPROPRIATIONS BY TYPE.
THIS IS SHOWING YOU PERSONNEL COSTS ARE THE VAST MAJORITY OF OUR EXPENDITURES, NEXT IS SUPPLIES AND SERVICES, AND THEN CAPITAL OUTLAY COMES IN AT 18% THIS YEAR, WHICH IS UNUSUAL.
YOU CAN SEE, AGAIN, IN THAT TABLE AT THE BOTTOM, COMPARING 2025-2026 APPROPRIATIONS, THAT ARE APPROPRIATIONS FOR PERSONNEL COSTS.
SUPPLIES AND SERVICES ALL PRETTY SIMILAR TO THE PRIOR YEAR, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CAPITAL OUTLAY, WE HAD ORIGINALLY PROPOSED A MUCH LARGER CAPITAL OUTLAY BUDGET AND WE HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY COME UP WITH AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WHICH YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT FROM KATIE.
THEN THIS IS THE LAST SLIDE, I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU ON OUR OPERATING BUDGET AND THEN I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JESSICA.
THIS IS LOOKING AT OUR APPROPRIATIONS BY FUND, AND YOU CAN SEE THE GENERAL FUND IS THE MAJORITY OF THE PARK DISTRICT'S FUNDING SOURCE, AND THEN THE TABLE DOWN AT THE BOTTOM IS SHOWING YOU EXPENDITURES BY FUND, COMPARING THE BUDGET FROM LAST YEAR TO THE BUDGET THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE VERY SIMILAR EACH OF THE FUNDS TO WHAT WAS BUDGETED IN THE PRIOR YEAR WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE PROJECT FUNDS.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO JESSICA.
>> HI, GOOD EVENING, JESS AROMO AGM OF H R. I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE ORIGINALLY PROPOSED VERSUS WHAT WE ARE NOW PROPOSING BASED ON ALL THE FEEDBACK WE RECEIVED FROM THE BOARD FROM STAFF AND FROM OUR LABOR PARTNERS.
YOU CAN SEE OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL IT'S PRETTY EQUIVALENT NINE POSITIONS TO 995 TO OUR REVISED.
THIS SHOWS YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW OUR DIVISIONS NUMBER WOULD CHANGE.
THE NUMBER OF POSITIONS WITHIN EACH DIVISION.
YOU CAN SEE REALLY WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO IS HELP OPERATIONS BECOME MORE APPROPRIATELY SIZED.
THEY ARE ONE OF OUR LARGEST DIVISIONS, EVEN WITH 438 EMPLOYEES AFTER A REORGANIZATION, WHICH MOVES SOME OF THOSE EMPLOYEES INTO THE FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION AND INTO FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
THERE'S STILL A VERY LARGE DIVISION, BUT THIS EQUALIZES A LITTLE BIT.
REALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THERE.
BUT IF YOU COULD SEE IT, IT WOULD TELL YOU THAT BASED ON THE FEEDBACK AND WORKING WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS.
OUR ORIGINAL PROPOSAL WAS FOR THREE NEW POSITIONS FOR THE BOARD TO APPROVE FOR THE REORGANIZATION IN THE 2026 BUDGET.
OUR NEW PROPOSAL IS FOR TWO ASK POSITIONS AND ONE UNREPRESENTED POSITION, AND THAT WOULD STILL BE THE AGM OF FINANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
THESE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT YOU WOULD BE ACTUALLY APPROVING AS PART OF THE BUDGET. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO KATE.
>> GOOD EVENING, KATIE DIGNAN, ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER, AND I'LL TRY TO RUN THROUGH THIS FAIRLY QUICKLY SINCE WE'VE GONE THROUGH THIS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MEETINGS.
THE PARK DISTRICT'S PROPOSED FIVE YEAR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN IS A FORWARD LOOKING FRAMEWORK THAT GUIDES INVESTMENT IN PARK DEVELOPMENT, NEW CONSTRUCTION, RESOURCE PROTECTION, AND STEWARDSHIP, AND INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR FISCAL YEARS 2026-2030.
IT INCLUDES 82 HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS.
HIGHLIGHTING CURRENT PHASES, PRIOR YEAR FUNDING, PROPOSED 2026 FUNDING, AND WHERE AVAILABLE ESTIMATED FUTURE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS.
COST ESTIMATES ARE REFINED THROUGHOUT PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS AS THE SCOPE OF WORK AND DESIGN DETAILS ARE FINALIZED.
THE ADOPTION OF THE A BUDGET APPROVES ONLY THE FUNDING PROPOSED FOR THE 36 PROJECTS IN 2026.
FUTURE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS WILL BE BROUGHT TO THE BOARD FOR CONSIDERATION IN SUBSEQUENT BUDGET YEARS.
OF THE 82 PROJECTS, WE HAVE 32 IN PRE DESIGN, 35 IN DESIGN AND PERMITTING, 14 IN CONSTRUCTION, AND THEN WE HAVE ONE THE POINT MALI LAND ACQUISITION PROJECT.
THE TOTAL ESTIMATED COST FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM IS JUST SHY OF 500 MILLION.
ON NOVEMBER 18TH, AN ALTERNATIVE 2026 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN WAS PRESENTED TO THE BOARD AND IS AVAILABLE IN YOUR PACKET ON PAGE 181.
THE PROJECTED OVERALL UNFUNDED AMOUNT IS ABOUT 153 MILLION,
[01:20:06]
AND THE PROJECTED AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT WILL BE NEEDED IN 2027 IS ABOUT 64.7 MILLION.THE INITIAL BUDGET PROPOSED AS OUTLINED IN THE PUBLISHED 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET, REQUESTED A APPROPRIATING A TOTAL OF 83.72 MILLION.
THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL REDUCES THE OVERALL REQUEST TO 66.034 MILLION.
PROJECTS ARE BROKEN DOWN INTO TWO CATEGORIES.
FOR THOSE THAT ARE OVER 100,000 HAVE A DISTINCT LOCATION, AND AN END DATE, THEY'RE INCLUDED IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
ALL OTHER PROJECTS ARE GROUPED TOGETHER WITH SIMILAR PROJECTS AND REFLECTED AS PROGRAMS. THE TOTAL AMOUNT PROPOSED FOR PROGRAMS IS OVER 13 MILLION.
ALLOCATIONS INCLUDE THINGS LIKE 1.1 MILLION FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, THE 6.9 MILLION FOR LAND USE PLANNING AND DESIGN IS TO SUPPORT THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT.
WE HAVE 1.4 MILLION FOR RESOURCE PROTECTION, FOR ONGOING MITIGATION AND MONITORING EFFORTS AS A RESULT OF COMPLETED PROJECTS.
WE HAVE 1.7 MILLION FOR SERVICES ENHANCED THROUGH SPECIAL FUNDING, WHICH IS MAINLY ASSOCIATED WITH OUR MEASURE FF FUNDING FOR PARK OPERATIONS, STEWARDSHIP, AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEN 2.2 MILLION FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION EFFORTS SUCH AS GOAT GRAZING, MAINTENANCE PROJECTS, AND DEFENSIBLE SPACE INITIATIVES.
FOR PROJECT APPROPRIATIONS, I'VE INDICATED THE EXISTING FUNDING THAT WAS INITIALLY PROPOSED AND THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL.
OVERALL, WE HAVE SEVEN PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECTS WITH THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL AT ABOUT 34 MILLION, NINE TRAILS PROJECTS, SIX RESTORATION PROJECTS, 13 INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE ONE ACQUISITION PROJECT TO CONTINUE EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING SERVICES AT POINT MALI.
FOR THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, 61% OR 40.8 MILLION OF THE PROJECT AND PROGRAM FUNDING IS FROM MEASURE WW.
42026, WE'RE PROPOSING TO FUND THE FULL PROJECT COSTS FOR SEVERAL PUBLIC ACCESS AND TRAILS PROJECTS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED TO BE COMPLETED IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS.
IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, WE'RE TO UPDATE THE MEASURE WW PROJECT LIST AND TRANSFER 24.9 MILLION FROM ACQUISITION TO DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
OTHER FUNDING SOURCES INCLUDE GENERAL FUND AT 11.69 MILLION, OTHER FUNDS, WHICH ARE MAINLY INSURANCE PROCEEDS AT 3.475 MILLION, MEASURE FF AT 3.2 MILLION, AND MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE RENOVATION AND REPLACEMENT AT 2.9 MILLION.
>> A LITTLE BIT ON MEASURE WW.
WE'VE INCLUDED THE LANGUAGE THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE 2008 BALLOT, WHICH STATED AN OVERALL OBJECTIVE TO CONTINUE RESTORING URBAN CREEKS, PROTECT WILDLIFE, PURCHASE/SAVE OPEN SPACE, WETLANDS AND SHORELINE, ACQUIRE, DEVELOP, IMPROVE LOCAL AND REGIONAL PARKS, TRAILS, AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES.
IN EARLY 2008, THE BOARD APPROVED A DRAFT PROJECT LIST TO BALANCE FUNDING ON A POPULATION BASED RATIO BETWEEN THE THREE METROPOLITAN AREAS AS OUTLINED IN THE DISTRICT'S MASTER PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES SOUTH, DIABLO, AND WEST.
SIX COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WORKSHOPS OCCURRED AND BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THOSE MEETINGS, AN UPDATED PROJECT LIST WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD IN JUNE OF 2008.
THE LIST WAS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE AND MAILED AS A BROCHURE TO ALL ADDRESSES IN THE TWO COUNTIES.
THE LIST CONSOLIDATED ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING IN A SINGLE LINE ITEM AS DISPLAYED ON THE SLIDE.
IN REVIEWING THE LIST, IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE 75%, 25% DISTRIBUTION WAS NOT BY PROJECT, IT WAS BY THE OVERALL TOTAL.
AN EXAMPLE FROM THIS LIST IS ARDEN WOOD.
WE HAD 2.2 MILLION TO IMPROVE FACILITIES AND INCREASE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SCHOOL CLASSES.
THIS DID NOT INCLUDE ANY ACQUISITION FUNDING, WHEREAS OTHER PROJECTS, DEPENDING ON WHAT THEY WERE, HAD SPECIFIC AMOUNTS BROKEN OUT FOR ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT.
THE PROJECT LIST WAS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEBSITE, AS I SAID, AND MAILED OUT AS A BROCHURE.
THE ORDINANCE 2008-7-184, WHICH AUTHORIZED VOTER PROPOSITION PLACEMENT ON THE NOVEMBER 4TH BALLOT, PROVIDED THE BOARD WITH THE AUTHORITY TO UPDATE THE PROJECT LIST.
THIS ORDINANCE WAS INCLUDED IN THE VOTER INFORMATION SUPPLEMENTAL.
THE BOARD HAS EXERCISED ITS AUTHORITY TO UPDATE THE PROJECT LIST ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
OVER 27.3 MILLION HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM ACQUISITION TO DEVELOPMENT OR TRANSFERRED FROM ALTERNATIVE LOCATIONS, AND A REPORT WAS INCLUDED IN THE BOARD PACKET ON NOVEMBER 18TH THAT OUTLINED EACH OF THESE ITEMS. SINCE THE PASSAGE OF MEASURE WW, THE PARK DISTRICT HAS ACQUIRED OVER 29,000 ACRES IN MEASURE WW PARK LOCATIONS, INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE PARK DISTRICT BY 29.6%.
THESE ACQUISITIONS UTILIZE BOTH MEASURE WW AND OTHER FUNDING SOURCES.
IN THE 18 YEARS SINCE OUR MEASURE WW BOND WAS PASSED,
[01:25:03]
THE PARK DISTRICT HAS ONLY EXPANDED 266.9 MILLION IN MEASURE WW FUNDS.OF THIS, 118 MILLION WAS FOR LOCAL GRANTS, 78.7 MILLION FOR ACQUISITION, AND 69.6 FOR DEVELOPMENT.
WITH A SLOW PACE OF SPENDING AND OUR SUCCESS IN LEVERAGING OTHER FUNDING SOURCES FOR ACQUISITIONS, WE FEEL WE NEED TO ADJUST OUR PRIORITIES TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THOSE PROJECTS THAT WE HAVE BEEN COMMITTED TO THE COMMUNITY AND OPENING NEW PARK LANDS TO THE PUBLIC.
IF WE'RE SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING GRANTS, THE ACQUISITION FUNDS WILL BE TRANSFERRED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL ALLOCATION AREAS.
AS OF NOVEMBER, THE UNAPPROPRIATED BALANCES ARE REFLECTED HERE BASED ON THE METROPOLITAN AREA, BUT JUST IN SUMMARY, WE HAVE 157 MILLION FOR ACQUISITION, 27.8 FOR DEVELOPMENT, 18.3 FOR CONTINGENCY, LEAVING A TOTAL OF 203.5 MILLION IN MEASURE WW UNAPPROPRIATED FUNDS.
IF THE 2026 ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS ADOPTED, WE WOULD BE LEFT WITH 132.1 MILLION IN ACQUISITION, 19.4 MILLION IN DEVELOPMENT, 11.5 MILLION IN CONTINGENCY WITH A TOTAL OF 163.2 MILLION.
WHEN CONFERRING WITH OUR DIVISION LEAD OF LAND ACQUISITION, BECKY BREMSER, COME UP WITH AN ESTIMATE OF WHAT WE THINK BASED ON CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES, OUR POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS ARE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT APPROXIMATELY, WHICH IS JUST A BEST GUESS AT THIS TIME, 64.2 MILLION OF MEASURE WW FUNDS THAT WE WILL NEED.
FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, WE HAVE SEVEN PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECTS.
IN THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WE REVISED THE FUNDING THAT WAS COMING FROM MLK SHORELINE TO TWO MILLER KNOX IMPROVE KELLER BEACH IN HALF TO ONLY 3.9 MILLION.
THE REST OF THE FUNDING IS STAYED THE SAME AS INITIALLY PROPOSED.
FOR TRAILS, WE'VE REDUCED THREE PROJECTS.
THE FIRST BEING THE PLEASANTON RIDGE CONSTRUCT TRAILS, WHICH IS ALSO THE GRAM'S PROJECT.
WE'VE REDUCED THAT TO NOT INCLUDE ANY MEASURE WW ACQUISITION FUNDING, SO IT'S ONLY FUNDED AT ONE MILLION.
THEN FOR SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL, THE MARTINEZ BAY TRAIL, WE'RE PROPOSING TO NOT FUND IT, AND WE WILL JUST CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR GRANTS FOR THAT PROJECT.
FOR OYSTER BAY BIKE SKILLS AREA, REDUCING THE FUNDING FROM MEASURE WW TO 600,000.
THEN THE REST OF THE ALLOCATIONS AS INITIALLY PROPOSED WOULD SAY THE SAME.
FOR THE SIX RESTORATION PROJECTS, WE AREN'T PROPOSING ANY CHANGES, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT FOR THE TILDEN CONSTRUCT BRIDGE AT BROOK ROAD.
WE WERE NOTIFIED TWO WEEKS AGO FROM CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE THAT WE WERE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR REQUEST TO INCREASE OUR PROJECT FUNDING BY 555,000 BASED ON OUR CURRENT INCREASE IN CONSTRUCTION COST ESTIMATES.
WHAT THE PLAN IS TO BID THAT PROJECT EARLY NEXT YEAR, AND THEN WE COME TO THE BOARD TO AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT BASED ON WHAT IT COMES IN.
IF WE HAVE LEFTOVER FUNDING, THEN WE WOULD RETURN THAT AT THAT TIME TO MEASURE WW LAND ACQUISITION.
FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE OUR 13 PROJECTS.
THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE WAS TO REMOVE THE MEASURE WW ACQUISITION FUNDING FROM ROBERTS POOL SEWER AS WELL AS LAS TRAMPAS RENOVATE WATER SYSTEM.
THE REST OF THE PROJECTS HAVE REMAINED THE SAME AS INITIALLY PROPOSED.
WE'VE RUN THROUGH THIS TIMELINE BEFORE.
TODAY, WE'RE HERE INTRODUCING THE BUDGET.
THE NEXT STEP IS TO COME BACK ON DECEMBER 16.
WITH THAT, I'M GOING TO HAND OVER TO BRUCE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON WHAT OCCURRED AT THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAST WEEK.
>> GOOD EVENING, BRUCE HENRY, PSC CHAIR, AND THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
IT'S REALLY HARD TO PUT A ONE HOUR DISCUSSION, WHICH IS WHAT THIS WAS IN A ONE SLIDE, BUT I PROMISE YOU, I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE AN HOUR. I'LL BE BRIEF.
SO THIS SHOWS YOU WHAT THE ACTUAL VOTES WERE.
I WANT TO PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT ON THAT, TOO, BECAUSE THE VOTE DOESN'T REALLY FULLY ARTICULATE THAT.
ALSO, IF YOU ARE ABLE TO PLEASE WATCH THAT PORTION OF THE PAC MEETING IF YOU CAN, THERE WERE EXCELLENT COMMENTS FROM ALL THE PACK MEMBERS, BOTH FOR AND AGAINST THE RECOMMENDATION.
SO THERE WERE ACTUALLY TWO MOTIONS THAT WERE CONSIDERED.
AGAIN, REALLY, REALLY ROBUST DISCUSSION.
ONE WAS TO BASICALLY SUPPORT THE ALTERNATIVE BUDGET, BUT NOT APPROVE OR NOT RECOMMEND THAT THE ACQUISITION FUNDS BE MOVED OVER.
REALLY, THAT'S WHERE ALL THE DISCUSSION CAME IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WERE, SHOULD THE ACQUISITION FUNDS BE USED FOR DEVELOPMENT OR NOT? REALLY DIDN'T GO INTO DETAIL ON ANYTHING ELSE.
THEN THE SECOND MOTION WILL SUPPORT THE ALTERNATIVE, 2026 PROPOSED OPERATING PROJECT AND
[01:30:03]
PROGRAM BUDGET AS PROPOSED TO RECOMMEND THE BOARD TAKE ACTION.THE FIRST MOTION YOU CAN SEE FAILED, SIX VOTES IN FAVOR, NINE OPPOSED, ONE ABSTENTION. SO PRETTY CLOSE.
SECOND MOTION WAS APPROVED WITH 11 VOTES IN FAVOR, FIVE MEMBERS OPPOSED.
YOU LOOK AT THAT, YOU'RE LIKE, OKAY, IT WAS OVER TWO TO ONE, PRETTY BIG MARGIN.
AGAIN, PLEASE WATCH THE MEETING BECAUSE IT'S NOT REALLY AS CLOSE AS I WOULD SAY, BUT THE HEADLINE IS THE PAC DID RECOMMEND THAT THE BOARD APPROVE THE BUDGET.
LITTLE MORE CONTEXT, MEMBERS WHO VOTED AGAINST RECOMMENDING APPROVAL EXPRESSED SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS WITH TRANSFERRING ACQUISITION FUNDS FOR DEVELOPMENT.
THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY BELIEVE VOTERS WON'T SUPPORT A FUTURE BOND MEASURE IF ACQUISITION FUNDS ARE USED FOR DEVELOPMENT.
ADDITIONALLY, THEY NOTED THAT THE BUDGET WAS BASED ON DIRECTION FROM THE FORMER GENERAL MANAGER, AND THEREFORE, THE DISTRICT SHOULD HOLD OFF ON TRANSFERRING ACQUISITION FUNDS UNTIL THE NEW GENERAL MANAGER PROVIDES THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
IN TERMS OF MEMBERS WHO VOTED TO APPROVE RECOMMENDING THE BUDGET, THEY STATED THAT STAFF WAS VERY DETAILED AND THOROUGH IN THEIR BUDGET PROPOSAL, AND WE SHOULD TRUST STAFF'S JUDGMENT AND SUPPORT STAFF.
IT WAS ALSO NOTED THAT WHILE WE'RE GETTING A NEW GENERAL MANAGER, YOU DON'T CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE SHIP SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A NEW CAPTAIN.
MEMBERS ALSO DISCUSSED THAT BOND FUNDS ARE INTENDED FOR BOTH ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT AND STATED THAT VOTERS WOULD NOT SUPPORT A NEW BOND MEASURE IF WE DON'T SPEND OUR CURRENT BOND FUNDS.
YOU CAN SEE BOTH SIDES SAID, VOTERS AREN'T GOING TO SUPPORT THIS, SO IT'S TOUGH AND THEY PROVIDE A GOOD RATIONALE.
THERE WAS ALSO A QUESTION AROUND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THURGOOD MARSHALL PARK IF THE ACQUISITION FUNDS WERE REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET.
STAFF STATED THAT REMOVING THOSE FUNDS WOULD RESULT IN CONSTRUCTION BEING HALTED AND COULD RESULT IN FUTURE CONSTRUCTION COSTS BEING HIGHER. THAT'S A BIG ONE TOO.
THE FINAL THING TO CONSIDER IS PAC'S ROLE AS THE DISTRICTS CITIZEN BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
SO STAFF DOES AN EXCEPTIONAL JOB PROVIDING A LOT OF INFORMATION IN A VERY CONCISE FORMAT, BUT WE'RE ONLY GOING THROUGH IT ONCE A YEAR RIGHT NOW.
THE PAC FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE HAS CONTINUED TO EXPRESS THEIR DESIRE TO AT LEAST MEET ON A QUARTERLY BASIS TO REVIEW THIS.
THE OTHER THING YOU'LL SEE AS IT RELATES TO SPENDING AND LOOKING AT BOND FUNDS IS WHEN YOU SEE THE RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE 2026 WORK PLAN, ONE OF THE SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FROM PAC IS CIP.
THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN PAC BECOMING A LOT MORE ROBUSTLY INVOLVED IN REVIEWING BOND FUNDS AND HOW THEY'RE BEING USED.
THANK YOU. IF THERE'S ANY QUESTIONS, I CAN TAKE THOSE TWO.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? GREAT. THANKS, BRUCE.
THANKS. DO YOU HAVE MORE, DEB?
>> THANK YOU. WELL, APPRECIATE IT.
JUST TO WRAP UP THE PRESENTATION.
YOUR BOARD, THIS IS AN INFORMATIONAL ITEM TODAY, BUT IT'S LAST OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE ACTION ITEM ON THE 16TH.
FOR STAFF, WANT TO TALK THROUGH WHAT THE OPTIONS WERE FOR THE 16TH AND THEN GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE US FEEDBACK THAT CAN HELP US SUPPORT YOU IN YOUR DECISION MAKING THEN.
SO ON THE 16TH, ONE WAY YOU COULD PROCEED IS TO APPROVE THE BUDGET WITHOUT ANY MEASURE WW TRANSFERS IN TERMS OF THE CIP.
ANOTHER WAY COULD BE WITH THE ALTERNATIVE THAT WAS PROPOSED BY STAFF OF THE 26 MILLION ROUGHLY IN MEASURE WW TRANSFERS TO SUPPORT SOME OF THOSE KEY PROJECTS.
ANOTHER PATH THAT YOUR BOARD COULD TAKE WOULD BE SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THOSE TWO.
SO YOU COULD PROPOSE TO TAKE SOME PROJECTS OUT OR ADD MONEY TO SOME OF THEM THAT ARE IN THERE OR OTHERS.
AND SO IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TODAY TO DAYLIGHT WHAT THE BOARD'S DIRECTION IS ON THOSE SUITE OF PROJECTS, THAT COULD BE HELPFUL FOR US IN PREPARING FOR THE 16TH.
BUT ALSO, IF YOU'RE NOT ABLE TO DO THAT, THAT'S OKAY TOO, YOU COULD ALWAYS ON THE 16TH, TRY OUT A NUMBER OF MOTIONS TO SEE WHERE THERE WAS AGREEMENT.
THEN I WOULD JUST SAY TOO ON THE POSITIONS IN THE REG THAT JESSICA BROUGHT UP.
THAT'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO GET FEEDBACK FROM YOUR BOARD.
AGAIN, ALLISON AND OUR TEAM HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH THE UNION TO TRY TO FIND AN ALTERNATIVE THAT'S AMENABLE.
BUT IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL CHANGES THAT YOUR BOARD IS LOOKING FOR, THAT WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL TO US IN BRINGING THE BUDGET ON THE 16TH.
[01:35:03]
ANY QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. TAKE IT OUT.>> SO FOR THE 2025 BUDGET, I SAID THAT I WASN'T GOING TO APPROVE IT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE THE GRM STAGING PROJECT ON THE LIST AND IT WAS ADDED BACK, AND I'M TALKING ABOUT SPECIFICALLY PROJECT NUMBER, I'M LOOKING AT THE 2025 BUDGET, 134600, DEVELOP GRM STAGING AREA, WHICH I DO SEE IS MENTIONED ON THE PLEASANTON RIDGE CONSTRUCT TRAILS.
MOVING THE MONEY FROM THAT PROJECT NUMBER 134600 TO THE PLEASANTON RIDGE CONSTRUCT TRAILS PROJECT, WHICH DOES NOT MENTION DEVELOPING THE GRM STAGING AREA.
I KNOW THAT THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE CONNECTED.
CERTAINLY, WE WOULD NEED TO HAVE THE TRAILS LEADING FROM THE PROPOSED GRM STAGING AREA.
HOWEVER, I SAID THIS LAST YEAR WHEN WE WERE REVIEWING THE 2025 BUDGET, WE HAVE PLEASANTON RIDGE REGIONAL PARK, YET WE DON'T HAVE DIRECT ACCESS FROM THE CITY OF PLEASANTON TO PLEASANTON RIDGE REGIONAL PARK.
EAST REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT DOES NOT HAVE DIRECT ACCESS.
THAT'S WHY THE GRM STAGING AREA IS SO IMPORTANT AND WHY THERE IS THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF PLEASANTON THAT I THINK PRECEDED MANY OF US WHO ARE HERE TODAY, BUT WE DID PROMISE THAT EAST REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT WOULD PROVIDE DIRECT ACCESS FROM THE CITY OF PLEASANTON TO PLEASANTON RIDGE.
I JUST WORRY BECAUSE I DO SEE THAT IT HAS BEEN REMOVED 134600 FROM THE FUTURE PROJECTS AREA OF THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET.
I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IT THERE EVEN IF WE CONSIDER TRANSFERRING THE MONEY TO THE TRAILS PROJECT AND START CONSTRUCTING THE TRAILS.
I THINK THERE MAY BE OPPORTUNITY WITH THE GRM STAGING AREA TO MAKE IT A MORE SMALLER MODEST STAGING AREA AND POSSIBLY LOOK AT PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE NEARBY HIGH SCHOOL FOR MAYBE WEEKEND PARKING.
BUT I DON'T LIKE THAT IT'S REMOVED FROM OUR BUDGET AND FROM THE FUTURE PROJECT LIST FROM OUR 2026 BUDGET.
I REMEMBER THIS HAPPENED LAST YEAR, AND IT WAS ADDED BACK WHEN I CAUGHT IT.
IT JUST FEELS LIKE I'M CONSTANTLY TRYING TO HUNT FOR THIS AND LOOK FOR THIS AND ALWAYS ASKING WHY IT KEEPS ON GETTING REMOVED FROM THE BUDGET.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE IT THERE BECAUSE I THINK THAT PEOPLE DO LOOK FOR THAT AND ARE LOOKING FOR THAT.
I THINK IT'S OKAY TO CHANGE THE SCOPE OF THE GRM STAGING AREA, BUT I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM FUTURE PROJECTS.
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF YOU COULD COMMENT ON THIS BECAUSE ABOUT THE REMOVAL AND THE POSSIBILITY OF ADDING IT BACK TO FUTURE PROJECTS.
>> I QUICKLY JUST SAY, I THINK WE JUST CHANGED THE NAME TO PLEASANTON RIDGE TRAILS, AND I THINK OUR INTENT WAS TO CHANGE IT BACK IN THE BUDGET TO GRM'S ACCESS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO IT COULD BE FOR BOTH ALL THOSE STAGING IDEAS THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT AND FOR THE TRAIL WORK.
>> THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE ALSO HAVE PLEASANTON RIDGE TRAILS ON THE HAYWARD SIDE OF THE RIDGE AND ON THE SNOW SIDE OF THE RIDGE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS IS TO HELP BRING TRAILS INTO PLEASANTON.
>> WE'LL UPDATE THE DESCRIPTION OF THE CONSTRUCT PLEASANTON RIDGE TRAILS TO INCLUDE IN THE GRM STAGING AREA.
I GUESS, JUST TO KEEP CONTINUITY, THOUGH, I THINK IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO KEEP THAT PROJECT NUMBER AS WELL, SO WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT PREVIOUS BUDGETS, THEY CAN SEE THAT CONTINUING AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT I LOOK FOR.
WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS BETWEEN NOW AND THE NEXT MEETING, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE BEEN WATCHING CLOSELY.
>> I HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, BUT I'LL LET OTHERS GO AND THEN I'LL JUMP BACK IN LATER.
>> I ACTUALLY WOULD LIKE TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT MORE AT THE OYSTER BAY BIKE SKILLS AREA BECAUSE THE SCOPE OF WORK WAS TO CONSTRUCT THE SIX-ACRE BIKE PARK AND PERIMETER TRAIL AT OYSTER BAY REGIONAL SHORELINE PARK.
AS FAR AS WITHIN MY WARD IN GENERAL, THERE'S JUST AS FAR AS THE MOST HEAVILY USED PARKS, AND THIS PARK IS QUITE A GEM WITHIN SAN LEANDRO.
THIS IS THE SECTION OF THE PARK THAT'S CLOSEST TO THE BAY TRAIL, THAT IS GOING TOWARDS 98.
IT'S JUST AS FAR AS HAVING THAT BACKSIDE, JUST AS FAR AS MORE ACTIVATED AND BEING CONNECTED OVER TO THE BAY TRAIL, I THINK,
[01:40:04]
IS A REALLY IMPORTANT USE, AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITHIN THAT AREA HAVING ACCESS.WE'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THE DIFFERENT POSSIBILITIES ARE HERE, AND JUST SEEING AS FAR AS IF THAT ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL IS APPROPRIATE, OR SHOULD WE SHOULD BE LOOKING AT SOMETHING CLOSER TO WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED?
>> I THINK REALLY THERE'S DIFFERENT ELEMENTS WITHIN THAT BIKE SKILLS AREA THAT CAN GET BUILT OUT.
THE ORIGINAL, I THINK IT WAS TWO MILLION, OR WAS THAT WHAT IT WAS?
>> 1.8. IT WAS BUILDING A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF IT, AND THE 800,000 WOULD BE BUILDING A MORE MODEST CHUNK OF IT.
IT'S LIKE THERE'S REALLY JUST HOW MUCH DO WE BUILD? I THINK THAT 800,000, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO THINK, WHAT'S THE SMALLEST AMOUNT THAT WE COULD STILL BUILD SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE MEANINGFUL FOR THE COMMUNITY?
>> I'D LIKE TO SEE WHAT THAT MEANINGFUL PART IS TO THE COMMUNITY, AND LOOKING AT THAT AND THEN ALSO SEEING IF IT'S CONNECTING SOME LIKE CLOSER TO THE PERIMETER TRAIL TO BECAUSE IT MENTIONS IN HERE JUST AS FAR AS THE PARK AND THE PERIMETER TRAIL, SO JUST SEEING WHAT THAT IS A LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE THAT PREPARED, LIKE TO.
>> NOT TODAY, I'M JUST SAYING THAT BEFORE THE NEXT MEETING.
I TO LOOK AT THAT, SO NOT LOOKING FOR IT TODAY.
BECAUSE I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT TRADE-OFF IS BETWEEN WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED AND NOW, BECAUSE SOMETHING LIKE THAT CAN DEFINITELY BE DONE IN PHASES OVER TIME.
BUT I DO WANT TO SEE THAT WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED IS SIGNIFICANT FOR THE COMMUNITY, AND THAT WILL IMPROVE ACCESS OVER THERE.
THAT'S JUST WHAT I'D LIKE TO UNDERSTAND FURTHER. THANKS.
>> I'LL TRY NOT TO GO INTO A COUGHING FIT.
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE PAC.
IT HAS ONLY RECENTLY COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT WITH THE LANGUAGE OF THE WW THAT WAS PROVIDED TO US, WE DID ACTUALLY STATE AND PROMISE THE VOTERS A CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
I ACTUALLY DIDN'T REALIZE THAT MAYBE THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS DID THAT OUR CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE IS THE PAC.
MY QUESTION IS, AND I THANK BRUCE FOR THAT SUMMARY, AND I DID WATCH THE WHOLE MEETING.
DID THE PAC, AS THE CITIZEN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, HAVE ALL OF THE SAME PUBLIC COMMENTS THAT WE'VE RECEIVED? STAFF HAS DONE SUCH A GREAT JOB, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'VE SEEN ALL THE REVISIONS AND THE CHANGES EITHER, BUT I'M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD ALL OF THE SAME PUBLIC COMMENTS, THE SAME LETTERS, THE SAME RECEIPTS, THE SAME ATTACHMENTS THAT WE ALL RECEIVED.
I JUST DIDN'T GET THE IMPRESSION, THEY WERE AS FULL OF INFORMATION AS WE HAVE BEEN.
THAT MY COMMENT IS THAT LEFT ME A LITTLE CONCERNED, BUT COULD YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION OF HOW MUCH DID THEY HAVE FOR THAT PROCESS THAT TOOK PLACE?
>> LET ME ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF THE PAC BEING THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR MEASURE WW.
WE AS STAFF HAVE KNOWN THAT, AND PERHAPS WE HAVEN'T COMMUNICATED IT CLEARLY ENOUGH TO THE PAC, AND WE ACTUALLY BRING AN INDIVIDUAL REPORT EVERY YEAR TO THE PAC ON MEASURE WW, IT GOES IN AUGUST.
IT'S NOT PART OF THE BUDGET PROCESS THAT WE'RE REPORTING OUT ON MEASURE WW, BUT IT'S A REALLY IN-DEPTH REPORT THAT WENT IN AUGUST.
ALSO, MEASURE THE PAC IS THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR MEASURE FF AS WELL, SO BOTH OF THOSE REPORTS WENT IN AUGUST.
I THINK THAT MAYBE HELPS ANSWER YOUR QUESTION: DID THEY GET ALL THE INFORMATION THEY NEEDED AS THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE FOR MEASURE WW? THE REVIEW PROCESS THAT THE PIC HAS FOR MEASURE WW IS DONE OUTSIDE OF THE BUDGET PROCESS, AND THEN WE'RE BRINGING THEM THE BUDGET AS A WHOLE.
DID THEY HAVE ALL OF THE EMAILS AND COMMENTS THAT WERE SENT TO THE BOARD? THEY DIDN'T; THEY WERE IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS,
[01:45:02]
SO AND ONE OF THE PAC MEMBERS DID ASK ABOUT THAT.WHY DON'T WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THE LETTERS THAT THE DISTRICT RECEIVED? WE DIDN'T PUT THOSE ALL INTO THE PAC PACKET, BUT THEY ARE PUBLIC RECORD.
>> THANK YOU. I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION THAT CONTINUES TO PERPLEX ME, NOT IN MY WARD, BUT STILL CONTINUES BECAUSE OF MY PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE, AND SORRY, DIRECTOR ECCLES, TO AGAIN RAISE THE POINT, ISABEL.
BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION CONTINUES.
I'VE RE LOOKED AT THE DATES AND THAT WENT OUT TO SQ COMMENTS AND EVERYTHING IN OCTOBER.
CLEARLY, THERE WAS A PROCESS OR A PLAN.
WHAT CONTINUES TO PERPLEX ME IS HOW WAS THAT GOING TO BE PAID FOR.
WE'RE ONLY NOW LOOKING AT WW, AND ONE OF OUR OPTIONS IS TO APPROVE IT WITH NO WW TRANSFERS AT THIS TIME.
THERE'S A DISCUSSION, I'M FULLY AWARE OF MATCHING GRANTS AND THINGS.
THE THING THAT PERPLEXES ME MOST OF ALL IS IT'S BEING CALLED A RESTORATION PROJECT WHEN, IN FACT, IT CLEARLY IS A CAP REPAIR.
I GUESS I'M EVEN STARTING TO WONDER IF THAT COULD BE DIVIDED OUT.
IF YOU REALLY THINK THAT A CHUNK OF IT IS GOING TO BE RESTORATION.
MY MAIN CONCERN IS LIMITING EXPOSURE, PARTICULARLY AT THE EDGES OF THE LANDFILL AND WHERE IT'S POOLING.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT MY QUESTION IS SPECIFICALLY, OTHER THAN HOW WERE WE GOING TO PAY FOR THIS? IT SEEMED LIKE WE MUST HAVE BEEN SURPRISED BY THIS, OR WAS THERE SOME OTHER WAY WE WERE PLANNING ON PAYING FOR IT?
>> I CAN TAKE THAT DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO, I THINK IT'S A GREAT QUESTION, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT LIKE OUR TEAM HAS BEEN, I THINK AIRING WITH THIS BOARD, I KNOW AT LEAST FROM WHEN I STARTED HERE WHEN WE HAD OUR CAPITAL PROJECT STUDY SESSION IN THE SPRING IS THAT AS KATIE MENTIONED IN HER PRESENTATION, WE DON'T ONLY HAVE A FUNDING SHORTFALL RIGHT NOW.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT ALL THE POTENTIAL PROJECTS THAT ARE IN PLANNING RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT OVER $100 MILLION SHORTFALL IF WE WANTED TO COMPLETE ALL THOSE PROJECTS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
I THINK AGAIN, WE BROUGHT THAT UP AT THE CAPITAL PROJECT STUDY SESSION BACK IN THE SPRING.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT FOR KATIE AND MYSELF AND REN, WHO MANAGES OUR DECO TEAM, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, HOW DO WE TELL THIS STORY TO OUR BOARD TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE HELPING US THINK ABOUT STRATEGIES.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE VERY CAUTIOUS OF TODAY.
I WAS MEETING WITH OUR PROJECT TEAM TO THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE, AND KNOWING THAT WE HAVE LIMITED FUNDING, HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE NOT OVER-PROMISING WITH THE PROJECTS THAT WE START PLANNING? I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TAKE REALLY SERIOUSLY IS MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ONLY BITING OFF WHAT WE CAN CHEW.
BUT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS HAVE DEVELOPED TO A POINT WHERE WE HAVE PARTIAL GRANT FUNDING, AND THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF PLANNING WORK AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, AND SOME REGULATORY OBLIGATIONS TO COMPLETE THEM.
I GUESS, TO THE OTHER POINT WITH HOW IT'S THAT PROJECT IS CHARACTERIZED AS A RESTORATION PROJECT.
PART OF THAT IS OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH STATE PARKS WHO IS BRINGING HALF OF THE FUNDING, AND SO IN ORDER TO RECEIVE THAT FUNDING, PART OF THAT WAS HOW WE DESCRIBED THE PROJECT STRATEGICALLY WITH THEM.
>> I GUESS MAYBE IT'S JUST A COMMENT ON THAT.
THE FIRST I SAW SOMETHING ON OCTOBER 3RD, I THINK IT WAS THE TERM WAS STRUCTURALLY UNBALANCED WAS A LINE ITEM IN ONE OF OUR PRESENTATIONS, AND I GUESS I WAS ASSURED AT THAT TIME THAT THAT DIDN'T MEAN WE WOULDN'T HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
I GUESS I STILL KEEP CIRCLING BACK AROUND THE BALANCED BUDGET; IN THIS CASE, IT SEEMS LIKE I DON'T KNOW.
I WANT TO HEAR IF YOU DON'T APPROVE OF THIS, WE'RE IN THE RED THING.
I'M NOT HEARING THAT, BUT THAT'S THE PUSHBACK, OR WHAT I'M HEARING WHEN YOU'RE SAYING WE'RE $100 MILLION BEHIND.
IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE WE'VE SEEN CASH-RICH OVER IN WW MONEY, AND YET WE DON'T REALLY HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET.
I APPRECIATE WHAT THE STAFF IS DOING, AND I'LL BE QUIET RIGHT NOW.
I'M GETTING AWAY FROM QUESTIONS.
[01:50:02]
>> WELL, NO, I THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD POINT.
THERE'S TWO DIFFERENT PARTS OF OUR BUDGET.
ONE IS THE OPERATIONAL BUDGET, WHICH PAYS FOR OUR STAFF, OUR REGULAR COSTS, TOILET PAPER, WATER, ALL THOSE REALLY IMPORTANT THINGS, AND THAT PART IS BALANCED.
THE PART THAT WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING FOR IS OUR ONE-TIME EXPENSES, OUR PROJECTS.
THAT'S WHERE WE'RE FORECASTING IF THE PROJECTS THAT WE'RE PLANNING RIGHT NOW, IF WE WANT TO BUILD THEM, WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY RIGHT NOW TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE.
I THINK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DAYLIGHT THAT, THINK OF SOME CREATIVE SOLUTIONS OF HOW TO GET THERE.
BUT WE'RE ALSO TRYING TO PRESENT YOUR BOARD WITH A VARIETY OF OPTIONS AND TAKE YOUR DIRECTION.
>> DO YOU WANT TO CONTINUE ON THE QUESTIONS THAT YOU HAD?
>> IT'S NOT CAPITAL PROJECTS RELATED, SO I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO MAYBE STICK TO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS AND THEN COME BACK TO SOME OF THE OTHER QUESTIONS FOR THE OTHER TOPICS?
>> I DON'T HAVE QUESTIONS ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.
>> WE'LL GET TO THAT. NO MORE QUESTIONS, I'M HEARING.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> I DID HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE REORG.
>> ME TOO, THAT'S WHAT I WAS WAITING FOR. WHERE DO WE GET TO DO?
>> IT IS ALL, I JUST THOUGHT WE WANTED TO KEEP LIKE A THREAD. I'LL START.
MY FIRST QUESTION, I THINK ABOUT THE SECOND AND THIRD-ORDER EFFECTS OF THE REORG.
THINKING ABOUT OUR BOARD COMMITTEES, AND CERTAINLY THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING A LOT ABOUT IN REGARDS TO HOW WE CAN, I THINK WE DO A GOOD JOB NOW OF INTEGRATING OUR BOARD COMMITTEES INTO OUR BOARD MEETINGS AND TRYING TO SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
BUT I THINK WE CAN ALSO INTEGRATE EVEN MORE CLOSELY BETWEEN THE TWO.
ONE THING I THOUGHT ABOUT SEEING, I BELIEVE IT'S STILL IN THE PROPOSAL TO MOVE BUSINESS SERVICES INTO THE FMS FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION.
I KNOW, HAVING SERVED ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE FOR TWO YEARS, A LARGE AMOUNT OF THE WORK PLAN ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE DOES INVOLVE BUSINESS SERVICES AND REVIEWING EITHER CONCESSION AGREEMENTS OR HEARING FROM OUR CONCESSIONAIRES.
PART OF THE CONTRACT WITH THEM IS THAT THEY GIVE AN ANNUAL OR A BI-ANNUAL REPORT.
WILL THAT ASPECT OF THE WORK PLAN FOR OUR OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MOVE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, OR WILL THAT STAY ON THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE?
>> WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT PRELIMINARILY, AND OUR PRELIMINARY THOUGHT IS THAT IT WOULD STAY WITH OPERATIONS.
>> IT'S AT THE DISCRETION OF YOUR BOARD, IF YOUR BOARD WANTED IT TO BE IN ONE PLACE OR THE OTHER, BUT I THINK IT MAKES SENSE WITH OPERATIONS, BUT AGAIN, IF THERE WAS DIRECTION FROM YOUR BOARD, WE COULD DO IT EITHER WAY.
>> I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS TO QUESTIONS.
I JUST THINK THAT IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT ESPECIALLY WITH THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL IN REGARDS TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, TO REMAIN WITHIN THE FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION, THAT DOES MAKE IT QUITE A LARGE DIVISION.
I THINK WITHIN THAT GROUP, DEB, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO SHARE SOME COMMENTS, BUT I THINK THE ERP PROJECTS A REAL HIGH PRIORITY IN THAT GROUP.
I WONDER IF IT WOULD BE MAYBE TOO MUCH TO TAKE ON BUSINESS SERVICES RIGHT NOW.
I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THIS BLUEPRINT TO MAYBE EVENTUALLY CONSIDER MOVING BUSINESS SERVICES, BUT I ALSO SEE THAT WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF COMMENTS ON A PRETTY HIGH-PROFILE CONCESSION AGREEMENT WITH THE REDWOOD VALLEY STEAM TRAIN.
I THINK THAT I WOULDN'T WANT THAT TO IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO WORK ON LAUNCHING AND USING OUR NEW ERP SYSTEM.
THEN ALSO, IF THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE WITHIN THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO MAYBE KEEP IT IN THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME? THEN, SINCE WE ALREADY HAVE THIS BLUEPRINT SOMETIME DOWN THE ROAD, WE COULD MOVE BUSINESS SERVICES TO FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
VERY SIMILAR TO HOW, IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS YEAR, WE DID CREATE THE EXTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION,
[01:55:03]
AND THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE 2025 BUDGET.>> LET ME SEE IF I CAN HIT ALL THOSE QUESTIONS.
FOR A LONG TIME, EVER SINCE I STARTED AT THE DISTRICT, I'VE THOUGHT IT CHALLENGING TO HAVE BUSINESS SERVICES SEPARATE FROM FMS BECAUSE THEY ARE DOING ALL OF THE REVENUE COLLECTION FOR THE DISTRICT.
OBVIOUSLY, THE REVENUE EVENTUALLY COMES TO FINANCE, BUT ALL OF THE FEES AND CONCESSIONAIRE AGREEMENTS, IT'S CHALLENGING BECAUSE THEIR WORK IS VERY HEAVILY MONEY RELATED.
THEY'RE OFTEN ASKING US FOR ADVICE, AND WE SOMETIMES FIND THAT WE'RE DUPLICATING EFFORTS BECAUSE WE'RE DOING THE SAME THING IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS.
I REALLY DO THINK THERE'S SYNERGY.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S NO LAW THAT SAYS WE MUST DO IT AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
IT CAN BE DONE OUTSIDE OF THAT.
BUT I DO THINK IT'S A GOOD PROPOSAL.
YOU HAD ASKED ABOUT SPAN OF CONTROL, AND IS IT TOO MUCH FOR US TO BE TAKING ON WHILE WE'RE DOING OUR NEW ERP IMPLEMENTATION? WE MADE AN OFFER TO A NEW ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER, SO WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE ANOTHER MANAGER ON THE TEAM THAT WILL HELP US.
I THINK THE SPAN OF CONTROL WILL BE MANAGEABLE.
THE ERP IS WELL UNDERWAY, AND BUSINESS SERVICES IS GOING TO HAVE A PIECE OF THAT, BUT THEY WOULD REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY WERE IN FMS OR WHETHER THEY WERE IN OPERATIONS.
I THINK IT'S ALL A GOOD FIT, BUT OBVIOUSLY, IT DOESN'T NEED TO BE DONE AS PART OF THE BUDGET.
>> THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IN REVIEWING THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL IN REGARDS TO NOT MOVING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION.
I NOTICED A LINE ON PAGE 174 IN THIS WEEK'S BUDGET OR NOT THE BUDGET BOOK, BUT THIS WEEK'S AGENDA PACKET ON THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OR THIRD PARAGRAPH.
IT SAYS, THIS WOULD REDUCE THE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS BY $160,441.
BY NOT CREATING THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION, THAT'S THE AMOUNT THAT IT WOULD HAVE COST TO CREATE THAT DIVISION.
I'M JUST CURIOUS, ARE THERE OTHER HIDDEN COSTS THAT I'M NOT SEEING IN THE BUDGET? I GUESS MORE SPECIFICALLY, SINCE I'M TALKING ABOUT BUSINESS SERVICES, DO WE HAVE A COST ASSOCIATED WITH MOVING BUSINESS SERVICES FROM OPERATIONS TO FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES? THIS MAY LEAD INTO SOME OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER REWORK PROPOSALS AND THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.
>> YES. THE REVISED PROPOSAL COSTS ABOUT AND I WANT TO SAY 120,000 OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
IF YOU HAVE THE EXACT NUMBER, THAT'D BE GREAT.
BUT IT'S RIGHT AROUND THERE AT 120-160, 160? OKAY. ABOUT 160,000.
THE ADDITIONAL COST FOR WHEN WE WERE PROPOSING THE AGM OF IT WAS TO UPGRADE THAT POSITION.
BECAUSE THAT'S NO LONGER PART OF IT, THAT'S NOT PART OF THE COST, AND THE REMAINDER IS WHAT WE DID PROPOSE IS ABOUT 160,000.
>> LET ME SEE IF I CAN PHRASE THIS IN A QUESTION.
WE DO STILL HAVE THE PROPOSAL TO ADD ONE ADDITIONAL AGM, AND THAT'S FOR THE FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION.
I HOPE THAT RIGHT. YEAH, FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION, WHICH I THINK IS A REALLY GOOD BLUEPRINT.
BUT AGAIN, SIMILAR TO MY EARLIER COMMENT ABOUT BUSINESS SERVICES, I WONDER IF NOW IS THE TIME TO DO THIS.
LET ME TRY TO GET THIS TO A QUESTION.
WE HAVE A TIGHT BUDGET, AND WE TALK A LOT ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF GOING FOR OUR PARCEL TAX OR PARCEL MEASURE, EXCUSE ME, AND WITH THE PARCEL TAX MEASURE, THAT WOULD BE FOR THINKING ABOUT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS AT OUR PARKS, WHICH REALLY TRANSLATES INTO FRONTLINE STAFF.
BY HAVING THIS IN OUR BUDGET NOW, ADDING ANOTHER MANAGEMENT POSITION, ANOTHER AGM POSITION, COULD THAT MAYBE NOT BE THE BEST LOOK RIGHT NOW WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A TIGHT BUDGET AND THE POTENTIAL TO GO OUT FOR A PARTIAL TAX MEASURE AND OUR PRIORITIES TO HIRE ANOTHER MANAGEMENT POSITION AND NOT NECESSARILY EITHER ALLOCATING THOSE RESOURCES TO CAPITAL PROJECTS.
>> SO WHAT I'LL SAY IS AGAIN, THE COST INCLUDED IN THAT OF OUR PROPOSAL OF THAT FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE AGM, THE TOTAL COST OF ALL THE CHANGES THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, THE TWO POSITIONS FOR ASME AND THE UNREPRESENTED POSITION, THAT IS $160,000.
[02:00:03]
IT'S REALLY OFFSET BY OTHER THINGS.WE HEARD YOU THAT THERE WAS CONCERN ABOUT BUDGET AND COST, AND THAT IS WHY WE BROUGHT THE REVISED PROPOSAL SO THAT THE COST WOULD BE VERY, VERY SMALL.
I DID WANT TO GO BACK TO THE CHANGES FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS BECAUSE THOSE WERE DONE MID YEAR, BUT THERE WAS NO BUDGET ASSOCIATED WITH THOSE.
THERE WAS A RETITLE OF A POSITION.
THAT'S WHY THOSE COULD BE DONE MID YEAR.
THESE ACTUALLY REQUIRE BOARD APPROVAL FOR THE NEW POSITIONS, THOSE THREE NEW POSITIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
>> THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IS, WE CURRENTLY HAVE OUR ACTING GENERAL MANAGER ALSO SERVING AS THE ACTING AGM FOR OUR CURRENT ASD ACQUISITION STEWARDSHIP AND PLANNING DIVISION.
BY ADDING A NEW AGM, THEN WE WOULD HAVE AT MINIMUM TWO VACANCIES THAT WE WOULD BE RECRUITING FOR POTENTIALLY NEXT YEAR, I WOULD ASSUME.
IS THAT ALSO A LITTLE BIT TOO MUCH ON OUR ORGANIZATION TO COMMIT TO WHEN WE WILL ALSO BE RECRUITING A PERMANENT GENERAL MANAGER? JUST SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LOT OF MANAGEMENT POSITIONS RIGHT NOW.
I WONDER IF THIS IS THE BEST TIME TO BE MAKING SO MANY CHANGES.
LIKE I SAID, WE HAVE A BLUEPRINT HERE, BUT MAYBE A STEP TYPE OF PROCESS MIGHT BE, A MORE PRUDENT PATH FORWARD.
>> EVEN IF WE WANT TO DO A STEPPED PROCESS, WE WOULD NEED THE BOARD APPROVAL IN THE BUDGET TO ADD THOSE POSITIONS.
IT COULD BE THAT WE RECRUIT FOR THE GENERAL MANAGER AND THOSE POSITIONS ARE PHASED INTO THE NEW DIVISION.
BUT WITHOUT BUDGET APPROVAL FOR THE POSITION NOW, WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO BEGIN THAT RECRUITMENT OR THAT MOVE ONCE WE DO HAVE A GENERAL MANAGER.
IT WAS ALREADY IN MY WORK PLAN TO RECRUIT FOR AT LEAST ONE POSITION AND SO ADDING ANOTHER AGM RECRUITMENT, IT'S NOT A TON OF EXTRA WORK.
>> YEAH, I'D SAY THE PUTTING IT IN THE BUDGET WOULD ALLOW US TO DO THAT AT ANY TIME DURING THE YEAR.
IT WOULDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN RIGHT AWAY, AND WE COULD ALWAYS HAVE SOMEBODY ACTING IN THE ASD ROLE.
THEN DOWN THE ROAD, ONCE YOUR BOARD HAS APPOINTED A PERMANENT GM, YOU COULD ALWAYS GO BACK AND RECRUIT EITHER ONE AGM OR TWO AGMS DEPENDING ON WHAT APPROACH YOUR BOARD ENDED UP TAKING.
>> OKAY. THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE FOR NOW.
THANKS VERY MUCH FOR THE OVERVIEW AND FOR THE ALTERNATIVE REORG PROPOSAL.
I WAS CURIOUS, SINCE YOU ONLY REALLY ADDRESSED IT AT A HIGH LEVEL.
THERE WERE SEVERAL POSITIONS THAT STAFF SPOKE ABOUT AT THE LAST MEETING, INCLUDING THE ARCHIVES POSITION, THE WATER MANAGEMENT POSITION, GIS POSITION.
I DID SEE THOSE ADDRESSED IN A PROPOSAL THAT WE GOT IN OUR EMAIL MAYBE 10 DAYS AGO OR SO, BUT I JUST WASN'T SURE HOW ALL OF THAT SHOOK OUT.
>> THOSE ARE ALL ISSUES THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH THE UNION.
I DO THINK WE'RE CLOSE TO AGREEMENT ON THE MAJORITY OF THOSE ISSUES.
SO POTENTIALLY THAT COULD CHANGE, PROPOSALS COULD CHANGE, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ENGAGING WITH THE UNION ON.
THE I BELIEVE ALL OF THOSE WERE ONLY MOVEMENT.
>> RIGHT, WHICH MEANS A LOT TO THE INDIVIDUALS INVOLVED.
>> YES AND THAT'S WHY WE'RE ENGAGING WITH THE UNION ON IT.
>> OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
>> YEAH. YOU SAY YOU'RE ENGAGING WITH THE UNION, ARE YOU ENGAGING WITH THE INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE AFFECTED BY THIS?
THAT WOULD BE DIRECT DEALING WITH THEIR MEMBERS.
WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MEET AND CONFER PROCESS WITH THE UNION, AND I WOULD DEFER TO THEM IF THEY ARE ENGAGING WITH THOSE AFFECTED MEMBERS.
>> I WOULD JUST SAY THOUGH ALSO FOR YOUR BOARD, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR US IS WE'RE MEETING WITH THE UNION TO TALK THROUGH WHAT WE CAN COME TO AGREEMENT ON.
[02:05:02]
IF THERE ARE PIECES OF OUR PROPOSAL THAT YOUR BOARD HAS DIRECTION ON, THAT WOULD ALSO BE GOOD TO KNOW SO THAT WE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR BOARD'S DIRECTION IS WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE UNION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.>> ALL RIGHT. NO MORE QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY MORE PRESENTATIONS?
>> THEN I NOTE THE LAST MEETING, I ASKED ABOUT THE EQUITY STATEMENT ON PAGE, I THINK IT'S A1 IN THE BOOK ONE OF TWO.
I MEANT TO SEND A FOLLOW UP EMAIL AND I DIDN'T ABOUT THIS.
BUT DID WE DOUBLE CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADOPTED THE EQUITY STATEMENT? BECAUSE IT SAYS THAT WE DID.
WHEN I TRIED TO SEARCH THROUGH OUR MEETINGS AND BASED ON MY RECOLLECTION, I DON'T THINK WE ADOPTED IT.
I THINK IT WAS PRESENTED AT THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
>> YOU'RE CORRECT. YEAH. IT WASN'T WE WILL FIX THAT FOR THE ADOPTED BOOK.
IT WAS BROUGHT TO THE BOARD, BUT IT WASN'T SOMETHING YOU VOTED ON.
>> ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> WE HAVE FOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS IN PERSON AND QUITE A FEW HANDS UP ONLINE.
>> NORMAN LA FORCE, AND THEN JIM HANSON.
>> GOOD EVENING, NORMAN LA FORCE FOR SPRAWLDEF.
I WOULD URGE THE BOARD TO TAKE THE RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU JUST APPROVE THE BUDGET WITHOUT MAKING THESE WW TRANSFERS.
YOU CAN ALWAYS DO SOMETHING LATER IN THE YEAR AS IT COMES UP.
I THINK THE BIG ISSUE IS THAT PEOPLE WERE PROMISED AND THE ARGUMENTS THAT WERE MADE BACK WHEN THE CAMPAIGN WAS RUN.
ONE OF THE ARGUMENTS MADE BY OUR JARVIS GAN PEOPLE WAS, OH, THEY'RE JUST GOING TO MOVE THE MONEY AROUND, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A SHELL GAME.
I KNOW THAT BECAUSE I WAS ONE OF THE SIGNERS OF THE REBUTTAL ARGUMENT TO THAT.
OUR ARGUMENT WAS, WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT THAT DIRECTLY.
WE SAID, NO, THERE'S 75% FOR ACQUISITION, 25% FOR CAPITAL.
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HEAR, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY DID HEAR, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY VOTED ON.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THE LIST IS THAT MOST OF THE LIST IS GENERALLY MONEY COMING FROM THE SAME POT LIKE CONCORD IS COMING FROM THE CONCORD ACQUISITION AND OTHER POTS OF CONCORD.
BUT THREE MAJOR PROJECTS ARE MOVING MONEY SUBSTANTIALLY AROUND.
THOSE ARE THE ROBERTS SEWER POOL, ONE, THE KELLER BEACH, AND THE POINT ISABEL.
WHERE THE MONEY'S COMING FROM ARE FROM TWO WARDS, TWO AND FOUR.
OAKLAND, SHORELINE AND THE MARTIN LUTHER KING SHORELINE.
THOSE ARE TWO AREAS THAT HAVE LOTS OF WORK THAT COULD BE DONE FOR THEM WITH THE EXISTING MONEY, PARTICULARLY IN ALAMEDA POINT WITH REGARD TO THAT MONEY AND ALSO WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING.
YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY ROBBING PETER AND PAUL TO PAY FOR JOHN AND JOE WITH THESE OTHER PROJECTS.
THAT'S SIMPLY NOT I THINK A WISE DECISION TO MAKE.
THOSE PROJECTS THE MONEY FOR THOSE AREAS SHOULD BE SPENT IN THOSE AREAS AND NOT BE SHIFTED AROUND LIKE THAT.
WHEN WE PUT TOGETHER THE LIST OF PROJECTS, THAT LIST, AND I WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THAT WITH A COUPLE OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE STILL HERE IN THIS ROOM.
WE SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED THOSE PROJECTS BECAUSE THEY WERE IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITIES AT ISSUE, PARTICULARLY IN ALAMEDA, THE CITY OF ALAMEDA, AND PARTICULARLY OAKLAND FOR THE LUTHER KING SHORELINE.
I THINK YOU WOULD BE RAISING SERIOUS ISSUES WITH PEOPLE IN THE FUTURE AND CURRENTLY BY MOVING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS FROM THOSE PARTICULAR PORTIONS OF WW TO OTHER PLACES WHERE IT WAS NOT ALLOCATED AND WAS NOT WHAT PEOPLE WERE TOLD THAT THEY SHOULD SPEND THE MONEY ON.
I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A NEW GENERAL MANAGER, YOU SHOULD BE LOOKING THAT GENERAL MANAGER SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GUIDE WHAT'S GOING TO BE DONE WITH THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED AND OTHERS ONCE THAT PERSON IS SELECTED. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JIM HANSON AND THEN ROBERT CHESTE THEN WE WILL GO ONLINE.
>> GOOD EVENING. JIM HANSON, CALIFORNIA SATE CHAPTER.
WE'VE ATTENDED EVERY MEETING SINCE FERN LODGE.
FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF PARK USER AND NATIVE PLANT ADVOCATE, I THINK THE WORD BALANCE AND RIGHT ALIGNMENT HAS COME UP WITH ALL THE WORK THAT YOU AND STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING ON IN THE BUDGET.
[02:10:05]
JUST AS A RECAP, OUR MISSION STATEMENT TALKS ABOUT THE FIRST STARTS OUT WITH PRESERVING A RICH HERITAGE OF NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.POLLS HAVE CONTINUED OVER YEARS SAID, WE COME TO THE PARKS TO BE IN NATURE.
EVEN THE RECENT SURVEYS START OUT, TOP OUT WITH NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
YET WHAT WE FIND IN THE BUDGET IS FUNDING FOR THE NATURAL RESOURCE FUNCTION IN THE BUDGET, WHICH HAPPENS THROUGH YOUR STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT AT 1-2% WITH STAFFING AND PROJECTS.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE LOOKING AROUND 66 MILLION IN INFRASTRUCTURE AND OTHER THINGS.
WHAT WE WOULD ASK YOU TO DO IS PLEASE YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO FIX THIS BALANCE A LITTLE BIT BETTER THIS YEAR.
THERE ARE SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES THAT WAIT.
WE KNOW THAT STEWARDSHIPS ROLE IS TO LARGELY SUPPORT THE OTHER DEPARTMENTS THROUGH LEVERAGE, AND AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH CAN BE DONE WITH THAT LEVEL OF STAFFING AND PROJECT FUNDING.
WE CAN SEE THINGS WITH YOU HAVE THE POWER, WE THINK, TO BEGIN TO AGAIN SEE A LOOP AND HILL AND BLOOM.
BECAUSE A VEGETATION ECOLOGIST, THERE WAS ENOUGH FUNDING FOR A VEGETATION ECOLOGIST TO GET OUT THERE, APPLY A LITTLE BIT OF GRAZING OR MOWING.
SO TO KNOCK DOWN THE ANNUAL WEEDS TO SUPPLY THAT EXPERIENCE TO YOUR PARK USERS.
WE THINK THAT YOU CAN HAVE A MAPPED INVENTORY OF ECOLOGICALLY IMPORTANT AREAS SO THAT WE CAN RESPONSIBLY PLAN TO KEEP THE FISH RUNS, TO KEEP THE EAGLES NESTS, TO KEEP THE GRASSLAND BIRDS IN OUR PARK LANDS.
RIGHT NOW THAT'S FUNDED AT $40,000?
>> WE THINK THAT YOU HAVE SUCH AN OPPORTUNITY TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO MAKE A MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTION TO THE PARKS.
YOU'VE STARTED TO DO THAT, CONGRATULATIONS.
THAT CAN BE DONE BY HAVING ENOUGH STAFF TO WORK WITH THE PUBLIC AND RANGERS TO OVERSEE AND DO SOME OF THESE RESTORATION PROJECTS.
PEOPLE AREN'T DRIVING TO THE CORSO PLAINS.
THEY'RE COMING TO OUR PARKS TO SEE THEIR NATURAL BEAUTY, BUT WE SEE THESE OPPORTUNITIES AND WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL ADJUST THE BUDGET IN WAYS THAT BUILD UP THE NATURAL RESOURCE FUNCTION SO THAT WE CAN DO THIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU, BY THE WAY, FOR HAVING AN OCCASIONAL EVENING MEETING, SOME PEOPLE CAN'T COME DURING THE DAYTIME.
TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD, I WOULD SAY, FIRST, IT'S EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE THING TO HAVE OUTSIDERS COME IN AND TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR JOB AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE PATIENCE YOU HAVE ON ALLOWING US TO DO IT.
I WANTED TO TALK ABOUT THE DICHOTOMY.
I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CITIZENS FREE SHARE PARKS, AND WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH THE PARK DISTRICT ON ALL OF THESE BUDGET ISSUES AND WW AND SO ON.
I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THE DICHOTOMY THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED BETWEEN WHY IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO GO TO THE VOTERS AND SAY, WELL, WE HAVEN'T SPENT ALL YOUR MONEY VERSUS WHY IT'S NOT A GOOD IDEA TO GO BACK TO THE VOTERS AND SAY, WE MISAPPROPRIATED YOUR MONEY.
ONE IS A MUCH MORE SERIOUS CONCERN AMONG THE VOTERS THAN THE OTHER.
IF YOU WERE TO COMPARE THE TWO THINGS, I WOULD SAY THAT THE VOTERS REALLY WOULD GIVE YOU A SHRUG ABOUT NOT GETTING AROUND TO SPENDING ALL THE MONEY THEY ALLOCATED FOR YOU.
IF YOU WERE TO PUT THESE IN THE LEAST FAVORABLE VIEW, MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS IS A VERY SERIOUS TRANSGRESSION.
PEOPLE HAVE SOME VERY POOR IMPRESSIONS OF POLITICIANS NOW.
I THINK THAT IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT THERE'S DISTRUST, AND IT'S GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WHAT I WOULD SAY IS TRY TO KEEP FAITH.
IF YOU PASS A BUDGET WITH THE WW FUNDS BEING ALLOCATED TO AREAS WHERE THEY WEREN'T ORIGINALLY EXPECTED TO BE ALLOCATED, YOU'LL BE BREAKING FAITH WITH THE VOTERS, NOT A GOOD THING TO DO.
IF YOU DO THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE PAC LOOKED AT THIS AS, DO YOU PASS THE BUDGET WITHOUT WW TRANSFERS OR DO YOU PASS THE BUDGET WITH THE WW TRANSFERS?
[02:15:01]
THE VOTE APPARENTLY WENT WITH THE WW TRANSFERS.I WOULD SAY THAT THAT WAS A MISTAKEN VOTE.
I THINK A THIRD POSSIBILITY WOULD BE TO LOOK AT SOME MODEST CHANGE WHERE MAYBE YOU HAVE THINGS THAT YOU COULD REALLY JUSTIFY, MOST EQUITABLE, MOST JUSTIFIABLE, MOST NECESSARY, MOST URGENT AMOUNTS OF MONIES THAT COULD BE TRANSFERRED FOR A CAPITAL PROJECT THAT REALLY SCREAMED TO BE DONE.
MAYBE YOU CAN JUSTIFY THAT, AND THAT WOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM, BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF MONEY NOW, STILL, DESPITE THE FACT THAT STAFF ACKNOWLEDGED HAS DONE A GOOD JOB IN TRYING TO PAIR THIS DOWN.
I THINK THERE'D BE MORE PAIRING.
I THINK IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT A MUCH SMALLER NUMBER, IT WOULD BE LESS PROBLEMATIC, ESPECIALLY IF IT WAS THE MOST JUSTIFIABLE CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I WON'T GO AHEAD AND CONTINUE ALL THE OTHER THINGS WELL. I'M OUT OF TIME ANYWAY.
JANET FLINT, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HELLO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
MY NAME IS JANET AND I LIVE IN RICHMOND.
LOOKING AT THIS BUDGET, IT INVESTS VERY LITTLE IN STEWARDSHIP AND PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY.
LET'S BE KEENLY AWARE OF THE RATE OF SPECIES EXTINCTION, WHERE ONCE COMMON ANIMALS AND BIRDS ARE NOW RARE.
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE INSECTS WHOM EVERYONE DEPENDS ON, INCLUDING HUMANS.
REMEMBER WHEN WE HAD TO CLEAN THE BUGS OFF OF OUR CAR WINDOWS, WE ARE IN A SPECIES COLLAPSE CRISIS, AND HEALTHY OPEN SPACES ARE KEY TO THE LIFE.
ARE WE GOING TO OPEN EVERY WILD PLACE TO INTENSE RECREATION AS IN DOLAN CANYON AND WILDCAT CANYON? OR INSTEAD, DO WE WANT TO LAUNCH A MAJOR EFFORT TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ABOUT THE NATURAL SPACES THAT ARE HERE AND THAT ARE IRREPLACEABLE? WILL WE MAKE SURE THAT OUR OPEN SPACES TRULY SERVE EVERYONE.
LET'S SPEND MORE RESOURCES EDUCATING PEOPLE FROM ALL NEIGHBORHOODS TO COME IN AND LEARN ABOUT NATURE AND SEE IT WITH THEIR OWN EYES.
IF WE CAN PUT A MAN ON THE MOON, WE CAN INSPIRE URBAN CHILDREN TO COME MEET THE NEWTS AND OWLS IN OUR PARKS.
THE SAD PART ABOUT THE IMBALANCE IN THIS BUDGET IS THAT BY OPENING WILD AREAS TO INTENSE RECREATION, THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE NATURE AND LEARN ABOUT IT AND TEACH IT IS REDUCED BECAUSE THE PLANTS DIE AND THE ANIMALS ARE FRIGHTENED OFF.
SOMEDAY, IF WE DECIDE WE WANT NATURE TO RETURN TO OUR PARKS, WE MAY BE ABLE TO RESTORE SOME OF IT, AND SOME WILL BE LOST FOREVER.
PLEASE MAKE CHANGES TO THIS BUDGET AND INVEST MORE SIGNIFICANTLY IN TRAIL MANAGEMENT AND PRESERVING NATURAL AREAS.
PLEASE HOLD BACK ON SOME OF THIS SPENDING.
FOR EXAMPLE, DO NOT MOVE FORWARD WITH OPENING DING CANYON TO MORE RECREATION. THANK YOU.
>> JEFFREY KHAN, YOU MAY MUTE YOURSELF?
YOU PRESENT BOARD MEMBERS ARE PART OF A LONG TRADITION OF EAST BAY PARK DISTRICT VISIONARIES.
THERE ARE SOME 3 MILLION RESIDENTS IN THE DISTRICT.
ALTOGETHER, THESE 73 PARKS, MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THOSE OF US WHO LOVE THE GREAT OUTDOORS ALSO LOVE LIVING IN THE BAY AREA.
IT'S BEEN 88 YEARS SINCE THE FIRST THREE PARKS WERE ACQUIRED.
TODAY, THERE'S AN INEVITABLE TENSION BETWEEN ACQUIRING NEW LANDS AND TAKING CARE OF THE EXISTING PARKS.
BOARD MEMBERS INCLUDE SELF DESCRIBED ACQUISITION HAWKS.
WE NEED THAT. YET, I IMPLORE YOU.
YOU MUST HAVE AN EQUAL COMMITMENT TO STEWARDSHIP OF YOUR EXISTING PARKS, WHICH BRINGS ME TO LAKE TEMESCAL.
AT THE DISTRICT'S OCTOBER 28, NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING, GEBRA, YOUR LIMNOLOGIST, AND LAKE MANAGER SAID THE FOLLOWING.
IN 2019, ANCHOR QA DID A FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT FOR DREDGING AND RESTORATION.
I JUST WANT TO REPORT AT THE END OF MY PRESENTATION, THEY WERE GOING TO HIRE ANOTHER COMPANY IN 2026 TO COME UP WITH AN ACTUAL DREDGE DESIGN FOR LAKE TEMESCAL, AND A PRICE TAG.
THE PARK DISTRICT 2019 ANCHOR ENGINEERING REPORT DETAILS WHAT MUST BE DONE AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST TO GET THE LAKE TEMESCAL PROJECT READY TO GO OUT FOR BID.
ANCHOR ESTIMATED COST IN $2019,
[02:20:01]
AT 1.575 MILLION OR SEDIMENT CHARACTERIZATION, GEOTECHNICAL EVALUATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL AND TECHNICAL STUDIES, SQA, AND PERMIT APPLICATIONS AND REPORTS.YOUR OWN ENGINEERING REPORT SAYS THIS PLAINLY.
THE PROJECT CANNOT EVEN BE PUT OUT TO BID WITHOUT AT LEAST 1.57 MILLION IN FUNDING.
THIS IS YOUR WATCH, SAVE THE LAKE. THANK YOU.
>> MARY BARNSTALE, YOU MAY MUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD EVENING AND THANK YOU.
I'M A WARD ONE VOTER, AND I LIVE IN EL STORIDLE.
AS SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY VOTED FOR WW, I STRONGLY SUPPORT REALLOCATING SOME FUNDS FROM ACQUISITIONS TO DEVELOPMENT.
I THINK EAST BASED VOTERS UNDERSTAND THAT BOTH ARE NECESSARY AND THEY WANT BOTH.
NO ONE'S PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN WHAT THE RATIO OF SPENDING IS, HONESTLY.
WE TRUST THE PARK DISTRICT TO MANAGE THAT AS CIRCUMSTANCES EVOLVE AS THEY ALWAYS DO.
ALONG THOSE LINES, LET ME JUST SAY A FEW QUICK WORDS SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE RECAPPING PROJECT AT NORTH POINT ISABEL.
FIRST, OF COURSE, THAT PROJECT ISN'T ACTUALLY OPTIONAL.
THAT LANDFILL IS A 40-YEAR-OLD CLAY CAP THAT HAS HELD UP REASONABLY WELL, BUT IT NEEDS PATCHING, AND IT NEEDS FORTIFYING AGAIN SEA LEVEL RISE.
SECOND, I JUST WANT TO UNDERSCORE THAT POINT ISABEL IS ACTUALLY VERY MUCH A REGIONAL RESOURCE.
IT DRAWS ITS USERS EVERY DAY FROM THE BROAD DIVERSE URBAN POPULATION ACROSS BOTH COUNTIES.
DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO PLACER AI DATA, BUT I DID GET THE CHANCE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO TO ANALYZE THE MEMBERSHIP LISTS OF POINT ISABEL DOG OWNERS OR PIDO.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW THAT PIDO IS A 40-YEAR-OLD NON-PROFIT THAT WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE PARK DISTRICT.
OF THE 2,400 MEMBER HOUSEHOLDS ON PIDOS LIST, I WAS SURPRISED TO FIND THAT THE LARGEST GROUP BY CITY IS ACTUALLY OAKLAND RESIDENTS.
IMPROVING NORTH POINT ISABEL WILL PROVIDE A REGIONAL BENEFIT IN ADDITION TO KEEPING BAY WATERS CLEAN, AND ULTIMATELY, OF COURSE, PROTECTING WILDLIFE AND HABITAT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JOSH SONNENFELD, YOU MAY MUTE YOURSELF.
>> HEY THERE. GOOD EVENING DIRECTORS.
MY NAME IS JOSH SONNENFELD, AND I'M A CONCORD RESIDENT, AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE ADVISORY BOARD FOR THE PORT CHICAGO ALLIANCE.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO THANK THE BOARD FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50, AND THE PROPOSED BUDGET ALLOCATION TOWARDS COMPLETING THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT.
AS YOU KNOW, THIS PARK IS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CULTURAL, HISTORICAL AND ECOLOGICAL PROJECTS IN THE REGION.
IT HONORS THE PORT CHICAGO 50 AND THE THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN SAILORS WHO SERVED AND FOUGHT DISCRIMINATION.
IT ALSO REFLECTS THE DEEPER STORY OF THIS LANDSCAPE, INDIGENOUS HISTORY, PROTECTED HABITAT AND SPECIES, AND THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF WOMEN, LATINO LEADERS, SUCH AS SECRETARY CARLOS DEL TORO, AND API LEADERS, INCLUDING THURGOOD MARSHALL JUNIOR.
THE PROMPT DEVELOPMENT AND OPENING OF THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD SECTION OF THE PARK IS LONG AWAITED, HAS STRONG SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY, AND THROUGHOUT THE BAY AREA, BOTH FOR EXPANDING ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS IN CONCORD IN THE REGION AND SHARING THIS NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT CIVIL RIGHTS STORY.
WE CAN'T TELL FROM THE MEETING PACKET IF THIS FUNDING IS SUFFICIENT TO COVER THE FULL COST OF THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD SECTION OPENING. WE HOPE THAT IT IS.
IF NOT, WE WOULD ASK THAT YOU PLEASE ENSURE ADEQUATE MEASURE WW FUNDING IS INCLUDED TO SEE THROUGH TO THE PROMPT COMPLETION AND OPENING OF THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD SECTION OF THE PARK.
LEVERAGING THE FUNDS ALREADY CONTRIBUTED THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF STATE SENATOR GRAYSON.
THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR THIS PARK AND WE WANT TO KEEP THIS MOMENTUM GOING.
THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR LONGSTANDING SUPPORT OF THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
WE LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH YOU TO REALIZE THE INCREDIBLE POTENTIAL AND STRONG INTEREST AND SUPPORT FOR THIS PARK AS A VALUE NEW ADDITION TO THE PARK DISTRICT. THANKS AGAIN.
>> ALICE FRIEDEMANN, YOU MAY A MUTE YOURSELF.
I LIVE IN OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, AND I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE HARD WORK YOU'RE DOING AND I LOVE THE REGIONAL PARKS.
NOW I'M GOING TO GO BACK IN TIME TO 2014 WHEN I WROTE MATTHEW GROW,
[02:25:04]
YOUR DISTRICT CHIEF OF STEWARDSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS IN LAKE TEMESCAL.HE WROTE BACK THAT THE DISTRICT WERE EVALUATING OPTIONS TO DREDGE THE LAKE FOR A LONG TERM FIX.
I WROTE SEVERAL LETTERS AFTER THAT AND WAS DELIGHTED WHEN THE DREDGING FEASIBILITY REPORT WAS FINALLY CREATED BY ANCHOR QA IN 2019.
YET HERE IT IS, SIX YEARS LATER, WITH NO PROGRESS AND NOT ENOUGH MONEY BUDGETED TO DO THE STUDIES, THE ANCHOR REPORT LISTED AS THE NEXT STEPS BEFORE A PROJECT COULD BE PUT OUT TO BID.
WHICH JEFF KHAN MENTIONED EARLIER, THE SEDIMENT CHARACTERIZATION, THE GEOTECHNICAL ENVIRONMENTAL SQA PERMITS AND MORE, WHICH WOULD COST 1.57 MILLION IN $2019.
THE BUDGET PROPOSAL YOU WILL VOTE ON LATER THIS EVENING INCLUDES ONLY HALF OF THAT, 800,000.
SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, EAST BAY POLITICAL LEADERS JOINED TO URGE THE DISTRICT TO TAKE THE LAKE TEMESCAL DREDGING RESTORATION PROJECT OFF THE BACK BURNER.
I DO NOT THINK THE WEIGHT OF THIS LETTER TO THE GENERAL MANAGER AND BOARD MEMBERS FROM STATE SENATOR JESSE EIGEN, STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER BUFFY WICKS, OAKLAND MAYOR BARBARA LEE, AND OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER ZACH UNGER, HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN TERMS OF REVISIONS TO YOUR CAPITAL PROJECTS DECISIONS.
THEY WROTE YOU, URGING THE DISTRICT BOARD TO COMMIT TO RESTORING LAKE TEMESCAL BY INCREASING THE FUNDING IN 2026 AND FUTURE YEARS TO IMPLEMENT THE LAKE TEMESCAL DREDGING PROJECT, AND DIRECT THE STAFF TO IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISH A TIMELINE TO COMPLETE THE DREDGING PROJECT, AND PREPARE A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL IN THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.
LAKE TEMESCAL IS LOCATED WITHIN THE DENSE URBAN CORE OF OAKLAND AND BERKELEY.
IT IS USED BY A QUARTER OF 1 MILLION PEOPLE A YEAR.
OAKLAND WANTS THIS HISTORIC PARK RESTORED TO HEALTH NOT LEFT TO CONTINUE TO DECAY INTO A SWAMP.
FARID NABKIL, YOU MAY MUTE YOURSELF.
>> HELLO. MY NAME IS FARID NAPKO, AND I'M REPRESENTING THE FRIENDS OF CONCORD CREEKS AND MYSELF.
I'M A CONCORD RESIDENT, AND I LIVE NEAR THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
I'VE ATTENDED SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD THERE OVER THE YEARS, AND IT REALLY IS A SPECTACULAR AREA AND HAS SOME BEAUTIFUL VIEWS.
I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR CONTINUING TO SUPPORT THE PARK AND SPECIFICALLY THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD, PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT.
I URGE YOU TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OMITTING THE FULL FUNDING THAT IS REQUIRED TO OPEN THIS SECTION OF THE PARK WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY.
IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO OTHERS IN MY COMMUNITY AS WELL.
YOU HEARD FROM JOSH EARLIER ABOUT THE HISTORICAL IMPORTANCE OF THE PARK.
I JUST WANT TO CLOSE BY SAYING PLEASE KEEP THIS SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD, PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT MOVING FORWARD AND THANK YOU AGAIN.
>> THANK YOU. SCOTT BARTABER, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> DIRECTORS AND STAFF. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT.
I'M SCOTT BARTABER COMMENTING ON BEHALF OF THE BICYCLE TRAILS COUNCIL OF THE EAST BAY AND OUR MEMBERS.
ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES HAVEN'T COME ALONG AT THE 75, 25 DESIGN SPLIT FOR MEASURE WW.
THE ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES AND NEED FOR WW FUNDS FOR ACQUISITIONS HAVE COME ABOUT MUCH SLOWER THAN DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
THE 25% ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED FOR DEVELOPMENT IS NEARLY COMPLETELY SPENT WHILE MUCH OF THE ACQUISITION ALLOCATION REMAINS UNUSED.
STRICT ADHERENCE TO THE ORIGINAL 75% DESIGNATED FOR ACQUISITION WOULD MEAN DEVELOPMENT VIA WW FUNDS IS NEARLY DONE.
THE DISTRICT HAS SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENT NEEDS THAT SHOULDN'T WAIT FOR COMPLETION OF THE DESIRED WW ACQUISITIONS OR A NEW BOND MEASURE TO BE PASSED.
MEASURE WW WAS PASSED TO ACCOMPLISH BOTH ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT.
IT IS KEY TO MAINTAIN FUNDS AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITION WHEN PROPERTIES BECOME AVAILABLE, BUT TO ALSO CONTINUE DEVELOPMENT WORK.
BOTH ARE PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS AND KEY TO PASSING THE NEXT BOND MEASURE.
SEVERELY RESTRICTING DEVELOPMENT WHILE WAITING FOR ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES WILL NOT MEET PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS.
ACTUAL WW FUNDS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH
[02:30:03]
PLANNED ACQUISITIONS AND A SCHEDULE IS ALSO LIKELY HARD TO FORECAST DECADES INTO THE FUTURE.THE BOARD CAN EXERCISE GOOD JUDGMENT IN BOTH MAINTAINING SUFFICIENT ACQUISITION RESERVES FOR OPPORTUNITIES WHILE ALSO COMPLETING MUCH NEEDED DEVELOPMENT TO DELIVER ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE THAT THE PUBLIC ALSO EXPECTS.
WE ASK THAT YOU CONTINUE TO EXERCISE THE AUTHORITY THAT MEASURE WW AFFORDS YOU IN ADJUSTING THE PROJECT LIST OVER TIME IN RESPONSE TO THE SLOWER PACE OF ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES AND ONGOING FUNDING DEVELOPMENT NEEDS IN THE MEANTIME.
DURING MEASURE WW, OVER 29,000 ACRES HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED AND $84 MILLION OF ACQUISITION FUNDS USED.
IF THE REMAINING 180 MILLION IN ORIGINALLY ALLOCATED ACQUISITION FUNDING WERE TO BE APPLIED AS EFFICIENTLY, IT COULD ACQUIRE 62,000 MORE ACRES.
IF IT IS ONLY HALF AS EFFICIENT, IT WOULD STILL YIELD OVER 30,000 ADDITIONAL ACRES OF ACQUISITION, WHICH IS ALMOST DOUBLE THE ACQUISITION IN THE PAST 16 YEARS.
THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT THE RATE OF ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES WILL MAINTAIN, LET ALONE DOUBLE THE RATE SEEN DURING MEASURE WW THUS FAR.
IT IS LIKELY THAT THE DISTRICT WILL MAINTAIN ITS ABILITY TO LEVERAGE OUTSIDE FUNDING BASED ON ITS STRONG TRACK RECORD OF GRANT FUND STEWARDSHIP AND POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH STATE LAWMAKERS.
WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER THESE PERSPECTIVES IN YOUR DECISIONS ON MEASURE WW ALLOCATIONS AND THE CIP BUDGET.
THE DISTRICT IS DELIVERING ON PROMISES FOR ACQUISITION.
GOOD JUDGMENT CAN BUILD A STRONGER CASE ON DELIVERING ON DEVELOPMENT, ACCESS, AND MAINTENANCE PROMISES AS WELL.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> LINDA HALL, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THIS IS LINDA HALL. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> LINDA HALL HERE. I'M A RESIDENT OF WALNUT CREEK.
I'M ALSO A MEMBER OF THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY IN THE EAST BAY CHAPTER, ALTHOUGH I AM SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF MYSELF.
I'M GOING TO OFFER SOME COMMENTS TODAY ON A VERY SPECIFIC PART OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET.
THAT IS THE DOLLAR AMOUNT THAT IS CURRENTLY PROPOSED FOR NATURAL EXCUSE ME RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP IN 2026.
BASED ON THE BUDGET WE REVIEWED, OF COURSE, WHICH WAS PRIOR TO THE NUMBERS PRESENTED TONIGHT.
THE BUDGET REPRESENTED JUST ABOUT 2.6% OF THE OVERALL BUDGET OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS, AN AMOUNT THAT I FEEL REALLY STRONGLY IS SIMPLY INADEQUATE FOR STEWARDSHIP TO SUCCESSFULLY WORK TOWARDS MEETING THE MISSION OF THE PARKS, WHICH, IF I PARAPHRASE, IS ESSENTIALLY TO PRESERVE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.
THE REGIONAL PARKS ARE A REALLY WONDERFUL RESOURCE FOR HUMANS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEY PROVIDE A VERY IMPORTANT REFUGE FOR THE WILDLIFE, THE NATIVE PLANTS, THE NATIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE WITHIN THEM.
THOSE PLANT COMMUNITIES SUPPORT ESSENTIAL HABITAT FOR A DIVERSITY OF SPECIES AT A TIME WHEN BOTH PLANTS AND WILDLIFE ARE UNDER INCREASING STRESS FROM GARING HUMAN POPULATIONS IN THE BAY AREA, CLIMATE CHANGE, INVASIVE SPECIES, AND SOMETIMES FUEL MANAGEMENT OR PARK DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES AMONG OTHERS.
PROTECTING AND MANAGING NATIVE HABITATS IN THE FACE OF THESE STRESSORS IS A KEY ROLE OF STEWARDSHIP STAFF, AND THEY BOTH NEED AND DESERVE MUCH MORE FINANCIAL SUPPORT THAN THE CURRENT BUDGET IDENTIFIES.
WE RECOGNIZE THAT STEWARDSHIP STAFF HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE OPERATION STAFF TO WORK ON CERTAIN PROJECTS, AND THAT THAT TYPE OF COOPERATION DOES INCREASE THEIR OVERALL REACH, IF YOU WILL.
BUT THAT INTERDEPARTMENTAL COOPERATION IS NOT ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE BIOLOGIC RESOURCES OF THE PARK, AND IT WOULD BE FAR PREFERABLE TO INCREASE THE FUNDING OF STEWARDSHIP, INCLUDING INCREASE THE PERMANENT STAFFING OF STEWARDSHIP, SO THAT THEY HAVE RELIABLE AND KNOWN RESOURCES AS THEY PLAN AND EXECUTE THEIR CRITICAL PROJECTS.
IN CLOSING, I JUST WANT TO URGE YOU TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASE THE BUDGET FOR STEWARDSHIP AND TO INCREASE IT TO AN AMOUNT THAT IS COMMENSURATE WITH THEIR CRITICAL RESPONSIBILITIES. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. JUDY SCHWARTZ, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
I LIVE IN WALNUT CREEK, AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE EAST BAY CHAPTER OF CNPS.
I REQUEST THAT YOU CREATE A BUDGET ITEM TO REPAIR EROSION ON HIKER ONLY TRAILS.
THE ORIGINAL BUDGET PROPOSED A TOTAL COST OF ALMOST $42 MILLION FOR NEW BIKER AND TIE TRAILS.
I'M GLAD TO SEE THE ALTERNATIVE BUDGET WILL NOT MOVE AS MUCH ACQUISITION FUNDING FOR NEW CAPITAL PROJECTS.
I WILL SEND YOU PHOTOS OF MY POOR HUSBAND WHO HAD A STROKE AND HAS BALANCE ISSUES,
[02:35:06]
STRUGGLING TO CLIMB SLIPPERY SLOPES AND STEPS THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED ON THE LUPINE TRAIL IN TILDEN, THE CHAPARL LOOP TRAIL AND BLACK DIAMOND MINES, AND OTHER TRAILS.VOLUNTEERS CAN MAKE A LIST OF ERODED HIKER ONLY TRAILS THAT NEED TO BE REPAIRED.
PLEASE WORK ON REDESIGNING TRAILS WHERE MULTI-USE TRAILS END ON HIKER ONLY TRAILS.
THIS OCCURS IN BLACK DIAMOND MINES WHERE A MULTI-USE RIDGE TRAIL ENDS ON THE CHAPARRAL LOOP.
THE CHAPARRAL LOOP TRAIL HAS SENSITIVE HABITAT AND IS ONLY ABOUT ONE MILE LONG.
THIS ALSO OCCURS ON A SHORT, BEAUTIFUL, HIKER ONLY SECTION OF THE RIDGE CALAVERAS TRAIL IN LAS TRAMPAS.
A MULTI-USE TRAIL ENDS AT THE CALAVERAS TRAIL.
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN PUSHED OFF THESE TRAILS BY CLASS THREE E-BIKES.
THIS TRAIL ALONG THE RIDGE IS NARROW WITH A FRAGILE HABITAT.
I SAW A BABY, ALAMEDA WHIP SNAKE ON THE SIDE OF THE TRAIL THIS SPRING.
THE TRAIL WAS A LITTLE OVER 12 INCHES WIDE WHERE I SAW THE SNAKE, WHICH IS NO PLACE FOR ANY KIND OF BIKE.
HOWEVER, I NOTICED IN THE BUDGET A CALAVERAS RIDGE TRAIL DEVELOPMENT FOR TOTAL COSTS OF $625,000.
THERE'S ANOTHER HIKER ONLY TRAIL LEADING FROM MORGAN TERRITORY TO MOUNT DIABLO CALLED THE TASSAJARA CREEK TRAIL.
THERE'S A BUDGET ITEM OF $2,650,000 FOR THIS TRAIL.
BOARD MEMBERS, CAN YOU TELL ME IF THE MONEY FOR THESE TWO TRAILS IS TO TURN THEM INTO MULTI-USE TRAILS? PLEASE ADD TO THE BUDGET A PLAN TO REPAIR EROSION, A NARROW SINGLE TRACK HIKER ONLY TRAILS.
HIKERS WHO COMPRISE 80% OF THE USERS OF EAST BAY PARKS NEED SOME SPECIAL QUIET TRAILS WITHOUT BIKES.
AS A LONG-TERM PARKS USER, COULD YOU PLEASE CREATE NEW HIKER ONLY TRAILS? THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND FOR CONSIDERING OUR INPUT.
>> HIRAM CRITTENDEN, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> I'M DR. SON OF PORT CHICAGO SAILOR, JACK P CRITTENDEN.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO THE PRESIDENT BOARD DIRECTORS, BOARD MEMBERS, AND GENERAL MANAGER.
WE APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TONIGHT AND TO SHARE WHAT THIS MOMENT MEANS FOR OUR FAMILY AND FOR THE FAMILIES OF ALL THE SAILORS WHO STOOD UP AT PORT CHICAGO.
WE WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND THANK THE PARK DISTRICT FOR THE PROGRESS BEING MADE TOWARD OPENING THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
FOR MANY YEARS, THE STORY OF THESE SAILORS, INCLUDING MY FATHER-IN-LAW, WAS OVERLOOKED OR MISUNDERSTOOD.
SEEING THIS PART MOVE FORWARD IS POWERFUL.
IT MEANS THEIR COURAGE, THEIR SACRIFICE, AND THEIR ROLE IN CHANGING OUR NATION'S HISTORY ARE FINALLY BE RECOGNIZED IN A WAY THAT THE PUBLIC CAN LEARN FROM AND HONOR.
WE ALSO WANT TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION FOR THE 14 MILLION AND MEASURE WW FUNDS THAT HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO THIS PARTICULAR PROJECT.
THAT INVESTMENT SHOWS A REAL COMMITMENT TO PRESERVING THIS HISTORY AND MAKING SURE THE STORIES OF THE PORT CHICAGO SELLERS ARE NOT LONG LOST TO TIME.
ON BEHALF OF MY FAMILY, AND THEM MEMORY OF OUR FATHER.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND FOR HONORING THE MEN OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50 THROUGH THIS WORK.
YOUR EFFORTS AFFIRM THAT WHAT THEY ENDURED AND WHAT THEY FOUGHT FOR STILL MATTERS TODAY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THANK YOU. PEOPLE'S FAMILY, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD EVENING. I'M BOB PEOPLES AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING UP A CENTRAL, BUT I THINK DIFFICULT ISSUE ARISING FROM THE DISTRICT'S PROPOSED 2026 CIP BUDGET.
THE GENESIS OF THIS ISSUE IS THE IMMENSE AND RAPIDLY GROWING BACKLOG OF RENOVATION, MODERNIZATION, AND REPLACEMENT NEEDS IN OLDER PARKS, ALONG WITH PROVIDING ACCESS TO LAND ADDED IN RECENT YEARS.
[02:40:02]
THESE NEEDS ARE FAR GREATER THAN ALL THE AVAILABLE FUNDING NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THEM.AS FAR AS I CAN DETERMINE, THERE HASN'T BEEN AN AGGRESSIVE EFFORT TO ADDRESS THIS UNDERLYING PROBLEM.
ADOPTING A BUDGET BY THE END OF THE YEAR IS ESSENTIAL, BUT AMENDING IT TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE NEED FOR FUNDS DIVERTED FROM WW ACQUISITION SHOULD BE A BARE MINIMUM.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THAT IMMENSE NEED FOR FUNDING IN THE FUTURE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND FINDING WAYS TO PROVIDE THE LARGE AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING NEEDED MUST BE ADDRESSED AND IT SHOULD BEGIN NEXT YEAR IN THE COMING YEAR.
I THINK IT NEED SOME RAPID, RIGOROUS AND COMPREHENSIVE QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS AND PRIORITIES, AND NEED TO ADDRESS HOW SUCH EXTENSIVE NEEDS CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVELY MANAGED AND ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES THAT MIGHT BE NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH THAT.
I THINK MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN TERMS OF GETTING THE NECESSARY FUNDINGS, A SUBSTANTIAL NEW BOND MEASURE TO FUND THAT DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED.
IT SHOULD BE PRESENTED FOR APPROVAL BY THE ELECTORATE IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE YEARS.
EVEN THOUGH MEASURE WW'S ACQUISITION FUNDS AREN'T NEAR DEPLETION.
THIS IS A DIFFICULT MESSAGE, BUT MY COMMENTS ARE INTENDED TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE IN THE INTEREST OF THE DISTRICT'S FUTURE.
>> THANK YOU. DOCTOR ANT TANISHA WILLIAMSON, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> AWESOME. GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT, BOARD MEMBERS AND GENERAL MANAGER.
MY NAME IS DR. ANTHONY WILLIAMSON, AND I SERVE AS THE CHAIR OF THE NACP ARMED SERVICES AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FOR THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND HAWAII.
I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANT WORK THE PARK DISTRICT IS GOING TO MOVE TERCER MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50 TOWARDS OPENING.
THIS HISTORY IS DEEPLY MEANINGFUL TO OUR VETERANS, OUR COMMUNITY, AND OUR NATION, AND IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THIS PROJECT CONTINUE TO MAKE PROGRESS.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALLOCATING $14 MILLION IN MEASURE WW FUNDS TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.
THAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT SHOWS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT UNDERSTANDS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS SITE AND IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE STORY OF THE PORT CHICAGO SAILORS IS SHARED WITH THE HONOR AND VISIBILITY IT DESERVES.
ON BEHALF OF THE NACP ARMED SERVICES AND VETERANS AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, I APPRECIATE YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND YOUR DEDICATION TO BRINGING THIS HISTORIC SITE FORWARD FOR THE PUBLIC. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY BOARD COMMENTS?
>> THESE WERE JUST QUICK LITTLE QUESTIONS FROM THE BUDGET.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION FOR IN THE GENERAL MANORS OFFICE, AS FAR AS WHEN DO WE NORMALLY GET THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE PARK DISTRICT REPORT BECAUSE IT REFERENCES THAT AS FAR AS AN ANNUAL REPORT THAT LETS US SEE THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
>> I HAVE NO IDEA. [LAUGHTER] I CAN FIND THAT OUT AND GET BACK TO YOU.
>> SOME OF THESE, THAT'S WHY I JUST PUT THEM AT THE END.
THERE'S JUST ONE THAT'S A QUESTION I CAN ADDRESS.
THEN AS FAR AS ON C11, IT SAYS THAT THE OFFICE OF EQUITY WORKS ON CARRYING OUT THE WORK PLAN IDENTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 2023 BUDGET.
DO WE REVISIT THAT RESOLUTION OR BECAUSE IT SAYS OUR WORK PLAN IS BASED ON THAT INITIAL RESOLUTION.
DO WE EVER REVISIT THAT RESOLUTION?
>> SORRY, I WAS WRITING IN A NOTE ABOUT THE STATE OF THE PARK REP. WHAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF THAT QUESTION?
>> THIS WAS ON C11, AND IT JUST SAYS THAT
[02:45:02]
THE OFFICE OF EQUITIES DEPARTMENT FOR THE DESCRIPTION IN THE BUDGET, THAT THEY CARRY OUT THE WORK PLAN IDENTIFIED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESOLUTION ON DENOUNCING THE SYSTEMATIC RACISM.BASICALLY, THAT TEAM WAS ESTABLISHED IN THE 2023 BUDGET.
DO WE GO BACK AND RE LOOK AT THAT RESOLUTION OR?
>> YOUR BOARD CERTAINLY COULD, I THINK THE EQUITY OFFICER IS PLANNING TO GIVE AN UPDATE IN JANUARY TO YOUR BOARD.
I ASKED HIM TO REACH OUT TO ALL OF YOU IN ADVANCE JUST TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT HIS WORK AND HAPPY TO INCLUDE ANYTHING THAT IS HELPFUL IN THAT REPORT IN JANUARY.
>> THEN, LIKE ON C96, THIS IS FOR PARK OPERATIONS UNIT 4.
I JUST HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE INCREASES OF SERVICES FOR THE DIFFERENT SHORELINE PARKS.
SOME OF IN THE SERVICES AREA, THE BUDGETS INCREASE, ANYWHERE FROM 70 IN THE SERVICES PART, ANYWHERE FROM 71% TO OVER 1,000%, WHERE THE SERVICES IN THE NON SHORELINE PARKS, THERE'S LIKE ZERO CHANGE IN THE BUDGET 2025-2026.
JUST WANTED BECAUSE MOST OF SHORELINE PARKS ARE WITHIN MY WAR AND THERE'S DIFFERENT ISSUES PRESENTING.
WOULD HAVE DRIVEN UP THE COST AND SERVICES IN THAT.
>> DO YOU KNOW LISA? EITHER LISA CAN HELP ANSWER OR WE CAN GET BACK TO YOU BECAUSE.
I DON'T KNOW IF THE TOP OF MY HEAD MAYBE KATIE CAN HELP TOO.
>> HI. THIS IS LISA GORGON, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OVER OPERATIONS.
THANK YOU. I'M SO EXCITED TO ANSWER A QUESTION.
WE INCLUDED THE INCREASES, THE SAND.
EVERY YEAR, WE DO SAND MOVING.
THAT WAS ONE OF THE PHOTOS FROM THE PRESENTATION FROM THE OPERATIONS BUDGET UPDATE FROM THE 18TH, AND SO WE'RE ADDING.
ONE IS THE COST OF THE EQUIPMENT HAS GONE UP, BUT THEN ALSO WE'RE PRELOADING THE AMOUNT THAT WE GET REIMBURSED FROM BY THE CITY OF ALAMEDA, SO THEY PAY FOR HALF.
I THINK IT'S ABOUT 65,000 THAT WE GET.
I THINK IN THE PAST, IT JUST HASN'T BEEN INCLUDED AND SO WE PAY FOR IT AND THEN WE GET REIMBURSED.
BUT THIS TIME WE ADDED IT IN THE BUDGET, WE FRONTLOADED IT, IS THAT FAIR TO SAY? I'M LOOKING AT KATIE, THE FINANCE.
BUT THAT'S WHAT THE DISCREPANCY IS.
I THINK THAT COVERS MOST OF IT.
>> ALSO, THERE WAS AN INCREASE AT JOHN SUTTER, MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND MCLAUGHLIN, EAST SHORE.
>> YES. JUDGE JOHN SUTTER IS PART OF THE CROWN BEACH BUDGET.
THEY'RE ALL IT'S ALL PART OF THAT UNIT.
I'LL FOLLOW UP WITH YOU FOR A LITTLE BIT MORE SPECIFICITY.
I THINK THE SHORELINE PARKS HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN THEIR SERVICES JUST BECAUSE OF SOME OF THOSE INCREASE MAMMALS THAT, WE TALKED ABOUT THE WHALES THAT HAVE ENDED UP ON THE BEACH THAT NEED TO BE REMOVED, AND THEY'VE HAD SOME OTHER ISSUES WITH REGARD TO SOME OF THE IMPACTS WITH THE HIGH TIDES SEASONALLY.
I'LL CERTAINLY GET BACK TO YOU.
>> THAT SOUNDS GREAT BECAUSE AMONG MOST OF THE UNITS, EVERYTHING HAD CHANGED FROM AS FAR AS IN SERVICES, ALMOST BY 0% FROM 2025-2026, AND IT WAS JUST THE SHORELINE PARK.
DEFINITELY HAD WANTED TO UNDERSTAND THAT A LITTLE BETTER AND WHAT'S CONTRIBUTING TO THAT.
BUT THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME KNOW ABOUT THE FRONT.
>> THEN JUST THAT WAS IT FOR THE UNIT 1.
THEN I JUST HAD ONE QUESTION REGARDING THE GOALS FOR THE IT DEPARTMENT ON C73.
IT JUST SAID THAT THEY HAD FINALIZED A STRATEGIC IT PLAN.
[02:50:04]
I THOUGHT WE HAD ONLY SEEN A DRAFT OF AN ASSESSMENT, AND THIS WAS FOR THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS FROM 2025.I ASSUME THAT WASN'T A FINALIZED STRATEGY UNLESS THERE WAS A FINALIZED STRATEGIC IT PLAN THAT WAS SEPARATE FROM THE LAST ASSESSMENT THAT WE SAW.
>> HI THERE DEP VALVING AGM OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES.
I THINK THE INTENT WAS TO FINALIZE THIS STRATEGIC IT PLAN BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
PERHAPS WE PUT THAT IN TOO EARLY, AND IT'S.
WE SHOULD NOT HAVE THAT IN AS A COMPLETED BY THE END OF 2025.
SOMETIMES WE WRITE THESE OBJECTIVES LIKE IN JUNE AND JULY AND THEN WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING AND WE'LL HAVE TO CORRECT THAT. THANK YOU.
JUST LIKE I THINK THE LAST THING THAT I JUST WANTED TO ASK ABOUT WAS A MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BECAUSE I SAW THAT AS A FUND, AND I KNOW THERE'S SOME DIFFERENT INTERNS THAT ARE KEPT IN THE GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE, I THINK IN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.
BUT COULD I JUST HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. INTERNS.
>> I CAN SAY I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT ITEM.
>> IT'S IN THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 255, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. INTERN.
>> WE'LL SEE IF FOLKS KNOW ABOUT IT OTHERWISE, WE MIGHT HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU.
>> SORRY I MISSED THIS THE FIRST ROUND.
>> BUT IT LOOK LIKE THERE ARE TWO QUESTIONS.
>> WE'LL NOTE IT AND MAKE SURE WE GET BACK TO YOU ON IT.
>> I JUST WANTED TO SAY, THANK YOU.
I KNOW THAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN PUTTING IN A LOT OF WORK ON THIS BUDGET.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC AND THEN ALSO FROM STAFF AND BOARD MEMBERS, AND JUST THANK YOU FOR YOUR CREATIVITY.
I'M PUTTING TOGETHER DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES, BUT THEN ALSO TAKING TIME AS FAR AS TO REACH OUT TO THE UNION AND LOOK AT DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES TOO, AND THEN ALSO RETHINK SOME OF THE LARGER MOVEMENTS SUCH AS IT AND PUTTING THAT ON THE BACK FOR. THANK YOU.
I ALSO WANTED TO THANK PEOPLE FOR ALL THE WORK THEY'VE PUT INTO THIS AND TO THANK EVERYBODY HERE WHO CAME TO SPEAK AND BRUCE FOR REPRESENTING THE PARK AND ALL OF OUR OTHER FOLKS OUT HERE BECAUSE IT REALLY IS HARD, ESPECIALLY ON THE CAPITAL AND INVESTMENT PROJECTS, AND I CAN LOOK AT IT A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT WAYS, AND I CERTAINLY FEEL LIKE WE DO HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE PROJECTS THAT IF WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FUNDS, THAT THEY NEED TO BE JUSTIFIABLE PROJECTS.
I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE ONES THAT THE STAFF IS PROPOSING IN THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL ARE JUSTIFIABLE.
I WILL TAKE YET ANOTHER LOOK THROUGH TO SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING MISSING THERE AND I CERTAINLY YOU GUYS CAN DO THE SAME.
BECAUSE CERTAINLY, YES, ABSOLUTELY, WE WANT TO KEEP MONEY FOR ACQUISITIONS, WE WANT TO KEEP OUR PROMISES.
BUT I ALSO KNOW BOTH BASED ON POLLING AND BOTH ON CONVERSATION THAT THERE IS AN EXPECTATION THAT WE WILL OPEN PARKS AND THAT WE WILL PRESERVE PARKS AND IN SOME INSTANCES LIKE POINT ISABEL, IF WE DON'T DO THAT WORK, NOT ONLY IS IT HAZARDOUS, BUT THAT MONEY WILL GO AWAY, THE HALF THAT THE $5 MILLION THAT THE STATE IS PUTTING IN.
THERE IS SOME URGENCY TO SOME OF THESE PROJECTS AND ANYWAY, BUT I DID WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THEIR THOUGHTS BECAUSE IT CERTAINLY IT'S A COMPLICATED ISSUE, AND I THINK WE ALL BENEFIT FROM HAVING THE CONVERSATION.
>> YES. I'D REALLY LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE, BOTH MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND OUR PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, OUR PAC, AS WELL AS OUR STAFF FOR REALLY PUTTING TOGETHER THIS TIMELINE THAT WAS PRESENTED EARLIER, THE NICE ARROW CHART.
[02:55:01]
I THINK THAT THIS IS A BIG DECISION OR A NUMBER OF BIG DECISIONS THAT WE'RE MAKING.I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS THOUGH WITH HOW WE APPROACH OUR BUDGETING AND MAYBE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT PREPARING FOR THE 2027 BUDGET, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US TRY TO FLIP THINGS A LITTLE BIT.
I FEEL LIKE SOMETIMES WE'RE TRYING TO DRIVE POLICY THROUGH THE BUDGET, WHEN IT REALLY SHOULD BE THAT OUR POLICY DECISIONS ARE REFLECTED IN THE BUDGET.
I WORRY ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE EQUITY STATEMENT AND SAYING THAT THE BOARD HAD APPROVED IT ON PAGE A ONE WHEN WE HADN'T, AND I WORRY THAT IF THAT HADN'T BEEN CAUGHT THAT BY APPROVING THE BUDGET, THEN WE APPROVED THE EQUITY STATEMENT, WHEN IT SHOULD BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
WE SHOULD APPROVE THE EQUITY STATEMENT FIRST AND THEN THAT MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE BUDGET.
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S OTHER ITEMS HIDDEN IN HERE THAT WEREN'T CAUGHT AND THAT DOES GIVE ME SOME PAUSE, BUT I THINK WE ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO FIND THESE ITEMS, AND I DO APPRECIATE THAT WORK THAT WE'RE DOING TOGETHER.
IN TERMS OF THE REORGANIZATION, AND I TRY NOT TO GET TOO INTO THE WEEDS ON THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT SOME OF THESE DECISIONS ARE NOT MADE BY THE BOARD.
AT THE SAME TIME, NOT SURE IF THERE ARE THESE HIDDEN COSTS AND I THINK SOME OF THE HIDDEN COSTS CAN COME FROM ANYTIME THERE'S ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE.
IT HAS TO BE MANAGED VERY WELL IN TERMS OF MAKING SURE THAT WE CONSIDER EMPLOYEE MORALE AND THE POTENTIAL FOR ATTRITION RATES.
I THINK ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE OUR GIS DEPARTMENT.
WE JUST HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF PUBLIC SPEAKERS TALKING ABOUT MAPPING AN INVENTORY OF ECOLOGICALLY DIVERSE AND SPECIAL SPECIES AREAS.
I KNOW OUR GIS DEPARTMENT IS ACTUALLY IS VERY HIGHLY REGARDED.
I KNOW A LOT OF MY LIVERMORE AREA TRAILS, FOLKS, SAY SO MANY GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR GIS DEPARTMENT.
I JUST WANT TO STATE THAT RIGHT NOW.
THEY REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE AMAZING MAPS AND INFORMATION THAT'S PROVIDED.
I JUST WORRY MOVING INTO THE IT GROUP, IT'S GOING TO TURN INTO A TICKETING SYSTEM THAT MAY NOT BE AS EFFICIENT AND THEN COULD THAT POTENTIALLY CREATE SOME VACANCIES IN THIS REALLY HIGHLY REGARDED DEPARTMENT.
I JUST USE IT AS AN EXAMPLE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL.
I DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DECIDE EITHER WAY.
THAT'S UP TO THE ACTING GENERAL MANAGER TO MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR ITEM.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I COMMENT ABOUT THAT HERE.
I APPRECIATE THE CHANGES, MY TWO BIG ONES.
I HEARD THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE ADDING BACK THE LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARKS DISTRICT PAGE, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY IMPORTANT.
IT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING FOR THE PAST SO MANY YEARS.
NOW, MAYBE AS WE APPROACH THE 2027 BUDGET, IF WE WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENT DECISION, I'D LIKE TO SEE THAT COME BEFORE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND HAVE THAT POLICY DECISION THEN INFLUENCE THE BUDGET NOT HAVE US MAKE THE DECISION DURING THE BUDGET SEASON TO REMOVE THAT SECTION.
I THINK THAT IS A GOOD WAY TO PREPARE FOR THE ANNUAL BUDGET.
THEN FINALLY, I APPRECIATE HEARING ABOUT THE ANNUAL STATE OF THE PARK DISTRICT REPORT BECAUSE I ACTUALLY JUST FOUND WE DID USED TO HAVE WHEN I WAS A MEMBER OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE WOULD ALWAYS RECEIVE THAT DISTRICT REPORT EACH YEAR, I THINK, EITHER IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER AT THE TIME, AND IT ALSO WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH A VERY NICE SHORT, BROCHURE THAT JUST GAVE SOME HIGH LEVEL DATA POINTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
I ACTUALLY JUST FOUND TWO WEEKS AGO THE 2018 VERSION OF THAT.
I'D BE HAPPY TO FIND THAT AND SHARE THAT WITH YOU, MAX, JUST TO SEE WHAT WAS DONE IN THE PAST.
WE HAVE TO DO THAT IN THE FUTURE, BUT IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO KNOW WHAT WE DID IN THE PAST.
BUT IT IS A HELPFUL REPORT BECAUSE I DID LOOK THROUGH AND IT'S JUST NICE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2018, AND SO MAY BE SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.
SPEAKING OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTE DO WANT ALSO MAKE A COMMENT AND I KNOW THIS WILL COME UP AT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING THIS MONTH AND THEN THE FULL BOARD IN JANUARY.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, FINANCE COMMITTEE OR SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING QUARTERLY TO DISCUSS OUR BOND MEASURE REVIEW AND OTHER FINANCIAL TOPICS.
I KNOW EVERY YEAR I WAS ON THE PC, I WAS ON THE FINANCE COMMITTEE FOR 7.5 YEARS,
[03:00:03]
AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THAT GROUP AND I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.>> YES. I THINK THESE HAVE BEEN GREAT DISCUSSIONS, HONESTLY.
I CAN'T THANK STAFF ENOUGH FOR ALL THE EFFORTS THEY'VE DONE TO HEAR US.
I FEEL LIKE WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FIND A WAY THROUGH THIS.
I THINK I JUST ALSO WOULD STEP BACK IN ADDITION TO THE COMMENT ABOUT THAT HOW DO WE GET MORE MISSION-DRIVEN AND WITH THE BUDGET FOLLOWING.
HOW DO WE SET POLICY ON OUR MISSION AND THEN THE BUDGET REFLECTS THAT.
EVEN IN THE ATTACHMENT F, THE WW FUNDING UP TO TODAY.
THE MAJORITY OF THEM IN THE FIRST EIGHT YEARS, WERE ALL DONE THROUGH RESOLUTION, THROUGH DISCUSSION, AND I REALLY WISH WE HAD SOME TIME TO HAVE GONE THROUGH SOME OF THESE.
AS MENTIONED EARLIER, POT TO POT IS ACTUALLY A NO BRAINER, SOME OF THE ONES, I'M NOT GOING TO BE A BROKEN RECORD AND REPEAT THE ONES OVER AND OVER THAT I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH.
BUT DOING REORGANIZATION, RATHER THAN HAVING A SEPARATE MEETING IS SOMETHING I REALLY STILL WISH WE COULD SIT DOWN AND DO.
IT'S A LITTLE CONFUSING TO ME.
I READ THE WW BALLOT MEASURE IN THE REBUTTALS, AND THEY SPECIFICALLY SAID IN THE REBUTTAL THAT THE STRONGEST REBUTTAL WAS, DON'T VOTE FOR THIS.
THE PARK DISTRICT IS SO TOP-HEAVY.
LOOK AT HOW MUCH THEIR GENERAL MANAGER MAKES AND THINGS.
THE TWO TOGETHER ARE JUST CAUSING A LOT OF DISTRESS BECAUSE NOT ONLY THE PROMISES MADE PROMISES KEPT, THOSE AREN'T JUST WORDS.
I DO WORRY ABOUT THAT AT THE SAME TIME OF ADDING TOP-HEAVY STUFF AND WHERE'S THE VOICE FOR NATURE AND WHERE'S THE VOICE FOR SCIENCE AND WHERE'S THE VOICE OF THE VOTERS? AT THE SAME TIME, I HEAR LOUD AND CLEAR, THINGS LIKE POT TO POT AT THURGOOD MARSHALL.
IT SEEMS LIKE SOME OF THOSE ARE LESS CONTROVERSIAL.
I'M NOT EVEN SURE WHERE TO GO WITH THIS.
I ACTUALLY AM TEMPTED TO ASK THREE QUESTIONS AND I'M HOPING THIS IS APPROPRIATE, BUT I WANT TO PUT SOME STUFF TO REST IF THERE'S NO OTHER SUPPORT ON THE BOARD HONESTLY.
I GUESS MY FIRST QUESTION IS, I'M INTERESTED. WE'VE HEARD A LOT.
WE ACTUALLY GOT OVER A DOZEN COMMENT LETTERS NOT ONLY FROM OUR SENATOR AND OUR ASSEMBLYWOMAN AND THINGS ON LAKE TEMESCAL.
BUT I'M JUST CURIOUS AS PART OF THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
IS THERE ANY SECOND OR ANY INTEREST ON THIS BOARD OF TRYING TO ADDRESS THAT THROUGH THE BUDGET, OR WOULD THE BULK OF THE BOARD PREFER TO JUST NOT GO DOWN THAT PATH RIGHT NOW? I WOULD LIKE TO JUST KNOW THAT.
I KNOW IS THAT APPROPRIATE? DOES ANYBODY ELSE ON THE BOARD SUPPORT TRYING TO RE LOOK AT TEMESCAL MONEY? IN THIS CASE, ODDLY ADDING OR DOUBLING SO WE CAN GET TO THE 2019, AND IT'S OKAY IF THE ROOM IS SILENT.
>> THEN I ASK MY SECOND QUESTION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I HAVE A QUESTION TO YOUR QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO GO THERE, WE WOULD HAVE TO FIND OUT FROM STAFF, WHAT ARE WE REALLY LOOKING FOR NOW? BECAUSE I THINK THE COST THAT IT WAS IN 2019 IS PROBABLY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IT IS NOW.
I DON'T THINK IT'S A QUESTION OF DOUBLING.
I THINK AND THEN THERE'S ALL OF THE OTHER STUFF THAT YOU NEED TO DO AS WELL.
BUT I DO WANT TO SAY, I HEAR THE FRUSTRATION IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THIS WAS PROPOSED AND WHO KNOWS WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED AND WHY IT DIDN'T MOVE FORWARD.
BUT IT IS A VALUABLE SWIMMING AREA AND WE SHOULD DO SOMETHING BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE THING TO DO IS TO ADD MONEY WHEN WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT MONEY CAN ACTUALLY GO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] WELL, I JUST SAY, WE COULD USE AS MUCH MONEY AS POSSIBLE FOR THAT PROJECT, IT'S GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE PROJECT, AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE KNOW IS REALLY VALUABLE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND IMPORTANT.
THE 800,000 YEAR, I THINK THE WAY WE'RE SEEING THIS IS THAT WOULD HELP MOVE AT LEAST THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN PHASE FORWARD SO THAT WE WOULD HAVE SOME INITIAL COST ESTIMATES THAT COULD HELP US START FUND RAISING FOR THE LARGER PROJECT.
I THINK THAT 1.6 MILLION THAT WAS REFERENCED THAT WAS PART OF THE COST ESTIMATE WAS TO GET THE DESIGN FROM, NOT EVEN A CONCEPT YET, JUST FEASIBILITY STUDY ALL THE WAY THROUGH CDS, PASS THROUGH SQA AND THROUGH THE WHOLE DESIGN PHASE.
THAT WOULD BE AWESOME. I'M SURE THAT WILL TAKE PROBABLY MORE THAN 1.6 MILLION IN TODAY'S DOLLARS.
I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN EXACT ESTIMATE FOR IT?
[03:05:02]
THE 800,000 IS A ROUND NUMBER THAT WE THINK IS ENOUGH TO MOVE THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WORK.>> I GUESS THE QUESTION THEN IS, IF WE WERE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO LAKE TEMESCAL, IN THIS BUDGET, WOULD WE BE ABLE TO SPEND IT IN 2026?
>> LIKELY NOT IN 2026, BUT IT WOULD HELP BECAUSE, WE'D PROBABLY BE DOING THE DESIGN WORK IN THE CONCEPTUAL DESIGN WORK IN 2026.
I DON'T KNOW, REN, DO WE EVER ENTER INTO A BIGGER AGREEMENT FOR THE WHOLE DESIGN? I DON'T KNOW.
>> THIS IS REN BATES VISION LEAD OF DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION.
TO THE ACTING GENERAL MANAGER'S POINT.
IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE PROJECT.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET SOMEBODY ON BOARD.
COSTS HAVE INCREASED EXPEND MORE, NOT EXPONENTIALLY, BUT MORE THAN THE STANDARD 3-5% THAT WE WOULD EXPECT FOR ON A YEARLY BASIS SINCE 2019.
TO THAT END, I THINK TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, DIRECTOR ECCLES, IS THAT WE PROBABLY COULD NOT SPEND ALL THAT MONEY, TO ANSWER THE ACTING GMS QUESTION IS THAT, WE HAVE ENTERED INTO AGREEMENTS THAT ARE MULTI YEAR AND THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE THAT, WE FUND THAT AT THE FRONT, SO WE WOULD EITHER HAVE TO FUND THAT FIRST PHASE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT OUR NEXT SCOPE WOULD BE.
IN TERMS OF UPDATING, FOR INSTANCE, TAKING THAT FEASIBILITY REPORT AND THEN SAYING, THESE ARE THE STEPS WE NEED TO DO, HAVING A CONSULTANT HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE ARE BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE STAFF THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT EFFECTIVELY.
WE WOULD NEED TO HIRE A CONSULTANT TO MOVE THAT FORWARD AND I GUESS TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION IS THE 800,000 SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO HELP US MOVE THAT.
TO THAT END, WE WOULD HAVE TO COME BACK NEXT YEAR TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY TO THEN MOVE IT FORWARD IN A STEPPED PROCESS IN TERMS OF, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE REASONABLE.
IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO TAKE MORE TIME THAN WHAT WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS IN TERMS OF HOW QUICKLY THEY WANT IT RESOLVED BECAUSE IT IS A BIG PROJECT.
NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE TO DO CHARACTERIZATION, BUT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE ALL THAT SEDIMENT IS GOING TO GO BECAUSE WE CAN'T JUST OFFLOAD IT ON SITE.
THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT HAULING, AND HOW WE CAN DISPOSE OF THAT MATERIAL BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHERE IT CAN GO, WE HAVE TO CHARACTERIZE IT SO WE KNOW WHAT IT IS AND WHERE THE POTENTIAL PLACES WE CAN USE IT, AND THEN FINDING POTENTIAL PLACES IN THE BAY THAT MAY HAVE USE FOR THAT, I THINK THAT PART OF THE FEASIBILITY REPORT.
ANYWAY, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE USABLE FOR ENGINEERING FILL, SEDIMENT LIKE THAT, AND WE DON'T EVEN KNOW.
SOME OF IT MAY JUST HAVE TO GO INTO A LANDFILL OR DISPOSED OF AT A SITE WHERE TOXIC MATERIAL HAS TO BE AND THAT THEN COST MORE MONEY BECAUSE THERE ARE LOTS OF THOSE PLACES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, SO WE HAVE TO TRUCK IT EVEN FURTHER OR PUT IT ON TRAINS, THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
I APPRECIATE THAT THE FEASIBILITY REPORT IS THERE, BUT THERE ARE MANY STEPS THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE.
I'VE PROBABLY GONE TOO MUCH INTO THE WEEDS, BUT I THINK I WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THIS IS A BIG PROJECT.
WE HEAR THAT THE NEIGHBORS, OUR CONSTITUENTS VERY MUCH WANT IT TO HAPPEN LIKE NEXT YEAR, BUT THAT'S NOT FEASIBLE.
JUST TO CLOSE IT OUT AND ANSWER QUESTION, I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY DO IT WITH THE 800K, BUT KNOWING THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO COME BACK AND ADD MORE TO THIS, AND I DON'T THINK BASED ON THE CONVERSATION THAT'S HAPPENED, AND KNOWING OUR BUDGET AND THAT WE HAVE LOTS OF PROJECTS THAT WE DON'T HAVE FULLY FUNDED.
IT'S GOING TO BE KICKING THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD IN TERMS OF RESOLVING HOW WE RESOLVE ALL THAT LIKE WITH THE FUNDING THAT IS AVAILABLE.
>> THANK YOU, REN AND THANK YOU, DIRECTOR ECCLES FOR ASKING CLARIFYING QUESTION.
SEEMS LIKE IT'D BE GOOD IN THE FIVE YEAR CIP PROJECT, BUT I'M NOT GOING TO BELITTLE THAT ANY FURTHER.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE IS THIS ISSUE WITH STEWARDSHIP AND EVEN THE SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR POSITION IN THE RE ORG? HOW DO WE GET THIS MORE AGAIN MISSION-DRIVEN RATHER THAN BUDGET DRIVEN? I HAVEN'T ACTUALLY SEEN OR ASKED STAFF YET, IF THERE'S A SNAPSHOT OF THE PAST FIVE OR 10 YEARS, IS THE 2.6% IN LABOR THE ONGOING NUMBER.
HAS THE STEWARDSHIP NUMBERS DROPPED AT ALL? IS THERE ANY INTERESTS ON THE BOARD TO LOOK AT THAT BETWEEN NOW AND DECEMBER 16TH? AGAIN, I'M RAISING THESE, BUT IF THERE'S NO OTHER INTEREST, I DON'T WANT TO BELABOR A VERY IMPORTANT PROCESS AND A VERY CREATIVE PROCESS THAT STAFF HAS DONE.
BUT WE HAVE HEARD THAT OVER AND OVER AND WE HAVEN'T REALLY TALKED ABOUT THAT YET AND I DON'T WANT TO GO OFF EVEN AS MUCH AS REN DID ON LAKE TEMESCAL, BUT IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY OR ANY OTHER INTERESTS TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW WE INCREASE STEWARDSHIP OR MAYBE MAKE THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM IN AGM OR MAYBE TAKE
[03:10:04]
THE SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR AND GIVING MORE MONEY TO STEWARDSHIP.I AGREE THAT $40,000, WE JUST APPROVED $1 MILLION FOR FERAL PIGS, BUT $40,000 TO DO A DISTRICT WIDE BIODIVERSITY JUST SEEMS SO MINUSCULE.
IS THERE ANY OTHER INTEREST? AGAIN, SILENCE FROM THE BOARD IS OKAY TOO, I JUST DON'T WANT TO KEEP BELABORING THIS IF THERE'S NO OTHER SUPPORT.
>> MAYBE I CAN JUMP IN BEFORE TURNING IT OVER TO YOUR BOARD.
I THINK ONE WAY TO THINK ABOUT THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM IS THAT THAT'S NOT THE ONLY PLACE THAT STEWARDSHIP HAPPENS IN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
WE HAVE OVER 1,000 EMPLOYEES, MOST OF THEM ARE IN OPERATION.
YOU COULD SEE IN THAT PIE CHART THAT I THINK DEB SHARED WITH YOUR BOARD.
MOST OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE RANGERS AND PARK CRAFT SPECIALISTS AND PARK SERVICE WORKERS ARE OUT IN THE FIELD DOING THE REGULAR MAINTENANCE IN OUR PARKS.
THE WAY I THINK ABOUT IT, SORT LIKE JOSE AND JENNIFER AND OUR EQUITY OFFICER AND HIS TEAM.
OUR EXPECTATION IS THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES DOING EQUITY WORK.
IT'S AT THE CORE OF EVERYTHING WE DO, AND THEY'RE THE CATALYSTS FOR MAKING THAT HAPPEN.
REALLY, I THINK IT'S THE SAME WITH OUR STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT.
THESE ARE SCIENTISTS, THESE ARE EXPERTS IN THIS FIELD.
ONE THING I THINK THAT'S REALLY POWERFUL THAT MATT HAS BROUGHT TO THE TEAM IS HE SAID IN OUR STEWARDSHIP SEMINAR THIS YEAR, HE'S TRANSFORMING THAT TEAM FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF NO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOW.
THAT THIS TEAM IS A RESOURCE FOR ALL OF OUR TEAMS TO DO THE WORK BETTER AND TO BE INFORMED BY NATURAL RESOURCE AND CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION, CULTURAL RESOURCES AND BRIAN’S TEAM, BUT NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AND MATT’S TEAM.
TO ME, THAT'S A REALLY POWERFUL VISION FOR THE DISTRICT, AND IT'S ALIGNED WITH WHAT OUR MISSION IS.
I THINK THAT INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK AND CONNECTION BETWEEN OUR TEAMS IS WHAT WE WANT TO FOSTER AND WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM IS STRONG.
TO BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THAT AND THAT THEY'RE AT THE TABLE WHENEVER WE'RE PLANNING OUR WORK.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY OF THE NUMBERS.
IS THE 2.6% STANDARD? DOES MATT HAVE WHAT HE NEEDS TO TRANSFORM THAT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HOW? [OVERLAPPING] I MEAN, IS 2.6 THE STANDARD?
>> I CAN TELL YOU THAT MATT COULD ALWAYS USE MORE TEAM MEMBERS.
IF THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES TO ASK YOUR BOARD FOR MORE TEAM MEMBERS, I WOULD DO IT RIGHT NOW, BUT [OVERLAPPING]
>> I JUST WANT TO ADD WE DID ADD TWO POSITIONS IN STEWARDSHIP LAST YEAR, AND I THINK ONE THE PRIOR YEAR.
WE HAVE BEEN ADDING STAFF TO THE STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT.
WE JUST WEREN'T ABLE TO THIS YEAR.
>> ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES TO GROW THIS TEAM AND DO MORE WORK AROUND THAT? YES. I THINK THAT'S TRUE.
THAT'S HONESTLY TRUE WITH ALL OUR TEAMS. IN OPERATIONS, IF WE COULD ADD ANOTHER TRAIL CREW RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SAY, LET'S DO THAT.
IF WE COULD ADD MORE RANGERS TO SUPPORT OUR PARKS, I WOULD SAY, LET'S DO THAT RIGHT NOW.
I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF NEEDS.
[OVERLAPPING] ONE OTHER THING THAT DIRECTOR DE CHAMBO BROUGHT UP WAS THE SUSTAINABILITY POSITION.
I THINK WE HEARD FROM SEVERAL OF YOUR BOARD MEMBERS INTEREST IN NOT MOVING THAT TO THE GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE.
I THINK OUR INTENTION WAS TO LEAVE IT WHERE IT WAS AS A MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE ASD DIVISION OR WHATEVER THAT BECOMES.
>> I HAVE ENOUGH I GUESS QUESTIONS.
I STILL FEEL A LITTLE BEFUDDLED OF WHERE WE CAN GO ON THE REORGANIZATION, THE WW, THE FIVE YEAR CIP.
I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ISSUE FOR ME.
MANY TIMES THE EFFORT, THE CLARITY THAT YOU'VE TRIED TO PROVIDE IS VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
I'VE ACTUALLY REALLY ENJOYED THE PROCESS AND WHERE WE'RE HEADED ON DECEMBER 16TH WILL BE INTERESTING.
I JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR ALL THE EFFORT AND TIME YOU'VE DONE.
I JUST WILL ALWAYS PUT IN MY MIND, THE MISSION OF OUR DISTRICT FIRST AND FOREMOST IS PROTECTING OUR RESOURCES.
I THINK A LOT OF THIS HAS BEEN VERY TOP-HEAVY, VERY OPERATIONS HEAVY, VERY TRAIL HEAVY.
BUT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE DON'T FORGET, WELL, WE'RE TRYING TO GET RID OF INVASIVES LIKE PIGS AND FERAL CATS, THAT THERE'S A LOT OF SMALL ENDANGERED PLANTS THAT WE HEARD.
[03:15:05]
NOMADS HAS FOUND THEY'VE DISAPPEARED.ARE THEY GONE FOREVER? HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THEM BACK? AND HOW DO WE BUDGET FOR THAT? HOW DO WE PROTECT UNDER OUR WATCH, WE'VE BEEN PUT IN CHARGE OF THESE LANDS AS WE DISTURB THE GROUND, THE LANDS WITH PIGS OR WITH FIRE MANAGEMENT.
I'M JUST NOT SURE THIS BUDGET ADEQUATELY REFLECTS THE WORK AHEAD OF US THAT WE HAVE FOR REALLY TRYING TO PROTECT THESE LANDS, AND I CERTAINLY WANT THEM PROTECTED UNDER MY WATCH.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
>> AND BY THE WAY, WE ARE GOING TO TAKE A BREAK AFTER THIS ITEM IS OVER FOR LIKE 10 MINUTES, SO JUST A HEADS UP. ALL RIGHT, GO.
>> WHERE DO I START? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THIS IS MY 11TH BUDGET WITH THIS ORGANIZATION.
IT'S AMAZING THE WORK EVERYBODY DOES.
AS WE SEE FROM THE CHART, EVERYBODY IS INVOLVED.
I WISH WE COULD GET INVOLVED A LITTLE BIT ON THE PIE CHART THAT DEB WAS MENTIONING.
IT'S AROUND MAY OR SOMETHING JUNE THAT YOU GET SOME PREDICTIONS ON HOW MUCH MONEY YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE NEXT YEAR? MAYBE LET US KNOW.
MAYBE IN MAY, AS OPPOSED TO NOVEMBER, WHATEVER THE DATE IS.
IT MIGHT BE SOMETHING WE'D REALLY LIKE TO KNOW.
BUT ANYWAY, I THINK WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR IS THE BUDGETS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN GREAT.
WE'VE ALWAYS DONE IT. WE'VE ALWAYS DONE GREAT WORK.
THIS YEAR, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN PAST LEADERSHIP'S VIEWS OF WORKING.
THIS IS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF AGENCY THAN SAY A CITY WHERE YOU JUST KIND OF WELL, WHATEVER YOU DO.
BUT TO SUGGEST, WE USED TO HAVE A CAPITAL OUTLAY BUDGET, AND WE WOULD SPEND IT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WOULD DO, AND WE WOULD SEE, TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS RIGHT.
WELL, NOW WE'RE JUST GOING TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO ADD $56 MILLION TO THAT, 56 MILLION MORE THAN LAST YEAR, AND PROBABLY IN ALL THE PAST YEARS, AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT AT THE COST OF MEASURE WW ACQUISITION, WHICH I PERSONALLY THINK IT'S JUST A BAD IDEA IN MY OPINION.
>> WE'VE GOT MANY GREAT PROJECTS.
ALL OF THESE PROJECTS ARE PASSIONATE AND DRAW THE PASSION IN OUR NEIGHBORS AND THEY LOVE OUR PARKS, AND WE'VE GOT MANY GREAT PROJECTS THAT NEED TO BE DONE. BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I'VE GOT A LOT OF GREAT PROJECTS AT MY HOUSE TO DO.
I COULD JUST NOT PAY MY PROPERTY TAXES AND DO MY PROJECTS.
BUT I'D HAVE SOME CONSEQUENCES TO THAT.
I KNOW THAT'S SIMPLISTIC, BUT I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE.
I THINK WE'RE SELLING OUR FUTURE OUT.
WE'LL NEVER BE ABLE TO GET TEMESCAL DONE, NEVER.
OUR BUDGET WILL NEVER SUSTAIN THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO BURN OUT IF WE DO 21 MILLION, I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO COMPROMISE OR SUGGESTING COMPROMISING DO.
WE'RE GOING TO BURN THROUGH THAT ACQUISITION BUDGET REALLY FAST.
WE'RE GOING TO BE ALL DONE AND THEN WE'LL NEVER GO TO ANYTHING FROM THE VOTERS AGAIN, IN MY OPINION.
YOU DIDN'T SPEND IT THE WAY YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD.
WE DON'T TRUST YOU AND THEN STILL WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TEMESCAL BE IN THE SAME PLACE.
MY OPINION IS, WE GOT TO LIVE UP TO OUR PROMISES, BUCKLE UNDER AND SAY, HOLY SMOKE.
WE CAN'T DO THIS, BUT WE UNDERSTAND WE CAN SURELY DO A STUDY. I'M IN FAVOR OF THAT.
DO THE STUDY IN TEMESCAL, HERE'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DO.
WE NEED A PARCEL TAX THAT'S GOING TO DEAL WITH FIXING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE, OPENING PARKS, AND DOING THOSE THINGS, SPECIFICALLY, HIRING MORE STAFF, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT UNLESS WE GET MORE MONEY.
IF WE BETRAY THE VOTERS ON THIS ONE, I DON'T THINK THEY'LL EVER GIVE US MONEY, AND WE'LL BURN THROUGH MEASURE WW.
WE DID FOR 63 YEARS, BY THE WAY.
THIS ORGANIZATION DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING BUT A GENERAL FUND FOR 63 YEARS.
THEN 1998, THE VOTERS TRUSTED US BECAUSE WE PROMISED THEM STUFF, AND THEY GAVE US $250 MILLION.
THEN WE DID SUCH A GOOD JOB, PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT AND PUBLICIZED IT AND WORKED WITH OUR AGENCIES AND OUR CITIES, AND WE REAUTHORIZED IT IN 2008, $500 MILLION.
I PERSONALLY THINK WE'RE GOING TO THROW IT ALL AWAY IF WE BETRAY THESE FOLKS AT THIS JUNCTURE.
AS FAR AS THE REORGANIZATION IS CONCERNED, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT THAT.
I THINK WE SHOULD DISCUSS IT MORE, HEAR OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS.
THEN JUST TAKE A LOOK BACK AND SAY, WHAT'S THAT LOOK LIKE? I THINK WE'RE REALLY HEAVY.
LOTS OF AGM, LOTS OF DEPUTY GMS, I'M NOT SAYING WE DON'T NEED IT.
I'M JUST SAYING WHAT'S THE PERCEPTION.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO DO IT IN MY OPINION. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY.
[03:20:05]
I TOO WANT TO THANK ALL THAT WENT INTO THIS, HAVING BEEN IN THE BUDGET BUSINESS MYSELF FOR 18 YEARS.IT WASN'T ANYWHERE NEAR THE COMPLEXITY THAT HAPPENS HERE IN THIS AGENCY.
[LAUGHTER] I DON'T WANT TO STRING THIS THING OUT TOO MUCH LONGER.
I DON'T SEE THE DIVERSION OF ACQUISITION FUNDS AS BEING A PRODUCTIVE THING FOR US IN THE LONG TERM.
BUT I THINK THERE ARE A FEW PROJECTS THAT ARE DEFENSIBLE THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED HERE TONIGHT IN THE ROOM AND ALSO ONLINE, AND ONE OF THEM IS THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK HOME WITH A PORT CHICAGO 50.
I THINK THAT ONE OCCUPIES A UNIQUE SITUATION IN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
ONE IS, WE DIDN'T USE ACQUISITION MONEY BECAUSE THEY GAVE IT TO US.
THE OTHER THING IS, IT'S NOT JUST A PARK FOR TAKING A LITTLE WALK AND HAVING A PICNIC.
IT'S A PARK THAT TALKS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS AND WILL OPEN UP PEOPLE'S EYES THAT DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN OUR COUNTRY AND IN THE WORLD.
I WOULD MAKE A PLEA TO THE BOARD THAT WHATEVER WE DO, IN TERMS OF USING THE CHANGING AROUND THE FUNDS, THAT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL PROJECT BE PRESERVED MORE OR LESS THE WAY IT'S BEEN PRESENTED HERE IN THIS LATEST REVISION.
AGAIN, IT'S A REALLY SPECIAL THING.
IT DEMONSTRATES THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DELIVER A REALLY FIRST CLASS PROJECT.
I'M NOT GOING TO COMMENT ON ANY OF THE OTHER STUFF.
WE'VE BEEN GOING FOR OVER THREE HOURS HERE NOW WITHOUT EVEN STANDING UP.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE 10 MINUTES HERE AND THEN GO AND FINISH OFF THE AGENDA AT THAT TIME.
THOSE OF YOU WANT TO, CAN LEAVE NOW.
WE'RE BACK BASED ON WHO I SEE AT THE LECTERN, I KNOW WHERE WE ARE ON THE AGENDA.
WE ARE AT E1 HUMAN RESOURCES PRESENTATION ON
[1. Human Resources Presentation on AB-2561 Local Public Employees: Vacant Positions]
AB 2561 LOCAL PUBLIC EMPLOYEES VACANT POSITIONS. TAKE IT AWAY.>> THERE WE GO. GOOD EVENING, JESS ROMEO, AGM OF HR, AGAIN BEFORE YOU TO TALK ABOUT AB 2561, WHICH IS VACANCY REPORTING.
WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER SOME BACKGROUND, LOOK AT SOME DATA, AND THEN OUR BARGAINING PARTNERS WITH AFSCME ARE HERE TO ALSO PRESENT.
AB 2561 IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE MMBA, WHICH REQUIRES THAT PUBLIC AGENCIES BEFORE ADOPTING A BUDGET HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING THAT TALKS ABOUT VACANCIES, RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND OBSTACLES TO HIRING PROCESS.
IT ENTITLES RECOGNIZED EMPLOYEE UNITS TO PRESENT DURING THE PUBLIC HEARING.
IF THERE ARE ALSO SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS IF ANY OF THE BARGAINING UNITS HAVE OVER 20% VACANCY, NONE OF OUR S DO, SO YOU WON'T SEE ANY OF THOSE SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS.
OUR WORKFORCE INFORMATION, 2024-2025.
WE DID HAVE AN INCREASE IN POSITIONS.
YOU'LL SEE THE BREAKDOWN THERE.
OUR LARGEST BARGAINING UNIT IS 760 FULL-TIME EQUIVALENT POSITIONS. THAT'S AFSCME.
WE HAVE OUR POLICE ASSOCIATION WITH 106 POSITIONS ARE CONFIDENTIAL WITH 18, AND MANAGEMENT WITH 105, CONFIDENTIAL AND MANAGEMENT ARE UNREPRESENTED.
THIS DATA EXPANDS DECEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER, DECEMBER 2024 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2025.
DURING THAT TIME, WE HAD 71 SEPARATIONS.
WE HIRED 425 PEOPLE, WHICH IS A HUGE NUMBER TO ONBOARD OFFBOARD ALL OF THAT BECAUSE THE MAJORITY OF THOSE 326 WERE SEASONAL TEMPORARY INTERMITTENT EMPLOYEES.
OUR CURRENT VACANCIES ARE 85, THAT'S ALL BARGAINING UNITS.
OUR TURNOVER RATE IS ABOUT 7.2%, AND OUR DISTRICT WIDE VACANCY RATE IS 7.8%, WHICH IS ACTUALLY, I'M PROUD TO SAY, A DECREASE FROM THE TIME THAT I GOT HERE, WAS ABOUT 10% WHEN I GOT HERE.
THAT WAS SEVEN MONTHS AGO. OUR VACANCY RATE FOR LABOR GROUPS AFSCME IS ABOUT 8%.
[03:25:08]
THE POLICE ASSOCIATION, 5.6%, UNREPRESENTED CONFIDENTIAL, 16.9.I'LL NOTE THAT THAT IS BECAUSE THAT IS A VERY SMALL GROUP WITH THREE VACANCIES.
BECAUSE THERE ARE SO FEW, IT INFLATES THE NUMBER.
THEN OUR MANAGEMENT EMPLOYEES, WE HAVE 7.1% VACANCY.
OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS, YOU'LL SEE UP THERE.
ONCE A VACANCY IS CREATED, WE GET A REQUISITION FROM THE HIRING MANAGERS ONCE IT'S APPROVED.
IF IT'S AN AFSCME POSITION, WE LOOK AT IF IT NEEDS TO BE POSTED FOR TRANSFER OR ACTING, AND WE DO THAT IF IT IS.
THEN WE OPEN A FULL RECRUITMENT, WHICH COULD INCLUDE A ORAL EXAM, A WRITTEN EXAM, A PRACTICAL EXAM, FROM THAT, WE CREATE A POOL LIST.
THE DIVISION THEN HAS THEIR INTERVIEW AND SELECTION.
CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER IS MADE TO THE SELECTED EMPLOYEE, AND THEN THEY GO INTO OUR BACKGROUND PROCESS WHICH VARIES BY CLASSIFICATION.
IT COULD INCLUDE JUST A SIMPLE REVIEW OF REFERENCES.
IT COULD INCLUDE A CREDIT REPORT, IT COULD INCLUDE A POLYGRAPH IF YOU'RE A POLICE OFFICER. VARIOUS THINGS.
ONCE THAT IS DONE, WE GET THE FINAL JOB OFFER AND WE START ONBOARDING THEM.
I DID WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME RECRUITMENT DATA.
WE HAD A TOTAL OF 66 FULL-TIME RECRUITMENTS, 80 ACTING RECRUITMENTS, 86 TRANSFER RECRUITMENTS, AND 30 SEASONAL RECRUITMENTS.
THIS IS SOME RETENTION INFORMATION.
YOU'LL SEE THERE BY BARGAINING UNIT, AND THOSE ARE YEARS OF SERVICE, LESS THAN ONE YEAR OF SERVICE, 1-5 YEARS, 6-10, 11-12, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
THE THING TO NOTE THERE IS THAT OUR LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF OUR EMPLOYEE POPULATION IS RIGHT AROUND THE 1-5 YEARS.
THEN OUR NEXT LARGEST IS RIGHT AROUND THAT 6-10 YEARS.
ONLY AFSCME HAS EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE FOR 31-40 YEARS, WHICH IS PRETTY AMAZING.
THEN YOU'LL SEE A LIST OF SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO HERE TO RETAIN OUR EMPLOYEES.
I'LL JUST CALL ATTENTION TO THE NEW EMPLOYEE ORIENTATION, WHICH REALLY IS GREAT ABOUT ORIENTING PEOPLE TO THE DISTRICT, GETTING THEM INVOLVED, MAKING THEM FEEL CONNECTED, AND THEN OUR LEAF PROGRAM, WHICH IS FOR NEW SUPERVISORS, WHICH HELPS US KEEP EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE AND CONSISTENT.
THAT IS IT FOR ME, AND I'M GOING TO WELCOME UP OUR AFSCME LABOR PARTNERS.
I'M THE ACTING PRESIDENT OF AFSCME LOCAL 228. GOOD EVENING.
GENERAL MANAGER CORT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
EVERY PARK DISTRICT EMPLOYEE VACANCY IS A PIECE OF THIS AGENCY'S MISSION NOT BEING DELIVERED.
FROM GATE ATTENDANTS NOT WELCOMING AND PROVIDING DIRECTIONS TO THE PUBLIC TO PLUMBERS, DEFERRING REPAIRS TO LEAKING WATER SERVICE, TO HR ANALYSTS FALLING BEHIND ON RECRUITMENTS, NEEDING TO FILL VACANCIES DISTRICT WIDE.
TO PUT IT IN PERSPECTIVE, THIS PARK DISTRICT CURRENTLY HAS TWO ELECTRICIANS DISTRICT WIDE.
IF WE HAVE ONE VACANCY, HALF OF THE ELECTRICAL WORK IN THE PARK DISTRICT IS NOT GETTING COMPLETED.
IN ADDITION TO THE ADDED WORKLOAD THAT THESE VACANCIES CONTRIBUTE TO AFSCME LOCAL 2428, IS WORK BEING CONTRACTED OUT.
INSTEAD OF COORDINATING WORK WITH INTERNAL STAFF TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES FOR THE PARK, STAFF SPEND A LOT OF TIME ADMINISTERING, SUPERVISING, COORDINATING THESE CONTRACTS WITH MANY TIMES HAVING AN INFERIOR PRODUCT DELIVERED AT THE END.
AS A PARK SUPERVISOR, I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND THE EXPANSION OF CONTRACTS REPLACING AFSCME 2428 WORK.
THE TIME IT TAKES FOR ME TO ADMINISTER AND COORDINATE THESE PROJECTS ENDS UP WITH THE RESULT THAT I KNOW, MY UNION BROTHERS COULD HAVE PROVIDED A BETTER PROJECT, BETTER RESULT.
VACANCIES ARE A REALITY OF OPERATING.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT, BUT THIS AGENCY SHOULD AND COULD STRIVE FOR BETTER.
YOU AS THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, EVERY TIME A CONTRACT COMES UP FOR YOU GUYS TO VOTE ON,
[03:30:05]
WHETHER IT BE A MASS TECHNICAL SERVICES OR AN ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION, OR A BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OR HELPING LABOR WITH THE SMALL TRAILS.THINK ABOUT, IS THERE A VACANCY THAT NEEDS TO BE FILLED WHERE THAT WORK COULD BE BEING DONE, OR ARE THERE PERMANENT POSITIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDED TO CONTINUE THAT WORK YEAR ROUND? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> GOOD EVENING. I WAS GOING TO SAY GOOD AFTERNOON, BUT IT SURE IS THE EVENING.
GOOD EVENING BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND STAFF.
AGAIN, MY NAME IS META DARCY, AND I'M THE CHIEF STEWARD OF AFSCME LOCAL 2428.
I WANTED TO READ YOU A STATEMENT THAT I WROTE ABOUT IT VACANCIES, AND I'VE BEEN REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I HAVE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW IT AFFECTS THE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE IN THE IT DEPARTMENT.
THESE LONG-TERM VACANCIES ARE VERY DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO HAVE TO MANAGE ON THEIR OWN.
TONIGHT, I'M SPEAKING ABOUT THE ONGOING AND DEEPLY CONCERNING VACANCY ISSUES WITHIN OUR IT DEPARTMENT, ISSUES THAT HAVE NOW DIRECTLY COMPROMISED OPERATIONS ACCOUNTABILITY AND EMPLOYEE WELL BEING.
FOR YEARS, WE'VE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT LINGERING VACANCIES THAT ARE SIMPLY NOT BEING ADDRESSED.
OUR BUSINESS ANALYST POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT FOR 336 DAYS.
THE SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR POSITION HAS BEEN VACANT FOR 432 DAYS.
THE CYBERSECURITY ADMINISTRATOR POSITION HAS REMAINED VACANT AND ASTONISHING 702 DAYS, NEARLY TWO FULL YEARS WITHOUT A DEDICATED PERSON PROTECTING OUR CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE NETWORK MANAGER POSITION WAS ONLY RECENTLY FILLED AFTER BEING VACANT FOR TWO YEARS.
AS FOR THE ISST ROLE, THE WORK HAS BEEN COVERED FOR 18 MONTHS BY ACTORS WHO HAVE BEEN ACTING AND TAKING ON ASSIGNMENTS FAR OUTSIDE THEIR CLASSIFICATION.
THIS MEANS THAT EMPLOYEES ARE BEING ASKED REPEATEDLY AND CONTINUOUSLY TO WORK OUT OF CLASS TO CARRY ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TO ABSORB THE IMPACT OF MANAGEMENT IN ACTION.
IT'S NOT EQUITABLE AND IT'S NOT FAIR TO THE EMPLOYEES OR THE DISTRICT.
THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE ALL DISCUSSING ABOUT HOW WE NEED EXTRA POSITIONS, IT'S MOST DEEPLY TROUBLING THAT WE HAVE THESE POSITIONS THAT WERE ADDED TO THE BUDGET AND YET NOT FILLED.
WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE HIRING MANAGER FOR WELL OVER A YEAR.
IN OCTOBER OF LAST YEAR, WE WERE TOLD THESE POSITIONS WOULD BE FILLED SOON.
IN MAY WHEN WE MET AGAIN, NO PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE.
IN JULY AND YET ANOTHER MEETING, WE STATED CLEARLY, IF WE COULD CONTINUE TO SEE NO MOVEMENT, WE WOULD HAVE TO BRING THIS ISSUE TO THE BOARD.
IN AUGUST 2025, WE DID EXACTLY THAT.
YET TODAY MONTHS LATER, NOTHING HAS CHANGED.
THREE OF THESE ESSENTIAL IT POSITIONS REMAIN UNFILLED.
MORE TROUBLING IS WHAT WAS PRESENTED TO YOU RECENTLY.
THE HIRING MANAGER CAME BEFORE THIS BOARD AND TOLD YOU THAT THE REQUEST TO FILL THESE POSITIONS HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO HUMAN RESOURCES.
THAT STATEMENT WAS SIMPLY NOT TRUE.
THE REPORTS PROVIDED TO US SHOW NO SUCH REQUESTS WERE EVER MADE.
YOU WERE GIVEN INACCURATE INFORMATION AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF THAT ARE NOW VISIBLE IN THE FORM OF LONG-TERM VACANCIES, OPEN BURDENED STAFF, AND ELEVATED RISK TO DISTRICT SYSTEMS. JUST LAST WEEK, THREE TEMPORARY BUSINESS ANALYST POSITIONS WERE POSTED.
WE INSISTED AND HR AGREED THAT NO TEMPORARY BUSINESS ANALYSTS WOULD BE HIRED UNTIL THE PERMANENT POSITION IS POSTED.
BUT FRANKLY, WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO INTERVENE AT THIS LEVEL JUST TO GET CRITICAL VACANCIES FILLED.
THIS IS NOT NORMAL, THIS IS NOT GOOD GOVERNANCE, AND THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR EMPLOYEES DESERVE.
YOUR STAFF, OUR STAFF ARE DOING EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO KEEP THIS DISTRICT RUNNING DESPITE CHRONIC UNDERSTAFFING. THEY'RE EXHAUSTED.
THEY HAVE WAITED YEARS FOR LEADERSHIP TO FIX THIS ISSUE, AND WE'VE LOST VERY GOOD PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY, PRECISELY BECAUSE THESE POSITIONS REMAIN VACANT.
TONIGHT, I'M ASKING YOU TO TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND TAKE ACTION.
THE DISTRICT CANNOT CONTINUE TO OPERATE WITHOUT ESSENTIAL IT POSITIONS UNFILLED FOR A YEAR, TWO YEARS OR MORE.
THE CONSEQUENCES ARE REAL AND THEY ARE GROWING.
I ALSO WANTED TO TALK TODAY ABOUT RETENTION AND EMPLOYEE MORALE.
>> I'D LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE BROADER RETENTION CRISIS THAT WE ARE FACING BECAUSE IT'S DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO THE VACANCIES I DESCRIBED.
WE RECENTLY COMPLETED AN EMPLOYEE SURVEY AND ASKED TWO SIMPLE QUESTIONS.
WHAT MADE YOU OR OTHERS THINK ABOUT LEAVING THE DISTRICT, AND WHAT COULD LEADERSHIP DO TO IMPROVE MORALE? THE RESPONSES WERE OVERWHELMING, BOTH IN NUMBER AND THE DEPTH OF FRUSTRATION EMPLOYEES EXPRESSED.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE RESULTS, BUT I WILL GET THE TOP VOTE GETTERS.
UNDER REASONS WHY EMPLOYEES WERE CONSIDERING LEAVING, 35% WERE ABOUT LOSS OF TELECOMMUNIC WORK-FROM-HOME FLEXIBILITY.
THIS IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY PEOPLE SAID THEY WERE THINKING ABOUT LEAVING.
THEY DESCRIBED THE REMOVAL OF TELEWORK AS PUNITIVE, DAMAGING TO MORALE, AND DISRUPTIVE TO WORK-LIFE BALANCE.
THEY ALSO CITED POOR LEADERSHIP, LACK OF TRUST, AND TOXIC CULTURE.
THAT WAS 25%. EMPLOYEES CITED MICROMANAGEMENT,
[03:35:03]
RETALIATION A CULTURE OF FEAR.THEN THIRD WAS THE TOP-HEAVY STRUCTURE AND MISALIGNED PRIORITIES.
MANY FELT THAT LEADERSHIP CONTINUES TO ADD MANAGEMENT POSITIONS WHILE CRITICAL FIELD AND IT POSITIONS GO UNFILLED.
ONE WAS, THERE ARE MORE MANAGERS THAN PEOPLE DOING THE ACTUAL FIELD WORK.
WHAT THE EMPLOYEES SAID WOULD IMPROVE MORALE IS 60% OF THEM SAID TO LISTEN AND ENGAGE WITH EMPLOYEES.
THE MOST COMMON REQUEST TO BE PRESENT, LISTEN, AND FOLLOW THROUGH.
ONE QUOTE WAS STOP PRETENDING TO GET FEEDBACK, ACTUALLY USE IT, AND 45% SAID RESTORE TELEWORK AND OFFER FLEXIBLE STAFFING.
THIS REMAINS THE SINGLE BIGGEST MORALE ISSUE.
ANOTHER 40%, AGAIN, THERE WERE MULTIPLE STATEMENTS IN EACH NARRATIVE, 40% ADDRESSED FIXED STAFFING AND WORKLOAD.
EMPLOYEES WANT VACANCIES FILLED AND FEWER ADDED LAYERS OF MANAGEMENT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, THESE ARE TOP ISSUES FOR OUR EMPLOYEES.
I NOTICED THAT IN THE RETENTION STATISTICS, THE MAJORITY OF THE ASP EMPLOYEES AT LEAST ARE BETWEEN 1-10 YEARS, AND WE FOUND THAT TO BE CONSISTENT IN OUR SURVEY RESULTS.
PEOPLE ARE NOT REALLY STAYING HERE PAST 10 YEARS.
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS PLACE FEEL LIKE A FAMILY AGAIN.
WE NEED TO MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY HERE.
WE NEED TO MAKE THIS SOMETHING THAT WORKS WITHIN THEIR LIVES.
RECENTLY, THERE WAS A TRAINING THAT OUR SEASONAL EMPLOYEES HAD TO DO, AND THEY COULDN'T DO IT BECAUSE ASKME EMPLOYEES AREN'T ALLOWED TO TELECOMMUTE.
THEY HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY FROM ALL THE WAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY TO COME OVER HERE, AND IT WAS SO MUCH DIFFICULTY TRYING TO GET THEM TO HAVE THIS INTERVIEW THIS INFORMATION THAT THEY NEEDED TO GIVE.
WE HAVE EMPLOYEES THAT ARE INJURED ON EITHER WORKERS COMP OR INJURED ON THEIR OWN, AND WE HAVE THIS RETURN TO WORK PROGRAM THAT'S NOTICED HERE, BUT BECAUSE OF TELEWORK, ASKME EMPLOYEES ARE FORCED TO COME INTO THE OFFICE OR BE PLACED ON LEAVE INSTEAD OF CONSIDERING TELEWORK AS AN OPTION.
IT'S REALLY BLEEDING INTO ALL OF PARTS OF EMPLOYEES HAPPINESS HERE, AND I SPOKE A LITTLE BIT EARLIER ABOUT THAT ISSUE, BUT I REALLY WANT YOU ALL TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS AT THE FOREFRONT OF PEOPLE'S MINDS, AND IT'S AFFECTING WHY THEY WANT TO BE HERE.
I'VE BEEN HERE FOR SINCE 1996, SO PRETTY CLOSE TO 30 YEARS.
USED TO FEEL A LOT MORE FAMILY-ORIENTED, AND IT'S NOT.
I AM HAPPY THAT WE HAVE SOME NEW LEADERSHIP HERE.
I'M HOPEFUL, BUT I DO THINK THAT SOME THINGS NEED TO BE TURNED AROUND TO BUILD THAT TRUST BACK WITH THE EMPLOYEES SO THAT THEY WANT TO STAY HERE.
THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU.
>> I AM BACK TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
JUST TO NOTE, THERE IS NO ACTION REQUIRED BY THE BOARD.
IT'S INFORMATIONAL ONLY, BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> COULD YOU JUST ADDRESS AS FAR AS THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE MADE AT THE LAST MEETING BY THE IT DIRECTOR, JUST AS FAR AS THAT THE REQUISITIONS WERE OUT, SO ARE THOSE POSITIONS GOING TO BE FOUR, IS THERE TO BE?
>> THE FULL-TIME BUSINESS ANALYST IS OPEN.
THE THREE TEMPORARY POSITIONS ARE FOR ERP IMPLEMENTATION SPECIFICALLY.
THAT IS KICKING OFF SOON, SO WE DO NEED TO GET THOSE MOVING.
THE BUSINESS ANALYST IS OPEN, I BELIEVE, THROUGH THE END OF THE YEAR BECAUSE WE WANTED TO GIVE PEOPLE ENOUGH TIME TO APPLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS.
I AM DOWN SOME RECRUITMENT STAFF AT THE MOMENT, BUT WE'LL HAVE THAT FILLED VERY QUICKLY.
THE GOAL IS FOR MY RECRUITMENT MANAGER TO WORK CLOSELY WITH IS TO GET THOSE POSITIONS FILLED.
>> ARE WE LOOK AT TIMELINE TO SKETCH THEM ALL?
>> I REALLY WANT TO HIRE THAT FOR THE RECRUITMENT MANAGER FIRST BEFORE I FIGURE OUT A TIMELINE.
>> THE RECRUITMENT MANAGER WILL BE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, YOU'LL BE HIRING OR?
>> I DO HAVE CONCERNS, HEARING SOME COMMENTS ABOUT REBUILDING TRUST AND JUST ALL THE CONCERNS AND ANXIETIES THAT WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE REORGANIZATION PROPOSAL.
I'M CURIOUS, HOW DO YOU VIEW THE REORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF TRYING TO BUILD TRUST ACROSS OUR WORKFORCE?
>> I'M NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND THE QUESTION.
>> I GUESS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF VACANCIES.
THE REORGANIZATION, I'M VERY CONCERNED.
[03:40:01]
I SEE THIS MANY TIMES THAT IF WHEN THERE'S REORGANIZATIONS HAPPENING, IF IT'S NOT CAREFULLY MANAGED, IT CAN LEAD TO INCREASED VACANCIES, AND THIS IS A REPORT ON VACANCIES.I'M JUST CURIOUS, THINKING ABOUT LOOKING AT THE DATA HERE, AND YOU EVEN MENTIONED, THE RATES DOWN 2.8%, ALMOST 3%.
SINCE YOU STARTED 10 MONTHS AGO, I GUESS, HOW WILL THIS REORGANIZATION BE MANAGED TO HELP ENSURE THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN INCREASE OF POTENTIAL TURNOVER RATE AND VACANCY RATES?
I THINK SUPPORTING OUR TEAM AND THE CULTURE OF THIS WORKPLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE LEADERS IN THIS ORGANIZATION, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR JOBS.
RIGHT NOW, WE'RE INCLUDING THE PROPOSAL IN THE LAST BOARD ITEM IN THE BUDGET IS, FOR THIS POTENTIAL REG.
WE'VE HEARD CONCERNS ABOUT IT AND HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE UNION, WHO'S THE REPRESENTATIVE OF OUR STAFF TO HOPEFULLY ARRIVE AT SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN AGREE TO, AND THAT'S HELPFUL FOR OUR TEAM.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER THAT ENDS UP LOOKING LIKE THAT, WE'RE WORKING TO SUPPORT OUR TEAM THROUGH THE CHANGES THAT THAT WOULD ENTAIL, AND THAT WE'RE THERE TO HELP OUT AS FOLKS WORK THROUGH THOSE CHANGES, I HOPE THAT HELPS.
>> ALSO, ADD THAT PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO WITH CREATION OF THE FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE DIVISION IS CREATE MORE AVAILABILITY, MORE DIRECT ACCESS TO MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE EMPLOYEES.
RIGHT NOW, OPERATIONS IS A HUGE DIVISION, AND BEING ABLE TO ENGAGE WITH THOSE EMPLOYEES, LISA CAN'T MEET 500 PEOPLE EVERY DAY.
THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS REALIGN THAT SO THAT THE SPAN OF CONTROL MORE MANAGEABLE.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD? THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NEXT IS FROM OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DIVISION,
[1. Yearly Update on the Public Safety Department Drone Program]
AND THIS IS THE YEARLY DATE ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT DRONE PROGRAM.>> MY NAME IS SERGEANT CHRIS PARK, DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I AM THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR FOR OUR UAS PROGRAM.
UAS STANDS FOR UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS. I'LL BE SWITCHING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN UAS AND DRONE.
DON'T WORRY, I WON'T DRONE ON.
I KNOW THAT IT IS PASSED CURFEW RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU KNOW, I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT, AND I DIDN'T.
>> IT'S A DANCE JOE, I HAVE TO.
>> IN ALL SERIOUSNESS, I'M REALLY EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU GUYS MY FIRST TIME DOING IT IN FRONT OF THE BOARD IN A PUBLIC MEETING.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THE MISSION OF OUR UAS PROGRAM IS FIVE BASIC THINGS.
WE WANT TO ENSURE ENHANCED SAFETY.
MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE, SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONS, PROVIDE REAL-TIME AERIAL INTELLIGENCE.
IF YOU CAN TAKE ANYTHING FROM THIS PRESENTATION, THAT IS GOING TO BE A KEY PART FOR US.
PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE AND TRANSPARENT LAWFUL OPERATIONS AND SUPPORT SEARCH RESCUE, AND HAZARD MITIGATION.
SOME OF OUR TRAINING THAT WE GO THROUGH FOR OUR OPERATORS.
WE HAVE AN FAA PART 107 CERTIFICATION THAT WE TAKE. IT'S A TEST.
WE ARE ONE OF THE LOCAL DEPARTMENTS THAT REQUIRES AN FAA PART 107 CERTIFICATION.
OTHER DEPARTMENTS IN THE AREA DO NOT REQUIRE THIS.
WE GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING ALL THE APPROPRIATE LAWS AND POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE IN PLACE WITH THE FAA.
WE HAVE ONGOING PROFICIENCY EVALUATIONS, DISTRICT DISTRICT-SPECIFIC TRAINING.
WE JUST HAD TRAINING THIS AFTERNOON WITH OUR NEW INTERIOR DRONES.
WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING THAT AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH.
THEN WE ALSO SEND PILOTS TO SPECIALIZED SKILL DEVELOPMENT. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
[03:45:03]
WE GO TO DIFFERENT CLASSES FOR NIGHT OPERATIONS, INTERIOR SEARCHES, SEARCH AND RESCUE, THERMAL IMAGING, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.SOME OF OUR EQUIPMENT. WE'LL START HERE ON THE DGI MAVIC 3 ENTERPRISE.
THAT IS GOING TO BE OUR MOST COMMON DRONE THAT YOU'LL SEE ALL OF ALL OF OUR OPERATORS CARRYING IN THEIR VEHICLE, AND THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO MAP HAS THERMAL AND ZOOM IN CAPABILITIES, AND THAT HAS ABOUT A 30-40 MINUTE BATTERY LIFE.
THEN WE GO UP TO A BIGGER DRONE CALLED THE DGI MATRICE 30T.
THIS IS A WEATHER-RESISTANT DRONE.
IT'S A BIGGER DRONE USED FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE, SOME SIMILAR WHAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAVE AND THE LIFEGUARDS CURRENTLY HAVE.
LONGER FLIGHT TIMES, BIGGER ZOOM SENSORS, BIGGER CAMERA, AND ABLE TO CARRY A PAYLOAD.
THE SMALLER DRONE FOR INTERIOR IS GOING TO BE THE DJI AVATAS.
THOSE ARE THE ONES YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING WITH SWAT TEAMS OR ENTRIES, OR IF A PERSON CANNOT GET INTO A ROOM THAT'S SAFE, WE'LL SEND IN THE DRONE.
THESE ARE VERY SMALL SIZE OF A BOOK THAT CAN GET INTO VERY COMPACT PLACES.
SPECIALIZED PAYLOADS ALREADY TALKED ABOUT THE PAYLOAD FOR THE M30 OR THE 30T OF DROPPING PAYLOADS.
WE COULD ATTACH WATER, WE COULD ATTACH A FLASHLIGHT, WE ATTACH A MAP TO THAT IF WE WANT TO DROP IT OFF TO SOMEBODY WHO IS STRANDED, BUT ALSO WE COULD DROP PFTS IF WE NEED TO.
WE ALSO HAVE A SPOTLIGHT THAT WE'RE ABLE TO PUT ON THE DRONES AND A LOUDSPEAKER IF WE NEED TO MAKE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SOME OF THE OTHER ACCESSORIES THAT WE HAVE IS A LIVE VIDEO DOWN LINK THAT IS ABLE TO BE VIEWED BY OUR COMMAND CENTERS TO GIVE THEM REAL-TIME INTELLIGENCE.
SOME OF OUR CAPABILITIES RIGHT NOW WE DO DAY AND NIGHTTIME OPERATIONS.
WE ARE NOW BEING MORE PROFICIENT IN INDOOR CONFINED, MANEUVERING, SMALL SPACES.
WE'VE BEEN TRAINING WITH THAT IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
THEN WE HAVE THE ABILITY FOR LIVE STREAMING FOR COMMAND.
WHAT DOES THIS OFFER US? REAL-TIME DECISION MAKING, SO WE CAN MAKE A BETTER-INFORMED DECISIONS WITH THE REAL-TIME INTELLIGENCE THAT WE HAVE.
WE ALSO DO GPS-BASED MAPPING AND HIGH-RESOLUTION IMAGING.
THIS ONE IS USUALLY FOR EVIDENCE COLLECTION, CRIME SCENE DOCUMENTATION, AND POST-INCIDENT ANALYSIS.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THIS IS WHAT OUR OPERATIONS USUALLY CONSIST OF.
THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG THING. WE HAVE A LOT OF PARK TO COVER.
WE'RE ABLE TO DEPLOY THESE AND SEARCH LARGE AREAS IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME.
THE TACTICAL SUPPORT WE WILL GO WITH WITH SEARCH WARRANTS IF WE'RE DOING SEARCH WARRANTS AND HOUSES.
ANOTHER BIG THING WE DO IS CRIME SCENE DOCUMENTATION, AGAIN, PROVIDING THAT AERIAL INTELLIGENCE, SUSPECT TRACKING, IF WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR SUSPECTS.
WHAT THIS ALSO DOES IS REDUCE OFFICER SAFETY.
IT REDUCES ANY EXPOSURE TO ANY DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS THAT MY OFFICERS ARE GOING TO BE GOING INTO.
SOME STATISTICS. THIS IS ALL THE WAY TO NOVEMBER OF 2025.
OUR TOTAL FLIGHTS FOR THIS YEAR IS ABOUT 583.
TOTAL FLIGHT HOURS ARE ABOUT 170.
TOTAL OPERATIONS, WE'VE WORKED IS 305, AND YOU CAN SEE OUR TOP MISSIONS THERE.
IT'S DIRECTED PATROL, FIRE, AGENCY ASSIST IN SEARCH AND RESCUE.
DIRECTED PATROL WOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF CURFEW.
RIGHT NOW, IF WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF CURFEW IN BRIONES, WE'LL DEPLOY THE DRONE, LOOK FOR CURFEW VIOLATIONS, OR IF THERE'S GOING TO BE MOTORCYCLES IN THE OFF-ROAD VEHICLES IN CERTAIN PARKS.
AGENCY ASSISTS, WE'VE BEEN HELPING WITH OTHER AGENCIES, NOT ONLY JUST FLYING THE DRONES, BUT PROVIDING SUPPORT AS CHARGING BATTERIES WHEN THEY FLY OR THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEN, OF COURSE, OUR SEARCH AND RESCUE.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME SUCCESSFUL MISSIONS.
THIS ONE IS FROM REGIONAL PARK, AND WE GOT A REPORT OF A SUBJECT WHO HAD A NOOSE AROUND THEIR NECK AND WAS THREATENING SELF HARM.
THE SUBJECT WAS SAFELY LOCATED AND DETAINED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.
IF YOU LOOK IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS, YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING THAT IS SHADED BLACK IS HOT AND EVERYTHING THAT SHADED WHITE IS A DIFFERENT COLOR.
THIS IS WHAT YOU WOULD SEE WITH OUR THERMAL CAMERA.
AND YOU COULD SEE THE CIRCLE RED, THAT'S WHERE THE SUBJECT WAS AND WE LOCATED THEM VERY QUICKLY.
WE'RE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THIS TO OUR GROUND UNITS AND GET THE APPROPRIATE RESOURCES ON SCENE.
[03:50:04]
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE AT MILLER KNOX.WHERE WE WERE DISPATCHED TO MILLER KNOCK FOR AN INDIVIDUAL THAT WAS BRANDISHING A LARGE KNIFE AND THREATENING TO ATTACK PARK VISITORS? OFFICERS NEGOTIATED WITH THE SUBJECT FOR OVER AN HOUR.
YOU COULD SEE THIS GAVE US A VIEW OF HIS HANDS TO MAKE SURE HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY WEAPONS WHEN WE APPROACHED TO MAKE THE DETAINMENT.
OF COURSE, THEY DID A GREAT JOB NEGOTIATING FOR OVER AN HOUR.
THIS IS THE BEST OUTCOME THAT WE COULD HAVE THOUGHT OF.
>> QUESTION. LIKE IN THIS CASE HERE, IS THE DRONE FLYING SO HIGH THAT HE DOESN'T HEAR IT? IS THAT HOW YOU'RE ABLE TO GET BEHIND SOMEBODY LIKE THAT?
>> NO. USUALLY PEOPLE COULD HEAR IT.
IF YOU'RE AT ABOUT 100 FEET, YOU COULD PROBABLY STILL HEAR IT.
IF YOU'RE AT 50 FEET, OBVIOUSLY, IT'S PRETTY LOUD.
SOMETIMES THAT COULD BE USED IN OUR BENEFIT.
IT COULD DISTRACT THEM, SO WE COULD TRY TO GET THEIR ATTENTION OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT IN THIS CASE, WE WERE FLYING IT BEHIND, AND I THINK WE WERE ABOUT 100 FEET AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING IN HIS HANDS BECAUSE THAT'S OUR BIGGEST THREAT.
THE END RESULT IN THIS ONE, THE SUBJECT WAS SAFELY TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
WE ALL KNOW HOW BIG BRIONES REGIONAL PARK IS, AND WE HAD A CALL OF A PERSON WHO WANTED TO HARM THEMSELF IN THE PARK.
WE CONTACTED THE COUNTY MOBILE CRISIS TEAM AND WE RESPONDED AND WITHIN 10 MINUTES, WE LOCATED THE SUBJECT VERY QUICKLY.
NORMALLY, THIS TYPE OF SEARCH WOULD TAKE LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES, BUT OUR OPERATORS WERE ABLE TO LAUNCH IT, LOCATE THE SUBJECT, GATHER RESOURCES, AND THEN GET THE HELP THAT THIS PERSON NEEDED.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE FUTURE? THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT FOR US.
WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT INTEGRATION WITH ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR SEARCH EFFICIENCY.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT'S JUST GOING TO BE AN OVERLAY OF AI ON OUR SCREENS THAT BASICALLY POINTS OUT PEOPLE.
WHATEVER WE SEE ON THE CAMERA, AI IS GOING TO SAY, WELL, THIS LOOKS LIKE A PERSON YOU PROBABLY SHOULD CHECK HERE.
THINGS LIKE THAT, THAT TECHNOLOGY IS ALREADY OUT THERE AND BEING USED.
WE'RE GOING TO EXPAND OUR NIGHT AND ALL WEATHER OPERATIONS, LOOKING AT AUTOMATED MISSIONS AND PRIME PATROLS.
WE'RE ALREADY STARTED JOINT TRAINING WITH ALLIED AGENCIES.
ALAMEDA COUNTY SO IS A BIG TRAINING PARTNER WITH US.
WE JUST DID A TRAINING IN OCTOBER WITH THEM.
THEY'VE BEEN HELPING OUT A LOT.
WE'RE LOOKING AT DRONE DOCKING STATIONS AND CHARGING STATIONS AT CERTAIN PARKS SO WE CAN FLY THESE AUTONOMOUSLY.
AND THEN OF COURSE, OUR PUBLIC OUTREACH AND TRANSPARENCY.
THAT'S IT. BONUS POINTS, IF YOU COULD TELL ME WHICH PARK THIS IS.
IT'LL ZOOM OUT HERE IN A SECOND.
>> EAST SHORE. THAT WAS CLOSED, TOO.
EAST SHORE. OPEN FOR QUESTIONS.
>> I HAVE ONE. SO YOU MENTIONED IN YOUR PRESENTATION, WAYPOINT NAVIGATION.
>> WHAT IT DOES. IS THAT A PREPROGRAMMED COURSE THAT IT CAN FOLLOW AND DO A PATTERN? CORRECT. ABSOLUTELY. WE HAVE THAT ABILITY NOW IN OUR CONTROLLERS.
IF WE HAVE A SECTION OF THE TEN HILLS TRAIL AT LAKE CHABOT WE WANT TO SEARCH.
WE COULD PUT IN DIFFERENT WAYPOINTS ALONG THE TEN HILLS TRAIL THAT IT'LL GO TO, AND THEN IT'LL FLY ITSELF, WE'RE OPERATING IT, BUT WE COULD SEARCH WHILE IT'S DOING THOSE WAYPOINTS.
>> WHEN THOSE WAYPOINT, LET'S JUST CALL IT A COURSE ARE SET.
ARE THEY USED REPEATEDLY BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT AN AREA THAT NEEDS A REGULAR SCHEDULE OF ENFORCEMENT?
>> YOU COULD DO THAT. YES. YOU CAN SAVE THOSE WAYPOINTS AS A FLIGHT PLAN.
AND IF WE NEED TO DO THAT FLIGHT PLAN AGAIN, THEN ABSOLUTELY, WE COULD JUST LOAD THAT FLIGHT PLAN AND AND WATCH IT GO.
>> THEN, HOW MANY PILOTS ARE THERE IN OUR DEPARTMENT?
>> ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS?
[03:55:04]
>> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
I APPRECIATED THE DRONE PUN AND THE TRIVIAL QUESTION AT THE END, THAT HELPS KEEP US ENGAGED. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT JOB. YOU HAD AN ENGAGING TOPIC.
>> THEN JUST GOOD JOB, WE SAW YOU ORIGINALLY PRESENT FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AT THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE AND YOUR SECOND TIME, GREAT IMPROVEMENT, AND YOU'RE JUST QUICK IN TO ALL THE DIFFERENT PIECES AND A NICE OVERVIEW.
SO THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK.
>> THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE GUIDANCE FROM THE BOC.
>> MOVING ON TO GENERAL MANAGERS COMMENTS. WE HAVE SOME.
[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW THINGS RECENTLY.
ONE IS THE PATTERSON PROPERTY AT COYOTE HILLS IS NOW OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, THE IMPROVEMENTS OUT THERE.
WE'RE STILL WORKING THROUGH SOME LAST PERMITTING DETAILS.
SO WE'RE NOT READY TO OFFICIALLY CUT THE RIBBON, BUT PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE ENJOYING THIS REALLY COOL SITE AND RESTORATION PROJECT.
ALSO WANTED TO MENTION, THANK YOU TO LISA AND HER TEAM.
ON SATURDAY, ON THE 22ND, VOLUNTEERS PARTNERED TO LEAD A BEACH CLEANUP AND SAND DUNE RESTORATION WITH 25 COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT JENSEN BEACH, WHICH IS CROWN BEACH.
ON THE 24, STAFF FROM DELAWARE VISITOR CENTER LED A PROGRAM AT VASCO CAVES FOR THE TRI VALLEY NATIVE AMERICAN CENTER.
THE AUDIENCE WERE FAMILIES WITH INDIGENOUS BACKGROUNDS THAT INCLUDED CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF TEN AND 12.
THERE'S ONE MORE GREEN FRIDAY STAFF HIKE FROM CRAB COVE VISITOR CENTER THAT WAS LED AFTER THANKSGIVING FOR A RIGOROUS FRIDAY HIKE AMONG THE REDWOOD TREES AT REINHARDT REGIONAL PARK.
THEN LASTLY, WE HAD ON NOVEMBER 22ND, WALK AND TALK AT CLAYTON RANCH, AND I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM, OUR ROADS AND TRAILS TEAM.
WHEN WE WERE SCOUTING OUT THE SITE.
WE REALIZED THAT THE FIRE ROAD TRAIL THERE WAS IN POOR SHAPE, AND SO OUR MAINTENANCE TEAM GOT OUT THERE AND FIXED IT AHEAD OF THE EVENT, SO APPRECIATION. THANKS.
>> I'M GOING TO ELABORATE ON THAT A LITTLE BIT WHEN I HAVE MY TURN.
ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION?
[ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION]
>> NO, THERE AREN'T. THANK YOU.
>> DO WE HAVE ANY PROPOSED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS?
[PROPOSED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS]
DO BOARD REPORTS ON MEETINGS[BOARD REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED]
ATTENDED. ARE YOU READY?>> DIRECTOR WAESPI ARE YOU [OVERLAPPING]
>> LET US KNOW WHERE YOU'VE BEEN?
>> ON NOVEMBER 19TH, THEY ATTENDED THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING.
THAT WAS IT. TOMORROW, I HOPE I EVERYONE AT THE DISTRICT HOLIDAY LUNCHEON.
>> I'LL SUBMIT A WRITTEN REPORT IF NEEDED, BUT I JUST WANT TO FOLLOW UP ON THE PATTERSON RANCH PROPERTY AT COYOTE HILLS.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR MENTIONING THAT.
MAX, AND I DID HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO ON SUNDAY BECAUSE I WANT TO CHECK IT OUT MYSELF.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVEN'T HAD ANY MAJOR PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OR NOT QUITE YET READY FOR THE RIVD CUTTING, THERE WERE ALREADY PEOPLE ENJOYING IT, CHARGING THEIR ELECTRIC VEHICLES AT THE NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS.
THERE WAS ABOUT SEVEN TO EIGHT DEER NEARBY THAT WERE REALLY CAPTURING THE ATTENTION OF THE PARK GOERS AND PEOPLE WERE JUST REALLY HAPPY TO BE OUT ON A RELATIVELY NICE DAY FOR THE LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER, NOVEMBER 30TH.
IT WAS JUST REALLY NICE TO SEE AND I'M REALLY GLAD THIS PROJECT IS NOW COMING INTO THE FINAL PHASE.
SO THANK YOU, EVERYONE WHO HAS WORKED ON IT.
ON NOVEMBER 18TH, I ATTENDED THE BOARD MEETING.
ON THE 19TH, I HAD A VERY INFORMATIVE LUNCH WITH INTERIM FIRE CHIEF IVERSON, AND I GOT TO TELL YOU HE'S A REAL DEAL.
I MEAN, HE'S DONE EVERYTHING, AND HE'S VERY PASSIONATE.
HE COMES FROM A FAMILY OF FIREFIGHTERS.
IN OAKLAND, AND I WAS VERY IMPRESSED,
[04:00:05]
VERY, VERY IMPRESSED WITH CHIEF IVERSON.ON THE NEXT DAY ON THE 20TH, I MET WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER.
WELL, ON A ONE TO ONE, HE CLEARED UP A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT I HAD, AND IT WAS A GOOD USE OF TIME.
ALSO ON THE 20TH, WE HAD THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE 2026 WORK PLAN MEETING TO GO OVER WHAT THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE WORKING ON, AND HOW THEY WOULD DO ALL THAT IN 2026.
ON THE 21ST, I'M ON THE BOARD OF THE EAST BAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, AND WE HAD A BOARD MEETING OVER AT CENTRAL SAN IN MARTINEZ AND ON THE 22ND, THE AFOREMENTIONED WALK AND TALK AT CLAYTON RANCH.
THIS WAS ACTUALLY REQUESTED BY THE MAYOR OF CLAYTON KIM TRUPIANO, AND I JOINED HER TO SUPPORT HER ON THIS, AND WE GOT ABOUT 40 PEOPLE, AT LEAST, MAYBE A LITTLE MORE TO GO.
BUT THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF AN ISSUE WITH THE CONDITION OF THE TRAIL.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A GRAVEL FOR WANT OF A BETTER WORD TRAIL, BUT OVER THE YEARS, IT'S BEEN DAMAGED BY PG&E REALLY.
IT WAS ALMOST LOOKING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE CANCELED BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE THESE BIG RUTS WITH WATER IN IT, AND PUDDLES.
BUT OUR FOLKS WENT OUT THERE ROADS AND TRAILS, WENT OUT THERE AND IN TWO DAYS, JUST COMPLETELY CHANGED THE APPEARANCE OF THAT TRAIL.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WAS PROBABLY OVERDUE BY A FEW YEARS, BUT IT'S LIKE WHEN YOU'RE HAVING SOMEBODY COME OVER TO YOUR HOUSE, YOU CLEAN YOUR HOUSE, THAT YOU WOULDN'T NORMALLY DO IT, BUT YOU DO IT BECAUSE WE HAD 40 PEOPLE COMING, WE DIDN'T WANT THEM FALLING OR THINKING ILL OF US FOR HAVING THIS TRAIL, THAT WAS IN BAD SHAPE.
IT'S IN BEAUTIFUL SHAPE, AND I ACTUALLY WENT OUT THERE WHILE THE WORK WAS BEING DONE AND GOT TO TALK TO SOME OF THE PEOPLE WORKING ON IT.
I COULD TELL THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT DOING IT.
THEY WERE REALLY JAZZED ABOUT MAKING THIS GIANT IMPROVEMENT IN THIS TRAIL, AND THEY DID A VERY THOROUGH JOB.
AND I THINK THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE TO DO OUT THERE, BUT IT'S GREAT RIGHT NOW.
THEN, AS THE APPOINTED DIRECTOR.
I ATTENDED THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING ON THE 24TH AND ON DECEMBER 1, THE PRE BOARD MEETING FOR THIS ONE.
>> I'M REPORTING OUT FOR THE WHOLE LAST MONTH BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE MY LIST LAST TIME.
OCTOBER 23RD, BAY AREA RICH TAL THE GRATITUDE GATHERING, WHICH WAS AMAZING CELEBRATION, OCTOBER 25TH WITH BWOPA, WHICH IS BLACK WOMEN ORGANIZED FOR POLITICAL ACTION.
I WAS ON THE SPEAKER PANEL AND AM I READY FROM ADVOCATE TO CANDIDATE? SO SPOKE ABOUT AS FAR AS WHY I DECIDED TO RUN, AND THERE WERE DIFFERENT QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASKED.
ON NOVEMBER 4TH, WE HAD A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING. I'M SORRY, NO.
ON NOVEMBER 4TH, WE HAD A BOARD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 5TH I HAD A ONE ON ONE AS FAR AS WITH THE FORMER GM ON NOVEMBER 6, ELIZABETH ECCLES AND I MET FOR LUNCH, NOVEMBER 8TH.
WE HAD A SPECIAL BOARD MEETING AND NOVEMBER 8, FOR THE ALAMEDA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY, I WAS ON ANOTHER PANEL WITH A FIRST TIME ELECTED.
YOU THINK YOU WANT TO RUN FOR OFFICE, AND WE SPOKE ABOUT RUNNING FOR OFFICE AS FIRST TIME PEOPLE.
NOVEMBER 10TH, MET WITH MAX ON ZOOM AND TALKED ABOUT REORGANIZATION AND CPI FOLLOW UP AND THEN NOVEMBER 18TH BOARD MEETING, NOVEMBER 19TH, BOARD OPERATIONS MEETING.
THEN TODAY, I'M AT THE BOARD MEETING, AND I WILL SEE YOU TOMORROW FOR LEGISLATIVE. THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. WE ARE JUST ABOUT READY TO ADJOURN, BUT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A SPECIAL ADJOURNMENT TODAY.
>> YES. IF WE MAY, I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE CLOSE THIS MEETING IN MEMORY OF JOE FURTADO, A LONG TIME DISTRICT PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER, AND JEFF CHURCH, WHO WAS A CURRENT EMPLOYEE AT TILDEN PARK, AND BOTH OF THEM PASSED AWAY IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
[04:05:04]
I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN THEIR MEMORY.>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HELPING TO REMEMBER THEM, AND WE ARE ADJOURNING AT 10:27. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.