[00:00:03]
[Roll Call]
2025, BEGINNING AT 11:02. WILL MADAM CLERK PLEASE CALL THE ROLL? YES. THANK YOU. DIRECTOR ECHOLS. PRESENT. DIRECTOR SANWONG IS ABSENT.DIRECTOR WAESPI IS ABSENT. PRESIDENT MERCURIO.
HERE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. WE HAVE NO MINUTES TO APPROVE THIS TIME, BUT WE WILL MOVE ON TO
[Public Comments on Items Not on the Agenda]
PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA. DO WE HAVE ANY OF THOSE? WE HAVE ONE HAND UP ONLINE. FRIENDS OF FIVE CREEKS, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.IS MY AUDIO ON? YES. WE CAN HEAR YOU. THANK YOU.
I'M SORRY, I WAS CONFUSED. I'M SUSAN SCHWARTZ, THE HEAD OF THE VOLUNTEER GROUP FRIENDS OF FIVE CREEKS AND A VOLUNTEER IN THE EAST BAY PARKS FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS. I'M OUT HERE NORTH OF POINT ISABEL, WHICH, WITH OUR WEED WARRIORS, HAPPENS TO BE WHERE I STARTED VOLUNTEERING. I DIDN'T SPEAK AT YOUR NOVEMBER MEETING BECAUSE THE ITEM WAS PULLED AND THERE WAS A TIMING CONFLICT, DECEMBER 2ND. AND I'M NOT HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE NORTH BASIN PLAN, WHICH IS A PRETTY GOOD PLAN, EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T GET WHAT WE WANTED. I'M HERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE FROM THIS EXPERIENCE THAT THE BOARD SHOULD TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY OFFERED BY NEW LEADERSHIP AND A NEW STRATEGIC PLAN TO ADDRESS WEAKNESSES IN YOUR PLANNING.
AS THE JANITOR IN YOUR PROJECTS FOR 25 YEARS NOW, MY STRONG PERCEPTION IS THAT THE DISTRICT GLOSSES OVER WAYS IN WHICH ITS PLANS DON'T WORK OUT. THERE MAY BE RIGOROUS INTERNAL REVIEW INCORPORATING LESSONS AND COSTS OF MAINTENANCE AND FIXES, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN IT. AND SO I HOPE YOU WILL INSTITUTIONALIZE THIS AS A REAL STRENGTH IN THE FUTURE.
THE PARK DISTRICT, TO A STARTLING DEGREE, NOW CONTROLS THE EAST BAY SHORELINE AND NATURE, AND MATTERS AS A RESULT OF HEALTH AND SAFETY, AS WELL AS PROBABLY BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING IN AREAS WELL INLAND AND BEYOND YOUR BOUNDARIES.
THE NORTH BASIN PLAN, WHILE THE OUTREACH WAS EXCELLENT, WAS DEVELOPED WITH MINIMAL NEW TECHNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OR MEASUREMENT. WHAT THERE WAS WAS AT LEAST PARTLY IGNORED.
PLANNERS ACCEPTED STUDIES DONE MORE THAN 25 YEARS AGO, CONSULTANTS REPORTS INCLUDED OBVIOUS ERRORS ON THE LOCATION OF BEACHES, THE NATURE OF SUBSTRATE, THE EXTENT OF FLOODING, WHO PLANTED AND CARED FOR WHAT, WHAT NATIVE INVASIVE PRESENT, AND SO ON. THESE WERE NOT RANDOM. THEY SUPPORTED FAVORED CONCEPTS.
WE HAD TO GO TO THE FUNDERS TO GET ACCESS TO THESE REPORTS.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT OUR ATTEMPTS AT CORRECTION, PLUS THE WAKE UP OF THE DECEMBER 14TH, 2024 KING TIDE STORM ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR REALLY VALUABLE ELEMENTS IN THAT PLAN.
BUT ALL THOSE REPORTS AND INCORRECT STATEMENTS REMAIN WITH NO CORRECTIONS.
THAT GOES RIGHT BACK TO YOUR RAAP. AS THIS PLAN IS CARRIED OUT OVER 20 OR MORE YEARS, THOSE BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS AND CONSULTANTS REPORTS WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP GRANT PROPOSALS, EIRS, SPEND MONEY, INCUR ONGOING VERY REAL MAINTENANCE COSTS AND AFFECT LIVES OF REAL PEOPLE. LONG TERM. STUDENTS WILL BE TAUGHT THEM AS TRUTH BECAUSE OF SUPPOSED EXPERTISE AND AUTHORITY.
THERE WILL BE NO RECORD OF HOW SOME OTHER FOLKS CONTRIBUTED INFORMATION AND INSISTED ON REALITY BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND OBSERVATION AND CITIZEN SCIENCE. SO I HAVE.
YOUR TIME IS UP. OKAY. THE DISTRICT SHOULD TAKE THIS TRANSITION TO.
THANK YOU. MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. THANK YOU.
WE MOVE NOW ON TO ACTION ITEMS. ITEM 4.A. IS SUPPORT FOR THE 2026 PARK ADVISORY
[Action Items]
COMMITTEE WORKPLAN FOCUS TOPICS. AND WE HAVE ERICH PFUEHLER, DIVISION LEAD OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TO DO THAT FOR US TODAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR INTRODUCING ME.I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT MYSELF. AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THE BOARD´S TIME TODAY.
[00:05:04]
THIS WILL ENABLE US TO MOVE FORWARD EARLY NEXT YEAR WITH THE NEW WORK PLAN AND POTENTIALLY A NEW WAY OF CONDUCTING THE MEETINGS.SO APPRECIATE YOUR TIME. AND I DID WANT TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM WITH THE HELP OF THE CHAIR OF THE PAC, BRUCE HENRY, FOR SOME COMMENTS AND OBSERVATIONS FROM THE DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM IN PARTICULAR REGARDING THE WORK PLAN.
IT'S AN EVOLUTION OF A PROCESS. WE STARTED ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO IN TERMS OF BETTER DEFINING THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S ROLE AND ALSO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WHAT RECOMMENDATIONS ACTUALLY MEAN WHEN THEY COME FROM THE COMMITTEE? BUT WITH THAT, I THINK I'D LIKE TO BRING BRUCE UP TO GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THE PROCEEDINGS WITH THE PAC AND ALSO HIS VIEWPOINT ON THE OUTCOME.
I WAS ASKED TO ADDRESS IS THAT THERE IS AND THIS IS VERY BRIEF.
THERE'S INTEREST IN PAC MEMBERS ATTENDING REMOTELY FROM TIME TO TIME.
AND IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING THE BOARD ACTUALLY NEEDS TO PROVIDE THAT AUTHORIZATION IN ADDITION TO PAC. SO I WOULD JUST ASK THAT THE BOARD PLEASE PROVIDE AUTHORIZATION WITH PAC ALSO FOR MEMBERS THAT WISH TO ATTEND REMOTELY.
SO MOVING ON TO THE WORK PLAN, JUST KIND OF A REMINDER, REFRESHER ON THIS.
THE PAC WAS ASKED TO PROVIDE THREE RECOMMENDATIONS ON WHAT PAC WOULD LIKE TO WORK ON FOR NEXT YEAR.
AND I ACTUALLY WASN'T PREPARED TO GO THROUGH THIS, BUT I WILL.
WELL, I CAN JUST TALK ABOUT THEM. I WAS JUST TRYING TO MOVE THE SLIDE.
I'VE BEEN RETIRED TOO LONG, SO I'M NOT VERY GOOD AT MOVING THROUGH POWERPOINT ANYMORE.
THERE YOU GO. OKAY, PERFECT. SO THERE WERE SIX TOPICS INITIALLY.
AND THEN PAC VOTED ON THREE OF THEM. THE THREE THAT MADE IT TO THE FINAL WERE VERY BROADLY, THEY WERE AROUND ECOSYSTEM, PUBLIC ACCESS, AND THEN CIP.
AND THEN TRAIL SAFETY I BELIEVE WENT INTO A TIEBREAKER VOTE.
SO TRAIL SAFETY WAS PRETTY CLOSE AND DIDN'T MAKE IT.
SO I DO HAVE A RECOMMENDATION TOO FOR US TO LOOK AT.
I REALLY WANT TO COMPLIMENT STAFF ON LISTENING TO PAC.
THEY'RE COMING UP WITH A NEW FORMAT THIS YEAR THAT ALLOWS A PAC TO GO VERY DEEP ON A FEW NUMBER OF TOPICS AND REALLY WORK ON THOSE, VERSUS JUST INFORMATIONAL PRESENTATIONS. THERE IS A WAY TO DO THREE AND MAYBE EVEN FOUR.
SO WORK WITH ME. WHAT I'M SUGGESTING IS, IF YOU WERE TO TAKE THE ONES THAT WE RECOMMEND AND AGAIN, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT LET'S SAY YOU DECIDE THAT ECOSYSTEM AND PUBLIC ACCESS ARE GOOD ONES TO WORK ON.
CIP IS REALLY AROUND HOW BOND MONEY IS BEING SPENT.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHAT THE WORK TOPIC IS, THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF DISCUSSION RECENTLY AROUND PAC IS, IN FACT, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, THE PUBLIC FACING ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR HOW BONDS ARE SPENT.
SO IF THAT IN FACT TAKES PLACE, WHICH I HOPE IT WILL, AND I'M GOING TO ASK THAT YOU PLEASE DO THAT BECAUSE ONCE A YEAR DOES MEET THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT CONSISTENT WITH WHAT I WOULD SAY IS PROVIDING CITIZEN OVERSIGHT.
SO IF YOU GO THROUGH THAT ONCE, IF PAC FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE GOES THROUGH THAT ONCE A QUARTER, PROVIDES A REPORT TO PAC AND THEN ALSO TO THE BOARD, YOU'RE ACTUALLY ADDRESSING THE CIP.
SO YOU CAN DO CIP AND LET ME KNOW IF YOU DO WANT TO LOOK AT THESE IN GREATER DETAIL.
SO IF YOU TAKE CIP OFF, LET THE FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE WORK ON THAT.
YOU'VE CHECKED THAT ONE. AND THEN LET'S SAY YOU DO ECOSYSTEM AND PUBLIC ACCESS.
THERE IS A WAY TO DO THE TRAIL SAFETY ONE TOO.
AND THERE'S NOT ONLY PASSION WITHIN THE PAC FOR TRAIL SAFETY.
I KNOW THAT BOARD MEMBERS ALSO WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT TOO.
IN PARTICULAR, IRON HORSE TRAIL I KNOW IS CAUSING SOME ISSUES IN A LOT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO IN THE NEW PAC FORMAT, THERE WAS ONE MEETING THAT WAS PULLED.
THERE IS NO MEETING IN MARCH BECAUSE WE COULDN'T REALLY DO THREE TOPICS IN THE CURRENT FORMAT.
SO WHAT I WOULD ASK YOU TO CONSIDER. AND AGAIN, BEAR WITH ME HERE.
IF YOU COULD DO TRAIL SAFETY, IT WOULDN'T GO AS DEEP AS THE OTHER TWO TOPICS.
OR YOU COULD DO ANY THIRD TOPIC AND HAVE THE PAC MEET IN MARCH AND ADDRESS THAT ONE TOPIC.
SO THEY WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THE BOARD WITH A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON WHATEVER THAT TOPIC IS,
[00:10:01]
IF IT'S TRAIL SAFETY, AND THEN THE BOARD WOULD ALSO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE PUBLIC AND GO, HEY, WE HEARD YOU LOUD AND CLEAR ON TRAIL SAFETY.IT'S IMPORTANT TO US TOO. IT'S SO IMPORTANT, IN FACT, THAT WE'RE ACTUALLY ASKING OUR PAC TO PROVIDE INPUT ON THAT, AND WE'VE ADDED IT TO THE AGENDA FOR NEXT YEAR.
IF WE DO THAT, IF WE ADD THAT MARCH MEETING, I DO HAVE ONE REQUEST, THOUGH, TOO.
SO IF WE ADD THIS ADDITIONAL MEETING IN MARCH, LET'S MAKE SURE WE TAKE SOMETHING OFF THEIR PLATE AS WELL SO WE DON'T JUST PUT MORE ON THEIR PLATE. I'M ASSUMING WHEN THAT MEETING GOT TAKEN OFF IN MARCH, THEY ALLOCATED THEIR TIME IN OTHER WAYS SO THAT THEY WOULD FILL THAT.
SO AGAIN, PLEASE SUPPORT STAFF AND DON'T JUST ADD MORE WORK ONTO THEM.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE HAVE HEARD OF ME.
I'VE BEEN SAYING FOR A LONG TIME, I REALLY THINK WE CAN DO FOUR TOPICS. I APPRECIATE THE FACT, AND I KNOW PAC APPRECIATES THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO GO DEEP ON SOME THINGS, BUT WE CAN DO MORE THAN TWO.
AND. OKAY. NEXT ITEM. YEAH. THANK YOU. SO I REALLY APPRECIATE LEADERSHIP OF THE PAC THAT'S ENTHUSIASTIC AND WANTING TO DO A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF WORK.
WE DO HAVE A FORMAL PRESENTATION, SO IF YOU'LL INDULGE, WE'LL PROCEED WITH THAT AND THEN HAVE A BACK AND FORTH AND MAYBE BRING BRUCE BACK UP FOR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS. BUT JUST WANTED TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT.
I'VE ACTUALLY BEEN WORKING WITH THE PAC, PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, FOR NEARLY 18 YEARS.
AND I CAN RECALL FOUR INSTANCES, AND JOHN, PRESIDENT MERCURIO, YOU MAY REMEMBER ALL OF THESE, I'M NOT SURE. BUT FOUR INSTANCES WHERE THE PAC WAS REALLY FOCUSED AND ENGAGED AND THE OUTCOMES DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO BOARD ACTION. AND IN THOSE 18 YEARS, THE FOUR THAT I RECALL, AND THERE MAY BE MORE, BUT THE INITIAL ONE WAS A PILOT PROGRAM ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL FOR SEGWAYS.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHETHER TO ALLOW SEGWAY USE ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL.
AND THEN THE ANTHONY CHABOT GUN RANGE. THAT WAS A FACILITY THAT WAS CLOSED DOWN, BUT IT WAS REALLY INITIATED IN LARGE PART BY THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S CONSIDERATION. AND THEN A DEEP DIVE INTO OUR DOG POLICY WHICH REALLY LED TO CONVERSATIONS BETWEEN ALL DIFFERENT USER GROUPS AND SOME EXCELLENT RECOMMENDATIONS THAT WERE FORWARDED TO THE BOARD.
AND THEN MOST RECENTLY, THE NAMING OF THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
THE CHAIR OF THE PAC IS A RESIDENT AND ELECTED OFFICIAL OF CONCORD.
SO THE INTEREST IN HAVING CONCORD IN THE NAME OF THAT PARK WAS VERY STRONG.
BUT THE CONVERSATION AND THE DISCUSSION AT THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE REALLY LED TO A RECOMMENDATION ON THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
AROUND THE TIME OF THAT DISCUSSION THERE WAS ALSO A VERY SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT THE PAC'S ROLE WAS. AND IN THE BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES, IT WAS A LITTLE HAZY.
SO THERE WAS A SERIES OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PAC.
I BELIEVE WE HAD FOUR SEPARATE FOCUSED DISCUSSIONS ON WHAT THE ROLE WAS OF THE PAC, CREATING A DEFINITION IN DEVELOPING SOMETHING THAT WAS SOMEWHAT SUCCINCT AND WAS CLEAR TO BOTH PAC MEMBERS AND ALSO TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IN JANUARY 2023 THAT DEFINITION, WHICH IS ON THE SLIDE, WAS CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD AND ADOPTED AND INCORPORATED INTO THE BOARD OPERATING GUIDELINES. SO RELATIVELY RECENT. SINCE THE ADOPTION OF THE ROLE STATEMENT, THERE'S BEEN CONTINUED, AS WE DISCUSSED EARLIER, CONTINUED DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PAC ACTUALLY MEANS TO THE BOARD AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO THE PAC MEMBERS. SO WE'RE BRINGING A PROCESS FORWARD TODAY THAT'S REALLY INTENDED TO BE A PILOT FOR 2026. STAFF HAS PROPOSED TWO FOCUS TOPICS. THE CHAIR IS INTERESTED IN EXPANDING THAT PORTFOLIO.
SO UP TO THE BOARD´S DISCRETION. THERE WERE SIX TOPICS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THE PAC BY THE PAC.
[00:15:07]
THESE WERE ORGANIC SUGGESTIONS OF FOCUS TOPICS THAT THE PAC MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPED.THEY WERE THE DISTRICT PLAN, PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION, EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS AND RESPONSIBLY, TRAIL STEWARDSHIP AND SAFETY, ECOSYSTEM AND CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AND RESTORATION, AND THE 2026 CIP EVALUATION.
THESE WERE ALL CONSIDERED AT THE NOVEMBER MEETING.
AND THEN AS THE CHAIR MENTIONED, A FURTHER DISCUSSION BETWEEN PAC LEADERSHIP AND THE ACTING GENERAL MANAGER AND OTHER PARK DISTRICT MANAGEMENT STAFF WAS DISCUSSED PRIOR TO BRINGING THIS ITEM TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
SOME OF THE BENEFITS WE SEE FROM THIS NEW FORMAT, REALLY, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT DEPTH OF ENGAGEMENT, IT'S REALLY TRYING TO ENCOURAGE A THOUGHT PROCESS AND A WORKING PROCESS THAT'S MORE THAN JUST INFORMATIONAL ITEMS, REALLY TO UTILIZE THE SIGNIFICANT EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE THE MEMBERS OF THE PAC POSSESS.
IT'S A VERY THOUGHTFUL AND VERY DIVERSE GROUP THAT WE REALLY DO WANT TO INCORPORATE THEIR THINKING INTO BOARD ACTION. THEN, FROM A STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT, I KNOW THERE'S BEEN DISCUSSION ABOUT BETTER INCORPORATING THE WORK PLAN OF THE PAC IN ALL COMMITTEES WITH BOARD AGENDAS. THIS FORMAT, WE BELIEVE, WILL AT LEAST IN TWO CASES, PROVIDE A VERY FOCUSED OPPORTUNITY TO FOCUS ON ISSUES THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BE COMING TO THE BOARD AND THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THE BOARD IN PUBLIC.
AND THEN THE ENHANCED COMMUNITY INPUT REALLY IS TRYING TO RECOGNIZE THE PART OF THE ROLE STATEMENT THAT TALKS ABOUT THE PAC, REALLY BRINGING COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVES TO THE PARK DISTRICT AS THEY ADVISE THE BOARD AND STAFF.
AND THEN EQUITY INCLUSION. AS MENTIONED, THE PAC GEOGRAPHICALLY IS VERY DIVERSE AND DO HEAR FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE DISTRICT BY VIRTUE OF THEIR APPOINTMENTS THROUGH THE BOARD MEMBERS WARDS.
THE PROPOSED CYCLE OF MEETINGS WHICH WAS THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AND I KNOW BRUCE HAS ADDRESSED THE MARCH CONCEPT, BUT WE REALLY WERE LOOKING AT A CYCLE OF A SERIES OF FOUR MEETINGS OR FOUR ENGAGEMENTS WHERE THE FOCUS TOPIC WOULD BE CONSIDERED. THERE WOULD BE AN INITIAL EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATION BY THE APPROPRIATE PARK DISTRICT STAFF, AND THEN THERE WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PAC TO CONSIDER PUBLIC INPUT IN VARIOUS FORUM.
EACH PAC MEMBER WOULD, I'M SURE, HANDLE THAT PROCESS MUCH DIFFERENTLY.
SO IT COULD BE FROM GOING TO COMMUNITY EVENTS TO LITERALLY JUST TALKING TO YOUR NEIGHBORS, OR WHEN YOU'RE IN LINE AT THE GROCERY STORE ABOUT A SPECIFIC TOPIC.
AND THEN THERE WOULD BE A VERY SPECIAL FOCUSED MEETING TO FOLLOW UP ON WHAT EVERYBODY HEARD, WHAT FOLKS ARE THINKING IN TERMS OF ADVANCING A RECOMMENDATION.
SO THE SUGGESTED TOPICS THAT WE DISCUSSED REALLY DO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A STRUCTURED COMMUNITY CENTERED MODEL FOR CONSIDERATION. AND REALLY, THE GOAL, AS IT STATES HERE, IS REALLY TO PROVIDE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS.
RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN BE UTILIZED BY THE BOARD AND STAFF.
AND THEN THE BENEFITS, OF COURSE, ARE PROVIDING MORE CLARITY AND FOCUS.
SO AGAIN, THE THREE THAT WERE AGREED TO BRING FORWARD FOR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION WERE EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS, ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION AND CIP REVIEW.
THE DISTRICT PLAN WAS REALLY CONSIDERED AS PART OF ALL THE WORK THE PAC DOES SO THAT EVERYTHING THEY ARE WORKING ON WOULD EVENTUALLY BE INPUT INTO THE DISTRICT PLAN AS WELL. AND THAT WAS THE SAME COMMENT OR DISCUSSION AROUND PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION THAT, IN FACT, ALL THE ACTIONS OF THE PAC ARE GROUNDED IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION.
AND THEN I THINK BRUCE TOUCHED ON THIS A LITTLE BIT, BUT THE TRAIL SAFETY AND STEWARDSHIP ITEM REALLY EMBEDS ITSELF ALSO IN ITEMS ONE AND TWO IN TERMS OF EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS AND ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION.
SO SUGGESTION ONE IN TERMS OF EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS.
[00:20:04]
AND THIS IS REALLY THE ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT FUNCTION FOR THE PARK DISTRICT.SO IT'S REALLY THAT AGE OLD DISCUSSION ABOUT PUBLIC USE AND PUBLIC ACCESS VERSUS ECOLOGICAL AND ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION. AND THEN THE SECOND ITEM WAS IN FACT THE RESOURCE PROTECTION AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES ELEMENT. AND REALLY, WHEN THIS WAS DISCUSSED AT THE PAC, IT WAS MORE OF A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, EXTREME WEATHER PREPAREDNESS, ALL THE IMPACTS TO HABITAT, WILDLIFE, SEA LEVEL RISE, FUTURE ISSUES THAT THE PARK DISTRICT WILL HAVE TO WORK WITH AND DEAL WITH. AND THAT ALSO INCLUDES EROSION OF TRAILS SO GETTING AT THAT ACCESS COMPONENT AS WELL.
AND THEN THE THIRD RECOMMENDATION WAS A DEEP DIVE INTO THE CIP, THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.
AND IT'S REALLY THE CONCEPT OF DOING A COMMUNITY NEEDS ASSESSMENT WITH MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, TRYING TO ANALYZE WHAT THE PUBLIC TRULY WANTS FOR INVESTMENT AND THEN LINK THOSE PRIORITIES WITH PARK DISTRICT INVESTMENT.
SO THAT WOULD BE A ROBUST DISCUSSION FOR THE PAC TO HAVE.
SO IN TERMS OF THE NEXT STEP, THE BOARD, WE ARE ASKING TO MAKE RECOMMENDATION OF TWO OF THESE FOCUS ITEMS. AGAIN, AS CHAIR INDICATED, THIS IS THE BOARD´S DISCRETION.
IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL ITEMS OR MAYBE ITEMS WE HAVEN'T EVEN TALKED ABOUT THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE THE PAC TO HAVE CONSIDERED AS A FOCUS TOPIC. THAT'S THE PREROGATIVE. SO THIS INITIAL STEP IS REQUESTING POTENTIAL ACTION TO BRING TO THE FULL BOARD IN JANUARY FOR THEIR WORK PLAN FOR 2026. AN ALTERNATIVE THAT COULD BE DISCUSSED IS ESSENTIALLY PRESCRIBING A INITIAL FOCUS TOPIC TO BEGIN WORK IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY SO THAT THE PAC CAN HIT THE GROUND RUNNING NEXT YEAR. AND THEN WE COULD REVISIT WHAT THE ADDITIONAL WORK PLAN ITEMS FOR THE BALANCE OF THE YEAR ONCE THEY GET INTO THE FIRST FOCUS TOPIC. SO WITH THAT, I THINK WE END THE PRESENTATION.
BUT HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS OR HAVE DISCUSSION, AND BRUCE IS AVAILABLE AS WELL.
AND IF THERE'S ANY COMMENTS FROM ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE TOO.
OKAY. SO WHY DON'T WE DO, IN CASE THERE'S PUBLIC COMMENT, WHY DON'T WE DO QUESTIONS FIRST AND THEN COMMENTS? OKAY. SUGGESTIONS THAT WE MIGHT HAVE. SO WHAT ARE THE QUESTIONS? I DON'T THINK I HAVE QUESTIONS. I HAVE MOSTLY COMMENTS.
OKAY. I THINK I HAVE QUESTIONS HERE. I'LL HAVE TO JUDGE THAT ON THE FLY HERE.
I GUESS THERE IS ONE. SO MAYBE THIS IS FOR THE PAC CHAIR HENRY.
THE QUESTION IS HOW MUCH IN AGREEMENT AND HOW TOTALLY DIALED IN IS THE PAC INTO THIS PROCESS? TO ME, I SEE IT AS A PRETTY BIG CHANGE FROM THE WAY IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE.
BUT WOULD THERE BE ANY INTEREST OR PREFERENCE INTO MAKING THIS A PILOT YEAR TO SEE HOW IT GOES? AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY AGREES ON, THEN IT'S MADE MORE OR LESS THE WAY WE DO IT GOING FORWARD.
YEAH. GOOD QUESTION. THERE'S A LOT THERE. SO IN TERMS OF WHAT THE PAC THINKS OF THIS, I THINK TO A MEMBER, EVERYONE'S EXCITED ABOUT ACTION ITEMS AND BEING ABLE TO GO DEEP ON A TOPIC.
I ALSO THINK IT'S SOMEWHAT MIXED. PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT.
BUT I THINK STAFF HAS DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF ADDRESSING THAT PIECE.
LIKE ERIC SAID, IT COULD BE YOU'RE IN THE GROCERY STORE TALKING TO PEOPLE OR WHATEVER. IN TERMS OF IT BEING A PILOT, I THINK ALMOST BY DEFINITION IT IS A PILOT BECAUSE IT'S A MAJOR CHANGE, AND WE CAN CERTAINLY GO BACK AND DO WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO, OR THE BOARD CAN, I SHOULD SAY, CAN DO WHATEVER WE WANT TO DO. BUT I FEEL LIKE I'M NOT ANSWERING YOUR QUESTION BY YOUR.
[00:25:06]
NO, I THINK YOU ARE OKAY. AND WE DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT'S A PILOT, BUT MAYBE JUST THE WAY WE OPERATE AROUND HERE, IT'S JUST GOING TO KIND OF BE THAT. WE'RE GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGES THAT WE NEED TO MAKE ANYWAY. BUT IT'S MIXED. SO THE SHORT ANSWER IS IT'S MIXED AROUND.OKAY. THANK YOU. AND I THINK THE NEXT QUESTION IS FOR ERIC.
I'M JUST REALLY CURIOUS. THIS IS REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING.
AND I THINK APPROPRIATE WAY TO SORT OF MOVE THE PAC INTO A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT DIRECTION.
WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR THIS? IS THERE A MODEL THAT WE WENT ON, OR DID WE LIKE JUST SORT OF DID YOU AND YOUR STAFF KIND OF, OR MAYBE THE PAC AS WELL, KIND OF LIKE WORK THROUGH THIS OVER A PERIOD OF TIME AND KIND OF COME TO THIS? YEAH. EXCELLENT QUESTION. WE WERE INVITED AND TASKED REALLY SORT OF POST COVID TO REALLY RETHINK OR REIMAGINE, QUITE FRANKLY, THE PAC'S ROLE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I DID MENTION HAVING STAFFED IT FOR A LONG TIME, AND I KNOW PRESIDENT MERCURIO YOU WERE ON THE PAC FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT DID SEEM TO FOLLOW INTO A VERY ROUTINE PATTERN WHICH WASN'T NECESSARILY A BAD THING.
THERE WAS A LOT OF GREAT DISCUSSION AND ADVANCING OF GREAT IDEAS.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO SOME EXTENT ACTUALLY UTILIZE THE TALENT.
I MEAN, YOU ALL HAVE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB OF NOMINATING GREAT PEOPLE.
AND YOU KNOW, WE REALLY WANT TO EMBRACE THAT AND UTILIZE THEIR SKILL SETS MORE.
SO I THINK THE INSPIRATION WAS SORT OF THE CALL TO ACTION TO REIMAGINE THE PAC, THE VERY REAL CONVERSATIONS FROM PAC MEMBERS THEMSELVES ABOUT WHAT'S THEIR ACTUAL ROLE AND WITHOUT HAVING A CLEAR DEFINITION TO POINT TO IT DESERVED EXAMINATION.
AND I THINK, AS BRUCE ALLUDED TO MORE RECENTLY, THIS VERY STRONG INTEREST IN REALLY MAKING MEANINGFUL RECOMMENDATIONS, NOT TO SAY THAT THAT WASN'T THERE BEFORE, BUT IT'S BEEN MORE PRONOUNCED.
AND I WILL SAY ONE OTHER THING IS THAT THIS FOR SURE WAS PART OF THE PROCESS WHEN YOU SERVED ON THE PAC, IS THAT THE RUBBER KIND OF MEETS THE ROAD WHEN WE, WHEN THE PAC TALKS ABOUT THE BUDGET, FOR THE PARK DISTRICT BECAUSE THE BUDGET IS BROUGHT TO THEM IN A COMMITTEE THE SAME NIGHT, BROUGHT TO THE PAC AND THEN ASKED FOR A RECOMMENDATION THAT NIGHT.
AND YOU DID SORT OF ANSWER WHAT THAT WAS ABOUT.
SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T ASK IMMEDIATELY. BUT AS I´M SITTING HERE THINKING ABOUT IT, I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT KIND OF SUPPORT THE PAC MEMBERS WILL HAVE FOR THAT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM GO OUT AND DO PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, WE WANT IT TO BE MEANINGFUL, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DATA THAT'S COMING BACK IS HELPFUL AND REFLECTIVE OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY REPRESENT.
AND SO WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE? I MEAN, I GET THAT IT'S GOING TO DEPEND.
BUT I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT KIND OF STAFF SUPPORT THEY'LL HAVE OR WHAT, YOU KNOW.
YEAH, THAT LOOKS LIKE AN EXCELLENT QUESTION. AND IT WAS PART OF THE DISCUSSION WITH THE PAC IN TERMS OF WHAT RESOURCES THEY WOULD NEED IN OUR FOCUSED CONVERSATION ON THIS. AND I THINK IT'S A LITTLE BIT TO BE DETERMINED.
BUT THERE IS SUPPORT FROM GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TEAM STAFF.
REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE ELSA FOR REALLY DIVING INTO THIS AS WELL AND TRYING TO PROVIDE EACH PAC MEMBER, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY WOULD NEED TO FEEL COMFORTABLE IN THAT ENGAGEMENT. AND AS MENTIONED EARLIER,
[00:30:02]
EACH MEMBER IS GOING TO HAVE A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO HOW THEY WOULD ENGAGE.AND SOME FOLKS MAY WANT A FULL ON POWERPOINT.
SOME FOLKS MAY JUST WANT A HANDOUT. SOME FOLKS MAY WANT NOTHING, BUT WE ARE PREPARED TO PROVIDE THAT SUPPORT TO, YOU KNOW, TO A REASONABLE EXTENT. WE ARE PREPARED TO DO THAT.
I´D JUST ADD I THINK WE'RE ALSO FOR MYSELF AND OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM DEDICATED TO BEING ENGAGED WITH THE PAC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. AND WHILE THIS IS LIKE THE CORE PART OF THEIR WORK PLAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S TIME IN THE MEETINGS FOR OTHER ITEMS AS WELL.
SO WE'RE ALREADY PLANNING THAT FOR THE PAC. AND THEN OTHER TOPICS AS THEY ARISE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE ENGAGED IN THE WORK THAT'S HAPPENING AT THE DISTRICT.
I CAN TELL YOU, THAT STATE OF THE DISTRICT THING WAS ALWAYS.
I JUST KIND OF FELT LIKE IT WAS REALLY ANTICIPATED.
GREAT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT. SO THANK YOU FOR THINKING ABOUT BRINGING IT BACK.
YEAH, I ACTUALLY HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION. SO THE PROPOSAL IS NOT TO HAVE A MEETING IN MARCH.
IS THAT RELATED TO THE FACT THAT THE BOARD GOES AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS IN MARCH AT THE END OF MARCH.
AND SO IT MAKES YOUR STAFFING OF THE MEETING, WHICH WOULD BE A FEW DAYS LATER, REALLY, REALLY DIFFICULT? IN TRYING TO PUT WORDS IN YOUR MOUTH. BUT THAT OCCURRED TO ME THAT.
WELL, IT'S AN EXCELLENT OBSERVATION AND HONESTLY WAS NOT INTENTIONAL.
OKAY, COOL. SO DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? WE DO NOT. THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. SO COMING BACK FOR COMMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE, I GUESS THAT MEANS ME. IT DOES. OKAY, SO FIRST OF ALL, I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS DIRECTION.
AND SO IT'S GREAT TO BE LOOKING AT WAYS TO REALLY ENGAGE THAT MIND TRUST AS OPPOSED TO HAVING MOSTLY INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. AND SO I'M EXCITED.
AND I THINK FOR ME, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT THE.
ALL OF THESE TOPICS ARE GOOD. THERE'S SOME REALLY GOOD TOPICS THAT WEREN'T MOVED FORWARD AS WELL.
BUT IN TERMS OF A, IN THE SPIRIT OF A PILOT, WHETHER WE CALL IT THAT OR NOT, I WOULD BE INCLINED TO FOLLOW STAFF'S RECOMMENDATION TO JUST TO CHOOSE TWO TO GO DEEP.
PARTLY BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WANT TO MAKE THIS WORK AND MAKE SURE THAT IT'S MEANINGFUL.
SO I WANT TO STAY FOCUSED, BUT ALSO YOU KNOW, I DID IN TALKING WITH SOME OF THE PAC MEMBERS LAST NIGHT, YOU KNOW, THE ONE TOPIC JUST CAME UP SORT OF YOU KNOW, INFORMALLY ABOUT, WELL, YOU KNOW, REALLY THE TENSION BETWEEN HAVING A WIDE JURISDICTION AND BEING ABLE TO GO DEEP AND TO BE MORE SUBSTANTIVE AND, YOU KNOW, THE TIME THAT IT TAKES AS YOU SORT OF INCREASE YOUR JURISDICTION.
SO THAT WAS JUST AD HOC. I'M NOT SAYING THAT WAS A NEED THAT, YOU KNOW, BRUCE WOULD KNOW MORE WHAT, WHAT THE PAC IS ACTUALLY THINKING. BUT I DO THINK JUST TO TRY IT OUT, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO START WITH THE TWO ITEMS AND REALLY GO DEEP AND MAKE THAT SUCCESSFUL. AND THEN WE CAN CERTAINLY REEVALUATE A YEAR FROM NOW, LIKE, OKAY, IS IT POSSIBLE FOR THEM TO HAVE MORE TOPICS TO GO DEEP ON, AND HOW DO THEY FEEL ABOUT IT, AND HOW DID THIS WORK? AND, YOU KNOW, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
AND FOR ME YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAID, THEY'RE ALL GOOD TOPICS, BUT FOR ME, I FEEL LIKE THE ONES THAT ARE THE MEATIEST AND THE ONES THAT WOULD BE MOST HELPFUL TO GET THE PAC´S INPUT FROM ARE THE ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM. I REALLY VALUED THE INPUT THAT WE GOT ON THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FROM THE PAC.
AND I KNOW THEY HAD A VERY DYNAMIC, ROBUST CONVERSATION ON THAT.
AND SO THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY LIKE TO SEE THEM VERY INVOLVED IN THAT AGAIN.
[00:35:08]
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THREE ITEMS AND YOU SAY YOU ONLY GET TO HAVE TWO.IT'S YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD, YOU KNOW, BUT YET, CHAIR HENRY HAS OFFERED AN ALTERNATIVE THAT DOESN'T REALLY AFFECT THE MAIN MEETINGS THAT THE PAC IS HAVING. IT'S SIMPLY ADDING MEETINGS ONTO THE THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
I DON'T REMEMBER HOW MANY TIMES WE MET. OF COURSE WE MET FOR THE BUDGET.
BUT I KIND OF LIKE THAT IDEA. YOU KNOW, QUARTERLY OR THREE TIMES.
I MEAN, I WOULDN'T BE LOCKED INTO IT HAS TO BE FOR FOUR TIMES, BUT I THINK MAYBE YOU'RE NOT EITHER.
BUT THAT'S SORT OF A CONVENIENT SORT OF BENCHMARK THING THAT YOU CAN DO.
AND ONE OF THE REASONS I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR YOU SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THEN I WOULDN'T HAVE TO STRUGGLE OVER WHAT TO DO ABOUT THAT, BECAUSE I'M INTERESTED IN NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO ON THE LIST.
I THINK NUMBER ONE, BOTH OF THEM ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
AND THINGS THAT I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT QUITE A BIT.
YOU KNOW, I'VE SPOKEN PUBLICLY, NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS TO PARKS.
AND I WAS ACTUALLY, WHEN I WAS READING THIS, I WAS THINKING JUST AS MUCH ABOUT OPENING UP A PARK THAT'S BEEN LAND BANKED AS I WAS THINKING. SOME OF THESE PARKS AREN'T THAT EASY, THAT THAT ARE OPEN TO GET INTO, JUST PHYSICALLY EASY.
IT'S LIKE WE SHOULDN'T HAVE A FILTER THAT STEEP AND THAT AWFUL BEFORE YOU GO INTO THE PARK.
SO IF WE DO THAT FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, WE CAN ADDRESS THAT.
AND THEN I WOULD SUGGEST LANGUAGE ALONG WHAT I JUST SAID, IT BEING ADDED TO THAT, TALKING ABOUT PHYSICAL ACCESSIBILITY INTO PARKS AS PART OF THE MISSION, LOOKING AT THAT AND SEEING BECAUSE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER PLACES WHERE WE JUST HAVEN'T DONE FAIRLY MODEST IMPROVEMENTS THAT WOULD HELP MAKE THE PARKS MORE EQUITABLY ACCESSIBLE. SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST THERE ON THAT ONE.
LET'S SEE WHAT ELSE HERE. SO THE ONE THAT WAS LABELED AS NUMBER TWO, ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION.
I WOULD BE INTERESTED AS PART OF THAT. MAYBE I'M BEING REDUNDANT HERE, BUT I WOULD REALLY LIKE FOR THE COMMITTEE, IF WE DO THAT ONE TO KIND OF GET A FEELING FOR AND TRANSMIT TO US, YOU KNOW.
WHAT COULD WE BE DOING DIFFERENTLY WITH OUR LAND? HOW COULD WE BE STEWARDING IT IN SOME DIFFERENT WAY? AND TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT I WANT TO HAVE THIS ITEM IN THERE IS BECAUSE I'M REALLY STARTING TO HEAR QUITE A BIT ABOUT THIS FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS OUT THERE, WHICH ARE COMPOSED OF INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS THAT HAVE AN INTEREST IN THIS, THAT WERE FORMED AROUND NONPROFITS, THAT WERE FORMED AROUND PROTECTING YOU KNOW, THE HABITATS AND THE ENVIRONMENTS.
SO IT WOULD BE REALLY GOOD. AND THEN ALSO IN THERE, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF VOLUNTEERS? BECAUSE A LOT OF THE STUFF THAT WE WOULD PROBABLY BE DOING THAT WE'RE NOT DOING COULD BE DONE BY VOLUNTEERS.
AND I USE THE EXAMPLE OF SKYLINE GARDEN AT EAST BAY MUD RIGHT OFF OF GRIZZLY PEAK BOULEVARD, WHERE THEY'VE GONE IN AND RESTORED A PRETTY BIG AREA, SEVERAL ACRES USING VOLUNTEER LABOR, BUT DONE IN A VERY INTELLIGENT AND WELL THOUGHT OUT MANNER, WITH DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS THAT ARE ALLOWED THE FREEDOM TO GO AND DO THE WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE WITH THE GUIDANCE OF 1 OR 2 STAFF MEMBERS.
SO THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M THINKING ABOUT THAT.
SO I'M KIND OF WONDERING IF DIRECTOR ECHOLS WOULD BE INTERESTED IN TAKING THAT APPROACH AS A RECOMMENDATION.
I GUESS, YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE IT, AND IT'S NICE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO DO MORE, OF COURSE.
I THINK AND THE PIECE OF THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL, I THINK, FOR THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IS THIS PIECE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, BOND MEASURES, GRANTS, PARTNERSHIPS, ETC. IT'S SO MUCH MORE, THOUGH, IN TERMS OF WHAT THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT I'D BE LOOKING AT.
I MEAN, WE'RE REALLY LOOKING AT EQUITY AND SORT OF A STRATEGY AND WHAT'S RIPE AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
[00:40:06]
SO IT'S BIGGER THAN JUST THE FINANCIAL PIECE.EVEN THOUGH THE FINANCIAL PIECE IS AN IMPORTANT, OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT PART OF IT.
SO I'M NOT SURE IF I WOULD SUPPORT THAT. WELL, LET ME JUST MAKE ONE MORE COMMENT THAT I LEFT OFF HERE ADDRESSING SOMETHING THAT CHAIR HENRY MENTIONED.
AND THAT WAS, YOU WERE SUGGESTING ANOTHER SORT OF MINI TOPIC AROUND TRAIL SAFETY.
YEAH. I LIKE THAT TOO, BECAUSE AGAIN, THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT I HEAR A LOT ABOUT.
AND I WAS KIND OF THINKING THAT THAT COULD BE STRUCTURED AS KIND OF A TOWN HALL KIND OF THING, YOU KNOW, AND MAYBE IT'S NOT EVEN HELD HERE. MAYBE IT'S HELD OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, CLOSER TO THE IRON HORSE TRAIL WHERE WE WOULD GET INPUT FROM TRAIL USERS OF ALL TYPES AND IT WOULDN'T JUST BE THE IRON HORSE TRAIL.
YOU KNOW, THEY COULD BE INVOLVED IN IT SOMEHOW. SO, YOU KNOW, THAT LITTLE IDEA THAT YOU HAD IN MY MIND, IT KIND OF GETS A LITTLE BIGGER, I'M AFRAID. BUT IT STILL COULD WITH SOME ATTENTION, I THINK WE COULD CORRAL IT INTO, LIKE, A ONE DAY THING, YOU KNOW? BUT IT WOULD GIVE A REALLY GOOD CONDUIT FOCUSED ON ONE ITEM FOR FOLKS TO WEIGH IN TO US ON THAT, BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S JUST A COMMENT HERE AND THERE, YOU KNOW, ON DIFFERENT BOARD MEETINGS AND YOU KNOW, I'M NOT SURE IF IT MAKES AS MUCH OF AN IMPRESSION ON THE WHOLE BOARD AS IF IT WAS A MORE UNIFIED MESSAGE I COULD MAKE A SUGGESTION ON THAT PIECE.
I KNOW YOU'RE INVOLVED IN THE TRAILS AND GREENWAYS CONFERENCE THAT'S COMING UP IN APRIL, AND THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO A WORKSHOP AROUND THAT CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON TRAIL SAFETY. BECAUSE I HEAR YOU, I KNOW.
AND ALSO HAVING TEENAGE KIDS, I KNOW IT'S A REAL ISSUE.
BUT THAT COULD BE A COMPONENT WHERE WE INCORPORATE THE PAC WITH A WORKSHOP AROUND THE TRAILS CONFERENCE AND REALLY HAVE A WIDE SPREAD OF EXPERTISE OF FOLKS THAT WILL ALREADY BE HERE FOR THAT EVENT AND COULD PROVIDE GOOD INPUT OVERALL.
THAT'S TRUE. DID YOU HAVE A COMMENT? YEAH. SO ONE COMMENT OR KIND OF ADDRESSING YOUR CONCERN ON CIP´S BROADER THAN THAT, I WILL SAY IN THE LAST PAC FINANCE SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING, WHICH CURRENTLY IS ONLY ONCE A YEAR, AGAIN, I'M GOING TO ASK FOR MORE THAN THAT, WHETHER IT'S A QUARTER OR THREE TIMES A YEAR. BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION AROUND.
ONE MEMBER HAD EVEN SUGGESTED IT WASN'T JUST ABOUT THE MONEY IT WAS.
SO I THINK IT CAN DO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I UNDERSTAND THE CONCERN.
I'M JUST GOING TO ADVOCATE AGAIN. I DO WANT TO ECHO WHAT DIRECTOR MERCURIO SAID.
THEY'RE ALL REALLY IMPORTANT TOPICS. I THINK THERE IS A WAY AND WE'RE TRYING IT. SO IT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK, BUT IT'S AN IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY, I WOULD SAY.
AND SO I THINK WE CAN ALWAYS TRY IT. AND THEN WE'RE NOT LOCKED IN STONE EITHER.
I WOULD LOVE TO SEE US BE ABLE TO DO ALL THREE OF THOSE, AND THAT IS ONE WAY TO DO IT.
NOT FOLLOW THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS ONE THING.
IF WE KIND OF GO A LITTLE DIFFERENT FROM THAT AND JUST SAY THAT WE ARE INTERESTED IN ALL THREE OF THESE THINGS, BUT WE'RE NOT GOING TO RECOMMEND ANY PARTICULAR WAY TO DO IT.
WELL. ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR. SO ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE ARE GOING TO LEAVE IT TO THE FULL BOARD TO DECIDE? OR ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING THAT THE PAC TRIES TO TACKLE ALL THREE TO FULL FOUR?
[00:45:07]
BECAUSE I HEARD YOU SAY FOUR WITH THE.YOU KNOW, I REALLY LIKE THE WAY THAT CHAIR HENRY PRESENTED IT.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S DOABLE. AND, YOU KNOW, IT KIND OF GETS THE INTEREST THAT THE COMMITTEE HAS AND DOING MORE AND HELPING US. I MEAN, ALL THAT STUFF IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND STUFF THAT WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT AND DEALING WITH.
SO. DO YOU GUYS HAVE A COMMENT? SO I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS FOCUS TOPICS ON EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS RESPONSIBLY AND ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION AND RESTORATION IS TWO FOCUS TOPIC ITEMS. THE CIP REVIEW WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING QUARTERLY, AND THEN A POTENTIAL TRAIL SAFETY TOWN HALL POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH A CONFERENCE THAT THE PAC WOULD BE A PROMINENT PART OF OR INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN.
I THINK THERE'S ENOUGH FLEXIBILITY IN THERE I COULD SUPPORT.
THAT'S NOT EXACTLY WHAT I WAS LOOKING AT, BUT I MEAN, IT'S FINE.
AND AGAIN, YOU KNOW, THE FULL BOARD CAN. I MEAN, THIS.
IF WE WANTED TO SEND THE WHOLE THING TO THE BOARD, IF WE DON'T HAVE A VOTE HERE AND SEND THE WHOLE THING TO THE BOARD, I'M FINE. I MEAN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ONLY OTHER OPTION ANYWAY, SO I'M FINE WITH THAT.
IN TERMS OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY THING, I AGREE THAT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL.
I GET A LOT OF COMMENTS FROM CONSTITUENTS ON THAT.
I FEEL LIKE IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SOME KIND OF WORKSHOP, IT WOULD BE GOOD TO HAVE ONE WHERE IT'S NOT JUST THE EXPERTS, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE TRAIL WHO ARE EXPERIENCING CHALLENGES AND PROBLEMS. I MEAN, THAT'S REALLY WHAT I WANT TO HEAR ABOUT.
BUT I MEAN, RIGHT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING DISTRICT WIDE.
SO, I MEAN, I COULD SEE DOING LIKE A ONE DAY, YOU KNOW, A SPECIAL HEARING OR SOMETHING ON THAT ISSUE AND HAVING PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, TALK ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE AND THEN HAVING EXPERTS WHO COULD HELP US OR HELP THE PAC OR WHOEVER IT IS TO FIGURE OUT YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BEST WAYS TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES ON OUR TRAILS THAT.
OKAY. SO MAYBE WE JUST TAKE THIS WHOLE. WE JUST WE DON'T NECESSARILY MAKE A RECOMMENDATION HERE TODAY AND THEN LET'S HAVE A CONVERSATION, BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH THE WHOLE BOARD ANYWAY.
SO WHY DON'T WE JUST DO THAT? YEAH, I THINK WE CAN REFLECT IN THE STAFF REPORT, THE CONVERSATION AND THE INTEREST IN EXPANDING OR FIGURING OUT A SYSTEM LIKE USING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THEN THE FULL BOARD CAN HAVE THAT DISCUSSION IN JANUARY.
IT WAS ONE OF THE SIX. WHICH ONE? OH, BRUCE JUST ANSWERED THE QUESTION.
PROTECTION AND CAPITAL PROJECTS. RIGHT. BUT I GUESS THERE WAS THE SIX THAT THEY HAD DISCUSSED.
OKAY. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALLISON BROOKS, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.
I JUST WANTED TO JUMP IN. I THINK IF THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE PAC, YOU KNOW, REALLY DIG DEEP INTO THESE ITEMS. AND AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS, MAKE A SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER, FOR STAFF TO INTEGRATE AND TO EXPLORE. THAT WILL TAKE STAFF TIME TO PROVIDE THE INFORMATION AND YOU KNOW, DIG INTO THESE ITEMS WITH THE BOARD.
AND I DO THINK IT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KIND OF HELP US ALL GET OUR ARMS AROUND HOW TO DO THIS EFFECTIVELY, WHERE AT THE END OF THIS PROCESS, THE PAC CAN PRESENT SOMETHING, A FULLY KIND OF FORMED SET OF IDEAS.
SO I GUESS THE RECOMMENDATION IS BASED ON, YOU KNOW, US SUPPORTING A VERY ROBUST,
[00:50:01]
THOUGHTFUL PROCESS THAT ENGAGES THE PAC IN A VERY THOUGHTFUL PROCESS.I'M JUST GOING TO PUT THAT, YOU KNOW, OUT THERE.
SO. OKAY. THANK YOU, ALISON, FOR THAT BECAUSE THAT'S MY INSTINCT ON IT AS WELL, THAT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THIS IS A PILOT, LET'S START SMALLER AND SEE HOW TO MAKE IT WORK AND SEE WHAT THE IMPACT AND STAFF IS AND MAKE SURE THAT THAT THE PAC MEMBERS THEMSELVES CAN ACTUALLY GO DEEP AND BE SUCCESSFUL.
YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE HAVE MORE TIME THAN OTHERS TO GET INTO THIS.
AND I APPRECIATE, YOU KNOW, HOW GUNG HO YOU ARE.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING SOMETHING THAT ACHIEVES THE GOAL OF ALLOWING THE PAC TO GO DEEP, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE ARE OTHER TOPICS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ALSO ADDRESSING.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE THESE ARE THE ONLY TWO. THESE WOULD BE THE TWO THAT THEY GO DEEP ON.
SO THAT'S WHY I RESIST THE IDEA OF HAVING FOUR THAT THEY GO DEEP ON.
AND THEN IT'S NOT THAT THESE AREN'T ALL IMPORTANT TOPICS AND I WANT YOUR INPUT, BUT I WANT YOU GUYS TO BE ABLE TO SUCCEED AS A BODY IN PROVIDING THIS INPUT AS WELL. OKAY. SO NO DISTINCT RECOMMENDATION. WE'LL LET THEM FINISH MAKING THE MASHED POTATOES.
WE WON'T ADD ALL THE INGREDIENTS. WE'LL START IT.
BUT THE WHOLE BOARD CAN FINISH IT OFF. YEAH. THE ONE THING THAT I WILL ADD THOUGH, IS WE WILL NEED A RECOMMENDATION FOR AT LEAST ONE ITEM AT THE JANUARY BOARD MEETING, BECAUSE WE NEED TO INITIATE THEIR WORK PLAN FOR BASICALLY FEBRUARY. JANUARY IS A THE YEAR IN REVIEW AND WILL BE OTHER ITEMS ON THAT AGENDA, BUT WE ARE INTENDING TO START THE FOCUS WORK ON FEBRUARY.
I THINK WE CAN START THAT AS STAFF TOO. AND THEN JUST INCORPORATE THAT INTO THE RECOMMENDATION.
WE CAN WORK WITH BRUCE AND THE PAC TO START THAT WORK AND THEN BRING IT TO THE STAFF.
SO. YES. WE CAN WORK ON THOSE. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WHICHEVER, WHATEVER WE START WITH IS PROBABLY NOT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE OUTSIDE OF THE BOARD´S INTEREST. I MEAN, IT SOUNDS LIKE ACTUALLY THAT, YOU KNOW, AS WE JUST SAID, WE'RE GOING TO LET THE WHOLE I MEAN, ANOTHER WAY TO DO THIS WOULD BE TO SAY, OKAY, WELL, LET'S HAVE THEM START ON THE ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION RESTORATION, BECAUSE.
WHETHER WE WILL HAVE ONE MORE OR TWO MORE OR THREE MORE AND WHAT THOSE TOPICS ARE.
WE DID. OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT.
I GUESS THAT'S IT FOR THAT ONE. SO A RECOMMENDATION ON ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION RESTORATION TO ADVANCE AND THEN BOARD CONSIDERATION OF THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE DISCUSSIONS FOR FOCUS TOPIC NUMBER TWO OR POTENTIAL EXPANSION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE? YEAH. YEAH- THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. OKAY, THERE'S NO VOTE ON THIS ONE.
IT'S JUST A KIND OF A CONSENSUS THING. OKAY. ALL RIGHT.
VERY GOOD. THANK YOU. YEAH. OH.
YOU'RE UP FOR THE NEXT ONE TOO. YES. OKAY, SO THE NEXT ITEM IS AUTHORIZATION TO IMPLEMENT TELECONFERENCING TO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE UNDER SB 707. HI. ERICH PFUEHLER, DIVISION LEAD FOR GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. AND ON THIS ITEM, WE ARE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION.
I THINK IT MIGHT SAY ACTION ON THE ON THE AGENDA AND ALSO WANTED TO PROVIDE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR BRUCE TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS ABOUT DISCUSSIONS ABOUT TELECONFERENCING WITHIN THE PAC GROUP.
AND THEN I HAVE A VERY SHORT EXPLANATION OF WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR TODAY.
OKAY, THANKS. SO I GUESS I SPOKE OUT OF TURN BEFORE, I WAS ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT THIS ITEM BEFORE.
[00:55:03]
SCHEDULE OR, YOU KNOW, WHATEVER THE REASONS. SO THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON TO SOME EXTENT ALREADY, BUT APPARENTLY THE BOARD NEEDS TO AUTHORIZE THAT IN ADDITION TO PAC AUTHORIZING THAT.SO I WOULD ASK THAT THE BOARD. SO EXTEND THAT SO THAT PEOPLE WHO DO WISH TO TELECOMMUTE CAN DO SO.
THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. SO THIS CONVERSATION IS COMING TO LIGHT DUE TO LEGISLATIVE ACTION, AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO POST COVID, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONSIDERATION ABOUT COMPLYING WITH THE BROWN ACT AND INCORPORATING THE TOOLS OF TELECOMMUTING.
EVERY YEAR SINCE COVID, THERE'S BEEN LEGISLATION INTRODUCED.
THIS YEAR, SB 707 WAS KIND OF AN AMALGAMATION OF A LOT OF THOSE PREVIOUSLY INTRODUCED BILLS.
AND IT WAS ACTUALLY SIGNED INTO LAW ON OCTOBER 3RD, 2025.
IT DOES A LOT OF THINGS WITH REGARD TO REQUIREMENTS FOR LEGISLATIVE BODY IN BROWN ACT MEETINGS.
BUT FOR TODAY'S PURPOSES BECAUSE OUR LEGAL TEAM AND OUR CLERK WILL NEED TO WORK THROUGH THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OR THE LAWS IN EFFECT FROM JULY 1ST, 2026 THROUGH JANUARY 1ST, 2030. SO THERE'LL BE A NUMBER OF COMPONENTS TO THAT LAW THAT WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD. BUT FOR TODAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT SECTION 14 OF THE LAW, WHICH ADDRESSES SUBSIDIARY BODIES OF WHICH THE PAC WOULD BE CONSIDERED ONE. THESE ARE BODIES APPOINTED BY A LEGISLATIVE BODY TO PROVIDE ADVICE.
SO CLEARLY, WHAT THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS CHARGED TO DO.
THE PURPOSE OR THE INTENT IS TO INCREASE ACCESSIBILITY AND EXPAND DIVERSITY OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODY, ENABLING FOLKS THAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE ABLE TO TRAVEL TO PERALTA OAKS TO PARTICIPATE.
SO IT'S ENVISIONED THAT IT WOULD BE AN EASIER PROCESS FOR A DIVERSE PARTICIPATION IN THE PAC.
ONE REQUIREMENT IS A PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE MEETING LOCATION IS STILL REQUIRED.
SO THERE WOULD STILL BE A FORMAL MEETING WHERE SPACE WHERE PUBLIC COULD COME FOR COMMENT.
AND IT WILL NEED TO BE STAFFED BY GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TEAM.
IF THERE ARE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES FOR A PARTICIPANT TO NOT APPEAR ON SCREEN, THERE IS A PROVISION THAT CALLS FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OF TRYING TO REMEDY THAT SITUATION. AND SO THESE WILL BE PARTS OF THE PROCESS THAT OUR LEGAL AND CLERK TEAM WILL NEED TO WORK OUT.
SO FOR US TODAY, WE'RE SIMPLY ASKING FOR A RECOMMENDATION THAT WE ADVANCE THAT WORK IN THAT PLANNING, SO THAT THE PAC MIGHT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR MEETINGS VIA TELECONFERENCING IN 2026 AT SOME POINT.
OKAY. THANK YOU. DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? JUST ONE QUESTION.
SO, YEAH, I CERTAINLY SUPPORT ADVANCING THE WORK AND LOOKING INTO THIS.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE PAC MEMBERS COME FROM ALL OVER THESE TWO COUNTIES AND IN PARTICULAR TRAVELING AT THE WORST POSSIBLE TIME TO GET HERE. AND SO TO THE EXTENT THAT WE CAN MAKE THESE MEETINGS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE, I'M DEFINITELY SUPPORT IT. SO YOU SAID THAT THIS LAW GOES INTO EFFECT IN JULY 1ST OF 2026.
AND SO WOULD THE IDEA BE WE WOULD TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE NEED TO PUT THIS IN PLACE AND THEN IT WOULD START IN JULY? YEAH, THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING. AND IF THERE'S ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM THE CLERK OR LEGAL COUNSEL, BUT THE INTENT WAS TO HAVE THAT SORT OF LEAD TIME FOR AGENCIES.
[01:00:08]
GREAT. AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ALREADY USING THE HYBRID OPTION, THEY HAVE OTHER WAYS OF USING IT? I MEAN, THERE'S OTHER LAWS ALREADY. THERE'S OTHER LAWS PERTAINING TO THE BROWN ACT ON THE BOOKS THAT WOULD ENABLE PEOPLE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.CURRENTLY, THEY'RE POSTING THEIR MEETING LOCATION.
AND IT'S ON THE AGENDA THAT GETS POSTED PUBLICLY.
OKAY. GREAT. THANKS. LET'S SEE, I DON'T THINK I HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM? THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANY COMMENTS? I GUESS ACTUALLY I KIND OF INCLUDED MY COMMENTS.
I'M SUPPORTIVE. I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE. I DID IT WELL.
YOU DID IT WELL. THAT'S RIGHT. YOU KNOW, I JUST HAD A SUGGESTION.
SINCE THIS IS A STATE LAW AND YET ANOTHER STATE LAW THAT WE HAVE TO COMPLY WITH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT YOU CREATE A DOCUMENT THAT LISTS VERY CLEARLY ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO THIS REMOTE THING AND HAND IT OUT TO PEOPLE.
THAT MAKES IT VERY, VERY CLEAR. THE WHOLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE SCREEN BEING ON AND OFF AND ALL THAT, THE AUDIO VIDEO, HOW LONG IT HAS TO GO AND ALL THAT.
THAT'S MY SUGGESTION. YEAH I AGREE. AND FOR US AS WELL, FOR THE PROVISIONS THAT APPLY TO US, THIS ONE ISN'T GOING TO APPLY TO US BECAUSE WE'RE NOT IN AN ADVISORY BODY, BUT THE CURRENT LAWS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE WOULD BE HELPFUL TO KNOW EXACTLY WHEN YOU FALL INTO ONE VERSUS THE OTHER AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO COMPLY.
AND WE CAN RESEND IT. YEAH, IF IT'S ALREADY IN EXISTENCE.
YEAH, JUST, YOU KNOW, TO FOLLOW THIS 707 THING HERE.
THE OTHER THING I'D LIKE TO MENTION, IT'S KIND OF RELATED TO THIS IS.
I'D LIKE TO SEE THOSE MEMBERS THAT HAVE A LONG DISTANCE TO GO GET, GET REIMBURSED FOR MILEAGE.
WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT. I'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS INFORMALLY.
THAT'S ALL I'M GOING TO SAY. I THINK THE DISCUSSION NEEDS TO BE HAD.
WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY COMING OUT FROM OAKLEY. YOU KNOW, IF ANYBODY'S IN CROCKETT OR.
ALL RIGHT. I DON'T THINK THIS CALLS FOR A VOTE AGAIN, RIGHT? IT'S JUST A, YOU KNOW. I THINK WE CAN TAKE A VOTE TO RECOMMEND IT TO THE FULL BOARD.
OKAY, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE'RE IN AGREEMENT TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS.
YEAH, BUT YOU NEED AN ACTUAL MOTION. YEAH. OKAY.
SO YEAH. SO I MOVE THAT WE SHOULD MOVE FORWARD AND RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD THAT WE DO THE PLANNING AND WORK TO PUT THIS IN EFFECT AS SOON AS IT'S POSSIBLE. ALL RIGHT.
AND I WILL CERTAINLY SECOND THAT. AND WE WILL VOTE AYE.
AYE. AYE. OKAY. THERE YOU GO. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY INFORMATIONAL ITEMS THAT WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HERE TODAY, OR ANNOUNCEMENTS? ALL RIGHT THEN WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 12:10. THANK YOU.
THANKS TO EVERYBODY FOR HELPING US.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.