[00:00:01]
>> GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THIS CLOSED SESSION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF
[ROLL CALL]
THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT FOR DECEMBER 16TH, 2025, BEGINNING AT 10:08.MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.
>> THANK YOU. DIRECTOR COFFEE?
>> DIRECTOR ECCLES IS NOT HERE AT THE MOMENT.
DIRECTOR D SHAMBA IS ALSO NOT HERE AT THE MOMENT. DIRECTOR ESPANIA.
>> ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE OPEN SESSION?
>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CLOSED.
>> HEARING NONE, THEN WE'LL ADJOURN INTO THE CLOSED SESSION. THANK YOU.
[CLOSED SESSION ITEMS]
GOOD AFTERNOON AND WELCOME TO THIS REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF[ROLL CALL]
THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT FOR DECEMBER 16TH, 2025, CALLING THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 1:12.MADAM CLERK, WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>> ALL MEMBERS ARE HERE. THANK YOU.
GIVEN THIS IS MY LAST MEETING AS PRESIDENT.
THAT'S THE LAST TIME I'M GOING TO SAY THAT.
I AM TAKING CHAIRS PREROGATIVE, AND I'M GOING TO LEAD THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
PLUS I COULDN'T FIND ANYBODY ELSE.
>> PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE [OVERLAPPING] TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC, FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY OF JUSTICE FOR ALL.
>> DIRECTOR WASPI, FOR THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT?
[LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT]
>> THANK YOU. AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY, WE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL OF THE LANDS WITHIN THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ARE THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE EAST BAY ALONE, BAY MIWOK, AND 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 ITEM IS MODIFICATION OF THE AGENDA.
WE HAVE A REQUEST TO MODIFY THE AGENDA,
[MODIFICATION OF AGENDA]
AND THAT REQUEST IS TO MOVE ITEM C12, WORKFORCE PATHWAYS PROGRAM TO BE HEARD IMMEDIATELY AFTER CONSENT BECAUSE THERE ARE CONSULTANTS IN ATTENDANCE FOR THIS ITEM.IS THERE A MOTION TO ADOPT THE MEETING AGENDA WITH THIS CHANGE?
>> OPPOSED. ABSTAIN. IT CARRIES.
WE HAVE NO SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
MADAM CLERK, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA?
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]
>> YES, MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE TWO HANDS UP ONLINE, AND WE HAVE SEVEN COMMENTERS IN PERSON.
NORMAN LA FORCE. BEFORE YOU SPEAK, I WILL GIVE MY ANNOUNCEMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WISHING TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT CAN DO SO IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM.
IF ATTENDING IN PERSON, THEY MAY SUBMIT A SPEAKER CARD TO THE CLERKS STAFF OR OTHERWISE INDICATE THEY WISH TO MAKE A PUBLIC COMMENT ON A NON AGENDA ITEM.
IF ATTENDING BY ZOOM, THEY MAY RAISE THEIR HAND AND THEIR NAME WILL BE CALLED WHEN IT IS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK.
DURING THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, SPEAKERS WILL BE INVITED TO SPEAK AND WE'LL HAVE THREE MINUTES TO SHARE THEIR COMMENTS.
A COUNTDOWN TIMER WILL APPEAR FOR THEIR CONVENIENCE. THANK YOU.
>> GREAT. GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M SPEAKING FOR MYSELF AS A FATHER AND GRANDFATHER.
THIS IS ON THE REDWOOD STEAM TRAIN.
I REALLY URGE THIS BOARD AND THE PARK DISTRICT TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO KEEP THAT IN THE PARK GOING AND OPERATING.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT CULTURAL RESOURCE.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT FUN RESOURCE.
I CAN SAY THAT BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AS A FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, MY KIDS AND MY GRANDKIDS LOVE IT.
I'VE HEARD TALK ALL THE TIME ABOUT HOW WE HAVE TO GET YOUNGER PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THE PARKS.
WELL, THE YOUNGEST PEOPLE REALLY LOVE GOING ON A TRAIN THROUGH THE WOODS THERE.
IF YOU WANT TO GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT THE PARKS,
[00:05:01]
THAT I CAN'T THINK OF ANY OTHER WAY TO DO THAT.I WOULD HOPE THERE WILL BE A WAY TO MAKE THIS SO AND NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONTHS AND YEARS OVER THIS ISSUE, APPARENTLY, AT LEAST ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR OF THE TRAINS, WHEN I KNOW THAT ON OTHER PROJECTS, SOMEHOW THE STAFF SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO JUST ROLL THINGS THROUGH. THANK YOU.
>> ELLEN THOMPSON, AND THEN STEVEN RICHARDS.
>> THANK YOU. 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'RE 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 HAS BEEN POLISHED AND PERFECTED FOR 73 YEARS IN FAVOR OF A NEW ONE THAT IS WRITTEN WITH NO EXPERIENCE OF OUR SITUATION.
NOW WE'RE BEING TOLD, JUST SIGN THIS PART, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE MEETINGS WITHOUT YOU AND WE'LL ADD STUFF THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN YET AFTER YOU'VE ALREADY SIGNED.
THAT IS 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.
THEY SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS AGGRAVATION AND EXPENSE.
THE DISTRICT WOULD BENEFIT FROM LEARNING HOW TO FOSTER PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY PARTICIPANTS INSTEAD OF DRIVING THEM AWAY.
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 HOPED IT 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 A PERSONAL AGENDA OR IS IT JUST NEGLIGENCE? WE'RE OUT OF TIME. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> STEPHEN RICHARDS AND THEN BRUCE BAYERT.
>> HELLO. I APPEARED BEFORE YOU BECAUSE I'VE APPEALED TO LOWER LEVELS OF SUPERVISION CONCERNING THE CARE OF CRAB COVE IN ALAMEDA, AND I HAVEN'T GONE VERY FAR, SO HERE I AM.
ESPECIALLY ABOUT SPECIFICALLY THE BEACH LINE ALONG CRAB COVE.
I'VE SEPARATED INTO THREE AREAS.
THE LONGEST STRETCH IS I THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN PHOTOGRAPHS THAT WOULD BE BETTER DESCRIPTIVE OF WHAT I'M TRYING TO DESCRIBE.
CRAB COVE HASN'T BEEN USED BY THE PUBLIC FOR TWO MONTHS.
THE LONGEST STRETCH IS JUST A STRETCH OF DEBRIS THAT COULD BE EASILY CLEANED UP WITH A RAKE AND A SHOVEL, A BUNCH OF RAKES, A BUNCH OF SHOVELS.
THE CREW IS ABOUT 400 FEET AWAY IN THE BUILDING RIGHT NEXT TO IT.
THAT'S THE LONGEST STRETCH, BUT I DON'T KNOW.
I CAN'T THINK OF ANY REASON NOT TO CLEAN IT.
THEN THERE'S THE RIPRAP AREA, I GUESS THAT'S THE ROCK AREA.
THAT ONLY DESCENDS ABOUT FIVE FEET DOWN, AND THE EXCUSE FOR NOT CLEANING THAT AREA HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SAFETY.
I SEND A PHOTO OF ME WITH BROOM JUST TO SHOW A RAKE THE DISTANCE.
YOU USE A RAKE AND YOU RAKE IT UP FROM
[00:10:04]
THE TOP AND YOU GO DOWN AND YOU RAKE IT DOWN FROM THE BOTTOM.THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO SAFETY HAZARD INVOLVED IN CLEANING LITERALLY DRIED SLUDGE THAT IS KEEPING THE PUBLIC FROM USING THE PARK ALONG THE RIPRAP.
THEN THERE IS ONE EIGHTH STRETCH OF THE CRAB COVE BEACH ABOUT THAT LONG THAT'S LITERALLY SLUDGE.
I GET THAT RAKES AND SHOVELS WON'T CLEAN THAT.
I STEPPED OUT IN IT TO TAKE PHOTOS, AND ANY LITTLE KID WOULD BE REALLY IN TROUBLE IF THEY STEPPED OUT I N IT.
YOUR FEET GO SINK WAY DOWN IN THERE, AND IT SMELLS TERRIBLE.
IT'S NOT JUST A SAFETY HAZARD FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, BUT ALSO IT COULD EASILY BE DANGEROUS.
I'M JUST HOPING TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO ENCOURAGE THE CREW TO USE A RAKE AND A SHOVEL AND CLEAN CRAB COVE.
IN THE MEANTIME, WHILE THE SLUDGY AREA, DANGEROUS AREA IS THERE, IT SHOULD BE ROPED OFF IN THE MEANTIME.
IT SHOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE FOR ANYBODY TO GO OUT IN THAT AREA.
IN THE MEANTIME, THERE SHOULD BE MACHINERY THAT WOULD DREDGE UP THAT STUFF.
INSTEAD OF EXCUSING IT AWAY BY SAYING WE CAN'T USE HEAVY MACHINERY.
THERE'S SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE BECAUSE IT'S JUST NOT BEING USED.
THE KIDS ARE BEING DEPRIVED. THANK YOU.
>> CAN WE GET A STAFF CONTACT FOR HIM TO ADDRESS HIS CONCERNS OR MAYBE SOME EXPLANATION. PERHAPS.
>> YES. ROBERT KENNEDY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH HIM.
>> ROBERT KENNEDY IS IN THE ROOM.
>> THANK YOU. BRUCE BAYERT, AND THEN SARAH RIK.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. CHAIR MERCURIO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I'M THE CHAIR OF TRACK TRAILS RICHMOND ACTION COMMITTEE.
AS I THINK YOU ALREADY KNOW, CITY OF RICHMOND HAS 36 MILES OF BAY TRAIL COMPLETED, LINKING A NECKLACE OF 12 LOCAL, REGIONAL STATE AND NATIONAL PARKS.
THREE OF THOSE 12 ARE YOUR REGIONAL PARKS.
POINT POOL, POINT ISABELLE, AND MILLER KNOX.
ONE THING THAT'S OFTEN NEGLECTED, BUT ISN'T IN THIS CASE IN THE CITY OF RICHMOND IS CREATING GOOD SAFE ATTRACTIVE CONNECTIONS FROM THE INNER CITY AND FROM PUBLIC TRANSIT TO THE BAY TRAIL.
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HAS A MAJOR PROGRAM UNDERWAY INVESTING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO IMPROVE CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, BETWEEN BART, BETWEEN THE LONEY GREENWAY.
THERE'S ALREADY A VERY GOOD CONNECTION FROM RICHMOND BART VIA THE RICHMOND WELLNESS TRAIL AND THE RICHMOND GREENWAY.
FOR EXAMPLE, PEOPLE LIVING IN CONCORD OR PLEASANT HILL OR HAYWARD CAN READILY GET ON THEIR BIKES ON BAR, GET OFF THE RICHMOND BARGE STATION AND VISIT POINT PENAL REGIONAL SHORELINE.
WHAT'S NEW IS THE CITY IS INVESTING IN TO EXTEND THE RICHMOND WELLNESS TRAIL TO THE SHORELINE.
THEY HAVE A RICHMOND NEIGHBORHOOD COMPLETE STREETS PROJECT UNDERWAY, FUNDED BY THE RICHMOND RISING TRANSFORMATIVE CLIMATE COMMUNITIES GRANT, AND OTHER PROJECTS UNDERWAY, ALL TO MAKE IT SAFER AND MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR PEOPLE TO USE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO AND FROM THE SHORELINE, THE BAY TRAIL, AND ENJOY THE SHORELINE PARKS, THREE OF WHICH ARE YOURS.
I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU AN UPDATE ON THAT.
>> THANK YOU. SARAH RIK, AND THEN BRUCE ANDERSON.
>> THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT MERCURIO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND PARK DISTRICT STAFF.
I'M SARAH RIK AND I'M A SENIOR REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST IN THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT.
I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY ABOUT THE PARK DISTRICT'S LACK OF A TELEWORK POLICY.
I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH WHAT TO SAY TODAY.
YOU'VE ALREADY HEARD ALL OF THE COMPELLING REASONS WHY HYBRID TELEWORK POLICY MAKES THE MOST SENSE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION.
CONSISTENCY WITH OUR ENVIRONMENTAL ETHIC, COST SAVINGS TO THE PARK DISTRICT AND STAFF, AND EFFICIENT USE OF RESOURCES, LEANING INTO OUR LEADERSHIP AMONGST OTHER PARK DISTRICTS AND RETAINING TALENTED EMPLOYEES.
I THINK THE BEST WAY THAT I CAN USE MY TIME IS TO SPEAK ABOUT WHAT I SEE HAPPENING IN THE OFFICE.
THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE NOT COMFORTABLE SPEAKING IN FRONT OF YOU.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW THIS, BUT A LITTLE BIT STRESSFUL.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO SPEAK ON THEIR BEHALF AND I'M GOING TO KEEP IT REAL.
I'LL START BY SAYING THAT EVERYBODY THAT I KNOW AT THE PARK DISTRICT AT PERALTA OAKS, AND IN OUR SATELLITE OFFICES,
[00:15:02]
WE'RE ALL SO GRATEFUL FOR OUR EMPLOYMENT HERE. WE'VE MET GREAT PEOPLE.WE'VE CHALLENGED OURSELVES AND GROWN PROFESSIONALLY AND PERSONALLY, AND WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH.
WE CAME TO WORK FOR THE PARK DISTRICT BECAUSE WE WANTED TO POSITIVELY IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES, BELIEVED IN OUR MISSION AND AMBITIOUS VISION, AND WE HEARD IT WAS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK WHERE PEOPLE STAYED FOR THEIR ENTIRE CAREERS.
WE LOVE THAT SCIENCE IS KING HERE AND DEI AND TOLERANCE ARE COMMON PLACE.
I CAN'T REMEMBER THE WORD THAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.
WE BECOME CLOSE FRIENDS WITH OUR CO WORKERS.
SOME EVEN MARRIED THEIR CO WORKERS. WE WORK HARD.
WE SHOW UP EVERY DAY FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, AND WE SHOW UP TO MOVE THE MISSION AND THE WORK OF THE DISTRICT FORWARD.
BUT I'VE GOT TO BE REAL WITH YOU, MORALE IS LOW.
THE TIMES THAT WE LIVE IN ARE DYNAMIC AND VOLATILE AND REQUIRE A SPECIAL KIND OF JUGGLING THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE.
SINCE THE COVID PANDEMIC, YOUR STAFF HAVE ADJUSTED TO A NEW GENERAL MANAGER WHO ASKED TOUGH PERHAPS OVERDUE QUESTIONS.
THE VISION AND TENANTS THAT HAVE GUIDED US FOR ALMOST A CENTURY AND PROVIDED UNWAVERING CONSISTENCY ARE BEING QUESTIONED AND REEXAMINED.
WE'VE SEEN LONG TIME STAFF LEAVE.
WE SEE A REVOLVING DOOR OF STAFF IN OUR FINANCE AND HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENTS AND WONDER WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
HOWEVER, WE ALL KNOW THAT CHANGE IS INEVITABLE AND WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO HANDLE IT WITH GRACE.
WE ARE DOING OUR BEST FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, AND OUR FAMILIES.
BUT EVERY SINGLE SPACE STAFF MEMBER THAT I SPEAK WITH AT PERALTA OAKS IS DISAPPOINTED AND FRUSTRATED BY THE ABRUPT LACK OF A TELEWORK POLICY.
MANY ARE RELUCTANTLY LOOKING FOR WORK ELSEWHERE.
EVERYONE I SPEAK WITH EVERYONE FEELS THIS WAY.
WE WERE HAPPIER AND MORE BALANCED EMPLOYEES WHEN WE WERE PERMITTED TO HAVE A MODICUM OF FLEXIBILITY.
IN THE JUGGLING ACT, MOST WOULD BE HAPPY WITH TWO DAYS OF TELEWORK, TWO DAYS TO SHOW YOUR STAFF THAT YOU HEAR THEM WHEN THEY'RE TELLING YOU THAT THEY ARE BETTER, MORE PRESENT, MORE EFFICIENT, AND MORE ENGAGED.
>> THANK YOU. YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> BRUCE ANDERSON AND THEN JEFFREY BERNIFORD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. I WISH TO SPEAK ON THE TILDEN TRAIN LEASE ISSUE.
MY BROTHERS AND I ARE NOW IN OUR 70S AND I'VE BEEN ENJOYING THE TILDEN TRAIN WITH OUR FAMILIES PRETTY MUCH ALL OF OUR LIVES.
A FRIEND FROM RED BLUFF GAVE ME A HEADS UP TO THE REDWOOD VALLEY RAILWAY EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK LEASE ISSUE FROM A STORY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 26TH, 2025 IN THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE, PAGE A7.
I HAVE SINCE VIEWED SIMILAR STORIES ON BOTH KPIX AND KNTV.
>> I'VE SEEN BOTH ELLEN AND HER DECEASED FATHER WORKING AT THE TRACK SINCE I'VE BEEN A CHILD.
MEANWHILE, I UNDERSTAND THE LONG TERM LEASE EXPIRED IN 2019, AND THE EAST BAY PARK STAFF HAS CHANGED MULTIPLE TIMES SINCE THEN.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT CORPORATE MEMORY HAS BEEN LOST? APPARENTLY, ITEMS THAT HAD ALREADY BEEN AGREED TO MAY HAVE BEEN LOST, FORGOTTEN, OR REINTERPRETED? I HAD OBAS ONCE WHO GAVE ME A LETTER WRITTEN TO THE PRESIDENT OF A MAJOR CORPORATION.
THERE WERE SOME TYPOS HERE AND THERE, BUT THE FINAL PARAGRAPH ENDED WITH YOUR REPETITION IS BEING DAMAGED BY THIS PRODUCT.
VERY CLEARLY, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO SAY, YOUR REPUTATION IS BEING DAMAGED BY THIS PRODUCT.
THE LETTER HAD ALREADY GONE OUT AND MY BOSS SAID, HE RAN THROUGH A SPELL CHECKER.
INDEED, YOUR REPETITION WAS SPELLED CORRECTLY BUT THE CONTEXT WAS WRONG.
IS IT POSSIBLE THAT WITH THE TRANSITION OF EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK STAFF, THAT THE CONTEXT HAS BEEN LOST? I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY RESOURCES AVAILABLE, BOTH MONETARILY AND STAFF.
I AM A DOCENT AT ANOTHER MUSEUM WHERE A WELL KNOWN BILLIONAIRE CAME TO VISIT WITH THEIR SON.
NOPE, THE MUSEUM DID NOT RECEIVE AN ENDOWMENT.
I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THE PRIVATELY OWNED REDWOOD VALLEY RAILWAY REMAINS IN OUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF IN THE PRIVATE HANDS OF A BILLIONAIRE, THOUGH.
WILLIAM PENN MOTT HAS TILDEN PARK HAS PART OF HIS LEGACY.
I'M SURE ELLEN THOMPSON HOPES TO HAVE THE REDWOOD VALLEY RAILWAY REMAIN PART OF HER LEGACY TO OUR COMMUNITY.
[00:20:01]
I HOPE WE GET A POSITIVE RESOLUTION TO THIS LEASE ISSUE.THIS IS MY THIRD CONSECUTIVE VISIT HERE, AND UNTIL THIS SITUATION GETS RESOLVED WITH THE REDWOOD VALLEY RAILWAY, I WILL BE A CONSISTENT PARTICIPANT.
IN THE PAST, I'VE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A VERY ACCURATE TWO MINUTE AND MAYBE 55-SECOND SPEECH BECAUSE IT IS DIFFERENT.
YOU'VE ALL GOTTEN A COPY OF MY PREVIOUS PRESENTATION.
SO I'M SHOOTING FROM THE HIP, AND I DON'T DO THIS REALLY WELL IN PUBLIC.
BUT IN 1960, WE MOVED TO MISSION SAN JOSE AND MISSION SAN JOSE WAS UP FROM A TOWN CALLED IRVINGTON.
IN THAT AREA, THERE WAS A PLACE CALLED MISSION PEAK.
MISSION PEAK WAS WAY UP THERE QUITE A LANDMARK IN THE BAY AREA, AND TO ACCESS MISSION PEAK, YOU HAD TO GO UP MILKY ROAD.
SO WHEN I WAS 10 IN 1960, I PUSHED MY BICYCLE, LET ME PUT IT THAT WAY UP MILKY ROAD, AND AT SOME POINT, THE BICYCLE BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO GET CAUGHT BY THE FARMERS AND THE RANCHERS AND THERE'S COWS UP THERE, ANYWAY.
WITH MY BOY SCOUT KIND OF BACKPACK, I HAD MY SODA IN THE BACK, AND SO I HIKED UP TO THE TOP OF MISSION PEAK, AND IT'S JUST A LOVELY VIEW.
BUT AGAIN, I WAS VERY FRIGHTENED, BUT NOW YOU CAN DO IT SAFELY.
YOU CAN DO IT LEGALLY BECAUSE THERE'S THIS GREAT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK.
YOU CAN ACCESS IT FROM MANY DIFFERENT WAYS.
IT'S QUITE AN EFFORT. I PROBABLY WON'T DO IT BECAUSE IT'S QUITE AN EFFORT.
ANYWAY, IN 1977, WE OPENED A STORE IN BERKELEY RIGHT NEXT TO THE DON SHOP ON ASHBY AVENUE, AND ELLEN'S MOTHER, ADELE SHOPPED THERE, AND WE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF GETTING FREE TICKETS TO RIDE THIS RAILROAD.
I'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOR ABOUT 45 YEARS.
THEY USE THE WORD A TRAIN, STEAM TRAINS, TINY TRAINS.
IT IS AN IMMENSELY COMPLICATED ENDEAVOR.
I RECENTLY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR OF THIS FACILITY, AND WE'VE GOT BOATERS AND THE BOATERS RUN IT.
HUGE AMOUNTS OF PRESSURE AND IF THE BOATERS EXPLODE, BUT THEY'RE NOT BECAUSE THEY'RE CONTROLLED BY US ORGANIZATION OR WHATNOT.
RECENTLY, SOMEBODY SAID SWITCH POINTS.
IF THE POINTS ON THE SWITCHES THAT DIVERT THE TRAINS, IF THEY ARE AT RISK, THEN PEOPLE WILL GET HURT.
THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SERIOUS THING, AND I HOPE THAT THERE'S SOME SERIOUS FOLLOW THROUGH BECAUSE I WILL BE HERE UNTIL IT GETS DONE.
NATE LUNA, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.
STAFF AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
MY NAME IS NATE LUNA, AND I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING AT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 12 YEARS, FROM FEBRUARY 2012 TO APRIL 2025.
DURING THAT TIME, I WAS PROUD TO SERVE AN ORGANIZATION ALONGSIDE OTHERS WHO WERE DEDICATED TO THE PRESERVATION OF NATURAL PLACES, HARD WORK, COMMUNITY, AND PUBLIC SERVICE.
WHEN REMOTE WORK WAS ELIMINATED, I FACED A DIFFICULT DECISION.
THE LONG COMMUTE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO CONTINUE, EVEN THOUGH I DEEPLY VALUED THE WORK AND THE PEOPLE I WORKED WITH.
FOR ME, LEAVING WAS ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY.
FROM A WORKFORCE PERSPECTIVE, THIS REPRESENTS THE LOSS OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE.
MY CURRENT POSITION IS LOCATED JUST 10 MINUTES FROM HOME AND OFFERS REMOTE WORK FLEXIBILITY.
I'VE SEEN FIRSTHAND HOW THIS APPROACH BENEFITS BOTH EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS.
THAT FLEXIBILITY HAS IMPROVED MY WORK LIFE BALANCE, STRENGTHENED MY ENGAGEMENT, AND REINFORCED A SENSE OF TRUST AND RESPECT FROM MY ORGANIZATION.
IT MOTIVATES ME TO STAY ENGAGED, WORK HARD, AND CONSISTENTLY GIVE MY BEST BACK TO THE AGENCY.
[00:25:05]
WHEN EMPLOYEES FEEL SUPPORTED AND VALUED, MORALE IMPROVES, RETENTION STRENGTHENS, AND PRODUCTIVITY INCREASES.REMOTE WORK IS NOT JUST A CONVENIENCE, IT'S ABOUT FOSTERING A CULTURE, ROOTED, IN TRUST, RESPECT, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT.
WHEN EMPLOYEES FEEL SUPPORTED AND TRUSTED, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO STAY, REMAIN ENGAGED AND PERFORM AT A HIGH LEVEL.
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT REINTRODUCING FLEXIBLE OR HYBRID WORK OPTIONS WOULD STRENGTHEN THE DISTRICT'S WORKFORCE, IMPROVE MORALE, AND HELP ENSURE LONG TERM ORGANIZATIONAL SUCCESS.
>> KELLY A, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU. ON THE REMOTE WORK, I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT IT FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND SO HAS THIS BOARD.
BUT I HAD SOMEBODY WHO WAS LOOKING AT CHANGING JOBS AND THEY SAID, WELL, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO GO INTO THE OFFICE ALL THE TIME.
SO THEN NATURALLY I WENT LOOKING FOR DATA.
I WENT TO THE FIRST PLACE THAT ANYBODY, ANY REASONABLE PERSON WOULD GO FOR DATA NOWADAYS.
I WENT TO CHATGPT AND CHATGPT LOOKED THROUGH ALL THE LITERATURE, AND IT FOUND OUT THAT YEAH, THERE WAS PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL.
YOU CAN PICK YOUR OWN PERCENTAGES, BUT DOING MORE REMOTE WORK WAS WORTH 10 OR 20% PICK A NUMBER.
BUT THESE NUMBERS COME FROM HR ORGANIZATIONS AND STUDIES AND PROBABLY NATURAL EXPERIMENTS WHERE COMPANIES START IT OR STOP IT, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEIR WORKFORCE, WHATEVER.
THERE IS SOME REAL FINANCIAL VALUE TO THE EMPLOYEES AND FOR THAT ARRANGEMENT.
ALSO, THIS GENTLEMAN WHO JUST SPOKE AND TALKED ABOUT THE RAILROAD, BUT BEFORE THAT, HE TALKED ABOUT WRITING UP MILL CREEK ROAD IN FREMONT, CALIFORNIA, TO MISSION PEAK REGIONAL PRESERVE.
WELL, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WITH MORE RECENT INFORMATION, I'VE ACTUALLY WALKED UP THAT ROAD AND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DRIVE THEIR BICYCLE STILL UP THE ROAD THAT WHEN THEY GET TO THE END, THERE ARE TWO GATES, AND YOUR PARK DISTRICT STAFF HAS POSTED NO ENTRY, NO TRESPASSING SIGNS ON BOTH GATES.
THIS HAPPENED, FIVE OR 10 YEARS AGO, AND THESE ENTRANCES, IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE FOR PEOPLE TO WALK OR RIDE THEIR BIKE UP THAT ROAD AND ENTER A REGIONAL PARK.
BUT FOR POLITICAL REASONS, THERE ARE PROBABLY 10 OR 20 HOUSEHOLDS ON THE ROAD, AND THEY WOULDN'T LIKE THAT, WOULD THEY? SO THEY GOT THAT SHUT DOWN AND YOUR STAFF WAS VERY HAPPY TO DO A FEW PEOPLE THAT FAVOR OF CLOSING OFF THE EASTERN ENTRANCE TO THE REGIONAL PARK AND THAT'S HOW IT IS TODAY.
IT IS NOW ILLEGAL TO DO WHAT THIS GENTLEMAN WAS DOING FOR MANY YEARS WHEN HE WAS A KID AND WHAT OTHER PEOPLE I IMAGINE THIS IS STILL A VERY POPULAR THING TO DO, BUT IT IS NOW AN ILLEGAL THING TO DO.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE RETHOUGHT.
I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS A GOOD THING TO DO TO DO THESE LITTLE FAVORS FOR 10 OR 20 HOUSEHOLDS. THANK YOU.
MR. PRESIDENT, WE HAVE NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS? NO ANNOUNCEMENTS.
SO NOW WE COME TO THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
DO WE HAVE ANY REQUESTS TO PULL ANY ITEMS OFF OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR? YES.>> ANY REAL LIVE PULLS TO DO HERE? NO. WHY DON'T YOU?
>> SO FIVE AND SIX, ARE THE TWO? TWO, FIVE AND SIX.
LET'S TAKE IN NUMERICAL ORDER BECAUSE THAT'S HOW I GO.
GO AHEAD AND ASK YOUR QUESTION.
>> YES. IT SAYS A NEUTRAL MANNER OF DETERMINATION.
[00:30:04]
WHAT WAS A NEUTRAL MANNER OF DETERMINATION FOR NEW BOARD MEMBERS ORDER?>> WHEN DID THE RANDOM DRAWING TAKE PLACE?
>> IT WAS JUST A DIGITAL THING THAT WE DID ON THE INTERNET WHERE YOU PUT IN TWO NAMES AND THEN IT PRESCRIBE THE ORDER.
>> NOT YOU, ELIZABETH, BECAUSE YOU WOULD HAVE HAD YOUR PRIOR ORDER.
IT WAS THE ORDER BETWEEN LINDA DISH BOLT AND I AS FAR AS FOR THE ROTATION OF LISTING BECAUSE IT SAYS A NEUTRAL MANNER OF DETERMINATION.
SO I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHAT THAT WAS.
>> DID THAT CHANGE THIS YEAR VERSUS LAST YEAR, OR YOU'RE JUST ASKING ABOUT LAST YEAR?
>> I WAS ASKING ABOUT OUR YEAR.
>> THE CURRENT ORDER IN THE AGENDA?
>> WITH JOHN AND OLIVIA, WE FLIPPED A COIN.
>> BUT I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, IT HASN'T CHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR BECAUSE THEY WERE PLACED IN AN ORDER LAST YEAR, I THOUGHT.
EVEN THOUGH NOBODY WAS AN OFFICER, THEY WERE.
>> THEY WEREN'T IN OFFICE IN DECEMBER.
>> OKAY. BUT SOMETHING THAT CAME OUT LATER THAN THAT I REMEMBER SEEING THEIR NAMES, BUT THAT'S OKAY.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ASK WHAT THE NEUTRAL MANNER DETERMINATION WAS. DOES IT?
>> CLOSER. SORRY. THIS IS THE ADOPTION OF THE MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECK ON THE SFB TRAIL POINT PINOLE TO WILSON POINT PROJECT.
I JUST WANTED TO CONGRATULATE STAFF ON BRINGING THIS FORWARD AT THIS STAGE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY APPROVING THE PROJECT AND PUTTING IT OUT THERE FOR FUNDING WITH THIS PROCESS.
I JUST WANTED TO, ONE, CONGRATULATE STAFF.
WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE BOARD IN 2017, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I DID IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZATION WAS PUT THIS TRAIL, THIS PIECE OF BAY TRAIL ON MY PRIORITIES LIST AND I JUST RECENTLY ACTUALLY TOOK IT OFF BECAUSE I KNEW STAFF WAS WORKING ON IT, BUT IT HAS BEEN A HIGH LEVEL PRIORITY FOR ME, MY ENTIRE GOING ON NINE YEARS ON THIS BOARD.
THIS IS A PIECE OF THE BAY TRAIL THAT FILLS A GAP BETWEEN PINOLE AND POINT PINOLE.
WHERE THE ATTRACTION TO THIS PART OF THE BAY TRAIL AS A GAP THAT FILLED WILL BE INCREDIBLY IMPACTFUL.
THIS IS PART OF THE BAY TRAIL THAT THE COUNTY IS TAKING UP, PROBABLY NEXT YEAR OR IN '27 FROM WHERE WE COMPLETED IT IN RODEO, THEY'RE TAKING IT UP TO CROCKETT AND THE VALEJJO BRIDGE.
THEN THIS GAP WILL BE THE ONLY ONE THAT REMAINS BETWEEN CROCKETT AND OAKLAND.
ONCE IT'S FILLED, YOU'LL HAVE LOTS OF PEOPLE COMMUTING ON IT BECAUSE OF THE THOUSANDS OF JOBS AT THE ATLAS ROAD INTERCHANGE RIGHT AT POINT PINOLE.
AMAZON AND OTHER DISTRIBUTION WAREHOUSES ARE THERE.
IT'S GOING TO SERVE A RELATIVELY LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN MONTALVN MANOR, TARA HILLS, AND NORTH RICHMOND.
IT'S GOING TO CREATE SHORELINE ACCESS TO THOSE COMMUNITIES FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES.
THE CITY OF HERCULES HAS A LONG PLAN AND THEY'RE CONTINUING TO SEEK FUNDING FOR A TRANSPORTATION HUB AT THEIR BAYFRONT, WHERE A PIECE OF THE BAY TRAIL WILL BECOME THE HERCULES PROMENADE, AND AMTRAK HAS APPROVED A FUTURE TRAIN STATION THERE IN HERCULES.
WHEN THIS GAP IS FILLED, THERE WILL BE PEOPLE TRAVELING TO THIS PIECE OF THE BAY TRAIL AS A DESTINATION.
WE HAVE THAT INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL, WONDERFUL PEDESTRIAN BIKE BRIDGE FROM BAYFRONT PARK UP INTO PINOLE BAY SHORE THERE.
IT WILL ATTRACT LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE TO THAT SECTION OF THE BAY TRAIL.
IT WILL BE A BOOM TO THE CITY OF HERCULES, CITY OF PINOLE AND ALL THE COMMUNITIES SERVED ALONG THAT STRETCH OF THE SAN PABLO BAY.
THIS IS A HUGE PROJECT TO BRING FORWARD.
IT CHECKS ALL THE BOXES FOR FUTURE FUNDING.
IT'S A MATTER OF TIME, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE FUNDED, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE A REASONABLE AND RATIONAL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONCE AGAIN, HOPEFULLY IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE, BECAUSE IT WILL ATTRACT ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AS WELL AS THE STATE GOVERNMENT.
[00:35:03]
THIS IS A WONDERFUL THING TO BRING FORWARD AND REALLY APPRECIATE.>> IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S ONLY 0.9 MILES.
BUT 0.9 MILES TO COMPLETE A NETWORK HAS A MULTIPLYING EFFECT TO MAKE IT A COMPLETE NETWORK IS REALLY GOING TO BE VERY POWERFUL.
I HAD A CHANCE TO READ THE STAFF REPORT AND FIND OUT FINALLY WHY THAT IS SO COMPLICATED, AND THERE'S SO MANY ELEMENTS TO THAT IN THAT 0.9 MILES THAT ARE REALLY EXPENSIVE TO DO.
I UNDERSTAND MUCH BETTER NOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A PRETTY BIG DEAL IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT AS WELL, IF I COULD.
>> ANOTHER, I KEEP CALLING THEM TETRIS PIECES.
THEY JUST DROP AND FALL INTO PLACE.
ONE THING THAT WASN'T MENTIONED, I REALLY LIKE TO, I THINK IT'S MENTIONED IN THE STAFF REPORT.
I FOUND IT SOMEWHERE THAT THE CPP SCORE ON THIS ONE WAS 95.
AS YOU SAID, IT CHECKS OFF ALL THE BOXES.
THE ONE THING JUST FOR TRANSPARENCY IS THAT AS A SCIENTIST, THIS IS A WETLAND. IT'S ONLY 0.9.
IT'S GOT A HUGE BRIDGE AND ELEVATED BOARDWALK.
THAT'S NOT THAT I WANT TO CHANGE, IT'S JUST A COMMENT, TRANSPARENCY IN THE STAFF REPORT OF WHAT WE CONSIDERED, IF THIS IS A 30 YEAR SEA LEVEL RISE OR 90 YEAR SEA LEVEL RISE PROJECTION.
IF THEY WERE NATURAL, WHAT'S THE WORD I WANT? NATURAL MITIGATION CONSIDERED INSTEAD OF THE RIP WRAP AND THE BRIDGES IN GENERAL.
I DON'T WANT TO PULL IT. I DON'T WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER NECESSARILY.
I JUST THINK THAT WE'RE DRIVEN BY ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS.
A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HELPFUL FOR ME TO FEEL REALLY COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
OF COURSE, IT'S ANOTHER $10 MILLION PROJECT THAT WE WILL HAVE A DISCUSSION HERE SHORTLY ON WHERE IT'S GOING TO COME FROM, BUT I'M GLAD IT'S GOING FORWARD.
IT DOES MENTION A WEBSITE THAT I COULDN'T FIND AND THAT TWO PEOPLE COMMENTED ON IT, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THOSE COMMENTS MIGHT HAVE REFLECTED AND BEEN ADDRESSED THE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT SEA LEVEL RISE AND THE WETLAND IMPACTS.
BUT YES. THANK YOU FOR THE HARD WORK.
IT LOOKS LIKE ALMOST FIVE YEARS, FOUR AND A HALF YEARS OF WORK AND APPRECIATE THE TETRIS PIECE. THANK YOU.
>> CAN I? I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT.
WE ALSO HAVE TO LOOK THIS 0.9 MILES IS ALSO 0.9 MILES OF EQUITY IN THE COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO GO ACROSS THE RICHMOND BRIDGE, ALL THE WAY TO TREASURE ISLAND, OR JUST ALSO LOOKING AT AS FAR AS DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS THAT WILL NOW BE ABLE TO AS FAR AS ONCE THIS IS BUILT, EVEN BE ABLE TO COMMUTE OVER TO POTENTIAL JOBS, AND IT'S REALLY ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION QUARTER.
THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TOWARDS CLEANER AIR IN A COMMUNITY.
BUT ALSO AS FAR AS OUR DIFFERENT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE ACCESS TO TELS AND TO BE ABLE TO ENJOY SOME OF THE AMENITIES THAT DIFFERENT NEIGHBORS AND COMMUNITIES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS GAP CURRENTLY CAN.
I JUST WANTED TO POINT THAT AND MAKE THAT POINT TOO.
>> THANK YOU. ITEM NUMBER 6, SEEKS BOARD'S AUTHORIZATION TO APPROPRIATE ALMOST $6 MILLION OF OBLIGATED FEMA FUNDS.
WE'RE GETTING FUNDS FROM FEMA, AND NOW WE'RE GOING TO APPROPRIATE THEM, AND I'M REALLY VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS.
THIS IS ALL BACK FROM THE 2023 STORMS WE HAD AND LOTS OF DAMAGE DONE IN THE PARK DISTRICT.
ONE OF THEM IS, I'M VERY HAPPY ABOUT A LAKE CHABOT DOCS, AND IT'S $33,000 TO FIX THOSE DOCKS.
I WAS WONDERING I KNOW THIS IS A QUESTION THAT CAN'T BE ANSWERED, BUT COINCIDENTALLY, IT WAS ONE OF THE FUNNEST TIMES I HAD MY LIFE WAS I GOT MY BOARD PACKET A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
I READ THAT AND A CONSTITUENT CALLED ME AND SAID, I REPRESENT A GROUP OF FISHERMEN AT LAKE CHABOT.
WE'VE GONE WITHOUT FISHING AT THE RACCOON POINT DOCK AND ANOTHER POINT DOCK.
I HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE TO SAY, TUNE IN.
WE'RE GOING TO PASS THE LEGISLATION OR AUTHORIZE THE APPROPRIATION OF THESE FUNDS.
I KNOW THE NEXT QUESTION, AND HE WAS VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS.
THEN I SAID, BYE, THANKS FOR YOUR CONSTITUENCY AND YOUR CONCERN, DENNIS, AND THEN I KNOW THE QUESTION HE'S GOING TO HAVE WHEN I GET HOME TONIGHT IS, WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT? CAN YOU RUN THROUGH THE PROCESS OF WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE? IT'S BUILDING A DOCK AND PUTTING IT IN THE WATER.
I KNOW IT'S NOT AN EASY TASK, BUT IS THERE A TIMELINE ON THIS THAT I CAN TELL THIS GREAT CONSTITUENT?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, KATY HORNBECK, GRANT MANAGER.
[00:40:03]
I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT TIMELINE BECAUSE SINCE IT JUST GOT OBLIGATED FROM FEMA, MEANING THE FINANCE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IS WORKING WITH DECO.DIVISION LEAD RUN BATES TO ASSIGN A PROJECT MANAGER AND GET IT UNDERWAY.
MAKING SURE WE'RE HITTING OUR PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS AND ALL THE REQUIRED STEPS.
SOMETIME NEXT YEA LIKELY IT WILL START.
>> GREAT. THANKS FOR REALLY GREAT WORK IN GETTING THESE FUNDS RELEASED.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE CONSENT ITEMS?
>> WE DO. WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON, BRUCE BAYARD.
>> [INAUDIBLE], MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS STILL BRUCE BAYARD.
THE DISTRICT HAS INVESTED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND DECADES OF WORK IN BUILDING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL ALONG THE SHORELINE OF SAN PABLO BAY, THE SAN PABLO BAY REGIONAL SHORELINE, I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED.
THE LAST BIG STEP IS TO CLOSE THIS NINE TENTHS MILE GAP, LINKING SAN PABLO BAY SHORELINE WITH POINT PINOLE REGIONAL SHORELINE, WHICH IS THE LARGEST SHORELINE PARK IN THE ENTIRE NINE COUNTY BAY AREA.
IT'S EASY TO SEE THAT CLOSING THIS GAP WILL ALLOW THE FOLKS IN RODEO, HERCULES, PINOLE TO GET TO POINT PINOLE REGAL SHORELINE.
WHAT'S NOT SO APPARENT AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED IS THAT THERE'S NO SAFE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO BICYCLE FROM RICHMOND, CITY OF SAN PABLO RIGHT NEARBY, BERKELEY TO OAKLAND.
TO GET TO THIS BEAUTIFUL SAN PABLO BAY REGIONAL SHORELINE YOU CREATED.
THERE'S THIS GAP THAT PREVENTS PEOPLE FROM GETTING THROUGH THERE, PEOPLE FROM TAKING BAR TO RICHMOND AND BICYCLING THE BAY TRAIL.
THE BAY TRAIL IS COMPLETE ALL THE WAY FROM POINT PINOLE REGIONAL SHORELINE TO [INAUDIBLE] ISLAND AND TO SAN RAFAEL.
BUT YOU CAN'T GET FROM POINT PINOLE REGIONAL SHORELINE TO THE SAN PABLO BAY REGIONAL SHORELINE.
THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT SUCH A CRITICAL PROJECT.
I GUESS TIME'S UP? DIRECTOR COFFEY SAID HE JOINED THE BOARD IN 2017.
IT WAS IN 2015, 10 YEARS AGO, THAT A FEASIBILITY STUDY WAS COMPLETED FOR THE DISTRICT ON THIS GAP AND FOUND IT WAS FEASIBLE.
IT'S TAKEN US 10 YEARS TO GET TO PRELIMINARY DESIGN AND TO APPROVAL OF A MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATION.
I HOPE IT ISN'T GOING TO TAKE 10 YEARS TO CLOSE THE GAP. THANK YOU.
>> MR. PRESIDENT, THERE'S NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> OKAY. VERY GOOD. THEN I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
>> THEN, NOTE, WE GOT A LOT OF EMAIL ON THE BAY TRAIL ISSUE, AND I WANTED TO APPRECIATE THAT. GET NOTE OF IT.
[GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE]
AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE 2026 WORKFORCE PATHWAYS PROGRAM, RFP, SERVICE CONTRACTS WITH CIVICORP, AND URBAN TILTH.>> THANK YOU DIRECTORS, MAX CORT AND ACTING GENERAL MANAGER.
I'LL GIVE A QUICK INTRO AND THEN I'LL HAND IT OVER.
WE HAVE A FEW DIFFERENT PRESENTERS, SO BEAR WITH ME.
JOSE IS GOING TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THIS FITS IN WITH OUR EQUITY GOALS.
CLAIRE HAS BEEN MANAGING THIS WHOLE PROCESS AND A HUGE APPRECIATION TO HER WORK.
SHE'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THE RFP PROCESS AND HOW WE SELECTED THE GROUPS.
THEN WE'RE JOINED BY CIVICORP AND URBAN TILTH TODAY WHO ARE GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR WORK.
WE'LL TRY TO RUN QUICKLY BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A LOT ON THE AGENDA.
NEXT SLIDE, PLEASE. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND.
ONE OF THE REALLY COOL THINGS ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN THE PARK DISTRICT IS WE HAVE ROUTES TOGETHER.
A LOT OF OUR PARKS WERE BUILT IN THE SAME TIME THAT THE CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS WAS GETTING STARTED IN THE 1930S.
WHEN YOU GO TO OUR ORIGINAL PARKS TODAY AT TILDEN, YOU SEE THE DRAINS WITH BEAUTIFUL ROCK WORK THAT WAS BUILT BY THE ORIGINAL CCC, AND THAT LEGACY LIVES ON TODAY AND CONTINUES WITH THE PARTNERS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AND THAT WE WORK WITH.
I'LL SAY FOR MYSELF, I STARTED AS A CORE MEMBER WHEN I WAS 19 WITH AN ORGANIZATION LIKE THIS,
[00:45:03]
AND IT CHANGED MY LIFE.IT'S A REALLY COOL WAY OF INTRODUCING YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK IN THIS FIELD.
IT'S RARE IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT YOU GET TO DO WORK WHERE YOU SEE PHYSICAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT YOU GET TO MAKE WITH YOUR OWN HANDS, AND WHETHER IT'S TAKING CARE OF NATURAL RESOURCES, IMPROVING A TRAIL, OR KEEPING COMMUNITIES SAFE FROM WILDFIRE, IT'S JUST REALLY MEANINGFUL WORK.
I'M REALLY PROUD THAT WE GET TO BE A PART OF THIS. THAT'LL TURN IT OVER.
>> THEN I'LL CONTINUE ON. GOOD AFTERNOON AGAIN.
CHAIR, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, JOSE GONZALEZ, I'M THE EQUITY OFFICER FOR THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AND THE OFFICE OF EQUITY AND THE GENERAL MANAGERS OFFICE.
I'M GOING TO GO REAL QUICKLY ON THIS JUST TO HIGHLIGHT AND STRESS THE COUPLE OF POINTS.
ONE OF THEM IS WE'VE BEEN WORKING THROUGH OUR EQUITY STATEMENT AND EQUITY GOALS, WHICH I'LL HAVE THE PLEASURE OF COMING BACK AT A VERY NEAR FUTURE BOARD MEETING TO GO MORE IN DEPTH ON THESE.
BUT ONE OF THE ELEMENTS AROUND THIS IS AROUND WORKFORCE, AND SO SOMETHING THAT REALLY, I DON'T THINK SHOULD BE SURPRISING IS ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT, DEVELOP, RETAIN AND PROMOTE A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE, THAT REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE COMMUNITY SERVED.
KEY ELEMENTS AROUND THAT, OF COURSE, AS MAX HAD MENTIONED IS REALLY LOOKING AT AGE AND ENTRY PATHWAYS INTO THE WORKFORCE.
FOR SOME COMMUNITIES, THAT'S KNOWN AND THERE'S SUPPORT IN HOW TO DO THAT.
BUT FOR MANY OTHERS, IF YOU WANT TO "ENTER" THE CONSERVATION WORKFORCES, HOW DO YOU DO THAT? WHAT ARE PATHWAYS THAT ARE CLEAR, WHAT ARE SUPPORT STRUCTURES, ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP TO DO THAT? THE CONSERVATION CORPS, AS MAX HAS NOTED, THERE'S A LEGACY OF HOW THAT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES.
HOW THE OFFICE OF EQUITY WAS INVOLVED IN THIS PROCESS WAS EARLY ON IN TERMS OF DOING AN INITIAL ASSESSMENT AND REVIEW OF WHAT ARE WORKFORCE PATHWAYS INTO THE PARK DISTRICT, AND HOW IS THAT STRUCTURE? WHAT ARE OUR PROCESSES? HOW DO WE ACTUALLY INTENTIONALLY AND STRUCTURALLY SUPPORT THAT? OF COURSE, AS YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD WONDERFUL PARTNERS SUCH AS CIVICORP AND URBAN TILTH.
BUT PART OF THAT ELEMENT WAS HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT AS WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH AND SUPPORT EXISTING PARTNERS? HOW DO WE MAKE SURE THAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALSO CLEAR AND TRANSPARENT FOR ANY OTHER POTENTIAL PARTNERS? THIS LED TO BE ABLE TO ALIGN THE EMERGING EQUITY GOALS AS LONG AS WITH THIS WORK, IN TERMS OF SUPPORTING WORKFORCE PATHWAYS.
ELEMENTS AROUND THAT IN TERMS OF THE GOALS OF THIS.
WE HAVE WORKFORCE PATHWAYS PROGRAM, BUT REALLY IS HOW TO BETTER INSTITUTIONALIZE THE PROCESS.
WITH THAT, IT IS WORKING WITH ALL EXISTING STAFF ACROSS DIVISIONS, BUT ALSO OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO WE ANNOUNCE THIS.
CLAIRE WILL GO INTO THAT IN A BIT MORE DETAIL.
BUT SOME KEY GOALS AROUND THOSE, OF COURSE, IS HOW TO ENHANCE THE WORKFORCE READINESS.
HOW TO BUILD SUSTAINABLE WORKFORCE PIPELINE AND HOW TO ADVANCE EQUITY AND REPRESENTATION IN THE WORKFORCE.
BECAUSE OFTEN, AS I THINK MANY OF YOU KNOW, PART OF THE WORK IS HOW YOU KEEP SOMEONE MOVING, AND A KEY ELEMENT IS HOW DO YOU EVEN GET IN IN THE FIRST PLACE? THAT'S NOT PURELY ON THE PARK DISTRICT, A PARK DISTRICT PLAYS A CRITICAL ROLE.
HENCE WHILE WE HAVE EXTERNAL PARTNERS THAT ALSO PLAY A ROLE FOR THAT.
BUT I'LL CLOSE WITH THIS ELEMENT THAT PART OF MY ROLE IN THE WORK THAT WE DO HERE IS HOW TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY TO BE ABLE TO BE GOOD PARTNERS SO THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO EXPAND ON THAT.
HENCE, AN EXAMPLE LIKE THIS.WITH THAT, I WILL PASS IT OVER.
>> EXCUSE ME SO YOU CAN SEE ME HERE.
THANKS. I'M CLAIRE GRIFFIN, MANAGEMENT ANALYST IN THE GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE, AND I'VE BEEN HELPING SUPPORT THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS FOR THIS WORK.
NOW THAT WE HAVE NEW WORKFORCE PATHWAY PROGRAM GOALS IN PLACE, THE NEXT STEP IS TO LOOK AT HOW WE SELECT THOSE PARTNERS.
OUR INTENT WAS TO CAPITALIZE ON THIS LEGACY, THE HISTORY OF THE WORK THAT'S BEEN DONE THAT'S WORKING WELL WHILE ALIGNING THEM WITH THESE NEW GOALS.
STAFF ISSUED AN RFP IN SEPTEMBER OF THIS YEAR.
INVITING ORGANIZATIONS TO SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT PROVIDE PAID HANDS ON TRAINING THAT PREPARES PARTICIPANTS FOR CAREERS, EITHER WITH THE PARK DISTRICT OR WITH SIMILAR AGENCIES RELATED TO LAND MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION.
THE RFP WAS POSTED PUBLICLY AND SHARED WITH LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND WE RECEIVED FIVE PROPOSALS FROM ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS, AND A CROSS DIVISIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE EVALUATED PROPOSALS USING SET SELECTION CRITERIA, INCLUDING PROJECT APPROACH, EXPERIENCE,
[00:50:01]
AND PAST PERFORMANCE, EQUITY AND PARTICIPANT OUTCOMES AND PROGRAM COST.BASED ON THOSE EVALUATIONS, CIVICORP AND URBAN TILTH WERE SELECTED TO BE THE 2026 PARTNERS.
I'LL TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEM AND THEN THEY'LL GET TO SPEAK ABOUT THEIR PROGRAMS DIRECTLY IN A MOMENT.
BOTH ORGANIZATIONS DEMONSTRATED STRONG CAPABILITIES AND PAST PERFORMANCE, INCLUDING PREVIOUS SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE PARK DISTRICT, WHICH WAS A HUGE PIECE OF THE SELECTION CRITERIA.
EQUITY DRIVEN PARTICIPANT SERVICES WITH PROVEN OUTCOMES, STRONG RECRUITMENT, AND CULTURALLY COMPETENT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT MODELS, AND THEY BOTH SHOWED THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE PROPOSALS OF THE GROUP OF FIVE.
THEN BY CONTRACTING WITH THESE TWO QUALIFIED ORGANIZATIONS, THE 2026 WORKFORCE PATHWAYS PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE PAID HANDS ON TRAINING AND WORK EXPERIENCE FOR 2021 PARTICIPANTS, AND ADVANCED WORKFORCE EQUITY GOALS BY DEVELOPING A DIVERSE AND LOCALLY ROOTED PIPELINE OF ENTRY LEVEL CANDIDATES WHO REFLECT THE COMMUNITIES THE PARK DISTRICT SERVES AND ACHIEVE MEASURABLE ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES THROUGH ONGOING RESTORATION, TRAIL MAINTENANCE, VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, AND FUEL REDUCTION PROJECTS THAT DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE PARK DISTRICT'S STEWARDSHIP PRIORITIES, ALL WHILE ENSURING STRONG SAFETY AND SUPERVISION AND COLLABORATION WITH PARK DISTRICT STAFF.
THAT'S WHY THEY WERE SELECTED.
THIS SLIDE DEMONSTRATES THE COSTS FOR THE 2026 WORKFORCE PATHWAYS CONTRACTS FOR THE PROGRAM.
CIVICORP, THE CONTRACT IS $865,916, WHICH SUPPORTS TWO YEAR ROUND CREWS AND DELIVERS APPROXIMATELY 22,000 WORK HOURS, DIRECT FIELD AND SUPERVISION TIME.
THE URBAN TILTH CONTRACT IS FOR $85,000.
IT SUPPORTS A WATERSHED RESTORATION FIELD CREW AND DELIVERS APPROXIMATELY 1,800 PROJECT HOURS.
ALL OF THE COSTS IN THIS PROPOSAL ARE FULLY INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED 2026 OPERATING BUDGET, AND THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION REQUESTED AT THIS TIME.
THE GENERAL MANAGER RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AWARD AND AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF A CONTRACT WITH CIVICORP FOR $865,916 AND WITH URBAN TILTH FOR $85,000 FOR THE 2026 WORKFORCE PATHWAYS PROGRAM.
THESE ARE BOTH ONE YEAR CONTRACTS BECAUSE WE SEE THIS AS A PILOT PROGRAM, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM, EVALUATING OUTCOMES, EVALUATING LESSONS LEARNED AND THEN INCORPORATING THOSE INTO AN RFP NEXT YEAR FOR HOPEFULLY LONGER TERM CONTRACTS, MAYBE UP TO FIVE YEARS AND ISSUING THAT RFP NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S THE IDEA AS A PILOT, AND WE'RE ALSO SEEING THIS AS THE BEGINNING OF A BROADER WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT INCLUDES ADDITIONAL CAREER TRACKS OVER TIME.
WE'RE HOPING IN 2026, WE CAN LOOK AT HOW WE CAN THIS BEYOND JUST THESE CAREER TRACKS FOR THE PARK DISTRICT.
WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING HOW THE UPDATED PROGRAM WORKS AND EVALUATING AND ITERATING OVER TIME, AND THAT CONCLUDES THIS PORTION OF THE PRESENTATION, BUT WE'D LIKE TO INVITE BOTH CIVICORP AND URBAN TILTH TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM AND THEIR EXPECTED OUTCOMES FROM THE PROGRAM.
I'LL HAVE EACH OF THEM INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND WE'LL START WITH CIVICORP.
WE ALWAYS APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP.
I'M TESSA NICHOLAS, I'M EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT CIVICORPS.
I'VE BEEN WITH THE ORGANIZATION FOR 25 YEARS, STARTED AS A CREW SUPERVISOR.
ALWAYS WANTED THE EAST BAY PARKS CONTRACT, BUT I GOT TO WORK WITH ANOTHER PARTNER, WHICH IS EQUALLY AS FABULOUS.
CIVICORPS HAS BEEN PARTNERING WITH EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK SINCE OUR FOUNDING 42 YEARS AGO.
WE WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT.
WE ARE A CERTIFIED LOCAL CORE.
WE SERVE 18 TO 26-YEAR-OLDS ACROSS ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES, AND WE SERVE APPROXIMATELY 220 YOUNG PEOPLE A YEAR.
MOST OF THEM STAYING WITH US FOR ABOUT 18 MONTHS.
WE PROVIDE PAID JOB TRAINING, EDUCATION, BOTH HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA COMPLETION AND POST-SECONDARY ACCESS, ALONG WITH TECHNICAL AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND MORE.
THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP, YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVER NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND ACCESS CAREER PLACEMENTS.
IN THE PAST YEAR ALONE, WE HAVE HAD FOUR CORE MEMBERS WE HIRED ON AS EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK STAFF.
WE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE THEM WITH US TODAY,
[00:55:02]
BUT THEY ARE OUT WORKING HARD AND LOVING THEIR JOBS, AND THAT'S THE GOAL IS TO PLACE YOUNG PEOPLE INTO JOBS THAT THEY LOVE SHOWING UP TO EVERY DAY.TO TALK MORE ABOUT ALL OF THIS, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DAVE WEAVER, OUR PROGRAM MANAGER, AND JEREMY, A POTENTIAL FUTURE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS EMPLOYEE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, DAVE WEAVER, CONSERVATION PROGRAM MANAGER HERE AT CIVICORPS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO PRESENT TO YOU ON THIS DAY.
THIS REALLY WARMS MY HEART JUST A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME.
I AM LIKE MAX, A FORMER CORE MEMBER, MYSELF, AND ALSO A FORMER ALUM OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS.
I SPENT SEVEN MEMORABLE YEARS HERE AT COYOTE HILLS, AND THEN CROWN BEACH, AND THEN TILDEN.
I LOVE HOW NATURAL THIS RELATIONSHIP IS BETWEEN AND PAINTING PICTURES FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE OF HOW NATURAL AND SOMEHOW NOT OBVIOUS, BUT HOW EXCELLENT THIS PATHWAY CAN BE FOR OUR YOUNG FOLKS.
CIVICORPS WILL DEDICATE TWO-YEAR ROUND CREWS TO THE PARKS THAT THEY'RE TIED TO SPECIFIC PATHWAYS THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED, OUR CORE MEMBERS INTO CAREERS AT EAST BAY PARKS.
SPECIFICALLY, THE SMALL TRAILS CREW, AND THEN WE HAVE A ROVING CREW THAT GOES AROUND THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
FOR A WEEK AT A TIME, AT PRETTY MUCH EVERY PARK IN THE DISTRICT.
THEY GAIN A REAL BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE WORKING AT ALL THE PARKS AND A REAL PART OF MAINTENANCE TASKS TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR POTENTIAL SPRINGBOARDING INTO THIS CAREER.
SOME OF THE OBVIOUS ONES ARE THE FIRE FUELS REDUCTION CREWS, PARK SERVICES WORKERS, AND PARK RANGERS, WHICH, FOR MY MONEY, ARE THE BEST ONES BECAUSE THAT'S MY FAVORITE.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE PROVIDE THE ONSITE SUPERVISION AND MENTORING FOR OUR CORE MEMBERS TO EXCEL, INCLUDING A SPECIFIED TRAINING COORDINATOR WHO GOES AROUND SPECIFICALLY AND TEACHES THE MORE IN DEPTH SPECIFIC SKILLS LIKE WOOD CHIPPER, USAGE AND MAINTENANCE, CHAINSAW AGE AND MAINTENANCE, A LOT OF THE MORE TECHNICAL THINGS AND MORE HANDS ON GETTING REAL IN DEPTH ON HOW TO DO THAT STUFF FOR AS MANY OF THEM AS WE POSSIBLY CAN.
WE'RE ALMOST TO 100% ON THOSE CERTIFICATIONS THAT WE GIVE TO PEOPLE, AND THEN WRAP AROUND SERVICES.
THERE'S A LOT OF BARRIERS THAT GO INTO EQUITY AND ACCESS, AND SO WE PROVIDE ACCESS TO LICENSED SOCIAL WORKERS WHO HELP WITH BARRIERS IN TERMS OF TRANSPORTATION, FOOD, AND HOUSING FOR FOLKS THAT ARE INSECURE IN THOSE WAYS, TOO.
THOSE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE PROVIDE TO HELP OUT.
THAT'S ENOUGH FROM ME, WE REALLY WANT YOU TO HEAR FROM ONE OF OUR PARTICIPANTS, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT JEREMY EDGARSON, NORMAN HERE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS JEREMY EDGARSON NORMAN.
I'VE BEEN AN OAKLAND RESIDENT FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS. I'M 20-YEARS-OLD.
I'M CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN COLLEGE UNDER AN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MAJOR.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME KEY FACTORS ON WHY I JOINED THE CORPS IN THE FIRST PLACE.
TO HIGHLIGHT, I'VE ALWAYS HAD A HANDS-ON RURAL WORK EXPERIENCE EVER SINCE I WAS A KID.
I'VE BEEN IN CONSERVATION TRADES, LOCAL TRADES CONSERVATION NOW.
IT'S BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY MY WORK EXPERIENCE TILL NOW.
MY INTERESTS SPROUTED IN MY COLLEGE YEARS, MAJORING IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE.
I FELT OBLIGATED TO BE A PART OF A GENERATION THAT ACTUALLY HELPED PROMOTE THE FUTURE OF ENVIRONMENTS AS I GET OLDER, AND TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT THE CORPS MEANS TO ME AND WHAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACHIEVE THERE.
THROUGHOUT MY EXPERIENCE AT THE CORPS, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO GAIN A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND WHAT IT MEANS TO TAKE CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT, WHETHER IT BE A MINUTE TASK OR A MAJOR ONE.
ON TOP OF THAT, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACQUIRE A RANGE OF CERTIFICATIONS, WHETHER IT BE TOOL CERTIFICATIONS, FIRST DATE CERTIFICATIONS, INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATIONS, THINGS ALONG THOSE LINES.
I'VE ALSO GOT A CHANCE TO BECOME A LITTLE BIT OF A SOCIAL BUK WHILE I'M AT THE CORP, BEING EXPOSED TO A LOT OF COMMUNAL EXPERIENCES AS WELL, AND CAMPING FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH THE CORP, WHICH IS A GREAT EXPERIENCE.
I REMEMBER THAT FROM MY LIFETIME.
BEING WITH THE CREW IN GENERAL HAS HELPED ME BECOME MORE OF A SOCIAL PERSON IN MOST ASPECTS, I WANT TO SAY.
[01:00:02]
ONE OF MY FAVORITE JOBS HERE AT THE CORPS WAS PROBABLY AT RHINEHART REGIONAL PARK.WE WERE TAKING CARE OF SOME FRENCH PROM, SOME CAPE IV, AND SOME TREES WITH WEAK UNIONS.
EVEN DOING SOMETHING AS MINUTES THAT I'VE BEEN TO THE PARK ON MY SPARE TIME AND SEEING A SECTION OF THE PARK THAT I HADN'T GOT TO SEE BEFORE WAS BUT DEFINITELY PUT ME IN PERSPECTIVE AS TO HOW BIG THESE PARTS CAN GET AND WHAT WE DO HERE.
SOME OF THE CAREER PATHWAYS I'VE BEEN EXCITED FOR AS OF NOW, I'M CURRENTLY IN THE APPLICATION PROCESS FOR AN EAST REGIONAL PARKS WORKER, AND I'M HOPING YOU'LL CONSIDER ME FOR THAT.
LATER ON DOWN IN MY LIFE, I'M HOPING TO ENGAGE IN FIELD STUDY AS A CAREER PATHWAY, AND I'M HOPING THROUGHOUT MY COMBINED EXPERIENCE AT THE CORE AND DOING OTHER THINGS.
I CAN TAKE THAT ON. FURTHER, I LIKE TO HAND OUT TO SASS?
>> THANK YOU, JEREMY. WHY WE DO THE WORK WE DO IS YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE HIM COMING INTO OUR PROGRAM AND REALLY FINDING THE BRIDGE.
WE'RE BUILDING LITERAL BRIDGES WITH EAST BAY PARK AND FIGURATIVE BRIDGES.
HOW CAN WE MOVE A YOUNG PERSON FURTHER TOWARD EMPLOYMENT? THEN VERY GRATEFUL FOR THE PARTNERSHIP BUILDING THAT BRIDGE TOWARD US AS WELL.
WITH THAT, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S TIME FOR QUESTIONS, BUT THAT IS ALL FROM CIVICORPS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
>> THANKS. NOW WE'LL INVITE URBAN TILTH TO SPEAK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THEIR PROGRAM AS WELL.
THANKS. MY NAME IS NATHAN BICKERT.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF WATERSHED RESTORATION PROGRAMS AT URBAN TILTH.
I'M ONE OF THE CO-MANAGERS FOR THE WATERSHED RESTORATION FIELD CREW AT URBAN TILTH.
>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR GIVING US A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS WORK.
IT'S REALLY SPECIAL TO US, AND WE APPRECIATE YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE GROWING OUR PARTNERSHIP, OUR WORK TOGETHER.
TO SEE YOU HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON URBAN TILTH.
WE'RE DEFINITELY REALLY TRYING TO REBUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE WEST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY COMMUNITY AND THE LAND, THE NATURAL RESOURCES AROUND US.
THAT HAPPENS OFTENTIMES THROUGH URBAN AGRICULTURE, COMMUNITY GARDENING.
BUT YEAH, THE WORK THAT SWAZI AND I DO IS RELATED TO WATER RESOURCES, CREEKS, NATURAL SPACES.
I'M TRYING TO CONNECT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THESE SPACES BOTH AS A POTENTIAL CAREER OPPORTUNITY, A CHANCE TO GROW SKILLS THAT WILL SUPPORT A CAREER, BUT ALSO JUST AS A PLACE FOR RESTORATION OF THE SPIRIT, JUST A CONNECTION TO THESE SPACES.
A LOT OF TIMES, YOUNG PEOPLE WHO COME THROUGH OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS HAVE GROWN UP IN RICHMOND, GROWN UP IN SAN PABLO, NORTH RICHMOND, AND THESE COMMUNITIES THAT ARE REALLY CLOSE TO THE REGIONAL PARKS, BUT I'VE NEVER BEEN TO THE REGIONAL PARKS.
THEY DON'T THINK THOSE SPACES ARE PUBLIC.
IT'S LIKE FOLKS THAT ARE CLOSE TO THESE PARKS, BUT HAVEN'T ACCESS TO THOSE SPACES FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, AND DEFINITELY A BIG PART OF OUR WORK IS FOSTERING A SENSE OF BELONGING IN THE PARKS AND A SENSE OF CONNECTION.
THAT HOPEFULLY STAYS WITH THESE YOUNG FOLKS WITHIN THEIR CAREERS AND BEYOND THEIR CAREERS.
WE'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO PARTNER WITH THE PARKS SINCE 2015, COMPLETING A LOT OF HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS, TRAIL CARE PROJECTS, FUEL REDUCTION PROJECTS.
WE'VE HOPED THAT THOSE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN REALLY MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL.
CERTAINLY, THEY'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE FOR OUR TEAMS IN WAYS THAT SWAZI WILL SPEAK TO IN JUST A MOMENT, BUT WE ALSO HOPE THEY ACHIEVE REAL ECOLOGICAL OUTCOMES FOR THE PARKS.
AS WE DEVELOP OUR SKILLS, OUR TEAMS DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS.
WE'RE BASED IN RICHMOND, WE ARE REALLY COMMITTED TO HIRING AND SERVING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM RICHMOND.
OBVIOUSLY, ENVIRONMENTAL INJUSTICE IMPACTED THE COMMUNITY, A FRONTLINE COMMUNITY NEXT TO THE CHEVRON REFINERY.
WE THINK IT'S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT THAT YOUNG PEOPLE FROM THESE ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPACTED COMMUNITIES ARE GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES TO BE LEADERS AS WE ADDRESS ISSUES FROM LOCAL TO MORE SYSTEMIC AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTALLY THAT WE HAVE FOLKS WHO HAVE FELT FIRSTHAND THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND POLLUTION.
OUR GOAL IS THAT THE YOUNG FOLKS WHO ARE TRAINED IN OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS AND GET TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE OPPORTUNITIES, GROW THEIR SKILLS, AND EVENTUALLY ARE ABLE TO TAKE ON ROLES WITH EITHER THE PARKS OR IN LEADERSHIP ROLES IN OUR WORK, THE WORK THAT WE'RE DOING.
SWAZI IS SOMEONE WHO PARTICIPATES IN OUR TRAINING PROGRAMS AND NOW LEADS OUR WATERSHED RESTORATION FIELD CREW.
I'LL PASS IT OVER TO MR. SWAZI.
>> THANK YOU. JUST FIRST OFF, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY APPRECIATION TO THE PARK DISTRICT FOR ALL THE YEARS OF COLLABORATION THAT I'VE BEEN THROUGH, AND JUST GOING TO HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THAT.
[01:05:02]
I WAS ABOUT 22-YEARS-OLD OUT OF UC SANTA CRUZ, AN ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES MAJOR, AND JUST A REALLY STRONG ADVOCATE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION, AND TO BE ABLE TO COLLABORATE WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND LEARN FROM THE RANGERS WAS REALLY IMPACTFUL FOR ME.JUST SOME OF OUR STATS, AGE IS 20 TO 35, YOUNG ADULTS, LIKE NATHAN SAID, LOCAL RESIDENTS, NOT ALL HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE PARKS, HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THAT ACCESS, AND SO JUST BEING INTRODUCED TO THOSE NATURAL SPACES, FIRST OFF, BEING ABLE TO APPRECIATE THEIR BEAUTY AND THEN ALSO GROWING SKILLS AND GETTING THAT ON HANDS ON EXPERIENCE FROM THE RANGERS.
LEARNING THINGS LIKE EROSION IMPROVEMENTS, EROSION CONTROL, HOW TO USE DIFFERENT TOOLS, A LOT OF HABITAT RESTORATION FROM PULLING FRENCH BROOM AND IVY, OR DOING DIFFERENT PROJECTS IN POINT PANOL, REMOVING ICE PLANT ALONG THE MARSH, JUST TONS OF DIFFERENT WORK, AND LEARNING FROM THE RANGERS.
WE ALSO HAVE TWO CURRENT EAST PARK RANGERS THAT WENT THROUGH URBAN TILTH PROGRAMMING, JESSE ALBERTO AND ERIC NUNEZ, SHOUT OUT TO THEM.
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THEIR GROWTH AND JUST THE OBVIOUS SUCCESS STORY OF PEOPLE THAT WERE ABLE TO TAKE THAT COLLABORATION AND TURN IT INTO A JOB WITH THE DISTRICT.
WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY? I GUESS JUST FOR ME, IT'S BEEN A VERY VALUABLE EXPERIENCE JUST TO BE EXPOSED TO SOME NEW PLACES, LEARN SOME NEW THINGS THAT MAYBE WEREN'T AS ACCESSIBLE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, BUT THROUGH THE PARK DISTRICT, WE WERE ABLE TO BE EXPOSED TO SOME NEW TOOLS, SOME NEW METHODS OF RESTORATION WORK.
I CAN SPEAK FOR MY CREW AS WELL.
THEY'VE ALL BEEN VERY EAGER TO GET BACK TO WORK WITH THE PARK DISTRICT.
WE'RE HOPING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THAT AND CONTINUE THIS GREAT WORK WITH THE DISTRICT IN 2026. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATION.
HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? WE DO?
>> YES. IS THIS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH URBAN TILTH, OR WE HAVE A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH THEM?
>> WE HAVE A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH URBAN TILTH.
THIS IS A LARGER CONTRACT, SO I THINK THIS MIGHT BE THE FIRST TIME IT'S COME TO THE BOARD.
>> CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME THE TOP-LEVEL BULLET POINTS OF THE HISTORY OF WORKING WITH URBAN TILTH?
>> SINCE I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE WANTS TO COME UP FROM STEWARDSHIP TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN ALMOST 10 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM AND STEWARDSHIP.
>> MATT GALL, DIVISION LEAD IN STEWARDSHIP.
WE STARTED BACK, I THINK NATHAN SAID 2015, SOUNDS ABOUT RIGHT.
WITH A PARTNERSHIP IN THE WILDCAT REGIONAL PARK AREA, AND SO THEY WERE DOING SOME FENCE REPAIRS AND ALSO SOME SMALL HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECTS, AND THINGS THEY TALKED ABOUT TRAIL REPAIRS.
IT'S BEEN JUST REALLY HELPFUL TO STAFF TO DO SOME OF THESE SMALL-SCALE RESTORATION AND REPAIR PROJECTS.
>> THAT'S GREAT. BECAUSE I KNOW THAT URBAN TILTH ALSO WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE WATERSHED PROJECT, THE EDUCATIONAL NONPROFIT THAT'S BASED IN RICHMOND, AND I KNOW AT OUR FINAL I THINK IT WAS IN OCTOBER.
OUR FINAL NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEETING, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT 2026 GOALS, ONE OF THE IDEAS THAT I PUT FORWARD WAS TO ALSO THINK ABOUT THE WATERSHEDS IN THE EAST BAY AND A REVIEW OF THE WATERSHED SYSTEMS AND WATERSHED HEALTH.
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO SEE THIS PARTNERSHIP GROW.
I'D REALLY HOPE THAT WHEN THAT GETS REVIEWED BY THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, WE CAN INCLUDE THIS PARTNERSHIP AS A PART OF IT.
BUT THEN ALSO WITH THE WATERSHED PROJECT, THE NONPROFIT THAT'S BASED IN RICHMOND, I KNOW I DO A LOT OF WORK WITH THE ALAMEDA CREEK ALLIANCE, AND WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE CHINOOK SALMON, SOMETHING FURTHER UPSTREAM ALONG ALAMEDA CREEK INTO SENAL.
THERE'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE WATERSHED PROJECT AND ALAMEDA CREEK ALLIANCE.
THAT'S HOW I KNOW SOME OF THE FOLKS AT THE WATERSHED PROJECT.
THERE'S THIS WHOLE NETWORK IN EAST BAY THAT I BELIEVE WE ARE A PART OF, BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO START TO SURFACE SOME OF THIS MORE HERE AT OUR BOARD MEETINGS OR BOARD COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS PARTNERSHIP IS GROWING, AND IT'S GREAT TO SEE. THANK YOU.
>> THANKS. THOSE COMMENTS. ONE THING WE DID AFTER THE FIRST FEW YEARS WAS VERY SUCCESSFUL; WE DID PRESENT A SUMMARY OF WHAT HAD HAPPENED OVER THE FIRST COMMITMENT TO THE NATURAL CULTURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE SEVERAL YEARS AGO, JUST ON A SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WE'D HAD AND HOW MUCH IT WAS JUST A GREAT THING.
[01:10:06]
ONE THING I REMEMBER FROM THAT PRESENTATION AND OTHERS IS THAT AS PART OF THE TRAINING PROGRAM, THEY'VE TAKEN SOME OF THE GROUPS TO CAMPING TRIPS AND OTHER THINGS UP IN THE SENAL AREA.ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUST MOST MEMORABLE TO ME IS THAT I THINK NATHAN TALKED ABOUT SOMETIMES THE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVEN'T BEEN TO THESE PARKS, HAVEN'T SEEN THEM.
THAT CREW IS VERY MEMORABLE BECAUSE THEY'D BEEN INTO WILDCAT, AND THEY JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH WILDCAT REGIONAL PARK.
THEN THEY WENT TO SENAL, AND THEY WERE LIKE THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
WE WANT TO MAKE WILDCAT LIKE THIS.
THEY REALLY HAD THAT VISION OF BEING ABLE TO IMPROVE AND ENHANCE AREAS, AND REALLY SOLIDIFY TO THEM WHEN THEY GOT THE EXPERIENCE TO GO OUT TO SENAL.
IT'S JUST BEEN A REALLY REWARDING PARTNERSHIP, I THINK, FOR BOTH SIDES.
WE'RE JUST REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE THEM CONTINUE ON WITH US.
>> THESE ARE QUESTION COMMENTS, ONES FOR CLAIRE, ONES FOR JOSE.
I THINK AS FAR AS UNDERSTANDING THE 2026 WORKFORCE PATHWAYS CONTRACTS, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MORE OF THE STAFFING PLAN IN THERE.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT IT, BUT AS FAR AS BETTER UNDERSTANDING THE MAINTENANCE OF TRAIL CREW, THE NUMBER OF STAFF FOR EACH CREW, THEIR CONTRACT A DAY TOTAL HOURS RATES.
WE COULD HAVE HAD BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW MANY CORE MEMBERS ARE ACTUALLY OUT OF THAT 21 ARE FILLING THE CONTRACT FOR CIVIL CORES AND WHAT THAT RATE IS BETWEEN TWO.
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE STAFFING PLANS.
BUT IF NEXT TIME WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMES OUT, THAT IF WE CAN JUST HAVE THAT BUILT IN THERE BECAUSE IT HELPS US TO UNDERSTAND HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE SUPPORTING AND WHAT TYPE OF CREWS.
THE SECOND PART AND THIS WAS FOR JOSE, YOU HAD MENTIONED THAT THIS IS IN A PILOT STAGE.
WHEN I'VE SEEN WORKFORCE PATHWAYS.
SEEN A LITTLE BIT MORE OF WHAT'S BEFORE THEM AND WHAT'S AFTER.
WHAT I MEAN BY THAT, CIVICORPS IS A PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
THERE'S OTHER TYPES OF PROGRAMS. YOU HAVE CYPRESS MANDELA, WHICH HAS A PRE-APPRENTICE.
JUST TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER PROGRAM AND NOT PUT THE SPOTLIGHT JUST ON CIVICORPS, IS THAT WITH CYPRESS MANDELA YOU MIGHT HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH BART, YOU HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH PG&E, AND FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS PROGRAM, YOU CAN SEE THE PATHWAYS OUT.
WHAT CIVICORPS, WE KNOW THEY HAVE AS FAR AS THEY'RE WORKING WITH US, AND THEN THEY ALSO WORK WITH DIFFERENT RECYCLERS.
ONE OF THE PATHWAYS OUT IS AS FAR AS HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY AS FAR AS A HIGHER OPPORTUNITY WITH THE DIFFERENT SKILLS THAT THEY'RE LEARNING IS TO BE HIRED BY A WASTE MANAGEMENT.
WHAT ARE WE DOING AS AN ORGANIZATION TO SHOW THE CAREER PATHWAYS WE'RE BUILDING OUT WITH BOTH CIVICORPS AND URBAN TILTH? IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE TO BE FOR EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, BUT WITHIN THAT WHOLE ECOSYSTEM BECAUSE ONE BUILD OUT YOU COULD SEE IS A SEASONAL FIREFIGHTERS PROGRAM.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT PATHWAYS THAT THE PARK IS BUILDING? THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I FELT WAS MISSING IN HERE.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS COMPREHENSIVE ABOUT OUR WORK PATH GOALS AND OUR THEORIES.
BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO BE DOING DURING THIS TIME AS A PILOT? TO BE BUILDING OUT SOMETHING SO THAT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT ITERATION WHEN THIS COMES BACK TO THE BOARD NEXT YEAR, AND A CLEAR PATHWAY SO I CAN HAVE MY CHART AND SAY, THESE ARE THE SKILLS THEY'RE LEARNING AT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK, AND THESE ARE AS FAR AS JOBS THAT THEY HAVE MORE OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE COMPETITIVE FOR.
>> I LOVE THAT QUESTION AND I WISH I HAD 2 HOURS, WHICH I DON'T.
IN THE SENSE, FIRST, THANK YOU. I WILL SAY SURE ANSWERS.
YES. ONE IS REALLY THE PLAN INTENTION IS ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER.
I ACTUALLY JUST HAD A CONVERSATION WITH OUR INTERIM FIRE CHIEF EXACTLY AROUND THAT IN TERMS OF WHAT COULD THAT LOOK LIKE? WHEN WE SAY PATHWAYS,
[01:15:01]
PART OF WHY WE APPROACH IT THIS WAY, SO IT CAN ACTUALLY BE DISTRICT WIDE.ENSURE THAT IT DIDN'T FEEL LIKE MAYBE ONLY SOME DEPARTMENTS OR SOME DIVISIONS HAD SOME OF THESE EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS, OR THAT OUR PARTNER MIGHT FEEL CONSTRAINED TO ONLY WORK WITH ONE DEPARTMENT IN DIVISION AS LIKE THAT'S THE ONLY LANE AND REALLY START TO LOOK BIG PICTURE.
JUST AS I MENTIONED AT PREVIOUS MEETINGS IN TERMS OF HOW WE HAD TO LOOK AT OUR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT APPROACH, THIS IS A PARALLEL ELEMENT, WHICH IS WHEN WE SAY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, WORKFORCE PATHWAYS.
FIRST OF ALL, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE PARK DISTRICT? WHAT ARE THE ACTUAL PLANS IN PLACE AND THE PATHWAYS FOR THAT? WE MIGHT HAVE A PARTNER THAT ACTUALLY DOES COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ELEMENTS AS PART OF THEIR WORK, BUT THEY ALSO DO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THIS IS A WAY TO EXPAND ON THAT.
IN ADDITION, REALLY BEING MUCH MORE INTENTIONAL WITH OUR PEER AGENCY PARTNERS, LIKE METHANE AND BEING ABLE TO BE MORE COLLABORATIVE WITH SOME OF THE WORKFORCE CONSERVATION CAREER AFFAIRS AND INVITING SOME OF OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THESE PATHWAY LOOKS LIKE.
AS PART OF THIS PROCESS IS MAKING SURE WE'RE WORKING WITH OUR PARTNERS TO BE MUCH MORE EXPANSIVE.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WORK AT THE PARK DISTRICT THAT ISN'T JUST MAYBE LIKE THESE TYPES OF ROLES OR DESCRIPTION.
THAT'S GOING TO SAY, IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET BETTER.
THIS IS A WAY THAT WE'RE FINALLY PUTTING A LITTLE MORE STANDARDIZATION BEHIND THE PROCESS.
IT REALLY HONORS THE INTENTION OF IT, WHICH IS BENEFIT TO THE PARTICIPANT AND PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCE, NOT PURELY LIKE WHAT IS THE BENEFIT THAT THE PARK DISTRICT RECEIVES.
>> YES, AS FAR AS WITH THE DIFFERENT JOBS, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS LIKE LET'S SAY URBAN TILTH THEY'RE BUILDING SKILL A, B AND C, WHAT JOBS AT THE PARK, DOES THAT PROGRAM BILL TOWARDS? IF THERE'S A PARTICULAR TYPE OF STEWARDSHIP JOB, MAYBE THERE'S A PIECE OF EDUCATION THAT'S NEEDED, LIKE HAVING SOMETHING IN A TYPE OF FLOW CHART.
PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO SEE WHAT THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE, BUT ALSO KNOW THAT THEY CAN BE BUILDING TOWARD SOMETHING MORE AND KNOWING WHAT THOSE PATHWAYS ARE.
THAT'S JUST AS FAR AS WORKING A LOT WITH THE CONSTRUCTION TRADES.
A LOT OF TIMES WHEN YOU'RE DOING A PREP PROGRAM TO APPRENTICE PROGRAM.
YOU KNOW AS FAR AS THE POSSIBLE PATHWAYS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO SEE SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN A REPORT LIKE THIS NEXT YEAR.
I'M GLAD THAT YOU GUYS ARE WORKING AND STANDARDIZING IT.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO SAY GOOD LUCK ON YOUR APPLICATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE, IT'S GREAT TO HEAR THAT YOU'RE STRIVING FOR ONE OF THESE DIFFERENT JOBS AT THE SPAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
BECAUSE I KNOW YOU'VE PUT IN THE HARD WORK.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION. LIKE MAX AND OTHERS, I DID SOME ARMY CORPS WORK WITH USDA WHEN I WAS 19, IT CHANGED MY LIFE.
THE QUESTION I HAVE IS, THIS PILOT FOR THESE FUTURE PARK PROTECTORS THAT WE'RE RAISING HERE, IN ADDITION TO THE FISCAL IMPACT, AND I THINK YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY CLEAR WITH THE EQUITY IMPACT.
I AGREE WITH DIRECTOR ESPANA, MORE DELIVER MEASURABLES, MORE UNDERSTANDING OF THAT AS WE GO THROUGH THIS.
BUT I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE CLIMATE IMPACT, AND IF THERE'S A CURRICULUM, MAYBE EVEN JEREMY, WHO'S OUR FUTURE EITHER ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST OR ENGINEER.
BUT AS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS, NOT ONLY THE REACTIONS TO MANAGING THE FUEL, BUT THE CAUSES OF IT.
THE IPCC RELEASED JUST LAST MONTH.
WE'VE MOVED NOW THE NEEDLE YET AGAIN.
THE NEW REPORT IS NOT JUST WE HAVE A CLIMATE ACTION OR CLIMATE CRISIS OR CLIMATE RESILIENCE, BUT NOW THEY'RE ACTUALLY CALLING IT A CLIMATE PERIL, THE INTER GOVERNMENT PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE.
AS THESE FUTURE WORKERS ARE FACED WITH THIS PERIL, IT'S BEYOND A CRISIS, THIS URGENCY.
HOW DO CIVICORPS AND URBAN TILTH MAKE SURE AND IS THE PERCENTAGE THAT THE CAUSE, YOU'RE OUT THERE REMOVING THE BROOM, WHICH THANK YOU.
I'VE DONE SO MANY HOURS OF THAT AND WEED PULLING, AND THEN THE FUELS MANAGEMENT.
BUT OUR TREES ARE DYING FOR A REASON.
I DON'T KNOW IF SOMEONE CAN SPEAK TO BECAUSE THERE'S TWO CONTRACTS HERE.
HOW CAN WE IN PARTNERSHIP, HELP DRIVE WHAT'S GOING TO PROTECT OUR PARKS LONG TERM TO THE CORE OF THE PROBLEM, NOT JUST OUT IN THE FIELD, WONDERFULLY LEARNING SKILLS AND SKILL SETS AND HELPING US.
[01:20:04]
IS THERE A SET CURRICULUM OR HOW DO YOU SEE THAT WORKING?>> THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GREAT QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
ALL OF OUR CORE MEMBERS GO THROUGH BASELINE ECOLOGY.
BUT I'M EXCITED THAT YOU'RE ASKING THE QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE JUST KICKING OFF A PARTNERSHIP WITH ECOAMERICA AND THEIR CLIMATE AMBASSADORS PROGRAM.
ALL OUR CORE MEMBERS WILL BEGIN A PROCESS OF JOINING IN ON THAT CURRICULUM AND REALLY LEARNING MORE ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I 100% AGREE.
WE NEED TO BE FOCUSING MORE ON THE WHY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORK.
>> THANK YOU. I'LL JUST MENTION THAT.
THE PROPOSALS COME INTO FOCUS HERE, BUT OUR WASHED RESTORATION FIELD CREW THAT SWAZI LEADS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND STEP IN OUR NOURISHMENT OF THE CAREERS OF THESE YOUNG FOLKS.
WE HAVE OUR BASIS OF RELATIONS TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH IS INTRODUCTION TO THIS WORK AND LOCAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, ECOLOGY, HYDROLOGY, BIOLOGY, ALL THAT GOOD STUFF.
BY THE TIME FOLKS HAVE STARTED TO COLLABORATE WITH THE RANGERS IN THESE PROGRAMS, THEY'VE HOPEFULLY GOTTEN A GOOD BACKGROUND IN ALL THESE BROADER TOPICS, THE THINGS THAT INFORM THE THINGS THAT GIVE WHY WE'RE DOING THIS WORK.
I THINK WE TRY TO BE REALLY CAREFUL WITH BOTH APPRECIATING THE CHALLENGES THAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, BUT ALSO IMBUING FOLKS WITH A SENSE OF AGENCY AND POSSIBILITY AND JUST APPRECIATING THAT ALL THESE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS OF THE PARK EASTBAY PARK, CIVICORPS, ALL THE AMAZING THE WATERSHED PROJECT.
THERE IS THIS NETWORK OF PEOPLE REALLY TRYING TO BUILD RESILIENCY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND THAT THEY CAN BE PART OF THAT AND WE HOPE THAT THAT MESSAGE REALLY RESONATES WITH THEM.
I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE DIRECTED TO TESSA, PROBABLY.
URBAN TILTH HAVE MENTIONED MOST OF THEIR CORE MEMBERS COME FROM RICHMOND, WHERE DO CIVICORPS MEMBERS COME FROM?
>> WE HAVE CORE MEMBERS COMING FROM ALL OVER ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES.
WE ACTUALLY RUN TWO CREWS OUT OF OUR SATELLITE IN PITTSBURGH, WE'RE SERVING EAST COUNTY IN THAT CAPACITY.
THE MAJORITY OF OUR CORE MEMBERS THAT ARE HOUSED OUT OF OUR OAKLAND SITE ARE OAKLAND RESIDENTS.
I THINK WE'RE AT, 65% OAKLAND, AND THEN HAYWARD, FREMONT, SOME FROM RICHMOND.
BUT, ANYONE FROM ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES CAN COME.
>> GREAT. WHAT PERCENTAGE OF THE WORK YOU GET COMES FROM EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT?
>> WE WE RUN 10-12 CREWS YEAR ROUND, AND TWO OF THOSE CREWS ARE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK CREWS.
ONCE AGAIN, I COMPLIMENT YOU ON THE GREAT WORK YOU DO, AND I KNOW THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER STUFF THAT GOES ON WITH CORE MEMBERS.
I'M TOLD THERE'S LOTS AND LOTS OF TRAINING.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT? FROM BEING IN A PARK, I WOULD EXPECT HOPEFULLY THEY GET FIRST AID CPR, MAYBE AD.
>> LUANA, I LOVE YOUR QUESTION ABOUT THE PATHWAYS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE POSTED UP FOR ALL OUR CORE MEMBERS TO SEE ARE THE CAREER PATHWAYS MAPS AND CHUNK OUT IS LIKE, HERE'S YOUR FIRST THREE MONTHS, FIRST SIX MONTHS, AND HERE'S THE DIFFERENT TRAININGS THAT YOU'RE DOING SO THAT CORE MEMBERS KNOW WE'RE NOT JUST RANDOM, BUT THERE IS A PLAN IN PLACE AND IT IS LEADING TO AND WE HAVE THE NOTES OF, THESE ARE THE TYPES OF JOBS THAT THIS WILL QUALIFY YOU FOR.
TO YOUR QUESTION, BOARD MEMBER, IS, THE BASICS THEY START OUT WITH OUR OSHA 10, CPR, FIRST AID, AED, ALL THE HAND TOOL SAFETY AND BASIC POWER TOOL SAFETY.
THEN AS THEY'RE OUT ON PROJECTS AND USING CHAINSAWS, BRUSH CUTTERS, POLL SAWS, THEY'RE GETTING ALL THAT TECHNICAL TRAINING AS WELL.
IN ADDITION, WE'RE DOING ALL THE CAREER TRAINING AROUND RESUMES, COVER LETTERS, INTERVIEW SKILLS, FINANCIAL LITERACY, COMMUNICATION, LEADERSHIP, AND THE LIKE.
>> GREAT ON THESE TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS, YOU IN THE HOUSE OR DO YOU CONTRACT IT OUT?
>> SOME ARE IN HOUSE, SOME WE CONTRACT OUT.
[01:25:01]
WE HAVE A STRONG PARTNERSHIP WITH BERKELEY FOREST AND [INAUDIBLE], WHO PROVIDES SOME OF THE MORE TRAINING AROUND MORE OF THE ECOLOGY AND NATIVE AND INVASIVE SPECIES TRAININGS THAT EVERYONE GOES THROUGH, AND THEN SOME ARE IN HOUSE WITH OUR TRAINING TEAM.>> GREAT. THANK YOU. I KNOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE PATHWAYS, AND THERE ARE SOME VERY SPECIFIC ENTRY HOLES IN THE PARK DISTRICT OR PLACES IN THE PARK DISTRICT SMALL TRAILS CREW, WE'VE MENTIONED, THE FUELS CREW.
DO YOU HAVE I MEAN, I CAN PERCEIVE THEY GET EVERYBODY GETS LOTS OF GREAT TRAINING IN THE CORP.
THEY GET LOTS OF SKILLS LEARNED.
BUT WHEN THEY GRADUATE OUT OR WHATEVER YOU REFER TO IT AS, AND YOU TALKED ABOUT TRAINING ON INTERVIEW SKILLS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
DO YOU INVITE SAY THE SMALL TRAILS CREW SUPERVISOR FROM US TO COME AND TALK TO THEM AND BECAUSE THEY'RE GREAT, THEY'RE THE BEST SALESPERSONS OF THEIR CREW, FOR SURE.
>> WE CERTAINLY WE HAVE A ANNUAL CAREER FAIR THAT EAST BAY PARK IS ALWAYS PRESENT AT, AND EVERY DAY OUT WITH A CREW IS A MINI CAREER FAIR.
THE EAST BAY PARK STAFF ARE FABULOUS IN SUPPORTING CORE MEMBERS AND LETTING THEM KNOW WHEN POSITIONS ARE OPEN AND HELPING THEM WITH THE APPLICATION PROCESS.
IN ADDITION, THE EAST BAY PARK STAFF COMMUNICATE WITH OUR STAFF.
THEN WE'RE CONSTANTLY ANNOUNCING OPENINGS AND HELPING CORE MEMBERS THROUGH THAT APPLICATION PROCESS.
JEREMY HAD THE SKILLS TEST OR WRITTEN TEST TODAY, SO THERE WAS SOME PREP WORK AROUND THAT.
BUT YEAH, THE FUELS CREW HAS BEEN GREAT.
I THINK WE NOW HAVE MAYBE SIX ALUMNI ON THE FUELS CREW.
RANGER ONE POSITIONS ARE GREAT.
THE STUDENT LABORER POSITION IS A GREAT ENTRY POINT.
WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT THOSE OPENINGS AND TRYING TO MOVE OUR CORE MEMBERS INTO THOSE POSITIONS.
>> THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR. THANK YOU.
>> ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD BEFORE WE MOVE ON.
I'D BE HAPPY TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS BECAUSE I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE SINCE I'VE BEEN ON THE BOARD, IT'S JUST ABOUT THREE YEARS NOW OF LEARNING ALL ABOUT URBAN TILTH AND CIVILCORE.
I JUST GET AMAZED ALL THE TIME.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO BE AMAZED AGAIN.
ALL THE SERVICES THAT THEY PROVIDE TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CORE.
I'M TALKING ABOUT CIVILCORE NOW ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I KNOW THE BEST, WHO THEN IN TURN PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC.
IT'S JUST A WHOLE CIRCLE THERE.
I KNOW SOME OF THE BOARD HAS BEEN TO YOUR BIG HEADQUARTERS LOT THERE OUT IN OAKLAND, BUT IF YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THERE, GO SEE IT, IT'S REALLY EYE OPENING.
IT'S VERY UPLIFTING TOO TO SEE SO MANY SMILING FACES AT, WHAT WAS IT, 7:00 IN THE MORNING?
OUT THERE GOING OUT AND THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A TERRIBLE HOT DAY, BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE DOING IT ANYWAY.
GREAT WORK. THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND I WILL LOOK FOR A MOTION ON THIS ONE IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENTS.
>> MOTION TO APPROVE FROM ESPANA.
>> OPPOSED. ABSTAIN. IT CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
THANK YOU. THANKS AGAIN [APPLAUSE]. I JUST DID THAT.
NEXT UP IS WE'LL HAVE A BREAK AFTER THIS ITEM.
BUT FOR NOW, WE HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING GOING, AND IT IS, I GOT TO DO THE CORRECT TITLE HERE [BACKGROUND].
>> THE BUDGET. [LAUGHTER] [BACKGROUND]
>> WE'VE GOT A BREAK. WE'RE LOSING CONTAINMENT.
WE ARE BACK AND WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING
[PUBLIC HEARING]
ITEM B-1, HERE'S WHAT IT SAYS.PUBLIC HEARING, ADOPTION OF THE 2026 PROPOSED OPERATING PROJECT AND PROGRAM BUDGET AND APPROVAL OF THE 2026 GAIN LIMIT.
>> I'LL GIVE A QUICK INTRODUCTION TO THIS, AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO DEB.
[01:30:04]
DEB IS GOING TO GIVE A LITTLE OVERVIEW.KATIE'S GOING TO TALK ABOUT OUR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET AND JESSICA IS GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR POSITION PART OF OUR BUDGET.
WE ALSO INVITE OUR LABOR PARTNERS TO COME UP AND SPEAK FOR A LITTLE BIT.
I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE OUR TEAM THAT'S BEEN WORKING ON THIS.
IT'S BEEN A FULL TEAM EFFORT FOR OUR PARK DISTRICT STAFF.
I ALSO WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
I THINK THIS PROCESS, WE STARTED BACK IN EARLY OCTOBER WITH THE STUDY SESSION AND WITH ONE PROPOSAL, AND WE HEARD CONCERNS, IDEAS, AND I THINK WE'VE REALLY BEEN LISTENING AND TRYING TO FIND HOW CAN WE THREAD THE NEEDLE BETWEEN DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT HAVE COME BOTH FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND ALSO FROM YOUR BOARD AND ALSO FROM OUR LABOR PARTNERS.
I THINK THE ALTERNATIVES THE COMPROMISE PROPOSALS WE'RE BRINGING TODAY REALLY REPRESENT US TRYING TO LISTEN AND THREAD THE NEEDLE BETWEEN COMPETING INTERESTS AND IDEAS.
WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT OVER TO DEB.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, DEBS BALDING, AGM OF FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES, AND WE ARE HAPPY TO PRESENT TO YOU THE 2026 PROPOSED OPERATING AND PROJECT BUDGET.
I'M GOING TO START BY WALKING YOU THROUGH WHERE WE HAVE BEEN ALREADY, IF I CAN THERE YOU GO.
THESE ARE THE PRESENTATIONS THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR.
WE FIRST PROVIDED THIS PRESENTATION TO THE STAFF.
IN NOVEMBER, THE BOARD GOT TO HEAR FROM AGM, THEIR BUDGET PRESENTATIONS.
THEN WE BROUGHT THIS TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEES FINANCE COMMITTEE TO THE FULL PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THEN TO THE BOARD AGAIN ON DECEMBER 2ND.
THROUGHOUT ALL OF THIS, WE WERE RECEIVING A LOT OF FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD, FROM THE PUBLIC, FROM ALL PLACES.
WE HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.
WE'LL HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING AFTER THIS AND THEN BUDGET ADOPTION.
WE AS I SAID, LEARNED A LOT, HEARD A LOT.
JUST A FEW THINGS WE HEARD THAT THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO GET EARLIER INFORMATION ABOUT EXPECTED REVENUES AND WHAT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR NEW APPROPRIATIONS, SO WE PLAN TO BUILD THAT INTO OUR WORK PLAN FOR THE COMING YEAR.
WE HEARD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY AND JUST WANTING MORE BACKGROUND ABOUT THE PROPOSALS WE ARE BRINGING FORWARD AND THE REORGANIZATION, IN PARTICULAR, WHY WAS THAT BEING DEVELOPED, SO JUST TO REITERATE REALLY WANTING A BETTER SPAN OF CONTROL FOR OPERATIONS AND PLACING SIMILAR WORK GROUPS TOGETHER.
ON THE CAPITAL PROJECT, FUNDING PROPOSAL, WE HEARD A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT WHY IS THIS SO ENORMOUS COMPARED TO PRIOR YEARS? IT'S RELATED TO THE NUMBER OF PROJECTS WE HAD IN THE PIPELINE IN THE CIP THAT WE'RE NEEDING TO MOVE TO CONSTRUCTION AND WANTING TO MOVE THOSE FORWARD.
BUT WE'RE TAKING THIS FEEDBACK, AS MARK SAID, WE'VE GOT ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS THAT ARE ATTEMPT TO SCALE BACK, MAKE REFINEMENTS SO THAT WE CAN GET APPROVAL TODAY.
THIS IS OUR ALTERNATIVE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET AT A GLANCE.
THE DIFFERENCES IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THE PERSONNEL COSTS IS ABOUT LESS THAN 40,000 LESS THAN IT WAS BEFORE IN THE PERSONNEL COST LINE IN THE GENERAL FUND.
THEN IN PROJECTS FUND, ABOUT 17.7 MILLION LOWER THAN IT WAS IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
THE OTHER FUNDING CATEGORIES ARE ALL THE SAME AS WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED.
TURN IT OVER TO JESSICA NOW TO TAKE THIS NEXT SLIDE.
>> HELLO. GOOD AFTERNOON, JESSICA COROMEO, AGM OF HUMAN RESOURCES.
WE'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT A REAL ORG AND WHAT THAT WOULD MEAN AND WHAT THE BOARD WOULD BE APPROVING.
THROUGH OUR WORK WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS, WHO I WILL INVITE UP TO HELP PRESENT THIS WITH ME, WE HAVE REACHED AGREEMENT WITH THEM AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE BOARD TO APPROVE IN THE 2026 BUDGET, ARE THOSE FOUR POSITIONS THERE, A PARK RANGER, A MARKETING AND MEDIA SUPERVISOR, AND AN INTERPRETIVE AD IN THE AFSCME BARGAINING UNIT, AND AN ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UNREPRESENTED MANAGEMENT UNIT.
WE ALSO MADE ADDITIONAL CHANGES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
YOU ARE APPROVING THAT AS PART OF THE BUDGET AS WELL, BUT THOSE CHANGES HAVE ALREADY GONE INTO EFFECT.
WE DO HAVE OUR AFSCME LABOR PARTNERS HERE.
[01:35:01]
>> HI, I'M CHRIS NEWEY, AND PRESIDENT AFSCME LOCAL 2428, ACTING GENERAL MANAGER CORTON, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
AFSCME IS HERE TO EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TEAM, THE GENERAL MANAGER, AND OTHER MANAGERS THAT HELPED COME TO THE AGREEMENT WITH AFSCME LOCAL 2428 AND MANAGEMENT.
WE WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SOME KEY ITEMS ON THIS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN MENTIONED.
THE ADDITIONAL HELP TO BIG BREAK THAT 0.75 INTERPRETIVE AID IS GOING TO BE REALLY HELPFUL.
THE ADDITIONAL PARK RANGER TO SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE PATHWAYS PROGRAM.
WE THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE A DEDICATED PARK RANGER TO SUPPORT THAT RATHER THAN IN THE PAST.
SIVER CORP CREWS WOULD BOUNCE FROM PARK TO PARK AND HAVE A DIFFERENT EAST BAY REGIONAL STAFF BE THE LIAISON FOR THE PARK AND WOULDN'T ALWAYS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THE SKILLS THAT ARE TRYING TO BE DEVELOPED, WHAT ARE THE SKILLS LEVEL THAT THOSE CREWS ARE BRINGING, AND HAVING ONE PERSON DEDICATED TO IT REALLY WILL HELP, WE THINK TO ENSURE A SUCCESSFUL PILOT PROGRAM.
WE ALSO WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT WE'RE HAPPY THAT THERE WERE CERTAIN ITEMS THAT WE RAN OUT OF TIME ON THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE IN THE FUTURE AND THE TWO SIDES HAVE AGREED THAT WE'LL WORK TOGETHER COLLABORATIVELY IN THE FUTURE TO GET THOSE RESOLVED WHEN THOSE ITEMS COME UP.
AFSCME LOCAL 2428 SUPPORTS THIS ITEM. THANK YOU.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, KATIE DIGNAN ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER.
THE ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN PROPOSED 52 MILLION IN FUNDING FOR 35 PROJECTS.
THE MAJORITY BEING THE SEVEN PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECTS, WHICH INCLUDES CONSTRUCTION FUNDING SO WE CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH CONSTRUCTION OF THE FORMER RODDY RANCH RESTORATION PROJECT IN DEER VALLEY, AS WELL AS SOUTH BAILEY ROAD RESTORATION AND PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT AT THURGOOD MARSHALL, AND IMPROVEMENTS TO KELLER BEACH AT MILLER KNOX.
FOR TRAILS, WE HAVE EIGHT PROJECTS, WHICH INCLUDE THE OYSTER BAY BIKE SKILLS AREA, PLEASANTON RIDGE TRAILS AT GARAM STAGING AREA, AND BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL FOR GARIN TO VARGAS PLATEAU.
FOR RESTORATION, WE'RE FUNDING PROJECTS AT LAKE TEMESCAL, POINT ISABEL, AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE BRICK ROAD, BRIDGE AT TILDEN.
THEN WE HAVE 13 INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS TO ADDRESS FACILITIES, MAINTENANCE, AND IMPROVEMENTS THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.
FOR THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, WE REDUCED THE FUNDING BEING TRANSFERRED FROM MEASURE WW ACQUISITION TO DEVELOPMENT BY OVER 17 MILLION WITH A REVISED TOTAL OF 24,993,775.
TO BREAK IT OUT EASIER, THE MEASURE WW ACQUISITION FUNDING WE'RE PROPOSING TO USE FOR DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS COME FROM EIGHT AREAS BENEFITING NINE PROJECTS AS FOLLOWS.
FIRST, THERE'S THE TRANSFER OF ACQUISITION FUNDING FROM THURGOOD MARSHALL, EIGHT MILLION TO THE SOUTH OF BAILEY PUBLIC ACCESS PROJECT AT THURGOOD MARSHALL.
THEN WE'RE ASKING FOR 4.3 MILLION OF ACQUISITION FUNDING FROM CLAYTON RANCH AND RAN VALLEY FOR DEER VALLEY, THE FORMER RODDY RANCH PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT.
THEN WE HAVE 3.9 MILLION FROM MLK SHORELINE TO IMPROVE KELLER BEACH AT MILLER KNOX, THREE MILLION FROM OAKLAND SHORE LINE TO POINT ISABEL, 600,000 FROM OAKLAND SHORE HALINE TO OYSTER BAY BIKE SCALES AREA, 1.5 MILLION FROM RIDGE TRAIL BAY AREA TO DEVELOP THE TRAIL FROM GARIN TO VARGAS PLATEAU, 150,000 FROM RIDGE TRAIL BAY AREA TO KENNEDY GROVE TRAIL GAP CLOSURE, 550,000 FROM URBAN CREEKS TO TILDEN TO CONSTRUCT THE BRIDGE AT BROOK ROAD.
LASTLY, 1.7 MILLION FROM DELTA ACCESS ACQUISITION FUNDS TO DO THE SUNSHADE AMPHITHEATER AT BIG BREAK.
WITH THAT, I WILL HAND BACK OVER TO DEB TO TALK ABOUT THE GANN LIMIT.
>> LESS EXCITING PART OF THE BUDGET IS THIS ANNUAL GANN LIMIT CALCULATION THAT'S REQUIRED BY STATE LAW THAT'S REQUIRED TO CAP AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS.
WE CALCULATE THIS EVERY YEAR, ADJUSTING IT BY A COST OF LIVING FACTOR AND A POPULATION CHANGE FACTOR.
OUR GANN LIMIT CAME TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE ON NOVEMBER 12TH.
IT WAS POSTED IN THE NEWSPAPERS FOR PUBLIC REVIEW ON NOVEMBER 28TH.
THE LIMIT 589.8 MILLION EXCEEDS OUR TOTAL APPROPRIATIONS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO THAT LIMIT OF 213.5 MILLION.
THAT'S THE SECOND RESOLUTION IN THE PACKET TODAY.
[01:40:01]
ONE IS THE RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE ALTERNATIVE 2026 PROPOSED OPERATING PROJECT AND PROGRAM BUDGET, AND THEN THE SECOND TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE GANN LIMIT.>> I JUST ADD IN CLOSING, YOUR IN TERMS OF OPTIONS FOR YOUR BOARD, I JUST WANTED TO WALK YOU THROUGH DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR MOTIONS THAT YOUR BOARD COULD MAKE.
YOU COULD OBVIOUSLY MAKE A MOTION THAT WOULD BE THE RECOMMENDATION OF STAFF TO APPROVE THE BUDGET, AS WE'VE DESCRIBED.
YOU ALSO COULD APPROVE THE BUDGET AND NOT APPROVE THE REORG, THE POSITIONS THAT COMPONENT OF IT.
YOU ALSO COULD APPROVE THE BUDGET AND NOT APPROVE THE MEASURE WW RE ALLOCATIONS THAT ARE IN THE CIP PORTION OF THE BUDGET.
YOU COULD NOT APPROVE BOTH THE REORG AND THE CIP PORTION.
YOU ALSO COULD, ON THE CIP PORTION, APPROVE SOME PROJECTS AND NOT OTHERS.
I JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU THE SUPPORT TO WALK YOU THROUGH WHAT THOSE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
>> COULD YOU GET US A REFRIGERATOR WITH MAGNETS AND WE COULD JUST.
>> YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO [LAUGHTER].
>> YES. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS THERE'S A NUMBER, IT'S A CONTINUUM THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DEALING WITH HERE.
IT'S CORRECT. THERE'S A PUBLIC HEARING IN HERE SOMEWHERE.
ARE WE IN IT RIGHT NOW? DO I HAVE TO SAY PUBLIC HEARING? I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THE PROCEDURE OF THAT.
>> THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION WILL BE OPEN WHEN YOU OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN AT THE END OF PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU JUST MAKE SURE TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING.
>> VERY GOOD. JUST AS A MATTER OF PROCEDURE, THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE'RE GOING TO BE ASKING QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL DO THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN WE'LL HAVE THE COMMENTS AFTER THAT.
PLEASE TRY TO CHANNEL YOURSELF TO ASK QUESTIONS NOW, KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE AS MUCH TIME AS YOU WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS ON IT LATER.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT? YES.
>> I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE AFSCME POSITIONS ONLY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S THE FIRST TIME WE'VE REALLY SEEN IT LAID OUT LIKE THAT.
I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, WHY HAVEN'T WE SEEN THIS BEFORE? IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S TIED ONLY TO THE HIRING OF AN AGM.
YOU JUST LAID OUT ALL THESE OPTIONS WITH SIX DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
WHERE DO THOSE FIT IN THE BUDGET ON THEIR OWN? IS THIS ONLY A BARGAINING CHIP TO GET THEM TO APPROVE THE AGM?
>> THE REORG ITSELF IS A NUMBER OF CHANGES WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
WE'RE CREATING A PROCUREMENT TEAM IN FINANCE.
WE'RE MOVING THE BUSINESS SERVICES FROM OPERATIONS TO FINANCE, WE'RE MOVING MAST FROM OPERATIONS TO THIS NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES TEAM, MOVING DECO FROM ASD TO THE NEW FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE TEAM.
WE ARE LOSING AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OUR FOUNDATION WHO IS MOVING TO BE A EMPLOYEE OF THE FOUNDATION AND OVERFILLING THAT AS A AGM.
WHERE THERE'S A BUNCH OF COMPONENTS OF IT.
WE'RE DISTILLING IT IN THIS SLIDE DOWN TO JUST THE POSITIONS SO WILL BE ADDED.
WHEN WE SIT DOWN WITH OUR LABOR PARTNERS ABOUT THAT WHOLE SUITE OF CHANGES, AND I DID E MAIL YOU THE AGREEMENT THAT WE CAME TO WITH THE PARTNERS THAT IN DETAIL SPELLS OUT THE WHOLE SUITE OF CHANGES.
WE'RE TALKING VERY GLOBALLY ABOUT ALL THE THINGS THAT THE DISTRICT IS DOING AND BOTH THE PIECES OF IT THAT WE'RE BRINGING TO IT AS MANAGEMENT, LOOKING AT THE BUSINESS THE DISTRICT AND ALSO THE EXPERIENCES OF OUR LABOR PARTNERS IN THE FIELD, AND I THINK WHERE WE ARRIVED IS AN EVEN BETTER PROPOSAL THAN WHERE WE STARTED.
I THINK THAT'S REALLY THE BENEFIT OF US AS MANAGERS WHO HAVE ONE PERSPECTIVE, WORKING WITH OUR UNION PARTNERS, WHO HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE REALLY TO HOPEFULLY BOTH SERVE OUR STAFF, BUT ALSO THE COMMUNITY IN A MORALISTIC WAY.
>> COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER. JUST THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF FACILITIES IN THE STRUCTURE REALLY ISN'T ABOUT GIVING AND TRADING AND ANY OF THAT.
[01:45:02]
IT'S REALLY ABOUT CHANGING THE SPAN OF CONTROL FOR OPERATIONS AND PUTTING TOGETHER THOSE DIFFERENT PIECES IN TWO DIFFERENT DIVISIONS CURRENTLY, THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE AND SKILLED TRADES INTO ONE DIVISION.THAT MAKES SENSE YOU'RE CREATING THIS NEW COMPONENTS, THESE NEW POSITIONS, AND THE SPAN OF CONTROL.
YOU COULDN'T DO THEM WITHOUT THE AGM?
>> NO. WE COULDN'T CREATE A NEW DIVISION WITHOUT ANOTHER AGM.
THERE WOULDN'T BE A MECHANISM.
>> THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE SOME OF THESE TO FULL TIME POSITIONS.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHICH FULL TIME POSITIONS.
>> FROM THE 0.75 UP TO THE 1.0 FTE.
>> THE INTERPRETIVE AID IS A 0.75 POSITION.
>> THE ONES THAT YOU'RE SEEING IN THAT SECOND BULLETED SERIES, THOSE WERE ADDED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
THOSE ARE NOT PART OF THE REORG, IF THAT MAKE.
>> IT'S JUST THOSE TOP THE 1234 PARK RANGER MARKETING MEDIA SUPERVISOR INTERPRETIVE AID, ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER.
THOSE ARE THE POSITIONS THAT ARE PART OF THAT BIGGER AGREEMENT THAT WE CAME TO WITH WHEN YOU ASKED ME TO PARTNER REORG.
>> WE COULDN'T HAVE A NEW PARK RANGER POSITION WHERE THEY ARE NOW IN THE DIVISION THEY'RE IN NOW.
>> THESE ARE PART OF A BIGGER REORG.
THERE ARE MANY CHANGES THAT ARE PART OF THAT REORG.
THESE ARE JUST THE POSITION ADS, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> SORRY TO JUMP IN. OTHER THINGS WERE GIVEN UP ON BOTH SIDES TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THESE POSITION ADS.
IF WE DON'T FOLLOW THROUGH WITH THE FULL AGREEMENT, THEN THESE POSITION AS EACH ONE OF THEM BECOME EXPONENTIALLY MORE EXPENSIVE.
RIGHT NOW, THE COST OF THAT WAS REMIND ME $133,000.
THE COST OF ADDING THOSE POSITIONS, WITH ALL OF THE OTHER CHANGES THAT WE'RE MAKING WITH THAT RE ORG IS $133,00.
NOW IF WE JUST ADD THOSE POSITIONS, IT'S GOING TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE.
>> THREE QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE RE ORG. I'LL START WITH THOSE.
IN TERMS OF HIRING AND CREATING A NEW AGM OF FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.
WAS IT EVER EXPLORED TO MAYBE BRING THE MASS DIVISION INTO THE EXISTING ASD DIVISION WHERE WE CURRENTLY HAVE AN ACTING AGM IN OUR ACTING GENERAL MANAGER.
I GUESS IT'S GOING TO BE A DOUBLE QUESTION HERE BECAUSE I'M VERY CONCERNED THAT WE DON'T HAVE AN AGM IN THAT DIVISION.
MY OTHER CONCERN ABOUT THIS IS THEN WE WILL BE RECRUITING TWO AGMS IN THE NEW YEAR.
>> WE WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RECRUIT FOR A NEW AGM.
WE WOULD BE WAITING UNTIL WE HAD A GM IN PLACE, AND THEN THEY WOULD DECIDE HOW TO RECRUIT.
WE'RE LOOKING PROBABLY AROUND JUNE TO START THAT RECRUITMENT.
BY THAT TIME, WE WILL HAVE MORE CAPACITY, BUT ALSO, WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO IMMEDIATELY MOVE REPORTING STRUCTURE.
WE WOULD BE WAITING UNTIL WE HAVE THOSE NEW POSITIONS IN PLACE.
>> I CAN ADD I ALREADY PUT OUT THAT I'M NOT GOING TO BE ACTING AS THE AGM SOON.
I ALREADY GONE THROUGH SOME INTERVIEWS AND WE'LL MAKE THAT ANNOUNCEMENT SHORTLY.
MY PLAN IS NOT TO NO LONGER BE ACTING AS THE AGM FOR ASD, BUT TO JUST PUT A FINER POINT ON WHAT JESSICA ALREADY SAID REALLY WELL IS THAT LIKE DECO WOULD REMAIN IN ASD AND MAST WOULD REMAIN IN OPERATIONS UNTIL WE RECRUITED THE NEW AGM FOR THE NEW DIVISION, AND WE WOULD JUST DO PROBABLY BOTH THOSE RECRUITMENTS AT THE SAME TIME.
>> YOUR OTHER QUESTION WAS ABOUT, DID WE CONSIDER PUTTING IT MAST INTO ASD? WE DID, BUT OUR GOAL IS TO NOT INCREASE THE SIZE OF ALL OF OUR DIVISIONS.
[01:50:06]
WE ARE TRYING TO GET AWAY FROM THOSE VERY HUGE DIVISIONS BECAUSE OF THE SPAN OF CONTROL.WE CONSIDERED IT, BUT IT DOES INCREASE THE SPAN OF CONTROL FOR THE ASD AGM QUITE A BIT.
>> THEN MY NEXT QUESTION IN REGARDS TO THE REORG IS THE FOUNDATION TIMELINE.
I HAD HEARD THAT MAYBE SOME OF THE CHANGES WITH THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION MAY BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DELAYED THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED.
I'M JUST CURIOUS IF WE COULD GET A BRIEF UPDATE ON THAT AND WHAT THE OPTIONS ARE THERE.
>> SURE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S OPTIONS THAT ARE A PART OF THE BUDGET PROPOSAL.
ESSENTIALLY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION WOULD COME OFF OF THE DISTRICT BOOKS IN THE QUARTER ONE OF 2026, IN OCTOBER OF 2026, TWO OF THE STAFF MEMBERS WOULD MOVE FROM THE FOUNDATION TO MAINTENANCE AND SKILLED TRADES.
IN MID 2027, TWO OTHER STAFF MEMBERS WOULD MOVE OFF OF THE FOUNDATION STAFF, AND THE FINAL FOUNDATION STAFF MEMBER WOULD MOVE TO THE DISTRICT TOWARDS THE END OF 2027.
WE HAVE A MORE DETAILED SCHEDULE OF HOW IT LOOKS THAT WE'VE JUST SHARED WITH THE STAFF THIS MORNING ONCE WE FINALIZED IT, AND WE WILL BE SHARING THAT MORE BROADLY THROUGH THE DISTRICT LAWRENCE.
WE'RE REALLY, AGAIN, SPEAKING TO THREADING THE NEEDLE BETWEEN DIFFERENT COMPETING INTERESTS.
WE'RE TRYING TO BOTH HAVE A PROCESS THAT'S CAREFUL AND SLOW ENOUGH TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THIS RIGHT AND THAT WE SUPPORT OUR REALLY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FOUNDATION AND THEIR MEMBERS AND ALSO TAKE CARE OF THOSE STAFF.
ALSO, WE HAVE FOLKS WITHIN THE DISTRICT WHO ARE SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THOSE STAFF MOVING INTO OTHER POSITIONS, SO WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMMODATE THAT AS WELL.
>>THAT'S ALL THE QUESTIONS I HAVE RIGHT NOW.
I>> WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THAT IN ANY OPTION THAT WE ENTERTAIN, I THINK WE SHOULD TABLE THIS REORGANIZATION.
LOOK AT THE HISTORY. WE RECEIVED THIS SOMETIME IN NOVEMBER.
IT WAS ON OUR PLATE HERE IN FRONT OF OUR DESK AT 1 O'CLOCK IN THE AFTERNOON AFTER A LONG CLOSED SESSION AND APPARENTLY A STRESSFUL CLOSE SESSION, WE SAW IT AND THEN IT WAS PRESENTED AND SAY, ACCEPT THIS.
I JUST THINK THERE'S SO MANY VARIABLES AND SO MANY THINGS THAT CAN OCCUR.
I COME FROM THE POSITION OF IF WE'RE GOING TO SAY THAT WE'RE GOING TO AND EVERYBODY KNOWS MY POSITION OF I DON'T BELIEVE IN TAKING MONEY FROM MEASURE WW ACQUISITION, AND THEN WE SAY, WELL, WE NEED THE MONEY, YET WE'RE ADDING MORE AGMS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO PLAY WITH ANYBODY.
I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD PLAY WITH US.
I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOOK AT THIS IN JANUARY.
AT LEAST HAVE SOME BOARD INPUT ON IT.
WE WERE TOLD AT A BOARD MEETING.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR TWO YEARS.
THE BOARD DIDN'T SEE IT TILL 1 O'CLOCK THAT DAY.
I JUST THINK THERE'S BETTER WAYS OF DOING THINGS.
I KNOW IT IS THE STAFFS PREROGATIVE TO REORGANIZE TO WHAT THEY THINK IS BETTER.
WE'RE GOING TO GET A NEW GENERAL MANAGER IN SIX MONTHS.
ARE THEY GOING TO REORGANIZE AGAIN AFTER THAT? I WOULD LOVE TO DISCUSS THE FACT THAT THE AGM OF OPERATIONS HAS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF REPORTS OR DIVISIONS UNDER THEM.
WE WANT TO MOVE SOME OF THOSE.
IN THAT CASE, YOU WOULD BE RELIEVING SOMEONE OF A LOT OF WORK AND THEN GETTING ANOTHER AGM.
THEN WHY DON'T WE LOWER THE COST OF THAT AGM OR WHAT ARE AGMS PAID? IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE ALL PAID THE SAME AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.
THE AGM OF A DEPARTMENT THAT HAS 12 PEOPLE IN IT MAKES THE SAME AS AN AGM THAT HAS 600 IN IT.
THAT'S WHY I WOULD REQUEST THAT WE JUST TABLE THIS OR PUT IT OFF AND DISCUSS IT.
I DON'T THINK ANYTHING CAN CHANGE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS.
I REALLY THINK WE NEED TO DISCUSS THIS AT A DIFFERENT TIME AND NOT MAKE THE DECISION RIGHT NOW.
>> WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING WE TABLE?
[01:55:01]
THE ENTIRE BUDGET? THE REORGANIZATION, THE CIP PLAN?>> IF I WOULD MAKE A RESOLUTION I WOULD RESOLVE THAT WE PASS THE BUDGET, PASS THE GM LIMIT, AND MOVE TO A DIFFERENT MEETING, BUT PUT A HOLD ON THE REORGANIZATION AND THE CIP.
>> YOU'RE SAYING THAT THE REORG AND THE CIP?
>> I GUESS JUST TO HIGHLIGHT A CHALLENGE WITH THAT IS THAT THE POSITIONS WITH THE REORGANIZATION ARE BUILT INTO OUR BUDGET.
IF YOUR BOARD VOTES NOT TO MOVE FORWARD THE REORG, WE BASICALLY HAVE TO REBUILD OUR BUDGET TO MOVE PEOPLE BACK TO WHERE THEY ARE EXISTING.
THEN IF YOUR BOARD TOOK UP THE REORG AGAIN LATER, THEN WE WOULD REDO THE BUDGET ALL OVER AGAIN.
IT WOULD BE A REALLY HUGE LIFT.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE'RE HERE TO FULFILL THE REQUEST OF YOUR BOARD, BUT JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THE TECHNICAL CHALLENGE WITH THAT.
>> WHERE ARE WE IN THE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS PHASE? ARE WE ADDRESSING QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW JUST ON THE REORG?
>> NO. I THINK WE JUST HAD A PRESENTATION ON EVERYTHING.
THE WAY I SEE IT IS WE'RE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.
>> IT'S OPEN SEASON ON THE WHOLE THING?
>> OPEN SEASON, LITERALLY FIRE AWAY.
>> I'M STILL A LITTLE JET LAG.
>> I HANDLE ON THIS, AND I'M SORRY TO ASK THAT QUESTION.
WELL, I GUESS I'M QUESTIONING THE REORG.
WHAT'S BEING PRESENTED TO US TODAY IS VIRTUALLY A PAUSE ON THE ENTIRETY OF THE PROPOSED REORG THAT CAME OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO OTHER THAN THE PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION?
>> I THINK IT'S MORE THAN A PAUSE.
>> WAIT. ARE YOU ASKING WHAT WE'RE ASKING FOR RIGHT NOW?
>> I'M GETTING A CLARIFICATION.
>> WHAT THE AGREEMENT IS WE CAME TO WITH AFSCME.
WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING IS STILL MOVING, I'LL GO OVER IT BRIEFLY.
STILL MOVING MAPS FROM OPERATIONS TO THE NEW INFRASTRUCTURE AND FACILITIES, STILL MOVING DECO INTO THAT SAME DIVISION, STILL MOVING BUSINESS SERVICES TO FINANCE AND CREATING A PROCUREMENT DIVISION WITHIN FINANCE.
THEN A FEW OTHER CREATING THE RANGER POSITION TO SUPPORT.
>> CREATING A NEW POSITION IN EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, MARKETING MEDIA SUPERVISOR.
>> YOU'RE NOT DESCRIBING THIS AS A PAUSE ON THE REST OF THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL.
>> THE REST OF ANYTHING ELSE THAT WAS IN THAT PROPOSAL.
WE'RE JUST NOT PLANNING TO DO ANY OF THOSE.
>> GIS IS STAYING AND PLANNING.
>> THE WATER QUALITY FOLKS STAY IN STEWARDSHIP.
IT'S NOT JUST A PAUSE ON THAT.
I THINK WE'RE SAYING WE'RE NOT PLANNING TO PURSUE THAT.
>> ARE ARCHIVES ARE STAYING IN THE SAME RELATIONSHIP?
>> ARCHIVES ARE MOVING, BUT THE REPORTING STRUCTURE IS TO THE PLANNING MANAGER.
>> AT THE REQUEST TO [INAUDIBLE].
>> I JUST GOT THAT STRAIGHT, AND I APPRECIATE THE RESPONSE.
WE ARE BEING PROPOSED OR YOU WERE BRINGING A PROPOSAL THAT IS BASED ON AN AGREEMENT WITH AFSCME?
>> THAT HAS BEEN REACHED AND THAT IS BEING PRESENTED TO US.
>> I CAN COMMENT ON THAT LATER.
THE OTHER QUESTION I HAVE, AND MAYBE IT'S A REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION.
I'M NOW SHIFTING TO THE CAPITAL THE CIP PLAN.
I THINK THERE MAY BE A MISPERCEPTION OUT THERE, WHEREVER OUT THERE IS, WITH OUR PUBLIC AND SOME STAKEHOLDERS ON THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN PRESENTED TO US, 32, 35, WHATEVER THAT NUMBER IS, VERSUS THE 26-30 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 82 ACTIVE PROJECTS.
BECAUSE NOW I'VE SEEN THE SUGGESTION THAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON THESE 82 ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT, TO A LARGE EXTENT, AREN'T FUNDED,
[02:00:03]
AND THAT THEORETICALLY, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE FUNDING THESE THINGS, ALL OF THIS SHOULD BE PAUSED.MY QUESTION TO YOU IS THAT LIST OF 82 IS NEW IN TERMS OF ITS PRESENTATION DURING THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
BUT IN MY EIGHT, GOING ON NINE YEARS HERE, WE HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS LIST OF POTENTIAL ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT IS SOMEWHERE NEAR THIS LEVEL OF POTENTIAL SPENDING THAT IS LARGELY UNFUNDED.
WE HAVE SEVERAL LARGE PROJECTS, NOT THE LEAST OF WHICH IS THE TILDEN VISITOR CENTER REPLACEMENT THAT IS UNFUNDED, AND IT'S $40 MILLION.
THAT DOES NOT PROHIBIT US FROM CHARACTERIZING IT AS A PROJECT THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE ACTIVE.
IS THERE A NEED TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOSE THAT WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO FUND THROUGH SOME WW ALLOCATIONS AND ALLOCATIONS FROM OTHER SOURCES, AS OPPOSED TO THIS GREATER LIST OF 82?
>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SAYING. THERE'S A SMALL NUMBER OF PROJECTS THAT WE'RE RECOMMENDING REALLOCATION OF MEASURE WW FUNDS FOR.
IT'S LIKE HOW MANY SEVEN PROJECTS IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER.
THERE ARE LIKE YOU MENTIONED, MANY PROJECTS THAT ARE ON OUR POTENTIAL LIST AND ON THAT FIVE-YEAR CIP THAT WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING ALLOCATED FOR, AND TO BE FAIR, IF REVENUES STAY THE WAY THEY ARE, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH A NUMBER.
>> THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING, EVERY YEAR.
[NOISE] WHAT THEN IS THE LIST I'M THINKING OF THAT WE WERE PRESENTED AT THE COTTAGE OF AROUND 35?
>> THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT, SORRY, KATIE DICKEN AGAIN.
[OVERLAPPING] LET'S STEP BACK.
WE HAVE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN, WHICH SHOWS YOU THE 82 ACTIVE PROJECTS THAT RUN THE DEFINITION OF A CAPITAL PROJECT.
MOST OF THOSE HAVE ALREADY BEEN FUNDED.
WHAT YOU'RE ADOPTING TODAY IN THE BUDGET IS FUNDING FOR 35 PROJECTS.
OF THOSE, THERE'S NINE THAT ARE RECEIVING FUNDING FROM MEASURE WW ACQUISITION.
THAT WAS THAT SLIDE THAT I HAD UP.
THAT BREAKS IT DOWN INTO THE PROJECTS.
YOU HAVE 82 THAT ARE ALREADY PROJECTS THAT ARE IN THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN THAT WE'VE GIVEN YOU THE FIVE-YEAR PROJECTED ESTIMATED COST FOR THOSE.
THEN YOU HAVE THE 35 THAT THE BUDGET WOULD APPROVE FUNDING FOR IF ADOPTED AS PROPOSED.
>> RELATED. AT ONE POINT, YOU WERE UP HERE WITH DEBORAH, MAYBE A YEAR AGO, BUT WE WERE PRESENTING THE LOOK FORWARD ON PROPERTY ACQUISITIONS.
THE NUMBER WAS IN VOLUME 2 AT THE TIME.
I WAS JUST THUMBING AROUND TO TRY TO FIND IT WAS $30 MILLION.
I'M NOW HEARING FROM BECKY'S INPUT THAT THAT NUMBER IS MORE AROUND $60 MILLION.
IS THERE SOMETHING I'M MISSING THERE?
>> THAT'S HER ESTIMATE OF WHAT SHE THINKS IS COMING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS OF THE $60 MILLION. THAT'S CORRECT.
THAT WOULD BE MADE WITH THE REMAINING BALANCE OF MEASURE WW FUNDS, WHICH, AFTER YOU APPROVE THIS, WE STILL HAVE OVER 120 MILLION IN ACQUISITION FUNDING STILL IN MEASURE WW SPENDING [OVERLAPPING].
YES. WE CONTINUE TO ANTICIPATE SPENDING.
>> MAYBE THE $30 MILLION FIGURE WAS NOT WW MONEY.
I THINK MAYBE THAT'S THE DISTINCTION. I'M NOT SURE.
>> IT'S STILL IN YOUR BOOK. I'M SORRY. LET ME GET THE PAGE.
IT'S IN THE PROGRAM SECTION, AND IT IS ON PAGE 36.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE 31.5 MILLION, AND THIS IS JUST THE DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE CURRENTLY ALLOCATED.
WE'RE SHOWING 20.4 MILLION, ALMOST 20.5 IN MEASURE WW LOCATED BUDGET.
>> I WASN'T JUST MAKING THAT UP.
>> NO, YOU WEREN'T. I WAS FROM OUR JUST PROJECTIONS FOR WHAT WE HAVE IN THE BUDGET RIGHT NOW.
>> NOW I'M UNDERSTANDING THE TWO DIFFERENT FIGURES.
THANK YOU. THAT'S IT FOR MY QUESTION.
>> WE HAD A QUESTION OVER, BASED ON WHAT HE JUST SAID.
>> THEN I GUESS CLARIFYING WHAT DENNIS SAID, AND DIRECTOR COFFEE SAID.
EVEN WHAT OUR ACTING GENERAL MANAGER SAID.
ONE OF THE OPTIONS YOU SAID WAS A BUDGET WITHOUT WW ALLOCATION.
THAT WOULD BE ALL THE REST OF THE CIPS, THE MRR MONEY,
[02:05:04]
THE FF, THE CONTINGENCY, THE INTEREST, ALL OF THAT STUFF.THOSE WOULD STILL ALL GO FORWARD.
ONE OF THE OPTIONS COULD BE WHEN DENNIS HAS PUT A PAUSE, TAKES A BEAT ON THE WHOLE THING.
WE COULD DO A BUDGET, AND ALL THOSE OTHER CIP PROJECTS WOULD BE IN THERE WITHOUT WW, AND WE'D REALLY BE LEAVING OUT THE I KNOW IF NINE TRANSFERS.
BUT THE REST WOULD STAY IN THERE?
>> THAT'S MY CLARIFYING QUESTION.
>> IT'S 10. WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT THE 10 ON HERE.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, THE DEER VALLEY HAS TWO LINE ITEMS. IT'S NINE PROJECTS, BUT EVEN THOUGH THERE'S 10, THERE BECAUSE DEER VALLEY IS GETTING FUNDING FROM CLAYTON AND ROUND VALLEY.
THAT'S 10 FUNDING SOURCE. NINE PROJECTS.
>> GOOD QUESTION. [OVERLAPPING] CONTINUE.
>> I HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION ABOUT CIP.
MY UNDERSTANDING, SOME OF WHICH I'VE LEARNED TODAY, IS THAT TRADITIONALLY, WE HAVE NOT DONE FIVE YEAR CIP NECESSARILY, PROJECTING FORWARD.
I DO SEEM TO UNDERSTAND IT'S CLEAR THAT, AS A BMP BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE, IT IS GOOD TO DO THAT, AND THAT WAS MAYBE A GOOD THING.
BUT AS FAR AS WHEN YOU SAID IT'D BE A HEAVY LIFT TO LEAVE OUT AND BRING BACK IN, THE FIVE-YEAR CIP, BECAUSE THE TERM WAS USED, THOSE ARE REALLY APPROVED PROJECTS THAT WE'RE PLANNING TO TRY TO FIND MONEY FOR.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO LEAVE THAT OUT OF THESE OPTIONS, OR WHAT IS STAFF'S POSITION ON THAT? BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE WE DID A NUMBER OF YEARS WITH NO FIVE-YEAR CIP IN THE BUDGET.
>> IF YOUR BOARD'S DIRECTION IS FOR US NOT TO HAVE A FIVE-YEAR CIP, WE CAN DO THAT.
>> I HAVE ONE, MAYBE NOT TIE IT TO THE BUDGET.
>> IT'S JUST LIKE A PROJECTION.
ALL YOU'RE ADOPTING IS THE FUNDING FOR 2026.
BUT YOU'RE NOT APPROVING FUTURE YEAR FUNDING AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
IT'S JUST GIVING YOU BEST ESTIMATES OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED.
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO COME BACK FOR ANY OF THOSE ESTIMATES AND GET APPROVAL FROM THE BOARD TO ADD FUNDING FOR THOSE PROJECTS.
WE DID PUBLISH A CIP LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT WE DID PUBLISH IT.
THEN, HISTORICALLY IN THE BUDGET BOOK, WE DID GIVE PROJECTIONS FOR THE FUTURE FUNDING SOURCES, BUT IT WAS JUST AT A PROJECT-BY-PROJECT LEVEL.
YOU'D HAVE TO GO IN, LOOK AT EACH PROJECT PAGE, AND COMPILE THE SPREADSHEET YOURSELF TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THE OVERALL COMMITMENT THE BOARD HAD AGREED TO AT THAT POINT WITH ALL THE PROJECTS EXISTING IN THE PORTFOLIO.
IT NEVER WAS PRESENTED IN THIS WAY, WHERE IT SHOWS YOU WHAT THE TRUE PICTURE IS OF THE FUTURE FUNDING NEEDS THAT WE NEED, AND YOU'RE SEEING IT ON AN INDIVIDUAL PROJECT BASIS.
>> JUST MEANT TO BE HELPFUL FOR YOUR BOARD, BUT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO PROVIDE TRANSPARENCY, BUT IT'S LIKE IF IT'S THE DIRECTION OF YOUR BOARD, IT'S EASY TO TAKE OUT.
IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE POSITIONS THAT ARE HARDER TO TAKE OUT AND PUT BACK IN THAT PIECE IS.
>> TO PULL IT OUT WOULD NOT KEEP US FROM HAVING AN APPROVED BUDGET TODAY?
>> THAT'S CORRECT. NO, EVERYTHING THAT'S LISTED HERE WITH THE PRIOR YEAR FUNDING THAT ALREADY EXISTS, THE BOARD HAS ALREADY APPROVED THAT FUNDING, IT'S ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM.
>> I HAVE A COMMENT. I'M SORRY.
MAYBE I'M CONFUSED IN THIS DISCUSSION.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO HAVE A FIVE-YEAR CIP BECAUSE IT'S AN OUTLOOK OVER FIVE YEARS, AND IT'S LOOKING HOW WE COULD POTENTIALLY FUND, AND IT'S GOING TO BE UPDATED EACH YEAR BASED ON NEW INPUT.
I KNOW IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN A THREE-YEAR CIP, BUT IT'S FORECASTING OUT POTENTIAL NEED.
IT'S A TOOL TO HELP MAKE DECISIONS.
I GUESS IF IT'S SOMETHING WE SHOULDN'T BE USING.
I'M JUST CONFUSED ON THE [OVERLAPPING]
>> 100% AGREE WITH YOU IN MOST AGENCIES, IT'S A BEST PRACTICE TO HAVE A CIP THAT SHOWS YOU WITH THE PROJECT THAT YOU HAVE AGREED AND FUNDED, THUS FAR, HERE'S YOUR LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS IN ORDER TO ACTUALLY COMPLETE THOSE PROJECTS.
OTHERWISE, YOU'RE JUST RUNNING WITH PROJECTS THAT ARE DESIGNED THAT'LL NEVER MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE FUNDING.
>> BECAUSE I'M ACCUSTOMED TO THREE YEAR CIP.
SO I'M CUSTOM USING THIS TOOL.
WASN'T UNDERSTANDING WHY WE WOULDN'T WANT TO LOOK AT SOMETHING BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO READJUST THIS EACH YEAR.
[02:10:02]
IT'S JUST A TOOL TO MAKE A DECISION.>> CORRECT. TO SHOW YOU WHAT YOUR FUTURE OBLIGATIONS ARE IF YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO COMPLETE THESE PROJECTS THAT YOU'RE FUNDING TODAY.
>> I GUESS I HAVE TWO AREAS NOW THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR CIP FORECAST.
THE ONE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH THIS IS THE CPP, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS PRIORITIZATION SCORING MODEL AND METHODOLOGY.
I ACTUALLY SPENT TIME THIS WEEKEND PROGRAMMING IT MYSELF TO RUN THROUGH A FEW OF THE DIFFERENT PROJECT SCENARIOS, AND IT'S PRETTY SUBJECTIVE AS WELL AS AT THE PAST 2-3 YEARS AT OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS WORKSHOP.
I HAVE MENTIONED THAT WE ARE MISSING HOUSING, SPECIFICALLY THE RHNA THE REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT NUMBERS, RHNA.
WHERE WE HAVE NOW, WE'RE LOOKING AT 2026-2030, WITH THE RHNA FORECAST, WE DO HAVE HOUSING GROWTH PROJECTIONS THROUGH 2031 WITH THE LATEST RHNA CYCLE.
WE'RE ALSO MISSING TRANSIT ACROSS THE ENTIRE EAST BAY AS PART OF OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS PRIORITIZATION SCORING.
I DO HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THAT BEING ON OUR FORECAST.
I THINK THAT IT NEEDS TO JUST GO THROUGH THE ITERATIVE PROCESS AGAIN, MAYBE BUILD UPON WHAT HAD BEEN APPROVED IN 2022 TO COME UP WITH SOME OF THE PARAMETERS OF THE SCORING MODEL, BUT I DON'T THINK IT TRULY REFLECTS MAYBE SOME OF THE GOALS THAT HAD BEEN DISCUSSED BACK IN 2022 WHEN THIS INITIALLY WAS SET.
I THINK I CAN ACCEPT, THOUGH, IF OTHERS WANT TO KEEP THIS 2026 TO 2030 CIP WITH THE FUTURE FUNDING.
BUT I DO REALLY THINK WE NEED TO IMPROVE UPON, ITERATE UPON THAT CPP SCORE. I'M JUST CURIOUS.
I THINK I ASKED THIS QUESTION BEFORE, AND I DID GET AN ANSWER.
WE AREN'T DETERMINING OUR PROJECTS NECESSARILY YET BASED ON CPP SCORE.
WE RUN THE SCORING THROUGH THIS MODEL INTERNALLY.
IF YOU COULD JUST CLARIFY A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW WE COME UP WITH THE SCORE AND HOW IT'S USED, OR IF WE JUST HAVE IT IN HERE AS A PLACEHOLDER TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE A SCORING MODEL, BUT IT'S NOT REALLY IN USE IN TERMS OF MAKING DECISIONS.
>> I CAN SPEAK TO IT, AND I'M SURE KATIE HAS MORE DETAIL.
I THINK HAPPY TO REVISIT THE SCORING MODEL WITH YOUR BOARD.
IT'S CREATING THIS PROJECT PROPOSAL ISN'T MATH.
THERE'S A PIECE OF IT WHERE WE HAVE THAT BACKGROUND TO HELP INFORM YOUR BOARD AND THE PUBLIC FOR THESE DISCUSSIONS, BUT WE'RE ALSO REALLY JUST LISTENING.
YOUR BOARD IN YOUR PRIORITY SESSION TOLD US SOME OF YOUR PRIORITIES THAT YOU'RE ESPECIALLY INTERESTED IN WERE HEARING COMMUNITY PRIORITIES.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON SOME OF THESE PROJECTS FOR YEARS, IF NOT DECADES, AND THEY'VE JUST GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE SHOVEL-READY TO BE IMPLEMENTED.
THAT SCORING HELPS US POTENTIALLY FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE NEXT PROJECTS WE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE ON AND WE CAN REVISIT THAT.
I THINK ALREADY WITH RHNA'S TEAM, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, IN LIGHT OF HAVING FEWER RESOURCES, MAYBE WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE COMPONENTS DIFFERENT.
BUT I WOULD TOTALLY ASSURE YOU THAT THE SCORING ISN'T DETERMINING WHAT THE PROJECTS ARE, AND THAT'S PART OF WHY WE WANTED TO DAYLIGHT THIS SO MANY TIMES WITH YOUR BOARD AND THE PUBLIC, SO THAT WE CAN GET FEEDBACK AND HERE AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE SURE WE GET IT RIGHT.
>> I'D BE HAPPY TO SHARE. I GUESS MAYBE I NERD IT OUT A LITTLE BIT ON THIS, BUT I CREATED A WHOLE MATHEMATICAL MODEL OF THE RHNA NUMBERS FOR THE EAST BAY AND TRY TO FIT THAT INTO SOME OF OUR CPP SCORING MODEL TO BETTER UNDERSTAND SOME OF THIS.
THAT CAN BE MAYBE AT THE NEXT WORKSHOP ON CAPITAL PROJECTS.
BUT I DO WANT TO MENTION THAT THAT IS HERE IN THIS FIVE YEAR FORECAST, AND I DO PERSONALLY HAVE AN ISSUE WITH IT, BUT I CAN ALSO ACCEPT IT FOR THIS YEAR KNOWING THAT IT'S MORE THERE TO SHOW THAT WE HAVE IT AND THAT WE HAVE SCORES ASSIGNED TO IT, BUT THAT IT'S NOT REALLY BEEN USED IN TERMS OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, IT MAY BE USED IN THE NEAR FUTURE AS PART OF THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS, WHICH WOULD THEN LEAD US TO WANTING TO MAYBE ITERATE UPON THE SCORING METHODOLOGY AT A FUTURE DATE.
THE OTHER QUESTION THAT I HAD THOUGH, WAS LOOKING AT WHERE I START TO HAVE SOME TROUBLE WITH THE OVERALL BUDGET, AND I APPRECIATE THE UPDATES.
IN TODAY'S BOARD PACKET, PAGE 50,
[02:15:03]
WAS ALSO PRESENTED ON THE SLIDE DECK, THE ALTERNATIVE 2026 BUDGET PROPOSAL.>> IT SAYS TRANSFERS IN LINE WHERE I SEE SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.
REALLY, THIS IS THAT DIFFERENCE SO YOU KNOW.
WE HAVE TOTAL REVENUES OF APPROXIMATELY $284.7 MILLION, BUT THEN WE HAVE EXPENDITURES.
IN THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, THE EXPENDITURES ARE 358 MILLION APPROXIMATELY, AND THE PREVIOUS PROPOSAL WAS 375.79 MILLION.
THAT HAS BEEN REDUCED AS WAS STATED DURING THE PRESENTATION.
IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, THAT'S PAGE B18, WHERE THAT DATA CAN BE FOUND.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE TRANSFERS IN TO "BALANCE THE BUDGET" I GUESS ON PAGE 50 IN TODAY'S PACKET, THE 73.1 MILLION, AND THEN ON B18 IN THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, THE 90.8 MILLION.
I KNOW A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THAT UNDER PROJECT FUNDS, WHICH ORIGINALLY THE PROPOSAL WAS 84.7 MILLION AND THIS ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL 67 MILLION.
I THINK A LOT OF THAT'S COMING FROM THIS WW PROPOSAL, BUT I DON'T THINK ALL OF IT IS.
I THINK IF YOU COULD JUST SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE TRANSFERS IN AND THERE'S TWO OTHER CATEGORIES.
I THINK THIS WAS COVERED BACK IN NOVEMBER WHEN WE TALKED ABOUT THE BUDGET, BUT IF YOU COULD JUST MAYBE REVIEW IT FOR US, THE SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS AND THE DEBT SERVICE FUNDS AGAIN, IN THOSE COLUMNS UNDER THE TRANSFERS IN LINE WOULD BE HELPFUL.
>> I PULLED UP HERE THE SLIDE THAT I BELIEVE YOU'RE LOOKING AT, WHICH IS OUR BUDGET AT A GLANCE, SO THIS IS THE ALTERNATIVE 2026 BUDGET AT A GLANCE.
THE TRANSFERS IN LINE IS WHEN WE ARE TRANSFERRING FUNDS FROM ANOTHER FUND INTO THAT FUND, SO YOU'LL ALSO SEE AT THE BOTTOM, THERE'S TRANSFERS OUT.
YOU TRANSFER OUT OF ONE FUND AND YOU TRANSFER INTO ANOTHER FUND, SO THOSE LINES BALANCE.
THEY'RE BOTH 73.16 IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL, SO YOU'RE TRANSFERRING OUT.
FOR THE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN SOME CASES, YOU'RE TRANSFERRING OUT OF A PROJECT FUND INTO A DIFFERENT PROJECT FUND, BUT IT'S STILL IN THAT PROJECT CATEGORY.
MEASURE WW IS A PROJECT FUND, AND THEN WE'RE APPROPRIATING IT INTO A CAPITAL PROJECT OR AN OTHER THAN ASSET PROJECT.
I'D BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN AND WALK YOU THROUGH BECAUSE IT'S INTERESTING IF YOU LIKE HEARING THIS DETAIL, BUT THAT'S WHAT THE TRANSFERS IN AND OUT ARE.
>> I GUESS JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL, IT JUST LOOKS LIKE WE'RE SPENDING A LOT MORE THAN WE'RE BRINGING IN IN TERMS OF REVENUES, AND I KNOW THAT WE HAVE THE DEBT SURFACE TO HELP PAY FOR.
>> I THINK WHAT YOU'RE WORRIED ABOUT IS WHY ARE THE REVENUES NOT AS HIGH AS THE EXPENDITURES? WE ARE TRANSFERRING OUT FROM FUND BALANCE IN ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.
YOU CAN SEE THAT DONE AT THE BOTTOM CHANGE IN FUND BALANCE AND YOU SEE A NEGATIVE NUMBER THERE.
IN THE CASE OF MEASURE WW, WE HAVE FUNDS IN FUND BALANCE.
WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HOW WE HAVE MEASURE WW FUNDS THAT WE BELIEVE WE SHOULD BE SPENDING, AND SO THEY'RE IN FUND BALANCE WAITING TO BE USED.
IN THE CASE OF THE GENERAL FUND, WE'RE USING FUND BALANCE FROM THE PRIOR YEAR, SO REVENUES THAT CAME IN ABOVE EXPENDITURES AND WE'RE APPROPRIATING THOSE.
THERE'S A REASON FOR EACH OF THESE FUNDS OF WHY WE'RE USING FUND BALANCE, BUT IT DOES BALANCE OUT AT THE BOTTOM LINE OF HOW MUCH IS COMING FROM FUND BALANCE PLUS THE NEW REVENUES COMING IN.
>> THEN MY NEXT QUESTION ON THE SITE.
I KNOW WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST FOR OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THE FIVE-YEAR FORECAST WITH THE GENERAL FUND AND WITH THE BUDGET, AND THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TO DO THE TRANSFER OUT TRANSFER IN HERE AND WITH THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL, THE 73.1 MILLION, ARE WE GOING TO RUN INTO SOME ISSUES WITHIN FIVE YEARS WHERE WE MIGHT NOT HAVE THOSE FUND BALANCES POTENTIALLY AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROCESS, AND THEN WILL THOSE BE YEARS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO THEN HAVE TO REALLY THINK ABOUT THE BUDGET AND HAVE SOME ISSUES, MAKING THIS CHANGE FROM 284-357 MILLION?
I THINK FOR ONE, ALREADY WE TALKED ABOUT THIS LAST TIME, THERE'S TWO PARTS OF THE BUDGET.
THERE'S THE OPERATING BUDGET THAT'S LIKE OUR STAFF POSITIONS, ONGOING COSTS, THE UTILITIES, TOILET PAPER, ALL THOSE THINGS.
THEN THERE'S OUR ONE TIME BUDGET OF PROJECTS, AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE UTILIZING THE FUND BALANCE FROM BOTH THE BONDS AND OTHER ONE TIME SOURCES.
OUR REVENUE PROJECTIONS ARE THAT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE IS GROWING MORE SLOWLY THAN IT HAS IN THE PAST.
[02:20:04]
EVERY YEAR WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS WHERE WE GET PROPOSALS FROM ALL OF OUR DIFFERENT DIVISIONS OF WHAT THEIR IDEAS OF OUR NEW EXPENDITURES FOR THE COMING YEAR FOR THEIR WORK PLANS.WE ALREADY SAID NO TO A LOT OF THOSE THINGS BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT WE NEEDED TO BE CAREFUL WITH OUR OPERATING BUDGET.
THE SIMILARLY WITH THE PROJECTS, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD, MOSTLY EXISTING PROJECTS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING THROUGH THE PLANNING PROCESS TOWARDS IMPLEMENTATION.
LOOKING FORWARD, WE'RE BOTH THINKING FOR OPERATIONS, NOT JUST LIKE LEASES TEAM OPERATIONS, BUT OUR ENTIRE OPERATIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT WHAT THE EXPECTATION IS OF GROWTH BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT OUR REVENUE IS LIMITED.
SIMILARLY, IN TERMS OF PROJECTS OF ONE TIME SOURCES, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE TO BE CAUTIOUS, AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE WANT TO TALK TO YOUR BOARD ABOUT THIS YEAR IN THE STUDY SESSION AROUND CAPITAL PROJECTS IS HOW DO WE INCORPORATE THIS OUTLOOK INTO HOW WE THINK ABOUT WHAT THE NEXT SUITE OF CAPITAL PROJECTS ARE? MAYBE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE MODEST IN TERMS OF WHAT THAT IS.
BUT I HOPE THAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION.
THE ANSWER IS YES, WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT DECREASE IN REVENUE GROWTH AND HOW WE HAVE TO PROJECT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS HERE? JUST ONE CLARIFYING QUESTION.
DID I UNDERSTAND CORRECTLY IN THE REORG, I'M GOING TO SWITCH OVER TO THE REORG THING.
THE NET COST OF THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT'S CREATING A NEW MANAGER, IS REALLY SOMETHING LIKE $130,000 AND THAT'S BECAUSE WE'RE UTILIZING A POSITION THAT WAS CREATED WHEN THE FOUNDATION WENT OFF ON THEIR OWN?
THERE'S A COUPLE OF DELETIONS OF SEVERAL POSITION DELETIONS.
THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS TO THAT [BACKGROUND] SO THERE ARE COST SAVINGS, AND THEN THERE'S SOME OF THESE THAT HAVE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES.
WHAT WE TRIED TO DO IS JUST ROLL ALL THOSE THINGS TOGETHER AND REPRESENT YOUR BOARD WITH THE COST OF THE WHOLE THING.
>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE. THANK YOU.
I THINK AT THIS POINT, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO PUBLIC COMMENTS, SO I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND GET PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS.
>> THANK YOU. WE HAVE SIX PUBLIC COMMENTS OR SEVEN IN PERSON, AND ONE ONLINE.
WE WILL START WITH PRECIOUS SHELTON AND THEN YOLANDA BURIAL.
NO, PRECIOUS. WE'LL MOVE ON TO YOLANDA.
>> PRECIOUS IS PROBABLY ON HER WAY DOWN, BUT IN THE INTEREST OF TIME.
HELLO, PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD, BOARD MEMBERS AND ACTING GENERAL MANAGER CORTNEY.
WE, THE BLACK EMPLOYEES OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, AND MEMBERS OF THE EAST BAY BLACK EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE ARE HONORED TO SUBMIT THIS LETTER IN STRONG SUPPORT OF FULLY MAINTAINING AND UTILIZING ALL PROPOSED FUNDING NEEDED TO SUCCESSFULLY OPEN THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
AS EMPLOYEES, WE ARE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE OPENING OF THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO SAILORS, A PLACE THAT HONORS BOTH AN EXTRAORDINARY CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER AND THE ENDURING LEGACY OF THE PORT CHICAGO SAILORS.
WE EXTEND OUR HEARTFELT GRATITUDE TO THE PARK DISTRICT FOR THE MEANINGFUL PROGRESS ALREADY UNDERWAY IN PLANNING, DESIGNING, AND CONSTRUCTING THE PARK, BEGINNING WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE AREA SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD.
THIS WORK IS NOT ONLY ESSENTIAL, IT EMBODIES THE VALUES WE BELIEVE GUIDE THE STEWARDSHIP OF OUR REGIONAL PARKS.
WE ESPECIALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE ALLOCATION OF $14.5 MILLION IN MEASURE WW FUNDS DEDICATED TO THIS PROJECT.
THIS INVESTMENT DEMONSTRATES A CLEAR COMMITMENT TO PRESERVE AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY, EXPANDING REPRESENTATION ACROSS THE PARK DISTRICT, INTERPRETIVE LANDSCAPE,
[02:25:05]
AND ENSURING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS ACROSS THE PARK DISTRICT, INTERPRETIVE LANDSCAPE, AND ENSURING THAT FUTURE GENERATIONS INHERIT ACCESS TO THIS IMPORTANT HISTORY.PRECIOUS IS HERE, BUT I'M GOING TO CONTINUE BECAUSE WE'RE READING IN SOLIDARITY.
AS BLACK EMPLOYEES, WE BELIEVE THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50 WILL SERVE AS A PLACE FOR EDUCATION, REFLECTION, AND HEALING.
IT WILL STAND AS A TESTAMENT TO THE RESILIENCE AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICANS TO OUR NATIONS WHILE REMINDING US ALL OF THE ONGOING WORK REQUIRED TO ADVANCE JUSTICE AND EQUALITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED LEADERSHIP AND FOR RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS HISTORIC SITE.
WE ARE PROUD TO STAND WITH THE PARK DISTRICT IN FULFILLING ITS VISION FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, RECREATION, AND INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCES AT THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
SINCERELY, THE BLACK EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE, CO-FOUNDERS, MYSELF, SABRINA PANEL, AND ULE PADMORE, AND THE ENTIRE EAST BAY BLACK EMPLOYEE COLLECTIVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. PRECIOUS SHELTON.
>> THANK YOU. CHAIRMAN KURO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, AND ACTING DIRECTOR CORTNEY.
SOMEBODY SAID THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING BUDGETS THEY'D WORKED ON IN THEIR ENTIRE CAREER HERE.
SOMEBODY ELSE SAID, IS IT BALANCED? I'D LIKE TO ADDRESS A COUPLE OF THINGS, AND PARTICULARLY IN RELATION TO A TOPIC WE'VE BROUGHT UP, WHICH IS THE FUNDING APPROPRIATELY FOR A MAJOR SUBMISSION, WHICH IS YOUR NATIONAL CAPITAL.
THE CAPITAL PROJECTS WHICH I'LL FOCUS ON HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC OF DISCUSSION.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CAUGHT MY EAR AT THE LAST MEETING ON THE SECOND WAS THAT THE 82 PROJECTS TOTALED RIGHT NOW CURRENTLY UNDERFUNDED BY 153 MILLION.
BUT LET'S LOOK AT TO 2026 OF THOSE FIVE PROJECTS, IF YOU LOOKED AT THAT DOUBLE SPREADSHEET, IT'S VERY HELPFUL.
I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY IT GETS A LITTLE CONFUSING, BUT THAT'S UNDERFUNDED BY 63 MILLION, 64 THERE WITH SOME OF IT WW AND STILL UNDERFUNDED BY 63 MILLION.
NOW A LOT OF THAT IS HAYWARD, BUT THERE'S OTHERS TOO, SO WE'RE ARGUING FOR THE PROPER FUNDING BUILDING TOWARDS FUNDING FOR OUR NATURAL CAPITAL.
WE'RE GOING TO ASK YOU TO WHAT WE PUT IN OUR LETTER IS TO TAKE THE TIME NECESSARY IN THE CAPITAL BUDGET IN THE NEW YEAR, HAS BEEN MENTIONED, I THINK, HAS COME FROM THE BOARD TO SORT THIS OUT BECAUSE WW STARTS OUT.
IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT ACQUISITION.
IF YOU LOOK A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO IT.
OF THE PROJECTS MENTIONED IN THE PROJECT LIST, EVERY ONE OF THOSE MENTIONS RESTORATION, NOT EVERY ONE OF THEM, BUT 66% OF THEM MENTIONED RESTORATION ON FF, IT'S 83%.
I THINK THAT LOOKING FORWARD, WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS MANAGEABLE, NOT 453% INCREASE IN CAPITAL PROJECTS IN ONE YEAR.
THAT RESPECTS WHAT YOU'VE DONE IN THE PAST, WHICH IS UNDER FF, YOU'VE BASICALLY MOVED ROUGHLY A MILLION A YEAR SINCE 2010 FROM ACQUISITION TO DEVELOPMENT.
THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN A VERY THOUGHTFUL WAY.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY DIFFICULT BUDGET.
I THINK IT'S WORTHWHILE SPENDING THE TIME TO DO ANY MUST DOS, I ASSUME ACCORDING TO THE OPERATING BUDGET NOW, AND THEN DO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS IN A WAY DURING THE YEAR IN A PRIORITY AREA THAT MAKES SENSE TO ALL OF YOU, ALL OF US, AND THE TAXPAYERS.
I'LL JUST SAY THAT THURGOOD MARSHALL DID TRANSFER EXISTING WITHIN PROJECTS JUST AS THE OTHERS DID. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
[02:30:02]
>> NORMAN LA FORCE BE ON BEHALF OF [INAUDIBLE].
I CERTAINLY JOIN EVERYTHING THAT JIM HANSON HAS SAID AND YOU HAD OUR LETTER, WHICH INCLUDED THREE OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT LAID THIS OUT IN MORE DETAIL.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH THAT.
I DON'T HAVE THREE MINUTES TO DO THAT ANYWAY.
I'M GOING TO IDENTIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT I'VE HEARD FROM THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
>> PEOPLE DON'T AGREE WITH ME SAY I'M SIMPLE MINDED, AND I RESEMBLE THAT REMARK.
I DON'T QUICKLY UNDERSTAND THIS REORGANIZATION.
WHAT I SEE IS THAT YOU HAVE A LOT OF BOOTS ON THE GROUND AND ASK ME POSITIONS THAT COULD BE APPROVED HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE BOOTS ON THE GROUND.
THEN I HEAR, WELL, THERE'S A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER CHANGES AND THINGS WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING, BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY IN FRONT OF US AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.
THAT'S ALL JUST PART OF THE REORG, BUT THAT ALSO INCLUDES A WHOLE NEW ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER AT A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL SUM OF MONEY, WHICH WHOEVER THAT IS PROBABLY DESERVES, BUT THAT'S SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCE IN MONEY.
I THINK YOU HAVE TO DO WHAT DENNIS HAS SAID, WHICH IS APPROVE THE ASK ME POSITIONS.
THEY CAN BE PLUGGED IN THE EXISTING STRUCTURE, AND THEY'RE BOOTS ON THE GROUND, WHICH IS WHAT WE NEED.
THAT'S WHAT I WOULD URGE YOU TO DO WITH REGARD TO THE REORG AND PUT ALL THE OTHER STUFF ASIDE WITH THE REORG UNTIL YOU HAVE A NEW GENERAL MANAGER.
WITH REGARD TO THE WW FUNDING, THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE BECAUSE YOU'RE MAKING A HUGE TRANSFER OF FUNDS, 25 MILLION IN ONE YEAR AND YOU HAVE ALL THESE UNFUNDED PROJECTS FOR THE FUTURE.
WELL, WHAT THIS IS TELLING ME IS NEXT YEAR, YOU'RE GOING TO COME BACK AND THERE'S GOING TO BE THE RECOMMENDATION, ANOTHER 25 MILLION COME OUT OF THE WW BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE OTHER PROJECTS THAT WE NEED TO DO AND LOOK AT THE LIST.
THAT LIST AS COLIN COFFEY HAS SAID, THAT'S EXISTED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF WW. WE KNOW IT'S THERE.
THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU JUST START TAKING MONEY OUT OF THE ACQUISITION TO FUND IT, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT WHAT THE PEOPLE WERE TOLD WHEN THEY VOTED FOR THIS.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I WENT OUT WHEN I CAMPAIGNED AS ONE OF THE CAMPAIGN MANAGERS FOR THIS PROJECT, TO SPOKESPEOPLE COCHAIR.
I DIDN'T SAY, OH, YOU CAN MANIPULATE THE MONEY ANYTIME YOU WANT.
IT WAS SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S 75% FOR ACQUISITION, 25% FOR CAPITAL.
WE ALL KNOW THAT ACQUISITIONS CAN TAKE TIME.
1988, WE TALKED ABOUT ACQUISITION OF GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
IT'S NOW 37 YEARS LATER, AND NOW FINALLY, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE THAT PROPERTY.
IT TOOK 37 YEARS FOR THE OWNERS OF THAT PROPERTY TO FIGURE OUT IT WAS BETTER TO TRY TO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE PEOPLE THAN TO PUT CRAZY DEVELOPMENT DOWN THERE.
FOUR MILLION SQUARE FEET OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IS WHAT SANTA FE RAILROAD WANTED TO PUT UP THERE.
I URGE YOU TO DO THE CAPITAL PROJECTS SEPARATELY, TAKE THOSE OUT FOR NOW.
THE ONES THAT ARE BEING FUNDED BY WW ACQUISITION MONEY.
>> BRUCE BYATT, SPEAKING IN FOR TRAC, THE TRAILS FOR RICHMOND ACTION COMMITTEE.
EARLIER ON THE AGENDA, YOU ALL COMMENTED AND MOST OF YOU DID ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO CLOSE THE BAY TRAIL GAP BETWEEN POINT WILSON AND PINOLE AND POINT PINOLE REGIONAL SHORELINE.
UNFORTUNATELY, THIS BUDGET DOES NOT ADVANCE THIS PROJECT, AND YOU'VE RECEIVED LETTERS ASKING THAT WW MONEY BE APPROPRIATED IN SOME AMOUNT TO MOVE THIS PROJECT ALONG WHILE GRANTS ARE BEING SECURED.
YOU'VE RECEIVED LETTERS TRAC, BIKE EAST BAY, RICHMOND BICYCLE PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BERKELEY PARTNERS FOR PARKS, RAILS TO TRAILS CONSERVANCY, SPEAKING FOR THE METRO WORKING GROUP AND THE BAYER TRAILS COLLABORATIVE.
WHAT IS BEING ASKED FOR IS FUNDS TO MAKE THIS PROJECT SHOVEL READY.
IF IT'S SHOVEL READY, THEN YOU'RE IN A STRONG POSITION TO SECURE GRANTS.
IF IT ISN'T, WE COULD SPEND ANOTHER 10 YEARS TRYING TO FUND THAT PROJECT.
WHAT'S NEEDED IS FUNDING TO EXECUTE THE ADDITIONAL EASEMENTS NEEDED TO EASEMENTS, I BELIEVE, FOR THE PROJECT AND PREPARE THE FINAL PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR A BID PACKAGE.
THEN YOU'VE GOT A SHOVEL READY PROJECT.
IT SHOULD BE VERY ATTRACTIVE TO GRANT FUNDERS.
THE REQUEST IS, PLEASE FIND $2 MILLION FROM WW OR SOMEWHERE TO ADD TO THE BUDGET FOR THAT VERY IMPORTANT GAP CLOSURE PROJECT. THANK YOU.
>> ROBERT CHASTY AND THEN AMELIA MARSHALL, THEN WE WILL GO ONLINE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, ROBERT CHASTY, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CITIZENS REGIONAL PARKS
[02:35:02]
TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE BOARD AND GENERAL MANAGER.THIS IS A WONDERFUL LIST OF TERRIFIC CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS.
ONLY PROBLEM IS THAT I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD BE FUNDING THEM OUT OF WW ACQUISITION MONIES.
THOSE MONIES WERE PASSED BY THE VOTERS FOR A SPECIFIC PROJECT, AND WE ALL KNOW HOW PEOPLE FEEL WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS THEN DECIDE ON THEIR OWN TO CHANGE THE ALLOCATIONS TO SOMETHING ELSE.
IN THE WORST POSSIBLE LIGHT, IT'S CALLED A MISAPPROPRIATION.
I THINK THAT'S NOT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
I THINK THAT THIS BOARD DOES AN HONEST JOB IN TRYING TO DO AS MUCH AS IT CAN WITH THE FUNDING IT HAS, AND IT DOES GREAT WORK.
BUT IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR EACH OF THESE PROJECTS THAT ARE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS TO BE FUNDED THROUGH SOURCES THAT ARE NOT DESIGNATED ALREADY FOR ACQUISITION.
I WON'T GO INTO ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS EXCEPT TO ADOPT THE COMMENTS MADE BY MR. LAFORCE AND BY JIM HANSON.
I THINK THAT THE COMMENT MADE BY BRUCE BYATT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE IT DOES FALL UNDER SOME ACQUISITION ISSUES FOR COMPLETING SOMETHING.
THAT'S THE THING I THINK YOU CAN MAKE AN ARGUMENT FOR.
THERE'S AN ARGUMENT IN TERMS OF THURGOOD MARSHALL THAT BECAUSE WE HAD ALLOCATED MONEY AND DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND IT, AND NOW IT'S BEING SPENT WITHIN THE SAME PROJECT.
MAYBE THERE'S AN URGENCY AND AN EQUITY AND AN ARGUMENT FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT YOU HAVE TO BE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS IN DOING THIS AND YOU HAVE TO JUSTIFY EACH AND EVERY PROJECT THAT YOU DO IT FOR.
TWENTY-FIVE MILLION OUT THE GATE, THANKS TO THE STAFF.
IT'S NOT 45, BUT STILL IT'S FAR TOO MUCH MONEY AND CONSIDERING HISTORICALLY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT $1 MILLION A YEAR.
NOW WE'RE SUDDENLY UP TO $25 MILLION A YEAR. IT'S INAPPROPRIATE.
NOW I HAVE TO SUGGEST THAT DENNIS WAESPI, THE DIRECTOR, HAS SUGGESTED IS THAT THESE THINGS CAN BE PUT OVER.
YOU CAN PASS THE BUDGET THAT YOU WANT TO PASS.
YOU WON'T TRIP OVER YOURSELVES IN TERMS OF WHAT YOUR FUTURE TASKS ARE GOING TO BE.
YOU CAN TAKE THIS UP WHEN YOU HAVE MORE TIME TO ACTUALLY EXAMINE EACH PARTICULAR EXPENDITURE.
WITH THAT, I'LL STOP. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. AMELIA MARSHALL.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE. AMELIA MARSHALL, SPEAKING AS A 12 YEAR ARCHIVES VOLUNTEER.
DIRECTOR WAESPI HAS MADE A VERY GOOD CASE FOR DECOUPLING THE GREAT REORGANIZATION FROM THE CAPITAL AND OPERATIONS BUDGET.
LAST MEETING, THERE WERE OVER A DOZEN VALUED STAFF WHO GOT UP HERE IN PUBLIC COMMENTS AND SAID, PLEASE DECOUPLE THE REORGANIZATION FROM THE BUDGET.
IT'S RATHER COERCIVE, I THINK FOR STAFF TO TELL THE BOARD, OH, THE WHOLE HOUSE OF CARDS WILL FALL APART UNLESS YOU INCLUDE THE REORGANIZATION.
IT SEEMS THAT AFSMI HAS MADE SOME AGREEMENTS, BUT THIS IS STILL NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME THIS REORGANIZATION, AND THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT IS THAT THE ARCHIVES WOULD BE GREATLY DIMINISHED IF IT WERE FORCED TO GO INTO PLANNING.
THERE'S A BASIC INCOMPATIBILITY IN MISSIONS HERE.
THE PLANNING, CULTURAL SERVICES FOLKS ARE FOCUSED ON TRIBAL CONCERNS, AND THERE'S AN ATMOSPHERE OF SECRECY AROUND THE ACADEMIC APPROACH TO THESE TRIBAL CONCERNS.
WHEREAS THE ARCHIVES AND HISTORY CENTER IS A PUBLIC FACING FUNCTION WHERE THE MAGIC AND THE JOY IS ALL ABOUT SHARING THE HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE ORAL HISTORIES WITH THE PUBLIC.
IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THAT WOULD NOT BE NURTURED IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
I WOULD URGE THE BOARD TO GO WITH DIRECTOR WAESPI'S SUGGESTION TO TABLE THIS WHOLE REORGANIZATION SINCE THERE ARE TOO MANY INCONSISTENCIES THAT HAVEN'T BEEN WORKED OUT.
NOW, ON THE SUBJECT OF SOME OF THE APPROPRIATIONS, IT DOES SEEM THAT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL CAPITAL WORK IS IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE GONE FORWARD WITH.
THE OPERATIONS SEEMS LIKE THE WAY IT'S WORKING NOW IS FINE, AND INDEED, LISA GORGON DOES A GREAT JOB.
WHY BOTHER TO REORGANIZE SOMETHING THAT IS WORKING WELL WHEN YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER GENERAL MANAGER WHO WILL BE IN PLACE.
[02:40:03]
FINALLY, WE HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT THERE'S GREAT CONCERN THAT THE MONEY THAT WAS ALLOCATED FOR SIBLEY HUCKLEBERRY FOR WHEN THE FAMILY THAT OWNS INDIAN VALLEY EVENTUALLY DECIDES TO PUT THAT ON THE MARKET.THAT WAS MOVED INTO A LINE ITEM TO REBUILD THE TILDEN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER.
I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT THAT $2 MILLION WERE MOVED BACK FROM THE TILDEN EEC LINE ITEM TO THE SIBLEY HUCKLEBERRY LINE ITEM. THANK YOU.
>> WE WILL NOW GO ONLINE WHERE THERE ARE A LOT OF HANDS UP, ABOUT EIGHT OR NINE.
JAMUEL STARKEY, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> AWESOME. THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, DIRECTORS, STAFF.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU MIND PROVIDING ACCOUNT OF THE COMMENTS VIA EMAIL SUPPORTING AND OPPOSING THE WW REALLOCATIONS, INCLUDING ALL THOSE THAT WERE SUBMITTED UP TO THE 3:00 PM DEADLINE YESTERDAY? IF YOU COULD DO THAT, THAT WOULD BE AWESOME.
I'M ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BICYCLE TRAILS COUNCIL OF THE EAST BAY.
WITH MY COMMENT, AFTER MORE THAN 17 YEARS SINCE VOTER APPROVAL, THE DISTRICT'S OBLIGATION IS NOT TO RIGIDLY ADHERE TO HISTORICAL FORMULA THAT WAS NEVER A BINDING COMMITMENT TO VOTERS, BUT TO DELIVER OPERATIONAL PARKS THAT MEET THE DUAL MANDATE OF MEASURE WW, LAND CONSERVATION AND PUBLIC ACCESS THROUGH DEVELOPMENT.
ACQUIRING LAND THAT CANNOT BE OPEN, MAINTAINED, OR MEANINGFULLY USED BY THE PUBLIC DOES NOT FULFILL THAT MANDATE.
MEASURE AA'S ALLOCATIONS WERE NOT A MANDATE FOR WW AND WW WAS EXPLICITLY DRAFTED DIFFERENTLY.
WHILE ACQUISITION HAS BEEN SUBSTANTIAL, OVER 29,000 ACRES SECURED SINCE 2008, DEVELOPMENT FUNDING HAS BEEN DISPROPORTIONATELY CONSTRAINED GOING FORWARD.
STAFF'S PROPOSAL IS GROUNDED IN PRESENT REALITIES.
REMAINING ACQUISITION FUNDS ARE UNLIKELY TO BE SPENT FOR MANY YEARS, WHILE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS ARE IMMEDIATE, IF VOTERS ARE TO SEE TANGIBLE BENEFITS FROM WW BEFORE THE BONDS ARE EXHAUSTED.
DECISIONS TODAY MUST BE BASED ON CURRENT CONDITIONS, FUTURE FEASIBILITY AND VOTER INTENT AS EXPRESSED IN MEASURE WW, NOT ON HISTORIC MATERIALS THAT NEITHER BOUND THE BOARD NOR ANTICIPATED TODAY'S OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES.
STAFF'S RECOMMENDATIONS IS NOT ABANDONING HISTORY.
IT'S HONORING WW'S PURPOSE BY ENSURING THAT PROTECTED LANDS ARE ACTUALLY ACCESSIBLE, FUNCTIONAL, AND SERVING THE PUBLIC AS INTENDED, AND EXERCISING WW'S ACTUAL STRUCTURAL INTENT AND VOTER APPROVED FLEXIBILITY TO ADDRESS THE FUTURE.
ACQUISITION IS STILL IMPORTANT AND THAT CAPABILITY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED.
STAFF HAS INDICATED APPROXIMATELY $65 MILLION IN LIKELY ACQUISITIONS IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
THE REMAINING MEASURE WW FUNDING CAN BE MANAGED TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR NEAR TERM ACQUISITIONS WHILE SATISFYING THE CONSTITUENTS DEMAND FOR DEVELOPMENT ALONG WITH TIMING FOR THE NEXT BOND MEASURE.
MANAGING BOTH ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT WILL IMPROVE THE SUPPORT FOR THE NEXT BOND MEASURE.
A CONTINUED PATH OF DELAYING DEVELOPMENT WHILE FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE FOR BOTH ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT ALIENATES A SIGNIFICANT FRACTION OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
>> JEFFREY KAHN, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> I'M JEFFREY KAHN, ONE OF MANY FRIENDS OF LAKE TEMESCAL.
RECENT DISTRICT BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS DISCUSSIONS OF THE 2026 CAPITAL BUDGET HAVE REVOLVED AROUND THE ISSUE OF WW FUNDS.
THE CONCERN DRIVING THESE DISCUSSIONS IS THE DISTRICTS HOPES TO PUT A NEW BOND ISSUE BEFORE THE VOTERS IN A FEW YEARS.
TWO SIDES HAVE SURFACED DURING THESE DISCUSSIONS.
ONE GROUP ARGUES THAT VOTERS WILL NOT SUPPORT A NEW BOND MEASURE IF THE DISTRICT SPENDS FUNDS OTHER THAN OUTLINED IN ITS 2008 DRAFT PROJECT LIST, EVEN IF LANDS ON THAT LIST WERE ACQUIRED WITHOUT THE NEED TO USE WW FUNDS.
I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE CASE THAT VOTERS WILL NOT SUPPORT A NEW BOND ISSUE IF THEY LEARN THAT AFTER 18 YEARS, THE DISTRICT HAS ONLY EXPENDED 267 MILLION A LITTLE OVER HALF OF THE 500 MILLION IN WW FUNDS.
IF THE 2026 ALTERNATIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS ADOPTED, YOU'LL STILL HAVE 163 MILLION IN WW FUNDS.
[02:45:03]
BASED ON STAFF'S BEST ESTIMATE, YOU ONLY NEED 64 MILLION OF THE 163 MILLION FOR ACQUISITION OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.YOU CAN, AND YOU MUST TURN THIS PROBLEM OF UNEXPENDED FUNDS INTO AN OPPORTUNITY.
WE FRIENDS OF LAKE TEMESCAL ASK YOU, ONCE AGAIN, ADD AN ADDITIONAL 800,000 TO THE 2026 BUDGET FOR LAKE TEMESCAL.
FUND THE WORK NECESSARY TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH THE RESTORATION PROJECT WILL COST.
YOU HAVE 55 MILES OF SHORELINE IN THE DISTRICT.
THE SEDIMENT DREDGE FROM LAKE TEMESCAL COULD BE BLACK GOLD, USABLE FOR RESILIENCE PURPOSES.
OR SOME OF IT COULD BE UNUSABLE.
FIND OUT. EVEN IF YOU DECIDE THE ONLY WAY YOU WILL DO THIS PROJECT IS WITH OUTSIDE FUNDING, YOU CANNOT GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND SUCCEED IN GETTING PROP 4 FUNDING UNTIL YOU HAVE DONE THIS WORK.
I ASK THE BOARD TO SEND CAN DO MESSAGE TO THE STAFF AND THE COMMUNITY THAT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT PROTECTS ITS PARKS.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT YOU GOOD PEOPLE WOULD TURN YOUR BACK AND LET THIS LAKE DIE. THANK YOU.
>> DANISHA MARSH, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. CAN YOU HEAR ME?
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, PARK DISTRICT, PRESIDENT, BOARD, AND ACTING MANAGER.
MY NAME IS DANI SHAMASH, AND I'M THE PRESIDENT OF PAC, A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION IN EAST CONTRA COSTA, AND I'M ALSO A PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBER FOR THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
PAC STRONGLY SUPPORTS MEASURE WW FUNDING FOR THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
PAC SUPPORTS THE TRANSFER OF $8 MILLION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE DEVELOPMENT BEGINNING IN 2027 AT THE SOUTH BAILEY ROAD AREA OF THE PARK.
WE UNDERSTAND THAT 14.5 MILLION IN MEASURE WW FUNDS IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROJECT, AND WE SUPPORT THE CONTINUED USE OF THOSE FUNDS TO ADVANCE THE PARK DEVELOPMENT.
IT PRESERVES THE NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT STORY OF RACIAL INJUSTICE, MILITARY SERVICE, AND CIVIL RIGHTS, AND ENSURES THE LEGACY OF THE POST CHICAGO 50 IS HONORED AND TALKED TO FUTURE GENERATIONS.
MEASURE WW WAS APPROVED TO EXPAND ACCESS AND ADVANCE EQUITY, PARTICULARLY TO HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY.
INVESTMENT IN THIS PARK, ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD, DIRECTLY ALIGNS WITH THAT COMMITMENT.
WE ARE ENCOURAGED THAT THIS WORK ALIGNED WITH THREE MILLION IN STATE FUNDING SECURED BY SENATOR GRAYSON, AND FOR STAGING AREA DEVELOPMENT, AND I URGE THE BOARD TO CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE THIS PROJECT WITHIN THE DISTRICT PLAN.
THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE MY PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> MARY BARNSDALE, YOU MAY MUTE YOURSELF.
AS SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE SEEN, I SENT THE BOARD A POLL I CONDUCTED ONLINE ABOUT WHAT VOTERS ACTUALLY REMEMBER AND EXPECT AND WANT FROM WW MONIES.
THERE WAS ZERO FEELING THAT THERE WERE SPECIFIC PERCENTAGES ALLOCATED FOR ACQUISITION VERSUS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT.
I THINK IT WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO TAKE ACTION TODAY BASED ON WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK THE VOTERS EXPECT.
I WOULD ASK YOU TO APPROVE STAFF'S 2026 BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS, INCLUDING THE ALLOCATIONS FOR CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS USING SOME WW MONEY, AND SPECIFICALLY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE NORTH POINT ISABEL PARK CAP RESILIENCE PROJECT NOW, WHEN THERE ARE STILL MATCHING FUNDS AVAILABLE FROM STATE PARKS.
IT WOULD BE A SHAME TO LOSE THAT MONEY.
ALSO, THE DISTRICT WOULD BE IN HOT WATER WITH THE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL BOARD IF YOU DON'T MOVE FORWARD.
THE DISTRICT IS OBLIGATED TO REPAIR THE CAP ON THAT LANDFILL.
ANY MONEY PUT INTO THE POINT ISABEL AREA DELIVERS A VERY BIG RETURN ON INVESTMENT, AS YOU KNOW.
POINT ISABEL AND NORTH POINT ISABEL TOGETHER ARE THE SINGLE BUSIEST SPOT IN THE PARK DISTRICT.
TOGETHER, THEY'RE TEENY, THEY'RE JUST 50 ACRES, AND YET THEY GET UP TO 1.5 MILLION VISITS A YEAR.
THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE PARKS, SUPPORTING THE PARKS, AND MAKING THEM WANT TO VOTE FOR THE NEXT BOND MEASURE.
I WANT TO SAY A BIG THANK YOU TO STAFF FOR THEIR VERY HARD WORK ON THAT EXTREMELY COMPLICATED PROJECT,
[02:50:03]
AND THANK YOU TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR YOUR SUPPORT.FINALLY, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, AND ALL THE BEST TO EVERYONE IN 2026.
>> THANK YOU. DAVID C, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI EVERYONE. THANK YOU BOARD AND EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK STAFF FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
FOR ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO FOR THE PARKS AND OUR COMMUNITIES, I'M DAVID CERVENKA, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE STEWARDS OF BRIONES, AND A COACH WITH THE CONTRA COSTA COMPOSITE MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF BOTH ORGANIZATIONS AND THE HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES AND MEMBERS THAT WE SERVE.
WE ARE ALL LOCAL RESIDENTS, PARK USERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF REALLOCATING MEASURE WW FUNDS FROM LAND ACQUISITION TO CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN THE 2026 BUDGET AND CIP, ESPECIALLY THOSE PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP US GET MORE KIDS ON BIKES AND STAY HEALTHY.
WE ALSO KINDLY REQUEST, IF POSSIBLE, THAT THE CLERK ALSO INCLUDE ANY EMAIL COMMENTS THAT WERE SENT AFTER 3:00 PM YESTERDAY BEFORE THE BOARD VOTES TO SEE WHAT YOUR CONSTITUENTS REALLY WANT TO DO WITH THIS FUNDING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO FOR THE PARKS AND OR A COMMUNITY, AND ALSO HAPPY HOLIDAYS. THANK YOU.
>> MARGARET DALMAN, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND GENERAL MANAGER CORTEN.
I SPEAK AS A RESIDENT OF THE EAST BAY WHO VOTED IN SUPPORT OF THE EAST BAY PARK DISTRICTS, GOING BACK TO THE LONG AGO DAYS OF MEASURE AA, AND I VOTED TO SUPPORT THE PARKS FUNDING IN EVERY SINGLE MEASURE SINCE THAT TIME.
I ALSO SPEAK AS A MEMBER OF THE EAST BAY PARKS FOUNDATION AND A MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF LAKE TEMESCAL.
FOR OVER A DECADE, THE COMMUNITY HAS RAISED THE TOXIC WATER POLLUTION AT LAKE TEMESCAL.
NOW, FOR THE FIRST TIME, FINALLY IN THE 2026 BUDGET PROPOSAL, THE PROJECT FOR LAKE TEMESCAL HAS BEEN INCLUDED.
EVERY SINGLE MEMBER OF THE BOARD HAS A STAKE IN MAKING SURE THAT LAKE TEMESCAL IS RESTORED TO HEALTH.
IT'S NOT JUST THE BOARD MEMBER IN WHOSE WARD THIS PARK IS LOCATED.
IT'S NOT THE BOARD MEMBERS WHO KNOW THAT STATE SENATOR JESSE ARAGON AND STATE ASSEMBLY MEMBER BUFFY WICKS HAVE WRITTEN TO URGE ACTION ON RESTORING LAKE TEMESCAL.
WHAT WE'RE ASKING YOU TO DO IS TO BURNISH YOUR TRACK RECORD.
WHEN THE PARK DISTRICT GOES BACK TO THE VOTERS TO EXTEND FUNDING FOR THE FUTURE PARKS, YOUR TRACK RECORD WILL REALLY MATTER.
WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW IS INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THE LAKE TEMESCAL PROJECT IN THE 2026 PROPOSED BUDGET SO THAT THE STAFF HAS DIRECTION AND FUNDING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO DO TO BRING THE FIRST PHASE OF GETTING ENOUGH INFORMATION TO GO FORWARD SO THAT NEXT YEAR, THE PROJECT WILL BE TEED UP FOR FUNDING AND BE SHOVEL READY.
IN YOUR BUDGET BOOK, YOU CAN TURN TO VOLUME 2 PAGE E68, FOR PROJECT NUMBER 17-6300.
YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE THAT THE PLANNING AND DESIGN FOR FUTURE IMPROVEMENTS HAS NO EXPLANATION FOR WHEN THE SO-CALLED PHASE WILL BE COMPLETED OR EVEN WHAT EXACTLY THAT PHASE ENCOMPASSES.
NO FUTURE APPROPRIATIONS ARE INDICATED FOR ANY OTHER PHASE OF THE PROJECT.
WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THIS, GIVE THE STAFF DIRECTION AND FUNDING TO BRING THE LAKE TEMESCAL PROJECT TO THE POINT SO THAT THE WORK CAN START.
WE KNOW THAT THE VOTERS WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE WHAT YOU DO.
YOU CAN SHOW THEM THAT YOU CARE ABOUT TAKING CARE OF THE HISTORIC PARKS AND THE PARKS THAT ARE REALLY IMPORTANT TO THE URBAN CORE CHILDREN AND ADULTS BECAUSE THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PLACES THEY CAN ACCESS.
BE SURE NOT TO BE COME IN THE UNFORTUNATE POSITION OF DEFENDING A DECADE OF FAILING.
>> BARBARA LEITNER, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> HI. I'M BARBARA LEITNER, CO-PRESIDENT OF THE CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY EAST BAY CHAPTER.
I ADMIRE SOME BOARD MEMBERS CAREFUL QUESTIONING ABOUT
[02:55:02]
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUDGET AND UNFUNDED CAPITAL PROJECTS.I HOPE YOU WILL SEPARATE ACTUAL COMMITMENTS FROM LONG TERM PLANNING IN THE BUDGETING PROCESS AND TO ENSURE THAT WW FUNDS ARE USED FOR THEIR INTENDED PURPOSE OF PRIMARILY ACQUISITION.
HOWEVER, THIS BUDGET CONTINUES TO SERIOUSLY SHORT NATURAL RESOURCES.
STEWARDSHIP RECEIVES A SINGLE DIGIT PORTION OF THE BUDGET DESPITE NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT BEING STATED AS A FRONT AND CENTER PRIORITY FOR THE DISTRICT.
THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO CARE FOR S BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES AND BIT A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT.
CAREFUL DATA-DRIVEN STEWARDSHIP MUST BE CARRIED OUT BY PEOPLE TRAINED AND DEDICATED TO THIS OBJECTIVE, NOT FARMED OUT TO OTHER STAFF, THESE COMMITMENTS ARE ALREADY FULL.
I URGE THE DISTRICT TO VASTLY INCREASE ITS FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO STEWARDSHIP THROUGH MORE STAFF AND MORE PRIORITY GIVEN BY MANAGEMENT TO ITS STEWARDSHIP FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS.
AS STATED IN THE JOINT LETTER TO THE BOARD FROM THE REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION, SPRAAL DEF, CALIFORNIA NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY, AND THE GOLDEN GATE BIRD ALLIANCE, I URGE THE BOARD TO WRITE THE BALANCE BETWEEN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES AND TO GIVE FAIR WEIGHT TO NATIVE SPECIES BIODIVERSITY. THANK YOU.
>> KELLY, A, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
>> THANK YOU. I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO MUCH INTO THE NITTY-GRITTY DETAILS OF BUDGET STUFF BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE DONE A GREAT JOB OF THIS.
BUT I WILL POINT BACK SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING ABOUT HOW MANY THOUSANDS OR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WENT TO A WENT TO POINT ISABEL OR SOMEWHERE.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT IDEA TO ME.
WE SHOULD GET MORE OF THOSE NUMBERS.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE PER YEAR GOING TO CERTAIN FACILITIES AND CONNECT THE CAPITAL SPENDING TO THE VISITOR COUNTS.
ASSUMING THAT THE VISITOR COUNTS ARE DONE WELL WITH CELL PHONES OR SOMETHING.
ALSO, ON THIS LONG-TERM PLANNING, ALL THESE BUDGETS ARE BASED ON LONG-TERM FORECASTS.
THESE LONG-TERM FORECASTS ARE FILLED WITH SACRED COWS AND MYTHS AND SPECULATION AND LIES.
FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE WATER AGENCIES, THE WATER UTILITIES, THEY ALL SHOW YOU WATER USAGE PER CAPITA GOING UP IN THEIR FORECASTS.
FOR THE LAST 20 OR 30 YEARS, 25 YEARS, IT'S BEEN GOING DOWN.
THOSE ARE FULL OF LIES ABOUT FUTURE WATER DEMAND, ALWAYS OVERESTIMATED.
ANOTHER ONE IS THE POPULATION GROWTH FOR THE BAY AREA.
BAY AREA HAS BEEN FLAT OR MAYBE SHRINKING SLIGHTLY IN THE LAST FEW YEARS.
BOTH CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND BOTH ALAMEDA COUNTY, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS ARE NOT GROWING.
THE FORECASTS TO SHOW YOU THAT THE GROWTH IS GOING TO CONTINUE, SO EVERYBODY JUST GRABS THE NUMBERS THAT ARE THERE ON THE OFFICIAL FORECAST AND USE POPULATION GROWTH NUMBERS, THOSE ARE LIES.
I LIVE IN FREMONT AND FREMONT HAS GOT A CERTAIN RENA NUMBER, AND THEN THERE WERE SOME ACTUAL RENA NUMBERS OF ACTUAL, BUILDING PERMITS ISSUED OR WHATEVER IN THE WHOLE REGION IN THE WHOLE AND THE NUMBER THAT HAD ACTUALLY BEEN DONE IN A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD WAS LESS THAN WHAT FREMONT WAS EXPECTED TO DO DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.
THAT MEANS AND FREMONT IS PART OF THE REGION.
PART OF THAT COUNT. THE RENA NUMBERS ARE HUGE AND NOBODY IS KEEPING UP.
FREMONT IS NOT THE ONLY CITY THAT'S NOT KEEPING UP, NOBODY IS KEEPING UP.
THEY'RE COMING IN AT TEN OR 20 OR 25% OF THE TARGET.
IT'S A FACTOR OF FOUR OR FIVE BELOW THE TARGET.
A LOT OF BAD NUMBERS IN THE FORECASTS, ESPECIALLY THE POPULATION NUMBERS, AND A LOT OF THESE BUDGETS ARE JUST BUILT ON LIES. THANKS.
>> CARLYN OBRINGER, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF?
>> THANK YOU. FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD.
I KNOW YOU'VE HAD A VERY LONG MEETING ALREADY.
THANK YOU FOR SITTING THERE AND FOR LISTENING AND FOR THOUGHTFULLY CONSIDERING THIS ITEM.
I SERVE ON THE CONCORD CITY COUNCIL, AND I'M JUST HERE TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO A LETTER THAT I SUBMITTED ON BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 9TH.
[03:00:02]
FULL CITY COUNCIL IS IN SUPPORT OF ALLOCATING THE $14,000,500 OF MEASURE WW FUNDING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50.WE'RE ASKING THAT YOU DO THIS TODAY WHENEVER YOU'RE CONDUCTING YOUR PUBLIC HEARING TODAY.
THE FUNDING WOULD BE USED TO CREATE A MUCH NEEDED PUBLIC ACCESS AREA SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD.
THIS PORTION OF THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK IS CENTRAL TO PUBLIC ACCESS, INTERPRETIVE EXPERIENCES AND FULFILLING THE LONG STANDING COMMUNITY VISION FOR THIS HISTORIC LANDSCAPE.
I THINK WE ALL KNOW THE PROMISE OF THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK HOME WITH THE PORT CHICAGO 50.
IT'S POISED TO NOT ONLY BECOME A CHERISHED RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR THE CONCORD COMMUNITY, BUT I THINK WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY BECOME A PLACE LIKE SELMA WHERE PEOPLE COME TO LEARN ABOUT OUR DEEP DEEP HISTORY DATING BACK TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND THE START OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT DUE TO THE PORT CHICAGO EXPLOSION.
NOT ONLY CONCORD, BUT THE REGION WOULD BENEFIT FROM PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS PARK.
PUBLIC ACCESS IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT AS IT PROVIDES A SPACE FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR OUR POPULATION.
WE HAVE A VERY DIVERSE POPULATION HERE IN CONCORD, PEOPLE OF ALL SOCIO ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS AS WELL AS THIS PARK IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO PITTSBURGH ANTIOCH AS A GATEWAY TO EAST COUNTY.
THIS WOULD REALLY ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, I KNOW THAT YOU DO HAVE A DIFFICULT DECISION BEFORE YOU, BUT I DO WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU DO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE CONCORD CITY COUNCIL SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO ALLOCATE $14.5 MILLION OF MEASURE WW FUNDING TOWARDS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUBLIC ACCESS LOCATED SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD.
>> DAVID'S IPHONE, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
DAVID, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF?
>> I DON'T THINK HE'S PAYING ATTENTION.
THAT IS OUR LAST PUBLIC COMMENT, MR. PRESIDENT.
>> THANK YOU. WE CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING?
>> NOW, IT'S CLOSED. BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR COMMENTS OR PROPOSALS.
>> I HAVE A QUESTION MAYBE FOR DENNIS' EARLIER PROPOSAL.
WITHOUT THE KEEPING ALL THE CIP, BUT NOT THE WW.
CONSIDERING KEEPING ONE PROJECT THAT SEEMS A CLEAR WINNER, TO ME, WHERE WE'VE BEEN DONATED LAND AND BUCKET TO BUCKET, PERHAPS LEAVE IN THURGOOD MARSHALL AND THEN KEY UP SOME OF THE OTHERS IN A MORE CONSISTENT WAY WITH OUR ATTACHMENT F SHOWS THE MONIES, HOW WE'VE BEEN TRADITIONALLY DEALING WITH WW RATHER THAN PUTTING IT IN A LUMP SUM IN A BUDGET IS THERE'S BEEN ABOUT ONE OR TWO MILLION PER YEAR WITH MOST OF THEM BEING DONE BY RESOLUTION.
WITH THE EXCEPTION THERE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME DONE BY BUDGET.
BUT IF YOU TOTAL THESE UP FROM ATTACHMENT F, THE MEASURE WW PROJECTS THAT WE'VE DONE SO FAR WAS I DON'T HAVE A NUMBER IN FRONT OF ME AROUND 22, 23 MILLION, AND EVEN WITH THE ALTERNATIVE REDUCED NOW TO 24 MILLION, WE'RE BASICALLY BE DOUBLING THAT AND I HAVE A LOT OF UNCOMFORTABLENESS WITH THAT.
EXCEPT HEARING FROM THE PUBLIC, HEARING THE IMPORTANCE, HEARING FROM DIRECTOR COFFEE IN THE PAST.
ANYWAY, THAT'S AN OPTION THAT I LIKED WHAT DENNIS SAID, BUT I WOULD MAYBE ASK THAT WE CONSIDER KEEPING THURGOOD MARSHALL.
IN THAT CASE, A POT TO POT, MOVAL OF MONEY.
WE'VE GOTTEN 100 COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE TODAY AND WE'VE GOT FACEBOOK COMMENTS.
BUT I WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT ALL THE WW THINGS ONLINE, ALL THE HISTORY,
[03:05:06]
AND I DIDN'T GO INTO THE ARCHIVES, BUT IT'S NOT JUST A LINE, PROMISES MADE PROMISES KEPT.THE POLLS SHOWED THAT IT WOULD NOT HAVE PASSED WITHOUT THE 75%.
OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE DONE 50, 50, OTHERWISE WE WOULD HAVE DONE 80, 20.
I'M NOT COMFORTABLE. WE'VE GOT A NEW GM COMING ON BOARD.
THE HEAVY LIFT OF THE CHANGES AND WHAT THAT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE.
WE'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECESSION.
WE'RE SEEING THAT MAYBE WE'RE PROTECTED HERE BUBBLE AND WE'RE NOT CALLING A RECESSION, BUT WE'RE HAVING STRUGGLED TIMES.
I THINK POLLS GOING BACK OUT, WE DON'T HAVE THE PROFESSIONAL EXPERT POLLS.
I'M JUST NOT FEELING REALLY COMFORTABLE.
I REALLY WANT AN APPROVED BUDGET.
I'VE ONLY BEEN ON HERE FOR A YEAR, BUT I HAVE JUST SEEN A REAL SHIFT IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS.
I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD OCTOBER 3RD, WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO REALLY DIG INTO THESE CIP PROJECTS.
I REALLY FEEL FOLKS ARE LISTENING TO US, BEING FLEXIBLE.
I WANT TO START SEEING THEM COME BACK IN JANUARY, FEBRUARY.
I HEAR STAFF THAT WE GOT TO TIGHTEN OUR BELT.
I'M JUST LEANING WITH DENNIS, AND WITH THE EXCEPTION, MAYBE OF HEARING WHAT THE PUBLIC SAYING ABOUT THURGOOD MARSHALL.
>> I'M GOING TO ATTEMPT TO KEEP SCORE HERE.
CAN I MAKE SURE THAT I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOUR PROPOSAL IS? ACTUALLY, I HAVE A QUESTION. WHAT WAS YOUR POSITION ON THE REORG?
>> I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT OUT.
WE'RE JUST IN THE PROCESS OF THAT TODAY.
THEY'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT THEIR OWN THINGS.
I'M SUPER EXCITED THAT AS OF ME'S BEEN AT THE TABLE AND WANT THAT.
I DON'T WANT TO SAY NO TO ANYTHING.
I JUST THINK WE NEED TO HIT THE PAUSE BUTTON.
I THINK THE REORG COULD COME BACK TO US.
I DON'T LIKE POLICY BEING DRIVEN THROUGH A BUDGET, AND I'D LIKE MORE TIME TO THINK THROUGH THE MISSION DRIVENNESS OF THAT CHANGE.
WE DROPPED IT, WE DROPPED THE MOVE OF GIS, BUT THERE'S THINGS LIKE THE SUSTAINABILITY DIRECTOR.
I JUST WOULD LIKE MORE TIME PERSONALLY.
MY PROPOSAL WOULD BE TO LEAVE IT OUT AND WHEN I'M SAYING LEAVE IT OUT, I DON'T MEAN NEVER.
LET'S BRING IT BACK. LET'S TAKE A PAUSE. THAT'S WHAT I'M THINKING.
>> LINDA MENTIONED ATTACHMENT F, WHICH I HAVE A COPY OF.
I'M NOT SURE IF THE ENTIRE BOARD HAS A COPY OF ATTACHMENT F, BUT IT'S A HISTORY OF HOW WE ALL HAVE IT.
GOOD. THAT WAS SHARED WITH EVERYONE.
IT'S VERY INTERESTING TO LOOK AT THAT HISTORY WHERE BY RESOLUTION, WE'RE APPROPRIATING MONEY FROM MEASURE WW AND THEN THE PAST FEW YEARS, IT WAS THROUGH THIS BUDGET PROCESS.
WHEN I TRIED TO GO THROUGH SOME OF THE PROJECTS IN THE BUDGET PROCESS FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS AND TRIED TO SEE WHERE I COULD FIND WHERE WE APPROVED.
THE ONES I LOOKED UP, I CAN SHARE SPECIFICALLY, I LOOKED UP, HAYWARD MARSH, HAYWARD SHORELINE.
APPROVAL ANTHONY SHABA AND CROWN BEACH WERE THE THREE THAT I USED IN MY SEARCH OF IN THE 2023 BUDGET AND THE 2024 BUDGET.
IT WAS REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIND THAT CALLED OUT.
I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THINGS LIKE THIS GETTING BURIED IN THE BUDGET THAT WE DON'T SEE THAT WE'RE APPROVING.
I KNOW THIS CAME UP EARLIER IN REGARDS TO IN OUR EARLIER MEETINGS, OUR PREVIOUS MEETINGS, ABOUT THE EQUITY STATEMENT AND HOW IN THE FIRST PROPOSAL FOR THE BUDGET AND THE INTRODUCTION, IT SAYS THAT THE BOARD HAD PASSED THIS EQUITY STATEMENT WHEN WE HAD NOT EVEN PASSED IT.
I DON'T KNOW WAS THAT A BACKDOOR WAY OF TRYING TO GET THE BOARD TO APPROVE THE EQUITY STATEMENT.
SORRY. THERE'S NOTHING HIDDEN IN THE BUDGET.
WE'RE NOT TRYING TO HIDE ANYTHING FROM YOUR BOARD.
I JUST HOPE THAT THERE AREN'T THINGS IN HERE THAT WE DIDN'T CATCH THAT MIGHT COME THROUGH IS MY CONCERN.
>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE COMMENTS.
THANK YOU FOR THE WORK THAT EVERYBODY HAS DONE.
THIS HAS BEEN A VERY VALUABLE, ROBUST CONVERSATION.
[03:10:01]
I BELIEVE REALLY STRONGLY THAT WE NEED TO HAVE FUNDS TO PURCHASE LAND.WE NEED TO HAVE THAT READY WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY BECOMES AVAILABLE.
I ALSO KNOW THAT PEOPLE WANT ACCESS TO THEIR PARKS.
IN FACT, I REMEMBER A YEAR OR TWO AGO, I THINK WITH OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM PRESENTED SOME POLLING AND THE CONSULTANT WAS HERE.
I WAS STUNNED BY HOW MUCH HIGHER THE PERCENTAGE WAS FOR PEOPLE WANTING ACCESS AND AMENITIES VERSUS ACQUISITIONS.
I REMEMBER CROSS EXAMINING THE CONSULTANT BECAUSE, WELL, YOU MUST NOT HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION THE RIGHT WAY.
BUT ACTUALLY, JUST, WE'RE INSIDERS, BUT PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY ALSO DO WANT ACCESS TO THE PARK, AND I DO BELIEVE THAT THE PROPOSAL THAT STAFF HAS WORKED SO CAREFULLY ON CAN DO BOTH THAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE LEAVING FUTURE ACQUISITIONS OFF THE TABLE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T LEFT THE MONEY IN WW.
I THINK WE HAVE A PLAN TO PUT THE MONEY BACK.
WE STILL HAVE OVER $120 MILLION IN THERE TO MAKE THESE ACQUISITIONS.
I REALLY DO FEEL WITH THE THE REWRITTEN PLAN, THE PROPOSAL THAT STAFF IS PUTTING FORWARD, THAT WE CAN DO BOTH, NOT PERFECTLY, BUT WE CAN DO BOTH AND THAT THIS IS AN APPROPRIATE APPROACH TO MEET A WIDE VARIETY OF NEEDS.
>> I AGREE WITH ELIZABETH ECCLES.
THE EMAILS THAT I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE CITIZENS OF SAN DIANDRO, WERE AS FAR AS THEY SUPPORTED MONEY TOWARDS OYSTER BAY BIKE SKILLS AREA.
IN FACT, THEY WANTED MORE THAN WHAT WAS IN THIS BUDGET.
I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT MONEY BEING TAKEN FROM THE SHORELINE OF OAKLAND, WHICH IS IN MY DISTRICT AND MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. SHORELINE.
WHEN WE LOOK AT MILLER KNOX, POINT ISABELLA, THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES GO.
WE'VE ALL WITNESSED THAT BEACH OVER MILLER KNOX, AND THERE'S NOT THE LEVEL OF ACCESS THAT THERE SHOULD BE THERE.
AS FAR AS AT OYSTER BAY, THERE'S THE PARKING LOT, THERE'S THE DAVIS STREET.
THAT IMPACT THAT PARK IN A NEGATIVE EXTERNALITY.
BUT TO BE ABLE TO ADD SOMETHING TO THE PARK AS FAR THAT IS GOING TO IMPROVE VISITATION OF THE COMMUNITIES THAT LIVE THERE.
AS FAR AS WITH THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL ON HERE, MOVING ACQUISITION FUNDS FOR TOWARDS DIFFERENT TRAILS THAT WE'VE MADE COMMITMENTS TO YEARS AGO, I DON'T SEE AN ISSUE ON THE MOVEMENT OF THE DIFFERENT FUNDS.
THE STAFF HAS GONE THROUGH HERE.
THEY'VE PULLED OUT DIFFERENT PROJECTS AS FAR AS MONEY TO SUPPORT THE BUILDING OF THE SEWER LINE, STUFF THAT WAS DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROJECTS.
THEN JUST AS FAR AS WITH THE REORG.
WE SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE TIME TO LOOK AT IT.
BUT AS FAR AS IN THESE LAST FEW MONTHS, STAFF HAS BEEN ADDRESSING OUR DIFFERENT COMMENTS CONCERNS.
ONE OF MY CONCERNS WAS ABOUT THE IT DEPARTMENT WAS ABOUT MOVEMENT OF GIS.
BUT THEN ALSO AS FAR AS WE HAD CONCERNS FROM OUR UNIONS.
OUR STAFF HAS GONE AND MET WITH THE UNION, HAS SPOKE ABOUT DIFFERENT CONCERNS.
BUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE WERE MOVING TOWARDS AS FAR AS PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT.
I WAS SURPRISED AS FAR AS WE DID NOT HAVE A CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT DEPARTMENT AT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK.
WE NEED THE PROCUREMENT CENTRALIZED.
I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHTFUL STUFF.
I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BOTH OF THESE ITEMS. I FEEL WE EVEN KNOW IT MIGHT HAVE FILLED RUSH FOR SOME OF US HERE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK, A LOT OF ACTIVITY.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CALLS AS FAR AS THE COMMUNITIES THAT I
[03:15:07]
REPRESENT THAT ALL HAVE TO GO BACK TO AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, THEY SUPPORT THESE.EVEN AS FAR AS I HAVE LESS ANGST IN SUPPORTING THESE BECAUSE I FEEL WE'RE DOING WE HAVE THE TEAMS, THE STAFF THAT'S GONE BACK AND HAS BEEN CAREFULLY LISTENING TO AS FAR AS COMMENTS FROM BOTH THE BOARD, BOTH THE COMMUNITY.
THEN AS FAR AS MY MANDATES TO THE COMMUNITY THAT I REPRESENT AND AS FAR AS I'VE RECEIVED LETTERS OF SUPPORT FOR THESE DIFFERENT PROJECTS WITHIN MEASURE WW ACQUISITIONS.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBER IS BECAUSE I DON'T THINK ANYONE WAS TASKED WITH COUNTING, BUT WE GOT MORE THAN 150 EMAILS IN SUPPORT OF THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET AND THE WW ALLOCATIONS.
IT WAS SOMETHING MORE THAN 150.
I WANT TO ECHO AND MAYBE JUST ADD ON TO WHAT ELIZABETH AND LUANA HAVE BEEN SAYING.
WHEN WE HAVE HARD DECISIONS HERE ON THE BOARD, OR WE HAVE ADVOCACY HAPPENING ABOUT HARD DECISIONS OUT THERE?.
THE EASES THING IN THE WORLD TO DO IS, WELL, LET'S PUNT.
LET'S PUT IT OFF ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS AND FIGURE IT OUT.
THE PROBLEM WITH PUNTING ON THESE ISSUES IS, I DON'T THINK ANYONE HAS ATTACHED TO THE PROPOSAL TO PUNT ANY SUBSTANCE TO IT.
IN OTHER WORDS, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO LEARN? MORE THAN WE HAVE NOW ON EITHER THE CAPITAL BUDGET, THE WW ALLOCATIONS, OR THE REORG.
I'VE BEEN STUDYING THE REORG CHARTS SINCE OLIVIA SENT THEM TO ME FROM THE UNION WEBSITE.
HOW LONG AGO WAS THAT? THEN WITH THE CLARIFICATIONS I GOT TODAY ABOUT WHAT PARTS ARE BEING ADVANCED AND WHAT I GOT A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT THE REORG IS ABOUT.
MY GOSH, WE'RE GOING TO PUNT THAT AND BE DISMISSIVE OF THE HUGE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT OUR STAFF, AND THE UNION HAVE PUT INTO ARRIVING AT THIS AGREEMENT. REALLY?
>> AS FAR AS WE HAVE A ROLE IN THAT AND THE BUDGET ROLE, I'M FINE WITH THE BUDGET ROLE.
I ALSO AM ACTUALLY FINE WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME WE'VE HAD ON IT AND THE AMOUNT OF EXPLANATION WE'VE GOT.
I WAS JUST OUT OF THE COUNTRY FOR THREE WEEKS, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FOLLOW SOME OF THIS BY WIFI, AND I DID WATCH YOUR DECEMBER 2 MEETING.
ON THE CAPITAL BUDGET, ROBERT, I HAVE GONE OVER EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE PROJECTS.
I GOT THE BREAKDOWN HERE OF THE 14 AND THE WW ALLOCATIONS.
I SPENT HOURS, JOHN AND I DID WITH MAX BECKY, ALLISON, KATIE, AND PROBABLY MORE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM, GOING OVER IN DETAIL EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE PROJECTS.
I'M NOT GOING TO GAIN ANY MORE INFORMATION BY PUTTING THAT OVER.
I LEARNED EXACTLY WHAT POSITIONING WE HAVE WHEN WE'RE TAKING MONEY OUT OF CLAYTON RANCH, OUT OF ROUND VALLEY, AND PUTTING IT INTO RODDY RANCH.
DELAYING RODDY RANCH, ANYONE WANT TO GO TO SENATOR GLAZER WHO ALLOCATED $5 MILLION OUT OF THE STATE BUDGET FOR OPENING THE RODDY RANCH GOLF COURSE.
MAYBE WHAT WAS THAT? THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO, WE HAD A MEETING AT THE SITE AND WE TOLD SENATOR GLAZER THAT WE COULD HAVE THIS OPEN IN TWO YEARS, AND THAT WAS THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.
WHO'S GOING TO VOLUNTEER TO GO TO FORMER SENATOR GLAZER? NO, ACTUALLY, WE'RE DELAYING THAT EVEN MORE COSTS HAVE GONE UP.
BUT I WENT OVER THE NUMBERS OF WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WHEN WE HAVE CLAYTON AND ROUND VALLEY ORIENTED NEW ACQUISITIONS, WE WENT OVER WITH BECKY JOHN AND I, WHAT THOSE PROSPECTS WERE, AND HOW WE WOULD FIND FUNDING IF THEY DID, ESPECIALLY THE FUNDING SIMPLY TO LEVERAGE.
HOW MANY TIMES HAS MAX OR SOMEBODY GOING OVER THE HISTORY OF THE LAST WHAT IS IT? HOW MANY YEARS THAT WE'VE BEEN OPERATING UNDER WW, TO SUGGEST THAT WE'VE BEEN EXTRAORDINARILY
[03:20:03]
SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING GRANT FUNDING THAT WE DIDN'T ANTICIPATE.LET'S DELAY ALL THESE PROJECTS, AND WE CAN EXPLAIN THAT.
ARE WE JUST GOING TO PICK OUT THURGOOD MARSHALL? ARE WE NOT GOING TO PICK OUT RODDY RANCH? WHAT ARE WE GOING TO TELL THE LOW INCOME COMMUNITY IN WEST CONTRA COSTA ABOUT THAT BEACH AND ITS CONDITION AND HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE FURTHER.
WHO WANTS TO DO THAT? WE CAN'T JUST PUNT THINGS WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE SUBSTANCE OF WHAT WE'RE DOING OR TRYING TO GATHER THE SUBSTANCE OF, WHAT MORE ARE WE GOING TO LEARN? I CAMPAIGNED FOR WW.
I WAS ON THE PACK WORKING WITH MIKE ANDERSON, WHO WORKED WITH THE PAC AT THE TIME.
I WAS GIVEN THE SLIDE DECK BY CAROL JOHNSON AND TASKED WITH GOING TO THE ROTARIES OR THE OTHER CLUBS TALK ABOUT MEASURE WW.
WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THE WW ALLOCATIONS, I THINK ENTIRELY MISSES THE POINT.
THIS IS THE LIST OF WHAT WW WAS ABOUT.
WHAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSED ON IS WHAT PROMISES WERE MADE, AND WHAT PROMISES ARE WE KEEPING? ON ITEMS 1, I CAN'T READ IT.
I DON'T HAVE YOU KNOW, THE IS IT 60 SOMETHING ALLOCATIONS THERE AND PROJECTS THERE.
ON MLK AND OAKLAND SHORELINE, ITEMS 40 AND 45.
STAFF HAS DONE A PRETTY GOOD ASSESSMENT OF HOW WE HAVE ACTUALLY MET PROMISES THERE EITHER ON OUR OWN OR IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CITY OF OAKLAND, AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE OAKLAND REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS BY WHICH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS HAVE CREATED ACCESS FOR OAKLAND TO SHORELINE, ACCESS FOR THE BAY TRAIL TO BE BUILT.
WE'VE ACTUALLY MET THOSE PROMISES.
THE FOCUS ON HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT IN WHATEVER POT IS GETTING IT COMPLETELY WRONG.
THE FOCUS IS, WHAT PROMISES WE MADE AND WHAT PROMISES WE ARE KEEPING, NOT ON HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT IN A SPECIFIC POT.
WHEN WE WENT OUT FOR MEASURE WW, AGAIN, I CAMPAIGNED ON IT WITH THAT SLIDE DECK.
WE HAD $20 MILLION LEFT FROM MEASURE AA.
THAT WAS 200 AND SOMETHING MILLION DOLLAR FOR A 20 YEAR BOND, $20 MILLION LEFT WHEN WE PUT THE NEXT BALLOT MEASURE ON, AND WE WERE STILL ABLE TO LOOK THROUGH THE AA LIST AND SAY, PROMISES MADE PROMISES KEPT.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THIS WW LIST AND SAY PROMISES MADE PROMISES KEPT.
I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY IS LEFT OVER.
I CARE ABOUT THE PROMISES THAT MADE, AND YOU'RE ALL MISSING THAT SPECIFIC POINT, THAT IT'S NOT HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN A POT, IT'S HOW HAVE WE MET THE OBLIGATIONS CREATED FOR PROJECTS, OR WE MADE THEM, OTHER AGENCIES HAVE MADE THEM, OR HISTORY HAS TAKEN OUT AWAY OR HISTORY IS PROVIDED FOR THEM.
WE CAN GO THROUGH AND THIS IS SOMETHING I KNOW IS GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF WORK, BUT I'D LIKE TO WE'RE COMING UP ON 2028, WHICH IS THE 20 YEAR HISTORY OF WW.
TO WHAT EXTENT ARE WE ARE WE WILLING TO SIT ON SOME OF THESE FUNDS FOR ANOTHER THREE YEARS AND HAVE WHATEVER BOARD IS HERE OR WHATEVER AUDIENCE IS HERE, COME AND SAY, YOU FOLKS STILL HAVE MORE THAN $100 MILLION IN MORE THAN THAT AND IF YOU ADD ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT.
YOU HAVE AN OPEN ROTTING RANCH AND YOU'RE NOT FIXING IT, I MEAN, HOW MANY OF US WANT TO SIT HERE AND BE ACCUSED OF BEING IDIOTS FOR SITTING ON MONEY THAT WE'RE NEVER GOING TO SPEND ON WHAT WAS LISTED HERE? BECAUSE THE CITY OF OAKLAND'S DONE IT.
HOW MANY YEARS ARE WE WILLING TO GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS? LET'S KEEP PUNTING THIS UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.
WHAT I WANT TO DO IS SPEND NEXT YEAR AND THIS IS GOING TO TAKE A REAL STRONG STAFF SUPPORT.
I KNOW I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING THAT SOMEONE CAN DO IN THEIR SPARE TIME.
BUT WE NEED TO GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE ITEM ON THIS WW LIST AND MAKE AN INVENTORY OF PROMISES MADE AND WHAT WE'VE KEPT TO DATE, AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO.
IF WE TAKE MONEY OUT OF MLK TO DO KILLER BEACH, BUT WE STILL GOT MONEY THERE, AND THE ASSESSMENT IS EITHER WE OR THE CITY OF OAKLAND HAVE LARGELY AND WITH THE OAKLAND SHIN.
ITEMS 40 AND ITEMS 45 HAVE BEEN LARGELY MET.
BRIAN'S DONE SOME WORK ON THAT AND MAYBE THEY'RE JUST MET.
[03:25:04]
BUT FOR EACH AND EVERY ITEM IN WW, WE SHOULD DO AN INVENTORY AND ASSESSMENT OF WHAT PROMISE WAS MADE AND WHAT PROMISES HAVE BEEN KEPT, WHICH INCLUDES THE CONCEPT OF WHAT OTHER MONEY HAS COME IN, INCLUDING AREAS WHERE WE'VE SPENT MORE MONEY THAN WW ALLOCATED.WE'RE SPENDING LOTS MORE MONEY ON THINGS THAT WW IDENTIFIED AS NECESSARY.
WE OUGHT TO TAKE CREDIT FOR THAT TOO WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WW PROMISES MADE.
I'M JUST IT'S MISSING THE POINT BY TALKING ABOUT, WELL, IF YOU TAKE MONEY OUT OF HERE AND OUT OF HERE AND PUT IT OVER THERE, YOU'RE MISALLOCATING MONEY OR MISAPPROPRIATING MONEY.
THE ISSUE ISN'T THAT SPECIFIC POT OF MONEY.
THE ISSUE IS THE PROMISE THAT WAS MADE IN WW.
I WANT TO GO OUT WHENEVER WE GO OUT TO EXTEND WW, ANOTHER HALF BILLION DOLLAR, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AT EACH OF THESE THINGS AND SAY, THIS WAS A PROMISE MADE, THIS WAS A PROMISE GET.
ROBERT, I WENT OVER THE ALLOCATIONS FROM DELTA ACCESS INTO BIG BREAK, WHICH IS ALSO DELTA ACCESS.
THE PROSPECT FOR USING THAT DELTA ACCESS MONEY IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS IS ALMOST NIL.
I WOULD VERY MUCH LIKE TO HAVE A POT OF MONEY THERE TO TAKE CARE OF JERSEY ISLAND WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
BOTH TO PRESERVE JERSEY ISLAND AND PEOPLE ARE WORKING ON THAT RIGHT NOW FROM A PROPOSED 400 LUXURY HOMES OUT THERE.
I'VE BEEN WORKING TO POSITION US SO THAT WE CAN HELP PRESERVE JERSEY ISLAND AND DO A CAMPGROUND THERE SOMEDAY, AND THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY WW MONEY THERE FOR IT.
BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO COLLECT THAT INFORMATION AND MAKE THAT JUDGMENT CALL OF HOW LONG ARE WE GOING TO SIT ON DELTA ACCESS MONEY WHEN WE NEED DELTA ACCESS AT BIG BREAK BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO THEIR PROGRAMMING RIGHT NOW IN THE SUMMER BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A SHADE STRUCTURE OUT THERE.
IT TAKES THE TIME AND EFFORT TO GO THROUGH EACH.
EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD HAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH THESE FOLKS AND DO WHAT I DID AND GO OVER EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE PROJECTS THAT THEY HAVE PROPOSED AND THE WW ALLOCATIONS, AND HOW WE CAN FIX THAT.
IF WE DO THIS ASSESSMENT, A PROMISES MADE AND WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE KEPT, THEN THAT'S THE INFORMATION WE USE AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT IN TWO MONTHS.
BUT WE CAN SPEND A YEAR, WE CAN WORK ON THAT, WORK WITH OUR STAKEHOLDERS, DECIDE WHERE WE'VE MET WW PROMISES, AND WHAT STILL NEEDS TO BE MADE.
WE GOT TO HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THAT BY 2028 BECAUSE THAT'S THE 20 YEARS.
IN THE MEANTIME, I DON'T WANT TO BE THE ONE THAT IS ACCUSED OF SITTING ON MONEY THAT COULD HAVE BEEN SPENT TO PROVIDE FOR LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES IN WEST CONTRA LOMA USE THAT BEAUTIFUL BEACH THAT RIGHT NOW ISN'T BEAUTIFUL.
WE'VE BEEN CONTRA LOMA, THAT LAGOON, THAT SWIMMING FACILITY USED BY UP TO 100,000 PEOPLE IN A TRULY LOW INCOME COMMUNITY OUT THERE FOR FOUR YEARS, THAT'S BEEN CLOSED.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW FUND THE NEW SWIM FACILITY THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE OUT THERE? WE STILL DON'T KNOW HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND TILDEN, THE EC.
IT'S BEEN OUT THERE NOW EIGHT YEARS, SOME EIGHT YEARS.
I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR A VISITOR CENTER IN POINT PANOL FOREVER, AND IT'S ON THE LIST OF NOT IN MY LIFETIME, APPARENTLY.
THERE ARE 25,000 SCHOOL CHILDREN IN WEST CONTRA COSTA THAT ARE NOW SERVED BY OUR INTERPRETER AND PEOPLE IN TILDEN.
THAT PARK NEEDS A VISITOR CENTER.
IT'S BEEN ON THE BOOKS FOR YEARS.
IT'S NOT HERE. DO I HAVE SOME ISSUES? YEAH, I'M JUMPING UP AND DOWN.
I'M STATIC BY THE DUTCH SU PROJECT BEING ON OUR AGENDA.
BUT LOOK, PUNTING EITHER THE REORG OR THESE ALLOCATIONS, GOOD, THAT'S A GOOD TOOL TO HAVE THAT FIVE YEARS OUT THERE.
I'VE KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT THESE THINGS ARE UNFUNDED AND THEY CHANGE, THE COST CHANGE, AND OUR PRIORITIES CHANGE.
WE DO THIS IN ORDER TO CREATE A TOOL FOR US TO PRIORITIZE.
THEY'VE COME UP WITH 82 PROJECTS, AND IT DOESN'T INCLUDE THINGS THAT ARE NEAR AND DEAR TO
[03:30:03]
ME THAT I GET TO STILL ADVOCATE FOR.BECAUSE ALL OF US GET TO CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THINGS.
I'LL BE QUIET AT THIS POINT, BUT I REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO AS AN ORGANIZATION, AND I LOOK AT MAX AND MANAGEMENT TO DETERMINE AND ASSESS WHERE WE ARE WITH THE ACTUAL PROJECTS, NOT POTS OF MONEY THAT WW CALLED FOR.
THAT'S THE ASSESSMENT WE NEED, AND THAT'S GOING TO TAKE MORE THAN WAITING UNTIL JANUARY OR FEBRUARY.
WE HAVE TO COMMIT TO HAVING STAFF DO THAT.
IT'S GOT TO BE DONE BEFORE 28. SORRY.
>> ALL RIGHT. ANY OTHER COMMENTS? HOW ABOUT THAT? YOU MAKE SOME VERY COMPELLING ARGUMENTS, DIRECTOR COFFEY. YOU DO.
I THINK WHAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THE VERY DETAILED ANALYSIS OF HOW THE MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT, WHAT'S BEEN RESULTED FROM THAT? BECAUSE THAT IS THE THING THAT HAS BEEN TUGGING AT ME.
CONFRONTING THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS WE HAVE THAT ARE CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING THE MONEY AROUND IS DIFFICULT.
THEY'RE HERE RIGHT NOW. I'M LOOKING AT THEM.
BUT THEY'RE OUT THERE TOO, BECAUSE THEY REPRESENT A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE.
ON THE OTHER HAND, WE DID GET A SLEW OF COMMUNICATIONS THAT SAID, GO AHEAD AND MOVE THE MONEY AROUND.
YOU WERE RIGHT, IT'S SOMEWHERE 150-200 EMAILS THAT WE GOT.
AT ANY RATE, WHATEVER WE DO, I'M I'M TOTALLY COMMITTED TO THURGOOD MARSHALL HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 15, NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
IF IT DOESN'T HAVE FUNDING FOR THAT, I'M NOT VOTING FOR IT.
BUT THAT THEN LEAVES SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES, WHICH IS THE REORG, THE REORG HAS A LOT GOING FOR IT AND I'M LISTENING TO ALL YOU FOLKS TALKING.
THE PART ABOUT THE PROCUREMENT ELEMENT OF THIS PLAN IN THE REORG IS SOMETHING THAT I'VE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR.
WHY DO WE NOT HAVE CENTRALIZED I KNOW IT'S NOT A MASSIVE CENTRALIZATION OF PURCHASING, BUT IT GETS AT IT.
WHY DO WE STILL IN ORGANIZATION, THIS SIZE, HAVE ALL THESE SEPARATE OPERATIONS GOING ON TO BUY STUFF.
BUT NOW WE HAVE A WAY TO ADDRESS THAT.
YEAH, IF THE MOTION INCLUDES WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT DOING THAT ANALYSIS, THEN I CAN SUPPORT GOING WITH THE 24 MILLION WW SHIFT.
>> AGAIN, ANYBODY ELSE WANT TO COMMENT OR MAKE A MOTION.
>> WILL THE MOTION INCLUDE THAT ANALYSIS OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BRING BACK TO DISCUSS? BECAUSE I DO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THAT BEING INCLUDED, AND I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO COMMENT ON THE PARTS OF THE DISTRICT THAT ARE NOT PART OF MEASURE WW, AND THAT WE CAN'T FORGET ABOUT THOSE PARTS OF THE DISTRICT THAT ARE NOT PART OF MEASURE WW.
I CAN SUPPORT THE IDEA OF ANALYZING WW, BUT I DON'T WANT STAFF TIME TO BE SO FOCUSED ON THAT THAT WE'RE IGNORING THE PARTS OF THE DISTRICT THAT ARE NOT PART OF MEASURE WW.
>> I CAN SAY, I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT.
IN FACT, ALICE AND I HAVE ALREADY TALKED ABOUT, WE'VE LOOKED AT THAT REPORT ON MEASURE AA THAT WAS TALKING ABOUT THE PROMISES MADE PROMISES KEPT.
I THINK WE'RE LIKE, WE NEED TO DO THIS LOOKING AT MEASURE WW.
I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY DO THAT AND IT WOULDN'T BE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF STAFF TIME.
>> I GUESS I'LL BE MORE SPECIFIC.
THE PARTS OF MEASURE WW OR THE PARTS OF THE PARK DISTRICT THEY ARE NOT PART OF MEASURE WW IS LIVERMORE AREA, AND I DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO BE FOCUSING ATTENTION, WE FOCUS ATTENTION ON THE ENTIRE PARK DISTRICT.
>> LET'S JUST LET'S JUST HOPEFULLY SPEED THIS UP A LITTLE BIT HERE.
IT NEEDS TO A YES OR NO ON THE REORG HAS TO BE IN THE MOTION.
[03:35:01]
>> MY MOTION WOULD BE TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED, INCLUDING THE REORG AS AGREED TO BY YASMINE AND INCLUDING THE PROJECT PLAN AS SUBMITTED AS PART OF THE BUDGET, THE CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET AS PROPOSED, WHICH ALSO INCLUDES THE REVISED ALLOCATIONS FROM WW TO THE NINE PROJECTS.
THAT WOULD BE MY MOTION, AND THE ADDITIONAL PIECE OF THE MOTION WOULD BE THAT WE TASK MANAGEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR, SO THAT BY 2028, WE HAVE A GOOD FEEL FOR THIS, BUT IT WOULD BE TO TASK MANAGEMENT OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT YEAR TO DO A THOROUGH ASSESSMENT OF THE WW PROJECT LIST TOWARD THE GOAL OF CREATING AN INVENTORY OF WHAT WE'VE MANAGED TO DO OR WHAT HAS BEEN DONE ON ALL THOSE PROJECTS TO DATE AND WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE SO THAT WE CAN SAY PROMISES MADE PROMISES KEPT.
THAT IS MY MOTION. NOW, AS ASIDE, I WOULD LIKE TO EMPHASIZE THAT IN DOING THAT ASSESSMENT, WE GO BACK TO THE STAKEHOLDERS.
THESE GUYS BOB DOYLE, WHO KNOWS THIS LIKE THE BACK OF HIS HAND.
BECAUSE WE'VE PICKED ON OAKLAND SHORELINE AND MOK LOT.
I REALLY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S LEFT TO DO THERE THAT HASN'T BEEN DONE, IF ANYTHING, AND TO HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE WITH THE INPUT AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A MUCH BETTER IDEA OF WHERE WE ARE WITH WW THAN JUST PUNTING ON WHAT WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPEND.
I REALLY AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS THREE, FIVE YEARS FROM NOW AND WE'RE SITTING ON MONEY.
>> I WOULD JUST ADD AS A NOT PART OF THE MOTION AND AS A REQUEST THAT ALL THE DIRECTORS BE INCLUDED IN WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT IN REGARDS TO THEIR WARD, BECAUSE IN MOST CASES, WE KNOW A LOT ABOUT WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
I WOULD JUST MAKE THAT INFORMAL REQUEST.
IS THERE A SECOND FOR DIRECTOR COFFEY.
>> SECOND FOR DIRECTOR COFFEY.
ALL IN FAVOR. I SAY AND RAISE YOUR HAND SO WE CAN TELL?
OPPOSED? THERE'S ALSO THE OPTION OF ABSTAINING IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING THERE.
>> CAN I MAKE A COMMENT OR CAN I VOICE? THERE'S A MOTION ON THE TABLE, BUT I HAVE.
COLIN MAKES SOME REALLY COMPELLING ARGUMENTS.
I THINK HE'S HAD MUCH MORE TIME ON THIS THAN I HAVE.
I'M NOT SURE ABSTAIN, SEEMS LIKE A WEAK VOTE.
I REALLY YOU'RE COMPELLING LIKE WHO'S GOING TO GO TELL STEVE GLAZER.
I HAVE THE WHO'S GOING TO TELL OUR ENVIRONMENTAL PARTNERS THAT YOU'VE GOT TO GO MARCH ON THE STREET AGAIN THIS YEAR AND HOLD YOUR NOSE, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T LISTEN TO YOU.
I'M GOING WITH WHO'S GOING TO TELL THE VOTERS.
I HAVE SPENT TIME WITH MAX IN THE OFFICE, TWICE, THREE TIMES EVEN MAYBE.
I DON'T I'M ACTUALLY NOT COM I'M GOING TO VOTE, NO.
>> DID THE CLERK GET THAT 4-3 IT PASSES?
>> YES. THERE'S FOUR YESES AND THREE NOTES.
>> THANK YOU. I MIGHT ADD THAT WHAT MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO ME IN THE WORLD ON THE REORG IS THE FACT THAT IT WAS A COOPERATIVE EFFORT, AND THERE'S THAT IT'S I WOULD CALL THAT HOLISTIC.
IT'S LIKE THERE'S SO AND IT'S NOT LOST ON ME THAT THAT'S A VERY COMPLICATED PUZZLE THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER.
I LIKE THE WAY SOME OF THE OTHER NEW POSITIONS ARE BEING CREATED OUT THERE AND ADDRESSES SOME NEEDS OUT THERE.
>> JUST A HUGE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO THAT FOR THE NEGOTIATING TEAM ON BOTH SIDES TO GET THAT DONE. VERY WELL DONE.
>> I'M VERY HAPPY TO SEE THEM OUT WE'VE BEEN NEGOTIATING WITH THE UNION, BRINGING THEM IN.
[03:40:02]
I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO OUR TEAMS FOR DOING THAT. I APPRECIATE IT.>> DO PEOPLE NEED A BREAK OR CAN WE GO ONE MORE?
>> WE CAN TAKE A BREAK, A BREAK.
>> WE'LL MAKE IT FIVE MINUTES.
WE'RE BACK ON. I JUST WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT GOT CALLED AWAY ON A FAMILY EMERGENCY, SO SHE'LL BE ABSENT THE REST OF THE MEETING.
[ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND DEVELOPMENT DIVISION]
NOW WE ARE ON ITEM D1, WHICH IS EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES REGARDING FUTURE PUBLIC ACCESS AT DUTCH SLOUGH AT BIG BREAK REGIONAL SHORELINE.>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MARCIO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, BRIAN HOLT, DIVISION LEAD FOR PLANNING TRAILS, CULTURAL RESOURCES AND GIS.
I'M JUST GOING TO INTRODUCE THIS ITEM REAL QUICK.
THE ITEM IS GOING TO BE PRESENTED BY ALEX C ASPERA, SENIOR PLANNER IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND INTERAGENCY PLANNING.
I JUST WANT TO INTRODUCE IT REALLY QUICK TO JUST ONE ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT I KNOW IS A TOUGH CONVERSATION AND DIFFICULT DECISION AMONGST THE BOARD.
AROUND THE BUDGET, AND JUST REALLY WANTED TO EMPHASIZE, ONE OF THE UNIQUE ASPECTS OF THIS AGENCY IS REALLY THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE HAVE TO LEVERAGE THE WORK, LEVERAGE OUR PARTNERSHIPS, AND WORK WITH OTHERS TO TRY TO EXPAND PUBLIC ACCESS IN A WAY IDEALLY WHERE WE'RE USING OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
THIS IS REALLY A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT, WHERE WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN UP ACCESS TO THE SHORELINE IN THE DELTA IN A WAY THAT REALLY GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER WITH THE STATE AND OTHERS TO OPEN UP A SIGNIFICANT AREA.
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE AWAY ALEX'S THUNDER, I'LL HAVE HIM PRESENT ALL THE DETAILS.
I REALLY WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS GOOD WORK ON THIS AND REALLY GETTING DOWN TO SOME SPECIFICS ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO FUND ALL THIS.
BUT WITH THAT, I'LL TURN OVER TO ALEX. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT MARCIO, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
SENIOR PLANNER WITH THE PLAN DEPARTMENT? ACQUISITION SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
HERE TODAY TO SHARE THE FIRST STEP IN A POTENTIAL PARTNERSHIP THAT WOULD BRING PUBLIC ACCESS INTO A NEW PORTION OF THE DELTA.
THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TODAY IS AN AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES REGARDING A FUTURE PUBLIC ACCESS AT DUTCH SLOUGH.
I'LL TELL THE STORY IN THREE CHAPTERS.
FIRST, WE'LL GO OVER DUTCH SLOUGH, WHERE IT IS, WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
THEN I'LL TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PUBLIC ACCESS PROPOSAL THAT THE PARK DISTRICT DEVELOPED IN RESPONSE TO SOME CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.
THEN FINALLY, THE NITTY GRITTY ON HOW WE MIGHT MATERIALIZE PUBLIC ACCESS AT DUTCH SLOUGH WITH THIS AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE.
DUTCH SLOUGH IS IN THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF OUR TWO COUNTY JURISDICTION.
IT IS JUST NORTH OF OAKLEY, AND IT ABUTS BIG BREAK REGIONAL SHORELINE.
BIG BREAK IS JUST TO THE WEST.
IT IS CURRENTLY OWNED BY CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND IT HAS A LONG AND STORIED HISTORY LIKE MANY PARCELS OF LAND ALL OVER THE WORLD, BUT MOST RECENTLY WAS ACQUIRED BY DWR IN 2003 AND HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF A PRETTY INTENSE RESTORATION PROJECT.
THIS SLIDE SHOWS THE CONCEPTUAL RESTORATION DESIGN FOR DUTCH SLOUGH.
THE WESTERNMOST IS THE EMERSON PARKS AND THAT IS GOING TO BE THE FOCUS OF MOST OF THIS PRESENTATION.
IT IS GOING TO BE THE SUBJECT OF OUR POTENTIAL PUBLIC ACCESS.
THE OTHER TWO PARCELS ARE SMALLER.
THE PURPOSE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES TITLE RESTORATION PROJECT WAS THREEFOLD.
FIRSTLY, BENEFIT NATIVE SPECIES, SECONDLY, CONTRIBUTED DELTA RESTORATION SCIENCE, AND THEN FINALLY TO PROVIDE ACCESS EDUCATION AND RECREATION.
THE FIRST PHASE OF DWR RESTORATION PROJECT CONCLUDED IN 2022 AND RESULTED IN THE MATERIALIZATION OF THIS CONCEPTUAL DESIGN THAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, AND I'VE GOT SOME PICTURES TO SHOW IN THE NEXT FEW SLIDES OF THAT.
THEN THEY WILL BEGIN THE THIRD PHASE ON THE FINAL PART OF DUTCH SLOUGH IN 2026.
HERE IS AN AERIAL OF THE ANDERSON PARSON PARCEL THAT HAD SOME FORMATTING ISSUES,
[03:45:02]
BUT THAT'S OKAY YOU GET THE IDEA.KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE PARCEL IN THE RED BOX.
THIS WAS A PICTURE TAKEN IN 2012.
THEN THIS IS WHAT LOOKS LIKE NOW.
I'LL GO BACK AGAIN. I THINK THIS IS A REALLY COOL TRANSFORMATION.
THAT BIG OPEN BAY IN THE TOP THE NORTHEASTERN PART. KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.
THAT'S LIKE AN ANCHOR POINT AS WE GO THROUGH THESE SLIDES AND THE OTHER MAPS I HAD.
HERE'S WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FROM THE AIR.
CONTEXTUALLY, YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE EMERSON PARKS IS RELATIVE TO BRIG BREAK SHORELINE.
THE EMERSON PARKS ON THIS SLIDE IS SURROUNDED BY THAT DOTTED RED LINE, WHICH REPRESENTS SERVICE ROADS THAT WERE CONSTRUCTED TO FACILITATE THE RESTORATION PROJECT, AND ALSO WILL BE ONE OF THE KEY CONSIDERATIONS IN OUR DISCUSSIONS AROUND PUBLIC ACCESS.
THIS PROPERTY IS ALSO RIGHT AT THE NORTHERN TERMINUS OF MARSH CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL, WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY A PRIORITY OF THE PARK DISTRICT AND IS WHERE MARSH CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL INTERSECTS WITH BIG BREAK REGIONAL TRAIL.
THAT WOULD BE THE CONNECTION OF FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET ACCESS INTO EMERSON PARKS?
>> CAN I POINT SOMETHING OUT ON THAT MAP?
>> FOR MY COLLEAGUES, THAT LITTLE GREEN TRIANGLE OFF HIGHWAY FOUR THERE.
THAT IS THE EAST COUNTY TRAILS CREW OFFICES.
OUR EAST COUNTY TRAILS CREW IS LITERALLY DOWN THE STREET FROM EMERSON PARKS.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT. THAT CONCLUDES THE OVERVIEW OF THE DUTCH SLOUGH PARCEL.
NEXT FEW SLIDES, WE'LL BE DISCUSSING THE HISTORY OF THIS PUBLIC ACCESS PROPOSAL THAT WILL BE ONE OF THE SUBJECT POINTS OF THE AGREEMENT WE'VE ASKED FOR THE BOARD TO CONSIDER.
THIS IS A BIG TOPIC. I'M NOT GOING TO SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON IT, BUT THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IS WORKING ON THE DELTA COVEYANCE PROJECT TO MODERNIZE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE DELTA.
THAT IS LIKE THE MEGA PROJECT HAPPENING IN ONE OF THEM IN THIS REGION.
PART OF THAT PROJECT ENTAILS WHAT IS ON THE SECOND BULLET, A COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM, WHICH RECOGNIZES THAT IF APPROVED, THE DELTA COVEYANCE PROJECT WOULD HAVE BIG IMPLICATIONS TO RESIDENTS AND RESOURCES AROUND THE DELTA.
THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM IS PART OF THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT, AND IT WOULD FUND INITIATIVES THROUGHOUT THE DELTA TO COMPENSATE FOR SOME OF THE EFFECTS OF DEVELOPING THIS MAJOR WATER INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY.
THE PARK DISTRICT AND DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES HAVE BEEN IN CONVERSATION ABOUT WHAT THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS PROGRAM COULD FUND IN OUR JURISDICTION AND THE DUTCH SLOUGH PROPERTY CAME UP.
THE POINT OF THIS AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE, WHICH I'LL TALK A LITTLE MORE AT THE END OF THIS PRESENTATION IS THE INITIAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES ESTABLISHING OUR INTEREST IN PARTNERING IN THE FUTURE ONCE FUNDING BECOMES AVAILABLE THROUGH THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM THE DELTA COVEYANCE PROJECT.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON THIS WHOLE RELATIONSHIP AFTER THE PRESENTATION, BUT THAT'S WHY THE AGREEMENT IS THE CORNERSTONE OF TODAY'S MEETING.
IN CONSIDERING PUBLIC ACCESS AT DUTCH SLOUGH, THE PARK DISTRICT'S PROPOSAL WOULD FOCUS ON OPENING 3.6 MILES OF EXISTING SERVICE ROADS THAT WERE CONSTRUCTED TO FACILITATE THE RESTORATION PROJECT.
THOSE ROADS WILL BE OPEN FOR HIKING, BICYCLING, DOG WALKING.
THE LOW IMPACT RECREATION THAT WE INVITE ON MOST OF OUR REGIONAL TRAILS AND ON THE SHORELINE.
THESE ARE THE USES THAT ARE ALREADY ALLOWED ON THE ADJACENT MARSH CREEK AND BIG BREAK REGIONAL TRAILS.
THEN WE WOULD HOPE TO BRING IN SOME EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES LIKE THESE NATURE WALKS OR CITIZEN SCIENCE THAT WOULD BE FACILITATED FROM OUR INTERPRETIVE AND RECREATION STAFF AT BIG BREAK.
THIS IN A NUTSHELL IS WHAT THE PARK DISTRICT HOW WE PROPOSE TO BRING THE PUBLIC INTO DUTCH SLOUGH HERE'S A QUICK CONCEPT ON WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
A LOT OF INFORMATION ON THIS SLIDE, BUT ESSENTIALLY, FOLKS WOULD BE INVITED TO ACCESS THE SITE ON THE DOTTED RED LINE.
ALL THE LITTLE DOTS ARE TRASH CANS, GATES, FENCES TO KEEP PEOPLE AWAY FROM WHERE THEY WANT, SHOULDN'T BE TRAIL POST WAIT SIDE PANELS.
YOU SEE THERE'S A LOT OF MINOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE THAT WOULD HELP WITH CIRCULATION AND RESOURCE PROTECTION. NOTHING MAJOR.
THERE'S NO PARKING AREA, NO STAGING AREA, NO RESTROOMS. ALL OF THOSE ARE AVAILABLE NEARBY OFFSITE, AND THE LANDSCAPE OUT HERE WOULD NOT REALLY INVITE THAT LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT.
THE VISION FOR BRINGING PUBLIC INTO DUTCH SLOUGH RIGHT NOW
[03:50:03]
IS MORE OF A WALK IN FROM ADJACENT PARKING AREAS.THIS IS THE INITIAL AGREEMENT THAT DEMONSTRATES THE PARK DISTRICT HAS ENVISIONED WHAT RECREATION COULD LOOK LIKE AT DUTCH SLOUGH, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AGREES THAT IT IS CONSISTENT WITH THEIR VISION FOR THE RESTORATION PROJECT AND THE RECREATION MODEL THEY HOPE TO FACILITATE THERE.
IT ALSO ESTABLISHES A TENTATIVE FUNDING ARRANGEMENT FOR $3.75 MILLION FOR THE PARK DISTRICT AND A ONE TIME PAYMENT.
THE FUNDS WOULD BE USED FOR PARK DISTRICT OPENING OF THE EMERSON PARKS, WHICH WOULD ENTAIL INSTALLATION OF ALL THOSE MINOR IMPROVEMENTS I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY, TRAIL POST SIGNAGE, AND ALL THAT.
THEN IT ALSO WOULD COVER APPROXIMATELY 13 YEARS OF OUR ANNUAL COSTS.
THAT WOULD MOSTLY BE BORNE BY OPERATION, PARK OPERATIONS AND INTERPRETIVE AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS.
BUT THIS CAPTURES A LOT OF OTHER COSTS THAT ARE ON THE BACK END OF THINGS, THAT WOULD FUND FIRE RESPONSE, POLICE RESPONSE, AND A LOT OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK THAT IT TAKES TO OPEN AND OPERATE A PARK.
>> THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO ESTABLISH THESE TERMS AND THEN FINALLY, SUMMARIZE THE CONDITIONS FOR THE FUTURE COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT.
THAT WOULD BE THE FINAL AGREEMENT THAT THE PARK DISTRICT AND IN DWR DEVELOPED TO FORMALIZE OUR PARTNERSHIP AND THEN RECEIVE FUNDING.
THE TIMING FOR THAT, I THINK I HAVE A NEXT STEP SLIDE.
IN SOME, THE PARK DISTRICT RESPONSIBILITIES, AS STATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, WOULD BE A COMMITMENT TO OPERATE PUBLIC ACCESS, CONDUCT LAW ENFORCEMENT, EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND THEN DO SOME INTERPRETIVE AND EDUCATION.
DWR WOULD REMAIN THE OWNER OF THE SITE AND THEY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND RESOURCE MONITORING RELATED TO THE RESTORATION PROJECT.
IT'S AN INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP.
IT GIVES US ALL THE FUN WORK AND ALL THE BURDEN OF MANAGING THE SITE STAYS WITH DWR.
HERE ARE THE NEXT STEPS. TENTATIVELY, DWR WOULD ISSUE THEIR BONDS FOR THE CONVEYANCE PROJECT IN 2028.
THAT WOULD TRIGGER THEIR TIMELINE TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENTS.
ONE OF THE REASONS THAT THEY APPROACHED US NOW WAS THAT THEY COULD START TO ALLOCATE THAT MONEY IN ADVANCE OF THIS 2028 DEADLINE AND NOT BE BEHIND THE CURVE WHEN THE BONDS COME.
PARK DISTRICT WOULD CONDUCT A CEQA REVIEW OF THE PUBLIC ACCESS PROPOSAL THAT YOU SAW TODAY.
THEN AT THAT TIME, ONCE THOSE TWO PIECES ARE COMPLETE, WE WOULD THEN PREPARE THE FINAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT WHICH WOULD TRIGGER THE TIMELINE TO ACTUALLY BRING THE PUBLIC INTO DUTCH SLOUGH.
OUR RECOMMENDATION TODAY IS TO AUTHORIZE THIS AGREEMENT WITH THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES REGARDING A FUTURE PUBLIC ACCESS DUTCH SLOUGH. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> WELL, THANK YOU. DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD?
>> I HAD A QUESTION ON PAGE 80 ABOUT THE TIMING.
BECAUSE IT SAYS EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK IS NOT OBLIGATED TO OPERATE PUBLIC ACCESS UPON EXHAUSTION OF THE DWR CBA FUNDING FOR THE PROS PROJECT? ARE WE JUST LOOKING AT A 13 YEAR TYPE OF AGREEMENT? IS JUST TEMPORARY MANAGEMENT, ARE WE LOOKING TO MANAGE THIS PAST THAT 13 YEARS? WOULD WE BE LOOKING FOR FUNDING WITH THEM?
>> GREAT QUESTION. THE AGREEMENT WOULD PROVIDE US WITH A ONE TIME COST, ONE TIME AMOUNT THAT WE COULD ALLOCATE AT DUTCH SLOUGH, WHICH WOULD PROBABLY TAKE US THROUGH YEAR 13.
AT THAT TIME, WE COULD MAKE THE DECISION TO CONTINUE PUBLIC ACCESS THERE, WHICH, IT WOULD BE PRETTY WELL ESTABLISHED AT THAT POINT OR NOT.
I THINK THE ABILITY TO BRING THE PUBLIC INTO THIS AREA, I THINK INVITE A LOT OF ATTENTION AND DEMAND FOR RECREATIONAL RESOURCES IN THIS PART OF THE DELTA.
I THINK THE FUTURE VERSION OF OURSELVES THAT WOULD CONFRONT THE END OF THE EXTERNAL FUNDING, WOULD HAVE TO GRAPPLE WITH HOW TO BRING RESOURCES INTO THIS AREA TO CONTINUE OPERATING AFTER THAT TIME.
>> THEN I ALSO SEE THAT IT HAS A FOUR YEAR OVER YEAR ESCALATION TO ACCOUNT FOR INCREASED STAFF EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES COST OVER THE 13 YEAR PERIOD.
IS THAT CONSISTENT BECAUSE MAYBE SOME YEARS MIGHT BE COSTS GO UP LESS OR THEY MIGHT GO UP MORE.
[03:55:03]
IS THAT 4% LIKE AN AVERAGE COST OVER THOSE YEARS FOR ANTICIPATED INCREASES?>> CORRECT. THE WAY WE CAME UP WITH OUR BUDGET WAS WE DETERMINED WHAT 2026 COSTS WOULD BE TO OPERATE AT DUTCH SLOUGH AND THEN PUT A 4% ESCALATION YEAR OVER YEAR UNTIL YEAR 13.
THAT 4% IT'S A ESCALATION RATE THAT WE DEVELOPED WITH OUR FINANCE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S CONSISTENT WITH OTHER FINANCIAL MODELING WE DO AT THE PARK DISTRICT, AND IT IS INTENDED TO CAPTURE THE AVERAGE EXPECTATION OF COST OF LIVING OR COST OF EXPENSE.
>> ABOUT THE 13 YEARS, I THINK PART OF THIS TOO IS THE PROJECT ITSELF OF THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT AND MAYBE NOT WANTING TO COMMIT PAST THAT TIME BECAUSE THERE COULD BE POTENTIALLY SOME CHANGES TO THE DELTA REGION ONCE THE TUNNEL IS BUILT.
I DON'T WANT TO ACTUALLY GET INTO THE POLITICS OF THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT, ONCE THE TUNNEL, THE VISION OF THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT WERE TO HAPPEN, BUT THAT'S NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THE PROJECT.
>> THAT'S INTERESTING ONE TO RECONCILE, ISN'T IT? I THINK YOU AND I ARE STRONGLY ON RECORD OPPOSING THAT METHOD OF CONVEYANCE.
I THINK MY OPPOSITION GOES BACK TO SUNNE MCPEAK MEASURE IN THE '80S AGAINST THE PERIPHERAL CANAL.
I REMEMBER CAMPAIGNING ON HER OPPOSITION AND THAT STATEWIDE BALLOT MEASURE.
SHE CHAMPIONED AGAINST THE PERIPHERAL CANAL.
WAY I RECONCILE THAT OPPOSITION IS IF THEY ACTUALLY BUILD THE CONVEYANCE, THEY WILL NEED THESE COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
IT REALLY JUST FITS WHAT THEIR NEEDS ARE FOR COMMUNITY BENEFIT, MITIGATION MEASURES.
THIS JUST CHECKS ALL THE BOXES FOR IT.
WHY NOT? THE OTHER THING IS IF THE CONVEYANCE DOESN'T GO THROUGH, WE HAVE AN AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE.
DWR AND I HAVE NO INSIDE INFORMATION.
I CAN'T SPEAK FOR DWR, BUT THEY REALLY WANT TO OPEN THIS TO THE PUBLIC.
IF ANYONE HASN'T WALKED THROUGH IT, GIVE ME A NOTE.
I'LL TAKE YOU THROUGH THAT GATE.
YOU AND ALLISON OWE ME A WALK OUT THERE.
THAT'S THOSE TWO. BECAUSE ONCE YOU'RE OUT THERE, YOU LOOK AROUND AND SAY, "I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT.
THIS IS REALLY OUT OF THIS WORLD, BEAUTIFUL AND PEACEFUL," AND YOU JUST SEE THE VERY HAPPY HABITAT THAT'S BEEN CREATED OUT THERE.
IT IS A NATURAL EXTENSION OF OUR OPERATIONS AT BIG BREAK.
BIG BREAK GOES RIGHT UP INTO IT.
OUR TRAILS CREW ARE ALREADY OUT THERE, KEEPING AN EYE ON IT FOR DWR.
THEY NEED TO OPEN THIS TO THE PUBLIC.
IF THE CONVEYANCE DOESN'T GO THROUGH FOR SOME REASON, THIS AGREEMENT AND PRINCIPLE WE HAVE, WILL THEN BE ABLE TO SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR THEM LOOKING FOR FUNDING SOMEWHERE ELSE.
THAT SOMEWHERE ELSE MIGHT BE THE NEXT YEAR THE STATE HAS A SURPLUS.
YOU PUT ON ALL OUR CALENDARS A BRING UP FOR THIS FOR THE NEXT 13 YEARS OR WHEN THE CONVEYANCE GOES THROUGH OR DOESN'T GO THROUGH, SO THAT WE'RE PREPARED FOR THAT.
THAT'S MY REACTION TO WHAT YOU'RE SUGGESTING.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE THAT.
QUESTIONS. RIGHT NOW, THE MARSH CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL, THE PAVED TRAIL THAT GOES ALL THE WAY TO JOHN MARSH'S HOME NOW IN BRENTWOOD AND IS SLATED YET ANOTHER UNFUNDED PROJECT THAT WE'RE PRETTY ADVANCED ON THE EXTENSION INTO ROUND VALLEY OF THE MARSH CREEK TRAIL.
THAT'S ON PAPER SLATED, IT NEEDS FUNDING.
THIS IS THE OTHER END OF THAT TRAIL.
THIS IS THE FINAL EXTENSION THAT WOULD GO FROM WHERE IT DEAD ENDS, AS YOU'VE EXPLAINED WITH THE BIG BREAK TRAIL, AT THE FENCE THAT LEADS INTO DUTCH SLOUGH.
FROM THERE, IT ACTUALLY IS SIMPLY A GRAVEL ROAD RIGHT NOW.
WHAT I'M READING HERE IS THIS ISN'T DEPENDENT ON US PAVING THE REMAINDER OF THE MARSH CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL.
[04:00:02]
AS PART OF THIS AGREEMENT, WE'RE JUST GOING TO OPEN THAT EXISTING ROAD AS AN EXTENSION OF THE MARSH CREEK REGIONAL TRAIL.>> CORRECT. THERE IS A PORTION THAT WAS PAVED NORTH OF THAT GATE, THAT'S IN PRETTY POOR CONDITION, AND SO WE WOULD WANT TO RESURFACE THAT FOR SAFETY, BUT THE INTENTION IS TO EXTEND MARSH CREEK TRAIL AS EXISTING AS A GRAVEL ROAD ON TOP OF THE LEVEE.
>> THE STATE HAS BUILT A BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE.
THE BRIDGES WE'RE INHERITING WITH THIS AGREEMENT ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD.
THE MOUTH OF IT NOW IS RIGHT BELOW JERSEY ISLAND AND THEY BUILT A BRIDGE OVER THE MOUTH OF MARSH CREEK.
IT'S JUST LOVELY. IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SPOT.
THE MARSH CREEK TRAIL JUST ENDS THERE.
I PRESUME WE WILL WORK ON PAVING THAT SOMEDAY SO THAT IT'S PART AND PARCEL CONSISTENT WITH THE REMAINDER OF THE TRAIL.
>> IT'S NOT A PART OF OUR CURRENT PROPOSAL, AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE NEGOTIATED WITH DWR, BUT I CAN SEE THAT TO BE AN OPTION.
>> IT'S BEEN IN OUR PLANS FOR A LONG TIME TO EXTEND THE MARSH CREEK TRAIL TO DUTCH SLOUGH.
THIS IS DOING THAT. IT'S JUST NOT PAID.
>> WHICH IS GREAT. I'M ALL FOR IT, BUT I'M ALSO FOR ACTUALLY PAVING IT AT SOME POINT.
WHAT ARE THE STATE'S LONG TERM PLANS FOR THE OTHER PARCELS THAT ARE NOT SET ASIDE FOR WETLANDS OR OTHER MARSH USES OR THERE'S A SECTION THAT'S GOING TO BE MANAGED GRASS.
I'M WONDERING IF OTHER THAN THE CITY PARCEL, ARE THERE ANY REMAINING PARCELS IN THE STATE PROJECT THAT WILL SOMEDAY HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS?
>> THE CONVERSATIONS WE'VE HAD WITH DUTCH SLOUGH HAVE ONLY BEEN FOCUSED ON THE EMERSON PARCEL.
I THINK THE MIDDLE PARCEL THAT THE NAME ESCAPES ME.
BASED ON MY VIEW OF IT, IT DOESN'T OFFER A LOT OF CONNECTIVITY THAT WOULD INVITE THE SAME LEVEL OF ACCESS THAT EMERSON DOES.
BUT THE THIRD PARCEL ALL THE WAY TO THE EAST IS GOING TO BE UNDERGOING RESTORATION ACTIVITIES STARTING NEXT YEAR.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO RE ENGAGE WITH THEM AND ASK, WHAT ARE THEIR PLANS AND HOW DOES IT FIT IN?
>> THANK YOU. CITY OF OAKLEY HAS 50 ACRES, I BELIEVE, IT SHOWS UP IN YOUR MAP, CITY MAP.
NOW, THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING FUNDING FOR IT.
BRIAN WAS TALKING ABOUT IT EARLIER, HOW ALL OUR CONNECTIONS GET LEVERAGED, BOTH FOR US AND FOR OUR PARTNERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THE CITY OF OAKLEY WOULD DO IS LEVERAGE THIS TO MAKE THAT CITY PARK MORE VIABLE FOR FUNDING BECAUSE IT WILL CONNECT TO A REGIONAL NETWORK OF TRAILS, ALL OF A SUDDEN BECAUSE WE'RE THERE.
THAT'S HOW THESE RELATIONSHIPS AS BRIAN PUTS OUT REALLY GET LEVERAGED AND HELP EACH OTHER.
I THINK BY DOING THIS, AND THE PROSPECT OF DOING THIS HELPS THE CITY WITH ITS VARIOUS FUNDING PURSUITS.
NOW, IN THE INTERIM, THERE EXISTS THEN ANOTHER ACCESS POINT AND THAT'S CELLARS AVENUE THAT CURRENTLY LEADS RIGHT INTO THE CITY PARCEL THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE CITY PARK.
CITY HAS SOME PLANS FOR IT, JUST NO FUNDS.
I THINK WITH BALL FIELDS AND OTHER REC USES THAT ARE APPROPRIATE FOR CITIES TO DO.
BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF PARKING THERE.
I THINK AT SOME POINT, YOU FOLKS WOULD WANT TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITY CREATING ANOTHER ACCESS POINT THAT DOES NOT BOTHER THE NEARBY NEIGHBORHOODS WITH CARS PARKING THERE AND IS CLOSER THAN EITHER OUR LITTLE PARKING LOT ON CYPRUS OR THE LARGER PARKING LOT AT BIG BREAK.
YOU WOULD HAVE A LARGE UNUSED FORMER AGRICULTURAL FIELD THAT THEY CURRENTLY USE FOR PARKING WHEN THEY HAVE EVENTS THERE.
I THINK IT WOULD DO US WELL TO DISCUSS WITH THE CITY, POSSIBLY CREATING AN ACCESS POINT AND PARKING POINT THERE FOR WHAT WE'RE OPERATING AT EMERSON.
>> THANK YOU FOR SHARING THAT VISION.
>> I JUST THROW THAT OUT THERE.
THAT WOULD BE TREMENDOUS FOR PARKING, AND JUST REQUIRE US TO HAVE A KEY TO THAT GATE AT THE END OF CELLARS.
THE HISTORIC VINEYARD IS PART OF THE EXCITEMENT.
THERE'S A VINEYARD THAT'S LITERALLY, I THINK PORTUGUESE VINES THAT WERE PLANTED LIKE 100 YEARS AGO,
[04:05:05]
AND THERE IS, IS IT CLINE.THERE'S A WINERY THAT USES THOSE GRAPES STILL.
THAT USES GRAPES OUT OF OAKLEY GENERALLY WHERE YOU SEE VINEYARDS.
BUT INCLUDING THAT HISTORIC ONE, AND I THINK IT'S CALLED BIG BREAK CABERNET OR SO. I HAVE A BOTTLE AT HOME.
THAT'S AN EXCITING PROSPECT FOR INTERPRETATION.
IS THAT GOING TO BE ENTIRELY FENCED OFF SO PEOPLE CAN'T GET IN THERE BECAUSE CURRENTLY THERE'S AN INFORMAL TRAIL AROUND THAT VINEYARD.
>> DUE TO THE SENSITIVITY OF THAT AREA, AND IT'S RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE THAT WE WOULD BE OPENING FROM MARSH CREEK, IT DOES SEEM PRETTY ATTRACTIVE FOR FOLKS TO START GOING OFF TRAIL THERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THE IDEA THERE TO ENCLOSE IT AS MUCH AS NEEDED TO KEEP PEOPLE ON TRAIL IN THE AREA.
>> I THINK THE FENCE IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT SHOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INTERPRETATION.
>> BECAUSE OF IT'S LOCATED RIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE PARK.
I VIEW THAT AS BEING ONE OF THE HEAVIEST INTERPRETIVE SITES.
>> WHEN I'VE BEEN OUT THERE, AND NOW IT'S BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES WITH JOHN CAIN, FOR INSTANCE, WHEN HE'S DOING THE DWR PROGRAMMING, HE'S THEIR CONSULTANT.
HE ALWAYS TAKES A GROUP AROUND THE MENU TO TALK ABOUT THAT HISTORY OF IT, AND IT'S FASCINATING.
WE WOULD WANT TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT INTERPRETATION.
LASTLY, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE MAYBE, I GUESS IT'S SEPARATE FROM THIS DEAL BECAUSE THIS STEAL IS TRIGGERED BY THE STATUS OF THE CONVEYANCE AND REVENUE BY.
JUST SEPARATE FROM THAT IS SOMETHING I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT WITH INR FOLKS FOR SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE AGAIN, JOHN CAIN TOLD ME IT WOULD BE SOMETHING THEY WOULD WELCOME.
IT WOULD BE GREAT IF OUR NATURALISTS OUT AT BIG BREAK HAD IMMEDIATE ACCESS.
WE ALREADY HAVE THE KEY, AND DWR SPOKES PERSON OUT THERE, CAIN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD WELCOME OUR DOING PROGRAMMING OUT THERE.
OUR NATURALISTS AT BIG BREAK HAVE THE ONE NATURE TRAIL.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VERSIONS OF NATURE THAT TRAIL TAKES IN THAT I'VE PARTICIPATED IN OVER THE YEARS, IT'S ANTS, IT'S OWLS, IT'S BEAVERS.
THEY'VE USED THE SAME TRAIL OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR NATURE PROGRAMMING.
THEY WOULD LOVE ACCESS TO DUTCH SLOUGH AREA FOR INTERPRETATION AND DOING PROGRAMMING OUT THERE.
I DON'T KNOW IT'S BEEN DISCUSSED AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DOABLE, AND GIVEN THIS AGREEMENT IN PLACE, IT GETS RID OF THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE OPERATING IT JUST BY REASON OF DOING PROGRAMMING.
THE KIND OF PROGRAMMING I'M TALKING ABOUT IS LIKE WHAT WE DO OUT AT THURGOOD MARSHALL, WHERE WE HAVE LAND BANK LAND WHERE WE NONETHELESS EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE TAKE PEOPLE OUT TO THURGOOD MARSHALL HAS ONE COMING UP IN JANUARY, I THINK, OR FEBRUARY.
ANYWAY, WE DO THAT PROGRAMMING IN LAND BANK AREA, I THINK WE SHOULD TRY TO GET THAT ACCESS FOR PROGRAMMING OUT THERE BECAUSE I BELIEVE OUR NATURALISTS WOULD JUST LOVE THAT OPPORTUNITY.
THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE I WANT TO SUGGEST.
THIS AND PUTTING THE BAY TRAIL PROJECT AT POINT PINOLE.
THAT'S MY CHRISTMAS TREE TODAY.
>> I SUPPORT THIS AND I'LL TURN THIS INTO A QUESTION DON'T WORRY.
BUT I WANT TO BUILD UPON THIS IDEA OF NETWORK AND LEVERAGE.
IT'S NOT JUST NETWORK AND LEVERAGE IN REGARDS TO THE IMMEDIATE COMMUNITY LOCATED NEAR THE DUTCH SLOW, BUT THERE'S ALSO A WHOLE WATER NETWORK THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MENTIONED HERE AND THAT WE DO ALREADY HAVE A PARTNERSHIP WITH DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES IN REGARDS TO DEL VALLE.
WHERE WE EARLIER THIS YEAR DID APPROVE A FIVE YEAR EXTENSION AT DEL VALLE, AND I KNOW WE'RE WORKING IN TERMS OF A LONGER TERM AGREEMENT WITH DWR AS WELL AS CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS AT DEL VALLE.
BUT WITH THAT NETWORK AND LEVERAGE, THE CALIFORNIA STATE WATER PROJECT, WHICH IS WHAT DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCES WAS FORMED TO MANAGE AND MONITOR.
WE HAVE AT LEAST THREE OF US WHO REPRESENT COMMUNITIES THAT ARE A PART OF THE STATE WATER PROJECT WHERE THE WATER IS SOURCED FROM LAKE DEL VALLE, IT'S APPROXIMATELY 600,000-700,000 PEOPLE
[04:10:03]
WITHIN THE EAST BAY THAT ARE A PART OF THE SYSTEM.IN TERMS OF NETWORK AND LEVERAGE, I KNOW IN OCTOBER, DR. WASP AND I, WE DID HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ATTEND THE LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT LIAISON MEETING, WHERE IT WAS BROUGHT UP THE SOUTH BAY AQUEDUCT, AND THAT'S THE AQUEDUCT THAT BRINGS WATER INTO THREE SERVICE AREAS, ZONE 7 WATER AGENCY SERVICE AREA, AS WELL AS THE ALAMEDA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT SERVICE AREA, AND THEN DOWN IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY.
THERE IS INTEREST IN OPENING UP THE SOUTH BAY AQUEDUCT TRAIL, AND WHAT I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT AND THIS IS CERTAINLY SEPARATE FROM HERE, BUT THERE'S THE POTENTIAL OF THIS COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAM EXTENDING BEYOND THE DELTA REGION WITH THE DELTA CONVEYANCE PROJECT.
I THINK THAT AS WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR LONG TERM CONVERSATION ABOUT DEL VALLE, THERE MAY BE AN OPPORTUNITY ALSO TO THINK ABOUT THE SOUTH BAY AQUEDUCT FROM BETHANY, WHICH IS BEING OPERATED AS A STATE PARK.
TO THE DEL VALLE AREA BECAUSE THE SOUTH BAY AQUEDUCT OBVIOUSLY RUNS TO DEL VALLE.
THAT'S HOW WE GET SOME OF THE WATER SUPPLY OR MOST OF THE WATER SUPPLY, ESPECIALLY DURING DROUGHT YEARS AT DEL VALLE.
I'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE US IN TERMS OF NETWORK AND LEVERAGE, REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH DWR.
I THINK THAT THIS IS A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CONTINUE.
IN TERMS OF INTERPRETATION, I THINK THE INTERPRETATION DOES EXTEND BEYOND BIG BREAK, I KNOW WHEN I WAS ON THE FREMONT PODCAST TALKING ABOUT COYOTE HILLS, I MENTIONED BIG BREAK AND HOW IT'S A GREAT DAY TRIP FROM FREMONT BECAUSE IT'S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO SEE WHERE YOUR WATER IS COMING FROM.
YES, THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN FREMONT DO RECEIVE WATER FROM THE SACRAMENTO SAN JOAQUIN DELTA.
THE INTERPRETATION CAN EXTEND FAR BEYOND JUST BIG BREAK AND ALSO BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS WHO ARE VISITING COYOTE HILLS TO ALSO GO TO BIG BREAK ON THAT DAY TRIP TO SEE WHERE THEIR WATER IS COMING FROM.
MY QUESTION, I SAID DID MAKE THIS TO A QUESTION, HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT THAT IN REGARDS TO DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES? HOW WE MAY, IN TERMS OF STRENGTHENING OUR PARTNERSHIP, FOR HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT DUTCH SU, KNOWING THAT WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON, AND I RECOGNIZE IT MAY BE DIFFERENT PARTS OF D WE'RE TALKING TO ABOUT DEL VALLE VERSUS DUTCH SU, AND THEN ALSO WHOEVER MAY BE THE SOUTH BAY AQUEDUCT PERSON IN TERMS OF OPENING UP ACCESS ON THAT TRAIL.
BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S THE SAME DIVISION WITHIN OUR STATE GOVERNMENT.
HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT THESE CONVERSATIONS WITH DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES? TALK ABOUT ALL THESE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES?
>> I THINK WHAT I HEARD IN THAT CONVERSATION WITH LRPD IS THEY'RE POTENTIALLY INTERESTED IN BEING THE LEAD ON THAT SOUTH BAY AQUEDUCT.
IT WAS REALLY COOL CONVERSATION ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS, AND WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING UP AND I RECENTLY CONNECTED WITH THEIR GM, AND THEN WE HAVE A FOLLOW UP MEETING WITH OUR STAFF AND THEIR PROJECTS MANAGER.
I JUST LOOK FORWARD TO US WORKING TOGETHER TO THINK ABOUT THE TRAIL PROJECTS AND CONNECTIONS IN THAT AREA AND THEN IF WE CAN SUPPORT FUNDING PROPOSALS TOGETHER.
AGREED. IT'S EXCITING. THANK YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DO YOU HAVE ANY PUBLIC? SORRY.
THANKS FOR ALL YOUR WORK. THIS IS A DREAM PLACE.
EVERY TIME I GO TO THE DELTA, IT'S LIKE ADVENTURE LAND.
I LOVE IT. MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE, AND I JUST THINK OF MAYBE IN MY CHILDHOOD.
I KNOW WE'RE GOING TO DO LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I BET WE CAN CONTROL IT BY PUTTING UP A GATE SOMEWHERE, BUT IF I HAD A JET SKI, I WOULD SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THERE.
HOW DO WE GOING TO CONTROL THAT? YOU PICTURE A NICE LITTLE WATER CRAFT OUT THERE.
I WANT TO MORE OUT THERE TOO AND SPEND THE NIGHT. HOW'S THAT GOING TO WORK OUT?
>> OPEN BAY PART OF THIS RESTORATION SITE IS ONE OF THE MORE SENSITIVE AREAS FROM A HABITAT PERSPECTIVE.
DWR IS PRETTY INTERESTED IN KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER, AT LEAST OUT OF THE WATER ON MOTORIZED VEHICLES.
THAT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD ASKED, NOT FOR, BUT WE'RE JUST TRYING TO WHEN WE WERE EARLY IN OUR NEGOTIATIONS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WOULD ALLOW.
I THINK THAT THE PARK DISTRICTS RESPONSIBILITY HERE WOULD BE TO MANAGE THE ALLOWABLE RECREATION, THE LEGAL RECREATION, WHICH WOULD BE ON TRAIL.
I THINK KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WATER COULD BE SOMETHING THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT GROUP MIGHT BE PARTY TO, BUT I DON'T THINK WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IF
[04:15:01]
FOLKS ARE ENTERING THE BAY FROM ELSEWHERE IN THE DELTA.LAST TIME I WAS THERE, THEY HAD A BOOM ACROSS THE CHANNEL OF THE MARSH.
THERE IS INFRASTRUCTURE TO PREVENT THAT TYPE OF ACCESS.
BUT THAT'S GOING TO BE A FACTOR REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT DUTCH OPENS.
BUT I THINK THE WAY OUR AGREEMENT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IS THAT IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT THE PARK DISTRICT WILL ADVOCATE FOR AND OR REALLY BE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR MANAGING.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.
>> ANY BOARD COMMENTS? I'LL JUST SAY THAT I'VE BEEN OUT THERE ON, WAS IT A SPECIAL TOUR I THINK? IT WAS A SPECIAL TOUR THAT WAS OFFERED.
DIRECTOR COFFEE, LET ME KNOW ABOUT IT.
I JOINED THEM AND IT IS A VERY SPECIAL PLACE.
I CALL IT THE THE END OF THE WORLD.
YOU GO OUT THERE AND IT'S LIKE YOU CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER, AND IT'S JUST THE DELTA'S OUT THERE AND A LOT OF WILDLIFE.
I REALLY SUPPORT THIS BIG TIME.
IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD. DO I HAVE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS AGREEMENT?
>> OPPOSED? CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.
[FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION]
APPROVAL OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ANNUAL REPORT.>> GOOD EVENING, DIRECTOR OF MACARIO, BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
KATIE DIGNAN ASSISTANT FINANCE OFFICER HERE TODAY TO PRESENT OUR ANNUAL REPORT FROM OUR LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.
WHILE I'M HERE PRESENTING ON THE PLAN, I REALLY NEED TO GIVE CREDIT TO MY COLLEAGUES THAT ACTUALLY IMPLEMENTED MOST OF THE MAJORITY OF THIS WORK FROM PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, STEWARDSHIP, MAINTENANCE AND SKILLED TRADES, EXTERNAL AFFAIRS, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND OPERATION.
IT'S REALLY A TEAM EFFORT IN ORDER FOR US TO ACCOMPLISH ALL OF THESE MITIGATION ACTIVITIES THAT I'LL BE RUNNING THROUGH.
TO START OFF A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ON OUR HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FEMA, EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY DISASTER FUNDING, THE PARK DISTRICT MUST HAVE A LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN THAT'S UPDATED EVERY FIVE YEARS.
THE LAST UPDATE TO THE PLAN OCCURRED IN 2022 AND WAS ADOPTED BY THE BOARD IN APRIL OF 2023.
THE PURPOSE OF THE PLAN IS TO IDENTIFY ACTIVITIES TO PROTECT THE PARK DISTRICT FROM NATURAL DISASTERS AND HAZARDS.
HAZARD TYPES INCLUDE THINGS SUCH AS STORMWATER FLOODING, WILDFIRE, SEVERE WEATHER, AND IN 2022 UPDATE, WE INCLUDED CLIMATE CHANGE IS ALSO ONE OF OUR HAZARDS.
HAZARD MITIGATION PLANS MISSION IS TO ASSESS NATURAL HAZARDS OF CONCERN FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, EVALUATE MITIGATION MEASURES TO REDUCE RISK AND VULNERABILITIES, AND INCREASE THE PARK DISTRICTS RESILIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY.
THE GOALS OF THE PLAN ARE TO REDUCE THREATS TO LIFE SAFETY FOR VISITORS, STAFF, AND RESIDENTS ADJACENT TO THE PARKS, REDUCE DAMAGE TO LAND FACILITIES, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND ADJACENT AREAS FOR FUTURE NATURAL HAZARDS, PROTECT ENVIRONMENTALLY IMPORTANT LANDS AND FACILITIES AND SITES WITH HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE, ENHANCE EMERGENCY PLANNING, DISASTER RESPONSE, AND POST DISASTER RECOVERY, AND INCREASE EDUCATION AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF NATURAL HAZARDS AND MITIGATIONS.
THE PARK DISTRICT PLAN REQUIRES WE PROVIDE AN ANNUAL REPORT TO REVIEW OUR MITIGATION ACTIONS, DOCUMENT PROGRESS MADE TOWARDS MEETING THOSE ACTIONS, AND IDENTIFY ANY CHANGES NEEDED TO THE PLAN.
ON SEPTEMBER 4TH, WE HOSTED THE ANNUAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN REVIEW PUBLIC MEETING.
WE HAD OVER 34 MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ATTEND AND 22 ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTING LOCAL AND REGIONAL STAKEHOLDERS.
NO CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE PLAN BASED ON PUBLIC COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS, AND THE ANNUAL REPORT WAS POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE ON NOVEMBER 18TH, AND WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS.
TO BEGIN THE REPORT, WE PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON ANY NATURAL DISASTERS THAT OCCURRED SINCE WE ADOPTED THE PLAN.
IN 2023, THE PARK DISTRICT A SAYING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE FROM THE WINTER STORMS. THERE WERE OVER 150 SITES ACROSS 30 PARKS WITH REPORTED DAMAGE.
WE CONTINUE TO WORK WITH CAL OES AND FEMA TO OBTAIN APPROVAL FOR THE REPAIR PROJECTS, AS WAS HIGHLIGHTED IN AN EARLIER AGENDA ITEM, TO APPROPRIATE THE 2023 WINTER STORMS, FEMA FUNDING FROM CAL OES, AND FEMA WILL REIMBURSE US UP TO 93.75% OF THE PROJECT COST.
WE INCLUDED THIS MAP TO PROVIDE HIGHLIGHTS OF WHERE THE STORM DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED FROM
[04:20:05]
THE 2017 WINTER STORMS AS WELL AS THE 2023 DECLARED DISASTERS AND SHOWS YOU THE NUMBER OF SITES AND MAGNITUDE.WE'RE USING THIS DATA GOING FORWARD TO ASSIST IN PRIORITIZING FUTURE MITIGATION PROJECTS.
NOW I'LL WALK THROUGH OUR MITIGATION ACTIONS PROGRESS REPORT FOR OUR 17 MITIGATION ACTIONS.
FIRST, OUR MULTI-HAZARD ACTIONS WAS GRADING AND REMOVAL OF FLAMMABLE VEGETATION ON PARK DISTRICT FIRE ROADS AND TRAILS.
FOR 2024, WE COMPLETED GRADING OF OVER 624 MILES.
IN OCTOBER OF 2023, WE UPGRADED THE DIVISION THE DISTRICT'S LOW BAND MICROWAVE SYSTEM ON CHANNEL 3 TRANSMITTERS AND RECEIVERS.
THE LOW BAND MICROWAVE INFRASTRUCTURE ENSURES THAT OPERATION STAFF THE DISTRICT ARE ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT INDEPENDENT COMMUNICATIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER AS WELL AS WITH PUBLIC SAFETY DISPATCH.
ITEM 3, WE IDENTIFY AND EVALUATE OPTIONS FOR FACILITIES THAT NEED BACKUP POWER SUPPLY.
WE HAVE AUTOMATIC GENERATORS AT THIS BUILDING AT PERALTA OAKS, THE SOUTH COUNTY EQUIPMENT SHOP, PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS, FIRE STATION 1, POINT PANOL AND THE BRAZIL ROOM.
WE INSTALLED A MICRO GRID SYSTEM AT TRADAU TRAINING CENTER WITH A SOLAR ARRAY AND BACKUP BATTERY SYSTEM, AND WE HAVE MANUAL SWITCH LOCATIONS AT CAMP OYO, LITTLE HILLS, CROWN BEACH, AND DEL VALLE SERVICE YARD.
THE FOURTH ACTION ITEM IS EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE COMPLETED DEVELOPMENT OF A FINE SCALE VEGETATION MAP TO PROVIDE WILDFIRE RISK MAPPING AND TOPOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE DATABASE FOR ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES.
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF THE COMPLETED WORK FOR THE FIRST FOUR ACTION ITEMS. NEXT, WE HAVE FOR ACTION 5, WE COMMITTED TO ENHANCING PUBLIC EDUCATION AND AWARENESS.
TO DATE, WE'VE CREATED AND WIDELY DISTRIBUTED WILDFIRE SAFETY INFORMATION AND SPECIFIC PROJECT UPDATES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, POSTCARDS, BROCHURES, THE PARK DISTRICT'S GENERAL MONTHLY EMAIL NEWSLETTER AND THE RNA ACTIVITY GUIDE.
WE POSTED EXTREME WEATHER WARNINGS FOR AFFECTED PARKS ON WEB PAGES AND FOR OUR IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN PROJECTS, INCLUDING GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION PROJECTS AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREEN FLEET MANAGEMENT PLAN WITH A SCOPE TO REPLACE 158 VEHICLES WITH IMPROVED TECHNOLOGY AND 13 EV CHARGING STATIONS.
WE'VE REPLACED 86 VEHICLES AND EQUIPMENT WITH GREEN ALTERNATIVES, AND HERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF OUR OUTREACH EDUCATION FOR FUEL REDUCTION WORK, AS WELL AS THE EV CHARGING STATION BEING INSTALLED HERE AT THE PERALTA OAKS ADMIN BUILDING.
FOR ACTION ITEM 7, THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HAYWARD SHORELINE PROJECTS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE, COASTAL FLOODING, AND SEA LEVEL RISE.
THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE THE HAYWARD MARSH RESTORATION PROJECT AS DESIGN AND BEING PERMITTED.
WE ALSO HAVE OUR HAYWARD AREA SHORELINE PLANNING AGENCY HASPA, IS IMPLEMENTING THE HAYWARD SHORELINE MASTER PLAN.
ACTION ITEM 8 TO ADDRESS DROUGHT AND WATER SHORTAGE ISSUES SINCE 2023, WE'VE INSTALLED A REHABILITATED 22 WATER SYSTEMS IN OVER 10 PARKS.
THIS INCLUDES BRUSHY PEAK, MISSION PEAK, SOLE, LAS TRAPAS, CTRALOMA, BLACK DIAMOND MINES, DRY CREEK GARON, PLEASANTON RIDGE, ARCINA STRAIT, CROCKETT HILLS AND BRIONES.
FOR EARTHQUAKE ACTIONS, WE HAVE CONSTRUCTION ON OUR PUBLIC SAFETY HEADQUARTERS IN ADMIN BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET, AND IT IS IN PROGRESS WITH SEISMIC UPGRADES FOR THIS ESSENTIAL SERVICES BUILDING.
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF IMPROVEMENTS TO LIVESTOCK WATER TROUGH TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO WATER IN THE LANDS.
WE HAVE OUR HAYWARD SHORELINE RESTORATION PROJECT AND THE SEISMIC UPGRADES THAT ARE OCCURRING ACROSS THE STREET AT PEARL TO OAKS NORTH BUILDING.
TO ADDRESS LOCALIZED FLOODING, WE HAVE THE ACTION TO IMPLEMENT THE LAKE TEMESCAL DAM RESTORATION PLAN.
SO FAR WE'VE COMPLETED THE CONCEPTUAL DREDGING AND RESTORATION PROJECT ASSESSMENT, AND WE'VE INSTALLED OXYAGATION SYSTEM TO THE LAKE FOR WATER QUALITY.
ACTION ITEM 11 WAS TO RESTORE VULNERABLE AREAS IMPACTED BY THE STORM AND FLOOD EVENTS AND MAKE THEM MORE RESILIENT TO THE NEXT FLOOD EVENT.
WE'VE COMPLETED ROAD EMBANKMENT, AND BRIDGE REPAIRS IN ANTHONY CHABOT CONTRA LOMA, DON CASTRO, AND VASCO HILLS.
TO ADDRESS DRAINAGE SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS, WE'VE COMPLETED CULVERT REPLACEMENTS IN ANTHONY CHABOT, COL CANYON, DIABLO FOOTHILLS, TILDEN, AND LAKE CHABOT.
HERE'S PHOTOS OF WORK COMPLETED IN BRIONES AND CULVERT REPLACEMENT AT LAKE CHABOT.
ACTION 13 WAS TO IMPLEMENT THE VEGETATION MANAGEMENT FUEL REDUCTION PROJECT FOR THE WILDFIRE HAZARD MITIGATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WE'VE BEGAN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM AND PRE DISASTER MITIGATION PROJECTS.
WE HAVE WORK GOING ON AT GRIZZLY PEAK COLLABORATIVE.
[04:25:03]
WE HAVE OUR COASTAL CONSERVANCY PROJECTS IN TILDEN, ANTHONY SHABA ARCINA STREET, AND LAKE CHABOT.TO ADDRESS TREE DIE-BACK AND HAZARDOUS TREE ABATEMENT PLANS AND PROGRAMS, WE HAVE REMOVED APPROXIMATELY 240,000 DEAD AND DYING TREES IN TILDEN, MILLER KNOX, WILDCAT CANYON, ANTHONY CHABOT, AND CLAIRE CANYON.
THEN WE CONTINUE TO IMPLEMENT DEFENSIBLE SPACE PROJECTS WITHIN THE PARK DISTRICT.
HERE'S SOME PHOTOS OF WORK THAT WE HAVE COMPLETED.
>> THE LAST TWO ACTION ITEMS ARE MANAGING THE PARK DISTRICT'S LIVESTOCK GRAZING PROGRAM.
WE HAVE OVER 84,000 GRAZED ACRES ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
THERE'S 45 GRAZING TENANTS AND 67 GRAZING LICENSES.
THEN TO ADDRESS PLANTING OF MORE NATIVE AND FIRE-TOLERANT VEGETATION AND SHADED FIELD BREAK, WE'VE COMPLETED OVER 20 ACRES OF EUCALYPTUS REMOVAL AND ACTIVE RESTORATION AT CARQUINEZ REGIONAL STRAIT, SCENIC FIRE FOOTPRINT, FIVE ACRES OF EUCALYPTUS REMOVAL AND NATIVE MEADOW, POLLINATOR GARDENS AT POINT PINOLE, POLLINATOR GARDENS AT COYOTE HILLS, AND 1,500 LINEAR FEET RESTORED AT BRUSHY PEAK.
HERE'S PHOTOS OF OUR GRAZING PROGRAM AT SUNOL AND PLANTING NATIVE FIRE-TOLERANT VEGETATION AT CARQUINEZ REGIONAL SHORELINE.
AS PART OF THE LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION ANNUAL UPDATE, ANY PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PLAN ARE SUGGESTED AND REVIEWED DURING THE PUBLIC MEETING.
WE HAVE TWO PROPOSED REVISIONS.
FIRST IS TO REVISE THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR ITEM 1, WHICH WAS THE INGRESS AND EGRESS IMPROVEMENTS.
OUR EXISTING EXISTING TRAIL AND ROAD NETWORK IS OVER 1330 MILES, AND THAT IS WHAT WE INDICATED IN THE PLAN, SO WE'RE WANTING TO REVISE THE PROJECT SCOPE TO INDICATE STRATEGIC FIRE ROUTES AT APPROXIMATELY 350 MILES.
FOR ACTION ITEM 6, WHICH WAS THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GREEN FLEET MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WE WANT TO REMOVE THE TARGET OF 22 VEHICLES WITH ENGINE DOWNSIZING AS IT'S OBSOLETE WITH THE ADOPTION OF STANDARD, SMALLER TURBO CHARGES AND HYBRID ENGINES, AND INCREASED VEHICLE REPLACEMENT TARGET FOR IMPROVED FUEL MILEAGE TO 101 VEHICLES.
WITH THAT, WE'RE REQUESTING APPROVAL OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN ANNUAL REPORT.
THANK YOU. I HAVE ALL MY COLLEAGUES STILL HERE TO ANSWER ANY SPECIFIC QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON MITIGATION ACTION.
>> ARE THEY STILL AWAKE OR? [LAUGHTER] OF COURSE, THIS IS SCINTILLATING.
ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS FOR KATIE? ALL THOSE ELEMENTS TO IT, THEY'RE NUMBERED.
DO WE PICK THAT OR IS THAT PART OF THE PLAN THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW?
>> WE IDENTIFY THOSE ACTIONS WHEN WE DO THE PLAN.
SOME CARRIED OVER FROM OUR PREVIOUS PLAN, AND THEN OTHERS WERE NEW THAT WE PROPOSED IN 2022.
>> MAYBE I MISSED IT, BUT I DON'T THINK I SAW ANYTHING THERE ABOUT REGRADING FIRE ROADS OR ANY NATURAL SURFACE TRAILS TO BETTER SHED THE WATER TO KEEP THEM FROM BECOMING RAVINES WHEN BIG ATMOSPHERIC STRICT RIVERS COME THROUGH.
IS THAT ON THERE ANYWHERE? YOU TALKED ABOUT CULVERTS. I SAW THAT.
>> I CAN SHARE THAT THAT'S PART OF OUR VISION FOR HOW TO BETTER MANAGE OUR FIRE ROADS AND TRAILS, AND CHRIS AND OUR MASS TEAM AND OUR ROAD AND TRAIL TEAM START LOOKING ACROSS THE DISTRICT, HOW CAN WE BETTER TREAT OUR FIRE ROADS TO BE MORE RESILIENT? WE'RE ALSO LOOKING AT LIKE, WHERE CAN WE GET RID OF FIRE ROADS? WHERE CAN WE CONVERT THEM TO TRAILS? THERE'S LOTS OF OPPORTUNITIES THERE.
THIS IS A SUITE OF PROJECTS, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY NOT INCLUSIVE OF EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING THAT'S CONNECTED TO THAT.
YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT IN CALLING THAT ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY.
>> I'M JUST LOOKING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN A LITTLE MORE QUICKLY.
I'M LOOKING FOR A VEHICLE THAT WILL MAKE IT HAPPEN QUICKLY.
>> I THINK ALL OF THE TOOLS FOR THE POSSIBLE QUICKNESS FOR IT TO HAPPEN ARE THERE.
IT'S JUST LIKE GETTING OUR TEAM INTO THE BUILDING TOWARDS GETTING SOME OF THAT WORK DONE.
IF I CAN TALK WITH KATIE TOO IF THERE'S A WAY TO ACCESS FUNDING THROUGH THIS, THEN WE CAN ALWAYS BUILD IT INTO THIS.
>> AS WE DO OUR NEXT UPDATE, WE CAN ADD THAT TO THE SCOPE OF WORK OF THINGS THAT WE WILL ADDRESS GOING FORWARD AND HOW WE PLAN ON DOING THAT.
>> BUT FOR NOW, A LOT OF THAT WORK IS IN-HOUSE, SO IT'S JUST.
>> I KNOW WE GOT A LOT OF FEMA MONEY RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR THAT HAD BEEN IN THE WORKS AND WAS GRANTED AND THEN PUSHED OUT IN JANUARY.
[04:30:01]
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S LESS MONEY COMING FROM WASHINGTON THESE DAYS OR FROM FEDERAL MONEY THROUGH THE STATE AS WELL.I'M JUST WONDERING HOW IS THAT LOOKING NOW? IS THAT STILL THE SAME OR IS IT GOING TO BE AN ISSUE FOR US GOING FORWARD, AT LEAST FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS OR?
>> UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY NEW CALLS FOR HAZARD MITIGATION FUNDING.
BUT WITH THE RESULT OF THE FIRES, THERE IS AS PART OF LAW WHEN THEY DO OBLIGATE NEW DISASTER FUNDS, A CERTAIN PORTION IS SUPPOSED TO GO TO HAZARD MITIGATION.
IT'S DEPENDENT ON THE ACTUAL DECLARED DISASTER HAPPENING.
BUT WE HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY NEW APPLICATIONS FOR PRE-DISASTER MITIGATION FUNDING.
>> IF THERE'S FIRES ELSEWHERE, THAT WOULD BE MONEY THAT WOULD BE JUST FOR THOSE AREAS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM?
>> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> THANK YOU. THAT'S A COMMENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> THAT WAS A COMPREHENSIVE REPORT, AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO SEE LIKE THE WAY YOU HAD THE SPREADSHEETS AND STUFF JUST AS FAR AS WHERE THE DIFFERENT DISASTER MITIGATION ACTIONS HAD HAPPENED AT THE PARK THROUGH THE YEAR.
>> I REALLY LIKE THIS MAP THAT WAS CREATED AS PART OF THIS PROCESS, SHOWING THE 2017 AND 2023 WINTER STORM.
DAMAGE. ACTUALLY, THIS IS A MAP THAT I'VE HAD IN MY MIND, AND I'VE BEEN WANTING TO SEE AND I SEE IT HERE.
I GUESS MY ONLY POINT HERE IS TO SHOW BECAUSE I FIND SOMETIMES WHEN WE HEAR THE PARK DISTRICT TALKED ABOUT THE CLIMATE CHANGING AND SOME OF THE CONCERNS, WE IMMEDIATELY GO TO SEA LEVEL RISE, WHICH ABSOLUTELY IS A CONCERN, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE THINK ABOUT LONG-TERM PLANNING.
BUT WHEN WE THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NEAR-TERM IN TERMS OF EXTREME WEATHER GOING FROM DROUGHTS TO FLOODS, ETC, A LOT OF IT'S HAPPENING AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS MAP SHOWS TO ME.
I THINK WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO BOTH, WHICH CERTAINLY HAVING THIS PLAN AND TRYING TO WORK WITH FEMA FOR FUNDING FOR WHEN WE HAVE THIS DAMAGE IS IMPORTANT. THANK YOU.
>> IT'S A GOOD SUMMARY OF WHAT THE HECK CAN GO WRONG.
IT'S LIKE ALL THOSE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT CAN HAPPEN TO OUR FACILITIES AND OUR STUFF OUTSIDE, INSIDE.
IT'S REALLY INTERESTING. LET'S SEE.
THIS CALLS FOR AN APPROVAL. DO WE HAVE A MOTION?
>> [NOISE] THE NEXT ONE IS ITEM E2, AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH MGT TO INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT TO $3.2 MILLION FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE, HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, SERVICES, AND SUPPORTS.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT MERCURIO AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
DAVID RUSTING, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER FOR THE PARK DISTRICT.
HERE TO SEEK APPROVAL FOR THE AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT WITH MGT TO INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT WITH MGT TO $3.2 MILLION FOR TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE, HARDWARE, AND SOFTWARE, SERVICES, AND SUPPORT.
JUST A STARTING COMMENT, I HAVE THREE PRESENTATIONS RELATED TO SIMILAR THINGS.
I WAS HEARTENED TO HEAR THE COMMENTS EARLIER BY THE BOARD AROUND CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT.
THE WORK HAS BEEN PART OF SOME OF THE PRODUCT THAT WAS DONE FOR CENTRALIZED PROCUREMENT TO TRY TO GET A BETTER HANDLE ON THAT, AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH FINANCE AND THE GENERAL MANAGER'S OFFICE AS WE GO FORWARD.
MGT, ALSO FORMALLY KNOWN AS AMS.NET, PROVIDES A PARK DISTRICT WITH NETWORK CABLING, BUILD-OUT, EQUIPMENT, INSTALLATION, SUPPORT SERVICE FOR VARIOUS SITES THROUGHOUT THE PARK DISTRICT.
IN MAY OF 2025, THERE WAS A RESOLUTION THE BOARD APPROVED TO INCREASE THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT TO 2.4 MILLION.
WE TRACK THE ACTUAL SPEND OF THE CONTRACT FROM INCEPTION TO CURRENT, AND THE EXPENDITURES THAT MGT USES, THEY LEVERAGE A COMPETITIVELY BID CONTRACT CALLED THE FOCUS AGREEMENT.
THIS IS THROUGH THE COUNTY OF MERCED.
FOR 2026, WE WOULD LIKE TO INCREASE THE AUTHORIZATION TO $3.2 MILLION.
THIS REPRESENTS AN $800,000 INCREASE.
[04:35:03]
FOR 2026, THIS IS FOR VARIOUS PROJECT WORK WE DO ACROSS THE ENTIRE PARK DISTRICT.IT ALSO INCLUDES HARDWARE, LICENSING, SOFTWARE, AND SUPPORT FOR INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE BASE THIS NUMBER ON HISTORICAL COSTS AND EXPENDITURES AND PROJECTIONS FOR 2026 BUDGETS.
AGAIN, I NOTE THAT THIS ISN'T A BASE BUDGET INCREASE, BUT RATHER AN AMENDMENT TO A CONTRACT TO ALLOW THE PARK DISTRICT TO SPEND BUDGETED FUNDS.
>> I'M JUST CURIOUS. HAVE WE ALREADY SPENT THE 2.4 MILLION THAT WAS APPROVED IN MAY 2025, OR ARE WE ANTICIPATING TO REACH THAT IN THE NEAR-TERM?
>> THE EXTENSION UP TO 2.4, I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT THE EXACT AMOUNT.
WE ARE ALMOST THROUGH IT ALL, NOT QUITE BUT I'M GUESSING MAYBE 80K LEFT ON IT, MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE.
I'D HAVE TO GO BACK AND LOOK. IT'S THE END OF YEAR, SO A LOT OF TIMES ARE ORDERS THAT ARE GOING IN AND PROCESSING SO THE POS HAVEN'T RESOLVED YET.
>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VARIOUS PARK SITES, I KNOW WE HAVE OFFICES AT PARK SITES, BUT THEN WE ALSO HAVE KIOSKS AT PARK SITES THAT COULD ALSO BENEFIT FROM NETWORK ACCESS, AND I'M CURIOUS, I GUESS WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR SOME OF THESE KIOSKS AND WHEN WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET AN UPDATE IN REGARDS TO THAT.
>> YES, THIS ABSOLUTELY CAN INCLUDE KIOSKS AT PARK SITES.
WE WORK WITH THE OPERATIONS DIVISION AND WE MEET WITH THEM MONTHLY ON THE ACTUAL PROJECTS THEY HAVE FOR SITES AND WE RATIONALIZE AND PRIORITIZE THOSE WITH THEM.
THEN WE HAVE SOME THAT ARE ACTIVE NOW AND WE CAN PROVIDE THAT INFORMATION TO YOU.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? ANY COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC?
>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS.
>> ANY COMMENTS? WOULD SOMEBODY CARE TO MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS ONE?
>> OPPOSED? CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> I'M GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM THE NEXT ITEM.
I KNOW LUANA JUST GOT UP, BUT I GUESS THERE'S STILL FOUR PEOPLE. WE'RE OKAY.
>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY?
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY SHE'S APPARENTLY MADE THE DECISION, BUT I DON'T.
>> IF YOU HAVE SOME A CONFLICT, YOU DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY, BUT YOU MAY NOT HAVE A CONFLICT.
IF YOU WANTED TO CONSULT, WE COULD DO IT.
>> I BELIEVE I MAY HAVE A CONFLICT, SO I THINK IT WOULD BE BEST FOR ME TO RECUSE MYSELF.
>> WHICH ONE IS THIS? I LOST MY PLACE HERE. THIS IS ITEM 3?
THIS IS THE AUTHORIZATION FOR AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE CONTRACT WITH HELIENT TO 1.6 MILLION FOR NETWORK SERVER MONITORING HARDWARE AND MICROSOFT AZURE CLOUD SERVICES.
SOME BACKGROUND. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT HEARD, LAST YEAR, WE HAD A SIMILAR PRESENTATION.
HELIENT IS A MANAGED SERVICES COMPANY THAT PROVIDES MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY ENVIRONMENT FOR US.
THEY DO MULTIPLE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY, NETWORK MONITORING, WHAT AZURE CLOUD INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT, WHICH IS WHAT OUR GIS SYSTEMS ARE BASED ON.
WE USE THEIR EXPERTISE FOR MULTIPLE SERVICES, INCLUDING OUR CLOUD SERVICES, NETWORK MONITORING, ANALYSIS OF OUR INFRASTRUCTURE REFRESH FOR OUR SERVERS AND EMERGENCY BREAK-FIX.
WE ACTUALLY HAD A VERY SUCCESSFUL PROJECT WITH THEM FOR THE PUBLIC SAFETY SERVER INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE REPLACED THIS YEAR.
THESE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED 24/7 365, WHILE OTHER PROJECTS ARE LIKE A SERVER REPLACEMENT WOULD BE DONE AS A PROJECT OR THERE WOULD BE ON-DEMAND SUPPORT.
THE CURRENT CONTRACT WAS APPROVED FOR $825,000 LAST DECEMBER.
THIS LEVERAGES THE NATIONAL COOPERATIVE PURCHASING ALLIANCE, OMNIA PARTNERS CONTRACT.
[04:40:06]
THE REQUEST FOR THIS COMING YEAR IS TO INCREASE THE CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION TO $1.6 MILLION.THE CURRENT SPEND AS I NOTED, WAS 825,000.
THE FUTURE SPEND, 1.6 MILLION.
THAT $775,000 INCREASE IS DUE TO A BREAKDOWN, WE'RE SEPARATING THEM OUT, $625,000 FOR MICROSOFT AZURE CLOUD SERVICES, NETWORK MONITORING, AND TECHNICAL ENGINEERING AND EMERGENCY BREAK-FIX.
THE 150,000 IS FOR SERVER INFRASTRUCTURE REFRESH AND REPLACEMENT, WHICH IS A CRITICAL NEED FOR OUR SERVERS HERE IN PERALTA, WHICH ARE QUITE AGED.
AGAIN, THE ABOVE NOTED AMOUNTS ARE NOT BUDGET INCREASES, BUT RATHER AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT TO ALLOW THE PARK DISTRICT TO SPEND BUDGETED FUNDS.
>> ANY QUESTIONS? ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS?
>> THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
>> [NOISE] EXCUSE ME. ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD?
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THAT.
I'LL LOOK FOR A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THIS INCREASE.
>> OPPOSED? CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY. THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE STAYING UP FOR THE NEXT ONE, TOO?
>> THANK YOU. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION FOR AN AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF CONTRACTS SPENT WITH SHI TO FOUR MILLION FOR THE PURCHASE OF COMPUTERS AND SOFTWARE.
SHI IS A VALUE-ADDED RESELLER THAT PROVIDES A VARIETY OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE TO THE DISTRICT.
THIS RANGES FROM COMPUTERS, MONITORS, LAPTOPS, DESKTOPS, TO PERIPHERALS THAT WE MAY USE ACROSS THE ENTERPRISE.
IT ALSO INCLUDES OUR ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE, ALL THE MICROSOFT SOFTWARE WE USE.
THEIR SCALE ALLOWS US TO EFFECTIVELY PROCURE THE TECHNOLOGY AND PRODUCTS AT COMPETITIVE PRICING.
WE CAN TRACK OUR SPEND AND DO BETTER BUDGET FORECASTING, AND WE CAN ESCALATE WITH VENDORS IF WE HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE SUPPORT.
WE USE THIS CURRENTLY FOR THINGS LIKE I SAID, MICROSOFT OFFICE, ADOBE PRODUCTS, AUTOCAD, WHICH IS USED BY OUR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TEAMS, ZOOM, AND OTHER SOFTWARE USED BY THE DISTRICT.
THE CURRENT AUTHORIZED SPEND IS 2.7 MILLION.
OUR FUTURE SPEND WE'RE ASKING FOR IS FOUR MILLION ON THE CONTRACT.
THAT 1.3 MILLION FOR 2026 IS DUE TO TWO MAJOR ITEMS. ONE IS SOFTWARE LICENSING, WHICH IS OUR MICROSOFT AND ADOBE LICENSING.
I'LL NOTE THAT WE ARE STARTING INTO ANOTHER THREE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH MICROSOFT.
THERE ARE THREE-YEAR AGREEMENTS.
THIS IS THE THIRD YEAR IS UP, SO WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH THAT AGAIN, AND WE EXPECT THE PRICING TO INCREASE BY SOME PERCENTAGE.
THEN THE $500,000 FOR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND PERIPHERALS, WHICH WE REPLACE ON A FOUR-YEAR CYCLE, AND WE'RE STILL CATCHING UP ON MANY OF THE LAGGING COMPUTERS THAT ARE OUT THERE, AND WE TRY TO GET PEOPLE THE EQUIPMENT THEY NEED THAT'S FUNCTIONING PROPERLY AND UNDER WARRANTY.
AGAIN, AS NOTED, THIS IS NOT A BUDGET INCREASE, IT'S AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONTRACT THAT ALLOWS US TO PROCURE USING BUDGETED FUNDS.
>> JUST TO CLARIFY ON THAT LAST SLIDE, YOU SAID THAT IT WAS ALREADY BUDGETED.
SO ALL OF THESE ARE ALREADY IN THE BUDGET?
>> YES. ALL THESE ITEMS WERE IN THE BUDGET.
THEY WERE ALREADY PART OF THE BASE BUDGET, OR IF THERE'S A ONE-TIME ASK FOR SOMETHING THAT'S IN THERE AS WELL.
>> I SEE 500,000 FOR COMPUTER EQUIPMENT AND PERIPHERALS.
IS THIS THE YEAR WE'RE GOING INTO? IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE A CATCH-UP YEAR? IS THIS A LARGER-THAN-NORMAL THING?
>> THIS IS ACTUALLY THE [OVERLAPPING] STANDARD TYPICAL YEAR.
WHEN THE BOARD APPROVED THIS A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WE SAID LET'S HAVE CENTRALIZED FUNDING FOR COMPUTERS BECAUSE A FEW YEARS AGO, WE DID NOT HAVE THAT.
WE JUST LET EVERYONE GO BUY THEIR COMPUTERS ON THEIR OWN, AND THEY WERE PRECIOUS THINGS, AND THEY GOT PASSED AROUND.
WE CENTRALIZED ALL THAT AND MOVED THAT BUDGET TO IS.
AS A RESULT, WE'VE BEEN REPLACING THEM AND CATCHING UP ON THE ONES.
[04:45:01]
IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, LET'S SAY WE HAVE 1,000 COMPUTERS IN EVERY FOUR YEARS, YOU'D BE TURNING OVER 250 OF THEM EVERY YEAR.WE'RE CATCHING UP ON THAT NUMBER.
WE PROBABLY DO ABOUT 20 - 200 A YEAR.
I'D SAY OVER HALF, MAYBE THREE-QUARTERS, HAVE GOTTEN REPLACED BECAUSE WE'RE GOING INTO YEAR 3 OF THIS EFFORT.
PRETTY MUCH IT'LL BE THE STANDARD.
WE DON'T EXPECT IT TO RISE AS MUCH.
THE MIX MIGHT CHANGE, BUT IT WON'T RISE.
>> YOUR GROUP IS PROACTIVE AND DETERMINES WHEN THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED?
>> YOU HAVE CYCLE FOR EACH UNIT [OVERLAPPING].
WHAT WE DO IS, BEFORE THE BUDGET SEASON, WE PULL REPORTS OF SAYING, HOW MANY COMPUTERS ARE REPLACING AND HOW MANY ARE COMING OFF WARRANTY NEXT YEAR? WE KNOW THAT NEXT AUGUST, 50 OF THESE ARE GOING TO BE OFF WARRANTY, SO THEY'LL BE UP FOR REPLACEMENT.
WE'RE ALSO CATCHING UP ON ONES THAT FOLKS COME OUT, AND THEY'LL SAY, WE'RE GOING OUT TO SITES, AND WE SEE WHAT IS THAT'S AT LEAST SEVEN YEARS OR 10-YEARS-OLD? WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE THAT REPLACED SO IT'S FUNCTIONAL? WE PROACTIVELY GO OUT AND EITHER SEE IT OR, WHEN WE PULL REPORTS, WE SEE HOW MANY ARE COMING UP FOR REPLACEMENT, AND WE REPLACE THEM.
ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ONE?
>> THERE ARE NO PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS ITEM.
>> THANK YOU. ANY BOARD COMMENTS? AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR STAYING ON TOP OF THIS.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO AUTHORIZE THIS CONTRACT?
>> OPPOSED? CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY AGAIN.
THAT'S THE END OF OUR PRESENTATIONS FOR TODAY.
>> NO. WHAT DO WE GOT? WHAT DO I MISS?
[OPERATIONS DIVISION]
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, I CHECKED THE WRONG ONE. THERE IT IS.
>> I'LL BE BRINGING IT HOME TONIGHT.
GOOD EVENING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PRESIDENT MERCURIO, I'M ROBERT KENNEDY, DIVISION LEAD FOR PARK OPERATIONS, AND I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ON-CALL EMERGENCY AND HAZARDOUS TREE SERVICES FOR A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT FOR 10 TREE CONTRACTORS FOR A COMBINED ANNUAL MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 600,000.
OUR GOALS FOR THIS ON-CALL PROCESS WAS TO CREATE AN ON-CALL LIST OF TREE CONTRACTORS THAT WILL PERFORM EMERGENCY HAZARDOUS TREE WORK DISTRICT-WIDE TO REDUCE THREATS TO DISTRICT PROPERTY, OR IN OUR WORDS, TARGET SITES, ALLOW QUICKER RESPONSES TO EMERGENCY WORK, AND REDUCE ADMINISTRATIVE TIME TALKING ABOUT BIDDING, CONTRACT ROUTING, AND THEN VERIFYING INSURANCES, WHICH CAUSE UNTIMELY DELAYS.
THIS SLIDE JUST REPRESENTS SOME OF THE DATA THAT WE'RE ABLE TO COLLECT.
IN 2024 ALONE, PARK OPERATIONS PERFORMED OVER $678,000 WORTH OF EMERGENCY TREE WORK.
AS OF AUGUST 2025, STAFF HAVE CONTRACTED OUT 441,511 EMERGENCY WORK ORDERS RELATED TO TREE WORK.
THAT'S 60 PLUS CONTRACTS ACCOUNTING FOR OUR STAFF TO RUN.
IT'S VERY ADMINISTRATIVE AND INTENSIVE, AND SO THIS PROCESS WILL ALLOW US TO STREAMLINE THAT WORK.
JUST GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON OUR PROCESS.
ON OCTOBER 8, 2025, WE PUT OUT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.
ON OCTOBER 22, THERE WAS A MANDATORY VIRTUAL BID WALK WHERE 10 COMPANIES PARTICIPATED.
ON OCTOBER 28, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE MY DAUGHTER'S BIRTHDAY, PROPOSALS WERE DUE.
THEN, ON NOVEMBER 1 - 5 OF NOVEMBER 2025, PROPOSALS WERE REVIEWED AND SELECTED.
TEN PROPOSALS WERE RECEIVED AND ALL QUALIFIED.
PENDING ADHERED TO THE CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS AND BOARD AUTHORIZATION, CONTRACTS WILL GO INTO EFFECT IN 2026.
THEN OUR STAFF WILL ESSENTIALLY BE ABLE TO RUN TASK ORDERS AGAINST THESE CONTRACTS FOR UP TO $600,000.
THESE ARE THE REQUIREMENTS THAT WE PUT TOGETHER IN OUR RFP, AND SO WE WANTED TO LOOK AT THE VENDOR'S ABILITY TO DEMONSTRATE COMPLETION OF RELEVANT PROJECTS,
[04:50:06]
EXPERIENCE, THEIR CERTIFICATIONS, AND THEIR QUALIFICATIONS THAT MET OUR CRITERIA.WE'RE A SPECIAL DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE SUITABLE FOR WHAT THEY WILL BE EXPECTED TO WORK ON IN THE DISTRICT.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT THEIR FLEET CAPABILITY, AND WE ALSO WANT TO LOOK AT THEIR EQUIPMENT LIST BECAUSE A LOT OF THE WORK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES WILL REQUIRE MASSIVE CRANES AND LARGE EQUIPMENT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE SOME OF THESE LARGER-SCALE TREES.
WE WANT TO LOOK AT THEIR COST PROPOSALS, THEIR REFERENCES, AND THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE DISTRICT.
AS I REFERENCED EARLIER, GIVEN THE SENSITIVE NATURE OF DISTRICT LANDS, WE WANTED THESE CONTRACTORS WHO HAD EXPERIENCE WORKING IN AND AROUND SENSITIVE HABITATS, AND I HAD EXPERIENCE WORKING ON STEEP TERRAIN AND WITH DIFFICULT ACCESS.
NOW, THE NEXT COUPLE OF SLIDES 6 - 9, ARE GOING TO JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE AND FLAVOR OF THE WORK THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE PERFORMING. THIS IS AT KELLER BEACH.
THERE WAS A LARGE EUCALYPTUS TREE THAT NEEDED TO BE REMOVED AND CHIPPED, AND SO YOU CAN SEE THE LARGE CRANE THERE THAT'S BEING UTILIZED BY THOSE CREWS TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH THAT TREE.
THIS IS ON THE WILDCAT CREEK TRAIL.
HAMILTON TREE CAME IN AND REMOVED THIS COMPLEX TREE, GIVEN THE PROXIMITY TO OUR PARCEL LINES, AND YOU CAN SEE THEIR LARGE EQUIPMENT.
THIS IS ANOTHER ONE AT SAN PABLO BAY, AND YOU CAN SEE THAT LARGE EUCALYPTUS TREE THAT'S PRECARIOUSLY BALANCED ON THAT CLIFF THERE, AND SO LARGE EQUIPMENT IS USED TO STABILIZE AS THEY'RE REMOVING THAT LARGE TREE.
THERE'S MULTIPLE SITES THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT THAT ARE REPRESENTED IN THESE PICTURES.
THIS IS OUR REMINGTON LOOP AND LAS TROMPS.
THERE IS A HUGE VALLEY OAK TREE THAT DROPPED THE LIMB ON A NEIGHBOR'S FENCE, AND WE WERE WORRIED ABOUT THE REMAINING PORTIONS OF THAT TREE COMING DOWN EITHER ON THEIR PROPERTY, AND THEN THEY'RE ACTUALLY HUNG UP IN THE POWER LINES THAT LEAD TO OUR WATER PUMPING STATION, AND SO WE WANTED TO BE ABLE TO GET THIS OUT TO PREVENT FUTURE DAMAGE TO OUR ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND POTENTIALLY START A FIRE.
THIS IS WHY EXPERT COMPANIES ARE BROUGHT IN.
TODAY, I AM SEEKING AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A CONTRACT FOR ON-CALL EMERGENCY AND HAZARDOUS TREE SERVICES FOR A ONE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH 10 CONTRACTORS FOR A COMBINED ANNUAL MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF 600,000, WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND THE CONTRACTS FOR TWO ADDITIONAL YEARS, DISTRICT-WIDE.
ALSO, ON A SIDE NOTE, NOW THAT YOU'VE ADOPTED THE BUDGET, THESE FUNDS WILL BE A PART OF IT AND FUNDED BY THE DIVISION LEADS' BUDGET AND THE HAZARDOUS TREE FUNDS.
I'M NOT SEEKING ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDS THIS EVENING, JUST THE ABILITY TO EXECUTE THE CONTRACTS.
WITH THAT, I WILL TAKE YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> AS YOU NOTED, WE JUST DID A SIMILAR ARRANGEMENT FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
>> SOME OF THEM DO. YES. IT WAS PRETTY INSPIRING TO SEE THAT THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT POTENTIALLY GOING AFTER BOTH CONTRACTS.
>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD THING DEFINITELY.
>> AS A FOLLOW-UP, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENTATION, BUT HOW MANY OF THESE VENDORS HAVE WORKED FOR US BEFORE?
>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE WORKED FOR US.
I THINK THERE ARE ONE OR TWO OF THEM THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT BOUNDARY, SO IT'LL BE EXCITING TO SEE SOME OF THESE LARGER OPERATIONS COME IN AND SEE HOW THEY CAN PERFORM.
I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS, BUT COULD THIS BE INCLUDED IN THE JOCK CONTRACTS? I KNOW THE ANSWER IS EVERY TREE IS DIFFERENT, BUT IN FACT, I THINK THE BASIS ON THE EQUIPMENT THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED, I BET YOU COULD DO IT IN A JOCK CONTRACTOR.
>> THIS IS SIMILAR TO THAT TYPE OF PROCUREMENT PROCESS.
I DON'T KNOW IF REN WOULD WANT TO BRING THAT INTO HIS JOCK PROCESS, BUT LET LISA STEP IN.
I'M ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF OPERATIONS. I HAVEN'T YET.
SORRY. THE JOB ORDER CONTRACTING IS REALLY SPECIFIC TO RENOVATION AND REPLACEMENT WORK, AND SO THIS TREE WORK IS REALLY IN A DIFFERENT CATEGORY.
FROM A CONTRACTING PERSPECTIVE, IT IS THAT WE USE THE SAME CONTRACT FOR IT, BUT WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO REALLY FOCUS ON THIS IS FOR EMERGENCY AND HAZARDOUS TREE REMOVAL.
BY HAVING THESE ON-CALL CONTRACTORS,
[04:55:03]
THE WHOLE POINT IS TO MAKE IT EASIER SO THAT OUR STAFF CAN JUST LOOK AT SEE WHO'S THE CONTRACTOR WHO'S CLOSEST AND JUST GET THE WORK DONE.WHILE THE CONTRACTS HAVE GONE OUT TO BID, YOU STILL HAVE TO DO A JOB WALK.
YOU STILL HAVE TO DO A PRE-PRICING.
THE THING THAT WE SAVE WITH A JOB ORDER CONTRACTING IS THAT YOU GO OUT TO BID ONCE, BUT EACH PROJECT IS STILL TREATED INDIVIDUALLY.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU BRING THIS UP, BUT I THINK WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO FOCUS ON REMOVING BARRIERS SO OUR STAFF CAN DO WORK QUICKER.
>> GREAT. THEN WITH THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF WORK BEING DONE IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WHICH SPECIES OF TREE IS THE WORST OFFENDER AS FAR AS GROWING TOO FAST, LEANING ON PEOPLE'S HOUSES, FALLING DOWN, AND THINGS LIKE THAT?
THEN WE DO HAVE SOME OF THAT OAK DIE OFF, SO WE'RE SEEING A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE VALLEY OAKS DIE OFF AS WELL.
CHRIS ACTUALLY HAS A LARGE NUMBER OF EUCALYPTUS AT KENNEDY GROVE THAT ARE PRECARIOUS THAT HAVE TARGET SITES, AND HE'S BEEN GOING AFTER THOSE IN THE LAST YEAR, AND SO IT'S MAKING A BIG IMPACT ON OUR SITES AND KEEPING THE PUBLIC SAFE.
>> GREAT. THEN, FINALLY, ARE 7 AND 10 THE SAME PERSONS?
>> I'M GLAD THAT YOU CAUGHT THAT BECAUSE I MARKED THAT UP.
IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE SIGNATURE TREE SOLUTIONS.
THAT WAS A TYPO IN THE BOARD DOCUMENT.
>> I LIVE IN A PART OF THE DISTRICT WHERE WE DO HAVE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT WIND EVENTS.
IN FACT, I'VE HEARD SOMETIMES WHEN THAT HAPPENS, IT'S REFERRED TO AS DUBLIN WIND.
IT'S ALSO WHERE A LOT OF OUR ENERGY-PRODUCING WINDMILLS ARE LOCATED.
WHEN THERE ARE THESE WIND EVENTS, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE ALL, I CAN'T TALK RIGHT NOW.
THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE CONTACTED AT THE SAME TIME, THIS SHOULD HELP US IN THOSE EMERGENCY EVENTS. CORRECT.
>> YES. WE WANT OUR STAFF TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO RESPOND AND REACT TO THESE WIND EVENTS OR OUR CHANGE IN CLIMATE.
THIS REALLY EXPEDITES THAT PROCESS FOR THEM.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OR ANY SENSE OF WHETHER OR NOT THESE TREE CUTTERS ARE GETTING ANY OF THAT WOOD TO LOCAL MILLS FOR MILLING?
>> WELL, WITHIN A LOT OF THE CONTRACTS, ARE WE RIGHT, WE'RE EITHER PUTTING THEM THROUGH A CHIPPER AND THEN HAVING THEM CHIPPED ON SITE INSTEAD OF HAVING THEM HAULED OUT BECAUSE THERE IS A LARGER COST TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE TREES REMOVED.
IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, WE'RE HAVING THEM DISPERSED IN THE PARK ITSELF.
>> AND YOU HAVE NO SENSE OR KNOWLEDGE OF ANY OF THAT WOULD BE IN REPURPOSED?
>> THERE'S JUST A FEW TREE SERVICES THAT HAVE CUSTOM MILLING I THINK, PROFESSIONAL TREE SERVICE OUT OF RICHMOND OR WHATEVER THAT?
>> THEY PROBABLY HAVE ONE, BUT IF THEY'RE TAKING LARGE WOOD FROM THE PARK, WE'RE NOT ASKING THEM TO DISCLOSE WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH IT.
>> IT WAS JUST AN ANECDOTAL THING.
>> I PROBABLY HEARD ABOUT IT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> I'M VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF DOING THAT, BUT IT'S NOT UP TO US TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
>> THAT'S OKAY. ARE THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THIS?
>> NO. WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION TO HAVE THE CORRECT NAME IN IT.
WE WILL ADOPT THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.
>> YES. I'M GLAD WE'RE MOVING THROUGH TO A PROCESS.
WE'RE GOING TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CONTRACTS, 61 PLUS CONTRACTS FOR SIMILAR TYPE WORK, IT'S SUCCESSIVE.
AS FAR AS ANYTHING THAT WE CAN DO TO STREAMLINE.
PROCUREMENT, PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, TYPE OF CONTRACTS, I THINK IT IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
YES, SO THANK YOU AS FAR AS FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER AND FINDING A WAY SO THAT OUR STAFF CAN SPEND MORE TIME IN THE FIELD RATHER THAN IN THE OFFICE DOING PAPERWORK.
I THINK IT'S A GREAT APPROACH TO DOING THIS TYPE OF WORK.
WITH THAT, I WOULD ENTERTAIN A MOTION FOR AUTHORIZATION HERE.
[05:00:05]
>> SECOND BY ECHOLS. ALL IN FAVOR.
>> OPPOSED. CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.
NEXT IS GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS.
[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]
>> WELL, I'LL TRY TO BE RELATIVELY BRIEF.
OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING REALLY DILIGENTLY ON THE STEAM TRAIN LEASE, WHICH HAS BEEN BROUGHT UP A NUMBER OF TIMES FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE AN UPDATED STATEMENT THAT WE'LL BE SHARING WITH YOUR BOARD AND CAN SHARE WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE CONCERNS AND OTHERS BROADLY.
WE'RE CURRENTLY ON A CONTINUING LEASE THAT WAS FROM BEFORE WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THIS.
I'LL GO THROUGH THIS RELATIVELY BRIEFLY.
NOT ONLY ARE WE UPDATING THE LEASE, BUT THERE'S A NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR CHANGES FROM THE PROPERTY OWNERS, THE FOLKS OPERATING NOT THE PROPERTY OWNERS, BUT THE FOLKS OPERATING THE STEAM TRAIN, INCLUDING AN EXPANSION OF THE ROUNDHOUSE, APPROXIMATELY 500 SQUARE FEET.
THEN ALSO A MIXED-USE BUILDING REFERRED TO AS THE TRUSTEE BUILDING, THAT'S PROPOSED APPROXIMATELY 2,500 SQUARE FEET THAT WILL SERVE AS A FUTURE OFFICE AND A SECURITY RESIDENCE.
ADDITIONALLY, THE BUILDINGS ARE PROPOSED AS TWO SPLIT LEVEL CONSTRUCTION WITH THE LOWER LEVEL BEING PARTIALLY UNDERGROUND TO ALLOW RAILROAD EQUIPMENT TO ENTER IT ON TRACKS.
THERE'S NO EXISTING UTILITIES OR EXISTING BUILDINGS AT THE PROPOSED LOCATION.
OUR TEAM IS WORKING REALLY HARD TO ACCOMMODATE THESE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SITE, AND I'VE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE EMAILS AND I'VE JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT HOW ACCOMMODATING AND THOUGHTFUL OUR TEAM HAS BEEN TO TRY TO MOVE THROUGH ALLOWING THESE CHANGES AND AT THE SAME TIME UPDATING THE AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STEAM TRAIN CONTINUES TO OPERATE.
WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF IT GOING AWAY OR MAKING IT HARDER FOR THE STEAM TRAIN TO OPERATE.
WE ALSO OPERATE THE PARKING LOT, THE RESTROOM, THE TRASH REMOVAL THERE.
WE'RE DEDICATED TO THIS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP TO MAKE THAT COMMUNITY ASSET LAST FOR THE COMMUNITY.
>> GREAT. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING THAT OUT THERE AND MAKING IT CLEAR WHAT'S HAPPENING.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION?
>> NOTHING FROM CLOSED SESSIONS.
ARE THERE ANY PROPOSED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? THERE ARE NONE. WHAT REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED,
[BOARD REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED]
DIRECTOR ECHOLS, ARE YOU READY TO START OFF ON THAT ONE OR?>> A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT HOLIDAY EVENTS, WHICH I WON'T GO INTO, BUT I DID ENJOY THE PAC EVENT, THE ASK ME EVENT AND MANY OTHERS.
BUT ALSO ON DECEMBER 9, THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND ON DECEMBER 10, A BRIEFING WITH ACTING GENERAL MANAGER MAX HORTON AND CHRIS REID ON POINT MATTE, WHICH IS VERY INFORMATIVE.
THOSE ARE THE MAIN THINGS FOR ME.
>> I'LL PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT IF NEEDED, BUT I'LL JUST SAY I REALLY ENJOYED THE HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AT THE BRIDGE YARD A FEW WEEKS AGO.
THAT WAS REALLY NICE TO BE INCLUDED.
I KNOW IN PREVIOUS YEARS, MAYBE IT WASN'T ALWAYS APPARENT WHETHER OR NOT BOARD MEMBERS WERE WELCOME THERE, SO THAT WAS REALLY NICE.
I THINK THE EMPLOYEE ACTIVITIES COME WRITE THE EAC OR EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION COMMITTEE.
DID A WONDERFUL JOB, AND I LOVE THOSE SOCKS.
THEY'RE VERY WARM AND FESTIVE. THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU. ON DECEMBER 3, I ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
ALSO, THAT AFTERNOON, I WAS ABLE TO ATTEND THE DISTRICT HOLIDAY PARTY AT THE BRIDGE YARD.
IT WAS A GREAT EVENT, REALLY, REALLY AMAZING, GOOD FUN AND GOOD FELLOWSHIP, AND BOY, WE'VE GOT SOME REALLY TALENTED FOLKS THAT WERE SELLING THEIR WARES THERE.
DID A LOT OF MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING THERE.
ON DECEMBER 4, I MET WITH JERRY KENT TO TALK ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS, LIKE THE HISTORY OF THE DISTRICT AND SOME OF HIS PERCEPTIONS OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
[05:05:04]
ON THE SIXTH, I WENT TO THE BART GARDEN, TALKED TO BART AT THE BART GARDEN, DID A HIKE DOWN WILDCAT GORGE.THE PARK LOOKS BEAUTIFUL ON THIS TIME OF YEAR.
GORGEOUS. I ATTEND THE PARK CELEBRATION AT FIELD WORKS.
GOOD FELLOWSHIP WITH EVERYBODY THERE.
I ATTENDED THE UNION'S MEETING.
THEY INVITED ALL BOARD MEMBERS, AND IT WAS A PRETTY INTERESTING EVENT.
THEY DID A HISTORY TOUR TALK ABOUT THE STRIKE THAT WAS 50 YEARS AGO.
REALLY GOOD EVENT, AND THEY WERE VERY WELCOMING.
ON THE 10TH, THEY ATTENDED THE BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING, AND THAT'S IT.
>> THANK YOU. DECEMBER 3 ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, AND THEN I ATTENDED THE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION COMMITTEE HOLIDAY PARTY.
12/8, ATTENDED THE PARK ADVISORY YEAR AND RECOGNITION EVENT IN FIELDWORK IN SAN LEANDRO, 12/10, ATTENDED THE ASK ME 24/28 HOLIDAY DINNER, 12/11, HAD A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT DISCUSSION WITH MAX AND CLARE.
12/13, I ATTENDED CANDY CANE LANE, THE 2025 AT MEMORIAL TABERNACLE CHURCH, AND AS FAR AS I HAD A BOOTH SET UP, AND YOU COULD WRITE CHRISTMAS CARDS, LEARN ABOUT THE PARK AND WELLNESS CHALLENGE, BECAUSE A GROUP IS INTERESTED AS FAR AS BRINGING THEIR COMMUNITY OUT TO THE PARKS NEXT YEAR.
I HAVE TO HAVE A MUCH MORE FUN KID EVENT, BUT I HAD GUESS WHAT 10 ESSENTIAL ITEMS YOU COULD PUT IN YOUR BACKPACK.
I THINK IF I PROBABLY HAVE CANDY AND COOKIES AND OTHER STUFF AS SOME OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS, IT MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE POPULAR, BUT I DEFINITELY HAD A LOT OF ENGAGEMENT AMONG THE OLDER TEENAGERS AND ADULTS AND THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO BE SAFE ON A HIKE.
THAT'S IT. SORRY, AND 12/15 ATTENDED A FIRE ASSESSMENT MEETING WITH OUR NEW CHIEF, IVERSON AND THEN MAX AND ONE OTHER INDIVIDUAL.
>> DECEMBER 1, I TOOK A TOUR OF KIRKA NATIONAL PARK IN CROATIA [LAUGHTER] AND TOOK LOTS OF TRAIL PICTURES THAT'S HIGHLY BOARDWALKED OVER RAGING WATERS.
IT'S AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS NATIONAL PARK AND TOOK LOTS OF PICTURES, I'M GOING TO SHARE WITH OUR TRAILS PEOPLE AND PLANNERS BECAUSE IT WAS AMAZING WHAT THEY DID WITH A BROAD RAGING RIVER WITH LOTS OF RAPIDS AND A BOARDWALK RIGHT OVER IT. JUST AMAZING.
I DID VIEW YOUR DECEMBER 2 MEETING.
>> WELL, THE THING ABOUT TRAILS IS, NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO THERE, THEY ARE.
>> I REMEMBER JUST BASED ON AVAILABLE RESOURCES.
IT'S ACTUALLY USEFUL, AND I DO FEEL THIS IS WORTH SHARING WITH SHAW, SUZANNE AND THOSE FOLKS.
>> I ALWAYS MENTIONED TO OUR FOLKS THAT THEY HAVE FLOATING TRAILS IN PORTLAND ON THE MALAMA RIVER.
THERE YOU GO. OAKLAND WATERFRONT.
DECEMBER 2, I ATTENDED THE BOARD MEETING.
ON THE THIRD I ALSO ATTENDED THE HOLIDAY LUNCHEON FOR THE EMPLOYEES, WHICH WAS GREAT.
WHAT A GREAT, MASSIVE FUN WAS HAD THERE.
MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING SUCH A GREAT TIME.
ON DECEMBER 4, I HAD A HIKE IN SYCAMORE VALLEY OPEN SPACE WITH PAC CHAIR BRUCE HENRY.
ON THE SAME DAY IN THE EVENING, I WENT TO THE CONTRA COSTA MYERS CONFERENCE.
ON DECEMBER 7, I ATTENDED THE PEARL HARBOR COMEMMORATION EVENT AT CAL STATE, EAST BAY IN CONCORD, WHICH IS REALLY ORGANIZED BY SAVE MOUNT DIABLO.
ON DECEMBER 8, I ALSO WENT TO THE PAC RECOGNITION DINNER AND ON THE 9TH I ATTENDED THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, ALSO ON THE 9TH I WAS ABLE TO GO TO THE CONCORD CITY COUNCIL REORGANIZATION MEETING,
[05:10:01]
WHERE THEY SWITCHED OVER MAYORS, AND THE NEW MAYOR OF CONCORD IS LAURA NAKAMURA.THEN ON THE 10TH, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
ALSO ON THE 10TH IN THE EVENING, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
I WAS INVITED TO SPEAK TO THE DANVILLE PARKS COMMISSION, AND I CHOSE TO TALK ABOUT THE DISTRICT PLAN.
THEY PRETTY MUCH WERE OPEN TO ANYTHING, AND I FIGURED THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD TIME TO DO IT.
I DID THAT, AND THEY ASKED ME A LOT OF QUESTIONS. THAT WAS COOL.
LET'S SEE ON THE 12TH, THE BOARD MEETING PREP MEETING.
THEN ALSO ON THE 12TH, I WENT ALONG WITH DIRECTOR DE CHAMBAO.
WE BOTH WENT ON A GUIDED SIX-HOUR TOUR OF THE NORTHERN DIABLO RANGE WITH SOME OF THE KEY FOLKS FROM SAVE MOUNT DIABLO.
I HAVE THAT. NOW WE COME TO ADJOURNMENT.
I HAVE A SPECIAL REQUEST FOR THE ADJOURNMENT.
I'M GOING TO LET DIRECTOR WAESPI TAKE IT FROM HERE.
>> IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO REQUEST THAT WE ADJOURN THE MEETING IN MEMORY OF CAROL FRANZ.
HE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW CAROL FRANZ.
CAROL FRANZ WAS ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREAT GUYS IN THIS PARK DISTRICT.
HE WAS A FOOTBALL PLAYER, A WRESTLER, A FOOTBALL COACH, A WRESTLING COACH, A DEAN OF BOYS, BACK WHEN I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY REMEMBERS DEAN OF BOYS; HE JUST LOOKED AT YOU, AND CAROL WAS LIKE THAT.
HE HAD A NECK BIGGER THAN HIS HEAD, LOOKED LIKE A BRUTE, BUT WAS THE SWEETEST GUY ON EARTH, AND HE WOULD LIKE TO BE DESCRIBED LIKE THAT BECAUSE HE THROUGHOUT ALL THAT, BEING A FOOTBALL COACH, BEING THE DEAN OF BOYS, AT SUNSET.
HE CAME AND WORKED HERE SUMMERS WHEN WE HAD THREE-MONTH PARK POLICE OFFICERS.
IN THE DAYS, IF YOU REMEMBER THE OLD DAYS, OF COURSE, BUT CONTRA LOMA WAS A PRETTY ROUGH AREA.
A LOT OF YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL KIDS THOUGHT IT WAS THEIR TURF AND ALL THAT STUFF.
CAROL FRANZ WOULD WALK IN THERE TO THAT.
HE WAS ALWAYS SENT TO CONTRA LOMA BECAUSE HE WOULD WALK OUT THERE, AND ALL THOSE TOUGH YOUNG HIGH SCHOOL KIDS WOULD LOOK AT HIM AND GO, OH, MY GOD.
HE WAS THE NICEST GUY IN THE WORLD.
HE WOULD SHAKE YOUR HAND. HE HAD THE MOST INFECTIOUS SMILE.
JUST A REALLY, REALLY GOOD GUY THAT WORKED HERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, WAS A FRIEND OF EVERYONE.
I DIDN'T WORK IN THE SAME AREA AS HIM, OF COURSE, BUT HE WOULD GO OUT OF HIS WAY TO TALK TO EVERYBODY AND SHAKE YOUR HAND AND ALMOST BREAK IT, AND THEN SMILE INFECTIOUSLY.
HE WAS A WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL GUY AND A WONDERFUL REPRESENTATIVE.
HE LOVED THE PARK DISTRICT. I WOULD LIKE TO ADJOURN IN HIS MEMORY.
>> THIS BEING THE LAST MEETING OF 2025, WE ARE ADJOURNED.
>> THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.