[CALL TO ORDER]
[00:00:06]
HI, WELCOME TO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPECIAL MEETING.
THIS IS A STUDY SESSION ON LAND ACQUISITION, FEBRUARY 06, 2026.
AND SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO ROLL CALL.
VICE PRESIDENT COFFEY IS NOT HERE AT THIS TIME.
[ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP AND PLANNING DIVISION]
GREAT.AND I GUESS TO KICK THINGS OFF, I THINK THE LAST TIME WE HAD A STUDY SESSION, WE WERE AT KENNEDY GROVE FOR OUR COMBINED CAPITAL PROJECTS AND SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN WORKSHOP.
AND I KNOW DURING THE SECOND CENTURY DISTRICT PLAN WORKSHOP, WE HAD AN ACTIVITY WHERE THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS WAS ABLE TO VOTE ON DIFFERENT PRIORITIES AND DIFFERENT THINGS TO FOCUS ON.
AND I BELIEVE ALL SEVEN OF US RANKED AS ONE OF OUR TOP PRIORITIES WAS LAND ACQUISITION.
AND IT WAS, I GUESS WE COULD CATEGORIZE IT AS A STRAW POLL, BUT I THINK THAT IT'S EXCITING TO BE HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THIS TOPIC.
SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR BEING HERE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, BOARD MEMBERS.
AND I WILL JUST, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO BECKY HERE IN A MINUTE.
BUT I JUST WANTED TO KICK THIS OFF TO SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS TEAM, WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOUR BOARD AND REALLY VALUING THE GUIDANCE AND FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE HEARD.
AND SO WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO BUILD THIS STUDY SESSION AND ALL THE STUDY SESSIONS FOR THIS SPRING, LATE WINTER, FEELS LIKE SUMMER, AROUND SOME OF THE FEEDBACK THAT WE'VE HEARD.
AND SO I THINK BECKY AND HER TEAM ACTUALLY WORKING WITH THE REST OF OUR TEAM HAS COME UP WITH SORT OF A DIFFERENT FORMAT AND SOME MORE SORT OF ENGAGING OPPORTUNITIES TO SIT DOWN AND KIND OF LIKE DIVE INTO SOME OF THE TOPICS WITH YOU ALL.
SO I'M REALLY EXCITED AND REALLY APPRECIATIVE OF THE WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING AND LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER.
SO I'LL HAND IT OVER TO BECKY.
I'M DIVISION LEAD FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
AND I'M JUST GOING TO GIVE A QUICK LAY OF THE LAND FOR WHAT WE'RE GOING TO BE COVERING, THE DIFFERENT SECTIONS, WHAT TO EXPECT.
DID I JUST SAY A PUN? LAY OF THE LAND? I HEARD YOU SAY THAT.
AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO SOME OF OUR PRESENTATIONS.
SO WE HAVE THREE SECTIONS FOR LAND STUDY SESSION TODAY.
THE FIRST ONE IS TO HIGHLIGHT OUR 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT WE DID AND GIVE YOU A SNEAK PEEK INTO 2026.
THE WHOLE LAND ACQUISITION TEAM IS HERE.
PHILLIP IS AT A TRAINING TODAY.
BUT EACH ONE OF THESE MEMBERS ARE GOING TO COME UP AND SHARE AND CELEBRATE A LITTLE BIT OF THE SUCCESSES WE'VE HAD.
WE ALSO HAVE A NEW EMPLOYEE, MATT ATWOOD, WHICH I'LL INTRODUCE LATER ON.
THE SECOND PART OF OUR LAND SESSION, SECTION TWO, IS GOING TO BE A MEASURE WW ACQUISITION STATUS UPDATE.
SO I'LL GIVE A BRIEF UPDATE ON WW ACQUISITION FUNDING.
OUR GOAL IS TO SORT OF PROVIDE MORE OF AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE WITH THE CURRENT STATUS AND BEGIN TO ADDRESS THE PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT QUESTION.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BREAKOUT SECTION FOR THAT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU OUT OF YOUR CHAIRS.
WE'RE GOING TO USE THESE MAPS LATER FOR THAT.
THE THIRD SECTION IS AROUND FUTURE FUNDING NEEDS AND CONSIDERATIONS.
SO STAFF, ONCE AGAIN, WILL DO A PRESENTATION.
THIS IS GOING TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR MEASURE WW OVERSIGHT ROLE.
WE'LL TOUCH ON HOW ACQUISITION WORK IS CLOSELY CONNECTED WITH THE LONG-TERM STEWARDSHIP OPERATIONS MANAGEMENT OF THE LANDS THAT WE ACQUIRE.
SO FOR THAT THIRD SECTION, WE'RE ALSO GOING TO BE ASKING FOR YOU TO PARTICIPATE, SORT OF ASK QUESTIONS, AND FURTHER DISCUSS THAT TOPIC.
SO JUST TO SET THE STAGE A LITTLE FURTHER, THIS IS A STUDY SESSION.
SO I REALLY DO ENCOURAGE SORT OF A BACK AND FORTH.
FEEL FREE TO INTERRUPT, ASK QUESTIONS.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR YOU TO BE ENGAGED.
I'M GOING TO NOW ASK FOR REAL QUICK, CAN WE JUST TAKE A QUICK PAUSE? I FORGOT TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]
[00:05:01]
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA, SO A LOT OF WHAT BECKY JUST MENTIONED IS WHAT'S ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, NOW IS THE TIME FOR THAT PUBLIC COMMENT.SO DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO? WE DO.
I HAVE TWO SPEAKERS IN PERSON AND I HAVE ONE ONLINE.
IT SAYS DON'T LEAN INTO THE MICROPHONE.
THE ITEM NOT ON THE AGENDA OR THE LAND, POTENTIAL LAND ACQUISITION NOT ON THE AGENDA THAT I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO IS AT ALAMEDA POINT, FORMER NAVY BASE.
I'M SURE YOU'VE ALL HEARD THE NEWS THAT THE VA SAYS THEY'RE NOT GOING FORWARD WITH THEIR PLAN TO BUILD THEIR FACILITY THERE.
REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY GO FORWARD WITH THEIR FACILITY, THERE'S ABOUT 500 ACRES THERE THAT THEY NEVER WANTED IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IT'S WHERE THE LEAST TERNS ARE MANAGED AND VARIOUS OTHER BIRD SPECIES.
I WOULD URGE YOU TO NOT WAIT FOR A CALL FROM THE VA, A NEWS ITEM, OR ANYTHING ELSE TO PROMPT YOU TO TRY AND ACQUIRE THAT LAND.
THE CITY OF ALAMEDA HAS BEEN WAITING FOR 10 YEARS TO GET A CALL FROM THE VA THAT THEY WOULD DO THE THINGS THAT THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO ON CITY LAND WITH INFRASTRUCTURE LEADING TO THE FEDERAL PROPERTY.
IT'S NEVER HAPPENED EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD THE MONEY.
I WOULD POINT OUT FOR THOSE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE LAND OUT THERE, THE PARK DISTRICT ALREADY HAS AN UNDERSTANDING WITH THE CITY OF ALAMEDA THAT THE AREA KNOWN AS THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES ADJACENT TO THE FEDERAL PROPERTY, ABOUT 150 ACRES, WILL SOMEDAY BE A REGIONAL PARK.
IT ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT EVEN IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A VA FACILITY THERE OR FACILITIES, THE 500 ACRES TO THE SOUTH OF THERE SHOULD BE MANAGED BY AN OPEN SPACE AGENCY.
LIKE I SAID, THE VA NEVER WANTED IT, IT WAS JUST PART OF THE DEAL.
IF YOU WANT THE LAND, YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT.
BUT THE PARK DISTRICT IS WELL EQUIPPED TO MANAGE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES.
THE PROBLEM IS IF YOU WAIT FOR SOMEBODY TO CALL YOU OR WAIT FOR SOMETHING TO COME UP, NOTICE IN A FEDERAL REGISTER, TIME IS GOING TO MOVE ON AND AT SOME POINT YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE LAND FOR THE NORTHWEST TERRITORIES.
IT WOULD BE SORT OF A SHAME IF YOU THEN PROCEEDED TO BUILD OUT WHATEVER YOU'RE GOING TO DO THERE WITH TRAILS AND SUCH AND YOU OPEN THAT PARK AND STILL THERE WAS NOTHING HAPPENING ON THE FEDERAL PROPERTY BECAUSE THE ONE THING THAT IS NOT GUARANTEED TO HAPPEN IS THAT THE VA WILL GET RID OF THE PROPERTY.
THEY MAY NOT BUILD A PROJECT, BUT NOBODY IS TELLING THEM THAT THEY HAVE TO GET RID OF IT.
IT COULD JUST SIT THERE, THEY COULD PAY TO MANAGE THE TURNS AND A FEW OTHER THINGS, BUT IT COULD JUST SIT THERE AND IT WOULD BE A SHAME IF A DECADE WENT BY AND ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES...
I AM A LONG-TIME RESIDENT OF THE EAST BAY OF OAKLAND, AVID EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK USER.
I WANTED TO TALK IN MORE GENERAL TERMS ABOUT YOUR MASTER PLAN AND MAPPING OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD ON THE MASTER PLAN.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH A LOT OF AGENCIES, INCLUDING THIS ONE, ON THE SAN DIEGO CREEK GREENWAY PROJECT, WHICH JUST OPENED UP AND THAT WAS ACTUALLY STARTED BY LATE BOARD MEMBER DOUG SEIDEN, SO WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT'S COLLABORATION ON THAT PROJECT.
WHAT I WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION TO AS FAR AS ACQUISITIONS IS THERE'S A PARCEL OF LAND, 11 ACRES, IT'S THE OLD HAGENBERGER RATTLE FARM.
IT'S ADJACENT TO THE SAN DIEGO CREEK GREENWAY PROJECT AND IT'S AN EXTENSION FROM THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
THIS LAND IS ALSO A FLOOD ZONE IN THE 100-YEAR FLOOD, CRITICAL HABITAT, AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS HAVE LONG ADVOCATED THAT THIS BE RETURNED AS A COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE SITE, MAYBE SOMETHING LIKE ARDENWOOD EDUCATIONAL PARK OPEN SPACE AND PROVIDE ACCESS FROM THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO HELP GET TO THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
[00:10:05]
IT'S A REALLY CRITICAL PARCEL.UNFORTUNATELY, PROPERTY OWNERS ARE USING IT AS A TRUCK PARKING LOT NOW, SO THE POLLUTION THAT'S GOING INTO THE CREEK AND INTO THE ESTUARY AND THE BAY IS NOT OPTIMAL.
WE THINK IT'S A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY WHEN YOU GUYS ARE TALKING ABOUT EQUITY AND RESILIENCE TO GET THIS PARCEL, HAVE AN EXTENSION OF THE MARTIN LUTHER KING SHORELINE AND HELP THE ACCESS FROM EAST OAKLAND NEIGHBORS TO THE WATERFRONT AS WELL AS THE SAN DIEGO CREEK GREENWAY.
SO I'M JUST HOPING TO RAISE THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION IN THIS STUDY DISCUSSION AND THAT YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT HOW THIS PARCEL FITS INTO YOUR LONG-TERM PLANNING.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THERE'S NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON, SO WE WILL GO ONLINE.
DAVID LUNN, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
HELLO, PRESIDENT SAN JUAN, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND STAFF.
I'M A LONG-TERM SUPPORTER OF EAST BAY AND INVOLVED IN TRAILS IN THE LIVERMORE VALLEY AREA.
IN DECEMBER 2025, EAST BAY ESTABLISHED A NEW REVENUE SOURCE FOR TRAILS IN MURRAY TOWNSHIP, AND IT'S THE DISTRICT-WIDE MURRAY TOWNSHIP TRAIL PLANNING FUND.
AND SINCE THIS WORKSHOP AGENDA ADDRESSES ONLY A PORTION OF THE DISTRICT, IT OMITS THE 100,000 PEOPLE WHO LIVE OUTSIDE OF PROP W-W.
AND COMPARED TO PLEASANTON AND DUBLIN, LIVERMORE CONTRIBUTES MORE TOTAL FUNDING RELATIVE TO ASSESSED PROPERTY VALUES, WHICH INCLUDES SUPPORT FROM PROP W-W.
DESPITE THIS, LIVERMORE HAS NOT BEEN INCLUDED IN PREVIOUS PROPERTY WORKSHOPS.
THIS EXCLUSION, SORT OF, WHAT I'M ASKING FOR IS TO EXPAND THIS DISCUSSION FROM JUST THE PROP W-W FUNDING INTO INCLUDING THE MURRAY TOWNSHIP AREA WITH THIS NEW REVENUE SOURCE.
I'VE TRANSMITTED A PROPOSAL OF USE YESTERDAY, SO I'M SURE STAFF IS AWARE OF IT.
I'D LIKE TO FOCUS ON THE BRUSHY PEAK CONNECTIONS TO ALL OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AS A PROPOSED PROJECT THAT YOU CONSIDER.
SO I ASK THIS WORKSHOP AND FUTURE WORKSHOPS TO INCLUDE MURRAY TOWNSHIP IN THIS NEWLY ESTABLISHED FUNDING SOURCE FOR LANDS AND TRAILS.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THESE PARKS.
THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
AT THE AGENDA, SO WE DO ACTUALLY HAVE A SECTION ALSO FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS.DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS WE'D LIKE TO SHARE AT THIS TIME? WE DON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS, BUT I'D JUST SHARE FOR THE COMMENTERS, IF YOU CAN CONNECT MAYBE WITH BRIAN TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE YOUR CONTACT INFO AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP ON THE ITEMS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP.
AND THEN I'D JUST ADDITIONALLY SHARE THAT THE MURRAY TOWNSHIP IS PART OF THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
WHILE WE DO HAVE ONE PART OF OUR AGENDA TALKING ABOUT THE PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT FROM MEASURE WW, MOST OF THE AGENDA IS TALKING ABOUT THE DISTRICT AS A WHOLE.
OKAY, SO THEN NOW LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO THE PREPARED PRESENTATION.
JUST GIVE US A SECOND WHILE WE PULL UP THE SLIDES.
SO, KICKING OFF THE FIRST SECTION OF THIS AGENDA, LAST YEAR WAS A BIG AND SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR LAND ACQUISITION, SO I REALLY WANT TO JUST TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THAT.
AND I MEAN, I WANT TO ALSO JUST SAY THAT I DON'T EVER GET THIS CHANCE TO DO THIS PUBLICLY, SO I WANT TO JUST LET THIS TEAM KNOW, THE LAND ACQUISITION TEAM KNOW, JUST HOW INCREDIBLY PROUD OF THE WORK THAT THEY DO.
THEY'RE SOME OF THE HARDEST WORKERS IN THE PARK DISTRICT, AND NEARLY EVERYTHING THAT THEY DO IS BEHIND THE SCENES.
SO YOU DON'T GET TO SEE OFTEN A LOT OF THE WORK THAT IT TAKES TO SORT OF KEEP THE PARK DISTRICT MOVING FORWARD.
THIS TEAM AND THE WORK THAT THEY DO REALLY TOUCHES ALMOST NEARLY EVERYTHING THE PARK DISTRICT DOES.
SO I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF INTRODUCING THIS SMALL BUT MIGHTY TEAM.
WE'RE MISSING ONE PERSON TODAY.
PHILLIP IS AT A TRAINING, BUT OTHERWISE THIS IS THE FULL TEAM.
THEY'RE ALSO A VERY HUMBLE GROUP, SO I JUST REALLY, AGAIN, DON'T WANT YOU TO BE FOOLED BY THAT.
WHAT THEY DO IS TRULY EXTRAORDINARY.
[00:15:02]
SO JUST REALLY GRATEFUL AND PROUD TO BE A PART OF THEIR TEAM.THEY'RE GOING TO EACH INTRODUCE THEMSELVES AND GIVE YOU A LITTLE LOOK UNDERNEATH THE LAND ACQUISITION HOOD AND SHARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2025, AND WE'RE GOING TO PROVIDE A LITTLE GLIMPSE OF WHAT'S IN STORE FOR 2026.
SO WE'RE GOING TO JUST KIND OF ROTATE THROUGH AND SHARE OUR PRESENTATION.
SO I'M PLEASED TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR FIRST, MY FIRST COLLEAGUE, ERDEM.
MY NAME IS ERDEM DURGUNOGLU, AND I'M THE ADMIN ANALYST TWO FOR THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT.
WE WANTED TO SHOW YOU OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS BY THE NUMBERS, AND WE REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE HOW MUCH OF THE WORK WE DO IS GOING INTO MAINTAINING AND PROTECTING EXISTING AGREEMENTS, AS WELL AS EXPANDING OUR PARK LANDS.
BECAUSE IF WE'RE REALISTIC, THE EASY ACQUISITIONS ARE MOSTLY GONE.
THERE ARE STILL SOME QUICKISH FEE ACQUISITIONS HERE AND THERE THAT WE ENCOUNTER AND ACT UPON, BUT AS WE SAW WITH POINT MALADI, THE WORK TO CLOSE OUT A HIGH-PROFILE FEE ACQUISITION CAN TAKE DECADES AT TIMES.
AT LAST LAND SESSION, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT ATTENDED, IF YOU RECALL, WE DIDN'T HAVE TOO MANY ACQUISITIONS TO REPORT ON FOR 2024, BUT ALL THE LEGWORK WE DID IN 2024 GOT US TO CLOSE ON FRESKE, HARD MARSH, BRITTON, POINT MALADI.
AND HERE'S THE COVER OF OUR ANNUAL PARK AND TRAIL STATS BOOK, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL OF YOU BOARD MEMBERS, AS WELL AS FOR OUR STAFF.
THIS IS THE PRINTED VERSION OF OUR DATABASE, BROKEN UP INTO ACQUISITIONS BY PARK, BY YEAR, BY PREVIOUS PROPERTY OWNER, ACREAGE, BASICALLY EVERYTHING WE TRACK.
THESE ARE THE NUMBERS FOR ALL OF THE WORK COMPLETED BY THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT FROM THE INCEPTION OF THE PARK DISTRICT TO TODAY.
IT'S NOT AN EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT EACH ONE OF THESE 01,386 ACQUISITION PROJECTS WAS UNIQUE IN ITS OWN WAY.
IT'S WHAT MAKES THIS WORK SO INTERESTING AND DYNAMIC.
AND YOU SEE HERE IT SAYS 62 DISPOSITION PROJECTS, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT A DISPOSITION PROJECT IS, IT'S WHAT WE ALSO CALL AN OUT-GRANT.
WE GRANT RIGHTS TO AN OUTSIDE AGENCY, USUALLY FOR ACCESS LIKE AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE EASEMENT, GROUNDWATER MONITORING LICENSE, AND IT CAN ALSO INCLUDE SELLING LAND TO AN OUTSIDE AGENCY, BUT WE DON'T REALLY DO THAT THAT MUCH BECAUSE WE'RE LAND ACQUISITION.
THIS IS A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD SLIDE, JUST OUR ANNUAL ACREAGE UPDATE.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'VE INCREASED THE PARK DISTRICT'S ACREAGE BY 520 ACRES SINCE 2024.
THERE'S A LOT GOING ON ON THIS SLIDE.
AS I ALLUDED TO JUST TWO SLIDES AGO, WHILE OUR DEPARTMENT IS OFFICIALLY LAND ACQUISITION, MOST OF OUR WORK GOES INTO THE NUTS AND BOLTS WORK OF PROTECTING AND MAINTAINING AGREEMENTS AND LICENSES THAT MAKE THE PARK DISTRICT, IN MY UNBIASED OPINION, THE BEST FEATURE OF LIVING IN THE EAST BAY.
SOME EXAMPLES OF THIS UNQUANTIFIABLE WORK WOULD BE INTERNAL STAFF REQUESTS, INQUIRIES ABOUT PROPERTY LINES, SURVEY QUESTIONS, PUBLIC INFORMATION REQUESTS, AND ALSO PERMIT SUPPORT.
SO WE SUPPORT EVERYONE AT THE PARK DISTRICT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THIS MAP IN THE MIDDLE NEAR SHADOW CLIFFS, WE HAVE THE AIR HANGER LEASE AGREEMENT THAT'S FOR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THEN ALSO NEAR MILLER KNOX, WE HAVE THE NEW INR OFFICE SPACE AND STORAGE SPACE.
OUR DEPARTMENT ALSO COMPLETED THAT.
IN THE GREEN SQUARES, THIS SHOWS OUR PROJECTS THAT EXPANDED THE PARK DISTRICT.
THESE ARE FEE ACQUISITIONS OR OPERATING AGREEMENTS.
AND THE YELLOW CIRCLES, THOSE ARE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT PROTECT AND MAINTAIN OUR PARK'S MISSION.
NOT TO SOUND REPETITIVE, BUT WE'RE NOT ONLY EXPANDING AND ACQUIRING, BUT WE'RE RENEWING, IMPROVING, AND STRENGTHENING EXISTING AGREEMENTS BY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OPERATIONAL, CONSERVATIONAL, AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS.
AND IF YOU NOTICE THAT LAST BULLET, WE LISTED PG&E NOTIFICATIONS ON HERE, AND I'LL TALK ABOUT THAT IN THE NEXT SLIDE.
SO THAT LAST BULLET, I HIGHLIGHTED 150 PLUS NOTIFICATIONS REVIEWED.
I WANTED TO GO OVER HOW THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT HELPS KEEP OUR PARKS AND TRAILS SAFE AND HEALTHY HABITATS FOR PEOPLE, PLANTS, AND ANIMALS.
SO BRIEFLY, PG&E HAS EXISTING RIGHTS EASEMENTS OVER ALL OF OUR PARK LANDS.
WHEN THEY NEED TO MAINTAIN A POLE OR TRIM VEGETATION, INSPECT A TOWER, PAINT A TOWER, THEY REACH OUT TO ME WITH A NOTIFICATION ALONG WITH A KMZ, A GOOGLE EARTH FILE, COPIES OF THEIR RIGHT-OF-WAY INSTRUMENTS.
SOME OF THESE ARE, YOU KNOW, CPUC REQUIRED, HAVE TO HAPPEN IN LIKE A WEEK OR TWO, AND SOME OF THEM ARE, YOU KNOW, WHENEVER YOU GET A CHANCE TO LET US KNOW AND IT'S OKAY TO ARRIVE AND DO THE WORK.
SO LIKE I GET BETWEEN THREE AND TEN OF THESE A WEEK.
I REVIEW THE LAND RIGHTS, I MAKE SURE THE WORK IS WITHIN THE EASEMENT, I CHECK WITH CULTURAL RESOURCES, STEWARDSHIP, PARK SUPERVISOR,
[00:20:01]
UNIT MANAGER, AND ALL THEIR INPUT IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT, BUT THIS ENSURES THAT PG&E DOESN'T SHOW UP UNANNOUNCED ON OUR TRAILS, OUR PARKS, WHEN IT'S WET OR IT'S A SENSITIVE HABITAT SEASON.THIS WORK HAS IMPROVED OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH PG&E SIGNIFICANTLY, I WOULD SAY, BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN REIMBURSED RELATIVELY PROMPTLY FOR ANY INADVERTENT TRAIL DAMAGE OR GATES LEFT OPEN, CATTLE GETTING MIXED UP.
THINGS STILL HAPPEN, BUT NOW WHEN IT DOES, OPS CALLS ME, I CALL PG&E, AND WE WORK IT OUT MOSTLY AMICABLY.
AND WE'RE STILL WORKING ON IMPROVING THIS PROCESS.
I HAVE TO EMPHASIZE THAT SINCE PG&E ALREADY HAS THE RIGHTS.
WE HAVE A MISSION TO SAFEGUARD THE PARKS FOR STAFF AND HABITATS, BUT PG&E HAS A GOAL OF FIRE AND FUEL SAFETY.
SO WHERE THOSE TWO MEET IS KIND OF WHERE I EXIST IN THAT DELICATE BALANCE FOR A LOT OF MY WORK.
IN THESE PHOTOS, YOU SEE THERE'S A, ON THE LEFT, A GOOGLE EARTH KMZ OF PROPOSED WORK AT ANTHONY CHABOT, AND ALL THOSE DIAMONDS ARE TREES TO BE PRUNED OR REMOVED, AND ON THE RIGHT, YOU SEE OUR INTERNAL PARKVIEW INTERFACE, WHICH SHOWS THE TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION LINES OF PG&E.
I REVIEW ALL OF THIS, AS WELL AS THAT GRANT DEED FROM THE 1960S, WHICH IS AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING THAT I WOULD REVIEW DAILY.
AND THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF KIND OF WHAT BECKY ALLUDED TO, OF TIME-INTENSIVE, CRITICALLY IMPORTANT WORK THAT OCCURS MOSTLY UNDER THE RADAR.
LAND SESSION IS A NICE OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT THAT.
AND WITH THAT, I'LL PASS IT TO OUR REAL ESTATE MANAGER, RACHEL LEM, WHO WILL TALK ABOUT OUR NOTABLE PROJECTS FOR 2025.
WHILE WE'RE PASSING OVER, I JUST WANT TO ADD HOW OUTSTANDING URDEM IS AT THIS ROLE.
THIS IS A HARD JOB, BECAUSE PG&E HAS THE RIGHT TO COME DO WORK ON THEIR EASEMENTS.
THEY DON'T NEED A PERMIT FROM US.
AND WHAT URDEM IS DOING IS WORKING WITH THEM PROACTIVELY, WITH OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM AND OUR CULTURAL RESOURCE TEAM AND OUR OPERATIONS TEAM, TO MAKE SURE WHEN THEY DO IT THAT THEY'RE BEING AS LIGHT ON THE LAND AS POSSIBLE.
AND SO WE DON'T HAVE, LIKE, THE TEETH OF A PERMIT MOST OF THE TIME TO SAY, YOU CAN'T DO IT UNLESS YOU DO THESE THINGS.
WE HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM FOR THEM TO MODIFY THEIR WORK TO DO THE RIGHT THING ON OUR LAND.
AND IT'S BECAUSE OF HIS INVOLVEMENT, HIM WORKING WITH OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM AND OTHERS, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HAVE A MUCH LIGHTER APPROACH FROM PG&E AND MANY LESS ISSUES.
SO I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE HIM.
BUT ALSO OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM, OUR OPERATIONS TEAM, OUR CULTURAL RESOURCE FOLKS WHO WORK WITH URDEM AND MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU ALSO, URDEM.
WE KNOW PG&E DOES NOT HAVE A HISTORY OF BEING LIGHT ON THE LAND, SO GETTING THAT'S IMPORTANT.
BUT THE SLIDE BEFORE IS A FABULOUS MAP.
I'D LOVE TO SEE A LARGER VERSION OF THAT.
I'M RACHEL LEM, REAL ESTATE MANAGER.
I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OF THE ACQUISITION AND OTHER REAL PROPERTY PROJECTS WE COMPLETED THIS YEAR.
WE'LL DO THE FIRST CHUNK AND THEN SARAH WILL DO ANOTHER CHUNK.
HERE'S JUST A TINY LITTLE ONE THAT YOU PROBABLY DON'T REMEMBER HAPPENING THIS YEAR.
POINT MALADI WAS A BIG CHUNK OF OUR WORK PLAN THIS LAST YEAR.
AS YOU ALL KNOW, IT WAS A PROJECT THAT WAS DECADES IN THE MAKING.
AND FROM A REAL PROPERTY STANDPOINT, IT WAS EXTREMELY COMPLICATED AND TECHNICAL TO GET IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.
THERE WERE A LOT OF INTERLOCKING AGREEMENTS, A LOT OF PARTIES INVOLVED.
THIS WAS NOT BUYING A SMALL LITTLE RANCH FROM A FAMILY.
THIS WAS A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ALL HAD A VESTED INTEREST IN HOW THIS TRANSACTION TOOK PLACE.
IT WAS VERY EXCITING TO GET THIS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE IN AUGUST.
WE ALL WORKED VERY CLOSELY ALONG WITH LEGAL TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE HITTING THE GROUND RUNNING WITH STAFF ON NEXT STEPS.
YOU'VE HEARD PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT ALREADY ABOUT AN ARCHITECTURAL AND BUILDING ASSESSMENT THAT'S UNDERWAY.
IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OUR OWNERSHIP, THE CITY OF RICHMOND STILL HAS A MAINTENANCE ROLE AS OUR STAFF LEARN ABOUT ALL THE COMPLEX WAYS TO KIND OF TAKE ON JUST MANAGING THIS PROPERTY IN OUR TENURES AS OWNERS.
WE'RE DOING A LOT OF WORK TO SECURE THE PROPERTY AND TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE AND STABLE AS WE MOVE INTO THE PARK PLANNING PROCESS.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT'S ONLY IN THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF OUR OWNERSHIP, OUR PARK PLANNING STAFF HAVE ALREADY MET WITH CITY OF RICHMOND STAFF TO START TALKING ABOUT THOSE THINGS.
REALLY EXCITING FOR OUR TEAM AS LAND ACQUISITION TO KIND OF STEP BACK A LITTLE AND SEE WHAT ALL OF THE OTHER WONDERFUL STAFF
[00:25:01]
HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT ARE DOING TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.SO THAT WILL BE A VERY FUN ONE TO WATCH IN THE COMING YEARS.
IN DECEMBER, WE CLOSED ON THE BRITAIN AND BRITAIN ADJACENT PROPERTY.
YOU MIGHT RECALL THAT THIS WAS A DEDICATION IN LIEU OF FEE AGREEMENT THAT CAME FROM WEST COAST HOME BUILDERS.
IT WAS A DONATION IN LIEU OF PAYING CERTAIN TYPES OF DEVELOPMENT FEES.
BUT I ALWAYS, WHEN I LOOK AT THE MAP, I PICTURE IT AS KIND OF LIKE A LITTLE TETRIS PIECE THAT JUST COULD CHUNK DOWN INTO THERE.
YOU CAN SEE IT KIND OF SPEAKS FOR ITSELF THAT IT ENABLES POTENTIAL FUTURE TRAIL CONNECTIONS.
THIS IS A PROJECT WE DID IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVANCY AS WELL.
SO IT KIND OF PICKS UP A BUNCH OF THOSE DIFFERENT THREADS FROM LAND ACQUISITION WHERE WE HAVE OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, WE WORK WITH DEVELOPERS, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT KIND OF GO INTO THE MECHANICS OF WORKING ON A PROJECT LIKE THIS ONE.
THIS WAS ESPECIALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE MOST OF THE NEGOTIATION HAPPENED IN 2018, 2019, BUT THEN IT DIDN'T MATURE UNTIL THIS PAST YEAR.
AND WHEN IT DID MATURE, IT MATURED VERY QUICKLY AND EVERYBODY KIND OF HAD TO JUMP IN AND GET IT CLOSED REALLY QUICKLY IN ORDER TO MEET CERTAIN DEADLINES THAT ARE INHERENT IN THE AGREEMENT.
SO IT WAS KIND OF AN EXCITING ONE.
AS ADAM QUEUED UP FOR US, WHICH WAS REALLY HANDY, WE WORKED ON A LEASE FOR OFFICE SPACE FOR INTERPRET AND RECREATION STAFF EARLIER THIS YEAR AS WELL.
THIS IS ONE WHERE WE WERE WORKING VERY MUCH IN PARTNERSHIP AND KIND OF A SUPPORT ROLE FOR ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WITHIN THE PARK DISTRICT.
THE LITTLE RED STAR SHOWS KIND OF APPROXIMATELY WHERE THE NEW OFFICE SPACE IS.
IT'S REALLY CLOSE TO MILLER KNOX.
THIS IS ONE WHERE INR STAFF WERE KIND OF TAKING THE LEAD OF REALIZING THAT WE NEEDED THIS OFFICE SPACE, KIND OF SCOPING OUT SOME DIFFERENT FACILITIES, NARROWING IN ON WHAT THEY NEEDED, AND THEN KIND OF RELAY BATON HANDING IT OFF TO LAND ACQUISITION FOLKS TO GET THE LEASE NEGOTIATED AND FINALIZED AND APPROVED.
BUT THEY MOVED IN IN KIND OF LATE FALL, EARLY WINTER OF THIS PAST YEAR.
IT SHORTENS THEIR COMMUTE TIME FOR BEING ABLE TO HIT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PARKS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC, BETTER SERVE THE PUBLIC.
AND ANOTHER PROJECT, JUST TO KIND OF HIGHLIGHT THE BREADTH OF WHAT OUR TEAM DOES, THIS WAS A PROJECT OF PHILIP COFFIN.
HE DID A REALLY EXCELLENT JOB.
THIS IS SEISMIC STATIONS THAT ARE LOCATED ALL OVER THE PARK DISTRICT THAT PROVIDE REALLY VALUABLE DATA FOR THE SHAKE ALERT, KIND OF EARLY QUAKE NOTIFICATION THAT SOME OF YOU MIGHT BE AWARE OF, AND ALSO JUST PROVIDING THAT DATA FOR OUR DIFFERENT SCIENTISTS WHO ARE STUDYING EARTHQUAKES IN THE AREA, WHICH, YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAVE A FEW.
THIS WAS A REALLY INTERESTING LICENSE BECAUSE IT WAS COMING UP.
IT WAS EXPIRING AND READY TO BE RENEWED.
AND I WANTED TO GET TO HIGHLIGHT THIS ONE BECAUSE WHEN WE SAY, OH, A PROJECT'S LICENSE IS COMING UP, IT'S EXPIRING, IT'S GETTING READY TO BE RENEWED, THIS ISN'T A ONE PAGER THAT SAYS, OKAY, GREAT, 25 MORE YEARS AND WE'RE DONE.
THIS ONE WAS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO CHECK IN WITH ALL OF THE PARKS, PARK OPERATIONS STAFF WHO WORK ON, WHO MANAGE THESE PARKS TO SEE, YOU KNOW, IS EVERYTHING WORKING OUT THERE? ARE THERE ANY CONCERNS? IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CHANGED THAT WE NEED TO INCORPORATE? THIS PARTICULAR AGREEMENT HAD HAD AN OLD AGREEMENT AND THEN BEEN AMENDED A BUNCH OF TIMES.
SO THIS WAS KIND OF AN OMNIBUS, LET'S CLEAN THAT WHOLE THING UP AND GIVE OURSELVES, LIKE, ONE REFERENCE DOCUMENT MOVING FORWARD.
ALSO THIS LICENSE WAS ACTUALLY ORIGINALLY WITH A DIFFERENT NONPROFIT CALLED UNAVCO, WHICH HAD SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN PURCHASED BY EARTHSCOPE.
SO WE HAD TO KIND OF TEASE ALL OF THAT OUT, TRACE KIND OF THE CORPORATE OWNERSHIP, CONFIRM NONPROFIT STATUS, ALL OF THAT.
SO, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE SAY, OH, WE JUST RENEWED THIS AGREEMENT, IT WAS NOT A SHORT SMALL PIECE.
IT WAS REALLY KIND OF A COLLECTIVE LOOK AT THE PROJECT AND FIGURING OUT, OKAY, NOW THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO DO A FRESH AGREEMENT, WHAT ALL DO WE NEED TO PUT IN THERE? SO THAT'S HOW WE LOOK AT OUR LICENSE AGREEMENTS WHEN THEY'RE EXPIRING.
WE DO A REALLY HOLISTIC ANALYSIS, WORK WITH OPERATIONS STAFF, WORK WITH STEWARDSHIP STAFF, WORK WITH WHOEVER HAS KIND OF A NEXUS WITH THE PROJECT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CAPTURING ANYTHING THAT'S CHANGED.
BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR AGREEMENTS ARE REALLY OLD.
THEY'RE IN PLACE FOR 25 YEARS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT JUST A FEW THINGS MIGHT CHANGE IN THAT TIME.
SO OUR RENEWALS ARE REALLY KIND OF A GOOD CHANCE TO CLEAN THOSE UP AND GET THEM INTO THE CURRENT LANGUAGE THAT WE WANT TO SEE IN THOSE AGREEMENTS.
SO THAT WAS A REALLY COOL ONE THAT WE DID LAST YEAR.
AND NEXT TIME YOU GET A LITTLE SHAKE ALERT, YOU CAN THINK OF OUR FUN LITTLE SEISMIC SYSTEMS THAT ARE OUT THERE THAT LOOK LIKE THAT.
AND SARAH'S GOING TO TAKE A FEW MORE OF THEM FROM HERE.
[00:30:01]
RACHEL.I'M SARAH REEKS, SENIOR REAL PROPERTY SPECIALIST, AND I AM GOING TO CONTINUE ON HIGHLIGHTING A FEW OF OUR ACQUISITION PROJECTS IN 2025.
THE ONE THAT I'LL START WITH IS THE FRESKY ACQUISITION.
THIS WAS A 140-ACRE PROPERTY THAT WE ACQUIRED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVANCY AS PART OF DEER VALLEY REGIONAL PARK.
THE PURCHASE PROTECTS GRASSLAND, OAK SAVANNA, AND RIPARIAN HABITAT, PROTECTS THE PROPERTY FROM POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, AND ALSO PROVIDES RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT WOULD BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN.
ACQUISITION OF THIS PROPERTY AND NEGOTIATION OF AN AGREEMENT TOOK ALMOST EIGHT YEARS, IN PART DUE TO THE SELLER'S LACK OF URGENCY AND DISCOMFORT WITH THE SALE.
YOU MAY REMEMBER THAT HE RETAINED AN 8.65-ACRE PORTION OF HIS OPEN SPACE PROPERTY, AND OVER THE YEARS HE HAD PROPOSED MANY DIFFERENT CONFIGURATIONS THAT REALLY JUST DIDN'T WORK FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, SO IT WAS A MATTER OF HANGING IN THERE AND NEGOTIATING SOMETHING THAT WE COULD BOTH AGREE ON.
AND ALSO THIS PROJECT REQUIRED A LOT OF COLLABORATION WITH OPERATIONS AND RANGELAND STAFF.
WE HAD A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT ON-SITE MEETINGS WITH THOSE STAFF TO BRING THE SELLER TO A LEVEL OF COMFORT, AND WE ALSO HAD SOME MEETINGS HERE AT PERALTA OAKS WITH LEGAL STAFF AND HIS ATTORNEY, SO A LOT OF NUTS AND BOLTS IN THIS ONE.
NEXT WE HAVE AN ACQUISITION AT HAYWARD REGIONAL SHORELINE WITH HARD.
THIS WAS PHILLIP'S PROJECT AS WELL.
THE PARK DISTRICT ACQUIRED APPROXIMATELY 77 ACRES.
SO LET'S SEE, PREVIOUSLY THE PARK DISTRICT OPERATED TWO DIFFERENT SAN FRANCISCO BAY TRAIL SEGMENTS OVER HARD'S 82-ACRE PROPERTY.
IN SUPPORT OF THE RESTORE THE HAYWARD MARSH PROJECT, WE ACQUIRED 77 ACRES OF THAT 82-ACRE PROPERTY AND HARD RETAINED APPROXIMATELY FIVE ACRES, WHICH IS THE GENERAL FOOTPRINT OF THEIR INTERPRETIVE CENTER.
YOU WOULD THINK THAT WOULD BE IT, BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE.
THERE'S ALWAYS MORE WITH OUR PROJECTS, SO IN ORDER TO MOVE EVERYTHING FORWARD, WE HAD TO TERMINATE THE 1982 LEASE AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWED FOR ONE OF THOSE TRAIL SEGMENTS, AND WE HAD TO ALSO AMEND A 2001 OPERATING AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWED FOR THE OTHER TRAIL SEGMENT, AND STILL THERE'S MORE.
IN ORDER FOR EACH OF THE AGENCIES TO MAINTAIN THEIR USE PATTERNS, WE HAD TO NEGOTIATE SOME ACCESS AGREEMENTS.
SO THE PARK DISTRICT OBTAINED A PUBLIC RECREATIONAL TRAIL EASEMENT FROM BREAKWATER OVER THE PROPERTY THAT HARD RETAINED SO THAT THE PUBLIC COULD GET TO THE BAY TRAIL, AND HARD RECEIVED AN ACCESS EASEMENT FOR THEM TO CROSS THROUGH THE PROPERTY THAT WE NOW OWN TO GET TO THEIR PROPERTY NORTH SO THEY COULD MAINTAIN THEIR PROPERTY.
SO LOTS OF CLEANUP IN THAT PROJECT AS WELL.
AND LASTLY, THIS SLIDE IS THE F STREET ENTRANCE TO KARKINAS STREET REGIONAL SHORELINE IN MARTINEZ.
SINCE 1994, THE PARK DISTRICT HAS OPERATED PORTIONS OF MARTINEZ UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPERTY BEHIND ALHAMBRA HIGH SCHOOL, AND THAT AGREEMENT WAS EXPIRED, SO WE HAD TO NEGOTIATE A NEW ONE.
THIS AGREEMENT TOOK ABOUT THREE YEARS TO NEGOTIATE.
IT REQUIRED COLLABORATION WITH OPERATIONS STAFF TO UNDERSTAND PUBLIC USE PATTERNS AND STAFF NEEDS, AND COLLABORATION WITH RANGELAND STAFF TO UNDERSTAND GRAZING PRACTICES, AND WE ACTUALLY HAD TO COLLABORATE WITH LEGAL AND BUSINESS SERVICES AS WELL REGARDING THIRD-PARTY ACCESS RIGHTS, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE ADDRESS IN OUR AGREEMENTS.
SO I ALSO THINK THAT THIS PROJECT WAS KIND OF SPEARED TOWARDS COMPLETION WHEN THE CITY OF MARTINEZ DEDICATED THIS AREA TO BARBARA WOODBURN, WHO IS A LOCAL COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WHO WORKED IN THE 80S AND 90S WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND OTHERS TO PROTECT THE FRANKLIN RIDGE HILLSIDE THERE.
NEXT UP, BECKY'S GOING TO COME AND INTRODUCE MATT, OUR NEW EMPLOYEE.
ALL RIGHT, I THINK WE WANTED TO GIVE YOU A BROAD SENSE OF A LITTLE BIT OF THE WORK AND JUST, LIKE I SAID, OPEN UP THE HOOD SO YOU COULD JUST SEE THAT WHAT WE DO IS NOT SIMPLE.
IT'S GOT LOTS OF LAYERS, BUT I DO THINK WHEN WE BRING THINGS TO THE BOARD AND ASK THEM TO VOTE ON THINGS, THEY'RE VERY WELL BAKED, AND THERE HAS BEEN AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF TIME AND ENERGY AND THOUGHT THAT HAS GONE INTO EITHER REVISING TO MODERNIZE THINGS, BUT JUST REALLY PROTECTING THE PARK DISTRICT
[00:35:02]
TO BRING THESE PROJECTS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.SO THANK YOU FOR HIGHLIGHTING SOME OF THE 2025 HIGHLIGHTS.
SO WE HAVE BIG THINGS LIKE POINT MLADI AND LITTLE LEASES WITH EARTHQUAKE MONITORS AND THAT SORT OF THING, BUT WE JUST WANTED TO SHOW YOU SORT OF THE GAMUT OF IT.
DECHAMBEAU, YOU BROUGHT UP THE MAP THAT SORT OF SHOWS WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN 2025, SO WE CAN DEFINITELY GET BIGGER MAPS OF THOSE MADE.
IT DOESN'T CAPTURE EVERYTHING YOU'VE ALL BEEN SAYING, RACHEL, SARAH, THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR GOOD WORK, BUT THE MAP ALSO DOES TELL A LOT.
I ALSO AM EXCITED TO JUST INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR NEWEST TEAM MEMBER.
I'M GOING TO LET HIM PROPERLY INTRODUCE HIMSELF, BUT I JUST WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE SCORED WHEN WE LANDED HIM AS AN EMPLOYEE.
HE COMES TO US WITH JUST A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLSET THAT WE DIDN'T HAVE ON THE TEAM, SO IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL BALANCE THAT WE NOW HAVE.
I'M GOING TO INVITE HIM UP, AND I'VE ASKED HIM TO SORT OF SHARE.
WE BROUGHT HIM ON IN DECEMBER, AND I ENCOURAGE A LITTLE BIT OF A BACK AND FORTH WITH THE BOARD ON THIS, BECAUSE I'VE ASKED HIM TO SHARE WHAT HIS FIRST IMPRESSIONS ARE OF THE JOB AND OF THE PARK DISTRICT, SO COMING WITH THESE FRESH EYES, JUST WHAT HE CAN KIND OF SHARE FROM HIS EXPERIENCE, AND THEN I'M ASKING HIM A QUESTION JUST AROUND WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES THAT WE HAVE AS A BUYER IN THE CURRENT MARKETPLACE.
IT'S ONE THAT I GET ASKED A LOT AND HAVE ONE WAY OF ANSWERING IT, BUT I THINK HE IS GOING TO HAVE ANOTHER WAY.
SO, I JUST REALLY DO ENCOURAGE YOU AS HE INTRODUCES HIMSELF AND SHARES SOME OF HIS PERSPECTIVE TO INTERRUPT AND ASK QUESTIONS AND ENGAGE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A CONVERSATION WITH HIM.
I'M BOARD PRESIDENT SAM WONG AND FELLOW BOARD MEMBERS.
IT'S WONDERFUL TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT IN FRONT OF YOU AS A NEW EMPLOYEE OF THE DISTRICT AS WELL AS A TEAM MEMBER OF THE LAND ACQUISITION DEPARTMENT.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MY BACKGROUND, I GREW UP HERE IN THE EAST BAY, AND THE PARK DISTRICT LANDS WERE REALLY THE FIRST PLACE THAT I WAS INTRODUCED TO LARGE-SCALE LANDSCAPE-SIZE CONSERVATION, SO AS A RESULT OF THAT, I'M FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE AS A CHILD TO EXPLORE THE PARKS THAT WE HAVE HERE, AND I THINK THAT REALLY LEFT A LASTING IMPRESSION ON ME AND HAS KIND OF HELPED ME GET HERE TODAY.
PRIOR TO THE DISTRICT, I WAS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
I'M A STATE-LICENSED MAI-DESIGNATED REAL ESTATE APPRAISER.
MY REAL ESTATE BACKGROUND IS DEALING WITH A WIDE RANGE OF PROPERTY TYPES AND COMPLEX REAL ESTATE ISSUES ALL ACROSS CALIFORNIA AND THE WEST COAST, SO I'VE APPRAISED EVERYTHING FROM APARTMENTS TO OFFICES, BUT ALSO WEIRD REMNANT PARCELS, MITIGATION LANDS, AND LARGE RANCHES, SO I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, AND I THINK THAT SKILL SET CAN REALLY HELP THE TEAM AND THE DISTRICT HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON HOW THE REAL ESTATE MARKETS OUT THERE WORK.
SO MY PASSION FOR PROTECTING LARGE LANDSCAPES AND MY LOVE OF CHALLENGING REAL ESTATE PROJECTS FIRST BROUGHT ME TO WORKING WITH THIS TEAM AS AN OUTSIDE CONTRACTOR.
I WAS HIRED TO DO SOME APPRAISALS FOR SOME COMPLEX ACQUISITIONS FOR THE TEAM, AND THEN AFTER WORKING WITH THE TEAM, REALIZING THESE ARE A GREAT BUNCH OF FOLKS, AND THEN I SAW THE JOB POSTING, AND I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, IT'D BE AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO COME THIS SIDE OF THE TABLE AND HELP OUT THE DISTRICT.
JUST AS A POINT OF CLARIFICATION, WHAT DOES MAI STAND FOR? IT DOESN'T STAND FOR ANYTHING ANYMORE.
LIKE A MAI TAI, MAYBE? I WOULD LIKE ONE OF THOSE, BUT NO.
THE WAY I EXPLAIN IT TO PEOPLE IS IT'S A MASTER IN APPRAISING.
SO ORIGINALLY IT WAS A MEMBER OF THE APPRAISAL INSTITUTE, WHICH IS THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL HIGHLY REGARDED APPRAISAL FOUNDATION, OR SORRY, APPRAISAL PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION.
BUT YEAH, THE MAI DESIGNATION IS KIND OF THE HIGHEST REGARDED DESIGNATION ONE CAN GET IN THE REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL FIRM, OR REAL ESTATE APPRAISAL INDUSTRY, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL EDUCATION AND COURSEWORK AND REVIEW AND THAT TYPE OF THING.
SO BEFORE JOINING THE DISTRICT, AS A MEMBER OF JUST THE GENERAL PUBLIC, I ONLY SAW THE BIG WINS THAT THE LAND ACQUISITION TEAM WAS DOING, BUT NEVER REALLY KIND OF THE DETAILS BEHIND THE CURTAIN, AS THEY SAY. BASED ON MY BACKGROUND IN REAL ESTATE, AS WELL AS WORKING WITH A NUMBER OF OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, BOTH FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, CITY, I'VE QUICKLY BECOME PRETTY IMPRESSED WITH ALL THAT THIS TEAM DOES BEHIND THE SCENES.
ONCE AGAIN, BEFORE JOINING, DIDN'T REALIZE WE OWN OR MANAGE
[00:40:01]
OVER 12% OF CONTRA COSTA AND ALAMEDA COUNTIES.EVERY NEIGHBOR ACTION IS ALWAYS STRAIGHTFORWARD AND EASY.
AS YOU'VE HEARD TODAY, THE TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING ON ALL TYPES OF PROJECTS TO EXPAND THE DISTRICT, AND THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH WORK DONE TO MAINTAIN AND PROTECT THE RIGHTS THAT WE ALREADY HAVE.
I'M MOST IMPRESSED WITH ALL THAT PROTECTING AND MAINTAINING ASPECT.
LIKE I SAID, YOU GET THESE PRESENTATIONS, THEY COME TO THE BOARD, HEY, WE'RE ACQUIRING THIS PROPERTY, BUT THERE'S SO MUCH THAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES ON A DAILY BASIS.
IT'S ESPECIALLY COMPLEX BECAUSE OF OUR SIZE AND OUR AGE.
WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR SO LONG AND HAD SO MANY DIFFERENT AGREEMENTS AND THAT TYPE OF THING THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE WE WERE HERE, BEFORE I WAS BORN.
HAVING TO INTERPRET THOSE AND UNDERSTAND THOSE IN TODAY'S CONTEXT IS A CHALLENGE.
THIS TEAM WORKS DAILY WITH BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS REGARDING PROPERTY RIGHTS, PROPERTY LINES, INFRASTRUCTURE, EASEMENTS, AGREEMENTS, AND SO MUCH MORE.
JUST IN MY TWO MONTHS, I'VE ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT INTO DIFFERENT, HEY, WE HAVE THIS ISSUE.
I'VE BEEN REALLY IMPRESSED THAT THIS JUST HAPPENS DAILY BEHIND THE SCENES.
YOU GUYS HAVE TO READ THIS OLD AGREEMENT FROM THE 30S AND THE 50S, AND WE HAVE TO PUT ON A WHOLE NEW LENS AND SAY, HOW DOES THIS IMPACT OUR LEGAL RIGHTS TODAY? SOME OF THOSE DOCUMENTS THAT WERE ONCE REFERENCED, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE.
OLD MAPS, WE DON'T HAVE THOSE.
THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES WHEN WE INHERIT WONDERFUL THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE BEFORE US BUT HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW THAT WORKS IN TODAY'S WORLD.
THE THING IS, IN REAL ESTATE, EVERY PROPERTY IS UNIQUE AND PRODUCES A NEW CHALLENGE, AND THE SAME CAN BE SAID FOR ALL THESE EASEMENTS AND AGREEMENTS.
THEY HAVE DIFFERENT TERMS AND DIFFERENT CHALLENGES.
I'M A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL THAT LOVES A GOOD CHALLENGE, BUT THE REALITY IS THIS WORK OFTEN GOES UNSEEN BECAUSE WE'RE SITTING AT OUR DESK.
WE SOLVE A PROBLEM, AND IF WE SOLVE IT RIGHT, NO ONE EVER HEARS ABOUT IT.
IN MY FIRST TWO MONTHS, I'VE REALLY LEARNED THAT THE LANDS TEAM ISN'T JUST ACQUIRING LAND.
THEY'RE EDUCATORS, NEGOTIATORS, AND PROBLEM SOLVERS.
AS BECKY MENTIONED, PART OF WHAT THE TEAM WANTED ME TO DO TODAY IS KIND OF GIVE YOU A BIT OF A MARKET UPDATE AND COVER WHY ACQUISITIONS CAN BE SO CHALLENGING, BUT FROM MY PERSPECTIVE AS AN OUTSIDER AND AN APPRAISER, LIKE I MENTIONED, WE ALREADY OWN OR CONTROL A HUGE SWATH OF ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES.
WHAT IS LEFT AND IS WELL SUITED FOR WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE NOT EVERYTHING IS PERFECT FOR WHAT WE DO, THEY'RE MOSTLY THE FUNKY ONES.
ATYPICAL PROPERTIES, THEY'VE GOT SOME HAIR ON THEM, THEY'RE NOT STRAIGHTFORWARD.
THESE REMAINING PROPERTIES HAVE ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES THAT SOMEONE ELSE HASN'T ADDRESSED.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE HAVING TO ADDRESS THEM NOW.
WE HAVE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION, WE'VE GOT LEGAL OR ACCESS ISSUES, OLD BUILDINGS, PREVIOUS LEASES, PREVIOUS PROPERTY LINE DISPUTES, ET CETERA.
FURTHERMORE, WE DON'T COMPETE IN ONE MARKET.
WE ACQUIRE ALL TYPES OF LAND, ALL TYPES OF RIGHTS.
WE GET WATER RIGHTS, WE DO LEASES, WE DO SO MUCH MORE.
THE REAL ESTATE THAT WE OPERATE IN, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT MOST PEOPLE THINK OF AS REAL ESTATE.
WE'RE NOT DEALING IN HOMES HERE, REALLY.
YOU CAN'T GO HOP ON ZILLOW AND SAY, OKAY, WELL, WHAT'S POINT MALADI WORTH? LET'S GO LOOK THAT UP.
IT REALLY REQUIRES A MUCH DEEPER BREADTH OF EXPERIENCE, AS WELL AS A DIFFERENT APPROACH.
WE COMPETE IN A DIFFERENT GAME THAN MOST PEOPLE THINK OF WHEN YOU THINK OF REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS.
FURTHERMORE, WE ARE OPERATING OFTEN IN AN INFORMATIONAL VOID.
THERE'S BEEN A LONG-TIME FAMILY OWNERSHIP, THERE'S SOME OLD DOCUMENTS WE CAN'T READ ANYMORE, OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NEW ISSUES WE'VE NEVER DEALT BEFORE WITH, OR SOME OF THESE PROPERTIES ARE ONE-OF-A-KIND, POINT MALADI.
BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP FIGURING OUT A WAY FORWARD THROUGH ALL THIS TO EXPAND OUR PARKS AND CONTROL WHAT WE ALREADY OWN.
AS KIND OF SHOWN HERE, WE ARE IN A UNIQUE POSITION WHEN WE GO OUT INTO THE REAL ESTATE MARKET.
THERE ARE SPECIFIC RULES WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
SELLERS HAVE THEIR OWN PERSPECTIVES AND THEIR NEEDS, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE REALITY OF WHAT'S ACTUALLY HAPPENING IN THE MARKET.
OFTEN WHAT WE ARE ACQUIRING, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT.
THERE ARE FEW SALES OF SIMILAR PROPERTIES, FEW SALES OF SIMILAR PROPERTIES NEAR THEM.
THIS UNCERTAINTY REALLY MAKES NEGOTIATING CHALLENGING AND CAN TAKE A WHILE BECAUSE NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING ON.
THERE'S NOTHING TO COMPARE IT TO.
SELLERS DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT
[00:45:01]
THEY HAVE SOMETIMES, AS WELL.SO FURTHERMORE, A LOT OF SELLERS READ THE NEWS, GOOD FOR THEM, RIGHT? BUT THEY READ THAT SOME TECH EXECUTIVE JUST BOUGHT A $20 MILLION HOME.
THEY HAVE A $100 MILLION PAY PACKAGE.
SO SELLERS ARE LIKE, WELL, THERE'S ALL THESE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS JUST FLOATING OUT THERE.
WHY CAN'T I GET A SLICE OF THAT, RIGHT? PRIOR TO JOINING, I TALKED TO A LOT OF PROPERTY OWNERS, AND THEY'RE LIKE, DOES SOME GUY'S GOT TO HAVE AN EXTRA MILLION DOLLARS TO BUY MY LITTLE PODUNK THING BACK CORNER OF A CANYON JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IT'S COOL, RIGHT? THEY'RE COOL PROPERTIES, BUT NOT EVERYBODY WANTS THESE UNIQUE PROPERTIES.
AND AS A PUBLIC AGENCY, WE CAN'T CHASE THE SPECULATION THAT SOME SELLERS BELIEVE IS OUT THERE.
WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYER AND THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
AND THAT IS DONE BY GETTING AN UNBIASED, SUPPORTED MARKET VALUE APPRAISAL.
NOW, ACQUIRING LAND AS A PUBLIC AGENCY IS MORE COMPLEX.
WE CAN'T JUST GO OUT AND WANT IT, RIGHT? IT MIGHT BE A GREAT FIT FOR US, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN JUST GO GET IT.
THERE'S THE MARKET FORCES, THERE'S SELLER EXPECTATIONS, AND THEN THERE'S THE LEGAL REQUIREMENTS THAT WE HAVE TO FOLLOW.
SO THAT'S WHERE APPRAISAL FITS IN.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO PROTECT THE TAXPAYER DOLLARS AND PAY FAIR MARKET VALUE FOR WHATEVER WE ACQUIRE.
AND THAT REQUIRES AN APPRAISAL.
WELL, AN APPRAISAL REQUIRES INFORMATION.
AND LIKE I'VE BEEN MENTIONING, WE'RE DEALING WITH THESE WEIRD, FUNKY PROPERTIES.
THERE'S NOT A LOT OF INFORMATION.
SO OFTEN THE APPRAISAL IS VERY HARD TO DO.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF UNKNOWN.
THERE'S NOT A SECOND POINT MALADI.
THERE'S NOT A SECOND, YOU KNOW, BIG RANCH THAT SOLD RECENTLY IN THE AREA.
IT REQUIRES A BIT MORE OF A CHALLENGE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT'S REALLY WORTH.
AND THERE CAN BE A LARGER, YOU KNOW, DISPARITY BETWEEN WHAT THE SELLER BELIEVES AND WHAT WE CAN OFFER WITH A SUPPORTED APPRAISAL.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE BUYING A HOME.
YOU CAN'T JUST GO DOWN TO YOUR LOCAL BANK, HEY, WHAT'S MY LOAN RATE? LET'S GO GET THE APPRAISER OUT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, CLOSE THE ACQUISITION.
IT REALLY DOES TAKE A LOT MORE WORK.
AND IN APPRAISING IT, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT THE VALUE OF THE PROPERTY, RIGHT? BUT YOU ALSO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT REALLY IS OR WHAT IT COULD BE USED FOR.
IS IT A RURAL HOME SITE? IS IT A MARINA? IS IT GRAZING LAND? OR IS IT HABITAT MITIGATION BAKING LAND? THERE'S ALL THESE THINGS OUT THERE THAT HAVE TO BE UNDERSTOOD BEFORE IT CAN BE APPRAISED.
AND SOMETIMES THE SELLER DOESN'T WANT TO AGREE WITH WHAT THE APPRAISER HAS SAID.
AND THAT CAN BE A CHALLENGE AT A TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE OPERATING IN THIS INFORMATION VOID.
LIKE I SAID, WE'RE A PUBLIC AGENCY.
WE HAVE TO PAY THE FAIR MARKET VALUE BASED ON AN APPRAISAL.
WE CAN'T JUST GO OUT CHASING SPECULATION.
AND OFTEN THAT REQUIRES THE SELLER TO SAY, OKAY, I GOT TO CHECK MY EXPECTATIONS AT THE DOOR.
I GOT TO COME TO THE TABLE AND BE WILLING TO WORK WITH US.
AND SOMETIMES THAT MAKES IT CHALLENGING FOR THE SELLER.
SO IN SUMMARY, THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE REAL ESTATE ISSUES.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE MORE LAND TO ACQUIRE.
BUT REAL ESTATE'S NEVER EASY, ESPECIALLY WITH WHAT WE DO.
AND THE WORK THAT THIS TEAM DOES TO MAINTAIN OUR PARKS AS IT IS TODAY AND TRYING TO EXPAND IT GOING FORWARD IS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
AND FROM THE OUTSIDE, I'M PRETTY PROUD TO BE PART OF THIS TEAM AND PART OF THIS DISTRICT TO KIND OF HELP EXPAND THE PARKS FOR THE FUTURE AND PROTECT THE PARKS FOR THE FUTURE GENERATION.
SO AT THIS POINT, ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT APPRAISAL, MARKETS, INTEREST RATES? SURE.
AND I THINK I SAW YOU ON YOUR SECOND OR THIRD DAY WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND WE HAD OUR HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AT THE BRIDGE YARD FACILITY.
SO IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU NOW A FEW MONTHS LATER.
SO THANKS SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION.
SO DO YOU HAVE ANY OPINIONS OR THOUGHTS ON EMINENT DOMAIN BECAUSE THAT IS A TOOL WE HAVE IN OUR TOOL CHEST AND IT'S CONTROVERSIAL AND WEIRD AND WE HARDLY EVER USE IT, BUT.
I WAS PREVIOUSLY PAID TO HAVE AN OPINION.
SO I THINK EMINENT DOMAIN BEING DONE BY A PUBLIC AGENCY NEEDS TO BE DONE IN A VERY THOUGHT OUT AND CAREFUL MANNER.
PEOPLE LOVE THEIR PERSONAL PROPERTY AND THEIR REAL ESTATE AND IT CAN BE TRICKY TO WORK WITH ONE OWNER FOR EMINENT DOMAIN, BUT THEN YOU ALSO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT IS THE KNOCK ON IMPLICATIONS OF EMINENT DOMAIN FOR THE COMMUNITY, FOR THE NEIGHBORS.
IF WE GO IN AND ACQUIRE SOMETHING USING EMINENT DOMAIN, HOW DOES THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY VIEW US AND HOW MIGHT
[00:50:02]
THAT MAKE OUR JOB MORE CHALLENGING IN THE FUTURE FOR LESS COMPLICATED PROJECTS, THAT TYPE OF THING? IS THERE A SPECIFIC QUESTION? NO, I'M JUST THINKING OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT WE DO IN THE PARK DISTRICT.YOU KNOW, WE GOT 1,200 ACRES IN SOUTH HAYWARD AND GUERIN TO BLOCK A FREEWAY.
IT WAS EVERYBODY'S INTEREST TO DO THAT AND WE BENEFITED FROM IT AND WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THAT OPTION.
HAVE YOU DONE THAT? ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THAT OR DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS? I HAVE WORKED ON A NUMBER OF EMINENT DOMAIN CASES PRIOR TO THIS AND I THINK THE POSITION THAT WE'RE AT AS BOTH A PARK DISTRICT AS WELL AS A SOCIETY IN TERMS OF ZONING AND GENERAL PLAN LAWS AND UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT LAND PRESERVATION AND PROTECTION MEANS TO A LARGER COMMUNITY IN THE BAY AREA.
WE MIGHT NOT SEE AS MANY OF THESE CRAZY DEVELOPMENT IDEAS COMING THROUGH WHERE WE NEED TO BE THE ONES TO ACT.
USUALLY THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED AT COUNTY OR A LOCAL LEVEL IN TERMS OF LIKE ROADWAYS, RIGHT? THERE'S A LOT OF PUSHBACK ALREADY HAPPENING ON THAT OUTSIDE OF WHAT WE DO HERE THAT I THINK WE COULD PLAY A ROLE IN THAT, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF EMINENT DOMAIN IS GOING TO BE AS COMMON OR POPULAR GOING FORWARD FOR REGULAR ACQUISITIONS.
I WANT TO BUILD UPON THAT THOUGH FOR A MOMENT BECAUSE I KNOW THERE'S A PRETTY LARGE ISSUE IN NEWARK WITH THE NEWARK SHORELINE IN TERMS OF PROTECTING THE NEWARK SHORELINE AND THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORTS FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN REGARDS TO THIS AND THERE HAD BEEN CONVERSATION AMONGST COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN REGARDS TO EMINENT DOMAIN AND IT'S A TOPIC THAT I KNOW AS A BOARD MEMBER HERE AT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT WHO REPRESENTS THE CITY OF NEWARK, I HAVEN'T BEEN LOOPED IN ON ANY OF THE INTERNAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT NEWARK SHORELINE.
I KNOW THE PREVIOUS GENERAL MANAGER DID RECEIVE SOME CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND SOME OF THE OTHER EFFORTS ON NEWARK SHORELINE, BUT IT'S NEVER A CONVERSATION THAT'S BUBBLED UP TO ME AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE CITY OF NEWARK OR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND I KNOW IT'S A PRETTY BIG TOPIC AND BIG ISSUE, SO I'M JUST CURIOUS, HOW DO WE FACILITATE THAT TYPE OF CONVERSATION WHEN WE KNOW THERE ARE COMMUNITY MEMBERS INTERESTED IN THE POSSIBILITY OF EMINENT DOMAIN? I CAN JUMP IN ON THIS ONE, I JUST WANT TO SAY WE'RE NOT PREPARED, I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE NEWARK SHORELINE AND I DON'T EXPECT MATT TO NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE NEWARK SHORELINE, IT'S SOMETHING WE CAN ALWAYS BRING BACK TO YOU AS A BOARD MEMBER AND TO THE BOARD, AGAIN, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, I'M HAPPY TO FACILITATE US LOOKING INTO IT TOGETHER AND SO I THINK, AND THEN I GUESS I'D JUST ADD TOO, IN TERMS OF EMINENT DOMAIN AND OTHER TOOLS THAT WE HAVE AT OUR DISPOSAL, IT'S IMPORTANT THAT OUR TEAM IS ABLE TO AND HAS THOSE TOOLS WHEN NECESSARY, I THINK OUR TEAM'S ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE PRIORITIES FOR YOUR BOARD AND THE DISTRICT AND THE COMMUNITY WE SERVE, WHAT IS THE BEST PATH TO ACCOMPLISH THOSE PRIORITIES AND KEEP YOUR BOARD ENGAGED IN THE PROCESS OF US DOING THAT, SO I THINK WHAT MATT'S DESCRIBING TO YOU IS KIND OF THE BACKDROP TO ALL OF THAT WORK, RIGHT, LIKE THE MARKET THAT'S OUT THERE, HOW WE WORK ON THESE APPRAISALS, WHAT THE TECHNICAL ASPECTS ARE, BUT, AND SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW THOSE THINGS BECAUSE THIS TEAM ARE THE TECHNICAL EXPERTS WHO CAN GIVE YOUR BOARD FEEDBACK AND CAN INFORM HOW WE APPROACH THESE PROJECTS, BRIAN, YOU HAVE SOMETHING ELSE TO ADD? YEAH, GOOD MORNING, BRIAN HOLT, ACTING ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER, ACQUISITION STEWARDSHIP DEVELOPMENT, I JUST WANTED TO JUMP IN REAL QUICK AND GIVE A PLUG FOR OUR INTERAGENCY PLANNING GROUP, SO THAT IS THE GROUP THAT WORKS VERY CLOSELY WITH LAND REGARDING ANY OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS THAT COME IN AROUND OUR LANDS, SO WE ARE VERY FAMILIAR WITH THE NEWARK SHORELINE, WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT IT FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, SO FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US AT ANY POINT, WE'RE HAPPY TO MEET WITH YOU TO DISCUSS AS THOSE QUESTIONS COME TO YOU, WE OFTEN REPORT ON SOME OF THOSE ITEMS TO THE LEDGE COMMITTEE OR TO OTHERS, BUT IT'S USUALLY NOT TO A POINT THAT THERE'S SORT OF BEEN A PUBLIC ACTION OR THAT SORT OF THING, SO IF YOU'RE HEARING THINGS FROM OTHER STAKEHOLDERS, KIND OF WANTING TO KNOW WHAT THE DISTRICT'S POSITION ARE, IF WE'VE LOOKED AT IT, FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT TO US AND WE CAN, WE'LL BE HAPPY TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
I JUST HAD TO INDIVIDUALLY AS BOARD MEMBERS, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ME THAT YOU HAVE ACCESS TO ANY INFORMATION YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, SO LIKE BRIAN SAID, PLEASE REACH OUT IF THERE'S QUESTIONS, MY GOAL IS THAT YOU FEEL INFORMED AND NOT KEPT IN THE DARK
[00:55:01]
ON ANYTHING.THANK YOU, MAX, AND WELCOME, THANK YOU, SOUNDS LIKE WE SCORED WITH A LOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH YOU.
ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS AND MAYBE IT COULD BE FOR NOT JUST THE APPRAISAL SECTION BUT MAYBE ALSO SOME OF THE PREVIOUS SLIDES THAT WERE PRESENTED, IF YOU WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT JUST TO LOOK THROUGH.
I THOUGHT MAYBE I MIGHT GO BACK TO BECKY, HOW MUCH DO WE, THERE WAS A COMMENT EARLIER ABOUT THE MITIGATION LAND AND WHEN IT HAPPENED, IT HAPPENED FAST, I'M JUST WONDERING HOW PROACTIVE ARE WE, THERE'S SOME KEY DEVELOPERS OUT THERE, WE KNOW THE CNOS, WE KNOW WHO THEY ARE, LIKE JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE ON, I'VE JUST ALWAYS SEEN THAT AS A GREAT WIN-WIN AND A PARTNERSHIP AND I KNOW ST. BOND DIABLO DOES A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THAT AND JUST WONDERING HOW PROACTIVE ARE WE SO THAT WE KNOW AND WE'RE THERE AND WE'RE AT THE TABLE WITH SORT OF, I DON'T KNOW, SHOVEL READIES, RIGHT, OR THE GRABBING THE LAND OPPORTUNITY, A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT? YEAH, IT'S A GOOD QUESTION, I INVITE BRIAN IF YOU WANT TO CHIME IN ON THIS BECAUSE REALLY, I MEAN THE ANSWER IS YES AND PLUS PLUS PLUS, SO IT'S REALLY BRIAN'S TEAM THAT OVERSEES A LOT OF THAT BUT VERY CLOSELY WITH LAND WE'RE AT THE TABLE FOR THAT THAT, TOO.
SO DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT QUESTION? YEAH.
AND ACTUALLY, THE BRINTON PROPERTY IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT.
SO AGAIN, IT GOES BACK TO OUR INTERAGENCY PLANNING GROUP.
WE HAVE A GROUP THAT BASICALLY REVIEWS AGENDAS, DOES ALL THAT SORT OF THING FROM ALL OF THE AGENCIES IN THE EAST BAY.
BUT THAT'S WHEN THINGS POP UP ON AN AGENDA.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE YEARS AGO, THAT'S HOW WE WOULD CATCH THESE THINGS.
AND OFTEN, WE WOULD BE KIND OF NEGOTIATING SOME OF THESE MITIGATION AGREEMENTS THROUGH THE CEQA PROCESS OR THROUGH THE PUBLIC PROCESS.
OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST 20 YEARS OR SO, WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS WITH MOST OF THE LANDOWNERS AND DEVELOPERS.
THAT'S A BIG PART ON THE LAND TEAMS AND JUST IN GENERAL.
SO OFTEN, WE'RE THE FIRST FOLKS THAT DEVELOPERS CALL WHEN THEY SUBMIT AN APPLICATION INTO THE CITY.
AND THEY SIT DOWN WITH THEIR SITE PLAN AND SAY, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING TO DEVELOP.
WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE PARK DISTRICT'S INTERESTS ARE.
AND THAT'S WHEN OUR PLANNERS KIND OF GET ENGAGED AND SAY, YOU KNOW, HEY, THIS IS WHAT WE GOT GOING ON OUR LAND.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, A BUFFER HERE.
OR IT MIGHT BE, NO, WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN YOUR LAND AT ALL.
IT'S GOING TO COST TOO MUCH TO OPERATE.
YOU SHOULD MAYBE TALK TO A LAND TRUST OR SOME OTHER AGENCY OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT WE WORK SUPER CLOSELY WITH THE LAND TEAM ON THAT.
I CAN SAY WE'VE GOT A NUMBER OF THOSE CONVERSATIONS ONGOING RIGHT NOW.
AND, YOU KNOW, THE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY IS RELATIVELY SMALL IN THE EAST BAY.
SO MOST OF THEM HAVE OUR NUMBERS AND WE HEAR FROM THEM PRETTY EARLY ON.
BUT I'LL JUST PUT IN ANOTHER PLUG.
IF YOU HEAR FROM FOLKS, IF PEOPLE ARE CALLING YOU UP OR YOU'RE HEARING FROM STAKEHOLDERS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, A PROPERTY THAT THERE'S A RUMOR GOING AROUND THAT, HEY, THIS MIGHT BE DEVELOPED OR MAYBE THERE IS A NOTICE GOING OUT, LIKE I SAY, FEEL FREE TO GIVE US A CALL.
OFTEN WE HAVE LIKE A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE SO THAT WE CAN GIVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTEXT.
THAT'S OFTEN WHEN WE START TO HEAR FROM THINGS AND USUALLY, YOU KNOW, YEAH, THAT'S THE FOR SALE SIGNS POPPING UP.
IT'S KIND OF THE END OF THE LAST RESORT FOR THEM.
I THINK EVEN THE GOVERNMENT LIAISONS, WHEN WE'RE TALKING TO CITIES, WE'RE APPROVING THESE, YOU KNOW, WE WERE HANGING OUT AT THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY MAYOR'S CONFERENCE WITH THE CITIES.
I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO KNOW WHEN THE PROJECTS ARE.
SO I THINK WE DO A REALLY GOOD JOB OF RELATIONSHIPS AND LOOKING FOR FOR SALE SIGNS.
ANY OTHER BOARD QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? I KNOW DIRECTOR ESPANA IS ONLINE.
I DON'T KNOW IF SHE HAS ANY QUESTIONS.
WE COULD JUST CHECK IN WITH HER.
I GUESS I DID HAVE ONE QUESTION.
YOU KNOW, I NOTICED THAT WE HAD THE COMMENT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A SECOND POINT MELODY, BUT I GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW WE DEFINE THAT.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF EFFORTS, YOU KNOW, THINKING ABOUT THE DIABLO RANGE AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, THE EXPANSIVE VISION.
AND I BELIEVE A YEAR AGO, YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF LETTERS ABOUT THE DIABLO RANGE IN PREPARATION FOR THIS WORKSHOP, THE LAND ACQUISITION WORKSHOP OF 2025.
AND I KNOW WE HAD SOME SPEAKERS WHO CAME A YEAR AGO TO TALK ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW, WHEN THINKING ABOUT LAND ACQUISITION, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOOD TO DREAM BIG AND TO THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE BIG OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND I THINK WHEN WE, YOU KNOW, ARE THINKING ABOUT THINGS ABOUT HOW THERE MIGHT NOT BE A SECOND POINT MELODY, MAYBE WE ARE KIND OF NOT DREAMING BIG, BECAUSE I
[01:00:01]
KNOW THAT THERE ARE SOME ACQUISITION OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.SO IT CAN TAKE, YOU KNOW, THAT TYPE OF CONVERSATION.
I KNOW IN OUR 2013 MASTER PLAN, CEDAR MOUNTAIN, FOR EXAMPLE, IS INCLUDED AS PART OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT 2013 MASTER PLAN.
AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I PERSONALLY WOULD CONSIDER TO BE A DREAM BIG, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL.
AND WE, YOU KNOW, SO HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THESE DREAM BIG PROPERTIES THAT ARE NOT FOR SALE, BUT ARE ON OUR MASTER PLAN.
AND I KNOW OUR ACQUISITIONS THAT A LOT OF PARTNERS LIKE, SAY, MOUNT DIABLO OR, YOU KNOW, TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY WOULD BE VERY EAGER TO SEE US CONSIDER, YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE HAVE THAT, YOU KNOW, CONVERSATION AND TALK ABOUT IT.
AND I'LL LEAVE THAT AS MORE OF A RHETORICAL QUESTION FOR TODAY, BUT I DO THINK THAT SOME OF THE COMMENTS AND LETTERS THAT WE RECEIVED A YEAR AGO STILL APPLY TO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TODAY IN 2026.
AND DIRECTOR SUNWONG, IF I COULD JUST ADD, I THINK THE COMMENT THAT THERE'S NOT ANOTHER POINT MELODY DOESN'T, WE'RE NOT TRYING TO SAY LIKE, THAT'S LIKE MORE SPECIAL THAN SOMETHING ELSE.
BUT I THINK WHAT MATT WAS SAYING IS THAT THAT'S A REALLY UNUSUAL PROPERTY.
SO LIKE, BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THIS HISTORIC FUEL DEPOT AND WINERY, AND IT'S GONE THROUGH THESE DIFFERENT DEVELOPMENT PERMUTATIONS WITH THE CITY AND THE TRIBE AND ALL THESE REALLY COMPLICATED PIECES THAT MADE PURCHASING IT AND APPRAISING IT AND ALL THAT PROCESS REALLY CHALLENGING AND, I MEAN, INTERESTING AS WELL, WHERE THE DIABLO RANGE IS A KEY FOCUS FOR US.
AND YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE WORK THAT WE COMPLETED IN THIS LAST YEAR WAS IN THE DIABLO RANGE AND OUR ONGOING WORK THAT WE FORESEE IN THE FUTURE IS ALSO IN THE DIABLO RANGE.
I THINK WE HAVE THE COMMUNITY HAS EXPRESSED, YOUR BOARD HAS EXPRESSED, OUR TEAM IS WORKING ON MAKING GOOD ON THOSE PROMISES AND THE VISION FOR THAT WORK IN THE DIABLO RANGE.
AND SO I FORESEE US CONTINUING TO DO BIG THINGS THERE FOR SURE.
AND SO YEAH, I THINK JUST BECAUSE POINT MELODY WAS A WEIRD, UNIQUE PROPERTY DOESN'T PRECLUDE THE FACT THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO SOME BIG THINGS OUT IN THE EAST PART OF THE DISTRICT.
AND I HOPE THAT'S BOTH COUNTIES, CONTRA COSTA AND ALAMEDA COUNTY, THE EASTERN PARTS AND THE PARTS OF THE DIABLO RANGE IN BOTH COUNTIES.
SO I KNOW THAT WE, IN TERMS OF PUBLIC COMMENT, I KNOW THAT WE ALSO, YOU KNOW, EARLIER HAD PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.
BUT THEN NOW WE ARE GOING, WORKING THROUGH THE AGENDA, BUT WE'RE RIGHT NOW AT D1 AND I THINK THE NEXT PART OF D1 IS 2026 AMBITION.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS GET THROUGH THAT AND THEN OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM.
DOES THAT WORK FOR US? OKAY, GREAT.
SO I WANT TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT IS ON OUR WORK PLAN FOR 2026.
WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON 67 ODD REAL ESTATE PROJECTS, WITH PLENTY MORE ON THE WAY FOR THIS COMING YEAR.
IT'S A RANGE OF OUR BODY OF WORK.
WE HAVE FEE ACQUISITION, WE HAVE SOME DISPOSITION PROJECTS, WE HAVE, AM I TOO FAR AWAY? OKAY.
THIS IS ALL TYPES OF OUR SUITE OF SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.
SO FEE ACQUISITION, LEASES, LICENSES, THE GAMUT OF WHAT OUR WORK IS.
IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL ON ALL OF THESE, THAT COULD EVENTUALLY ADD 02,800 ACRES TO THE DISTRICT.
IF WE ARE SUCCESSFUL, THOSE WILL NOT ALL HAPPEN THIS YEAR, CLEARLY, BUT WE EXPECT TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON A LOT OF THESE.
AND TO KIND OF JUST THE CONVERSATION WE JUST HAD, I WOULD SAY THAT SOME OF THESE PROJECTS, I'M THINKING OF ONE IN PARTICULAR THAT'S NOT READY FOR PUBLIC CONSUMPTION, BUT THIS PROPERTY ISN'T EVEN LISTED YET.
THE FAMILY IS VERY INTERESTED BECAUSE OF OUR PROXIMITY TO THEM.
WE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE FAMILY, WITH GRAZERS WHO WORK NEARBY.
SO WE WERE THEIR FIRST CALL IN TERMS OF WHEN THEY STARTED THINKING ABOUT SELLING THEIR PROPERTY.
SO WE HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, AND WHEN WE GET A CALL LIKE THAT, IT'S REALLY EXCITING BECAUSE IT'S THE CULMINATION OF THE WORK WE DO TO BUILD THOSE RELATIONSHIPS THAT OUR PARK SUPERVISORS AND RANGERS ARE DOING TO HAVE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS SO THAT WHEN THE TIME COMES FOR THEM TO SELL, WE'RE WHO THEY WANT TO TALK WITH FIRST.
I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT ACREAGE.
SO WE HAVE A NEW NUMBER HERE NOW, 127,183.
[01:05:01]
SOMEHOW I GET, I FIXATE ON THAT MORE THAN I PROBABLY SHOULD.BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF COOL TO HAVE SOMETHING YOU CAN KIND OF QUANTIFY, YOU KNOW, ABOUT WHAT WE DO, BECAUSE A LOT OF IT ISN'T.
BUT I'M LOOKING AT THAT, AND I'M WONDERING, IS THAT 127,000 ACRES, DOES THAT INCLUDE MORE THAN JUST FEE TITLE? YES.
SO THAT INCLUDES THE AREAS THAT WE OPERATE UNDER OPERATING AGREEMENTS, LEASES, LICENSES.
SO IT'S THE SUITE OF PROPERTY THAT WE CONTROL, ESSENTIALLY.
I WANT TO SAY THE FEE IS MAYBE 70-ISH PERCENT, BUT WE COULD GET THAT FOR YOU IF YOU WANT.
BUT IN TERMS OF OUR 2026 AMBITIONS, I WANT TO SAY WE HAVE A REALLY SOLID AND ROBUST PIPELINE.
WE'RE IN A REALLY GOOD SPOT RIGHT NOW.
YOU'VE KIND OF SEEN OVER THE YEARS THAT THERE ARE SOME YEARS WHERE WE CLOSE A WHOLE BUNCH OF PROJECTS AND OTHER YEARS WHERE WE CLOSE VERY FEW, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS WORKING BEHIND THE SCENES TO MOVE THEM FORWARD.
AND THIS ACREAGE FIGURE HERE IS JUST TO KIND OF GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF ALL THE IRONS THAT WE HAVE IN THE FIRE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
IN TERMS OF NEW THINGS WHERE WE'RE EXPANDING, WE HAVE PROJECTS WE EXPECT TO CLOSE IN A COUPLE OF PARKS, BUT WE HAVE PROJECTS WE'RE ADVANCING IN A BUNCH OF OTHER PARKS AS WELL.
WE'RE WORKING ALL OVER THE DISTRICT.
WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SPRING UP EVERYWHERE.
THESE ARE THE ONES THAT WE ARE ALREADY ACTIVELY WORKING ON.
THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE SOME FUN STUFF THAT POPS UP THROUGH THE YEAR.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE BULK OF OUR WORK PLAN AND WORKLOAD IS REALLY KIND OF IN THE PROTECT AND MAINTAIN SPHERE.
THIS IS KIND OF THOSE LICENSE AGREEMENT RENEWALS THAT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, WORK TO MAINTAIN EXISTING EASEMENTS AND OPERATING AGREEMENTS.
AND AGAIN, THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PARK DISTRICT.
WE STARTED LISTING THEM AND WE WERE KIND OF LIKE, WELL, IT'S EVERYWHERE.
WE'RE ALWAYS TOUCHING EVERY SINGLE PARK.
WE GET TO KNOW THE PARK SUPERVISORS AND UNIT MANAGERS REALLY WELL AS WE KIND OF WORK ON THESE AGREEMENTS ALL OVER THE PARK DISTRICT.
WE HAVE A GOOD BENCH OF FOLKS WORKING ON IT NOW.
AND WE EXPECT TO HAVE A REALLY GREAT 2026 AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO COMING BACK TO YOU AT YOUR CLOSED SESSION AND OPEN SESSION MEETINGS TO TALK MORE ABOUT THESE PROJECTS AS THEY COME FORWARD.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO, LET'S OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM, BUT THEN BOARD DIRECTORS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON THIS ITEM, D1, THE 2025 ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HIGHLIGHTS AND 2026 AMBITIONS.
SO LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT, BOB PEOPLES.
THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
HAVING SOME BACKGROUND IN THE TYPE OF WORK THAT YOU DO, I REALLY APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT IT OCCURS IN THE BACKGROUND.
I AGREE WITH YOU, DIRECTOR SAN JUAN, THAT THE DISTRICT NEEDS TO DREAM BIG.
IT NEEDS TO BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.
I AM FROM SAN RAMON AND HAVE BEEN QUITE INVOLVED WITH PROTECTION THERE.
THAT COMMUNITY HAS A LONG-TERM INTEREST AND INVOLVEMENT IN PROTECTING OPEN SPACE AND REALLY THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT COIN, WHICH IS ACCESS TO THAT OPEN SPACE, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT'S IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES THERE, OPPORTUNITIES, IF YOU WILL, BOTH EAST AND WEST OF THE CITY THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AND SOME FAIRLY LARGE PROJECTS AND SO FORTH.
AGAIN, KEEPING IN MIND THAT THE APPROACH THAT WE HAVE TAKEN IS THAT WE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN, NOT CONCERNED ABOUT WHO OWNS THE LAND PER SE, AS LONG AS IT REMAINS AS OPEN SPACE.
BUT IF THE OWNER WANTS TO RETRIEVE SOME OF THE VALUE IN THAT PROPERTY, WE WOULD LIKE THE COMMUNITY TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACQUIRE IT.
THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF PROTECTION OF THAT OPEN SPACE CONTIGUOUS TO THE CITY AND THERE IS ONE MAJOR ISSUE THAT HAS ARISEN, WHICH IS RELATED TO ACCESS TO SOME OF THE OPEN SPACE IN THE HILLS WEST OF THE CITY.
BACK IN THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH OF THIS CENTURY, THE DEVELOPMENT UP ON THE HILLS THERE, NORRIS CANYON ESTATES, WAS AUTHORIZED AND AT THE TIME, MUCH LAND WAS ADDED FOR PROTECTION AND A TRAIL EASEMENT
[01:10:01]
WAS GRANTED.BUT WHEN THE SECOND PHASE OF THAT DEVELOPMENT CAME IN, THERE WASN'T A TRAIL EASEMENT INCLUDED IN THAT AND IT HAS STYMIED ACCESS TO THE BISHOP RANCH ADDITION THAT OCCURRED IN 2015 AND THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY OF DEALING WITH THAT.
AND AS HAS BEEN POINTED OUT, IT'S VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO DEAL WITH THE COMMUNITY.
THERE'S A LOT OF RESISTANCE TO HAVING ACCESS THROUGH NORRIS CANYON ESTATES AND ELSEWHERE INTO THAT OPEN SPACE, BUT I WOULD URGE THAT THE DISTRICT REALLY PAY ATTENTION TO THAT AND CONSIDER, I'M NOT ADVOCATING THIS, BUT CONSIDER THE USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO ACHIEVE THAT ACCESS.
THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
OKAY, GREAT. SO NOW WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR IF THERE'S SOME ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS THAT HAVE SURFACED BY BOARD MEMBERS ON THIS ITEM D1, SO THE SLIDES THAT WERE JUST PRESENTED.
I MEAN, IT'S OVERWHELMING TO HEAR EVERYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING AND THE LIST THAT'S PROBABLY ON YOUR PLATE AND IT MAYBE DOES DELVE INTO WW, OUR NEXT TOPIC, BUT I JUST, I DON'T KNOW BEHIND THE CURTAIN WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE PRIORITIES, LISTINGS OF THESE.
YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN SOME OF THE CPP SCORES.
WE'VE TALKED MAYBE DOING MORE WITH TRAILS AND LEVEL OF SERVICE AND RANKING, BUT I WOULD IMAGINE THAT FITS INTO THIS TOO WHEN WE'RE LOOKING AT THE LANDS THAT WE MIGHT WANT, WHICH TETRIS PIECE, WHICH I KEEP USING.
I KEEP SAYING IT LOOKED LIKE A TETRIS GAME TO ME TOO.
WE'VE GOT A FEW OTHERS IN OUR PLATE THAT LOOK LIKE THAT, BUT HOW MIGHT WE DO A BETTER JOB OF PRIORITIZING? I MEAN, SOMETIMES YOU DON'T.
IT'S JUST LIKE, OKAY, IT CAME UP, WE'RE GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU OR WHATEVER, BUT EVEN NORMALIZING THAT KIND OF CPP SCORES, THE LOS ON TRAILS, AND I THINK SOME OF IT I'M BRINGING MY EXPERIENCE AT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE HAD A VERY CLEAR NINE CRITERIA PROCESS FOR WHAT WE WOULD DO AND WHICH ONES WE WOULD TAKE FOR MITIGATION OR NOT.
IS THERE MORE GOING ON OR EXPECTED TO MAYBE DO MORE OF THAT? I CAN SHARE SORT OF A BROAD OVERVIEW AND THEN BECKY MAY HAVE SORT OF MORE DETAIL, BUT I THINK SOME AREAS FOR POTENTIAL ACQUISITION ARE, I MEAN, LIKE YOU MENTIONED IN WW, THAT DESCRIBES CAPITAL PROJECTS, INVESTMENTS, RESTORATION, THINGS LIKE THAT.
IT ALSO DESCRIBES POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS.
OUR MASTER PLANS PREVIOUSLY SORT OF DESCRIBED SOME BIGGER GOALS, BUT THEN ADDITIONALLY BECKY CAN KIND OF TALK THROUGH SORT OF HOW HER TEAM LOOKS AT THINGS.
THEN WE BRING YOUR BOARD POTENTIAL ACQUISITIONS IN CLOSED SESSION FOR YOU TO AUTHORIZE NEXT STEPS AND GIVE US DIRECTION.
ADDITIONALLY, LIKE IN YOUR WARDS, WE'RE ALWAYS INTERESTED IN SORT OF YOUR IDEAS, YOUR PRIORITIES, THINGS THAT COME UP, AND SO THAT'S SORT OF ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE CHECKING IN WITH YOU INDIVIDUALLY.
THE OTHER PIECE IS, LIKE BRIAN MENTIONED, OUR TEAM IS ALSO WORKING THROUGH ALL OF THE POTENTIAL PLANNING THAT'S GOING ON, YOU KNOW, IN THE DISTRICT'S INTEREST, AND SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PLACE TO BE CONNECTED WITH YOUR BOARD AS WELL.
SO BECKY, DO YOU WANT TO TALK SORT OF MORE IN DETAIL ABOUT HOW YOU ALL WORK THROUGH THIS? YEAH, I'M HAPPY TO.
I THINK THE 2013 MASTER PLAN WAS DEFINITELY PROVIDED GUIDING LIGHT, AND FROM THAT CAME SORT OF ACQUISITION CRITERIA, SOME CATEGORIES THAT WHEN OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES, WE MEASURE THAT OPPORTUNITY AGAINST THAT LIST, AND WE KIND OF DO THAT SORT OF AT THE STAFF LEVEL.
I THINK ONE DIFFERENCE AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I'M HEARING, WHICH I THINK IS IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, IS WE ALWAYS THINK OF REAL ESTATE OR PROPERTY OPPORTUNITIES COME TO US, AND THEY'RE OPPORTUNITIES.
IT'S EITHER BECAUSE IT'S FOR SALE OR SOMEBODY PASSED, OR WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONTROL OF WHEN THESE THINGS APPEAR BEFORE US, SO THEY'RE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PRESENTED THAT WE HAVE TO JUMP ON.
THAT'S ONE LINE, BUT THEN THERE'S THE STRATEGIC LINE.
IT'S LIKE, WHERE ARE OUR HIGHEST PRIORITIES? THEY MIGHT NOT BE READY OR READY TO POP OR WHATEVER, BUT HOW DO WE PRIORITIZE AND WHERE DO WE INVEST? I MEAN, WE'VE GOT A LARGE STAFF AT THE PARK DISTRICT WHO TOUCHES A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT IT'S ALSO BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE ACROSS THE BOARD STRATEGICALLY WHERE DO WE WANT TO INVEST IN THOSE RELATIONSHIPS, SO THAT
[01:15:02]
WHETHER IT'S NEXT YEAR OR WHETHER IT'S FIVE YEARS OR 20 YEARS DOWN THE LINE, THAT WE HAVE CREATED THESE OPPORTUNITIES THAT THEY COME FORWARD.SO I THINK I WOULD ANSWER IT BY SAYING WE'VE BEEN USING THE 2013 MASTER PLAN, LOOKING AHEAD AT THE DISTRICT PLAN WORK THAT'S GOING TO BE CONTINUED TO WORK ON, IS GOING TO HELP LOOK AT WHAT ARE THOSE GUIDING LIGHTS, WHAT ARE THOSE CRITERIAS, AND WHEN OPPORTUNITIES PRESENT THEMSELVES, WE CAN BE ABLE TO SAY IT HITS THIS, THIS, AND THIS, OR IT DOESN'T, AND IT HELPS US MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
SO WHEN WE BRING THOSE TO THE BOARD, PARTICULARLY AT CLOSED SESSION, WE CAN TALK THROUGH THOSE THINGS.
AND I IMAGINE AS WE REWRITE OUR DISTRICT PLAN, A BIG TOPIC AMONGST US, YOU KNOW, KEEPING THOSE AND MAYBE FINE-TUNING THOSE TO HELP YOUR TEAM.
I THINK THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE.
YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY, YOU KNOW, IN THE 2013, THE LAND USE PLANS AND IDENTIFYING, IT'S KIND OF LIKE THE ABAG PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREAS AND PRIORITY DEVELOPMENT AREAS.
OVERALL MAPPING OR GIS MAPPING OF, YOU KNOW, PRIORITY AREAS FOR THE CORRIDORS.
IT WAS COMPLEX, SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO ANSWER ANY OF THAT TODAY, BUT JUST HEARING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW THAT MIGHT LOOK.
I MEAN, I THINK THAT WAS KIND OF WHERE I WAS HEADED TO IN THE NEXT DISTRICT PLAN.
IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND AND GIVE YOU THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO KEEP ADDING 500 A YEAR, ACRES A YEAR, OR MAYBE 2,800 ACRES.
ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WE'LL HAVE COMING FORWARD TO THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, AND WE'RE HAPPY TO BRING IT WHEREVER, IS A PRESENTATION ON OUR DECISION SUPPORT TOOL THAT WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING, WHICH IS A GIS-BASED TOOL INCORPORATING A LOT OF THE RESOURCES, A LOT OF THE DATA THAT WE'VE DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE DISTRICT PLAN, WHICH REALLY DOES LOOK AT, LIKE, WHAT ARE YOUR PRIORITY CONSERVATION AREAS, PRIORITY RESTORATION AREAS, AND REALLY WHAT ARE THOSE AREAS WHICH CAN ALSO BE IDENTIFIED AS SORT OF PRIORITY RECREATION AREAS, THOSE AREAS MOST SUITABLE TO KIND OF ACCOMMODATE THAT SORT OF LEVEL OF USE.
AND, YOU KNOW, RECOGNIZING SOME USES CAN HAPPEN ALL OVER DIFFERENT PLACES, BUT WE'LL BE EXCITED TO PRESENT THAT OVER TO THE BOARD.
YOU KNOW, LISTENING TO DIRECTOR DECHAMBEAU TALK, IT REMINDS ME, YOU KNOW, I THINK IF THERE'S ONE GOAL THAT I'D LIKE TO ALSO PLACE FOR OUR ORGANIZATION, IT IS HOW WE CAN MAYBE COME UP WITH A BETTER, YOU KNOW, FRAMEWORK SO THAT WE CAN HAVE GOOD COMMUNICATION IN TERMS OF PRIORITIZATION, YOU KNOW, AND HAVE THAT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND THE GENERAL MANAGER AND, YOU KNOW, THE LAND ACQUISITION TEAM AND BRIAN HOLT'S TEAM.
BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK ABOUT BACK TO 2024 WHEN DIRECTOR MERCURIO AND I, WE REALLY SET A PRIORITIZATION GOAL OF TRYING TO CONNECT BRUSHY PEAK TO LOS VAQUEROS BY 2026 FOR THE CELEBRATION OF THE DE ANZA TRAIL 200TH ANNIVERSARY AND 250TH ANNIVERSARY.
AND, UNFORTUNATELY, WE'RE HERE NOW IN 2026 AND THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT IT'S STILL NOT A PRIORITY AND SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE, AND I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR DIRECTOR MERCURIO, BUT I THINK WE'RE BOTH VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT THIS LOS VAQUEROS TO BRUSHY PEAK CONNECTION.
AND TO ALSO USE THIS EXAMPLE TO SHOW, YOU KNOW, IT'S A VERY SMALL ACQUISITION BUT A VERY IMPORTANT ONE IN TERMS OF CONNECTING SOME MAJOR OPEN SPACE AREAS.
SO IN TERMS OF LAND ACQUISITION, YES, THERE'S THE LARGE ACQUISITION AND LARGE ACREAGE, BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THOSE, YOU KNOW, SMALLER PARCELS, BUT THEY CAN CONNECT REALLY IMPORTANT PIECES OF LAND AND OPEN SPACE SUCH AS BRUSHY PEAK TO LOS VAQUEROS AND TO ALL OF THE, YOU KNOW, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY OPEN SPACES THAT EXIST.
SO THAT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I'M THINKING ABOUT BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT FRAMEWORK RIGHT NOW WHERE WE CAN HELP COMMUNICATE THAT PRIORITIZATION AND THAT THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, IT IS A TOP PRIORITY FOR US.
MAYBE IF YOU WANTED TO SPEAK BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK FOR YOU.
WELL, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT I GET COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THIS.
I MONITOR THE ALAMEDA COUNTY TRAILS GROUP, WHATEVER THAT GROUP IS CALLED, AND IT'S ALWAYS ON THEIR AGENDA.
EVERY TIME I SEE ONE OF THEIR AGENDAS, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT.
AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU LIKE MAPS, I LIKE MAPS.
I LIKE MAPS BECAUSE MAPS TELL THE STORY.
MAPS SHOW YOU THE ASSETS THAT YOU HAVE.
THEY ALSO SHOW YOU THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU DON'T – THAT ARE THERE AND YOU DON'T HAVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I SEE THAT LITTLE TINY SEVERAL HUNDRED FOOT GAP THERE, AND I'M GOING, I KNOW THINGS AREN'T AS EASY AS – SIZE DOESN'T MATTER SOMETIMES IN COMPLEXITY, RIGHT? IT COULD BE SOMETHING REALLY SMALL.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NOT ONLY ARE WE PERSONALLY INTERESTED IN IT,
[01:20:01]
BUT THE COMMUNITY, THE COMMUNITY OF SPECIFICALLY TRAIL-ORIENTED FOLKS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR, YOU KNOW, MAKING CONNECTIONS, CONNECTIONS BETWEEN COUNTIES ACTUALLY IS WHAT IT IS, AND PARKS.IT CAPTURES OUR IMAGINATION, SO.
I'D JUST ADD, WHAT YOU SAID IS VERY TRUE, IS THAT ALL THESE – AND WHAT, LIKE MATT WAS TALKING ABOUT, ALL THESE ACQUISITIONS ARE COMPLICATED AND TAKE TIME, SO THERE MAY BE THINGS THAT ARE VERY HIGH PRIORITY AND IT JUST TAKES TIME TO ACCOMPLISH IT.
I GUESS THE OTHER THING THAT'S, I THINK, REALLY COOL ABOUT WORKING FOR A LOCAL AGENCY THAT'S DIFFERENT FROM WORKING FOR FEDERAL AGENCIES OR THE STATE WHERE I'VE WORKED BEFORE IS THAT WE'RE FLEXIBLE AND NIMBLE, AND WE'RE HERE LISTENING TO YOUR BOARD EVERY BOARD MEETING AND ALSO WHEN WE TALK ONE-ON-ONE.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S REALLY HELPFUL TO US IS WHEN YOU'RE ABLE TO SHARE YOUR PRIORITIES, AND THAT HELPS US LISTEN AND MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
SO I THANK YOU AND JUST APPRECIATE CONTINUING TO SHARE WHAT YOU VALUE.
ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT AGENDA ITEM? AND I ALSO WILL PROPOSE – YEAH, GO FOR IT.
I JUST WANT TO SUGGEST THAT I, TOO, WOULD LOVE TO HAVE MORE INPUT AND INFO ON HOW WE PRIORITIZE THINGS.
I THINK THAT'S PRETTY IMPORTANT.
AND I'D LIKE TO COMPLIMENT YOU, BECKY.
THIS IS THE 12TH SESSION I'VE BEEN THROUGH.
EXCELLENT IDEA TO INCLUDE YOUR TEAM.
YOU KNOW, I'VE KNOWN SOME OF THESE PEOPLE FOR YEARS AND YEARS, AND SOME PEOPLE I'VE KNOWN FOR ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS.
IT WAS AN EXCELLENT IDEA AND GOT TO KNOW YOU GUYS A LITTLE BETTER, AND I APPRECIATE IT.
ALSO, I HAVE TO POINT OUT, JOHN, THANK YOU FOR MENTIONING 127,183 ACRES.
DID YOU GUYS KNOW THAT IF YOU ADD 2,817 ACRES, IT'S EXACTLY 130,000 ACRES, WHICH IMPLIES YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A BIG PARTY, TOO, OR SOMEBODY'S GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE A BIG PARTY.
WELL, WE'LL BE SURE TO HAVE CAKE AT THE PARTY.
ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? DIRECTOR ESPANA, YOU'RE GOOD.
WHAT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE IS MAYBE CAN WE TAKE JUST A QUICK FIVE-MINUTE BREAK BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM? BECAUSE I KNOW THE NEXT ITEM WITH MEASURE WW WILL PROBABLY BE A PRETTY IN-DEPTH ITEM, SO IT MIGHT BE GOOD TO JUST TAKE A SHORT BREAK.
SO LET'S TRY TO BE BACK HERE, LET'S SAY, AT 1112 A.M. IF WE CAN.
LET ME KNOW WHEN THE TECH IS READY TO GO, AND THEN WE'LL GET STARTED AGAIN.
WE ARE NOW MOVING ON TO ITEM D2 ON OUR AGENDA TODAY, THE MEASURE WW ACQUISITION STATUS UPDATE.
I AM, AGAIN, BECKY BREMSER, DIVISION LEAD FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
AND THIS SECTION WE'RE GOING TO DO AN ACQUISITION STATUS UPDATE FOR MEASURE WW.
SO I'M GOING TO PROVIDE JUST A BRIEF UPDATE ON THE FUNDING.
KIND OF THE GOAL FOR THIS SECTION IS TO PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION ON THE STATUS OF THOSE FUNDS AND START TO ADDRESS THE PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT.
SO THIS IS THE SECTION WHERE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A BREAKUP SECTION IN A LITTLE BIT WHERE WE'RE GOING TO GET YOU OUT OF YOUR SEATS AND WE'RE GOING TO USE SOME OF THESE MAPS.
SO JUST FOR SOME BACKGROUND, AS YOU ALL KNOW, MEASURE WW PASSED IN 2008.
IT WAS AN EXTENSION OF MEASURE AA, WHICH WAS A BOND THAT WAS PASSED IN 1988.
THE PASSAGE OF MEASURE WW HAS ALLOWED FOR THE ACQUISITION AND THE PROTECTION OF OPEN SPACE FOR BOTH RECREATION AND SENSITIVE HABITAT.
THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL INTENT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARD.
IT ALSO CREATED FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY GRANTS THAT WENT OUT TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNMENTS.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT THAT THE LIVERMORE IS NOT INCLUDED IN MEASURE WW.
THE REASON IS BECAUSE IN 1988 WHEN MEASURE AA WAS APPROVED, THE LIVERMORE AREA WAS NOT INSIDE THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
AND BECAUSE MEASURE WW WAS AN EXTENSION OF AA, THE LIVERMORE VOTERS DID NOT VOTE ON WW.
[01:25:03]
ABOUT MEASURE WW, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THE LIVERMORE AREA IS GRAYED OUT, AND IT'S JUST TO REALLY EMPHASIZE AND DEMONSTRATE THAT.I ALSO WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A DOCUMENT THAT IS INCLUDED IN YOUR MATERIALS.
IT'S A MEMO THAT WAS PREPARED ABOUT THE ALTAMONT LANDFILL OPEN SPACE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
THE MEMO PROVIDES JUST SOME BACKGROUND ON THAT FUNDING SOURCE, AND IT EXPLAINS WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS THAT SOURCE WILL FUND.
THE PARK DISTRICT UTILIZES THAT SOURCE OF FUNDS IN THE LIVERMORE AREA BECAUSE MEASURE WW IS EXCLUDED.
OKAY, SO LOOKING AT SOME OF THE NUMBERS, 18 YEARS AGO WHEN WW CREATED $500 MILLION OF FUNDING, TO DATE WE'VE SPENT OR ALLOCATED A LITTLE OVER HALF OF THAT, SO $266.9 MILLION.
OF THAT, OF WHAT HAS BEEN SPENT, 46% OF IT FUNDED THE LOCAL GRANT PROGRAM, WHERE 240 PROJECTS WERE FUNDED.
THE REST OF THAT WAS DIRECTED TO ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
WHAT THIS SLIDE DOESN'T SHOW IS THE MONEY THAT WAS SPENT USING WW ON ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ALSO LEVERAGED SIGNIFICANT FUNDING FROM OTHER AND OUTSIDE SOURCES, SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT USING THE WW MONEY ALLOWED US TO BE COMPETITIVE AND BRING IN OUTSIDE MONIES.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS ON A FUTURE SLIDE.
OKAY, SO HERE'S THE LIST OF THE 67 PROJECT OR INVESTMENT AREAS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED IN WW.
ALSO IN YOUR PACKET IS A LIST, IS THE ORIGINAL LIST, IT LOOKS LIKE THIS, THAT IDENTIFIES THESE 67 PROJECTS OR INVESTMENT AREAS, AND THE DOCUMENT THAT'S IN YOUR PACKET INCLUDES THE AMOUNT OF EACH PROJECT AREA AND INVESTMENT AREA, THE NAME OF IT, THE LOCATION OF IT, AND WHAT THE ORIGINAL INTENT WAS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS DOCUMENT LATER ON AS A REFERENCE POINT WHEN WE BREAK OUT INTO THESE SECTIONS, OR WHEN WE DO OUR BREAKOUT SESSION, SO REALLY FOCUSING ON WHAT THAT DESCRIPTION IS OF WHAT THE ORIGINAL INTENT OR THE ORIGINAL PROMISE WAS.
OKAY, I TOUCHED ON THE FACT THAT WW FUNDED THREE BUCKETS, SO THE LOCAL GRANTS, THAT'S ALL MOSTLY OUT THE DOOR, AND THEN ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT, THOSE ARE THE THREE BUCKETS.
IN THE 18 YEARS SINCE MEASURE WW PASSED, WE'VE HAD MASSIVE MAJOR SUCCESSES AND SOME BIG GROWTH.
SO JUST TO GET YOUR ARMS AROUND THAT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO ACQUIRE OVER 29,000 ACRES SINCE 2008, AND THAT'S INCREASED THE SIZE OF OUR PARK BY ALMOST 30%.
WE SHOULD ALSO CELEBRATE, THIS IS WHERE WE START TALKING ABOUT HOW THIS ALLOWED US TO LEVERAGE AND BRING IN SOME OF THAT OUTSIDE OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEVERAGE FOR EVERY DOLLAR OF WW THAT WAS SPENT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN $1.70, SO LEVERAGING THAT MORE THAN ONE-TO-ONE RATIO.
SO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE OF THE $108 MILLION OF WW FUNDS THAT WERE SPENT IN THOSE TWO BUCKETS, THE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT, WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL $204 MILLION TO THOSE ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
OKAY, THIS IS A VIDEO THAT I'M GOING TO START.
HOW WOULD I START? OH, I FIGURED IT OUT.
ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT THIS IS SHOWING IS WHAT OUR PARK DISTRICT WAS IN 2008.
YOU'RE GOING TO START SEEING THESE LIGHT GREEN AREAS.
THESE ARE THE ACQUISITIONS WE'VE DONE SINCE 2008.
SO IT'S DONE BY THE YEAR, SO YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THESE HIGHLIGHTS THAT ARE STARTING TO POP UP, AND YOU CAN JUST SEE THAT THERE ARE SIZABLE ADDITIONS INTO THE THREE METRO AREAS.
SO THIS MAP ALSO, I'LL JUST POINT OUT, IT'S DONE BY THE THREE METRO AREAS, AND ALSO THAT LIVERMORE AREA IS GRAYED OUT.
MAYBE I COULD HAVE MADE IT GO A LITTLE FASTER.
[01:30:04]
BUT THIS IS THAT 29,000 ACRES THAT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED SINCE 2008 AND EXPANDING OUR PARK DISTRICT BY ALMOST 30%.SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO TAKE, THIS IS KIND OF A STILL OF THAT VIDEO, SHOWING, AGAIN, IN THE LIGHT GREEN, THE ADDITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE SINCE 2008.
AND, AGAIN, PART OF THE GOAL OF THIS SECTION OF THE STUDY SESSION IS TO JUST REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, BUT WE ALSO WANT TO UNDERSTAND, BASED ON THE ORIGINAL INTENT AND PROMISES, WHAT WE STILL NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE AND SORT OF FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THAT ORIGINAL COMMITMENT AND PROMISE HAS BEEN MET.
SO THE NEXT THREE SLIDES ARE GOING TO BREAK DOWN EACH OF THESE METRO AREAS, SO WE CAN TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE ACQUISITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED SINCE, HAVE BEEN COMPLETED SINCE 2008.
OH, I'LL JUST ALSO, OH, SHOOT.
YOU CAN ALSO SEE IN THE LIVERMORE AREA THAT, SO THIS IS THE SOUTH METRO AREA, SO ACQUISITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN DONE SINCE 2008.
AND YOU CAN SEE, I'LL JUST POINT OUT THAT THERE ARE SOME LIGHT GREEN AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED USING OTHER FUNDING THAT'S INCLUDED THINGS LIKE THE ALTAMONT LAND FUND.
I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT AT FUTURE STUDY SESSIONS, SO WE'VE GOT TRAILS COMING UP ON MARCH 6TH, AND I THINK THE CAPITAL PROJECTS ONE IS TOWARD THE END OF MARCH, WE'RE GOING TO BE BUILDING ON THE SUCCESSES THAT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED USING WW AND REALLY DIVING INTO WHAT REMAINS.
SO WE'RE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THAT THEME HAPPENING IN SOME OF THESE FUTURE STUDY SESSIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO BUILD ON SOME OF THE REPORTS AND SEE WHAT IS LEFT TO DO IN THESE AREAS.
SO LOOKING AT THE DIABLO METRO AREA, AGAIN, THESE LIGHT GREEN BLOCKS ARE WHAT HAS BEEN ACQUIRED SINCE 2008.
SO ALSO INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET, WE'VE INCLUDED WHAT WE CALL THESE ONE-PAGERS.
THEY'RE FILLED WITH A TON OF INFORMATION.
WHAT WE PROVIDED YOU TODAY ARE 11 OF THE 67 PROJECT INVESTMENT AREAS.
SO YOU ONLY HAVE 11 OF THESE ONE-PAGERS.
AND OUR INTENT IS TO ULTIMATELY GET YOU ALL 67, BUT TODAY WE REALLY WANTED TO JUST HAVE A FOCUS AND EMPHASIS ON 11 OF THOSE.
SO I DID SEND AN EMAIL ON HOW BEST TO READ THESE AND I'LL WALK YOU THROUGH THAT NEXT.
SO THOSE ARE GREAT MAPS ON THE DIABLO OR THE METROPOLITAN SECTORS.
DO YOU HAVE, IN 2008 AND TO NOW, DO YOU HAVE ACREAGES? NOT AT MY FINGERTIPS.
ALTHOUGH, YOU KNOW, ACTUALLY I THINK THAT WHEN JERRY KENT PRESENTED TO YOUR BOARD DURING THE RETREAT, I THINK HE HAD THE ACREAGES BROKEN OUT BY METROPOLITAN AREAS.
BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HE TALKED, HE MENTIONED THIS WITH YOUR BOARD, AND I KNOW HE AND I TALKED ABOUT THIS QUITE A BIT, IS THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS CALLED OUT IN THE PREVIOUS MASTER PLANS WAS MAKING SURE THAT WE WERE BEING SORT OF EQUITABLE BY METROPOLITAN AREA WITH OUR ACQUISITIONS AND THAT THERE ARE SORT OF SPECIFIC GOALS IN THE MASTER PLANS FOR ACQUISITION BY A METROPOLITAN AREA.
AND WE'RE ON TRACK FOR THOSE GOALS.
WE'VE BEEN SORT OF STRATEGICALLY, LIKE BECKY SAID EARLIER, SOME OF THE VISION FOR THIS CAME FROM THOSE MASTER PLANS AND SO THAT SORT OF GUIDED HOW WE BALANCE THE ACQUISITIONS ACROSS THE COUNTY.
THAT'S ANOTHER ANGLE WE CAN KIND OF LOOK AT.
DOING QUESTIONS, I'LL ASK A QUESTION TOO.
SO I DO HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT METRO AREAS.
I THINK IT'S GREAT THAT WE HAVE THIS.
HOWEVER, ONE OF THE ISSUES IS WHEN YOU HAVE CITIES THAT ARE KIND OF ON THE BORDER OF A METRO AREA AND SO THEN THEY GET LUMPED INTO THAT METRO AREA.
SO I'M THINKING OF DUBLIN, THE CITY OF DUBLIN, FOR EXAMPLE, IS PART OF THE DIABLO METROPOLITAN SECTOR.
BUT PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DUBLIN ARE ALSO LOCATED PRETTY CLOSE TO PLEASANTON RIDGE.
AND THE WAY WE HAVE THIS SET UP, BECAUSE IT'S SO SEGMENTED THAT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT HAVING ACCESS NEAR DUBLIN TO PLEASANTON RIDGE REGIONAL PARK, IT GETS TIED INTO SOUTH METROPOLITAN SECTOR AND NOT THE DIABLO METROPOLITAN SECTOR.
SO I'M JUST CURIOUS HOW WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECONCILE, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THOSE INVESTMENTS WITH SOME OF THE CITIES THAT ARE KIND OF RIGHT ON THE BORDER OF OUR SECTORS.
AND WE'LL GIVE THAT SOME THOUGHT TOO, MATT.
[01:35:01]
YEAH, I'D JUST SAY EVEN THOUGH THERE'S THIS INTENTION TO BE BALANCED ACROSS THE METRO AREAS, THERE'S ALSO LIKE, I MEAN, LIKE I WAS SAYING, WE ARE FLEXIBLE AND, A, THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES, LISTENING TO YOU ALL, LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT COME OUT TO TELL US THEIR PRIORITIES.AND SO WHEN THINGS ARISE, WE CAN ACT ON THEM REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY ARE IN THE DISTRICT IF IT'S A PRIORITY.
SO, BUT I THINK WE'RE JUST SHOWING THIS TO SHOW KIND OF THE, HOW WE HAVE SORT OF INTENTIONALLY BALANCED ACQUISITIONS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AT A BIG SCALE.
AND AGAIN, THE LIGHT GREEN IS THE ACQUISITION SINCE 2008.
SO I DO WANT TO JUST TOUCH AGAIN ON THE PACKET OF THESE ONE-PAGERS THAT WERE, OR THESE ONE-PAGERS THAT ARE INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET.
AND TO READ THESE, THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS IN THE GREEN, WE HAVE INVESTMENT AREA, THERE'S A NUMBER.
THAT NUMBER MATCHES THE ORIGINAL 2008 INVESTMENT PROJECT LIST.
SO ON THE ONE-PAGERS IN THE GREEN, YOU'LL SEE INVESTMENT AREA AND THEN IT HAS A NUMBER.
AND THAT MATCHES THE ORIGINAL NUMBER OF THE PROJECT OR INVESTMENT ON THE ORIGINAL LIST.
WOULDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THAT.
IT'S FROM THE ORIGINAL MEASURE WW LIST.
SO OUR BECKY AND KATIE AND LIKE OUR WHOLE TEAM BACK THERE HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT LIKE, TAKE THAT ORIGINAL MEASURE WW, THE PROMISES MADE AND TRYING FOR YOUR BOARD TO LIKE LOOK THROUGH AND FIGURE OUT HOW HAVE WE KEPT THOSE PROMISES AND PROVIDE SORT OF LIKE A REPORT ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN THOSE AREAS.
YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF WORK WENT INTO THIS AND IT'S REALLY GREAT THAT YOU PUT TOGETHER EACH OF THESE REPORTS AND IT'S GOING TO BE, WE HAVE 11 IN OUR PACKET AND 11 THAT WE'LL LOOK AT TODAY, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO DO ALL 67.
I'M CURIOUS THAT LIKE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO COMMUNICATE THIS TO THE PUBLIC AND MAYBE THIS IS ALREADY BEING DONE.
HAVE WE THOUGHT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ONLINE INTERACTION? SO PERHAPS, YOU KNOW, THAT THAT LIST THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, COULD WE HAVE A DYNAMIC LINK THEN TO EACH OF THE REPORTS ONLINE SO THAT WHEN PEOPLE WANT TO LOOK INTO MEASURE WW, THEY HAVE THAT OPTION? YES.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO KATIE TO ANSWER IT.
GOOD MORNING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, DIRECTOR SAN JUAN.
YES, THE PLAN IS TO FIND, THIS IS KIND OF A DRAFT OF THE MEASURE WW UPDATE REPORT AND START GETTING YOUR FEEDBACK THROUGH THESE STUDY SESSIONS AND PLANNING TO INTRODUCE THE REPORT TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE IN APRIL.
WE HAVE IT ON OUR WORK PLAN AND THEN BRING IT TO THE FULL BOARD, PUT IT ONLINE, HAVE IT AS AN INTERACTIVE DASHBOARD THAT WE CAN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC.
YEAH, THIS IS GOING TO BE EVOLVING AS THE YEAR GOES ON.
SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS.
BUT JUST GOING BACK TO THESE ONE-PAGERS, HELPFUL TIPS.
THE NEXT THING DOWN IS THE COMMITMENT, WHICH IS IN BOLD.
THAT IS THE ORIGINAL 2008 COMMITMENT THAT WAS WRITTEN FOR EACH PROJECT AND INVESTMENT AREA.
AND I THINK THAT THIS IS WHAT SHOULD ALWAYS GROUND US.
SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT ASKING THESE QUESTIONS, WE SHOULD ALWAYS COME BACK TO THIS ORIGINAL COMMITMENT.
THIS IS WHAT THE PROMISE WE MADE IS.
UNDERNEATH THAT IS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
IT'S JUST A QUICK NARRATIVE ON WHAT HAVE WE DONE SINCE 2008 FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROJECT OR INVESTMENT AREA.
AND THEN THE QUICK SNAPSHOT, WHICH IS ALSO IN BOLD, IS KIND OF WHAT IS, IT HAS JUST A COUPLE OF LINES, WHICH IS HOW MUCH MONEY STARTED THERE, HOW MUCH HAS BEEN SPENT, HOW MUCH REMAINS.
AND IF WE LEVERAGED AND BROUGHT SOME OUTSIDE MONEY.
SO THAT'S, ANYTHING BELOW THAT IS IF YOU WANT TO GET DEEPER INTO THE WEEDS AND UNDERSTAND WHAT PROJECTS, WHAT TYPES OF PROJECTS, WHERE THEY ARE IN THEIR LIFE CYCLE, THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT I WOULD REALLY FOCUS ON THAT QUICK SNAPSHOT AND ABOVE.
SO HOPEFULLY THAT GIVES YOU A QUICK PRIMER ON THAT.
OUR PAC, SO WE FOUND OUT AT THE END OF THE YEAR, IS OUR WW OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
SO I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE SEEING.
THIS IS KIND OF NEW TO US, BUT TO GET INPUT ON WHAT WOULD BE HELPFUL AND GET THEIR INPUT.
AND AGAIN, THIS IS AN EARLY DRAFT.
I THINK THIS IS KIND OF OUR FIRST ATTEMPT TO GIVE AND TEST SOME OF THIS FEEDBACK, BUT THAT'LL
[01:40:01]
DEFINITELY BE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.WE'RE GOING TO JUST BUILD, CONTINUE TO BUILD ON IT.
SO ALSO THIS AFTERNOON ON OUR AGENDA, WE WILL HAVE FOR ITEM D3, FUTURE FUNDING NEEDS AND CONSIDERATION WITH OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAM.
AND THAT CAN ALSO BE ANOTHER OPTION FOR US TO TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE ROLE OF THE PAC AS OUR CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.
IT'S A GREAT SUGGESTION TO HOLD THAT AND BRING THAT FOR THE THIRD PART.
CONTINUING ON, YOU KNOW, JUST A MINUTE OR TWO, WE'RE GOING TO BREAK INTO TWO GROUPS.
WE HAVE HEARD THE SLOGAN PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT, AND THE DESIRE THAT THE DESIRE IS REALLY STRONG.
AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO START ADDRESSING THAT DIRECTLY.
SO OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, PARK DISTRICT STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING TO LOOK AT THESE 67 ORIGINAL 2008 PROJECT INVESTMENT AREAS AND REVIEWING WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED.
AND THAT IS STARTING TO BUILD OUT THESE ONE PAGE, DRAFT ONE PAGERS THAT WE'RE PLAYING WITH.
WE'VE BEEN ALSO ASKING OURSELVES, DO WE KNOW IF THE MONEY, IF THERE'S MONEY THAT REMAINS, DO WE KNOW WHAT THAT PROMISE WAS THAT REMAINS TO BE FULFILLED? AND WE FOUND THAT IN MOST CASES WE DO.
STAFF UNDERSTANDS WHAT THAT ORIGINAL PROMISE, WHAT THAT ORIGINAL INTENT WAS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE A FEW PROJECT AREAS AND INVESTMENT AREAS WHERE IT'S NOT AS CLEAR.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE BRINGING FORWARD TODAY, WHERE WE'RE LOOKING TO SEEK SOME DIRECTION ABOUT HOW CAN WE GO ABOUT ANSWERING THIS QUESTION ON WHAT WAS THE PROMISE? HAS IT BEEN KEPT AND WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO IN ORDER TO KEEP IT? SO NOW GETTING READY TO ABOUT TO GET OUT OF OUR SEATS AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, WE'VE PICKED, STAFF HAS BROUGHT FORWARD THESE 11 PROJECT AND INVESTMENT AREAS WHERE WE, WE HAVE SUBSTANTIAL ACQUISITION MONEY REMAINING.
SO THESE ARE BIG POTS THAT WE HAVE MULTIMILLION DOLLARS STILL SITTING IN THEM.
AND WE NEED HELP ANSWERING THE QUESTION OF WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO FULFILL THAT ORIGINAL PROMISE OR THAT ORIGINAL INTENT FOR THIS AREA AND WHAT ACQUISITIONS REMAIN TO BE DONE.
SO I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU SOME DIRECTION.
I LIKE, I GUESS TO SET THE INTENTION, YOU DON'T NEED TO KNOW THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS TODAY.
IF YOU DO AWESOME, LIKE WE CAN CHECK IT OFF.
PART OF IT IS JUST LIKE TO THINK, HOW DO WE ANSWER IT? WHO ARE THE RIGHT PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO TALK TO YOU? WHAT ARE, WHAT ARE THE RIGHT WAYS FOR US TO LOOK AT THESE TOGETHER? SO IT'S A, IT'S AS MUCH OF LIKE A BRAINSTORMING ACTIVITY ABOUT HOW TO APPROACH IT AS TO TRY TO ANSWER THE QUESTIONS.
SO HOW WE'RE, HOW WE'RE GOING TO RUN THIS.
WE'RE GOING TO TRY SOMETHING NEW HERE IS WE'RE GOING TO BREAK INTO TWO GROUPS BY WHAT IS LISTED ON THIS SLIDE.
WE ARE GOING TO HAVE GROUP ONE MEETING OVER IN SORT OF THIS AREA USING THESE FOUR MAPS.
AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO HAVE GROUP TWO SORT OF MEETING OVER ON THIS SIDE USING THOSE MAPS THAT ARE ON THE WALL THERE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE STAFF JOIN THE TWO GROUPS.
WE'RE ALSO GOING TO HAVE SOME OF OUR LAND ACQUISITION STAFF WHO ARE JUST GOING TO BE LAWYERING AND LISTENING AND TAKING NOTES OR GRABBING NUGGETS OF GOOD IDEAS THAT COME OUT FROM, FROM YOU ALL.
RACHEL IS GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS GROUP AND PLANNING IS GOING TO BE SUPPORTING BRIAN OR NAOMI.
I'M GUESSING IS GOING TO BE SUPPORTING THIS GROUP, WHICH WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IS JUST BEING ABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, PERHAPS ON THE FLY ABOUT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.
IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS WE ALSO HAVE, I'LL PUT THEM OUT JUST SHORTLY, A LITTLE POST-IT NOTES AND PENS AND I ENCOURAGE YOU TO USE THEM ABOUT WHETHER YOU HAVE GOT A QUESTION OR YOU WANT TO PUT A SPECIFIC PROPERTY NAME THAT YOU WANT MORE INFORMATION OR WE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATING AND STICK IT STRAIGHT ON THE MAP.
SO NOTES WOULD BE HELPFUL FROM YOU TO WRITE RIGHT ON THERE.
I ALSO WELCOME THE PUBLIC OR OTHER STAFF.
IF YOU WANT TO SIT AND JOIN EITHER ONE OF THESE GROUPS, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO THAT.
AGAIN, I THINK ONE THING THAT'LL BE HELPFUL IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THESE SPECIFIC, THESE ARE THE, EVEN THOUGH THERE'S SEVEN BULLETS, THERE ARE 11 INVESTMENT AREAS.
WE'VE COMBINED SOME OF THOSE JUST BECAUSE THE LOCATIONS ARE CLOSE BY.
AGAIN, I HOPE YOU USE THIS ORIGINAL INVESTMENT 2008 PROJECT LIST TO JUST GROUND YOURSELF IN THAT ORIGINAL PROMISE TO HELP THINK THROUGH THAT A LITTLE BIT.
LET'S SEE IF I GOT ANY OTHER TIPS BEFORE I RELEASED YOU OUT OF YOUR SEATS.
[01:45:01]
YEAH.I KNOW WE HAVE ONE MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PARTICIPATING REMOTELY.
DO WE HAVE A PLAN FOR INVOLVING DIRECTOR ESPANA IN THIS? MAYBE IF SOMEONE, WE DO NOT HAVE A PLAN FOR THAT ONE IS ON ZOOM.
MAYBE WE COULD BRING THE COMPUTER OVER TO THIS SECTION BECAUSE I THINK SHE'S PART OF THIS SECTION AND THEN WE CAN INTERACT WITH HER ON ZOOM.
WE WILL WORK ON THAT, BUT THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO I THINK AGAIN, JUST REPEATING A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT WAS JUST SAID TO, WE ARE NOT NECESSARY.
IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWERS PERFECTLY GREAT, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL, BUT ALSO JUST REALLY LOOKING FOR IDEAS ON DIRECTION OF HOW CAN WE GET TO THESE ANSWERS WOULD BE GREAT.
WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 30 MINUTES ON THIS EXERCISE.
I'M GOING TO CHECK IN AFTER 30 MINUTES AND SEE WHERE YOU'RE AT.
I MAY GRANT A LITTLE EXTRA TIME, BUT WE'LL SEE FROM THERE.
THEN I'LL ASK THE BOARD KIND OF TO COME BACK TOGETHER AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS, NOT SPECIFICALLY ABOUT WHAT HAS COME OUT OF IT, BUT MORE GENERALLY, LIKE, WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU? DID YOU HAVE AN AHA MOMENT? ANY OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW WE CAN TRY TO ANSWER AND ADVANCE THIS WORK? SO I'M ABOUT READY TO SPLIT EVERYBODY UP, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR ANY OTHER FURTHER SUGGESTIONS.
SO DO YOU WANT THE POST-ITS TO HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON THEM AS TO WHY OR DO OR WHAT, WHAT THE POINT OF THIS ACQUISITION MIGHT BE? I THINK THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
SO COFFEE IS OUR FOCUS THROUGH A 2008 LENS OF WHAT THE INTENT WAS, OR IS IT FROM TODAY'S VIEW OF WHAT'S NEEDED THERE? I AM NOT GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I THINK IT'S A, LIKE A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
AND I THINK IT'S ONE FOR YOU ALL TO BALANCE.
I MEAN, IF I WERE TO GO ABOUT IT, I THINK IT'S YOU.
WHEN WE THINK ABOUT THIS PHRASE OF PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT, THERE WERE 2008 PROMISES MADE.
DO THOSE PROMISES, HAVE THEY BEEN FULFILLED? WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO FULFILL THEM TODAY? ARE THEY STILL APPROPRIATE TODAY? SO I THINK THOSE ARE KIND OF, THOSE ARE, THOSE ARE PARTS OF THE EXERCISE.
AND ALSO LIKE IF THE, IF THE PROMISE HAS EVOLVED, RIGHT.
THEN LIKE, JUST LIKE YOU'RE SAYING A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LIKE, HOW HAS IT EVOLVED? OKAY.
I AM RELEASING YOU OUT OF YOUR SEATS.
THESE ARE HOW WE'RE ASKING BOARD MEMBERS TO DIVIDE THEMSELVES.
AND I WILL CHECK BACK AT ABOUT, YEAH, 10 AFTER 12, I GUESS.
[02:22:51]
IT'S ALL GOOD. I'M JUST GOING[02:22:51]
TO KEEP ON TALKING.[02:22:55]
WE'RE GOOD.[02:22:57]
LOOK AT THIS. MICROPHONES ARE[02:22:59]
NOW WORKING.[02:23:00]
ALL RIGHT. ARE WE READY[02:23:01]
TO RESTART SOON? WE'RE GOOD TO GO? ALL RIGHT. SO WE ARE BACK NOW ON ZOOM.WE JUST HAD A GREAT GET UP OUT OF OUR SEATS AND LOOK AT MAPS AND TALK ABOUT PROJECTS AND PUT POST-IT NOTES.
I'M LOOKING AT THE TWO GROUPS RIGHT NOW AND WE HAD A LOT OF POST-IT NOTES OVER HERE ON THE ALAMEDA COUNTY PROJECTS.
I DON'T SEE AS MANY POST-IT NOTES ON THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY PROJECTS.
IT'S GOOD TO GET UP OUT OF OUR SEATS AND BE ABLE TO TALK AND LOOK AT THINGS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENTLY.
SO THANK YOU TO THE LAND ACQUISITION TEAM FOR COMING UP WITH THIS IDEA.
IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FEEDBACK, THIS WAS FUN.
AND I THINK IT REALLY DID HELP TO SPARK SOME DIFFERENT CONVERSATIONS AND QUESTIONS AND IT'S A NICE FORMAT.
OKAY. SO WE ARE GOING TO COME BACK AND REGROUP ON THIS PORTION OF THE CONVERSATION AND WE ALSO NEED TO DO PUBLIC COMMENT AT SOME POINT.
SO I WONDER IF WE CAN DO MAYBE A LITTLE BIT AND THEN BREAK FOR LUNCH BUT CONTINUE THIS ITEM TO AFTER LUNCH JUST FOR A SHORT PERIOD.
IS THAT GOING TO WORK OKAY? WELL, I CAN BUILD ON THAT TOO.
I THINK JUST IT'S YOUR CALL, OF COURSE.
SO I THINK WE'VE GOT ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES LEFT FOR THIS ENTIRE SECTION AND THEN MAYBE THAT'LL BE A GOOD TIME TO BREAK AND ALLOW FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IN THAT TOO.
SO LET ME JUST I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE INFORMATION AND THEN YOU CAN MAKE A DECISION.
SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS JUST SORT OF ASK THE BOARD MEMBERS WHAT IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THAT PROMPTED OR TRIGGERED OR ANY AHA MOMENTS OR ANY OTHER FEEDBACK JUST BECAUSE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THIS QUESTION AND THIS INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED WITH OUR WW FUNDING AND HAVE WE
[02:25:01]
FULFILLED THAT ORIGINAL PROJECT OR INTENT FOR THAT INVESTMENT AREA? WE'RE GOING TO WORK ON THAT FOR THE NEXT YEAR.THIS IS HARDLY THE LAST TIME YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ABOUT THIS.
AND THEN SO JUST ASKING ABOUT THAT AND THEN I AM ONLY GOING TO BRIEFLY TOUCH ON SOME OF THE OTHER PROJECTS THAT HAVE SMALL BALANCES AND THAT'LL CONCLUDE THIS SECTION.
SO I THINK WE COULD FINISH THAT UP, HAVE THE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN BREAK FOR LUNCH.
DOES THAT SOUND OKAY WITH YOU? I THINK THAT SOUNDS OKAY AND MAYBE FOR BOARD MEMBERS WE COULD JUST AT A HIGH LEVEL SHARE SOME OF OUR COMMENTS AND AHA MOMENTS FROM THIS CONVERSATION.
BUT I THINK THE POINT THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION IS A GOOD ONE.
ALL RIGHT, SO I'LL OPEN UP TO BOARD MEMBERS TO ANSWER THE QUESTION.
CAN YOU JUST REPEAT THE QUESTION REAL QUICK? SURE, I MEAN I THINK JUST GOING THROUGH THIS EXERCISE AND REMEMBER WE STARTED OUT BY PROMPTING YOU TO SAY THAT OF THE 67 PROJECT INVESTMENT AREAS WHEN STAFF OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS HAS BEEN TRYING TO LOOK AT WHAT WAS THAT ORIGINAL PROMISE? DO WE STILL KNOW WHAT IT WAS? AND WE FOUND THAT THERE WERE THESE 11 SPECIFIC INVESTMENT PROJECT AREAS THAT HAVE PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ACQUISITION FUNDING LEFT THAT WE WERE NOT TOTALLY CERTAIN HOW TO ANSWER THAT.
SO WE WERE LOOKING FOR SORT OF DIRECTION ON DO YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT? IF YOU DON'T, WHERE SHOULD WE GO SEEK TO DO ADDITIONAL RESEARCH OR OTHER GROUPS THAT WE OUGHT TO BE TALKING WITH? I'LL JUST PUT IN A LITTLE PLUG AND SAY THAT OUR INTENT IS TO ALSO GO TO A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS LIKE SAVE MOUNT DIABLO OR THE CITIZENS OF EAST SHORE, THESE KIND OF PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE.
SO I'M ALSO OPEN TO HEARING WHO ELSE SHOULD WE BE TALKING ABOUT TALKING TO TO GET DIRECTION AS TO WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO FULFILL THIS 2008 ORIGINAL INTENT AND INVESTMENT.
SO THAT WAS KIND OF THE EXERCISE.
SO THE QUESTION THAT I KIND OF ASK WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT WAS SAID IN YOUR GROUPS THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL THAT STAFF COULD TAKE TO FURTHER TRY TO UNPACK THIS QUESTION? DOES ANYONE WANT TO START? GO FOR IT.
MY BIGGEST CONCERN HERE ON THESE THREE MAPS WAS DIABLO FOOTHILLS AND I POINTED OUT THERE APPEARS TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE PARK TO ADD ONTO THAT PARK AND THERE IS FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR ACQUISITION.
AND IF WE MADE THAT ACQUISITION, IT WOULD REALLY IMPACT THE CIRCULATION OF THE TRAILS IN THE AREA AND PROVIDE SOME MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR OTHER ACCESS.
REALLY CLOSE TO THE STAGING AREA.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS BASED ON THAT PROMPT? GO FOR IT.
ON BRIONES, IT LOOKS TO ME AS IF MOST OF OUR PROMISES RELATED TO BRIONES HAVE BEEN MET BUT THERE ARE SOME REMAINING INVOLVING STAGING AREA IMPROVEMENTS THAT STILL NEED TO BE DONE THAT WERE CONTEMPLATED IN WW AND SOME RIDGELINE EXTENSION PROPERTIES THAT WE'VE HAD OUR EYES ON AND WOULD ALSO BE APPROPRIATE FOR ACQUISITION MONEY ASSIGNED TO BRIONES.
MAYBE IF I SAY SOME THINGS THAT MIGHT HELP SPUR WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY OR DO YOU WANT TO? I'LL BE HAPPY TO SAY IT.
I SORT OF DO A MEAL CULPA HERE.
I SAID, YOU KNOW, KEEP ALL THE ACQUISITION MONEY WHERE IT SHOULD BE, BLAH, DA, DA, WHERE WE PROMISED PEOPLE AND THEN I'M SITTING THERE LOOKING AT QUARRY LAKES GOING EVERYTHING'S BUILT AROUND IT.
WHAT COULD WE BUY? IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO TO FULFILL OUR PROMISES.
SO YEAH, I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A BRAND NEW LOOK AT THIS.
BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONCE AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING.
BUT I THINK SOME OF THE FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY THINK SO TOO BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONES THAT VOTED FOR THIS AND MAYBE THEY HAD AN IDEA THAT WE DON'T KNOW AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S IN A REPOSITORY SOMEWHERE WHERE WE WENT AND VISITED.
I DO HAVE A FEELING THAT PEOPLE IN 1970 OR WHEN WE DID THE 2008 BOND MEASURE, OUR PEOPLE IDENTIFIED PLACES SAYING YOU'LL LIKE THIS AND THEN DID A VISIONING STATEMENT OR YOU GOT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND SAID, HEY, WOULD YOU LIKE THIS? AND THEY SAID YES.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S ANYBODY OUT THERE THAT REALLY REMEMBERS THAT OR THAT HAS THOSE SAME IDEAS.
[02:30:02]
WITH THEM.WE HAVE OUR SECOND CENTURY PLAN MEETINGS ALL OVER TOWN OR ALL OVER THE PLACE.
LET'S GO FOR THAT AND THEN I'LL.
IN MY SESSION, WE LOOKED AT COREY LAKES.
AND THEN WE ALSO LOOKED AT ANTHONY CHABOT.
AND YEAH, I THINK IT WAS REALLY GOING BACK TO THE QUESTION OF LIKE WHAT WAS THE COMMITMENT? AND THEN ASKING, YOU KNOW, ARE THESE THINGS POSSIBLE? WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT COREY LAKES, WHEN IT TALKED ABOUT THE TURF MEADOW, SPENDING A LOT OF TIME AT THAT PARK, THERE'S PLACES THAT AS FAR AS THAT FLOOD, THEN JUST AS FAR AS THAT PARK HAS BEEN IMPACTED IN YEARS WITH SEVERE DROUGHT.
AND SO WERE SOME OF THOSE THINGS EVEN FEASIBLE FOR THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE PARK? AND AND THEN JUST BATHROOMS. WE WERE LOOKING AT AS FAR AS WHO OWNS WHAT LAND, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME, YOU KNOW, POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES PERHAPS FOR THE BATHROOMS ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PARK.
BUT AS FAR AS WHEN WE LOOKED AT OTHER PARCELS NEAR COREY LAKES, IT'S LIKE, WELL, THAT'S ACROSS THE ROAD.
EVEN IF THEY'RE OWNED BY THE CITY, IT'S REALLY NOT A LOGICAL EXTENSION OF THE PARK.
AND THEN THE TENT OF THAT PARK IS REALLY TO REFUSE THE AQUIFERS.
AND FOR ANTHONY CHABOT, YOU KNOW, IN THE AREAS WITH THE WATERSHED, THAT WHOLE AREA IS PROTECTED.
AND THEN AS FAR AS YOU GO CLOSER, THERE'S, YOU KNOW, THE ROCK QUARRY.
THERE'S LIKE A FEW LIKE TINY PARCELS.
BUT LIKE, IS THAT LAND THAT THE PARK EVEN WANTS TO ACQUIRE? AND IF NOT, THEN JUST AS FAR AS.
MARKING IT DOWN THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A BOUNDARY OF THE PARK, LIKE WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN EXTENDING INTO THOSE DIFFERENT AREAS.
BUT I DID VOICE SOME AREAS THAT DIFFERENT COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN SAN LEANDRO WERE INTERESTED IN AS FAR AS TANDY FARMS AND THEN ALSO RALSTON, MR. RALSTON, WHO WAS THERE EARLIER.
AND THEN FOR GAREN, FOR THE TRAIL, A LOT OF THAT IS IN LAND BANKED AREA.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT RAILROAD EASEMENT LIKE BEING BUILT.
BUT WITH GAREN PARK, LIKE ARE THERE OPPORTUNITIES EITHER BASED ON, YOU KNOW, TRAIL ALIGNMENT OR JUST WILDLIFE CORRIDORS TO EXPAND? SO I THINK AS FAR AS WITHIN THOSE DESCRIPTIONS, IT'S JUST IT LED TO MORE QUESTIONS.
AND I FEEL LIKE ON SOME OF THEM, IT WAS MORE OBVIOUS THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO SOMETHING.
AND I THINK AS FAR AS IF WE DECIDE FOR SOME OF THESE FUNDS, I THINK WE JUST NEED TO PUT TOGETHER STATEMENTS AS FAR AS LIKE WE'VE LOOKED AT THESE DIFFERENT FACTORS AND WE'VE EXHAUSTED THESE FACTORS.
AND NOW WE'VE BECAUSE BASED ON THIS CRITERIA, HAVE MADE THE DETERMINANT THAT WE'RE THAT WE'RE GOING TO MOVE TO SOMETHING ELSE.
SO THAT'S HOW OUR CONVERSATION WENT AND EVERYTHING.
BUT IT DID LEAD ME TO JUST KEEP ON ASKING MORE QUESTIONS.
SO IT'S DEFINITELY I THINK IT'S TOUGH FOR OUR TEAM TO SEE FOR AT LEAST THESE 11.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF CONSTRAINTS.
AND THOSE ARE MY COMMENTS FOR THIS EXERCISE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THAT.
AND I'LL SHARE WHAT I REALLY LIKED ABOUT THIS EXERCISE AND WHERE I THINK IT COULD EVOLVE.
THE FIRST PARK THAT WE SPOKE ABOUT OVER HERE IN THE ALAMEDA COUNTY GROUP WAS QUARRY LAKES.
AND ONE OF THE, I GUESS THERE'S TWO PARTS TO IT.
ONE IS THINKING ABOUT, IS THERE A LAND USE PLAN FOR QUARRY LAKES? WHAT IS THAT? AND BEING ABLE
[02:35:01]
TO HAVE A REVIEW OF THAT COULD BE HELPFUL FOR THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT POTENTIAL ACQUISITION.AND THEN ALSO WHAT ARE THE PLANS AROUND THE QUARRY LAKES VICINITY BY CITY OF FREMONT, CITY OF UNION CITY? I KNOW WHEN I FIRST STARTED ON THIS BOARD IN 2023, 2024, AND I BELIEVE DIRECTOR WASPIE ALSO WAS A RECIPIENT OF THE EMAILS, WE RECEIVED AT LEAST 150 EMAILS.
AND I DID, I BELIEVE I SAVED THEM ALL IN A FOLDER IN REGARDS TO THE RAMIREZ FARM IN UNION CITY RIGHT NEAR QUARRY LAKES.
AND SO MY POINT HERE IS THAT THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENT PARCELS NEARBY.
AND THEN THE OTHER ONE THAT WE TALKED ABOUT WAS THE ALAMEDA CREEK TRAIL.
AND THE SHIN PONDS AND THE SHIN PARK ARE ALSO RIGHT NEXT TO QUARRY LAKES.
AND IS THAT PART OF QUARRY LAKES LAND USE PLAN? IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE INCLUDED AS PART OF MEASURE WW OR NOT? AND SO A LOT OF THESE AREN'T, WE DIDN'T HAVE ANSWERS FOR.
SO WE ASKED JUST A LOT OF QUESTIONS ALONG THOSE LINES.
BUT THEN THE OTHER PART ABOUT QUARRY LAKES WITH THE LAND USE PLAN THAT I THINK IS INTERESTING, IS THAT QUARRY LAKES ARE OWNED AND MANAGED AND THERE'S RULES ABOUT THE WATER SUPPLY AND WATER QUALITY FROM ALAMEDA COUNTY WATER DISTRICT, ACWD.
AND HOW DOES THAT FACTOR IN TO MEASURE WW ACQUISITIONS AROUND THE LAKES? AND THEN ALSO THE BIGGEST ISSUE OF QUARRY LAKES WHICH WASN'T MENTIONED IN MEASURE WW IS THE ABILITY TO SWIM OR NOT TO SWIM AT QUARRY LAKES.
AND HOW DO WE ADDRESS THAT AS WELL WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THAT SPECIFIC PROPERTY? AND THEN MOVING ON, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS THAT I THOUGHT WERE REALLY INTERESTING WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT LEONA CANYON THAT WAS AN AHA FOR ME WAS, AND THIS WAS POINTED OUT EARLIER, WE HAD SEVEN DIFFERENT AREAS BUT 11 MEASURE WW INVESTMENT LINE ITEMS. AND SO FOR LEONA CANYON, THERE'S TWO.
THERE IS, AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS REALLY INTERESTING.
ONE IS OAK KNOLL AND IT'S THE TRAIL KIND OF ON THE SOUTH EAST SIDE OF LEONA CANYON BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO LEONA CANYON ITSELF.
AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S ALSO REALLY INTERESTING THAT THERE COULD BE TWO DIFFERENT MEASURE WW LINE ITEMS. SO HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THAT? AND THEN IN REGARDS TO TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED IN 2008, ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WE FOUND OURSELVES ASKING WHEN WE WERE DISCUSSING LEONA CANYON IS, DO WE HAVE RECORDS ABOUT THE 2008 CONVERSATION AND WHAT SOME OF THE PLANS WERE FOR THOSE GROUPS THAT WERE BEING INVOLVED IN THAT CONVERSATION? AND SO I THINK THERE COULD ALSO BE A NEED TO GO BACK AND LOOK AT OUR RECORDS TO SEE IF WE HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS. I'LL CALL THEM LINE ITEMS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN NUMBERS WITHIN MEASURE WW SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LEONA CANYON VERSUS OAK KNOLL AND THE CONNECTION TRAIL.
AND SO THERE WAS ALSO A QUESTION IN REGARDS TO RECORDS RETENTION THAT MIGHT BE GOOD TO ALSO SHARE WITH THE BOARD AT SOME POINT.
AND I KNOW WE RECENTLY DID HAVE A TRANSITION IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.
SO HOW WAS THAT TRANSITION HANDLED IN REGARDS TO RECORDS RETENTION I THINK WOULD BE ALSO HELPFUL TO KNOW AND FOR US TO ALSO GET TO THAT QUESTION, WHAT WAS THE ORIGINAL PROMISE IN A PLACE LIKE LEONA CANYON? AND THEN I'LL CLOSE AND SAY THAT WITH THE GUERIN CONVERSATION, SO THAT ALSO HAD TWO DIFFERENT LINE ITEMS ASSOCIATED WITH IT, INCLUDING DRY CREEK.
AND WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT BOARD SITE TOURS.
AND IF I WERE TO GIVE A RECOMMENDATION FOR A 2026 BOARD SITE TOUR, IT WOULD BE TO VISIT DRY CREEK BECAUSE I THINK THAT THERE'S A LOT TO SEE AND DISCUSS AT DRY CREEK.
PLUS WE DO HAVE THAT AS ONE OF ITS OWN LINE ITEMS IN MEASURE WW.
AND I THINK THAT COULD BE REALLY INTERESTING.
AND THEN JUST HEARING DIRECTOR ESPANA SPEAK WITH US VIRTUALLY ABOUT THE GUERIN AREA AND THE TRAIL EASEMENT WE HAVE WITH THE RAILROAD, IT REMINDED ME OF A CONVERSATION THAT I HAD WITH SAN FRANCISCO PUC WHO ALSO IS VERY INTERESTED IN THIS TRAIL CONNECTION.
AND WHEN WE WERE HAVING THE CONVERSATION, I DIDN'T EVEN THINK OF SAN FRANCISCO PUC.
BUT THEY ALSO WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THINKING ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I KNOW THEY'RE INVESTING IN THEIR ALAMEDA CREEK WATERSHED CENTER RIGHT NEAR THERE.
AND THEY REALLY DO WANT TO HAVE CONNECTING TRAILS FROM THAT WATERSHED CENTER.
SO I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER GROUPS AND STAKEHOLDER GROUPS.
AND WE DIDN'T EVEN REALLY GET INTO THAT IN THE CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE WERE STILL, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO FIND THE LINE ITEMS IN MEASURE WW AND THE NEW REPORT.
SO I DO THINK THAT THERE COULD BE SOME VALUE GOING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT OF LOOKING AT THE LAND USE PLANS, WHETHER OR NOT THEY EXIST, REALLY TAKING THIS KIND OF ZOOMED IN AND THEN ZOOMED OUT APPROACH OF EACH OF THESE PARKS.
AND HEARING FROM EACH OTHER CAN ALSO REMIND US AS JUST HAPPENED WITH DIRECTOR ESPANA TALKING ABOUT THE RAILROAD EASEMENT.
I HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO PUC UNTIL SHE MENTIONED THAT.
[02:40:01]
SO THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE REALLY HELPFUL, IS MY POINT.SO I THINK WE WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF FINISH THIS ITEM THEN BEFORE WE BREAK FOR LUNCH.
SO LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SPEAK.
WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE IN PERSON AND ONE ONLINE.
SO WE WILL START WITH AMELIA MARSHALL IN PERSON.
MY NAME IS AMELIA MARSHALL, REPRESENTING THE REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION, A WATCHDOG GROUP ADVISING THE DISTRICT SINCE 1947.
AND TODAY I'D LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT LAND ACQUISITION IS NOT JUST A SERIES OF ROWS OF NUMBERS ON A SPREADSHEET.
I'D LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS OPEN SPACE ACREAGE ADJACENT TO SIBLEY REGIONAL PARK.
IT IS NOT CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET.
AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MONEY STAYS IN PLACE SO AS TO NOT FORESTALL THE ABILITY TO ACQUIRE THIS SIBLEY ADJACENT OPEN SPACE WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT IT IS HABITAT FOR THE CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG.
I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TIGER SALAMANDER, ALAMEDA WHIPSNAKE, SPECIES OF CONCERNS.
IT CAN PROVIDE TRAIL CONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE LAFAYETTE-MORAGA TRAIL AND THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL.
AND IT'S ALSO AN IMPORTANT CORRIDOR FOR THE RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY OF CANYON FOR FIRE EXITS WHEN THEY NEED TO GET OUT IN A HURRY.
SO YOU ARE IN RECEIPT OF THE MEASURE WW BROCHURE IN WHICH ONE OF THE ITEMS THAT WAS PROMISED WAS $5.9 MILLION.
SOME OF THAT HAS BEEN PROPERLY ALLOCATED AND $2,060,000 WAS DIVERTED TO AN UNRELATED PURPOSE IN 2023.
SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT FUNDING IS RESTORED SO THE MONEY IS AVAILABLE WHEN THAT PROPERTY COMES ON THE MARKET AND WE WANT TO SEE THAT PROMISE WHICH WAS MADE KEPT.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK AGAIN.
I JUST WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OF THINGS, ONE OF WHICH I THINK HAS BEEN MENTIONED HERE.
ONE IS THAT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT WHEN WE LOOK AT THESE ORIGINAL PROPOSALS 18 YEARS ON TO THINK MORE IN A LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE WHICH LOOKS AT OTHER AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE PRESERVED LAND AS WELL AS WHAT THE PARK DISTRICT IS DOING.
I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE BEGINNING A PROCESS OF LOOKING AT THESE PROMISES MADE AND PROMISES KEPT, LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL PARKS, BUT I THINK AS PART OF THAT IT WOULD BE USEFUL TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT THE VISION NOW AS OPPOSED TO WHAT IT WAS IN 2008 AND PERHAPS IT'S BROADER AND THINK IN TERMS OF TODAY'S VISION RATHER THAN THE 2008 VISION IN TERMS OF USING THAT MONEY.
AND THEN THIRDLY, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF EFFORT MADE TO FIND OTHER SOURCES OF FUNDING TO ACCOMPLISH SOME OF THE OBJECTIVES THAT WERE SET OUT AND IDENTIFIED IN 2008 WHICH IS APPROPRIATE AND TO BE COMMENDED, BUT I THINK THERE WAS ALSO A PROMISE IN 2008 FOR A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY, A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF THE $500 MILLION THAT WAS GOING TO BE DEVOTED TO LAND ACQUISITION AND I THINK THAT PROMISE ALSO OUGHT TO BE CONSIDERED AND HONORED AS YOU GO FORWARD ON THIS, AS YOU CONTINUE TO WORK ON THIS ISSUE.
JIM HANSEN, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE IN-DEPTH LOOK AT BOTH ACQUISITIONS HAVE BEEN VERY INFORMATIVE AND ALSO WW AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK ON POINT MALADY AS BEING ONE OF THE PEOPLE COMMUNITY ENGAGED WITH THAT ALONG WITH THREE ATTORNEYS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
JUST LOOKING AT THIS, I WANTED TO LOOK AT IN PARTICULAR AND
[02:45:02]
HOPE THAT YOU WILL ASK THAT YOU INCLUDE NATURAL CAPITAL.IF YOU LOOK AT THE WW LIST AND I JUST PULLED THE FIRST 10, STARTS OUT WITH RESTORE SHORELINE AREAS INCLUDING BEACH AND DUNE GRASS, BUFFER SENSITIVE WILDLIFE HABITATS, EXPAND AND RESTORE WETLANDS TO ENHANCE HABITAT FOR DELTA, SMELT AND OTHER SPECIES, PROTECT AND ENHANCE HABITAT FOR THREATENED CALIFORNIA BLACK RAIL AND GIANT GARTER SNAKES.
RESTORE COASTAL PRAIRIE GRASSLAND.
THAT'S JUST TAKEN FROM THE TOP 10.
WE WOULD HOPE THAT YOU INCLUDE THAT ANALYSIS AS PART OF THE PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT AND HOPE THAT THAT COULD BE INCLUDED.
YOU MENTIONED THE TRAIL STUDY SESSION AND A CAPITAL STUDY SESSION AND THAT THAT BE INCLUDED IN THE CAPITAL STUDY SESSION AS IT IS PART OF THE NATURAL CAPITAL THAT IS PART OF OUR MISSION.
ANYWAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TODAY.
IT'S VERY INFORMATIVE AND WE APPRECIATE THE PUBLIC BEING ABLE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THIS ALL BETTER.
THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL BRING THAT BACK TO CLOSE OUT THE ITEM.
I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HOLD THE VERY LAST ITEM.
SO I THINK THAT WE CAN BREAK FOR LUNCH.
LET'S TRY TO DO MAYBE LIKE 20, 25 MINUTES.
I THINK WE'RE READY AND THE MICROPHONES ARE WORKING.
WE ARE NOW GOING TO START OUR AFTERNOON SESSION OF THE LAND ACQUISITION WORKSHOP.
I'M BECKY BRUNSER, DIVISION LEAD FOR LAND ACQUISITION AND WE'RE ON THE HOME STRETCH.
SO THIS IS THE LAST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA.
I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO OUR GOVERNMENT LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS TEAM IN JUST A SECOND.
BUT THIS TOPIC IS AROUND FUTURE FUNDING NEEDS AND CONSIDERATIONS AND ONE MAY ASK THEMSELVES, WHY IS THIS ON LAND STUDY SESSION? BUT I THINK THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT'S PRETTY VITAL TO ACQUISITION BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU IT'S A QUESTION THAT I GET ASKED ALL THE TIME AND CONTINUE TO WRESTLE WITH, WHICH IS AFTER WE ACQUIRE THE LAND, HOW DO WE INTEND TO TAKE CARE OF IT? SO TO KICK THIS ITEM OFF, WE'RE GOING TO REVIEW SOME OF THE DETAILS AROUND THE 2008 MEASURE WW BOND EXTENSION, BUT ALSO WHAT TYPES OF CONSIDERATIONS NEED TO BE CONTEMPLATED WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FUTURE FUNDING.
SO WE ARE HOPING, AGAIN, I'M JUST GOING TO INVITE YOU TO ASK QUESTIONS.
WE WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A DISCUSSION AROUND THIS.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUES, BUT DO THINK ABOUT HOW WE CAN HAVE SOME INTERACTION AND DIALOGUE ON THIS.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO ERIC.
ERIC FEELER, DIVISION LEAD FOR GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS.
AND FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD AND ACTING GENERAL MANAGER CORTON, AGM BROOKS, AND MOST OF ALL, BECKY, FOR PROVIDING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT BALLOT MEASURE HISTORY WITH THE PARK DISTRICT AND POTENTIAL FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS.
AND WITH THAT, WE'LL START WITH A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY.
1934, WHEN THE PARK DISTRICT WAS CREATED, THAT WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY DISTRICT-WIDE PARCEL TAX THAT HAS BEEN ENACTED SUCCESSFULLY.
AND THAT WAS FIVE CENTS PER EVERY $100,000.
SO THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY, BUT IT'S A LOT OF MONEY.
AND IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.
DOLLARS ON A PARCEL. THAT'S OBVIOUSLY BEEN AMENDED SINCE, BUT THAT'S THE FIRST TIME FIRST AND ONLY TIME THE VOTERS HAVE VOTED DISTRICT-WIDE. 1964 WERE BALLOT MEASURES TO ANNEX CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND THE PLEASANTON AREA. CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CAME WITH BRIONES AND KENNEDY GROVE WERE THE FIRST PARKS IN THAT COUNTY. IN 1998 WAS THE FIRST BOND MEASURE PASSED BY THE PARK DISTRICT AND IT WAS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE PRIOR TO THAT TIME ALL ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT WAS FUNDED OUT OF THE GENERAL FUND. SO THERE WASN'T AN ADDITIONAL REVENUE SOURCE OTHER THAN GRANTS REALLY FOR THE PURCHASING OF LAND OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECTS. 1988 CHANGED THAT EQUATION. THERE WAS NOW A NEW AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT AND THAT ACTUALLY FREED UP SOME GENERAL
[02:50:01]
FUND MONEY FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF AND OPERATIONS AT THAT TIME.THEN IN 1996 THE PEOPLE IN THE TWO RECENTLY ANNEXED AREAS OF THE DISTRICT, EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AND THE MURRAY TOWNSHIP AREA PASSED LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPE DISTRICTS.
HOWEVER, THOSE MEASURES DO NOT EQUATE TO THE SAME AMOUNT OF FUNDING THAT THE PARCEL TAX THAT'S PAID BY THE REST OF THE TWO COUNTIES. SO IN 1998 AND 2002 WITH THE CONTINUED ACQUISITION OF MEASURE AA AND CONTINUED OPERATIONAL NEEDS, DISTRICT LEADERSHIP OPTED TO TRY TO GO OUT FOR A DISTRICT-WIDE PARCEL TAX.
NEITHER ONE OF THEM FAILED BUT WHAT WAS LEARNED IS THAT, OR NEITHER ONE OF THEM PASSED, WHAT WAS LEARNED IS THAT THERE WAS A ZONE OF SUPPORT OF TWO-THIRDS WHICH BECAME THE CC ZONE FROM RICHMOND DOWN TO THE OAKLAND SAN LEANDRO BORDER AND WEST OF THE EAST BAY HILLS. AND THEN IN 2008 THE HISTORIC MEASURE FF, 500 MILLION DOLLARS, WAS PASSED TO CONTINUE FUNDING FOR ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT BUT IT UNLIKE 1988 IT DIDN'T HAVE THE ADDITIONAL BENEFIT OF FREEING UP GENERAL MONEY AND AT THE SAME TIME THE HABITAT CONSERVANCY IN EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CAME ONLINE AND PROVIDED AN INFUSION OF ACQUISITIONS IN THAT PART OF THE COUNTY AS WELL. SO IN THE 2008 BALLOT MEASURE AND IN THE 75 WORDS AND IN THE SUPPORT STATEMENT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED THE 67 PROJECTS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN DISCUSSED EARLIER TODAY AND IDENTIFIED BROADLY CATEGORIES OF TRAIL DEVELOPMENT, SHORELINE PARKS, URBAN CREEKS, WILDLIFE HABITAT, ACQUISITION AND DEVELOPMENT AND THEN WITH THE ADDITIONAL 25% OF THE FUNDING OF THE 500 MILLION DOLLARS GOING FOR A LOCAL GOVERNMENT GRANT PROGRAM.
SO ACQUISITION IS THE FIRST STEP. SECURING THE LAND IS THE FIRST STEP IN AN ONGOING MANAGEMENT OF THE RESOURCE. IT'S LIKE BUYING A HOUSE. WHEN YOU BUY THE HOUSE YOU FIND THAT YOU HAVE ALL SORTS OF NEEDS AFTER YOU UNLOCK THE DOOR. AND SO THE ONGOING MANAGEMENT IS NOT ACCOUNTED IN THE INITIAL WW ALLOCATION.
AND IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST STEP THERE'S AT LEAST FIVE OR SIX STEPS THAT THE PARK DISTRICT GOES THROUGH WHICH COST MONEY BEFORE THE LAND CAN BE SAFELY OPEN FOR THE PUBLIC. AND THEN ONCE IT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE THE ONGOING MANAGEMENT COSTS CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
AND WITH THAT TO TALK A LITTLE MORE ABOUT COSTS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE I'LL PASS IT OVER TO LISA BALDINGER. THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON. ALL RIGHT. SO LISA BALDINGER, LEGISLATIVE POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST.
IN THIS NEXT SLIDE I GET TO PRESENT I WANT TO THANK OUR PLANNING TEAM WHO WORKED WITH THE ECONOMIC AND PLANNING SYSTEMS INC. TO PULL TOGETHER SOME NUMBERS THAT YOU ALL MAY HAVE SEEN. THIS IS PULLED TOGETHER AS PART OF OUR DISTRICT PLAN PROCESS BUT WE'RE REALLY SEEING A LOT OF BENEFITS AND KIND OF GETTING OUR SENSE AROUND ONCE WE PURCHASE THE LAND WHAT ARE THOSE ONGOING COSTS. AND SO AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE SCREEN WE HAVE COSTS OF LAND MANAGEMENT IN VARIOUS FORMS AND I WANT TO GIVE SOME DEFINITIONS. SO LAND BANK IS A PRETTY INTERNAL TERM HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT AND SO FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNFAMILIAR WITH IT WHAT WE MEAN BY THAT IS IT'S LAND THAT'S BEEN ACQUIRED BY THE PARK DISTRICT. IT'S NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. WE'RE NOT DOING A LOT OF ACTIVE MANAGEMENT BUT WE STILL DO HAVE COSTS. WE HAVE PUBLIC SAFETY PATROLLING, WE HAVE FENCING, AND WE HAVE OTHER SORT OF CARE AND MANAGEMENT THAT WE DO OUT THERE. WE ALSO HERE AT THE PARK DISTRICT WE TAKE CARE OF CONSERVED LANDS. ERIC MENTIONED THE HCP PROGRAM WHERE WE HAVE LANDS THAT ARE IN PROTECTION. WE PROVIDE STEWARDSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THOSE LANDS SO THERE'S A BIT MORE OF A COST THERE. THEN WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO OPEN THOSE LANDS TO THE PUBLIC AND PROVIDE FOR PASSIVE RECREATION AGAIN THE COSTS DO INCREASE.
AND THIS IS NOT TO SAY OH WE SHOULDN'T DO THIS.
THIS IS PART OF OUR MISSION TO OPEN THE LANDS TO THE PUBLIC. SO WHAT WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TODAY IS HOW CAN WE DO IT SUSTAINABLY IN A WAY THAT'S REALLY KIND OF HAVING OUR EYES WIDE OPEN AT THE BEGINNING. AND SO FOR PASSIVE RECREATION, INCREASED COSTS, WHEN WE ADD PROGRAMS THAT ARE JUST ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL TO CREATING THAT ACCESS POINT FOR THE PUBLIC TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE THAT SENSE OF BELONGING IN NATURE, AGAIN THE COSTS GO UP. AND SO THIS HAS BEEN A HELPFUL ANALYSIS TO UNDERSTAND OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE BUT IT ALSO IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE WE'RE REALLY TAKING ON THIS COMPREHENSIVE LOOK ACROSS THE AGENCY AND THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF CAVEATS. THIS ANALYSIS DOESN'T TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE REMEDIATION AND CLEANUP OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGES ON THE PROPERTY. SO A LOT OF OUR LANDS WERE FORMER MILITARY PROPERTY OR HAD OTHER USES
[02:55:01]
BEFORE THEY BECAME PROTECTED PUBLIC OPEN SPACE. SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THESE AREAS ARE SAFE FOR FAMILIES, FOR CHILDREN, FOR YOU KNOW BEST FRIENDS, SOMEONE'S DOG, TO GET OUT THERE AND REALLY ENJOY THEIR TIME IN AN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK.WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ONCE YOU'RE OUT THERE YOU MIGHT NEED TO USE THE RESTROOM OR GET A WATER BOTTLE FILLING STATION ETC. SO WE NEED TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE COST OF CONSTRUCTION AND CREATING WELCOMING SPACES. WE ALSO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU CAN ACCESS THROUGH TRANSIT, PATHWAYS, ROADWAYS. SO OFTEN WE ARE PROVIDING THOSE IMPROVED ROADS AND ROUTES TO OUR PARKLANDS BEFORE WE OPEN THEM TO THE PUBLIC. THE INCREMENTAL ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. SO THIS ANALYSIS IT WAS LOOKING AT PUBLIC SAFETY AND PARK RANGERS BUT IT WASN'T LOOKING AT THE COST OF AS WE'RE GROWING AS A DISTRICT, WHAT ARE THE ADDITIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES, LEGAL FEES, GRANTS AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS TEAMS, WHAT ARE THOSE ADDITIONAL STAFF WHO ARE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO MAKE THESE PARKS WHAT THEY ARE. AND THEN OF COURSE WE ARE RESPONDING TO GROWING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. WE'RE SEEING MORE EROSION ON OUR PARKS, MORE STORM DAMAGE, MORE RISKS OF WILDFIRE. SO HOW ARE WE TAKING CARE OF THESE PLACES RESPONSIBLY WHEN THEY ARE IN OUR CARE. AND SO I HIGHLIGHT SORT OF ALL OF THESE COSTS AND CONSIDERATIONS BUT ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE PATHWAYS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THESE COSTS AND CONSIDERATIONS GOING FORWARD.
SO JUST BY WAY OF CONTEXT THERE'S DIFFERENT FUNDING SOURCES FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS.
SO ON THAT LAST SLIDE WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACQUISITION THAT'S TYPICALLY BOND FUNDING OR WE ARE ABLE TO USE OUR GENERAL FUND WHICH IS THE BASE PROPERTY TAX FOR ACQUISITION.
BUT REALLY A PARCEL TAX IS NOT AS BENEFICIAL FOR ACQUISITION BECAUSE THAT'S MORE OF A SMALLER DOLLAR AMOUNT OVER TIME. AND SO WHEN WE THINK ABOUT BOND FUNDINGS WE'RE THINKING ACQUISITION, CAPITAL PROJECTS, THOSE VISITOR FACILITIES AND THAT'S REALLY THE SWEET SPOT. GENERAL FUNDING HAS BEEN CONSISTENT BUT WE REALLY ARE UTILIZING OUR FULL GENERAL FUND RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE. AND SO AS WE'RE CONTINUING TO GROW AS A DISTRICT WE NEED TO THINK OF ADDITIONAL FUNDING SOURCES TO SUPPORT THOSE ADDITIONAL NEEDS OF THE PARK LANDS THAT WE'VE ACQUIRED THROUGH MEASURE WW. AND THAT'S REALLY WHERE PARCEL TAXES AND SPECIAL TAXES COME IN.
SO WHEN WE HAVE A PARCEL TAX WE'RE ABLE TO EXPAND STAFF CAPACITY, MAINTENANCE, STEWARDSHIP OF THESE LANDS. IT PROVIDES AN ONGOING FUNDING SOURCE AS ERIC SHARED.
WE HAVE TRIED TWICE BEFORE TO GO OUT FOR A DISTRICT-WIDE PARCEL TAX AND WE WEREN'T SUCCESSFUL. BUT IT IS WORTH CONSIDERING AS WE'RE HAVING THESE GROWING NEEDS WHAT MIGHT THAT LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.
AND THEN WE ARE REALLY WONDERFULLY SUCCESSFUL IN OUR GRANTS AND OUR PARTNERSHIP FUNDING. SO OUR GRANTS DEPARTMENT DOES A FANTASTIC JOB BRINGING IN FUNDING AND THOSE TYPICALLY GO TO SPECIAL PROJECTS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS OR ACQUISITIONS. SO AGAIN THAT FUNDING FOR THE ONGOING MAINTENANCE, THE CLEANUP, THE STEWARDSHIP, IT'S PRETTY UNIQUE FUNDING THAT WE REALLY DO NEED TO BE STRATEGIC AROUND. AND SO WITH ALL OF THAT IN MIND AND TO REALLY TAKE A STEP BACK AND KIND OF ROOT OURSELVES IN THE PURPOSE OF TODAY, WHICH IS TO DISCUSS LAND ACQUISITION, WHAT WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL, AND I'LL TURN IT BACK TO THE CHAIR AFTER POSING THESE QUESTIONS, IS REALLY HOW SHOULD LONG-TERM RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS INFORM FUTURE LAND ACQUISITION DECISIONS? AND THEN ALSO WHAT PRINCIPLES SHOULD GUIDE THE PARK DISTRICT IN ALIGNING BOND FUNDED ACQUISITIONS WITH ONGOING FUNDING CAPACITY? AND SOME PRINCIPLES THAT I JUST WANT TO OFFER, JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT, ARE THINGS LIKE PROXIMITY TO EXISTING PARKLANDS, CONNECTION TO TRAILS, RESPONDING TO OPEN SPACE EQUITY NEEDS AND HISTORICALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND HABITAT CORRIDOR POTENTIAL.
SO THOSE ARE JUST SOME FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND WOULD LOVE TO HEAR WHAT ADDITIONAL PRINCIPLES COME TO MIND FOR THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME AND WITH THAT I'LL TURN IT BACK TO PRESIDENT SAN JUAN. GREAT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. THIS IS A WONDERFUL COMPREHENSIVE OVERVIEW ABOUT ALL OF THE PARK DISTRICT, YOU KNOW, FUNDING AND RELATED BALLOT MEASURE HISTORY. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEE IF THERE'S ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS OR MAYBE DIG A LITTLE BIT DEEPER INTO ANY OF THESE TOPICS. THERE'S A LOT HERE IN THIS SMALL NUMBER OF SLIDES. GO AHEAD. WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION AGAIN? AS CAN BE VIEWED ON THE SCREEN, WE'RE INTERESTED IN HOW SHOULD LONG-TERM RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS INFORM FUTURE LAND ACQUISITION DECISIONS? AND WHAT PRINCIPLES SHOULD GUIDE THE PARK DISTRICT IN ALIGNING BOND FUNDED ACQUISITIONS WITH ONGOING FUNDING CAPACITY? SO REALLY, AS WE'RE BRINGING THE MEASURE WDW ACQUISITIONS AND THE PROMISES WE MADE TO THE COMMUNITY TO FRUITION, TO REALLY FULFILL THE PROMISE, THESE NEED TO BE PUBLIC SPACES THAT ARE SERVING OUR COMMUNITY AND ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION.
AND SO WE WANT TO HAVE DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD ON WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS TO KIND OF ACHIEVE THAT VISION? WELL I THINK ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS, DEFINITELY WE SHOULD, ONE OF THE CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD BE THE CLEANUP OF THE SITES. I MEAN IF WE'RE GONNA BUY A SITE THAT WE CAN SEE IS A MESS, IS IT WORTH IT? EVEN IF THE PRICE IS GOOD, I THINK THAT SHOULD BE A MAJOR CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THOSE COSTS ARE
[03:00:01]
INCREDIBLY HIGH IN SOME CASES, OR IN MOST CASES IN MY OPINION. I THINK WE'VE KIND OF DONE THAT A LITTLE BEFORE, OF FIGURED OUT BUYING STUFF OR DEVELOPING STUFF BASED ON WHO'S GONNA BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO PAY FOR IT, MEASURE CC. AND THAT WAS A CARVE-OUT THAT DIDN'T, I DON'T THINK IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING OTHER THAN THAT PASSED IN THE PARCEL TAX MEASURE, SO LET'S REWARD THESE PEOPLE OR GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND MORE MONEY TO DEVELOP MORE PARKS BECAUSE THEY'RE WILLING TO DO THAT. AND I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU DEFINE THAT OR FIGURE IT OUT OTHER THAN JUST LOOK AT HOW PEOPLE VOTE.BUT I MEAN YEAH, ONE WOULD THINK YOU SHOULD TAKE ALL THOSE THINGS IN CONSIDERATION BECAUSE OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AND CLEANUP ARE GOING TO BE A REALLY TREMENDOUS DEAL. I MEAN HOW DO WE GET INFRASTRUCTURE TO PARKS? HOW DO WE GET ROADS TO PARKS? AND I GUESS IT'S HOW WE, HOW IT'S PLANNED ON HOW WE'RE GOING TO USE THE PARKS, PARDON ME.
BUT YEAH, I THINK ALL THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE HARD TO DO NEED TO BE CONSIDERED.
GREAT, THANK YOU. ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE SOME INITIAL QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD. I JUST WANT TO BUILD OR ASK ON DENNIS'S QUESTION. I MEAN I THINK, OR MAYBE IT'S EVEN A LEGAL QUESTION, A LOT OF TOXIC LANDS EXPERIENCE OR LANDS FOR RESTORATION OR BROWNFIELDS. I THINK HOW WE BUY THEM, EITHER IN THE PAST OR GOING FORWARD, DETERMINES HOW OR WHO PAYS FOR THEM. I MEAN I THINK THAT'S PRETTY CRITICAL. THEY DO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR LANDS WHERE YOU DON'T DO THE O&M OR THE RESPONSIBLE PARTY DOES THE O&M.
THE ONES WE HAVE, ALL THESE LANDS ALONG THE WATERFRONT ARE TOXIC LANDS WITH ABSENT RESPONSIBLE PARTIES, THEY'RE GONE. AND YET SOMEHOW WE GOT THE LAND AND WE'RE STILL ON THE HOOK TO DO THE O&M ON THEM. SO I DON'T KNOW LEGALLY, DENNIS'S QUESTION IS INTERESTING, BUT I'M PRETTY SURE I'VE SEEN AT BROWNFIELDS, THERE'S A LOT OF SCHOOLS, THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE LANDS. I KEEP CALLING THE BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM WHERE THEY DON'T MAKE THE SCHOOL PAY FOR THE LANDFILL WHEN IT CRACKS OR DIPS OR GATHERS WATER. SO THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING LONGER TERM IN OUR OPERATIONS PRACTICE THAT MIGHT DO BOTH, ADDRESS DENNIS'S CONCERN. AND I KNOW SOMETIMES THOSE LANDS, LAND BANKS, OR WHAT WE USED TO CALL INSTITUTIONAL CONTROLS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S A, EVEN SOME INSTITUTIONAL CONTROL CAN BE A FENCE TO KEEP PEOPLE OUT OF AREAS LIKE JOHN SUTTER WITH SIGNAGE, AND YET WE STILL HAVE THE LAND AND IT'S PROTECTED. AND OVER TIME, THERE'S A LOVELY TERM THESE DAYS, PARTICULARLY UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION CALLED M&A, MONITORED NATURAL ATTENUATION.
IF YOU WAIT LONG ENOUGH, THE TOXICS WILL GO AWAY, AS A SCIENTIST OR A CLEANUP PERSON.
BUT ANYWAY, THERE'S SOMETHING DEFINITELY THERE. MY QUESTION WAS ON THE SLIDE, IT'S SHOCKING, I REALLY APPRECIATE SEEING THE DIFFERENCE. IT'S ALMOST TENFOLD THAT A PUBLIC ACCESS IS $273,000 PER HUNDRED ACRES, AND THEN RECREATION AREAS IS $2.2 MILLION. WHERE DO OUR CONCESSIONAIRES FIT IN WITH THAT? AND IF SOMEBODY WERE TO TAKE OVER A STABLES OR PUT IN A SKATE PARK, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY, IF WE'RE TRYING TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE, TO CHOOSE THAT MECHANISM MORE IN YOUR QUESTION OF HOW DO WE RESOURCE MANAGE OUR OPERATIONS GOING FORWARD? IS THAT A GOOD WAY TO SAVE MONEY AND BE MORE RESPONSIBLE IF WE LET THEM RUN THEIR OWN? SURE, YOU CAN BRING IN A SKATE PARK, RUN YOUR OWN.
SURE, YOU CAN BRING IN ANOTHER HORSE RIDING STUDIO, BUT YOU'LL HAVE TO RUN IT YOURSELVES. WHERE WOULD THAT FIT IN THIS COST PER HUNDRED THOUSAND ACRES? SUCH A GOOD POINT. I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS EXACTLY THE CONVERSATION THAT WE WANT TO QUEUE UP, IN ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OTHER PLACE THAT THIS TEAM'S BEEN GOING IS LOOKING AT A FUTURE MEASURE, RIGHT? AND SO I THINK WE'RE BOTH TRYING TO QUEUE UP A CONVERSATION WITH YOUR BOARD ABOUT THE THINGS THAT DIRECTOR WASPIE BROUGHT UP AND THAT YOU'RE BRINGING UP, DIRECTOR DECHAMBEAU, IS LIKE, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT WE CAN DO TO LIMIT THE ONGOING COSTS FOR THE DISTRICT, KNOWING THAT OUR BUDGET IS, YOU KNOW, NOT INFINITE? AND THEN ALSO, LIKE, WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD NEW REVENUE SOURCES TO ACCOMMODATE INCREASED COSTS WHERE THEY OVERLAP WITH OUR PRIORITIES? AND WHAT YOU BROUGHT UP IS SUCH A GOOD EXAMPLE AND SOMETHING I THINK WE'RE THINKING ABOUT A LOT IS WHEN THERE'S A COMMUNITY DESIRE FOR AN INTENSIVE RECREATION SITE, WHICH ARE LIKE, JUST LIKE YOU SAID, LIKE A SKATE PARK.
OR THE TRAINS, OR EVEN THE MERRY-GO-ROUND. OR A POOL, OR A SWIMMING FACILITY, OR LIKE, YEAH, THOSE TYPE, THE LITTLE FARMS, VISITOR
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CENTERS, THOSE ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF THESE, THEY'RE SMALL IN SIZE, BUT THEY NEED A LOT OF RESOURCES TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN. AND ALSO PROVIDE A TON OF PUBLIC BENEFIT. BUT THAT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS, THAT'S A PLACE WHERE WE CAN LEVERAGE THE COMMUNITY INTEREST AND DESIRE FOR THOSE FACILITIES TO HAVE OTHER ENTITIES TAKE ON SOME OF THOSE COSTS. SO THAT IS, IT'S A PERFECT POINT. AND I THINK ALSO YOUR POINT ABOUT BEING CAUTIOUS AROUND TAKING ON CHALLENGES IS ALSO, AND YOUR POINT, SORRY, ABOUT THAT TOO, OF LOOKING FOR WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT LAND CONSERVATION WHERE WE REDUCE OUR RISK IS ALSO, I THINK THESE ARE PERFECT COMMENTS FOR WHAT WE'RE ASKING.TO BUILD ON THAT, THE STUDY THAT DIRECTOR DECHAMBEAU JUST REFERENCED IN THE SLIDE, SLIDE NUMBER FIVE, AND THE NUMBERS THERE, YES, THE SLIDE. HAVE WE, HAS THE BOARD SEEN THIS, OR MAYBE A COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD SEEN THIS? I KNOW WE DID SOMETHING SIMILAR, BUT IT WAS WITH, YOU KNOW, I CALL IT MONOPOLY MONEY AT KENNEDY GROVE WHEN WE HAD OUR BOARD WORKSHOP, WHERE IT WAS KIND OF, THE RATIOS WERE KIND OF USED TO CREATE THIS MONOPOLY MONEY SIMULATION. BUT I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE SEEN THESE NUMBERS. THESE WERE THE NUMBERS, THESE WERE PRESENTED DURING THAT WORKSHOP, AND THEY WERE THE NUMBERS THAT WERE LIKE UNDERLINING, UNDERLYING THAT MONOPOLY MONEY EXERCISE, RIGHT? BECAUSE YOU WERE ABLE TO LIKE, YOU KNOW, YOUR DOLLAR WENT FURTHER IN SOME PLACES THAN OTHERS, AND SO THAT'S, THAT WAS BASED ON THESE NUMBERS. AND, YOU KNOW, RIGHT. AND DO WE HAVE A COPY OF THIS REPORT? I WAS ACTUALLY TRYING TO LOOK FOR SOME OF THIS DATA AND I COULDN'T FIND IT, BUT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BURIED IN SOMETHING AND THAT I DIDN'T.
IT WAS IN THOSE OCTOBER 3RD RATIOS, BUT WE CAN PROVIDE IT. OKAY, YEAH. THAT'S GREAT. THAT'S GREAT. ANY OTHER BOARD QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YEAH, I, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, WE CAN'T DO MUCH OF ANYTHING REALLY, I MEAN, IN ACQUISITION WITHOUT MORE FUNDING TO MAINTAIN THE STUFF THAT WE WOULD ACQUIRE. SO MY WAY OF LOOKING AT IT IS, AND YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD PROBABLY CONTINUE THE WAY WE'VE BEEN GOING UNTIL THE POINT WHERE WE DO HAVE SOMETHING BEFORE THE VOTERS. AND IF IT DOESN'T GET PASSED, THEN WE HAVE TO REALLY, THERE HAS TO BE A CONDITION OF NOT, IF IT NOT PASSING, IS THAT WE CAN'T RESPONSIBLY CONTINUE DOING WHAT WE'VE BEEN DOING. SO I HATE TO SAY THAT I DIDN'T THINK 10 MINUTES AGO I WAS GOING TO SAY THAT, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M SEEING THERE NOW. WE CAN'T, THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO DO IT.
BUT THE THING IS, YOU DON'T JUST PUT SOMETHING ON A BALLOT AND IGNORE IT, AND IT'S JUST SITTING THERE ON THE BALLOT. WE HAVE SUPPORTERS OUT THERE THAT, WELL, WE CAN'T, WE CAN'T RUN A CAMPAIGN, BUT WE HAVE SUPPORTERS THAT CAN. AND SO THERE WOULD BE A, THERE WOULD BE A CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD MAKE IT ALL VERY CLEAR. THERE'D BE SPEAKERS PRO, SPEAKING PRO, HOPEFULLY PRO, MOSTLY ALL PRO, MAYBE THERE'S SOME AGAINST, BUT YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'D BE, THERE'D BE A DIALOGUE OUT THERE, AND WE, HOPEFULLY WE'D BE ABLE TO MAKE THE, LET'S JUST SAY, HOPEFULLY THE CASE WOULD BE MADE THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, THAT IF THE POPULATION REALLY WANTS US TO CONTINUE DOING THIS STUFF, THEY NEED TO HELP US OUT. AND HERE'S THIS FAIRLY MODEST THING THAT WE'RE PROPOSING, BUT IF WE, IF YOU, IF YOU APPROVE IT, THEN WE CAN CONTINUE GOING FULL FORCE AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE A LOT OF REALLY, REALLY VALUABLE ACQUISITIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PARKS. SO DOES THAT ANSWER, IS THAT KIND OF WHAT, YEAH, OKAY.
YEAH, TO BUILD UPON THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT MIGHT BE GOOD, DO WE HAVE PREPARED, AND SO IF WE DON'T, YOU KNOW, THE PAST CAMPAIGNS THAT WE RAN IN TERMS OF LIKE THE COST TO PUT SOMETHING LIKE MEASURE WW ON THE BALLOT, WHAT WAS THE COST OF 2008, AND THEN IF WE WERE TO PUT SOMETHING SIMILAR ON THE BALLOT IN THE FUTURE, WHAT WOULD THAT COST BE? AND I HAVE HEARD AN ESTIMATE OF WE PROBABLY WOULD NEED AT LEAST ONE TO TWO MILLION DOLLARS TO GET SOMETHING DISTRICT-WIDE ON THE BALLOT, SO THAT THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO REVIEW. AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT PREPARED TODAY, THAT'S FINE, BUT MAYBE THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING TO BRING BACK AT SOME POINT. I THINK, IF I REMEMBER CORRECTLY, MEASURE FF WAS TWO MILLION DOLLARS, AND THAT WAS PARTIALLY BECAUSE THAT ZONE INCLUDES BOTH COUNTIES.
RICHMOND IS IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, SO DISTRICT-WIDE WOULD BE PROBABLY BE EVEN MORE. AND THAT'S NOT A CAMPAIGN, SO YOU JUST MEAN THE COST OF THE ELECTION, SO WHEN THE, YEAH, THE COUNTY, THE TWO COUNTIES ELECTION OFFICE WOULD TELL US HOW MUCH IT'S GOING TO COST TO RUN THE ELECTION, AND SO WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ELECTION. THE CAMPAIGN ITSELF, WE COULDN'T FUND AND, OR EVEN BE A PART OF KNOWING THE COSTS, THAT WOULD BE A NON-GOVERNMENT GROUP OF SUPPORTERS RUNNING IT, AND
[03:10:03]
SO WE COULDN'T GUESS HERE WHAT THAT COST MIGHT BE. YOU KNOW, I'D SAY, YOU KNOW, THE OTHER SORT OF AVENUE THAT SOME FOLKS TAKE, AND I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THERE'S EFFORT RIGHT NOW AROUND A CITIZEN INITIATIVE, RIGHT, BECAUSE I THINK THAT THE TRANSPORTATION INITIATIVE THAT'S IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW, I THINK, IS GOING THAT ROUTE. IT ONLY, THEN IT ONLY NEEDS 50, OVER 50 PERCENT SUPPORT, BUT THERE'S, FOR WHOEVER WOULD RUN A CAMPAIGN AROUND THAT, THERE'S A BIGGER INITIAL INVESTMENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GATHER SIGNATURES, AND THAT SIGNATURE GATHERING IS FAIRLY EXPENSIVE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO PAY PEOPLE TO DO THAT.ARE WE ABLE TO ASK ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN, LET'S MAYBE LOOK AT MEASURE FF SPECIFICALLY, SO THE CAMPAIGN SIDE OF IT, OR IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T GET TO TALK ABOUT HERE BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE NON-GOVERNMENTAL? THIS IS HELPFUL, ACTUALLY, TO ASK THE QUESTION AND GET THAT ANSWER.
WELL, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS A GREAT, THIS IS WHY WE WANTED TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION.
IN FACT, I WAS TALKING TO BOB HERE JUST A FEW MINUTES AGO, AND HE'S LIKE, WELL, THIS IS GREAT TALKING ABOUT THIS, BUT WHAT IT BRINGS UP IS THE NEED FOR A FUNDING MEASURE, AND SO WE WERE THINKING THE SAME THING, RIGHT? AS WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ACQUISITIONS, THE THING THAT THESE ACQUISITIONS HAVE BROUGHT UP IS THE NEED FOR THE FUNDING TO OPERATE THESE PROPERTIES, AND SO THAT'S, WE WANT TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT A FUTURE FUNDING MEASURE, AND WE WANT THIS OPPORTUNITY WITH YOU ALL TO SORT OF HELP SET THAT INTENTION.
WELL, I HATE TO HARP ON THIS, BUT HISTORY-WISE, YOU KNOW, YEAH, I THINK WE'VE GOT PLENTY OF MONEY TO ACQUIRE LANDS ONCE, AND WE, I THINK WE'RE AHEAD OF THE, ON THE ACQUISITION DEAL. WE'VE GOT SO MANY LANDS, WE GOT SO MUCH IN THE LAND BANK, IT'S STARTING TO SUGGEST, PEOPLE ARE SAYING, DEVELOP THESE PARKS, WE WANT TO ENJOY THEM, BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO HAVE A PARCEL TAX. I MEAN, JUST LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND, AND THE GENERAL FUND IS, YOU KNOW, WE PAY OUR EMPLOYEES WELL, WE PAY FOR THE LIGHTS, WE PAY FOR THE WATER, AND THEN WHAT'S LEFT? SO WE NEEDED MEASURE AA, AND WE NEEDED MEASURE WW, AND WE GOT THOSE, AND WE PROMISED PEOPLE SOMETHING, AND ALLEGEDLY, OR IT'S BEEN BROUGHT UP MANY TIMES BY MANY OF OUR CLOSEST STAKEHOLDERS, THAT WE'RE NOT DOING THAT IN THIS LAST BUDGET, AND I THINK, IN MY OPINION, WE SHOULD KEEP OUR PROMISES IN MEASURE WW, SO THAT WE CAN COME AND SAY, NOW, IN 2028, 2030, WHATEVER IT IS, WE NEED A PARCEL TAX.
IT'LL BE MUCH HARDER TO DO, AS ERIC'S EXPLAINED, PARCEL TAXES WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT FAILED, BUT YOU KNOW, IT'S IN A HISTORY LESSON TYPE OF DEAL, AND I LOOK AROUND, NOBODY'S BEEN HERE, BUT YOU KNOW, WE LOST THAT BY, WHAT DID WE LOSE BY, ERIC? ONE AND A HALF POINTS? YEAH, I MEAN, WE LOST IT BY A VERY MINUSCULE, AND IT WAS SERIOUSLY, IT WAS A SIMPLE, ONE-TIME DEAL, WHERE AN EMPLOYEE GOT FIRED, HE WAS A POPULAR EMPLOYEE, AND HE WAS A SMART EMPLOYEE, AND HE WENT ALL OVER THE PLACE AND TOLD EVERYBODY, THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF THE SIERRA CLUB, OR THE PARK DISTRICT, OR ANYBODY, WHERE THE SIERRA CLUB WOULDN'T ENDORSE US, AND IT WAS, ALL IT TAKES IS ONE LITTLE GROUP TO BLOW THE WHOLE THING OUT OF THE WATER. 66.7 IS VERY, VERY DIFFICULT, AND VERY, VERY HARD. I MEAN, YOU TALK ABOUT THE COST OF PAYING TO GET ON A BALLOT, USING TAXPAYER FUNDS, AND THEN THE FOUNDATION AND EVERYBODY ELSE THAT'S GOING TO GET INTO IT, BUT IN MY RECOLLECTION, YOU KNOW, THE TOLL ON ALL OF US HERE IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE, BECAUSE PAT O'BRIEN SAID, GET ON BOARD, AND DON'T SLEEP, DON'T SLEEP, GET THIS PASSED, YOU'RE ALL, YOU KNOW, GET OUT THERE AND DO IT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO REALLY WORKED VERY, VERY HARD AND PUT THEIR HEART AND SOUL IN IT, AND THEN WHEN YOU LOSE BY 1.6 PERCENT, OR WHATEVER IT WAS, IT'S AWFUL, AND THEN THE REPUTATION CONTINUES, SO I JUST, PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT, WE REALLY GOT TO, CAN'T HAVE ANY ENEMIES, IF WE TRY THAT, IN MY OPINION. DIRECTOR COFFEY, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING? I THINK IN RESPONDING TO YOUR QUESTION ON GUIDING PRINCIPLES, MINE HAVE ALWAYS ORIGINATED WITH THE MASTER PLAN.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE MASTER PLAN DEFINES WHERE WE WANT TO GROW, WHAT REGION BY REGION, BY PARK SOMETIME, AND WE PROCEED TO ACQUIRE LAND IN, AS GUIDED BY THE MASTER PLAN, SO WE'RE NOT OUT RANDOMLY ACQUIRING LANDS,
[03:15:01]
UNLESS I SUPPOSE THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY THAT WE DIDN'T CONTEMPLATE IN THE MASTER PLAN, BUT TO ME THAT WORKS, BECAUSE WE SAY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHERE WE WANT TO BE 10 YEARS FROM NOW, OR 15 YEARS FROM NOW, AND HERE'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET THERE, ASSUMING THERE'S LAND TO ACQUIRE, AND SO I JUST SEE IT AS SOMETHING WE DON'T HAVE TO DO NECESSARILY, AND YOU KNOW, AS WE GO, IT'S SOMETHING WE CONTEMPLATE, INCLUDING HOW TO FUND IT. I MEAN, SOME, THERE'S A PLAN OUT THERE THAT HAS US ACQUIRING ANOTHER 15,000 ACRES IN EAST CONTRA COSTA, FUNDED BY THE HABITAT CONSERVANCY, TO MEET THEIR GOAL IN 15 YEARS OF HAVING ACQUIRED 30,000 ACRES, SO THERE'S A TARGET, THERE'S A GOAL, THERE'S LAND IDENTIFIED, AND AT LEAST ONE FUNDING SOURCE, WHICH WE IN TURN LEVERAGE, AND WE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD AT THAT, AND I, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE BASIC PRINCIPLE. IF THERE'S LAND CONTEMPLATED IN AREAS WHERE WE NEED TO GROW, BECAUSE OUR POPULATION IS GROWING, AND THAT'S WHAT MASTER PLANNING IS ALL ABOUT, WE SHOULD ACQUIRE IT.YEAH, AND THEN AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT SOME OF THE EASTERN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVANCY LAND ACQUISITIONS THAT WE'VE MADE, AND I THINK IT'S, YOU KNOW, IT'S A PROGRAM THAT I SUPPORT, AND I THINK IT'S, IT'S, THEY'RE A GREAT PARTNER, AND WE'VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH THEM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STANDS OUT TO ME IS, IF WE GO BACK AND WE LOOK AT THE 1996 EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY LIGHTING AND LANDSCAPE DISTRICT MEASURE LL, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO RAISE FUNDS FOR OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND SERVICING OF THOSE PARKS IN EASTERN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, BECAUSE THAT IS A PART OF THE PARK DISTRICT WHERE YOU DO NOT COLLECT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM, YOU KNOW, WE GENERATE ABOUT $860,000 ANNUALLY, AND THIS IS, THIS IS THE LANDSCAPE AND LIGHTING DISTRICT THAT WE REVIEW EACH YEAR WHEN WE GO TO BIG BREAK, AND WHEN WE ARE AT BIG BREAK, WE ALSO TALK ABOUT THE ANNUAL, YOU KNOW, OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND SERVICING, AND THIS PAST YEAR, 2025, IN JUNE 2025, WE RECEIVED A NUMBER OF $3.2, $3.3 MILLION IN REGARDS TO THE COSTS TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN AND SERVICE THOSE PARKS IN EASTERN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, SO I IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, AS WE LOOK AT THIS MASTER PLAN AND THE 15,000 ADDITIONAL ACRES IN EASTERN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVANCY PARTNERSHIP, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE COMPONENT BECAUSE WE'RE VERY LIMITED WITH THAT $860,000 THAT WE'RE ALREADY UNDERFUNDED IN, AND SO I THINK THAT THAT'S ONE AREA TO CONTINUE HAVING A CONVERSATION ABOUT BECAUSE I DO WANT US TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON THAT MASTER PLAN AND PARTNERING WITH THE EASTERN CONTRA COSTA CONSERVANCY FUND, BUT THEN THERE IS THIS IMBALANCE ON OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SIDE. I JUST WANT TO TOUCH ON THE SECOND PART.
MY FIRST COMMENT WAS KIND OF ABOUT OPERATIONS AND HOW WE BUY THE LAND AND HOW WE RECREATE VERSUS LAND BANK AND ALL THAT, BUT THE PRINCIPLES OF WHAT SHOULD GUIDE US GOING FORWARD IS AN INTERESTING ONE TO ME.
IT SEEMS TO ME THAT OUR DUTY AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, THAT WAS ALREADY DEFINED IN OUR MISSION STATEMENT, WHICH IS TO DO WHAT I JUST SAID, IS TO BALANCE HOW DO WE BALANCE RECREATION, PRESERVATION, AND USE ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS IN ALL THOSE ACTIVITIES, AND THEN THE DISTRICT PLAN IMPLEMENTS THAT.
AT LEAST THAT'S HOW, AT A CITY, YOU HAVE YOUR BLUEPRINT AND THEN FROM THAT GUIDES THE REST.
SO, I MEAN, TO ME THAT'S WHERE WE SHOULD START AND THEN TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW ARE WE DOING THAT WITH THESE LANDS AND DOES IT MAKE SOME SENSE TO, YOU KNOW, THEY'LL BUY MORE, SPEND LESS, SPEND LESS, BUY MORE. WHAT'S THE TERM I WANT? I CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT AT THE MOMENT. I THINK WE HEAR WHAT YOU'RE SAYING. I FEEL LIKE, I MEAN, ALL THESE THINGS, I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE LIKE VERY SIMILAR TO THE SAME EXACT CONVERSATIONS THAT WE'RE HAVING ON OUR TEAM AS STAFF, TOO, AND I THINK THIS OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF CHECK IN WITH YOU AS A BOARD TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE, ARE WE ON THE RIGHT TRACK? YOU KNOW, IS IT, LIKE, WHEN YOU, LIKE, TAKING A STEP BACK AND THINKING ABOUT, LIKE, HOW WE'RE APPROACHING THESE ISSUES.
WHERE DO WE AS POLICYMAKERS IMPLEMENT OUR MISSION STATEMENT AND, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THE PRINCIPLES WILL ALSO GUIDE FROM THE VOTERS. SURVEYS ARE VERY SPECIFIC. WE KNOW VERY CLEARLY WHEN WE PUT SOMETHING OUT THERE WHAT WILL PASS AND WHAT WON'T, OR WE NEARLY MISS BY ONLY 1.6 PERCENT,
[03:20:01]
BUT HEARING FROM THE COMMUNITY, WHICH WE HEARD A LOT THROUGH THE BUDGET PROCESS, MIGHT TAKE ONE SIERRA CLUB PERSON, BUT WHAT IF WE LOSE FOUR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS ALL AT THE SAME TIME IS REALLY GOING TO DRIVE. SO I THINK OUR PRINCIPLES ARE TO TAKE A LOOK AT OUR ENVIRONMENTAL STAKEHOLDERS AND HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE TO US IN ALIGNING THESE FUNDED MEASURES GOING FORWARD IN OUR CAPACITY, AND IT'S NOT AN EASY THING TO CHOOSE. IT'S NOT EASY, AND BY THE NUMBER SLIDES, THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN IT LAID OUT LIKE THAT. THANK YOU FOR POINTING OUT THAT IT WAS SORT OF IN THE CHARRETTE THAT WE RAN OUT OF TIME FOR, BUT IT'S VERY TELLING TO DRIVE US AS POLICYMAKERS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, BACK TO THE CPP SCORES EARLIER AND THE PRIORITIES I MENTIONED EARLIER, HOW DO WE FACTOR THAT IN TO THE SCORES WHEN WE SCORE THEM? I MEAN, IF YOU TELL ME ONE'S GOING TO COST 2.5 MILLION VERSUS 273, IT MIGHT SHOW UP DIFFERENTLY IN THE PRIORITIES LIST. AS WE, AS A TEAM, ALL SEVEN OF US TRY TO FIGURE THIS ALL OUT, HOW DO WE SCORE THAT? ALL RIGHT, I'M GOING TO ASK MAYBE THE TOUGH QUESTION. DO WE THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE ON THE 2028 BALLOT FOR A PARCEL TAX? I THINK WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES, AND WE JUST HAVE TO SEE WHERE THINGS GO. OKAY, I'M GOING TO ASK IT A DIFFERENT WAY. IF WE WERE GOING TO BE ON THE 2028 BALLOT FOR A PARCEL TAX, OR SOME TYPE OF MEASURE, IF WE HAVE TO LIKE BACKDATE THE PROCESS, WHEN WOULD WE NEED TO MAKE THAT DECISION TO GO FOR IT? LIKE, IS THERE LIKE A POINT OF NO RETURN, FOR EXAMPLE? SO, YOU KNOW, NOVEMBER OF 2027 WILL BE ONE YEAR BEFORE THAT ELECTION. IS THAT OUR POINT OF NO RETURN FOR MAKING THAT DECISION, OR IS IT EVEN EARLIER IN THE PROCESS? BECAUSE I GUESS TO GET ON THE BALLOT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE SUMMER OF 2028, SO WOULD SUMMER OF 2027 BE OUR POINT OF NO RETURN IN TERMS OF TRYING TO MAKE THAT DECISION? I CAN KIND OF JUMP IN AT A HIGH LEVEL AND THEN HAND IT OVER TO LISA AND ERIC, WHO KNOW THE DETAILS OF THIS. I'LL SAY THAT LIKE OUR TEAM HAS ALREADY BEEN CONVENING REGULAR MEETINGS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH TO LIKE PLAN OUT WHAT WE NEED TO HAVE A BALLOT MEASURE READY FOR THE 2028 ELECTION, BECAUSE THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT THE DISTRICT HAS TALKED ABOUT FOR A WHILE, AND WE DON'T WANT TO BE UNPREPARED. I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER THING THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING IS ALLISON AND HER TEAM HAVE BEEN WORKING ON OUR COMMUNICATION STRATEGY, AND WE'VE ALSO BEEN WORKING ON THE DISTRICT PLAN. BOTH OF THOSE THINGS, GOALS ARE SETTING US UP TO BE SUCCESSFUL WITH THE MEASURE. THEY HAVE UTILITY INDEPENDENT OF A MEASURE, THEY'RE BENEFICIAL FOR THE DISTRICT NO MATTER WHAT, BUT WE KNOW THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A PLAN FOR HOW WE WOULD UTILIZE MONEY, AND THEN ADDITIONALLY WE NEED TO COMMUNICATE OUR VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY BEFORE WE GO WITH AN ASK. SO THAT'S THE GOAL OF THOSE TWO EFFORTS THAT MAKE US READY. THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW, AND THEN I'VE WORKED ON MEASURES BEFORE. THERE IS A SUPER SPECIFIC TIMELINE FOR ALL OF THE DIFFERENT SORT OF PROCESSES THAT NEED TO BE ACCOMPLISHED. THOSE ARE MUCH CLOSER TO THE DATE OF THE ELECTION, AND WE'VE ALREADY KIND OF PENCILED THAT OUT. I'M SURE LISA AND... YEAH, SO TODAY REPRESENTS OUR FIRST CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL ON THIS TOPIC. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ENGAGING WITH US, AND THANK YOU BECKY FOR MAKING SPACE. IN TERMS OF WHAT IT WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR PROCESS, THERE WOULD BE MANY MORE CONVERSATIONS. A NUMBER OF YOU MENTIONED VOTER POLLS.THIS WOULD COME BACK. WE'D HAVE CONVERSATIONS, ETC., AND THEN IT WOULD BE AROUND WINTER OF LATE 27, EARLY 28. THE BOARD WOULD TAKE FORMAL ACTION TO PUT OUT A DRAFT STATEMENT, DRAFT BALLOT LANGUAGE THAT WOULD BE SHARED PUBLICLY, AND THEN I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE IN SPRING OF 28 THAT YOU ALL WOULD HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING TO HAVE THAT FORMAL INTENT TO GO ON THE BALLOT, AT WHICH POINT STAFF THEN STEPS BACK AND CAN NO LONGER ENGAGE ON THE BALLOT MEASURE, AND IT WOULD BECOME AN EXTERNAL CAMPAIGN AND THEN GO ON IN NOVEMBER. AND DO WE HAVE A SENSE, YOU KNOW, ARE WE THINKING THE ENTIRE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT OR A PORTION OF THE PARK DISTRICT? YOU KNOW, IT SOUNDS LIKE 1934 WAS THE LAST TIME THAT WE HAD A SUCCESSFUL DISTRICT-WIDE MEASURE, SO THIS WOULD BE A PRETTY BIG ACHIEVEMENT IF WE WERE TO GO DISTRICT-WIDE AGAIN.
THAT'S CORRECT. SO FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF MEASURE FF, WE BEGAN POLLING DISTRICT-WIDE, AND WE DID HAVE VERY POSITIVE RESPONSE DURING THE PANDEMIC YEARS WHEN FOLKS WERE USING US.
WE'VE CONTINUED POLLING, AND THERE'S BEEN SOME CHANGES IN HOW MUCH SUPPORT THERE IS.
HOWEVER, THROUGH KIND OF SHARING THE NEEDS, THE CONVERSATION TODAY, WHAT THE INTENT OF THE MEASURE WOULD BE, IT'S LIKELY THAT THAT INCREASED SUPPORT WOULD COME, AND IF WE WERE TO GO OUT ON A BALLOT MEASURE, IT WOULD BE FOR DISTRICT-WIDE, FOR ALL OF THE REASONS THAT YOU ALL LAID OUT TODAY OF THAT DISTRICT-WIDE NEED FOR O&M, CLEANUP, STEWARDSHIP,
[03:25:01]
AND INVESTMENTS. I JUST HAD PART OF THAT, LIKE PART OF WHAT LISA MENTIONED IS HOW WHATEVER WE DO WILL BE INFORMED BY THE POLLING RESEARCH THAT WE DO. HALF OF BEING ABLE TO, A PART OF BEING ABLE TO PASS A MEASURE IS LIKE WHAT IS THE THING THAT WE'RE ASKING PEOPLE TO FUND, IN THIS CASE THE PARK DISTRICT. THE OTHER ONE IS JUST PEOPLE'S READINESS TO FUND ANYTHING. SO THERE'S A PART OF THAT THAT'S IN OUR CONTROL, AND THERE'S ANOTHER PART OF THAT THAT'S REALLY NOT, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO BE MEASURING BOTH OF THOSE PIECES, AND WE'LL BE JUST WORKING TOGETHER ON UNDERSTANDING HOW WE WORK THROUGH THAT.HOW DOES YOUR THINKING ON THIS OVERLAP WITH THINKING ABOUT SOMEDAY RENEWING WW? SO AS THE BOARD KNOWS FROM RECENT CONVERSATIONS AROUND MEASURE WW, THERE'S STILL MORE FUNDING TO INVEST AND EXPEND, AND SO OUR INTENTION AND IN CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR FINANCE COLLEAGUES IS THAT THESE MEASURES WOULD BE PACED SO AS TO NOT TO APPEAR COMPETITIVE WITH EACH OTHER IN TERMS OF TIMELINE AND GOING OUT. SO I THINK WW WOULD BE MORE IN THE LATE 2030S, AND THIS WOULD BE MORE IN THE 28-2030 TIMELINE.
BECAUSE THAT'S GOING TO BE AN EASIER SELL.
OH, THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW, THANK YOU. WELL, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE MORE READILY EAGER TO SPEND MONEY ON ACQUISITIONS AND DEVELOPMENT, AS OPPOSED TO JUST PAYING MORE PROPERTY TAXES. ANY OTHER PRESSING BOARD QUESTIONS OR ITEMS? WE'LL OPEN UP TO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND WE'LL STILL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AFTER PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE SOME COMMENTS. SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEE WHAT PUBLIC COMMENT WE HAVE. OKAY, WE HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON.
I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS THAT THE DISTRICT STAFF ARE PUTTING INTO THIS.
YOU KNOW, IT'S BECOME CLEAR TO ME DURING THE DEBATE ABOUT THE USE OF ACQUISITION FUNDS IN THE LATEST BUDGET THAT THERE IS A MASSIVE BUDGET, STRUCTURAL BUDGET DEFICIT RELATED TO DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS FOR THE DISTRICT THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH. AND I HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING THAT THE DISTRICT MOVE FORWARD WITH ALL DELIBERATE SPEED TO ADDRESS THIS WITH A BOND MEASURE OR PARCEL TAX OR WHATEVER, YOU KNOW, LOOK AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO ADDRESS THIS AND THINK THROUGH ALL THE DIMENSIONS OF IT. AND I THINK WHAT YOU'VE DONE, MAX, YOU KNOW, YOU ARTICULATED A LOT OF THOSE ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND DEVELOPING SUPPORT FOR IT. I MEAN, THE NUMBERS THAT, YOU KNOW, BY THE NUMBERS THAT YOU HAD THERE, YOU KNOW, THOSE COSTS PER ACRE OR PER HUNDRED ACRES EACH YEAR ASSOCIATED WITH THAT. I MEAN, IF YOU'RE GOING TO ATTACH THE AMOUNT OF DISTRICT LAND THAT'S IN EACH OF THOSE CATEGORIES AND MULTIPLY THEM OUT, YOU'RE GOING TO GET SOME VERY, VERY LARGE NUMBERS. YOU'RE GOING TO BEGIN TO SEE WHAT THE TOTAL UNIVERSE IS AND THAT'S BEFORE INFLATION INTO THE FUTURE.
BUT AGAIN, IT NEEDS TO BE DEVELOPED, COMMUNICATE TO THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE AND THAT THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO USE THIS IN THE FUTURE, THAT THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY NEED TO HELP TO FIND WAYS TO FINANCE IT.
AND IN THAT CONTEXT, I THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE PAY ATTENTION TO THE WORDS THAT WE USE, YOU KNOW, WORDS MATTER. AND I THINK I HAVE SOME CONCERNS WITH THE STATEMENT, THE QUESTION THAT WAS ASKED HERE OF THE BOARD, YOU KNOW, HOW SHOULD THE LONG-TERM COST INFORM LAND ACQUISITION? AND I THINK THAT'S A FUNDAMENTALLY BIASED QUESTION BECAUSE IT DOESN'T LOOK AT THE ISSUE OF WHERE YOU, WHAT THE POSSIBILITY IS OF GETTING FUNDING TO COVER THOSE COSTS. I MEAN, YOU CAN'T SEPARATE, YOU CAN'T SEPARATE IT THAT WAY.
SO AGAIN, HOW IT'S PHRASED IS IMPORTANT.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY, GREAT. SO WE'LL BRING IT BACK AND THANKS SO MUCH, BOB, FOR JOINING US ALL DAY. AND YOU KNOW, YOU REMIND ME BECAUSE YOU ARE A PART OF OUR PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND I KNOW THIS CAME UP A LITTLE BIT EARLIER TOO IN REGARDS TO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE'S ROLE AS OUR BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, OUR CITIZENS BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, YOU KNOW, WITHIN THIS CONTEXT OF THINKING ABOUT A FUTURE MEASURE. NOW WITH A PARCEL TAX,
[03:30:02]
DOES THAT COME WITH THE NEED FOR A CITIZENS OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, AND WOULD THAT ALSO BE OUR PAC, OR HOW DOES THAT GET STRUCTURED? THAT IS AN ITEM THAT WOULD DEFINITELY BE PART OF THE POLLING TO TEST, BUT I HAVE NOT SEEN A MEASURE GO THROUGH WITHOUT AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND WITHOUT AUDIT, SO I THINK IT WOULD NEED TO BE A PART OF IT, AND I THINK IT WOULD BE UP TO THE BOARD AND SENIOR MANAGEMENT ABOUT WHETHER THE PAC HAD A ROLE IN THAT OR SOMETHING ELSE. AND I MEAN, I CAN JUST ADD THAT IT DEPENDS ON EXACTLY WHAT KIND OF A MEASURE YOU'RE TRYING TO GET ADOPTED, WHETHER OR NOT THE STATUTE REQUIRES LIKE A LEGAL, STATUTORILY REQUIRED OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE, WHICH IS NOT WHAT THE PAC IS FOR OUR BOND MEASURE BECAUSE IT'S NOT A STATUTORY REQUIREMENT. TYPICALLY WITH A TWO-THIRDS APPROVAL RATING, YOU'RE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE.AGREED, AND YEAH, TO THOSE TWO EXACT POINTS, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE AS WE WANTED TO START THIS CONVERSATION, AND THEN AS OUR TEAM WORKS ON WHAT POTENTIALLY A MEASURE COULD LOOK LIKE, ALL OF THOSE PIECES LIKE AN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE ARE THINGS THAT HELP TO SPEAK TO CONCERNS THAT THE COMMUNITY MIGHT HAVE, RIGHT? THEY MIGHT SAY, HEY, WE WANT TO FUND PARKS, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE FUNDS HAVE CITIZEN OVERSIGHT, AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING WE WOULD HEAR AS WE POLL AND ASK THOSE QUESTIONS, AND THEN THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD PUT INTO CRAFTING A MEASURE, BECAUSE I CAN'T REMEMBER WHICH OF YOU SAID THIS, BUT YOU SAID LIKE WE NEED, WE'RE TRYING TO BE FRIENDS WITH EVERYBODY, WE'RE TRYING TO CRAFT SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE, SO WE'RE PUTTING TOGETHER ALL THOSE THINGS THAT PEOPLE WILL LIKE. ANY OTHER BOARD COMMENTS OR CLOSING IDEAS? YES, GO FOR IT. I THINK IT WAS AROUND THREE YEARS AGO, MANAGEMENT ROLLED OUT A NEW POLICY FOR REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS, AND PRIOR TO THAT POLICY BEING PRESENTED, THE CLOSEST THING WE HAD TO POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR REAL ESTATE ACQUISITION WERE IN THE MASTER PLAN, AND WHAT'S TROUBLED ME IS THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS NEVER APPROVED THIS POLICY THAT WE WERE PRESENTED THREE YEARS AGO, AND YET IT'S BEEN IMPLEMENTED, AND THAT'S KIND OF PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE THE BOARD APPROVED POLICIES ALREADY EXIST IN THE MASTER PLAN, SO THIS IS IN THE REALM OF FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS THAT I THINK WE NEED TO ADDRESS THAT. WHAT WAS IT A POLICY FOR? I'M SORRY. REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS, AND THERE WERE THINGS IN IT THAT WERE A LITTLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE BOARD'S VIEW OF ITS INVOLVEMENT IN REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS.
SURE, I THINK I WANT TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU'RE, I THINK IT'S A, WE HAD A SORT OF A PROCEDURE, IT WASN'T TECHNICALLY A POLICY, BUT IT WAS LIKE PROCEDURES THAT THE LAND ACQUISITION WE WOULD FOLLOW. IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SORT OF TALKING ABOUT? YEAH, AND IT INCLUDED THE ROLE OF THE BOARD IN IT. MM-HMM, YEAH, AND I THINK LAST LAND SESSION, IF YOU RECALL TOO, WE HAD LIKE A FLOWCHART THAT SORT OF TALKED ABOUT WHAT, WHEN WE WERE VETTING PROJECTS, TALKED ABOUT THE DIFFERENT INPUTS WE WOULD GET FROM WHICH DEPARTMENTS AT THE PARK DISTRICT, THAT SORT OF THING, AND THEN AT WHAT POINT IT WOULD COME TO THE TO THE BOARD AND THAT SORT OF THING. SO WE HAVE BEEN, WHEN I STARTED, WHICH IS JUST TWO YEARS AGO, I CELEBRATED MY TWO-YEAR ANNIVERSARY LAST WEEK, WE, LAST YEAR WHEN WE BROUGHT THAT FORWARD, WE WERE KIND OF PILOTING IT, AND, BUT WE HAVEN'T FORMALLY ADOPTED IT.
OKAY, AND WE CAN COME BACK TO YOUR BOARD TO TALK MORE ABOUT THAT. YEAH, BECAUSE IN THE FLOW, IN THE FLOW OF HOW ACQUISITIONS ARE ACCOMPLISHED, I WANTED TO PUT SOME LANGUAGE THERE THAT THAT INSERTED THE BOARD BACK INTO THE PROCESS FAIRLY EARLY, RATHER THAN AT THE END. YEAH, WE CAN BRING THAT BACK UP IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU.
[03:35:02]
CLOSING THOUGHTS? YEAH, SO THIS IS, THIS IS OUR LAST TIME, AND I CAN JUST KIND OF LIKE, MAYBE I CAN KIND OF BRING IT BACK TOGETHER, I THINK. A, I JUST REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE YOUR BOARD'S INVOLVEMENT. I THINK WE WERE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, A, BE SORT OF RESPONSIVE TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HEARD INTEREST IN, BUT ALSO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES TO KIND OF BUILD ON OUR RETREAT, AND LIKE TALK TOGETHER ABOUT THINGS, AND WORK AS A TEAM ON SOME OF OUR CHALLENGES, AND SO I REALLY APPRECIATED YOUR ENGAGEMENT, AND BEING ABLE TO KIND OF WORK THROUGH SOME OF THESE THINGS TOGETHER. AND I ALSO REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE OUR TEAM, WHO HAS BEEN WORKING HARD ON PREPARING THIS, AND ESPECIALLY WITH THE WW STUFF, AND THE REAL ESTATE PIECES, THAT REALLY PUTTING TIME INTO TRYING TO HAVE THOROUGH INFORMATION, THE MAPS, AND ALL THAT STUFF TO SHARE WITH YOU. YOU KNOW, I THINK OUR GOAL TODAY WAS TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE REAL ESTATE AND ACQUISITION TEAM DOES AS A WHOLE, AND KIND OF BRING YOU INTO THEIR WORLD, AND TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE COMPLETED, AND WHAT THEY'RE WORKING ON IN THE FUTURE, TO LOOK AT MEASURE WW, AND KIND OF HELP YOU, GIVE YOU SOME INSIGHTS INTO OUR RESEARCH ABOUT WHAT THE PROMISES WERE, AND WHERE WE ARE, AND THEN TO ASK YOU TO PARTNER WITH US TO FIGURE OUT SOME MYSTERIES THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, PUT SHINE SOME LIGHT ON SOME AREAS THAT WE DIDN'T KNOW ALL ABOUT. AND THEN I THINK WE WANTED TO KICK OFF A DISCUSSION ABOUT FUTURE FUNDING THAT I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT, AND SO, AND GET, YOU KNOW, BEFORE WE GOT TOO DEEP TO GET YOUR LIKE BROADER INSIGHTS, AND THOUGHTS, AND GUIDANCE. SO I JUST WANT TO, FOR MY PART, WRAP UP, AND APPRECIATE YOU ALL FOR YOUR PARTNERSHIP TODAY.THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND GO AHEAD, JOHN. YEAH, I JUST WANT TO OFFER MY APPRECIATION TOO.
I'M THINKING IT'S A FRESH LOOK.
THIS IS A FRESH LOOK OF, WE HAVEN'T REALLY DONE IT THIS WAY BEFORE, AND IT WAS SUCH A NICE, ALL-ENCOMPASSING KIND OF APPROACH THAT YOU TOOK, AND YOU OBVIOUSLY PUT IN A LOT, A LOT OF BACKGROUND, A LOT OF WORK TO DO THIS FOR US. THE MAPS ARE GREAT, BUT I MEAN, JUST BRINGING EVERYBODY IN HERE, YOUR WHOLE TEAM, BECKY, MINUS SOMEONE WHO'S GOING OFF FOR SOME VALUABLE TRAINING, IS GREAT.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT PUTS A PERSONAL LOOK ON IT, AND WE KNOW, WE KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING A LITTLE BIT BETTER NOW, A LOT BETTER NOW, AND SO IT KIND OF GIVES US CONFIDENCE, AND BOOSTS US TO, YOU KNOW, APPRECIATE WHAT'S GOING ON. I ALSO WANTED JUST TO MAKE A GENERAL COMMENT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FUNDING THE PARK DISTRICT, WE TEND TO THINK ABOUT THE TANGIBLE THINGS LIKE PARKS, AND TRAILS, AND SEMI-TANGIBLE THINGS LIKE PROGRAMS, BUT THE PARK DISTRICT HERE IN THE EAST BAY IS A REAL ECONOMIC DRIVER. YOU KNOW, WE KNOW THAT BECAUSE WE'VE SEEN THAT REPORT, THAT REPORT IS OUT THERE. IT'S GETTING TO BE A FEW YEARS OLD NOW, BUT I THINK IT'S EVEN MORE SO NOW, AFTER THE PANDEMIC. SO IN TERMS OF WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER THE COMMUNITY, IT'S MORE THAN JUST SAVING THE FLORA AND THE FAUNA, AND GIVING PEOPLE A PLACE TO GO AND RECREATE. IT'S AN ECONOMIC THING, AND THEN A PART OF THAT, A SLIGHTLY SMALLER PART OF THAT, IS THE ROLE THAT WE PLAY IN WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THOSE THAT REALLY NEED IT, BECAUSE WE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN DEVELOP. SO IF WE HAVE, I MEAN, I'M KIND OF AIMING THIS ALL TOWARD THE IDEA OF GETTING THIS FUNDING MEASURE TO HELP US OPERATE THE DISTRICT. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE BENEFITS OUT THERE THAT WE CAN TOUT, AGAIN, NOT WE, THE CAMPAIGN CAN TOUT, THAT, YOU KNOW, MIGHT CONVINCE FOLKS TO, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE WORTH, WE'RE A GOOD BET, WE'LL DELIVER. SO JUST THINK ABOUT THOSE THINGS, TOO.
YEAH, AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BRINGING US ALL HERE TOGETHER FOR THIS. I THINK IT WAS JUST WHAT WE NEEDED.
YEAH, BUILDING UP ON THAT GOOD ENERGY, I MEAN, WE HAVE SUCH A JEWEL HERE.
THERE'S SO MUCH CHAOS IN THE WORLD AND IN OUR LIVES TO HAVE THIS TERRIBLE PROBLEM WE HAVE TO HOW DO WE MANAGE ALL THESE LANDS AND ALL THESE OPPORTUNITIES, AND I WAS REALLY HAPPY WE HAD IT HERE TODAY, THAT IT WAS VIDEO RECORDED. I LOVE GOING OFF-SITE, BUT I THINK THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. I'M GLAD WE DID IT HERE, AND MAYBE AT OTHER LOCATIONS WE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO RECORD IT, BECAUSE I DO HAVE A FEELING SOME OF OUR STAKEHOLDERS WILL CHECK US OUT LATER, SO IT FEELS OPEN. IT DID SHED A LIGHT. I FEEL LIKE I LEARNED A LOT.
[03:40:01]
YOU'RE REALLY TRYING TO MEDIATE THE SEVEN OF US AND HELP GUIDE US. I FEEL THAT, AND LETTING US CONNECT. IT'S REALLY FUN TO SEE MORE STAFF. I FEEL SOMETIMES I PASS YOU GUYS IN THE HALL, AND YOU'RE LIKE, OH, DIRECTOR, BUT I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE YOU KNOW ME OR SEE ME, OR EVEN MAYBE YOU DO. I'LL WATCH OUR BOARD MEETINGS OR OUR STUDY SESSIONS. I DON'T KNOW, MAYBE YOU KNOW ME BETTER THAN I KNOW YOU, SO THAT FELT GOOD TODAY, TOO, AND YOU KNOW, JUST OVERALL GETTING US TO THE PIC, JUST FEELING MORE ENGAGED, AND WE DON'T HAVE OUR SENTIENT BEINGS IN THE ROOM.WE DON'T HAVE THE NATURE HERE WITH US, BUT I NEVER FORGET WHEN I GO OUTDOORS OR EVEN WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND SMELL THE FRESH AIR THAT ALL OF THIS THAT WE'RE DOING REALLY, IF WE CAN KEEP FEELING THAT GOING FORWARD, AND I FELT A LOT MORE OF THAT TODAY, AND I APPRECIATE THAT. I FELT A LOT OF THAT IN THE ACQUISITION SESSIONS, CLOSED, BUT I THINK IT'S OKAY TO SAY WITH MORE DETAIL ON NATURE AS WE'RE MAKING OUR DECISIONS AND OUR PRIORITIES, AND I'M CURIOUS WHAT THE POLICY OR THE BOARD INVOLVEMENT THAT COLIN MENTIONS, TOO. I THINK THAT'S AN EXCELLENT FUTURE AGENDA ITEM TO TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW ARE WE GOING TO WEIGH ALL THESE PRIORITIES AND SCORES AND COST PER HUNDRED ACRES AND WHAT SPECIES. WE'VE GOT OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US, BUT IT'S FUN WORK. WE ALL DO REALLY GOOD WORK. IT FELT GOOD TO BE HERE TODAY. GREAT, THANK YOU. YEAH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THIS IS A GREAT, GREAT SESSION. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, AND I KNOW THAT SOUNDS TERRIBLE, BUT I DON'T THINK I'VE BEEN LISTENED TO FOR FOUR YEARS OR HEARD FOR THAT MATTER, BUT THANK YOU.
I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. I'M VERY EXCITED. I'M GLAD, ERIC, THANK YOU FOR YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR ADDRESSING WHAT I THINK WE NEED MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THIS DISTRICT IS A FUNDING MECHANISM. THIS IS OUR PROBLEM HERE, AND THIS IS WHAT CREATE ALL THE ISSUES. WE NEED A FUNDING MECHANISM, AND I THINK WE NEED TO, I'M VERY ENCOURAGED BY GOING, MOVING FORWARD, AND I THINK LIKE EVERYBODY SAID, WE'VE GOT AN INCREDIBLE PRODUCT TO SELL. WHO WOULDN'T BUY THIS? BUT I KNOW IT'S A COUPLE YEARS OFF, BUT I JUST REALLY WOULD SUGGEST WE COULD START RIGHT NOW. I MEAN, SOME OF THE THINGS WE DIDN'T DO BEFORE, I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO SEE DOUG MCCONNELL COME UP TO THE TEN HILLS TRAIL AND SEE THE CCC CREWS THAT WE HIRE THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR ALL YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT IS, YOU KNOW, JOBS.
THEY'RE WORKING THERE. DOUG WOULD, YOU KNOW, HIS, DOUG'S PEOPLE, PARDON ME, WOULD DO A STORY ON THAT. IT WOULD BE INCREDIBLE. I MEAN, GETTING INVOLVED WITH BAY NATURE AGAIN, GETTING INVOLVED WITH LOCAL CHAMBERS AGAIN, HOSTING CHAMBER MIXTURES. WE NEED TO, YOU KNOW, TALK FOR LIKE THREE OR FOUR YEARS TO GET OUR REPUTATION BACK IN GOOD STEAD, YOU KNOW, GET INTO SUMMER STREET FESTIVALS THAT CITIES HOLD AND JUST GET OUT THERE AND SELL OUR PRODUCT, WHICH I THINK IS AN EASY PRODUCT TO SELL. GREAT, YEAH.
THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH. I THINK, YOU KNOW, SOME OF MY CLOSING THOUGHTS ALSO CIRCLE BACK TO WHAT I MENTIONED EARLIER AND IT'S A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WAS SHARED BY SOME MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC A YEAR AGO WHEN WE HAD THIS STUDY SESSION ABOUT DREAMING BIG AND THAT WAS WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE DIABLO RANGE AND AS FAR AS I CAN RECALL, I DON'T THINK WE'VE HAD A GOOD COMPREHENSIVE AGENDA ITEM ABOUT THE DIABLO RANGE AND THERE'S SO MUCH EXCITING THINGS HAPPENING THERE WITH CALIFORNIA CONDORS AND OTHER WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND I DO WANT TO MENTION I KNOW THERE WAS A BRIEF MEMO ABOUT THE ALTAMONT LANDFILL OPEN SPACE FUND, WHICH DOES COVER A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE DIABLO RANGE IN ALAMEDA COUNTY. AS FAR AS I COULD TELL, THE BALANCE IS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN $25 MILLION AND $35 MILLION, SO IF I TAKE THE LOWER END OF $25 MILLION, YOU KNOW, THAT'S 5% OF THE $500 MILLION IN MEASURE WW, SO I THINK WE COULD PROBABLY BE TRACKING THIS A LITTLE BIT AND MAYBE BEING INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSATION AND THIS IS A BIG CONVERSATION HAPPENING RIGHT NOW IN THE LIVERMORE VALLEY AREA IN REGARDS TO USING THIS MONEY TO PROTECT OPEN SPACE AND SO I'D LIKE TO SEE OUR PARK DISTRICT BE A PART OF THAT CONVERSATION WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A DISTRICT-WIDE BALLOT MEASURE AND THE, YOU KNOW, THE PHRASING THAT WE KEEP ON TALKING ABOUT, PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT. I'D ALSO LIKE FOR US TO THINK ABOUT PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT BEYOND MEASURE WW, SO YOU KNOW, WHETHER THAT'S WITH A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, WITH A LOCAL JURISDICTION, OR A TAX-SHARING AGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER AGENCY, OR REINSTATING LIAISON MEETINGS, I THINK THAT THAT FITS INTO THAT UMBRELLA OF PROMISES MADE, PROMISES KEPT, ESPECIALLY IF WE'RE THINKING ABOUT A DISTRICT-WIDE BALLOT MEASURE, BUT I FEEL LIKE WE HAVE SOME GOOD POSITIVE ENERGY TO WORK TOGETHER AND I REALLY ENJOYED TODAY AND AGAIN I THINK BEING ABLE TO GET UP OUT OF OUR SEATS AND LOOK AT THE MAPS TOGETHER WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL EXERCISE, SO THANK YOU FOR HAVING THAT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
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OF THE SESSION TOO, IT WAS A GOOD WAY TO KEEP THE FLOW OF ENERGY GOING. SO WITH THAT, IF THERE AREN'T ANY FINAL PRESSING THOUGHTS, I WANT TO GIVE EVERYONE A CHANCE FOR THAT. AS WAS POINTED OUT BY VICE PRESIDENT COFFEY, DIRECTOR ESPANA DID DROP OFF, SO SHE'S NO LONGER ONLINE, AND SO OTHERWISE IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER FINAL COMMENTS, WE ARE NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU EVERYONE, HAVE A GREAT WEEK.* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.