[Roll Call] [00:00:04] I CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT FOR FEBRUARY 18TH, 2026. THE MEETING IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER AT 1 P.M.. I'LL NOW TAKE ROLL. DIRECTOR COFFEY. HERE. DIRECTOR WAESPI. CHAIR ESPAÑA. HERE. ALL MEMBERS ARE PRESENT. OKAY. WE WILL NOW OPEN. SO APPROVAL OF MINUTES. THERE'S NONE. WE'RE GOING TO NOW MOVE UP TO THE OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. SO THIS IS A TIME WHEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ADDRESS THE COMMITTEE ON MATTERS THAT ARE NOT LISTED ON TODAY'S AGENDA. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE READ THE COMMENT. ANNOUNCEMENT. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR TODAY AT THIS MOMENT. THANK YOU. WE'LL MOVE TO 4 ACTION ITEMS. THIS IS 4.A. [Action Items] RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT STATE LEGISLATION. HERE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM IS DIVISION LEAD OF. THEY SWITCHED ON US. SORRY DIDN'T HAVE THE SCRIPT. ALL RIGHT. SO HERE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM IS LISA BALDINGER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CHAIR ESPAÑA LISA BALDINGER LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY MANAGEMENT ANALYST AND I DO WANT TO THANK DIVISION LEAD ERICH PFUEHLER AND JESS, WHO'S NEW TO OUR TEAM. AND WE'LL HAVE HER POP UP INTRODUCE HERSELF IN A LITTLE BIT WHO HELPED PUT TOGETHER TODAY'S PRESENTATION. SO I'LL BE WALKING US THROUGH SOME STATE BILLS. IT IS OUR 2ND YEAR OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AT THE STATE LEVEL. SO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS A LOT OF BILLS BEING INTRODUCED, BUT THEY'RE BEING INTRODUCED IN SPOT FORM, WHICH MEANS IT'S VERY HIGH LEVEL, KIND OF A BROAD BRUSHSTROKE OF WHAT THE INTENT IS AS THAT OFFICE WORKS THROUGH THE FINAL LANGUAGE. SO WE'RE EXPECTING TO BRING MORE BILLS IN FUTURE MEETINGS TO THIS COMMITTEE, BUT WE JUST HAVE A FEW TO WALK THROUGH TODAY. SO OUR 1ST ONE IS AB 35. AND THIS BILL IS THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT EXEMPTION. AND THIS IS A BILL THAT RELATES TO PROPOSITION 4 FUNDING DISTRIBUTION. AND SO AT THIS TIME THE STATE HAS A PRECEDENT OF EXEMPTING GOING THROUGH THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES ACT PROCESS FOR BOND MEASURES. BUT UNFORTUNATELY THAT LANGUAGE WASN'T INCLUDED IN PROP 4 PROACTIVELY. AND SO WE'RE HAVING TO GO AND SUPPORT LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THROUGH A SMOOTHER PROCESS. WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO SHARE THAT FOR 2026, AN EXEMPTION WAS MOVED THROUGH A BUDGET TRAILER BILL, AND SO THE FUNDING IS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD QUITE SWIFTLY. BUT THIS LEGISLATION, AB 35, IS STILL NEEDED FOR FUTURE YEARS OF PROP 4 FUNDING DISTRIBUTION. BECAUSE OF THE JUNIOR BILL. WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD FUNDING, ETC., THAT THE PARK DISTRICT HAS COMING FORWARD IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH TO THEIR BOARD OF DIRECTORS WILL BE ABLE TO BE DISTRIBUTED, BUT WE DO NEED TO SUPPORT THIS. IT HAS MOVED THROUGH THE ASSEMBLY FULLY AND THROUGH A SENATE COMMITTEE. THE LEGISLATOR WAS TRYING TO MOVE AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, AND SO WITH OUR SUPPORT, WE'RE HOPING TO SEE IT PASS THROUGH THE SENATE AND GO TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR SIGNATURE. THIS NEXT PIECE OF LEGISLATION IS ACTUALLY A 2025 BILL THAT UNFORTUNATELY DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF ITS INITIAL COMMITTEE, SO IT'S NO LONGER ACTIVE. LET'S SEE, I THINK I HAD THAT MIXED UP, I APOLOGIZE. IT SEEMS THE POWERPOINT ON MY NOTES ARE IN DIFFERENT ORDER. SO AB 946 IS THE EQUITABLE OUTDOOR ACT. AND WHAT THIS BILL DOES IS IT REALLY CODIFIES THE STATE ADMINISTRATIVE GOALS AROUND 30 BY 30, WHICH INCLUDES PROVIDING OPEN SPACE AND ACCESS FOR ALL AND THE OUTDOORS FOR ALL INITIATIVE THROUGH STATE LEGISLATION. SO IT'S CODIFYING THOSE GOALS AS WE ARE ON THE FINAL YEAR OF OUR CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. IT'S THE LEGISLATURE SAYING WE'D LIKE TO SEE THIS CONTINUE FOR FUTURE YEARS. CAN I ASK? IS THE POINT OF THIS TO HELP ORGANIZATIONS LIKE OURS IN GETTING FUNDING? THAT IS CORRECT. SO AS THE STATE CODIFIES ITS GOALS AND ITS VISION, IT HELPS US AND KATIE HORNBECK, OUR GRANTS MANAGER AND OUR GRANTS TEAM TO REALLY SHAPE UP OUR PROJECTS AND SHARE HOW OUR PROJECTS ALIGN WITH THE STATE GOALS AND VISIONS. AND SO THE MORE STATE GOALS THAT THERE ARE THAT ALIGN WITH THE WORK WE DO, THE BETTER. YEAH. AND I READ IT AND I SAID, OKAY, IF THAT IS STATE POLICY ESTABLISHED BY THIS LEGISLATION, IT WILL ALLOW US TO SEEK FUNDING FOR REMEDIATIONS LIKE IN RODEO. CORRECT. YEAH. IT'S A GOOD THING. AWESOME. ALL RIGHT. AB 404, WHICH IS THE CEQA EXEMPTION FOR WILDFIRE MITIGATION WORK. THIS IS THE LEGISLATION. SO I APOLOGIZE. SO IT APPEARS OUR STAFF REPORTS IN A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT ORDER THAN THE POWERPOINT. [00:05:02] SO BUMPING UP ONE IN THE STAFF REPORT. THIS LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED IN 2025, THE 1ST YEAR OF THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, BUT UNFORTUNATELY, IT DIDN'T MOVE FROM ITS HOUSE OF ORIGIN. SO IT IS NO LONGER MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. IT WAS AIMING TO HELP TO CODIFY THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER AROUND CEQA EXEMPTIONS. WE DO EXPECT TO SEE ANOTHER ATTEMPT AT THIS THIS YEAR. AND SO WHEN THAT LEGISLATION COMES FORWARD, WE'LL BRING IT BEFORE THIS BODY. AB 1563. THIS IS A SPECIFIC SECTION OF THE 2026 BUDGET ACT. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO OUR ATTENTION BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. WHAT THIS SECTION OF THE BUDGET ACT IS AIMING TO DO IS TO HELP STREAMLINE GRANT ADMINISTRATION THROUGH CNRA. AND SO IT MEANS THAT THEIR INTERNAL PROCESSES CAN BE SMOOTHED OUT A LITTLE BIT. SO IF WE HAVE SECURED FUNDING FROM THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY, WE'RE IN CONTRACT, WE'RE MOVING FORWARD. AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD SAYS WE REALLY LIKE THAT PROJECT. WE'D ALSO LIKE TO CONTRIBUTE FUNDING TO IT. THEY'RE ABLE TO THEN ADD THEIR FUNDING TO THE PROJECT ACCOUNT THAT STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY HAS ALREADY SET UP, WHICH GETS US THAT MONEY THAT MUCH FASTER. AND SO WE DO RECOMMEND TAKING A SUPPORT BECAUSE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSES, GOING MORE EFFICIENT, HELPS TO SAVE MONEY AND MOVES OUR WORK FORWARD FASTER. AND THEN AB 1624. SO WE'RE SEEING A CONTINUED TREND THAT WE SAW LAST YEAR, WHICH IS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPONDING TO ACTIONS BY OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. SO THIS LEGISLATION, IT'S STATING THAT IF FEDERALLY OWNED PUBLIC LANDS WERE TO GO TO SALE, THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA HAS THE 1ST RIGHT TO PROTECT THOSE LANDS FOR CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION PURPOSES. AND SO WE SEE THAT AS ALIGNING WITH OUR MISSION TO PROTECT THESE IMPORTANT SPACES. AND SO WE RECOMMEND SUPPORT. AND SO WITH THAT THAT CONCLUDES MY REPORT. I'M HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS. ALL RIGHT. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FOR CLARIFICATIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? GOOD. IT'S ALL GOOD. I WAS JUST WONDERING, ON A SIDE NOTE, YOU KNOW, I'M YOU'RE PART OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE OF CRPD, AND THERE HAVE BEEN WE'RE GETTING AN INFLUX OF LOTS OF ASK FOR SUPPORT. IT REALLY HAS NOT MUCH TO DO WITH US. IT'S IN LIEU FEES AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN SOME REQUIREMENTS TO HAVE AEDS AT ALL. ANY SOCCER FIELD THAT PLAYS SOCCER. BUT DO WE EVER GET ON BOARD TO SUPPORT THOSE THINGS JUST AS A, BECAUSE WE'RE FRIENDS, BECAUSE WE'RE ALLIES. WE'RE COLLABORATORS, THINGS LIKE THAT. SO OUR TYPICAL PRACTICE HAS BEEN SUPPORTING LEGISLATION THAT HAS A DIRECT NEXUS TO THE PARK DISTRICT'S WORK, BUT TO NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF WORK THAT HELPS TO SUPPORT OUR PARTNERS. AND IF THERE ARE OTHER PATHWAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR EFFORTS, WE'LL DO SO. SUCH AS PARTICIPATING IN CAPD OR CSDA CALIFORNIA SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION ON THEIR LODGE COMMITTEE AND AS A MEMBER OF THAT COMMITTEE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THAT WORK. SO THAT'S BEEN OUR TYPICAL PRACTICE. JUST BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY BILLS THAT MOVE THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE, WE REALLY TRY TO BRING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE AND THE FULL BOARD, WHERE OUR HUGE STAFF TEAM OF 4 PLUS ALLISON CAN PUT SOME ENERGY BEHIND. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. OKAY. SO WE WILL NOW OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE REPORT THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS. THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM. OKAY. SO ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY. THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION. YOU WANT A MOTION? OH, SORRY. YES. I'LL MOVE FOR A RECOMMEND TO SUPPORT STATE LEGISLATION AS PRESENTED. SECOND. ALL RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN MOVED BY DIRECTOR COFFEY AND SECOND, BY DIRECTOR WAESPI TO APPROVE THE ITEM. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION HAS PASSED. ALL RIGHT. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO 4.B. RECOMMENDATION TO SUPPORT FEDERAL LEGISLATION. HERE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM IS DIVISION LEAD OF GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. ERICH PFUEHLER. YEAH. THANK YOU. ERICH PFUEHLER DIVISION LEAD GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. AND SORRY ABOUT THE INITIAL PRESENTATION. WE FIGURED YOU DIDN'T WANT TO HEAR ME ALL MEETING, SO WE ASKED LISA TO PRESENT IN THE STATE LEGISLATION. AND I DID WANT TO ALSO ADD WE'RE EARLY DAYS IN 2026. [00:10:04] WE ARE EXPECTING THE DEADLINE AT THE STATE LEVEL FOR BILL INTRODUCTION IS ACTUALLY FRIDAY. SO WE DO ANTICIPATE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF BILLS TO COME BEFORE THE COMMITTEE, AT LEAST STATE LEVEL BILLS NEXT MONTH. AND ALSO WE DO EXPECT THE PRESIDENT TO RELEASE A BUDGET SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND SORT OF THE END OF MARCH WHICH ALSO WILL PROMPT ADDITIONAL FEDERAL LEGISLATION. OUR 1ST BILL ACTUALLY IS KIND OF EXCITING. IT'S AN EFFORT TO. CREATE A DESIGNATION FOR THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL OF A NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL. IT PROVIDES OR DIRECTS THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE TO STUDY THE FEASIBILITY. THEY HAVE ONE YEAR TO COME BACK WITH A REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION. THIS IS THE WAY SORT OF ALL NATIONAL PARK RELATED FACILITIES GET HANDLED. THEY DO TAKE A FAIR BIT OF TIME TO WORK THEIR THROUGH WAY THROUGH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE'S PROCESSES, BUT EXCITING TO SEE THIS 1ST STEP. I KNOW AT ONE POINT THERE WAS A DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS KIND OF DESIGNATION FOR THE BAY TRAIL, SO ALSO EXCITING TO SEE IT FOR THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL. THIS DESIGNATION IS ONLY APPLIES TO 11 OTHER TRAILS, ONE OF WHICH IS THE PACIFIC CREST TRAIL, BUT ALL THE REST ARE NOT RELATED TO CALIFORNIA. SO THIS WOULD BE VERY UNIQUE FOR, FOR CALIFORNIA. SO SUPPORTED BY OUR LOCAL, OUR, I GUESS OUR STATE SENATOR, SENATOR FOR THE ENTIRE STATE, BUT DID GROW UP IN DANVILLE AND THEN ALSO JARED HUFFMAN, WHO'S IN THE NORTH BAY. THEN THIS IS AN INTERESTING BILL, I THINK FOR THE PARK DISTRICT, IT ESSENTIALLY ALLOWS FEMA FUNDING THAT NORMALLY WOULD GO TO FIRE SUPPRESSION EFFORTS, REIMBURSEMENT FOR SUPPRESSION TO ALSO GO FOR REMEDIATION. AND SO WHERE THAT'S SIGNIFICANT IS IF THERE IS DEBRIS THAT IS EITHER CONTAMINATED OR EVEN IF IT'S JUST DEBRIS, THAT IS, IN OUR CASE, BLOCKING A TRAIL THE FEMA FUNDING COULD GO FOR THAT REMOVAL. AND IF THE DEBRIS IS HAZARDOUS. THIS LEGISLATION WOULD ENABLE THE PRESIDENT TO ASK THE EPA TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IN THE REMOVAL OF THAT DEBRIS. SO DOES HAVE SOME POTENTIAL TO SUPPORT THE PARK DISTRICT SHOULD THERE BE A FUTURE EMERGENCY. AND ANOTHER KEY COMPONENT OF THIS BILL IS THAT IT DOESN'T ACTUALLY REQUIRE A FORMAL DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY FOR THE FUNDING TO BE USED FOR ASSISTANCE FOR DEBRIS. DEBRIS REMOVAL. THEN ANOTHER WILDFIRE BASED BILL. THIS IS ESSENTIALLY A STUDY OF WHAT THEY CALL DRONE INTRUSIONS. THAT'S WHEN A PRIVATELY OWNED DRONE INTERFERES IN A AIRSPACE WHERE THERE IS FIRE SUPPRESSION EFFORTS GOING ON. THIS PROVIDES THE FAA 1 YEAR TO STUDY THAT CHALLENGE. AND THIS WAS A ISSUE AT THE PALISADES FIRE WHERE A DRONE STRUCK A I BELIEVE IT'S CALLED A SUPER SCOOPER, BUT IT WAS A PLANE THAT'S DESIGNED TO PICK UP WATER QUICKLY AND DROP WATER, AND A DRONE INTERFERED WITH THAT WITH THAT PLANE. PLANES EFFORTS. AND IT WAS IT WAS GROUNDED FOR A FAIR BIT OF TIME. SO SOMETHING THAT COULD IMPACT OUR OPERATIONS AND OUR FIRE TEAM. SO I THINK IT'S WORTH SEEING SEEING WHAT THE FAA COULD COME UP WITH. AND WITH THAT, THOSE ARE OUR 3 BILLS FOR DISCUSSION FOR TODAY. AND LIKE I SAID, I DO ANTICIPATE ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION AT OUR NEXT MEETING. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR REQUESTS FROM CLARIFICATIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? JUST A COMMENT THAT I THINK THIS THE DESIGNATING THIS A A NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL IS, IS A GREAT IDEA. IT'S IT'S ALREADY DESIGNATED ABOUT 3 OR 4 TIMES. IT'S THE JUAN BAUTISTA DE ANZA NATIONAL TRAIL. IT'S THE SKYLINE REGIONAL TRAIL, AND IT'S THIS THESE DESIGNATIONS WILL BE GREAT, I THINK. ARE THE ODDS LONG ON ANYTHING, SENATOR SCHIFF SPONSORS. ARE THE ODDS LONG ON WHICH THE WHOLE PROCESS IS A LONG PROCESS. SO EVEN IF THE LEGISLATION IS APPROVED, THERE'S A YEAR STUDY, [00:15:02] AND THAT USUALLY LEADS TO ANOTHER SET OF RECOMMENDATIONS THAT GET PUT ON A LIST AT NATIONAL PARK SERVICE. WE PROBABLY WILL BE HEARING CERTAINLY WHEN WE'RE IN D.C., BUT PERHAPS EVEN ON OUR NEXT ITEM FROM OUR CONSULTANTS ABOUT SORT OF THE STATUS OF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND HOW THINGS ARE JUST GETTING DELAYED. SO IN THE SHORT TERM, YES, THE ODDS ARE HIGH. BUT I DO THINK ALL OF THESE EFFORTS BEGIN WITH THE INITIAL. SO IT'S A LONG TERM EFFORT. YEAH. GOT IT. ALL RIGHT. I DO HAVE ONE QUESTION. REGARDING THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL. SO COULD YOU SPEAK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHAT WE'LL LEARN IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY? AND THEN DID THE PARK DISTRICT HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT INCREASING USAGE? IF THIS BECOMES A SCENIC TRAIL, TO ANSWER YOUR SECOND QUESTION FIRST, I, I THINK THAT THAT'S A VERY LEGITIMATE QUESTION AND SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LOOK INTO. MY SENSE IS THE DESIGNATION WOULDN'T NECESSARILY INCREASE USAGE HAS A POTENTIAL IF IT'S A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED TRAIL THAT PEOPLE WILL GO, YOU KNOW, COME HERE TO DO THAT. BUT I WILL HAVE TO CHECK WITH OPERATIONS AND SEE IF THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT ADDITIONAL USAGE. THAT COULD CERTAINLY ALSO BE PART OF THE FEASIBILITY STUDY. AND SOME OF THE INPUT THERE NPS IS ALSO SUPPOSED TO WORK WITH THE BAY AREA RIDGE TRAIL COUNCIL. THERE WOULD BE INPUT. WE PARK DISTRICT WOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE INPUT, AS WOULD ANY OTHER AGENCY MANAGING SEGMENTS OF THE TRAIL. SO THAT WOULD ALL BE PART OF WHAT WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF THE DESIGNATION. I THINK THEY ALSO LOOK AT UNIQUENESS, MEANING, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE WORKING ON OUR EAST BAY HILLS CONSERVATION PROGRAM, THERE WERE A COUPLE ELEMENTS THAT ARE UNIQUE TO THE EAST BAY HILLS THAT WERE CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT. SO THEY WILL BE LOOKING FOR THOSE ASPECTS OF THE RIDGE TRAIL THAT HAVE SORT OF A NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT COMPONENT, WHETHER THAT'S AN ENDANGERED SPECIES OR A RARE PLANT OR SOME SORT OF UNIQUE TOPOGRAPHY. SO ALL THOSE THINGS WOULD BE PART OF WHAT WOULD BE STUDIED IN TERMS OF THE FEASIBILITY. OKAY. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE WILL NOW OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. MADAM CLERK, PLEASE REPORT THE NUMBER OF SPEAKERS. THERE'S NO PUBLIC COMMENT. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS OR A MOTION TO SUPPORT THE STATE LEGISLATION? I'LL SECOND FOR B AS PRESENTED. OKAY. ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. AYE. ALL OPPOSED? OKAY. THE MOTION IS PASSED. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE'RE NOW GOING TO MOVE ON TO [Informational Items] 5 INFORMATIONAL ITEMS. SO 5.A IS INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON PARK DISTRICT 2026 FEDERAL ADVOCACY. THANK YOU. ERICH PFUEHLER. DIVISION LEAD FOR GOVERNMENT AND LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS. THIS IS A PRESENTATION ABOUT THE ADVOCACY MEETINGS WILL BE HAVING IN WASHINGTON, DC TOWARDS THE END OF MARCH. I THINK ALL T3 BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND, SO HOPEFULLY THIS WILL PROVIDE A FOUNDATIONAL BRIEFING FOR WHAT TO EXPECT. WE ARE ALSO JOINED TODAY BY OUR ELECTRONICALLY BY OUR D.C. ADVOCATES. SO I'LL DO A PRESENTATION AND THEN WE'LL BRING THEM ON TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ALSO ABOUT KIND OF THE OVERALL FEELING OF WHAT'S WHAT TO EXPECT IN WASHINGTON WHEN WE ARRIVE JUST IN GENERAL. THE DATES ARE TUESDAY, MARCH 24TH THROUGH FRIDAY, MARCH 27TH, AND THAT INCLUDES TRAVEL DAYS. SO TUESDAY AND FRIDAY ARE CONSIDERED DAYS OF TRAVEL. THE MEETINGS WILL OCCUR ON ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. AND SO WE'RE WORKING WITH KDCR TO SET UP THOSE MEETINGS AND THEN TRY TO BETTER UNDERSTAND YOU KNOW, WHO'S GOING TO WHAT MEETING AND WHEN. AND I DO APOLOGIZE, DIRECTOR COFFEY. I REALIZE THAT YOU HAD INDICATE THAT YOU'RE NOT PLANNING TO ATTEND, BUT I'M SURE YOU'RE SURE YOU'LL BE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE FIND OUT WHILE WE'RE THERE. [00:20:02] AND THEN JUST OUR OVERALL AGENDA FOR EACH MEETING. AND AND WITH EACH MEETING, KEEP IN MIND WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS A UNIQUE PARK OR PROJECT THAT WE HAVE. AND THE MEMBERS DISTRICT AND THE BOARD MEMBER THAT REPRESENTS OUR MOST CLOSELY REPRESENTS THAT DISTRICT WOULD BE ASKED TO PERHAPS SPEAK TO THE SPECIFIC PROJECT. SO THOSE WILL COME IN A SEPARATE SERIES OF ONE PAGERS, ESSENTIALLY. BUT FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND THAT WOULD BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR A PROJECT THAT COULD BE FUNDED BY LWCF. AND THEN WE HAVE A SINGLE SLIDE ON EACH ONE OF THESE ITEMS. SO I'LL JUST GO TO THE, THE OTHER TWO, THE OTHER SLIDES TO TALK ABOUT BOTH LWCF NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND RAIL BANKING. SO SOME OF YOU WERE WITH US WHEN THE GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT WAS SIGNED OR PASSED THE SENATE AND BECAME EVENTUALLY BECAME LAW IN 2020. THAT LEGISLATION CALLS FOR FULL FUNDING OF THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, AND IT ALSO HELPED TO ADVANCE THE OUTDOOR RECREATION LEGACY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM. SO IN THEORY, THOSE FUNDS ARE AUTOMATICALLY ALLOCATED AT 900 MILLION EACH YEAR. IN THIS CURRENT FOR FY 26 THE ADMINISTRATION HAD SOUGHT TO DIVERT SOME OF THE LWCF DOLLARS TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS WITHIN INTERIOR. AND CONGRESS DID PUSH BACK ON THAT AND DID ULTIMATELY ALLOCATE THE FULL 900 MILLION FOR FOR FY 26. AS PART OF THAT PROCESS, THERE WAS A SECRETARIAL ORDER THAT ESSENTIALLY CALLED FOR THE SUSPENSION OF OLRP I'M SORRY, ORLP THAT THAT THAT PROGRAM, BY THE WAY, IS ONE THAT THE PARK DISTRICT ACTUALLY TESTIFIED IN CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF TO CREATE IT IN 2014. AND WE HAVE BENEFITED IN RECEIVING A LITTLE OVER $1 MILLION FOR THE TIDEWATER DAY USE PROJECT OUT OF THE ORLP PROGRAM. BUT THE SUSPENSION WAS ISSUED, I BELIEVE, IN SEPTEMBER. AND THE DIRECTION THAT THE SECRETARY GAVE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WAS TO COME UP WITH NEW REGULATIONS FOR THE ORLP PROGRAM THAT MORE ALIGNED WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S PRIORITIES IN TERMS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AND, AND AND SPORTSMAN ACTIVITY. SO THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE WILL WANT TO REMIND OUR DELEGATION ABOUT THAT. THIS IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM FOR THE PARK DISTRICT. WE'VE RECEIVED, I THINK, ABOUT $40 MILLION OVERALL FROM OVER THE YEARS. AND THEN ALSO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE ORLP PROGRAM. SO I JUST WANT TO REMIND OUR DELEGATION TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE FULL FUNDING OF BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS. THEN WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, THURGOOD MARSHALL REGIONAL PARK, HOME OF THE PORT CHICAGO 50 THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE ARE SEEKING FUNDING FOR THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD PROJECT THROUGH COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROJECT ASKS SO REPRESENTATIVE DID SECURE SOME FUNDING IN FY 26. WE'LL BE ASKING HIM AGAIN TO SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR FY 27 SO THAT WE CAN, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE CREATE NEW FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE SOUTH OF BAILEY ROAD PROJECTS, WHICH CAN FREE UP ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR SOME OF THE WORK WE WANT TO DO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF BAILEY ROAD, IN COOPERATION WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND ONE OF THE HOPES AND GOALS OF BRINGING THIS UP WITH OUR DELEGATION IS, IN SOME CASES, JUST TO REMIND THEM OF HOW SIGNIFICANT THE HISTORY IS AND HOW IMPORTANT IT IS FOR US TO HAVE A REGIONAL APPROACH TO SECURING RESOURCES, TO SHARE THAT HISTORY MORE BROADLY AND DEVELOP FEATURES ON THE PROPERTY THAT WILL INDEED SHARE THE HISTORY AND SHARE EVEN THE MOST RECENT HISTORY OF EXONERATION. SO THIS IS EXPRESSING THAT CONTINUED UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ON THAT PROPERTY, PARTICULARLY TO SHARE SOME OF THE HISTORY OF THE NAVAL MEMORIAL THAT IS HARD TO ACCESS. SO WANT TO REMIND SOME OF OUR NEWER MEMBERS AND THE STAFF TURNOVER OF THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THAT, OF THAT SOON TO BE PARK, HOPEFULLY. AND THEN RAIL BANKING IS AN ISSUE THAT I WAS A LITTLE BIT NEW TO ME, BUT IT HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE. AS INDICATED ON THE SLIDE, 1983, IT IS THE PROCESS OF WHERE IF A RAIL CORRIDOR [00:25:08] GETS ABANDONED FROM BY THE RAILROAD, OR AT LEAST THEY STOP USING IT, IT ALLOWS THE CORRIDOR TO STAY WHOLE FOR FUTURE, POTENTIALLY FUTURE RAIL USE. BUT IN THE INTERIM IT DOES ALLOW FOR TRAIL SPONSORS TO CREATE A TRAIL ALONG THOSE CORRIDORS, WHICH WE'VE SEEN NATIONALLY IN MANY PLACES. I DON'T BELIEVE RAIL BANKING WAS USED FOR THE IRON HORSE TRAIL, BUT IT THAT IS A SIMILAR TYPE OF CORRIDOR WHERE YOU'RE ABLE TO PUT A RAIL TO TRAIL, BASICALLY. AND THE, THE REASON WHY THIS IS SIGNIFICANT. WELL, THERE'S TWO REASONS WHY THIS IS SIGNIFICANT FOR THE PARK DISTRICT AT THIS TIME. 1 IS THAT THERE IS A PROJECT ON THE BAY TRAIL THAT THE DISTRICT IS CONSIDERING USING RAIL BANKING FOR US. AND THIS IS IN THE RICHMOND AREA. AND ALSO THE LEGISLATION THAT'S IDENTIFIED ON THE SLIDE IS PENDING IN CONGRESS. IT IS SPONSORED BY THE CHAIR OF THE HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. TYPICALLY, ADJUSTMENTS TO THE NATIONAL TRAIL SYSTEM ACT, WHICH IS GOVERNED BY THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD ARE MADE THROUGH THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION BILL, WHICH IS UP FOR REAUTHORIZATION. AND THAT WOULD HAPPEN THROUGH THE COMMITTEE THAT THE SPONSOR OF THIS BILL IS CHAIR OF ALSO ON THAT COMMITTEE, WE HAVE 2 REPRESENTATIVES, REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER AND REPRESENTATIVE GARAMENDI. AND THEN ON THE SENATE SIDE, SENATORS SCHIFF AND PADILLA ARE BOTH ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE, WHICH HAS OVERSIGHT OVER THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BILL. SO WE'RE IN A SOMEWHAT UNIQUE POSITION TO POTENTIALLY HAVE THIS CONVERSATION WITH OUR DELEGATION ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF RAIL BANKING TO AGENCIES LIKE OURS, AND THEN ALSO THE REASONS THAT THE LEGISLATION THAT'S CURRENTLY PENDING WOULD ESSENTIALLY UNDERMINE THE ABILITY FOR RAIL BANKING TO BE PRACTICAL. WHAT THE LEGISLATION DOES IS IT REQUIRES WITHIN 30 DAYS, A TRAIL SPONSOR TO SECURE APPROVAL AGREEMENTS BY ALL ADJACENT LANDLORDS, LANDOWNERS TO PRESERVE THE CORRIDOR FOR TRAIL. IN ADDITION TO THAT, IT WOULD REQUIRE THE TRAIL SPONSOR TO REIMBURSE FOR ANY TAKINGS OF THE CORRIDOR LAND ABOUT FROM ADJACENT NEIGHBORS, WHICH CURRENTLY IS FUNDED BY THE SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD OR THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. AND IT ALSO HAS SOME ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS ABOUT GETTING THE RAILROAD'S APPROVAL. IN ADDITION TO THE NEIGHBORS. SO IT MAKES THE THE POSSIBILITY OF USING IT VERY MUCH MORE LIKELY. UNLIKELY. AND SO WE WILL BRING THIS UP TO OUR DELEGATION. WE ALSO HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE FIRST MORNING THAT WE ARE THERE FROM RAILS TO TRAILS CONSERVANCY. THIS IS A HIGH PRIORITY FOR THEM. OPPOSING THIS LEGISLATION. AND SO WE'LL HAVE THAT DISCUSSION WITH OUR DELEGATION, AND IT COULD BE FAIRLY TIMELY BECAUSE THE THE TRANSPORTATION REAUTHORIZATION BILL IS IS BEING NEGOTIATED IN CONGRESS AS WE AS WE TALK. AND THEN JUST A REMINDER OF OUR DELEGATION. 1THING I WILL SAY OR ACTUALLY 2 THINGS, 3 THINGS REPRESENTATIVE LATEEFAH SIMON IS THE NEW PERSON IN THIS LIST THAT WE WILL HOPE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH. WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE HER ALSO IN AT THE TIDEWATER FACILITY WHERE SHE SECURED SOME FUNDING THROUGH THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROJECT. ASK IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET OR FY 26 BUDGET. SO WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET HER BEFORE WE'RE GOING, BUT HOPING TO SEE HER ALSO THERE IN D.C.. ANOTHER NOTABLE THING TO SHARE IS THAT REPRESENTATIVE HARTER WE'VE TYPICALLY HAVE MET WITH HIS STAFF. BUT HIS AFTER PROPOSITION 50, HIS NEW DISTRICT GOES FAIRLY FAR INTO EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY. SO WE'RE HOPING TO ESTABLISH A STRONGER WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH THAT OFFICE. AND THEN JUST NOTING THAT REPRESENTATIVE SWALWELL IS ESSENTIALLY RETIRING FROM CONGRESS, PURSUING OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. SO THIS POTENTIALLY WOULD BE OUR LAST OPPORTUNITY TO BE MEETING WITH HIM IN D.C.. JUST A REAL BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE GENERAL ITINERARY. AS MENTIONED WEDNESDAY MORNING, PROBABLY SOMEWHAT, YOU KNOW, LIKE 9, 8:45, SOMETHING LIKE THAT MEETING WITH AT KDCR'S OFFICES, [00:30:06] WHICH ARE JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM THE HOTEL WE'RE PLANNING TO STAY AT. THE HOTEL IS THE WASHINGTON PLAZA AND NOT THE RESIDENCE INN. WE HAVE STAYED AT THE RESIDENCE INN. MORE RECENTLY BUT MADE FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS. HAD TO MAKE A CHANGE FOR THIS YEAR. BUT WE'LL HAVE THE BRIEFING AT THE KDCR OFFICES. BOTH FROM RAILS TO TRAILS PRESENTATION. AND THEN I BELIEVE LISA AND I WILL BE GOING THROUGH THE FULL ITINERARY WITH YOU ALL. AND THEN OUR PARTNERS FROM KDCR WILL AGAIN PROVIDE KIND OF A CONTEXTUAL OVERVIEW. AND ONE THING THAT THEY DID MENTION TO US YESTERDAY IS THERE IS A CHANCE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S BUDGET WILL BE INTRODUCED BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN WE'RE THERE. SO THAT COULD ALTER SOME OF THE THE WAYS WE TALK ABOUT ISSUES. SO THEY'RE THERE TO HELP US WITH THAT. AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME MEETINGS LATER THAT DAY AND ALSO PROBABLY A FAIRLY FULL DAY ON THURSDAY ON CAPITOL HILL AND CURRENTLY HAVE A PLANNED GROUP DINNER FOR THURSDAY. AND KDCR WILL BE JOINING US FOR THAT DAY 2 DINNER. SO WITH THAT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS, BUT I DO BELIEVE WE HAVE KDCR REPRESENTATIVES ON THE SCREEN IF I CAN STOP SHARING. WELL, MAYBE WE DON'T. BUT THEY THEY SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO GIVE SOME CONTEXT AND OVERVIEW, BUT IF THERE'S ANY ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU ALL HAVE, I'M HAPPY TO TAKE THEM. OKAY. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? OR REQUEST FOR CLARIFICATION FROM BOARD MEMBERS? JUST SO, ERICH, IT'S ALWAYS HEARTENING TO SEE THE MEMBER OR MEET THE MEMBER. DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMITMENTS FROM THOSE FOLKS IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE AVAILABLE? WELL, THEY'RE CERTAINLY THERE. BECAUSE THEY'LL BE IN SESSION. AND THE DAYS THAT WE ARE PLANNING ON SEEING ARE USUALLY FAIRLY ACTIVE. SO WE WE DO ANTICIPATE THAT I THINK, AS YOU KNOW, FROM PREVIOUS TRIPS, WE DO TYPICALLY GET MEETINGS WITH REPRESENTATIVE DESAULNIER GARAMENDI HOPEFULLY REPRESENTATIVE SIMON REPRESENTATIVE SWALWELL, I'M A LITTLE UNSURE WHETHER WE TYPICALLY DO MEET WITH THEM. I'M JUST NOT SURE WHETHER HE'LL BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR OR NOT. GREAT. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. I JUST WANTED TO CHECK LISA FROM KDCR. DOES HAVE HER HAND UP ONLINE. YES. YEAH. OKAY, GREAT. LISA. YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I AM HERE, IF THAT'S HELPFUL IN ANY WAY TO ERICH OR TO THE BOARD MEMBERS. THANK YOU. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. WE WILL NOW OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM. THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT. OKAY. THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS OR ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE'RE NOW MOVING TO ANNOUNCEMENTS. DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM STAFF OR BOARD MEMBERS? OKAY. ALL RIGHT. LOOKS LIKE WE DON'T HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS. ALL RIGHT, SO NOW WE'RE MOVING TO ADJOURNMENT. THE TIME IS 1:34. THE MEETING IS NOW ADJOURNED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. GOOD MEETING. * This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.