[00:00:02]
[CALL TO ORDER]
I THINK WE'RE READY TO GO.WELCOME TO OUR EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGULAR MEETING FOR APRIL 7TH, 2026.
THE MEETING IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER AT 1.04 P.M.
WE WILL NOW DO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
DIRECTOR COFFEY, VICE PRESIDENT COFFEY WILL LEAD US.
DIRECTOR DECHAMBEAU, WILL YOU PLEASE READ THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT? AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY, WE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL OF THE LANDS WITHIN THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ARE THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF EAST BAY OHLONE, BAY MIWOK, AND THE NORTHERN VALLEY YUCAT, WHO ARE POLITICALLY ORGANIZED AND REPRESENTED BY A NUMBER OF TRIBES TODAY.
WE MAKE THIS RECOGNITION AS A WAY TO RESPECT AND HONOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO FIRST CULTIVATED AND INHABITED THIS LAND.
THE PARK DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO IDENTIFYING WAYS TO WORK AND CONSULT WITH EAST BAY TRIBES AS WE RECOGNIZE THAT THESE TRIBAL CITIZENS REMAIN CONNECTED TO THEIR LAND AND THEIR CULTURE.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM B, MODIFICATION OF THE AGENDA.
ARE THERE ANY CHANGES OR AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA THAT ANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? I DON'T SEE ANY, SO THEN WE
[SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS]
WILL MOVE ON TO...AGENDA ITEM C, WHICH IS OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS, AND WE HAVE TWO VERY SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS TODAY.
WE'LL START WITH THE FIRST ONE, THE PROCLAMATION HONORING BETTY REED SOSKIN.
WE HAVE A LOVELY PROCLAMATION HERE THAT TALKS ABOUT HER LIFE AS A WORLD WAR II RESIDENT OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA, AND HOW SHE JOINED THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AT AGE 85 AT ROSIE THE RIVETER WORLD WAR II HOMEFRONT NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK.
PARK, AND SHE WAS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY BY PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IN 2015.
AND I'M GOING TO READ THE LAST TWO PARAGRAPHS OF THE PROCLAMATION.
WHEREAS BETTY REED SOSKIN, BORN SEPTEMBER 22, 1921, SERVED AS A VITAL VOICE IN PRESERVING THE HISTORY OF WORLD WAR II HOME FRONT, RETIRED FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ON MARCH 31, 2022, AFTER DECADES OF DISTINGUISHED SERVICE, AND PASSED AWAY AT 104 YEARS YOUNG.
ON DECEMBER 21ST, 2025, LEAVING AN ENDURING LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP, ADVOCACY, AND HISTORICAL STEWARDSHIP.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT HEREBY HONORS BETTY REED SOSKIN AS A TRAILBLAZING PARK RANGER, CULTURAL LEADER, TRUTH-TELLER, AND ADVOCATE WHOSE VOICE STRENGTHENED THE MOVEMENT TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF THE PORT CHICAGO SAILORS AND AFFIRM THAT JUSTICE REQUIRES REMEMBRANCE.
AND SO WHAT WE'D LIKE TO DO IS WE'D LIKE TO BRING UP THE FAMILY AND SHARE THIS PROCLAMATION.
AND JUST, YOU KNOW, REALLY THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TODAY WITH US.
ALL RIGHT, AND SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR SPECIAL PRESENTATION, NUMBER TWO, RECOGNITION OF NATIONAL PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOMMUNICATORS WEEK.
[00:05:11]
I BELIEVE OUR POLICE CHIEF.IF I MAY TAKE A SECOND JUST TO SAY THANK YOU.
I DEFINITELY WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR TAKING THE TIME FOR RECOGNIZING OUR COMMUNICATORS, BECAUSE THAT'S EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE.
THEY COMMUNICATE WITH EVERYBODY OUT THERE, ALONG WITH OUR OFFICERS.
AND THANKS TO THE WORK THAT THEY DO, WE'VE BEEN ABLE, TALKING ON WOOD, TO KEEP OUR OFFICERS SAFE.
SO THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO RECOGNIZE THEM.
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]
OKAY, AND WITH THAT WE WILL NOW MOVE TO AGENDA ITEM D, PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.I WILL NOW READ MY ANNOUNCEMENT.
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY PROVIDE PUBLIC COMMENT EITHER IN PERSON OR VIA ZOOM.
THOSE ATTENDING IN PERSON SHALL SUBMIT A SPEAKER CARD TO THE CLERK, STAFF, OR OTHERWISE.
INDICATE THEIR DESIRE TO SPEAK ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS. THOSE ATTENDING VIA ZOOM MAY USE THE RAISE YOUR HAND FEATURE.
SPEAKERS WILL BE CALLED WHEN IT IS THEIR TURN TO SPEAK.
EACH SPEAKER WILL BE PROVIDED UP TO THREE MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
A COUNTDOWN TIMER WILL BE DISPLAYED FOR THE SPEAKER'S CONVENIENCE.
WE HAVE EIGHT SPEAKER CARDS, AND WE HAVE ONE HAND UP ON NINE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT SAN WONG AND THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM HERE ON BEHALF OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF NISEI VETERANS AS DIRECTOR JOHN MERCURIO COMMENTED LAST YEAR AT OUR ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY MEMORIAL EVENT AND BEFORE HIM FORMER DIRECTOR D ROSARIO AND MENTIONED THAT THE DISTRICT ARCHIVES SHOW THAT YOUR FORMER GENERAL MANAGER WILLIAM PENMONT JR.
HAD WORKED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF NISEI VETERANS WITH MY FATHER'S VETERANS GROUP WHO REPRESENTED COMPANY E OF THE 442ND REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM TO PLANT A REDWOOD TREE THAT MR. MOTT HAD DONATED TO THEIR MEMORIAL SPOT AND TO PLACE A PLAQUE THAT DIRECTOR MOTT HAD ALSO SUGGESTED.
SO I WANTED TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT FOR THIS EVENT.
IN PARTICULAR, THIS YEAR, THE...
THE DISTRICT HAS WAIVED A NUMBER OF OUR OUR FEES A TOTAL OF SEVEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY SIX DOLLARS 250 OF THAT FOR PARKING FEE WAIVERS FOR OUR GUESTS YOU KNOW COMING IN FOR THE EVENT AND AND THEN THE OTHER 486 TO OFFSET THE COST OF YOU KNOW THE PERMIT FEES I ALSO WANT TO THANK YOU FOR IN THE PAST YEAR HAVING COMMISSIONED A NEW PLAQUE TO REPLACE THE OLD ONE, WHICH HAD BEEN, YOU KNOW, SHOWN SIGNS OF WEAR AND TEAR.
AT OUR EVENT LAST MAY, WE ONLY HAD, WHAT DO YOU CALL IT, A PROOF, I BELIEVE, BECAUSE IT HAD GONE BACK FOR FINISHING.
SO THIS YEAR WILL BE THE FIRST YEAR THAT THE NEW IMPROVED PLAQUE WILL BE IN PLACE.
I ALSO WANTED TO INVITE YOU TO COME TO OUR EVENT.
DIRECTOR DECHAMBEAU HAS GRACIOUSLY AGREED TO SPEAK THIS YEAR IN HER FIRST, I GUESS, YOU KNOW, AS THE NEWER WARD REPRESENTATIVE REPRESENTING THE DISTRICT IN WHICH ROBERTS IS LOCATED.
AND JUST TO INVITE YOU ALL TO PARTICIPATE IF YOU CAN.
[00:10:01]
IT'S A MEMORIAL.WE BASICALLY HAVE, YOU KNOW, A FEW PRESENTATIONS AND SEEK TO CONTINUE.
I WANT TO THANK YOU TO HONOR AND REMEMBER THE VETERANS AS MY FATHER AND HIS ARMY BUDDIES WISHED.
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU, DIRECTOR DECHAMBEAU.
I OWN REDWOOD VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY, THE STEAM TRAIN IN TILDEN.
WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR 74 YEARS.
WE GET NO MONEY FROM THE DISTRICT, NO GRANTS, NO DONATIONS.
EVERYTHING THERE IS BUILT AND MAINTAINED WITH PRIVATE FUNDS.
TO ENSURE THAT THE STEAM TRAIN CAN OPERATE INTO THE FUTURE, WE HAVE TO MAKE MANY CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS WHICH REQUIRE PERMITTING FROM THE COUNTY.
BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT WITHOUT OUR DISTRICT LEASE.
BUT NOW, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO RENEW OUR LEASE WITH THE DISTRICT FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS.
A GOOD WORKING DRAFT WAS CREATED SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS AGO, AND RECENTLY WE HAVE JOINED WITH THE STAFF, IN GOOD FAITH, TO CREATE AN ADDENDUM TO OUR OLD LEASE TO ENABLE US TO BEGIN OUR IMPROVEMENT PROCESS, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT OUR NEW LEASE WOULD BE COMING SOON.
NOW I FIND THAT THIS PROMISE WAS MADE UNDER FALSE PRETENSES.
AS DISCUSSIONS WERE RESTARTED, DISTRICT STAFF HAVE SAID THAT THE OLD LEASE, WHICH HAS BEEN REFINED FOR 74 YEARS, WILL NOW BE ABANDONED.
BECAUSE ALL DISTRICT CONTRACTS ARE REWRITTEN TO A NEW TEMPLATE.
I SAID, OKAY, SHOW ME THE TEMPLATE, AND WE'LL GO FROM THERE.
WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE IS NO NEW TEMPLATE.
THAT WAS JUST A MISREPRESENTATION TO GET RID OF THE OLD DOCUMENT IN FAVOR OF A VASTLY INFERIOR NEW ONE, BASED ON THE FALSE LEGAL PREMISE THAT THE DISTRICT OWNS OUR BUSINESS, AND THEY CAN LICENSE IT BACK TO US.
NOW STAFF IS CLAIMING THAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TALKING ONLY ABOUT A LICENSE, EXCEPT IT WAS NEVER MENTIONED TO ME.
IF THAT WAS THE CASE, IT WOULD ELIMINATE ANY POSSIBILITY FOR US TO IMPROVE THE FACILITY, AND THE PLACE WOULD PRESUMABLY DETERIORATE AND THE TRAINS WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED, LIKE SO MANY OTHER ATTRACTIONS HAVE BEEN OVER THE YEARS.
I HOPED THAT IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN TO US, BUT HERE WE ARE.
NEGOTIATIONS ARE DIFFICULT WHEN YOU KNOW THAT EVEN EXISTING WRITTEN...
SIGNED DOCUMENTS MAY NOT BE RESPECTED.
EVERY DRAFT CONTAINS REVERSALS OF ISSUES THAT WERE SETTLED DECADES AGO.
FACTS ARE LOST IN TRANSLATION BECAUSE WE CAN'T HAVE FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS WITH ALL THE INTERESTED PARTIES.
THEY HAVE BASICALLY BEEN GASLIGHTING US FOR SEVEN AND A HALF YEARS.
RECENTLY, THE BOARD HAS STATED THAT IT IS A PRIORITY FOR THEM TO PRESERVE CULTURAL AND NATURAL ASSETS.
AFTER 74 YEARS, I HOPE THAT THE TRAINS ARE THE CULTURAL ASSET.
THAT THE PUBLIC SEEMS TO THINK THEY ARE.
FOR DECADES, REDWOOD VALLEY HAS PROVIDED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GOODS AND SERVICES TO THE DISTRICT TO MAINTAIN THE PROPERTY, NEVER ASKING SO MUCH AS A TAX WRITE-OFF.
I HOPE THAT OTHER MEGA-DONORS ARE NOT TREATED THIS WAY.
WE'RE NOT ASKING FOR MONEY, BUT ONLY THE ABILITY TO KEEP SERVING THE PUBLIC.
WITH NO LEGAL PROTECTION, WE WOULD HAVE TO PICK UP EVERYTHING AND LEAVE.
WHEN YOU'RE GETTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR FREE, WHY WOULD YOU THROW IT AWAY? THANK YOU.
JEFFREY BERNEFORD? I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE MONEY AFTER THE W MEASURES AND TRULY APPRECIATE STAFF'S EFFORTS TO MANAGE THE ENORMOUS FINANCIAL COMPLEXITIES OF OUR MULTI-COUNTY PARK DISTRICT.
THE FLOWCHARTS WITH CATEGORIES, SUBSETS, AND SO ON, FULL OF LETTERS, ABCS, AND ROMAN NUMERALS, DEALING WITH MANAGING EVERYTHING MUST BE, WELL, THANK GOODNESS FOR COMPUTER SPREADSHEETS.
YOUR DEPARTMENTS MUST BE TRYING TO KEEP ALL THE BALLS IN THE AIR.
THE ONE ABOUT THE SQUEAKY WHEEL, YES, GREASE IT.
THE IRONS IN THE FIRE, ESPECIALLY, OH CRAP, THE FIRE IS OUT.
THE CONCEPT OF HERDING CATS COMES TO MIND.
THE PIE CHARTS AND PYRAMID DIAGRAMS DEMONSTRATING WHAT IS FIRST.
WHO'S ON FIRST AND WHY MUST KEEP THE COPIER CREW VERY BUSY.
IF ONE OWNS THEIR OWN HOME, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAINTAINING IT IS ONE'S OWN.
IF NOT, AN AGREEMENT WITH THE OWNER GUY IS HANDY, IF NOT ESSENTIAL.
YOU GOT YOUR PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL STUFF, DA ROOF, LANDSCAPING, PUBLIC RELATIONS WITH THE NEIGHBORS, AND ON AND ON.
THE BLACK TRAIN FOLKS DO NOT OWN THEIR OWN HOUSE.
ONCE UPON A TIME, THEY HAD MUCH MORE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN DESTINY BECAUSE THEY WERE GIVEN A LEASE THAT FOR MANY DECADES OFFERED PROTECTION AND TRANSPARENCY BENEFICIAL TO ALL PARTIES.
AS A LONG-TIME RIDER, I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE EFFORTS THAT ELLEN AND COMPANY HAVE BEEN
[00:15:01]
EXECUTING TO KEEP THE OPERATION VIABLE.IS THE ENTERPRISE SUCCESSFUL? THREE, TWO, THE CARS ARE FULL, THE FOLKS ARE IN LINE, THEY'RE WAITING IN THE REDWOODS BECAUSE THE WEATHER IS FINE.
I WISH I HAD TIME FOR THE ENTIRE DITTY.
A TRAIN WENT TO YOSEMITE DECADES AGO.
LAKE MCCLURE, DUE EAST OF MODESTO, WAS A PROBLEM.
THE FIRST DAM ON THE MERCED RIVER AND THE SECOND HIGHER DAM WIPED OUT THE TRAIN'S ROUTE THAT WENT UP THE MERCED RIVER CANYON TO EL PERTAL, THE JUMPING-OFF PLACE TO YOSEMITE.
WHEN RAILROADS RIP UP THEIR STUFF, A NARROW SWATH OF FAIRLY LEVEL REAL ESTATE IS AVAILABLE.
AND OFTEN A RAILS-TO-TRAIL ENDEAVOR IS ESTABLISHED.
NO RIGHT-MINDED PERSON WOULD TAKE THAT ON.
NO MONEY IN IT, BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY FREE TO THE PUBLIC.
ELLEN'S MONTHLY RENT WOULD BE GONE.
YOUR MAINTENANCE CREWS WOULD HAVE THE ACREAGE ADDED TO THEIR ALREADY-TO-FULL PLATE.
THOUSANDS OF OLD AND NEW PEOPLE ARE DRIVING TO GRIZZLY PEAK BOULEVARD TO YOUR PARK.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE STEAM TRAINS IN TILDEN PARK.
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON? ELLEN NEEDS THIS LEASE.
GOOD AFTERNOON LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
MY NAME IS NICHOLAS COLLINS AND I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK.
I LEAD A HIKING AND NATURE COMMUNITY IN THE EAST BAY.
WE'RE ALSO RECOGNIZED AS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT.
OUR GROUP SERVES UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING CONSISTENT, SAFE, AND WELCOMING OUTDOOR EXPERIENCES, OFTEN BRINGING PEOPLE INTO REGIONAL PARKS FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.
I'M HERE TO SPEAK BRIEFLY ABOUT THE RECENT GRANT PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS OFFERED AND US NOT BEING SELECTED.
FIRST, I WANTED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE INTENTION BEHIND THE PROGRAM.
INVESTING IN THE COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, ARE ARE KEY AND THEY'RE IMPORTANT BECAUSE THERE IS A DIVIDE FROM NATURE AND NEIGHBORHOODS THAT I GREW UP IN AND I LIVE IN AND THAT ARE HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO NAME SOMETHING I'M EXPERIENCING IN THIS ROOM TONIGHT.
I LOOK AROUND AND AGAIN, THE PEOPLE HERE ARE REPRESENTING THE VERY UNDERSERVED, EXCUSE ME, THE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT HERE ARE NOT, WE'RE NOT BEING...
THE UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ARE NOT BEING SERVED BY THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
I MEAN, I THINK IT'S HAPPENED FOR QUITE SOME TIME, AND IT'S A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING.
I THOUGHT THAT THE PILOT PROGRAM THAT WAS BEING OFFERED WOULD BE A BRIDGE TO HELP COMMUNITIES LIKE OURSELVES TO HELP SUSTAIN AND FUND THE WORKS THAT WE DO.
I SEE A LOT OF GREAT FACES IN HERE.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'VE SEEN ANYONE ON ONE OF OUR 510 HIKERS HIKES.
WE'VE BEEN IN THESE PARKS FOR THE PAST DECADE PLUS, AND I DON'T KNOW, AGAIN, IT JUST FELT A LITTLE DEFLATING THAT THERE WAS $300,000 AWARDED TO THESE COMMUNITIES, NONPROFIT COMMUNITIES, AND YOU GUYS COULDN'T FIND $1 FOR A NONPROFIT LIKE 510 HIKERS WHO HAS BEEN PROBABLY THE BIGGEST NONPROFIT TO CONNECT UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES OUT TO NATURE PARKS.
SO IT INSPIRED ME TO COME HERE TODAY.
I MEAN, AGAIN, I'VE BEEN ON THE TRAILS FOR 12 YEARS.
I NEVER THOUGHT I NEEDED TO DO THIS.
BUT NOT BEING SELECTED INSPIRED ME TO COME AND TALK TO THE POWERS THAT BE AND THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.
AND YOU GUYS WILL GET TO KNOW ME IN THE NEXT.
YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS BECAUSE I'M GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE AT THESE MEETINGS AND LEARN HOW TO TALK THE TALK AND WALK THE WALK SO THAT COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE ARE SERVED AND HELPED OUT BECAUSE THERE NEEDS TO BE COMMUNITIES LIKE MINE IN NATURE.
THERE NEEDS TO BE COMMUNITIES IN THESE PARKS THAT ARE PRIMARILY, YOU KNOW, FOR SERVED AND PRIVILEGED TYPES.
WHO DOES THE STEAM TRAINS? I LOVE THESE STEAM TRAINS, OKAY? MY SON, MY LITTLE NINE-YEAR-OLD, HE LOVES IT.
SO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
[00:20:01]
I'M FROM HAYWARD.I LIVE IN THE SKYWEST TOWNHOUSE COMMUNITY AS A RESIDENT AND AS A BOARD OF DIRECTOR MEMBER.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS TO EPRP FOR THE SECUREMENT OF AN OPTION AGREEMENT.
FOR THE FORMER GOLDEN GATE PROPERTY, I'M CELEBRATING YOUR SUCCESS.
I COME TODAY TO SHARE WITH YOU, IF YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE JEWEL, THAT IS THE SKYWEST, WE'RE CALLING IT NOW THE OPEN SPACE.
FORMERLY THE SKYWEST GOLF COURSE THAT STOPPED IN 2019 HAS NOW BECOME AN OPEN SPACE.
AND THROUGH THE YEARS, I HAVE THE FORTUNE OF LIVING RIGHT ALONG IT.
WE SHARE A PROPERTY LINE WITH THE CITY OF HAYWARD AND THE OPEN SPACE.
BUT I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO WATCH A GROOMED GOLF COURSE TRANSITION TO A WONDERFUL, NATURAL, OPEN SPACE THAT WITH VERY LITTLE TENDING HAS JUST BLOSSOMED.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF DIFFERENT BIRD SPECIES.
WE HAVE AN ENDANGERED FROG, WE HAVE POSSUMS, RACCOONS, AND A WONDERFUL 126 ACRES OF OPEN SPACE.
SO WHAT WE ARE HOPING IS THAT WITH WHAT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO IN THE FUTURE REGARDING OPEN SPACE AND PROVIDING GREAT AIR DESTINATIONS FOR EVERYONE, THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER US AND LOOK AT...
WE DO KNOW THAT I BELIEVE THE SECTION ACROSS RIGHT BEHIND THE OPEN SPACE AREA AND THE TRACKS IS AN AREA THAT WAS JUST PURCHASED BY EAST BAY.
AND I THINK THERE'S A GOAL OF A BRIDGE ACROSS THE RAILROAD.
SO I'M HERE TODAY JUST TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO INCLUDE US IN THE FUTURE DISTRICT PLANS.
IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT, IT'S JUST WE HAVE I'D SAY 126 ACRES.
WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF VERY, VERY, VERY TALL EUCALYPTUS TREES, WHICH THE HABITAT IS JUST LOVING.
WE HAVE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES NOW FLYING AROUND.
AND SO WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THAT ADDED TO THE OPEN SPACE ENVIRONMENTALLY PROTECTED AREA.
AND AS JANE GOODELL SAYS, CARING FOR OUR PLANET.
IT'S NOT SIMPLY AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN, BUT THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SURVIVAL.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR DEDICATION.
MY NAME IS WILLIAM DANIEL HUFF, PRESIDENT OF AFSCME LOCAL 2428, FIREFIGHTER, BERKELEY RESIDENT.
I WANTED TO SPEAK TO YOU ABOUT TWO TOPICS.
WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE SECURITY RESIDENCE PROGRAM THAT WE HAVE.
FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW ABOUT IT, THE WAY IT WORKS IS YOU LIVE AT A RESIDENCE ON THE PARK, IN ONE OF THE PARKS, AND THEN YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DO VARIOUS TASKS SUCH AS MAINTENANCE, ASSIST IN RESPONDING TO EMERGENCIES, BEING AROUND IF HIKERS HAVE QUESTIONS, AND BECAUSE OF THAT YOU PAY LESS THAN YOU WOULD IF YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT.
A LOT OF OUR RESIDENTS ALSO HAVE TO GO AND COLLECT THEIR OWN WATER.
THEY HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE ROAD THAT GOES TO THEIR HOUSE.
THEY HAVE SPOTTY ELECTRICITY, NO CONNECTION TO THE INTERNET, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
IN DECEMBER, THEY WERE TOLD THAT THE DISTRICT REQUIRED, THE IRS REQUIRED, THAT THE GAP BETWEEN FAIR MARKET VALUE AND WHAT THEY PAID HAD TO BE TAXED.
NOW, I AM NOT GOOD WITH NUMBERS.
I'M TRYING TO SYNTHESIZE THIS, AND I HOPE I'M DOING A GOOD JOB.
BUT THAT CAME AS A SHOCK TO MANY OF THEM, BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE BEING TAXED ON THE WORK THEY ARE DOING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE, IF THAT MAKES ANY SENSE.
AND FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT WAS 600 BUCKS.
FOR OTHER PEOPLE, IT'S CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN THAT.
AND I'M SURE YOU ALL KNOW THAT THE BAY AREA IS INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE TO LIVE IN.
I MEAN, I'M MOVING BACK INTO MY BEST FRIEND'S PARENTS' BASEMENT, AND I MAKE A LOT OF MONEY, AND SO DOES MY WIFE.
BUT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SAVE MONEY, AND THINGS ARE GETTING MORE EXPENSIVE.
THE RESIDENCE PROGRAM ALLOWS PEOPLE TO LIVE SOMEWHERE WHERE THEY CAN SAVE MONEY TO EVENTUALLY BUY A HOME IN THE BAY AREA, IDEALLY, AND THUSLY BECOME THE PEOPLE THAT FUND THE PARKS.
SO IT ALLOWS FOR UPWARD MOBILITY FOR THE WORKERS OF THE PARKS AND MAKES IT SO THEY CAN LIVE CLOSE TO THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LOVE AND WORK FOR.
THAT BEING SAID, WE, THE DISTRICT, OR SORRY, THE UNION,
[00:25:02]
AFSCME 2428, BELIEVES THAT SINCE THIS LOWERS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT THEY ARE GETTING ON THEIR PAYCHECK, IT FALLS UNDER OUR PURVIEW BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING HOME WITH LESS MONEY.AND WE HAVE ATTEMPTED TO DISCUSS THIS IN MANY WAYS, AND THOUGH...
WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO RECEIVE COMMUNICATION.
THERE ARE STILL SOME STICKING POINTS THAT WE ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHILE OUR MEMBERS HAVE ALREADY STARTED SEEING SMALLER PAYCHECKS.
AND, YEAH, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE JUST WANT TO KNOW MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW THINGS ARE GETTING APPRAISED BECAUSE IT IS REALLY EASY TO HAVE A VERY SKEWED APPRAISAL BASED OFF OF WHERE SOME OF THESE HOMES ARE, BUT ARE THEY TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THAT THE PEOPLE HAVE TO MAINTAIN THE ROADS, CUT THE BRUSH, GO GET THEIR OWN WATER, AND THINGS LIKE THAT? EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE A BEAUTIFUL VIEW, THAT DOESN'T REALLY MAKE UP FOR THE DIFFERENCE THAT IS BEING PUT UPON THEM IN THEIR PAYCHECKS.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND STAFF.
NORMAN LAFORSE, I'M HERE PERSONALLY FOR MYSELF AND ROBERT CHASTEY.
SINCE HE CAN'T MAKE IT, HE STILL THINKS HE'S A PRACTICING LAWYER.
AND WE'RE HERE TO THANK YOU AND THE BOARD AND THE STAFF AND CERTAINLY TOURIST REPUBLIC LAND FOR THE TREMENDOUS VICTORY WE HAD AND THE OPTION TO BUY GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
EVEN I, FROM TIME TO TIME, KNOW THAT THE PARK DISTRICT CAN DO AMAZING AND WONDROUS THINGS.
SO THIS IS A FANTASTIC, FANTASTIC VICTORY FOR EVERYBODY, PARTICULARLY THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST BAY AND THE REST OF CALIFORNIA.
WE ALSO KNOW THAT DESPITE WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WITH ALL THE WONDERFUL WAYS MR. TRUMP FINDS TO SPEND MONEY ON BAD THINGS AND NOT GOOD THINGS, THAT THERE IS MONEY AVAILABLE FOR GOING FORWARD TO FINDING THE $175 MILLION THAT'S GOING TO BE NEEDED.
AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS A LOT OF THAT MONEY OR A GOOD PART OF THAT MONEY COULD COME FROM RESTORATION OF RESILIENT SHORELINES.
AND THAT FITS EXACTLY WITH WHAT SIERRA CLUB, CESP, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS HAVE PUT TOGETHER AS THE...
RESTORATION CONCEPT THAT WAS DONE BY JEREMY LOWE OF THE SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY INSTITUTE.
SO THAT WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO START LOOKING FOR MONEY.
CERTAINLY WE'RE ALL HERE TO HELP YOU ALL FIND THAT MONEY.
JUST LET'S SIT DOWN AND FIGURE OUT THE BEST STRATEGIES AND HOW WE CAN ENGAGE IN THE KIND OF CAMPAIGNING AND LETTER WRITING AND SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGNING NOW THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THERE AND WHO WE NEED TO CONTACT AT THE...
STATE AND MAYBE THE FEDERAL LEVEL TO DO THAT.
IT'S A GREAT DAY AND IT SPEAKS TO THE EXCELLENCE OF THE BOARD AND THE STAFF, PARTICULARLY FOR HAVING THE ABILITY TO PUT ALL THIS TOGETHER IN THE WAY IT WAS DONE.
THERE'S NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON, SO WE WILL GO ONLINE.
ISN'T ONE FOR? NO, I ONLY HAVE ONE.
OKAY, DO YOU WANT TO SPEAK AGAIN? YEAH, I'LL CALL IT.
SO TECHNICALLY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT, YOU GET THREE MINUTES FOR ALL THE THINGS.
YOU CAN SUBMIT AN EMAIL FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AS WELL.
STEVE LOUTS, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
SAN JUAN BOARD MEMBERS, I AM STEVE LAOZI, HOMEOWNER IN WARD 1 WHERE THE WILDCAT CANYON FLOW TRAIL IS PROPOSED.
MEMBER OF THE FRIENDS OF WILDCAT CANYON AND BOARD MEMBER OF SPRAWL DEATH.
I HAVE WALKED THE RIFLE RANGE, HEAVY CANYON, WILDCAT CANYON, AND MEZU TRAILS.
I'M SPEAKING TODAY TO REVIEW THE RATHER SPOTTY AND UNEVEN PROCESS.
THAT THE PARK DISTRICT STAFF AND BOARD HAVE ENGAGED IN TO PROPOSE AND SELECT WILDCOTT CANYON AS THE SITE FOR THE BICYCLE FLOW TRAIL.
I'M ACTUALLY GOING TO START IN 2020 WITH THE TWIG, THE TRAIL USERS WORKING GROUP.
I REALIZE THAT ONLY TWO OF THE CURRENT DIRECTORS WERE ON THE BOARD WHEN THE TWIG WAS CREATED, BUT THE TWIG, OR IT'S ALSO KNOWN AS THE TWIG,
[00:30:01]
IS AN AD HOC GROUP THAT WAS COMPOSED OF VARIOUS INTERESTS INCLUDING HIKERS, BICYCLISTS, EQUESTRIANS, WILDLIFE AND NATIVE PLANT ADVOCATES.AND THE TWIG WAS THE LAST REAL EFFORT TO BRING TOGETHER PARK USERS TO WORK ON TRAIL ISSUES, INCLUDING BOOTLEG TRAILS, AND WAS AIMED AT REDUCING CONFLICT AND SEEKING COMMON GROUND.
FOR REASONS UNKNOWN TO ME, THE TWIG WAS SUNSETTED IN FEBRUARY OF 2022, WITH ITS MAJOR PRODUCT BEING THE PLAN TO DO THE PILOT PROJECT AT BRIONES, WHICH BEGAN IN APRIL 2023. WHILE THE TWIG MEETINGS WERE WINDING DOWN AND AS THE BRIONES PILOT PROJECT WAS GETTING UNDERWAY AS FOR A FLOW TRAIL IN WILDCAT CANYON WERE BEING HATCHED, THOUGH ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE KNEW THIS.
BETWEEN MAY 2021 AND EARLY 2023, STAFF MEMBERS DUGAN, HOLT, AND WILSON CONDUCTED PRIVATE CONSULTATIONS WITH FLOW TRAIL ADVOCATES AND DISCUSSED THE BEST LOCATION FOR THE TRAIL.
THESE EMAILS WERE ONLY MADE PUBLIC VIA PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST BY FOR ALL DIFFERENT IN THE SPRING OF 2023.
THE RECORDS REQUEST ALSO REVEALED AN OFFER OF $1 MILLION BY CORDIS COOPER AND BARBARA SMITH TO HELP BUILD THE FLOW TRAIL IN WILDCAT CANYON, BUT ONLY ONCE THE EIR WAS APPROVED.
THOUGH SPRAWLDEF PROVIDED COPIES OF THE MOST DAMNING RECORDS DISCOVERED, THE DISTRICT NEVER MUSTERED A FORMAL REPLY REGARDING THIS RATHER OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT OF ITS STAFF.
INSTEAD, STAFF PRESSED FORWARD WITH THE ONE AND ONLY PROSPECTIVE PUBLIC MEETING ON THE FLOW TRAIL PROPOSAL WAY BACK IN APRIL 2023.
OVER TWO YEARS PASSED FROM THIS INITIAL INTRODUCTION OF THE FLOW TRAIL CONCEPT, WITH NO OTHER MAJOR DISCUSSION OF THE PROJECT, UP TO THE DECISION TO UNDERTAKE ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR THE PROJECT IN AUGUST 2025.
NOW THE PARK DISTRICT FINDS ITSELF IN A COSTLY AND CONTENTIOUS BATTLE WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF ITS BIGGEST AND LARGEST GROUP OF TRAIL USERS, HIKERS, WHO REPRESENT 80 TO 85 PERCENT OF USERS.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
PLEASE RETHINK YOUR APPROACH TO THESE ISSUES.
THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
AND THEN ONE THING I WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ALSO DO IS JUST ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE RECEIVED, AS OF THE DEADLINE YESTERDAY, 3 P.M.
17 EMAILS AS PART OF OUR PUBLIC COMMENT COLLECTION.
AND YOU'LL NOTICE IN THE AGENDA WE DO TALK ABOUT HOW EMAILS SENT TO CLERKOFTHEBOARD AT EBPARKS.ORG BY 3 P.M.
THE DAY BEFORE THE MEETING WILL BE COMPILED.
YES, THEY'LL BE POSTED ONLINE BY TOMORROW.
[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]
OKAY, GREAT.ALL RIGHT, AND SO WITH THAT, WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA, AGENDA ITEM E, GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENT.
I'M MAX CORTON, ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, AND JUST WANTED TO START.
IT'S EXCITING BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE IT'S ALMOST SUMMER WITH THE WEATHER WE'VE BEEN HAVING BUT IT'S STILL SPRING.
TO FOLLOW UP ON THE COMMENTS ABOUT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, WE ARE REALLY EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO ANNOUNCE THE OPTION AGREEMENT THAT TPL HAS ENTERED INTO TO POTENTIALLY PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.
I WANTED TO OFFER MY APPRECIATION FOR THE PARTNERSHIP WITH TPL AND ALSO MY APPRECIATION TO YOUR BOARD.
TO THE PAST LEADERS FROM EAST REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AND FROM OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS WHO HAD THE FORESIGHT TO PUT $20 MILLION INTO MEASURE WW ALMOST 20 YEARS AGO, AND THAT FUNDING IS MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
SO A HUGE APPRECIATION FOR THAT, AND WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING TOGETHER WITH YOUR BOARD AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO RAISE THE MONEY TO MAKE THIS PARK POSSIBLE.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE GRANT PROGRAM THAT WAS SPOKEN TO.
JUST CONNECT WITH JOSE WHO'S HERE.
YOU KNOW, WE GOT A LOT OF SUBMISSIONS AND ALL REALLY GOOD PROGRAMS AND WANT TO LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING CONNECTED AND MAKING SURE WE CAN HELP OUT.
ALSO WANT TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON A PROJECT ON THE LAFAYETTE-MURAGA REGIONAL TRAIL.
IT CONSISTS OF 10 NEW INTERPRETIVE PANELS TELLING THE STORY OF THIS REALLY AMAZING FORMER RAIL CORRIDOR.
WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE THIS PROJECT COMPLETED BY JUNE 30TH, AND WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO INVITING YOUR BOARD, AND ESPECIALLY DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT'S AWARD IT'S IN, TO A CELEBRATION THAT'S HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE U.S.
ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAFAYETTE-MURAGA REGIONAL TRAIL.
AND THEN, YEAH, AGAIN, IT'S WILDFLOWER SEASON, SO WE HAVE A LOT OF PROGRAMMING AROUND WILDFLOWERS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE OUR HERITAGE CHERRY BLOSSOM CELEBRATION AT THE BRAZIL ROOM
[00:35:02]
TODAY, THIS EVENING BETWEEN 4 AND 8 P.M.IT'S A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO COME CHECK OUT THE BRAZIL ROOM, AND WE'RE HOSTING THESE EVENTS.
PARTIALLY FOR FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN USING THE FACILITY TO GET TO CHECK IT OUT.
IT'S ALSO THE END OF MARCH AND EARLY APRIL ARE TROUT RELEASE DAYS IN OUR PARKS.
WE DO, OUR TEAMS DO EVENTS TO SUPPORT TEACHERS AND WITH OUR MOBILE FISH LABORATORY.
AND SO WE ARE ABLE TO SERVE OVER 240 STUDENTS TO TAKE PART IN NATURALIST-LED ACTIVITIES.
AT CROWN BEACH, OUR OPERATIONS TEAM STARTED MOVING SAND TODAY, AND THIS IS PART OF AN ANNUAL PROCESS THAT IS A HUGE LIFT FOR OUR TEAM.
THE SAND SLOWLY DRIFTS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR EASTWARD, AND THEN WE HAVE TO MOVE IT BACK WEST AND START ALL OVER AGAIN.
SO IT'S A SIGNIFICANT PROCESS, BUT IT'S OUR MOST VISITED PARK, AND PEOPLE REALLY LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT THE BEACH.
AT CONTRALOMA WE HAD A VERY BUSY WEEKEND.
THIS LAST WEEKEND WAS SORT OF OUR BUSIEST KICKOFF TO THE SEASON.
OVER 2,000 PARTICIPANTS FISHING, PICNICKING OUT AT CONTRALOMA.
AT LAKE CHABOT, OUR INR TEAM HOSTED A MOVIE NIGHT THAT WAS WELL ATTENDED AND THEN WE HAD A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEER EVENTS, CLEANING UP TRASH AND MORE.
I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE MAX AND HIS TEAM, LEGAL, PLANNING, AND REAL ESTATE ON THE GOMEGATE FIELDS DEAL.
FINGERS CROSSED THAT IT COMES TO FRUITION, BUT WE'RE VERY OPTIMISTIC.
AND SINCE NORMAN'S IN THE ROOM, I MEAN, HE AND ROBERT CHASTIE, FOR DECADES, WORKED ON THIS OUTCOME.
AND IF YOU JUST WANT TO TALK ABOUT LEGACIES, WHAT THESE FOLKS AND CESP HAVE DONE IN PARTNERSHIP IS WITHIN THE COURSE OF, WHAT, A COUPLE OF YEARS, POINT MILADI, $36 MILLION, THIS ONE $175 MILLION.
SO THESE FOLKS, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US, OVER THE COURSE OF A COUPLE OF YEARS HAVE BROUGHT OVER $200 MILLION WORTH OF ASSETS INTO THIS PARK DISTRICT.
AND ELIZABETH, I BELIEVE YOU WANTED TO.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANTED TO ALSO THANK THE STAFF, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND TPL FOR THE INCREDIBLE WORK THAT EVERYONE HAS DONE TO GET US TO THIS POINT ON GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
IT REALLY IS JUST AN EXTRAORDINARY OPPORTUNITY, AND I'M VERY HOPEFUL WE WILL GET ACROSS THE.
FINISH LINE AND BE ABLE TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.
I ALSO WANTED TO ASK ON THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE, APPLICANTS TO GET FEEDBACK IF THEY DON'T, IF THEY AREN'T ACCEPTED AND WANT TO KNOW WHAT MIGHT HELP FOR A FUTURE APPLICATION? IS THAT AN OPPORTUNITY THERE? YES, YES.
AND I THINK WE'VE ALREADY CONNECTED, BUT WE'LL CONTINUE TO CONNECT.
AND I THINK OUR HOPE IS REALLY LIKE YOU KNOW, THIS YEAR, THIS IS OUR FIRST PILOT YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM, IS TO DEVELOP THOSE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONTINUE TO SEE HOW WE CAN HAVE AN EVEN DEEPER IMPACT AND PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS.
EVEN BEYOND THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF WAYS THAT THE DISTRICT CAN SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AND SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.
AND JOSE HAS BEEN REACHING OUT AND FOLLOWING UP WITH EACH OF THE PROGRAMS AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE CONNECTED WITH THEM, AND SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING CONNECTED.
WE DO HAVE NEXT ON OUR AGENDA ANNOUNCEMENTS, AGENDA ITEM F.
ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS TO MAKE FOR THIS AGENDA ITEM? I DON'T SEE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
TO MAKE, SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM G, OUR CONSENT CALENDAR.AND FOR THIS ITEM, ARE THERE ANY, WE'LL START WITH THIS, ARE THERE ANY ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR THAT MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WOULD LIKE TO REMOVE FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND OR A SEPARATE VOTE? AND IF THERE AREN'T ANY ITEMS TO REMOVE HERE, THEN WHAT WE WILL THEN DO IS LOOK FOR ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ON ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
I'M EXCITED TO LOOK FORWARD TO G3, THE INFORMATIONAL UPDATE ON OUR STATE ADVOCACY MEETINGS, THE PRESENTATIONS IN THERE.
[00:40:02]
I WOULD JUST ASK THAT WE GET OUR MATERIALS.MAYBE 72, 48 HOURS IN ADVANCE SO I COULD BE A LITTLE BIT BETTER PREPARED.
WE HAD A GREAT TIME UP AT WASHINGTON, D.C., BUT I LIKE TO REPRESENT OUR AGENCY AND BE A LITTLE MORE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR? IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, WHAT WE'LL DO IS OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND SEE IF YOU HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
SCOTT, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
PRESIDENT SAN WONG, DIRECTORS, ACTING GENERAL MANAGER, CORTON, AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT TODAY.
I'M COMMENTING ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BICYCLE TRAILS COUNCIL OF THE EAST BAY AND ASK YOU TO INCLUDE PROP 4 FUNDING FOR THE PLEASANTON RIDGE TRAILS AND OYSTER BAY BIKE SKILLS AREA PROJECTS IN YOUR UPCOMING STATE ADVOCACY MEETINGS.
THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE ONLY PARTIALLY FUNDED IN THE PARK DISTRICT BUDGET.
PARK STAFF AND DIRECTORS HAVE ASKED ABOUT POSSIBLE FUNDING SOURCES FOR THESE PROJECTS AND PROP 4 FUNDING WAS ONE OF OUR SUGGESTED SOURCES.
THE CALIFORNIA STATE ACCESS FOR ALL INITIATIVE IS PART OF THE STATE 30 BY 30 EFFORT AND ALIGNS WITH PROP 4 FUNDING INTENT.
THESE ARE BOTH MULTI-BENEFIT PROJECTS THAT WILL HAVE POSITIVE IMPACTS ON HABITAT BY PROVIDING WELL-PLANNED TRAIL ACCESS IN A BIKE SKILLS AREA.
MEANINGFUL BIKE ACCESS PROVIDED AT CROCKETT HILLS AND BRIONI'S REGIONAL PARKS HAS SHOWN TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON REDUCING UNAUTHORIZED TRAIL ACTIVITY WITH NEGATIVE HABITAT IMPACTS.
PLANNED PARK PROJECTS HAVE A MUCH LOWER IMPACT THAN THE PUBLIC TAKING MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS.
THE OYSTER BAY BIKE SKILLS AREA IS ALSO A PROJECT THAT SERVES A DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY AND PROVIDES POSITIVE RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES CLOSER TO HOME.
THE PROXIMITY TO THE BAY TRAIL MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR MANY USERS TO ACCESS.
THE PARK BY BIKE FROM HOME AND ELIMINATE A CAR TRIP AND THE ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AS AN ADDITIONAL POSITIVE IMPACT THESE PROJECTS HAVE MERIT AND ARE APPLICABLE TO PROP 4 FUNDING WE ASK THAT YOU INCLUDE THEM IN YOUR 2026 STATE ADVOCACY AND LATER IN PROP 4 FUNDING AND GRANT APPLICATIONS THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME THANK YOU THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT OKAY WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR MAYBE IF YOU HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OTHERWISE I'LL BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION REGARDING OUR CONSENT CALENDAR PROOF CONSENT CALENDAR OKAY SO WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY DIRECTOR D CHAMBEAU SECONDED BY DIRECTOR ECCLES WE CAN DO AN ALL IN FAVOR PLEASE SAY AYE ANY OPPOSED I DON'T BELIEVE SO ANY ABSTENTIONS I DON'T BELIEVE SO SO THAT'S SEVEN ZERO GREAT THANK YOU EVERYONE OKAY SO NOW WE DON'T HAVE ANY ITEMS FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA
[PRESENTATIONS]
ITEM H, SO WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM I, PRESENTATIONS.I1, DOOLIN CANYON REGIONAL PRESERVE.
I CAN GIVE A QUICK INTRO, AND THEN I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BRIAN AND DRAKE, WHO WILL PRESENT ON THIS.
YOU KNOW, LAST YEAR WHEN WE HAD OUR BOARD PRIORITY SETTING SESSION, WE HEARD FROM A NUMBER OF THE BOARD MEMBERS THAT MOVING TOWARDS CONSIDERING OPENING DOOLIN CANYON.
TO PUBLIC ACCESS WAS A PRIORITY FOR MANY OF YOU ON THE BOARD AND SO FOLLOWING THAT OUR TEAM HAS REALLY TAKEN THAT FEEDBACK TO HEART AND BEEN WORKING ON DEVELOPING SORT OF SOME OPTIONS FOR OH YOU KNOW POTENTIALLY OPENING DOOLIN CANYON AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND AND DESCRIBE AS BEST POSSIBLE THE ENVIRONMENT OUT THERE THE YOU KNOW DIFFERENT CHALLENGES THE COSTS AND SO WE REALLY WANTED TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY THE FULLEST PICTURE POSSIBLE OF WHAT OPTIONS THERE ARE FOR OPENING DOOLIN CANYON TO PUBLIC ACCESS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE BROUGHT THIS...
TO YOUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND YOUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED OPENING DOOLIN CANYON TO PUBLIC ACCESS.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BRIAN AND DRAKE, BUT I JUST SAY THIS HAS REALLY BEEN A JOINT EFFORT.
OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM, OUR OPERATIONS TEAM, ALL OF OUR TEAMS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THIS.
YEAH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, ACTING GENERAL MANAGER CORTON.
I'M THE DIVISION LEAD FOR PLANNING, TRAILS, GIS.
AND GIVEN A QUICK UPDATE, THE PRESENTATION TODAY WILL BE GIVEN BY DRAKE HEBER, OUR SENIOR PLANNER, WHO'S SORT OF DONE A DEEP DIVE IN THIS ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF OUR STAFF.
SORT OF WANT TO DOUBLE DOWN A LITTLE BIT ON WHAT MAX SAID AND JUST EMPHASIZE, BECAUSE I KNOW WE'VE GOTTEN SORT OF A NUMBER
[00:45:01]
OF QUESTIONS SORT OF ON THE PROCESS HERE AND THAT SORT OF THING.WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR DIRECTION FROM THE BOARD ON SORT OF WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS REGARDING DOOLIN-KENT.
AND IF WE MOVE FORWARD TOWARDS OPENING IT, WE PROVIDED A COUPLE OPTIONS AND WAYS THAT WE THINK WE COULD POTENTIALLY DO THAT IF IT IS THE BOARD'S DIRECTION TO OPEN THAT SOONER VERSUS, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE OTHER OPTIONS IN TERMS OF THAT MAY INVOLVE, YOU KNOW, BROADER CAPITAL INVESTMENTS, OTHER THINGS.
SOME SOME APPLICATIONS AROUND STAFFING AND RESOURCE EVALUATION ADDITIONAL EVALUATIONS THAT DON'T NEED TO BE DONE SO WE'LL TAKE THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION AND SORT OF COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR FOUR STEPS ARE AND WE'LL HIGHLIGHT I THINK THIS IS YOU KNOW I THINK THIS IS A GOOD CONVERSATION AS WE'RE CONTINUING ON TALKING ABOUT THE DISTRICT PLAN AND AND SOME OF OUR OTHER DIFFERENT PARK AREAS REALLY KIND OF HOW DOOLIN CANYON FITS IN WITH JUST HOW WE CONTINUE TO PROVIDE PUBLIC ACCESS TO SOME OF THESE SPACES.
SO DRAKE'S DONE A GOOD JOB OF SORT OF DIVING INTO THE DETAILS.
HE'S WORKED REALLY CLOSELY WITH OUR STEWARDSHIP STAFF, OUR OPERATIONS STAFF, AND OTHERS TO REALLY UNDERSTAND SORT OF WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO OPEN THIS AREA UP UNDER SOME DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND REALLY WHAT THAT WOULD TAKE.
AND SO WITH THAT, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO DRAKE, WHO CAN GO INTO DETAILS, AND WE'LL ALL BE AVAILABLE TO HIM.
HELLO TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
WE ARE HERE TO TALK ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONSERVATION NEXT STEPS AT DOOLIN CANYON.
NOW TO START THE RECOMMENDATION, THE GENERAL MANAGER RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIRECT STAFF ON APPROACH TO PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONSERVATION OPTIONS AT DOOLIN CANYON.
ACQUISITION OF DOOLIN CANYON STARTED IN 2007, WHEN THE PARK DISTRICT PARTICIPATED IN THE EAST ALAMEDA COUNTY CONSERVATION STRATEGY.
THIS STRATEGY WAS A COLLABORATION OF LOCAL AND STATE AGENCIES TO SERVE AS A BLUEPRINT FOR REGIONAL CONSERVATION AND PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON MITIGATION AND ACQUISITION PRIORITIES.
CONSISTENT WITH THIS STRATEGY, THE PARK DISTRICT ACQUIRED THE SOUTHERN SCHMITZ PROPERTY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LIVERMORE IN 2010.
AS PART OF THIS PARTNERSHIP, THE CITY WILL RECORD A 211-ACRE CONSERVATION EASEMENT FOR THREE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS.
THIS EASEMENT WILL BE PLACED ON THE SOUTHEASTERN CORNER OF THE PROPERTY AND SERVES AS MITIGATION FOR IMPACTS TO SAN JOAQUIN KIT FOX, CALIFORNIA RED-LEGGED FROG, CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER, AND BURROWING OWLS FROM IMPACTS FROM THOSE PROJECTS.
IN 2018, THE PARK DISTRICT ADDED THE NORTHERN GROVE PROPERTY, AND EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE BOARD APPROVED THE ACQUISITION OF THE OLSEN PROPERTY, APPROXIMATELY HALF A MILE SOUTH OF THE DUELING CANYON PROPER.
AT THIS SCALE, IT'S A LITTLE HARD TO SEE, BUT IT'S THE ORANGE CALL-OUT.
THE PROPERTY COULD SERVE AS A FUTURE STAGING AREA OR PICNIC AREA OR BOTH FOR THE PRESERVE.
NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS OF PUBLIC ACCESS AT DOOLIN.
FIRST, WE'LL START WITH THE CONSTRAINTS.
THE PROPERTY WAS ACQUIRED IN PART AS MITIGATION LAND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF LIVERMORE.
AS SHOWN ON THE MAP, THE AREA AROUND THE PARK HAS ALSO BEEN LARGELY FILLED IN BY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.
THIS BOTH LIMITS ANY FUTURE EXPANSION OF THE PARK AND SHOWS HOW VALUABLE THE HABITAT OF THE PARK IS FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES.
SEVEN SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES HAVE BEEN OBSERVED ON SITE, INCLUDING THREE OF THE FOUR FOR THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
AN ADDITIONAL 22 WERE FOUND LIKELY TO OCCUR IN BIOLOGICAL RESOURCES.
THIS RICH DIVERSITY COULD MAKE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OR CONSTRUCTION OF TRAILS, STUFF LIKE THAT, IN THE PARK DIFFICULT.
ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S A LACK OF SPACE FOR A STAGING AREA.
AND ACCESS FROM THE NEW OLSEN PROPERTY IS ALSO DIFFICULT DUE TO THE LACK OF A SIDEWALK ALONG DOOLIN ROAD.
THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT BETWEEN THE OLSEN PROPERTY AND THE PRESERVE ALSO WOULD NOT ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS, LIMITING OPTIONS FOR A TRAIL BETWEEN THE TWO LOCATIONS.
WE HAVE STARTED LOOKING AT POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO THAT, WHICH WE CAN ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT LATER.
FINALLY, CONDITIONS IN THE PRESERVE CAN BE HARSH.
STAFF HAVE OBSERVED SINKHOLES ALONG THE EXISTING ROADS WHICH ARE NOT IMMEDIATELY OBVIOUS TO THE NAKED EYE AND COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO PARK VISITORS AND STAFF.
THE PARK IS ALSO EXTREMELY HOT IN THE SUMMER AND THERE ARE NO TREES OR POTABLE WATER TO PROVIDE RELIEF.
IN THE WINTER THE ROADS BECOME EXTREMELY MUDDY AND PARK STAFF AVOID DRIVING ON THEM AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
[00:50:01]
THERE'S ALSO NO CELL COVERAGE IN THE PARK IN CASE OF ANY PUBLIC ACCESS EMERGENCY.HOWEVER, THERE ARE ALSO SOME OPPORTUNITIES.
MUCH OF THE EXISTING PARK IS OUTSIDE OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE EASEMENT WOULD ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS ALONG EXISTING ROADS, BUT WE DO WANT TO TRY TO REDUCE THE IMPACT FROM PUBLIC ACCESS IN THAT AREA, ESPECIALLY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THE OLSON PROPERTY ALSO DOES HAVE POTENTIAL TO OFFER PICNICKING AND OR PARKING IF A SOLUTION CAN BE FOUND TO MOVE PEOPLE BETWEEN THE TWO LOCATIONS.
LIVERMORE IS A GROWING COMMUNITY WITH PUBLIC ACCESS NEEDS AND THIS IS A PLACE WHERE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY HAPPEN.
THIS IS JUST A MAP SHOWING THE EXISTING RECREATIONAL TRAIL NETWORK ON THE SITE.
IT'S 2.9 MILES LONG BUT IT ALSO SHOWS THE 0.7 MILE GAP TO THE OLSON PROPERTY.
THERE'S ALSO A BETWEEN THE NORTHERN GROVE PROPERTY AND THE SOUTHERN SCHMITZ PROPERTY, THERE'S NOT EXISTING ACCESS AS OF NOW, AND WE DO NOT HAVE AN ACCESS EASEMENT THROUGH THE BROWN RANCH CONSERVATION EASEMENT JUST TO THE NORTH THERE THAT WOULD ALLOW US ACCESS THROUGH THERE.
SO THE NORTHERN PROPERTY IS A BIT OF AN ISLAND AS FAR AS RECREATION OR EVEN STAFF ACCESS AT THIS POINT.
LOOP TRAILS, THAT I KNOW EVERYONE LIKES A GOOD LOOP TRAIL, NOT JUST A MOUNTAIN BACK.
THERE'S NOT ANY EXISTING ON THE SITE RIGHT NOW.
AND THE PLACEMENT OF THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, AS WELL AS THE COTTONWOOD CREEK KIND OF GOES RIGHT THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF THE PARK THERE.
AND IT JUST WOULD MAKE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LOOP TRAIL OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT EITHER DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE.
STAFF HAVE EVALUATED FOUR PUBLIC ACCESS OPTIONS.
AND ARE HERE TODAY FOR INPUT ON WHICH OPTION THE BOARD WOULD PREFER US TO MOVE FORWARD WITH.
THESE OPTIONS ARE, OPTION ONE, EXISTING CONDITIONS.
THE PARK WOULD CONTINUE AS IT IS TODAY WITH NO PUBLIC ACCESS ALLOWED.
ADDITIONAL CONSERVATION EASEMENTS COULD POTENTIALLY BE PLACED ON THE PARK TO MITIGATE FOR FUTURE PARK DISTRICT PROJECTS IN AREAS NOT ALREADY UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
OPTION TWO WOULD BE A PILOT PROJECT TO OPEN DOOLING CANYON WITH MINIMAL SITE IMPROVEMENTS.
THIS OPTION WOULD INCLUDE SEASONAL CLOSURES AS DETERMINED BY STAFF AND ACCESS WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED ON EXISTING SERVICE ROADS.
OPTION THREE IS MANAGED ACCESS WITH GUIDED TOURS OF THE PROPERTY BEING OFFERED TO THE PUBLIC.
3A WOULD BE MANAGED BY THE PARK DISTRICT AND 3B WOULD BE MANAGED BY A PARTNER GROUP, NOT AGENCY, SUCH AS SAVE MOUNT DIABLO OR THE TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY.
THE TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY IS THE LAND TRUST WHO WILL BE HOLDING THE EASEMENT ON THE PROPERTY.
TOURS WILL BE GIVEN IN THE SPRING DURING WILDFLOWER SEASON.
THE GOAL WOULD BE TO OFFER TOURS AFTER THE ROADS HAVE DRIED BUT BEFORE THE WEATHER TURNS TOO HOT.
BOTH SAVE MOUNT DIABLO AND TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY BOTH EXPRESSED A WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE IF WE ASKED THEM, BUT WE HAVE NOT GONE ANY FURTHER IN THE PLANNING PROCESS THAN THAT.
WE STILL NEED TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY, WHICH DIRECTION WE'RE MOVING IN BEFORE WE ADVANCE THOSE TALKS.
OPTION FOUR IS THE ONLY ONE THAT COULD BE PURSUED IN COMBINATION WITH THE OTHER OPTIONS AND WOULD BE OPENING OF THE OLSON PROPERTY FOR PICNICKING.
THIS WOULD REQUIRE THE DEVELOPMENT OF PICNIC BENCHES, TRASH CANS, SADE STRUCTURES, AND A RESTROOM.
IF WE DON'T WANT TO DO PICNICKING, IT COULD ALSO JUST BE A STAGING AREA, WHICH WOULD BE A LOT LESS DEVELOPMENT, BUT THEN THAT WOULD JUST KIND OF COMPLEMENT ONE OF THE OTHER THREE OPTIONS, LIKELY OPTION TWO FOR OPENING OF DOOLING CANYON.
WENT THROUGH AND TRIED TO GET SOME COST ANALYSIS OR COST PREDICTIONS OF WHAT EACH OF THESE OPTIONS WOULD COST.
AND THESE COSTS WERE SPLIT INTO ONE-TIME AND ONGOING COSTS.
ONE-TIME COSTS FOR ALL OF THEM INCLUDE...
GATE AND FENCE REPAIR AND BIOLOGICAL STUDIES.
ONE-TIME COSTS FOR OPTION 3A WOULD ALSO INCLUDE PURCHASE OF NEW SHUTTLES FOR NATURALIST STAFF FOR PROVIDING THE TOURS.
FOR OPTION 4 IT ALSO INCLUDES DEVELOPMENT COSTS OF THE OLSEN PROPERTY AND THE PURCHASE OF A NEW TRUCK FOR OPERATIONS TO SERVICE THE PICNICKING AREA.
THE ANNUAL COSTS INCLUDE THE HIRING OF NEW STAFF.
OPTIONS 2, 3A 3B AND 4 INCLUDE A NEW PARK RANGER POSITION THAT WOULD BE STAFFED OUT OF SHADOW CLIFFS.
OPTION 3A COULD POTENTIALLY ALSO INCLUDE NEW NATURALIST POSITIONS WHERE WE WOULD WE CHOOSE TO GO WITH A NEW NATURALIST POSITION OPTION.
[00:55:01]
OVER A FIVE-YEAR PERIOD TO KIND OF JUST GIVE A LIKE SOME OF THE ONE-TIME COSTS WERE REALLY LIKE OVER TWO OR THREE YEARS SO IT'S JUST EASIER TO COMBINE THEM ALL.AS YOU CAN SEE, OPERATING THE PRESERVE AS CONSERVATION LAND IS THE CHEAPEST OPTION.
OPTION TWO IS PREDICTED TO BE ABOUT 1.2 MILLION.
OPTION 3A WOULD BE BETWEEN 1.3 TO 1.7 MILLION OVER THOSE FIVE YEARS, DEPENDING ON IF NEW NATURALIST STAFF ARE HIRED.
NOT HIRING NEW STAFF WOULD PLACE A STRAIN ON EXISTING NATURALIST PROGRAMMING, AS THEY ARE ALREADY VERY BUSY.
OPTION 3B LOOKS SLIGHTLY LESS LESS EXPENSIVE THAN THE OTHER OPTIONS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDE ANY COST SHARING WITH THE PARTNER GROUPS, AS WE HAVE NOT GOTTEN TO THAT LEVEL OF PLANNING.
ONCE THOSE COSTS WERE INCLUDED, IT WOULD LIKELY COME MORE IN LINE WITH THE OTHER OPTIONS.
AND FINALLY, THE OPENING OF THE OLSON PROPERTY FOR PICNICKING WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1.3 MILLION OR MORE, AND THAT WOULD INCLUDE JUST DEVELOPMENT OF THE PICNIC TABLE, SHADE STRUCTURES, PARKING LOT.
FOR DEMOLITION OF THE EXISTING BUILDINGS ON SITE, WHICH WOULDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO HAPPEN, BUT IT WOULD LIKELY HAPPEN BASED ON DISCUSSIONS WITH MASS, BUT WOULD NEED TO GO THROUGH A FULL HISTORICAL EVALUATION BEFORE THE FINAL DECISION COULD BE MADE.
FINALLY, AGAIN, THE GENERAL MANAGER RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS DIRECT STAFF ON APPROACH TO PUBLIC ACCESS AND CONSERVATION OPTIONS AT DOOLING CANYON.
PREVIOUSLY, THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED STAFF PURSUE OPTION 2, OPEN DOOLIN CANYON, BUT ALSO SEEMED INTERESTED IN OPTIONS 3 AND 4.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, AND WE WELCOME ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR ALL THE WORK THAT WENT INTO PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND DO BOARD QUESTIONS.
ONE THING I JUST WANT TO CORRECT IS THAT DOOLIN CANYON ISN'T JUST FOR LIVERMORE.
IT DOES SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF LIVERMORE, SAN RAMON, AND DUBLIN.
YES, THE ACCESS POINT CURRENTLY IS FROM CITY OF LIVERMORE.
IT'S ALSO PRETTY CLOSE TO CITY OF PLEASANTON, SO I DO WANT US AS EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TO THINK ABOUT THAT REGIONAL ASPECT OF THIS LOCATION.
SO WE WILL NOW DO QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
OKAY, ILANA, YOU CAN GO FIRST AND THEN WE'LL GO TO JOHN.
YES, SO HOW IS RISK GOING TO BE MITIGATED IN THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS? YOU MENTIONED SOME OF THE HAZARDS AS FAR AS SINKHOLES.
THE HEAT, MAYBE HAVING SOME DIFFERENT SEASONAL ACCESS.
SO JUST INTERESTED IN HOW WE CAN MAXIMIZE SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITIES LIKE WITH THESE DIFFERENT OPTIONS.
DEFINITELY WITH THE ONE THAT WOULD PROBABLY HAVE THE MOST RISK WOULD PROBABLY BE THE JUST MINIMAL OPENING TO ALL AND WE HAVE INCLUDED A PLAN THAT THAT PARK STAFF WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE THE PARK.
SO THAT WOULD BE IF THE ROADS WERE TOO MUDDY TO BE IMPASSABLE, THEN WE'D PROBABLY BE CLOSED IN THE WINTER.
SIMILAR IF WE HAD LIKE HEAT ADVISORIES OR JUST OVERLY HOT IN THE SUMMER, WE PROBABLY MAY JUST CLOSE IT JUST TO PREVENT THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
AS FAR AS LIKE THE SINKHOLES GO, I MEAN, THERE'S KIND OF DANGERS IN ALL OF OUR PARKS, I THINK.
AND SOMETIMES WE COULD LIKE POST SIGNAGE OR EDUCATION TYPE MATERIALS.
AND OUR RECOMMENDATION HERE IS TO REQUIRE PEOPLE TO STAY ON TRAIL, WHICH ALSO WOULD HELP REDUCE THAT IMPACT.
BUT THERE'S NOT ALWAYS SOMEONE OUT THERE WATCHING AND MAKING SURE EVERYONE'S FOLLOWING THE RULES.
SO WE CAN'T MAKE THE RISK OF THE UNKNOWN.
SO ON THE SITE ITSELF THERE ARE CATTLE TROUGHS.
THAT WOULD BE QUITE THE PROJECT, TO TRY TO GET POTABLE WATER OUT OF THOSE.
SO BASICALLY THE OLSON PROPERTY, THE CITY OF LIVERMORE, IT'S REALLY A CITY OF LIVERMORE PROPERTY, AND THEY'RE PUTTING CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE REMAINDER OF THE PROPERTY.
I DON'T REMEMBER THE EXACT AMOUNT.
AND WE ARE KIND OF CARVING OFF A FIVE-ACRE PIECE RIGHT NEXT TO THE ROAD.
SO ON THE CITY OF LIVERMORE SIDE, THERE IS A WELL, AND LAND HAS WORKED WITH THE CITY TO KIND OF GET AN AGREEMENT THAT IF WE WANT WATER, WE CAN WORK WITH THEM TO PROVIDE WATER TO THAT SITE.
BUT THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE A WATER TREATMENT.
THERE WOULD HAVE TO BE ALL THESE THINGS, AND THAT WOULD ALSO BE SLIGHTLY SOUTH.
SO THE WATER WOULD BE BYO WATER.
I'D ADD, TODAY WE'RE JUST LOOKING FOR GENERAL DIRECTION FROM YOUR BOARD.
THESE QUESTIONS ARE GREAT, AND WE'LL ATTEMPT TO ANSWER THEM AS BEST WE CAN, AT THE SAME TIME ACKNOWLEDGING THAT, LIKE, ANY POTENTIAL IMPROVEMENT, LIKE THAT FROM HERE THERE'S PROBABLY MORE PLANNING THAT WE NEED TO DO TO KIND OF ASSESS THE SITE AND MAKE IMPROVEMENTS.
[01:00:01]
PIECE THAT'S TO THINK ABOUT IS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, AS YOUR BOARD'S GIVING STAFF DIRECTION, IF YOUR BOARD IS HOPING FOR US TO BE ABLE TO OPEN IT IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THEN THAT'S PROBABLY US LOOKING AT HOW WE CAN DO THAT WITH MINIMAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE SITE.IF THE DESIRE IS MORE TO HAVE A MORE DEVELOPED SITE, THAT'S PROBABLY A MUCH LONGER TIME FRAME TO PLAN AND FUNDRAISE FOR AND CONSTRUCT.
SO THAT'S SORT OF LIKE THE DIFFERENCES OF HOW WE COULD MANAGE THAT SITE.
BUT AT THIS POINT, THIS IS LIKE A...
ALSO, JUST A HIGH-LEVEL QUESTION FOR YOUR BOARD ABOUT WHAT APPROACH WE SHOULD TAKE WITH THIS.
AND ABOUT POTABLE WATER, I MEAN, WE HAVE THESE CHALLENGES AT OTHER PARKS.
AT VARGAS PLATEAU, WE DON'T HAVE POTABLE WATER.
WE BRING WATER INTO VARGAS PLATEAU.
AND FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, WE HAD SOME ISSUES AT SONOMA REGIONAL WHERE WE THEN BROUGHT IN BOTTLED WATER FOR THE DRINKING WATER AT SONOMA REGIONAL.
ADDITIONALLY, IN MOST OF OUR TRAILHEADS, WE DON'T HAVE ANY DRINKING WATER.
SO IT'S VERY COMMON FOR US TO HAVE...
TRAILHEADS WITHOUT ANY KIND OF DRINKING WATER.
THE EXPECTATION WITH THE PUBLIC IS THAT PEOPLE BRING WATER WITH THEM.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S ALWAYS A CHALLENGE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY COMMUNICATE HOW TO BE PREPARED WHEN YOU'RE GOING FOR A HIKE, ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER.
YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES PEOPLE CAN MISJUDGE HOW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? DIRECTOR ESPAGNA, I THINK YOU'RE FINISHED.
ALL RIGHT, DIRECTOR MERCURIO, PLEASE GO AHEAD.
YEAH, IN ANY OF THOSE COST ESTIMATES FOR OPENING THE PARK, DO THEY INCLUDE SOME AT LEAST MINIMAL, MAYBE UNPAVED PARKING AT THE FIVE-ACRE OLSON PROPERTY? SO IT COULD PROBABLY JUST BE, THERE IS DEVELOPMENT MONEY INCLUDED, YES, IN THE OLSON PROPERTY.
THAT WAS PART OF THAT COST ESTIMATE.
BECAUSE OTHERWISE ALL YOU HAVE IS THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AT THE END OF THE ROAD, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T REALLY EXIST.
AND SO, OKAY, I WAS HOPING THAT YOU'D RECOGNIZE THAT THERE REALLY IS AND IT WOULD BE A NEED TO ACCOMMODATE ANY CARS THAT MIGHT SHOW UP THERE.
I THINK OUR HOPE IS IF YOUR BOARD DOES DIRECT STAFF TOWARDS OPENING THE PARK, THAT THAT OLSON PROPERTY IS THE BEST STAGING AREA AND THAT ACTUALLY PEOPLE WALKING ON THE ROAD WOULD PROBABLY BE THE IDEAL AS TO HOW TO END.
SO I WAS GOING TO ASK, IS THERE A SHOULDER? THERE'S HARDLY ANY TRAFFIC, AS I UNDERSTAND IT.
SO ALL YOU'D HAVE TO DO IS WALK ON THE SHOULDER.
YEAH, THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO DRIVE TO EXCEPT TO THE ENTRANCE TO THE PARK FROM THE OLSON PROPERTY.
AND SO ONE THING THAT WE EVEN TALKED ABOUT WAS CONNECTING, I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T REMEMBER IF IT'S THE COUNTY OR THE CITY, BUT, YOU KNOW, SEEING IF THERE'S EVEN A POSSIBILITY OF LIKE GATING THE ROAD OR, YOU KNOW.
ENDING THE DRIVING ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC AT THAT OLSEN PROPERTY, AND THAT WAY PEOPLE COULD WALK ON IT, SINCE THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER NEIGHBOR THAT ACCESSES PAST THAT PROPERTY.
IT SAYS DOOLIN CANYON CONSERVATION BANK PENDING.
WHO IS FORMING THE CONSERVATION BANK? THE CITY? IT'S A PRIVATE COMPANY WHO IS PUTTING DOWN A CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN ORDER TO SELL CONSERVATION CREDITS.
SO I DO NOT RECALL THE NAME OF THAT.
SO MAYBE WE HAVE SOME BASIS TO SUGGEST THAT THERE BE A SECURE PASSAGE ON THE ROAD AND ITS SHOULDER? CORRECT, AND THE ROAD ITSELF WON'T BE PLACED ON A CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
THE ROAD ITSELF IS IN LIKE PUBLIC, THE COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY.
I THINK ANOTHER OPTION WE'RE THINKING ABOUT IS MAYBE CLOSE DOWN HALF THE ROAD OR TYPE THING OR...
YEAH, WE'VE BEEN THROWING AROUND IDEAS, I GUESS IS MAYBE THE WAY TO PUT IT.
MY OBSERVATION IS YOU ARE CHARACTERIZING ALL OF THIS AS PILOT.
SO IT'S ALL TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THOSE COMMUNITIES, AS OUR BOARD PRESIDENT POINTED OUT, MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES, AND LEARN FROM THAT AND DEVELOP IT.
WE KIND OF WANTED TO FRAME IT AS A PILOT PROJECT JUST TO...
LEARN FROM IT, TAKE ANY LESSONS, AND CHANGE DIRECTION IF WHAT WE'RE DOING ISN'T WORKING OR IF ADDITIONAL WORK OR OPPORTUNITIES ARE NEEDED.
YEAH, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU'RE GOING THROUGH THIS EFFORT AND RECOGNIZE THAT IT'S A PILOT.
FIRST OF ALL, I APPRECIATE THAT YOU ALL ARE LOOKING AT THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THAT ROAD SAFELY FOR PEDESTRIANS BECAUSE THAT DOES SEEM LIKE A REALLY GOOD OPTION IN TERMS OF GETTING ACCESS TO THE PARK.
I WAS ALSO CURIOUS ON OPTION 3B.
[01:05:02]
HAVE WE TALKED TO TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY OR, SAY, MONTE ABLA, AND ARE THEY INTERESTED IN DOING THESE TOURS THEY ARE? OKAY.YEAH, WE'VE HAD VERY PRELIMINARY, LIKE, HEY, IF WE DID THIS, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED? AND THEY BOTH WERE.
AND SO THEY WOULD JUST DO THAT ON THEIR OWN? WE WOULDN'T BE PAYING THEM TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S NOT GOING TO BE PART OF OUR OPERATING COSTS? THAT'S TO BE DETERMINED.
WE HAVEN'T TALKED ABOUT ANY COST SHARING OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I WOULD IMAGINE WE WOULD, BUT IT'S CBD.
YEAH, WHEN I'M JUST LOOKING DOWN THE LINE, THE COST LINE, I WAS JUST CURIOUS IF I'M COMPARING APPLES TO APPLES, BUT WE DON'T KNOW.
I THINK ON THE TABLE THERE'S LIKE A PLUS COST SHARING IN PARENTHESES IS KIND OF THE UNKNOWN.
YEAH, DRAKE, I WAS WONDERING, SO UNDER YOUR ANNUAL COSTS UNDER PILOT, OR THE NUMBER TWO, JUST OPENING DOOLIN CANYON, YOU HAD MENTIONED PARK RANGER.
IS THAT $175,000? IS THAT WHAT A PARK RANGER MAKES IN A TOTAL COMP? WAS IT A NINE-MONTH PARK RANGER, A SIX-MONTH PARK RANGER, OR WHAT WAS IT? THAT'S A FULLY BURDENED PARK RANGER POSITION, THAT STEP.
I MEAN, TALKING ABOUT CLOSING IT BECAUSE IT GETS HOT AND THEN CLOSING IT BECAUSE IT GETS COLD, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE, YOU KNOW, I'VE SEEN THIS.
I MEAN, YOU'VE GOT A PARK RANGER AT SHADOW CLIFFS.
THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO DRIVE OVER AND CHUCK A GARBAGE CAN, MAYBE, MAYBE, NO WATER SOURCE, THERE'S NOTHING.
YEAH, I THINK WE'RE JUST PROVIDING, LIKE, HIGH-LEVEL COSTS, FOR INFORMATIONAL BASIS FOR YOUR BOARD, YOU'RE NOT APPROVING BUDGET OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT, I MEAN, WE WANT TO TALK WITH YOUR BOARD ABOUT GENERALLY, AND WE'RE PLANNING TO AS SORT OF PART OF OUR PRIORITY-SETTING SESSION, IS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHEN WE LOOK AT THE NEXT FEW BUDGETS, WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE A TON OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE FOR FUNDING POSITIONS.
AND SO WE'RE LEFT WITH SOME TRADEOFFS ABOUT WHETHER...
WE WANT TO FIGURE OUT OTHER WAYS TO FUND POSITIONS OR IF WE REDUCE SERVICES IN OTHER AREAS AND SPREAD OUR TEAM TO SUPPORT SOME OF THESE.
SO YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE AN ADDITIONAL RANGER TO SUPPORT THIS.
IF WE BROUGHT ADDITIONAL STAFF OR STAFF FROM OTHER SPOTS LIKE SHADOW CLIFFS, THEN THAT JUST REDUCES THEIR ABILITY TO SERVE THOSE COMMENSURATE WITH THE AMOUNT OF WORK IT IS.
SO IF WE DID GO WITH OPTION TWO, I'M JUST CURIOUS, I KNOW THERE'S SENSITIVE HABITAT AND SPECIES THERE.
AND SO WHAT IS YOUR SENSE? I GUESS WE'D HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT MORE.
BUT WHAT IS YOUR SENSE ABOUT IF IF WE USE PEOPLE WOULD BE LIMITED TO THAT EXISTING ROAD AND THAT WOULD BE THE EXISTING TRAILS? DO YOU HOW WILL THAT IMPACT THE NATURAL HABITAT? I MEAN I CAN ANSWER THAT MAYBE I CAN ANSWER THIS AND I KNOW MATT'S AVAILABLE AS WELL, BECAUSE I THINK FOR STEWARDSHIP, YOU'RE TOTALLY RIGHT THAT THIS IS A REALLY SIGNIFICANT PLACE, NATURALLY, AND THAT'S WHY THERE'S ALL THE CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, BECAUSE THERE'S A HIGH HABITAT VALUE.
AND IF PEOPLE STAY ON THE FIRE ROAD, THEN THAT'S NOT A HIGH IMPACT, NECESSARILY.
I THINK THE BIGGEST CONCERN IS WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE STAFF OUT THERE ALL THE TIME, AND IF PEOPLE WENT OFF TRAIL, IT COULD HAVE A...
YOU KNOW, SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST THE THING TO WEIGH.
AND SO WE JUST, YOU KNOW, WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT THAT'S THERE AS A POTENTIAL RISK.
YOU'RE DETERMINING THAT FROM THE MITIGATION SURVEY, THE MITIGATION CONSERVATION EASEMENT SURVEY, THAT LAND.
WE HAVE NOT DONE OUR OWN SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES OR CULTURAL SURVEY ON THE LAND THAT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT OWNS.
ACCORDING TO THE STAFF REPORT, PAGE 76.
I BELIEVE OUR TEAM HAS GONE OUT THERE AND HAS A SENSE OF THE SPECIES.
MATT CAN SPEAK TO IT MORE SPECIFICALLY.
WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF RECORDING THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT, AND THERE'S BEEN QUITE A BIT OF BIOLOGICAL WORK AND RESOURCE ASSESSMENT WITHIN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT AREA.
THE 211 ACRES, THAT SOUTHEASTERN CORNER.
SO MOST OF THAT WORK, MOST OF THE DATA WE HAVE IS IN THAT AREA.
THERE'S A RANCH ROAD THAT GOES THROUGH IT, BUT IT'S NOT THE ONE THAT IS THE ENTRANCE.
YOU ARE CORRECT THAT WE HAVEN'T HAD EXTENSIVE CULTURAL RESOURCE.
AND THAT COULD BE PART OF OUR FOLLOW-UP AS WE'RE SORT OF PLANNING IT FURTHER.
[01:10:02]
STEWARDSHIP, MATT GROHL, ALSO ACTING AGM FOR ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP, AND PLANNING RIGHT NOW.YES, WE HAVEN'T DONE DETAILED RARE PLANT SURVEYS.
BUT WE HAVE DONE SURVEYS OUT IN THE PONDS IN THE AREAS.
THERE IS EXTENSIVE HABITAT FOR CALIFORNIA TIGER SALAMANDER, RED-LEGGED FROG, BURROWING OWL, GOLDEN EAGLE.
I MEAN, THESE SPECIES, BURROWING OWL, ARE OBSERVED ANNUALLY IN THOSE AREAS.
AND SO, I MEAN, WHILE WE HAVEN'T WRITTEN UP A DETAILED REPORT AND ANALYSIS, WE KNOW A LOT OF THOSE SPECIES ARE PRESENT AND THERE IN THOSE AREAS.
ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS? DR.
DECHAMBEAU, GO AHEAD, AND THEN LET'S GO FOR A CHANCE, AND THEN YOU CAN GO, AND THEN I'LL GO.
I WANT TO STEP BACK A LITTLE BIT IN CONSISTENCY AND UNDERSTAND THE NOMENCLATURE OF THIS SEEMS IMPORTANT TO ME.
BRIAN'S READY FOR THIS QUESTION BECAUSE I GAVE STAFF A HEADS UP.
CLEARLY, IN WIESENKAMP AND WHEN THIS WAS DONE, IT'S ALREADY SET ASIDE AS A, YOU KNOW, IN OUR DISTRICT PLAN, IT LAYS OUT WHEN WE CALL IT A REGIONAL PARK, WHEN WE CALL IT A REGIONAL PRESERVE.
SO I'M INTERESTED, YOU KNOW, IN THE REGIONAL PRESERVE, AND THEN HOW DOES THAT DRIVE THE SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION, THE LAND USE PLAN, AND HOW FAR ALONG IS THAT PROCESS FOR THIS PARK? AS WE NAMED IT A REGIONAL PRESERVE, AND HOW DOES A LAND USE PLAN AND A PRESERVE DIFFER FROM OUR OTHER PARKS? THANK YOU FOR THAT.
SO YOU'RE CORRECT, OUR MASTER PLAN LAYS OUT DIFFERENT PARK CLASSIFICATIONS.
I WILL SAY A LOT OF THOSE ARE SORT OF HISTORICALLY ROOTED IN WAYS THAT SOMETIMES THE DESIGNATION DOESN'T ALWAYS CORRESPOND DIRECTLY WITH THE USE THAT'S IN THERE, SO ESPECIALLY AS LIKE PARKS GROW, YOU MIGHT HAVE A PARK THAT'S DESIGNATED AS A REGIONAL PARK THAT HAS REALLY SIGNIFICANT LIKE PRESERVE LANDS ASSOCIATED WITH IT AND VICE VERSA YOU MIGHT HAVE PARK THAT'S DESIGNATED AS A REGIONAL PRESERVE THAT COULD HAVE AN AREA WHERE THERE'S ACTIVE SORT OF PUBLIC USE.
SO BUT BUT THAT SAID, THE DOOLIN CANNON WAS, QUOTE UNQUOTE, DESIGNATED AS A REGIONAL PRESERVE JUST THROUGH OUR MASTER PLAN.
SO THAT WAS REALLY JUST KIND OF A DESIGNATION THAT WAS ATTACHED TO IT, KNOWING THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT IS REALLY HIGH IN RESOURCE VALUES AND IT WOULD BE AN AREA THAT WE.
WOULDN'T PROPOSE REALLY INTENSIVE RECREATION.
SO JUST, YOU KNOW, FROM THE GET-GO, THIS IS NOT AN AREA THAT WE WOULD PROPOSE FOR A LOT OF REAL.
THE IDEA HAS ALWAYS BEEN, LIKE, IT WOULD BE PASSIVE RECREATIONAL USE.
AND THAT'S VERY CONSISTENT WITH THE DESIGNATION OF A REGIONAL PRESERVE.
SO WE HAVE OTHER REGIONAL PRESERVES, WHETHER IT'S HUCKLEBERRY, BLACK DIAMOND MINES IS DESIGNATED AS A REGIONAL PRESERVE, THAT WE DO HAVE, THAT THERE IS.
CERTAINLY, TRAIL USE IS ALLOWED IN REGIONAL PRESERVES.
SO I WOULDN'T GET TOO HUNG UP ON WHETHER IT'S A DESIGNATED REGIONAL PARK, REGIONAL PRESERVE.
I THINK THE IDEA OF WHETHER IT'S A PRESERVED PARK IS A WORTHY CONVERSATION.
BUT THE DESIGNATION, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF ISN'T SUPER CRITICAL.
THE QUESTION ON THE LAND USE PLAN IS REALLY KIND OF THE QUESTION THAT WE'RE HERE ASKING THE BOARD.
SO DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF RECREATION AND LEVEL OF ACCESS THAT'S NEEDED IN THERE WILL KIND OF DICTATE THE LEVEL OF PLANNING THAT'S NEEDED FOR THAT.
SO IS IT SORT OF A YOU KNOW SITE DEVELOPMENT PLAN AS A PARTNERSHIP PLAN FOR GUIDED TOURS THERE.
I THINK YOU KNOW IF THE IDEA IS TO OPEN UP THE AREA AND YOU KNOW WE WILL NEED TO LOOK AT WHERE FENCING MIGHT NEED TO BE LOCATED TO ADDRESS CONCERNS ABOUT OFF-TRAIL USE.
WE WILL NEED TO LOOK AT THINGS LIKE SIGNAGE AND YOU KNOW EDUCATION IS BEING PROVIDED IN THERE TO TRY TO ENCOURAGE RESPONSIBLE USE OF THE AREA AND THEN OF COURSE WOULD BE WORKING WITH OUR STEWARDSHIP AND YOU KNOW THERE'S COORDINATION WITH GRAZING AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS THAT KIND OF GO IN SO SO WE WOULD BE DEVELOPING SOME LEVEL OF A PLAN THAT WOULD NEED TO THAT WOULD NEED TO GUIDE WHAT THE THE SORT OF NEXT STEP.
DRAKE MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, THERE HASN'T NECESSARILY BEEN DETAILED CULTURAL RESOURCES DONE, SO THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING.
SO I THINK THAT'S KIND OF THE QUESTION HERE IS, YOU KNOW, IF WE MOVE FORWARD AS A PILOT, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN KIND OF MOVE FORWARD WITH AND SORT OF LOOK AT AS WE GO.
IF IT'S SORT OF MANAGED ACCESS, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT MORE CONTROL OF THE SITE.
IF THE SITE'S, YOU KNOW, SORT OF OPENED UP, THEN WE ALSO HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT SOME OF THOSE OTHER USES MIGHT OCCUR OUT THERE, AND SO THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAILED LEVEL.
YEAH, I JUST WAS TRYING TO LOOK TO, YOU KNOW,
[01:15:01]
I THINK OUR MASTER PLAN IS OUR BLUEPRINT, AND HOPEFULLY THEY LOCK IN ENOUGH THAT THEY'RE MEANINGFUL, WHAT THE TERMS ARE THAT WE'VE GIVEN THEM.AND I KNOW, LIKE AT HUCKLEBERRY IN MY WARD, IT'S VERY MEANINGFUL, AND THEY RESTRICT NO DOGS, NO BIKES, NO HORSES.
I DON'T EVEN KNOW, DO THEY ALLOW CATTLE? SO I WOULD THINK THERE'D BE SOME...
CONSISTENCY OR WE WOULD RE-LOOK AT THAT SINCE WE HAVE THAT CHANCE IN OUR DISTRICT PLAN TO REALLY MAKE THOSE NOMENCLATURES MEANINGFUL AND WHAT DO THEY MEAN BUT HUCKLEBERRY IS WHAT I'M FAMILIAR WITH SO IN OTHER PRESERVES WOULD THAT BE KIND OF THE RESTRICT WELL I THINK RESTRICTIVE ON YEAH I MEAN GENERALLY BIKE HORSES HIKING WELL I WOULD I WOULD PUT CATTLE ASIDE BECAUSE CATTLE IS VERY MUCH A STEWARDSHIP TOOL THAT WE USE ON THE LAND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ACTUALLY USE FOR BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION BUT IN TERMS OF SOME OF THE LIKE YOU MENTIONED DOGS YOU KNOW, I THINK WE WOULD LOOK, WHETHER IT'S DESIGNATED AS A REGIONAL PARK, REGIONAL PRESERVE, YOU KNOW, WE WOULD LOOK AT THE SITE CHARACTERISTICS SPECIFICALLY ON WHETHER, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, DOGS SHOULD BE ALLOWED OR DOGS SHOULD BE ALLOWED BUT ON LEASH ONLY OR DOGS SHOULD JUST NOT BE ALLOWED.
AND WE'VE HAD SOME OF THESE CONVERSATIONS AROUND, YOU KNOW, A NUMBER OF OUR OTHER PROPERTIES, PARTICULARLY WHERE THERE'S CONSERVATION EASEMENTS BECAUSE THOSE RULES SOMETIMES GET PASSED DOWN TO US BY WHATEVER THE OTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE.
SO WE WOULD ALSO BE GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT THE, YOU KNOW, THE EXISTING CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND WHAT RULES DO THEY HAVE.
SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, TO TRY TO BE CONSISTENT WITH THAT.
SO THE DESIGNATION IS MEANINGFUL, BUT WE ALSO, AS STAFF, ARE LOOKING AT THE SITE CONDITIONS AND WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES SENSE ON THE GROUND.
SO THAT'S WHEN I SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE KIND OF THE ACTUAL CHARACTERISTICS THERE.
YEAH, I MEAN, THAT'S, BRIAN MENTIONED WE WOULD NEED TO DO ADDITIONAL PLANNING TO, LIKE, UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE IF YOUR BOARD DOES DIRECT US TO MOVE TOWARDS OPENING IT UP.
AND PART OF THAT WOULD BE COMING BACK TO YOUR BOARD WITH MORE INFORMATION ABOUT, LIKE, WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF WHAT OUR RECOMMENDATION WOULD BE ABOUT POTENTIAL USES.
MY GUESS IS THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S A SHORT ONE-WAY-IN, ONE-WAY-OUT ROAD.
SO IT'S LIKE, I WOULD THINK THAT JUST HIKING WOULD BE THE...
MAJORITY OF WHAT PEOPLE WOULD BE DOING THERE.
I DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS RIGHT NOW.
I DO HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS, BUT I THINK YOU HAD SOME QUESTIONS.
VICE PRESIDENT COFFEY, REAL QUICK.
WHO MANAGES OR HOW ARE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT LANDS MANAGED? SO YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO ANSWER THAT BETTER THAN I, DRAKE.
WITHIN PLANNING, WE'VE STARTED THE CONSERVATION LANDS PROGRAM.
IT'S LARGELY ONE DEDICATED STAFF PERSON WHO'S A PROJECT MANAGER IN PLANNING WHO DOES A LOT OF THAT WORK, BUT SHE ORGANIZES AND COORDINATES WITH OPERATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY AND STEWARDSHIP TO REALLY GET ALL OF THE REQUIREMENTS AND MAKE THE REPORTS AND HIRE THE CONSULTANTS THAT DO THAT.
I'M INTERESTED IN THE SURROUNDING CONSERVATION.
I CAN ANSWER THAT IT'S ALL TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY AND THAT'S ALSO WHO WE'RE WORKING WITH ON THE 211 ACRES AS WELL AS TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY.
WELL TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY IS OUR LIKE CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITOR SO THEY'RE THE ONES WHO HAVE TO SORT OF YOU KNOW ENSURE THAT THE THE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN PLACE SO CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HAVE A CONSERVATION EASEMENT MANAGER AND A CONSERVATION EASEMENT MONITOR SO OFTENTIMES WE'RE THE MANAGER SO WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR SORT OF MANAGING THE AREA, VEGETATION MANAGEMENT, GRAZING, KEEPING FENCES UP, ALL THAT.
THEY'RE THE MONITORS, SO THEY GO OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THE CONDITIONS ARE STILL MEETING THE CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES THAT WERE SET OUT IN THE LONG TERM.
TO CLARIFY, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 211 ACRES WITHIN THE SCHMITZ PROPERTY, BUT I THINK YOU ALSO ASKED ABOUT THE SURROUNDING.
I'M TALKING ABOUT ALL THAT'S SURROUNDING.
THERE'S, I THINK, 1,100 ACRES, AND THAT ALSO IS TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY.
NAOMI LAVAL, PLANNING MANAGER IN ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP, AND PLANNING.
EACH MITIGATION BANK AND CONSERVATION EASEMENT SURROUNDING HAS A DIFFERENT CONSERVATION EASEMENT HOLDER.
SO WHILE TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY IS ONE OF THE EASEMENT HOLDERS, DOESN'T MANAGE ALL OF THE LAND THERE.
SO IN THE SITUATION WHERE THE LANDOWNER AND THE PRESERVE MANAGER FOR THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON THE SCHMITZ PROPERTY AND TRI-VALID CONSERVANCY HOLDS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OVER OUR PROPERTY OR WILL ONCE IT'S REPORTED AND THEY PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND REPORT TO THE RESOURCE AGENCIES ON IF
[01:20:01]
WE ARE MANAGING CORRECTLY.ON OUR MANAGEMENT AND IT'S BOTH TWO REPORTS GO TO THE RESOURCE AGENCIES.
FOR THE MITIGATION BANK TO THE SOUTH THEY WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT SET OF ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.
THERE WILL BE A SEPARATE LANDOWNER AS WELL AS AN OVERSIGHT EASEMENT HOLDER.
EACH ONE HAS DEPENDING ON WHO HAS BEEN APPROVED AND WHEN THOSE EASEMENTS WERE APPROVED IT COULD BE TVC OR IT COULD BE A DIFFERENT HOLDER.
BUT THEY ALL HAVE STAFF WHO GO OUT AND MAKE SURE THEIR HABITAT IS PROTECTED THE STAFFING DEPENDS BUT THERE IS USUALLY A STAFF PERSON ASSIGNED THAT IS CORRECT AT LEAST ONE PERSON WILL WORK FOR THAT ORGANIZATION.
LOGICALLY THIS ALL THIS LAND THE 1,100 ACRES? THAT'S 1,168 ACRES ON THE TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY WEBSITE.
SHOULD BE MANAGED HOLISTICALLY THAT'S JUST THAT IS WELL I MEAN THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN WAS TO CREATE A MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT LOOKS AT A LARGE LANDSCAPE SCALE AND MANAGES IT HOLISTICALLY.
WHICH IS WHY I WAS THINKING ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH THAT.
SO IT'S VERY DIFFERENT IN THE REST OF THE WORLD OF CONSERVATION AND MITIGATION LANDS, WHERE IT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE PIECEMEAL.
THEY CERTAINLY COORDINATE, BUT THEY'RE NOT ALL HELD TO THE SAME STANDARDS, BECAUSE EACH PLAN IS APPROVED SEPARATELY.
CAN I ASK? A LITTLE BIT MORE ON THAT? I MEAN, MY EXPERIENCE IN LOCAL POLITICS, I MEAN, THE MITIGATION LAND, THE REASON THESE LANDS ARE HELD IS BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW, 30,000 HOMES WERE BUILT IN THE HILLS NEARBY, AND WE KNOW THERE WAS A TAKE IN THE REMOVAL OF, AND THESE LANDS ARE EXPRESSLY MITIGATED TO MAKE UP FOR THAT.
AND WE ARE FABULOUS LANDOWNERS AND CAN HELP TAKE CARE OF THOSE LANDS.
SO NOT QUITE CLEAR ON OUR 211 ACRES.
I MEAN, NO ONE'S EXPECTED TO STAFF.
USUALLY THE POINT IS LIKE, ALL RIGHT, YOU TOOK THE RIDGELINES, YOU BUILT YOUR 30,000 HOUSES, AND YOU'RE GOING TO SET ASIDE 10 ACRES OF LAND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO TRY TO MAKE UP FOR THAT OR WHATEVER.
AND THEY'RE NOT STAFFED PER SE, RIGHT? I MEAN, THEY'RE MONITORED.
AND THEN I MEAN, THAT BIG PICTURE QUESTION, WHO'S DOING IT FOR OUR 211 ACRES? ARE WE MONITORING OR I JUST, SORRY, I'M STILL A LITTLE NOW, I'M CONFUSED BY THE INTENT OF SETTING ASIDE LAND AND THEN WHO MONITORS THE REQUIRED, BECAUSE THEY WERE REQUIRED TO DO THIS, THE DEVELOPERS.
SO THE CITY OF LIVERMORE AND ITS THREE PROJECTS THAT THIS MITIGATION PARTICULAR AREA, THE 211 ACRES, WAS SET ASIDE FOR, YES, THAT WAS REQUIRED FOR THE CITY.
USUALLY WHAT HAPPENS IS A DEVELOPER OR AN ENTITY LIKE A CITY WILL WORK WITH THE RESOURCE AGENCY TO SET ASIDE THE LAND, DRAFT THE PLAN, THE LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN, AND THEN THEY FIND A HOLDER OF THAT EASEMENT AS WELL AS A LANDOWNER.
THEY VERY RARELY REMAIN AS THE LANDOWNER.
SO IN OUR PARTICULAR AGREEMENT 15 YEARS AGO, WE AGREED TO BE THE LANDOWNER AND PRESERVE MANAGER ROLE.
THEN THERE'S AN ENDOWMENT THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR THE COMPLIANCE WITH THAT LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN.
SO THERE WILL BE FUNDING THAT WILL HELP PAY FOR ALL THE BIOLOGICAL STUDIES THAT WE HAVE TO DO ANNUALLY AND FOR THE REPORTING THAT HAS TO BE SENT TO THE RESOURCE AGENCIES, AS WELL AS SOME FUNDING FOR ACTUAL LAND MANAGEMENT.
SO THERE'S SOME OPERATIONAL FUNDING ALSO SET ASIDE AS PART OF THAT ENDOWMENT JUST FOR THAT 211 ACRES.
AND THEN THERE'S ALSO A SMALLER AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT IS SET ASIDE FOR AN ENTITY LIKE TBC, WHICH HOLDS THE OVERSIGHT ROLE, AND THEY MONITOR OUR ACTIONS ON THE LAND.
SO THEY ARE NOT CONDUCTING THE BIOLOGICAL RESOURCE STUDIES, BUT THEY ARE GOING OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS ANNUALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE COMPLYING WITH THE TERMS SET IN THE LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN.
WE CURRENTLY HOLD ABOUT 10,000 ACRES.
THROUGHOUT THE PARK DISTRICT THAT HAS SOME LEVEL OF CONSERVATION MITIGATION RESTRICTION ON IT DUE TO THIS MECHANISM SOMETIMES IT'S A CONSERVATION EASEMENT SOMETIMES IT'S A DEED RESTRICTION SOMETIMES IT'S ANOTHER MECHANISM THEN IN ADDITION TO THAT THERE'S ANOTHER 15 000 ACRES THAT IS ALSO MITIGATION LAND THAT IS PART OF THE EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN AREA SO WE HAVE ABOUT 25 000 ACRES WE HAVE ONE DEDICATED STAFF PERSON WHO WORKS IN OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT THAT OVERSEES OUR CONSERVATION LANDS PROGRAM, AND SHE COORDINATES WITH THE VARIOUS OPERATIONS STAFF, FINANCE STAFF, AS WELL AS OUR STEWARDSHIP STAFF TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDIES AND REPORTING HAPPEN ON A CONSISTENT BASIS AND THAT THE
[01:25:03]
ENDOWMENTS ARE BEING PULLED FROM.AND WE ALSO HAVE AN ON-CALL CONTRACT WHERE WE CAN HIRE OUTSIDE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTING FIRMS OF OUR OWN STAFF.
IT HAS TOO MUCH ON THEIR PLATE TO GO OUT AND DO STUDY IT BECAUSE ALL THE STUDIES WOULD HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME OF THE YEAR SO THAT'S KIND OF JUST REALLY BROADLY THE CONSERVATION LANDS PROGRAM.
SO THIS PARTICULAR 211 ACRES WILL FIT INTO THAT CONSERVATION LANDS OVERSIGHT PROGRAM THAT WE MANAGE.
WE DO HOLD A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR RECREATIONAL USERS, WHEREVER THESE CONSERVATION LANDS ARE, ARE NOT GOING OFF TRAIL OR LETTING DOGS OFF LEASH OR OTHER THINGS WHEN THERE IS A CONSERVATION EASEMENT OR SOME SORT OF MITIGATION.
AND THAT IS MUCH BECAUSE, SIMILAR TO THE EAST CONTRA COSTA HABITAT CONSERVATION PLAN, BECAUSE WE ARE REPORTING ON THE CONDITION OF THE HABITAT THAT'S BEEN PROTECTED AND THE ANIMALS THAT ARE THERE, IF PUBLIC ACCESS IS SORT OF FOUND TO BE HAVING A NEGATIVE EFFECT, THAT CAN AFFECT THE RESOURCE AGENCY'S WILLINGNESS TO LET US CONTINUE TO HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS THERE.
THAT'S SORT OF WRITTEN INTO THOSE EASEMENTS THAT IT'S SORT OF...
AT THEIR DISCRETION TO CONTINUE TO ALLOW PUBLIC ACCESS.
AND NORMALLY THEY DEFAULT, WHICH IS WHY THE 1,100 ACRES AROUND DOOLIN CANYON SAY NO PUBLIC ACCESS, BECAUSE THEIR DEFAULT IS ALWAYS NO PUBLIC ACCESS.
BECAUSE WE ARE A RESPONSIBLE LANDOWNER AND HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN THE EAST BAY OF BEING GOOD LAND MANAGERS, WE ARE OFTEN ABLE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE RESOURCE AGENCIES TO HAVE PUBLIC ACCESS ON THESE MITIGATION LANDS.
PERFECT INTO THE NEXT THING I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU.
SO I KNOW YOU'RE GETTING INTO THE WEEDS FOR ME.
I APPRECIATE THAT BECAUSE I'M LEARNING A LOT.
BUT OF THE 10,000 ACRES OF DISTRICT PLAN, THEY'RE DOING, THE OVERSIGHT AGENCY IS DOING THESE MONITORINGS.
SO IN OUR PILOT PROJECT, THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER CHECK AND BALANCE WE'D HAVE DURING THE PILOT PROJECT THAT THE ANNUAL MONITORING WOULD.
FIND, AS YOU SAID, THAT THE RESOURCE AGENCY, THE LANDOWNER, MIGHT NEED TO BACK OFF OR MIGHT, THEY WOULD BE SORT OF PARTNERS IN MONITORING THAT IN ESSENCE.
YEAH, TBC WOULD BE LIKE MONITORING OUR, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF TRASH BEING LEFT OUT OR THAT OUR, YOU KNOW, IF WE HAVE A PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT POLICY THAT OUR USERS ARE ABIDING BY THAT.
SO THE OTHER QUESTION THEN THAT I HAD WAS IN, WE'VE DONE THIS DISTRICT-WIDE AND WE HAVE THESE ROADS THAT PEOPLE ARE USING, THEY'RE DRIVING, THEY'RE ACCESSING.
IS THAT ALSO TYPICAL? SAME THING YOU JUST SAID.
IN SOME AREAS, THE 1,100 ACRES ARE JUST GOING TO SAY ABSOLUTELY NO, NO ENTRY.
BUT IN OUR CASE, WE'RE A RESPONSIBLE OWNER, WE'RE GOING TO MONITOR IT.
ACCESS ROAD AND DRIVING THROUGH, I MEAN I THINK OF TILDEN WHERE WE HAVE TO CLOSE THE ROAD BECAUSE THE NEWTS ARE GOING ACROSS OR SOMETHING'S, THERE'S A SEASON.
I MEAN ANIMALS DON'T KNOW A CORRIDOR WHEN THEY ACROSS THE STREET, BUT IS IT TYPICAL AND OKAY AND MONITORED TO HAVE TRAFFIC, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S EXEMPT FROM THE EASEMENT.
THAT'S WHAT I WAS READING IN THE STAFF REPORT.
WE WOULDN'T ALLOW ANY VEHICLE TRAFFIC ON THE FIRE ROAD, I MEAN, EXCEPT FOR OUR SERVICE STAFF.
AND IT COULD BE THAT AS WE SORT OF LIKE PLAN THIS, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF...
OUR RECOMMENDATION MIGHT JUST BE TO HAVE PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A SHORT TRAIL.
I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE OF THE VALUE.
OR MAYBE THERE'S OTHER CONTROLS THAT HELP SORT OF MANAGE IT.
OKAY, YES, SO I HAVE SOME QUESTIONS THAT I'D LIKE TO BE ABLE TO ASK.
JUST IN TERMS OF THE MATH, SO FOR THE LAND THAT WE OWN, IT'S 640 ACRES FOR THE SCHMITZ PROPERTY, 160 FOR THE GROVE PROPERTY, SO THAT'S 800 TOTAL ACRES.
AND THEN I SUBTRACT THE 211 MITIGATION ACRES, AND SO I GET ABOUT 589 ACRES THAT ARE CURRENTLY NOT ENCUMBERED BY MITIGATION OR CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
AND IN MY MIND, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IN TERMS OF POTENTIAL FOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES.
THE GROVE PROPERTY, THERE ISN'T A WAY TO GET UP THERE RIGHT NOW.
THERE'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE COULDN'T IN THE FUTURE GAIN ACCESS UP THERE SOMEHOW.
AND LIKE NAOMI SAID, WE ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE RECREATION ON TRAILS WITHIN THAT CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
SO IF WE WANT TO, WE CAN ALLOW THAT.
WE DON'T HAVE TO ALLOW IT, BUT WE CAN ALLOW IT TO.
SO THAT'S A CHOICE WE CAN MAKE.
WE CAN TRY TO STOP THE RECREATION BEFORE IT GETS THERE, OR WE CAN MAYBE ALLOW IT.
AND THAT WOULD BE PART OF THIS PLANNING PROCESS.
AND THEN WITH THE TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY SPECIFICALLY, I KNOW THEY SENT US IN A COMMENT AT OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING IN 2025 IN REGARDS TO THIS PROPERTY, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATED
[01:30:02]
IN PUBLIC COMMENTS DURING THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.AND TO SUMMARIZE THE WRITTEN COMMENT AND THE PUBLIC COMMENT FROM TRI-VALLEY CONSERVANCY, THEY VERY MUCH WANT TO SEE RECREATION ACCESS IN DOOLIN CANYON, SPECIFICALLY ON THE RANCH ROAD.
THEY DO SUPPORT RECREATION ACCESS ON THE RANCH ROAD.
AND I DO THINK THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT TO STATE HERE.
IN REGARDS TO THE RANCH ROAD, I BELIEVE WE ALSO WORKED AT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA LEVEL TO HAVE A CEQA, CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT, EXEMPTION ON EXISTING RANCH ROADS WHEN WE OPENED THOSE UP FOR RECREATION ACCESS.
HOW WOULD THAT LEGISLATION POTENTIALLY BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS RANCH ROAD AT DOOLING CANYON? I THINK IT WOULD.
DEPENDING ON THE LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT THERE, IT WOULD LIKELY MAKE ANY SOFT OPENING OR LIGHT OPENING EXEMPT.
IF THERE WERE ANY THINGS THAT WERE NOT JUST OPENING THE TRAILS, THEN THAT OPENS UP TO POTENTIALLY HAVING TO DO A CEQA PROJECT.
AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS OR IS NOT EXEMPT BASED ON THE PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND THE AVAILABLE EXEMPTIONS WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE DETERMINED ONCE WE KNOW WHAT THAT PROJECT IS.
AND I THINK THAT JUST GOES BACK TO WHAT BRIAN DESCRIBED, WHICH IS LIKE, DEPENDING ON THE DIRECTION FROM YOUR BOARD, OUR TEAM WILL TAKE THAT DIRECTION AND THEN DETERMINE WHAT THE NEXT PLANNING STEPS WOULD BE.
AND SO WITH THAT DIRECTION, THEN WE WOULD BE RECOMMENDING WHAT THE CEQA APPROACH WOULD BE.
OKAY, AND SO WITH THE CONCEPT OF A PILOT PROJECT, I KNOW THIS WAS...
SO I'LL SHARE A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MY TENURE ON THIS BOARD WHEN I FIRST, SO I ALWAYS SHARE THE STORY, YOU KNOW, IN NOVEMBER OF 2022, THE TOP PRIORITY.
MY PREDECESSOR, ANNE WIESKAMP, WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT I AM FAMILIAR WITH DOOLIN CANYON, AND SHE ORGANIZED A MEETING OUT AT THE OLSON PROPERTY, AND WE HAD CITY OF LIVERMORE, CITY OF PLEASANTON THERE.
WE EVEN WENT ON A HIKE IN THE MUD WITH MIKE REEVES.
AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT ANNE REALLY WANTED TO CONVEY TO ME AS BEING SOMETHING TO KEEP AN SO THEN WHEN I STARTED ON THIS BOARD IN 2023, I RECEIVED...
AND I WENT THROUGH AND LOOKED AT THIS.
I RECEIVED AT MINIMUM FIVE REQUESTS, BUT I BELIEVE IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE.
I JUST COULDN'T FIND IT IN MY RECORDS.
SO WE'LL SAY FROM FIVE TO TEN REQUESTS FROM THE LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT ON THE RANCH ROAD AND TO SEE THE SCHMITZ PROPERTY.
AND EACH ONE OF THOSE FIVE REQUESTS WERE NOT HONORED.
DESPITE THAT SIX-MONTH PERIOD, AND IT MIGHT HAVE EVEN BEEN WITHIN A ONE-MONTH PERIOD, I KNOW THAT THERE HAD BEEN A SPECIAL TOUR GIVEN TO THE CITY OF SAN RAMON OPEN SPACE COMMITTEE.
AND SO I THINK THAT THIS PILOT PROJECT PROPOSAL IS TO BE ABLE TO GIVE US SOME FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO BRING PEOPLE OUT TO THE RANCH ROAD AND THE SCHMITZ PROPERTY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GO OUT THERE.
SO WHETHER IT'S A, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO HAVE ONE DAY LAST YEAR, 2025, IN MAY 2025.
IT ENDED UP BEING A REALLY HOT DAY AND I KNOW I PROMISED TO TRY TO HAVE ANOTHER YOU KNOW OPPORTUNITY FOR THE PUBLIC TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE AND I WAS TOLD THAT WE HAD THAT ONE DAY AND THAT WAS IT AND SO I THINK THAT WITH THIS PILOT PROJECT YOU KNOW MY HOPE IS THAT WE ARE MORE FLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF HAVING PEOPLE TO BE ABLE TO COME OUT THERE AND TO SEE THE PROPERTY AND AND ALSO ASSESS YOU KNOW WHAT THE DEMAND AND INTEREST IS AND I THINK THAT WITH THE EXISTING RANCH ROAD MAYBE A PHASE ONE APPROACH AND WE COULD WE COULD TAKE A A COUPLE DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THAT PHASE ONE APPROACH.
YOU KNOW, WE COULD HAVE SPECIFIC DAYS THAT THE GATES OPEN AND THEN OTHER TIMES WHEN THE GATES CLOSED.
AND I THINK MY QUESTION HERE TO GET TO THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, HOW FLEXIBLE ARE WE IN THOSE OPTIONS FOR THIS PILOT PROGRAM TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT OPTIONS FOR, YOU KNOW, GIVING THE PUBLIC ACCESS AND KNOWING IT'S NOT A PERMANENT OPENING, BUT THAT WE'RE ALSO NOT KEEPING THE GATE CLOSED ALMOST PERMANENTLY FROM THE PUBLIC, WHICH IS MY EXPERIENCE SINCE 2023.
WELL, I THINK WE'RE AT A TIME OF A TIME TON OF FLEXIBILITY.
WE'RE LIKE, REALLY, THIS IS HIGH LEVEL.
WHAT'S THE GENERAL DIRECTION? SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM YOUR BOARD WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AND THEN, YOU KNOW, FIGURE OUT WHAT.
AND SO WITH THAT FLEXIBILITY, I KNOW THAT THERE IS A DESIRE FOR THINKING ABOUT A LAND USE PLAN AND SORT OF THE LONG TERM.
PLAN AT DOOLING CANYON, AND IS IT POSSIBLE, LET'S SAY, AND WOULD THIS BE HELPFUL TODAY TO THINK ABOUT IT, TO FRAME THE
[01:35:02]
SITUATION THIS WAY, LIKE SAY WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR PILOT WHERE WE'RE A LITTLE BIT MORE FLEXIBLE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS IN DIFFERENT WAYS TO THE SCHMITZ PROPERTY AND SPECIFICALLY TO THE RANCH ROAD, ONLY ON THE RANCH ROAD, USING SOME OF THE, YOU KNOW, THE ASPECT OF THE CEQA EXEMPTION ON THE RANCH ROAD, AND DURING THAT TWO YEARS WE WORK TOWARDS...BUILDING A LAND USE PLAN AND BUILDING A MORE PERMANENT LONG-TERM PLAN AND COMING UP WITH SOME OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS OUT THERE IN TERMS OF THAT LONG-TERM PLAN, BUT NOT LIMITING PUBLIC ACCESS TO DOOLIN CANYON AT SPECIFIED TIMES.
YEAH, I THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF DIRECTION WE'RE LOOKING FOR AND SO I THINK YOU KNOW, THAT'S YEAH WE'RE THAT'S THE KIND OF DIRECTION THAT WE'RE LOOKING.
OKAY, GREAT THANK YOU AND THEN I JUST HAVE TWO OTHER QUESTIONS AND THEN WE'LL OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT IF THERE AREN'T ANY PRESSING QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD THE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE IS IN REGARDS TO LAND USE PLAN SO I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT WOULD APPEAR TO ME THAT THE LAST LAND USE PLAN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT COMPLETED WAS FOR THURGOOD MARSHALL IN 2020 WHEN I WENT TO THE WEBSITE.
NOW, THERE IS SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR TO A LAND USE PLAN THAT WAS COMPLETED, I BELIEVE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EASTERN CONTRA COSTA HABITAT CONSERVANCY FOR DEER VALLEY IN 2022.
BUT THAT'S THE BEST THAT I COULD FIND WHEN I DID MY SEARCH.
AND SO I'M CURIOUS IF THAT IS, TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE, I KNOW THIS IS PUTTING YOU A LITTLE BIT ON THE SPOT.
I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THIS LAST NIGHT.
OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE SENT THIS SOONER.
BUT HAVE WE, BECAUSE I DON'T RECALL US REVIEWING, WE'VE HAD LAND USE PLAN AMENDMENTS.
AND CHANGES TO LAND USE PLANS BUT LIKE A BRAND NEW LAND USE PLAN I DON'T BELIEVE I'VE SEEN THAT SINCE 2023 SINCE I'VE JOINED THIS BOARD NO I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A FAIR COMMENT IN TERMS OF WHAT A TRUE CAPITAL L CAPITAL U CAPITAL P LAND-USE PLAN IS THURGOOD MARSHALL WOULD PROBABLY BE THE LAST LAND USE PLAN THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT WE HAVE NOT DONE A WHOLE SERIES OF OTHER LOWERCASE L LOWERCASE U LOWERCASE P PLANS FOR LAND USE IN VARIOUS OTHER PARTS OF THE DISTRICT AND SO THERE'S SORT OF A QUESTION ABOUT LIKE YEAH WHERE THE DESIGN IS AND THAT SORT OF THING AND IT'S IT'S KIND OF A WHOLE SEPARATE CONVERSATION THAT WE COULD HAVE AROUND WHAT A LAND-USE PLAN IS WHEN DO WE NEED TO DO IT THAT SORT OF THING I MEAN I WOULD SAY YOU KNOW LAND USE PLAN TRADITIONALLY WAS REALLY DONE WHERE YOU KNOW YOU KIND OF WANT TO BRING OUT THE PUBLIC AND I KNOW THE HISTORY OF IT WAS REALLY A QUESTION AROUND WHEN THE PARK DISTRICT WOULD BUY A NEW PROPERTY AND THIS IS GOING BACK TO LIKE THE 50S AND 60S QUESTIONS AROUND LIKE IS THIS PROPERTY GOING TO BE A TILDEN PARK OR IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE A SONOL WILDERNESS? AND SO REALLY QUESTIONS ABOUT, LIKE, IS IT GOING TO BE DEVELOPED AND ALL THIS SORT OF STUFF.
I WOULD SAY TODAY, AND WE INCREASINGLY SEE THIS WITH THESE PROPERTIES THAT ARE CONSTRAINED, WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS AND ALL THIS SORT OF STUFF, THE SORT OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COMPONENT OF LAND USE PLANS, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF HARD TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY AND SAY, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE OUT HERE? AND THEN WE HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND SAY, WELL, YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT BECAUSE THERE'S THIS CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
A LOT OF THE LAND USE PLANNING THAT WOULD BE DONE HERE AT DOOLIN CANYON WOULD BE LOOKING AT WHAT'S THE TRAIL ACCESS OPPORTUNITIES AND REALLY HOW WOULD WE BE ABLE TO MANAGE THAT IN A WAY CONSISTENT WITH OUR STEWARDSHIP AND OUR KNOWLEDGE.
CERTAINLY WE WOULD DO A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AROUND THAT TOO.
IT WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING SEEING LIKE, YOU KNOW, IS THERE AN INTEREST IN DOG WALKING OUT HERE? WHAT IS THE INTEREST IN SORT OF, YOU KNOW, USING THIS AS A LOOP, AS A BIKE? BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE AS EXTENSIVE AS LIKE A THURGOOD MARSHALL.
LANDY'S PLAN WHICH WAS VERY MUCH LIKE JUST WHAT'S THE CHARACTER AND FEEL OF THIS FUTURE PARK.
HERE WE REALLY KNOW THIS IS GOING TO BE A PASSIVE RECREATION PARK AND THAT'S THAT'S A GIVEN AND THEN THE QUESTION IS JUST REALLY IS A PILOT PROJECT AS A GUIDED.
WE WOULD EMBARK ON THAT LEVEL OF A PLANNING EXERCISE AND I WOULD SAY YOU KNOW IT PROBABLY BE YOU KNOW NOT IT WOULD BE SO I'M I GUESS WHAT I'M SAYING IS WE CAN'T PAINT ALL THE LAND USE PLANS WITH THE SAME BRUSH TYPE OF THING.
AND LIKE I SAY, AS WE'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE LANDS WITH THESE THAT COME TO US, WE DON'T GET MANY BLANK SLATES ANYMORE.
THEY COME TO US WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS.
THEY COME TO US WITH KIND OF BAKED IN THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.
AND THEN MY FINAL QUESTION IS IN REGARDS TO GRAZING.
SO I DO KNOW THAT WE HAVE ACTIVE CATTLE GRAZING.
ON THESE TWO PROPERTIES, SCHMITZ AND GROVE, AND IT'S CATTLE GRAZING, NOT SHEEP GRAZING.
AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, TYPICALLY WHEN WE HAVE SHEEP GRAZING, WE DO HAVE THAT IN SOME OF OUR MORE BIOLOGICALLY SENSITIVE AREAS, WHEREAS CATTLE GRAZING MIGHT MEAN THAT IT'S NOT AS SENSITIVE AS WHERE WE HAVE THE SHEEP GRAZING.
IS THAT CORRECT? I'LL LET MATT, DO YOU WANT TO JUMP IN ON THAT? I MEAN, I DON'T, I WOULDN'T SAY IT THAT WAY.
[01:40:01]
YEAH, NO, I MEAN, WE HAVE VERY SENSITIVE HABITATS THAT ARE GRAZED BY CATTLE.IT'S JUST A QUESTION OF THE TIMING AND HOW IT'S DONE.
THERE ARE AREAS THAT I THINK THERE'S CONCERN IS ALSO PARTLY RELATED TO CULTURAL RESOURCES.
AND WHERE WE HAVE SHEEP GRAZING, THERE'S BEEN SOME CULTURAL RESOURCE CONCERNS WITH CATTLE.
AND SO THAT'S WHERE SOME AREAS HAVE USED SHEEP IN THE PAST FOR THOSE REASONS, BUT NOT NECESSARILY FOR HABITAT REASONS.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE OR CDFW WILL REQUIRE ON CONSERVATION EASEMENTS THAT YOU GRAZE IT A VERY SPECIFIC WAY.
SO THEY MAY SAY TO MAINTAIN HABITAT VALUES, YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF CATTLE AT A CERTAIN TIME AND MAINTAIN A GRASS HEIGHT, A CERTAIN GRASS HEIGHT.
SO AN EASEMENT MAY HAVE VERY SPECIFIC GRAZING PRESCRIPTIONS TO MAINTAIN THE HABITAT IN THOSE AREAS.
AND I DID WANT TO CORRECT SOMETHING I SAID EARLIER ABOUT AREAS OUTSIDE THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT.
WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY EARLIER IS WE DIDN'T DO SPECIFIC SPECIAL STATUS PLANT SURVEYS, BUT WE DID DO EXTENSIVE SURVEYS, PLANT SURVEYS, AND WE IDENTIFIED.
ALKALI WETLANDS IN THE AREA SO THERE ARE VERY NOTABLE SENSITIVE PLANT COMMUNITIES IN THE AREA INSIDE THE EASEMENT AND OUTSIDE THE EASEMENT ON THE LAND WE OWN SO WE HAVE YOUR ROMANZA WETLANDS SALT GRASS WETLANDS, AND THERE'S ALSO HIGHLY NATIVE GRASSLANDS WITHIN THE AREA THAT WE OWN SO I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WE DID DO THOSE SURVEYS GREAT THANK YOU, AND JUST TO CONFIRM ITS CATTLE GRAZING THAT WE HAVE AT DILLON CANYON.
YES, THAT'S CORRECT THANK YOU.
THOSE ARE ALL THE QUESTIONS THAT I HAVE ARE THERE ANY FINAL PRESSING QUESTIONS.
WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE FOR COMMENTS, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THERE'S FIVE OF THEM IN PERSON, AND NOW ONE HAND UP ONLINE.
MY NAME IS AMELIA MARSHALL, REPRESENTING CALIFORNIA STATE HORSEMEN'S ASSOCIATION, REGION 05, ALAMEDA, AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES.
THERE'S CERTAINLY A LOT OF MOVING PARTS INVOLVED WITH THIS ISSUE.
CSHA 5 IS IN ACCORD WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE SAYING THAT DOOLIN CANYON OUGHT NOT TO BE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL THERE IS A CAPITAL L, CAPITAL U, CAPITAL P LAND USE PLAN.
AND THIS LAND USE PLAN WOULD INCORPORATE A BIODIVERSITY SURVEY, WHICH IT LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF GROUNDWORK HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED ON.
AND WOULD ALSO INVOLVE A TRAIL USE STUDY BECAUSE NOT ALL RECREATION IS THE SAME.
HORSEBACK RIDING RECREATION IS NOT THE SAME AS E-MOTOS AND E-BIKES TEARING UP THE LANDSCAPE.
CATTLE GRAZING TYPICALLY DOES INVOLVE MOUNTED WRANGLERS.
DOOLIN CANYON IS LOCATED IN A PREVIOUSLY RURAL AREA WITH MANY YEARS OF ESTABLISHED EQUESTRIAN USE.
E-BIKES AND E-MOTOS WOULD BE A NEW ADDITION TO THIS LANDSCAPE.
WE'RE SYMPATHETIC TO THE NEIGHBORING LANDOWNER, DR.
LARRY GOSSELIN, AND HIS DESIRES TO PROVIDE A TRAIL EASEMENT THROUGH DOOLIN CANYON TO BUILD OUT THE LOS POSITOS LOOP TRAIL.
ONCE A LAND USE PLAN IS IN PLACE FOR DOOLIN CANYON, PLANNING FOR THIS CONNECTING TRAIL MIGHT BE FEASIBLE.
STATEWIDE CONCERNS OVER SERIOUS INJURIES AND FATALITIES CAUSED BY RECKLESS E-BIKE RIDERS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO A STATEWIDE MANDATE FOR THESE MOTOR VEHICLES BEING LICENSED.
REQUIRE LICENSES FOR THE E-BIKES AND USE THE LICENSE FEES TO PAY FOR TRAILS THAT WILL SEPARATE THEM FROM HORSES AND HIKERS.
AND IN OUR UPCOMING EQUESTRIAN MEETING WITH PLANNING STAFF, WHERE CSHA WILL PROVIDE OUR INPUT FOR THE DISTRICT PLAN, WE'RE GOING TO ADVOCATE FOR DEDICATED BIKE-FREE TRAILS THAT WILL BE SAFE ENOUGH THAT CHILDREN COULD BE TAKEN HORSEBACK RIDING TO LEARN SKILLS WITHOUT FEAR OF AN E-BIKE ACCIDENT.
THE BRIONES TRAILS PILOT HAS PROVEN THAT CYCLISTS WILL NOT FOLLOW THE HONOR SYSTEM.
AND IF YOU ADD A LICENSE PLATE READER AT THE TRAILHEAD THAT CAN OBSERVE THE E-BIKES, THAT WILL REDUCE THE ENFORCEMENT BURDEN ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND HOLD BAD ACTORS ACCOUNTABLE AND PROVIDE A MUCH MORE FUN AND SAFE TRAIL EXPERIENCE DISTRICT-WIDE.
I AM, ALONG WITH MY FAMILY, THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY THAT'S IMMEDIATELY TO THE EAST OF DOOLIN PRESERVE.
[01:45:05]
ENTERED INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TO PROVIDE ACCESS FROM COLLIER CANYON ROAD TO THE EAST BOUNDARY OF DOOLIN PRESERVE.IT WAS APPROVED BY THIS BOARD, AND IT WAS APPROVED BY THE GENERAL MANAGER AT THE TIME.
THE AGREEMENT IS STILL IN PLACE.
PEOPLE CAN ACCESS DOOLIN PRESERVE FROM COLLIER CANYON ROAD RIGHT NOW, OR AS SOON AS THE CONDITIONS ARE MET, THEY'RE APPROVED BY THIS BOARD.
NOW, STAFF HAS TAKEN A POSITION THAT THAT CONTRACT CANNOT BE HONORED, AND FORTUNATELY, WE'VE ENTERED CONVERSATIONS, AND I MEAN STAFF AND MYSELF, WITH LARPD AND THE CITY OF LIVERMORE TO LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO DUAL AND PRESERVE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
SO AS YOU CONSIDER YOUR ACTIONS TODAY, I SUGGEST THAT YOU INCLUDE AN OPTION FIVE WITH THE WORK THAT'S DIRECTED TO STAFF AND START CONSIDERING AN EASEMENT ACCESS THAT IS IN PLACE.
IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY A PRIOR BOARD AND AS FAR AS I KNOW NOT ABANDONED BY THIS BOARD AND IS FUNDED.
FUNDING SITS IN AN ACCOUNT TO PAY FOR THIS AND CERTAINLY THERE'S SOME FINAL ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER TO GET THE TRAIL OPERATIONAL.
BUT BEING A COUNTRY BOY THAT'S DEALT WITH AGENCIES FOR QUITE SOME TIME, WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT I HAVE NOT ENCOUNTERED A DISAGREEMENT THAT CAN'T BE RESOLVED.
DISCUSSION AND IF NECESSARY MEDIATION.
SO ALL THAT BEING SAID, ONCE AGAIN I DO SUPPORT OPENING THE TRAIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.
THERE CERTAINLY IS A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM IN ALAMEDA COUNTY FOR ADDITIONAL TRAIL ACCESS.
WE HAVE OUR PLATES OVERRUNNING WITH MITIGATION AND AND WHAT'S RECOGNIZED IS THAT MITIGATION DOESN'T PROVIDE WHAT FAMILIES ARE ASKING FOR IN OUR COUNTY.
SO THERE'S QUITE A FEW EFFORTS.
ONE IS LED BY THE AG ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO SEE ACTIVE RECREATION ON PROPERTIES.
ANOTHER IS BEING ORGANIZED BY A PRIVATE AD HOC GROUP THAT IS CONNECTED WITH OFFICIALS IN THE AREA AND CERTAINLY OUR OFFICIALS REPRESENT THE NEED FOR RECREATION.
THAT BEING SAID, THE CITY OF LIVERMORE HAS A RECREATIONAL PLUS POLICY IN THEIR GENERAL PLAN.
AND THE SAME APPLIES TO LIVERMORE AREA REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
SO AGAIN, PLEASE AMEND THESE SUGGESTIONS TODAY.
ASK STAFF TO BEGIN TO PURSUE OPTION FIVE.
NORMAN LAFORCE? NORMAN LAFORCE, I'M NOW SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF THE REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION.
AND YOU RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE ASSOCIATION, WHICH I HOPE YOU'RE ABLE TO READ.
THE BASIC THING HERE IS, AND AS I'VE BEEN HEARING WHAT THE DISCUSSION IS, IS YOU HAVE A PRESERVE WHICH HAS MITIGATION LANDS, MITIGATION LANDS FOR HABITAT PROTECTION, AND YOU HAVE A SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES.
YOU DON'T HAVE THE FULL BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS THAT YOU SHOULD HAVE.
ON EVEN YOUR OWN PROPERTY, WHICH IS WHAT A LAND USE PLAN WOULD REQUIRE.
AND YOU HAVE ALSO A HUGE ISSUE, AS I HEAR.
YOU HAVE DIFFERENT AGENCIES WITH DIFFERENT LAND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES BASED UPON THEIR LEGAL REQUIREMENTS RIGHT NEXT DOOR, WHICH, OF COURSE, FOR THE HABITAT, THE WILDLIFE, THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT THAT.
THEY'RE GOING TO WALK AND GO WHEREVER THEY CAN.
AND NOW YOU HAVE AN ISSUE ABOUT SPECIAL TRAIL EASEMENTS THAT WERE SET UP.
WHAT THIS REALLY SAYS IS YOU NEED TO DO A LAND USE PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT IT SAYS IN YOUR MASTER PLAN.
THIS IS WHAT LAND USE PLANS ARE FOR.
YOU DON'T JUST DO LITTLE PILOT PROJECTS HERE AND THERE AND SAY, OKAY, MAYBE WE'LL DO A LAND USE PLAN OR WHATEVER.
NOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T HAVE SOME KIND OF ACCESS IN THIS PROCESS, AND THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED AT, BUT THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE A LAND USE PLAN.
AND I WANT TO DO SAY I DO APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT I WAS ABLE TO GO OUT WITH PRESIDENT SAN JUAN TO THE SITE ABOUT A WEEK AGO AND GOT A GOOD IDEA.
WE DIDN'T CROSS THE GATE BECAUSE IT WAS LOCKED, BUT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY, AND IT CERTAINLY HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES HERE.
SO I WOULD HOPE THAT WHAT YOU DO IS YOU SET UP SOME WAY FOR HAVE ACCESS.
THE REGIONAL PARKS ASSOCIATION
[01:50:01]
HAS SUGGESTED THAT THERE BE SOME SORT OF NATURALIST-LED TOURS.THIS HAS BEEN DONE IN THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES AREAS OVER IN SAN MATEO COUNTY VERY SUCCESSFULLY ON THEIR WATERSHED LANDS.
YOU CAN DO THAT, GET ACCESS, AND WORK THROUGH THE LAND USE PLAN, WHICH WOULD ALSO LOOK AT CULTURAL RESOURCES THAT NEED TO BE LOOKED AT.
YOU GO THROUGH THE OLD LAND USE PLANS, THE FORMER ONES, EVEN THE ONES PROBABLY FOR SURGA AND MARSHALL, THEY ALL HAVE A NICE LIST OF THE THINGS YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH ALL FIT NICELY WITH WHAT YOU SHOULD BE DOING HERE BEFORE YOU OPEN UP A PROPERTY THAT IS ACTUALLY VERY SPECIAL, HAVING ALL THESE SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES AND PROTECTIONS TO IT THAT NEED TO BE PROTECTED.
THE SPECIES AND ANIMALS NEED TO BE PROTECTED AS MUCH AS PEOPLE NEED TO HAVE SOME SORT OF RECREATION.
AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE WAY TO GO.
GREETINGS MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND STAFF OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS.
TURNBULL AND I AM A HORSEMAN AND AN EQUINE ADVOCATE FROM SONOLA, CALIFORNIA.
I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE THE BOARD BEFORE AND YOU KNOW THAT I ADVOCATE FOR HORSES.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I'M CELEBRATING 50 YEARS AS AN EAGLE SCOUT AND THIS SUMMER I'M GOING I'M WEARING TWO BRANDS.
BY THE WAY, A BRAND HERE AND A BRAND HERE FOR TWO HORSE CORRALS THAT ARE OWNED BY THE GOLDEN GATE AREA COUNCIL OF SCOUTING AMERICA, WHICH NOW WELCOMES GIRLS TO BE EAGLE SCOUTS.
I WILL BE AT CAMP ALL SUMMER AS A HORSE HERDER AND CAT HERDER, AND I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT ROLE.
I'VE ALSO JUST BEEN ASKED TO JOIN.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF BAY AREA PARNES AND TRAILS BECAUSE OF MY COMMITMENT TO EQUINE TRAILS AND TRAIL ACCESS FOR THE PUBLIC.
I'M ALSO INVOLVED IN HELPING DAVID HALBERT PROMOTE AGRIBUSINESS IN ALAMEDA COUNTY.
HORSES ARE AG AND WE'RE GOING TO PROMOTE THAT AS PART OF AGRIBUSINESS.
I'VE SPOKEN BEFORE THE BOARD ABOUT MY HORSE AND I AND OUR LOVE FOR TRAIL RIDING ALONG WITH MY WIFE AND HER HORSE.
AS I WAS RAISED IN LIVERMORE, I KNEW ADEMWEISS CAMP.
I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU'RE CARRYING HER LEGACY AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ASCENDANCY TO THE PRESIDENCY AND I THANK SO WELL THAT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WAY YOU'RE CONDUCTING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE TODAY.
AS A A RESIDENT OF SONOL SINCE 1999, I DO WANT TO INCLUDE SONOL IN YOUR DESCRIPTION OF A BEAUTIFUL ALAMEDA COUNTY.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO HORSE TRAILS, DOOLIN CANYON IS BEAUTIFUL, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO RIDE OUR HORSES THROUGH DOOLIN CANYON.
I'M CALLING FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE BOARD TO SUPPORT.
EQUINE TRAILS AND ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC IN DOING CANYON MAY THE HORSE BE WITH YOU THANK YOU ALLISON ROPE ALLISON HELLO HI PRESIDENT SAN JUAN DIRECTORS OF THE BOARD MY NAME IS ALLISON ROLF I'M ALSO THE RANGELAND SPECIALIST FOR THE PARK DISTRICT IN THE STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT.
I DON'T HAVE A SPEECH, SO IT'S NOT VERY ELOQUENT, BUT I'M GOING TO SPEAK FROM MY HEART.
AND I THINK IT'S A PIVOTAL DECISION-MAKING MOMENT FOR THE BOARD.
AND WHAT I MEAN BY THAT IS IT'S TIME FOR THE PARK DISTRICT TO STEP UP AND MAKE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION EQUIVALENT.
AND I THINK IT'S WHAT DOOLIN CANYON REPRESENTS.
IT'S NOT NECESSARILY THAT PARTICULAR PARK, BUT IT'S WHAT IT REPRESENTS.
AND IT'S REMOTENESS, AND IT HAS THIS SPECIAL STATUS SPECIES THAT YOU'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT, LIKE THIS ALKALI WETLAND THAT THE PARK DISTRICT HAS LESS THAN 1% OF.
AND THIS ENCROACHMENT OF HUMANS, HUMANS HAVE IMPACTS ON THE LANDSCAPE.
YOU GO TO DELVAL, YOU SEE, YOU KNOW, THE BOOTLEG BIKE TRAILS ON THE HIGHLY ERODIBLE SOILS.
[01:55:01]
SEE THE BOOTLEG HIKING TRAILS WITH A SPLIT RAIL FENCE THERE AND A SIGN THAT SAYS SPECIAL RESOURCE PROTECTION AREA.AND IT'S IN A HIGHLY NATIVE GRASSLAND.
AND I THINK I URGE YOU TO PICK OPTION ONE.
AND I URGE YOU TO DO THAT BECAUSE THESE COMMUNITIES...
ARE HIGHLY SENSITIVE AND HUMANS HAVE IMPACT.
AND WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT REALLY SMALL ACREAGE.
AND I KNOW THAT THE PROPENSITY TO OPEN IT IS BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION, WHERE IT IS IN THE LANDSCAPE, AND THE COMMUNITIES IT SERVES.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S NOT A LOT OF OTHER OPEN SPACE THERE.
BUT WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE...
ABIOTIC AND BIOTIC CREATURES THAT CAN'T SPEAK AND THEY ARE ALREADY DEALING WITH LIGHT POLLUTION, SOUND POLLUTION, HABITAT FRAGMENTATION, ENCROACHMENT.
AND WE HAVE TO THINK LONG TERM WHERE WHAT IS IT GOING TO BE LIKE IN 50 YEARS? WE ALREADY HAVE 4 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE BAY AREA.
HOW MANY MORE ARE GOING TO BE HERE? IT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE START THINKING ABOUT PRESERVING LAND FOR THE LAND, FOR THE NATURAL PROCESSES.
NATURAL PROCESSES SHOULD TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER RECREATION IN CERTAIN PARTICULAR AREAS.
THAT'S NOT AN ADVOCACY FOR ALL PUBLIC LANDS WITH RECREATION BECAUSE RECREATION IS VALUABLE.
WE NEED IT FOR OUR MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR PHYSICAL WELL-BEING.
BUT WE NEED TO FIND A BALANCE, AND I URGE YOU TO REALLY CONSIDER THAT, TO CONSIDER THAT BALANCE THAT WE NEED FOR THE BURROWING OWLS.
THERE'S NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON.
SCOTT BARTLEBAUGH, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
PRESIDENT SANJUANG, DIRECTORS AND STAFF, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT.
I'M COMMENTING ON BEHALF OF THE MEMBERSHIP OF BICYCLE TRAILS COUNCIL OF THE EAST BAY.
YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED MY WRITTEN COMMENT, SO THIS IS IN ADDITION TO THAT.
IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND MORE THE EVALUATION THE DISTRICT HAS DONE ON ACCESS FROM THE ADJACENT GOSLING PROPERTY.
DEFINITELY A CONSIDERATION AND IF THAT ACCESS WERE PROVIDED IT WOULD OPEN UP THE POTENTIAL FOR A THROUGH BIKE LOOP THAT WOULD LIKELY BE USED BY BY GRAVEL TYPE RIDERS THIS WOULDN'T BE MOUNTAIN BIKERS TYPICALLY USING THAT AND I THINK THAT'S A CONSIDERATION ON ON HOW THE THE MANY CYCLISTS IN THAT LIVERMORE AREA COULD GET BENEFIT FROM THIS PROPERTY SO IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PAST ANALYSIS HAS BEEN OF THAT AND WHY THAT'S NOT PART OF THE STAFF REPORT.
SO ALLISON'S COMMENT WAS PRETTY MOVING, AND I THINK SHE RAISES SOME GOOD POINTS.
I THINK THERE'S MANY EXAMPLES WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE THE PARK DISTRICT, THE IMBALANCE IS THE OTHER WAY, WHERE CONSERVATION IS THE PRIORITY AND RECREATION IS NOT BEING SERVED.
AND NOT ALL USERS ARE SERVED THE SAME.
THERE'S DISCUSSION HERE OF LIMITING TRAVEL TO ON ROADS AND YEAH I THINK THAT'S VERY APPROPRIATE.
ELSEWHERE IN THE PARK HIKERS ARE TYPICALLY NOT LIMITED TO ON ROADS AND THEIR IMPACTS ARE NOT CONSIDERED WHEREAS MOUNTAIN BIKERS AND BIKE ACCESS IS TOO OFTEN DEMONIZED.
THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY USERS THAT ARE GOING OFF TRAIL AND CAUSING ISSUES.
AND THE BULK OF THE BIKE USERS ARE COMPLYING WITH THE RULES.
SO I THINK IT IS REASONABLE, PARTICULARLY FROM A PILOT ASPECT, TO ALLOW BIKE ACCESS ON THE ROADS THERE AND ACCESS FROM TWO POINTS THAT WOULD PROVIDE A THROUGH ROUTE.
SO, YEAH, AS I SAID IN THE LETTER, WE FEEL OPTION TWO AND LOOKING AT ACCESS VIA BOTH COLLIER CANYON ROAD AND DOOLIN ROAD WOULD BE THE ACTION THAT WE WOULD ASK YOU TO TAKE TO DIRECT STAFF TO LOOK INTO FURTHER.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND THANK YOU FOR ALL THE DISCUSSION TODAY.
[02:00:02]
THANK YOU.THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO AT THIS TIME BOARD MEMBERS ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE SOME DIRECTIONARY COMMENTS.
SO IT'S NOT A RESOLUTION, BUT WE ARE ACTUALLY ASKING.
OKAY OKAY, SO WHAT KIND OF ACTION YOU WANT US TO VOTE ON THESE OPTIONS? YES, THAT WOULD BE IDEAL OKAY, SO YOU CAN EITHER VOTE ON THE OPTIONS OR YOU COULD COME UP WITH A ANOTHER OPTION IF YOU WANTED TO OR YEAH.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND SHARE? I APPRECIATE THE CITY OF LIVERMORE SENDING US A LETTER AND I'LL READ THE CONCLUSION.
THE CITY RESPECTFULLY AND STRONGLY ENCOURAGES THE BOARD TO CONSIDER OPENING DOOLIN CANYON TO THE PUBLIC IN SOME FORM.
OUR PREFERENCE IS TO SEE THE AREA OPEN FOR FULL RECREATIONAL ACCESS.
AND WE ALSO ENCOURAGE PARTNERSHIP WITH LARPD AS NEEDED TO SUPPORT PHASED OR COLLABORATIVE ACCESS.
AND BOARD COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS? YOU WANT TO TAKE A BREAK? WE'LL TAKE A BREAK.
LET'S GO TO 315 FOR OUR BREAK.
ALL RIGHT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK.
I BELIEVE IT'S 3.16 OR 3.15 ON MY COMPUTER.
SO WE ARE BACK IN SESSION ON AGENDA ITEM.
AND SO THIS IS FOR BOARD DISCUSSION AS WELL AS TAKING ACTION ON DIRECTION.
SO WHO WOULD LIKE TO GO FIRST ON THE BOARD TO PROVIDE ANY SORT OF COMMENT OR MAKE ANY PROPOSALS? GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
I'M NOT THE ONE BLABBERING LATER AND SLOWING US DOWN.
I REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY THIS WAS PRESENTED.
I THINK THIS IS WHAT A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN ASKING FOR, THAT WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MORE DIRECTION.
SO JUST I CAN'T SAY HOW YOU'VE LAID IT OUT, GIVING US OPTIONS, GOING TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WE'LL SEE HOW WE GET THERE FOR YOU TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING NOW.
I HAVEN'T RECEIVED THE RPA LETTER, WHICH IS UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN KIND OF OUR WATCHDOG GROUP SINCE THE 1940S, BUT I THINK I SUSPECT FROM HEARING AMELIA AND NORMAN TALK WHAT IT SAYS AND APPRECIATE HEARING FROM THE CITY OF LIVERMORE.
SO PUBLIC INPUT IS JUST GREAT.
AND THE BIG PICTURE ON THIS, I WISH I HAD A BIGGER MAP IN MY PRESENTATION, BUT I THINK THE EXCITING THING IS THAT WE ARE OPENING UP PARKS, WE ARE WORKING WITH CONSERVATION EASEMENTS, I ALMOST DON'T WANT TO GET TOO IN THE WEEDS HONESTLY ON THIS BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE AREA THE WHOLE SAVE MOUNT DIABLO RANGE THIS IS A VISION NOT UNLIKE GOLDEN GATE FIELDS THAT IS UNFOLDING AND I THINK THIS WHOLE AREA IS DIVERSE AND WE'RE WATCHING IT BEING PRESERVED ALL AROUND US I MEAN YOU CAN SEE FROM THE MAP IT'S HAPPENING SO THERE'S THAT OLD YOU KNOW IF IT AIN'T BROKE LET IT FLOW.
LET'S SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THIS AREA.
AND I THINK IT'S BIGGER THAN US, JUST TO BE HONEST.
AND I'M EXCITED THAT WE'RE LOOKING IN WARD 5.
I'M SUPER EXCITED WE'RE LOOKING AT THE DIABLO RANGE AND HOPE TO DO MORE OF THIS IN THAT AREA.
SO ALL THAT BEING SAID, STEPPING BACK AND HEARING ALL THE QUESTIONS, THE DIRECTION FROM THIS BOARD MEMBER IS A CAPITAL L, CAPITAL U, CAPITAL P, BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THE QUESTIONS WE'RE ASKING WOULD BE ANSWERED IN ONE OF THOSE.
WHAT I FOUND INTERESTING WHEN I WENT LOOKING HERE AS POLICYMAKERS, WE FOLLOW OUR BLUEPRINT, IS ANOTHER OPTION THAT HAS AN I, CAPITAL I, CAPITAL L, CAPITAL U, CAPITAL P, SPECIFICALLY THAT INTERIM LAND USE PLANS CAN BE USED FOR PARKLANDS THAT DON'T HAVE AN LUP BUT IS BEING USED BY THE PUBLIC TO BRING THE LAND UNDER OPERATION AND STEWARDSHIP MANAGEMENT AND TO DEFINE THE APPROPRIATE INTENSITIES OF USE.
IT'S AN ABBREVIATED PLANNING PROCESS THAT WILL QUICKLY PROVIDE STRUCTURE AND ACCESS IN ORDER TO PREVENT IMPACTS TO THE NATURAL RESOURCES.
SOUNDS LIKE APPROPRIATE WHEN WE SAY THAT SPECIFICALLY ON PAGE 89 THAT A REGIONAL PRESERVES PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT SIGNIFICANT NATURAL CULTURAL RESOURCES.
I'M NO EXPERT, AND I'M ALSO A DOG ADVOCATE AND AN EQUINE PERSON ON HOW THAT IS GOING TO LOOK IN THE END.
I THINK SOMEHOW WE NEED TO SOLVE THIS, AND I'M HOPING AND MY DIRECTION AND HOPE WOULD BE THAT WE COULD DO BOTH AND DO AN INTERIM LAND USE PLAN AS WE LOOK TO FIGURE OUT.
IF YOU DO A PILOT, I WOULD BEG
[02:05:01]
FOR A PILOT THAT'S ONE YEAR AND HAS MEASURABLE OUTCOMES.THE PILOT PROCESS, I WAS ON THE PAC AT THE TIME IN BRIONES.
FOR ME, IT DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ENOUGH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES TO HELP TO KNOW WHEN IT WAS DONE, IF WE HAD ACHIEVED IT OR NOT.
I LOVE THE IDEA OF AN INTERIM LAND USE PLAN MAYBE AS A COMPROMISE.
AND I'D LOVE TO SEE IT OPEN MORE, BUT I'M NOT QUITE READY FOR WHICHEVER OPTION IT IS TO JUST OPEN IT UP.
I THINK TOURS MIGHT BE TOO LIMITED.
I THINK DESIGNATED OPEN DAYS COULD HELP US MAYBE WITH PARK RANGE OR STAFFING.
INSTEAD OF OPENING IT WIDE UP AND JUST GOING UP THERE EVERY DAY, I SUPER APPRECIATED ALLISON, WHO SNUCK OUT.
THAT WAS VERY BOLD AND PROUD OF HER TO SPEAK THAT WE NEED TO SPEAK FOR THE NATURE WHO CAN'T SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
AND I'M THINKING THAT SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS THAT WE ALL HAVE ASKED.
SO THAT'S KIND OF, I THINK, MY TWO CENTS, AND I'LL JUST LEAVE IT THERE.
PRESENT THIS IN THE ORDER IT WAS WRITTEN ON HERE, AND IT WON'T BE VERY ORGANIZED, AND I APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.
BUT THE FIRST THING I WANT TO SAY IS MAYBE IT PIGGYBACKS OFF OF WHAT DIRECTOR COFFEY SAID ABOUT LIVERMORE.
IF MY MATH IS CORRECT, THEY PAID $2 MILLION 16 YEARS AGO AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY BENEFICIAL USE FOR THEIR RESIDENTS.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.
THE THING IS, I WAS SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT IN THE CONSERVATION EASEMENT PORTION OF THIS PARK, THAT IT WILL BE, THAT RANCH ROAD ACCESS WILL BE, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT I WAS TOLD EARLIER, BUT I COULD BE WRONG, BUT I'M HAPPY TO HEAR THAT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, NOT WILLY-NILLY AND JUST GOING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
THERE MAY BE SOME FENCING NEEDED, SOME ADDITIONAL FENCING AND THAT SORT OF THING.
I ALSO WANT TO NOTE THAT THERE WERE TWO DIFFERENT DISTANCES GIVEN IN THE STAFF REPORT ABOUT HOW FAR IT IS FROM THE PROPOSED STAGING AREA TO THE PARK GATE, AND THEY WERE BOTH INCORRECT BASED ON TWO TIMES THAT I MEASURED IT.
IT'S 0.4 MILES, SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT LESS.
SO THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE MORE BENEFICIAL FOR THE USERS TO NOT HAVE TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE GATE.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S EVER GOING TO WORK.
SO WHAT I WAS THINKING IS I KNOW THERE WAS A AN OPTION IN HERE TO GET THE COUNTY TO ALLOW THE ROAD TO BE VACATED, AND I THINK THAT'S THE WAY TO GO.
YOU VACATE THE ROAD RIGHT AT THE OLSON PROPERTY ACCESS.
MAYBE THERE'S ONE MORE PROPERTY THAT NEED TO BE, BUT THEY HAVE THE KEY AND THEY CAN GET IN, AND THAT'S BEEN DONE MANY PLACES BEFORE.
SO YOU CLOSE THE ROAD, YOU GOT A TRAIL.
YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, MAX, WHAT YOU'RE REALLY AFTER HERE IS YOU WANT NUMBERS FOR US, LIKE 2, 1, 3, B, A, THAT SORT OF THING.
I'M INTERESTED IN NUMBER 2, BUT I THINK 3B IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE WORKED INTO THIS.
IN OTHER WORDS, I WAS REALLY HAPPY TO HEAR THAT THE LAND TRUSTS ARE INTERESTED IN BEING INVOLVED.
AND GOSH, IF THEY'RE INTERESTED IN BEING INVOLVED HERE, THEY HAVE A GREAT CONSTITUENCY.
AND THEY CAN REACH OUT AND LET THINGS, I KNOW I GET STUFF FROM SAVE MOUNT DIABLO ALL THE TIME.
HEY, HERE'S A HIKE, HERE'S A VOLUNTEER DAY, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, YOU KNOW, LOTS OF STUFF.
SO I THINK WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM.
I ALSO THINK, AND RELATED TO THAT, I THINK THE PILOT NEEDS TO BE TWO YEARS.
AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THE WEATHER'S DIFFERENT.
YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
AND IF YOU HAVE ONE YEAR WHEN IT'S REALLY DRY AND ONE YEAR WHERE IT'S REALLY WET, THAT AFFECTS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE PARK.
IN TERMS OF THE USERS AND THE LAND.
SO I WOULD ADVOCATE FOR A TWO-YEAR PILOT JUST TO KIND OF SMOOTH OUT THE VARIANCES A LITTLE BIT HERE.
I'M ALSO IN FAVOR OF THE ACCESS FROM COLLIER CANYON ROAD AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR THE APPROPRIATE BICYCLES TO BE ABLE TO RIDE THROUGH THE PARK AND USE IT THAT WAY.
BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I REALLY THINK THAT...
AND WHATEVER, I'M NOT GOING TO GET BOGGED DOWN IN WHAT THE TERMINOLOGY IS, BUT WE REALLY NEED TO GO IN THERE AND REALLY TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT THE CULTURAL RESOURCES, THE NATURAL, YOU KNOW, ALL THAT STUFF.
WE NEED TO TAKE A BETTER LOOK THAN WHAT WE HAVE RIGHT NOW AND BE ABLE TO, TO THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, TO QUANTIFY WHAT'S OUT THERE AND HOW WE MIGHT WORK THE ACCESS AND THE PRESERVATION TOGETHER IN THERE.
MAYBE WE HAVE TO FENCE, YOU KNOW,
[02:10:02]
THERE'S THAT GIGANTIC POND IN THERE, WHICH IS MORE LIKE A LAKE.MAYBE WE FENCE THAT, YOU KNOW, TO PROTECT THAT RESOURCE.
THE OTHER THING IS THAT WE ALL NEED TO KEEP IN MIND IS, YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON OUR PARK, AND WE THINK OUR PARK IS LIKE THE END OF THE WORLD.
BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT MAP, THERE'S CONSERVATION EASEMENTS ALL AROUND IT.
THERE'S LOTS OF OTHER LAND THAT WILL NOT HAVE ANYBODY ON IT AND I JUST DON'T THINK IT'S NECESSARY REALLY TO CLOSE OUR PART TO ALL USAGE.
SO JUST KEEP IN MIND THAT THIS ALL THE, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW A THOUSAND ACRES OR SOMETHING OF OTHER LAND THAT WILL NOT HAVE ACCESS AND I THINK THAT STANDS TO SUPPORT THE FLORA AND THE FAUNA THAT ARE OUT THERE.
AND I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAVE.
DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? DIRECTOR ESPANA? SO I'M ALSO KIND OF FOR OPTION TWO AND OPTION PLUS OPTION 3B.
I THINK AS FAR AS THAT WE NEED TO HAVE MORE THOUGHT ON HOW WE OPEN THIS PARK BECAUSE AS FAR AS DEFINITELY IT'S SURROUNDED BY A LARGER PRESERVE SO JUST AS FAR AS THE TYPE OF ACTIVITIES THERE THE TYPE OF INSTRUCTION SO HAVING SOME PROGRAMMING THAT'S A LITTLE BIT MORE MANAGED AND REALLY LOOKING AT KIND OF WHEN WE OPEN THE PARK.
SO THERE WAS A MENTION OF DIFFERENT SEASONAL CLOSURES AND USE RESTRICTIONS.
SO I THINK JUST AS FAR AS VERY CAREFULLY THINKING THROUGH WHAT THOSE ARE, SO THAT AS FAR AS WE'RE ABLE TO START PROVIDING ACCESS, BUT ACCESS MAYBE THAT'S MORE IN A MANAGED WAY OVER THE COURSE OF THE PILOT.
SO AS FAR AS AS WE OPEN IT MAYBE WE'RE STARTING WITH TOURS LEARNING FROM THAT THEN GOING INTO ANOTHER PHASE WHERE A LITTLE BIT MORE OF ITS OPENED AND JUST LIKE KIND OF LEARNING FROM THOSE STEPS AND THEN ALSO THINKING ABOUT HOW DO WE TELL THAT STORY OF THE PRESERVE.
SO BRINGING IN OUR DIFFERENT PARTNERS THAT HAVE EXPRESSED INTEREST AND MAYBE THERE'S SOME TYPE OF WAY AS FAR AS HAVING THAT MANAGED PARTNER ACCESS BECAUSE I THINK WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS BY ACCESSING A LITTLE BIT OF THIS AREA THAT THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA ARE ABLE TO LEARN WHY THIS OVERALL LAND SHOULD BE PROTECTED, LEARNED BY THE SPECIES.
SO I THINK THERE'S A REAL OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN IT AND ALSO FOR EDUCATION.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT, DR.
SO FOR ME, AFTER LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE SENSITIVE HABITAT AND SENSITIVE SPECIES, I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE A BIODIVERSITY STUDY OR SOME TYPE OF STUDY SO THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND THE IMPACTS OF THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS ON THE BIODIVERSITY AND SENSITIVE SPECIES, AS WELL AS, OF COURSE, THE CULTURAL RESOURCES.
SO WHETHER THAT'S A, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S AN INTERIM LAND USE PLAN OR WHETHER IT'S SOMETHING, I DO ALSO FEEL THE URGENCY HERE.
SO I DON'T WANT US TO STUDY IT FOREVER, BUT I DO FEEL LIKE GIVEN HOW SPECIAL THIS LAND IS THAT IT'S WORTH YOU KNOW TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT IS THERE BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET A REALLY CONCLUSIVE FEELING FROM WHAT WAS REPORTED TODAY LIKE OKAY WHAT'S OUT THERE WHAT DO WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT AND SO HAVE THAT INFORMATION AND THEN REALLY FIGURE OUT THE OPTIONS AND SO THAT'S WHERE I'M AT I MEAN CERTAINLY I WOULD WANT TO DO THAT FIRST AND THEN WHETHER WE CAN AND THEN WHERE WE CAN GO FROM THERE, I GUESS, WOULD DEPEND ON WHAT WE LEARN INFORMATION.
ROSS, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO NEXT? WELL, HERE WE ARE AGAIN DOING OUR JOB, BALANCING RECREATION VERSUS PRESERVATION.
I HATE THAT PART OF THIS BECAUSE THAT'S ALL WE DO.
IT'S THE BEST PART ABOUT HAVING A GREAT PARK DISTRICT IN AN URBAN AREA, AND IT'S ALSO THE WORST.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY
[02:15:04]
WE'RE DOING THIS.I MEAN, DOOLIN CANYON, I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE PARK DISTRICT FOR 50 YEARS, AND DOOLIN CANYON WAS JUST THIS SLEEPY, GEEZ, IT'S A CANYON? WHO'S MR. DOOLIN, AND WHERE IS IT, AND HOW DO YOU GET THERE? BUT NOW IT'S COME TO THE FOREFRONT FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, WHICH WE ALL KNOW.
A LOT OF THE THINGS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP.
I MEAN, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GEOGRAPHICAL EQUITY AND PUTTING PARKS IN PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE AND DOING IT EQUITABLY, I THINK LIVERMORE AND THAT AREA OUT THERE IN THE TRI-VALLEY NEEDS SOMETHING.
AND I THINK THAT I WON'T GO IN A LONG DIATRIBE.
I THINK OPTION TWO WOULD BE IT FOR ME.
I DON'T WANT IT TO GO FOR 10 YEARS.
IF WE COULD REALLY FAST TRACK IT AND GET IT DONE.
SEE SOMETHING OPEN FOR SOME PEOPLE OUT THERE.
IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO GET AWAY TO.
THERE'S A POPULATION THERE THAT WOULD BE SERVED BY THIS REALLY, REALLY WELL.
BOY, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF ANYBODY.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE WERE TOLD INITIALLY IT'S STEEP, I WENT OUT THERE LAST SUNDAY.
IT'S A VERY GENTLE RISE TO GET UP TO THE TOP OF THE HILL THERE.
HOT AND MUDDY, YEAH, IF IT'S HOT AND MUDDY, YOU DON'T GO OUT THERE.
IT'S YOUR CHOICE, INDIVIDUAL CHOICE, AND I THINK THE CHOICE OUT THERE WOULD BE PEOPLE WOULD USE THIS AND ENJOY IT VERY, VERY MUCH.
SO TO GET TO THE POINT, I SUPPORT OPTION TWO.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INCORPORATE OPTION FOUR BECAUSE I THINK WE PURCHASED THAT PROPERTY OVER THERE TO PARK PEOPLE AND FIND A WAY TO GET THEM INTO THE PARK.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DISTANCE IS.
BUT I THINK PEOPLE WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THAT.
MOVE THE GATE DOWN, THAT'LL BE A PROBLEM, BUT I'D LIKE TO SEE US GETTING AND THINKING ABOUT THIS.
AND THEN ESPECIALLY I'D LIKE TO SEE MR. GOSLING'S PROPERTY REVISITED.
SOME OF THE THINGS ABOUT BEING TOO STEEP, IT'S NOT.
WE HIKED OUT THERE LAST SUNDAY.
IT WOULD MAKE A BEAUTIFUL LOOP.
SO, YEAH, I'M IN FAVOR OF TWO, FOUR AND FIVE, WITH THE GOSLING OPTION BEING FIVE.
I WOULD SUPPORT FIVE WHEN THE LEGAL ISSUES ARE CLEARED UP.
I THINK JOHN SPOKE FOR THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, AND THAT WAS THE DIRECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WAS ESSENTIALLY AS JOHN ARTICULATED IT, AND SO I WANTED TO REPEAT THAT.
THAT WAS OPTION TWO WITH I THINK BOTH 3A AND B, AND FOUR IN THE SENSE OF DEVELOPING A STAGING AREA.
SO THE EXEC COMMITTEE WAS, LET'S DO IT ALL WITH THE RECOGNITION THAT IT WOULD BE PHASED, AND YOU'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THIS.
I MEAN, TO ME, THAT'S AN INTERIM PLAN, IS THE PILOT PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING, AND I SUPPORT THAT.
AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT HOW WE NEED TO OPEN MORE TRAILS HERE AND THERE, AND BE CONCERNED FOR HABITAT.
I'M ALSO REMINDED THAT I KNOW OF AT LEAST SEVERAL THOUSAND ACRES THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TO ACQUIRE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.
WE'VE ACQUIRED POINT MALADI, AND WE'LL ACQUIRE GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
THAT'S HABITAT, AND A LOT OF THAT IS GOING TO BE DEDICATED HABITAT.
AND I THINK ABOUT OUR PARK RANGERS THAT ARE...
DOING HABITAT RESTORATION WORK EVERY SINGLE DAY.
I'M THINKING ABOUT HAYWARD SHORELINE, WHERE WE'RE GOING TO SPEND TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RESTORING MARSHLAND.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS GOING ON ALL OVER OUR TWO COUNTIES.
THAT'S WHAT I THINK ABOUT WHEN I THINK ABOUT BALANCING THE NEED FOR HABITAT AGAINST A FEW MORE MILES OF TRAILS, YOU KNOW.
AND SO WE'RE REALLY GOOD AT HABITAT RESTORATION, PRESERVATION, AND WE'RE ADDING TO IT.
I REALLY LIKE THE IDEA OF THINKING OF MAYBE THE PILOT PERIOD AS TWO YEARS, AND DURING THAT TIME, PUTTING TOGETHER, YOU KNOW, DOING THE STUDIES, DOING THE BIOLOGICAL STUDIES AND THE CULTURAL STUDIES, AND PUTTING TOGETHER A PLAN OF SOME SORT FOR THE LONG-TERM, MORE PERMANENT OPTIONS THAT MIGHT BE AVAILABLE.
AND DURING THAT TWO YEARS, I REALLY LIKED HOW DIRECTOR ESPANA ACTUALLY OUTLINED IT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE START WITH TOURS, LEARN FROM THAT, AND THEN AFTER THAT MAYBE THERE COULD BE ANOTHER PHASE WHERE MAYBE WE HAVE A COUPLE DAYS
[02:20:02]
OF THE MONTH, YOU KNOW, WHERE THE PARK IS OPEN, BUT IT MIGHT NOT BE OPEN EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT PHASED TYPE OF APPROACH AND KIND OF LEARN FROM THAT ITERATIVE PROCESS.AND MAYBE IF IT'S A TWO-YEAR...
PILOT, MAYBE THAT'S THE FIRST YEAR AND WE CAN REGROUP AGAIN AFTER ONE YEAR TO DECIDE WHAT THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PILOT MIGHT LOOK LIKE.
YOU KNOW, IS IT WHERE IT'S OPEN MORE REGULARLY OR STILL CONTINUE WITH THAT MANAGED ACCESS? I MEAN, FOR ME, I'LL SHARE A TRUE WIN WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO BRING OUR PARTNERS OUT TO DOOLIN CANYON, LIKE LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION PARK DISTRICT, WHO HAS ASKED ME MANY TIMES TO BE ABLE TO GO VISIT.
YOU KNOW, OUR PROPERTY AND THE TRAIL.
AND TO ME, AT MINIMUM, THAT WOULD BE A WIN.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE'S OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
I KNOW WHEN NORMAN AND I WENT OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, HE HAD EXPRESSED INTEREST IN BEING ABLE TO GO ON THE TRAIL.
AND SO TO BE ABLE TO ALSO OFFER THAT TO SOME OF OUR OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES, I THINK WOULD BE A REAL WIN TODAY TO BE ABLE TO DO.
AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THERE IS INTEREST IN BEING ABLE TO OFFER THAT DURING THIS PILOT PERIOD.
AND I THINK THAT THAT WOULD BE A SIGNIFICANT WIN IN MY MIND.
BUT I DO AGREE THAT WE DO WANT TO DO STUDIES, AND WE DO WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE LONG-TERM VISION.
BUT I THINK IN THAT, I WOULD INCLUDE THE COLLIER CANYON ACCESS THROUGH THE GOSSELIN PROPERTY AS PART OF THAT OVERALL COMPREHENSIVE STUDY.
AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT, BECAUSE I DO KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE BETTER ACCESS COMING FROM CONTRA COSTA COUNTY AS WELL, AND THROUGH THE COLLIER CANYON ACCESS POINT, AND ALSO STUDY THE DIFFERENT USES.
I KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT FOR THE IDEA OF THIS LAS POSITAS LOOP TRAIL, AS IT'S BEEN CALLED, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S NOT TITLED.
YET BUT THE ABILITY ANYTIME YOU DRIVE DOWN COLLIER CANYON ROAD YOU ALMOST ALWAYS SEE AT LEAST ONE IF NOT FIVE TO TEN CYCLISTS ON THAT ROAD AND I THINK THAT THERE IS AN INTEREST IN BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO JULIAN CANYON AND I THINK THAT THAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY AND THEN ONCE THE RESULTS OF THE STUDY COME BACK THOSE OPTIONS CAN BE REVIEWED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW WHAT THE USAGE MIGHT BE THERE I DO WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO MENTION, I KNOW IT'S, ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, YOU KNOW, WE HAVEN'T DONE A CAPITAL L, CAPITAL U, CAPITAL P LAND USE PLAN SINCE 2020.
AND SO I'M VERY SENSITIVE TO THAT.
IT'S BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE THERE HAS BEEN A LAND USE PLAN.
AT THE SAME TIME, I DO THINK THAT WE NEED TO CONSIDER THIS OPTION FOR NEW PARKS LIKE DOOLING CANYON.
AND SO I KNOW THAT THAT WILL BE, YOU KNOW, I KNOW WE'VE HAD A LOT OF NEW PEOPLE COMING IN.
TO OUR STAFF AND TO OUR PLANNING DEPARTMENT, BUT WE ALSO HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE 2020, SO THIS COULD BE A REALLY GOOD OPPORTUNITY AS WELL TO START THINKING ABOUT OPENING UP A BRAND-NEW PARK ON A MORE PERMANENT BASIS.
I'LL ALSO MENTION, AS I MENTIONED AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR COMMENT PERIOD FROM BOARD OF DIRECTORS, THIS ISN'T JUST FOR LIVERMORE AREA RESIDENTS.
YOU KNOW, SAN RAMON'S RIGHT THERE, CITY OF DUBLIN'S RIGHT THERE, YES, SONOLA'S NEARBY, AND CITY OF PLEASANTON.
AND I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO MENTION THIS IS A VERY HIGH, THESE CITIES ARE VERY HIGH GROWTH OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.
I THINK AT SOME POINT IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE CITY OF DUBLIN WAS NAMED THE FASTEST GROWING CITY IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
AND THERE'S A LOT OF GROWTH PRESSURE EVEN ALONG NORTH CANYON ROAD NEAR OUR DOOLING CANYON ROAD.
ON NORTH CANYON ROAD, YOU SEE THE RATE OF DEVELOPMENT IN LIVERMORE IN THAT AREA IS, YOU KNOW, A PRETTY RAPID.
RATE OF DEVELOPMENT IN FACT I'M QUITE AMAZED BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE ZONE 7 HEADQUARTERS IS SO I SPENT YOU KNOW FOUR AND A HALF YEARS GOING TO THE ZONE 7 HEADQUARTERS UP UNTIL THE END OF 2022 WHEN I MOVED OVER TO THIS BOARD AND SINCE 2022 I I'M AMAZED AT HOW MUCH DEVELOPMENT HAS HAPPENED AROUND THE ZONE 7 HEADQUARTERS RIGHT THERE NEXT TO DUELING CANYON SO THE RATE OF DEVELOPMENT IS QUITE HIGH IN THIS AREA UM AND SO EVEN THOUGH WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE VERY REMOTE, YOU'RE ONLY FIVE MINUTES FROM THE LIVERMORE COSTCO.
SO I THINK THAT THAT'S INCREDIBLE THAT WE CAN PRESERVE SUCH A PRECIOUS OPEN SPACE THAT FEELS REMOTE, BUT YOU'RE STILL FIVE MINUTES FROM THE LIVERMORE COSTCO.
SO IT'S NOT QUITE AS REMOTE IN THAT SENSE.
AND THEN I'LL JUST FINALLY SHARE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF PARTNERSHIPS, I THINK ONE OF THE STRONGEST PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE IS OUR 1992 TAX SHARING AGREEMENT WITH THE LIVERMORE AREA RECREATION AND PARK DISTRICT, LARPD.
AND I THINK THAT US MOVING FORWARD, WITH THIS PILOT OPPORTUNITY FOR DOOLIN CANYON CAN REALLY HELP US, YOU KNOW, SHOW THAT WE ARE DEDICATED TO THAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND I DO THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW THAT.
AND SO WITH THAT, I GUESS, SO YOU WANT US TO MAYBE MAKE A
[02:25:02]
MOTION AND TAKE A VOTE.I'LL PROPOSE A MOTION THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR PILOT PROJECT THAT ALLOWS US TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN TWO AND THREE, AND I LIKE THE PHASED APPROACH, AS DIRECTOR ESPANA HAD MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, MAYBE WE START WITH SOME TOURS.
LIKE I SAID, A WIN FOR ME TODAY WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO OPEN UP ACCESS TO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS.
AND THEN MAYBE AFTER WE START WITH TOURS, MAYBE ANOTHER PHASE IS THAT WE COULD HAVE SOME OPEN DAYS AVAILABLE TO, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE AND JUST COMMUNICATE WHEN THOSE ARE.
WE LEARN FROM EACH STEP AND MAYBE MAKE THAT THE FIRST YEAR AND THEN THE SECOND YEAR.
WE CAN REGROUP AND THEN DECIDE WHAT TO DO FOR THE SECOND YEAR OF THE PILOT.
BUT IN PARALLEL, WE ARE ALSO DOING THE STUDIES, AND WE ARE THINKING ABOUT THE LONG-TERM PLAN.
AND HOPEFULLY AT THE END OF TWO YEARS, THE BOARD CAN COME BACK TOGETHER AND THEN DECIDE WHAT THE LONG-TERM PLAN LOOKS LIKE.
IS THAT A CLEAR ENOUGH MOTION? YEAH, AN OPTION FOR STAGING WOULD BE PART OF THE WELL, I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO IT MIGHT HAPPEN SORT OF DURING THE PILOT PROJECT.
I GUESS YOU'LL HAVE TO COME BACK TO US AND LET US KNOW ABOUT THE STAGING.
BUT IT WOULD ALSO BE PART OF THE LONG TERM.
YEAH, I THINK LIKE YOU DON'T, I THINK IT'S SUPER HELPFUL.
I DON'T KNOW THAT LIKE RIGHT NOW WE'RE REALLY LIKE LEVEL.
DO YOU WANT US TO OPEN, WORK TOWARDS OPENING IT UP AND THEN WORK TOWARDS THE STAGING AND WORK TOWARDS THE TOURS? AND SO WHAT, YES, THAT'S WHAT I THINK I'M HEARING.
I THINK LIKE THE TIMELINE WE CAN GET THAT DIRECTION AND THEN WE CAN WORK ON SORT OF YOU KNOW STEPS WILL BE AND COME BACK TO YOUR BOARD WITH UPDATES AND JUST KEEP YOU, A, KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP, BUT THEN COME BACK AT DECISION POINTS WHERE WE NEED YOUR, BUT I THINK THAT DIRECTION IS VERY HELPFUL.
OKAY, SO MY MOTION WILL BE, YES, WORK TOWARDS OPENING.
YES, WORK TOWARDS THE STUDIES NEEDED TOWARD OPENING.
AND OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WE HAVE A PILOT PROGRAM WHERE WE CAN TRY SOME DIFFERENT OPTIONS SO THAT WE CAN START TO, YOU KNOW, SEE WHAT THE INTEREST IS AND ALSO MEET.
THE REQUESTS THAT I KNOW I'VE PERSONALLY RECEIVED FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN THE AREA.
THEN, YOU KNOW, I GUESS I'M FEELING LIKE, WELL, THESE PLANS WILL BE DONE.
I MEAN, DO YOU HAVE SOME IDEA? BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO GET TOO FAR AHEAD, SO I JUST WANTED TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION.
MAYBE A RECOMMENDATION, YOU COULD ALWAYS SAY...
WE THAT THE THREE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOUR BOARD HAS INTEREST AROUND THIS 3B OPTION IS LIKE A THAT THERE'S SHARED INTEREST AROUND IT THE AND THAT YOU COULD DIRECT STAFF TO WORK TOWARDS OPENING THE PARK WHICH IS THAT OPTION TOO, AND THEN WE COULD? WITH OUR TEAM UNDERSTAND SORT OF WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS IN TERMS OF STUDIES OR PLANNING STEPS? I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANYTHING ELSE TO ADD BRIAN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE KNOW TODAY RIGHT NOW HOW LONG THAT'LL TAKE OR WHAT THAT IS.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE ONE WAY TO LOOK AT IT IS ANYTHING THAT'S MORE, LIKE, UNFETTERED, OPEN ACCESS IS, LIKE, THERE'S MORE OF A NEED FOR A PLAN.
SO THOSE THINGS THAT HAVE, LIKE, MORE MANAGED ACCESS, MANAGED WITH A PARTNER, YOU KNOW, THAT'S SOMETHING CERTAINLY WE COULD DO ON A PILOT PROJECT BASIS AND IN THE INTERIM AS WE'RE DEVELOPING A PLAN.
IN TERMS OF, LIKE, THE TIMING OF A PLAN, YOU KNOW, THERE'S STUFF THAT WE CAN DO INTERNALLY, BUT IT IS ALSO LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO GO INTO CONSULTATION WITH OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS.
WE HAVE TO DO VEGETATION SURVEYS.
THAT OFTEN TAKES, YOU KNOW, SOME TIME.
SO THERE'S SEASONS THAT SORT OF, THERE'S A SEASONALITY TO IT THAT SORT OF TAKES TIME.
AND THERE MAY BE A BUDGET COMPONENT TO SEVERAL OF THESE THINGS.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS, WE MAY, YOU KNOW, WE MAY, WE HAVE SOME FUNDS THAT WE CAN PULL FROM, BUT IF IT'S LIKE ADDITIONAL TO THOSE FUNDS, THEN WE MIGHT HAVE TO COME BACK TO YOUR BOARD.
BUT WITH THE CEQA EXEMPTION, WE CAN HAVE SOME DEGREE OF OPENING WITHOUT HAVING TO DO THE CONSULTATION.
WELL, WITHOUT HAVING TO DO, I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT WE DO TRIBAL CONSULTATIONS BECAUSE THAT'S JUST, SO NOT NECESSARILY.
[02:30:01]
OF THE SAME WITH, THERE'S CERTAIN BIOLOGIC STUDIES THAT CEQA MIGHT REQUIRE.EVEN IF WE'RE NOT DOING CEQA, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE NOT DOING BIOLOGIC STUDIES.
CARE ABOUT THAT SEQUENCE A LITTLE BIT SEPARATE AND LIKE THE DOING THE GUIDED HIKES AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT DOESN'T WE COULD DO THAT SOON THAT DOESN'T NECESSARILY REQUIRE THE LEVEL OF PLANNING IT'S MORE LIKE THE ANY OTHER FURTHER ACCESS MAY NEED MORE I I DON'T KNOW THAT TODAY LIKE I DON'T WANT TO SAY LIKE IT'S GOING TO NEED X LEVEL OF PLANNING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK WE KNOW IT OF COURSE I THINK WHAT UM LIKE THE MOST HELPFUL THING TODAY IS JUST UNDERSTANDING FROM YOUR BOARD, LIKE, DO YOU WANT US TO WORK TOWARDS OPENING IT OR NOT, RIGHT? BECAUSE THE OPPOSITE IS IF YOU DIDN'T WANT US TO WORK TOWARDS OPENING IT, THEN WE WOULDN'T UNDERTAKE THAT PLANNING.
SO THAT'S SORT OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR TODAY.
YEAH, THERE IS NOT TO GO DOWN THE ROAD OF PRIORITIZATION AND ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE'S OTHER THINGS THAT SORT OF FITS IN WITH THE WAY WE'RE DOING IT.
I THINK COLIN HAD A QUESTION AND THEN LINDA.
I GUESS MY QUESTION MIGHT BE IS IN THIS PROCESS, MIGHT SOMETHING BE CONSIDERED THAT IN ONE YEAR, IF WE EXPAND THE PILOT TO TWO YEARS, MAYBE A CHECK-IN POINT AT ONE YEAR TO MAKE SURE WE HAVEN'T GONE TOO FAR OUT OF THE GATE? I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG AN INTERIM LUP TAKES VERSUS A...
TARGETING AN LUP, BUT COULD WE HAVE A ONE YEAR MAYBE CHECK IN FOR AN INTERIM TO DRAFT FOR US TO CONSIDER? SAY FOR SURE IS HOW THE YEAR IS YES LIKE I THINK WHAT WE COULD DO DEFINITELY IS PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON WHAT YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON I DON'T THINK WE KNOW LIKE WHAT THE IF WE'RE WORKING ON A LAND USE PLAN OR INTERMUTE LAND USE PLAN OR HOW LONG THAT PROCESS IS GOING TO TAKE OR NOT BECAUSE SOME OF THOSE THINGS ARE UNKNOWN UNTIL YOU GET INTO IT BUT I THINK WE CAN DEFINITELY COMMIT TO COMING BACK TO YOUR BOARD WITH AN UPDATE ABOUT UP.
I MEAN, I WOULD ASSUME I'M KEEPING YOU ALL IN THE LOOP ANYWAY, BUT WE CAN COME BACK IN A FORMAL WAY TO YOUR BOARD TO UPDATE YOU ON THIS PROCESS.
SO I GUESS MY QUESTION IS, SPANISH IS COMING UP, MINISCULA, IS IT SMALL L-U-P OR CAPITAL? MASCULA OR MINISCULA, SMALL OR CAPITAL? I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE US HAVE A LAND USE PLAN THAT I FEEL COMFORTABLE.
AT THE SAME TIME, LIKE I SAID, THIS WHOLE AREA IS GOING TO, THE 1,100 ACRES, WE'RE GOING TO GET A LOT OF PRESSURE FROM PEOPLE, AND STAFF'S GOING TO BE MONITORING AND LETTING US KNOW.
BUT IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO USE THE CAPITAL.
HOW LONG DOES AN INTERIM, YOU SAID THE LAST LAND USE PLAN, WHEN'S THE LAST TIME WE DID AN INTERIM LAND USE PLAN? WAS THAT? SO I DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO GO INTO THE WHOLE HISTORY OF INTERIM LAND USE PLANS.
I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, GENERALLY AT THIS AGENCY, THERE'S NOT BEEN A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN INTERIM LAND USE PLAN AND A REGULAR LAND USE PLAN.
THERE'S NOT BEEN A LOT OF CONSISTENCY.
THERE'S NOT LIKE A HANDBOOK OUT THERE FOR LIKE, SO THAT'S WHERE IT'S LIKE EVERY PROPERTY IS UNIQUE.
WHY WOULD WE DO, YOU KNOW, WHAT I WOULD SAY IS LIKE, WHY ARE WE DOING PLANNING HERE? WE'RE DOING PLANNING FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SO THAT WOULD BE PART OF IT, CERTAINLY.
WE'RE DOING PLANNING TO UNDERSTAND CULTURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION.
WE'RE DOING PLANNING TO UNDERSTAND BIOLOGIC RESOURCE PROTECTION.
AND WE'RE DOING PLANNING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO OPERATE IT AND MAINTAIN THE SITE.
SO THOSE ARE KIND OF LIKE THE KEY PRINCIPLES THAT WE WOULD HAVE THERE.
AND WE WOULD GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS, PACKAGE IT UP.
IF WE CALL IT A LAND USE PLAN, AN INTERIM LAND USE PLAN, OR SOMETHING ELSE IS A LITTLE BIT SEPARATE FOR ME.
IT'S REALLY ABOUT MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE KIND OF HITTING THAT MARK, THAT WE'RE PROTECTING THE RESOURCES AND PROVIDING FOR THE OPERATIONAL ABILITY OF THE PROPERTY AND PROVIDING FOR AN OPPORTUNITY TO THE COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS THEIR INTEREST IN WHAT THEY WANT TO DO OUT THERE.
THAT'S KIND OF THE BASIC PROCESS OF LAND USE PLAN.
I STILL HAVE SOME UNCOMFORTABLENESS WITH THAT.
I'D LIKE TO FOLLOW OUR MASTER PLAN.
I KNOW WE'RE WRITING A NEW MASTER PLAN AND THERE'S TALK ABOUT DUMPING THE LAND USE PLANS, BUT I LIKE OUR LAND USE PLAN.
I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS AN INTEREST IN SEEING IF WE CAN DO A LAND USE PLAN FOR THIS PROPERTY.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO ALSO IS COME BACK TO YOUR BOARD WITH AN UPDATE ABOUT THE PLANNING PROCESS.
SO I THINK TODAY WE'RE REALLY LOOKING FOR DIRECTION ON WHETHER WE SHOULD MOVE TOWARDS OPENING THIS OR NOT.
I THINK WHAT WE PROBABLY NEED TO DO IS HEAR THAT DIRECTION AND THEN DO SOME WORK AS STAFF TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS WOULD BE.
AND THEN WE CAN COME BACK TO YOUR BOARD.
[02:35:01]
MUCH SOONER THAN A YEAR TO SORT OF TALK ABOUT WHAT THOSE NEXT STEPS ARE.BUT I HEAR THE INTEREST IN A LAND USE PLAN, AND WE CAN DIG INTO IT AS STAFF.
I DON'T THINK WE'RE PREPARED TODAY TO SAY, LIKE, HOW LONG THAT WOULD TAKE OR EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
BUT I THINK I HEAR IT, AND WE'LL WORK TOWARDS THAT AND BRING AN UPDATE BACK.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE CALLED PILOT PLAN, FRANKLY.
I THINK THE PROBLEM IS YOU CAN'T, IF YOU...
IF YOU OPEN IT UP TO THE PUBLIC AT WHATEVER, WIDE OPEN FOR EVERYONE, AND THEN WE DO THE LAND USE PLAN, THE LAND USE PLAN COMES OUT AND SAYS, WELL, THEY REALLY SHOULD DO THIS RESTRICTION.
IT'S VERY HARD TO PULL THAT BACK.
AND SO, I MEAN, I'M FULLY COMFORTABLE WITH GOING FORWARD WITH GUIDED TOURS RIGHT NOW, BUT I PERSONALLY WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THIS STUDIED, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, SO THAT WE KNOW.
WHAT THE IMPACTS ARE AND HOW WE CAN MITIGATE THOSE IMPACTS BEFORE WE JUST SAY, OKAY, THE DOORS ARE OPEN.
I'VE GOT A DIFFERENT IMPRESSION FROM FROM BRIAN AND MATT.
I MEAN, BUT THAT'S WHAT I'M PARTLY TRYING TO CLARIFY.
I MEAN, WHAT I HEARD YOU GUYS SAYING IS YOU WOULDN'T BE OPENING THE DOORS UNTIL YOU DID THIS PLANNING.
AND IF THAT'S THE CASE, THAT'S DIFFERENT.
BUT I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ACCURATE IN TERMS OF WHAT WE'RE VOTING ON.
I HEARD THAT THEY'VE DONE ENOUGH STUDY TO KNOW WHAT'S THERE AND TO BE COMFORTABLE AS LONG AS PEOPLE ARE STAYING ON THE RANCH ROAD.
I MEAN, I COULD CERTAINLY STAND HERE AND TELL YOU WHAT I WOULD RECOMMEND RIGHT NOW FOR THE SITE.
THAT MIGHT NOT BE CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS OR WHAT THE BOARD WANTS.
SO THAT'S WHERE WE KIND OF GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS TO GET THAT INPUT.
AND THEN TO DO THE STUDIES, TO ENGAGE WITH OUR TRIBAL PARTNERS, AND KIND OF PACKAGE THAT ALL UP AND SORT OF, YOU KNOW, SHARE BACK WITH YOU.
CERTAINLY I HAVE MY ASSUMPTIONS OR SORT OF BIASES ABOUT WHERE THIS WOULD END UP.
BUT BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, LIKE I SAY, WE NEED TO GO THROUGH THE PROCESS TO DO THAT.
I THINK LIKE I SAY, I THINK HAVING, YOU KNOW, MANAGED ACCESS IS CERTAINLY LIKE THAT'S SOMETHING THAT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.
YOU KNOW, THERE'S BUDGET AND STAFFING AND HOW YOU DO ALL THAT.
BUT THEN THERE'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, THERE'S IT'S MANAGED.
AND THEN AS YOU OPEN UP A PARK FOR SORT OF OPEN ACCESS, THAT'S WHERE WE DO GET INTO A LOT MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM ABOUT WHAT ARE CONFLICTS? WITH GRAZING OPERATIONS.
AND THEN IF YOU'RE HAVING DOGS, THAT'S SORT OF ANOTHER QUESTION.
AND THEN THERE'S QUESTIONS OF OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
WHO'S ENFORCING THIS? AND, YOU KNOW, IT SORT OF OPENS UP ALL THESE.
SO THE MORE OPEN IT IS, THE MORE QUESTIONS IT KIND OF RAISES.
SO THE MORE WE CONTAIN IT, SO IF WE CONTAIN IT EARLY ON AND HAVE SORT OF MANAGED ACCESS AND SAY, OKAY, WE'RE GOING TO DEVELOP A PLAN, AN INTERIM LAND USE PLAN, A FULL LAND USE PLAN, WE DO FOLLOW THE GUIDANCE IN THE MASTER PLAN.
AND THEN YOU KNOW BRING THAT TO THE BOARD AND THAT'S SORT OF LIKE MORE LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GOING TO INVEST IN IN TERMS OF BUILDING IF WE ARE GOING TO MAKE YOU KNOW IMPROVEMENTS AND THIS IS REALLY HOW THE PARKS GOING TO BE AND I WILL SAY LIKE YOU KNOW THE INTERIM LAND USE PLANS THAT THERE I DON'T KNOW I DON'T THINK THERE'S EVER BEEN AN INSTANCE THAT THIS AGENCY THAT INTERIM LAND USE PLAN HAS NOT JUST BECOME A PERMANENT LAND USE PLAN SO THAT'S WHY I SAY THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT OF, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A PARK THAT'S BEEN OPENED UP THAT, NOT TO SAY THAT WE WOULDN'T.
WE'LL GO BACK AT SOME POINT AND DO A FULL LAND USE PLAN.
BUT I WOULD CONSIDER THE INTERIM LAND USE PLAN AS THE LAND USE PLAN.
THIS IS A, IT'S A LEVEL OF EFFORT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF OTHER PARKS, TOO.
AND WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO HAVE TO GO BACK AND REDO IT RIGHT AWAY.
YEAH, SO THE MOTION IS, YEAH, YES, AND THAT'S FINE.
SO, YES, THE MOTION, I WILL TRY A NEW MOTION.
THE MOTION IS THAT THERE'S INTEREST IN OPENING DOOLING CANYON.
WE RECOGNIZE THERE MIGHT NEED TO BE A LITTLE BIT MORE PLANNING BEFORE IT'S COMPLETELY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, EVEN IN A PILOT TYPE OF DESIGNATION.
AND SO WE WILL WAIT FOR PLANNING TO COME BACK AND SHOW OPTIONS BEFORE.
THERE CAN BE ANYTHING BEYOND MANAGED ACCESS AND WITHIN MANAGED ACCESS MOST LIKELY GUIDED TOURS IN THE NEAR FUTURE WHICH AS I MENTIONED EARLIER I THINK WOULD BE A HUGE WIN FOR US TO EVEN HAVE GUIDED TOURS AVAILABLE AT THIS PROPERTY AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO REGROUP MAYBE IT MIGHT BE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MAYBE IT MIGHT BE THE FULL BOARD BUT AT SOME POINT PROBABLY BEFORE THE END OF THIS CALENDAR YEAR IT SOUNDS LIKE TO KIND OF REVIEW SOME PRELIMINARY THREE.
YOU KNOW PLANNING OPTIONS ACCESS OPTIONS AND SO THE MOTION IS YES TO MOVE FORWARD
[02:40:03]
WITH PLANNING AND YES TO COME BACK TO US AND SHARE WITH US WHAT THOSE OPTIONS ARE AND IN THE INTERIM AND PARALLEL WE WILL HAVE YOU KNOW SOME SORT OF MANAGED ACCESS MOST LIKELY GUIDED TOURS TO CLARIFY WITH THE PLANNING BE A LAND PLAN OR JUST A PILOT PLANNING I THINK WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE'S A DESIRE FOR A LAND USE PLAN.I FEEL LIKE IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR ME TO JUST MEET WITH OUR TEAM AND UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT TAKES AND WHAT THAT WOULD LOOK LIKE AT THE SITE AND THEN COME BACK TO YOUR BOARD BEFORE WE FULLY GO DOWN THE ROAD OF WHAT THAT PLAN IS TO SAY HERE'S WHAT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
BECAUSE I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I HEAR THE INTEREST IN A LAND USE PLAN.
I FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO DISCUSS IT SOME MORE.
AND THEN COME BACK AND MAKE SURE WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, IF THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
I THINK THAT SOUNDS GOOD BECAUSE, AS I MENTIONED, WE HAVEN'T DONE ONE SINCE 2020 WITH THURGOOD MARSHALL, SO SIX YEARS IS A LONG TIME FOR US TO THINK ABOUT THIS ENDEAVOR.
DID WE GET A MOTION OUT OF THAT? THE FIRST TIME SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT IT, SHE LAID OUT THE STUFF THAT YOU WANTED.
THEN YOU ELABORATED ON IT AND ADDED TO IT.
AND I'M SITTING HERE WAITING TO DO A SECOND, SO IF THAT'S OKAY.
I THINK WHAT I HEARD IS AN INTEREST IN THE SHORT TERM OF DOING THE 3B, WHICH IS THE PUBLIC.
WORKING WITH PARTNERS ON THE PUBLIC TOURS AND THEN WORKING ON A PLANNING APPROACH TO OPTION TWO, WHICH IS OPENING THE PARK, AND ALSO OPTION FOUR, WHICH IS OPENING THE STAGING AREA.
DOES THAT SOUND RIGHT? YEAH, EXCEPT I LIKE THE WAY THE EXEC COMMITTEE DID IT, FRANKLY.
SUPPORT OPTION TWO, SUPPORT OPTION FOUR FOR STAGING, AND SUPPORT PHASING IN OPTION THREE.
ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH THAT? I THINK THAT'S WHAT I WAS TRYING TO SAY.
SO CAN WE MAKE THE MOTION THAT YOU CAN MAKE IT AND JOHN CAN SECOND IT? OKAY, SO THE MOTION IS TO SUPPORT OPTION TWO.
OPTION TWO AS A PILOT PROJECT, SUPPORT OPTION FOUR FOR STAGING, AND SUPPORT OPTION THREE FOR MANAGED ACCESS BEING PHASED IN.
THIS IS ONE OF THOSE WEIRD THINGS WHERE...
DOES IT REALLY? YEAH, IT DOES.
THAT WASN'T THE EXEC COMMITTEE.
WELL, I'M NOT NECESSARILY, I MEAN, THIS IS A DIFFERENT DAY.
IT'S A DIFFERENT BIT OF INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE.
DIFFERENT THINKING IS HAPPENING, SO THAT'S WHY.
I LIKE THE MOTION THAT OLIVIA MADE BECAUSE IT FELT, WELL, I THINK EVERYONE CAN VOTE FOR IT, WHICH IS BASICALLY SAYING WE'RE GOING TO, OH, WE'RE GOING TO.
OPEN IT FOR 3B WITH MANAGED PARTNERS, AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO DO THE STUDY IN PARALLEL, AND THEN WHEN THE STUDY COMES OUT, THEN WE'RE GOING TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.
AND FOR A LOT OF YOU, IT'LL BE, YEAH, OPEN IT.
AND THE STUDY MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT LEAD TO AN INTERIM, DEPENDING UPON.
YOU'LL CHECK BACK IN WITH US ON THAT.
MY ONLY CONCERN IS THAT IT WOULD CONTINUE TO GO.
TO NO MATTER WHAT WITHOUT THE CHECK-IN AND I WITHOUT THE CHECKING IN TO MAKE SURE WHATEVER TERM YOU USE THAT'S IT WELL WHAT OLIVIA I THINK WAS SAYING WAS IT WAS THAT WE WE WOULDN'T GO TO TWO UNTIL WE GOT THE REPORT IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE YES AND I THINK THERE'S GONNA PROBABLY HAVE TO BE SOME SORT OF REVIEW IN TERMS OF BUDGETING AS WELL OH NO I WAS UNDER A DIFFERENT UNDERSTANDING I WAS THINKING WE WERE LOOKING AT BOTH OPTION 3 AND A, THAT WE MIGHT HAVE MANAGED VISITS THAT ARE EITHER PARK OR MIGHT BE PARKING OUR PARTNERS.
SO I WASN'T LOOKING JUST AT OPTION B THAT IT WOULD BE OUTSIDE PARTNERS, BUT WE WOULD HAVE BOTH OPTIONS DEPENDING WHAT WAS MORE VIABLE AND THEN WE DIDN'T NECESSARILY HAVE BUY-IN OF OUR PARTNERS YET WE JUST KNEW THAT HEY THEY MIGHT BE INTERESTED.
SO GIVING US LIKE THE FLEXIBILITY IN THE THREE.
AND THEN I WAS LIKE WITH THE LAND USE, WELL, SOME TYPE OF PLAN AND LIKE COMING BACK, THEN LOOKING AT WHAT OPENING COULD POTENTIALLY BE BASED ON THE RESULTS.
AND THEN ALSO THE DIFFERENT BUDGETARY ISSUES.
[02:45:01]
YEAH.TWO AND FOUR BUT THAT WOULD BE PART OF THE STUDY AND CERTAINLY THERE WOULD BE A COMPONENT THAT WE WOULD ALSO HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE APPROVAL PROCESS OF FOR TWO AND FOUR OKAY I UNDERSTAND THAT MOTION GO AHEAD AND SECOND SECOND I WANT TO UNDERSTAND ONE MORE SO THE TWO WE'RE NOT APPROVING TO WE'RE SAYING WE'RE PROVING STUDIES IN PARALLEL WITH A CHECK-IN THAT WE WE WANT TO DO THOSE STUDIES IN PARALLEL TO SEE IF WE'RE READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH OPTION TWO AND WE'LL HAVE A CHECK-IN WE'RE NOT APPROVING OPTION TWO RIGHT NOW, TONIGHT.
I'D SAY YOU'RE NOT APPROVING ANYTHING.
YOU'RE PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF BECAUSE TYPICALLY APPROVAL HAPPENS WITH A PLAN OR A CEQA PROCESS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SHOULD WE BE OPENING THIS PARK OR SHOULD WE KEEP IT CLOSED? OR SHOULD YOU DO A PLAN OR NOT? RIGHT.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE NOT GOING TO OPEN IT, YOU DON'T NEED TO DO YOUR PLAN.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO KNOW.
SHOULD THEY LOOK AT A PLAN? YES.
ONCE YOU DO THE PLAN, YOU'LL APPROVE THAT PLAN.
BUT TODAY IT'S JUST THIS BROAD DIRECTION, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
OKAY, SO I BELIEVE WE HAVE A MOTION.
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE A SECOND FROM DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
SHALL WE DO A ROLL CALL VOTE? IF YOU WOULD LIKE, WE COULD DO IT.
THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL TO WORK THROUGH THIS.
ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO OUR SECOND PRESENTATION, THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT.
AND WHILE WE'RE GETTING SET UP, WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE THAT WE GO THROUGH THIS PRESENTATION, I-2, AS WELL AS ACTION ITEM J-1, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE ANOTHER BREAK BEFORE WE GO TO J-2.
SO JUST TO REPEAT, WE'LL TRY TO GET THROUGH PRESENTATION I-2 AND ACTION ITEM J-1, AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A SHORT FIVE-MINUTE BREAK BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO J-2. THAT'S OUR GOAL HERE.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MADAM PRESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD.
ROBERTO FILICI, UIGM OF PUBLIC SAFETY, HERE TO PRESENT OUR 2025 ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I'M GOING TO KEEP IT SHORT SINCE YOU HAVE A COPY OF THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S ALSO POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE SO PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO IT IF THEY'D LIKE TO REVIEW IT.
THIS PRESENTS THE STATISTIC FOR 2025 AND ALSO WHAT WE HAVE TO LOOK FORWARD TO 2026.
BEFORE I GO TO THE PRESENTATION, I DO WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE BOARD FOR SUPPORTING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU TO MAX CORDEN, OUR GENERAL MANAGER, FOR SUPPORTING US.
WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED SOME GREAT RESULTS IN 2025 AND WE WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO DO IT IF IT WASN'T FROM THE SUPPORT THAT WE GET FROM THE BOARD IN APPROVING SOME OF THE ITEMS THAT WE BROUGHT BEFORE YOU.
SO THESE ARE THE RESULTS ALSO OF YOUR HARD WORK ON TOP OF THE HARD WORK OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND SUPPORT STAFF.
AS YOU CAN SEE, WE HAVE HANDLED CLOSE TO 55,000 CALLS FOR SERVICE, EXCUSE ME, NOT CALLS FOR SERVICE, BUT TELEPHONE CALLS BETWEEN 911 AND OTHER LINES.
WHICH IS AN INCREASE OF 50%, AT LEAST FOR 911 CALLS FROM 2024.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IN EVERY GRAPH THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE, THERE IS A PROGRESSION.
IF WE GO FROM 2023 TO 2025, EVERYTHING IS INCREASING EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
OF THOSE PHONE CALLS AND OFFICERS' ACTIVITIES, WE'VE GENERATED ABOUT 25,000 INCIDENTS.
SOME DO FROM CALLS FOR SERVICE AND SOME...
CAUGHT YOU KNOW DO FROM POLICE ACTIVITIES AND AGAIN JUST AS I SHARED WITH YOU BEFORE EVERYTHING IS MOVING UP FROM 2024 TO 2025 IT'S INTERESTING TO ME TO SEE THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE WORKING VERY HARD.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE, WE'RE KEEPING OUR PARTS SAFE, AND WE'RE HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO JUDGE PEOPLE, BUT WE ARE THE VEHICLE THAT GETS THEM BEFORE
[02:50:01]
THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WHERE THEY CAN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.AND AS YOU CAN SEE, IN 2025, WE HAD 367 ARRESTS.
132 OF THOSE WERE FELONIES AND THE REST WERE 235 WERE MISDEMEANORS.
THOSE ARE GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS BY OUR OFFICERS.
VERY PROUD OF THE WORK THEY'VE DONE.
AN INCREASE OVER 2024 AND AN INCREASE OVER 2023.
I'M NOT EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE ARRESTING MORE PEOPLE, BUT I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE'RE HOLDING MORE PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE I REALLY WISH THAT PEOPLE WOULD BEHAVE SO THOSE NUMBERS WOULD ACTUALLY GO DOWN.
HERE, CITATION ANALYSIS IS ACTUALLY CASE ANALYSIS.
AND OF ALL THE CASES THAT WE HAVE DEALT WITH, ALMOST 1,800 CASES THAT OUR OFFICERS HAVE DEALT WITH, THERE IS A COMBINATION OF FELONIES, INCIDENTS, AND ACCIDENTS THAT WE HAVE INVESTIGATED.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH ALL THE NUMBERS.
LIKE I SAID, YOU CAN SEE THEM.
BUT WE'RE STAYING VERY BUSY WITH THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WE HAVE.
WE'RE DEFINITELY STAYING VERY BUSY.
HOWEVER, THE WAY WE DO OUR WORK, WE HAVE USED THE TECHNOLOGY THAT YOU HAVE APPROVED, SO WE USE DATABASE ANALYSIS TO FOCUS ON CASES THAT ARE AFFECTING OUR PARKS.
WE DON'T JUST RANDOMLY DRIVE AROUND LOOKING FOR THINGS TO DO.
WE ACTUALLY TRY TO FOCUS ON COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM THE PUBLIC, COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM YOU, COMPLAINTS THAT WE RECEIVE FROM ADJACENT JURISDICTIONS THAT WE ALSO ASSIST WITH.
AND THEN WE USE THE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO US TO IDENTIFY THOSE AREAS WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING OUR EFFORTS.
AND OUR INVESTMENT IS DEFINITELY PAYING OFF, FROM THE OFFICER-INITIATED ACTIVITIES TO TARGET POLICING TO HOTSPOT RESPONSES OF THINGS THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON.
OUR INVESTIGATION UNIT, LIKEWISE, IS STAYING VERY BUSY BECAUSE CASES THE PATROL IS GENERATING.
OFTENTIMES, A LOT OF THEM ARE FORWARDED TO INVESTIGATION TO BRING TO A CLOSE.
AND OUT OF CLOSE TO 600 CASES THE INVESTIGATION HAS RECEIVED, YOU CAN SEE THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN CLOSED.
SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED FOR LACK OF WORKABLE LEADS.
BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME, AT LEAST PERSONALLY, IS THE FACT THAT THE DA'S OFFICE IS ACTUALLY PROSECUTING THOSE CASES.
OUR CHARGING RATE WENT UP BY 50% TO THE DA'S OFFICE, AND YOU KNOW THAT THE DA'S OFFICE IS NOT GOING TO WASTE THE TIME PROSECUTING CASES THAT THEY CAN SUCCESSFULLY BRING TO A CONCLUSION.
THAT MEANS THAT OUR OFFICERS, OUR INVESTIGATORS ARE DOING GREAT, GREAT INVESTIGATIONS AND PUTTING TOGETHER SOLID CASES THAT GO BEFORE THE DA'S OFFICE.
SOME OF THE PART 1 CASES THAT WE DEAL WITH ARE REPORTED.
I'M VERY HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE HAD NO HOMICIDES IN OUR PARKS, WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.
MOST OF THE STUFF THAT WE DEAL WITH, THE LARCENIES, BURGLARIES, AND SIMPLE ASSAULTS, INCLUDING ARSON.
AND LIKEWISE, THE AIR SUPPORT UNIT PROVIDES SUPPORT TO OUR PATROL OFFICERS, ALSO TO OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT.
HAPPY TO REPORT THAT WE SPENT ABOUT 618 HOURS FLYING LAST YEAR.
OF THOSE, IT'S A COMBINATION OF INCIDENTS THAT OUR AIR SUPPORT UNIT WAS INVOLVED IN, BUT WE ALSO ASSISTED OTHER AGENCIES.
217 OF THOSE CASES THAT WE DEALT WITH INVOLVED DEALING WITH OTHER AGENCIES.
WE SPENT TIME HELPING WITH LOST PEOPLE.
26 OF THEM WERE CASES THAT WE SPENT TIME SEARCHING FOR.
AND WE ALSO SPEND A LOT OF OUR TIME ON PATROL PRIORITIES, INCLUDING FIRE AND MEDICAL CALLS.
SO WE TRY TO PREVENT, OR IF ANYTHING ELSE, BE FIRST ON SEEING IF A FIRE BREAKS OUT ON OUR LAND AND OR ADJACENT JURISDICTIONS.
IN ADDITION TO OUR PATROL EFFORTS AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE DO, WE HAVE OUR SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT THAT FOCUSES ON THOSE CASES THAT YOU BRING FORWARD.
I DON'T KNOW YOU PERSONALLY, BUT SOME OF YOU ACTUALLY DO.
YOU MAIL ME ABOUT CASES THAT CONSTITUENTS REPORT TO YOU, SO WE FOCUS ON THAT.
OUR SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT HANDLED 1,100 INCIDENTS AND MADE ABOUT 31 ARRESTS AND ISSUED 325 CITATIONS.
THOSE ARE ACTUALLY GREAT NUMBERS.
THERE ARE AGENCIES SURROUNDING US THAT CANNOT ACCOMPLISH HALF OF WHAT OUR SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT HAS DONE.
I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH READING EVERYTHING UP THERE OTHER THAN TO HIGHLIGHT THE FACT THAT OUR MOUNTED UNIT,
[02:55:01]
WHICH IS PART OF OUR SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT, OUR MARINE UNIT, AND MOTOR OFFICERS UNIT ARE ALL WORKING TOGETHER TO HANDLE SOME OF THE MAJOR INCIDENTS.WE HAVE REPORTED TO US, FOR INSTANCE, THE IRON HORSE TRAIL IS ONE OF THEM.
WE HAVE ISSUED SEVERAL CITATIONS BETWEEN THE MOUNTED UNIT AND THE MOTOR UNIT, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO UNTIL WE CAN BRING PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THEY NEED TO USE THE PARK IN A SAFE MANNER, INCLUDING OUR TRAILS.
A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, I CREATED A SUBUNIT THAT'S CALLED THE HIGH ENFORCEMENT APPREHENSION UNIT.
SHORT FOR HEAT, AND THEY'VE BEEN VERY BUSY.
THE DIRECTIONS TO THE UNIT WAS TO HELP DETECTIVES CLEAR UP THE CASELOAD THAT THEY HAD, INCLUDING SERVING THOSE WARRANTS THAT WE HAVE HAD IN OUR SYSTEM THAT HAD NOT BEEN SERVED, NOT FOR LACK OF EFFORT, JUST FOR LACK OF PERSONNEL.
SO IN 2025, WE ACTUALLY SERVED 109 WARRANTS.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE BECOME THE DE FACTO UNIT THAT OTHER AGENCIES CALL UPON BECAUSE OF OUR EXPERIENCE.
ALL OF OUR OFFICERS THAT ARE PART OF THE HEAT UNIT HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN WARRANTS, IN SURVEILLANCE, IN DIGNITARY PROTECTIONS, IN ANYTHING THAT IS OUTSIDE OF PATROL FUNCTIONS.
AND OUT OF THOSE WARRANTS THAT WE SERVED, WE ENDED UP MAKING 129 ARRESTS AND REMOVED 64 FIREARMS. SO VERY PROUD OF EVERYTHING THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED, INCLUDING...
BEING PARTICIPANTS IN FOR DIGNITARY PROTECTIONS AND THE DIGNITARY PROTECTIONS ARE WHEN WE HAVE VISITORS COMING TO OUR PARK HIGH LEVEL HIGH LEVEL OFFICIALS THAT COME TO OUR PARK AND FOR WHATEVER REASON THEIR PROTECTION IS ACTUALLY NOT AVAILABLE WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR WHICH THEY WERE VERY VERY THANKFUL AGAIN I'M NOT GOING TO GO THROUGH EVERYTHING THAT HE DOES IT IS A GREAT COMBINATION OF TRAINING, HIGH DEDICATED OFFICERS, AND TO THIS POINT WE ACTUALLY HAVE SERVED AS AN EXTENSION OF THE U.S.
MARSHALS COMPLETE SOME OF THE INVESTIGATIONS THAT THEY DO.
WE WENT AS FAR AS SACRAMENTO AS OF LAST WEEK TO ARREST A MURDER SUSPECT TO ASSIST THE U.S.
FOR OUR SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT IF THEY COULD GO WITH THEM BECAUSE OF PERSONNEL.
SO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TRULY ACTS AS A REGIONAL PARTNER TO EVERYBODY AROUND US.
THE ONLY FEDERAL AGENCIES THAT WE DO NOT ASSIST IN ANY WAY, AS YOU ALL KNOW, IS ICE.
WE DO NOT GET INVOLVED IN ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH APPREHENDING PEOPLE.
THEY'RE ABSCONDING SOME DEPORTATION ORDERS FROM THE COURTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
THEY WORK A DIFFERENT, OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT MANDATE AND THAT'S WHO WE ASSIST.
WE ALSO BECAME PART OF A RESET, WHICH IS A REGIONAL SIDESHOW ENFORCEMENT TEAM.
AS YOU KNOW, SIDESHOWS ARE AFFECTING OUR STREETS, ARE AFFECTING OUR PARKS, ARE AFFECTING OUR COMMUNITIES.
AND WE'RE PROUD TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE BEEN VERY ACTIVE IN PARTICIPATING IN THOSE EFFORTS.
WE HAVE BEEN ALSO VERY SUCCESSFUL.
ONE OF THE CASES THAT POPS TO MIND, THERE WAS ACTUALLY A GENTLEMAN THAT HAD RAN FROM CHP SIX, SEVEN TIMES.
YOURS TRULY, WELL, ACTUALLY, NO, YOURS TRULY, YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO APPREHEND THE SUSPECT.
AFTER A LENGTHY PURSUIT ON A MOTORCYCLE AND A VERY SAFE PURSUIT, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING IT TO A SAFE CONCLUSION, AND IT'S NOW BEING HELD IN CUSTODY FOR THOSE EFFORTS.
JUST SO I UNDERSTAND EXACTLY WHAT OUR OFFICERS DO OUT THERE, I ACTUALLY TOOK THE TIME TO GO OUT WITH OUR OFFICERS ON ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS, ON A SATURDAY NIGHT, MYSELF, ONE OF OUR CAPTAINS, AND ALSO ONE OF OUR LIEUTENANTS.
WE WENT OUT AND PARTICIPATED JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS DONE PROPERLY, BUT MOST IMPORTANT, HOW DOES THAT BENEFIT THE PARK DISTRICT? BECAUSE IF I'M GOING TO USE OUR PERSONNEL, THEN WE HAVE TO BENEFIT.
AND SURE ENOUGH, IT'S VERY BENEFICIAL FOR US TO BE PART OF A RESET.
SO HOW DOES THAT GET ACCOMPLISHED? WHEREBY THE STAFFING THAT WE HAVE, RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 76 POSITIONS ALLOCATED FOR US FOR POLICE OFFICERS, 74 OF WHICH ARE FILLED, AND WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE GETTING READY TO GET HIRED, SO WE SHOULD BE FULLY STAFFED ONCE AGAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 30 TO 60 DAYS.
AND PROFESSIONAL STAFFS, WE HAVE 38 POSITIONS AVAILABLE, 33 OF WHICH ARE FILLED, SO WE'RE WORKING ON HIRING FIVE
[03:00:02]
ADDITIONAL CIVILIANS TO BE FILLED.ALL OF IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED BY AUGMENTATION OF TECHNOLOGY.
I CAME BEFORE YOU SEVERAL TIMES TO ASK FOR APPROVAL TO PURCHASE TECHNOLOGY, AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT WE ARE USING THE TECHNOLOGY TO THE MAX SO THAT WE CAN AUGMENT WHAT ALL OF OUR OFFICERS DO IN PROFESSIONAL STUFF, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO COME TO YOU AS NEW TECHNOLOGIES DEVELOP, AND WE ARE CERTAIN THAT HE ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE...
WE IMPROVE THE SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE OUT THERE TO OUR COMMUNITIES.
SOME OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT WE'VE BEEN USING IS OUR UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM OR THE DRONES, AS MOST PEOPLE KNOW.
WE'VE SPENT TIME FLYING 625 TIMES, AND THOSE FLIGHTS INCLUDE EVERYTHING FROM SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE LOST IN OUR PARKS TO SEARCHING FOR SUSPECTS THAT RAN FROM EITHER OTHER JURISDICTIONS OR FROM US.
AND WE HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN OUR UTILIZATION OF DRONE SYSTEMS. WE STILL GET INVOLVED HEAVILY IN COMMUNITY POLICING, AND WE ARE PART OF SEVERAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS, INCLUDING OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS, AND INCLUDING ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
ONE OF THE LAST ENGAGEMENTS WE HAD WITH THE YOUTH WAS ACTUALLY THE CPR PROGRAM.
THEY ARE AQUATICS UNITS PUT TOGETHER, OUR OFFICERS PARTICIPATED IN IT TO ASSIST AND ALSO TO SHOW THE OTHER PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WHICH IS NOT ALL ABOUT TAKING PEOPLE TO JAIL, BUT ACTUALLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE'RE VERY ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SO WE TRY TO BE AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE ON EVERYTHING THAT WE DO.
SO DEFINITELY COME AND VISIT US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA FOR 2026.
AS OF JANUARY, YOU CAN SEE WE ALREADY HANDLED CLOSE TO 1,800 INCIDENTS, MADE 23 ARRESTS, AND ISSUED 443 CITATIONS, INCLUDING RECOVERING A COUPLE OF STOLEN VEHICLES IN OUR PARKS AND INVESTIGATING 28 ARSONS THAT HAPPENED IN OUR PARKS.
ONE THING THAT'S REALLY INDICATIVE OF THE PROFESSIONALISM OF OUR OFFICERS IS THAT IN 2025, WE DEALT WITH APPROXIMATELY...
06,000 PEOPLE WITHIN OUR PARKS AND OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
OUT OF 6,000 PEOPLE WE DEALT WITH, WE ONLY HAD TO INVESTIGATE EIGHT COMPLAINTS, AND HALF OF THOSE COMPLAINTS WERE ACTUALLY INTERNALLY GENERATED.
THEY WERE GENERATED BY SUPERVISORS WHO REVIEW BODY-WORN CAMERAS, DIDN'T LIKE WHAT THEY SAW, AND GENERATED AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS.
SO WE'RE VERY GOOD AT SELF-POLICING, BUT WE'RE ALSO VERY GOOD AT DEALING WITH THE PUBLIC.
AND PROVIDING, IN MY OPINION, OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE.
IN MAY, WE WILL HAVE ANOTHER ALL-HANDS MEETING.
THAT WAS SOMETHING I BROUGHT TO THE DISTRICT WHEN I WAS HIRED, WHERE WE BRING TOGETHER OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND AQUATICS.
WE GO THROUGH A FULL INSPECTION, AND YOU'RE ALL WELCOME TO JOIN US.
YOU WILL RECEIVE AN INVITE TO OUR PROFESSIONAL STAFF, AND IT'S ALWAYS BEEN VERY WELL RECEIVED, ON TOP OF THE FACT THAT WE HAVE SOME GREAT BREAKFAST.
SO WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO IN THE FUTURE? WELL, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OFFICERS.
KUDOS TO CAPTAIN CHAVEZ FOR THE GREAT WELLNESS PROGRAM THAT HE PUT TOGETHER FOR OUR DEPARTMENT.
WE'RE DEFINITELY ONE OF THE LEADING DEPARTMENTS WHEN IT COMES TO OFFICER WELLNESS.
BUT LIKEWISE, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY TO AUGMENT WHAT WE DO.
WE WANT TO RETAIN THE OFFICERS THAT WE HAVE, AND WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE OUR IRON HALF EFFORTS.
SO THAT WE CAN PROVIDE THE GREAT SERVICE THAT WE PROVIDE.
VERY PROUD OF OUR OFFICERS AND EVERYTHING THEY'VE ACCOMPLISHED.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU WILL SEE COMING FORWARD IN 2026, WHICH WE'RE VERY PROUD OF, IS OUR DETECTION CANINE.
THERE'S NO OTHER WAY OF CALLING IT, BUT OUR PUPPY IS GOING TO BE HIRED TO LOOK FOR LOST PEOPLE IN THE PARK AND ALSO TO DETECT FOR FIREARMS. IT IS NOT AN APPREHENSION DOG.
AND MOST THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, IF IT FINDS YOU, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO LICK YOU TO DEATH.
SO THAT'S WHAT OUR PUPPY IS GOING TO DO.
VERY LOOKING FORWARD TO DEPLOYING IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
AND THEN MOVING FORWARD, THANKS TO, AGAIN, THANKS TO OUR BOARD, WE SHOULD BE MOVING INTO OUR NEW BUILDING AT THE END OF 2026, SEPTEMBER OF 2026.
WE KNOW IT WAS A HUGE UNDERTAKING BY THE BOARD, AND WE'RE VERY THANKFUL FOR OUR NEW HOME.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO ACTUALLY MOVING IN.
THIS COMPLETES MY PRESENTATION.
I APOLOGIZE IF IT WAS A LITTLE
[03:05:01]
QUICK, BUT AGAIN, IN THE INTEREST OF TIME, I WANT TO KIND OF GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO ASK ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE THEM.AND IF NOT, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION AND FOR THE BOOKLET.
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP FOR ANY BOARD QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
YES, GO AHEAD, DIRECTOR ECHOLS.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR THE REPORT, AND THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT WORK.
IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL HAVE BEEN UP TO AND YOUR SUCCESSES.
I NOTED THAT IN 2025 THERE WERE 28 ARSON INCIDENTS, AND THEN ALREADY IN 2026 THERE WERE 28 ARSON INCIDENTS.
THEY REPORTED WHAT? HAPPENED IN 2025, IN 2026, THEY COMBINE BOTH.
BECAUSE WE LOOK AT ANY TYPE OF FIRES IN OUR PARK, NORMALLY THEY DON'T START NATURALLY, SO WE DO INVESTIGATE THEM AS ARSON.
AND THEN IF WE CAN PROVE THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY JUST NATURALLY CAUSED, THAT'S EVEN BETTER.
BUT WE TAKE ALL OF THEM VERY SERIOUSLY.
IT COULD BE JUST A VERY SMALL FIRE THAT GETS PUT OUT WITHIN 10 SECONDS, WE STILL INVESTIGATE IT.
RIGHT, SO AS FAR AS YOU KNOW, NONE HAVE TURNED INTO LARGE FIRES.
AND THEN I WAS ALSO INTERESTED, YOU KNOW, QUITE A FEW AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS AND SIMPLE ASSAULTS.
DO THOSE TEND TO BE AMONG PEOPLE WHO KNOW EACH OTHER OR, LIKE? IT'S A COMBINATION.
SOME OF THOSE AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS ARE BETWEEN PEOPLE THAT KNOW EACH OTHER, AND SOME OF THEM ARE ACTUALLY THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THE PARKS.
AND IT'S A VERY THIN LINE THAT MAKES IT FROM A SIMPLE ASSAULT TO AN AGGRAVATED ASSAULT, JUST BY THE LEVEL OF VIOLENCE THAT IS USED.
YOU IT HAPPENS AMONG PEOPLE THAT, UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE ARE RIDING THE BIKES IN WAYS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE WHEN THEY GET CONFRONTED BY SOMEBODY WHO'S NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR BEHAVIOR.
THAT COULD BE LEADING TO OR IT COULD BE ESCALATING INTO ARGUMENTS, AND THAT'S WHERE YOU GET THIS TYPE OF REPORT.
OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT.
AND REALLY, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR STAFFING.
IT'S INCREDIBLE JUST NOW YOU'RE ALMOST BACK TO FULLY STAFFED AGAIN.
GREAT AND I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU'RE DOING WITH THE YOUTH ENGAGEMENT.
ANY OTHER BOARD QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? GO AHEAD.
YEAH, COMPLIMENTS ON ALL THE GREAT WORK YOU'RE DOING.
I'M VERY PROUD OF THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S A POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT WHEN I GO OUT TO EVENTS AND REPRESENT THE PARK DISTRICT, I HAVE FUN TALKING ABOUT.
AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE STEWARDSHIP OF LAND AND HABITAT THAT YOUR OFFICERS ALL ENJOY DOING.
AND WHEN PEOPLE ARE ENGAGED OR MEETING OUR POLICE OFFICERS, THEY'RE HAPPY.
THEY'RE HAPPY TO SEE OUR POLICE OFFICERS.
IT'S NOT TRUE OF ALL COMMUNITY POLICING, RIGHT? TRUE.
BUT ONE THING I'M GETTING THESE DAYS FROM CONSTITUENTS THAT I WASN'T GETTING AS MUCH.
IN OTHER WORDS, I'M GETTING MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT EXCESSIVE SPEED OF BIKES ON THE REGIONAL TRAILS.
SO IT'S KIND OF A SPECIFIC COMPLAINT.
I DON'T GET MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT BICYCLES IN THE PARKS.
I GET COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE WHO ENCOUNTERED SPEEDING.
BIKES OR THOSE LITTLE MOTORCYCLES THAT KIDS, WHAT ARE THEY CALLED? E-MOTORS.
THOSE ARE LIKE LITTLE MOTORCYCLES.
AND THE KIDS ARE USING THE REGIONAL TRAILS TO COMMUTE ON THOSE LITTLE MOTORCYCLES.
I'M ON THE BAY TRAIL ALMOST EVERY DAY TRYING TO MAKE IT A PRACTICE.
I'VE, IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, ENCOUNTERED THREE OF THEM.
GOING BETWEEN RODEO AND HERCULES, WHERE I WALK.
JUST LITTLE KIDS ON MOTORCYCLES.
AND THE SPEEDING OF BICYCLES ISN'T INVOLVED.
AND THAT'S BEEN MY OWN EXPERIENCE.
I'VE HAD ENCOUNTERS WITH SPEEDING BICYCLISTS.
ACTUALLY, MOST ARE PEDALING WHEN THEY'RE SPEEDING.
WORTHY OF SOME KIND OF SPECIAL ATTENTION.
AND I KNOW YOU FOLKS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE CITIES ON THEIR VARIOUS PROGRAMS, AGAIN, INVOLVING KIDS THAT SHOULDN'T BE ON THE BIKES THEY'RE ON, FRANKLY.
AND I LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE LEGISLATURE.
[03:10:02]
BUT, I MEAN, SAID ALL THAT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ANSWERS ARE, AND I DON'T WANT TO, YOU KNOW, WE'RE ALREADY HERE LATE, AND I DON'T WANT TO COMPEL YOU TO...I KNOW IT'S COMPLICATED, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME FEEDBACK AT SOME POINT ON HOW YOU COMBAT THIS.
YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T BE EVERYWHERE, BUT BETWEEN RODEO AND HERCULES, THERE ARE ALWAYS SHERIFFS AROUND.
YOU KNOW, IS THERE SOME WAY TO ENGAGE OUR PARTNER AGENCIES TO DO MORE POLICING OF THE BAY TRAIL, FOR INSTANCE, OR IRON HORSE, ET CETERA? SO MAYBE IT'S A TOPIC FOR ANOTHER DAY.
I THINK WE ARE PLANNING TO COME TO YOUR BOARD ON THIS EXACT TOPIC WITH AN UPDATE, AND I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE CHIEF FELICE AND THE WHOLE POLICE DEPARTMENT TEAM BECAUSE THEY'VE REALLY HEARD THE SAME FEEDBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AND FROM ALL OF YOU AS BOARD MEMBERS, AND THEY'VE BEEN INCREASING THEIR PATROLS AND OUTREACH ALONG THOSE TRAILS AND ENFORCEMENT.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, WE'VE CONVENED A WORKING GROUP INTERNALLY BETWEEN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT STAFF AND OPERATIONS STAFF AND OTHERS, OUR PLANNING STAFF, OUTREACH STAFF, WE'VE PUT TOGETHER NEW COMMUNICATION MATERIALS FOCUSED ON THIS ISSUE, AND THEN WE'VE ALSO BEEN PARTNERING WITH OUR LOCAL CITIES AND TOWNS, AND WE'RE PLANNING TO PARTNER WITH THE PAC.
THIS IS ONE OF THE TOPICS THAT WE WANT TO DIVE INTO WITH THEM TO HELP ACTIVATE THEM.
SO I THINK THERE'S A NUMBER OF WAYS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO DIVE INTO IT, AND I THINK, LIKE WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, THE PARTNERSHIP AT A STATE LEVEL TO ADDRESS THIS IS PROBABLY WHAT'S REALLY NEEDED BECAUSE THIS DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN ON OUR, THE PAVED MULTI-STRAILS, IT'S THROUGHOUT THESE COMMUNITIES WHERE THERE'S THIS.
SO FIRST I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR YOUR COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS WITH MAYORS.
ESPECIALLY JUST AS SOME OF THE RECENT WORK WHEN THE TEAM TAKEOVERS SOMETHING THAT I HAD TO LEARN ABOUT HOW WE'RE COMING TO SOME OF OUR BEACHES SO I KNOW THERE WAS A GREAT APPRECIATION AMONG ALAMEDA MAYOR AND HER TEAM AS FAR AS THE COLLABORATIVE WORK SO I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU FOR THAT UM TWO I THINK THERE COULD BE ONE IMPROVEMENT IN THIS PRESENTATION AND THAT WOULD BE A CUTE THANK YOU.
I HEARD ABOUT THIS NEW PUPPY AND DIDN'T SEE A PICTURE.
SO WE'LL MAKE SURE WE GET IN THERE FOR 2026.
I DID SEE AN INCREASE IN ARREST.
SO KIND OF WHAT FACTORS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO INCREASES OF ARRESTS? A COMBINATION OF A COUPLE OF THINGS.
ONE IS THE INCREASE IN STAFFING THAT WE WERE FINALLY...
WE ARE ACTUALLY FULLY STAFFED FOR A LONG TIME, WHICH ENABLES US TO INVESTIGATE THOSE CASES THAT I PRESENTED TO YOU, AND ALSO THE INVOLVEMENT OF OUR IA ENFORCEMENT APPREHENSION TEAM.
WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE CLEARED ALL THE WARRANTS IN THE SYSTEM FOR THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, WHICH IS HUGE, BECAUSE EVERY AGENCY OUT THERE HAS, I SHOULDN'T SAY THOUSANDS BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW, BUT I HAVE A LARGE NUMBER OF WARRANTS THAT DON'T GET SERVED, AND WE WERE ABLE TO CLEAR ALL THESE HOURS.
OUT OF THE SYSTEM SO THAT YOU SEE AN INCREASE IN ARRESTS BECAUSE WE'RE ABLE TO FULFILL EVERYTHING THAT WE HAVE.
THERE ARE INVESTIGATORS, COMPLETERS AND INVESTIGATION.
I WANT TO ALSO THANK YOU, CHIEF, FOR YOUR WORK.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CHARACTERIZE IT, AND I WOULD SAY IT'S INTELLIGENT AND SENSITIVE POLICING.
IT'S NOT JUST A BLUNT INSTRUMENT.
IT'S USING THE DATA, AS YOU SAY, HAVING WELL-TRAINED OFFICERS WHO ARE OUT THERE, BEING FULLY STAFFED.
AND, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, THIS IS A SUCCESS STORY HERE THAT WE'RE HEARING TODAY.
WE WOULDN'T HAVE HEARD THIS A FEW YEARS AGO BEFORE YOU CAME.
I REALLY THINK THAT YOU HAVE SO MUCH TO DO WITH HAVING A PROFOUND IMPROVEMENT.
AND POSITIVE CHANGE IN THIS POLICE FORCE.
AND, YOU KNOW, I'M WITH DIRECTOR COFFEY, YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE WHENEVER I HAVE A CHANCE TO TALK ABOUT THIS POLICE, WHEN I GO TO A GROUP AND SPEAK, I ALWAYS SAY, DID YOU KNOW WE HAVE A POLICE FORCE? AND A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT, YOU KNOW, BUT I TELL THEM IT'S A REAL POLICE.
IT'S NOT SOME FAKEY, YOU KNOW, RANGER HAT THING GOING ON.
IT'S A REAL, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON, YOU KNOW.
I MEAN, IT'S EVERYTHING THAT ANY POLICE FORCE DOES.
IN FACT, THERE'S MORE BECAUSE WHO HAS TWO HELICOPTERS? TRUE.
ANYWAY, I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK AND YOUR GREAT LEADERSHIP.
IT'S ACTUALLY ALL THE WORK OF MY OFFICERS AND MY COMMAND STAFF, SO THEY DESERVE IT.
[03:15:01]
YOU'RE THE LEADER, THOUGH, AND SO YOU SET THE TONE.AND THEN, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANTED TO SAY, DR.
AND I'M CURIOUS, YOU DO, YOU BRING A SENSITIVITY TO AN APPROACHABILITY, TOO, AND I THINK ALONG THOSE LINES WITH THE YOUTH.
I THINK YOUR STYLE, WHAT YOU'VE DONE WITH THE YOUTH, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT'S IN THE FUTURE FOR A CADET PROGRAM OR SOMETHING TO LEAVE YOUR LEGACY BEHIND, BUT ALSO WITH THE VT, VOLUNTEER TRAIL SAFETY DIVISION.
THERE'S SOME YOUNGER GROUPS IN THERE AND EVEN THE I HIKE WITH THE FRIDAY HIKERS THE RESCUE WHAT ARE THEY THE RESCUE TEAM OR THE BUT I'M GLAD TO HEAR INFO PACKETS BECAUSE I KNOW WHEN I'M ON THE TRAIL AND I WAS OUT THERE WITH A PAC MEMBER WHERE THERE WAS SOME NOT EMOTOS BUT FULL-ON DIRT BIKES RUNNING UP AND DOWN THE TRAILS AND I YOUR STAFF CAME OUT AND THEY HAD SOME MATERIALS IN WRITING, BUT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE HAD THOSE TWO TO JUST HANDOUT AT THE TIME IN A FRIENDLY, NON-CONFRONTATIONAL WAY, YOU KNOW, WHERE LIKE YOU ARE PERCEIVED AS LIKE THE GOOD COPS AND WE COULD DO SOME MORE OF THAT OUTREACH OR EDUCATION AND KEEP SPREADING THE GOOD WORD.
I JUST WANT TO SAY, YEAH, EVERYBODY SAID IT, BUT YOU'RE THE CATALYST.
YOU CAME HERE IN JANUARY OF 2024.
IN TWO YEARS, YOU'VE CHANGED THE WHOLE.
I'VE KNOWN ALL THESE GUYS FOR YEARS.
THEY GET TO DO THEIR JOB, AND I THINK THEY REALLY LIKE IT, AND I THINK IT REALLY SHOWS.
SO LET'S SEE IF WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, AND I THINK WE HAVE YOU NEXT FOR THE NEXT PRESENTATION, OR...
SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THIS ITEM AND THEN WE'LL TAKE A SHORT FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AFTER.
[ACTION ITEMS]
GOOD AFTERNOON, PRESIDENT SAN WONG, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, AND GENERAL MANAGER CORTON.THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK WITH YOU TODAY.
I'M A LIEUTENANT WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I'M HERE TO PRESENT THE DEPARTMENT'S USE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY BILL 481.
SO TODAY I WILL BRIEFLY COVER WHAT ASSEMBLY BILL 481 IS, OUR DEPARTMENT'S POLICY AND REQUIREMENTS, OUR CURRENT INVENTORY AND USAGE.
AND OUR REQUESTED ACQUISITIONS.
SO WHAT IS AB 481? ASSEMBLY BILL 481 REQUIRES LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO ADOPT A MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY, OBTAIN APPROVAL FROM THEIR GOVERNING BODY, SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT, AND HOLD A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING.
THE OVERALL GOAL OF THE LAW IS TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY REGARDING THE USE OF CERTAIN EQUIPMENT.
SO THE MILITARY EQUIPMENT USE POLICY...
IT REQUIRES WE DOCUMENT DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT EACH ITEM THAT WE HAVE, INCLUDING A DESCRIPTION IN QUANTITY, CAPABILITIES, AND EXPECTED LIFESPAN, AUTHORIZED USES, FISCAL IMPACT, TRAINING REQUIREMENTS, ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES, AND PROCEDURES FOR PUBLIC COMPLAINTS.
OUR DEPARTMENT COMPLIES WITH AB 481 THROUGH OUR POLICY MANUAL, SECTION 709, WHICH GOVERNS HOW THIS EQUIPMENT IS USED, TRACKED, AND REVIEWED.
THIS POLICY WAS APPROVED BY THE BOARD AND IS PUBLICLY AVAILABLE.
AS PART OF AB 41, WE ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT AN ANNUAL REPORT, HOLD A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING, AND OBTAIN BOARD APPROVAL FOR FUTURE ACQUISITIONS.
THIS YEAR'S COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2026 AT 6.30 P.M.
IT'S BEEN PUBLICIZED VIA OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AS WELL AS THE PARK DISTRICT WEBSITE.
AND THIS MEETING TIME WAS SELECTED BASED ON PRIOR BOARD FEEDBACK TO MAXIMIZE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
ANY FEEDBACK WILL BE DOCUMENTED AND BROUGHT BACK TO THE BOARD IF NECESSARY.
SO AB-481 DEFINES 15 CATEGORIES OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT, AND WE POSSESS EQUIPMENT IN FIVE OF THESE CATEGORIES.
CATEGORY 1, UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES OR DRONES.
CATEGORY 2, AN ARMORED VEHICLE.
CATEGORY 5, A MOBILE COMMAND VEHICLE.
CATEGORY 12, LESS LETHAL TOOLS.
AND CATEGORY 14, 40-MILLIMETER LAUNCHERS AND SPECIALTY MUNITIONS.
I'LL NOW GO OVER THESE IN MORE DETAIL,
[03:20:01]
INCLUDING STATISTICS AS WELL.SO CATEGORY ONE, THE UAV PROGRAM IN 2025, THE UAV PROGRAM CONDUCTED 625 FLIGHTS, TOTALING 176 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME.
THESE DRONES ALLOW US TO SEARCH LARGE PARK AREAS QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY WHILE REDUCING RISK TO PERSONNEL.
THEY ARE USED FOR SEARCH AND RESCUE, FIRE RESPONSE, INVESTIGATIONS AND DIRECTED PATROL.
THEY WERE ALSO USED FOR DIGNITARY PROTECTION OF CONGRESS MEMBERS DURING PUBLIC EVENTS.
CONGRESS MEMBERS DESAULNIER AND SWALWELL WERE VERY APPRECIATIVE OF THE...
SECURITY THAT OUR OFFICERS WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE DURING THEIR TOURS IN OUR JURISDICTION.
MOVING ON TO CATEGORY 2, WE HAVE AN ARMORED VEHICLE.
IT WAS DEPLOYED NINE TIMES IN 2025.
IT IS PRIMARILY USED DURING HIGH-RISK INCIDENTS INVOLVING ARMED SUSPECTS OR WHEN ASSISTING OTHER AGENCIES.
ITS PURPOSE IS TO PROTECT OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC DURING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.
AN EXAMPLE OF THIS OCCURRED IN JULY 2025 WHEN A PAROLE AGENT WAS...
TRAGICALLY SHOT ADJACENT TO MLK JR.
OUR OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THAT INCIDENT AND SEARCHED OUR PROPERTY AS WELL AS THE ADJACENT PROPERTY USING OUR ARMORED VEHICLE.
SO THIS HIGHLIGHTS THAT IT PROVIDES VITAL PROTECTION TO OUR OFFICERS AND PERSONNEL DURING HIGH-RISK INCIDENTS.
CATEGORY 5 IS OUR MOBILE COMMAND VEHICLE.
IT WAS DEPLOYED FIVE TIMES IN 2025.
INCLUDING MISSING PERSON INCIDENTS AND LARGE-SCALE EMERGENCIES.
IT PROVIDES COMMUNICATIONS AND COMMAND CAPABILITIES IN REMOTE AREAS WHERE NORMAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS LIMITED.
CATEGORY 12 ARE LESS LETHAL TOOLS.
THERE WAS ONE DEPLOYMENT INVOLVING PEPPERBALL IN 2025.
THESE TOOLS ARE USED IN CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVING VIOLENT OR NONCOMPLIANT INDIVIDUALS AND ARE INTENDED TO REDUCE THE NEED FOR HIGHER LEVELS OF FORCE.
ALL OF OUR LESS LETHAL ITEMS ARE ROUTINELY CARRIED ONLY BY OFFICERS WHO ARE TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN THEIR USAGE.
CATEGORY 14 ARE 40 MILLIMETER LAUNCHERS AND SPECIALTY MUNITIONS.
THERE WERE THREE DEPLOYMENTS OF 40 MILLIMETER LAUNCHERS AND ONE DEPLOYMENT OF GLASS BREAKER ROUNDS DURING 2025.
THESE ARE LESS LETHAL OPTIONS DESIGNED TO SAFELY RESOLVE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND SUPPORT DE-ESCALATION EFFORTS.
AND FOR ALL THESE ITEMS, WE HAD NO COMPLAINTS OR POLICY VIOLATIONS DURING 2025.
I'LL NOW MOVE ON TO OUR REQUESTED ACQUISITIONS.
SO ALL OF THE ITEMS THAT WE ARE REQUESTING TO ACQUIRE ARE DRONES IN CATEGORY 1.
AS I SAID BEFORE, THEY'VE PROVEN TO BE HIGHLY EFFECTIVE TOOLS TO SAFEGUARD LIVES AND INCREASE EFFICIENCY.
WE ARE ASKING FOR ONE MATRICE 4 DRONE, TWO AVADA 2 DRONES, ONE DRONE AS A FIRST RESPONDER SYSTEM AS A PILOT PROGRAM, AND ONE TETHERED DRONE FOR OUR MOBILE INCIDENT COMMAND VEHICLE.
SO I'LL GO INTO A LITTLE BIT MORE DETAIL ABOUT THOSE.
THE AVADA 2 DRONE IS A SMALL INDOOR DRONE USED TO CLEAR BUILDINGS BEFORE OFFICERS ENTER, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCING RISK.
WE ARE REQUESTING TO PURCHASE TWO OF THESE.
THE MATRICE 4 IS A LARGER DRONE DESIGNED FOR EXTENDED SEARCH OPERATIONS WITH LONGER FLIGHT TIMES, NIGHT CAPABILITY, AND THE ABILITY TO DELIVER LIFE-SAVING EQUIPMENT.
WE ARE REQUESTING ONE OF THESE.
WE ALREADY POSSESS THESE DRONES, BUT WE ARE ASKING FOR ADDITIONAL TO EXPAND OUR CAPABILITY AS WE TRAIN ADDITIONAL DRONE OPERATORS AND EXPAND OUR...
ABILITY TO HAVE DRONES OUT DURING ALL SHIFTS.
SO MOVING ON TO THE NEXT CATEGORY IS DRONE AS A FIRST RESPONDER.
THE DRONE AS A FIRST RESPONDER, OR DFR AS IT'S OFTEN CALLED, ALLOWS FOR RAPID DEPLOYMENT DIRECTLY TO CALLS FOR SERVICE.
IT PROVIDES REAL-TIME VIDEO TO OFFICERS AND COMMAND STAFF, IMPROVING SITUATIONAL AWARENESS AND RESPONSE TIME.
THIS WOULD BE A PILOT PROGRAM POTENTIALLY DEPLOYED IN AN AREA LIKE DELVAL WHERE RESPONSE TIMES CAN BE DELAYED.
UPON A CALL FOR SERVICE, THE DRONE CAN IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY FROM A LAUNCH SITE AND BE DIRECTED TOWARD THE AREA, RESULTING IN RAPID REAL-TIME VIDEO.
AS SOON AS A CALL COMES OUT, SOMEBODY CAN JUST LOG INTO IT.
IT WILL LAUNCH AUTOMATICALLY, GO DIRECTLY TO WHERE WE NEED INFORMATION, AND START PROVIDING VIDEO OF THE LOCATION.
SO IT HAS THE CAPABILITY TO ARRIVE AT AN EMERGENCY SCENE LONG BEFORE ANY FIRST RESPONDERS CAN GET THERE ON THE GROUND.
POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS SUCH AS THE ABILITY TO DELIVER A FLOTATION DEVICE TO SOMEBODY WHO'S IN DISTRESS IN THE WATER.
SO AN EXAMPLE WOULD BE SOMEBODY IN DISTRESS AT DELVAL, IT COULD LAUNCH, GO IMMEDIATELY TO WHERE THEY'RE AT, DROP A LIFE VEST AND AGAIN LONG BEFORE ANY FIRST RESPONDER COULD MAKE IT TO THAT LOCATION.
AND MOVING ON TO THE TETHER DRONE.
SO THE TETHER DRONE PROVIDES LONG DURATION AERIAL MONITORING AND IS IDEAL FOR LARGE INCIDENTS SUCH AS FIRES AND SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.
IT'S BASICALLY JUST TETHERED TO THE LAUNCH SITE SO IT DOESN'T RUN OUT OF BATTERY.
NORMAL DRONES WOULD HAVE TO COME DOWN MAYBE ONCE EVERY
[03:25:01]
HALF AN HOUR TO SWITCH A BATTERY.WHAT WE WANT TO DO WITH IT IS PAIR IT WITH OUR MOBILE COMMAND VEHICLE.
THIS WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE COMMAND POST CAPABILITIES AND REAL-TIME SITUATIONAL AWARENESS FOR LARGE INCIDENTS SUCH AS FIRES AND SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.
WE COULD BRING THE MOBILE COMMAND VEHICLE THERE, LAUNCH A TETHERED DRONE, AND THEN HAVE IMMEDIATE CONSTANT MONITORING OF THE AREA WHERE THE EMERGENCY IS OCCURRING.
PRIOR TO ANY ACQUISITION, THE BOARD WILL RECEIVE FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT DRONE AS A FIRST RESPONDER AND TETHERED DRONES IN THE COMING MONTHS, ALONG WITH IN-PERSON DEMONSTRATIONS.
LIKE CHIEF FELICIA TALKED ABOUT, WE SEEK TO CONSTANTLY STAY UP TO DATE WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES TO ENSURE WE ARE PROVIDING THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE LEVEL OF SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
SO IN CLOSING, OUR DEPARTMENT EMPHASIZES DE-ESCALATION AND THE PRESERVATION OF LIFE IN ALL OF OUR OPERATIONS.
THE EQUIPMENT WE MAINTAIN UNDER AB 481 ALLOWS US TO IMPROVE SAFETY, REDUCE RISK, AND RESOLVE INCIDENTS MORE EFFICIENTLY.
IN 2025, ALL USES OF THIS EQUIPMENT RESULTED IN NO COMPLAINTS AND NO POLICY VIOLATIONS.
THESE TOOLS ARE WIDELY USED ACROSS LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN OUR REGION AND REPRESENT BEST PRACTICES.
WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST APPROVAL OF THE AB 481 ANNUAL REPORT, AND THIS CONCLUDES MY PRESENTATION.
I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
GREAT THANK YOU SO MUCH THAT WAS VERY WELL SUMMARIZED AND INFORMATIVE AND IT'S GOOD THAT WE ARE FOLLOWING THE ASSEMBLY BILL 481 SO LET'S BRING IT TO THE BOARD FOR ANY QUESTIONS AND THEN WE WILL OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT AND THIS IS AN ACTION ITEM SO WE WILL BE LOOKING AT PAGE 121 FOR THE RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION ON THIS ITEM ANY BOARD QUESTIONS YES GO AHEAD DIRECTOR MERCURIO I THINK YOU ANSWERED THIS, BUT I JUST WANT TO BE SURE.
SO IN THE CATEGORY 12, WHICH ARE PEPPER BALL KIND OF THINGS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, SPRAY, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS, THOSE ARE ROUTINELY CARRIED, RIGHT? I MEAN, WHEN WE SEE ALL THAT STUFF ON THE BELT THERE, LIKE ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS THAT.
SO OFFICERS DO CARRY PEPPER SPRAY WITH THEM, BUT THE PEPPER BALL IS AN ACTUAL DEVICE THAT IT'S LIKE AN AIRSOFT GUN, BUT IT LAUNCHES BASICALLY BALLS FILLED WITH PEPPER SPRAY POWDER.
SO ESSENTIALLY IT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO DEPLOY SOMETHING LIKE PEPPER SPRAY, BUT.
FROM A FURTHER DISTANCE SO OFFICERS ARE ABLE TO DEPLOY IT FROM A SAFER DISTANCE.
SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S IN THEIR VEHICLE THEN, AND IF THEY ENCOUNTER A SITUATION WHERE THAT'S CALLED FOR, THEY GO TO THE VEHICLE, GET IT, AND THEN USE IT? THAT'S CORRECT.
ONLY OFFICERS THAT HAVE BEEN TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN THAT ARE AUTHORIZED.
I ALSO, WHILE I'M HERE, I JUST WANTED TO COMMENT THAT THE STAFF REPORT TALKS ABOUT PEPPER PROJECTILES, AND THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NOT, THEY'RE NEVER USED BY OUR DEPARTMENT ON GROUPS WHO FAIL TO DISPERSE.
IT'S NOT, IT'S NOT THAT KIND OF A THING.
IT'S MORE OF AN IMMEDIATE THREAT.
I JUST WANTED TO, I WANTED TO JUST GET THAT, GET THAT OUT THERE.
ANYONE ELSE? YEAH, GO AHEAD, DR.
SO HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE WHEN IS THE COMMUNITY MEETING? IT IS SORRY I FORGOT THE DATE APRIL 29.
ALL RIGHT AND UP AT SOUTH COUNTY? CORRECT.
HOW MANY PEOPLE USUALLY SHOW UP TO THIS THING? WE HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK GETTING PEOPLE THERE SO WE ARE TRYING TO ADJUST THE TIME TO LATER TO SEE IF WE CAN ATTRACT MORE MORE PEOPLE.
OKAY ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? I HAVE A QUESTION.
UNDER FISCAL IMPACT, IT SAYS NONE, AND THE REPORT TALKS ABOUT REQUESTED ACQUISITIONS.
SO IS IT JUST A HEADS UP AND THE ACQUISITION APPROVAL WILL COME LATER? SO WE'RE NOT CURRENTLY ASKING FOR ANY FUNDS.
THE SMALLER DRONES WE CAN PURCHASE FROM OUR BUDGET.
AS I SAID, YOU ARE GOING TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE LARGER DRONES THAT HAVE A HIGHER COST, SO THAT INFORMATION IS FORTHCOMING.
BUT BECAUSE DRONES USED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT THEY'RE REQUIRED TO BE IN THIS AB 481 PRESENTATION.
AND IT DOES NEED TO BE IN THE RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME.
WE'RE JUST ACCEPTING THE REPORT.
THIS IS A REPORT OF ALL THESE THINGS, BUT IT'S NOT THE APPROVAL OF THE BUDGET OR THE EXPENDITURE.
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I LIKE THE USE OF THE VANCE LIFE-SAVING DRONES, SO REALLY EXPLORING THOSE TECHNOLOGIES AND HOW WE CAN.
USE THEM IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS THAT HAVE A HIGHER PROBABILITY OF OCCURRING IN OUR PARK.
IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT THE TEAM
[03:30:02]
CONTINUES TO EXPLORE HOW THEY CAN USE THIS TECHNOLOGY TO THE FULLEST.OKAY, IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, WE'LL COME BACK FOR ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS, BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEE.
DO YOU HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION? IT'S OKAY.
LET'S JUST SEE IF WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
WE'RE GOING TO OPEN PUBLIC COMMENT RIGHT NOW.
SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
NOW WE CAN COME BACK IF THERE'S ANY FINAL COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS OF QUESTIONS.
AND THEN WE ARE LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION ON PAGE 121 OR THE RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION ON 121 FOR THIS ITEM.
OKAY, SO DIRECTOR WASPIE MOVES THE RESOLUTION ON PAGE 121.
WE HAVE A SECOND FROM DIRECTOR DECHAMBEAU.
ANYONE OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? SO THAT'S 7-0.
SO NOW WE WILL TAKE A FIVE-MINUTE BREAK AND CONTINUE THE MEETING IN FIVE MINUTES.
HI, I'M MATT GRAWL, DIVISION LEAD FOR STEWARDSHIP AND CURRENTLY THE ACTING AGM FOR ACQUISITION, STEWARDSHIP, AND PLANNING.
AND REN BATES AND CHRIS BARTON WERE OUT TODAY, SO THEY ASKED ME TO INTRODUCE THIS PRESENTATION.
AND REALLY HAPPY TO BE HERE DOING THIS.
I'VE HAD A LONG HISTORY ACTUALLY WITH THIS SITE.
2004 I WORKED WITH OUR FISHERIES PROGRAM MANAGER PETE ALEXANDER WHO WAS HE WAS A LONG-TERM FISHERIES PROGRAM MANAGER ORIGINALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN RESTORING RAINBOW TROUT INTO WILDCAT CREEK AND HE WAS HERE FOR OVER 30 YEARS AND WE FIRST SURVEYED THIS IN 2004 AND I REMEMBER JUST MEMORABLE LIKE THE NUMBER OF TROUT THAT WERE IN THIS POOL RIGHT NEAR THIS LOCATION AND SO JUST FOR A LITTLE CONTEXT THE WILDCAT CREEK DOES FLOW APPROXIMATELY 13 MILES FROM THE HEADWATERS UP AT VOLMER PEAK JUST ABOVE WHERE THIS PROJECT SITE IS ALL THE WAY DOWN THROUGH THE CITIES OF SAN PABLO AND THEN RICHMOND AND IT'S MOSTLY UNOBSTRUCTED.
THERE'S ONLY THREE SMALL SMALLER SECTIONS IN CULVERTS.
SO THAT'S VERY UNIQUE FOR A CREEK WITHIN THE BAY AREA.
MOST OF OUR CREEKS HAVE LARGE CULVERTED SECTIONS UNDERGROUND OR CONCRETE SECTIONS.
AND SO THIS IS MOSTLY A NATURAL CHANNEL FROM BULMER PEAK ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BAY.
SO IN 2019 PARK STAFF STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRAIL EROSION.
AND OTHER ISSUES AROUND THIS AND PROBLEMS WITH THIS CROSSING.
AND SO THEY PROPOSED IT AS A TCP PROJECT AND STEWARDSHIP, AND WE JOINTLY THEN CAME TO DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION, STEWARDSHIP AND OPERATIONS, AND SAID, HEY, CAN WE GET SOME MONEY TO WORK ON THIS? AND SO WE WERE ABLE TO GET SOME FUNDING GOING TO GET THE DESIGN, AND THEN SCOTT'S BEEN OUR PROJECT MANAGER ON THIS DESIGN SINCE 2021.
AND SO IT'S BEEN A REALLY GREAT COOPERATIVE PROJECT AND REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE WITH THIS MILESTONE NOW OF AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
GREAT MILESTONE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT LITTLE PROJECT, SO JUST REALLY HAPPY TO INTRODUCE IT, AND SCOTT WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT IT.
I'LL ADD ONE QUICK TIDBIT, EVEN THOUGH I WAS LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO BE SO FAST WITH THESE LAST TWO ITEMS, BUT HERE I AM SLOWING IT DOWN.
SO, A, THIS IS SUCH A COOL PROJECT.
IT'S ALL THE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD BE DOING.
AND THEN ADDITIONALLY, I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE KATIE AND KATIE BACK THERE, BECAUSE THE OTHER COOL THING HERE IS THAT WE WENT AND GOT...
OUTSIDE FUNDING FOR THIS, THERE WAS A FUNDING GAP THAT YOUR BOARD AND YOUR BUDGET MOVED SOME WW MONEY THAT WOULD HELP COVER THAT GAP.
BUT THEN OUR TEAM WENT BACK TO THE FUNDING AGENCIES AND SAID, COULD WE GET ADDITIONAL STATE MONEY FOR THAT? AND WE WERE SUCCESSFUL DOING THAT.
AND SO ONE THING THAT WE'RE ALSO DOING IS PUTTING THAT WW MONEY BACK INTO THE ACQUISITION FUND.
I THINK LIKE THIS IS LIKE A WIN-WIN-WIN-WIN PROJECT.
I AM A PROJECT MANAGER AND CIVIL ENGINEER IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT.
IT'S NICE TO BE WITH YOU THIS AFTERNOON.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A QUICK OVERVIEW, I'M GOING TO PRESENT AND HIGHLIGHT OUR WORK ON WILDCAT CREEK.
IN TILDEN REGIONAL PARK AT THE BROOK ROAD STAGING AREA.
IT'S SHOWN IN THIS PHOTOGRAPH AND ESSENTIALLY IT'S BELOW THE CAROUSEL AND JUST DOWNSTREAM OF LAKE ANZA.
THE PROJECT SITE IS THE INTERSECTION OF TWO TRAILS, WILDCAT GORGE TRAIL WHICH RUNS DOWN FROM LAKE ANZA ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE CREEK AND THE CRAN TRAIL THAT RISES FROM THE PROJECT SITE GOING EAST UP THE STEEP HILL.
THE RECOMMENDATION BEFORE YOU IS THAT THE GENERAL MANAGER RECOMMENDS THAT THE BOARD OF
[03:35:03]
DIRECTORS AUTHORIZE THE EXECUTION OF $1,407,998 TO GRANITE ROCK COMPANY.THEY'RE THE LOWEST RESPONSIVE AND RESPONSIBLE BIDDER FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THIS PROJECT AND AUTHORIZE A CONTINGENCY AMOUNT OF $211,200 FOR THE CONSTRUCT BRIDGES AT THE BROOK ROAD PROJECT IN TILLIJAN REGIONAL PARK.
AS MATT ALLUDED, THE PROJECT PURPOSE IS MULTIFOLD.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, THIS PROJECT WAS BROUGHT BY THE STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT TO HELP RESTORE UPSTREAM PASSAGE TO NATIVE RAINBOW TROUT AND TO REDUCE BANK EROSION AND TURBIDITY IN THE CREEK.
AND THEN THE SECONDARY BENEFIT OR CO-BENEFIT IS TO IMPROVE PUBLIC ACCESS ACROSS THE CREEK AND WITHIN THE STAGING AREA ITSELF.
PHOTO OF BEFORE AND NOT QUITE AFTER BUT IT'S STANDING ON THE CRAYON TRAIL LOOKING I BELIEVE WEST SO WILDCAT CREEK IS GOING FLOWING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE SMALL LITTLE PEOPLE ARE IS THE ACCURATE CONCRETE CROSSING THAT IS CURRENTLY THERE IT'S PASSABLE DURING PERIODS OF LOW FLOW BUT IS IMPASSABLE WHEN THERE ARE STORMS ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS YOU KNOW I WAS OUT THERE JUST A FEW WEEKS AGO AND AND THAT CONCRETE'S BEEN THERE FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT'S BEEN UNDERMINED BY EROSION AND IS STARTING TO SHOW ITS AGE AND CRACKING, SO I THINK THIS CONSTRUCTION IS HAPPENING AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME.
AND THEN THE IMAGE ON THE RIGHT IS SHOWING ONE OF THE TWO BRIDGES THAT ARE GOING TO BE INSTALLED.
THIS IS AN 80-FOOT SPAN THAT CROSSES FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE IMAGE FROM THE CROWN TRAIL OVER TO A SMALL REDWOOD GROVE, AND THEN THERE'S GOING TO BE A 25-FOOT BRIDGE THAT GOES ACROSS.
THE TRIBUTARY THAT WILL GO TO THE RIGHT TO THE PARKING AREA.
THIS IS JUST LOOKING IN PLAN VIEW AGAIN KIND OF BEFORE ON THE LEFT AND AFTER ON THE RIGHT.
AND IF WE LOOK ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, STARTING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE, WE HAVE THOSE TWO BRIDGE CROSSINGS AND THE TRAIL THAT CONNECTS TO THE PARKING AREA IS AT GRADE AND SO WILL BE ACCESSIBLE.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT AND WE'RE ADDING TWO ADA PARKING STALLS IN THE PARKING LOT.
SO THAT IS ANOTHER FEATURE OF THE PROJECT AND THEN THERE'S A SMALL AMOUNT OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT FROM THE RUNOFF FROM THE PARKING LOT.
SO I JUST WANTED TO GET INTO THE PROJECT FUNDING REALLY BRIEFLY AND AND TO GIVE SOME NUMBERS THAT ARE ADDED UP IN A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT FORM JUST TO GIVE YOU A KIND OF A FULL PICTURE OF PROJECT FUNDING FOR THE PROJECT.
OVERALL, THE PROJECT HAS ABOUT $3.5 MILLION ALLOCATED TO IT, AND AS MAX ALLUDED TO, ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS OF THAT IS GOING TO BE REFUNDED TO MEASURE WW.
$2.5 MILLION OF THAT IS FROM GRANTS, SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT ALL OF THE WORK THAT OUR GRANTS TEAM HAS DONE TO HELP FUND THIS PROJECT.
THE OTHER KIND OF PIECE OF THIS...
IS JUST THINKING ABOUT THE WORK THAT HAS GONE INTO GETTING US TO THIS POINT.
SO ABOUT $360,000 OF DESIGN AND PERMITTING WORK THAT WON'T BE COVERED BY THE GRANTS, BUT ESSENTIALLY THE REST OF THE WORK WILL BE.
THE PROJECT WENT OUT TO BID IN JANUARY.
WE HAD NINE BIDS, WHICH WAS REALLY ENCOURAGING.
WHEN WE DID A PROJECT UPSTREAM IN THE BOTANIC GARDEN LAST YEAR, THE CONTRACTOR WHO WORKED OUT THERE WAS REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE THIS IS, AND WORKING IN OUR PARKS IS REALLY, I THINK, A BLESSING FOR CONTRACTORS BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THEY ARE NOT IN SUCH IDEAL ENVIRONS, AND SO THEY DO APPRECIATE THIS WORK WHEN THEY HAVE IT.
AND BECAUSE OF THE COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT, THE BID CAME IN $400,000 LESS THAN THE ENGINEER'S ESTIMATE.
THE OTHER THING THAT I WOULD NOTE IS, TO DATE, ADDING THE DESIGN WORK AND THIS CONSTRUCTION, WE'RE NEARING ABOUT $2 MILLION SO FAR, AND THERE'S A FEW OTHER KIND OF PIECES THAT WE'LL NEED TO ADD ON TO THE BUDGET TO GET THROUGH CONSTRUCTION AND MONITORING.
AND SO WE'RE ANTICIPATING ISSUING CONTRACTS THROUGH OUR ON-CALLS FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION AND ALSO BIOLOGICAL MONITORING, SO THOSE WILL BE FORTHCOMING.
THEY WON'T COME TO THE BOARD BECAUSE THEY'RE THROUGH OUR ON-CALL PROCESS.
AND THEN POST-CONSTRUCTION, THERE WILL BE SOME VEGETATION MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT THAT WE'LL BE DOING.
THE OTHER ELEMENT THAT I WOULD
[03:40:02]
JUST HIGHLIGHT ON THIS SLIDE IS, YOU KNOW, THAT, YOU KNOW, WHAT'S SHOWN IN THIS TABLE THAT WE'VE GOT THREE, OVER THREE MILLION DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, QUOTE-UNQUOTE AVAILABLE, AND THEN AFTER THIS 1.6 MILLION ALLOCATION FOR CONSTRUCTION THERE WILL BE ABOUT 1.5 MILLION LEFT IN IN OUR BUDGET.AS I MENTIONED THE NEXT STEPS WE ANTICIPATE CONSTRUCTION STARTING THIS SUMMER.
WE'LL GET THE CONTRACTOR GOING ON A NON-PHYSICAL NOTICE TO PROCEED HERE IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS SO THEY CAN ORDER THE BRIDGES.
THEY'RE A LONG LEAD TIME AND THEN WE EXPECT THEM TO MOBILIZE SOMETIME IN JUNE OR JULY AND BE COMPLETE BY THIS WINTER.
AND SO THE PLAN ESTABLISHMENT PERIOD AFTER THAT IS ABOUT THREE YEARS AND AT THAT POINT WE EXPECT TO BE FULLY OFF THE SITE.
AND AGAIN, JUST BRINGING IT BACK TO THE RECOMMENDATION FOR YOUR APPROVAL.
I DON'T KNOW IF I'LL READ THAT AGAIN, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS OR TAKE YOUR COMMENTS.
I'LL JUST ASK ONE QUICK QUESTION SINCE YOU JUST FINISHED WITH THE BUDGET.
SO THE ANTICIPATED $1.5 MILLION THAT MIGHT BE LEFT IN THE BUDGET, IF THAT'S NOT USED, IN THAT CASE, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD THEN GO BACK TO THE GENERAL FUND POTENTIALLY? YEAH, SO...
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE ALLOCATED A MILLION DOLLARS FROM THE GENERAL FUND, AND THAT INCLUDES THE WW FUNDS.
AND SO WE ANTICIPATE HAVING SOME SURPLUS FROM BOTH THE GRANTS AND THE GENERAL FUND.
SO, YEAH, THOSE WILL GET REALLOCATED.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ON THIS ITEM? I THINK IT'S A GREAT PROJECT.
I LOOK FORWARD TO IT, AND I'M GLAD IT'S GOING TO BE DONE BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
ONE THING I NOTED, DO YOU FIND IT AMAZING THAT THE SECOND THROUGH THE SIXTH BIDDER ARE ALL WITHIN $49,000 ONE ANOTHER, AND IF YOU ADD THE CONTINGENCY ON THE FIRST GUY, THEY'RE ALL TOGETHER.
WELL, I THINK PART OF THAT IS WE HAD A REALLY GOODĀ YOU GAVE THEM A GOOD LIST OR GAVE THEM A GOOD SCOPE.
YEAH, A VERY CLEAR PLAN SET, SO I THINK OUR DESIGNERS DID A REALLY GOOD JOB.
CONGRATS TO EVERYBODY INVOLVED.
THAT'S DEFINITELY FISCAL IMPACT.
QUESTION ON THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT.
IS THE BRIDGE AND EVERYTHING SUFFICIENT FOR SEA LEVEL RISE, EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS, PLANNING FOR LIKE 100-YEAR FLOOD KIND OF THING, OR IS THAT ALL IN THERE SOMEWHERE AND I DON'T SEE IT AS ALL PLANNED FOR? EVERYTHING'S PLANNED FOR.
I MEAN THAT'S WHAT THIS PROJECT'S ALL ABOUT IS BECAUSE RIGHT NOW THE TRAIL LITERALLY GOES THROUGH THE CREEK ON LIKE A DAM OF CEMENT.
SO THIS BRINGS IT WAY ABOVE THE FLOOD PLAIN AND YEAH, I THINK THAT'S EXACTLY EXACTLY WHAT IT IS.
YES WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPORT.
I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT THE NATIVE RAINBOW TROUT WILL BE ABLE TO GO UPSTREAM AND THAT WE'LL HAVE THE ADA ACCESS AND THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AREN'T GOING TO HAVE TO TRY TO MAKE THEIR WAY OVER THAT CEMENT AND, WELL, PEOPLE, DOGS, EVERYTHING, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THAT IS DISRUPTIVE TO THE STREAM.
AND I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN WALKING IN THAT AREA SINCE I WAS ABOUT 10 YEARS OLD AND I'M PRETTY SURE IT'S THE SAME CEMENT.
I'M NOT KIDDING AND IT WAS HAZARDOUS BACK THEN AND EVEN WORSE SO NOW SO, SO YEAH.
THANKS FOR THE WORK AND GREAT JOB, GREAT JOB ON THE GRANTS AND APPRECIATION TO BUFFY WICKS AS WELL, ASSEMBLYMEMBER WICKS FOR GETTING US SOME MONEY THERE TOO.
LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO SEE IF WE HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE CAN COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT.
I SEE JOHN HAS SOMETHING THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SAY.
YEAH, IF YOU COULD GO BACK TO THE PROJECT ILLUSTRATION, THAT ONE, IF YOU CAN SEE THAT.
YEAH, SO ARE WE SO LOOKING ON THE LEFT SIDE, CURRENT SITUATION, THERE'S A TRAIL RUNNING NORTH ALONG THE CREEK, BUT ON THE PROPOSED, IT'S NOT THERE.
DOES THAT MEAN WE'RE OBLITERATING THAT OR RESTORING THAT OR IT'S JUST NOT DRAWN IN? YES, SO THERE IS A PORTION OF THE WILDCAT QUARGE TRAIL THAT IS GOING TO BE REROUTED.
AND SO THE AREA, WHAT'S IN THE VIEW HERE AND A LITTLE BIT
[03:45:01]
FURTHER DOWNSTREAM, THE CREEK, BECAUSE THEY MEANDER, IS VERY CLOSE TO THE TRAIL AND ERODING IN SOME PLACES.AND IN THE PAST, WE'VE THROWN SOME BOULDERS TO PROTECT IT.
AND SO ON STEWARDSHIP'S RECOMMENDATION, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO IS WE'VE ACTUALLY ALREADY REROUTED THE TRAIL MAYBE TWO YEARS AGO.
WE'VE CREATED A NEW TRAIL CONNECTION.
AND THEN AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, IT WOULD BE ABANDONED THAT LENGTH.
ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? OTHERWISE, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR THE RESOLUTION THAT YOU'LL FIND ON PAGE 195.
OKAY, WE HAVE A MOTION MADE BY DIRECTOR ECHOLS, SECOND BY DIRECTOR DECHAMBEAU.
SO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT.
ITEM SO THIS LAST ITEM IS VERY COOL.
ALSO, WE'RE GONNA LIKE COME BACK.
THIS IS JUST THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTRACT WE'RE GOING TO COME BACK SOON WITH THAT LIKE ACTUAL CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WE HAD A REALLY COOL SITE VISIT WITH OUR CONGRESSWOMAN OUT THERE AND GOT A GIANT CHECK WHICH WAS REALLY COOL BUT ANYWAY, THIS IS A REALLY NEAT PROJECT.
WE'LL DO LIKE A LONGER VERSION IN THE FUTURE.
YOU ALSO GOT GREAT MEDIA COVERAGE.
SPEAKING OF A PROJECT THAT HAS A LOT OF GRANTS AVAILABLE, I'M CARMEN ERASMUS, CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGER IN THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT, AND I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE ONE OF OUR LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS, ANACOST WEINHART, WHO'S MANAGING THE CONSTRUCTION PORTION OF THE TIDEWATER DAY USE PROJECT.
ANNIKA IS HERE TO SEEK AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICE CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES AND THIS IS A 16.4 MILLION DOLLAR TOTAL BUDGET PROJECT AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS WE NEED TO GET APPROVAL FOR SO WE HAVE A VERY BRIEF PRESENTATION AND WE'LL BE COMING BACK TO THE BOARD IN ABOUT JUNE WITH A MORE COMPREHENSIVE PRESENTATION TO AWARD THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT WITH THAT I'LL TURN THE PRESENTATION OVER THANK YOU GOOD AFTERNOON PRESIDENT SAN WONG AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
I WILL KEEP THIS AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
AS CARMEN SAID, THIS IS, WE'RE ASKING FOR AUTHORIZATION TO AWARD A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES CONTRACT FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THIS TIDEWATER PROJECT.
WE PUT OUT AN RFP FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN JANUARY.
PROPOSALS WERE DUE MID-FEBRUARY.
AND WE GOT SOME GOOD RESPONSES FROM THAT.
THE CONSTRUCTION BID IS ALSO CURRENTLY OUT TO BID AND IS UNDER BIDDING, AND WE'LL BE RECEIVING THOSE CONSTRUCTION BIDS AT THE END OF THE MONTH.
WE DID INTERVIEWS HERE AT THE DISTRICT WITH THE TOP THREE FIRMS, AND THE SELECTION COMMITTEE WAS CARMEN ERASMUS, OUR CAPITAL PROJECTS MANAGER, DALE MCCOURT, OUR SURVEY AND CONSTRUCTION INSPECTION MANAGER, WAS INVOLVED, AND I WAS THE THIRD MEMBER OF THAT SELECTION COMMITTEE.
BASED ON THOSE INTERVIEWS, THE PROPOSALS THAT WERE PUT IN, SWINERTON MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING WAS DEEMED TO BE THE MOST HIGHLY QUALIFIED AND EXPERT TEAM THAT INTERVIEWED.
THEY HAD LICENSED ENGINEERS, EITS, THEY WERE HIGHLY EDUCATED, TRAINED, LOTS OF CERTIFIED PERSONNEL, AND THEY ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE ENTIRE SWINERTON FAMILY OF BUSINESSES FOR CONSULTATION AS NEEDED.
THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT POINT FOR US IN TERMS OF MANAGING THIS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
THERE IS A NATURE PLAYGROUND AREA.
IT'S AN INFILL PROJECT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY AT THE TIDEWATER BOATING CENTER ADJACENT.
SO HAVING A CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT TEAM WHO'S BOTH RESPONSIVE TO THE TECHNICAL AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF THE PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE HUMAN ACTIVITY AND COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT WAS IMPORTANT TO US, AND THEY CLEARLY DEMONSTRATED AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPLEXITY OF ALL OF THOSE CONDITIONS.
AND SO THEIR SCOPE WILL BE TO HELP US WITH THE PRE-CONSTRUCTION PERIOD RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE COMING TO YOU WITH THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT AUTHORIZATION FIRST, TO HELP US THROUGH THE BIDDING PROCESS, DOING THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROJECT, AGAIN, HELPING WITH PUBLIC AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS AT THE SITE, AND DOING MATERIAL TESTING, QUALITY ASSURANCE.
AND HELPING US CLOSE OUT THE PROJECT.
[03:50:01]
SO IT'S THE FULL SUITE OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES THAT ARE NEEDED FOR A PROJECT OF THIS SIZE AND COMPLEXITY.SWINNERT'S PROPOSAL FALLS IN LINE WITH INDUSTRY STANDARD EXPECTATIONS.
SO IF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO COST $9.4 MILLION, WE WOULD EXPECT THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FEES TO BE ABOUT 10% OR LESS FROM THAT IN TERMS OF LEVEL OF EFFORT.
AND OUR EXISTING BUDGET FOR THE PROJECT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE CURRENTLY, THIS WOULD BE A $937,657 CONTRACT, WHICH WOULD LEAVE US WITH A BALANCE REMAINING OF ABOUT $9.3 MILLION.
NOT SHOWN ON THIS CHART IS REGIONAL PARK FOUNDATION FUNDING THAT WILL COME IN AT THE TIME THAT WE'RE AWARDING THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT.
BUT THE FOUNDATION WANTS TO HOLD ON TO THAT MONEY FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE FOR INTEREST PURPOSES.
SO THIS IS JUST FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT CONTRACT.
AND THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE GENERAL MANAGER IS THAT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUTHORIZE EXECUTION OF A $937,000, $937,000, $657,000 CONTRACT TO SWINNERTON MANAGEMENT AND CONSULTING FOR CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.
REGIONAL SHORELINE TIDEWATER SITE.
THAT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE AND A GOOD OVERVIEW OF WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT TODAY.
SO WE'LL OPEN IT UP FOR BOARD MEMBER QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE WILL DO PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMENTS BEFORE WE LOOK AT THE RESOLUTION ON PAGE 210.
I'M JUST PUTTING THIS SCREEN UP SO YOU CAN SEE THE PLAN.
SO ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS? I DON'T SEE ANY QUESTIONS.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT REAL QUICK.
ALL RIGHT, SO WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
SO LET'S BRING IT BACK THEN FOR ANY COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD MEMBERS.
AND ALSO WE WILL BE LOOKING FOR A MOTION FOR THE RECOMMENDED RESOLUTION ON PAGE 210.
SORRY, MAYBE I WASN'T LISTENING CAREFUL ENOUGH, BUT WHAT IS THE ROLE OF OUR FOUNDATION IN THE FUNDING? THERE ARE FUNDS THAT HAVE BEEN APPROPRIATED FOR THIS PROJECT.
FROM THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION AND I WAS JUST POINTING OUT THAT THE BALANCE REMAINING LINE WILL BE LARGER WHEN WE COME BACK TO YOU IN JUNE.
THERE'S A DONATION THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT THAT CAME THROUGH THE FOUNDATION.
WHAT'S THE ORIGINAL SOURCE OF THE FUNDING? I DON'T KNOW IF THE DONOR IS...
OH, YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL? YEAH.
OKAY, I WAS CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE STATUS OF...
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY BEING RAISED FOR THIS PROJECT? I THINK IT'S FULLY FUNDED.
YEAH, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION FUNDS, IT'S A TREMENDOUS SUITE OF GRANTS, AND THANK YOU TO BOTH THE KATIE'S FOR EXPLAINING THIS TO ME.
BUT THERE'S, I THINK, ON THE ORDER OF 10 OR 12, THERE'S FFCC, PROP 68, THERE'S FEDERAL GRANTS, THERE'S STATE GRANTS.
LWCF, I'M PROBABLY MISSING TWO OTHER ONES.
THERE'S A SUITE OF OTHER PEOPLE.
I'M SURE YOU FOLKS TALKED ABOUT THIS AT THE EVENT.
AND WE WILL, WHEN WE PRESENT THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A MUCH MORE DETAILED PRESENTATION THAT GOES INTO ALL THE FACETS OF THE PROJECT BECAUSE THE LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE PART OF THIS IS SO COOL, TOO, IN TERMS OF, LIKE, THE SITE AND THE PLAY STRUCTURES AND THE NATURAL RESOURCE BENEFITS.
AND THEN WE CAN ALSO GO INTO THE FUNDING IN MUCH MORE DETAIL.
AND JUST LAST THOUGHT ON THAT SUBJECT, WW, IS THAT? THERE'S, I DON'T, IS THERE WW? YEAH, THERE'S A LITTLE BIT.
IT'S OAKLAND SHORELINE AND WE'RE NOT HAVING TO DEPEND ON WW MONEY.
IT JUST GOES BACK TO THAT DISCUSSION WE HAD A FEW MONTHS AGO.
SO I WOULD JUST LIKE TO CONGRATULATE EVERYONE ON ALL THE WORK.
WE HAD THE GREAT HONOR FOR CONGRESSWOMAN LATIFAH SIMON TO COME AND VISIT AND ALSO TO PRESENT US WITH A CHECK TO BRING US TO THE FINISH LINE FOR THIS PROJECT AND FUNDING.
BUT ALSO DURING THAT OPPORTUNITY, WE HAD REAL ENGAGEMENT AMONG THE CONGRESSWOMAN AND THE STAFF.
AND I FELT LIKE EACH MEMBER HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE AND TELL ABOUT WHAT CONTRIBUTIONS THEY BRING TO TIDEWATER AND THIS PROJECT.
AND I THINK AS FAR AS WHAT IS EVEN MORE IMPORTANT ABOUT THIS PROJECT IS NOT EVERY COMMUNITY
[03:55:01]
HAS EQUITABLE ACCESS TO OPEN SPACES CLOSEST TO HOME.SO THIS PROJECT AND YOUR WORK IS GOING TO BE OPENING UP THIS AREA FOR OUR EAST OAKLAND COMMUNITY AND BEYOND.
AND IT REALLY JUST HELPS US AS FAR AS BRING ACCESS TO THE SHORELINE.
AND ALSO THERE'S A LOT OF IMPORTANT ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION.
AND THAT'S AS FAR AS YOUR TEAM'S DONE A GREAT JOB IS LOOKING HOW SEA LEVEL WILL AFFECT THE SHORELINE AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO NOT ONLY TO INVEST IN THIS PARK, BUT TO INVEST IN A PARK.
THAT A COMMUNITY CAN ENJOY BECAUSE WE ALSO THOUGHT ABOUT THE IMPACTS, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS.
SO GREAT WORK, AND I'D LOVE TO GIVE THE MOTION TO APPROVE.
ARE YOU MAKING THE MOTION? OH, SORRY.
YES, I'D LIKE TO MAKE THE MOTION.
OKAY, DIRECTOR LAFANYA MAKES A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION THAT'S ON PAGE 210. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? AND OR THERE'S ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY IF OTHER PEOPLE WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS.
OKAY, WE HAVE A SECOND FROM DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER COMMENTS, ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE.
OKAY, ANYONE OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? I DON'T BELIEVE SO.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE JUNE PRESENTATION.
OKAY, SO NOW WE ARE MOVING ON TO AGENDA ITEM K, ANNOUNCEMENTS
[BOARD REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED]
FROM CLOSED SESSION.DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION? OKAY, ITEM L, PROPOSED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS. DO WE HAVE ANY PROPOSED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? NONE.
SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM M, BOARD REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED.
WHO WOULD LIKE TO START WITH THIS ONE? ALL RIGHT.
OKAY, SO ON MARCH 17TH WAS THE BOARD MEETING.
ON THE DAY AFTER, ON THE 18TH, WAS THE BOARD EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
AND THE DAY AFTER THAT, ON THE 19TH, I MET WITH SOME OF OUR STAFF TO GET BRIEFED AT CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SUPERVISOR ANDERSON'S OFFICE IN DANVILLE.
TO GET BRIEFED ON THE WORK THAT THE COUNTY IS DOING TO DOUBLE, WHAT THEY CALL DOUBLE TRACK THE IRON HORSE TRAIL FOR ABOUT A MILE IN SAN RAMON BETWEEN BOLLINGER CANYON ROAD AND CROW CANYON ROAD.
AND THE COUNTY HAS FUNDED THIS STUDY AND THEY'VE GOT SORT OF A PRELIMINARY DESIGN THEY'RE WORKING ON AND IT LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
IT'S A PILOT PROGRAM TO BASICALLY RELIEVE THE TRAFFIC AND THE CONFLICT ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL.
ON THE 20TH, I SERVED ON THE EAST BAY LEADERSHIP COUNCIL BOARD, AND WE HAD A BOARD MEETING.
ON THE 23RD, I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF REPRESENTING THIS BOARD TO THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
ON THE 25TH AND THE 26TH WAS OUR FEDERAL ADVOCACY MEETINGS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
ON MARCH 30TH, I MET WITH PAC MEMBER SCOTT BARTLEBAUGH.
WE WENT FOR A LITTLE STROLL THROUGH CROCKET HILLS.
LOOKING AT HOW THAT'S WORKING IN TERMS OF IT'S BASICALLY, IT'S MOSTLY A BICYCLE, MOUNTAIN BIKE ACCESS TYPE OF SITUATION.
AND HE SHOWED ME HOW THAT'S ALL WORKING.
LATER THAT DAY, ON THE 30TH, I MET WITH SOME MEMBERS OF THE ALAMO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION WHO WERE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL WITH E-MOTOS AND BIKES AND ALL THAT STUFF.
BUT ALSO, THEY'RE INTERESTED IN PLANTING SOME TREES ALONG THERE FOR SHADE IN ALAMO.
AND I JUST HAPPENED TO BE THE FIRST ONE THAT GOT TAGGED, SO I GAVE THEM SOME GUIDANCE AS TO WHAT TO DO NEXT ABOUT THAT.
NICK HARVEY, WHO RUNS BASICALLY AN URBAN TREE SALVAGE OPERATION WHERE HE TAKES REDWOODS AND EUCALYPTUS TREES THAT HAVE BEEN HARVESTED IN THE URBAN SPHERE, AND HE GETS THEM BACK TO HIS MILL, AND THEY MAKE LUMBER OUT OF IT.
JUST AN INTERESTING THING TO SEE.
ON APRIL 1ST, I ATTENDED WITH THE DIRECTOR.
COFFEE, VICE PRESIDENT COFFEE, MARTINEZ'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION WHERE THE TWO OF US TEAMED UP AND WE
[04:00:02]
READ THE PROCLAMATION THAT COMES FROM US, FROM OUR BOARD.THERE WERE A WHOLE BUNCH OF OTHER AGENCIES AND ELECTED FOLKS THAT ALSO PRESENTED THINGS BECAUSE THAT'S A VERY SIGNIFICANT THING, AT LEAST IN OUR COUNTY ANYWAY, TO GET TO 150 YEARS AS A CITY.
ON THE NEXT DAY, ON THE SECOND, I ATTENDED THE CONTRA COSTA MAYOR'S CONFERENCE IN MY OWN FAIR CITY.
AND THEN ON THE FOURTH, I WAS ATTENDED A, I GUESS WHAT I'M CALLING THE DOOLIN CANYON COMMUNITY MEETING.
IT WAS SAVE THE BAY, TRANSFORMING SHORELINES.
3-6 AND 3-7, I ATTENDED A WELL FELLOWSHIP IN TEHACHAPI AND LEARNED ABOUT WATER.
3-9, DID THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK BOARD INTERVIEW WITH ANIKA KLASSEN.
310 MONTHLY ONE-ON-ONE WITH GM MAX 3-13 PRESS CONFERENCE AND TOUR WITH ELECTED OFFICIAL REP SIMON SITE VISIT OF TIDEWATER 3-15 DID A TOUR ORALOMA THE HORIZONTAL LEVEE PROJECT 3-25 MEETINGS WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS DURING THE WASHINGTON DC CONFERENCE AND 326 WAS THE SECOND DAY OF THE WASHINGTON DC CONFERENCE AND 327 AND 328 ATTENDED THE WELL CONFERENCE IN FRESNO.
VICE PRESIDENT COFFEY ARE YOU READY TO GO? COOL.
OKAY ON THE 18TH I ATTENDED BOTH THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON THAT DAY.
ON THE 19TH, I MET WITH LISA AND SANDY TO DISCUSS THE NEW VOLUNTEER POLICY THAT THEY'RE DEVELOPING, AND I WAS INTERESTED IN A BRIEFING ON IT.
ON THE 20TH, I MET WITH DAVE MASON TO DISCUSS THE BOARD PROGRAM, AND ON THE EVENING OF THE 20TH, I ATTENDED AN ANNUAL EVENT OF SUPERVISOR KEN CARLSON.
DIRECTOR MERCURIO WAS AT THAT EVENT AS WELL.
ON THE 21ST, I ATTENDED THE TRAINING AT TRUDEAU OF 50 NEW AMBASSADORS FOR THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.
AND AS SOMEONE DOING THAT PROGRAM NOW FOR 20-SOMETHING YEARS, I WAS ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN IT, WHICH WAS FUN. WHERE WAS I? I ATTENDED THE SEND-OFF OF DEB SPALDING ON THE 23RD.
ON THE 25TH, I ATTENDED THE NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA COMMITTEE MEETING, AND THEY HELD IT IN CROCKETT.
THIS, AGAIN, IS NATIONAL HERITAGE ADVISORY COMMITTEE THAT I'M ON THAT ULTIMATELY IS A... STATE AGENCY UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE DELTA PROTECTION COMMISSION.
IT WAS NEAT THAT THEY WERE MEETING IN WARD 7.
ON THE 26TH, WHILE YOU FOLKS WERE IN D.C., OR SOME OF YOU, I ATTENDED THE CONTRA COSTA SPECIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION ANNUAL DINNER. ON THE 28TH, I PARTICIPATED IN THE RODDY RANCH LAND BAY TOUR. WE WERE EARLIER TALKING ABOUT PROGRAMS THAT WE DO AT LAND BANK. PROPERTIES, THIS IS THE RODDY GOLF COURSE THAT IS CLOSE TO BEING DEVELOPED AND HOPEFULLY BREAKING GROUND IN A YEAR OR SO. THAT HAD A GOOD TURNOUT, TOO. ON APRIL 1ST, THE MARTINEZ-SESQUICENTENNIAL, PEOPLE WERE HAVING TROUBLE.
WE'LL TAKE THAT ACT ON THE ROAD SOMETIME. THE WAY WE DID THAT, IT WAS FUN. ON APRIL 2ND, I MET WITH A COUPLE OF BOARD MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE RODEO SANITARY DISTRICT. THEY HAD A
[04:05:02]
PROPOSAL TO TURN, I THINK IT'S ABOUT 10 ACRES UP THERE, OF PARKLAND THAT WE HAVE IN RODEO RIGHT ON THE SHORELINE WITH A BEACH. AND THEY HAD A PROPOSAL TO USE THAT LAND FOR SOLAR PANELS. SO I JUST HAD TO GENTLY SAY WE DON'T. PUT SOLAR PANELS OR OTHER INDUSTRIAL USES IN PARK LAND.AND WHAT IT REALLY CAME DOWN TO IS IT'S LAND BANKED, AND THEY WEREN'T SURE WE HAD PLANS FOR IT. SO I HAD TO DESCRIBE TO THEM THE VISION WE HAVE FOR THAT PROPERTY.
ON THE 3RD, I ATTENDED A BOARD MEETING PREP MEETING FOR THIS MEETING WITH STAFF.
AND ON THIS WEEKEND, ON THE 4TH, I ATTENDED A WATERBIRD PIPE.
PARK HIKE THAT WAS HOSTED BY MYSELF AND SUPERVISOR SCALES PRESTON AND MEMBERS OF THE BAY POINT MAC. SO KIND OF A THREE-HEADED WALK AND TALK. AND IT WORKED. IT GOT MORE PEOPLE DOING IT THAT WAY THAN ANY ONE OF US DOING A WALK AND TALK.
AND IT WAS A LOT OF FUN. SO THAT'S IT. KIND OF A BUSY MONTH. THANK YOU.
ON THE 18TH, I ATTENDED THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING.
REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ON THE 19TH I ATTENDED THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SPECIAL DISTRICT'S ANNUAL DINNER MEETING WHERE SENATOR AISHA WAHAB SPOKE IT WAS A GREAT EVENT AND THANK STAFF THAT ARE HERE BUT THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT BASKET THAT WE MADE THEY HAVE GIVEAWAYS AND EACH AGENCY MAKES A BASKET AND OURS WAS BEAUTIFUL ON THE 20TH, I MET WITH THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, DISCUSSED SOME ISSUES.
ON THE 24TH THROUGH THE 27TH, I ATTENDED THE D.C. TRIP. I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY WELL DONE.
I THINK IT WAS VERY INFORMATIVE BOTH WAYS. PEOPLE LEARNED ABOUT US. WE LEARNED ABOUT THEM. I THINK IT WAS A GOOD INTERCHANGE THROUGHOUT THE TWO-DAY JAMMED, PACKED, ACTION-FILLED MEETINGS. AND ON APRIL 4TH, I ATTENDED A MEETING WITH SOME LIVERMORE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THEIR MAYOR AND A COUPLE OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AT THE GAUSLAND PROPERTY, AND WE WALKED THE PROPOSED EASEMENT THAT LARRY HAS TALKED TO US ABOUT, AND IT WAS A VERY INTERESTING HIKE AND A VERY BEAUTIFUL HIKE. IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE, AND THAT'S IT.
OKAY, SO LET'S SEE. SINCE THE MARCH 17TH BOARD MEETING ON THE 20TH, MET WITH MAYOR BERKELEY AND COUNCILMEMBER KISARWANI, WHO REPRESENTS THE AREA NEAR GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, ALONG WITH RGM AND OTHER STAFF. VERY PRODUCTIVE MEETING.
ON THE 31ST, I KNOW YOU'RE ALL WELL AWARE, HUGE EXCITEMENT OVER THE ANNOUNCEMENT JOINTLY WITH A TRUST.
FOR PUBLIC LAND, AND I JUST CAN'T SAY ENOUGH HOW EXCITED I AM TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO, WELL, HOPEFULLY, IT'S NOT DONE YET, BUT TO HOPEFULLY HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM 161 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL SHORELINE INTO A PARKLAND FOR EVERYONE FOR RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND AS WELL AS TO, ONCE WE RESTORE THAT LAND, TO PRESERVE THAT SENSITIVE HABITAT AND SPECIES THAT ARE THERE. AS WELL AS TO PROTECT RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITIES FROM THE IMPACTS OF SEA LEVEL RISE. SO ALL OF THAT IS GREAT STUFF, AND REALLY APPRECIATE OUR STAFF FOR EVERYTHING THEY DID, AND CERTAINLY TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND HAS BEEN AMAZING, AND OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND A WHOLE LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO WILL BE THANKED IN THE FUTURE. SO ONCE WE GET IT DONE. BUT ANYWAY, SO YEAH, GREAT NEWS THERE. AND THEN LET'S SEE. ROUNDING OUT THE WEEKEND ON EASTER, I ATTENDED A REALLY FUN EASTER EVENT AT THE TILLER MERRYGROUND, AND NOW I'M HERE.
ALL RIGHT, SO THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM N, PUBLIC COMMENT, PERIOD, FOR ANY OF THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK PREVIOUSLY. DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC? NOPE. SO WE WILL CLOSE THAT, AND WITH THAT, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.