[Roll Call]
[00:00:03]
OKAY, EVERYONE, WE'RE GOING TO GET GOING. I'M CALLING TO TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT FOR APRIL 8TH, 2026. THE MEETING HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER AT 1:03 P.M..
MADAM CLERK, WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE THE. I WILL TAKE ROLL. DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT IS ABSENT.
DIRECTOR MERCURIO. HERE. CHAIR ECHOLS. HERE. THANK YOU.
OKAY. FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS THE APPROVAL OF MINUTES FOR JANUARY 14TH AND FEBRUARY 11TH.
[Approval of Minutes]
ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS FROM THE BOARD? OKAY.MAY I HAVE A MOTION? SO MOVED. GREAT, AND I SECOND.
SO MOTION HAS BEEN APPROVED BY DIRECTOR MERCURIO AND SECONDED BY ME.
ALL IN FAVOR? AYE. OPPOSED? NONE. MOTION CARRIES.
DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS? NOT ON THE AGENDA? OKAY. SO OUR 1ST ACTION ITEM IS RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT WITH THE SHADOW CLIFFS
[Action Items]
OPEN WATER SWIM TEAM AT SHADOW CLIFFS REGIONAL RECREATION AREA.AND HERE TO INTRODUCE THE ISSUE. OH, NOT TIFFANY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, DIRECTOR ECHOLS AND DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
MY NAME IS RENEE PATTERSON. I'M AN ADMIN ANALYST AND BUSINESS SERVICES.
AND TODAY WE'RE HERE TO PRESENT YOU WITH AN ITEM FOR APPROVAL.
FOR A SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT WITH A RECOMMENDATION TO EXECUTE THE SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT WITH THE SHADOW CLIFFS OPEN WATER SWIM TEAM AT SHADOW CLIFFS REGIONAL RECREATION AREA.
HERE WE GO. I'M GOING TO READ THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION TO YOU SO WE GET IT CORRECT FOR THE RECORD.
SO THE STAFF RECOMMENDS THE BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD AUTHORIZATION OF A SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT WITH SHADOW CLIFFS OPEN WATER AQUATICS TEAM, WHICH I'LL REFER TO AS SOWAT FOR THE REST OF THE PRESENTATION.
FOR A 1 YEAR TERM WITH OPTION FOR 2 ADDITIONAL 1 YEAR TERMS FOR A LICENSE, WHICH WILL ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE USE OF THE LAKE AT SHADOW CLIFFS REGIONAL RECREATION AREA TO CONDUCT OPEN WATER SWIMMING WITH AN ANNUAL PAYMENT OF $1,200.
SO JUST TO GIVE A LITTLE PREFACE OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TODAY.
FIRST, WE'LL TALK ABOUT SPECIAL USE AGREEMENTS AND WHAT THEY ARE.
THEN WE'LL LOOK AT THE LOCATION. WE'LL GIVE A LITTLE BIT OF A BACKGROUND.
WE'LL STATE THE ANNUAL PAYMENT AGAIN AND THEN I'LL RESTATE THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION.
AND THEN THE COMMITTEE WILL RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR APPROVAL.
SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING TODAY. AND THE SPECIAL USE PROCESS IS THAT ANY SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT OR GROUP MUST MEET THE DISTRICT OBJECTIVES WITH APPROPRIATE PUBLIC BENEFIT AND PRIORITY.
AND RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 28 SPECIAL USE AGREEMENTS AND THEY VARY FROM DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES LIKE ARCHERY, SCOUTING AND GARDENING, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS IS AN OVERVIEW OF THE FEES THAT WE CURRENTLY CHARGE.
THE DIFFERENCE IN THE FEES, WHETHER THEY'RE HIGHER OR LOWER, MID RANGE, WHATEVER THEY ARE.
HOW ARE DETERMINED BASED ON THE TYPE OF USAGE AND HOW MUCH USE THEY ACTUALLY HAVE AT THE SITE.
SO THE HIGHER FEES ARE USUALLY HAVE TO DO WITH THE KIND OF OVERSIGHT THAT THEY NEED FOR THE ACTIVITY OR HOW MUCH LAND SPACE THEY'RE ACTUALLY USING, LIKE IF THEY HAVE STORAGE THERE, THINGS LIKE THAT.
THIS IS A MAP OF SHADOW CLIFFS. THE OFFICIAL DISTRICT MAP.
[00:05:03]
JUST SO YOU REMEMBER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE. AND THEN THIS IS A SATELLITE PICTURE.AND IT SHOWS THE SWIM PATH THAT THEY TAKE, THIS ISN'T EXACT.
BUT THAT LITTLE WHITE TRIANGLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LAKE.
AND THEN THEY COME DOWN TO WHERE THAT LITTLE NOTCH IS WITH THE LITTLE GREEN THING THERE.
SO YOU MIGHT WONDER WHAT IS OPEN WATER SWIMMING VERSUS SWIMMING? OPEN WATER SWIMMING JUST MEANS THAT YOU'RE THERE WHEN A LIFEGUARD IS NOT.
YOU'RE SWIMMING IN A DESIGNATED AREA OUTSIDE OF THE DESIGNATED SWIM AREA. SO WE DO SAY CERTAIN AREAS YOU CAN OPEN WATER, SWIM IN CERTAIN AREAS YOU CAN'T.
BUT IT'S ALSO THAT YOU IT AN OPEN WATER SWIMMING IS ALWAYS OUTSIDE OF A DESIGNATED SWIM AREA.
THAT WAS KIND OF CONFUSING. BUT ANYWAY, ORDINANCE 38 ALLOWS OPEN WATER SWIMMING AT DEL VALLE AND ALL THE SHORELINE REGIONAL PARKS, BUT NOT AT SHADOW CLIFFS. THUS, WE HAVE TO HAVE A SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT TO DO THIS TYPE OF ACTIVITY AT SHADOW CLIFFS.
I JUST WANT TO ASK A QUICK CLARIFYING QUESTION.
SO IF THERE IS NO DESIGNATED SWIM AREA AND I'M THINKING ABOUT SOME OF OUR SHORELINE BEACHES, SAY ALBANY OR WHATEVER, THEN THEN IT'S STILL CONSIDERED OPEN WATER SWIMMING, RIGHT? YES. OKAY. YEAH. THANKS. SO A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND FOR.
SO WHAT, THEY APPROACHED THE PARK DISTRICT NOT AS AN ORGANIZED GROUP, BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO OPEN WATER SWIM. USUALLY THEY DO IT AT SHORELINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT OR AN OPEN BEACH AREA, SANTA CRUZ, WHEREVER. THEY APPROACHED THE DISTRICT AND THEY ASKED IF THEY COULD DO THIS ACTIVITY AT SHADOW CLIFFS.
AND IN 1982, THEY FORMED A GROUP, THEY HAD ABOUT 30 MEMBERS AT THAT TIME.
AND THEY GOT INTO A SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT WITH PARK DISTRICTS APPROVAL.
THEY ONLY SWIM WHEN THERE ARE NO LIFEGUARDS THERE.
AND THE REASON FOR THAT IS NOT TO CONFUSE LIFEGUARD CONTROLLED ACTIVITY AT SHADOW CLIFFS WITH THIS OPEN WATER SWIM ACTIVITY DEFINED BY A SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT. SO THEY DO THEIR OWN PROFICIENCY TESTS TO BECOME A MEMBER AND TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY DO THIS OPEN WATER SWIM ACTIVITY.
AND THEY WAY THAT THEY SORT OF POLICE THEMSELVES IS THEY DISPERSE CAPS OF A CERTAIN COLOR SO THAT THEY CAN RECOGNIZE THAT, HEY, THAT PERSON I SEE SWIMMING IN SHADOW CLIFFS OVER ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE IS ACTUALLY A SOWAT MEMBER.
SO WHAT? AND SO THE DISTRICT APPROVED A SECOND AGREEMENT WITH THE SECOND GROUP OF SWIMMERS, AND THEY CALLED THEMSELVES THE ORCAS. SO FOR SEVERAL YEARS THERE WERE 2 SWIM TEAMS THERE WITH A SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT.
SOWAT AND THE ORCAS. AND THEN JUST A LITTLE BIT OF BACKGROUND ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW IS THAT I GUESS OPEN WATER SWIMMING ISN'T AS POPULAR AS IT USED TO BE. AND THE MEMBERSHIP SORT OF FELL OFF WITH COVID AND THEN SHADOW CLIFFS HAVING NOT ENOUGH WATER TO REALLY BE ABLE TO ALLOW ANYBODY TO SWIM.
SO THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME WHEN NO ONE WAS SWIMMING THERE.
AND SO SOWAT AND ORCAS DECIDED TO FORM BACK INTO 1 GROUP BECAUSE EACH GROUP HAD A LOWER AMOUNT OF MEMBERS. SO BY THEM COMBINING BACK TO ONE GROUP, IT MAKES IT EASIER FOR THEM TO PURCHASE THE INSURANCE REQUIRED BY THE SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT AND TO HAVE FEES TO PAY THE SPECIAL USE FEE.
[00:10:08]
AND 1 FUN FACT. IS THAT WE DO NOT PAY OR THIS GROUP'S ACTIVITY DOES NOT COST US ANYTHING. SO IT'S A GROUP THAT WE LIKE, AND WE'RE HOPING THEY DON'T GO AWAY BECAUSE IT'S A NICE ACTIVITY. IT'S REALLY HEALTHY AND THINGS LIKE THAT.AND BUT IT IS VERY COSTLY FOR THEM TO GET INSURANCE AS IT IS FOR EVERYONE NOWADAYS.
SO HOPEFULLY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO STAY THERE FOR A WHILE.
RIGHT NOW, THEY PAY 1200 A YEAR FOR THEIR SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT, AND WE WANT TO CONTINUE THIS FOR AT LEAST 1 YEAR AND HAVE THE AVAILABILITY OF 2 ADDITIONAL YEARS.
SO AGAIN, THE STAFF RECOMMENDATION IS STAFF RECOMMENDS THE BOARD OPERATION COMMITTEE RECOMMEND TO THE FULL BOARD AUTHORIZATION OF A SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT WITH SHADOW CLIFFS OPEN WATER AQUATICS TEAM FOR 1 YEAR TERM, WITH OPTION FOR 2 ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR TERMS FOR A LICENSE, WHICH WILL ALLOW MEMBERS THE USE OF THE LAKE AT SHADOW CLIFFS REGIONAL RECREATION AREA TO CONDUCT OPEN WATER SWIMMING WITH AN ANNUAL PAYMENT OF $1,200. SO IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I'M HERE TO ANSWER THEM.
LISA'S HERE. SHE KNOWS ABOUT THIS GROUP AND THEIR ACTIVITIES.
AND ALSO WE HAVE A MEMBER OF THE GROUP HERE, MR. DOUGLAS STILLMAN. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FOR HIM, ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WONDERING ABOUT THE SWIM ACTIVITY ITSELF, HE'D BE THE ONE TO ASK. WONDERFUL. WELL, THANK YOU, RENEE, FOR THE REPORT AND DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
ANY QUESTIONS? PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD. OH, OKAY.
AND DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
OKAY. DID YOU HAVE DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS? IF WE'RE SEPARATING THEM OUT.
YOU'RE GOOD. OKAY. OKAY. WELL, IT SOUNDS GREAT TO ME.
I HAPPEN TO KNOW QUITE A FEW WHO SWIM IN THE BAY AND IT'S YEAH, I THINK IT'S, IT'S GREAT AND I APPRECIATE ALL THE, THE SAFETY ARRANGEMENTS THAT ARE BUILT INTO THEIR THEIR OWN GUIDELINES.
SO YES, I, I AGREE WITH JOHN IT'S PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD AND, AND EASY TO SUPPORT.
SO I WILL ASK FOR A MOTION. I WOULD MOVE THAT WE APPROVE THE SPECIAL USE AGREEMENT. AND I'LL SECOND ALL IN FAVOR.
AYE. AYE. OPPOSED. OKAY. CARRIES 2-0. THANK YOU.
VERY GOOD. OKAY. OKAY. SO IT'S OUR ONLY ACTION ITEM. NEXT UP, WE HAVE THE PUBLIC SAFETY QUARTERLY CRIME UPDATE.
[Informational Items]
AND WE HAVE POLICE CAPTAIN CARTER HERE TO INTRODUCE THE ITEM.AND I AM HERE TO PRESENT Q1 OF 2026 CRIME STATS REPORT.
SO AS ALWAYS, THE MAIN PRESENTATION OR THE MAIN GOAL OF THIS PRESENTATION, I SHOULD SAY, IS TRANSPARENCY, NOT ONLY TO THE DISTRICT BUT OUR PATRONS AND THE PUBLIC IN GENERAL.
THE DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT, WE USE THESE THESE GOALS AND THESE STATS TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK THAT WE'VE DONE, BUT ALSO GUIDE US FOR OUR FUTURE NEEDS IN THE DIRECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT.
AS WE MOVE INTO INCIDENTS. IT'S ALWAYS GOOD TO REFRESH OUR RECOLLECTION OF WHAT AN INCIDENT IS.
[00:15:01]
IN Q1 OF 2026. WE HAD 4977 DISPATCH INCIDENTS.THAT NUMBER IS PRETTY STAGGERING. AND THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT OUR OFFICERS ARE OUT THERE BEING VERY PROACTIVE IN THE PARK DISTRICT, MAKING SURE THAT THEY'RE IN LINE WITH OUR GOAL OF KEEPING OUR PARK DISTRICT AND OUR PATRONS SAFE IN A HEALTHY, HEALTHY PLACE FOR EVERYBODY TO ENJOY.
CITATIONS THEY'RE GIVEN FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, THEIR LEGAL NOTICE TO APPEAR IN COURT RELATED TO A VIOLATION, AND THEY'RE ISSUED BOTH BY OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR POLICE SERVICE TECHNICIANS.
WE ISSUED 1309 CITATIONS IN Q1, WHICH WAS A LITTLE OVER 300 MORE THAN Q4.
CITE AND RELEASE IS WHERE SOMEBODY IS CITED AND RELEASED IN THE FIELD, WITH A PROMISE TO APPEAR AT A LATER DATE. CUSTODIAL ARREST IS WHAT YOU TYPICALLY THINK OF WHEN SOMEONE IS PLACED UNDER ARREST. IT'S WHEN THEY'RE TRANSPORTED AND BOOK INTO A DETENTION FACILITY AND WARRANT ARRESTS.
CASES ARE COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS POLICE REPORTS.
IT'S ANYTHING THAT REQUIRES WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION.
THEY CAN VARY FROM A ARREST REPORT TO A REPORT OF AN INJURED HIKER.
OF THOSE 61 CASES, 36 OF THEM HAD CHARGES FILED.
AND ALTHOUGH MANY OF OUR NEW CASES FROM Q1 ARE STILL ACTIVE INVESTIGATIONS AND CANNOT BE COMMENTED ON, I AM GOING TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE INVESTIGATIONS FOR YOU TODAY.
A HIGH RISK VEHICLE APPREHENSION, HIGHLIGHTING TECHNOLOGY AND COORDINATION.
AUTOMATED LICENSE PLATE READER SYSTEM. THE SUSPECT WAS WANTED BY A LOCAL UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR CRIMES INCLUDING NEGLIGENT DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM, CARRYING A LOADED FIREARM IN PUBLIC, FALSE IMPRISONMENT, SEXUAL BATTERY, AND THEFT.
WEAPONS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES WERE SUBSEQUENTLY SUBSEQUENTLY LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE.
THIS INCIDENT DEMONSTRATES THE EFFECTIVE USE OF NEWLY ADOPTED TECHNOLOGY, INCLUDING ALPR AND DRONE DEPLOYMENT, TO ENHANCE OFFICER SAFETY, IMPROVE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, AND SUPPORT A CONTROLLED SAFE RESOLUTION FOR THE COMMUNITY.
A PAIR OF SHOES, PURSE AND A PHONE HAD BEEN LEFT BEHIND.
INITIAL INVESTIGATION INDICATED THE PERSON WAS AT RISK AND HAD NOT YET BEEN REPORTED MISSING.
A COORDINATED SEARCH WAS INITIATED INVOLVING ERP, POLICE AND FIRE.
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY SEARCH AND RESCUE AND CHP AIR SUPPORT DEPARTMENT.
UAVS, OR DRONES, WERE DEPLOYED TO ENHANCE SEARCH EFFORTS AND EXPAND COVERAGE IN A DIFFICULT TERRAIN.
CHP SUCCESSFULLY CONDUCTED AN AERIAL EXTRACTION AND DELIVER THE PATIENT TO MEDICAL CARE.
THIS INCIDENT HIGHLIGHTS STRONG INTERAGENCY COORDINATION, EFFECTIVE USE OF AERIAL RESOURCES, AND A SUCCESSFUL RESCUE OUTCOME. HOWEVER, DURING THE OPERATION, TRACKING DOGS WERE REQUESTED FROM NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS, BUT NONE WERE AVAILABLE. WE ARE SCHEDULED TO DEPLOY OUR OWN TRACKING DOG LATER THIS YEAR, WHICH WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN CAPABILITIES IN FUTURE SEARCH AND RESCUE OPERATIONS.
SO BOTH OF THESE CASES REALLY DO HIGHLIGHT OUR INVESTMENT IN TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE REALLY BOUGHT INTO OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, AND HOW WELL WE WORK TOGETHER WITH OUR NEIGHBORING AGENCIES TO PARTNER IN TIMES OF NEED.
I HAVE A QUESTION. I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THE USE OF A HELICOPTER TO RESCUE.
I NOTICED THAT THAT WAS A CHP HELICOPTER. HOW COME WE DIDN'T USE OURS? THAT WAS PURELY COINCIDENTAL THAT OUR AIR SUPPORT UNIT WAS AWAY AT TRAINING THAT WEEK.
OKAY. WHAT ELSE? YES, OUR AIR SUPPORT UNIT IS TRAINED IN LONG LINE RESCUES.
RIGHT. AND WE ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE BEEN THERE TO TO HELP OUT IN THAT SITUATION.
[00:20:04]
OKAY. BUT IT IS NICE TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE NEIGHBORING AGENCIES WITH CERTAIN TECHNOLOGY THAT WE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IN TIMES OF NEED.AND CHP IS ONE OF THOSE WHO ALSO HAS A HELICOPTER AND IS TRAINED IN LONG LINE RESCUES.
OKAY, GOOD. THANK YOU. YEP. AND LASTLY, WITH THESE REPORTS, WE ALWAYS HIGHLIGHT CITIZEN RIMS. IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR THE COMMUNITY AND THE CITIZENS TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS THAT GIVE THEM PRETTY MUCH REAL TIME ALERTS OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN OUR PARK DISTRICT. WITH THAT, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR YOUR TIME.
AND I'M OPEN TO ANY QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
WELL, THANK YOU, LIEUTENANT RICE. REALLY APPRECIATE THE REPORT.
IT'S ALWAYS VERY INTERESTING TO GET THESE UPDATES.
AND DO WE HAVE DO YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I DO. SO I ACTUALLY JUST BASICALLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK THAT YOU DO YOU, YOU'RE THE WHOLE FORCE IS VERY VERY COMMITTED AND VERY THOROUGH.
YOU'RE OUT THERE, YOU'RE BEING PROACTIVE AND I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.
SO I ALWAYS CONSIDER THAT TO BE A VERY WISE USE OF FUNDING BECAUSE IT INCREASES.
I THINK IT INCREASES SAFETY AND INCREASES LEVEL OF SERVICE TOO.
SO THAT'S REALLY GREAT. AND THEN I FINALLY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY I'VE BEEN USING THE CITIZEN RIM'S APP, YOU KNOW, AND I LOOK AT IT PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY AND IT'S VERY, VERY HELPFUL.
IT'S A ONCE IN A WHILE, I'LL CONTACT YOU FOLKS AND SAY, WHAT ARE THE DETAILS ON THIS ONE HERE? YOU KNOW USUALLY IT'S USUALLY IT'S ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL.
BUT YEAH, YOU KNOW, SO THAT'S A VERY, AND I THINK FROM NOW ON, WHEN I GO OUT AND SPEAK TO GROUPS, I'M GOING TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO USE THIS ON THEIR OWN.
JUST ABSOLUTELY. JUST TO, TO KIND OF GET THEM USED TO IT.
AND AND THEY CAN SEE, YOU KNOW, REALLY WHAT ACTUALLY IS GOING ON AND HOW MUCH WORK IS BEING DONE.
SO THANK YOU, THANK YOU. YEAH. AND LIKEWISE, I'D LIKE TO SAY HOW MUCH I APPRECIATE YOUR WORK AND I THINK IN PARTICULAR, THAT EXAMPLE OF THE WOMAN WHO FELL DOWN THE RAVINE IS VERY STRIKING, THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO NOTICE THAT THE CAR WAS THERE FOR OVER 24 HOURS AND GET HELP BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HADN'T DONE THAT.
YOU KNOW, HOW WOULD SHE HAVE EVER GOTTEN OUT? SO.
SO THAT'S THAT'S REALLY QUITE A, QUITE A WONDERFUL STORY.
AND AGAIN, APPRECIATE THE REPORT AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.
OH. THANK YOU. YOU'RE WELCOME. OKAY, SO FINALLY WE HAVE OUR INTERPRETIVE AND RECREATION SERVICES NORTHWEST REGION UPDATE.
AND WE HAVE OUR DIVISION LEAD OF INTERPRETIVE AND RECREATION.
SANDI FUNKE. GOOD AFTERNOON. [INAUDIBLE] SANDI FUNKE DIVISION LEAD OF INTERP AND REC, AND I DID WANT TO FLEX MY POSITIONAL POWER TODAY TO INTRODUCE MIKE. AND I AM SAD TO SAY FOR THE LAST TIME TO THIS BODY.
SO JUST WANTED TO REALLY CONGRATULATE MIKE MORAN.
HE IS OUR NORTHWEST MANAGER OF I&R. HE'S BEEN HERE JUST SHY OF 35 YEARS AND MADE SUCH A HUGE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY, TO THE PROGRAMS. SO I JUST WANT TO TAKE A CHANCE TODAY BEFORE HIS PRESENTATION TO THANK HIM.
AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS YOU. AND HE'S NOT LEAVING QUITE YET.
WE HAVE ANOTHER GOOD 8 WEEKS LEFT OR 7. IT'S GOING FAST.
7 WEEKS. BUT JUST HERE HE IS. YEAH. THANK YOU THANKS. OH THANK YOU. GOOD AFTERNOON BOARD. OOPS.
MAKE SURE WE GOT THERE. TRY IT LIKE THAT. IS THAT WORKING? VERY GOOD. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. SANDI.
THAT'S VERY SWEET. VERY NICE. IT'S BEEN A LOVELY 35 YEARS.
WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR THE WORLD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME TODAY.
BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE, CHAIR ECHOLS. COMMITTEE MEMBER.
[00:25:01]
IT'S REFLECTIVE NOT JUST OF THE GOOD WORK OF THE FOLKS ON MY TEAM, BUT ALSO THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.SO THIS IS ALTHOUGH I AM PRESENTING ON OUR REGION.
EVERYTHING THAT I'M TALKING ABOUT TODAY REFLECTS A GREAT TEAM WORK THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT AND WITH OUR PARTNERS, AND WE WILL BE CONCENTRATING ON OUR PARTNERSHIPS TODAY.
HERE WE GO. THE KEY WORD TODAY IS GOING TO BE SYNERGY.
AND THE SYNERGY, THE DEFINITION THAT I REALLY LIKE, IT'S IT'S JUST FROM MERRIAM-WEBSTER, BUT IT'S THE COMBINED ACTION OR COOPERATION OF TWO OR MORE AGENTS TO PRODUCE A TOTAL EFFECT GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THEIR INDIVIDUAL EFFECTS.
THE WHOLE IS GREATER THAN THE SUM OF THE PARTS, AND NOTHING COULD REALLY EXPLAIN WHAT WE DO WITH OUR PARTNERSHIPS IN I&R MORE THAN THIS WORD. THE EXPONENTIAL POSSIBILITIES AND POTENTIAL OF HAVING PARTNERSHIPS WITH INDIVIDUAL TEACHERS, WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, WITH AGENCIES, WITH LIBRARIES, MUNICIPALITIES AND SUCH.
THE LIST GOES ON AND ON. AND WE HAVE SO MANY.
I CAN'T TALK ABOUT ALL OF THEM, BUT I AM GOING TO CONCENTRATE ON A FEW HERE.
BUT NO MATTER WHAT WE DO WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PUBLIC, WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE PARTNER, SYNERGY IS THAT KEY WORD. WE'RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MAXIMIZE THE VALUE NOT JUST OF OUR SERVICES AND THE SKILLS AND THE TALENTS THAT OUR STAFF BRINGS, BUT ALSO TO MAXIMIZE THE SERVICE WITH THE PARTNERS, MAXIMIZE THE VALUE TO THE PUBLIC AND MAXIMIZE THE NOT JUST THE PUBLIC, BUT THE PARTICIPANTS, AND MAXIMIZE THE VALUE TO OUR TAXPAYERS THAT FUND US SO GENEROUSLY.
SO WE'RE ALL ABOUT CREATING THAT SYNERGY TO MAXIMIZE OUR SERVICE.
AND I WANT TO THANK OUR STAFF FOR DOING THAT VERY THING JUST AT A GLANCE.
HOW HAVE WE BEEN DOING I&R OVER THE LAST YEAR? IN 2025, WE ACTUALLY HAD A BIT OF GROWTH. THIS IS NOT JUST THE NORTHWEST REGION, THIS IS ALSO THE SOUTHEAST UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MY COLLEAGUE KEVIN DAMSTRA, THE I&R REGIONAL MANAGER FOR THE SOUTHEAST AREA.
AND YOU CAN SEE THAT OUR PUBLIC PROGRAMS WERE JUST SHY OF 95,000 FOLKS SERVED.
THAT WAS A BUMP OF 14% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
FIELD TRIPS REALLY ARE BREAD AND BUTTER OF PROGRAMS AND SYNERGISTIC PROGRAMS. WE RAISED UP A LITTLE BIT TO 1900 CLASSES. THE TURNAWAY STATISTIC IS ACTUALLY VERY IMPORTANT AND THAT WE HAVE CHANGED OUR SYSTEMS AROUND HOW PEOPLE REGISTER FOR PROGRAMS AND SUCH, AND WE'RE ABLE TO REDUCE THAT TURNAWAY.
WE'RE BUSY THAT DAY. THE SCHOOL CAN'T MAKE IT THAT DAY.
REDUCE THAT BY 22% OVER OVER 2024. AND THAT'S A BIG, BIG WIN FOR US.
AND WE THROUGH THAT, WE'VE INCREASED OUR STUDENT SERVICE BY 10% TOO.
AND OUR COMMUNITY PROGRAMS TOOK A BIG JUMP AS WELL TO JUST SHY OF 80,000 PEOPLE.
AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT QUALITATIVE RELATIONSHIPS.
VERY OFTEN THESE ARE QUANTITATIVE THINGS. AND WE'RE WORKING.
JUST TO GIVE YOU A HEADS UP, WE'RE WORKING WITH TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS MATRIX WITH RUBY AND ALSO WITH MIGHTY CATALYST A GROUP THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH TO REALLY TRY TO GET AN ASSESSMENT TOOL, FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE VALUE THAT WE ARE BRINGING TO THESE FOLKS.
WE KNOW WE'RE DOING IT. HOW DO WE QUANTIFY THAT, BOTH WITH NUMBERS, BUT ALSO QUALITATIVELY.
AND SO WE'RE LOOKING, WE KNOW WE DO GOOD WORK.
WE KNOW WE'VE GOT GOOD PEOPLE. WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DOCUMENT THAT AND SEE WHERE IT IS THAT WE COULD ALWAYS IMPROVE, AND WHERE ARE OUR STRONG POINTS THAT WE COULD BUILD UPON.
MIKE, CAN I JUST ASK FOR THE TURNAWAY? IS THAT IS THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE TURNED AWAY AT REGISTRATION OR WHAT? I'M SORRY, THAT WAS FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS. SO IF WE HAVE A TEACHER PUTTING IN AN APPLICATION ON OUR SAMARITAN PROGRAM, IT'S A, IT'S OUR SOFTWARE PROGRAM. AND THEY MIGHT, WE MIGHT END UP GETTING LIKE 5 PEOPLE WANTING TO GO TO BLACK DIAMOND MINES AT THE SAME TIME, AND WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH STAFF AT THE TIME, OR ELSE THE MINE IS CLOSED OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO SOME THINGS THAT ARE OUT OF OUR CONTROL. BUT WE WORKED VERY HARD.
THINGS THAT ARE UNDER OUR CONTROL BY ENSURING THAT WE'RE SCHEDULING OUR PROGRAMS IN THE APPROPRIATE WAY TO MAXIMIZE SERVICE, SO WE DON'T TURN THEM AWAY AT THAT POINT. RIGHT.
SO IN THAT CASE, IF THERE WERE 5 TEACHERS WANTING TO TAKE THEIR CLASSES ALL AT THE SAME TIME, THEN YOU WOULD YOU COULD WORK WITH THEM TO GET ANOTHER DAY.
IT'S NOT LIKE THEY. YEAH. OKAY. ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER PARK, ANOTHER TYPE OF A PROGRAM.
SO THERE ARE A LOT OF OPTIONS THERE, RIGHT? OKAY, THAT SOUNDS GOOD.
WELL, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AS I MENTIONED, IT'S REALLY A STRONG PART OF OUR PROGRAMING AND, AND OUR TEAM BUILDING, OUR COMMUNITY BUILDING.
[00:30:06]
LONGITUDINAL PROGRAMS AND ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS AND SUCH, BUT I JUST WANT TO GO AND GIVE YOU A QUICK RUNDOWN THROUGH THE EYES OF COYOTE HILLS VISITOR CENTER DEEP ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS ARE WHEN WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SAME PARTICIPANTS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME FOR 5 DAYS, 6 DAYS, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM FOR A LONG TIME.SUMMERTIME PROGRAMS LIKE TEEN ECO AND COYOTE HILLS.
THEY'VE BEEN WORKING WITH HAYWARD AREA RECREATION DISTRICT FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT COLLABORATION WITH OUTDOOR RECREATION.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT HAVING A MULTI-DAY DEEP ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM IS THAT WE'RE ALLOWED TO BRING IN A LOT MORE COMPONENTS. AND THROUGH THE PARTNERSHIP THE COYOTE HILLS HAS DEVELOPED WITH THE EAST BAY OHLONE TRIBE.
SO THAT DEEP ENGAGEMENT PUTS A REALLY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THESE TEENS IN A VERY MALLEABLE PART OF THEIR LIFE. LONGITUDINAL PROGRAMS. WHEN I'M WORKING WITH SOMEBODY FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND THAT, THAT CADENCE MIGHT BE REGULAR MAYBE IT'S LIKE ONCE A MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ALTHOUGH THE PARTICIPANTS MAY NOT CHANGE.
AND THAT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE THE FREMONT LIBRARY THAT COYOTE HILLS HAS BEEN WORKING ON OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS, EVEN THROUGH COVID, STARTED DOING PROGRAMS DOWN THERE. IT'S BEEN A GREAT COLLABORATION AND GROWING ONCE A WEEK ALL SUMMER LONG.
THEY'RE NATURALISTS AND STAFF ARE GOING OUT THERE TO DO A PROJECT WITH THEM DIFFERENT PARTICIPANTS WHO CAN SHOW UP, WHO CAN'T SHOW UP, FAMILIES, KIDS, ETC. THAT ARE COMING IN FOR THESE THINGS.
SO THAT'S MORE OF A LONGITUDINAL TYPE PROGRAMING.
AND THEN WE HAVE THESE ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO LONGITUDINAL, BUT THEY'RE IRREGULAR.
THAT COULD BE, AGAIN, A TEACHER THAT COMES ALONG WE'VE KNOWN THEM FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND THEY COME, THEY COME TO A PARTICULAR PARK ONCE A YEAR, THEY MIGHT JOIN A TEACHER, A TEACHER'S NIGHT, WHERE THEY LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO DO PROGRAMS, THE PARK DISTRICT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THIS ALSO THIS ONGOING PARTNERSHIP IS REALLY ILLUSTRATED BY WHAT WE ARE DOING OR HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE TO DO WITH, WITH LOCAL TRIBES, OHLONE TRIBES.
AND THEY RANGE FROM OFFICIAL CONSULTATION WITH CAPITAL C, CONSULTATION, LEGALLY MANDATED, ALSO ENGAGEMENT WHEN WE'RE ENGAGING THE EXPERTISE AND THE PARTNERSHIP OF THE TRIBES FOR THINGS LIKE INTERPRETIVE PANELS OR WHAT WE'LL BE WORKING ON IN OUR EXHIBIT PROJECTS AS WE GET THAT KICKED OFF TO UPDATE THE EXHIBITS OVER COYOTE HILLS VISITOR CENTER.
AND ALSO, AS I MENTIONED WE ARE GOOD AT THAT RELATIONSHIP IS ALSO RESULTED IN THE FACT THAT THE CHAIR OF THE TRIBE, VINCENT PADILLA, IS GOING TO BE COMING OUT AND TALKING TO THESE KIDS. THE YOUTH IN ON THE TEEN ECO PROGRAM.
TALK ABOUT SOME OTHER JUST ANOTHER PARTNERSHIP.
HIP HOP FOR CHANGE HAS BEEN A REALLY FUN ONE FOR ME OVER THE YEARS.
THIS PROGRAM STARTED IN, IN 2019 ACTUALLY QUITE A WHILE AGO.
AND WHEN IT FIRST BEGAN, I WAS A LITTLE UNCLEAR AT HOW A LOCAL NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION THAT DOES FANTASTIC WORK WITH YOUTH HIP HOP FOR CHANGE. HOW WAS IT THAT, THAT IS RELATING TO A PROGRAM THAT WE DO AT THE PARK DISTRICT? AND I REMEMBER WHEN I HAD MY THE FIRST MEETING WITH THEM, I WAS ON A CAR DRIVE DOWN TO SAN LUIS OBISPO TO SEE MY SON AT SCHOOL.
AND I WAS TALKING TO THEM LIKE, WHAT'S, I LOVE THIS, WHAT'S THE CONNECTION? AND I GOT A LITTLE BIT OF IT THEN, BUT THEN I SAW A VIDEO.
MARLON RICHARDSON, WHO WAS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MARLON FOR A LONG TIME. HE HAD A VIDEO AND EXPLAINED THAT HIP HOP BEGAN IN THE 70S IN BROOKLYN AND MOVED OVER TO NEW YORK AS A WAY FOR FOLKS TO RECLAIM PARKS AND OPEN SPACES THROUGH CULTURAL EXPERIENCES AND SHARING AND POSSIBILITIES. AND SO FOLKS WOULD PUT TOGETHER MUSIC, AND IT WOULD BRING THE COMMUNITY OUT TO RECLAIM PARKS THAT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SAFE.
IT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE PLACE WHERE FOLKS JUST THOUGHT, THIS IS NOT REALLY FOR ME.
THIS IS NOT MY KIND OF PLACE. BUT THIS WAS A VERY CONCERTED EFFORT TO BRING PEOPLE OUT AND RECLAIM STREETS, RECLAIM PARKS, TO SHARE AND EXPERIENCE THESE DIFFERENT CULTURES AND POSSIBILITIES.
AND THAT JUST BOY, THAT WAS A LIGHT BULB ABOVE MY HEAD.
LIKE WE GOT TO KEEP THAT GOING HERE. AND WE HAVE, IT'S CALLED A, AN ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM.
IT PROGRAM, IT IS A DEEP ENGAGEMENT THERE, GOING FOR 6 DAYS, ABOUT 6 HOURS PER DAY.
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AND NOT ONLY ARE THEY GOING OUT ON BOAT TRIPS ON LAKE CHABOT OR LEARNING ABOUT REPTILES DOWN AT CRAB COVE, OR TAKING A TRIP SOMEWHERE ELSE WITH THE PARK DISTRICT NATURALS OR WITH THE RECREATION STAFF.THEY'RE ALSO PUTTING TOGETHER MUSIC. THEY'RE PUTTING TOGETHER BEATS AND RAPS AND DIFFERENT PRODUCTIONS AS AN ARTIST IN RESIDENCE THAT REFLECTS THEIR EXPERIENCES IN THE PARKS. AND IT'S JUST BEEN A FANTASTIC UPLIFTING PROGRAM FOR THE PARTICIPANTS AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO RUN IT IN THE PARTNERS.
SO IT REALLY HAS BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP, NOT JUST FOR THE PARTICIPANTS AND FOR OUR STAFF, BUT FOR MIKE MORAN, WHO GOT A BIG ENLIGHTENMENT ABOUT HOW SO MANY DISPARATE COMMUNITY PARTNERS CAN REALLY CONNECT WITH THE PARK DISTRICT THROUGH ITS MISSION AND THEIR MISSION. TRY THAT AGAIN. LOOK AT ME.
AND THIS IS A PICTURE OF THE TEAM. IT'S BASED OUT OF CRAB COVE.
THAT'S MARLON RIGHT IN THE CENTER POINTING AT YOU.
HE REALLY HAS BEEN THE CREATIVE DRIVE AROUND THIS VERY HIGH QUALITY PROGRAM.
PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS AND ARTISTS. THE FELLA ON THE FAR LEFT IS ACTUALLY A WORLD RENOWNED BREAKDANCER, AND HE COMES IN AND TEACHES THE KIDS HOW TO DANCE.
BAY AREA OUTREACH AND RECREATION PROGRAM, FORMERLY KNOWN AS BORP.
THEY'RE CALLING THEMSELVES BORP ADAPTIVE SPORTS NOW.
THESE FOLKS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.
AND MY FIRST PROGRAM WAS BORN WHEN I WAS AT BLACK DIAMOND MINES.
THIS IS BACK IN THE 90S. AND WE WERE TAKING A GROUP OF BLIND FOLKS THROUGH THE MINE ON A MINE TOUR.
AND SO WE'VE HAD THIS ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
IT'S REALLY CENTERED AROUND OUR FOLKS AT OUTDOOR RECREATION.
AND WE'RE NOT ONLY PROVIDING THE SERVICE, BUT REALLY ARE LEARNING FROM THESE FOLKS WHO ARE THE TRENDSETTERS, THESE ARE THE LEADERS IN OUTDOOR RECREATION AND ADVENTURE FOR FOLKS WITH VARIOUS ABILITIES.
IT'S BEEN A DECADE LONG PARTNERSHIP. WE WORKED WITH OUR FRIENDS IN OPERATIONS, IN GRANTS TO PROCURE FUNDS TO ALLOW US TO YOU PURCHASE KAYAK EQUIPMENT, ADAPTIVE KAYAK EQUIPMENT FOR FOLKS WHO DON'T HAVE THE MOBILITY TO EVEN GET IN AND OUT OF A BOAT.
THEY HAVE TO HAVE TALL CHAIRS, SUPPORT AND PONTOONS ON THE SIDE TO KEEP THEM STABLE.
OR OUTRIGGERS, AS IT WERE. AS THEY PADDLE ALONG OR AS THEY ARE PADDLED ALONG BY STAFF.
SO THIS HAS BEEN. WE WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO DO THAT TO THE LEVEL THAT THESE FOLKS WHO DO IT EVERY DAY OF THEIR WORKING WEEK AND LIVE IT THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. SO WE'VE HAD A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THEM.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THESE LITTLE BETTER MOUSETRAP MOMENTS IS THESE ADAPTIVE TENTS.
AND IT SEEMS SO SIMPLE AND BASIC, BUT SO MUCH THAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT THIS IS THAT A LOT OF STANDARD TENTS, FOLKS WHO ARE IN WHEELCHAIRS OR HAVE MOBILITY ISSUES CAN'T GET IN AND OUT OF TENTS, AND YOU HAVE TO DESIGN A TENT IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT'S ACCESSIBLE AND USABLE BY FOLKS WITH VARYING ABILITIES. AND YOU CAN SEE ON THE PICTURE HERE, THEY'VE GOT ROPES ALL OVER THE PLACE.
AND WHEN I FIRST SAW THIS PICTURE, I THOUGHT, THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TRIP ALL OVER THE PLACE. THEY SAID, NO, NO, NO, THIS IS ACTUALLY THESE ARE GUIDE ROPES. SO WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN, LIGHTS ARE OUT, OR FOLKS WHO DON'T SEE AS WELL OR NEED EXTRA HELP, THEY CAN HOLD THESE ROPES AND GUIDE THEMSELVES SAFELY TO THE RESTROOM, SAFELY TO A DRINKING FOUNTAIN, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. SO JUST THESE LITTLE THINGS THAT ENHANCE THE EXPERIENCE OF OUR PARTNERS AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND OUR CONSTITUENTS HAVE BEEN REALLY ENLIGHTENING. AND I GOT TO GIVE IT TO OUR OUTDOOR RECREATION TEAM.
THEY HAVE REALLY LATCHED ON TO THIS GROUP AND HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
OUR MOBILE EDUCATION TEAM HAS PROVIDED THEM WITH A LONGITUDINAL AND DEEP ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM.
THEY WERE BASED ON THE ADVENTURE CREW MODEL, WHICH WAS BASED ON THE JUNIOR RANGERS MODEL, WHICH WAS BUILT AT TILDEN FOR DECADES. AND THE IDEA IS THAT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE SAME GROUP OF YOUTH OVER THE YEARS.
TIME AND TIME AGAIN, THIS IS THROUGHOUT LIKE A 10 MONTH PROGRAM.
COVID STAFF CHANGES AND DIFFERING GOALS FOR PERALTA.
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HACIENDA FORCED US TO MAKE A REAL BIG CHANGE.AND SEVERAL YEARS AGO, WE ASKED OUR FRIENDS AT MOBILE EDUCATION TO TEAM THERE TO COMPLETELY REVAMP THE PROGRAMS. THEY HAD GREAT IDEAS. WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD LEGACY PROGRAMS THAT REALLY WEREN'T SERVING THE NEEDS OF THE PUBLIC TO THE EXTENT THAT WE WERE.
WE WERE GOING TO REALIZE THAT SYNERGY. SO CHRIS MODELSKI, SUPERVISING NATURALIST DOWN THERE AND HIS STAFF REALLY JUST LIKE CLEAN SLATE COMPLETELY REDID THE PROGRAMING AND CAME UP WITH A REIMAGINED LOOK IN 2023 FOR PERALTA HACIENDA, INSTEAD OF HAVING THE SAME KIDS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN TO A GREAT BENEFIT. BUT FAMILIES DIDN'T WANT THAT, STAFF DIDN'T WANT THAT.
THEY WERE DOING SOME THINGS ON THEIR OWN, BUT WE SAW MORE OF A VALUE IN MAYOR [INUDIBLE] ONE OF OUR NATURALISTS THERE REALLY JUMPED IN WITH PERALTA HACIENDA DEVISED A PROGRAM WHERE, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR PARKS TRANSPORTATION GROUP UNDER ALANA PETERSON, WOULD GET BUSSES AND BRING FOLKS DOWN FROM PERALTA HACIENDA DOWN TO CRAB COVE, DOWN TO OTHER PARKS.
SO THE FAMILIES WHO WERE DISCONNECTED FROM WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE COVID AND THE PREVIOUS STAFF CAN NOW RECONNECT OR START A CONNECTION WITH THE PARK DISTRICT TO BUILD TRUST, WHICH IS A HUGE THING WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND PARKS AND PLACES WHERE THEY HAVEN'T HISTORICALLY GONE TO BUILDING TRUST, TO BUILDING SOME FAMILIARITY, AND THESE PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN GOING ON ABOUT ONCE A MONTH NOW FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, THE AVERAGE ABOUT 30 PEOPLE, BUT THE TREND HAS BEEN GOING UP.
SO NOW WE'RE TRACKING 100 PEOPLE SOMETIMES ON SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS WHERE WE HAVE TO GET 2 BUSSES TO GO, AND THAT TRUST THAT [INAUDIBLE] HAS SET OUT HAS RESULTED IN THEM BEGINNING TO HAVE THE CHAT, THE PRELIMINARY CHATS ABOUT OVERNIGHT CAMPOUTS AND HAVING THE KIDS GOING BY THEMSELVES OR HAVING THE FAMILY STARTING, THE KIDS GOING WITH STAFF LATER ON. SO IT REALLY IS A GOOD TREND.
AGAIN, STARTING TO REALIZE THAT SYNERGISTIC POTENTIAL THAT WE HAVE WHEN WE WORK WITH A PARTNER AND STAY ADAPTIVE, STAY ADAPTIVE TO WHAT THEY NEED, NOT JUST TO PUT ONE OF OUR PROGRAMS ON THEM.
AND THEN YES, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT YES A NUMBER OF TIMES HERE.
BUT THIS YEAR HAS BEEN A SPECIAL YEAR FOR YES NATURE TO NEIGHBORHOODS.
ONE OF OUR PARTNERS OVER IN RICHMOND. THIS IS AN OUTDOOR RECREATION IN THE TILDEN NATURE AREA.
IT IS A LONGITUDINAL DEEP ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR SINCE 2014.
IT'S NOT YOUTH AGES 10 TO 25. IT'S 10 TO 13. MY APOLOGIES FOR THAT TYPO THERE.
AND THE PROGRAM LASTS ABOUT 10 MONTHS. THE KIDS ARE DOING PROGRAMS EVERY 2 WEEKS ON A SATURDAY WITH THE TILDEN NATURALIST MELISSA FOWLKES, AND WITH SEVERAL DIFFERENT MEMBERS OF OUTDOOR RECREATION, THEY GO TO DIFFERENT PARKS.
THEY DO DIFFERENT ADVENTURES. THEY HAVE SEVERAL OVERNIGHTS BUILT IN.
THE WHOLE IDEA IS TO SHOW THAT THIS IS YOUR PARK, YOU BELONG HERE.
AND A LOT OF OUR OTHER PARTNERS, BUT IT REALLY CAME TO THE FORE WITH YES.
YOU BELONG HERE. AND WE WERE FINDING THAT THEY WERE NOT FEELING THAT WAY.
SO HOW WAS IT THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY ADAPT THESE PROGRAMS AND DO THINGS IN A DIFFERENT WAY SO THAT FAMILIES CAN FEEL SAFE? SO THE KIDS THEMSELVES CAN FEEL SAFE. STAFF CAN FEEL SAFE.
AND TO THE GREAT CREDIT OF YES, AND OUR STAFF, THE FAMILIES, VERY HONEST, CANDID CONVERSATIONS.
AND IT WAS ALSO WITH THE HELP OF THE DIRECTION OF THE GENERAL MANAGER AND UPPER MANAGEMENT ABOUT WHAT OUR POLICIES WERE AND WHAT WE CAN DO AS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO PROCEED WITH THESE TYPES OF PROGRAMS IN A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE MANNER.
WE HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN NO DROP OFF IN THE NUMBER OF KIDS DOING THE PROGRAMS. NOTHING THAT'S DISCERNIBLE THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY ATTRIBUTE TO THIS SENSE OF NOT BEING WELCOME.
SO THAT'S BEEN A BIG, BIG PART AND A REALLY CLARIFYING PART OF WHY WE DO PARTNERSHIPS.
[00:45:01]
AND IT'S THE LAST THING WE WANT TO HAVE SOMEBODY HAVE ON THEIR MIND WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS.WE WANT THEM TO FEEL SAFE, CONNECTED AND BELONGING WHEN THEY COME HERE.
SO THAT PROGRAM GOES ON AND WE'RE REALLY HAPPY TO HAVE GONE THROUGH.
IT'S TOO BAD WE HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS ROUGH PATCH WITH THEM, BUT WE'RE REALLY HAPPY WITH HOW WE COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE AND CONTINUE TO ADAPT TO MAKE THESE PROGRAMS FEEL SAFE FOR EVERYBODY, NOT JUST FOR.
YES. CAN YOU JUST TALK TO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN TERMS OF MAKING THAT GROUP FEEL MORE SAFE IN OUR PARKS? OH, IT'S A GREAT QUESTION. DIRECTOR ECHOLS IS THAT THE 1ST THING IS IN EVERY CRISIS.
THE 1ST THING THAT SUFFERS IS COMMUNICATION. SO OUR 1ST STEP WAS TO COMMUNICATE VERY CLEARLY.
WE SPOKE WITH THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WITH THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS AND SAID YES, AND THE PROGRAM DIRECTORS ABOUT HOW WHAT IS THEIR APPROACH? WHAT CAN THEY DO AS A COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATION TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR KIDS ARE SAFE, THAT THEY'RE PROTECTED UNDER THE LAW? AND WE WERE ABLE TO INCORPORATE THAT AND SHARE WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO AND COME TOGETHER AND FILL ANY GAPS THAT MIGHT BE, I SHOULDN'T SAY ANY GAPS, FILL SOME OF THE GAPS THAT MADE PEOPLE FEEL A LITTLE UNEASY.
WE SPOKE WITH OUR STAFF, SPOKE WITH FAMILIES, NOT JUST STAFF MEMBERS, BUT THE FAMILIES TOO, AND THE KIDS. SO COMMUNICATION WAS THE BIG THING.
WE CHANGED SOME OF OUR PROGRAMS FROM BEING OUTSIDE TO INSIDE.
MAYBE, YOU KNOW, SPENDING OVERNIGHT ON AN INSIDE AREA SO THEY WEREN'T OUT IN A PUBLIC SPACE.
SO THERE ARE SOME OF THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE WERE DOING THAT WEREN'T DRAMATIC CHANGES, AND THEY DIDN'T CHANGE THE GOAL OR THE FEELING OF THE PROGRAM, BUT WERE ABLE TO ADAPT THE PROGRAM TO BRING ANY LEVEL OF TREPIDATION OR FEAR DOWN TO WHERE FOLKS WOULD STILL WANT TO COME. DID THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? OKAY, GREAT.
THANK YOU. YES. DIRECTOR MERCURIO. I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DIVE IN A LITTLE BIT DEEPER BECAUSE I'M WHAT I'M REALLY WONDERING ABOUT IS I HAD THE SAME QUESTION AS ELIZABETH DID. WHAT ASPECTS OF BEING IN THE PARK CAUSES THEM TO HAVE ANXIETY? WHEN SEVERAL MONTHS AGO IN THE NEWS WE HAD, IT WAS QUITE IT WAS A LOT OF PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE.
OKAY. AND SO WE TOOK STEPS TO TRY TO REDUCE THAT FEAR.
DOES THAT WOULD YOU LIKE MORE OR DOES THAT ANSWER YOUR QUESTION? THERE'S PROBABLY MORE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT THIS AND I'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT THIS FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS. SO THERE MUST BE OTHER THINGS TOO, THAT ARE CAUSING, YOU KNOW, SOME KIND OF UNCERTAINTY ABOUT WANTING TO BE IN THE PARKS.
RIGHT? AND WE WANT TO THINK AND HOPE TO THINK THAT IT'S EXTERNAL ACTIONS THAT ARE EXTERNAL TO THE PARK DISTRICT, THAT BRING ON THAT FEAR. AND WHAT CAN WE DO INTERNALLY AS PART OF THE PARK DISTRICT TO REDUCE THOSE FEARS? SO WE TALKED ABOUT WHAT ARE THE POLICIES THAT WE CAN USE THAT WE ARE LEGALLY ALLOWED TO DO? WHAT ARE THE POLICIES THAT THEY CAN DO? THEY BEING THE PARTNER.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE COULD DO? DISCERNING BETWEEN PUBLIC SPACE AND NONPUBLIC SPACE AND WHERE WE CAN BRING FOLKS IN ON A PROGRAM IN NONPUBLIC SPACE, AS WE DO OFTEN? WHEN YOU'RE CAMPING OVERNIGHT AND YOU CLOSE THAT GATE AND PARK CURFEW IS 10 P.M.
WHAT ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND LIMITATIONS ARE UNDER THE LAW.
OKAY. OKAY. THANK YOU. SO SYNERGISM. YOU KNOW, WE THINK ABOUT AI.
IT'S ALWAYS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, BUT WHEN I WAS DOING A PRESENTATION, EITHER 1 OR 2 PRESENTATIONS AGO, I SPOKE ABOUT AWE AND INSPIRATION THAT THE DISTRICT BRINGS TO EVERYBODY WHO COMES TO THE DISTRICT AND THAT WE CONNECT WITH, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT COMING TO THE PARKS, THEY SEE THE PARKS, THEY EXPERIENCE THE PARKS, THEY KNOW THEY'RE THERE. AND THAT SENSE OF AWE IT'S BEEN, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF STUDIES DONE ON AWE. AND WE NORMALLY THINK ABOUT AWE AS SOMETHING THAT, OH, SOMETHING THAT'S BIGGER BEYOND OUR MENTAL STRUCTURES, OUR MENTAL CAPACITY, SOMETHING THAT'S SO BIG, WE DON'T HAVE A PRECONCEIVED NOTION OF HOW TO REALLY INTERPRET THAT.
AND WE THINK OF THINGS ABOUT GOING TO YOSEMITE OR TAKING A BEAUTIFUL WALK, SEEING A CARPET OF WILDFLOWERS AND SNOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THAT'S OR BUT OVER BERKELEY, AT THE GREATER GOOD INSTITUTE, THEY ALSO DID A LOT OF STUDIES THROUGH DIFFERENT CULTURES ABOUT ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND FAR AND AWAY.
THE GREATEST EXAMPLES OF ALL WERE THE CULTURAL AND THE HUMAN INTERACTION THINGS, ACTS OF KINDNESS, EXTRA WORK FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THINGS ON THEIR OWN, AND THAT THOSE THINGS FAR AND AWAY, WERE THE PRIMARY SENSE OF AWE THAT PEOPLE GATHERED.
[00:50:05]
AND WHAT'S NICE HERE IS THAT THIS IS FOR [INAUDIBLE] OVER AT MOBILE EDUCATION WITH OUR GOOD FRIENDS UP AT PERALTA HACIENDA THAT THEY FELT SO COMPELLED AND HAD SUCH A WONDERFUL TIME. WAS THERE OR INVOLVED? THERE? PROBABLY WERE IN SOME, PROBABLY WASN'T SOME PEOPLE, BUT THEY FELT COMPELLED TO DO SOMETHING A LOT BIGGER AND MORE ARTISTIC AND EXPRESSIVE THAN JUST, HEY, THANKS SO MUCH IN AN EMAIL. BUT THEY PUT SOMETHING TOGETHER THAT REFLECTED THEIR TIME OUT IN THE PARK WITH [INAUDIBLE], AND THAT OUR STAFF HAS THIS PLASTERED TO THEIR WALL IN THE OFFICE.IT IS THE DOMINANT SPACE IN THE OFFICE THAT THEY FELT THAT SOCIAL OR THAT CULTURAL AWE, OR OF CONNECTING WITH PEOPLE AND SEEING THESE KIDS, SEEING THESE FAMILIES RISE FROM A LITTLE BIT OF LEERINESS OR TREPIDATION TO FULL COMFORT AND SUPPORT, AND CAN'T WAIT TO GET BACK TO THE PARKS. SO THAT IS INSPIRING THAT AWE IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT PARTNERSHIPS REALLY OFFERS.
ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS DO THAT, ALL OF OUR PARKS DO THAT.
BUT WITH THE, THE FOCUS AND THE COOPERATION AND PARTNERSHIP WE HAVE WITH THESE DIFFERENT GROUPS.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL AVENUE TO GET TO THAT PLACE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? OKAY.
THANK YOU MIKE. ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS? DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
I THINK WE TOOK CARE OF IT AS WE WENT, BUT CAN I.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A SEMINAR THAT GOES ON AND ON AND ON AND ON AND ON, YOU KNOW, AND AND I THOUGHT THAT WHEN I WAS ON THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR 17 YEARS, I WOULD TELL PEOPLE, IT'S TOO BAD YOU'RE NOT IN THIS BECAUSE WE'RE IN THIS SEMINAR THAT MEETS ONCE A MONTH AND TELLS US ALL ABOUT THE COOL THINGS THAT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT IS DOING AND THAT OTHER AGENCIES ARE DOING TOO. SO ANYWAY, I DIDN'T KNOW.
SO MOST OF THAT, WHAT YOU JUST WHAT YOU JUST PRESENTED.
I DIDN'T KNOW WE WERE DOING THAT. AND SO I, YOU KNOW, I HAD A VAGUE NOTION OF IT, YOU KNOW, THAT I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS GOING ON AND I SOMETIMES I SEE THEM IN WRITING, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE. BUT YOU'VE JUST ENLIGHTENED US WITH, WITH WHAT'S, WHAT THERE IS.
AND I KNOW THAT, THAT YOU PERSONALLY HAVE PAID PLAYED A BIG, HUGE PART IN THOSE PROGRAMS. AND SO ON THE WAY OUT, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL THAT YOU'VE DONE FOR THAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YEAH, THANKS. I CAN'T GIVE ENOUGH APPRECIATION TO OUR STAFF WHO CONJURE UP THESE PROGRAMS. WORK WITH OTHER PARTNERS IN THE AGENCY OUTSIDE THE AGENCY.
I MEAN, THAT'S A SENSE OF AWE THAT I GET WHEN I REALIZE HOW DEEP PEOPLE DIVE.
AND TO MAKE THESE PROGRAMS WORK AND TO MAKE THESE PARTNERSHIPS WORK, IT'S REALLY IMPRESSIVE. YEAH.
THANK YOU. YEAH. WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE REPORT.
AND OH MY GOODNESS, NEARLY 35 YEARS OF WONDERFUL WORK HERE WITH US.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO WITHOUT YOU, BUT YOU'VE EARNED IT.
WHATEVER YOU DO NEXT, GOOD LUCK AND CONGRATULATIONS.
AND YEAH. REALLY I FEEL LIKE I'VE SEEN YOU SO MANY TIMES, LIKE IN THE PARK AND AT DIFFERENT EVENTS AND COMING BEFORE THIS MEETING, IT'S JUST KIND OF HARD TO IMAGINE YOU NOT BEING HERE IN THE FUTURE, BUT BUT REALLY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE AI AWE AND INSPIRATION THAT YOU HAVE HELPED TO GENERATE.
AND YOU BROUGHT US JUST, YOU BROUGHT US A LITTLE BIT, A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT INTO THAT TODAY.
AND THAT'S IT'S REALLY GREAT AND UPLIFTING AND JUST WONDERFUL TO HEAR ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS AND HOW DEEP THEY GO AND THE THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO THEM. AND JUST TO BE REMINDED, I MEAN, I ALREADY KNOW THAT, BUT IT'S, IT'S JUST GOOD TO BE REMINDED AND TO ACTUALLY SEE THE HAPPY FACES AND TO, YOU KNOW, FEEL THE EXCITEMENT THAT WE'RE SPREADING AROUND THE DISTRICT TO EVERYONE.
SO THANK YOU. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH. AND DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. NO PUBLIC COMMENTS. OKAY.
ALL RIGHT. SO I KNOW THAT YOU WANTED TO MAKE SOME ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[Announcements]
IS IT IT'S OKAY NOW. YES. YOU CAN GO AHEAD AND THE ANNOUNCEMENTS.OKAY. WONDERFUL ANNOUNCEMENTS. THANK YOU. YEAH, I THINK I JUST WANTED TO REMIND THE BOARD BEFORE WE MEET IN MAY THAT OUR 1ST BOARD SITE TOUR WILL BE HAPPENING ON MAY 8TH.
IT WILL BE AT 10 A.M. AND WILL BE STARTING AT MORGAN TERRITORY REGIONAL PRESERVE.
SO THERE'LL BE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THAT. BUT I JUST THOUGHT AS BECAUSE WE HAD ANNOUNCEMENTS, I WANTED TO JUST ANNOUNCEMENT AND REMIND EVERYBODY.
AND THEN I JUST AS A FOLLOW UP FROM YESTERDAY AT THE BOARD MEETING, I THINK ACTING DIRECTOR, ACTING GM MAX KORTEN MENTIONED THAT WE WERE HAVING OUR 1ST HERITAGE MONTH OPEN HOUSE AT THE
[00:55:01]
BRAZILIAN ROOM AND THEY HAD OVER 100 AND ABOUT 190 PRE RESERVATIONS.SO IT WAS VERY POSITIVE. AS A REMINDER, THE BRAZILIAN ROOM HAS BEEN VOTED SINCE I THINK 2022.
BEST OF THE EAST BAY FOR WEDDINGS AND OTHER ALL EVENTS.
SO IT WAS JUST I JUST KIND OF IN THE SAME VEIN OF MIKE DAYLIGHTING, OUR PROGRAMS, JUST I THINK BOARD OPERATIONS COMMITTEE IS A REALLY GREAT PLACE TO HIGHLIGHT JUST ONGOING WORK THAT THE BOARD SUPPORTS THROUGH THE BUDGET.
THAT'S MAYBE NOT A PROJECT DOESN'T GET SORT OF IN FRONT OF YOU ALL THE TIME, BUT I JUST ALWAYS WANT TO BRING IT BACK TO THIS BOARD TO JUST SO THAT, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON IN WAYS THAT REALLY CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITIES.
THANK YOU. YEAH. THANK YOU. AND ONE OF THE MANY REASONS WHY I LIKE SERVING ON THIS COMMITTEE.
YEAH, WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR, FOR THOSE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
AND AT THIS POINT, I THINK WE'RE READY TO ADJOURN AT 1:59 P.M..
THANK YOU EVERYBODY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.