[00:00:01]
OLIVIA SANWONG: ALL RIGHT.[CALL TO ORDER]
I CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR-- I CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT FOR OCTOBER 20, 2026.THE MEETING IS HEREBY CALLED TO ORDER AT 1:00 PM.
LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO ROLL CALL.
DIRECTOR ECHOLS? ELIZABETH ECHOLS: PRESENT KELLY CLANCY: DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT? LYNDA DESCHAMBAULT: PRESENT.
KELLY CLANCY: DIRECTOR ESPANA? LUANA ESPANA: PRESENT.
KELLY CLANCY: DIRECTOR MERCURIO? JOHN MERCURIO: HERE.
KELLY CLANCY: DIRECTOR WAESPI? DENNIS WAESPI: HERE.
KELLY CLANCY: VICE PRESIDENT COFFEY IS NOT HERE AT THE MOMENT.
PRESIDENT SANWONG? OLIVIA SANWONG: HERE.
DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT WILL LEAD US IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
ALL: I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS.
ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.
AND DIRECTOR WAESPI WILL READ THE LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT.
DENNIS WAESPI: AS WE GATHER HERE TODAY, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT ALL OF OUR LANDS WITHIN THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ARE THE ANCESTRAL LANDS OF THE EAST BAY, OHLONE, BAY MIWOK, AND THE NORTHERN VALLEY YOKUT, WHO ARE POLITICALLY ORGANIZED AND REPRESENTED BY A NUMBER OF TRIBES TODAY.
WE MAKE THIS RECOGNITION AS A WAY TO RESPECT AND HONOR THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO WERE FIRST CULTIVATED AND INHABITED THIS LAND.
THE PARK DISTRICT IS COMMITTED TO IDENTIFYING WAYS TO WORK AND CONSULT WITH EAST BAY TRIBES, AS WE RECOGNIZE THAT THESE TRIBAL CITIZENS REMAIN CONNECTED TO THEIR LAND AND CULTURE.
SO WILL NOW MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM
[MODIFICATION OF AGENDA]
B-- MODIFICATION OF THE AGENDA.AND I AM LOOKING TO CHANGE THE AGENDA.
SO WE WILL NEED TO VOTE ON THIS AS A BOARD.
I'D LIKE TO SWITCH J2 AND J1 SO THAT J2 GOES FIRST.
AND SO THAT'S UNDER ACTION ITEMS. SO J2, THE AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, HAVE THAT BE FIRST.
AND THEN J1, THE AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN OPTION PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH DYLAN KRUSE AND TRUSTEE OF VERNA KRUSE TRUST FOR 511 ACRES OF CAKEBREAD RANCH WILL BE NUMBER TWO, WILL BE HEARD TWO.
SO I AM LOOKING FOR A MOTION TO SWITCH J2 AND J1 FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
DIRECTOR ECHOLS HAS MADE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECOND JOHN MERCURIO: SECOND.
OLIVIA SANWONG: SECOND FROM DIRECTOR MERCURIO.
OLIVIA SANWONG: ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT PASSES UNANIMOUSLY 7-0.
ANY OTHER MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA? I DON'T SEE ANY.
SO WE WILL THEN MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM C-- SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS.
[PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA]
SO NOW WE MOVE ON TO AGENDA ITEM D, PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEMS NOT ON THE AGENDA.WE HAVE NO HANDS UP ONLINE AND WE HAVE ONE IN PERSON.
AMELIA OH, WE HAVE ONE HAND UP ONLINE.
AMELIA MARSHALL: GOOD AFTERNOON.
MY NAME IS AMELIA MARSHALL, SPEAKING AS AN INDIVIDUAL TRAIL SAFETY PATROL VOLUNTEER.
I'D LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ON THEIR EXCELLENT MULTI-AGENCY TRAINING DAY SATURDAY FOR MOUNTED OFFICERS AND MOUNTED VOLUNTEERS.
THE PARK DISTRICT HOSTED RIDERS FROM STOCKTON, SAN JOAQUIN, LIVERMORE, ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, AND NATIONAL PARK RANGERS FROM POINT REYES.
WHEN I JOINED THE MOUNTED PATROL BACK IN 1999, DISTRICT POLICE USED TO HAVE TO TRAVEL TO SACRAMENTO FOR TRAINING, AND NOW OTHER AGENCIES COME TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
THE VASCO ARENA IS IDEAL FOR THIS KIND OF TRAINING.
THERE ARE ACRES OF HORSE TRAILER PARKING, AND OUR DTSP VOLUNTEERS SQUEEZED RIGS INTO EVERY AVAILABLE SQUARE INCH.
BECAUSE IT'S A REMOTE LOCATION, THERE ARE NO NEIGHBORS TO DISTURB FOR MILES AROUND WITH FIRECRACKERS, DRONE FLIGHTS, POPPING PARTY BALLOONS, AND OTHER SENSORY CHALLENGES FOR THE HORSES.
SO WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE PARK DISTRICT TO HAVE A STRONG MOUNTED UNIT? HORSES CAN GET INTO PLACES IN THE BACKCOUNTRY WHERE VEHICLES, EVEN E-BIKES, CANNOT.
I DON'T HAVE TO TELL THIS BOARD WHAT A GREAT PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSET POLICE OFFICERS ON HORSES ARE FOR THE DISTRICT.
IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE FACES OF THE CHILDREN LINED UP TO PET THE HORSES, PARTICULARLY AT ALL ABILITIES DAY EVENTS, THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
NOWADAYS, THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN WHO HAVE NEVER EVEN SEEN A REAL LIVE HORSE.
THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS IN THE MEDIA RECENTLY ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES FACED BY ISOLATED POLICE OFFICERS.
WATCHING THE CAMARADERIE AND ESPRIT DE CORPS AMONG THE OFFICERS RIDING ON SATURDAY WAS INSPIRING.
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BEING WITH HORSES BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN PEOPLE.TO BE A PROFICIENT HORSE HANDLER, YOU MUST EXUDE LEADERSHIP, CONFIDENCE, A SENSE OF CALM, AND KINDNESS.
HORSES RESPOND TO A STRONG LEADER.
IT'S STRENGTH WITHOUT STEROIDS.
THAT'S WHY THE HORSES STOOD SOLIDLY ON SATURDAY, WHILE THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HELICOPTERS CIRCLED ABOVE THE ARENA WITH ITS LIGHTS AND SIREN FULL BLAST.
THE RIDERS MARCHED IN CAVALRY FORMATION ALONG ROWS OF LIT HIGHWAY FLARES, AND THE HORSES ACCEPTED EVERYTHING.
THE PARK DISTRICT POLICE ORGANIZERS WERE WELL PREPARED FOR ANY CONTINGENCY, BUT THE DAY WAS PERFECT, THANKS TO THE BOARD FOR SUPPORTING THIS WONDERFUL PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM.
WE HAVE ONE MORE COMMENTER-IN-PERSON, ELLEN THOMPSON.
ELLEN THOMPSON: MY NAME IS ELLEN THOMPSON.
I OWN REDWOOD VALLEY RAILWAY COMPANY, THE STEAM TRAIN IN TILDEN.
WE'VE BEEN THERE FOR 75 YEARS.
WE GET NO MONEY FROM THE DISTRICT, NO GRANTS, NO DONATIONS.
EVERYTHING THERE IS BUILT AND MAINTAINED WITH PRIVATE FUNDS.
BUT NOW WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO RENEW OUR CONTRACT WITH THE DISTRICT FOR EIGHT YEARS.
DURING THAT TIME, THE DISTRICT STAFF, PEOPLE THAT WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK WITH HAVE CHANGED 15 TIMES.
EVERY DAY, OUR FAITHFUL PUBLIC PATRONS ASK ME, WHAT IS GOING ON? WHY IS THIS HAPPENING? WELL, NOW, I'LL TELL YOU WHY.
WAY BACK IN 1949, THE DISTRICT PEOPLE SAID, WE'RE A NEW DISTRICT AND WE WANT LOTS OF ATTRACTIONS, BUT WE HAVE NO MONEY.
THANK YOU FOR COMMITTING YOUR LIFE AND YOUR PRIVATE FUNDS TO PROVIDING SUCH A GREAT THING.
THEN SEVERAL YEARS LATER, NO, THERE SHOULD BE NO PRIVATE INVESTMENT IN THE PARKS.
WE'RE GOING TO GET RID OF ALL THAT STUFF.
THEN LATER, WE LOVE THE TRAINS SO MUCH THAT WE WANT YOU TO EXPAND IT-- AT YOUR OWN EXPENSE, OF COURSE.
AND WE WANT IT SO MUCH THAT WE'LL COMMIT IN A WRITTEN CONTRACT TO PROVIDE A PARKING LOT, FIX THE FENCES, AND PUT IN A PUBLIC RESTROOM FOR THE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO VISIT THE SOUTH END OF TILDEN.
AND A FEW YEARS LATER, NO, THERE SHOULD NOT BE ANY ATTRACTIONS IN THE PARK AT ALL.
TREES, GRASS, ROCKS, DIRT, AND MAYBE A LITTLE WATER, AND THAT'S IT.
AND WE'RE GOING TO ELIMINATE EVERYTHING ELSE.
THEN 30 YEARS LATER, YOU NEED A RESTROOM.
A WRITTEN CONTRACT? WELL, IT'S NOT VALID.
AND THEN WE LOVE THE TRAIN SO MUCH THAT WE'LL MAKE A NEW CONTRACT WITH MORE FAVORABLE TERMS. THEN SEVERAL YEARS LATER, NO, WE'RE RENEGING ON THOSE TERMS. AND WE WANT YOU TO SIGN PART OF AN AGREEMENT.
AND THEN WE'LL ADD SOME STUFF LATER THAT YOU HAVEN'T SEEN.
AND THEN LATER, YES, WE'LL GO BACK TO THE FAVORABLE TERMS. BUT NOW WE'RE GOING TO REVIVE SOME ISSUES THAT WERE SETTLED 30 YEARS AGO, INCLUDING FINDING SOME WAY TO TAKE YOUR TRAIN AND YOUR BUSINESS, WHETHER YOU WANT US TO OR NOT.
THIS IS EMBLEMATIC OF THE CHALLENGES WE'VE HAD FACING IN TRYING TO COLLABORATE WITH THE DISTRICT ON ANY MATTERS THAT HAVE COME UP IN THE LAST 75 YEARS.
THE DISTRICT IS A SPECTACULARLY UNRELIABLE ORGANIZATION FOR ANYONE TRYING TO DO BUSINESS WITH IT IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER.
THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE HIGH POINTS.
DISTRICT BEHAVIOR TOWARD CONCESSIONAIRES HAS SOMETIMES BEEN ILLEGAL.
IS THIS MORE OF THAT? SOME DISTRICT STAFF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN FOND OF SAYING THAT THE DISTRICT, AS A PUBLIC AGENCY, DOES NOT HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE LAW.
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 HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS FOR FREE, WHY WOULD YOU THROW IT AWAY? THANK YOU.
THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT A REQUEST FOR A REPAIR TO A DRAIN LINE THAT GOES INTO TILDEN PARK.
BASICALLY, IT'S A PE LINE THAT COMES OUT AND TAKES DRAINAGE FROM WILDCAT CANYON ROAD AND RUNS DOWN PAST WELL DOWN TO BLACKBERRY CREEK.
IT WAS PUT IN BY, I THINK, PARK CREWS ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO.
AND ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, IT FAILED.
THE TOP OF THE LINE SEPARATED FROM THE OUTFALL.
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AND FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, ALL OF THE STREET DRAINAGE FROM WILDCAT CANYON ROAD TO CATCH BASINS IS COMING DOWN.AND SO I'M REQUESTING THAT THE LINE BE REPAIRED SOMETIME BEFORE EL NIÑO HITS US.
I THINK YOU HAVE SOME PHOTOGRAPHS, DID YOU OF-- THAT I SENT IN? THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE, BESIDES BEING SEPARATED FROM THE OUTFALL IN ABOUT THE FIRST FEET.
THE PIPE IS BROKEN AND SEPARATED.
LAST YEAR, WHICH WAS NOT AS HEAVY AS I THINK THIS YEAR IS GOING TO BE.
DURING THE RAINSTORMS THE OUTFALLS WOULD SHOOT OUT LIKE A FIRE HOSE.
AND THE HILLSIDE, WHICH IS NEXT TO MY HOUSE, JUST HAD A SHEET OF WATER COMING DOWN.
AND IT'S ALREADY STARTING TO ERODE THE AREA AROUND THE OUTFALL.
SO IF IT'S FIXED THEN I THINK THE EROSION CAN BE STOPPED.
THERE IS NOW NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON, SO WE WILL GO ONLINE.
AUDIENCE: I JUST NOTE LISA GORDON OVER THERE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH YOU.
KELLY CLANCY: OK SORRY, I'M JUST SETTING UP THE TIMER.
KELLY HARDY, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
I LIVE IN EL CERRITO, AND I'M THE MOM OF AN EL CERRITO HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN WHO LOVES TO BIKE.
I'M IN STRONG SUPPORT OF THE BIKE ONLY WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL.
I THINK IT WOULD BE GREAT TO GIVE YOUNGER RIDERS WHO ARE ALREADY RIDING IN THE PARKS A SAFE AND FUN OPTION.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE AS A FAMILY VALUE WITHIN SHOUTING DISTANCE OF SOME OF THE BEST PARKS IN THE WHOLE WORLD.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH MY HUSBAND WHEN WE WERE HIKING IN WILDCAT, AND WE WERE BOTH STUDENTS AT BERKELEY.
I HIKED IN THE EARLY MORNINGS WITH A COLICKY BABY IN A BACKPACK WITH A DOG.
MANY YEARS LATER NOW, MY HUSBAND HAS BEEN HIKING MILES IN THE EAST BAY PARKS RECOVERING FROM CANCER SURGERY.
OUR FAMILY HAS A REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION MEMBERSHIP AND WE USE THE PARKS DAILY.
TO BE CLEAR, I DON'T BIKE, BUT AS A HIKER WITH A DOG, I FIND BIKERS TO BE VERY COURTEOUS ON THE TRAIL.
AND I KNOW THAT THE COACHES EXPLICITLY TEACH THE KIDS TO RESPECTFULLY SHARE THE TRAILS.
MY DOG LOVES BIKERS BECAUSE I GIVE HER A TREAT EVERY TIME THEY GO PAST.
MY SON STARTED MOUNTAIN BIKE RIDING ONE YEAR AGO AND IT'S HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON HIS LIFE.
THIS PAST SUNDAY, HE RODE 70 MILES WITH HIS FRIENDS.
HE'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY ACTIVE KID, BUT THIS HAS TAKEN THINGS TO A NEW LEVEL.
HE RARELY PLAYS VIDEO GAMES ANYMORE AND USES LESS SCREENS.
I THINK WE'RE ALL TRYING TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
I'VE BEEN A PART OF, AND MY KID HAS BEEN A PART OF A LOT OF SPORTS TEAMS, AND THIS ONE IS BY FAR THE MOST SUPPORTIVE TEAM ENVIRONMENT I'VE EVER SEEN.
TO BE CLEAR, THE MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM, AND THE MOUNTAIN BIKE COMMUNITY, IT REALLY HELPED HIM TO ENTER HIGH SCHOOL WITH SO MUCH CONFIDENCE BECAUSE HE WAS ALREADY CONNECTED TO SUCH A STRONG AND SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS ON THE MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAM.
ALSO, BIKING IS UNIVERSAL, AND UNLIKE HIS OTHER LOVE OF BASEBALL, BIKING IS SOMETHING MY SON CAN DO HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
MY 83-YEAR-OLD DAD STILL BIKES ALMOST EVERY DAY.
IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE.
THAT 70-MILE RIDE THAT MY SON WENT ON WAS ON A LOANER BIKE FROM HIS TEAM'S COACH, WEARING A HAND-ME-DOWN JERSEY AND SHORTS FROM AN OLDER FRIEND ON THE TEAM.
IT'S A REALLY AMAZING, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY,
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AND THIS WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT NEW ADDITION.I'M GRATEFUL TO THE BOARD FOR THEIR EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THE PARKS AND TRAILS FOR ALL TYPES OF USERS, AND THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO WEIGH IN SUPPORT OF THE WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL.
CHEYLA SAMUELSON YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
I'M A PROFESSOR AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, AND I AM HERE ALSO TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL IN WILDCAT CANYON.
I AM A PARENT OF A STUDENT RIDER, WHO PARTICIPATED FOR SIX YEARS IN BOTH MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS, MOUNTAIN BIKE TEAMS, AND I'M ALSO A COACH FOR THE BERKELEY HIGH MOUNTAIN CLUB.
SO I JUST REALLY WANTED TO COME AND SHARE WITH ALL OF YOU HOW IMPORTANT IT'S BEEN FOR ME, MY FAMILY, AND ALSO FOR OUR LARGER MOUNTAIN BIKE COMMUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PARKS.
IT'S BEING ABLE TO RIDE FROM TOWN AND GET UP INTO TILDEN AND OTHER PARKS.
AND AN AFTERNOON WITH YOUNG PEOPLE HAS JUST BEEN ONE OF THE GREATEST HONORS AND PLEASURES OF MY LIFE.
AND SO I THINK WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THERE BEING A BIKE-SPECIFIC TRAIL CONSTRUCTED THERE, I WAS REALLY EXCITED BECAUSE I COME FROM A LOT OF-- I'VE MOVED FROM OTHER PLACES, I'M FROM COLORADO.
I LIVED IN SANTA BARBARA WHERE THERE WAS JUST A LOT MORE ACCESS FOR BIKES.
AND SO I THINK THE THING THAT I THINK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THIS TRAIL IS THAT IT'S GOING TO DO A FEW THINGS.
FIRST OF ALL, IT'S GOING TO BE SAFE FOR BIKES.
IT'S GOING TO BE BUILT IN SUCH A WAY THAT STUDENTS ARE GOING TO LEARN HOW TO RIDE SAFELY.
THEY'LL HAVE THAT KIND OF BAKED FEATURES THAT TEACH THEM HOW TO RIDE WELL.
AND THE OTHER THING IS, I THINK, IT WILL REDUCE SOME POTENTIAL CONFLICT IN THE PARK.
IF YOU GIVE THIS VERY SHORT, HONESTLY BIKE-SPECIFIC TRAIL THAT IS ONLY GOING DOWNHILL, I THINK THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO RIDE THERE AND USE OTHER TRAILS FOR GOING UP, SO ON AND SO FORTH.
SO YEAH, I JUST THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A REALLY WONDERFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THAT WITH OUR KIDS AND ON OUR TEAMS AND WITH OUR LARGER COMMUNITY.
I THINK, AND I DO WANT TO SAY THAT SOME OF THE ANTI-TRAIL ACTIVISM THAT I'VE SEEN OUT IN THE WORLD, THE SOLANO STROLL AND OUT AT THE TRAILS, PAINTS A REALLY UNREALISTIC PICTURE OF WHAT THAT TRAIL WOULD BE LIKE.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE THAT KIND OF MASSIVE IMPACT.
IT'S A SMALL TRAIL, BUT IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE TO THIS COMMUNITY, AND ESPECIALLY FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO GET SUCH BENEFIT FROM BEING IN NATURE, BOTH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL AND COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION FOR YOUR TIME.
THANKS KELLY CLANCY: THANK YOU.
JOEL SCHROCK, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
JOEL SCHROCK: HELLO, CAN YOU HEAR ME OK? KELLY CLANCY: YES, WE CAN.
HELLO, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BOARD.
I'M JOEL SCHROCK, RESIDENT OF BERKELEY, AND ADVOCACY LEAD FOR BAMBI.
OUR GROUP OF BAY AREA MOUNTAIN BIKERS HAS 16,000 MEMBERS.
AND WE'RE ALSO A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT.
I'M ALSO THE FATHER OF AN 11-YEAR-OLD.
HE AND HIS BUDDIES RIDE THEIR BIKES EVERY DAY, AND I'M SPEAKING FOR THEM, TOO, WHILE THEY'RE AT SCHOOL.
I'M HERE TO REQUEST YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL.
IT'S A WELL THOUGHT OUT PROJECT.
THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR AND MISINFORMATION CIRCULATING.
OPPONENTS WORRY ABOUT THE IMPACT ON THE PARK, BUT THE AREA OCCUPIED BY THE TRAIL IS TINY.
THE 17-ACRE CORRIDOR OF THE TRAIL WILL OCCUPY IS 0.6% OF THE PARK'S TOTAL ACREAGE, AND THE ACTUAL FOOTPRINT OF A TRAIL THAT IS 1.4 MILES LONG AND 4 FEET WIDE, IS ABOUT HALF AN ACRE, WHICH EQUATES TO HALF OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.
SINCE THE TRAIL WILL BE PLACED AWAY FROM WETLANDS, NATIVE PLANTS, AND SENSITIVE HABITAT IN A CATTLE FIELD, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A HALF AN ACRE OF THE PARK'S LEAST SENSITIVE.
OPPONENTS WILL SAY THE PARK WILL BE BISECTED BY THE FENCE, BUT THE WILDLIFE SAFE FENCE TO PROTECT THE TRAIL FROM CATTLE IS SPLIT INTO FOUR SECTIONS TO ALLOW A NUMBER OF PASSAGEWAYS AROUND IT, WHILE OLD-FASHIONED BARBED WIRE FENCING ALREADY EXISTS THROUGHOUT WILDCAT AND ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MIZZOU TRAIL RIGHT NOW, WHERE THE TRAIL IS PROPOSED.
OPPONENTS WILL RAISE THE FEAR OF EROSION.
BUT THE ROLLERS ON THE FLOW TRAIL ARE DESIGNED TO SHED WATER TO PREVENT EROSION.
A TOUR OF THE 15-YEAR-OLD FLOW TRAILS AT CROCKETT HILLS WILL CLEARLY DEMONSTRATE THIS FACT.
OPPONENTS WILL CALL THE FLOW TRAIL A THRILL TRAIL TO SCARE PEOPLE, BUT THE TRAIL ACTUALLY WILL MEANDER DOWN THE HILL WITH A REDUCED GRADE, SLOWING RIDERS TO PROVIDE THAT PROLONGED, FLOWY FEELING THAT RIDERS
[00:20:02]
LOVE, ESPECIALLY KIDS.AND THOSE WATER SHEDDING ROLLERS ARE FUN TO RIDE OVER.
THIS INCENTIVIZES THE KIDS TO CLIMB UP THE HILL AND GET EXERCISE IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE TRAIL.
I'M PRETTY SURE-- I'M PRETTY CERTAIN THE PARK STRIVES TO SUPPORT HEALTHY KIDS GETTING EXERCISE IN NATURE WHILE HAVING FUN.
AND FOR ALL OF US CONCERNED ABOUT NATURAL HABITAT, PROVIDING A FUN BIKE-ONLY TRAIL WILL REDUCE THE INCENTIVE TO BUILD BOOTLEG TRAILS OR RIDE HIKER-ONLY TRAILS AS WELL.
THIS TRAIL WILL BE A NET IMPROVEMENT FOR ALL PARK USERS, AND MANY THAT OPPOSE THIS PROJECT WILL ACTUALLY BENEFIT FROM ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
PLEASE SUPPORT THIS STEP FORWARD AND TRAIL ACCESS FOR THE KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY IN 0.6% OF WILDCAT CANYON PARK.
PRAMILA BANWAIT, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
PRAMILA BANWAIT? PRAMILA BANWAIT: SORRY.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? KELLY CLANCY: YES, WE CAN.
PRAMILA BANWAIT: OK, THANK YOU.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
MY NAME IS PRAMILA BANWAIT AND I'M A RESIDENT OF KENSINGTON.
I'M A MOTHER OF TWO, A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND AN 11-YEAR-OLD SON.
I'M ANOTHER MOM HERE TODAY VOICING MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR BUILDING THE WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL IN TILDEN PARK.
MY SON AND I STARTED MOUNTAIN BIKING WITH THE WILDCAT CLUB HERE IN KENSINGTON JUST LAST YEAR, AND WE HAVE QUICKLY BECOME GREAT LOVERS OF MOUNTAIN BIKING.
ALTHOUGH I'M AN AVID HIKER AND CAMPER, AND I GREW UP AS A GIRL SCOUT, IT'S THROUGH THE SPORT AND BEING A COACH ON THE TEAM THAT I'VE ENJOYED BEAUTIFUL TRAILS AND PARKS THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND ADDITIONALLY FOUND A UNIQUE COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO SHARE THAT APPRECIATION.
AS A PARENT, I SEE HOW MUCH KIDS ENJOY THE FLOW TRAILS.
THEY PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUNG RIDERS TO DEVELOP THEIR SKILLS, CHALLENGE THEMSELVES, AND BUILD CONFIDENCE, WHILE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE JOY OF RIDING IN AN ENVIRONMENT DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR MOUNTAIN BIKING.
A DEDICATED BIKE-ONLY FLOW TRAIL WOULD ALSO PROVIDE A VALUABLE OPTION FOR WHEN WE PRACTICE.
A PURPOSE BUILT TRAIL DESIGNED FOR BIKES OFFERS A MORE APPROPRIATE SETTING FOR THIS ACTIVITY AND IT GETS US OFF THE CROWDED FIRE ROADS AND HELPS SEPARATE DIFFERENT TYPES OF TRAIL USERS.
BUT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE SOMETHING BIGGER THAN THE TRAIL ITSELF-- WHAT EXPERIENCES LIKE MOUNTAIN BIKING CAN MEAN FOR OUR CHILDREN AND THE FUTURE OF OUR PARKS.
RESEARCH ON CHILDHOOD NATURE EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING STUDIES ON WHAT RESEARCHERS CALL SIGNIFICANT LIFE EXPERIENCES, SUGGEST THAT POSITIVE, MEANINGFUL TIME OUTDOORS DURING CHILDHOOD CAN HELP FOSTER A LASTING CONNECTION TO NATURE AND STRONGER ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN AS ADULTS.
AND AS A MOTHER, THAT RESONATES DEEPLY WITH ME.
WHEN OUR CHILDREN GROW UP EXPLORING TRAILS, DISCOVERING WILDLIFE, CHALLENGING THEMSELVES OUTDOORS, AND BUILDING FRIENDSHIPS, THEY DEVELOP A PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THESE PLACES.
THEY HAVE MORE REASON TO VALUE THEM, CARE FOR THEM, AND THEY WANT TO PROTECT THEM AS ADULTS.
MOUNTAIN BIKING GETS OUR KIDS OUTSIDE, MOVING THEIR BODIES, LEARNING PERSEVERANCE, AND SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS INSTEAD OF INDOORS ON SCREENS.
IT GIVES THEM THE CONFIDENCE THAT COMES FROM TRYING SOMETHING DIFFICULT AND THE JOY OF DISCOVERING THE OUTDOORS FIRSTHAND.
I RESPECTFULLY URGE THE BOARD TO SUPPORT BUILDING OF THE WILDCAT FLOW TRAIL AND INVESTING IN OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN TO ENJOY NATURE TODAY THAT CAN HELP CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO VALUE AND CARE FOR OUR PARKS.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO OUR PERSPECTIVE AND ALL THE WORK THAT YOU DO TO MAKE OUR REGIONAL PARKS SUCH WONDERFUL PLACES FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
OLIVIA SANWONG: GREAT THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO PARTICIPATED IN PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ITEM
[GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS]
ON OUR AGENDA, WHICH IS ITEM E, OUR GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS.MAX KORTEN: THANK YOU, DIRECTOR.
IT'S MAX KORTEN, GENERAL MANAGER.
IN THE START OF THIS UPDATE, I JUST WANTED TO INVITE TWO OF OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE BEEN PARTNERING WITH US ON OUR DISTRICT PLAN.
AND AS PART OF EACH OF THESE BOARD MEETINGS THROUGH THE FALL AND WINTER, WE'RE INVITING SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO PRESENT THE WORK THEY'VE BEEN DOING TO GET COMMUNITY INPUT INTO OUR PLAN.
SO TODAY WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM TWO DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS.
FIRST UP, I'D LIKE TO INVITE MARTHA CALMO RAMIREZ FROM EL TÍMPANO TO THE PODIUM TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE WORK THEY DID.
MARTHA RAMIREZ: HELLO, EVERYONE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS-- I HAVE TO PUSH THAT.
WELL, EVERYBODY, MY NAME IS MARTHA CALMO RAMIREZ.
I AM THE MOM ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR AT EL TÍMPANO THAT WORKS A LOT WITH OUR MAM COMMUNITY.
MAM COMMUNITY COMES FROM THE COUNTRY OF GUATEMALA, AND WE HAVE 27 DIFFERENT DIALECTS.
TODAY I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE WORK THAT WE DID, AND I WANT TO MAKE SPACE FOR AN APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE WORK
[00:25:04]
THAT WE DID TO CONTRIBUTE AND COLLABORATE WITH EAST BAY REGIONAL CENTER.EL TÍMPANO-- A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR ORGANIZATION.
EL TÍMPANO STANDS AS AN EARDRUM IN SPANISH, AND IT'S A NONPROFIT NEWSROOM AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ORGANIZATION DESIGNED AND DEDICATED FOR THE SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITY AND ALSO MAM-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES IN THE BAY AREA.
SINCE 2018, WE WORK WITH THOUSANDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO MAKE INFORMATION MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MEANINGFUL AND DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES IN BOTH SPANISH AND MAM.
ONE OF OUR MAIN WAYS THAT WE DO THIS IS THROUGH OUR SMS PLATFORM, OUR TEXT MESSAGE TO OUTREACH.
OUR BROAD COMMUNITIES INCLUDE A COMMUNITY THAT WE HAVE STARTED, AND WE ARE AT 7,000 SUBSCRIBERS WITH OUR SMS ACROSS THE BAY AREA, WHICH IS ALAMEDA COUNTY AND CONTRA COSTA.
FOR THIS PROJECT, WE ENGAGE SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY IN ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA THROUGH SPANISH LANGUAGE SMS OUTREACH AND ALSO OUR MAM LANGUAGE LISTENING SESSIONS BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR MAM COMMUNITY MEMBERS LEARN MORE WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING.
I'M GOING TO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT OUR MAM LISTENING SESSIONS.
WE HAD TWO DIFFERENT LISTENING SESSIONS AND THERE WAS 26 TOTAL PARTICIPANTS.
AND OUR FOCUS AND LISTENING SESSIONS WERE ALL COMPLETE IN THE LANGUAGE MAM.
WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FOCUS GROUPS THAT ARE DESIGNATED TO THE MAM COMMUNITY.
BUT ONE THING THAT REALLY STOOD OUT TO ME DURING THE TWO DIFFERENT LISTENING SESSIONS IS THAT THERE IS A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE REGIONAL PARK BY THE MAM COMMUNITY.
THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO VISITED DIFFERENT PARKS ENJOY THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE PEACEFUL, CLEAN, SAFE, AND FAMILY-FRIENDLY.
THEY TALKED ABOUT GOING FOR WALKS, WALKING IN NATURE, HAVING PICNICS, JUST HAVING A PLACE WHERE THEY COULD RELAX WITH THEIR CHILDREN.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HEARD DIFFERENT ISSUES OR CONCERNS.
AND ONE OF THEM, AND I BELIEVE ALL OF US IN THIS ROOM IS TRANSPORTATION WAS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ONE THAT CAME OUT IN BOTH SESSION.
MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS DON'T DRIVE OR HAVE ACCESS TO CAR.
SO EVEN THEY'RE INTERESTED IN VISITING A REGIONAL PARK, THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE, OR FEEL COMFORTABLE TRAVELING SOMEWHERE FARTHER AWAY.
AND WE ALSO SEEN THE DIFFERENCE IN THE CONFUSION BETWEEN CITY PARKS AND EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS.
AND IN THE DIFFERENT PRESENTATIONS THAT WE CREATED, WE HAD TO DESIGN A PRESENTATION WHERE CITY PARKS AND EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS, THE DIFFERENCE IN HOW TO EVALUATE THE PARKS.
FOR ME, THE BIGGEST TAKEAWAY IS THE INTEREST IS ALREADY THERE.
IT'S JUST REALLY ABOUT CREATING THE CONNECTIONS THROUGH LANGUAGE ACCESS, TRUSTED OUTREACH, TRANSPORTATION, AND MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO EXPERIENCE THE PARKS TOGETHER.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO GO INTO OUR COMMUNITY INSIGHTS AND ACTION THROUGH OUR SMS PLATFORMS. WE SPOKE ABOUT OUR TWO DIFFERENT LISTENING SESSIONS, AND NOW TO COMPLEMENT THE MAM SPEAKING SESSION, WE ALSO CONDUCTED SPANISH SMS OUTREACH, SENDING THREE MESSAGES BETWEEN MAY AND JULY TO MORE THAN 5,400 SUBSCRIBERS ACROSS ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA.
WE ASKED PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH REGIONAL PARKS, THEIR PRIORITIES, AND FUTURE ACTIVITIES THAT THEY WANT THE PARK DISTRICT TO KNOW.
I'D LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT ONE FINDING FROM THE FINAL MESSAGE, WHICH WAS AN OPEN QUESTION ASKING MEMBERS, IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT YOU WANT TO SHARE ABOUT THE PARKS? SOME RESPONSES STILL REFERRED TO CITY PARKS RATHER THAN REGIONAL PARKS.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAD SHARED A MAP IDENTIFYING REGIONAL PARKS EARLIER IN OUR OUTREACH, TO ME, THE SUGGESTION THAT SIMPLIFIES PROVIDING A MAP OR GUIDE MAY NOT BE ENOUGH TO BUILD AWARENESS OF THE REGIONAL PARK CENTER.
CLOSING THESE INFORMATIONAL GAPS WILL REQUIRE SUSTAINABLE ENGAGEMENT AND CONSISTENT CONVERSATIONS WITH COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PARK DISTRICT OFFERS AND HOW THEY CAN ACCESS IT.
LOOKING ACROSS BOTH ENGAGEMENT, WE HEARD COMMON THEMES ABOUT VALUE OF PARK OF CREATIONS AND FAMILY TIME, WELL, AS BARRIER-RELATED INFORMATION TRANSPORTATION, BUT WE ALSO HEARD DIFFERENT DISTINCTIONS AND DIFFERENT PRIORITIES.
SPANISH LANGUAGE RESPOND RAISES CONCERNS ABOUT PARK MAINTENANCE, AFFORDABILITY, AND AVAILABLE AMENITIES, WHILE THE MAM-LISTENING SESSION HIGHLIGHTED THE IMPORTANCE OF INFORMATION AND MAM-TRUSTED COMMUNITY MESSENGER AND CULTURAL RELEVANT PROGRAM-- THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE TWO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
WE SEE THAT THREE AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY.
FIRST, IDENTIFYING THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO SHARE INFORMATION ABOUT REGIONAL PARKS AND PROGRAMS. SECOND, CONTINUE WORKING WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO IDENTIFY IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITIES AND LONGER-TERM SOLUTIONS IN TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESS BARRIERS.
AND THIRD, SUSTAINABLE ENGAGEMENT AND FEEDBACK
[00:30:01]
TO CONTINUE AND SHAPE PROGRAM AND PRIORITIES.I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND FOR SHARING THE PRESENTATION.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN BE DOING TO HELP SHARE INFORMATION AND HELP FOLKS FIND OUR PARKS.
AND SO THIS IS REALLY HELPFUL.
AND I THINK WE'LL BE CONTINUING THE ONGOING CORRESPONDENCE WITH YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION SO THAT WE CAN IMPROVE SOME OF THOSE GAPS THAT WERE IDENTIFIED.
AND MAYBE IF YOU JUST WANT TO SHARE A FEW COMMENTS, MAX.
I MEAN, I THINK THIS IS REALLY EXCITING BETWEEN THIS AND OUR COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM, WE REALLY WANT TO DEVELOP LONG TERM RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO CONNECT US BETTER WITH THE COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE.
THE NEXT SPEAKER THAT WE HAVE COMING UP IS ELBA VELASQUEZ FROM MONUMENT IMPACT.
AND THERE WERE ANOTHER PARTNER, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM TO SAY A FEW WORDS.
ELBA VELASQUEZ: GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
MY NAME IS ELBA VELASQUEZ, SENIOR PROGRAM DIRECTOR FOR MONUMENT IMPACT.
JOINING ME TODAY IS LORENA CRUZ, OUR HEALTHY COMMUNITY MANAGING CONSULTANT.
FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SINCERELY APPRECIATE YOUR TRUST.
AND BY YOU CONNECTING WITH MONUMENT IMPACT, YOU MADE A BIG STEP OF LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY.
MONUMENT IMPACT HAS BEEN IN THE COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS SERVING-- I GUESS I HAVE TO DO THIS.
SO WE WERE FOUNDED IN 2001, 25 YEARS SERVING THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYTHING WE OFFER IS FREE AND WE WORK AROUND MANY PROGRAMS NEEDED IN THE COMMUNITY.
SKILLS, EVERYTHING AROUND HEALTH, BUILDING LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ALSO ELEVATING THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
THE MISSION HAS BEEN ALWAYS TO SERVE AS AN ADVOCATE AND RESOURCE IN CONTRA COSTA COUNTY-- GUIDING, EDUCATING, AND CONNECTING LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES.
WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITIES WE SERVE? LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES.
AND ALL ACROSS CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, WE WANT THEM TO BUILD THEIR SKILLS, TO CONNECT WITH RESOURCES, AND ALSO TO BE ABLE TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICES, BECAUSE WE HAVE A LOT GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
WE OFFER A LOT OF PROGRAMS, AND WE HAVE FOUR-PILLAR PROGRAMS-- COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, ASSET BUILDING, HEALTHY COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE OTHER CROSS-CUTTING PROGRAMS. THROUGHOUT THE YEARS, WE HAVE PARTICIPATED IN MANY, MANY CAMPAIGNS-- COVID, VACCINE, CONTRA COSTA CARES, GET OUT THE VOTE, MEDICAL, AND MOST RECENTLY WORKING WITH EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
WE WORK WITH THE PROMOTORAS MODEL, SO WE WORK WITH THOSE TRUSTED MESSENGERS THROUGHOUT EAST AND CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA COUNTY.
SO EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ALLOWS US THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT A LITTLE DEEPER WITH OUR COMMUNITY, LISTENING TO THEM, COLLECTING THEIR VOICES, COLLECTING THEIR PERSPECTIVE.
WHAT IS THAT THEY WANT TO SEE IN THE COMMUNITY.
OUR PROJECT INCLUDED A SERIES OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT YOUR PROJECTS.
AND THIS CREATED FOR US A WONDERFUL WAY OF CONNECTING WITH RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES IN BAY POINT, PITTSBURG, AND ANTIOCH.
AND WE WORKED AROUND COMMUNITY OUTREACH, EDUCATING, CONNECTING WITH THEM, COLLECTING COMMUNITY SURVEYS, AND ALSO CONDUCTING LISTENING SESSIONS.
AS YOU CAN SEE THE PICTURES, WE HAVE PROMOTERS GOING OUT TO THROUGHOUT EAST AND CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY BAY POINT, PITTSBURG, AND ANTIOCH WITH THIS PROJECT, GOING TO THE PARKS AT 7:00 IN THE MORNING, 06:30 IN THE MORNING, TO BE ABLE TO CONNECT WITH THOSE PEOPLE USING THE PARKS.
SO THE WONDERFUL OUTCOMES WE CAN DEFINITELY SHARE IS THAT WE OUTREACH TO A TOTAL OF 4,453 PEOPLE THROUGH COMMUNITY
[00:35:02]
OUTREACH, MEANING SPEAKING WITH THEM, LETTING THEM KNOW WHAT THE PROJECT WAS ALL ABOUT, WHAT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AMBITIONS AND WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM THEM.YOU WANT TO HEAR THEIR OPINIONS.
WHAT IS IT THAT THEY WANT? WHAT IS IT THEY NEED? WHAT IS IT THAT THEY EXPECT WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BE ABLE TO USE THOSE PARKS EVEN MORE? WE COLLECTED 1,402 SURVEYS.
AND EVERY SURVEY COLLECTS VERY VALUABLE INFORMATION THAT WE HOPE THAT IS EXAMINED CAREFULLY AND TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION, BECAUSE IT IS ONLY BY LISTENING TO THE COMMUNITY'S FEEDBACK THAT CHANGES CAN HAPPEN.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT WE CAN IMPOSE CHANGES OR WE CAN CREATE CHANGES THE WAY THAT WE WANT TO SEE THEM IF WE DON'T LISTEN TO THE COMMUNITY.
THOSE WILL NOT HAVE REAL IMPACT.
ALSO WE DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION AND MATERIALS TO 949 PEOPLE, MEANING GIVING OUT THE FLYERS AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY GOT FAMILIARIZED WITH THE PROJECT.
WE ALSO CONDUCTED TWO LISTENING SESSIONS WITH A TOTAL OF 20 PARTICIPANTS.
WE CREATED A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, NEEDS, AND PRIORITIES AROUND LOCAL PARKS.
AND ADDITIONALLY, WE GOT TO MAKE 21 REFERRALS, CONNECTING PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TO OTHER RESOURCES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE WITHIN MONUMENT IMPACT.
WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST KEY TAKEAWAYS? AGAIN, FOR 4,453 PEOPLE OUTREACH IS A HUGE NUMBER AND SPEAKS HIGHLY OF WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANT TO SHARE, THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN SHARING MORE INFORMATION.
01,400-- I'M SORRY-- 01,402 SURVEYS WITH REALLY ENRICHING FEEDBACK, AND DEFINITELY RESIDENTS, THEY ALL WANT TO SEE SAFER AND NICER PARK ALONG THE TRAILS.
CLEANLINESS WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS.
PEOPLE WANT TO SEE CLEAN PARKS.
THERE'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE WITHIN CITIES.
YOU KNOW THAT SOME CITIES THAT ARE SO CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ARE SO DIFFERENT.
SO THEY WANT TO SEE CLEANLINESS, LANDSCAPING TO BE BETTER, CLEAR SIGNAGE.
AND THOSE WERE SOME OF THE KEY PRIORITIES.
ALSO THEY WANT MORE ACCESS TO INFORMATION LIKE FLYERS, MORE CLEAR INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT IS BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT SERVICES ARE AND OFFERINGS.
AND WE REALLY, AS AN ORGANIZATION SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR 25 YEARS, WE JUST WANT TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT PARKS ARE THE CENTRALIZED AREAS WHERE FAMILIES GET TOGETHER.
A LOT OF PEOPLE LIVE IN VERY CONDENSED APARTMENT COMPLEXES WHERE THEY DON'T HAVE ANY ROOM TO SPEND TIME WITH THEIR KIDS.
SO THE SAFER THEY ARE, THE BETTER THEY WILL BE PUT TO USE.
SO WE INVITE YOU TO TAKE ALL OF THE FEEDBACK INTO CONSIDERATION.
WE FEEL HONORED, PRIVILEGED TO BE PART OF THIS PROJECT WITH YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR TRUSTING IN WHAT MONUMENT IMPACT ALSO IS DOING IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
OLIVIA SANWONG: THANK YOU AGAIN FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THIS IS REALLY WONDERFUL TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION AND BOTH ORGANIZATIONS.
DID YOU WANT TO JUST SHARE MAYBE, LIKE IN TERMS OF NEXT STEPS.
SO WE'LL CONTINUE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS WE'RE HEARING DURING OUR GENERAL MANAGER COMMENTS.
AND THIS IS THE FIRST STEP OF MANY.
MAX KORTEN: IT WILL ALSO BE INCORPORATED INTO OUR REPORT.
THAT'S PART OF THE DISTRICT PLAN PROCESS.
BUT WE JUST WANTED THIS OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE WE HAVE THESE AMAZING PARTNERS TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE THEIR WORK IN PERSON BECAUSE VERY IMPACTFUL.
OLIVIA SANWONG: I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
AND IT'S REALLY NICE TO HEAR ABOUT EACH OF YOUR ORGANIZATIONS.
AND SO THEN WITH THAT, I THINK WE MOVE ON WITH GENERAL MANAGER COMMENTS.
MAX KORTEN: AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO BE REAL BRIEF BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF REAL PATIENT PEOPLE HERE FOR OUR NEXT ITEM.
JUST WANT TO HIGHLIGHT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT.
THEY'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF REALLY IMPORTANT WORK AND REALLY WANT TO APPRECIATE THE FOCUS ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL AND SOME OF OUR MULTI-USE TRAILS.
IT WAS THE 35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OAKLAND HILLS FIRE, AND THE HILLS EMERGENCY FORUM IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PLACE WHERE WE'RE DOING PARTNERSHIP WORK WITH UC BERKELEY, OAKLAND,
[00:40:03]
BERKELEY, A NUMBER OF THE DIFFERENT CITIES, AND REALLY FOLLOW UP ON THE LESSONS LEARNED FROM THAT CATASTROPHIC FIRE.AND ASSISTANT CHIEF CAREY HALEY WAS THE LEADER OF THE GROUP FOR THIS LAST YEAR.
AND WE PASSED THAT LEADERSHIP ON TO THE CITY OF OAKLAND.
AT ARDENWOOD, WE HELD THE ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL, A LOT OF REALLY GREAT ATTENDANCE.
THERE'S JUST REALLY A CHERISHED EVENT AT ARDENWOOD.
JUST SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR STAFF.
LAKE ANZA, THE AMOUNT OF VISITORS AND THE ABSENCE OF ALGAE THIS YEAR DUE TO SOME REALLY HARD WORK FROM OUR STEWARDSHIP TEAM WAS-- JUST WANTED TO CELEBRATE AND HIGHLIGHT THAT IT REMAINED OPEN THROUGH THE ENTIRE SWIM SEASON, WHICH IS A BIG DEAL COMPARED TO WHAT IT'S BEEN.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT MATT GRAUL, OUR DIVISION LEAD FOR STEWARDSHIP, RECENTLY PRESENTED AT THE RESTORE AMERICA'S ESTUARIES CONFERENCE ABOUT HOW PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS AND PARTNERSHIP WITH RESTORATION REALLY HELPS TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR THE WORK THAT WE DO AROUND SHORELINE PARKS.
OUR PLANNING DIVISION WENT TO THE APA CONFERENCE RECENTLY AND THAT ASSOCIATION, DESIGNATED THE PARK DISTRICT, IS A NATIONAL PLANNING LANDMARK IN 1989.
LET'S SEE, ALSO OUR LAND ACQUISITION ATTENDED THE LAND TRUST ALLIANCE RALLY.
BECKY AND THAT WHOLE TEAM IS REALLY ENGAGED WITH THE LARGER COMMUNITY THAT DOES THIS WORK.
THIS WAS A CULVERT CLEAN OUT A WILDCAT CANYON.
WE'RE TRYING TO GET READY FOR EL NIÑO.
AND SO OUR CREWS ARE REALLY BUSY TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE CULVERTS ARE CLEANED OUT AND DRAINS ARE READY FOR THIS WINTER.
AND THIS WAS A PARTNERSHIP WITH CIVICORPS.
AT TIDEWATER DAY USE AREA WE, BROKE GROUND ON A REALLY EXCITING NEW PROJECT.
I WANT TO APPRECIATE CONGRESSWOMAN LATEEFAH SIMONS, WHO'S BEEN AN ADVOCATE AND HELPED TO BRING IN FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT, AS WELL AS THE COASTAL CONSERVANCY, THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION, AND OTHERS.
THIS WAS A CELEBRATION OF THE LAFAYETTE-MORAGA TRAIL'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY AND SOME REALLY COOL NEW SIGNS.
I WANT TO APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY AND OTHERS.
WE HAD PARTNERED WITH CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY FOR A CELEBRATION OF LATINO HERITAGE MONTH AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
AND MAYBE THAT'S THE LAST SLIDE.
PERFECT SEGUE TO THE NEXT ITEM OR TWO.
AND SO WE WILL THEN MOVE ON TO OUR NEXT ITEM.
UNLESS THERE'S ANY ANYTHING ELSE FROM THE BOARD IN REGARDS TO GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS.
SO OUR NEXT ITEM IS GOING TO BE ANNOUNCEMENTS.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS]
WE DO HAVE A BOARD SITE TOUR ON FRIDAY.WE'LL BE MEETING AT DEL VALLE REGIONAL PARK AT 9:45 AM ON FRIDAY.
OR DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT WE WANT TO MAKE AT THIS TIME? NO.
SO THEN WE'LL MOVE ON TO OUR CONSENT CALENDAR ITEM G.
[CONSENT CALENDAR]
AND AT THIS TIME, I'M LOOKING FOR BOARD MEMBERS WHO WISH TO PULL AN ITEM FOR SEPARATE REVIEW FROM THE CONSENT CALENDAR.OTHERWISE, WE WILL CONSIDER ALL 10 ITEMS TOGETHER WITH THE CONSENT CALENDAR VOTE.
I DON'T SEE ANY BOARD MEMBERS WHO WISH TO PULL AN ITEM.
SO THEN WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO LOOKING AT THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
AND THIS IS A TIME TO ASK QUESTIONS OR MAKE A STATEMENT.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT FOR ITEMS ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
SO WE'RE LOOKING AT ALL 10 ITEMS 1 THROUGH 10 AT THE SAME TIME.
ANY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? ALL RIGHT.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT, SEE IF WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO MAKE PUBLIC COMMENT AT THIS TIME ON THE CONSENT CALENDAR.
KELLY CLANCY: THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY FINAL COMMENTS.
AND THEN ALSO I'M LOOKING FOR A MOTION OF APPROVAL FOR THE CONSENT CALENDAR FOR ALL 10 ITEMS G1 THROUGH G10.
ELIZABETH ECHOLS: I'LL MOVE APPROVAL.
DIRECTOR ECHOLS HAS MADE A MOTION FOR APPROVAL.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? LUANA ESPANA: SECOND.
DIRECTOR ESPANA MADE A SECOND.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE? ALL: AYE.
OLIVIA SANWONG: ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT PASSES, 7-0.
OK, WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ACTION ITEMS
[ACTION ITEMS]
BECAUSE WE HAVE NO PUBLIC HEARINGS, NO PRESENTATIONS.SO WE ARE NOW AT J2 BECAUSE WE SWITCHED THIS IN ORDER EARLIER IN THE MEETING.
AND SO WE WILL NOW LOOK AT THE AUTHORIZATION TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.
WELL, I'LL JUST QUEUE THIS UP.
AGAIN, MAX KORTEN, GENERAL MANAGER, THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING ITEM.
I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE HERE
[00:45:02]
FOR THIS ITEM, AND REALLY, IT'S BECAUSE OF A LOT OF HARD WORK THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE DONE FOR MANY YEARS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY.SO I WANTED TO START WITH A THANK YOU.
THIS IS A BIG ACQUISITION, AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH BIG THINGS IS THROUGH PARTNERSHIP.
I WANT TO START WITH A THANK YOU FOR THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND IS THE ONES WHO ARE WORKING ON THIS, WHO INVITED US TO BE A PARTNER.
AND REALLY THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE COULD GET TO THIS POINT WITHOUT THIS PARTNERSHIP.
I KNOW I'VE WORKED WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND ON OTHER PROJECTS.
THEY ARE A LEADER IN THE SPACE OF CREATING AND SUPPORTING NEW PARKS, AND HAVE BEEN AN OUTSTANDING PARTNER THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
I ALSO WANT TO GIVE AN APPRECIATION TO THE LEADERSHIP AT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
THIS WAS A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM, WHO PUT THIS IN HIS PROPOSED BUDGET.
SECRETARY OF NATURAL RESOURCES WADE CROWFOOT HAS BEEN A CHAMPION FOR THIS PROJECT, AND WE'VE BEEN REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE CHAMPIONS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
WE HAVE ONE OF THEM HERE TODAY, AND I WANTED TO INVITE SENATOR JESSE ARREGUIN, IF YOU WANT TO COME UP TO THE PODIUM AND GIVE A FEW WORDS.
[APPLAUSE] JESSE ARREGUIN: WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAX, FOR THAT INTRODUCTION, THE OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ON THIS IMPORTANT ITEM.
I'M SO EXCITED TO BE HERE TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT OF THIS ITEM TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND OF THE OTHER ACTIONS NECESSARY FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE GOLDEN GATE FIELDS PROPERTY TO CREATE A NEW SHORELINE PARK TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF NOT JUST THE EAST BAY, BUT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I WAS ADVOCATING FOR IN THE BUDGET PROCESS IS, THIS IS A MATTER OF STATEWIDE INTEREST.
IT ISN'T JUST GOING TO SERVE THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE NEAR GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, BUT EVERYONE IN CALIFORNIA AND PEOPLE THAT VISIT CALIFORNIA.
AND I REALLY LOOK AT THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A NEW CRISSY FIELD ON OUR SIDE OF THE BAY.
AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER STEWARD THAN THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TO HELP MANAGE THIS PROPERTY IN YEARS TO COME.
I'M HONORED TO REPRESENT SENATE DISTRICT 7, ALONG WITH DIRECTOR ECHOLS, WHERE THIS PROPERTY IS LOCATED, AND TO HAVE WORKED WITH GOVERNOR NEWSOM TO SECURE $125 MILLION IN STATE BOND FUNDING FOR ITS ACQUISITION.
AND YOUR ACTION TODAY IS A CRITICAL STEP.
AND I REALLY WANT TO THANK THE PARK DISTRICT FOR ITS PARTNERSHIP THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, WORKING NOT JUST WITH THE STATE, BUT WITH TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND WITH THE PROPERTY OWNER TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
AND WHEN WE CAMPAIGNED FOR MEASURE WW, I SEE NORM LA FORCE IN THE AUDIENCE.
IT WAS PART OF THAT EFFORT AS WELL.
I DON'T THINK WE IMAGINED THAT WE'D BE AT THIS POINT.
AND I'M REALLY GRATEFUL THAT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD COMMITTED $20 MILLION SO MANY YEARS AGO TO HELP MAKE THIS PARK A REALITY.
BUT I THINK AT THAT POINT, IT WAS A DREAM.
IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT WE EVER THOUGHT THAT WE WOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REALIZE.
AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, THAT'S SOMETHING THE COMMUNITY OF THE EAST BAY HAS LONG ENVISIONED TO HAVE AN UNINTERRUPTED SHORELINE PARK ALONG THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY, TO BUILD ON THE MCLAUGHLIN EAST SHORE PARK, AND TO HAVE A DIRECT CONNECTION FROM RICHMOND ALL THE WAY DOWN TO OAKLAND AND EMERYVILLE, AND TO BRING THIS PROPERTY BACK TO THE PEOPLE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF THE USE OF THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA.
WHEN I WAS MAYOR OF BERKELEY, WHEN THE RACETRACK CLOSED, I WAS EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT THIS WOULD CREATE.
AND I KNOW THAT WE'RE AT THE BEGINNING OF WHAT'S GOING TO BE A LONG PROCESS, BUT THIS IS A VERY CRITICAL STEP IN THAT PROCESS THAT'S GOING TO INVOLVE THE PEOPLE OF ALBANY AND BERKELEY AND HELPING DEVELOP A VISION AND A PLAN FOR THIS SITE, AND THEN WORKING OBVIOUSLY WITH YOU TO HELP EXECUTE THAT PLAN AND THAT VISION.
SO WE HAVE A LOT MORE WORK TO DO.
BUT THIS IS SUCH AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY.
I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND TO SAY THANK YOU AND TO URGE YOUR SUPPORT BECAUSE THIS IS SO IMPORTANT FOR OUR REGION.
AND WE GOT TO VISIT THE SITE A FEW WEEKS AGO ON A TOUR, AND IT IS SUCH AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY, 166 ACRES.
IT WILL BE COMPLETELY, ONCE THE DEMO HAPPENS, A COMPLETELY BLANK SLATE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO WORK FROM A BLANK CANVAS TO CREATE A NEW PARK AND PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE OPEN SPACE FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE EAST BAY.
AND ONE THING THAT WAS REALLY EXCITING TO SEE IS THE BIRDS WERE NESTING AND RETURNING BACK TO THE SITE.
SO NOW NATURE IS COMING BACK, AND SO TAKING OVER THAT SITE AND BRINGING IT BACK TO ITS NATURAL STATE, WHICH WE KNOW WAS MARSHLAND AND TIDELAND AND BEACH AND SOMETHING THAT HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
SO I JUST WANT TO EXPRESS MY THANKS AND MY COMMITMENT TO WORK WITH YOU EVERY STEP OF THE WAY TO MAKE SURE WE CAN SECURE THE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO HELP REALIZE THE FULL VISION OF THIS SITE.
AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT TODAY FOR THIS ITEM AND YOUR PARTNERSHIP, AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU TO MAKE THIS PARK A REALITY.
[00:50:02]
MAX KORTEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SENATOR ARREGUIN.AND YEAH, THIS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR CHAMPIONS AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.
I ALSO WANT TO RECOGNIZE ASSEMBLY MEMBER BUFFY WICKS, WHO'S BEEN A REAL CHAMPION FOR THIS PROJECT AND APPRECIATE HER SUPPORT.
THE OTHER PART-- SOME OTHER PARTNERS AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD AND THE STAFF AT THE STATE COASTAL CONSERVANCY HAVE REALLY BEEN PARTNERS THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
THEY ARE ACTUALLY THE AGENCIES THAT ARE PROVIDING THE FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT, AND THEY REALLY WORK CLOSELY WITH OUR TEAM ON THE PROCESS OF MOVING THAT FORWARD IN THIS COMPLICATED ACQUISITION.
I WANT TO HIGHLIGHT A COUPLE OTHER REALLY IMPORTANT PARTNERS BEFORE WE GET TO THE ACTUAL PRESENTATION THAT BECKY WILL GIVE IN A MINUTE.
THIS PROPERTY SITS IN TWO DIFFERENT CITIES, THE CITY OF BERKELEY AND THE CITY OF ALBANY.
AND IT'S REALLY, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A REGIONAL PARK AND A PLACE THAT WE EXPECT TO SERVE, REALLY A LARGE REGION OF VISITORS, WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITIES HAS BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT SINCE DAY ONE.
AND WE'VE MET EVERY OTHER WEEK WITH THE CITY STAFF.
BUT I WANTED TO INVITE MAYOR MCQUAID FROM THE CITY OF ALBANY, WHO'S HERE.
IF YOU WANT TO SAY A FEW WORDS BEFORE THE PRESENTATION, THAT'D BE GREAT.
PEGGY MCQUAID: GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD, STAFF, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC.
I'M PEGGY MCQUAID, I'M CURRENTLY THE MAYOR OF ALBANY.
THIS GOLDEN GATE FIELD SITE REPRESENTS A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM A FORMER RACETRACK INTO A REGIONAL PARK THAT RESTORES CRITICAL WETLANDS AND OTHER HABITAT, HELPS PROTECT SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES FROM SEA LEVEL RISE, AND EXPANDS PUBLIC ACCESS TO OPEN SPACE AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES.
IT WILL SERVE AS AN OUTDOOR CLASSROOM, TEACHING COUNTLESS CHILDREN ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD.
BY INCORPORATING NATURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, THIS PROJECT WILL PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN PROTECTING THE BAY AREA FROM THE GROWING IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND I VERY SINCERELY URGE YOU TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION.
ONCE THE ACQUISITION IS COMPLETE, EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT MUST LEAD A ROBUST, TRANSPARENT, AND INCLUSIVE PUBLIC PROCESS TO DETERMINE THE SITE'S FUTURE.
WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE CITY OF ALBANY, EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT MUST PROVIDE MEANINGFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITY TO SHARE IDEAS, UNDERSTAND THE OPTIONS BEING CONSIDERED, AND HELP SHAPE THE VISION FOR THIS IMPORTANT REGIONAL RESOURCE.
THIS PROCESS MUST BE OPEN, ACCESSIBLE, AND GENERALLY RESPONSIVE TO PUBLIC INPUT.
ALONGSIDE THIS VISION FOR THE SITE'S FUTURE, WE MUST ALSO RECOGNIZE THE FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS FOR ALBANY.
SINCE THE RACETRACK CEASED OPERATIONS IN 2024, THE PROPERTY HAS CONTINUED TO GENERATE SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY TAX REVENUE.
IN FISCAL YEAR 2026, THE CITY OF ALBANY IS PROJECTED TO RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION FROM THE SITE, WHILE THE ALBANY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS PROJECTED TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL $700,000.
TOGETHER, THESE REPRESENT NEARLY $2 MILLION IN REVENUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
ADDRESSING THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF THIS REVENUE WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO ALBANY'S LONG-TERM FISCAL HEALTH.
THE ALBANY COMMUNITY LOOKS FORWARD TO WORKING IN CLOSE PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TO REALIZE THE FULL POTENTIAL OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY PROPERTY.
ACHIEVING THIS VISION WILL REQUIRE SUBSTANTIAL COLLABORATION BETWEEN EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, THE CITY OF ALBANY, AND THE BROADER COMMUNITY, WITH RESIDENTS PLAYING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN DETERMINING HOW THIS IMPORTANT RESOURCE IS DEVELOPED AND USED.
THROUGH THIS COLLABORATIVE APPROACH, WE CAN CREATE A LASTING REGIONAL RESOURCE THAT PROTECTS THE BAY'S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT, PROVIDES RECREATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND ADDRESSES ALBANY'S LONG-TERM FISCAL NEEDS, A LEGACY THAT BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
[APPLAUSE] MAX KORTEN: THANK YOU, MAYOR MCQUAID.
AND WE ALSO HAVE MAYOR ADENA ISHII FROM BERKELEY WHO'S JOINING US, I THINK, ON ZOOM.
IS THAT POSSIBLE TO-- ADENA ISHII: HI, EVERYONE.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? OLIVIA SANWONG: YES, WE CAN.
ADENA ISHII, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BERKELEY.
I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT THE WATERFRONT PARK AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
I WANT TO THANK BOTH THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARKS BOARD AND ALSO THE STAFF FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT THEY HAVE DONE TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
[00:55:03]
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO HAVE ADVOCATED STRONGLY FOR THIS.GOING FROM A RACETRACK TO A PARK THAT ALL CAN ENJOY IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT.
MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS DON'T HAVE A BACKYARD OR A WAY TO GET TO A TRAIL HEAD, SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE SHORELINE.
ACCESS TO NATURE SHOULD NEVER BE A LUXURY.
IT'S A PUBLIC GOOD AND IT SHOULD BE SHARED WITH ALL.
I KNOW THIS PROJECT WILL TAKE TIME, AND I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE PUBLIC FOR THEIR PATIENCE AS WE GO THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO THE PEOPLE OF BERKELEY, TO MYSELF, AND TO THE COUNCIL, THAT WE HAVE A LOT OF PUBLIC INPUT ABOUT WHAT THIS PARK WILL LOOK LIKE SO THAT WE CAN ALL DREAM TOGETHER.
I WANT TO THANK SO MUCH, GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR THE $125 MILLION INVESTMENT THAT THEY'RE MAKING INTO THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR US.
SO MUCH OF THE NEXT GENERATION IS COUNTING ON THE CHOICES THAT WE MAKE TODAY.
AND I'M LOOKING VERY MUCH FORWARD TO MAKING THIS PARK A REALITY.
I SUPPORT THIS ITEM TODAY, AND I HOPE THAT THE BOARD WILL DO THE SAME.
MAX KORTEN: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MAYOR ISHII.
NEXT UP, I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE ONE LAST THANK YOU TO ALL THE COMMUNITY GROUPS THAT HAVE ADVOCATED FOR THIS FOR MANY YEARS AND BROUGHT THIS TO THE PLACE IT IS TODAY.
AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO ASK BECKY BREMSER, WHO'S OUR DIVISION LEAD FOR ACQUISITION TO PRESENT.
I'M BECKY BREMSER, I'M DIVISION LEAD FOR LAND ACQUISITION AT THE PARK DISTRICT.
AND AS MAX SAID, WE'RE THRILLED TO BE AT THIS POINT.
AND I WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT TO GROUND US IN HOW BIG OF A DEAL IT IS TO GET TO THIS POINT, TO BRING IT TO THE BOARD.
IT'S BEEN A BIG LIFT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THIS ROOM.
SO ON THE SCREEN, I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THE ITEMS THAT WE'RE SEEKING BOARD AUTHORITY ON TODAY.
SPECIFICALLY, WE'RE LOOKING FOR ACTIONS TO APPROVE AND SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY.
WE'RE LOOKING TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH GOLDEN GATE LAND HOLDINGS LLC, WHO'S THE SELLER AROUND SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
WE'RE LOOKING FOR AUTHORITY TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND THE SELLER GOLDEN GATE LAND HOLDINGS LLC, TO ASSIGN THEIR AGREEMENT TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
FOURTH, WE'RE LOOKING FOR AN APPROVAL TO ASSUME A VERIZON LEASE FROM GOLDEN GATE LAND HOLDINGS.
AND FINALLY, WE'RE LOOKING TO APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR BOTH THE ACQUISITION AND FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THESE.
SO WE'VE TOUCHED ON A COUPLE OF THESE THINGS, BUT JUST TO GIVE YOU AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PROPERTY IS, IT CONSISTS OF 162 ACRES.
IT IS MADE UP OF FIVE PARCELS.
MOST OF THE PROPERTY IS LOCATED IN THE CITY OF ALBANY.
THE REST OF IT IS IN THE CITY OF BERKELEY.
FOR OVER 80 YEARS, THE PROPERTY WAS USED AS A HORSE RACETRACK AND FOR SPECIAL EVENTS.
THE GOLDEN GATE FIELDS TAGLINE IS, IT'S WHERE THE BAY COMES TO PLAY.
THE SITE CEASED OPERATIONS IN JUNE OF 2024.
THROUGH THE YEARS AND LEADING UP TO 2024, THE SITE HAD BEEN VIEWED AS A PRIME OPPORTUNITY FOR URBAN REDEVELOPMENT.
IT IS LOCATED ON FORMER WETLANDS, MAKING IT PRONE TO FLOODING AND PERHAPS HIGH DENSITY CONSTRUCTION CHALLENGING.
SOME DEVELOPERS AND CITY OFFICIALS SOUGHT REDEVELOPMENT TO ALLEVIATE THE REGIONAL HOUSING SHORTAGE, ATTRACT EMPLOYERS, AND ENHANCE TAX REVENUES, WHICH REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT SOURCE OF INCOME FOR ALBANY SCHOOL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH WE HAD HEARD JUST EARLIER.
ADDITIONALLY, LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT HAVE ADVOCATED FOR YEARS FOR IT TO BECOME A PARK AND RESTORE THE NATURAL HABITAT.
THE PARK DISTRICT, IN ADDITION, HAS LONG VIEWED THE SITE AS AN ACQUISITION PRIORITY, INCLUDING IDENTIFYING A SPECIFIC INVESTMENT AREA IN THE 2008 VOTER-APPROVED MEASURE WW, ESSENTIALLY SETTING ASIDE ACQUISITION FUNDING FOR GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
THE PARK DISTRICT HAS ALSO IDENTIFIED THE SITE AS AN ACQUISITION PRIORITY IN OUR 2013 MASTER PLAN.
SINCE THE RACETRACK CLOSED, ITS SINCERE EFFORT BY THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND BEGAN TO PUT TOGETHER A TRANSACTION WHERE THE LAND WOULD BE ACQUIRED FOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP.
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, OR TPL, IS A NATIONAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO CONSERVE LAND FOR PEOPLE.
ONE OF THE WAYS THEY ACCOMPLISH THEIR MISSION IS BY FACILITATING CONSERVATION REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS LIKE GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
THE ACQUISITION PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SECURE AND REPURPOSE A FORMER HORSE RACING TRACK INTO AN ICONIC SHORELINE, PARK, AND RECREATIONAL HUB.
THE PARK DISTRICT OWNS AND OPERATES PARK LAND SURROUNDING THE SITE.
[01:00:01]
MUCH OF THE SURROUNDING LAND CONSISTS OF MCLAUGHLIN EASTSHORE STATE PARK, WHICH IS PARTIALLY OWNED BY STATE PARKS AND PARTIALLY OWNED BY THE PARK DISTRICT.HOWEVER, GOLDEN GATE FIELDS IS PROPOSED TO BE OWNED SOLELY BY THE PARK DISTRICT, SO NOT INTEGRATED INTO THE STATE PARK.
AGAIN, THE PROPERTY IS A TOTAL OF 162 ACRES CONSISTING OF FIVE PARCELS, 130 ACRES ARE UPLAND ACRES, AND 32 ACRES ARE SUBMERGED.
BUT RIGHT NOW, THE HORSE TRACK IS A ONE MILE OVAL-SHAPED TRACK.
THE SITE CURRENTLY INCLUDES 175,000 SQUARE FOOT GRANDSTAND CLUBHOUSE.
IT'S LOCATED ON AN ELEVATED AREA KNOWN AS FLEMING POINT, WHICH IS PRIMARILY IN THE ALBANY PORTION AND IS IN YELLOW ON THE MAP.
THE STABLES AND BARN AREA FOR THE RACETRACK IS SITUATED ON THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE PROPERTY, AND THAT'S IN THE CITY OF BERKELEY AND IN THE BLUE.
I'LL JUST ALSO SAY THAT IN MY EXPERIENCE, PROJECTS OF THIS SIZE AND THIS COMPLEXITY, AND ALL THESE MOVING PARTS OFTEN TAKE MULTIPLE YEARS TO ASSEMBLE.
HOWEVER, THIS TRANSACTION HAS MOVED EXTREMELY FAST AND HAS BEEN A REALLY BIG LIFT.
HOWEVER, IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER.
THE PIECES ARE ALL COMING IN FOR A LANDING.
TO THAT END, HERE ARE THE PRIMARY TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A COUPLE SLIDES HERE THAT ARE IN RED AND THERE'S A RED LINE.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE NOTE THAT THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES THAT HAD TO HAPPEN LAST WEEK.
IT WAS AFTER THE PRESENTATION AND MATERIALS WERE POSTED PUBLICLY.
SO WE JUST WANTED TO MAKE THEM EXTREMELY CLEAR AS TO WHAT CHANGES WERE MADE SINCE THAT FIRST POSTING.
SO I'M GOING TO WALK YOU THROUGH THOSE KEY TERMS TO THIS TRANSACTION, AND BEAR WITH ME.
SO THE FIRST ACTION WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS TO RECEIVE AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.
SO TPL ENTERED INTO AN OPTION AGREEMENT EARLIER THIS YEAR TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY FROM THE SELLERS, GOLDEN GATE LAND HOLDINGS, LLC.
THEY DID THAT TO SECURE THE PROPERTY WITH AN AGREEMENT WHILE THE FUNDING WAS SECURED, SOUGHT AND SECURED, AND THE REST OF THE WORK ACQUISITION WORK COULD COMMENCE.
TPL'S INTENT IS TO IMMEDIATELY TRANSFER THE PROPERTY TO THE PARK DISTRICT UPON ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY WITH-- EXCUSE ME-- ACQUIRING THE PROPERTY FROM THE SELLERS IN A BACK-TO-BACK TRANSACTION WITH THE PARK DISTRICT.
SO TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, TPL AND THE PARK DISTRICT HAVE AGREED TO THE FOLLOWING TERMS IN THE FORM OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT.
THE PART NUMBER 1, THE PARK DISTRICT WILL CONTRIBUTE $20 MILLION, FUNDED BY MEASURE WW TOWARD THE OVERALL PURCHASE PRICE, WHICH IS $175 MILLION.
TPL IS CURRENTLY RENEGOTIATING THE OUTSIDE CLOSING DATE, BUT WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT CLOSING DATE TO BE SOMETIME IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.
THE KEY TERMS THAT ARE REQUIRED TO OCCUR BEFORE ACQUISITION IS COMPLETE.
ONE, THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA MUST APPROVE AN UPDATED APPRAISAL THAT WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.
THAT APPRAISAL SUPPORTS THE PURCHASE PRICE OF $175 MILLION.
TWO, THE PARK DISTRICT MUST APPROVE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO A POLLUTION LEGAL LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY THAT WILL COVER THE COSTS FOR UNKNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON THE PROPERTY.
THREE, THE PARK DISTRICT AND SELLERS WILL HAVE TO APPROVE AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AGREEMENT TO COVER THE COSTS RELATED TO KNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON THE PROPERTY.
HOLD THOSE TWO, I'LL COME BACK TO THEM IN A SECOND.
AND THEN THE FOURTH THING IS THE SELLERS WILL HAVE COMPLETED THE DEMOLITION OF ALL ABOVE-GROUND STRUCTURES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT INCLUDING THE PAVEMENT.
SHOULD THE DEMOLITION NOT OCCUR BY CLOSING, A SEPARATE POST-CLOSING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PARK DISTRICT AND THE SELLERS WILL NEED TO BE NEGOTIATED BEFORE WE CLOSE AND WE WOULD BRING THAT BACK TO YOU IN A FUTURE BOARD ACTION.
WE ARE ALSO SEEKING AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AN ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND OF THE SELLERS, WHICH IS IN THEIR OPTION AGREEMENT.
SO AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, TPL ENTERED INTO AN OPTION AGREEMENT WITH THE SELLERS ON FEBRUARY 10, 2026, TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.
THERE WAS AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT THAT'S CURRENTLY BEING NEGOTIATED NOW.
THE TRANSACTION STRUCTURE REQUIRES TPL TO FIRST TRANSACT ON THEIR OPTION AGREEMENT WITH THE SELLERS, AND THEN IMMEDIATELY TRANSACT WITH THE PARK DISTRICT IN A BACK-TO-BACK CLOSING.
AS A PART OF THAT STRUCTURE, AT CLOSING, TPL WILL ASSIGN PORTIONS OF THEIR OPTION AGREEMENT WITH THE SELLERS TO THE PARK DISTRICT.
THIS ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT WILL ENSURE THAT THE BENEFITS THE SELLERS ARE PROVIDING TPL, IN THE FORM OF REPS AND WARRANTIES, WILL FLOW TO THE PARK DISTRICT FOLLOWING THE CLOSE OF ESCROW.
THERE IS ALSO A SELL LEASE ON THE PROPERTY.
THEREFORE, WE'RE ASKING FOR THE APPROVAL OF AN ASSIGNMENT OF A VERIZON LEASE
[01:05:01]
FROM GOLDEN GATE LAND HOLDINGS TO THE PARK DISTRICT.THE SELLERS HAVE AN EXISTING LEASE WITH VERIZON.
THE LEASE SUPPORTS SELL EQUIPMENT THAT'S ATTACHED TO A TOWER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE PROPERTY-- ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE EXISTING TRACK.
IT'S A VITAL COMPONENT TO THE OVERALL VERIZON NETWORK.
THE CURRENT LEASE TERM EXPIRES ON JANUARY 31, 2029.
IT HAS A BUILT-IN EXTENSION THAT GOES UNTIL JANUARY 31, 2034.
THE CURRENT MONTHLY RENT IS $24,808 PER MONTH, WITH A 3% ANNUAL ESCALATION RATE.
SO BY APPROVING THE ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT, THE LEASE WOULD TRANSFER WITH ITS ASSOCIATED REVENUES FROM THE SELLERS TO THE PARK DISTRICT AT CLOSING.
ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE PARTS OF THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN THE FUNDING PIECES.
SOME PEOPLE TOUCHED ON THAT AT THE BEGINNING.
THIS IS MOST EVIDENT THIS PAST AUGUST, WHEN THE CALIFORNIA STATE BUDGET TRAILER BILL, SB 113, WAS APPROVED AND INCLUDED AN ALLOCATION OF A $125 MILLION THROUGH PROP 4 CLIMATE BOND TO SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION OF THIS PROJECT.
THIS FUNDING COMMITMENT DEMONSTRATES A SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT BY THE STATE TO SECURE THE ACQUISITION FOR THE PUBLIC.
WE HEARD THAT FROM THE SENATOR.
THE 125 MILLION OF PROP 4 CLIMATE FUNDING WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY THE FOLLOWING AGENCIES-- CALIFORNIA NATURAL RESOURCES IS ADMINISTERING 12 MILLION.
WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD IS ADMINISTERING 53, AND COASTAL CONSERVANCY, 60 MILLION.
TPL IS ANTICIPATING RAISING THE REMAINING 30 MILLION FROM PHILANTHROPIC SOURCES.
THERE IS A POSSIBILITY A SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY GRANT OF 25 MILLION WILL BE AWARDED TO TPL TO HELP OFFSET THE PHILANTHROPIC FUNDING AMOUNT.
THE FUNDING BEING PROVIDED BY NATURAL RESOURCES AGENCY, WILDLIFE CONSERVATION BOARD, COASTAL CONSERVANCY, AND SAN FRANCISCO BAY RESTORATION AUTHORITY ARE STILL SUBJECT TO ALL OF THOSE AGENCY'S BOARD APPROVALS THAT ARE ANTICIPATED AND EXPECTED TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.
ALL OF THOSE GRANTS WILL ALSO COME WITH SEPARATE GRANT AGREEMENTS.
EACH GRANT AGREEMENT WILL SPECIFY A PROJECT PURPOSE AND CORRESPONDING PROJECT RESTRICTIONS.
THOSE FUNDING RESTRICTIONS WILL BE RECORDED ON THE PROPERTY AT THE TIME WE CLOSE.
TODAY WE'RE ALSO SEEKING AUTHORITY TO APPROPRIATE AND TRANSFER FUNDING FOR THE ACQUISITION AND FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY.
SO A LITTLE OVER $20 MILLION REMAINS IN OUR MEASURE WW EAST SHORE ACQUISITION ALLOCATION AREA.
SO WE'RE LOOKING TO TRANSFER 20 MILLION OF THAT FOR THE PURCHASE.
AND ACQUISITION EVALUATION WAS PREPARED BY PARK DISTRICT STAFF TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE ACQUISITION IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR MASTER PLAN AND TO EVALUATE THE SUITABILITY OF THE PROPERTY AS AN ADDITION INTO THE PARK SYSTEM FOR RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND/OR PUBLIC RECREATION PURPOSES.
THAT REPORT, THAT ACQUISITION EVALUATION REPORT IS ATTACHED TO YOUR STAFF REPORT.
IT IDENTIFIED A ONE-TIME SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FIRST 12 TO 18 MONTHS OF OUR OWNERSHIP.
AND THOSE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS MUST-- AND THE FUNDING REQUIREMENTS TO MEET THOSE NEEDS.
SO THINGS LIKE FENCING, OR GATE INSTALLATION, SIGNAGE, MOBILES SURVEILLANCE TECHNOLOGY, FUELS REDUCTION, PEST MANAGEMENT, THAT SORT OF THING, THAT CAME TO A TOTAL OF $820,000.
AND WE'RE PROPOSING THE FUNDING COME FROM MEASURE AA WEST METRO CONSOLIDATION, MEASURE AA RICHMOND WETLANDS, MEASURE WW EAST SHORE, AND WW CONTINGENCY FUNDING.
WE ARE COMING AROUND THE HOMESTRETCH.
WE'RE ALSO SEEKING AUTHORITY TO EXECUTE AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AGREEMENT WITH GOLDEN GATE LAND HOLDINGS, LLC.
SO A UNIQUE ASPECT OF THE ACQUISITION IS THE PROPERTY IS BEING SOLD AS IS, AND THE SELLERS ARE NOT ALLOWING ANY ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING ON THE PROPERTY.
THEREFORE, TO MITIGATE SOME OF THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS AND SUPPORT THE APPRAISED VALUE, TPL DEVELOPED AN ALTERNATIVE STRUCTURE CALLED THE ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK IS MADE UP OF TWO PRIMARY PILLARS.
THE FIRST IS A POLLUTION LEGAL LIABILITY INSURANCE POLICY FOR THE UNKNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.
THE INSURANCE POLICY WILL BE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PARK DISTRICT AND CAN BE USED FOR CLAIMS WITHIN A 10-YEAR PERIOD FOLLOWING OUR ACQUISITION.
IT WILL HAVE LIMITS OF AT LEAST $10 MILLION PER OCCURRENCE AND AT LEAST $20 MILLION IN THE AGGREGATE FOR THE DISCOVERY OF ANY UNKNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ON THE PROPERTY.
[01:10:03]
THE SECOND PILLAR OF THAT ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK IS AN $8.25 MILLION, ONE-TIME PAYMENT FROM THE SELLERS TO THE PARK DISTRICT FOR KNOWN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS INTENDED TO COVER THE COST.WE'RE INTENDING TO USE THAT TO COVER THE COST OF ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING AFTER ACQUISITION.
THE INSURANCE PREMIUMS FOR THE INSURANCE POLICY AND DEDUCTIBLES AND THE COST TO REMEDIATE THE PREVIOUSLY KNOWN CONDITIONS.
AND I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS.
TO RECAP, THESE ARE THE FIVE ACTION ITEMS. THESE ARE THE RECOMMENDATIONS THAT ARE BEING PUT BEFORE THE BOARD AND WE'RE SEEKING AUTHORITY ON THESE FIVE ITEMS. SO AGAIN, IT'S TO EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH TPL.
IT'S TO EXECUTE AN ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS AGREEMENT WITH THE SELLERS.
ALSO TO EXECUTE AN ASSIGNMENT AND ASSUMPTION AGREEMENT WITH TPL.
AND THE SELLERS APPROVE THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE VERIZON LEASE AND APPROPRIATE FUNDING FOR ACQUISITIONS AND SAFETY AND SECURITY.
I AM HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS.
I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE BECKY AND HER TEAM AND ALSO JASON FROM OUR LEGAL TEAM, ALISON, KIRSTEN, LAUREN FROM THE FOUNDATION WHO'VE REALLY JUMPED IN TO WORK ON THIS.
AND LASTLY, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT COMES UP ALL THE TIME IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH IT AFTER THE ACQUISITION? TODAY, THIS IS ALL ABOUT TRYING TO GET TO THE POINT OF ACQUIRING IT AS A PARK, BUT WE JUST WANT TO PROMISE AN OPEN, TRANSPARENT PROCESS FOR PLANNING THE FUTURE PARK AFTER WE'RE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THE ACQUISITION ITSELF.
ALSO THIS WAS VERY WELL ORGANIZED IN TERMS OF PRESENTING A FAIRLY COMPLEX NEGOTIATION AND DEAL WITH TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND BY WAY OF THE SELLERS, THE GOLDEN GATE, THE GGLH THE GOLDEN GATE LAND HOLDINGS GROUP.
SO I REALLY APPRECIATE HOW WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TAKE A VERY COMPLEX, COMPLICATED NEGOTIATION AND BOIL IT DOWN TO PROBABLY ONE OF OUR SHORTEST SLIDE DECKS THAT I'VE SEEN HERE AT EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUTTING THAT TOGETHER AND FOR ALSO COORDINATING WITH OUR SPEAKERS.
IT'S REALLY GREAT TO HAVE OUR STATE SENATOR.
THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US, AS WELL AS OUR TWO MAYORS OF ALBANY AND BERKELEY.
IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE YOU HERE TO JOIN US AND TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS AND PERSPECTIVES ON THIS REALLY IMPORTANT AND MOMENTOUS TRANSACTION.
I DO WANT TO POINT OUT TO THE BOARD AND ALSO JUST CLARIFY REAL QUICK.
SO WE DID RECEIVE A BOARD PACKET, AND THEN WE RECEIVED UPDATES THAT ARE RED-LINED TODAY.
AND SO THE RESOLUTION THAT'S BEFORE US THAT WE ARE NOW GOING TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT IS THE ONE THAT WE RECEIVED TODAY THAT WAS REVISED, DATED 10/15/2026.
AND I THINK IT'S VERY CLEAR IN TERMS OF THE EDITS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE FROM WHAT WAS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED IN OUR BOARD PACKETS AND THEN WHAT WE HAVE BEFORE US TODAY.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE WILL BE VOTING ON TODAY TO MY COLLEAGUES.
AND SO NOW WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS OPEN THIS UP TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ANY QUESTIONS, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE PUBLIC COMMENT AND THEN BRING IT BACK FOR COMMENTS.
I'M REALLY EAGER TO SHARE SOME OF MY COMMENTS, BUT I'M GOING TO HOLD BACK BECAUSE I KNOW WE HAVE MANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISH TO SHARE PUBLIC COMMENT.
SO WE'LL WAIT FOR BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS AFTER THAT PERIOD, IF POSSIBLE.
ANY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS ON THE TRANSACTION OR THINGS RELATED TO THIS? OTHERS YOU CAN JUST MOVE RIGHT INTO PUBLIC COMMENT TO-- OK, WE HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS.
DENNIS WAESPI: YEAH, I'LL HOLD BACK FROM ALL MY COMPLIMENTS ON WHAT A GREAT PROCESS.
THIS WAS AND WHAT A GREAT THING THIS IS GOING TO BE.
MY ONLY QUESTION WOULD BE THE KEY TERMS OF THE STATE TO APPROVE AN APPRAISAL THAT SUBSTANTIATES THE PURCHASE PRICE.
HOW FAR ALONG ARE WE ON THIS PROCESS? BECKY BREMSER: I THINK AT THE TIME THAT WE-- YEAH, I WAS LOOKING FOR A THUMBS-UP.
WHEN WE PUBLISHED THIS, WE HADN'T GOTTEN THE WORD, BUT IT HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE STATE.
SO ONE OF THE PRIMARY CONDITIONS TO CLOSE IS NOW COMPLETE.
OLIVIA SANWONG: GOOD QUESTION.
OK COLIN COFFEY: BECKY, I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA IF YOU JUST SPENT A MOMENT DESCRIBING THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS THAT WE DID DO.
WE'RE NOT BLIND TO THE POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES THERE.
WE JUST HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRILL HOLES.
BUT I'VE BEEN IMPRESSED BY SEVERAL SETS OF EXPERTS WHO HAVE LOOKED AT PHOTOS OF THE PROPERTY OVER THE YEARS
[01:15:01]
TO ASSESS WHAT COULD CONCEIVABLY BE IN THE GROUND, AND THAT QUITE A BIT OF EFFORT HAS BEEN PUT INTO THAT.SO WE'RE NOT JUST DIVING INTO THIS WITHOUT KNOWING OF THOSE ASSESSMENTS.
SO WHAT'S NORMALLY DONE WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT IS THEY LOOK AT HISTORIC PHOTOS AND THAT SORT OF THING TO LOOK AT WHAT PAST USES WERE.
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND HAS HIRED A CONSULTANT.
AND THE PARK DISTRICT HIRED A SECOND CONSULTANT TO REVIEW ALL OF THE DOCUMENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE, BECAUSE THERE IS AN EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF HISTORY AND INFORMATION THAT WE KNOW ABOUT THE PROPERTY TO BE ABLE TO DO SOME SORT OF ASSESSMENT.
SO YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'RE NOT GOING INTO THIS COMPLETELY BLIND.
SO THANKS FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
MAX KORTEN: I'LL JUST ADD, ONE OF THE NICE THINGS ABOUT THIS PROPERTY IS UNLIKE POINT ISABEL OR POINT MALARTIC, THIS WASN'T A LANDFILL OR DOESN'T HAVE BATTERIES BURIED IN IT NECESSARILY, OR IT WASN'T A FUEL DEPOT THERE'S A LOT OF INDUSTRIAL USES AROUND THE BAY.
THIS WAS A SITE THAT HAS A LOT OF JUST EARTH FILL THAT WAS FILLED TO MAKE THE RACETRACK.
AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT THERE WAS A DYNAMITE FACTORY ON THE TOP OF THE HILL, AND THERE WERE SOME OTHER HISTORICAL USES NEARBY THAT COULD CONTRIBUTE TO SOME CONTAMINATION.
SO I JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE THE PARTNERSHIP FROM THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, AS WE WORK THROUGH LEARNING MORE ABOUT THIS AND BEING ABLE TO ADAPT AND HAVE SOME HARD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE SELLERS AND REALLY GET TO A PLACE WHERE IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT SUPPORTS THE APPRAISAL AND THE ABILITY FOR THE STATE AGENCIES TO FUND THIS PROJECT.
SO ALL THOSE PARTNERS WORKING TOGETHER IS REALLY KEY.
OLIVIA SANWONG? ANY OTHER BOARD QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME.
SO WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS OPEN UP FOR PUBLIC COMMENT, AND THEN WE'LL COME BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY FINAL QUESTIONS.
MAYBE SOME QUESTIONS MIGHT SURFACE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT AND/OR OUR FINAL COMMENTS.
SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND OPEN UP THE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE HAVE 18 SPEAKER CARDS AND WE HAVE TWO, THREE HANDS UP ONLINE.
SO I WILL START IN PERSON WITH ROBERT LIEBER.
ROBERT LIEBER: GOOD AFTERNOON, HONORABLE BOARD MEMBERS AND EMPLOYEES AND STAFF.
ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, A LITTLE MORE THAN 20 YEARS AGO, A GUY CAME NAMED CARUSO AND WANTED TO TURN THAT BEAUTIFUL SITE INTO A MALL.
AND OUR COMMUNITY CAME TOGETHER, BERKELEY, OAKLAND, AND THE SURROUNDING AREA, AND WE SAID, NO, WE WANT A PARK THERE.
AND IN MY LIFETIME, I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE STANDING HERE, BUT HERE I AM.
SO WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO RESTORE THE FIVE CREEKS TO A WETLAND NOW.
INSTEAD OF HAVING A CULVERT RUNNING ALONG THAT FAR SIDE, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMMUNITY USES THAT WE STILL CAN HAVE THERE AND HAVE THAT CONVERSATION LATER WHEN WE ACTUALLY GET IT.
I JUST WANT TO SAY THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY, AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT EVERYTHING THAT'S ON THE AGENDA TODAY.
AND I'M GOING TO JUST STEP ASIDE AND LET EVERYBODY ELSE HAVE THEIR SAY.
I'M LAUREN BERNSTEIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION.
I JUST WANTED TO STAND UP HERE AND SAY THAT THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION IS PROUD TO SUPPORT THE GOLDEN GATE FIELDS ACQUISITION.
FOR GENERATIONS, THE EAST BAY SHORELINE HAS BEEN SHAPED BY FILL INDUSTRY AND HIGHWAYS.
THIS PROPERTY GIVES US A CHANCE TO OPEN A NEW GATEWAY TO THE BAY AND TO BUILD A WATERFRONT PARK AND ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION AT A SCALE SIMILAR TO PROJECTS LIKE SAN FRANCISCO'S CRISSY FIELD AND TUNNEL TOPS AND A LOT OF PARK PROJECTS ACTUALLY AROUND THE WORLD.
SO THANK YOU TO EAST BAY VOTERS THROUGH MEASURE WW, THE PARK DISTRICT LEADERSHIP, AND OUR PARTNERS AT THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND FOR MAKING THIS OPPORTUNITY POSSIBLE.
THE FOUNDATION IS HONORED TO PARTNER WITH THE PARK DISTRICT ON THIS PROJECT.
THE FOUNDATION BOARD SUPPORTS SECURING PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY, INVESTMENTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS TO BRING THIS PARK TO LIFE, BEGINNING WITH A ROBUST AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROCESS SO EAST BAY RESIDENTS CAN HAVE INPUT FROM THE START.
IF THIS ITEM IS APPROVED, THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION LOOKS FORWARD TO SERVING AS A PARTNER TO CREATE A WORLD-CLASS PARK AND HABITAT RESTORATION SITE THAT REVITALIZES THE EAST BAY SHORELINE FOR GENERATIONS
[01:20:03]
TO COME.HELMUT KOPINSKI? HELMUT KOPINSKI: HELLO.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? KELLY CLANCY: YES, WE CAN.
HELMUT KOPINSKI: THANK YOU FOR LETTING ME SPEAK FOR A MOMENT.
I WANTED TO THANK THE BOARD AND ALL THE PARK RANGERS AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT MAKE OUR PARK POSSIBLE.
NOW THIS OPPORTUNITY IS IN FRONT OF YOU.
AND I JUST WANT TO SPEAK IN FAVOR.
I'M A CITIZEN OF BERKELEY, AND MY FAMILY AND MY FRIENDS USED TO PARK ON A DAILY BASIS.
SO I JUST HAD THE INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ALL OUR NATIONAL PARKS IN THIS COUNTRY.
AND FOR THE BOARD TO MAKE A DECISION AT A TIME WHEN OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE UNDER SIEGE ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL WOULD BE AN INCREDIBLE SIGN THAT PERHAPS THE BAY AREA AND CALIFORNIA CAN STEM THE TIDE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
BUT EVEN THE PROTECTION AND NATIONAL PARKS IS NO LONGER A GIVEN THING.
SO I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE THE BOARD TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS.
TED KEMPF? TED KEMPF: AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING TIME TO HEAR US.
THANK YOU TO ALL THE SPEAKERS WHO HAVE COME BEFORE.
AND I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE BILL.
MY CHILDREN PLAY RIGHT NEXT TO THE FIELDS AT TOM BATES SPORTS COMPLEX.
AND WE ARE ALBANY RESIDENTS FOR THE LAST 17 YEARS AND HAVE BEEN SUPPORTERS OF THE FIVE CREEKS PROJECT AND WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE SPACE RETURNED IN WAYS THAT SUPPORT THE ENVIRONMENTAL ALL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE RECREATIONAL NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.
SO THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR SHOWING YOUR SUPPORT AND BEING HERE TODAY.
AND THANK YOU, BOARD FOR HEARING US.
TONY WRIGHT? ANTHONY WRIGHT: GOOD AFTERNOON.
I REPRESENT ALBANY BERKELEY SOCCER CLUB.
AND FORTUNATELY FOR ME, I LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AND I SEE A LOT OF PARENTS WHO HAVE HAD KIDS IN MY PROGRAM.
MY ORGANIZATION SPANNED ALL FIVE CITIES IN THE AREA.
WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 805 CHILDREN FROM BERKELEY, 241 FROM ALBANY, 245 FROM EL CERRITO, APPROXIMATELY 120 FROM EMERYVILLE, AND ABOUT 450 KIDS FROM RICHMOND.
SO WE SUPPORT THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY.
WE ASK THAT YOU SUPPORT THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK.
WE PLAY IN PALM BEACH FIELD AND WE HOPE THAT YOU, ONCE IT'S ACQUIRED, YOU TAKE SOME TIME TO EXPAND IT AND GIVE US MORE SPACE TO PLAY.
STATISTICALLY, WE KNOW THAT KIDS NEED OUTDOOR SPACE, AND WE'RE HERE TO PARTNER WITH YOU TO MAKE SURE THIS HAPPENS.
IT'S CRITICAL, AS WE KNOW THAT KIDS NOW, AS PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS IN THIS ROOM, WE ASK KIDS NOT TO BE ON THEIR SCREEN.
AND THE PARK IS A GREAT PLACE, ESPECIALLY FOR GIRLS.
SINCE THE COVID, WE HAD-- OUR GIRLS POPULATION DROPPED TO ABOUT 37%, PRE-COVID IT WAS ABOUT 50%.
SO EVERYTHING YOU DO NOW WILL ENHANCE THE KIDS FOR THE FUTURE.
I'M FORTUNATE TO BE RUNNING AN ORGANIZATION THAT JUST CELEBRATED ITS 50TH YEAR.
SO WE'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.
SO WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH YOU SO THAT WHEN I'M NOT HERE, THE KIDS WHO ARE HERE NOW WILL ENJOY THIS OPPORTUNITY GOING FORWARD.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR SUPPORT.
MAUREEN LAHIFF: GOOD AFTERNOON, AND THANK YOU.
I MOVED TO THE EAST BAY IN 1990.
I LIVE IN OAKLAND, AND UNTIL RECENTLY, I WORKED IN BERKELEY.
SINCE I MOVED HERE, I'VE BEEN A SUPPORTER OF THE REGIONAL PARKS FOUNDATION, AN ENTHUSIASTIC PARTICIPANT IN THE ANNUAL TRAILS CHALLENGE THAT YOU PROVIDE.
[01:25:03]
AND BEFORE COVID, I PARTICIPATED IN THE IVAN DIXON TRAIL MAINTENANCE PROGRAM SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR.I'M ALSO AN ACTIVE VOLUNTEER WITH GOLDEN GATE BIRD ALLIANCE.
I LEAD FIELD TRIPS AND TEACH ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES.
AND SO YES, THIS PARK IS A TREMENDOUS OPPORTUNITY FOR HABITAT FOR BIRDS.
BUT THE OTHER THING I WANT TO RAISE TO CONSCIOUSNESS IS FROM MY CAREER AS A LECTURER AT THE UC BERKELEY SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, I KNOW THAT THE BENEFITS FOR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH FOR PARTICIPANTS IN OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES IS NOT NEW TO THIS BOARD.
IT'S THE LEGACY OF WHITNEY DODSON SR. AND DIRECTOR WHITNEY DODSON JR.
BUT IN ADDITION TO THINKING ABOUT THE HEALTH OF INDIVIDUALS, AS SOME OF THE OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE ALREADY MENTIONED, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR ENTIRE COMMUNITIES.
THROUGH BUILDING CONNECTION BETWEEN DIVERSE PEOPLE, THIS PARK CAN STRENGTHEN OUR COMMUNITIES, GIVE US COMMON CAUSES TO SHARE TOGETHER.
THIS PARK WILL BE ACCESSIBLE IN MANY ASPECTS OF THAT WORD, ACCESSIBLE BY TRANSIT AND ACCESSIBLE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS, INCLUDING WHEELCHAIR LEADERS.
ONE OF THE THINGS I DO FOR THE BIRD ALLIANCE IS LEAD TRIPS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MOBILITY CHALLENGES SO THAT EVERYONE CAN ENJOY THE BIRDS.
SO I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AND HARD WORK ON THIS, AND I HOPE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE ONE OF MY FALL SHOREBIRDS CLASSES TO THIS SITE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
NORMAN LA FORCE: GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M SPEAKING HERE TODAY ON BEHALF OF THE SIERRA CLUB.
THE SIERRA CLUB HAS LONG ADVOCATED FOR THIS ACQUISITION, AND IT'S A STATE ISSUE, A STATE CAMPAIGN OF THE CLUB, INCLUDING PART OF ITS 30 BY 30 CAMPAIGN.
IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME COMING, AND I'M REALLY EXCITED THAT THIS BOARD AND THE PARK DISTRICT HAVE GRABBED THE BRASS RING, AS THEY SAY, OR MAYBE I SHOULD SAY GRAB THE REINS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND IT REALLY DEMONSTRATES ONE OF THE GREAT ASPECTS OF THE PARK DISTRICT, WHICH IS ITS ABILITY TO GRAB AND RUN WITH ACQUISITIONS AND MAKE THEM HAPPEN.
TO MAYBE USE A DIFFERENT METAPHOR, THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS TO THIS RACEHORSE TO MAKE IT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE, AND IT NEEDED TO DO THAT, A SET OF SKILLED JOCKEYS THAT INCLUDED CERTAINLY THE LEADERSHIP AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED HERE TODAY WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, ALSO THE STAFF OF THE PARK DISTRICT.
AND I DON'T WANT TO NAME ALL THE NAMES BECAUSE THEN I'LL PROBABLY FORGET SOMEBODY, BUT THAT REALLY IS IT'S JUST TREMENDOUS.
I THANK BOTH THE TPL PEOPLE AND THE STAFF OF THE PARK DISTRICT FOR THEIR WORK ON THIS AND EVERYTHING THAT STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE.
IT ALSO REQUIRED A VISION BY THIS BOARD TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY THAT COULD NOT BE LEFT BEHIND, AND CROSSING THE FINISH LINE AT THE END AND NOT WINNING THE RACE.
SO I REALLY THANK ALL OF YOU ON THE BOARD FOR DOING THIS AND MAKING THIS HAPPEN.
AND I'D LIKE TO SAY THAT ALONG THE WAY, AS I WORKED ON THIS ISSUE FOR SOME 40 YEARS, WE OFTEN HAD PEOPLE SAY, OH, YOU'LL NEVER GET THIS, YOU'LL NEVER GET THAT.
AND ALL ALONG THE WAY, WE ALL SAID, NO, IT WILL HAPPEN.
I STILL REMEMBER WHEN PEOPLE SAID WHEN WE WANTED TO RE-UP THE 20 MILLION OUT OF AA FOR THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, IN OH, WHAT DO YOU MEAN? YOU DON'T NEED 20 MILLION.
YOU'LL NEVER GET THE GOLDEN GATE FIELD SITE.
AND ALSO I WANT TO JUST HAVE EVERYBODY RECOGNIZE FOR A MOMENT ALL THE PEOPLE, PAST BOARD MEMBERS, PAST EMPLOYEES
[01:30:04]
OF THE PARK DISTRICT, PAST MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AND ACTIVISTS WHO WORKED ON THIS ISSUE AND SOUGHT TO HAVE THIS DAY HAPPEN.MANY ARE HERE TODAY, BUT THERE ARE SOME WHO, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE NO LONGER WITH US.
BUT IT TOOK A HUGE COMMUNITY EFFORT OF EVERYBODY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
I REALLY THANK YOU ALL AND FOR EVERYTHING YOU'VE DONE AND EVERYTHING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO DO NEXT TO MAKE IT FINALLY COME TO FRUITION.
BRENNAN COX: GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M A BERKELEY RESIDENT AND A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT.
I'VE SPENT NEARLY HALF MY LIFE UNDERSTANDING WHAT MAKES PARKS GREAT AND HOW WE BUILD THEM AND HOW WE FUND THEM AND HOW WE MAINTAIN THEM.
I SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION OF GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT THE TERMS OF THIS ACQUISITION ARE NARROWING OUR AMBITIONS BEFORE WE'VE IMAGINED WHAT THIS PARK COULD BECOME.
THIS SHOULD BE A TIME WHEN WE'RE ASKING WHAT IF, NOT WHAT NOW.
IMAGINE A WATERFRONT THAT'S RICH, DYNAMIC AND COMPLICATED, OR ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, ACTIVE RECREATION, CULTURAL LIFE, AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY REINFORCE ONE ANOTHER.
GREAT PARKS RARELY BEGIN WITH A BLANK SLATE.
THEY EVOLVE FROM EXISTING STRUCTURES AND HISTORY THAT GIVES PLACES THEIR IDENTITY.
LOOK AT CRANE COVE PARK IN SAN FRANCISCO, BROOKLYN BASIN, OR THURGOOD MARSHALL ARE ALL EXAMPLES OF HOW EXISTING STRUCTURES AND HISTORIES CONTRIBUTE TO A NEW PARK.
WADE CROWFOOT CALLED THIS OUR CRISSY FIELD MOMENT.
HAD WE DEMOLISHED EVERYTHING THERE FIRST, IT WOULDN'T BE THE PARK IT IS TODAY.
HISTORY CAN PLACE-- THE HISTORY OF A PLACE CAN BECOME PART OF ITS FUTURE.
AND YET, AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, WE AREN'T GETTING A BLANK SLATE.
THE PROPOSAL CALLS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF ALL VERTICAL STRUCTURES, WHILE LEAVING BEHIND ONE POINT 1.5 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF ASPHALT, FOUNDATIONS, AND FOOTINGS.
THIS ISN'T A GREAT STARTING POINT FOR A WORLD-CLASS PARK.
I'M NOT ADVOCATING FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE GRANDSTAND.
I'M ADVOCATING FOR A CREATIVE RE-USE OF AN IMMENSE STRUCTURE.
COULD WE USE HALF OF IT? A QUARTER OF IT? COULD IT BECOME A RECREATION FACILITY, A WEDDING VENUE, A NATIONAL PICKLEBALL FACILITY, A CONSERVATORY, A MARKETPLACE? I DON'T KNOW.
WHY ARE WE MAKING IRREVERSIBLE DECISIONS BEFORE ESTABLISHING A VISION? WE'RE GIVING A BILLIONAIRE FAMILY A SWEETHEART DEAL.
AND THERE'S THE ECONOMIC QUESTION.
WE'RE SPENDING $175 MILLION TO ACQUIRE THE PROPERTY, YET WE HAVE NO MONEY TO BUILD IT.
WHAT PAYS FOR THE ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION, SHORELINE ADAPTATION, RECREATION, AND MAINTENANCE FOR THE NEXT 100 YEARS? WE SHOULD BE EXPLORING ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES, NOT RULING THEM OUT BEFORE THE PLANNING BEGINS.
AND WHY WE NEED A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE 125 MILLION OF STATE FUNDING.
ALBANY HAS TAKEN UP AN EXTENSIVE PLANNING PROCESS AND CONSIDERED HOTELS, RETAIL, CONFERENCE CENTER, AND RESTAURANTS.
WE OUGHT TO GIVE THESE AN OPPORTUNITY.
GOLDEN GATE FIELDS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING A MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC INVESTMENT TO OUR WATERFRONT.
I'M IN SUPPORT OF A WORLD-CLASS PARK, BUT SKEPTICAL IF WE'RE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISIONS.
OUR RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT TO MAKE DECISIONS QUICKLY, BUT MAKE DECISIONS THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME.
JANET FLYNT: HELLO, MY NAME IS JANET FLYNT.
I'M A RICHMOND RESIDENT, AND I'M HERE AS A MEMBER OF THE GOLDEN GATE BIRD ALLIANCE.
AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO THE BOARD AND STAFF FOR BRINGING THIS PROJECT THIS FAR.
I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND AND SUPPORT AND PRESERVE THE SPACE FOR COMMUNITY ENJOYMENT AND WILDLIFE HABITAT.
WHITNEY GROVER? WHITNEY GROVER: HELLO, I'M WHITNEY GROVER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION FOR GOLDEN GATE BIRD ALLIANCE.
I'M REPRESENTING OUR 7,000 MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS, MOST OF WHO LIVE IN ALAMEDA AND CONTRA COSTA COUNTIES.
AND I WOULD CONSIDER US ALL A HEAVY USERS OF THE PARKS.
WE STRONGLY SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION OF GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY SHORELINE IS A BIODIVERSITY HOT-SPOT THE WORLD OVER, PROVIDING CRITICAL HABITAT FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS SUCH AS SHOREBIRDS AND DUCKS, AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OF RESIDENT SPECIES.
MOST BIRD SPECIES, MOST OF THEM ARE FACING POPULATION DECLINES
[01:35:01]
DUE TO HABITAT LOSS AND OTHER HUMAN THREATS.THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD BACK HABITAT IN AN URBAN AREA IS JUST TOO GREAT TO PASS UP.
BUT THIS ACTUALLY GOES WELL BEYOND BIRDS.
IT'S BECOMING CLEAR THAT WE WILL BE FACING WORST-CASE SCENARIOS FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS AND SEA LEVEL RISE.
A SHORELINE PARK WOULD PROVIDE WILDLIFE HABITAT AND HUMAN ACCESS TO NATURE, BUT ALSO SEA LEVEL RISE RESILIENCE.
ANY BUILDING ON THE SHORELINE OR KEEPING BUILDINGS ON THE SHORELINE IS SHORTSIGHTED.
30, 50, HUNDREDS YEARS FROM NOW, THERE WILL NEED TO BE SIGNIFICANT SHORELINE HARDENING TO PROTECT THAT INFRASTRUCTURE.
A PARK, ON THE OTHER HAND, IF IT INCORPORATES LIVING SHORELINE ELEMENTS, WOULD PROTECT THE REST OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE FURTHER INLAND WHILE PROVIDING HABITAT FOR BIRDS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.
AND AGAIN, THE ABILITY FOR HUMANS TO CONNECT WITH THAT NATURE.
I SEE ACQUISITION OF THE GOLDEN GATE FIELDS PROPERTY AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE A LEADER, NOT JUST IN RECREATION AND HABITAT AND YOUR NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT, BUT ALSO CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ADAPTATION.
ELLEN PLANE: GOOD AFTERNOON, CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD.
I AM A SENIOR SCIENTIST AT THE SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY INSTITUTE, OR SFEI.
I AM SPEAKING TODAY TO SHARE SFEI SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVE ON ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION POTENTIAL OF THE GOLDEN GATE FIELDS SHORELINE.
GOLDEN GATE FIELDS REPRESENTS A RARE ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY FOR LARGE-SCALE, NATURE-BASED CLIMATE ADAPTATION ALONG OUR URBANIZED EAST BAY SHORELINE.
IN 2024, IN WORK CONTRACTED BY THE CITIZENS FOR EAST SHORE PARKS, SFEI DEVELOPED A CONCEPT EVALUATING THE MAXIMUM ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION POTENTIAL FOR THIS SITE.
OUR ANALYSIS DEMONSTRATES HOW A NATURALLY FUNCTIONING SHORELINE CAN DELIVER SUBSTANTIAL REGIONAL BIODIVERSITY AND SHORELINE RESILIENCE BENEFITS, INCLUDING POTENTIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO FIRST, RESTORE A COMPLETE TIDAL WETLAND BY CREATING A 118-ACRE FUNCTIONING TIDAL WETLAND SYSTEM OF MARSHES, SLOUGHS, AND MUDFLATS THAT INCLUDES THE FORMER RACETRACK FOOTPRINT.
SECOND, CONNECT WETLANDS TO UPLANDS BY RESTORING A 17-ACRE UPLAND HABITAT ISLAND AT FLEMING POINT.
THIS WOULD PROVIDE ESSENTIAL MARSH MIGRATION SPACE, TRANSITION ZONE HABITAT, AND CRITICAL HIGH TIDE REFUGIA FOR SENSITIVE SPECIES LIKE THE SALT MARSH HARVEST MOUSE, WHILE PROVIDING PUBLIC ACCESS TO NATURE.
THIRD, TO BUILD DYNAMIC LIVING SHORELINES BY REPLACING ARTIFICIAL RIP-RAP WITH 0.8 MILES OF SAND AND GRAVEL, ESTUARINE, BEACH, AND BLUFF HABITAT TO NATURALLY ATTENUATE WAVES AND ADAPT AS SEA LEVELS RISE.
FOURTH, TO RECONNECT WATERSHED HYDROLOGY BY RESTORING NATURAL CONNECTIONS TO CODORNICES AND MARINE CREEKS, RE-ESTABLISHING HISTORICAL SALINITY GRADIENTS AND IMPROVING FISH PASSAGE.
AND FINALLY, TO ENHANCE PUBLIC ACCESS BY ELEVATING THE BAY TRAIL ON PILINGS TO MAINTAIN TRAIL PASSAGE AND ALLOW NATURAL BEACH MIGRATION UNDERNEATH, AS WELL AS PROVIDING CONNECTED ACCESS TO THE RESTORED ISLAND AT FLEMING POINT.
THE SCALE OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE THE RESILIENCE OF BAY LANDS HABITATS TO SEA LEVEL RISE IS UNUSUAL WITHIN THE CENTRAL BAY.
AS THE PARK DISTRICT AND ITS PARTNERS EXPLORE THE FUTURE OF THE SHORELINE AND CONDUCT TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS, ENGINEERING ANALYZES, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, SFEI LOOKS FORWARD TO OFFERING INDEPENDENT SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL DATA, AND REGIONAL TECHNICAL GUIDANCE TO INFORM YOUR PLANNING.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE RESILIENCE OF OUR EAST BAY SHORELINE.
JOHN CALLAWAY: HI, I'M JON CALLAWAY, I'M FROM BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA.
I'VE LIVED IN THE BAY AREA FOR ABOUT 40 YEARS.
I'M A RETIRED PROFESSOR FROM UNIVERSITY OF SAN FRANCISCO, WORKING ON WETLAND RESTORATION ISSUES FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS OR MORE.
AND I'M ALSO A BOARD MEMBER OF THE GOLDEN GATE BIRD ALLIANCE AND CO-CHAIR OF THE EAST BAY CONSERVATION COMMITTEE.
I THINK WHITNEY AND ELLEN REALLY HIGHLIGHTED WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY.
SO I'LL JUST REITERATE, IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO THIS.
I THINK GOLDEN GATE FIELDS REPRESENTS JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY, AS WAS HIGHLIGHTED.
IT'S NOT JUST THE WETLANDS, BUT IT'S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE WETLANDS AND THE TERRESTRIAL AREAS.
THERE'S REALLY GIVEN HOW DEVELOPED THE EAST BAY SHORELINE IS, COYOTE HILLS IS THE ONLY PLACE REMOTELY LIKE THIS.
EVEN MORE UPLANDS THERE, BUT IT'S JUST AN UNBELIEVABLE OPPORTUNITY.
AND SO I REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK ABOUT ALL OF THOSE CONNECTIONS AS WAS HIGHLIGHTED,
[01:40:02]
ENGAGE SFEI, ENGAGE THE REST OF THE SCIENTIFIC COMMUNITY IN THE BAY, BECAUSE WE ALL HAVE BEEN SPENDING AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY OVER THE LAST DECADE REALLY THINKING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUES, THINKING ABOUT RESILIENT SHORELINES.SO THERE'S A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE TO TAP INTO IN TERMS OF THOSE ISSUES.
AND THEN I ALSO REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR COMMITMENT TO TRANSPARENT AND LARGE-SCALE PUBLIC INPUT ON THIS, BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE'S A LOT OF INTEREST AND A LOT OF ENERGY TO REALLY DO THIS IN A REALLY EFFECTIVE WAY.
KELLY CLANCY: THANK YOU, MARJORIE POWELL.
MARJORIE POWELL: MEMBERS OF THE BOARD, MY NAME IS MARJORIE POWELL.
I'M A RESIDENT-- I'M A MEMBER OF GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE ALLIANCE, BUT I'M ALSO A RESIDENT OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA.
I LOOK OUT MY WINDOW EVERY MORNING AT THE SHORELINE AT ELSIE ROMER BIRD SANCTUARY, WHICH THE PARK DISTRICT MANAGES.
SO I UNDERSTAND THE ISSUES OF SEA LEVEL RISE.
AND I'M DEBATING WHETHER SEA LEVEL RISE WILL ACTUALLY COME INTO THE GARAGE IN MY BUILDING BEFORE WHILE I'M STILL LIVING THERE.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SAVED THIS LAND FROM BECOMING A MALL IN PAST YEARS, AND URGE THE BOARD MEMBERS TO MOVE AHEAD WITH THIS ACQUISITION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HELPING TO WORK ON ISSUES OF HOW THE PARK IS DEVELOPED ONCE IT BECOMES A PARK LAND.
ROBERT CHEASTY? ROBERT CHEASTY: GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CITIZENS FOR EAST SHORE PARKS.
AND HOW LONG DID IT TAKE? SO, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW THIS ORGANIZATION, WE'RE A CONGLOMERATE OF A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERS WHO GOT TOGETHER ABOUT 45, ALMOST 50 YEARS, SOME OF US, BUT 45 YEARS AGO TOOK A LOOK AT THE SHORELINE USES IN THE EAST BAY AND SAID, WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS.
THERE WERE LOTS OF, I WOULD CALL, EXTINCT INDUSTRIAL USES, A LOT OF POLLUTED USES.
AND A LOT OF INAPPROPRIATE USES.
AND THE THING ABOUT WHAT WE DO-- IN THE BEGINNING, PEOPLE JUST SAID, WELL, YOU'RE JUST DREAMERS.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT WE DO DREAM, BUT WE'RE PRACTICAL DREAMERS.
AND THE THING ABOUT WILLING PARKS INTO EXISTENCE, IT REQUIRES A FEW THINGS.
ONE IS TREMENDOUS PATIENCE, ANOTHER IS VISION, AND THE THIRD IS LUCK.
IN THE TIME THAT I'VE BEEN DOING THIS, AND I STARTED WITH PEOPLE LIKE SYLVIA MCLAUGHLIN, DWIGHT STEEL, GENE SIRI, YOUR FORMER DIRECTOR, JEFFRIES, WHITNEY DOTSON, NORMAN LA FORCE.
SOME OF THEM ARE NOT WITH US ANYMORE, BUT WE STARTED AND COMMITTED TO DO TO DOING THIS.
AND WE BELIEVED WE COULD DO IT.
AND WE BEGAN TO USE THE PHRASE, WE ARE INEVITABLE.
AND IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THE LUCK OF IT, I'VE SEEN SEVEN DIFFERENT GOVERNORS, IF YOU COUNT JERRY BROWN TWICE, AND WE COULD HAVE HAD THIS WILLING SELLER COME ALONG AT A MOMENT OF ONE OF THOSE GOVERNORS WHO WOULD NOT HAVE UNDERSTOOD WHAT THIS WAS ABOUT AND WOULDN'T HAVE HELPED US.
WHAT LUCK THAT WE GOT THE RIGHT GOVERNOR AT THE RIGHT TIME WHEN WE HAD A WILLING SELLER? AND AS TO ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO, THIS WAS THE HARDEST.
I FULLY ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS.
I THINK THE BOARD'S BEEN WONDERFUL.
YOU'VE BEEN SUSTAINED IN YOUR BELIEF THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AND YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.
TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND WAS THE RIGHT PARTNER TO PUT THIS DEAL TOGETHER.
ALL OF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE STUCK WITH THIS DESERVE THE CREDIT, AND MAX WILL TAKE IT BECAUSE HE JUST GOT THE JOB.
HE AND BECKY JUST WALKED IN AND SAID, BOOM.
EVERYBODY WHO IS INVOLVED IN THIS WILL BE ABLE TO SAY THAT MY GREAT, GREAT, GREAT GRANDCHILDREN WILL LOOK BACK AT THE WISDOM WE HAD TO DO THIS.
[01:45:01]
WE'LL HAVE 8 AND 1/2 MILES UNINTERRUPTED SHORELINE PARK.KELLY CLANCY: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
AMAYA WILLIAMS. AMAYA WILLIAMS-SEGOVIA: HELLO MY NAME IS AMAYA WILLIAMS-SEGOVIA.
I'M SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF CITIZENS FOR EAST SHORE PARKS.
I WANTED TO EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR TRANSFORMING GOLDEN GATE FIELDS INTO A PARK.
AS I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD MANY, MANY TIMES, THIS IS A ONCE IN A GENERATION OPPORTUNITY.
AND ACQUIRING THIS PROPERTY WILL HELP CREATE UNINTERRUPTED SHORELINE AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SIGNIFICANT WETLAND AND HABITAT RESTORATION.
THIS ACQUISITION WILL ALSO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT NATURE BASED SOLUTIONS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BENEFIT A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES.
THIS IS A REALLY EXCITING PROJECT, EXCITING AND WORTHWHILE PROJECT, AND RIGHT NOW REALLY IS THE PERFECT TIME TO DO IT.
WE HAVE A PERFECT PARTNER WITH TPL.
THERE'S THE COMMUNITY IS REALLY SUPPORTIVE.
THE GOVERNMENT IS REALLY SUPPORTIVE AND YOU HAVE A WILLING SELLER.
SO I HOPE YOU APPROVE THE RESOLUTION.
DAVE SUTTON: IT'S GOOD TO BE HERE FINALLY TODAY.
AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY HOW AFFIRMING IT IS JUST TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PERSPECTIVE ON THIS.
I'M THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS CALIFORNIA LAND CONSERVATION DIRECTOR.
I'M A LIFELONG CONSERVATION-- WELL, SINCE OUT OF COLLEGE, I'VE BEEN A CONSERVATION PROFESSIONAL.
I WAS FORTUNATE TO HAVE SYLVIA ON MY FIRST BOARD.
MY KIDS ARE BERKELEY KIDS, MOVED TO BERKELEY IN 1988.
ALSO A VERY STRONG EAST BAY PARK DISTRICT ADVOCATE WEEKLY PARK USER WITH MY WIFE.
AND I ALSO REALLY WANT TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR KEEPING THE PARKS OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC.
IT WAS A LIFE SAVER FOR SO MANY OF US.
SO I'M HERE TOGETHER WITH-- WELL, OUR STATE DIRECTOR, GUILLERMO RODRIGUEZ, COULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
SO WE'RE SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF GUILLERMO, ERICA WILLIAMS, WHO'S CO-PROJECT MANAGER, JUAN ALTAMIRANO, WHO'S OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIRECTOR.
IT'S A REALLY CHALLENGING PROJECT AND A LOT OF US ARE WORKING ON IT WITH YOU ALL AND HELPING TO ADVANCE THIS FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION.
THIS IS A VERY HIGH PRIORITY FOR THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.
WE SEE THIS AS AN INCREDIBLE REGIONAL RESOURCE.
WE ALSO HAVE BEEN RECEIVING CALLS FROM COMMUNITY LEADERS FOR TWO DECADES TO COME HELP US AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
AND WHEN YOU DO THIS WORK FOR A LONG TIME, YOU REALIZE THERE'S JUST A MOMENT IN TIME FOR MOST OF THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I THINK OTHERS HAVE SPOKEN TO THAT A LITTLE BIT, WHERE RIGHT TIME, RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT PEOPLE.
AND YOU HAVE TO ACT ON THAT ONE TOO.
AND SO LAST THING, MOVING ALONG, I ALSO WANT TO REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE PARTNERSHIP WITH AND JUST THE DEDICATED STAFF THAT YOU HAVE HERE THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH-- MAX, BECKY, JASON, ALISON, AND THE WHOLE TEAM, REALLY INCREDIBLE PROFESSIONALS THAT YOU HAVE HERE.
IT'S BEEN A VERY SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP, AND YOU CAN GUESS THAT WE AND I ARE IN SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT.
PETER MOSS: GOOD AFTERNOON, BOARD MEMBERS.
I'M PETER MOSS, RESIDENT OF ALBANY AND ONE OF THE MANY FORMER MAYORS OF ALBANY IN THIS ROOM.
I DIDN'T OPT FOR THE T-SHIRT, BUT I AM DEFINITELY HERE IN SUPPORT OF THIS GOING FORWARD AND HAVING GOLDEN GATE FIELDS BECOME PART OF THE REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
IN MY TIME IN BERKELEY AND ALBANY, THERE'S BEEN PROPOSALS FOR A CASINO, SHOPPING CENTERS, A LAWRENCE LIVERMORE RESEARCH CENTER, A GREEN DAY FESTIVAL
[01:50:01]
SITE, AND MANY OTHER THINGS-- SPORTING FIELDS FOR THIS PROPERTY.I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED THIS REALLY DOES NEED TO BE PART OF A GREAT URBAN PARK ALONG OUR SHORELINE.
I THINK, ICONIC IS A WORD THAT I'VE HEARD MENTIONED BOTH BY STAFF AND IN THE STAFF REPORT.
THIS IS A VERY ICONIC SITE BECAUSE OF THE VIEWS, THE ACCESSIBILITY TO A LARGE PART OF THE POPULATION OF THE EAST BAY.
AND I THINK THAT AS YOU GO FORWARD, YOU'LL HAVE ROOM FOR MARSH SHORELINE RESTORATION, PLAYING FIELDS, AND PERHAPS A BIT OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY THAT CAN HELP SUPPORT THE PARK.
I'M NOT SURE 25,000 A MONTH FROM VERIZON IS GOING TO DO IT FOR ALL THE EXPENSES THAT ARE COMING TO MIND.
BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE ALL CELEBRATING RIGHT NOW.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PLANNING PROCESS AS IT GOES FORWARD, AND I HOPE IT'LL BE A PUBLIC ONE THAT WE CAN ALL PARTICIPATE IN.
AND OUR LAST SPEAKER IN-PERSON, JUAN ALTAMIRANO.
JUAN ALTAMIRANO: GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FOR THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.
FIRST OFF, I WANT TO THANK THE COMMUNITY, REALLY, FOR NOT JUST BEING HERE, BUT BEING PRESENT AND PERSISTENT OVER THE NUMBER OF YEARS TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
SECOND OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE BOARD FOR ALLOWING THE STAFF FOR HAVING THEM PARTICIPATE.
BECKY, JASON, ALLISON, MAX, AND I KNOW MANY PEOPLE BEHIND THE SCENES BEHIND THEM HELPING TO GET THIS PROJECT TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS TODAY.
WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE PARTNERSHIP THAT OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF, WE'VE BEEN WORKING AT THIS TOGETHER TO GET US TO THIS POINT.
AND I GOT TO SAY THAT THE STAFF HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT EXCELLENT AND VERY SUPPORTIVE IN TRYING TO GET THIS NEGOTIATION TO THE POINT WHERE WE ARE TODAY.
SO I REALLY WANT TO BE THANKFUL TO YOU BOTH, ALL OF YOU FOR HANGING IN THERE WITH US.
I THINK I GOT MORE GRAY HAIR OVER THE LAST YEAR AND A HALF THAN I EVER HAVE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.
BUT IT'S BEEN A GREAT PARTNERSHIP.
AND THEN THANK YOU TO THE BOARD.
ELIZABETH, DIRECTOR ECHOLS, YOU HAVE BEEN PRESENT AND VERY ENGAGED IN THE ENTIRE PROCESS.
SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS JOURNEY HERE.
WE WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE SUPPORT OF THE BOARD TO DO ALL THE FIVE ACTION ITEMS. AND WE WANT TO BE THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND YOUR ENGAGEMENT IN THIS.
JANET JOHNSON, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
JANET JOHNSON: CAN YOU HEAR ME? KELLY CLANCY: YES, WE CAN.
GOOD AFTERNOON, MEMBERS OF THE BOARD AND STAFF.
I'M JANET JOHNSON, COORDINATOR OF THE RICHMOND SHORELINE ALLIANCE.
WE ADVOCATE FOR COMPLETE CLEANUPS AND RESTORATION OF CONTAMINATED SITES ALONG THE RICHMOND SHORELINE.
AND I ALSO SERVE ON THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR THE RICHMOND SEA LEVEL RISE ADAPTATION PLAN.
THANK YOU FOR ALL THE WORK YOU AND TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS HAVE DEVOTED TO ACQUIRING THE FORMER GOLDEN GATE FIELDS RACETRACK FOR PUBLIC PARKLAND AND OPEN SPACE.
FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS, THE SHORELINE HAS BEEN MY BACKYARD.
IT'S WHERE I LEARNED ABOUT SHOREBIRDS AND BECAME AN AVID BIRDER.
SEVERAL YEARS AGO, I RESCUED A YOUNG HAWK THERE THAT HAD FLOWN INTO SOMETHING AND BEEN STUNNED.
I'VE WITNESSED HUGE FLOCKS OF SHOREBIRDS RISING IN UNISON AS BALD EAGLES FLY ABOVE THEM.
IT'S A BREATHTAKING SIGHT AND IT DEPENDS ON HABITAT LIKE THIS.
I'VE ALSO LOVED WATCHING THE SHORELINE DRAW A MORE DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN RECENT YEARS.
THIS PROPERTY IS THE MISSING PIECE THAT WOULD LET EVEN MORE PEOPLE ENJOY THE BAY.
A PARK HERE WOULD EXPAND PUBLIC ACCESS, CREATE NEW RECREATION, AND PROTECT HABITAT THROUGH MAJOR WETLAND RESTORATION.
IT'S ALSO A CLIMATE RESILIENCE INVESTMENT.
RESTORED WETLANDS ACT AS A NATURAL BUFFER
[01:55:01]
AGAINST RISING SEAS, PROTECTING INFRASTRUCTURE LIKE OUR FREEWAYS.AS SOMEONE WORKING ON RICHMOND'S SEA LEVEL RISE PLAN, I KNOW THIS SITE IS A PRIME PLACE FOR NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS.
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME.
THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN.
ALAN CARLETON, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
ALAN CARLETON: HELLO, I'M ALAN CARLETON.
I'VE LIVED IN THE EAST BAY FOR ALL OF MY 84 YEARS AND WATCHED AS I WAS GROWING UP, WATCHED THE BAY SHORELINE GRADUALLY BE CONVERTED FROM DUMPS AND LANDFILL INTO MOSTLY NATURAL HABITAT ALONG THE SHORELINE.
GOLDEN GATE FIELDS IS THE LAST LINK IN THIS AREA, AND THAT'S WHY IT'S DEFINITELY IMPORTANT THAT WE ACQUIRE IT AND MAKE IT INTO A PARK IN COMPLETE PROTECTION OF OUR EAST BAY SHORELINE.
SALLY TOBIN, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
CAN YOU HEAR ME? KELLY CLANCY: YES, WE CAN.
AND I'M HERE SPEAKING IN MY CAPACITY AS VICE PRESIDENT OF CITIZENS FOR EAST SHORE PARKS TODAY.
I'D LIKE TO EXPRESS MY PROFOUND APPRECIATION TO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT AND THEIR BOARD MEMBERS, AND ESPECIALLY DIRECTOR ECHOLS, FOR PULLING OFF THIS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS COUP AND FOR THEIR WORK IN CREATING THIS SPECIAL PARKLAND.
ROCHELLE NASON, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
ROCHELLE NASON: HI, THIS IS YET ANOTHER FORMER MAYOR OF ALBANY, ROCHELLE NASON.
I ALSO SPENT SOME TIME AS A MEMBER OF THE PARK ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
AND I WANTED TO JUST BRING MY PERSPECTIVE AS A LONGTIME ALBANY RESIDENT.
I TALK ABOUT THIS PROJECT WITH PEOPLE EVERY DAY THAT I ENCOUNTER AROUND TOWN, AND THERE IS TREMENDOUS EXCITEMENT.
SO WHATEVER YOU HEAR ABOUT PEOPLE HAVING CONCERNS, WANTING THIS OR THAT, CONSIDERED OR CONCERNED ABOUT THE CITY'S FINANCIAL ABILITIES TO DEAL WITH THIS, I THINK THAT THERE IS AN OVERWHELMING CONSENSUS THAT THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL THING FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND AN UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS AS MEMBER ARREGUIN POINTED OUT, THIS IS A STATE, A MATTER OF STATE AS WELL AS REGIONAL CONCERN, AND THAT WE ARE REALLY FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO SHARE THIS WITH ALL OF THE COMMUNITIES AROUND US AS WELL.
SO I WANT TO URGE YOU-- I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU, ADD TO ADD MY THANKS TO THE BOARD AS A WHOLE, TO ELIZABETH ECHOLS IN PARTICULAR, TO ALL THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE WORKED SO HARD ON THIS FOR SO VERY LONG.
THIS IS JUST TREMENDOUSLY EXCITING AND I URGE YOU TO GO FORWARD TODAY.
NICK PILTCH, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
ARE YOU ABLE TO HEAR ME? KELLY CLANCY: YES, WE CAN.
NICK PILTCH: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
I AM NICK PILTCH, A 25-YEAR ALBANY RESIDENT, 40-YEAR BAY AREA RESIDENT, AND ONE OF THE MANY, MANY FORMER ALBANY MAYORS AS WELL.
I SUPPORT THE COMMENTS OF BRENDAN COX AND MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WHO-- I DID NOT CATCH YOUR NAME-- WHO SUPPORTED RESTORATION OF THE MANY NATURAL FEATURES.
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO BROUGHT US TO THIS POINT-- LEGISLATORS, STAFF, BOARD, ADVOCATES, ET CETERA.
I'M THRILLED WE'RE GOING TO TURN A SHUTTERED RACETRACK INTO A PUBLIC AMENITY AND A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF NEW PARKLAND AND RESTORED WETLANDS.
WE ARE INDEED AT AN IMPORTANT POINT IN THE HISTORY OF THIS LAND.
I GENERALLY SUPPORT THE ACQUISITION.
I SUBMITTED A LETTER TO YOU ABOUT THIS PROJECT, AND I'LL EMPHASIZE SOME OF ITS POINTS.
MY MAJOR CONCERN IS THE SPEED AT WHICH WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS REGARDING THIS LAND, AND THE FACT THAT THE LANDOWNER IS GOING TO TAKE DOWN ALL STRUCTURES, BUT NOT THE ACRES OF CONCRETE FOUNDATION, FOOTINGS AND ASPHALT WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE OF ANY USE, THE STRUCTURES, THAT IS.
[02:00:01]
WE ARE LOSING ALL OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIAL ADAPTIVE REUSE OF THE STRUCTURES WHILE STILL BEING LEFT WITH A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DEMOLITION OF ALL THE CONCRETE AND ASPHALT. I QUESTIONED THE WAY THE NEGOTIATION HAS HAPPENED.I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE ALLOWING THE OWNERS AND TPL TO NEGOTIATE ALL THE TERMS, WHEN COME THE NEW YEAR, THEY WILL NO LONGER BE THE STAKEHOLDERS.
THEY WILL COMPLETELY STEP AWAY AND THE EAST BAY PUBLIC LANDS WILL BE IN CHARGE.
THE LANDOWNER-- THERE'S NO RUSH HERE.
THE LANDOWNER IS GOING TO SELL THE LAND TO THE PUBLIC ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, NO MATTER WHAT THE TIMELINE.
THEY'RE NOT GOING TO PROPOSE ANOTHER MALL.
THEY KNOW THE ONLY THING TO DO IS TO SELL THE LAND TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WILL NOT ALLOW FOR ANYTHING ELSE.
EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT SHOULD BE IN THERE, RIGHT WITH TPL AND BE ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE TERMS OF THE SALE, INCLUDING DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES, OR PERHAPS A FUND FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE STRUCTURES TO OCCUR LATER.
NO MATTER WHAT, I THINK WE SHOULD RESTORE THE TOP OF PLANNING POINT, AS I THINK SOMEONE ELSE MENTIONED TO ITS NATURAL STATE, TO ITS ORIGINAL NATURAL STATE, SUCH AS THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE DID WITH THE TOP OF ANGEL ISLAND.
SO I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER MY REMARKS.
SLOW DOWN, CONTINUE THESE ACTION ITEMS, AND CONSIDER HOW YOU MIGHT WORK WITH TPL TO NEGOTIATE WHAT YOU WANT OUT OF THE SALE, AND NOT JUST ACCEPT THE TERMS THAT TPL AND THE LANDOWNERS ARE CURRENTLY WILLING TO GIVE YOU.
THERE ARE NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENTS.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR LOVELY PUBLIC COMMENTS AND INSIGHTFUL PUBLIC COMMENTS.
IT'S INTERESTING TO BE ON THIS SIDE OF THE CONVERSATION.
FOR EXAMPLE, THANK YOU TO THE SAN FRANCISCO ESTUARY INSTITUTE FOR BEING HERE.
YOUR ALAMEDA CREEK WATERSHED BOOK IS ONE OF MY TOP TWO BOOKS, SO IT'S REALLY WONDERFUL TO HEAR FROM YOU AND YOUR THOUGHTS AS WE THINK ABOUT THE NEXT STEPS IN TERMS OF WETLANDS RESTORATION AND THE POSSIBLE FUTURE PLANNING AND VISION FOR THIS SITE.
I'M REALLY THRILLED TO HAVE YOU HERE TODAY TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
I KNOW FOR ME, I'M ESPECIALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT WATERSHEDS AND ALSO THE FACT THAT IN CALIFORNIA, WE'VE LOST 90% TO 95% OF OUR HISTORIC WETLANDS.
THAT INCLUDES BOTH TIDAL AND FRESHWATER WETLANDS.
AND I BELIEVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR WETLAND RESTORATION IS AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT TO BE A PART OF.
AND WE ALSO HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS.
AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR, IN MARCH 2026, WE RESTORED WETLANDS AT PATTERSON RANCH AT COYOTE HILLS AND CELEBRATED THAT AT OUR RIBBON CUTTING IN MARCH OF 2026, AND I FIND THAT TODAY'S BOARD MEETING IS A REALLY NICE BOOKEND TO THAT CELEBRATION OF EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BEING ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO WETLANDS RESTORATION.
I'LL ALSO SHARE ON LABOR DAY LAST MONTH IN SEPTEMBER, I WAS EXPLORING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN COYOTE HILLS AND DON EDWARDS, AS OPERATED BY US FISH AND WILDLIFE.
AND IT STRUCK ME AS I WAS WALKING AROUND DON EDWARDS, THAT THIS IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
AND IT ALSO STRUCK ME, I'M VERY FAMILIAR WITH A LOT OF THE SOUTH BAY SALT PONDS, WETLANDS RESTORATION WORK.
AND I THINK THAT-- WHILE THIS SITE MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, IT'S STILL PART OF THE GREATER SAN FRANCISCO BAY, AND WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO LOOK AT A LOT OF THE GREAT WORK THAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE SOUTH BAY SALT POND RESTORATION.
BUT THE OTHER PIECE, AND I'M SO GLAD TO SEE SOME OF OUR FRIENDS FROM THE GOLDEN GATE BIRD ALLIANCE HERE TODAY.
IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT HOW IMPORTANT THAT WORK IN THE SOUTH BAY HAS BEEN IN REGARDS TO THINKING ABOUT THE PACIFIC FLYWAY.
AND I JUST WANT TO SHARE TODAY REAL QUICK TO SUMMARIZE THAT WE HAVE THIS 4,000-MILE MIGRATORY ROUTE FROM THE ARCTIC TO PATAGONIA, WHERE THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY REALLY IS, THAT STOPOVER FOR BIRDS MIGRATING ALONG THE PACIFIC FLYWAY.
AND ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO CONSIDER WETLANDS RESTORATION REALLY HELPS THOSE BIRDS AND THEIR MIGRATORY PATH.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY EXCITING ABOUT THAT POSSIBILITY.
NOW, WE'RE NOT DECIDING TODAY WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS SITE, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO THINK ABOUT THE VISION AS WE'RE MAKING THAT DECISION.
AND THEN I'LL CLOSE, WITH MY THOUGHTS, JUST THINKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE MCLAUGHLIN STATE PARK, NAMED AFTER SYLVIA MCLAUGHLIN, WHO WAS ONE OF THE CO-FOUNDERS OF SAVE THE BAY.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY INCREDIBLE TO THINK ABOUT HOW WE AS A BOARD OF DIRECTORS GET TO BE A PART OF THIS AND THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A SITE THAT'S CONNECTED TO MCLAUGHLIN STATE
[02:05:01]
PARK.SO I'D LIKE TO INVITE MY COLLEAGUES, IF YOU HAVE ANY COMMENTS AND/OR MAYBE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AFTER THIS PERIOD.
GO AHEAD, PLEASE DIRECTOR ECHOLS.
WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO THANK EVERYONE WHO'S HERE TODAY AND WHO SHARES OUR SUPPORT FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS BEEN CALLED ONCE IN A LIFETIME OR ONCE IN A GENERATION.
BUT HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK IN ANOTHER GENERATION OR TWO, WE WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE 162 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL BAY SHORE PROPERTY THAT IS ADJACENT TO A VERY DENSELY POPULATED AREA, WITH ALREADY A BUILT-IN BAY TRAIL GOING BY IT TO PROVIDE PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE ACCESS.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT OPPORTUNITY EVER AGAIN.
AND THIS IS, AS YOU'VE HEARD FROM SO MANY IN THE ROOM, THIS IS A MOMENT THAT HAS BEEN LONG, LONG WAITED FOR.
REALLY THIS IS A COMMUNITY EFFORT.
A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY ADVOCATE GROUPS, SOME OF WHOM ARE REPRESENTED IN THE ROOM, CERTAINLY CITIZENS FOR EAST BAY PARK, SIERRA CLUB, AND MANY, MANY OTHERS.
I CAN'T NAME THEM ALL BUT FEEL-- I HOPE YOU FEEL MY APPRECIATION.
SO WE'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME AND PLANNING A LONG TIME FOR THIS INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE LUCKY THAT WE HAD A GOVERNOR AND ALSO WADE CROWFOOT, WHO REALLY SAW THE VISION BOTH WITH POINT MOLATE AND WITH GOLDEN GATE FIELDS.
AND THEY ARE ALL IN-- GET $125 MILLION FROM THE STATE VERY OFTEN.
SO THAT'S ANOTHER JUST INCREDIBLE THING.
INCREDIBLE PARTNERS, OUR INCREDIBLE PARTNERS AT TPL, OUR INCREDIBLE LOCAL PARTNERS, MAYOR OF ALBANY, PEGGY MCQUAID, AND MAYOR OF BERKELEY, ADENA ISHII, AND ALL OF THEIR STAFF.
AND OF COURSE, MAX AND ALL OF OUR STAFF WHO HAVE WORKED JUST INCREDIBLY, JUST TIRELESSLY DAY IN AND DAY OUT.
THIS HAS BEEN A RAPID FIRE CASE.
SO I KNOW TPL HAS BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
OUR TEAM HAS BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK-- MAX AND JASON AND ALISON AND BECKY, AND OTHERS WHO'VE BEEN REALLY KNEE-DEEP IN THIS.
IT WASN'T-- I KNOW YOU WERE JOKING, ROBERT.
BUT THEN MAX AND BECKY JUST WALKED RIGHT IN.
THEY STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE BIG-TIME AND GOT IT DONE.
SO YES, TIMING IS EVERYTHING, BUT YOU HAVE TO PUT IN THE WORK TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, FOR SURE.
BUT TRULY, THIS PARK WILL BE THE CROWN JEWEL AND IN NEARLY NINE MILES OF CONTINUOUS PUBLIC SHORELINE, AND IT WILL EXPAND SHORELINE ACCESS FOR EVERYONE FOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITY FOR COMMUNITIES TO CONNECT AND PEOPLE TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND EACH OTHER.
AND WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THAT TODAY, THAT REALLY, THE PARKS ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES TO GET TOGETHER, FOR INDIVIDUALS TO HAVE SOME PEACE OF MIND, IT'S SUCH AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY.
AND IT'S ALSO AN AMAZING CHANCE TO RESTORE VERY SENSITIVE SHORELINE HABITAT SO THAT IT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR NATURE, AS WELL AS FOR US TO ENJOY AND TO HELP DEVELOP A RESILIENT SHORELINE AGAINST CLIMATE IMPACTS SO THAT NOT ONLY THIS BEAUTIFUL LAND CAN SURVIVE, BUT THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES WON'T BE DESTROYED BY FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE AS WELL, OR AT LEAST IT'LL TAKE IT LONGER.
TAKE THEM LONGER TO BE DESTROYED IF THAT EVER HAPPENS.
I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO ONCE WE HAVE TITLE, I'M NOT THERE YET.
A FEW MORE HOOPS TO JUMP THROUGH, BUT I THINK THE BIGGEST ONES HAVE BEEN JUMP THROUGH SO FAR.
SO WHEN WE HAVE TITLE, I REALLY LOOK FORWARD TO A ROBUST PLANNING PROCESS WHERE WE CAN HEAR FROM THE COMMUNITY WHAT EVERYONE WITH THEIR DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES IS LOOKING FOR.
IT'S A BIG PROPERTY, SO THERE'S GOING TO BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO MORE THAN ONE THING.
BUT WE REALLY DO WANT TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE AND HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING IN NEW VOICES AS WELL AND HEAR FROM EVERYONE.
SO THIS IS A FABULOUS OPPORTUNITY AND I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED.
I THINK DIRECTOR MERCURIO'S READY.
SO WE'LL GO TO DIRECTOR MERCURIO, AND THEN MAYBE WHAT WE CAN TRY TO DO IS GO IN THIS DIRECTION, IF THAT WORKS.
JOHN MERCURIO: I SUSPECT I'M GOING TO BE SHORTER THAN SOME OTHER FOLKS ON THIS.
I MEAN, THIS IS JUST-- AND I HAVE
[02:10:02]
TO AGREE WITH DIRECTOR ECHOLS AND BUILD UPON WHAT YOU SAID, ELIZABETH, SAYING THAT IT'S A ONCE IN A LIFETIME THING IS SELLING IT SHORT BIG TIME.IT'S MULTI-GENERATIONAL, NOT JUST GENERATIONAL, BUT MULTI-GENERATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
AND IT'S A RESULT OF, THINK ABOUT WHAT HAD TO COME TOGETHER POLITICAL, COMMUNITY, AND NONPROFITS, AND THEN-- WE'RE THE GOVERNMENT AT THIS TIME.
BUT WE'RE NOT REALLY THE POLITICAL PART, THAT'S WAY ABOVE US.
ALL THAT STUFF COMING TOGETHER AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME, AND IN RECORD TIME.
I MEAN, WHERE DO YOU FIND A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE THAT COULD BE DEVELOPED IN THIS TIME? SO I'M JUST THRILLED ABOUT IT TOO.
AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS PROCESS OF FIGURING OUT THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH IT.
I MEAN, I HAVE MY LITTLE TINY IDEAS, BUT I'M SURE THEY'RE GOING TO BE ECLIPSED BY SO MANY OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE.
LYNDA DESCHAMBAULT: WELL, THERE'S ALL THESE KUDOS AND ADMIRATION.
AND I JUST GOT TO SAY, AND I LIKED THE REFERENCE TO JOCKEYS BECAUSE BEING A HORSEBACK RIDER MYSELF, NOT ANYBODY CAN JUST HOP ON A HORSE AND START RIDING.
SO NOT ONLY WERE THERE A LOT OF JOCKEYS, BUT A LOT OF EXPERIENCE, A LOT OF PATIENCE AND SO MANY TRIPS UP TO SACRAMENTO, AND HASN'T REALLY BEEN MENTIONED HERE, BUT WE HAVE HAD SO MANY CLOSED SESSIONS ON THIS.
SO THERE'S A LOT GOING ON TODAY THAT HAD A LOT OF OTHER STUFF BACK BEFORE, AND PEOPLE IN THIS ROOM THAT HAVE BEEN ON IT FOR TWO YEARS TO 45 YEARS.
AND IT'S JUST BEEN REALLY AMAZING.
I LOOK FORWARD TO THE PUBLIC PROCESS.
EVERYONE THAT'S COMING OUT AND TALKING ABOUT THE VISION FOR WHAT TO DO WITH THIS LAND.
I HOPE WE GO BACK EVEN FURTHER THAN THE HISTORY THAT'S BEEN STRETCHED OUT BEFORE US ABOUT THE STABLES IN 1941, BECAUSE GOING BACK BEFORE THAT, THESE WERE UNCEDED ANCESTRAL LANDS.
AND I HOPE THAT WE HAVE SOME OPPORTUNITY TO FIND OUT MORE POTENTIALLY ABOUT, I KNOW A LOT OF IT WAS FILL, BUT POTENTIALLY OPPORTUNITIES FOR RECOGNIZING THAT AND SHELL LANDS AND SHELL MOUNDS AND THE ORIGINS BACK TO THIS VIBRANT SHORELINE.
I'VE DONE WORK WITH WETLANDS MORE RECENTLY THAN I HAD IN MY CAREER, AND I HAVE BECOME MORE AND MORE FAMILIAR WITH THE LOSSES OF THE MIGRATORY BIRDS AND THE NEEDS FOR STOPOVERS.
I'VE BECOME MORE FAMILIAR, AND EVEN WITH THE RAMSAR CONVENTION AND THE NEED FOR AREAS, WHO KNOWS, WE COULD-- I DON'T KNOW IF RAMSAR IS STILL ACCEPTING INTERNATIONAL, BUT I REALLY SEE THIS AS AN INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITY, EVEN FOR RECOGNIZING FOR THESE BIRDS TO HAVE A PLACE TO WORK.
I'VE DONE A LOT OF SHORELINE BIRD WORK DOWN IN BAJA, MEXICO.
THERE'S JUST SO MUCH OPPORTUNITY STILL TO COME, TO BE HEARD, TO BE DONE.
I'M JUST PROUD TO BE PART OF THE VISION OF WHAT WE NEED TO DO TO RESTORE AND GET TOGETHER.
I'M JUST SO AMAZED, TOO, I MEAN, WE'RE IN ONE OF THE LARGEST URBAN AREAS IN THE NATION, THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA.
IT TRULY IS A CONCRETE JUNGLE.
AND TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY, EVEN IF SOME OF THE CONCRETE MAY REMAIN BUT SOME OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY OPEN THIS BACK UP IN ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST URBAN AREAS, A STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.
SO JUST THANKS TO EVERYBODY LOOKING FOR A LASTING IMPACT, PARTICULARLY WITH SEA LEVEL RISE, CLIMATE CHANGE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITY HERE.
AND AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL THE VARIOUS JOCKEYS THAT GOT US HERE.
I THINK THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT WORD SAID TODAY.
SO FIRST, I JUST WANT TO THANK ROBERT AND NORM AND ALL THE OTHER INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE HERE WHO SPOKE WHO WERE PART OF THOSE ORIGINAL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TOGETHER AND DREAMED WHAT SEEMED LIKE IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE.
AND THEN TO ADVOCATE, TO GET MONEY SET ASIDE SO THAT ONE DAY MAYBE THAT IMPOSSIBLE DREAM COULD HAPPEN.
AND WE NEED PEOPLE OUT THERE TO CONTINUE TO HAVE THOSE TYPE OF VISIONS.
SO IT'S EXCITING TO SEE THAT VISION ACCOMPLISHED OR ON THE WAY TO BE ACCOMPLISHED.
AND IT'S SO EXCITING ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS IN THIS ROOM TODAY WHO HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THIS MOMENT.
AND I JUST WANT TO REALLY AS FAR AS TAKE
[02:15:02]
A MOMENT TO SHINE ON OUR STAFF WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE THOSE PIVOTS.BECKY AND JASON AND ALISON AND MAX AND LAUREN HAVE JUST BEEN WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK.
I'M NOT SURE IF THEY'VE BEEN SLEEPING AT ALL, BUT JUST REALLY WORKING WITH TPL, WITH SENATOR ARREGUIN, WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND, WITH ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE.
AND I THINK THIS REALLY IS A SPECIAL MOMENT, WHEN SO MUCH IS HAPPENING WITHIN THIS WORLD.
AS ONE PERSON SAID TODAY, WHEN OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE UNDER ATTACK, IT'S BEAUTIFUL TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, LEADERS, POLITICIANS THAT ARE WILLING TO SEE THAT VISION TO MAKE OUR PUBLIC LANDS ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.
AND THE LAST THING IS TO BE HERE ON THE PARK DISTRICT, I KEEP ON SEEING WINDS FOR OUR SHORELINE, FROM HAYWARD MARSH UP TO TIDEWATER TO POINT MOLATE, TO WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE TODAY.
HISTORIC MOMENTS THAT ARE REALLY OPENING UP OUR SHORELINES, TOO, OUR URBAN COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE WHO NEED TO TOUCH OPEN SPACE.
I KNOW IT'S STILL NOT FINISHED, BUT WE'RE MAKING IT TOGETHER AS A TEAM AND LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH EVERYONE ON THAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.
THAT WILL BE A TOUGH PROCESS, BUT OUT OF IT, IT'S GOING TO REALLY BRING SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL.
AND I DON'T THINK THE EAST BAY NEEDS TO COMPARE ITSELF TO SAN FRANCISCO AT ALL.
AND I THINK WILL BE THE NEW STANDARD.
COLIN COFFEY: THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU JUST SAID, TOUCHES ME.
HERE'S THE THING, MY COLLEAGUES, THAT BLOWS ME AWAY.
WITHIN THE COURSE OF JUST THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BECKY, WE HAVE ENGAGED IN TWO TRANSACTIONS THAT REPRESENT THE TRANSFER IN FEE TITLE TO THIS PARK DISTRICT OF CLOSE TO $200 MILLION IN LAND ASSETS.
THAT BLOWS ME AWAY, BECAUSE WHAT IT MEANS IS, AND IT'S BEEN POINTED OUT ABOUT THE MOMENT IN TIME, WHEN YOU HAVE GAVIN NEWSOM AND WADE CROWFOOT AND ARMANDO QUINTERO LITERALLY IN THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS, DECIDING IN BOTH THESE TRANSACTIONS, WE CAN DO THIS, WE AS THE STATE.
AND THE GOVERNOR AND THE NATURAL RESOURCES SECRETARY AND THE DIRECTOR OF STATE PARKS, WE CAN DECIDE AND MOVE FORWARD WITH ACQUISITION OF THESE PROPERTIES, AND THEY WILL BE TREMENDOUS SHORELINE ACQUISITIONS FOR PUBLIC LAND.
BUT THEN THEY GO ON TO DECIDE, AND YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN JUST TURN THESE PROPERTIES OVER TO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT.
THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE STATE PARKS.
AND THAT BLEW ME AWAY WHEN I FIRST HEARD, THIS WAS GOING TO BE IN FEE? I REMEMBER MAX TELLING US THAT, AND I WAS LIKE, HUH? THIS IS THE THING, AND IT'S A SOURCE OF TREMENDOUS PRIDE FOR ME, AND OUGHT TO BE BY EVERYONE IN THE ROOM.
THERE IS JUST A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE IN NOT ONLY JUST PARTNERING WITH EAST BAY PARKS, BUT THE TRUST AND CONFIDENCE TO ACQUIRE $200 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF PUBLIC LANDS AND JUST TURN IT OVER TO THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT, LET THEM DEVELOP AND OPERATE, AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DO SO SUCCESSFULLY.
AND WE DON'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT.
THAT LEVEL OF TRUST AND CONFIDENCE.
SO THAT JUST-- I GO HOME AND JUST MARVEL AT THAT.
YOU ALL KNOW HOW HIGH I AM ON THIS ORGANIZATION.
SO IT'S HARD TO GET ME TO THAT LEVEL OF PRIDE.
NORMAN, THIS IS BOOK VOLUME TWO OF THE HISTORY OF EAST BAY
[02:20:02]
SHORELINE, I'M HOPING, BECAUSE WHEN YOU PUT TOGETHER THE MOMENT IN TIME REPRESENTED BY THE POINT MOLATE DEAL COMING TOGETHER, WHO WAS CHAIRMAN OF THE BUDGET COMMITTEE, THE CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP IN RICHMOND, THE VICTORY OF YOUR LAWSUIT, AND NUMEROUS OTHER STARS ALIGNED TO MAKE POINT MOLATE AVAILABLE, AGAIN, THIS PARTICULAR GOVERNOR, THIS PARTICULAR RESOURCE SECRETARY, AND STATE PARK DIRECTOR.THAT STORY BY ITSELF COULD BE A BOOK, YOU, ELIZABETH KNOWS INTIMATELY, AND THEN THIS ONE.
SO IT'S A WHOLE OTHER-- IT'S EITHER MORE CHAPTERS OR VOLUME TWO OF YOUR BOOK, NORMAN, I HOPE THAT COULD HAPPEN.
AND I DO ALSO APPRECIATE A COUPLE OF THE THINGS THAT WERE SAID.
WHATEVER WE DO WITH OUR PARKLANDS, I THINK BRENDA MONTANO SAID IT BEST, PART OF OUR MISSION IS TO PRESERVE THE MEMORIES OF OUR LANDSCAPES.
AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE WILL BE DOING THAT HERE, AS SEVERAL OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE MENTIONED.
THE OTHER THING IS ABOUT THOSE WHO AREN'T HERE ANYMORE.
I FORGET WHO-- I USED TO KNOW HOW TO ATTRIBUTE THIS QUOTE, BUT SOMEONE SAID, IT IS AMONG THOSE WHO ARE MOST VIRTUOUS WHO WILL PLANT A TREE FULLY AWARE THAT THEY'RE NEVER GOING TO BENEFIT FROM ITS SHADE.
AND THAT'S HOW I FEEL IN TRIBUTE TO THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN MENTIONED WHO AREN'T HERE.
THEY WERE PLANTING THE TREE, AND WE ALL APPRECIATE THAT.
LASTLY, I WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO BUY A T-SHIRT.
[LAUGHTER] AUDIENCE: TAKE ONE RIGHT. AWAY COLIN COFFEY: OH, GOOD.
OLIVIA SANWONG: MINE RIGHT HERE.
DENNIS WAESPI: WELL, I'VE LEARNED MANY LESSONS BEING ON THIS BOARD.
AND ONE IS, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT IS, DON'T GO LAST ON A GREAT DAY LIKE THIS.
THIS IS A GREAT DAY OF CELEBRATION.
CONGRATULATIONS TO EVERYBODY HERE.
THIS WAS, AS EVERYBODY SAID, THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE MELDING OF BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE, TENACIOUS PEOPLE THAT HAD A VISION, GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS THAT STUCK TO IT.
I THINK IT'S THE GEOGRAPHY WE LIVE IN THAT WE HAVE THESE GREAT ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE SO INVESTED IN THE LAND, GREAT POLITICAL CLIMATE, AND A WONDERFUL STAFF THAT WAS FROM THE REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT THAT WAS ABLE TO PULL THIS THROUGH.
I'LL JUST TRY TO BE MEANINGFUL HERE AS EVERYBODY ELSE.
OLIVIA, YOU BROUGHT UP THE GREAT PEOPLE.
IT IS SUCH A GREAT HISTORY OF THE BAY AND WHAT PEOPLE DID.
YOU MENTIONED COYOTE HILLS, AND I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT OF MY COLLEAGUES DOWN IN HEYWARD, WHO WERE A LITTLE OLDER THAN ME WHEN THEY STARTED THE CITIZENS TO COMPLETE THE REFUGE AT THE DON EDWARDS WILDLIFE REFUGE IN 1965.
AND THEY WERE TENACIOUS ALSO, AND THEY WERE ABLE TO PRESERVE ALL THAT LAND DOWN THERE AT THE SOUTHERN END OF THE BAY AND WHICH CREATED HASPA, WHICH WE'RE DEALING WITH RIGHT NOW, AND THE HAYWARD RESTORATION PROJECT.
AND WE'RE JUST DOING GREAT STUFF IN THE BAY.
IT'S AMAZING FROM LOOKING BACK AT THAT.
GEEZ, WHAT WE USED TO CONSIDER THE BAY WAS JUST A PLACE TO MAKE A DUMP.
AND NOW WHAT WE'VE DONE, AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT LEGACY.
I'M VERY PROUD OF EVERYONE HERE AND ALL THE GREAT WORK.
I LOOK FORWARD TO HIKING WITH MY GRANDKIDS OUT ON THE PARK.
ELIZABETH ECHOLS: CAN I JUST SAY ONE FINAL THING? SO ONE OTHER THOUGHT THAT I HAD AS OTHERS WERE SPEAKING PARTICULARLY ABOUT THE COMMENT OF HOW OUR PUBLIC LANDS ARE UNDER ATTACK.
AND SO WHEN I EXPLAINED TO MY DAUGHTER WHY I'M NOT AS HOME OR NOT AVAILABLE, AS MUCH AS SHE MIGHT LIKE ME TO BE, I SAY, WELL, THIS IS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE HAVE TO GET THIS LAND.
AND IF WE BUY THIS LAND, WE WILL OWN IT FOREVER.
THE PARK DISTRICT WILL OWN IT FOREVER.
AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE STATE GOVERNMENT, NOBODY CAN TAKE IT AWAY FROM US.
AND THAT'S GOING TO-- IT WILL BE THERE FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN AND GREAT GRANDCHILDREN FOR ALL OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO COME AFTER US AND THE ANIMALS AND OTHER CREATURES THAT COME AFTER US AS WELL.
SO THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT.
AND THE OTHER THING I JUST WANT TO SAY, I'M PRETTY SURE I THINK THE STATE LEADERS, BUT IF I DIDN'T, I JUST WANTED TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUT-OUT TO SENATOR JESSE ARREGUIN, ASSEMBLY MEMBER WICKS, FORMER SENATOR NANCY SKINNER, WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THE EARLIER END OF THIS, AS ALONG WITH ALL THE OTHER STATE LEADERS THAT
[02:25:02]
VOTED FOR THE MONEY THAT WILL HOPEFULLY COME TO US BEFORE TOO LONG.OLIVIA SANWONG: IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD, ELIZABETH, WOULD YOU LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION? ELIZABETH ECHOLS: I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION.
SHOULD I READ OUT THOSE FIVE THINGS, OR ARE WE-- SHOULD I? SORRY? COLIN COFFEY: AS PRESENTED.
ELIZABETH ECHOLS: AS PRESENTED, OK-- AS PRESENTED SO WELL BY BECKY, I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THAT MOTION.
AND THEN DO I HAVE A SECOND TO THE MOTION? COLIN COFFEY: I SECOND.
SO DIRECTOR ECHOLS MADE THE MOTION.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE? ALL: AYE.
OLIVIA SANWONG: I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANYONE OPPOSED OR ABSTENTIONS.
[APPLAUSE] AND I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE WE TAKE A BREAK.
I'D LIKE TO CALL US BACK TO ORDER FOR THE OCTOBER 20 MEETING OF THE EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
IT IS NOW 3:45 PM, AND I'D LIKE TO DO SOME TIMEKEEPING BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A PRETTY-- WE DO HAVE SOME ADDITIONAL ITEMS ON OUR AGENDA FOR TODAY.
AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO PROPOSE IS THAT WE CONTINUE ITEM J3, THE 2027 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING CALENDAR TO OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING.
AND I'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE CHANGING OUR AGENDA.
I DO BELIEVE WE NEED TO MAKE A MOTION AND VOTE ON THAT.
SO WOULD SOMEONE LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE CONTINUE AND MOVE ITEM J3 TO OUR NEXT BOARD MEETING IN NOVEMBER? DENNIS WAESPI: SO MOVED.
MOTION MADE BY DIRECTOR WAESPI.
DO I HAVE A SECOND? LYNDA DESCHAMBAULT: SECOND.
OLIVIA SANWONG: SECOND BY DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT.
OLIVIA SANWONG: ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT PASSES 7-0.
SO NOW WE WILL MOVE ON TO ITEM J1, OUR AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AN OPTION PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH DYLAN KRUSE.
I'LL HAND THIS OVER TO BECKY IN A MINUTE.
BUT THIS IS JUST BUILDING ON OUR LAST ITEM, BOTH SOME EXCITING ACQUISITIONS THAT OUR TEAM'S BEEN WORKING ON IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COUNTY.
JUST WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL OF THESE ACQUISITIONS ARE MADE POSSIBLE AGAIN THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS AND OPPORTUNITIES.
AND ALSO REALLY FROM THE FORESIGHT OF YOUR BOARD FROM OVER MANY, MANY YEARS OF HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE KEY STRATEGIES AND PRIORITIES WHERE WE WANT TO ADD ADDITIONAL PARKLAND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO THANK YOU TO YOUR BOARD FOR CHAMPIONING THESE OPPORTUNITIES.
AND I'LL TURN IT OVER TO BECKY.
BECKY BREMSER: HELLO, I'M BECKY BREMSER, A DIVISION LEAD FOR LAND ACQUISITION.
AND YOU TOOK AWAY A LOT OF MY THUNDER.
BUT I ALSO WANT TO-- WHICH IS OK-- I'M GOING TO ACTUALLY HAND IT OVER TO MY COLLEAGUE RACHEL LUM, WHO'S GOING TO PRESENT ON THIS.
BUT I ALSO, THERE WERE ON THE LAST ITEM, A LOT OF APPRECIATION FOR STAFF AND THE HARD WORK THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE.
AND I WANT TO OFFER THE SAME TO RACHEL.
SHE'S REALLY BEEN LEADING ON THIS, AND WE'RE EXCITED TO BE AT THIS MOMENT FOR THIS PROJECT AS WELL.
SO I'LL TURN IT OVER TO RACHEL.
RACHEL LUM, REAL ESTATE MANAGER.
I'LL TRY TO KEEP THIS SPEEDY AND GET YOU OUT OF HERE.
THIS IS MUCH MORE-- THIS IS KIND OF A HARD PIVOT FROM OUR LAST PROJECT.
THIS IS A MUCH MORE CLASSIC PARK DISTRICT ACQUISITION PROJECT.
THE REQUESTED BOARD ACTION IS JUST ALL WE'RE SEEKING.
AUTHORIZATION FOR TODAY IS TO ENTER INTO OPTION PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH DYLAN KRUSE FOR 511 ACRES OF CAKEBREAD RANCH, AND TO TRANSFER AN APPROPRIATE $70,000 FOR PROJECT COSTS.
TAKING A LOOK AT THE MAP JUST TO ORIENT US, THE ENTIRE CAKEBREAD RANCH IS ABOUT 591 ACRES.
WE ARE LOOKING TO PURCHASE 511 ACRES SHOWN IN ORANGE.
THE SELLER WILL RETAIN THE PURPLE KIND OF HASHED AREA, AND THE PARK DISTRICT WILL GET ACCESS BACK TO MARSH CREEK ROAD THROUGH THE PURPLE AREA FOR STAFF, BUT NOT FOR PUBLIC BECAUSE AS YOU CAN SEE, JUST TO THE EAST THERE, AROUND VALLEY STAGING AREA IS JUST ADJACENT TO THIS.
THIS PROPERTY IS RIGHT ADJACENT TO PARK DISTRICT LAND.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IT ABUTS IT ALL ALONG THAT SOUTHERN BORDER.
AND CURRENTLY, OUR FOX TRAIL KIND OF ENDS RIGHT AT THE BOUNDARY WITH THIS PROPERTY.
AND ACQUISITION WOULD ALLOW US TO CREATE A LOOP TRAIL.
THE PROPERTY IS BEAUTIFUL, HAS MIXED OAK WOODLAND HABITAT, VIEWS OF MOUNT DIABLO AND OTHER NEARBY PROTECTED AREAS.
A 2022 BIOBLITZ CONDUCTED BY SAVE MOUNT DIABLO ON THE PROPERTY IDENTIFIED MANY BIRD AND INSECT SPECIES ON SITE, INCLUDING GOLDEN EAGLES, PRAIRIE FALCONS, AND FIVE SPECIES OF BUTTERFLY.
[02:30:02]
IF ACQUIRED, THIS WOULD JOIN A NETWORK OF PROTECTED AREAS, BOTH BETWEEN OUR PRESERVES LIKE ROUND VALLEY, AS WELL AS NEARBY MARSH CREEK STATE PARK.THE PROPERTY IS UNDEVELOPED ASIDE FROM GRAZING INFRASTRUCTURE.
THERE'S A SEASONAL POND ON THE PROPERTY WHICH WOULD BE COMING TO US AND WHICH WILL ENHANCE GRAZING MANAGEMENT IN THE AREA.
JUST AN OVERVIEW OF THE PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT TERMS. THE PURCHASE PRICE FOR THE PROPERTY IS $5,621,000.
IT'S STRUCTURED TO HAVE TWO $25,000 DEPOSITS, WHICH ARE CREDITABLE TOWARDS THE PURCHASE PRICE AND REFUNDABLE TO THE PARK DISTRICT UP TO CERTAIN POINTS.
WE'RE LOOKING AT A ONE YEAR AND THREE-MONTH DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD WITH 90-DAY CLOSE AFTER THAT.
LIKE SO MANY OF OUR PROJECTS HERE, THE PARK DISTRICT, THIS IS A WONDERFUL PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITY.
SAVE MOUNT DIABLO HAS BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THIS PROPERTY FOR A LONG TIME.
THEY'RE VERY GENEROUSLY CONTRIBUTING $50,000 TOWARDS THE DEPOSITS.
THIS WILL ALSO BE A PROJECT THAT WILL BE CONDUCTING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EAST CONTRA COSTA COUNTY HABITAT CONSERVANCY.
AND SO ONCE WE ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT, IF WE RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION TODAY, OUR STAFF AND THEIRS WILL BE FULL STEAM AHEAD ON ACQUIRING OR APPLYING FOR PUBLIC OTHER GRANT FUNDS TOWARDS THE PURCHASE PRICE.
TODAY, THE ONLY FUNDING WE'RE LOOKING AT IS ACCEPTING, TRANSFERRING, APPROPRIATING THE $50,000 FOR THE DEPOSITS FROM MOUNT DIABLO AND ABOUT $20,000 FOR REMAINING DUE DILIGENCE, WHICH WILL BE STAFF TIME, APPRAISAL WORK, ENVIRONMENTAL WORK.
SO IF EVERYTHING GOES REALLY WELL, WE'LL HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS PROPERTY AT STAFF, DO OUR FULL DUE DILIGENCE, RAISE GRANT FUNDING, DO OUR ACQUISITION EVALUATION AND COME BACK TO YOU IN ABOUT A YEAR OR SO FOR AUTHORIZATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE PROJECT, AT WHICH POINT WE'LL HAVE A FULLY BAKED PROJECT.
SO AGAIN, THE ONLY THING WE'RE SEEKING AUTHORIZATION FOR TODAY IS TO ENTER INTO THE AGREEMENT AND TO APPROPRIATE THE FUNDS JUST TO KICK START THE PROJECT.
DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM BOARD MEMBERS AT THIS TIME ON THIS ITEM? GO AHEAD.
I MEAN, WE HAVEN'T REALLY HEARD ABOUT THIS UNTIL FAIRLY RECENTLY, AND IT WAS A GREAT SURPRISE TO ME BECAUSE THAT'S SUCH A GREAT PARK.
AND TO ALL OF A SUDDEN LEARN THAT HALF 1,000 ACRES IS GOING TO BE ADDED TO IT, IT'S REALLY GREAT.
SO THE DUE DILIGENCE THING, I'M INTERESTED IN THAT.
THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY LIKE A WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST STUDY OR ANYTHING.
IS IT MORE OF A RISK-- IS THERE ANYTHING THERE THAT'S BAD FOR US? RISKY? I MEAN, WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR, AND IS IT TANGIBLE OR IS IT LIKE A WHOLE BUNCH OF DIFFERENT THINGS? RACHEL LUM: SURE SO IT'S KIND OF STANDARD ACQUISITION DUE DILIGENCE THAT WE DO FOR ANY PROPERTY THAT ISN'T GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, WHERE WE LOOK AT-- WE REVIEW TITLE TO SEE IF THERE'S ANY UNUSUAL EASEMENTS, THINGS LIKE THAT ON THE PROPERTY.
WE WOULD DO ENVIRONMENTAL TESTING AT A STANDARD LEVEL, NOT EXPECTING TO FIND ANYTHING ON A RANCH, BUT IT'S A STANDARD PART OF OUR DUE DILIGENCE AND SOMETHING THAT OUR GRANT FUNDERS WOULD ALSO REQUIRE.
WE'LL BE FINISHING UP THE APPRAISAL AND WORKING THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
SO YES, THE DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD WILL BE PRIMARILY FOR OUR REAL ESTATE DUE DILIGENCE, BUT WE WILL ALSO HAVE ACCESS TO THE PROPERTY TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND DO WILDLIFE SURVEYS AS WELL.
JOHN MERCURIO: OH OK, SO THAT TOO, OK.
THOSE ARE ALL THE ONLY QUESTIONS I HAD.
LYNDA DESCHAMBAULT: I GUESS I'LL BUILD ON THAT.
WELL, IT WAS INTERESTING WHAT YOU JUST SAID ABOUT THE DILIGENCE BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED IN HERE ABOUT, AND YOU RECOGNIZE THE WILDLIFE CORRIDORS AND THE BIOBLITZ RESULTS.
AND I KNOW WE'VE HAD THE NEW ESA INVENTORY AND THE NEW NATURE CHECK.
SO I'M HOPEFUL, OR IT'S SORT OF A QUESTION, WILL WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY, LIKE YOU SAID, TO DO MORE WILDLIFE STUDIES AND GET A MORE DIRECT HANDLE AND USE SOME OF THAT DATA THAT'S STARTING TO COME INTO US? RACHEL LUM: ABSOLUTELY.
YES, WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT DURING THE DUE DILIGENCE PERIOD.
LYNDA DESCHAMBAULT: THANK YOU.
OLIVIA SANWONG: ANY OTHER BOARD QUESTIONS.
DENNIS, DID YOU HAVE A QUESTION? DENNIS WAESPI: I JUST WANT OF A-- WELL, MAYBE I'M NOT REMEMBERING THE ORDER.
WHAT IS THE HABITAT, THEY'RE GOING TO SEEK FUNDS OR ARE THEY-- I MEAN, THEY DO HAVE FUNDS, RIGHT? THEY STILL HAVE FUNDS LEFT.
SO WILL THEY FUND THIS AT 90% OR 80% OR THEY'LL DO STUDIES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO FUND THIS RACHEL LUM: DO YOU MEAN THE FUNDING FROM THE CONSERVANCY? DENNIS WAESPI: YEAH.
SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'LL BE APPLYING FOR THEIR BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING SOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR HCP AND CCP PROGRAMS, OF WHICH THE CONSERVANCY HAS ONE, IS ABLE TO ACCESS THOSE FUNDING.
SO THEY ARE COMPETITIVE GRANT FUNDS.
[02:35:02]
WE'LL BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THEM.HISTORICALLY, WE'VE RECEIVED ANYWHERE FROM 50% TO 80% TO ALMOST 100% OF THE PURCHASE PRICE THROUGH THAT FUNDING POT, BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'LL BE DEVELOPING AS WE MOVE FORWARD.
SO AT A GUESS, I'D SAY MAYBE 75% OF THE PURCHASE PRICE WILL COME THROUGH THAT GRANT FUNDING PROCESS.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO COUNT MY CHICKENS BEFORE THEY'RE HATCHED.
IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER QUESTIONS AT THIS TIME, LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE A MOMENT TO OPEN UP PUBLIC COMMENT.
KELLY CLANCY: THERE IS NO PUBLIC COMMENT.
OLIVIA SANWONG: SO WE'LL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT, BRING IT BACK TO THE BOARD FOR ANY FINAL COMMENTS.
AND I'M ALSO LOOKING FOR A MOTION ON THIS RESOLUTION.
LYNDA DESCHAMBAULT: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT IT'S ALMOST TOO BAD THIS CAME AFTER THE-- WELL, WE JUST HAD.
I JUST CAN'T HELP BUT RECOGNIZE AND HOW PROUD I AM OF OUR MISSION TO CONTINUE, AND STAFF CONTINUE TO ACQUIRE LANDS, EVEN WITH THAT BIG LIFT THAT WE JUST HEARD ABOUT AND ALL OF THAT AND LINKING OPPORTUNITIES TO WILDLIFE CORRIDORS.
AND I'M SO GRATEFUL, A SPECIAL THANKS TO SAVE MOUNT DIABLO, LIKE SOME OF THE OTHER VISIONARIES WHO JUST LEFT THE ROOM.
A LOT OF TIMES THEY'RE SEEING THESE LANDS BEFORE WE SEE THEM.
THE COLLABORATION, WE HAVE TO SEE THEM TOGETHER AND REALLY WORK.
I MEAN, IT'S SUCH A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
THIS SEEMS LIKE, OH, WELL, IT'LL GIVE US 18 MONTHS TO EXPLORE MORE.
BUT JUST ANOTHER GREAT PIECE OF LAND AND ACQUIRING.
IT'S JUST AS BIG OF A LIFT OR JUST AS IMPORTANT AS ALL THE BIG STUFF.
OLIVIA SANWONG: YES, GO AHEAD.
ELIZABETH ECHOLS: WELL, SIMILARLY, I WANTED TO SAY I ACTUALLY THINK THIS IS A BIG DEAL TO 511 ACRES.
THAT IS REALLY A HUGE OPPORTUNITY AND VERY EXCITING.
AND I FULLY SUPPORT THE OPTION TO PURCHASING THE OPTION SO THAT WE CAN TAKE SOME TIME AND EXPLORE IT FURTHER.
BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK ON THIS.
OLIVIA SANWONG: YEAH, I'LL JUST POINT OUT, 511 ACRES FOR THIS ONE AND THEN GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, 162-PLUS OR MINUS ACRES.
SO THIS IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT ITEM.
AND I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN YOU RETURN NEXT YEAR.
I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE JUST KIND OF EMPHASIZING WHAT DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT, THAT SAVE MOUNT DIABLO WAS A REALLY IMPORTANT PARTNER IN THIS, AS THEY ARE FROM MORE THAN FROM TIME TO TIME.
SO WE NEED TO REALLY BE APPRECIATIVE OF THAT TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
AND ROUND VALLEY IN MY MIND, JUST KEEPS GETTING BETTER AND BETTER OVER TIME IN DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO EVEN AFTER THIS ACQUISITION, BECAUSE THERE'S THINGS WE CAN DO OUT THERE THAT CAN MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE AND MORE ENJOYABLE WHILE WE'RE SAVING HABITAT AND ALL THAT.
AND I KNOW THAT THERE IS A PLAN TO CONNECT IT WITH A REALLY NICE TRAIL FROM BRENTWOOD RIGHT INTO THE CURRENT STAGING AREA.
SO IT'LL BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE URBAN AREA IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHEN THAT TRAIL IS GOING TO BE BUILT BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER AGENCY INVOLVED.
BUT ANYWAY, ROUND VALLEY, STAY TUNED.
GO THERE FOR SOLACE AND PEACE AS I DO.
OLIVIA SANWONG: IF THERE AREN'T ANY OTHER COMMENTS, WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MOTION.
DIRECTOR MERCURIO? JOHN MERCURIO: I MOVE.
DIRECTOR MERCURIO MADE THE MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION ON PAGE 359.
DO WE HAVE A SECOND? SECOND FROM DIRECTOR COFFEY.
ALL IN FAVOR, PLEASE SAY AYE? ALL: AYE.
OLIVIA SANWONG: ANY OPPOSED? ANY ABSTENTIONS? THAT PASSES 7-0.
LOOKING FORWARD TO WHEN YOU RETURN ON THIS ITEM.
SO WITH THAT, WE WILL THEN MOVE ON TO THE REMAINDER OF OUR AGENDA.
DO WE HAVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM CLOSED SESSION? ELIZABETH ECHOLS: NOT TODAY.
OLIVIA SANWONG: DO WE HAVE ANY PROPOSED FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS? NOPE.
[BOARD REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED]
SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO BOARD REPORTS ON MEETINGS ATTENDED.WHO WOULD LIKE TO START? DOCTOR MERCURIO, GO FOR IT.
SO ON OCTOBER 6 WAS THE BOARD MEETING.
OCTOBER 9, I WENT TO THE TIDEWATER GROUNDBREAKING, WHICH I'M SURE MORE WILL BE SAID ABOUT THAT.
AND THE DAY AFTER THAT, ON THE 10, I WENT TO A REALLY GREAT EVENT IN LAFAYETTE-- THE LAFAYETTE MORAGA TRAILS 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
TO ME, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR 50 YEARS.
ONE OF THE VERY, VERY FIRST RAIL TRAILS IN THE UNITED STATES,
[02:40:03]
VERY CONTROVERSIAL AT THE TIME.AND AMAZINGLY ENOUGH, AFTER ACTUALLY LESS THAN 50 YEARS, IT GOES FROM BEING CONTROVERSIAL TO BEING TOTALLY BELOVED.
AND THE FIRST THING THEY LIST ON REAL ESTATE LISTINGS NEAR THE LAFAYETTE MORAGA TRAIL, AND THEY ALL HAVE GATES GOING ON TO-- THEY HAVE GATES GOING ON TO THE TRAIL FROM THEIR BACKYARD.
THEN LET'S SEE-- ON 12TH, I HAD COFFEE WITH COUNCILMEMBER BELOTZ FROM DANVILLE.
THAT WAS A VERY GOOD MEETING JUST TO-- BECAUSE THE IRON HORSE TRAIL IS A BIG DEAL IN DANVILLE.
SO WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT AND JUST KIND OF GOT A LITTLE BIT BETTER ACQUAINTED.
ON OCTOBER 14-- SO OCTOBER 13, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN A BOY SCOUT MEETING IN MY TOWN IN CONCORD AND GIVE THEM THE TRAILS CHALLENGE BOOKS.
I HAD SOME TRAIL CHALLENGE BOOKS LEFT OVER.
WE'D ACTUALLY BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS THING GOING FOR MONTHS.
AND THEN I GOT TO TALK TO THEM A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE PARK DISTRICT, WHAT WE DO, WHO WE ARE TO THIS GROUP OF SCOUTS, BOYS AND GIRLS, AND THEN TALK ABOUT THE TRAILS CHALLENGE AND TRY TO GET THEM EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
AND I TOLD THEM, YOU CAN DO THESE TRAILS, BUT AFTER YOU DO YOUR SCOUT TRAILS AND STUFF.
I DON'T WANT TO CAUSE ANY TROUBLE.
BUT THERE'S LOTS OF PLACES YOU CAN GO HIKING WITH YOUR FAMILY AND THIS BOOK HAS IT.
AND THEN ON THE 14, I WENT TO THE BOARD FINANCE COMMITTEE, FOLLOWED BY THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
OLIVIA SANWONG: DIRECTOR DESCHAMBAULT? LYNDA DESCHAMBAULT: A LITTLE MORE TIME.
DIRECTOR ESPANA? LUANA ESPANA: 10/6, ATTENDED THE BOARD MEETING.
AND 10/9, THE GROUNDBREAKING AT TIDEWATER.
ON OCTOBER 8, WITH MAX, I ATTENDED A ZOOM MEETING WITH SUPERVISOR BURGESS TO DISCUSS THE CONTRA LOMA LAGOON OUTREACH THAT THE DISTRICT IS PROCEEDING WITH.
AND ON THE 9TH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE TIDEWATER GROUNDBREAKING.
DIRECTOR ESPANA DID A FABULOUS JOB HOSTING AND REPRESENTING THE PARK DISTRICT AT THAT EVENT.
ON THE 10, I ATTENDED THE ANNUAL CHOICE AND AGING EVENT, THEY CALLED THE BEDFORD BLOCK PARTY, AND ALL THE POLITICAL AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP OF ANTIOCH IS THERE, AND A VERY GOOD EVENT TO BE REPRESENTATIVE AT.
THAT EVENING, I ATTENDED AN EVENT FOR CONGRESSMAN DESAULNIER IN DANVILLE.
ON THE 11, I ATTENDED THE CROCKETT OKTOBERFEST AND HUNG OUT WITH SOME OF THE COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP UP IN CROCKETT.
ON THE 16, I ATTENDED WITH DIRECTOR SANWONG THE BOARD PREP MEETING FOR TODAY.
AND ON THE 18TH, THAT SUNDAY AFTERNOON, I GOT TO EXPLORE-- SHE'S NOT HERE.
SPEAKING OF 500 ACRES, I GOT TO EXPLORE A 500-ACRE PARCEL IN WARD 7 THAT BECKY TOOK ME ON A TOUR OF.
AND THIS IS ANOTHER PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT WE WILL ALL BE VERY HAPPY ABOUT.
OLIVIA SANWONG: DOCTOR WAESPI.
ON OCTOBER 13, I ATTENDED THE LARPD, EBRPD LIAISON COMMITTEE MEETING.
GREAT PRODUCTIVE MEETING WITH THOSE FOLKS.
ON OCTOBER 14, I ATTENDED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING WHERE WE WENT OVER THE CAFR, AND IT'S IN YOUR DOCUMENTS TODAY, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOOK AHEAD FOR THIS YEAR'S OR NEXT YEAR'S UPCOMING BUDGET.
WHEN YOU SEE THAT NOTE THE GRAPHICS, THE GRAPHICS THIS YEAR, I DON'T KNOW WHO'S RESPONSIBLE FOR IT, BUT IT'S REALLY GREAT STUFF.
EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE IN MANY FORMS. GRAPHS, JUST EVERYTHING.
I THINK IT BECOMES MUCH MORE USER-FRIENDLY AND DIRECTOR-FRIENDLY ALSO.
OLIVIA SANWONG: DIRECTOR ECHOLS? ELIZABETH ECHOLS: OK.
ON THE 13TH, I HAD MY MONTHLY ONE-ON-ONE WITH OUR GENERAL MANAGER MAX KORTEN.
ON THE 14TH, I ALSO ATTENDED THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
[02:45:02]
AND I AGREE, I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE THE WAY STAFF HAS LAID OUT THE BUDGET PROCESS, AS WELL AS THE COMPARISON TO YEAR TO YEAR.IT WAS VERY ACCESSIBLE AND VERY INFORMATIVE.
AND HE WENT VERY QUICKLY THROUGH IT AND IT WAS ALL-- I THINK WE GOT IT ALL, SO APPRECIATE THAT.
AND ALSO ATTENDED THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE THAT AFTERNOON.
ON THE 15, ATTENDED THE CNRA LATINO HERITAGE EVENT AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS, WHICH WAS A VERY-- IT WAS A REALLY GREAT EVENT WITH A NUMBER OF OUR PARTNERS, BOTH FROM NATURAL RESOURCES, BUT OTHER ACTIVISTS AND ELECTED LEADERS FROM THE COMMUNITY, REALLY LOOKING AHEAD AT GOLDEN GATE FIELDS AND EXCITED ABOUT THE FUTURE VISION AND WORKING WITH A WHOLE VARIETY OF FOLKS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT VISION SHOULD BE.
AND THEN ON THE 16, I ATTENDED THE WORKFORCE DIVERSITY COMMITTEE AND ALSO PARTICIPATED IN THE FINAL PART OF OUR GENERAL COUNSEL'S EVALUATION PROCESS.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE MAIN THINGS.
OLIVIA SANWONG: DOCTOR DESCHAMBAULT, WOULD YOU LIKE TO GO? LYNDA DESCHAMBAULT: SURE.
BACK ON OCTOBER 6, WAS THE BOARD OPEN AND CLOSED SESSION.
ON THE 8TH, I WENT WITH MAX, PRESENTED TO THE LAFAYETTE EMERGENCY COMMITTEE.
ON THE 10TH, IT WAS EXCITING, THAT 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LAFAYETTE MORAGA TRAIL AND THE NEW HISTORICAL SIGNS.
ON THE 14TH WAS THE OPERATIONS COMMITTEE.
ON THE 16TH, I PARTICIPATED IN THE DIVERSITY WORKFORCE COMMITTEE.
ON THE 17-- NOT THE 17TH, I WAS BUSY WITH GET OUT THE VOTE.
ON THE 19TH, I JUST HAD A QUICK COFFEE WITH JONAH, BECAUSE I HAD HEARD ALL THIS FABULOUS STUFF ABOUT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
SO I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU AND HEAR MORE.
I DIDN'T WANT TO BE LEFT OUT ABOUT.
OLIVIA SANWONG: ABOUT THE DIVERSITY WORKFORCE COMMITTEE, I'M HOPING THAT THE ENTIRE BOARD WILL RECEIVE MAYBE JUST THE REPORT AND MAYBE A SUMMARY OF YOUR MEETING AND CONVERSATION.
SO MAX, CAN YOU HELP US MAKE SURE THAT THE ENTIRE BOARD RECEIVES SOME TYPE OF COMMUNICATION RESULTING FROM THAT? I THINK IT'S AN IMPORTANT ONE TO TRACK AND FOLLOW.
AND THEN JUST REAL QUICK, YES, I WAS ALSO AT THE LARPD LIAISON MEETING ON OCTOBER 13.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO MAX AND THE TEAM FOR ORGANIZING OUR SECOND LIAISON MEETING THIS YEAR.
I THINK IT WAS A VERY PRODUCTIVE AND HEALTHY AND INSIGHTFUL CONVERSATION.
ON THE 16, I ALSO PARTICIPATED IN OUR FINAL STEP OF THE GENERAL COUNCIL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, AND I SIGNED THE PAPERWORK.
SO THAT PERFORMANCE EVALUATION IS NOW COMPLETE.
THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR INVOLVEMENT ON THAT.
AND THEN SATURDAY, WE HAD OUR ANNUAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL ON THE 17TH OF OCTOBER, AND IT WAS SUCH AN INCREDIBLE EVENT.
OUR INR TEAM AND VISITOR CENTER TEAM, AS WELL AS OTHER VISITOR CENTERS, I SAW FOLKS FROM COYOTE HILLS AND THE MOBILE VISITOR CENTER ALSO THERE.
AND WE HAD SOME INCREDIBLE PARTNERS, INCLUDING CAFE OHLONE AND THE OHLONE LAND CONSERVANCY.
AND THE OHLONE LAND CONSERVANCY GAVE ME SOME CALIFORNIA POPPY SEEDS FOR EACH OF YOU.
THEY HAVE THE WEBSITE, OHLONELAND.COM, AS WELL AS THIS REALLY NICE POSTCARD WHERE THEY'RE REALLY WORKING TOWARDS THINKING ABOUT OHLONE CULTURE AND RESTORATION AND STEWARDSHIP OF ANCESTRAL LANDS.
AND I THINK IT'D BE REALLY WONDERFUL FOR US AT SOME POINT, MAYBE ON THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE, TO HEAR FROM THIS GROUP.
AND I THINK THAT IS PART OF THE WORK PLAN.
SO I'M SURE IT WILL SURFACE AT SOME POINT ON THAT COMMITTEE.
BUT IN THE MEANTIME, I WANTED TO SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY WERE THERE AT ARSENAL HERITAGE FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY.
[PUBLIC COMMENTS - For those that have not had an opportunity to speak previously.]
OK, SO THEN WITH THAT, WE WILL MOVE ON TO OUR PUBLIC COMMENT SECTION.FOR THOSE WHO HAVE NOT HAVE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK PREVIOUSLY, DO WE HAVE ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC FOR THIS ITEM? KELLY CLANCY: WE ACTUALLY HAVE ONE HAND UP NOW.
KELLY CLANCY: LET ME GET MY TIMER READY.
KELLY, YOU MAY UNMUTE YOURSELF.
I JUST WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE EARLIER OUTREACH TO THE INTERVIEWS WITH PUBLIC 4,000 PEOPLE.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED THERE WAS THAT OF ALL AGES, ALL ABILITIES, FAMILIES.
AND USUALLY THIS PARK DISTRICT IS SITTING HERE WAITING FOR OUTSPOKEN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SHOW UP AT MEETINGS AND EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS.
SO YOU GET A SLANTED VIEW OF WHAT PUBLIC OPINION IS
[02:50:07]
BY DOING IT THAT WAY.AND BY GOING OUT AND TALKING TO THE FAMILIES, YOU GET A DIFFERENT OPINION.
AND ALSO I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU THE STORY OF A DIFFERENT DISTRICT, WHICH IS THE SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, AND THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE.
I THINK IT'S $30 MILLION OR SOMETHING.
IT'S AN ALL-WATERSHED CENTER, WHICH BEGAN CONSTRUCTION IN EARLY 2000 AND IS SCHEDULED TO FINISH CONSTRUCTION AT THE END OF THIS YEAR.
SO THAT'S ABOUT SEVEN YEARS OF CONSTRUCTION.
AND IN THE ULTIMATE KIND OF EMPIRE BUILDING, PHARAONIC KIND OF DISPLAY OF EMPIRE BUILDING, PYRAMID BUILDING, KIND OF MONUMENT TO PYRAMID BUILDING.
THEY SAY THAT CONSTRUCTION WILL BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR, BUT THEY EXPECT THAT THEY WILL NOT OPEN THE DOORS UNTIL AN UNDEFINED, UNDETERMINED DATE.
SO BY DOING THAT, THEY TELL YOU THAT, OH YEAH, WE'RE BUILDING A PYRAMID WITH NO REAL PURPOSE.
AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN YOU CAN USE IT IF IT EVER BECOMES AVAILABLE TO YOU.
AND IF YOU LOOK ACROSS THE STREET, ON OAKS COURT, THERE'S A LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY WORKERS OF THIS PARK DISTRICT.
AND THEY DESERVE TO HAVE A GOOD FACILITIES TO BE USING.
AND THAT CONSTRUCTION BEGAN TWO YEARS AGO AND IT WAS SUPPOSED TO FINISH.
IF YOU LOOK AT THEIR WEBSITE, IT'S SUPPOSED TO FINISH LAST MONTH.
SO I'D LIKE TO GET COMMUNICATIONS UPDATED, CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES UPDATED.
AND LET'S NOT GO DOWN THE ROAD OF SFPUC WHERE WE BUILD PYRAMIDS AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY REAL OPENING.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY REAL USE FOR OUR PYRAMID.
THERE IS NO MORE PUBLIC COMMENT.
WE WILL CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND NOW WE ARE ADJOURNED AT 4:11.
I RECOMMEND WE TAKE ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.
WE ARE ACTUALLY ADJOURNING INTO CLOSED SESSION.
SO LET'S TRY TO START CLOSED SESSION AROUND 4:16, 4:17.
THANK YOU, EVERYONE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.