3. LAND DIVISION

C-3-a. Authorization to Execute an Amendment to a Donation Agreement with Orinda Gateway Holdings, LLC, et al., to Convey a 342-linear-foot Permanent Road Access Easement to PG&E, and to Adopt Findings Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act and to File a Notice of Determination with the Contra Costa County Clerk:  Robert Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve
Resolution No. 2008-6-149 (attached)

By motion of Director Sutter, seconded by Director Skinner, item C-3-a was unanimously approved.

Bob Doyle, AGM for Land Acquisition, gave a presentation on this item, stating that it is the result of a year’s cooperative effort between the District and Orinda Gateway Holdings.  Mr. Doyle recommended Board approval of this item; the alternative action would have a more negative impact.  He also stated that the property offers various opportunities for trails, camping and picnic areas at no cost to the District.  

Director Lane asked that a report on the existing buildings on the property be brought to the Natural/Cultural Resources Committee for a discussion of its possible historical aspects.

AGM Doyle also acknowledged the hard work put in by the developer, as well as staff from the City of Orinda, Sierra Club, Audubon Society and others, to ensure the preservation of a large portion of the area.

4. FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT SERVICES

C-4-a. Adoption of Resolution of Intention to Order Improvements, Grant Preliminary Approval to the Draft Engineer’s Report, Establish Date of Public Hearing and Instruct the Clerk of the Board to Provide Appropriate Public Notice of Hearing: Alameda County/Contra Costa County Regional Trails Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District No. 1, including ZB-1 (Five Canyons), ZB-2 (Dublin Hills), ZB-3 (Walpert Ridge), ZB-4 (San Ramon Hills), ZB-5 (Stone Valley), and ZB-6 (Sibley Volcanic)
Resolution No. 2008-6-150 (attached)

By motion of Director Lane, seconded by Director Radke, item C-4-a was unanimously approved.

Dave Collins, AGM of Finance and Management Services, explained that items C-4-a and C-4-b are the steps taken annually to begin the process for the District’s yearly Landscape and Lighting Districts’ assessments.

C-4-b. Adoption of Resolution of Intention to Order Improvements, Grant Preliminary Approval to the Draft Engineer’s Report, Establish Date of Public Hearing and Instruct the Clerk of the Board to Provide Appropriate Public Notice of Hearing: East Contra Costa County Landscaping and Lighting Assessment District No. 1
Resolution No. 2008-6-151 (attached)

By motion of Director Lane, seconded by Director Radke, item C-4-b was unanimously approved.
       
C-4-c. Determination that the Public Interest and Necessity Demand Completion of the East Bay Regional Park District Master Plan for Acquisition and Development of Regional Parklands and Open Space and Acquisition and Development of Local Parklands with Financing through the Issuance of General Obligation Bonds
Resolution No. 2008-6-152 (attached)

By motion of Director Radke, seconded by Director Skinner, item C-4-c was unanimously approved.

AGM Collins stated that this item is the necessary but pro-forma step before the District can bring forward a ballot measure to the November election.

                   
C-4-d. Review of Draft Ordinance Ordering the Submission of a Proposition to Voters

AGM Collins briefed the Board on the key points of the draft ordinance and explained that the Board needs to adopt an ordinance to allow the District to move forward with the proposed bond extension measure and that it will be the formal legal document that will structure the measure.  He added that the ballot question, while still a draft, has been tested previously, and that another survey testing three different versions of the ordinance will be conducted by Strategy Research Institute starting on June 4

Board members offered comments and suggestions on the draft Ordinance:

• Ballot language still needs to be improved/simplified;
• Insertion of “local parks and urban creeks” into the language since it tested well;
• Deletion of “thus” at the end of the 5th sentence of the proposition;
• Validity of using “extension” on title;
• Ensure that there is clear understanding by Contra Costa County elections office of “unincorporated areas”;

 AGM Collins added that Oakland Zoo officials will notify the District if they do not want the Zoo to be included in the Ordinance; if this is the case, funds originally allotted to them will be re-distributed back to the 25% allocation for local agencies.  He also emphasized that the Project List is the District’s best estimate at this time, and that future Boards will have the ability to modify it should conditions change.

C-4-e. Acceptance of Project List and Proposed Use of Funds for the 2008 Regional Park Bond Extension
Resolution No. 2008-6-153 (attached)

By motion of Director Radke, seconded by Director Skinner, item C-4-e was unanimously approved, and included a direction to reduce the contingency fund from 10% to 7%, redistribute the 3% balance to the Metro Areas, and have staff address the projects raised by the Board at this meeting as priorities for distribution.  Staff will be presenting the outcome of this redistribution at the next Board meeting on June 18 in Brentwood.

AGM Collins gave a presentation on the project list for the $375 million (less funds set aside for contingency) share of the proposed bond extension, stating that this list was derived through a long process that involved updating the District’s Master Plan Map, input from stakeholders and Board and public workshops/discussions. 

Board members offered comments and suggestions on the Project List descriptions and included:

• Item #10 – Briones:  revision of description to add “surrounding and near” to allow the District to take into account public concerns regarding the preservation of Acalanes Ridge;
• Item #49 – Pt. Pinole: revision of description to add “visitor/interpretive center”. It was also suggested that there be some consistency in describing visitor centers/facilities/interpretive centers;
• Item #15 – Concord Naval Weapons Station: revision of last sentence to recognize the District’s own center and its willingness to work with the National Park Service;
• Consistency in using “new trails for all users” at each instance that “trails” are included/cited in the project list descriptions;
• At the appropriate project list item, include connection between Vargas Plateau and Sunol/Niles Canyon trail;
• Item #5 – Bay Point: revision of “starting point” to more accurately describe the location;
• Item #48 – Pleasanton Ridge: include “staging areas”;

 Public comments included:

• Support for the park bond extension and praise for staff work;
• Support for Acalanes Ridge's inclusion into the project list;
• Concern regarding reduction of funds allocated to Oakland waterfront area;
• Definition of "all users" as it raises the question of opening all new trails to everyone, including bicyclists;
• Compliments to District staff for their hard work and for listening to the public’s concerns, and the realization that not everyone will be "happy" with the projects included, but that comprises will need to be made;
• Suggestion to adopt the project list as is or with as little change as possible so that the Sierra Club's "conditional endorsement" may be brought forward to its various chapters without delay;
• Support for the establishment of a contingency fund account to allow Board flexibility
• Support for North Richmond Shoreline and Pt. Pinole;
• Concerns regarding inadequate funding for the Fremont and Newark areas where the biggest gap of Bay Trail is located;
• Support for opening more trails for "all users". 

 There was a discussion of the amount of funds shifted between the various line items on the Project List, and how staff arrived at these figures.  In the discussion of the possible ways by which funding may be restored and/or reallocated and increased, an agreement was reached to reduce the contingency funds from 10% to 7%.

Directors Radke and Skinner left the meeting at this time (5:10 p.m.). 

5. OPERATIONS DIVISION

C-5-a. Adoption of Emergency Action to Implement a Quagga/Zebra Mussel Infestation Monitoring and Control Program
Resolution No. 2008-6-154 (attached)
                   
By motion of Director Sutter, seconded by Director Siden, item C-5-a was unanimously approved, with Directors Skinner and Radke absent.

John Escobar, Asst. General Manager for Operations, gave a presentation giving a background, possible negative impacts and current status of the Quagga/Zebra Mussel monitoring and control efforts in California and what the District is proposing to do to prevent its spread.  He stated that the District has been requested to implement inspection programs at all of the recreational lakes that it manages – by a total of 5 different water districts – and that all 5 are looking to the District to pay 100% of the cost of the inspection program.  AGM Escobar explained that this initial pilot program is intended to allow the public continued access to the District lakes while limiting the District’s financial exposure.  In addition to the appropriation of $150,000 of General Fund monies, this proposal will authorize the hiring of temporary staff and acting and overtime pay for regular staff.

Director Sutter commented on the importance of a comprehensive public relations effort in advance of any inspection program.
 
Brenda Wood, Business Agent for AFSME Local 2428, addressed the Board to state that while the Union recognizes the serious threat posed by the Quagga/Zebra mussels and is in agreement that the District should take appropriate action, it is suggesting that the District explore a temporary moratorium on boats and other vessels on District lakes.  If the District moves forward with an inspection program, she stated that the Union believes that inspections should be conducted by District Rangers or temporary staff in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding, and is opposed to hiring outside contractors for this work.

Sharon Corkin, AFSME Local 2428 President, asked that current employees, fully trained for inspection, be used for any program that the District may adopt to keep these mussels from entering District lakes.

Directors Sutter and Wieskamp announced that the Board Operations Committee will be conducting on-going discussions about this issue and suggested that the speakers attend this meeting to explore their concerns more thoroughly.

2. BOARD AND STAFF REPORTS

a. 2008 Regional Parks Bond Extension
Public Input Process: Summary of Comments Received

b. Actions Taken by Other Jurisdictions Affecting the Park District

GM O’Brien discussed the items listed on the staff report.

3. GENERAL MANAGER’S COMMENTS

GM O’Brien announced the hiring of Nancy Kaiser as the Interpretive Services Manager on a temporary basis.  He also stated that the scheduled speaker will be presenting at a future meeting due to time constraints.

4. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CLOSED SESSION

President Wieskamp stated that there are no announcements from the Closed Session.
5. BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Ecology Committee (Skinner) (3-12-08)

6. BOARD COMMENTS

The Board and staff conducted a discussion of the different versions proposed for the ballot question pertaining to the regional parks bond extension measure.

D. PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no Public Comments at this time.

E. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

Allen Pulido, Clerk of the Board

Attachments:
Visitors Log
Resolution Nos. 2008-6-134 to 2008-6-154
Board Committee Reports

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