Board Meeting Date
Board Minutes Content
The Board Meeting, which was held on November 20, 2007 at the Peralta Oaks Headquarters Building, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA, was called to order at 12:35 p.m. by Board President John Sutter.
ROLL CALL
Directors Present:
John Sutter, President
Doug Siden, Secretary
Carol Severin, Director
Beverly Lane, Director
Nancy Skinner, Director
Directors Absent:
Ayn Wieskamp, Vice-President
Ted Radke, Treasurer
At this time, the Board of Directors met in Closed Session to discuss those items outlined on the Closed Session Board Meeting Agenda.
The Open Session of the Board Meeting was called to order at 2:05 p.m. by Board President John Sutter;
Staff Present Included:
Pat O'Brien, Dave Collins, Tim Anderson, Shelly Lewis, Dave Sumner, Ted Radosevich, Rosemary Cameron, Bob Doyle, Mike Anderson, Isa Polte-Jones, Sharon Corkin, John Escobar, Jeff Wilson, Brian Wiese, Anne Rockwell, Diane Althoff, Andy White, Bill Louie.
A. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
By motion of Director Siden, seconded by Director Severin, the Agenda was unanimously approved.
B. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The Chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Mary N. Piepho, addressed the Board to convey her appreciation for and recognize the work of District staff to accommodate the Contra Costa County Flood Control and Water Conservation District's project on the Lower Walnut Creek Channel.
Director Lane added that she looked forward to future partnerships between the Park District, Contra Costa County and the Public Works Department, especially as it pertains to the northern part of the Iron Horse Trail.
C. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD
1. CONSENT CALENDAR
By motion of Director Lane, seconded by Director Skinner, the Consent Calendar was unanimously approved.
- C-1-a.
Approval of District Check Listing for the Period of October 27, 2007 through November 9, 2007
Resolution No. 2007-11-280 (Attached) - C-1-b.
Authorization to Negotiate with Various Property Owners
Resolution No. 2007-11-281 (Attached) - C-1-c.
Authorization to Accept Emergency Vehicle and Maintenance Access and Utility Easement from Waterbird, LLC: Waterbird Regional Preserve
Resolution No. 2007-11-282 (Attached) - C-1-d.
Authorization to Enter into an Agreement to Exchange Certain Real Property Rights with Palmer B. Madden and Susan L. Paulus: Las Trampas Wilderness Regional Preserve
Resolution No. 2007-11-283 (Attached) - C-1-e.
Authorization to Purchase Fee Interest in the 0.14-acre Baird Property: Claremont Canyon Regional Preserve
Resolution No. 2007-11-284 (Attached) - C-1-f.
Authorization to Accept Funds from the Regional Parks Foundation and Approval of Sole Source Agreement with Brass Ring Entertainment
Resolution No. 2007-11-285 (Attached) - C-1-g.
Authorization to Amend the 2007 Budget and Transfer Operations Funds to a Capital Project Account for Construction of Picnic Sites: Castle Rock Recreation Area
Resolution No. 2007-11-286 (Attached) - C-1-h.
Approval of Sole Source Purchase of the Thermal Imaging Systems from FLIR Systems, Inc. for the Eagle 7 Helicopter
Resolution No. 2007-11-287 (Attached) - C-1-i.
Approval to Amend 457 and 401(a) Plans to Provide Additional Benefits to Plan Participants
Resolution No. 2007-11-288 (Attached) - C-1-j.
Approval to Amend Current Administrative Agreement with the ICMA-RC to Obtain Reduced Expenses for Plan Participants in the Deferred Compensation Plans Offered by the District
Resolution No. 2007-11-289 (Attached) - C-1-k.
Authorization to Execute Water and Sewer Service Connection Contracts and Encumber Capital Funds for Payment of Service Installation Fees and System Capacity Charges for the Tidewater Phase 2A Utilities and Access Improvements Project: Martin Luther King, Jr. Regional Shoreline
Resolution No. 2007-11-290 (Attached) - C-1-l.
Approval of Sole Source Purchase of a Navigational System from Aerocomputers, Inc. for the Eagle 7 Helicopter
Resolution No. 2007-11-291 (Attached) - C-1-m.
Resolution to Support Pending State Initiative "Homeowners and Private Property Protection Act" (07-0018)
Resolution No. 2007-11-292 (Attached)
Resolution to Oppose Pending State Initiative "CA Property Owners & Farmland Protection Act 2007"
Resolution No. 2007-11-293 (Attached)
2. GENERAL MANAGER
- C-2-a.
Ratification of General Manager's Declaration of the Existence of a District Emergency
Resolution No. 2007-11-294 (Attached)
By motion of Director Skinner, seconded by Director Siden, item C-2-a was unanimously approved.
General Manager Pat O'Brien stated that this Declaration was made after consultation with Board President Sutter and pertains to the November 7, 2007 Cosco-Busan oil spill accident at the San Francisco – Oakland Bay Bridge. District Counsel Ted Radosevich added that this Declaration will allow the District to fully qualify for recovering all expenses incurred in responding to the emergency and was based on the District's Emergency Operations Plan.
AGM of Operations John Escobar spoke about hoe the District was affected, and staff response to-date. Some highlights are as follows:
- 6 District parks, including 21 miles of shoreline, were affected by November 8. This ranged from Miller-Knox to northern Alameda Island, including Brooks Island;
- A Mobile Command Post was set-up at Eastshore State Park and the North Berkeley Basin area, both of which served as an effective contact spot for volunteers and city, county and state officials;
- An Incident Command Center at the Peralta Oaks Administration Building was set-up after the Mobile Command Posts were demobilized;
- At least 60 staff members were involved in various activities ranging from beach clean-up, volunteer training to bird rescue;
- Public Affairs has been handling the media and communications response, and continue to issue regular press releases and informational updates on the District's websites;
- Staff is in contact with various Health agencies to determine when affected areas may be opened to the public;
- The District will also be putting up warning signs where appropriate.
Director Skinner stated that the attention given to the East Bay region was not as immediate or comprehensive as what San Francisco and Marin received in the early stages of the accident may be due to the fact that the East Bay has numerous over-lapping jurisdictions and agencies, making coordination and communication much harder. She also believed that there is inadequate community awareness of how much of the District, including the amount of public use, has been adversely affected by this incident.
Director Skinner made a motion to direct staff to take the lead in establishing an interagency task force of the East Bay jurisdictions that were affected by the oil spill, namely Alameda, Oakland, Emeryville, Berkeley, Albany, Richmond, Alameda and Contra Costa counties, and other affected parties that may not be agencies as determined by staff, which will convene as appropriate from this point forward, that will coordinate the responses and communications to this incident, not only to the Command Center in Treasure Island, but any and all other agencies that may be involved with the oil spill, and convey inputs for what standards should be considered "Clean" with respect to the clean-up and cost reimbursement for the areas affected.
Director Siden seconded the motion, and was passed unanimously.
Director Siden added that the District is the natural agency to take the lead, given its area of coverage, comparing this incident to the Oakland Hills fire.
3. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- C-3-a.
Election of Board Officers for 2008
Resolution No. 2007-11-295 (Attached)
By motion of Director Severin, seconded by Director Lane, item C-3-a was unanimously approved.
Nominating Committee Chair Director Severin announced the nominees for Board Officers for 2008 as follows:
- President: Director Ayn Wieskamp
- Vice-President: Director Ted Radke
- Treasurer: Director Doug Siden
- Secretary: Director Nancy Skinner
4. LAND DIVISION
- C-4-a.
Authorization to Accept from Raymond L. and Margaret E. DeGennarro the Donation of Fee Interest in 26.5 Acres of Real Property Plus an Emergency Vehicle and Maintenance Access, Convey a Trail Easement and Transfer Funds Therefor: Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
Resolution No. 2007-11-296 (Attached)
By motion of Director Lane, seconded by Director Severin, item C-4-a was unanimously approved.
President Sutter directed staff to convey the Board's gratitude to the DeGennarro family for their generous donation.
5. BOARD AND STAFF REPORT
a. Actions Taken by Other Jurisdictions Affecting the Park District (O'Brien)
GM O'Brien discussed the items listed on the staff report.
6. GENERAL MANAGER'S COMMENTS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Brian Wiese introduced new Senior Park Planner Julie Bondurant, and presented on the SF Bay Area Water Trail Plan.
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CLOSED SESSION
President Sutter announced that Assistant Controller Patti Henry will be designated as acting Controller in January of 2008, after she completes her work on the GASB 34.
8. BOARD COMMITTEE REPORTS
- Alameda County/EBRPD Liaison Committee (9/29/07) (Wieskamp)
- EBMUD/EBRPD Liaison Committee (9/21/07) (Lane)
- Finance Committee (10/30/07) (Radke)
- Pinole/Hercules/EBRPD JPA (9/27/07) (Radke)
Director Lane asked that staff responsible for minutes preparation be named in future reports.
9. BOARD COMMENTS
Director Skinner reported on meetings attended. Director Skinner
- Attended the Richmond City Council meeting which included action on their EIR/General Plan Amendment; She spoke under Public Comments to communicate the economic development value of having high quality parks in their shoreline;
- Was in communication with staff and other relevant parties such as the Audubon Society on Friday, November 9 regarding various issues related to the oil spill;
- Joined District staff at the Eastshore State Park/Berkeley Marina Incident Command Center;
- Attended the District briefing on the oil spill incident;
- Represented the District at the State Natural Resources hearing held by Assemblywoman Loni Hancock, and pointed out that the District did not receive any official word on the oil spill until the morning of November 8;
- Attended Mayor McLaughlin's meeting to address Richmond residents' concerns on the oil spill.
Director Severin reported on meetings attended. Director Severin
- Attended the Alameda County CSDA meeting and the election for the alternate position for LAFCO, where she spoke on the candidacy of Director Wieskamp;
- Attended the hearing on the Vargas Plateau Land Use Plan, where she stated that the main issue raised by residents was about access;
- Will be attending the PAC dinner;
- Announced that the Director of the Hayward Historical Society was hired by the Dunsmuir House to be their new Executive Director, and asked Public Affairs staff to get in touch with him;
Director Siden reported on meetings attended. Director Siden
- Attended the Contra Costa County Watershed Symposium;
- Attended the Alameda County CSDA meeting and LAFCO election;
- Attended the San Leandro Breakfast Club meeting, and expressed appreciation to Community Relations Manager Carol Johnson for the set-up;
- Attended the memorial service for former Board member Oliver Holmes;
- Provided a newspaper article which featured Crown Beach Park Supervisor Anne Rockwell;
- Expressed his appreciation for GM O'Brien's Op-ed article regarding;
- Will be serving on the Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday rally committee in January;
Director Lane reported on meetings attended. Director Lane
- Attended the Contra Costa County Watershed Symposium and spoke about the various activities and projects discussed. She gave credit to CCCty Public Works Director Mitch Avalon as being responsible for the county's renewed focus on their waterways;
- Will be attending the CNWS meeting tonight;
- Had a discussion with the Mt. Diablo group for Sierra Club regarding the CNWS issue and the Faria lawsuit;
- Attended the Land Use Plan meeting for Vargas Plateau;
- Appreciated the staff response to the Kibel report.
Director Sutter reported on meetings attended. Director Sutter
- Announced that in the absence of volunteers, he will continue to represent the District on the Board of the Chabot Space and Science Center;
- Mentioned that although the Kibel report is flawed in a number of respects, he thought that the issue of providing adequate services for low-income and minorities is important, and agrees that the District's Parks Advisory Committee should study the issue;
- Attended the DD Committee meeting in Oakland;
- Attended the Alameda County Mayors Conference n Dublin;
- The Regional Parks Foundation Board meeting;
- Visited various District parks, Pinole, Briones, Kennedy Grove, and mentioned that he is very impressed by the quality of District staff.
D. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Rich Guarienti addressed the Board regarding the Morgan Territory hike conducted by Bob Doyle.
E. ADJOURNMENT
The Board Meeting was adjourned at 4:30 by President Sutter in honor of the late former District Board members Oliver Holmes and Kay Peterson, with Director Lane providing remarks in their honor.
Allen Pulido, Clerk of the Board
Attachments:
Visitors Log
Resolution Nos. 2007-11- through 2007-11-
Board Committee Reports

