Board Operations Committee Meeting Minutes
Thursday, June 21, 2007

Board: Directors Ayn Wieskamp (Chair), Beverly Lane, Carol Severin

Staff: John Escobar, Jack Kenny, Mike Anderson, Matt Madison, Rick Parmer, Mike Anderson, Mimi Waluch, Carol Victor, Margaret Kelley, Sharon Marshall

Public: Judi Bank (PAC), Alan Kaplan (PAC), Richard Guarienti (PAC), Denise Blackman

1. Review Shadow Cliffs Water Park Associates License Agreement at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area and Status Report on the Proposed California Splash Water Park.

Revenue Manager Mimi Waluch reported Shadow Cliffs Water Park Associates have been the operators of the waterslides at Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area since July 1980. Development of the new and improved California Splash Water Park has been delayed; consequently, Shadow Cliffs Water Park Associates is seeking a License Agreement to extend their operation of the existing waterslide through the 2007 summer season. Staff recommends approval of minor use changes and a one-year extension of the License Agreement. The District can expect revenue of approximately $9,000 annually derived from the operation of the License Agreement.

California Splash, LLC (CSLLC) entered into an agreement with the Park District to construct and operate a more developed water park. The agreement provided for the completion of California Splash Water Park by May 20, 2006. This deadline was not met and a one-year extension was granted through March 1, 2007. However, at this point, construction of the new facility remains incomplete.

Staff is currently working with CSLLC to update the master agreement, which would require the completion of the California Splash Water Park by May 20, 2008. CSLLC is developing a phased capital improvement plan for expansion of the waterslide facility. The improved facility design is currently being reviewed by the City of Pleasanton. Capital funding required for improvements is being negotiated with local investors. Until the necessary permits are obtained and the development funds are in place, the existing facility will operate as-is with minor upgrades, such as a "Kids Zone" play area with portable slides for young children. Staff is also requesting that a healthy food program be provided.

Assistant General Manager of Operations John Escobar noted that Assistant General Manager of Construction Mike Anderson has been working closely on this project with Mr. Glenn Kierstead.

Following discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously voted upon by the Committee that this item be brought to the full Board for favorable consideration.

2. 2007 Ordinance 38 Review.

Captain Matt Madison reported that the recommended revisions to Ordinance 38, following the annual review process, began in February 2007. Suggestions for revisions were received from District Operations and Public Safety staff. The revisions have been reviewed and endorsed by Public Safety and Operations staff and are recommended for approval.

Following this meeting, the recommended revisions would be reviewed with the Park Advisory Committee at their June 25, 2007 meeting before being presented to the full Board on July 17, 2007.

(Bold Italic text indicates suggested new text; Strike through indicates text recommended for removal.)

PARK OPERATIONS/OTHER STAFF:

Captain Madison noted that the items in Section 409.8 and 409.8(d) will be consolidated to 409.8(d).

Following discussion, it was moved, seconded and unanimously voted upon by the Committee that this item be brought to the full Board for favorable consideration.

3. Review and Reassign COMCAST Communication Site Tower and Equipment License Agreement at Briones Regional Park.

Ms. Waluch reported COMCAST Telecommunication has been operating a site tower and equipment at Briones Regional Park since 1993. Due to industry changes and improvements to other existing facilities, COMCAST no longer needs use of the site. However, the two sub-lease tenants, San Francisco Clear Channel and KOIT, wish to continue use of the site. San Francisco Clear Channel is willing to assume the role as master tenant, which includes maintenance of the access road, and plans to propose an upgrade to the facility in the near future.

Assistant District Counsel Carol Victor noted that the District would enter into a License Agreement with San Francisco Clear Channel under the same terms and conditions with minor use changes. Clear Channel has been offered a five agreement with a five-year renewal option.

Following discussion, it was moved, seconded and a 2-1 voted upon by the Committee that this item be brought to the full Board for favorable consideration.

4. 2006 Environmental Education Program Distribution – GIS Mapping Project.

Chief of Interpretive and Recreation Services Rick Parmer noted that in an effort to better understand the Department’s program distribution and effectiveness at reaching underserved communities, staff worked with the District’s GIS unit to plot schools on several maps that also identify one or more of the Park District’s visitor centers utilized by each school.

The Interpretive and Recreation Services Department is utilizing the technical resources of the Park District to better analyze the effectiveness of current environmental education programming. Working with the staff of all six visitor centers, the Department compiled a District-wide data base of all schools served by District interpretive programs in 2006. From this data base, staff found that over 36,000 school age children participated in Park District programs. Staff also learned that over 14,000 of these children attend schools that have 30% or more of their students participating in free or reduced cost lunch programs.

This information will help staff to determine which areas may be underserved and how staff may choose to redirect or expand outreach efforts over time. The free or reduced cost lunch program data also helps direct efforts to areas where District services can reach students with less opportunity for environmental education than those from more affluent neighborhoods.

The Committee thanked staff for the update.

5. Public Comments

There were no public comments.

6. Staff Comments

Chief of Park Operations Jack Kenny reported that another round of Park User Surveys is being conducted. It is the same survey that was designed by Dr. George Manross in 2005. Two interns will be working during the summer and will hit major activity areas in order to get some valid claims of park user needs and wants, and the demographics of the park users.

Staff will also be spending some time doing ‘attendance’ methods, for counting park users where there is no one central entry point, in order to develop guidelines for supervisors who have this type of park. Staff needs to do some attendance reporting.

The Department of Water Resources is still releasing water out of Del Valle Regional Park. The west beach could be closed after the 4th of July if Del Valle continues to lose water.

Shadow Cliffs’ staff has been working with neighboring quarry, Cemex, to pump water from their ponds into the lake when needed.

Two parks are having water issues. Sunol has no water and the well is dry. Exploratory drilling is being done to discover a new well. A long standing issue for Las Trampas is getting the water from Danville through the old military system which is also shared with the Quarry Development Company. Staff will be working on this issue.

There was no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 5:44 p.m.

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