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Board Meeting Minutes Approved Minutes Board Meeting of April 6, 2021 The Board Meeting, which was held April 6, 2021 at East Bay Regional Park District, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court, Oakland, CA 94605 called its Closed Session to order at 11:00 a.m. by Board President Dee Rosario. ROLL CALL Directors Present: Dee Rosario, President Colin Coffey, Vice President Beverly Lane, Treasurer Dennis Waespi, Secretary Ayn Wieskamp Elizabeth Echols Ellen Corbett Directors Absent: None. The Open Session of the Board Meeting was called to order at 1:03 p.m. by President Rosario. Staff Present: Sabrina Landreth, Carol Victor, Ana Alvarez, Debra Auker, Anthony Ciaburro, Jim O’Connor, Carol Johnson, Allyson Cook, Jonathan Hobbs, Dave Mason, Lance Brede, Erich Pfuehler, Aileen Thiele, Tiffany Margulici, Alan Love, Ren Bates, Katy Hornbeck, Mary Mattingly, Matthew James, Sydney Erickson (PrimeGov), Kristine Kelchner, Jeff Rasmussen, Michelle Strawson O’Hara and Finance staff. Guests: Peter Umhofer, E2 Straegies. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE President Rosario asked Director Corbett to lead the Board in the Pledge of Allegiance. Director Corbett acknowledged the Huichin who came long before and were the caretakers of the beautiful lands along the grassy hillsides of the East Bay stretching from Berkeley to the South. The Huichin cared for the wetlands and the shoreline. Corbett stated she appreciated them for understanding the importance of stewardship of the land and thanked President Rosario for the opportunity to acknowledge the peoples of the area she represents. President Rosario opened the meeting and stated that consistent with Governor Gavin Newsom’s Executive Order N-25-20 issued on March 12, 2020 in response to the threat of COVID-19 and the Alameda County Health Department’s Order dated March 16, 2020, the Board of Directors may utilize teleconferencing to remotely participate in meetings. Clerk of the Board announced the three ways in which the public could participate in the meeting. President Rosario asked if the Board members had any questions about the meeting process. There were none. A. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA By motion of Director Lane, and seconded by Director Wieskamp, the Board voted unanimously to approve the agenda. Directors Remote: Colin Coffey, Ellen Corbett, Elizabeth Echols, Beverly Lane, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi and Ayn Wieskamp. Directors Against: None. Directors Absent: None. Approved Minutes Board Meeting of April 6, 2021 B. PUBLIC COMMENTS Clerk Knight announced that there were 16 citizens slated to speak. The following members of the public addressed the Board on supporting the renaming of the Concord Hill Regional Park to the Thurgood Marshall Regional Park: Home of the Port Chicago 50. Dr. Dawn Nwamuo M.D. and Marquita Price, Black Cultural Zone, and Willie Mims, NAACP East County. Lewis Thrower and Lewis Wills Board members of Citizens for Historical Equity read letters of support. Rev. Diana McDaniel, President of Friends of Port Chicago read a letter written by Robert L. Allen, author of The Port Chicago Mutiny. Dennisha Marsh, Chair, Pan African American Achievement Collaborative Team (PAACT), Yulie Padmore, The Black Employee Collective's (BEC), and Constance Taylor, AFSCME read statements on the naming recommendation. Clerk Knight read United War Veterans Council Wilfred Scott's naming recommendation statement into public comment. Steve Sheinkin, author of The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights commented the park naming will change the narrative for African Americans by exemplifying a positive and excellent leader who played an instrumental role in promoting racial equality. A petition of over 850 citizens was endorsed by regional organizations, churches, museums, veterans, and historians, the Black Employee Collective of the East Bay Regional Park District, Workforce Diversity committee, regional NAACP branches, Black Cultural Zone, Black Mecca Museum, Richmond Historical Society, Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center in support of the name change which will give voice to the patriots who lost their lives in the explosion and bring renewed contexts to enhance and serve their legacy. Chris Newey, President AFSCME responded to an email that the District sent out to honor the Cesar Chavez holiday reminding all that Local 2428 had to give up Columbus Day during the 2013 negotiations to gain the Cesar Chavez Day as a District holiday. Newey stated that earlier this year, employees approached the Board asking to pass a resolution to celebrate Juneteenth as a District holiday with paid time off for staff and maybe waive parking fees or some gesture for the public in order to honor the end of slavery. AFSCME and the District are currently bargaining, and the District’s representatives are asking AFSCME to sacrifice Lincoln's birthday, to get Juneteenth. According to Ralph Andersons & Associates study, the East Bay Regional Park District was third from last in total number of holidays offered to its employees. Newey asked how the District can continue to talk about the importance of diversity, equity and conclusion and offer little to no equity to the employees. He asked the District to offer equitable amounts of holidays to the workforce and to honor Juneteenth as a paid District holiday and publicly honor Juneteenth as an important historic day. Cecilia Theis was unable to offer public comment due to phone issues. Clerk Knight suggested Theis send an email to the Board. Becky Robinson, President and Founder of Alley Cat Allies sent an email which included a letter regarding the feral cat policy. Jennifer Bossett talked about her difficulty getting a reservation at Tilden Park’s Little Farm and her disappointing customer service experience with a Reservations department staff person. Director Coffey commented his concern with the historical inaccuracy of the Concord Hills land because the land that the District owns wasn't the home of the Port Chicago 50, it was added to the base after the war ended. Coffey asked when this naming is coming next to the Executive Committee meeting. GM Landreth replied a date has not been set yet, but a date will be provided as soon as possible. Director Corbett asked the Clerk to try again to make a connection with Cecilia Theis. Knight called on Ms. Theis who was unable to connect to speak. The Clerk suggested again that Ms. Theis send an email. C. SPECIAL UPDATE 1. General Manager’s Update on the Status of the East Bay Regional Park District Emergency During the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Reoperation Plan for 2021. Approved Minutes Board Meeting of April 6, 2021 General Manager Landreth gave a brief update and Jim O’Connor, AGM of Operations walked the Board through more specifics. GM Landreth stated the Governor announced that Contra Costa has officially moved into the orange tier which means that as of today both counties are officially orange, and June 15th is a target date to reopen the state. Details are forthcoming, masks will continue to be mandatory and there will be restrictions on some indoor activities. Landreth stated that the District will continue to promote and encourage District staff to get their vaccine. Landreth thanked staff for their tremendous work and stated she would like to maximize reopening in a safe manner for District staff and the public. AGM O’Connor reported this is an evolving situation with the new state guidelines. The District is working to reopen and this past week several of the visitor centers were reopened at 25% capacity. D. BUSINESS BEFORE THE BOARD 1. CONSENT CALENDAR By motion of Director Lane, and seconded by Director Wieskamp, the consent calendar was unanimously approved. Directors For: Colin Coffey, Ellen Corbett, Beverly Lane, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, Ayn Wieskamp. Directors Against: None. Directors Recused: Elizabeth Echols. g. Authorization for Construction-Related PG&E Utility Payments and Associated Agreements for Two Projects: the Renovate Water Treatment System Project and the Develop Brickyard Cove Project: Del Valle Regional Park and McLaughlin Eastshore State Park Regional Shoreline Resolution No. 2021 – 04 - 077 (attached) Director Echols recused herself because PG&E is a regulated entity by the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and she is the Executive Director of the Public Advocate’s office. Echols stated that while the Public Advocate's office is independent of the PUC, the Public Advocate’s Office has a relationship with the PUC. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ By motion of Director Corbett, and seconded by Director Wieskamp, the balance of the consent calendar was unanimously approved. Directors For: Colin Coffey, Ellen Corbett, Elizabeth Echols, Beverly Lane, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, Ayn Wieskamp. Directors Against: None. a. Approval of District Check Listing for the Period of February 15, 2021Through February 28, 2021 Resolution No. 2021 – 04 - 078 (attached) b. Approval of the Minutes for the Board Meeting of March 16, 2021 c. Resolution to Support AB 1500 (Garcia D-Coachella) – Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation and Workforce Development Bond Act of 2022 Resolution No. 2021 – 04 - 079 (attached) Approved Minutes Board Meeting of April 6, 2021 d. Resolution Denouncing Racism, Xenophobia, and Violence Against Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders and Reaffirming the East Bay Regional Park District’s Commitment to a Safe, Welcoming, and Inclusive Workplace and Park System Resolution No. 2021 – 04 - 080 (attached) Kelly Abreu commented on item D and E. Abreu remarked that some directors know they're not allowed to discuss items and it would be nice if District staff knew they're not allowed to carry out actions in response to direction from one of those unpermitted discussions. Abreu said that the resolutions reject physical barricades that exclude local visitors from walking into the regional parks and put public health first during this pandemic, they radically reorder the legal environment to conform with the basic philosophy and history of jurisprudence.
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