EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Friday, May 14, 2021 12:30 p.m. COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND STAFF WILL ATTEND VIA TELECONFERENCE Pursuant to Governor Newsom’s Executive Order No. N-29-20 and the Alameda County Health Officer’s current Shelter in Place Order, effective March 31, 2020, the East Bay Regional Park District (“Park District”) Headquarters will not be open to the public and the Board Legislative Committee and staff will be participating in the meetings via phone/video conferencing. Members of the public can listen to the meeting via the Park District’s YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/2aHMPHIxgX4 Public comments may be submitted one of three ways: 1. Live via Zoom. If you would like to make a live public comment during the meeting this option is available through the virtual meeting platform: https://zoom.us/j/99290097681 Note, this virtual meeting platform link will let you into the virtual meeting for the purpose of providing a public comment. If you do not intend to make a public comment, please use the YouTube link at https://youtu.be/2aHMPHIxgX4 to observe the meeting. It is preferred that those requesting to speak during the meeting contact the Legislative Committee Assistant by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 13, 2021 via email at [email protected] or voicemail (510) 544-2002 to provide name and the subject line public comments – not on the agenda or public comments – agenda item #. 2. Via email to recording secretary [email protected] by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2021. Email must contain in the subject line public comments – not on the agenda or public comments – agenda item # followed by their name and place of residence, followed by their comments. 3. Via voicemail at 510-544-2002 by 4:00 p.m. Thursday, May 13, 2021. The caller must start the message by stating public comments – not on the agenda or public comments – agenda item# followed by their name and place of residence, followed by their comments. Comments received during the meeting and up until the public comment period on the relevant agenda item is closed, will be provided in writing to the Board Legislative Committee, included transcribed voicemails. All comments received by the close of the public comment period will be available after the meeting as supplemental materials and will become part of the official meeting record. Please try to limit your written comments to no more than 300 words. The Park District cannot guarantee that its network and/or the site will be uninterrupted. To ensure that the Park District receives your comments, you are strongly encouraged to submit your comments in writing in advance of the meeting. If you have any questions about utilizing the video stream, please contact the Assistant of the Committee, Yulie Padmore, at [email protected] or at 510-544-2002. To ensure the best opportunity for Park District staff to address your question, please contact the Assistant prior to 4:00 p.m. the day before the scheduled meeting. The following agenda items are listed for Committee consideration. In accordance with the Board Operating Guidelines, no official action of the Board will be taken at this meeting; rather, the Committee’s purpose shall be to review the listed items and to consider developing recommendations to the Board of Directors. A copy of the background materials concerning these agenda items, including any material that may have been submitted less than 72 hours before the meeting, is available for inspection on the District’s website (www. ebparks.org), the Headquarters reception desk, and at the meeting. Accommodations and Access District facilities and meetings comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If special accommodations are needed for you to participate, please contact the Clerk of the Board at 510-544-2020 as soon as possible, but preferably at least three working days prior to the meeting. AGENDA TIME ITEM STATUS STAFF 12:30 I. U.C. DAVIS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND I Pfuehler/Baldinger MANAGEMENT MASTERS STUDENT PROJECT II. FEDERAL LEGISLATION / OTHER MATTERS A. NEW LEGISLATION – RECOMMENDED BILLS FOR R Landreth/Pfuehler SUPPORT 1. S. 280 (Markey D-MA) and H.R. 744 (Clarke D-NY) – FEMA Climate Change Preparedness Act 2. S. 425 (Markey D-MA) and H.R. 1289 (Cohen D-TN) – Complete Streets Act 3. S. 487 (Wyden D-OR) and H.R. 1162 (Neguse D-CO) – 21st Century Conservation Corps Act 4. S. 559 (Collins R-ME) and H.R. 1548 (Cartwright D-PA) – Native Plant Species Pilot Program 5. S. 614 (Cardin D-MD) – Transportation Alternatives Enhancement Act 6. S. 684 (Markey D-MA) – Connecting America’s Active Transportation System 7. S. 1248 (Bennet D-CO) – Outdoor Restoration Partnership Act B. OTHER FEDERAL MATTERS I Pfuehler/Baldinger 1. Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Federal Transportation Grant Update 2. American Jobs Plan Update 3. Wildfire Update 4. Other Matters III. STATE LEGISLATION / OTHER MATTERS A. NEW LEGISLATION – RECOMMENDED BILLS FOR R Landreth/Pfuehler SUPPORT 1. AB 30 (Karla D-San Jose) – Equity in Outdoor Access to Nature 2. AB 564 (Gonzalez D-San Diego) – Biodiversity Protection and Restoration Act 3. AB 614 (Agular-Curry D-Winters) – Nesting Bird Habitat Incentive Program 4. AB 1255 (Bloom D-Santa Monica) – Fire Prevention Local Assistance Grant Program 5. AB 1512 (Bauer-Kahan D-Orinda) – Preservation of Alameda-Tesla Expansion Area 6. SB 624 (Hueso D-San Diego) – Environmental Equity and Outdoor Access Act B. OTHER STATE MATTERS I Pfuehler/Baldinger 1. Tree and Vegetation Mortality Update 2. AB 959 (Mullin D-South San Francisco) – Nuisance Abatement Legislation Update 3. Governor Newsom May Budget Revise 4. Other Matters IV. OPEN FORUM PUBLIC COMMENT Individuals wishing to address the Committee on a topic not on the agenda may do so by completing a speaker’s form and submitting it to the recording secretary. V. ARTICLES VI. BOARD COMMENTS (R) Recommendation for Future Board Consideration Future Meetings: (I) Information January 15 July 16 (D) Discussion February 19 August – NO MTG Legislative Committee Members March 19 September 17 Ayn Wieskamp (Chair); Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, Elizabeth Echols, Alternate April 13- CANCELLED October 15 Erich Pfuehler, Chief of Government and Legislative Affairs May 14 November – NO MTG Lisa Baldinger, Legislative and Policy Management Analyst June 18 *December 10 TO: Board Legislative Committee (Chair Ayn Wieskamp, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, alt. Elizabeth Echols) FROM: Sabrina Landreth, General Manager Erich Pfuehler, Chief of Government and Legislative Affairs Lisa Baldinger, Legislative and Policy Management Analyst SUBJECT: Board Legislative Committee Meeting WHEN: Friday, May 14, 2021 12:30 PM WHERE: For members of the public interested in joining the meeting on Zoom or watching it live on YouTube links are included in the meeting agenda. ______ Items to be discussed: I. U.C. DAVIS ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND MANAGEMENT MASTERS STUDENT PROJECT A team of U.C. Davis masters’ students are developing Local Community Information Guides of survey, demographic and mobility data aligned with the six East Bay Regional Park District Interpretive and Recreation zones. Project Manager and Legislative and Policy Management Analyst Lisa Baldinger will introduce the students to share background about their academic program and work on the guides. II. FEDERAL LEGISLATION / OTHER MATTERS A. NEW LEGISLATION – RECOMMENDED BILLS FOR SUPPORT 1. S. 280 (Markey D-MA) and H.R. 744 (Clarke D-NY) – FEMA Climate Change Preparedness Act These companion bills would create a Subcommittee to FEMA’s National Advisory Council explicitly focusing on climate change. They direct FEMA to include climate risks in its strategic planning. Last year, a record 22 weather and climate disasters cost the United States a combined $95 billion in damages. FEMA – as the federal agency charged with responding to climate events such as hurricanes, wildfires and flooding – is in an appropriate position to determine and mitigate climate risks. They also have the responsibility to help the country prepare for, respond to and recover from climate-fueled events. Specifically, the legislation: • Directs FEMA to immediately re-insert climate change risks and impacts into the Agency’s current strategic plan and all future plans. • Makes it the official policy of FEMA to recognize climate change as a significant near and long-term threat to United States homeland security. • Establishes a Climate Change Subcommittee to FEMA’s National Advisory Council to make national preparedness recommendations pertaining solely to climate change risks and impacts. • Directs FEMA to perform a national assessment on climate change risks and preparedness to be updated every four years. 1 2. S. 425 (Markey D-MA) and H.R. 1289 (Cohen D-TN) – Complete Streets Act The Complete Streets Act would promote safer and more accessible transportation routes across the United States. A “complete street” is one designed to provide safe and accessible transportation options for multiple modes of travel, as well as for people of all ages and abilities. Complete streets can accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit users, not just cars and freight vehicles. A complete street is also safe for children, seniors and individuals with disabilities. This legislation would require states to set aside a portion of their Federal highway funding to create a grant program aimed at funding complete streets projects. Through this program, eligible local and regional entities will be able to apply for technical assistance and capital funding to build safe street projects – such as sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks and bus stops. Under the Complete Streets Act: • States would be required to set aside five percent of their Federal highway money to create a “Complete Streets” program. • Eligible entities would need to adopt a complete streets policy, participate in technical assistance and create a prioritized plan for projects in their jurisdictions to access the funding.