EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT BOARD LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE Friday, February 19, 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/fDMU6n-pX38 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://ebparks.zoom.us/j/93446758940 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 observe the meeting. It is https://youtu.be/fDMU6n-pX38 preferred that those requesting to speak during the meeting contact the Legislative Committee Assistant by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 18, 2021 via email at [email protected] or voicemail (510) 544-2400 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, February 18, 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, February 18, 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. on Thursday, February 18, 2020. 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. EAST BAY SURVEY RESULTS I Pfuehler/Baldinger II. STATE LEGISLATION / OTHER MATTERS A. NEW LEGISLATION – RECOMMENDED BILLS FOR R Victor/Pfuehler SUPPORT 1. AB 72 (Petrie-Norris D-Laguna Beach) – Coastal Adaptation Permitting Act 2. AB 391 (Villapudua D-Stockton) – Pollinator Habitat Grants 3. ACR 17 (Voepel R- Santee) – Special Districts Week in May 4. SB 347 (Caballero D- Salinas) – Urban Tree Fund B. OTHER STATE MATTERS I Victor/Pfuehler 1. Sacramento Meetings Recap 2. Compromised Trees Update 3. Nuisance Abatement Legislation Update 4. Wildfire Training Center Update 5. Other Matters III. FEDERAL LEGISLATION / OTHER MATTERS A. NEW LEGISLATION – RECOMMENDED BILLS FOR R Victor/Pfuehler SUPPORT 1. H.R. 610 (Speier D-CA) – San Francisco Bay Restoration Act 2. S. 91 (Sinema D-AZ) and H.R. 535 (Garamendi D-CA) – Special Districts Qualifying for Coronavirus Relief Fund B. OTHER FEDERAL MATTERS I Victor/Pfuehler 1. President Biden Covid-19 Relief Funding Package 2. Better Utilizing Investment to Leverage Development (BUILD) Federal Transportation Grant Update 3. Land and Water Conservation Fund / Great American Outdoors Act 4. Outdoor Restoration Force Act, Climate Corps, Civilian Conservation Corps 5. Delegation Committee Assignments 6. Other Matters IV. STRATEGY FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT I Pfuehler/Baldinger UPDATE V. 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. VI. ARTICLES VII. BOARD COMMENTS (R) Recommendation for Future Board Consideration (I) Information (D) Discussion Legislative Committee Members Future Meetings: Ayn Wieskamp (Chair); Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, January 15 July 16 Elizabeth Echols (Alternate) February 19 August – NO MTG Erich Pfuehler, Chief of Government and Legislative Affairs March – NO MTG September 17 Lisa Baldinger, Legislative and Policy Management Analyst April 13 October 15 May 14 November – NO MTG June 18 *December 10 TO: Board Legislative Committee (Chair Ayn Wieskamp, Dee Rosario, Dennis Waespi, alt. Elizabeth Echols) FROM: Carol Victor, Interim General Manager Erich Pfuehler, Government Affairs Manager SUBJECT: Board Legislative Committee Meeting WHEN: Friday, February 19, 2021 12:30 PM WHERE: Members of the public can listen to the meeting in the following way: Via the Park District’s live stream, on the Park District’s YouTube channel, which can be found on the agenda. ______ Items to be discussed: I. EAST BAY SURVEY RESULTS Chief of Government and Legislative Affairs Erich Pfuehler and Legislative and Policy Management Analyst Lisa Baldinger will be joined by Lake Research Partners to present findings of an N=600 District-wide survey conducted December 9-13, 2020. II. STATE LEGISLATION / OTHER MATTERS A. NEW LEGISLATION RECOMMENDED BILLS FOR SUPPORT 1. AB 72 (Petrie-Norris D-Laguna Beach) – Coastal Adaptation Permitting Act This bill seeks to establish a more coordinated permitting process for coastal adaptation projects. It would require the Natural Resources Agency to submit a report to the Legislature by July 1, 2023 outlining steps aimed at achieving greater permitting efficiencies. For the purpose of this legislation, a “coastal adaptation project” is an activity intended or designed to address, mitigate or prevent the adverse social and economic effects of sea level rise. 2. AB 391 (Villapudua D-Stockton) – Pollinator Habitat Grants This bill appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to support conservation programs which establish pollinator habitat. The funding would be administered by the Department of Food and Agriculture. It would be used in partnership with the University of California Extension Services, California Resource Conservation Districts and United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. Funding would incentives participation, particularly for those managing working lands, to participate in state and federal conservation programs beneficial to pollinators. 3. ACR 17 (Voepel R-Santee) – Special Districts Week in May The concurrent resolution proclaims the week of May 16 to May 22, 2021 to be Special Districts Week. It further encourages all Californians to be involved in their communities and civically engaged with their local government. 4. SB 347 (Caballero D-Salinas) – Urban Tree Fund 1 This bill creates a California Tree Fund. It would enable taxpayers to designate an amount of excess personal income tax liability (for those who have excess) to the Fund. Monies in the Fund would be allocated to CAL FIRE for a grant program supporting urban forest management activities, and to the Strategic Growth Council for urban greening and green infrastructure projects under the Transformative Climate Communities (TCC) Program. The District recently received a $1.4 million TCC grant for operation and trail maintenance of the San Leandro Creek Trail from Hegenberger Road to 98th Avenue once the trail is constructed. B. OTHER STATE MATTERS 1. Virtual Sacramento Meetings Recap Acting Legislative Assistant Yulie Padmore will provide a recap of the Zoom meetings with California State Senators and Assembly Members on January 25 and 27. 2. Compromised Trees Update The Park District is experiencing an unusual amount of sudden vegetation eradication with non-native and native species. The reason for this sudden dry vegetation is not yet scientifically confirmed, but theories include drought impacts due to climate change or a newly introduced pathogen. Identified species being impacted are eucalyptus, acacia, pine and coyote brush. The District has observed significant vegetation die-off in above-ground vegetation across the Park District and on adjacent lands. It is still unclear if the vegetation die-off is impacting the roots underground. Similar vegetation die-off has also been found in the cities of Marin, Oakland and San Diego. This development is still being analyzed and will require a vast amount of time and resources to determine the exact source. Tracking the status of this issue will remain a priority for the District to manage forest health and maintain public safety through wildfire mitigation.