Brian Malone

The Board of Directors reviewed and approved the Annual Claims List for Fiscal Year 2026-27 to facilitate the timely payment of operational expenses, including salaries, debt service, retirement plans, insurance, and utilities. The claims cover amounts exceeding the General Manager's purchasing authority, ensuring efficient management of recurring financial obligations.

The board meeting agenda includes a community partnership highlight, a claims report, and the authorization of a budget transfer to the infrastructure reserve. Key financial items involve the annual review of fiscal management policies, the establishment of the fiscal year 2027 tax levy for general obligation bonds, and the acceptance of the controller's report on the proposed budget. Additionally, the board will address multiple contract actions, including environmental review services for the Hawthorns Area Plan, rejection of bids for a window replacement project, and amendments to agreements for legal and environmental services. Other business includes the dissolution of a redevelopment successor agency, reallocation of Measure AA funds between various portfolios, and the adoption of the fiscal year 2026-27 budget and associated classification and compensation plans.

The Board of Directors considered and adopted a resolution to amend the Measure AA Expenditure Plan. This amendment reallocates remaining funds from the substantially completed Portfolio #09 Russian Ridge and Portfolio #10 Coal Creek projects to the Portfolio #21 Bear Creek Redwoods project to support ongoing public recreation and interpretive projects. The Board reviewed the financial status of these portfolios and confirmed the proposed amendments align with District Policy 3.11, following advisory reviews by the Action Plan and Budget Committee and the Bond Oversight Committee.

The Board of Directors discussed and authorized the transfer of $1.1 million from Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget savings in salaries and benefits to the Committed for Infrastructure Reserve. This reserve is designated for funding construction, expansion, or renewal of facilities, specifically the upcoming Coastal Area Office and Skyline Field Office Rebuild projects. The transfer was recommended by the General Manager to pre-fund these large-scale infrastructure projects while maintaining a favorable funded ratio for the District's pension plan.

The committee meeting focused on two primary natural resources projects. The first agenda item involves a proposed partnership agreement to implement a carbon farming project at Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. The second agenda item covers three coastside fisheries improvement and monitoring projects, including stream assessments, conceptual designs, and fisheries monitoring, with recommendations to be forwarded to the full Board of Directors regarding partnership agreements with the San Mateo Resource Conservation District.