Mark de Bie

The meeting agenda included Roll Call, Approval of Agenda, and Discussion and Election of Board Chair and Vice Chair. Key items involved reports from the Executive Director and Board Members, review of the Funding Status, and Recovery of Funds. Numerous project discussions and funding requests were presented, including expansions for Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve, planning for the I-15 Rainbow Canyon Wildlife Crossing, restoration projects like San Diego Cactus Scrub Restoration, Southern California Pollinator Conservation, and projects related to Curry Canyon Ranch and Roddy Ranch Golf Course Augmentation. Other agenda items covered habitat enhancement, land exchange proposals, and various restoration initiatives for aquatic habitats, meadows, and grasslands across different regions.

The meeting commenced with establishing a quorum and reviewing meeting logistics. Public comment sessions featured discussions regarding the Streamflow Enhancement Fund (SEF), with commenters urging the board to collect data ensuring SEF projects do not reduce stream flows and maximize cost-effectiveness, prioritizing permanent acquisitions and benefits for disadvantaged communities. Specifically, concerns were raised about verifying water use reductions from irrigation efficiency projects due to a lack of monitoring equipment. Board members inquired about metrics for determining SEF project effectiveness and the timeline for releasing draft criteria for the SEF program. Staff indicated that criteria development was underway with engagement from relevant departments, anticipating draft guidelines might be available in February or May. The agenda also covered a funding status update detailing available funds from various sources, including bond measures like Proposition 12, 40, 84, and 50.

The meeting involved administrative items, including addressing technical difficulties for a consultant who was scheduled to present the Natural Resources Management Plan update. The committee approved the draft minutes from the May 13, 2020 meeting. A significant discussion focused on funding status, noting that while State General Fund money is depleted, over $4.4 million remains from Prop 68 funding due to no applications received in the last solicitation. Discussions also covered removal of trash and debris from the American River Parkway, with 682 tons removed through September 2020, partially restricted by COVID-19 public health orders. Future plans include submitting recommendations to the Board of Supervisors for spending Prop 68 per capita dollars on parkway projects, such as improvements at Discovery Park, the Alder Shelter replacement, and the Tiscornia restroom. Furthermore, the committee discussed and advanced a pilot program to make off-paved trail use for cycling permanent in the Cal Expo and Woodlake area, clarifying that new mountain biking trails would only be on maintenance or emergency roads, not equestrian hiking trails. The committee also authorized exploring the expansion of mountain biking trails following a recommendation from the Recreation Park Commission.

The meeting agenda covered several key items, including the Roll Call, Approval of Agenda, and Discussion and Election of the Board Chair and Vice Chair. The agenda also included the Executive Director's Report and Board Member Updates. A significant portion was dedicated to Consent Items, encompassing the Recovery of Funds totaling over $753,000 across various sources, and approvals for numerous restoration, acquisition, and planning projects such as the Imperial Wildlife Area Wetland Restoration, I-15 Rainbow Canyon Wildlife Crossing Planning, Rancho Jamul Ecological Reserve Expansion, San Diego Cactus Scrub Restoration, Southern California Pollinator Conservation planning, Sycuan Peak Ecological Reserve Acquisition, and Santa Cruz Long-toed Salamander Corridor Restoration. Presentation items included updates on SR 62 Wildlife Crossings Planning and Spanish Ranch. The meeting also reviewed the detailed Funding Status report showing grand totals for allocations and balances.

The meeting commenced with the welcoming and introduction of four new advisory committee members representing the City of Sacramento, the City of Rancho Cordova, and the State Lands Commission. Following roll call confirming a quorum, the committee proceeded to elect a Chair and Vice Chair by acclamation, with Cory Brown re-elected as Chair and Supervisor Hume elected as Vice Chair. Key agenda items included informational reviews of the active projects list and the funding summary, which highlighted that general fund sources were expended and future funding is anticipated from Proposition 4. The committee participated in a Mentimeter survey to prioritize resources for improving the parkway, assess the biggest climate threat (fire), rank investment goals related to climate resilience, water supplies, and water quality, and identify priority areas for protection and restoration activities, with vegetation management and addressing impacted areas being key restoration needs. The session concluded with a discussion on public resource concerns and members' favorite places within the Parkway.