BTCEB advocates reached out to EBRPD board members ahead of their July 21st planning workshop. Each board member discussed their particular top priorities for the district at this workshop in the series. We met with 5 of the 7 board members either virtually, by phone, or in person and discussed key priorities of the Briones Pilot, Wildcat Flow Trail, Contra Loma trail project, increased volunteer trail stewardship opportunities, increased staffing for planning and maintenance of narrow natural surface trails, long distance connectivity and expanded access opportunities across the district. This was also an opportunity to hear the director’s perspectives on our key issues and their broader perspectives as well. Dee Rosario was on an extended vacation but we’ll meet with him in the near future. Directors Coffey, Echols, Corbett, Sanwong, and Mercurio took time to meet with us. Additionally BTCEB submitted written public comment to the workshop reiterating our requests and interests.
We appreciate the directors taking time to have discussion with us, hear us out, and have dialogue. Discussions like these with our elected decision makers are important in putting a face to our mountain bike community. Nine different BTCEB members were able to participate in these meetings providing a variety of personal experiences and perspectives in these discussions. This was a significant step in expanding the number of members having conversations with these key decision makers. Live and written public comment is a key part of the public process but constituent meetings like these are incredibly valuable in having a more in depth discussion than a 3 minute comment and the limited response the public meetings afford. They’re also helpful in getting to know the directors and to building a positive working relationship as a constituent.
Board members made the most positive comments supporting further mountain bike access that we’ve heard thus far. Colin Coffey has mountain bike access as a high priority and supports both the Briones Pilot and the Wildcat project. He additionally asked for 5 more mtb trail opportunities to be identified and pursued in the next 5 years. He’s been a proponent of mtb trails at Contra Loma which has biking in it’s land use plan and is less environmentally sensitive than other areas. Elizabeth Echols was also supportive of more mtb access and noted the significant youth participation. She was appreciative of the public participation in the April Wildcat meeting and is looking forward to the CEQA evaluation work moving forward. Dee Rosario expressed support for the Briones Pilot and was interested in evaluation of alternatives in Wildcat. John Mercurio expressed support for more mtb trails, mtb user input and has a particular parcel in mind that the district is working on acquiring but couldn’t name at this time. Dennis Waespi asked for a survey of what hikers thought of mountain biking. Olivia Sanwong didn’t specifically mention mtb access but did speak to the need for more trails. She has requested that there be a Pleasanton Ridge pilot along the lines of the Briones pilot. You can view a video of the meeting.
Live public comment was made by Barbara Smith responding to the Sierra Club letter opposing the Wildcat trail and park staff actions. 3 youth mountain bikers also made public comment.
The EBRPD Board uses a series of workshops or study sessions to facilitate their annual planning process, have discussion, and comply with the Brown Act. The Brown Act prohibits more than 2 board members discussing district business outside of an agendized public meeting. The workshops are designed for the board to hear information from staff and discuss their thoughts with each other. The public is allowed to comment on these workshops as they are with board or committee meetings. The items for from this July workshop were being collected by staff and will be organized and reviewed in a September board meeting. The next and last workshop for 2023 will be a Trails Session on Thursday September 26th from 10am – 3pm. The public can access the meeting either in person at the park’s Peralta Oaks office in Oakland or via Zoom. Additionally these sessions are usually recorded and available on YouTube.
