Parks, Recreation and Historical Commission - Regular Meeting

Okay, we're going to start the meeting for the PRC and let me order and pledge of allegiance. Alright, now I'm going to do the land acknowledgement. The Alameda County Parks Recreation Historical Commission recognizes and appreciates the Indigenous people who have lived in this area for thousands of years in relative harmony. Roll call, please.

Commissioner Felix. Absent, excused. Commissioner Mendoza.

Here.

Commissioner Menard.

Here.

Commissioner Thomas. Commissioner Welshmeyer, also absent and excused. Commissioner Willis and Chair Farley, we have a quorum.

If I could, I'm going to interject. I would like to open the forum for our new commissioner to give a chance to introduce himself and welcome him onto the board.

Thank you. Thank you. So I'm Luis Mendoza. I'm a new commissioner for District 2. I have been a planning commissioner in San Leandro, serving my second term now. And thank you for the welcome.

Welcome aboard. Happy to have you. Second that.

All right. Now we're to open forum. This is the section where anybody in the public that wishes to speak something that's not on the agenda can do so now.

Are there no speakers?

Approval of the minutes from the previous meeting, June 4th, 2026, action item.

Chair, I would like to make a couple of corrections on H. Public-facing web map consolidated all county historic register properties that should be unincorporated county historic register properties unless we're doing more than I anticipated. And also on old business item two, no, I'm sorry, on item two, discussion of Chabot Theater, historic, it says staff, next to last line, staff, confirm there are three existing Mills Act contracts, and it should be unincorporated county. Because I know that there's two in Fremont, and I think there's three here in an unincorporated Alameda County.

Does anyone else on the board have any correction to the minutes?

Someone make a motion, move the motion speak, accepted as corrected. Second.

So reminder, public speakers. For public speakers.

OK. Public speakers.

For no speakers.

OK. We do a roll call vote.

Commissioner Mendoza.

Abstain.

Commissioner Menard.

Yes.

Commissioner Thomas.

Yes.

Commissioner Willis? Yes. And Chair Farley? Yes. Motion passes with amendments to the minutes.

Now we're on to chair and staff reports. I don't have anything to report at this time. Maybe later in the agenda. Staff have any reports?

Staff has none.

Okay. And The public, not this section, right?

No speakers.

Okay, we're on the new business. Consideration of certificate of appropriateness application for rehabilitation restoration of White Cotton College located in Fairmont Hospital Campus at 15400 Foothill Boulevard in Castro Valley. And I know that our fellow commissioner had sent something in about the appropriateness.

I'll go ahead. If the commission is supportive, I'd like to invite Dominic Lucchese for the presentation.

Good afternoon, commissioners. Dominic Lucchese from the planning department. And we're here to present on the application for a certificate of appropriateness for White Cotton Cottage, PLN 2026-00092. City of the project information here on this slide the application was submitted by the alameda county general services agency or GSA on may 28 2026 for the exterior modifications related to the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the white cotton cottage. located at 15400 Foothill Boulevard on the Fairmont Hospital campus in Castro Valley. Assessor's parcel number 80A-238-10. It's in the public facility zoning district within the Castro Valley general plan. The White Cotton Cottage is a two-story complex cross-gabled shingle-style house with a round tower located on the southeastern portion of the Fairmont Hospital campus in Castro Valley. The building is owned and managed by Alameda County. The property is the oldest surviving building on the Fairmont campus and served as the residence for the facility's superintendent from its construction in 1903 into the 1950s. From the 1970s to the year 2000, the building was used as office space. It's remained vacant since 2000 and its condition has declined significantly due to a lack of maintenance. In 2024, the PRHC nominated the property for listing on the county register as a landmark and the board of supervisors subsequently approved the designation. Per the historic preservation ordinance, a certificate of appropriateness is required for any alteration of a landmark and the PRHC may review applications and make a recommendation to the planning director for final approval. Here you can see an aerial view of the property situated on the Fairmont campus. It's identified with the red arrow. The application included a historical assessment report, which was prepared by the architectural firm Triner. That's included in your materials. Based on the evaluation, the following are the character dividing features of the building listed on this slide. It's a two-story house with complex cross gable roof and shed dormers, painted wood shingle exterior cladding, the wood windows of various sizes in operation with wood surrounds, the dental course at Eve's Soffit, a cutaway porch at west elevation with shingle-clad square column supports, the enclosed porch with shingle columns at the south elevation, the shingle-clad round tower with stucco-clad window band at upper level and a partial conical roof, the shallow oriole window with brackets on the west elevation, and the brick chimney. So the GSA proposes the complete rehabilitation of the white cotton cottage into office space for use by county staff. And the scope of the certificate of appropriateness is limited to the proposed exterior modifications only, which are summarized here on this slide. So the replacement in kind of the wood shingle siding, a new roof with composition asphalt shingles, The rehabilitation or replacement in kind of the wood double hung windows and doors. The brick chimney reconstructed using salvage bricks new access ramps at the south and west elevations and the door on the east elevation would be removed and infill to match the wood shingle siding. Next four slides provide a high level view of these modifications which are outlined in red. On the north elevation you'll see two non-original aluminum bay windows which will be replaced with double hung wood windows and one window infill will be removed and replaced to match the original appearance. The wood door will be replaced and you can also see that a new elevator will protrude slightly from the roof. On the south elevation a new painted wood access ramp will be installed with steel handrails and the existing wood door will be replaced with an ADA compliant wood door. On the east elevation the door would be removed and the opening will be filled to match the exterior wall. And at the west elevation the existing wood ramp will be replaced. are renderings of the proposed access ramps. This also is a good visualization of what the final project may look like. So after reviewing the application materials, staff finds that the proposed project is consistent with the Secretary of the Interior standards for rehabilitation. It maintains the building's long standing office use, It introduces exterior modifications only were necessary for accessibility and code compliance that proposed modifications are designed to match historic materials and craftsmanship and avoids inappropriate chemical or abrasive treatments and the exterior modifications are are compatible and scale and material. So in addition, one or more of the following findings are required for the approval of a certificate of appropriateness per the Historic Preservation Ordinance. And staff finds that the proposed project satisfies criterion A and B, which is that the project complies with the Secretary of the Interior Standards and relevant state building codes. And the proposed project would not destroy or have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of the white cotton cottage and will retain the essential elements that make it significant. For staff requests that your Commission take public testimony and adopt a resolution recommending that the planning director approves the certificate of appropriateness for the exterior modifications related to the rehabilitation of the white cotton cottage subject to the following standard conditions. One just reaffirming that all alterations comply with the Secretary of the Interior standards and state building codes. That the certificate will expire three years from the date of issuance unless the building permit has been obtained. That the plan submitted for the building permit substantially match the plan submitted by GSA. That the certificate shall not become effective until the county approves the building permit and that a copy of the certificate of appropriateness shall be attached to the final permit plans. Thank you, commissioners. That concludes my presentation. I'm here along with the GSA project team to answer any questions that you may have.

Thank you, staff. Go ahead. I was just saying thank you, staff.

OK. A couple of questions. Number one, the door that you're taking out and then filling with the shingle wall siding, when was that door installed originally in the house, in the building? Defer to the modern addition or was it earlier?

That's a good question. I'm going to defer to the architect. Hi, commissioners. Peter Burkholz with Page and Turnbull were the architects, the preservation architects on this. We believe that that door was original to the date of construction.

Removing that door will change the historical architect. Why not just leave the door on the outside and just infill on the inside so that you don't see it on the inside, but you still see it on the outside?

That is certainly a possibility, I think that it's on a secondary facade of the building, I think, and I think it's amongst the overall composition of the building we didn't see it as a. highly significant element of the building and we felt that the loss of it would not impair the historic significance of the building, however, if it was directed by you. that you wanted that to remain, we could all change the plans to show that. And I think it would just complicate the ongoing maintenance, the weatherproofing of it, to have that little element. But we certainly could do that.

And while you're up there, does the roof have redwood gutters on it?

It does not. It has a contemporary and I don't know what gutters.

So that's a modern addition.

Yes.

Okay. One other thing, I see that many of the doors on the inside are being modified. And I think some of the exit doors are being modified. I'm assuming for ADA. But if you're building with restoring it with a historic building code, you do not have to meet ADA standards quite so tightly. Have you considered using historic building codes and leaving the doors as they are? Width wise?

That's a complicated subject. You are correct. The building could use the historic building code. However, within the historic building code, one of the things that can't be trumped is accessibility. We can, say, have doors that I think there is a provision that allows you to have slightly less door clearance, less than the 32 inches required by current code. However, I think it's prudent to upgrade it to current accessibility codes as part of this and that the new doors that we're going to replace them with are going to be, I mean, they're going to be replica replacements, so it won't be noticeable that they're different. I mean, it won't be the same doors. And the other issue is dealing with all of these things is current OSHA requirements and lead paint requirements and things like that. When we start messing with existing doors with lead paint on them, we have to abate them. It just sort of trickles up the scope of things. And also it's liable to come with change orders because there's defects that perhaps we didn't identify. We just feel that it's simpler and more prudent to replace it with a replica that meets the current code and minimizes risk upstream when we go out to bid and we're in construction. But I hope that answers your question.

Yeah. City Council Chambers, Commissioner Thomas um that was actually going to be my first question is whether or not the site was assessed for Ada. City Council Chambers, Access and it was actually included in status report, so thank you very much for that dominic it's not just prudent for you to make sure that the renovations for this historic building are Ada accessible it's actually in your best interest. um coming from someone who's worked with the county on multiple projects including renovation and rehabilitation of said structures it would be foolhardy to spend hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands of dollars renovating or upgrading a facility and not make it ada accessible it's not something that i would recommend or vote for so i'll leave that there

Commissioner Willis, first of all, I want to compliment Dominic and the county for getting to this point in the renovation and also for the architectural firm. I think the plans look great, very thorough. The drawings or the photographs of what it might look like is beautiful, and I think it's all going to be just Just great. I also agree on the ADA accommodations that that's very necessary. My quick question is, does the interior require a separate certificate of appropriateness?

No, it's for external modifications only.

CEQA only identifies the exterior as having a significance.

And will your firm be working on the interior waste?

As part of the entire package, we're We're redoing the interiors and upgrading the interiors. And we are making all efforts to maintain interior character defining features as well. But there's some things like kitchen and bathrooms and things like that that don't. But on the interior, the stair, the stair balusters, and we are using the historic building code to get around having to replace the stair balusters because it doesn't meet the height. So we are judiciously using the historic building code. We're maintaining or replicating the existing fireplace and the coved ceilings in the main, I think, what was the living room, which is now going to be a staff training room. So we are also addressing interior features.

Okay, and my last question, well, two questions. One, there was some concern about a trash can that was in an obvious place, and I don't know what the situation is with that.

we've been told not to refer to it as a trash enclosure but it's a recycling enclosure and it does happen to be that the we're maintaining the existing parking lot and upgrading it and i will say we're providing an accessible parking space i think it's a van accessible parking space and path of travel to the front of the building so we are bringing up the site accessibility too but the there's a shared trash area that's to the southeast and Code now requires that trash can't be out in the rain such that it washes into the sanitary or the storm system. So we have to make an enclosure and we're doing a complimentary recycling enclosure that's shared with an adjacent property. So we're sort of, because it's shared, we kind of, and there's restrictions on the height and just various things on that that we're doing, but we are trying to make it complimentary.

City Council Chambers, Great and my very last question will the landscaping be done by anyone I noticed a lot of really older trees that kind of leaning into the building and so who would be addressing.

City Council Chambers, We do have a landscape architect on the team it's john North more Roberts associate out of Berkeley who's a landscape architect that we've worked with on other historic properties and we're working with them on other properties.

City Council Chambers, hey well, thank you for your excellent work to this point.

Thanks.

Commissioner thomas just a follow up Thank you, Commissioner willis for bringing up the interior point again, I would like to underscore the importance of Ada accessibility. making a site that's historic and actually being funded renovation-wise by Alameda County taxpayers, having it accessible exteriorly but not interiorly, meaning the restrooms and things like that, would not be my recommendation. For instance, this has happened prior in a facility in Fremont, paved roads, built ramps outside so the wheelchair can access them however the restrooms were never reviewed the entire project meaning six figures and costs completely washed so i would recommend you guys taking at least an osha expert into the facility to review the ada compliance as far as restrooms minimally kitchens are considered per use, meaning that if you're going to provide kitchen services, if you're going to be an active kitchen, then that should be Ada compliant. If it's just being preserved as a historic feature, the kitchen does not need to be Ada accessible, because it's not going to be actually used. It's just being preserved as a feature of said property. However, if those restrooms are being used by completely ambulatory non ADA people, it should also be accessible for people who fall under the ADA spectrum. Okay, that would be my not just Commissioner recommendation, but professional recommendation because I have worked for OSHA and the safety and compliance for multiple entities in this country.

But it and I'll have to defer to the GSA on the outside OSHA person to look at it. But I would like to note that, as I mentioned, we've got from the City Council Chambers, initial access to the site up accessible ramps at two locations, one of them is an off hours location that ramp will bring into the area and other ones into the primary entrance and then, once you're in the building we've got accessible passive travel throughout. City Council Chambers, toilet rooms are being redone to current accessible standards, the kitchenette will be fully accessible per code requirements. And we have not actually an elevator in the building, but a Lula lift that provides vertical accessibility as well.

That's amazing. And I wanted to note, I do see that in the renderings that staff provided that you guys have put arduous efforts into making sure that the ramps are highlighted and the additional features on the exterior. So I wanted to give you kudos for that, because it's not an easy task. Trust me. I've been working on ADA accessibility for almost 17 years. It's never an easy task when it comes to construction and rehabilitation. So good job there, definitely.

No more questions. Will you document the modifications to the outside of the building and include them with the plan so that future people can look at the building and look at the documentation and see what's been changed from the original?

We could provide some sort of existing documentation. photographs of each elevation that would document that for the future. I think that'd be the best way to do it. Rather, it'd be better than going and doing a measured drawing, which is not part of our scope, like a HABS type drawing. But I think we could include existing photographs that sort of, and then it would actually be good because one of the things that we are replicating, it's a little complicated, is the exterior shingles. And that would sort of provide clarity on what that shingle pattern really, is going to be or is and will be what will be replicated one other you brought up the shingles and i'm reminded that uh are you going to be installing fire resistant shingles on the side of the building then um we are proposing to replace them in kind with painted cedar shingles um which is part of the the standards review is to replace in kind as opposed to replace. I mean, it could be possible that it's a little complicated in that we're actually not gonna be able to get strictly off the shelf shingles. They're gonna have to be modified to make a diamond pattern and cut, which is easy to do. And we'll clarify that. And some of them I think are gonna have to be carefully glued together to get at a width that isn't available now. So our plan right now is to, Replace it with painted cedar shingles and not a synthetic or a hardy type product that's That, but I guess it could be directed that we could change that. But I'm just not sure that we could modify those to match the replicate the pattern.

My concern is you've got large trees around there and we're in a fire community and there's all kinds of fires happening and I'd like the building to be as fire resistant as possible. So if there's any way you can put fire resistant shingles, wood shingles that are fire resistant, they can be treated and you wouldn't ever notice it and then paint over it. I think that would be the preferred method.

We'll explore that.

Thank you.

I did have one A clarification that was in the presentation i'm Dominic if you could go back to one of the elevation the proposed elevations it doesn't matter which one. yeah this is great So you see here and we've noted that the chimney, which is a. Existing masonry chimney it's seismically unsound and it's not going to be used as a chimney, but we are going to take it down and replace it and replicate it. And we didn't get into the details on this, but the detail of it is there's essentially gonna be a plywood box that is on a new foundation that extends up that is the structural strength. And we noted in this presentation that we're gonna take the existing bricks and take the mortar off, and then we're gonna slice them into veneers and put them back. And as we've been developing the documents, I have, A couple of concerns about that one is that it's a difficult thing to quantify in a bidding environment, perhaps we get the bricks off they're broken. Perhaps they can't get the mortar off perhaps when they get sliced they have hollow voids in them and they can't be used. we'd like to propose as an alternate solution and the final thing is, is that when you do get. face brick like that and you put it on to the sides they come together as a corner and typically you don't see bricks with edges at edge you see a the brick turns right because it's a solid piece we won't have solid pieces but we can specify a pre-made brick veneer that does have the corner integrally into it. And we could specify bricks that match the color and the texture and use that instead of this kind of salvaged and redone brick, which is kind of a risky bid type thing. So I would propose that we have the option to use a brick veneer that matches the historic brick in color and texture if that proves to be more feasible.

Question on the bricks could you use the old bricks on the lower section of it, and then the upper section that people nobody's likely to see us a new brick on that could you get it to blend all together that's.

that's a good point and you know typically when you're walking around a building like my. daughter once when she was young we took her to Disneyland and she knocked on the fairy castle and said it's fake so typically when we do buildings and materials that you're next to and that you can actually touch and feel we do like to make them solid and that you can not be able to tell that it's not the real thing in this case the chimney comes out of the roof at the second floor the top of the first floor nobody will be able to touch it And it's actually on the kind of the back side of the building. I don't think that anybody's going to note that it is not the original bricks.

The second floor up, but from the second floor down?

Yeah, you can see in the thing. It only exists on top. On the interior side of it, it's painted over. And we're not sure really what's most feasible on the interior. It's a mantle. And actually, you don't see the bricks on the interior because it's a mantle. So I would recommend that we... we don't use two types of materials and that you're not going to be able to touch or feel if we use existing bricks you would never touch it unless you're up there cleaning the gutters that the replacement in-kind brick veneer would be suitable and you won't be able to tell okay

I have a comment. I'm sad that the county took so long to take care of this building and we could have probably saved some more historic elements if we would have fixed it a lot sooner than waiting over the years. They let it deteriorate until it was really non-noticeable and I advocated for tarps and everything to just like preserve the building so it wouldn't get destroyed. So my concern is that you don't have a certificate of appropriateness for the inside. And one person can make a decision later on down the road and say, well, there's not enough historic stuff in this. So we're going to tear this building down. That's my concern because we have a lot of buildings come to our commission and they say, well, there's been so many modifications that we're gonna let them tear down the building and destruct it. And my thing is to save an old preserved buildings. And every time we have all these modifications, somebody down the road says, well, there was too many changes and now we're gonna, we can't save it. So it ends up getting destroyed. And that's my concern.

I think we can't undo the past. I think we all, wish it had been taken care of better before. But I think preserving the exterior of it in the manner that we're doing or renewing its lifespan will be enough to convey the character of the property such that it retains its significance historically. And we are making efforts to retain important interior character defining features as well. So I think we're doing what you want. There is one thing that we City Council Chambers, City Council Chambers, City Council Chambers, City Council Chambers, City Council Chambers, City Council Chambers, City Council Chambers, City Council Chambers, City Council Chambers,

I think we spent enough time on this subject.

One question more, and then we got to open it up to public.

Yes, I know we're going to open it to public.

The door on the side that you're talking about removing, can you leave that door on and just seal it up so that there's no water getting inside, make it totally nonfunctional, and then put a full wall inside so that people see the building and see it as it was originally?

In the interest of this Vice Chair Thomas, in the interest of time, because like Chair just said, we have allotted more than our agenda to this subject. Please limit your response to 30 seconds or less so we can move on and call a vote.

Thank you. Yes, we could if that's so directed to us.

Thank you. At this point now, shall we call a vote?

I feel like public comment first and then we'll go to a motion.

There are no speakers staff also has no speaker slips.

Now we're going to vote to approve the project that correct with the modifications recommended.

I'd like to make a motion to approve the project with keeping the door that was planned to be removed left in place and sealed.

That can do the motion.

Yes, we're going to call for a vote.

Sure. Mendoza.

Yes.

Commissioner Menard.

Yes.

Commissioner Thomas staying. Commissioner Willis. Yes. Chair Farley. Yes. Motion passes.

All right, so now we're on to the Tesla. Hizmet, how do you pronounce that?

You know, assistant sheriff? Staff?

A presentation of the Gillesse Guramundi, who will discuss the state park land known as Tesla, located in the eastern Alameda, and work to establish Tesla State Park Preserve. presentation.

I'm sorry, I... Mr. Mike, please.

Could you tell me how to pronounce that?

Let me just say thank you very much.

We're not picking you up. Thank you.

First, let me say thank you to the chair and to the commission members for allowing us to come before you to do a presentation about the Tesla Natural Reserve that we hope will be called Hizmet Orep, which is sacred earth in the Chechen language of the Ohlone people. My name, Celeste Garamendi. to get the pronunciation correct, but you can call me Celeste. Oh, imagine. Imagine a place of incredible biodiversity that has long been recognized by scientific experts. Imagine a place of important indigenous, resources, including the tribal cultural landscape that holds those resources. Imagine a place of important historic relevance to the county of Alameda and to the entire state. I apologize for that. And imagine a place of incredible beauty, a place that is exemplarized with our Diablo Range, and the landscape within Alameda County. You don't have to completely imagine that because that place exists. It is referred to commonly as Tesla, and we hope it will become the Tesla Natural Reserve. To give you a little bit of a historic perspective on this, when I first came in, I heard Commissioner Menard make a statement about 10 years 15 years ago there was a commission member who was working to have the commission support the preservation of tesla at that time and indeed that is true but the effort to save this land has even extended well beyond that my involvement alone has been over 25 years and this is a 20-year battle and that is true um initially the plan was that Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area would be expanded into the 3,100 acres of Tesla. And there was a huge effort, including by the county of Alameda, to ensure that that did not happen. And both by virtue of litigation, which was successful, and ultimately legislation at our state capitol, there was a determination that Tesla would not be an expansion of Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area or any other SVRA, and it would be established as a separate unit of the state park system. Now the question is what type of unit of the state park system it will be. And a large group of individuals, community members, organizations, and public officials and entities are working to CLASSIFY, WHICH IS THE TECHNICAL STATUTORY TERM, TESLA, THE 3,100 ACRES OF TESLA AS A NATURAL RESERVE UNDER PUBLIC RESOURCES CODE 5019.65A. AND JUST TO MAKE SURE WE'RE ALL ON THE SAME PAGE HERE, TESLA DOES NOT COME FROM THE CURRENT CAR COMPANY NAME. IT IS A HISTORIC REFERENCE TO NIKOLAI TESLA, THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEER AND INVENTOR OF nearly 150 years ago. So where is Tesla? Most of you know this, but just to put us all on the same page, Tesla is in eastern Alameda County. It is between Livermore and Tracy or Interstate 580 along Tesla Road, and it's south of Tesla Road within the area that is marked the red circle. And so it is very much part of The Alameda county landscape. State natural reserve and why we are working for the classification as a state natural reserve is because a reserve embraces areas containing outstanding natural and cultural resources of statewide significance and tesla meets that. in terms of its natural resources, its cultural resources, its scenic resources, geological resources, and we can go on. That is one of the important aspects of it. It has all of these elements. In terms of the natural reserve statute, there's two important components. One is that the priority is resource management, protecting those resources, but it also allows for public access. That public access though is considered to be appropriate and determined to be appropriate for the preservation of those resources. In terms of Tesla's statewide significance, as I mentioned, it has long been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot. California is a biodiversity hotspot, but Tesla is a biodiversity hotspot within California. And you can imagine what that means in terms of what exists there. It has significant prehistoric and tribal cultural resources, and it has historic cultural features. It's a wild land that has access to urban centers and therefore can serve not only the general population but underserved populations that don't always have such access to these types of landscapes. And as I said, it is emblematic of Alameda County, the rural Alameda County landscape, The Diablo Range, which begins in Contra Costa in Alameda County from Mount Diablo and California landscapes across the region. And importantly, there are no other state reserves, not only in Alameda County, but not in this region. And in fact, there hasn't been a new state reserve for over 40 years. I want to quickly review some information about the important biodiversity. We'll talk about cultural resources as well. But the effort to preserve Tesla has really been multi-pronged. In terms of the biological resources, this is a map. We don't expect you to capture everything on this map, but the outline here is the outline of the 3,100 acres of Tesla with only about 30% of the special status species, plants and animals, or wildlife that have been documented. Tesla and its biodiversity is a result of its location, which is unique. It can't be replicated. because it is at the intersection of biotic zones from the cooler, wetter Bay Area and the dry desert area of the Central Valley. This area comes together and bringing its species and therefore many of the species are at the extent of their ranges. It's an intact ecosystem. Because of that location it's important refugia as it's referred to for climate change, because species that might not be able to. live in the bay area or the central valley can come to tesla and still survive and in fact there's even some evidence not completely confirmed of speciation that is occurring there new species that are evolving. There is a critical linkage habitat corridor that runs directly through this land. There are 55 special status animals, 45 rare plants, not just special status, but rare plants, nine sensitive natural communities, and independent research that teaches us and documents these important biological resources. City Council Chambers, They quickly going through this to talk about the critical linkage habitat corridor the turquoise area is tesla the purple is the critical linkage habitat corridor, and you can see that tesla spans almost its entire width. City Council Chambers, Pacting this will impact this essential habitat corridor running from mount diablo South. The East Bay chapter of the Native Plant Society has identified the area where Tesla is located as a botanical priority protection area because of the significant rare plants and watch list plants. The Altamont Landfill Open Space Committee has done an analysis with engaging experts at UC Berkeley to identify within Alameda County Areas that are prioritized for preservation and conservation because of their natural resources, scenic resources. And I think it is nine of the 10 parcels that they identified as their top conservation targets are in or immediately surrounding Tesla, documenting again how important this area is. There's independent research. Research out of UC Berkeley looked at the phylogenetic Diversity, this is a complicated study, but the bottom line is they considered several factors, areas that are marked in black on the state map, Are considered the most important because they share all of these important features. And you can see where tesla is and in the area tesla, and this is the area, not specifically the 3100 acres, but the area where tesla is located. Is one of the is the most important area, the largest area where this pilot genetic biodiversity is held and that's important for preservation of species, particularly through time of climate change the map on the right. is from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. They do what they call their ACE, or Areas of Conservation Emphasis. And they have identified in their central California region the areas that have the highest biodiversity. And you can see it goes from San Luis Obispo up to the Tesla area. And Tesla has the highest concentration of this biodiversity. Tesla area. But even with that important and really irreplaceable features and natural resource values, Tesla is so much more. It has historic significance. For those of you that have driven along Tesla Road, which connects to Corral Hollow Road at the county line with San Joaquin County, you will know that you are in the Corral Hollow Canyon, as it is referred to. Well, that canyon served as the route called El Camino Viejo from Southern California into the Bay Area, beginning with the Spanish era. It has this historical relevance in terms of our own history and all of the other passages in our history that followed that. There is also, within Tesla, part of it holds the historic town and mine site of Tesla, which was the first coal mine in California, one of the largest coal mines in California. And it was named after, as I mentioned, the electrical engineer Nikola Tesla. because the intent was to use the coal not just for heating, which had obviously been done, but for electrical generation. And that was new in this area. The historic Tesla town in Minesite existed from about 1880, 1890 to about 1910 or 12 when there was a huge flood and it completely wiped it out and they ultimately were not able to reestablish it. But the historic footprint, if you will, not buildings, but the cultural landscape, as it has been called, still exists. So you can go on site and see where there's a cellar of a house that was carved into the ground and you can relate that to a archival photo of the area. Again, that historic element of Tesla is incredibly important, but there's more. And that is the indigenous resources that exist in this area. Tesla is the ancestral lands of the Ohlone from the East Bay area and the various Ohlone tribes and the Northern Valley Yokas from the San Joaquin Valley, as well as other tribes that were in the region. Just as Tesla is a meeting place for natural resources in terms of its congregation of the biotic zones, it was also a meeting place for indigenous people. And in addition to important cultural features like this stand of bedrock mortars, which is very important, it also includes the tribal cultural landscape. And so as Catherine Perez, who is a chairman or a chairperson of the Northern Valley Oak at Sinaloa, as she describes it in one of her letters to state parks, the vistas, ridgetop, grasslands, oak woodlands, native plants, wildlife, and the quiet solitude of the land are central to the power of Tesla's cultural sites. One does not exist without the other. So part of what we are trying to protect is not just the specific archaeological features which are important, but the tribal cultural landscape which holds those. As she said, one does not exist without the other. And that is where the name Hizmet Horeb or Hizmet Horeb Horsaka comes from. Genus leaders from the Northern Valley Yokutsu and Ohlone that have worked on this based out of the Central Valley have identified this name, which as I said is from the Chechenyo language of the Ohlone people. It's the name that they hope that Tesla will be given as a state natural reserve. Hizmet Orep Horsetka, sacred earth in harmony. The question is why a reserve and what would a reserve look like I think there's a lot of misconceptions as we talk with people about reserve means that there's not going to be any public access, nobody can get on this land, but that is not the case. As I mentioned the state statute that defines a natural reserve allows for public access it's just public access that is appropriate to have the resources protected. And that is why we think pursuing a reserve is so important. It's in the code, it exists for a reason, and we think Tesla is a perfect example of why it exists. Under the code, we also hear the concern about access for all. There can be access for all under a reserve statute. Access for all is not the same as access for all uses. And that's a distinction that's appropriate, but sometimes gets lost in the discussion. So a reserve classification under the statute requires minimal modification of the landscape and facilities development. Again, priority on protecting the resources while providing the appropriate levels of access. Low intensity public access, low intensity being a term that state parks uses, would be allowed hiking, nature study, interpretive trails, tours, education, and research. It's been identified that there should be co-management agreements with the indigenous tribes in the area. And they would have a role in determining what that access would be, where it would be located, The types of tours, the determination of what types of materials are developed and so forth. And then importantly in this case, there is adjacent California State Park land where higher intensity uses can be located, land that is already impacted but which presently given kind of the separation of the view that state parks is pursuing is not considered as part of what this planning process should be. I want to talk just a little bit about some of the things that we hear as the counter arguments, if you will, to a reserve. One of them is we have to meet other demands, other types of access demands. But throughout the planning process, not even considering the 20 years up until the litigation and legislation, there has been overwhelming public support for a Tesla Reserve, from visioning to stakeholder meetings to a tour to concept plans and everything in between. City Council Chambers, Local regional and statewide organizations support this preservation Community Member report this. City Council Chambers, Public entities do so, for example, the ultimate landfill open space committee has stated its position in support of reserve classification, as has the alameda county resource conservation district. City Council Chambers, Their concern that we hear is that well there's this demand and we'll be clear that demand is primarily coming from those that want access for biking whether it's mountain biking or e biking or whatever the current. City Council Chambers, defined demand is, and so we went through the process of saying, well, is there are there alternatives. And in fact looking at just parks that are within 60 miles approximately 60 miles of tesla there are 25 existing local regional and state parks that provide biking and most of them camping as well. In addition to that, if you look at the very bottom, and I know that this is very small. but there is also this adjacent state park property that is already impacted and we'll talk a bit more about that. So this isn't a case where there's no alternative, it's a case of where wanting more of what exists versus having something that doesn't exist and that we could build that would be new and special and meaningful.

This is a map from a concept plan

OSBT, Karen Hollweg, The advocates for a tesla natural reserve put together and the green area is the 3100 acres of tesla. OSBT, Karen Hollweg, We have not indicated any of the trails that might be built or utilized. OSBT, Karen Hollweg, largely or potentially using existing. OSBT, Karen Hollweg, or former ranch roads. City Council Chambers, But we've identified the perimeter of areas and what's significant here are. City Council Chambers, Three things, one is that there is the 3100 acres of the tesla wild lands again just for your frame of reference and orientation tesla road runs along the north boundary of this property from livermore East to 580 and then. City Council Chambers, Tracy the Gray area. is existing state park property. We call it the other 300 acres of state park property, where presently there are nine houses located and obviously a lot of land available for higher intensity uses. Because of the existing uses, it's already impacted with power, wells, septic systems, electricity, or I said power, telephone service, and paved roads. And then just to the right or east in the Goldenrod is Carnegie State Vehicular Recreation Area. So one of the points that we're making is that this is really a win-win. We can preserve Tesla as a natural reserve, something that doesn't exist not only in the county but in the region, and we can utilize other state park property in an appropriate way given those existing uses and existing impacts. I'm, talking with with the people that have been involved from talking with representatives of indigenous communities it's clear that what we have here is a one-of-a-kind opportunity we protect irreplaceable biological resources that have irreplaceable ecological values like that critical linkage habitat corridor and the cultural resources can organize Tesla around the relationship of indigenous people with the land, something that hasn't been done yet. On a on a large scale, we all know that there are exhibits and brochures within various parks addressing indigenous resources, but this is a chance to really make it a priority. and provide access for low intensity recreation, so there will be public access to this land, and we know that there are many other active recreation parks in the region. as well as the adjacent state parks property, but there are no other reserves. And again, no reserves that have been established within the state in over 40 years, no reserves in this region, no reserves in the county. So an incredible opportunity for all of us to do something exceptional for not only our local community, but for the state and beyond. And I just want to end by reading you their statement from Catherine Perez. the chairperson or is a chairperson of the Valley Yokuts and Ohlone. This is from a letter that she wrote to state parks. Open your hearts and your minds to what Tesla means to us as indigenous people and what it can be for all Californians, a place to truly protect our shrinking natural world, a place to learn and honor our cultural heritage, and a place to enjoy the beauty and the wonder of the land. Now we're imagining Hizmet, Horeb, or Seqa, sacred earth in harmony. But we are working hard to make certain that that image becomes the reality. And we very much appreciate the chance to be able to talk with you and present this information, address your questions,

Okay, I'm gonna go to the board now and let them ask some questions now. So, okay, Linda.

All right, okay. First of all, Celeste, thank you for a very heartfelt and very compelling presentation. The things that you have fought for for 20 years and are hopefully coming to fruition are really amazing. That being said, I have some kind of basic questions. One, who owns this property right now?

City Council Chambers, is owned by California state parks, and so the decision will be made. I meant for the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Parks and Recreation Commission, they will be the entity that would have to approve the general plan and EIR okay and.

What. That is need a second question, how would this property be protected for the uses that you are outlining on once public access occurs, so I mean this is open property, people are going to come in there. hopefully they're respectful and that they are there for just the uses the limited uses that you're proposing but how how would this be protected and who would mean and I assume that the Department of Parks and Recreation will be maintaining the property or having security or what it is correct okay they would utilize their existing procedure or processes related to

City Council Chambers, Hopefully, working with the indigenous representatives, but identifying areas where there would be access allowed areas where there would not be access allowed and then they would be responsible for monitoring, although there are volunteer there's a volunteer structure that can also support that monitoring. City Council Chambers, But to be honest with you, one of the concerns about. City Council Chambers, Allowing this to have a higher. classification level is that I think we all are aware state parks has limited resources and they are you know aside from the issue of the deficit that they have for capital improvements there are issues about their ability to sufficiently patrol enforce these areas and if you read online you'll see that that's an issue across their existing parks and so From all indication, looking at the other reserves, so for example, Point Lobos, Mono Lake, Armstrong Redwoods, up in the Mendocino area, the Redwood Reserve, there is a reality that when people enter an area that is identified as being special for the preservation of resources, that they carry that through in terms of their actions. We know that that's not complete. But when people enter an area where they know active recreation is allowed, those same kind of self-contained control mechanisms are not in place. And I think we can all reflect on just the current issues that exist within the county and the questions about multi-use trail access and the ability to really maintain that. of a more restrictive environment, greater ability to protect the resources.

We only have a limited time on the agenda. So if we can make the comments shorter, because we have other people on the board that may want to ask questions also.

May I ask just a final question? What is needed to obtain this natural resource classification? And what would you like from this commission?

I think there's two things. One is we need to continue to influence state parks and the State Parks and Rec Commission. And we are actively engaged in that, but the more support into that process, the better able we will have an outcome. That includes elected officials, entities like this commission and others. So that is very important in order to do that.

Yeah, also on the commission, I'll let everybody go first and then I'll go last.

Commissioner Thomas I just want to provide some insight for our fellow Commissioners, the formal process for the state. approving or the actual classification process has not officially begun it begins October 2026. is supposed to span approximately from late 2026 into 2027 but there is no actual classification deemed yet although as county commissioners we can provide recommendations we have very little if any actual authority because California state is going to parks and rec is going to decide exactly how the classification goes, they are going to allow public comment, starting in November or December from elected officials. County Commissioners in alameda county as well as the public, but those workshops aren't officially dated our plan, yet I think it's very wise that we're getting ahead of it, though. Because we can start sending out letters of advocacy or support in advance. But as far as an actual oversight or jurisdiction goes, there's not much our body has as far as teeth in the classification process. City Council Chambers, doesn't mean that we can't draft a letter and support, but it actually is already designed to go into elected officials. City Council Chambers, Starting October, then public comment December 2026 and then official classification draft was supposed to be released early January 2027.

City Council Chambers, Correct the general plan of general. City Council Chambers, Time are. City Council Chambers, And it to be done, this was just presented blast state parks and REC Commission meeting. City Council Chambers, timeframe that they've talked about before, but they are reiterating it so we're assuming that that will continue with public comment sometime in early 2027, and it is true that it is the state parks department and the state parks and REC Commission, that is the lead agency and has the authority in the sequel process.

However, I do want to underscore Commissioner Willis's comment and thank you for your decades of advocacy and preservation efforts. And I would also advise is that if at any time you have the inkling to maybe serve on such a body as this, it might be beneficial towards you in the future as your preservation and natural reserve efforts. We have Al.

A couple of questions. How many miles of trails are you anticipating putting in the park? And a secondary question, how are you going to prevent these tails from eroding the land?

Two responses. One is, from our perspective, the trails haven't been decided because we believe that should be done in concert with the indigenous representatives. Actually, State Parks specifically asked us, don't worry about identifying the existing ranch roads and so forth, even though they then proceeded to do so. But aside from that, we don't know. But what I can say is if we go back to the map, it's approximately three miles from Tesla Road to what would be the south portion, at a minimum. there would be approximately six miles of trails. But when you consider the loop around the property that is potential, again, there's many contingencies here, I would estimate it's gonna be closer to five to 10 miles of trails.

I've got a couple more questions. Is there any suggestion on the state parks because of, as you mentioned, they don't monitor as well as they maybe should, of trading or having East Bay Regional Parks manage the park?

When this process began in the prior phase during the fight about whether it would be part of Carnegie, East Bay Regional Park districts did offer to manage it similar to what they do for DelVal State Parks and managed by East Bay. Presently that is not something that I'm aware of that has been discussed, but City Council Chambers, It you know it certainly is the potential I assume remains out there. City Council Chambers, For more questions one.

City Council Chambers, I heard the neighboring property has the state park has bathrooms and all that kind of stuff are there going to be flush bathrooms on and tesla or is it going to be porta potties or is everybody going to have to go over to across the road.

City Council Chambers, that's what we're saying about using the existing state park property, so if you look again at this map in the Gray area. City Council Chambers, right along tesla road, there are these existing residences, and this is the area where we think we're calling them generally the visitor facilities should be located parking. RESTROOMS WE BELIEVE SOME OF THESE EXISTING RESIDENCES MAY BE ABLE TO BE REPURPOSED TO A VISITOR CENTER AND MUSEUM AND A NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER THESE ARE ALL ALL SUGGESTIONS THAT WE HAVE MADE AND IDENTIFIED FOR STATE PARKS IN TERMS OF USE OF THAT LAND FOR PEOPLE HIKING INTO THE WILDLANDS. PRESUMABLY THERE WOULD NOT BE City Council Chambers, Facilities constructed in that area, but that's a level of detail that. City Council Chambers, would be determined at some future date, so there definitely is the ability along tesla road to put those types of facilities.

City Council Chambers, More question is going to be cantankerous. City Council Chambers, The only people have looked to have a section of land that's been determined that there's. because that's the only reason they haven't had an Indian casino on Ohlone land yet, because they've got no designated area that's Ohlone land. Is there any possibility that an Indian casino could be put on this property, on Tesla Park?

First, I cannot speak for any of the indigenous people, but there has never been that suggestion made. And again, there are many elements of the Ohlone and Northern Valley Yokut community. And there, therefore, are various representatives. But the ones that we are aware of that have participated in this process are working to preserve this land in its natural state. And I'm not aware of any discussion about return of land or any other use other than the preservation of this land and the tribal cultural landscape.

City Council Chambers, And i'm very interested in preserving this land, as it is also, but I know that the only way this land can be preserved is to allow people to look at it and enjoy it if they you don't allow people in it somebody's going to develop it.

City Council Chambers, Oh, again it's state park property, there are limits within that, but within the state park classification system. there's a gradation of intensity of uses.

Thank you. I think that we have exceeded the time for this agenda item.

Can I ask one more question? Well, I haven't even had the time to make a comment, and we're already over, we allotted 20 minutes for this, and we're way over 20 minutes.

Is it possible that I can now make a comment? Thank you. I think for housekeeping purposes, so that the chair is right,

a commissioner should limit their questions to one or two so that everyone has the opportunity to ask commissioner farley chair is right he hasn't even had a chance to ask a question okay my my question is the neighboring park has a bunch of motorbikes and everything they've been known to go off-roading in areas they're not supposed to i suggest that they have posted non On the fence line and also make it a point where the no motorbikes can get through the gate make the gate small enough. To where no motorbikes can get through the barrier, because if not all that preserved area that you guys want to save is going to be run over by. Plants are going to get run over everything, so I suggest that and that's my only comment I have and like I said we've gone way over this and I have one public comment here. And we have, this is for a different subject. Okay, so I would like to give Dick, what's your last name, Dick? Snyder, an opportunity to ask his question. Yes.

City Council Chambers, Thank you very much, and I want to thank you for the amount of time you've given this issue. City Council Chambers, i'm a member of the Alameda county resource conservation district board the rcd has taken a position that Tesla should be designated classified as a state natural reserve because of its. City Council Chambers, importance and it's nearly pristine values and I want to thank this Commission for already having taken the position that it should be a natural reserve. You did take and information has been submitted to state parks. Hopefully they will recognize that. And I'm not going to elaborate on the reasons, because you know them already. I just want to mention, because a lot of people don't know this, that Armstrong Redwood State National Reserve was originally a state park. The state got it from Sonoma County in the 1930s. They opened it up as a state park. 20 years later, because of all the damage that was done, it had to be reclassified as a state reserve. So I want to do this one right the first time. And anything you can do. the State Parks Commission sent another letter when it's up before them would be much appreciated. Thank you.

Any other public comments?

There are no speakers.

Okay, I thank you for your presentation. Thank you very much.

I apologize for going over.

No problem.

And if I can make one quick comment, I appreciate the has been process. with over 35 organizations, hundreds of people, and many public officials, and so all of that coalition.

I'm going to move on in the agenda now.

We're going to call for a vote. Don't we have to make an approval of this?

I thought we already did previous meetings, right? That's what they're saying, that we've already approved it.

This is an informational item. Information only.

Not action item.

I would just like to make sure this stays on the agenda so that when it's time for the appropriate comments that we can do a letter of support.

Okay. Sounds good. Thank you, Linda. Thank you. All right. Now that we've asked for public comment and there was none, we're going to move on to item three, formation of the Castor Valley Historical Survey Ad Hoc Subcommittee.

Parks Rec and Historical Commission.

Staff have anything to report on this?

Staff would like to invite Dominic who will be able to provide an update and some notes on this item. Staff would like to invite Dominic to take the lead on this item.

Hello again Commissioners, as you all know, we have begun working on the Castro Valley historical survey. As part of the survey work, we would like to propose the formation of a PR HC subcommittee to help kind of guide the planning efforts as we kind of start work on this project. recommend a subcommittee of two to three commissioners. And the requirements would and members of the subcommittee would expect it to be to would be expected to participate in up to three to four meetings during various important milestones through the course of the project, which is expected to conclude by the end of 2028.

Anybody else have any comments on this?

You're looking for two or three commissioners to assist on evaluating, is that what you're saying, Dominic?

Yes.

And we would be reviewing what the buildings that were going to be preserved or do, more complete historical resource evaluations on or what?

There's going to be key moments throughout the project timeline. So we anticipate meeting along with the consultants, the subcommittee members would meet with staff, the consultants to go over the work that has been conducted at key points during the project. And that could be reviewing materials prior to the reconnaissance survey, It could be kind of providing guidance on the list of properties that have been identified while we compile a short list to be voted on by your commission. And then just providing general guidance and feedback to staff and our consultants as we kind of proceed through the overall project.

I would anticipate that that subcommittee would meet fairly regularly at the beginning of the process. more irregularly after the process is underway. Is that the way you envision it also?

Anticipate the subcommittee members participating in roughly three to four meetings over the next two years.

OK. And this would be meetings during the day or evening or what?

City Council Chambers, To be determined per the scope of the project staff does meet with the consultants on a monthly basis, so the idea is that we could coordinate schedules to participate in one of those monthly meetings has needed. Okay.

City Council Chambers, Other comments from the board.

City Council Chambers, We need to need to select two or three of our Commissioners to serve on this Commission to okay.

City Council Chambers, committee. Seeing if anybody else has comments. Does anybody else have a comment? All right. I guess we're asking for volunteers. And then we can ask for members of the public. I volunteer.

Want to volunteer?

OK.

I would sort of like to volunteer also, unless Linda wants to. If Linda wants to, I'll defer to Linda. Oh, they said two or three.

OK. You can be on it and Linda can also be on it if she would like.

Yes, I would volunteer if Al does.

I believe that means we should call for a board vote to approve the Ad Hoc Committee if we have two or three volunteers.

Are there any other people that want to volunteer?

Going to call to a vote then?

for the ad hoc committee and the members the motion like speakers before the motion there are no public speakers um is jane is jim still on the commission or jacqueline jacqueline or um

Yeah, she's still on the commission from what I know.

We should wait until she's attended.

She's not here, so I'm not going to wait.

I'd like to make a motion to approve. Thank you.

Commissioner Mendoza?

Yes.

Commissioner Menard?

Yes.

Commissioner Thomas?

Aye.

Commissioner Willis? Yes. And Chair Farley? Yes. Motion passes.

All right. For the record, can the notes reflect which commissioners volunteered? Because not I.

So there's no confusion. Yes.

Yes, staff can make that addition.

Thanks, staff. All right. So now we're on the old business, discussion of potential amendments to historic preservation ordinance. Historically significant buildings. I don't have anything to report on this so I would like to just Go on if no one has any comments because I I'm still working on this project Were you thinking of adding Well, I was I was trying to get it to where we were talking about buildings and 50 years old and how By the time they get to us, there's so many alterations done. I'm trying to fix the ordinance. So I'm still looking into that. So does anybody else have any comments on that?

I think it's appropriate to defer. That's a big topic.

Anybody in the public want to comment about it?

There are no raised hands.

Okay, that's gonna save us a little time. And because we've already gone on the updates of the Castle Valley historical survey, I think we can also defer that one of one more update that we have one more update one more. Okay, go ahead.

So one of the first steps of a historical survey, per our scope of work is to prepare what's called the historical context statement. And the historical context statement is basically a research document that explains the development of an area's built environment and kind of sets up a framework for how the reconnaissance survey and the historical survey as a whole will be conducted. So our consultants have started to work on this historical context statement. And we wanted to pose to the commissioners the themes of the statement and ask you for your feedback on the proposed themes. And if there are any underrepresented communities that we should be taking into consideration before we really get started on this project. So in your packet materials, we included the summary themes for the historic context statement, which I'm happy to share on the Zoom. And so again, our ask to you is just for any feedback on these themes, let us know if we're missing anything and happy to answer any questions. Let's hope I can read through the themes as well.

I'm not that familiar with Castro Valley and that I know in Fremont, which I'm more familiar with, there's developers that have came in and developed huge tracts of land. And I know there's some in Castro Valley and this area of Alameda County, Hayward. Are do you have have you considered adding the major developers who are developing properties inside of Castro Valley, so that you have whole tracts of land that are built by a particular ARC builder?

Yes, so the proposed themes include kind of general time periods, starting with native inhabitants and kind of working through to the modern day. you know, what you just described could potentially, you know, relate to commercial developments, 1910 through the current times, the mid and mid war and post war developments in Castro Valley. And there's also a proposed theme of modernist architecture. So I think all of those sections could potentially relate to kind of major developers in the area.

There's all the things I know about Linda.

So yeah, several things. The first question, have you considered contacting Rick Kelly, whose book is listed as a major resource, having him be a volunteer to work with this subcommittee? have not reached out to him um however we are aware of his work right and um we will be searching for volunteers and that's something that the subcommittee will be he would be a really great person to include um so i'm going to try and make this real quick um i think there hasn't been you know native inhabitants i don't know if the chinese are considered native inhabitants but they did build the shibo dam So I think they need to be, that needs to be something included. I'd like to see something about the Muwekma Ohlone displacement and the effects of their forced labor in the mission system, including building the mission in Fremont. I think also important to agriculture, look at and the wood logging in the past and in the current time, and under culture, some of the important City Council Chambers, Or at least like the Chabot theater on i'm sure there are other ones and. City Council Chambers, Very last but not least, a mid war mid war and post war tracked says housing, but I think you really need to include the cold war and the Nike missile site in part of that history as well.

Any other Commissioners have anything to speak on this subject, I just wanted to mention that, on the cultural side, one of the reason that i'm interested in, I presented a festival for years at Royal ranch when they do the rodeo. And I was called a baby a Latin jazz festival and they presented that 2019 2021 22 and 23. That. Interested in the cultural aspect as well.

Yes, exactly. And also the the Mexican rodeo as well.

OK, is there anybody from the public that would like to comment on this?

There are no raised hands.

So what's that? No informational. Now we're going to move on to the historical plaque pilot program. Staff have any comments on this?

Staff just has one quick update. Since our previous meeting, we did complete our review of the submission. We only received one. And we're currently working on processing the paperwork to procure the consultant. So I'll provide additional updates should there be any in the future.

OK. Is there anybody else on the commission that would like to speak on this?

Commissioner Thomas, I just want to thank staff for carrying the ball forward. I did cross-reference Chair Farley's statements about how long he was advocating for the Nike Missile Cottage. And even on record, it shows that he's been advocating since City Council Chambers, 2024 on record, even in the minutes, so I understand his frustration that took two years, even get a tarp, so I wanted to underscore the fact that staff picked up this historical. City Council Chambers, plaque pilot program and has gotten for progress on it and less than we voted on this what may or June we voted on this in June and i've already got a progress, as well as a contractor, so I wanted to highlight the efforts of the staff from.

All right, this is also an informational item. So if not, we have anybody from the public would like to speak on it.

There are no speakers.

All right. Number three, updates and discussion of the potential Mills Act projects. Staff update.

Staff has no updates on this item.

Anybody from our group that have any comments?

One question. Last I heard you were mailing out notices to everybody that had historic buildings. Has that been done?

As I recall from our previous one of our previous meetings, that is something that staff has committed to. And so we're still exploring that as an option.

Any comments from the public?

There are no speakers.

All right, so we're going on to the discussion of preservation of the Center Street Bridge staff update.

So we did reach out to Public Works for an update. I believe we had originally reported that they would be acquiring a consultant about this time. They're a little bit behind. But they hope to be able to select a consultant in the near future.

They got back to you about preservation of the rails, at least the rails for the project.

They're not to that point in the design phase, they need to select a consultant first before they can really know what they can preserve as part of the bridge construction.

And what type of consultant is it? Is it somebody who preserves old buildings? Who's the consultant?

We'd have to defer to Public Works on that. Okay.

Phil, we should have some historical person, contractor or something.

I'll be a historical architect.

historical architect yeah like al says so it could you check into that for me i'd appreciate that if i know can let them know your comments okay thank you anybody else have any comments about the beast center street bridge anybody from the public have any comments or no speakers um We're gonna move on to the stipends for PRHC members. This is Commissioner Willis and staff.

City Council Chambers, And I don't have any information, other than the Castro valley MAC members receive $50 meeting and in a. City Council Chambers, quick meeting with supervisor marley he was a little bit concerned about the hundred dollars a meeting that we were asking, other than that I don't know where the stipend is in this in the county process budget process.

Staff does have one quick update. We did hear back from the county administrator's office and they are aware of PRHC stipend requests. The CAO highlighted that there is a countywide survey that's available for commissions, councils and committees that's being conducted. And so the findings from this survey, which includes PRHC, will help inform the CAO's evaluation of the request and determine next steps. We encourage the chair to complete the survey and include any additional information you would like the CAO to consider. Only one survey um is allowed per commission is requested by the newly extended date of august 30th 2026 and so i can provide a link to that survey after this meeting thank you anybody from the public like to speak on the subject are no raised hands virtually and do not have any speaker cards

All right, if nobody else has comments, we're going to move on to the discussion of the Chouinard Barn. This is also Commissioner Willis.

i don't have any updated this time uh the east bay regional park uh historian said she would get back to me if there was any change as far as i know there's not been any kind of demolition request uh for the barn does the staff have any further information on that staff does have just one reached out to the project planner kim tai from east bay regional park district

She's confirmed that they're currently wrapping up the CEQA document for the project, and so their next step is to post it for public review later this year. The public, excuse me, the Park District's Board of Directors will then consider adoption of the CEQA document towards the end of the year or early next year. Following that, the project will move towards full design and permitting. We are on the project mailing list and should receive additional notice once additional information is available. Thank you.

I mean, they're doing an EIR on that? Or has there already been an EIR done?

Preparing the CEQA document as of now. It's not clear if it includes an EIR document.

Then we will be noticing all of that will come to us in a timely manner then.

OK. That's correct. As part of the CEQA document review, it does require public review process.

Okay, anybody from the public wanna comment on this?

There are no speakers.

Okay, we're on to number seven, discussion of the Poplar Cemetery. This is also Commissioner Willis.

So I don't have any update, just would like to keep it on the agenda, thank you.

Okay, anybody from the public like to speak on it?

There are no speakers.

All right. We are on to the discussion of San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery water damage. I have researched Caltrans and they have gone through a lot. Here's a document right here. in major lawsuits for water damage all over the state. I have this document. It shows they've already paid out settlements of $12 million, $2.7 million, and these are all water-related issues. They had another one that was 50K in water damage and another one in $10,000 in different states. I mean, sorry, California in different cities. This is all... online you can get this information by just posting water damage caused by Caltrans and all these lawsuits popped up where they're paying out millions and millions of dollars for damage that they've created. Caltrans has a program where you can fill out so you can get money back for damage But these people went after him for even more money. I mean, they've done a lot of damage all over the state and they've been paying the repercussions because of it. Um, so basically, I think we should file a claim. I'm going to submit this to, uh. You guys, so you can read up on all the litigation Caltrans had due to water damage. And I think we can get the actually get the money to repair the the water damage or the flow of water into the cemetery. I'll submit this stuff to I have another staff. They also had another lawsuit. This is not Caltrans, but they put a culvert in Florida and it drained into the and made the bodies float. Also, a lot of similar to what we have. And they also got sued and won money. So the money's out there for us for the taking.

So we sent the Hayward Historical Society's large review of the water intrusion problems at this site to GSA. I assume that that was done. I think that whatever... mr farley commissioner farley has on this should go to gsa first um for them to to evaluate um you know take a look at the the information from the hayward historical society and see where they feel um some action with um caltrans would fit in to to their work

I'll submit this because I want them to be able to fix the problem at the cemetery. Also, when I was over there, they're doing some tree clearing right now there. So they're taking out all the old trees and thinning them out at that cemetery. So it looks a lot nicer. I guess it's the GSA that's doing that. They took down all these trees and thinned it out. So it looks a lot better. Does anybody else have anything about the San Lorenzo Pioneer Cemetery? Anybody from the public?

There are no speakers.

I will submit this information to staff so they can put in a claim with Caltrans. So now we're on to discussion of draft letter on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This is Vice Chair Thomas.

That's me. I did receive the DocuSign from staff and I believe myself and Chair Farley DocuSigned the draft letter and sent it off. City Council Chambers, I did check the minutes as well, the Board of Supervisors did receive the letter that was signed by myself and. City Council Chambers, chair farley the timing could not have been more succinct because Alameda county did release an additional statement, underscoring the fact that Alameda county own properties are prohibited for ice access or use at any time day night 365 moreover. Um, fellowing counties like Santa Clara County and Contra Costa County are actually looking to take it a step further and, um, file lawsuits and litigation against any federal entities that do use said county properties. Um, illegally for ICE activities or detention proceedings. So I do think that it was not just prudent of us, it goes to show that as commissioners for Alameda County, we're not just in lockstep with the Board of Supervisors, that we are actually protecting the open space, parks, and recreational areas for all citizens of our county, whether or not they hold US immigration status. So thank you, staff, for taking care of the DocuSign. And I was happy to draft the letter and co-sign it with our chair.

I think it's Commissioner Willis. I think it's an excellent letter, and I would vote that we approve it.

Did we approve it? I thought we approved it, and that's why we were signing it. In June, we did.

In June.

Yeah. So did it go out?

Yes, it did go out to the Board of Supervisors.

Thank you very much. It's actually listed in the BOS's minutes for our last meeting. I was very proud on behalf of all of us.

Good job, fellow commissioners. All right. Thank you.

Anybody from the public wish to speak on this subject?

No speakers.

All right. We're up to Updates on repair and maintenance of Lake Chabot Nike missile site and White Cotton Cottage. We've already got some information on that. Do you have any information? I have some information. Okay. I researched the Nike missile site and statewide in the United States there's all kinds and around the world there's all kinds of Nike missile sites. That's why I think it's so important that we preserve, because it's a part of our Cold War history, Also, I was doing a little research and I'm gonna submit this to staff that I've been, everybody knows it's been on record every time I've spoke on it. If we make it into a national park, I found out that Castor Valley based on the national park survey of 2024, Castor Valley and the surrounding area would make $10 million a year in revenue based on lodging, Restaurants and everything based on national parks survey of surrounding businesses. They did a study and I got this study. I'm going to submit to. instance national park service reported in 2024 spending effects finds that visitors spent 29 billion dollars in communities near national parks this spending provided 18.8 billion in labor income and 56.3 in economic output to the u.s economy so it's very important this this If we got this into a national park how much money it would generate for alameda county. says state parks attract average of 81 million visitors per year and generating over $6.8 billion in tourism spending so it's very important that. This project I've been working on to try to get us, it's gonna create a lot of revenue. I'm gonna meet personally with each one of the supervisors and give them a presentation because I think it's very important because this could really help the local economy in Castle Valley and the economic impact would be enormous. So I'll submit that also today. Does anybody else have any updates on any of this? On item 10?

I do. Yes. So I'll try to make it short. So I had a meeting with Supervisor Miley, who was very interested in repurposing the Nike site in some way. He also was interested in possibly moving forward with a consultant to do a national park application. The ballpark cost for that, for doing an application with a consultant could cost from $25,000 to $50,000 and up. um so um you know that was my first meeting the second meeting i had was with shannon priest at the state office of historic preservation about the application process including what benefits and costs there might be for getting on the national register she was telling me the application could take at least six weeks of consultant time over a year with reviews back and forth with the national parks um the advantage other than the status of being a national park is that there are some potential partnerships with the state and the county called the clegg partnership and but the maximum award of funding for the preservation repair of this site would be maximum to $40,000 as part of a competitive grant process and require a match from the state of approximately 20%. So my third meeting and the most interesting one was with Greg Brown, a local Nike veteran who may be in the audience. Is that you, Greg? Okay. So Greg served four years as a radar crewman at the Chatsworth Missile Site during the Cold War from 1968 through 1971. He recently completed 20 years as a docent and crew member at Site SF-88 at Fort Baker. He had several ideas about how the restored but presently empty historic buildings at the Castro Valley site could be used. He pointed out that there are two unique characteristics of these properties. that the missile launch site elevators at Lake Chabot, which is owned by the East Bay Park District, could possibly be restored using excess Nike missiles from the Fort Baker site. And even more importantly, the CV site SF31C that we did put on the register that is located on Fairmont Ridge has the integrated fire control area, the radar site, which Fort Baker and many other sites lack. point of view was that it might be more important to consider versus a national park application to think about restoring the property as historic tourism site. perhaps to do a museum at the site for education purposes and tourism and exploring a partnership with the school district for credit classes about Cold War history and the workings of radar. Repurposing these historic properties is an exciting opportunity for the county and a tribute to the young men who risked their lives to protect us from the Russian missile threats. The resources that would be spent on a national park application could possibly be applied to repurposing for the the properties for another use obviously there are many financial logistical challenges the sites are owned by two different county agencies there need to be funding for 24 7 security protection against things like destruction vandalism theft along with recruitment of dedicated volunteers. I believe the time for action is now. We have Supervisors Miley's interest and the wealth of knowledge, lived experience, and expertise that veteran Greg Brown and others bring to the discussion. Repurposing the Nike sites is beyond the scope of this commission. My suggestion would be a creation of a county led exploratory committee consisting of veterans and community members to brainstorm and decide if repurposing the sites is desirable and feasible. And I look at the appropriate time for the staff and commission's guidance about how to proceed from here. um including the status of this subcommittee and i also would like to invite mr ground brown to make his comments about this site alameda county historical association board good afternoon you guys rock

You rock. And I tell you why I am, why you rock. Last Friday, my wife and I took a hike up to Fremont Ridge. And the work that has been done so far is excellent. The restoration of the guard shack in the first two buildings, the first one's a generator building, the second one's a ready room, is just great. And what I saw has a lot of potential and I'm not here to make any suggestions on what to do. Um, I can offer some, so it's up to you, to the board really on how they want to proceed. But, uh, those buildings and that site tell a story. And I've been telling that story for 20 years at the national park service that we're in headlines and standing in front of crowds from 15 to 50 people. And but to keep it short, what you're doing is great and I'm here to support you in any way as an historian. I also have a website that I took over from a gentleman who was a Fremont resident who was also a volunteer and a Nike veteran who lived in, his name was Ed Thielen. And it's the premier site on Nike Hercules information. So if you Google Nike Hercules, it'll come up on the top of the search pile. And I also put in, I took pictures when I was up there last Friday and put it on the site. And it's under the heading of SF31C visit on July 31st. But there's so much potential with the site what the park service does is they partner with the local schools, because there's a California state historical requirement to teach the cold war. So it's for 10th graders so they were bringing school children come in high school and they would teach classes take them out to the Nike site, unfortunately, they would their classes were more. Look at this missile, isn't it a terrible thing? Don't you wish we lived in a world that didn't have them? But really, the Nike Hercules was a deterrent weapon. We never fired one of them in anger, and they lasted for 20 years. And like Board Member Farley said, our NATO allies had them until 2012. The Italian Air Force had Nike missiles until 2009. There's a beautiful YouTube video of them firing their missiles off of Sardinia Island. Taiwan, 2002. Greece and Turkey, 2011 and 12. So that missile has had a 50-year life. But also the site itself had 120 personnel. Those personnel put in a about $1.2 million of 1960 dollars into the community. So you figure 120 people, half of them are married, the officers and senior enlisted people. They attended civic organizations like the Rotary and the JC Junior Chamber of Commerce. And the Nike site wanted to be part of the community. They didn't want to hide from it. And so the commanders attended the rotary meetings and junior commerce and civic functions. We marched in Memorial Day parades every year when I was in, and I was 17 when I first, I was 17 to 20. So, and once a year we actually fired missiles So in July of 1971, I actually fired, my crew from L.A. fired three missiles at drone aircraft at White Sands Missile Range. So, and I could go on, but I'm going to stop it there. There's a lot to be said about the, and there are a lot of Nike veterans. I work with eight of them at SF88. But there are some that live, one lives in San Ramon. Uh, so there'd be a lot of interest, a lot of interest.

I understand it. I went to the one over at Baker, uh, Fort Baker and talked to some of the people over there. And as I understood it, uh, those were 40 megaton or kiloton, uh, nuclear missiles on the, uh, weapons on the end of those missiles. Right.

Even or not, that is still classified information.

You don't give that information out.

Really, the FBI came out. The FBI came out. They told us to change it to twice the power of Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

Okay. Okay. I'll accept that.

You can Google it.

I'll accept that. But the other thing is that there was no nuclear football at that time either. So that if one of the guys, most of them were 17 to 19 years old or 20 years old that were there monitoring those incoming whatever shadows in the sky from radar, could they have pushed the button and launched one of those missiles at something out in the ocean?

Absolutely not. Everything was two person rule, two man rule.

Two man rule. Two man rule, two keys to arm.

The battery commander and the battery commander and the launcher officer had to simultaneously agree on a missile launch, however, that those those. okays came from norad so the org chart is norad on top, but which is Cheyenne mountain Colorado next level is air force sage, which was beale air force base for the California area. And then the third level was Mount Tama Pius. At the top of Mount Tam, even today, you can see a white golf ball.

That white golf ball. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. In the interest of time, I'm going to wrap up public comment right now because we are exceeding our minutes for this agenda item. Time is 533.

OK. Thank you. Thank you, Craig.

So I do want to know where where.

commissions.

terms of. Where we go with this.

I wanted to meet with the board of supervisors individually to try to get it as a national park because we. 10 million dollars is a lot of money for the county that is a lot of money and if we they said castor valley the national park system said we generate 10 million dollars a year annually lodging hotels everything if we could create this as a national park so i'm willing to do a presentation to each one of the board of supervisors if you're willing to go with me i have all the documentation here on the Nike missile site and the National Park 2024 review where they figured all this stuff out, so.

I think what would be important, it would be to determine if the county was willing to fund a consultant to do this work. This is not a small task, and again.

I can prove to them the benefit, though, yeah.

Well, there's a benefit, I think. But I think it's important to know what makes sense. I mean, we have a subcommittee on this. We've got a volunteer with a lot of expertise. I'm sure there are others as well. The option is to go for a national park, spend money to go for a national park. City Council Chambers, application or to explore whether you know those resources would be that money would be better used if there if there is money. City Council Chambers, on actually making some kind of use from a very simple thing to you know some major historic tourism kind of thing until you get to that until that determination is made, I don't think it's probably worth talking to the supervisors until we have some kind of a plan.

Well, I have the documentation to prove the resources, so I am going to present on my own if necessary because I feel it's a benefit to our county. And Alameda County, Contra Costa has the national park. We don't. So what's one more national park?

Um, I think it's well with the Commission of Thomas. I think it's well within the Chair's ability to present this information to the Board of Supervisors if he so chooses to. I don't think that it requires an actual vote from this Commission because each one of us are residents and constituents of the districts in which we represent, and it is our, um, Civil duty and right to meet with our Board of Supervisors that represent our electric districts, and which we also co represent. So I just want to put that out there. can feel our chairs passion here, and one to encourage and advocate for you to carry this information and your presentation forward, even if the board does not submit a formal vote to attend. I would also encourage some volunteers. who are present or maybe listening to potentially reach out and contact chair farley because this is something that he has um a strong hold on and i encourage and support as well my last question is what is the status of this subcommittee i mean it's supposed to be an ad hoc committee and i don't know how long it's supposed to continue

for clarification the ad hoc subcommittee was vacated previously because of the timing that's limited with that so should the commission like to proceed with forming an additional subcommittee we can you can choose to do so i would like to do that because based on the new information i've received from the national park service i would like to continue the committee

based on the information I was given? Yeah, recreate the commission, yes. If that's a possibility.

So just to clarify, just to confirm, I'll need to reach out to county council to make sure there aren't any legal stipulations as a result of the recreation. So just want to highlight that. And then I also wanted to acknowledge if the commission can open it up to public comments as it wasn't formally opened up to public comments.

Sure, I'd like to open it up to public comment if anybody has comments about this subject.

There are no speakers.

Okay. So I guess staff is gonna reach out to council and let them know about the new information I've obtained. That would be helpful. Okay. I guess we are moving on then. CAL FIRE funded urban forest project informational. Do we have any update on the urban forest planning project?

So quick update if if you'd like to hear staff's update. Just to let you know that there has been the initial meeting with the steering committee that has been formed with the cal fire project that Ali appers is taking the lead on so just wanted to let you know that there was one meeting that occurred with the steering committee.

We also have comments on the urban force program. Encourage and support any public comment on this item. I know speakers okay now we're on to. The last comments and reports liaison reports. Agenda items for the future.

That does not have any updated reports.

else have anything I have one thing to say about I just got back from a trip and I they Had Route 66 had their 100th birthday and I went to a celebration and I went and saw car museums. I went to the birthplace of Route 66. To keep in mind, if you guys are interested in Route 66, they're doing activities all year long. So look up Route 66 and find a local party or event happening near you.

I'm curious, what's the birthplace here?

Springfield, Missouri. Wow. Route 66, 100 years old. So if you're interested, I would take the trip now. Anybody else have anything to add?

Not to add, I did just want to read the formal letter that went to the border suits on July 20 2026 which was signed by chair for early and myself, it says dear honorable board members and January 2026 the Alameda county board of supervisors. unanimously approved ordinances creating ice-free zones and a regional response to restrict u.s immigration and customs enforcement also known as ice from using county-owned property this policy bans ice from non-public areas parking lots and buildings to protect immigrant access to services Key details of the approved measures include the following action items ice free zones which prohibit federal immigration agents from using county owned or control property for surveillance or detentions. Second action item, protection of services. The policy ensures safe access to county facilities for healthcare, social services, and legal proceedings. Third action item, law enforcement protocols require federal agents to clearly and expressly identify themselves and prohibit county personnel from voluntarily assisting in civil immigration enforcement. lastly the enforcement procedures the county may use with civil actions including cease and desist orders against federal agencies who violate said policy as a commission appointed to the parks and recreation historical commission of alameda county we would like to formally express our support of these local ordinances issued by the board of supervisors City Council Chambers, Furthermore, we would like to ensure that the ordinance approved, which prohibits ice activities formally notes that it includes any county owned properties, an example public lots parks open recreational spaces currently owned. operated and or administrated by alameda county to further ensure local residents safe access to vital services and amenities in alameda county thank you to the board of supervisors for the continued support and advocacy for our residents and community members sincerely signed again sheriff raleigh and myself all right does anybody else have anything if not we're going to adjourn this meeting all right this meeting is adjourned